| CHAPTER SEVEN, Isolated System |
"I hope you find your family soon, governor," Scott said right before he heard a transmission come through to their pilot.
"Thank you," Governor Newsom said while Scott eavesdropped.
"Pelican Five you are clear to land," came a voice through the com.
"Copy that, center," their pilot replied before flicking a few switches. Pelican Five, tailed closely by Pelican One began its short descent towards the USS John Paul Jones' landing pad in the rear of the ship. When the chopper set down, a team of United States Navy enlisted were waiting for them and immediately helped in unloading the passengers, beginning, of course, with the Governor of California. An officer, who Scott would meet again later, immediately escorted the elected official to an unknown destination—possibly the bridge—while the rest of Scott's pack and Reid were led to their scrunched quarters.
"Are you gonna' be alright?" Scott asked Isaac behind him, noting the extremely cramped living quarters with four bunks right next teacher other with only three feet between them.
Isaac let out a big exhale, a hand gripping somewhat tightly on Scott's hip. "I'm gonna' try."
"Just remember that time in the closet."
"Oh, I am. Thanks," Isaac added sarcastically, frustrated by the boner in his jeans.
They put their small bags on their beds and followed the rest of the pack to the cafeteria. It was there they saw their missing friends. Scott rushed over to hug his mother tightly and Isaac exchanged greetings with Danny. Reid and Tyler embraced each other like any couple would after being separated for what seemed like days of suspense, even though it had only been a few hours. Scott and Stiles hugged it out and the alpha shook hands with the Sheriff and Mr. Argent. Lydia got some hellos and Scott moved on to his missing two pack mates: Cooper and then Danny. Isaac embraced Melissa like she were his own mother and until he moved on to Stiles.
And only moments later, Derek, Deaton, the Hale Pack, and the twins all entered the cafeteria. The greetings were very estranged if not nonexistent at all. Lydia and Danny avoided Aiden and Ethan respectively. Derek only really greeted Chris Argent, trying to make his presence known and trying to instill that he wasn't going anyway. And Deaton greeted Melissa and the Sheriff like old friends, Melissa more interested in his health and wellbeing than the latter.
"So you're feeling better?" Scott asked Danny while they ate.
"Physically," Danny said, his normal tone and demeanor off.
"What is it?"
"Nothing, it's just been hard to swallow everything that's happening."
Scott heard his beta's heartbeat skip. "We're gonna' make it, though," Scott said, not calling Danny on what was really bothering him. Danny only nodded. "Did you hear from your parents?" Danny shook his head, worry settling over his expression. Allison Clare, who was sitting next to Danny, pulled him into a much needed hug. Scott and Isaac exchanged a meaningless look when he looked across the table and saw Tyler whispering into Reid's ear. For some reason, he couldn't hear what the brunette was saying and his only guess was that it was something obscene because of Reid's expression. Reid looked over at the werewolf couple, both looking back at them, curious as to what was going on.
Isaac leaned into Scott's ear and whispered his own sentiment. "I definitely think I needa' worry."
— | WWZ | —
After a threatening need for dinner, Scott excused himself and followed Chris Argent out of the mess hall and towards the bridge. However, before getting there, they stopped and Mr. Argent knocked on a door to the side. "Come in," came another unfamiliar, yet stern and authoritative voice. When Scott followed Chris Argent into the office, and the latter shut the door behind him, Scott noted the man before them. Sitting behind a small desk was a man just younger than Gerard before his arrival in Beacon Hills. "How was supper?" the man asked, Chris, only glancing once at Scott.
"Rubbish, as usual," Argent replied, leaning forward and taking the man's hand.
"So, this is the young man you were telling me about?" the officer asked.
"This is Scott McCall. Scott, this is Captain Sully Hancock, commanding officer of the ship."
"Pleased to meet you, sir," Scott said, stepping forward and taking man's hand as the officer stood to shake.
"Christopher tells me you've turned out to be quite the alpha." Scott immediately looked over at Chris, stunned that that was what came out of the officer's mouth. "It's alright, son, Christopher and I go way back. I know all about you and your kind."
"I…I didn't know," Scott said, still flabbergasted.
"He also mentioned that you brought a couple of Hales on board my ship."
Scott's heart began to beat even faster than it had been upon the revelation. "Derek and his sister are friends of mine," Scott said, disguising the threat. But Hancock picked up on it as if Scott had pointed a gun at the officer.
Hancock only laughed, deep from within his gut. "You were right, Christopher, he's very protective."
"It's alright, Scott," Argent began, "everyone is safe aboard this ship. Even Derek."
"With all due respect, I hope so," Scott began, looking from Chris to Hancock. "Otherwise, I know two gentlemen who would be very angry at the loss of their friends." Argent only looked at Scott, taken aback by the now direct threat.
"I like you, son," Hancock said, leaning forward and resting his arms on his desk. "The Navy could use someone with spunk like you."
Scott smiled this time. "I appreciate that, sir, but my dad is in the FBI—I've seen what service does to people."
Hancock grinned even wider. "Well, enough jeering I suppose. Down to business. Because Christopher, here, is old friend, I'm letting you know that things aren't looking great. We've lost most major cities around the world. The President is dead. And whatever's spreading this is moving too fast for us. By the end of the first day we lost two billion people. Now, as far as your pack and friends are concerned, the Alcatraz Reallocation Project should be completed tomorrow evening. When it is, you and your friends will be given priority housing."
"Thank you, sir. If I may ask, I mentioned my father. He was stationed at Quantico last I heard; is there any news out that way?"
"I'm afraid Quantico went dark a few hours ago. Obviously, I can't speak to your father's status, but the Marine Corps did lose contact with the base."
Scott only nodded.
"Were you close?"
"No, sir. My mom is on board and she's my main priority. Well, she and my pack."
"Of course. Well, that'll be all for now. I need to get back to the bridge. And Christopher, make sure we don't have an outbreak of another kind," he warned, referring, of course, to the werewolf curse.
— | WWZ | —
After returning to his friends, Scott asked Isaac, Stiles, Derek, and Deaton to follow him. He gave his mom a kiss and the five men walked off in search of somewhere secluded that they could talk. Eventually, they found an unlocked door to one of the engine rooms and they shuffled inside.
"What a wonderful place you've found us," Stiles said sarcastically, mostly hinting at the loud pressurized air sound.
"Look, we gotta' make this quick," Scott said. "Argent took me to meet the commanding officer. He told me that all major cities have been hit. Globally." Scott watched Stiles' jaw drop and Deaton's eyes close in despair. "The President is also dead."
Stiles snorted in disbelief and shook his head. "This just keeps getting better." Derek glared at him, intent on listening to his fellow alpha and not appreciating his sprinting towards hysteria.
"But here's the thing, we," Scott continued, indicating between himself, Isaac, and Derek, "know there's a cure." Deaton's eyebrow lifted and Stiles dawned his classic confused face. "The bite. Danielle got attacked on the way to the base. Derek bit her after she turned into a zombie. And now she's back to being normal, albeit a werewolf."
"Interesting," Deaton only said.
"How did you know that would work?" Derek said out of pure curiosity.
"When we were at Danielle's parents' house," Scott said, "Isaac got attacked. One of 'em bit him in the shoulder. Nothing happened. Why? I think we're immune. Even more, every time we've fought them, they always come at us. They always bypass Reid or Danielle or you," Scott said, pointing at Deaton. "I think they know. Somehow they know we're a threat to them. Or rather, our bite is," he said, indicating he and Derek.
"So what, we turn every zombie into a werewolf then?" Stiles posed sarcastically again. "And then what? Is being a werewolf gonna' be the next step in evolution. Is there gonna' be some werewolf regime now?"
"Stiles—" Scott began, now getting irritated by his irrationality.
"No, I'm serious," Stiles continued. "Okay, so the bite is the curse. What do we do with it, then?"
"I don't know!" Scott yelled. "Look," Scott continued more calmly, "I didn't tell Argent, or Hancock. Yes, he knows about us."
"Sullivan Hancock?" Deaton asked. Scott nodded. "And you made it out alive. Interesting."
"You know this guy?"
"No, but I know of him. He's an old friend of the Argents. Provides them with most of their assets. In his youth, he and Gerard were known as two of the most notorious hunters. He's responsible for a great number of deaths on your side."
"Wow…just wow," Stiles expressed again.
"Stiles," Scott said, looking directly at his cracking best friend and emissary, "get it together." Stiles looked away, and then nodded.
"We should keep this to ourselves," Derek said. "If the hunters get wind of this, they might just decide that repopulating over a longer period of time is better than a so-called cure. So for now, we should wait."
"Agreed," Deaton said. "Especially given our current company. You may have a truce with the Argents, Scott, but I wouldn't count on Hancock, no matter what he told you." Scott nodded.
"If this guy is a real threat," Isaac finally chimed in, "then I won't risk your safety," he finished, looking right at Scott. Scott's expression softened and their hands clasped.
"Stiles?" Scott said. Stiles had his thinking face on, and the alpha knew it could be a minute.
And it was. Stiles took a few minutes before finally saying, "I think unless we absolutely have to use the bite, we should bury it. No one else know but us." They all nodded. "By the way, I made a discovery of my own." This time it was Scott's turn to raise an eyebrow. "Your mom and I got into a sticky situation and I tried to use mountain ash to keep them out. Didn't work."
"I think that answers your question from earlier," Deaton directed at Scott. "It probably isn't supernatural, especially given the bite's effect on it. It treats it like any other disease."
"Oh, one more thing," Scott said; all eyes shifted to him. "They're shipping us to Alcatraz."