“And how’d that work out for ’em?” Sofia asked. “The machines have been hunting down people outside our little slice of loco heaven for centuries.”
From the platform, X said, “I thought you said the airship is in bad shape.”
“It is,” Lex replied, “but the parts we need are pretty generic. If we can find them here on the rig, we can get our repairs done in a week max. Flying at full speed with our upgraded boosters, it will take less than two days to get to the target in Africa. I’ve already checked.”
X seemed to be considering it, then shook his head. “Captain Mitchells, if allied forces failed to do this during the war, what makes you think you can succeed with one airship?”
“Because they didn’t have Hell Divers,” Les replied.
“Shit’s crazy,” Sofia said. “You won’t even get close to their base before they blow you out of the sky.”
“Going to have to agree with her,” Arlo replied. “No offense, Cap.”
Michael sat silently, avoiding the gaze of Les and everyone else but Layla. She, too, was silent. The new engagement ring on her finger told Les why.
“Can we just try and nuke the base from a distance?” Magnolia asked.
Michael’s wrist monitor beeped, and he looked down to shut it off.
“I want all options on the table,” X said. “That’s why I called you all here. What else do—”
“Holy shit!” Michael said, nearly shooting out of his chair. “It’s Cricket! The bot is online again.”
X walked down the stairs and over to the table, and Les made his way over for a look at the screen.
“I think I know what happened now,” Michael said. “I think Cricket found Raven’s Claw and followed it, and the storms blocked its signal. It must be somewhere that the storms aren’t interfering.”
“That must be how they launched the yacht with Sloan’s body,” Magnolia said.
“Do you know where Cricket is now?” X asked.
Michael tapped his screen. “A place that was called Aruba.”
Les leaned in for a better look.
“I’m not familiar with this island,” Michael said, “but maybe Colonel Forge would know.”
Imulah interpreted, and the colonel took a look.
“La Escolta,” he said after a quick look at the map.
“The Outrider,” Imulah explained. “The former colony that we abandoned many years ago.”
X stroked his chin. “That’s where General Santiago believed Horn took Raven’s Claw after killing half his crew on a mission to North America.”
“How do you know that?” Les asked.
“Rhino and I found out through a former crew member serving time at the Shark’s Cage,” X said.
Rodger stood. “So we go to the Outrider and kill them all,” he said. “Simple answer to all this.”
“We have no idea what’s there, Rodge,” Michael said.
“I don’t care what’s there,” Rodger snarled, “as long as Horn and Moreto are. I’m going to find them, skin them, and burn them alive.”
Magnolia put a hand on his arm, but he pulled away.
“What are we waiting for?” he said, glancing around with wild eyes. “Cricket just gave us a map to the place where we can end all this.”
Everyone remained quiet, even X.
“We have to go and kill Horn,” Rodger said. “I’ll go by myself if I have to.”
“Rodge, it’s not that simple,” X said. “We need a plan before we set off. We need to do recon.”
“Recon?” Rodger said. “What the hell for? We know what’s there.”
Magnolia tried to soothe him, but again he pulled away. He looked to Michael, X, and finally Les. Then he stormed off.
Magnolia called out after him. “Rodger, wait up.”
The doors opened, and Rodger slipped between them, his footsteps echoing with Magnolia’s as she gave chase.
X sat down on his throne, putting his hand on his head.
“Everyone but Michael and Les, leave me,” he said.
Michael kissed Layla on the cheek. She whispered something to him, and he nodded.
“Actually, Layla, please stay,” X said. “I want your advice, too.”
Les walked with Michael up to the base of the steps while the room emptied. Ton and Victor, last out, closed the doors.
They creaked open a moment later, and Magnolia returned. X waved her forward.
She joined Michael, Les, and Layla at the steps in front of the throne.
“You four are my most trusted confidants,” X said. “I’ve known you all for a very long time, during which we’ve suffered and fought together enough for several lifetimes.”
He pulled his hand away from his head and leaned down to stroke Miles.
“What we do next could very well determine the fate of our people and the rest of our species,” he said. “And I want your opinions.”
He looked first to Les.
“I say we send Colonel Forge and some of our boats to the Outrider to destroy the skinwalkers,” Les said. “While simultaneously launching Discovery with a team of Hell Divers to Africa, to eliminate the defectors.”
“I disagree with the second part,” Layla said. “Send our firepower to the Outrider and destroy the skinwalkers and keep the rest of our defenses back here just in case they aren’t bluffing about the machines.”
“I don’t like the idea of going to Africa, either,” Magnolia said, glancing over at Les. “But I do think we should go to the Outrider. Strike before they can.”
X looked to Michael last. So far, it was two against one.
The young commander grabbed Layla’s hand, facing her. “I know you’re scared, but we can’t wait for them to attack. Rodger was right. Cricket gave us a map to destroy the skinwalkers, and Pedro has a map to the defectors.”
Layla pulled her hand away from his.
“We will never be safe if we don’t destroy both threats,” Michael said, turning back to X. “I say we take this fight to both enemies and surprise them before they come for us.”
TWENTY-THREE
Ada lay on a rocky outcrop overlooking a beach littered with boats. She had stashed the gear salvaged from her boat in a nook in the rocks.
After a night of rest, she had set off to find a seaworthy vessel. About a mile away from her capsized boat, she had discovered a small catamaran with its sails stowed in the cabin, out of the weather. They looked potentially seaworthy if she could patch them up a bit.
The boat reminded her a bit of the Sea Wolf, and while she had no idea how to operate it, she decided to check it out.
Using her rifle scope, she pressed it to her repaired visor, making sure the path ahead was clear.
A squeaking sounded behind her. The adolescent female monkey she rescued had followed her around for the past twelve hours, not leaving her side.
While it was nice to finally have a companion, she worried that the creature would draw the attention of less benign beasts. Leeches weren’t the only things she worried about here.
Another distant wail sounded, as if in answer.
Ada remained prone, the rifle butt tucked against her shoulder. She didn’t see anything moving in the wake of lightning flashing over the beach, but that didn’t mean something wasn’t down there.
She had a choice to make before she moved: bring her hairy friend with her or leave it here in the rocks with her gear.
Another squeak forced her to turn.
“Quiet,” Ada whispered.
The monkey tilted its smooth, black face and blinked its big obsidian eyes. Of course, it couldn’t understand her, but there had to be a way to make it be quiet.
Ada pointed to the dirt. Stay here. The monkey blinked again.