Chapter 14
Colonel Cullen had not addressed the team since Edward's arrival, which meant the new team leader was sticking around. Not that it matters to Emmett. Edward is just another face in another fight for another few years.
Its six weeks since the rabisu incident. Emmett and Edward have not spoken or seen each other. The team's routine is locked in the standard, monotonous wait. Daily briefings on creatures they've fought before. Weapons training where every hit is a bull's-eye. Inventories of things that never disappear. Maintenance of equipment that never breaks. Pen training against Class-A pests like rabisu and komos. At night, the team goes back to their dorms. Alice visits Jacob. Bella hides. Emmett works out.
The only variation is Bella texting. An act Emmett has never witnessed now a common glimpse. In his periphery in the locker room. The buzz of her phone during briefings. Who she talks to is no secret. Who she talks to is of no importance. Emmett is sure she's meeting him when she can. As long as Edward does what he needs to do when the time comes.
Walking into the conference room for another briefing, Emmett sees the new name plate - "CPT MASEN" - resting next to Colonel Cullen's spot. He sits low in his assigned position, beside Bella across the table, and slides his hands deep into his pockets. The rest of team takes their places, Jacob across from Emmett, next to Edward's empty seat, Alice nearest the screen beside the Jacob.
Emmett glances to Alice. "We briefing today or just doing Pen work?"
Alice runs her fingers through her short hair. "Colonel didn't tell me. Haven't seen him today."
It's enough of an answer for Emmett. He leans over to Bella. "You should be excited," he whispers.
Bella shakes her head, ignoring the statement. She runs her fingertips along her upper arm.
Emmett closes his eyes, slows his mind and thinks only blackness.
Some time later - a few seconds or a few hours, Emmett doesn't care - the door clicks and Carlisle enters the conference room followed by Edward. Emmett opens his eyes and looks up, but does not adjust his posture.
"Gamma team," the Colonel says, the stiff Edward standing at his side, "You will not receive a creature briefing today. You will conduct a training scenario with your new team leader, Captain Masen, guiding from Observation."
Same old shit, Emmett thinks. He mentally recites Colonel Cullen's instructions to the team about following the team leader's orders as the officer speaks. There is nothing but bored contempt on his face. He glances around the table. Alice's polite, reassuring grin. Jacob's tired naivety. Bella's stoic, professional calm but deep in her eyes there's an energy Emmett hasn't seen in years.
"Are there any questions?" Carlisle finally asks. The expected silence. "Captain, you have thirty minutes to conduct your pre-brief. Your field team is required to be in the Pen within the hour. I will meet you in Observation."
"Yes sir," Edward says.
"Gamma," the Colonel says. The team, minus Emmett, rise briefly from their seat as he walks out.
The door closes and Edward's shoulder drop, a relieved smile crossing his face. He plops into his chair. "Guys."
Jacob claps him on the back. "Good to have you here, finally."
"Glad to be out of the library?" Alice asks.
"Very."
"Well," Bella says, her beaming smile weakening her professional stature, "Ready to get started?"
Edward smirks, bemused. "I am."
Swallowing his bitter snark, Emmett says nothing. The rest of the team settles and gives their attention to their leader.
"Okay," Edward starts through a heavy exhale. He had been provided the nature of this training scenario an hour ago, which he quickly memorized to provide this brief. "Limited information is available at this time. Western Turkey, there have been reports of missing persons near a range of mountains. We are conducting a reconnaissance of the area, looking for evidence of whatever is going on."
Waiting out of habit, Edward is a bit surprised that team isn't writing anything down. It's a necessity, in his experience, but he trusts the nature of this group despite his expectations. They know what they're doing, he thinks. "Are there any questions?"
"Any unidentified remains," Emmett asks, gruffly.
"No." Edward's response is immediate.
Undeterred, Emmett follows up quickly. "Damage to buildings?"
"Remote location. No buildings."
"Trees, then?"
"Nothing unexpected."
"Nearby by water sources?"
"There's a good-sized lake about three miles away."
"Where's our insertion?"
"A mile from the base of the highest peak. Notional," Edward quickly adds the word, clarifying that the distance from the mountain is imaginary. It's based only on the required scenario and not the reality of their training.
"No shit," Emmett growls. He runs the provided details through his mind in silence.
"What time is the recon?" Bella asks, anticipating the answer.
"Actual. Daylight." Edward expected to have a transformed flying sniper available, and was disappointed that he wouldn't see it.
Bella shrugs.
"Any other questions," Edward asks after a moment. He hopes there aren't. Emmett's rain of questions were obvious. He should have provided the information initially, but nerves made him rush.
"What's the plan?" Jacob finally asks to Edward's relief.
Edward explains the concept of the operation. Bella, Emmett and Jacob will scout the area in the shape of a triangle and walk in a zigzag pattern from their insertion point to the top of the mountain. Edward and Alice will remain in Observation. It's a good, though formulaic, plan on paper and it Edward hates it. His preference is to discuss it with the team, let their experience guide them. Colonel Cullen wouldn't have it, and approved the plan before they came in.
Bella's advice is the play the game. The team knows the rules and won't take it personal. So that's what Edward's doing.
"Sound good?" Edward asks, satisfied the team understands.
"Sure," Emmett says, standing.
"One second," Edward says.
Emmett remains standing. "Yeah?"
"What do you think we're going after?"
The frown hides Emmett's surprise. The show of respect annoys him. "Should be a chimera. Could be harpies." A cocks his head dismissively. "But this is your first scenario. What you've told us is wrong."
Edward's eyes narrow. "Thank you," he says dryly, hoping to avoid granting Emmett any satisfaction. He addresses the rest of the team. "Anything else?"
Bella smiles, thrilled to finally have Edward leading them. "No, sir."
"Good." Edward's heart pounds in his throat. It's really happening. "Full ammo. Medium range rifles and pistol back-up. Jacob."
"Sir," Jacob says, sitting up. Excitement pours from him.
"You've got the SAW." The team needs to have a machine gun available. "Secondary weapons are your choice. Be ready to start in thirty minutes."
"Awesome," Jacob says as they stand.
The team walks in purposeful silence towards the Pen until they get to the hall leading to the locker room.
"Good luck, team," Edward tells them as Alice leads him to Observation.
"Good luck to you," Bella says, smiling. She fights the intense urge to hug him.
"Edward," Emmett says before he walks away.
"Yeah."
"Don't kill us."
"Don't give me a reason," Edward says. He turns and follows Alice to Observation, fighting the guilt-filled pride in meeting Emmett's attitude with such a callous statement.
Emmett scoffs and heads to the locker room.
Half an hour later, the team waits in the dark of the holding room, awaiting their release into the Pen. The heavy straps of their tactical vest weigh deep on their shoulders. The random click of their rifles against the plastic clips along their stomachs. A heavy, anticipating breath.
Emmett focuses on the rough carrying strap, wrapped from his gun around his neck, as it digs into his skin. Muscles flex. A shift of weight. Jaw clenches and he smiles.
"Emmett?" Jacob asks, softly. These moments are naturally tense; regardless of how many times the team does them.
"Yeah?"
"What's the catch on this one?" Typically, training scenarios are predictable, but a new team leader's first scenario is designed to be a trap. Sometimes it's an innocuous difference. Sometimes drastic. The test is how well the new leader adjusts.
"Don't know. I expect Carlisle really fucks with him."
In Observation, Alice explains the radio system Edward will use. Since he does not have one implanted yet, he's forced to use a push-to-talk model.
"And please don't yell into it," Alice says, finishing her lesson. "Since I'm in here it can cause feedback."
"Gotcha," Edward says. His heart drops as Alice walks to the couch in the corner, his expert unavailable.
Colonel Cullen approaches from the shadows, arms across his chest. "Ready?"
"Yes sir." Edward swallows the jitter in his voice.
"The monitors will be off," the Colonel says, motioning to the various screens. "You will us the window that opens once I initiate the scenario."
"Understood."
"Once the scenario begins, you are on your own until completion. If I believe the team is in extreme danger, I will abort."
Edward nods, severe nerves racking his spine. "Yes sir. I'm ready."
"Good luck, Edward," Alice says, quickly.
The Colonel shoots her a glance before positioning himself at the mic. "Gamma, prepare for insertion."
In the dark holding room, the team takes a collective breath, preparing for whatever awaits behind the door.
Colonel Cullen pulls the keyboard over, the scenario preselected before Edward's arrival, and presses the Enter key. "Scenario is live." In the following silence, he walks back to his corner.
The bewildered Edward sits in front of the microphone, staring at the blank wall. Nothing. He glances back. The Colonel is expressionless. Alice hides her eyes. Emmett is right. The given scenario is wrong. He presses the radio's button. "Gamma, report. Over."
"We're moving." Bella's voice pops with static over Observation's speakers.
"Moving where, over?"
"Stop with the 'over' shit," the bored Emmett says.
"Off comms, Vejo," Edward orders back, surprised how quickly he adjusts to code names. He takes a breath. "What's going on?"
"The holding room is moving," Bella says, bewilderment in her voice. "The door hasn't opened."
"Any idea?"
"No, sir."
Edward's hand shakes in thought-filled nervousness. What now, he thinks. He feels the tingle along his shoulders. The unease in his gut. Uncertainty makes him sick. "I'm seeing nothing," he finally says.
After a chilling silence in the dark of both rooms, Jacob's voice comes over the radio. "We've stopped."
A grind and whirr fills Observation as the full wall starts to rise. A sporadic flash of light blast through the widening crease. The faint howl of wind. Alice stands in terrified awe. Edward sits agape in his chair.
Deep in the underground Pen, a swirling sea covers the floor. Waves crash high against the shifting walls. Simulated lightning blinds. Torrents of water fall from the ceiling, casting the room in a dull, gray darkness. A simulated hurricane.
"I didn't know the Pen could do that," Alice says to no one.
High in the air, a metal box hangs.
Oh shit. Edward slams his hand onto the microphone. "Water landing," he screams across the radio.
Instantaneously, the holding cell floor drops. In a rush of air and rain, the three team members crash forty feet into the foaming waters below.