CHAPTER 246
12 hours earlier…
"Mr. Hammond finally figured out that things had gone south here. Peter Ludlow was trying to keep it under wraps to save his own ass, but John has a way of squeezing that little prick till he squeals. I honestly don't know why he tolerates him."
Daniel paused. He was leaning against the desk in the small front office of the air hanger. Ms. Murdock was at the window, her eyes staring out across the air field. It was hard to tell if she was actually listening. The shotgun in her hands was poised like she was ready to fire at any moment.
Dr. Johnson and Dr. Conners were armed as well, though they were expressing far more awareness to the fact that Daniel was speaking.
Seth was still unconscious and laid out on the couch. Kyra was sitting at his feet.
Daniel continued, "I was part of a rescue mission. We touched down yesterday morning. There were seven of us. Without proper intel we had no idea landing at the operations center would be such a bad idea. We figured we were going to grab the survivors and go. An in and out mission. But we walked right into a trap as you could probably imagine. When they ambushed us the pilot was the only one who made it back to the chopper. I'm sure he thinks we're all dead."
Dr. Conners cut in, "is there a chance any more of your team is still alive?" He was at the door that led into the hanger. Keeping it propped with his body he watched the back exit.
Daniel gave a distant look and eventually shook his head.
Ms. Murdock's eyes didn't leave the window. Her demeanor was like stone. "Curious that we didn't hear your helicopter. The operations building is not terribly far from the bunker."
Daniel straightened himself away from the desk. "I don't know what to tell you," he said with a poker face.
"Ok." Dr. Johnson put up a hand. "Do you think there's any chance INGEN is sending another rescue party? Any chance at all that someone else might be coming?"
Daniel looked at Dianna. "I don't know."
Ms. Murdock let out a hearty chuckle and took a swig of her rum.
When she quieted down Daniel added, "I lost radio contact with my people. It's like I said. They've probably presumed everyone dead. They may send another chopper if we hold out here long enough, but I wouldn't hold my breath."
A silence fell over the room.
Dr. Conners was the first to speak again. "The pontoon boats. Down on the river."
Ms. Murdock began to chuckle over him as she swirled rum in her mouth.
"No, listen. If we hike down to the pontoon boats we can ride one out into the ocean."
"And accomplish what exactly?" Joan turned from the window. "Those vessels aren't meant for the ocean. We'd never make it to Costa Rica."
"We'd be off this island, and that in itself gives us far better odds than sitting here until those raptors decide in what way they're going to screw with us next."
"Have you given even a moment's consideration to the fact that we'd be doing this all on foot?"
"We've made it this far. Hell, you spent how many days out there by yourself."
"Exactly. By myself. And now you want to parade around out there with an entire entourage. It was challenging enough when I had to tote you along behind me." Joan was beginning to slur her words.
"You're drunk," Dr. Conners said.
"Not nearly drunk enough." Joan swung the bottle of rum in the air and took another swig. "The first time wasn't enough? Or the second for that matter. You want to go at it again? Did you not notice how many people bloody died every time we went running around out there?"
"I'm not going to wait here and die."
"As far as I can tell, Dr. Conners, dying is the only option we have left. Whether it's in here or out there is entirely up to you, but I really don't see the point in running any more. I'm done running. I'm done shooting. I'm not done drinking." She took another swig.
Dr. Conners, Dr. Johnson, and Daniel exchanged glances. Kyra was silent on the couch observing the whole conversation with apprehension.
"Fine then," Dr. Conners said. "You can stay here if you like. In the morning I'm taking my daughter and we're going to the boats. Anyone is welcome to join us."
Dianna nodded. So did Daniel.
Bryce nodded toward the hanger. "Daniel, there's a gun locker in there. Why don't you go and arm yourself."
Daniel pushed off the desk and started walking past Bryce. "Sure."
Ms. Murdock started turning back toward the window when she saw several fleeting shapes and objects flying at the glass.
There were many sudden thuds and splats against the window all happening within almost the same instant but not quite. Everyone jumped. Kyra screamed. Those with guns almost shot at the glass though stayed their trigger fingers. The fleeting figures were gone. What was left on the glass were fragments of entrails and dripping blood.
Dianna said, "what the hell?"
Ms. Murdock lifted the bottle toward her lips. "Their chumming the waters." She tipped the bottle and drank.