Page 48 of Whispers and Warriors
This was progress. A tentative understanding, a foundation to build upon.
Captain Novak’s gaze flicked to the others, lingering on each face as if committing them to memory. “I’m suggesting your group cycles in with our security team. You have the experience, and we can always use extra hands on deck.”
Chris’s pulse quickened at the prospect. Security. A chance to protect, to make a difference. It was a role he knew well, a mantle he’d worn long before the world went to hell. “We’re ready to step up, Captain. Just point us in the right direction.”
Captain Novak’s lips twitched, a ghost of a smile. “I have no doubt about that. But let me be clear, on this ship, I give the orders. You follow them. No exceptions, no questions asked. Lives depend on it.”
Her words hung in the air, a reminder of the stakes they all faced. Chris met her gaze unflinchingly, a silent acknowledgment passing between them. “Understood, Captain. We’ll follow your lead. But what can you tell us about the journey? The destination?”
“We’ve made this journey nearly forty times since I learned of the island,” she said, her tone confident and reassuring. “Things can happen, but we get where we’re going. You can count on that.”
Chris nodded, his shoulders relaxing slightly. The captain’s words, spoken with the authority of experience, were a balm to his frayed nerves. “Good to know,” he said, his voice gruff with emotion. “We appreciate your confidence, Captain.”
“You’re looking at me like you want to address the elephant in the room, so do it. I won’t answer what I’m not asked.”
He blew out a breath, not used to being challenged this often. “Who were you before the bombs? And right after? How did we get you here, leading this very risky mission?
“Before the bombs? Captain of the U.S.S. Enterprise, and no, not the science fiction ship, it was real, may still be real but she’s not mine to captain any longer.”
Chris held back his snicker. Bash didn’t.
“The bombs fell, and I stayed on my ship, leading transports for half a year. As one of the only females at my level left alive, the big guy came knocking for me to lead a safe haven approach. And that’s what it was at first.” She snorted that time. “It didn’t take long for the powers that be to start violating the women, breaking up marriages and doing what men do best. No offense.”
“None taken, I think.” Chris understood where she came from.
“I left the safe haven when they wouldn’t listen to me. A few came with me. The men and their families are the ones who blast those transmissions at the risk of their lives.”
“And the place we’re going to?”
She narrowed her gaze at him, signaling he’d asked too much.
“That is something that you need to find out when you get there. Again, I meant what I said that I wouldn’t tell you much until we were off shore. Come back to me later if you’re really impatient.” She held his gaze for a long moment, as if weighing the sincerity of his words. Then, with a crisp nod, she turned to the others. “Welcome aboard the Horizon’s Edge, repurposed military vessel. Let’s get you settled in and up to speed. We’ve got a long journey ahead, and every minute counts. I trust you can meet your friends at the stern? I have work to get back to.”
Chris, Bash, William, and Liam exchanged glances, all seeming to understand the same thing. They had come so far, endured so much, and now they stood on the brink of a new chapter. If she was dismissing them, they were all leaving.
Chris’s gaze lingered on Bash, taking in the tense set of his shoulders and the grim determination etched into his features. He knew the man’s thoughts were with his lost fiancée, the memory of her a constant ache that drove him forward. Liam, too, carried his own burdens, his easygoing charm a mask for the pain he kept hidden away.
But beneath the weight of their individual struggles, there was a bond that tied them together, forged in the crucible of survival. They were more than comrades, more than friends. They were brothers, united by a fierce loyalty and an unwavering commitment to each other.
As they filed out of the captain’s quarters, Chris couldn’t help ignore the gratitude for the men at his side. Whatever lay ahead, he knew they would face it together, drawing strength from the unbreakable ties that bound them. The captain had a shitty take in life, and things could’ve been awful for him if his unit wasn’t what they were.
The metal door clanged shut behind them as they stepped out onto the deck, the salty sea air filling their lungs with each deep breath. Chris squinted against the bright sunlight, his eyes slowly adjusting to the change in illumination.
“We still need to be on guard,” Chris cautioned, his voice low and steady. “But I have a good feeling about this, guys. The captain seems legit, and her crew knows what they’re doing.”
Bash nodded, his expression thoughtful. “Agreed. But we can’t afford to let our guard down, not even for a moment. There’s too much at stake.”
“I know.” Chris clapped a hand on his friend’s shoulder, a gesture of reassurance and understanding. “We’ll take it one dayat a time, watch each other’s backs, and stay focused on the mission.”
Liam, ever the optimist, flashed a grin. “And maybe even enjoy a little sea breeze while we’re at it, eh? After all, it’s not every day we get to take a cruise and I don’t mean two days spent in a rowboat.”
Despite the gravity of their situation, Chris couldn’t help but chuckle. Liam spent far too much time with Alex.
Together, they made their way toward the stern of the ship, their boots thudding against the weathered deck. As they rounded the corner, Chris felt his breath catch in his throat, his eyes widening at the sight before him.
Women and children, dozens of them, huddled together in small groups, their faces etched with a mixture of joy, exhaustion, and tentative hope. Some clutched meager belongings, while others held tightly to the hands of their loved ones, as if afraid to let go.
Chris swallowed hard, his heart constricting with a sudden rush of emotion. In their eyes, he saw the same desperation and determination that had driven him and his team to risk everything for a chance at a better life.
