ADAM

 

Wednesday January 15 - 0028 MST

Two hours and two minutes until Turbocharger activates

 

"Funny how we're always meeting up when there's an apocalypse coming."

That was Gary and he was holding his hand out to me for a shake. I'd been so busy staring out of the back of the C-130 Hercules that I didn't notice him walk over. In the distance I saw a mob of people variously dressed in woodland and desert camo piling into the fleet of vehicles they'd assembled to take back the Underground.

Gary was still holding his hand out, so I shook it. "Sorry."

He laughed. "It's not your fault, Adam. Besides, we don't even know what it is we're going after. Could be nothing."

"Yeah." He was right of course. We still didn't know exactly what Turbocharger was. Only that the bad guys wanted it to happen so we had to stop it. While I wanted to help, my thoughts kept going back to that line of vehicles getting ready to roll out.

Gary was gazing at them too. "Crazy to think they're about to assault the Underground."

"Yeah. I wish I could be with them."

Really my thoughts were on one person in particular. Before we parted, Jessica planted a kiss on my lips, and boy did that light a fire in me. We both promised to be safe so we could see eachother again. It was the first time in my life any woman showed that kind of interest in me. I wanted it to continue, but if either one of us didn't come back from this battle then that would never happen.

I felt a hard slap against one shoulder and turned to see who it was. All I found was Jay's grinning face. For a little guy he hit quite hard. "Hey, buddy. Glad to have you with us on this one. I got a feeling it's going to be a winner of a mission and we might need your lightning."

I fought back the frown that had been welling up. One, I didn't want to lose my cool in front of my teammates, and two, it was Jay. It was hard to get angry with him even when he was smacking you around. "I just wish I wasn't only needed when things were really bad."

Jay lifted an incredulous eyebrow. It was his way of chastising me for being a downer. One thing he despised was negative attitudes.

I relented. "Okay, fine. I'm sure things will turn out alright. Just stop looking at me like that."

He nodded with satisfaction. "Alright, I'll stop. Just promise you won't get stuck in another universe this time."

"Promise." I said. "But if I do you can't have my Xbox."

Jay howled with laughter.

Back by the hangars I saw the last person climb into one of the buses that would be pulling up the rear. They were ready to go and so were we.

"Sir, we need to raise the ramp."

That was one of the plane's crew reminding me of my new, increased height. He couldn't bring up the loading ramp while I was still standing on it. With one last, wistful glance at the convoy the ramp came up and clamped shut. A few minutes later the plane was wheels up and soaring off towards the Nevada desert, and whatever dangers it had in store for us.