Page 6 of Jameson

The woman I wanted was too smart for me, married to her job, and a family friend. Hell, she was one of my best friends. We’d grown up together, and I had no right thinking of her the way I did.

I couldn’t remember the exact moment that I suddenly realized that Greer Baird had breasts, but it was some time in our teenage years. We’d gone swimming at the river, our parents on duty to keep an eye out for monsters. Greer had shed her clothes to reveal a tiny, blue swimsuit…and looking at her had felt like being hit with a ton of bricks.

As we’d grown, I’d also come to appreciate her sharp mind, her focus, and her dedication to her engineering work.

She was a good friend. I called her parents uncle and aunt.

I shook my head. Greer didn’t look at me that way, anyway. Not once. It was for the best. I’d forced myself not to call her lately. She had her boyfriend. I controlled a grimace. The asshole was nowhere good enough for her.

Some distance would help me get my head on straight where Greer was concerned.

The Talon came into view overhead.

“Let’s go home, people. The beers are on me.”

CHAPTER TWO

Greer

“All right, get that equipment over there. We’ll start reinforcing the next level.”

As I issued the orders, my team moved to carry them out. I rested my hands on my hips, studying the dam wall that we were renovating and reinforcing.

I dragged in a deep breath and took in the view. The water gleamed, and a sea of native Australian trees flanked it on either side. The sun was hot overhead, but I knew that storms were forecast for later in the day.

I watched several workers wearing light exo-suits walking across the dam wall, carrying heavy blocks and equipment. The metal suits were worn like a second skeleton—running along the arms, legs and spine—and gave the users increased strength and agility.

The entire dam was a hive of activity. The first dam had been built here hundreds of years ago, but had been updated over the years. We were in charge of rebuilding and enhancing the dam wall, and adding in a hydroelectric power station. We werebuilding on top of the old wall that had been damaged in the invasion. One side was the placid waters of the dam, and on the other, there were several spillway chutes that fed down into the Warragamba River.

Once, the Warragamba Dam had been the main water source for Sydney and the surrounding communities, as well as one of the world’s largest domestic water supply dams.

It would be again. It was vital to rebuild our core infrastructure.

I was the chief engineer on this project. My first large, solo project. I watched a crane swinging overhead. They were setting more gear down.

This was the biggest job I’d ever been in charge of. I loved building, creating, and knowing I was doing my bit to help rebuild the world. Once the dam was operational again, it would be a secure water source for New Sydney. For years, the surrounding communities had been relying on rainwater and temporary filtration systems to gather water from the rivers. Growing up, I’d known that summertime meant we’d need to conserve water and sometimes ration it.

I glanced to the east. In the distance lay the ruins of the city of Sydney, once the largest city in Australia. During the invasion, bombs had rained down and an alien ship had landed there.

My parents had told me the stories of the invasion, and the fighting that had come afterward.

Most of the city had been destroyed and millions of people had died. It was the same story across the world. Around the globe, the Gizzida had attacked and destroyed.

But humanity hadn’t given up, even in the darkest moments. No, they’d fought back and won.

Rebuilding, however, was a slower process. Three decades on, and we were still working on it. The small towns were growing, transport routes were being built and upgraded,infrastructure put in place. We were rebuilding and upgrading the systems for power, agriculture, industry, and science.

“Greer?” One of my team called out. “Where do you want these stabilizers?”

“Over there, Sam.” I pointed. “I want them ready for installation tomorrow.”

The young man nodded, then turned to bark out orders to the others.

I walked along the edge of the wall. On my left, the dark, still waters, and on my right, the dizzying drop of concrete down to the river below.

Excitement trickled through me. This was an important project and I was going to make it a success. Breathing deeply, I turned back to the dam. The water was nestled in the bushland and while only a few hundred meters across, I knew that farther upstream it was wider, forming Lake Burragorang.

Suddenly, the middle of the pool rippled, and my heart rate spiked. My mouth flattened as I watched something—something big—move through the water.

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