Jason arrived at O.R.C.A. with the first sunlight. Even from afar, the platform seemed already busier than usual, especially at this early hour before the first dayshift. As he approached, the picture got even stranger. Many of the people running around wore uniforms of the Global Union Army. The tension was tangible. Three soldiers awaited him at the pier, guns ready but secured. Though they were not pointed at him, Jason felt nervous. He turned off the engine and slowly turned around towards the soldiers.
"Jason Bates," he stated. The soldier in the middle, Jason identified as the ranking officer, shouldered his weapon and nodded.
"We were told to expect you, Sir."
Jason tossed the anchor rope to the left soldier who was closer to the bollard. The officer extended a hand. "Lieutenant Creek," he introduced himself and pulled Jason onto the deck. "I'm in charge of surface deck security."
"You didn't ask for ID."
Creek gave him a grim smile. "We know who you are, Sir. Thanks to you, my brother and his squad were able to disarm a bomb in their sector. They managed to get 48 people to safety."
"Glad to hear some made it out," Jason murmured. "I guess your presence means that Senator De Souza is here? Why wasn't I informed?"
"That's above my paygrade, Sir," Creek replied. "I just can tell you that we arrived recently and communication is restricted."
"Figures. Do I need an escort, or can I move freely?"
"Of course, you can move freely, Sir," Creek responded and almost looked insulted. Before Jason could ask about the over-the-top formal way, the lieutenant was addressing him, someone called his name and Brett came running across the platform.
"Thank you," Jason said to Creek quickly and turned towards his brother. "What's going on?" he asked as they walked towards the elevator.
"No idea," Brett replied and hit the button for the apartment floor. "De Souza came in yesterday afternoon. Mum is pretty angry because they just showed up unannounced."
Jason went cold. "Did something happen? Another attack?"
Brett shook his head. "Not that we know of. But De Souza insists on talking to Shalamorn in person. She doesn't seem to trust human communication channels anymore."
"Probably smart. We still don't know how information about Darwin got leaked."
"I don't think we'll ever will," said Brett with a grim expression. The elevator came to a halt and they exited to the floor. Brett made a circling gesture with his head to draw Jason's attention to the soldiers at every corner. "Too many people are involved and –" he lowered his voice, "despite what De Souza says, I'm not sure she really knows every single one of them well enough."
"Agreed," Jason murmured and they made the rest of the way to their apartment in silence.
De Souza and Diane were already expecting them, waiting beside the dinner table. His mother gave him a quick hug. De Souza extended her hand and Jason took it.
"Katherina."
Maybe he had been too bold to address her so informal but she just flashed him a smile and gave him a warm squeeze.
"Jason. I'm so very glad to see you. I'm sorry we had to call you back from your vacation."
Jason shrugged. "Sitting on a beach gets boring anyway."
She released him with a grin. "For me, yes. For you – I don't believe that for a second. How is Neri?"
"She's great. I'm sure she arrived already at the Pyramid. Will you tell me what this is all about?"
De Souza's face fell. "I prefer talking in the Pyramid. Not, that I don't trust your AI or the security of your comlines but the Pyramid seems the most secure option. We should head there as soon as possible."
Jason nodded. "I just change into my dress blues." He turned towards the small bedroom but something suddenly occurred to him. "How do we get to the Pyramid? The minifin can only take two people at a time – or well, one besides the pilot."
"Well, while you were sitting on the beach," Brett said with a wide grin, "Shalamorn's engineers were finally able to figure out how to drive that submarine of theirs."
"The vehicle they found in storage while scavenging the Pyramid?"
Brett nodded. "This storage room turned out to be a garage. It can be flooded and has its own door to the outside."
Diane didn't seem to share Brett's enthusiasm. "That thing must be really old that not even Shalamorn it was there. I still don't know if I really want to travel in a thousand-year-old submarine."
Brett shrugged. "They said it's safe. They wouldn't risk any of our lives."
"Still," Diane started to argue but Jason left them to their discussion to change. Even after months of settling in, they still found new chambers, some of them deep in the ocean floor. Finding homes for Shalamorn's entourage had never been an issue.
As they entered the diving pool area, Jason instantly noted the nervous friction in the air. A lot of Global Union soldiers had been posted. A few ocean men stood around the pool, protecting what looked like an access duct. They watched each other warily, weapons not drawn but hands hovering above them, ready to spring into action. As the soldiers on both sides got aware of the group approaching, they straightened up.
"Great," Brett murmured, "one big happy family. You'd think they got used to each other by now."
"Easy people," De Souza said loudly. "We're all friends here. Are you in charge of the submarine?" she asked addressing one of Shalamorn's soldiers. His uniform was darker than those of the others and stood closest to the duct.
"Yes, Ma'am," he answered. The "Ma'am" part sounded hesitant. Not as respectful as it should but rather forced. "We are here to bring you to the Pyramid," he continued but looked beyond De Souza right into Jason's eyes. Jason blinked confused but De Souza stepped forward before he could respond.
"Alright then," she said and gestured two soldiers to come with her. "Let's go."
She only came as far as half a step before her way was blocked. "Only you," the captain explained. "None of your soldiers."
"You can't expect me to go into the lion's den without personal protection."
"Protection is not necessary. You won't be harmed." He almost sounded offended.
"And I should rely on your word based on faith?" De Souza shook her head. "Don't take it the wrong way but my trust is not earned as easy."
"Hey, if it makes her feel better to take some bodyguards with her," Brett intervened. "You're way stronger than them anyway. You could take them out with a pat on their shoulder."
"We cannot allow armed soldiers which are not of our kind to enter sacred space," the captain replied, clearly having trouble to stay calm.
"They won't make a move until I say so," De Souza said with anger in her voice. She was about to lose patience as well. "They are here for my protection not to assassinate the Queen."
Poor choice of words, Jason realized immediately. The ocean soldiers slightly raised their wrists and with a sound, their weapons activated. The Global Union Soldiers immediately grabbed their guns, not yet pointed at the oceanic soldiers but the aggressive atmosphere was almost tangible.
"For God's sake," Diane exclaimed, "would you all please calm down? This hostility is leading us nowhere!"
De Souza and the captain glared at each other for a moment, then she sighed and nodded at the soldiers. They secured their weapons but their expressions were just as hostile as before. The oceanic soldiers hadn't moved and their devices still hummed. Their captain looked again at Jason, waiting for something. What was he supposed to do? Command them?
"Stand down," he said and to his surprise they obeyed instantly. Jason tried to hide his surprise the best he could. What was going on here? He exchanged a quick glance with Brett but his brother seemed lost as well. "If they leave their weapons," he started but decided to rather rephrase it as an order instead of a question, "they leave their weapons and come with us. Like my brother said, you are physically superior to them. Allowing them to enter the Pyramid is a concession, an act of generosity towards our allies."
The captain gestured the oceanic soldier to stand aside and took a step back as well. "If you say so, An'Goleda."
Jason once again blinked in confusion. He had never heard this word before. What happened while they've been on the Island?
"What the fuck?!" Brett murmured which brought him a condescending glance by Diane. Jason suppressed a grin.
Yeah, exactly.