Chapter 47: Bad News and Good News

Factory, Near Kadic- France

12 Hours and 35 Minutes After Contact...

"No..." Jeremy said, staring at Athena, which losed trace of the USS McCain. He took off headset and then threw it to the ground. He leaned against the wall and pounded it with his fist with all of his might. "NO!" He yelled. Jeremy then slumped to the ground in tears as he took off his glasses, then covering his face with his own two hands. As he continued to weep, he heard a beeping noise from the super computer. Someone was calling. He bolted up from the ground and then picked up his headset again, wiping his tears with a huge smile on his face. It was Ulrich.

"Ulrich, you there?" Jeremy asked.

"Yeah, it's me." Ulrich replied to Jeremy.

"My God, I'm so glad you're alive!" Jeremy told him.

"We're just lucky to be alive." Ulrich said in reply.

"How's Yumi?"

"She's with us and the rest of the crew." Ulrich said. There was a long silence after.

"Now what are we going to do?" Jeremy asked over the phone.

"I don't know." he replied. "We'll think of somethin'." Jeremy lightly frowned.

"Well, just figure out a way to help us out." Jeremy told Ulrich. "We need that installation completely destroyed."

"Alright, we'll think of something." Ulrich said, hanging up the phone. Behind him, the elevator door opened, with Odd and Radford. Both of them seemed pretty happy about their new plan going to take place tomorrow morning.

"Guys, I have bad news." Jeremy said. "And, I've got some good news."

"What's the bad news?" Radford asked. Jeremy swallowed as he stared at the two, sitting in his chair.

"The USS McCain has been sunk." Both of their eyes had popped wide open. Their hearts sank as they heard the news.

"What's the good news, then?" Odd asked, nervous and sad.

"Yumi and Ulrich survived, as well as the entire crew." Jeremy informed. Both of them had signs of relief. However, there was no way to completely destroy the installation.

"How're we going to destroy the installation, then?" Radford asked. Odd shrugged his shoulders.

"I don't know." Jeremy replied. "I don't know." Behind them, the elevator doors closed and the elevator went up to the first floor of the factory.

"I hope they find a way." Odd said to Radford and Jeremy. "If they don't, then millions could die and Xana could dominate the world."

"And, I know we cannot let that happen, Jeremy." Radford added. Then, Odd just had another part of his ultimate plan to actually try to delay Xana while the others find a way. Then, the elevator doors opened, Jenny stepping out from it behind them.

"Hey guys." Jenny said. "What's the skinny?" Odd smirked.

"Hey, Jenny, have you ever drove before?" Odd asked. Jenny looked at Odd like he was crazy.

"Are you nuts?" Jenny asked, confused. "You know I can't drive at this age."

"Well, we're gonna have to think crazy." Odd implied. "At these difficult times, we should at least try anything." Jenny rolled her eyes and then sighed.

"Yeah, I suppose I do a little." Jenny answered to Odd's question.

"Alright then." Odd said. "Let's see if we cannot buy the world another day." Radford looked at Odd with a light smile and Jenny smiled with him. Jeremy smiled lightly as well and then looked back at the super computer, looking at the traces of the lifeboats heading back to shore.

"It looks like they're going back to Eisenhower Naval Base." Jeremy told them. "I just hope they have a good back-up plan."