"Jonesy, make sure your communicator is working, then you and Williams go pack up the personal affects of Larabee's team and bring them back. You should have plenty of time before those car seats get here," Capt. Yeager ordered.
Chris and the others relaxed as it became evident that Yeager and his team would do their job and get them to the shuttle but they were willing to work with them.
"Man this is just . . .," a trooper's voice just trailed off not having the words to describe the horror.
"This is so much worse then the news was saying," another trooper agreed looking out over the shattered city.
"Hard to believe there were only 300,000 killed," Capt. Yeager agreed. "The early warning systems really help."
"Rescue teams must have done one hell of a job," the grizzled sergeant said.
Larabee's team exchanged dumbfounded looks.
//They believe that? They really think that?// Chris 'said' in disbelief.
Vin lay a warning hand on Ezra's shoulder and signed silence to JD and Cassey. Slow nods of agreement came his way. It would be better for the humans to have no voice in the revelations to come.
"How many dead did you say?" Chris demanded hoarsely.
"300,000 why?" Yeager asked.
"There were more than 3,000 dead recovered from this peak to the one where the Command post is set up," Chris growled.
"They haven't even begun to clear the rubble in city center yet," Josiah revealed.
"There's no telling how many have been washed out to sea. They had less then 20 minutes warning to find high ground," Buck hissed. "Rough estimate indicates close to 2,000,000 dead. The earthquake hit at 2:05pm local time. Kids were in school. Folks were at work. The buildings just crumpled like tissue paper, so much for building codes.
"The news said 300,000," one of the troopers protested.
"I thought the buildings had been razed for safety," another trooper gasped.
"Look around you, then tell me how many dead," Chris snarled.
A stunned silence fell over the security team as they 'looked' at the area around them.
"This was just the outskirts of Sydni wasn't it?" the old sergeant whispered.
"Sydni proper is that flattened area a mile to your right," Josiah answered.
A long silence fell over the group.
"Why'd they lie? I mean why lie about how bad this was? People would know eventually," a young trooper asked shakily.
"Citizens would want to know why it was this bad. Elections are coming up soon," the old sergeant said coldly.
"You're saying council deliberately kept this out of the news?" A trooper demanded in disbelief.
"Son, ask any of these folks out here when they got the first warning. I can tell you when. Twenty minutes before the damn wave hit that's when. Junior there was pitching a hissy fit trying to get the news out once he knew what the hell was going on." Buck waved at Tanner. "The first quake none of us recognized what was building 'til it was too late to do anything."
"There were no emergency warnings? Why not?" Yeager demanded.
"There aren't any seismic detectors," Josiah answered.
"None?" Shaken voices demanded.
"None. I attempted to hack into the emergency system when communications went down. I thought maybe we could get warning of a build up or maybe reboot the system so it would work. There is NO system, not here, not anywhere on this planet. The early detection system does not exist," Josiah growled bitterly.
"Maybe you just looked in the wrong place," a young trooper suggested desperately.
"Yeah and maybe it didn't take 68 hours for the first official search and rescue teams to arrive, either," Chris snorted.
Furious eyes locked on Larabee as the portent of his words registered.
"They ought to try the whole damn council for treason," Yeager whispered bitterly. "You have any proof to back up your claim?"
"It's going to bite them in the ass. There are people out there wanting to know what happened to one hell of a lot of friends and family," Buck muttered.
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Both teams were taking it easy while they waited. Vin was curled around Larabee acting as a back rest while pillowing his head on Chris' thigh. Cassey sat in front of Larabee while he braided her hair. JD, Ezra, Buck and Josiah had settled in to a game of poker. Yeager sat talking quietly to Chris.
"Captain, this bunch doesn't seem to be flight risks. You mind if we take turns walking around?" The grizzled sergeant asked quietly.
"Iffen they's headed inta that mess yah best warn 'em," Vin said.
The security team jumped slightly at the unexpected voice.
"I will," Chris answered distractedly. Sighing he unbraided part of Cassey's hair until he located a section he had lost track of.
"I thought he was asleep," Yeager admitted sheepishly.
"He was and now he is. I don't think he ever really shuts down," Chris sighed brushing a gentle hand across the human's dusty cheek. "The dogs are dangerous. Kill them on sight and remember they are pack hunters . . ."
"They're pets," Troopers protested.
"They were pets. Now their starving," Buck said coldly.
"Grab some flags as you go through the check points. That way you can mark any bodies you run across," Josiah instructed quietly.
"Bodies?"
"What did you think that stench is? It's going to take weeks maybe months to recover the dead. Longer if they don't get some heavy equipment in here," Buck growled.
"Any of your boys ever been involved in body recovery?" Josiah asked in concern.
"Not on this kind of scale and only fresh bodies," the old sergeant admitted.
"Keep an eye on them. This kind of thing will haunt a man his whole life," Josiah sighed.
"Stay close men, no telling when those car seats will get here," Yeager ordered giving his young troopers a legitimate reason not to go prowling.
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Ezra breathed a sigh of relief when Jonesy and Williams dropped two packs beside the shuttle on their return. After checking them and approving of the men's skill in packing, Standish simply curled up on top of the gear and went to sleep.
"Isn't that just like a kid. They can sleep in the darndest places," Williams chuckled.
"We left the supplies and blankets for the relief workers. I hope that was alright?" Jonesy said.
"That's fine, thank you corporal," Chris replied, a gentle hand stroked Vin's shoulder trying to soothe the restless sentinel.
Vin sleepily tugged on Larabee's shirt until he bared the colonel's abdomen. Snuffling happily he scooted slightly until his cheek rested against bare flesh. Once the skin to skin contact was made he sighed contentedly and relaxed completely.
"Aren't they kind of young?" the sergeant asked uncomfortably looking from Vin to JD who was curled up in Buck's arms. Larabee said they were minors dammit. Bonding them is just . . . wrong.
"JD is 19 . . .," Chris answered.
"20, he had a birthday while we were in the hospital," Buck corrected.
"JD is 20. Ezra's 25 . . . ," Chris continued.
"Ezra's 24," Cassey interrupted softly. "He's ten years older than me."
"24? Alright Ezra is 24 and Cassey here is 14." Chris tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear with a disgusted sigh.
"You'll get better at braiding," Cassey comforted.
Chris nodded and picked up the conversation once more. "Vin thinks he's 19 but he's not real sure."
"He doesn't know how old he is?" a young trooper said in surprise.
"He doesn't talk about his past much. I think he was a foundling at one point," Josiah explained.
"When you bond . . . never mind," another of the younger trooper's snapped his mouth closed. That's it piss off a full Colonel. But how can they bond with . . . babies.
The sergeant's big hand smacked the back of his trooper's head for being stupid.
"I think we've learned more about Hunters and Handlers from the humans than Hunter Center has ever learned. They've taught us that sex is unnecessary for a bond to function, it's even detrimental to it." Larabee stated bitterly. "Rape is a piss poor way to start off a lifelong commitment don't you think? Tell me, private, how much would you trust your sergeant there if he raped you on a regular basis?"
The young trooper flushed then paled. "Rape? No, it's not rape Hunter's want the physical link . . . right?"
"When I tried to force a bond . . . Tanner sent me into a coma . . . he was committing suicide. that's how much HE wanted the damn bond. The only reason I'm alive is because Buck over there was smart enough to cut a deal to take Ez and JD on if he would link with me. Vin sold his soul for his family. For there to be a real 'bond' the hunter and handler have to trust each other. Vin and I are the most powerful pair that Hunter Center has ever registered. Tanner worked 68 hours straight, no drugs, no rest. He was actively using his senses for 68 hours and he never zoned, not once. Tell me that our bond isn't working," Chris said in his still hoarse voice.
Larabee petted Vin with a trembling hand as the human mewled at his guide's distress. "Sh, sh, go back to sleep. I'm alright."
An uncomfortable silence fell over the group as Larabee's words were considered.
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Kennedy returned carrying 2 car seats with another man in tow carrying 2 more car seats. Tossing them to the ground, the second man turned and stalked away without ever speaking to the group.
"Now get your team loaded, Larabee. We have twenty minutes to catch the next transport," Kennedy hissed. The aide was looking decidedly rumpled and considerably more frazzled.
//Damn he managed that a lot faster then I thought. We still might end up catching a transport.// Chris 'said' gloomily.
//How many of them transports are there a day?// Vin asked thoughtfully.
Chris glanced at his watch. //This should be the last one today. After this it will be civilian craft unless there's an emergency.//
//You ever put one of them seats in?// Vin asked still pretending to be asleep and peeking out from under his lashes at the myriad straps, buckles and assorted parts.
//Not since you were old enough to walk on your own.// Chris admitted ruefully. //Sara always put the car seat in. She said I just didn't have the mechanical ability to handle anything that complex. I can fly a space craft but a damn car seat has me ready to kill something.//
//Wonder just how long it will take y'all to figure it out.// Vin 'said' mischievously.
//Oh I have this feeling that somehow it's going to take long enough for us to miss that transport.// Chris 'answered' agreeably.
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"I should have them all up on charges of insubordination," Kennedy growled. His temper snapped at the inept fumbling as the assorted military personnel seemed incapable of fastening the car seats into position.
The humans sat wide eyed listening to the cursing and peeking into the hover occasionally while most of the squad guarded them.
"Get out of my way. I'll do it myself," Kennedy fumed, looking down at his watch in dismay.
"Now?" JD asked sentinel soft.
Vin studied Kennedy and shook his head. Ezra nodded in agreement.
"Cassey, you stay wit' Buck. Things could get ugly iffen this jerk gets mean," Vin whispered.
Cassey looked ready to protest but kept her mouth shut.
"We'll be careful," JD promised faintly. "We're giving General Travis time to get things together on his end. Chris said he wasn't happy about us being shipped out this way."
Chris and Josiah crawled out of the hover followed by Yeager and his sergeant all looking a bit sheepish at their inability to put in the seats.
"Might have helped if he had brought directions for the damn things," Yeager grumbled. "I'm not sure all the pieces are even there."
"You read directions?" the sergeant looked skeptical.
"When everything else fails," Yeager admitted.
Kennedy brushed past them as he climbed into the hover to sort things out. Vin stood up and started to hobble off.
"NONE of Larabee's team is to go anywhere. They'll be right here to load as soon as I'm done," Kennedy barked.
Vin's eyes danced as he caught Chris' gaze then a sweetly innocent look settled over his face.
Kennedy just shot himself in the foot. Chris scowled warning Tanner not to take things too far. Glancing down his harsh "Tanner," brought the injured foot up until only Vin's toes touched the ground.
Vin just smiled and raised his hands in a childish parody of 'carry me'. Josiah swung the human into his arms, walked over and gently deposited him to sit in the wide entrance to the hover. Patting Josiah's arm Tanner seemed to settle in to wait.
Buck turned his back to hide his grin as Vin glanced into the hover then began to swing his legs. Typical behavior with a bored child. The hover began to rock and the slam of a car seat's lap shield filled the air followed by pained cursing.
Yeah that stings when one of those things thumps you good. Buck thought to himself smugly.
"Stop that at once," Kennedy snarled.
Vin blinked in confusion. "Stop what, sir?"
"Rocking the hover car," the bootlicker hissed furiously.
Vin caught his lip between his teeth and nodded.
Ezra carefully slipped aboard to join Vin followed by a cautious JD. Waiting a few moments until Kennedy was fully involved with the car seat the three humans made their move They crawled up onto the bench seat in front of where Kennedy was working. Resting their arms across the back of the seat, then chins came to rest on folded hands. The picture of innocent curiosity times three.
"Whatcha doing?" They chorused.
Kennedy straightened abruptly causing the car seat to slide to the floor and crash onto his instep.
"Oh them's bad words. Chris doesn't like it when you use them words around kids," JD announced loudly making certain he'd be heard by Larabee. Vin and Ezra nodded emphatically backing up their cohort.
Buck moved away from the hover where he could snicker at the human's antics. He began to give Josiah a rundown on what was occurring. The troopers that couldn't get close enough to the door to hear soon gathered around Wilmington to listen.
Kennedy growled under his breath and picked up the car seat to try again.
"That wasn't a very nice thing to say," Vin chided.
"I wasn't talking to you," Kennedy sighed.
"Then you should have refrained from speaking aloud," Ezra lectured.
Kennedy made an unusual sound, not quite a whine but not a scream either.
"Why are you doing that?" JD demanded leaning over the end of the seat until his head was hanging upside down so he could watch Kennedy fight the straps.
"So I can fasten the straps," Kennedy said in an impatient tone.
"Why?" JD asked curiously.
"So I can fasten this . . . seat in place," Kennedy growled.
"Why?" JD asked.
"So I can get all of you delivered to the shuttle base and get you out of my hair," Kennedy sighed.
Yeager rested his head against the hover car as he tried to maintain control. "You figure they'll torment him until he kills them?" He asked Larabee.
"No, I think he'll cry or throw something first," Chris sighed. I'll be getting another lecture from on high.
"He seems to be follicly challenged," Ezra remarked peering over the seat.
"Follicly challenged? Oh yah mean that bald spot?" Vin stared down at the paper pusher's head until a defensive hand reached up to cover the questionable spot.
"I figured they would have bred that kind of deformity out of the Centurion line," JD said leaning around the end of the seat to look at Kennedy's head closely. "Look at that vein pound on his forehead," JD whispered very loudly.
"Mister Kennedy might I inquire if you have had your blood pressure checked recently?" Ezra asked sympathetically.
"Do Centurions have strokes?" Vin asked worriedly. "Or is that only a human thing?"
Kennedy hunched his shoulders and secured another strap sighing in relief. "There that's one in place."
"We ain't babies," Vin sniffed in an affronted tone.
"What?" Kennedy asked distractedly.
"That implement of torture is facing the back of the seat. It is positioned for an infant which none of us happen to be. The seat should face forward," Ezra said in a very put upon tone.
"Why didn't you say something?" Kennedy snarled.
"You didn't ask," JD answered.
"He's gonna blow, run!" Vin ordered.
The three humans exited the hover in a series of leaps and bounds. Vin swung himself on to the roof when Ezra and JD didn't clear the doorway quite quick enough. The car seat sailed through the open doorway and bounced along the ground as Ezra and JD dodged to the side.
"Careful there Kennedy, it'll really mess with your schedule if we have to take one of the kids to the doctor because you couldn't control your temper." Larabee warned softly.
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"Why didn't you tell me you could put the car seats in yourselves?" Kennedy gritted as the humans made short work of fitting the car seats in place. Holding up his hand the Aide cut off the response. "Never mind, I know, I didn't ask."
"We thought you wanted us to stay out of the way." JD answered innocently.
The air was filled with suspicious coughs and throat clearing.
"Get in the seats now," Kennedy fumed.
Everyone was soon loaded and the hover dipped wildly when it lifted.
"Mr. Kennedy maybe you should let one of us drive. You don't seem to be familiar with operating a hover this size. Military vehicles are programmed differently," Yeager suggested . . . firmly.
"Capt. Yeager, I signed this vehicle out of the motor pool as such I am responsible for any damages to it. I'm operating it. There isn't that much difference." Kennedy snorted. The hover yawed wildly when the council aide waved a hand wildly in emphasis.
Several stifled yelps were heard as the hover barely missed a pile of rubble. Knuckles turned white as they were clenched on handy 'oh-crap' handles. The hover headed west toward the nearest space shuttle base. Everyone relaxed slightly as they reached open ground somehow managing not to tag any of the hovers working around Sydni.
"I'm thirsty," JD announced.
"There's water in the survival kit; give him that," Kennedy gave a put upon sigh.
"I require sustenance. I haven't eaten in over 7 hours," Ezra whined.
"Me too," Cassey chimed in.
"Ration bars are in the survival kit," Kennedy growled.
"I beg your pardon, this is in no manner sustenance." Ezra emphasized his point by tapping the 'food' bar against the window eliciting a solid clunk.
"Ez, don't do that you could break a window," Buck growled.
"I require nourishment that will not result in the injury to my dentition,"
"What?"
"Teeth. He doesn't want to damage his teeth," JD translated.
"Kids can't eat those things unless you break them up into little pieces. Their mouths just don't open wide enough. My little brother loves those things but Mom has to mash them up for him," a trooper interjected.
"Where'd a human learn that kind of vocabulary any way?" Kennedy sniffed.
"He swallered a dictionary disc," Vin answered.
Ezra sighed deeply. Oh the indignity of it all. Reduced to the stature of a child. If I am to be treated as a child then I will reap the benefits there of. Opening his mouth he spoke the dreaded phrase immediately elevating Kennedy's blood pressure. "Are we there yet?"
"NO!" The frazzled council aide barked.
Chris leaned back in his seat trying to get comfortable. Feeling something unfamiliar in his shirt pocket he reached in and pulled out two pebbles. That sneaky little shit. Why doesn't he leave it alone. Starting to toss the pebbles to the floor he hesitated. Somebody will just have to clean up after me. Rubbing the stones a moment he put them back in his pocket. Looking up he caught a hopeful look on Vin's face before the human turned away. Guess I'll hang on to them a while. It seems important to Vin. Fastening the flap down so the pebbles wouldn't be lost he settled back and closed his eyes.
"Buck's on my side," JD protested.
"Am not. I'm just bigger then you," Buck argued.
"If you didn't have such a fat butt," JD snapped back.
"Fat? I'm not fat," Buck growled.
Chris smiled faintly as wonderful memories of family outings filled his mind. Adam would try to drive me crazy with the 'Are we there yets?' and Buck would egg him on. The light hearted human laughter pulled him into memories of happier times.
"Buck, quit your pestering and leave the boy alone," Chris ordered just like he had hundreds of times before while Adam was alive.
Buck gasped faintly and raised his head. His eyes locked with Chris'. Larabee's eyes revealed his mellow state. A happy smile lit Wilmington's face at the chiding. "Alright but I wasn't on his side," Buck protested.
"He's making faces at me," JD tattled.
"Buck, stop it," Chris laughed looking over at the once familiar 'monster' face.
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"Are we there yet?" JD asked. His eyes filled with laughter as Kennedy gave an obvious flinch.
"I've gotta go," Vin said.
"You shouldn't have drank so much water," Kennedy fumed.
"That was JD," Vin reminded.
"Why didn't you go before we left?" Kennedy demanded.
"Yah wouldn't let us," Vin answered.
"I did not," Kennedy snapped.
"Did so," Cassey, JD and Buck chorused.
"I quote," Ezra began. "NONE of Larabee's team is to go anywhere. They'll be right here to load as soon as I'm done."
"There's no reason he couldn't have taken a leak right there," Kennedy sniffed.
"A properly raised Centurion such as yourself might have exposed himself in front of a young lady in such a manner. Among the base born humans such as ourselves such behavior is unacceptable," Ezra answered coldly.
"I'm sure that little . . . ," Kennedy sniffed.
"You ever try it and yer gonna be squattin' ta pee from now on," Vin warned coldly cutting off Kennedy's comment.
Kennedy started to make a scathing comment when the icy silence registered. Glancing toward Yeager he shut his mouth and concentrated on his driving under the censoring glares directed his way by all his passengers.
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"Kennedy, this is a military hover, there are no proximity protocols. Let someone else drive," Yeager gritted as they merged into the traffic grid around Melbine, where the Space shuttle base was located.
""I'm an excellent driver. I've never had a traffic citation," Kennedy huffed.
"Kennedy, this is NOT a council vehicle . . ." Larabee bellowed when he realized what Kennedy was going to do. The hover accelerated cutting across three lanes and two levels of traffic before forcing it's way onto the commuter track. ". . . traffic is not routed out of your way," Chris finished in a yelp.
"Turn around dumbass you're going against traffic," Yeager roared.
Hovers darted this way and that, normal traffic patterns shattered by the interloping vehicle, while the traffic computer tried to correct the situation.
"The traffic grid doesn't register the presence . . . of military vehicles unless you turn on the damn marker," Chris snarled as a hover crashed into the side of the armored vehicle.
Vin's soft voice was heard from the back of the hover.
"THE LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want."
"I want out of here," Buck yelped, flinching as a hover barely avoided contact with his side.
"He maketh me to lie down in green pastures;"
"Down would be good," Josiah agreed.
"he leadeth me beside the still waters."
"Still would be very welcome," The sergeant sighed and handed a travel sickness bag to a green faced trooper.
"He restoreth my soul:"
The screech of tortured metal filled the air as the hover's side was drug down the guard rail.
"I think mine just bailed out," Chris hissed.
"he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake."
"Please take that road, there will be less traffic," Jonesy laughed weakly.
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,"
"Don't mention dying, it might be catching," Buck protested.
"I will fear no evil:"
"Forget evil. It's the traffic I'm scared shitless of," Yeager yelped. A small hover bounced off his door and spun out into two more lanes of traffic.
"for thou art with me;"
"Who ever he is, he better hold on tight," William's squealed as they spun in two complete circles before straightening out.
"Vin, Buck smell down," Chris ordered just as the sound of multiple people vomiting filled the air.
"thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."
"Can I use them to beat the shit out of Kennedy," Chris demanded.
"Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:"
"That might not be a good idea," The sergeant growled as he passed another travel sickness bag over to a suffering trooper.
"thou anointest my head with oil;"
"NO OIL! We don't want a serious crash, so no oil," Yeager ordered. Fear filled eyes locked on the crashing vehicles piling up around them.
"my cup runneth over."
"Of course it is. We're running out of bags here, anybody see more?" the sergeant growled.
"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:"
"And it's going to be very short one," Josiah hissed gripping the arms of his seat and closing his eyes at the mass of hovers headed straight for them.
"and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever."
"We're all gonna die," a trooper whimpered.
"Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jeeesussss," JD yelped as a hover screeched across the roof of their vehicle. "Holy Mary, mother of god, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of death. Amen," JD's shaking voice continued.
"3 Hail Marys and 2 Our Fathers," Ezra growled. "Now is not the time to take the Lord's name in vain, Mr. Dunne."
"Just trying to get his attention," JD snapped.