The Fourth Phase

EPILOGUE

Jack sat at the table with Dee, Alice, Ben, and Maggie. A week had passed since Matariki. The mid-June sun shone weakly, casting long shadows over the well-worn timber table top.

He and Dee were enjoying the relative silence of Mayor Island. Patrols continued, looking for any Variants. So far, no more had been found. They had pitched in and helped build fortifications, adding several machine gun nests, fencing, and a few trenches. Everyone was expected to take a shift on watch. Jack had questioned Ben as to what had become of the Indonesian ships. They had apparently only wanted refuge, and not raised any concerns. They were going to sign a treaty and help support the remaining NZ Army with additional military.

The Colonel had not been happy with the Renegades’ actions, especially at the loss of men and the chopper. He had visited the island and reprimanded Ben and the Renegades. Jack’s handing over of the case had placated the situation. No punishment had been dealt out, for which Jack was happy. Thankfully, he had given them permission to liberate the camp Maggie and Alice had escaped from.

The day before, the Renegades and a squadron of soldiers had flown to the camp to find it free of guards. They had ferried the women and children to Great Barrier Island, much to the delight of Maggie and Alice. The absence of the guards had confused Jack. Dee thought that maybe they had left after hearing the explosions at the destroyed dams. He hoped the flooding of the river valley had killed thousands of the Variants. The sight of the flooded plains had stunned him. Most of both Hamilton and Cambridge was under water. He hoped that their efforts would help them turn the tide in this war for humanity.

Jack looked up from his tea, pushing aside his worries. “You guys ready?”

Maggie and Alice both nodded. Maggie rubbed her hand through her hair. “Almost. A few supplies to go. Should be ready for high tide.”

Jack grasped his chin in his hand, feeling his stubble. He glanced over at Dee, George sitting in her lap. The Doc had cleaned out the wound and, with Maggie’s help, made sure it didn’t get infected. He would never see out of it again, but he’d taken to wearing an eye patch. Jack had explained the plot of The Goonies, his favourite childhood movie, to the boy, telling him about the pirate captain One-Eyed Willy and how he had built these elaborate traps to test your worthiness to claim his treasure. He promised George that he would do his best to find a copy. George asked if he could build some traps for the monsters. Both he and Dee had agreed to help him build them; he just had to invent them. George had loved the idea and, with the help of Boss and Beth, spent hours drawing.

“Shall we go on our patrol?” he asked Dee.

“Yeah.” Dee turned to Alice. “See you guys down there.”

Alice smiled at her. “Okay. Thanks guys, for everything.”

“No worries. See you soon.”

Jack watched as she lifted George off her lap and pushed back her chair. He reached up and grabbed their go-bags, handing one to Dee and wriggling into his. Dee opened the gun cage and handed him his rifle before taking hers.

Jack arched an eyebrow. “You ready?”

“Nearly. Just need Kingslayer.” Dee grinned at him before pulling her Katana off the hook next to the gun cage.

Jack couldn’t help but grin back. He felt nothing but love and pride for her. Dee and Kingslayer had saved them all. Jack waved at Ben and the others before holding the door open for Dee. He looked up the hill, searching for the gun placement that was their first stop. Jack heard the door slam, and turning, he smiled. This might not have been how he’d imagined his life turning out, but he was going to make the most of it. Jack moved his rifle off his shoulder and followed Dee up the hill.

Maggie squatted down and lifted the last box of bottled water off the jetty. Despite the chill of the early winter, she could feel the sweat dripping down her spine. She handed the box to the waiting soldier and wiped her brow with the back of a hand. She glanced over to the cabin of the catamaran. She had convinced Ben to allow her to scour Tauranga Harbour for a yacht. After rescuing Glasses from the Karapiro Lake, Ben had imprisoned him for his crimes. Maggie had visited him a few times. After finding out he was a seasoned sailor, she had asked him to sail her to America. He had readily agreed, especially if it meant not being locked up.

Glasses had gone with her to Tauranga. He had spotted the catamaran◦— he called it a Victoria 67◦— saying it was reliable and should get them across the vast Pacific. Together, they had plotted a north-easterly course, up through the islands of Tonga, Samoa, and Kiribati, before striking out for Hawaii. Maggie had tried to contact any American Naval ships, but to no avail.

She heard footsteps on the wooden jetty. Turning, she raised her hand, blocking out the sun. Alice stood next to her, looking at the sleek lines of the white hull.

“What do you think? Are we going to make it?”

“I hope so. I’ll keep going, or die trying.”

Alice wrapped an arm around her.

Maggie enjoyed the sign of affection. “We’re going to have to keep an eye on Glasses, though.”

“Do you think he’ll try something?”

“I really hope not, but let’s be prepared. Especially with Becs, okay?”

Alice nodded her head and smiled. “This is going to be an adventure. We have no idea what’s out there. But I’m happy to help you get home after what you did for us, Maggie.”

“Thanks, Alice. I’m glad you are here with me.”

Maggie broke the embrace and stepped over the gunwale. The boat rocked slightly with her weight. She was going to have to find her sea legs quickly. According to Glasses, the waves out in the Pacific could get huge. She was taking a big risk, but she needed to find out the fate of her Texan family. She and Alice had discussed the pros and cons of taking Becs. In the end, Becs had insisted on coming. Part of Maggie felt guilty for taking her from New Zealand, but she had grown attached to Becs, and although she could never replace Izzy, maybe, by saving Becs, she could feel like she was doing something positive.

Maggie walked up to the wheel and stared again at the nautical maps spread out on the table. It was going to be a hard, crazy time out there on the ocean. She knew she had another fight at home, out on the plains of Texas.

The sun’s strength surprised Dee as it beat down on her face. Even though the wind blowing off the Pacific Ocean was cold, the sun still had some kick to it. She glanced out over the bush-clad hills of the north side of Mayor Island. Apart from the bird life, she saw no movement. The other patrols had reported no signs of Variants in four days. Dee breathed deeply, waiting for the rotten fruit smell to invade her nose. Smelling nothing, she turned to Jack, who was standing a few metres away.

“I can’t see anything. Can you?”

“Nothing, thankfully.”

“Okay, I’ll radio it in. Let’s get back to see the girls off.” She watched Jack fiddle with his selector switch. “You okay?”

“Yeah, why?”

“C’mon Jack, I know when something is on your mind.”

Jack stared out at the view. Dee followed his gaze. She watched the distant waves smash against the volcanic rocks, frothing the water.

“I’m sorry, Dee. I just don’t know how to say this…”

Dee wrinkled her brow. A hint of worry crept into her mind. What was he going to say? Something bad? Jack never had trouble expressing his feelings to her. He was an up-front guy. She glanced up at him, doing her best to keep her growing worry out of her eyes.

“I guess, I’ll just come out and say it. I think we should try for a baby.”

A flood of relief washed over her. She squealed and bounded over to him, pulling him into a strong bear hug. “You bastard! You had me worried there for a moment.” She laughed at his stunned look. “Of course, I want a baby with you!”

Jack cast his eyes down and shuffled his feet. He looked back up at her and smiled. Dee hadn’t seen a smile like that since their wedding day. It was a smile full of love. Full of contentment. Full of joy. “I just wasn’t sure… how you would feel about it… with all this craziness…”

“Jack, I think it will be wonderful.”

Jack squeezed her tight. Dee lost herself in the hug, feeling like the weight of the last few weeks had lifted off her shoulders.

Dee pulled away and sighed. “C’mon. Let’s go and say goodbye to Alice and Maggie.”

Jack laced his fingers through hers and smiled. “All right then.”

Jack stood on the wooden jetty with Dee, Boss, Ben, Beth, George, Leela, and the kids. George and Leela hugged against his and Dee’s legs. Jack was sad to see Maggie go. She was a fine soldier, and they had chatted long into the nights about different movies. Jack had discovered that Maggie had read his favourite post-apocalyptic series too. He had discussed different theories with her for hours. He felt Dee nudge into him and he wrapped an arm around her. He watched as Glasses unhooked the painter from the bollard and Maggie started up the engine, pulling the catamaran away from the jetty. Ben had managed to contact an American outpost in Hawaii. They had promised to look out for the yacht.

Strangely, the yacht had no name. After much discussion, Maggie had christened it Samwise after her favourite character from Lord of the Rings. Jack thought that was an apt name, as Sam was strong of character. He watched as the catamaran moved out into the clear waters of the bay and head out into the Pacific Ocean.

George tugged on his hand. “C’mon Jack. Let’s watch from the rocks.”

“Okay,” he said, laughing.

Jack lifted Leela up and placed her on his shoulders. He pivoted and followed Dee, Boss, Beth, George, and Ben around the rocks, watching the catamaran grow smaller.

Jack stood on the rocks as the catamaran sailed into the setting sun before tacking north, and finally north east and around the tip of the island, slowly becoming a speck. He smiled to himself, a tear forming in his eye. He hated goodbyes. They seemed so final. He really hoped that he would see Alice, Maggie, and Becs again. Leela leant into him, sobbing. Jack crouched down and watched as Dee knelt down beside him.

“What’s wrong, Leela?”

“I wanted to go to.”

George turned around from waving off the catamaran. “It’s all right, Leela. You can live with us now. Because, we love you.”

Jack smiled as George hugged Leela. He glanced up at Dee. She wiped the tears from her eyes and joined in the hug.

Jack wrapped his arms around the three of them and smiled. In this new world, he was going to savour what he had and enjoy the little moments.

The stench made Captain Koto wrinkle his nose. He pulled his perfume-soaked buff up and covered it. He tried breathing through his mouth to escape the putrid smell, but to no avail. He hadn’t even entered the hold yet and the stench was threatening to overcome him. He moved over to the rail and breathed in some fresh sea air. He could taste the perfume on his buff.

Staring out at the twinkling lights of the village, he felt a pang of guilt. Colonel Mahana and the New Zealand people had been so welcoming. They had fed them, treated the sick, and given them land to settle on. They certainly didn’t deserve what was awaiting them in the hold. Koto had loved the festival of Matariki, had spent the evening enjoying the company of Colonel Mahana, listened to beautiful songs, and watched the captivating haka. It made his decision even harder to carry out, but the Colonel had been right. They had to fight back. Take back the land from the monsters called Variants.

Captain Koto gripped the rusty handrail, his knuckles turning white. He let out a breath and turned, facing the door in front of him. He had relieved all his men of their duties and commanded them onshore to join the civilians. The ship sat empty and silent, a dark shadow in the harbour. Koto tugged down his jacket and reached out. With a last glance out over the water, he spun the handle and pulled open the door. The stench was even worse in here.

He stood on the small metal landing above the vast hold. Stairs plunged down into the darkness. Hundreds of yellow eyes glowed back at him. The way they did that freaked him out: even with just a hint of light, their eyes glowed. It chilled him. In a morbid way, it reminded him of the lights of the Matariki festival. He bit his lip as he descended into the hold. He could hear them shuffling around, watching his movements.

Koto reached the bottom of the hold and held his breath. A giant winged Variant crouched in front of him. It arched its back and spread its wings. The rotten fruit stench that emanated from it was putrid. Koto swept his hand across his sweaty brow and flinched at the sound. He had called the winged beast Leyak, after the demon stories his mother had told him to frighten him into behaving. Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined them coming true.

Leyak glared down at him and grunted. He raised a clawed hand and pointed up, grunting again. The meaning was clear. It was time to feed.

Leyak had captured Koto and his men on an Indonesian island, when they were searching for food and water. The monster had consumed most of the men. Koto had pleaded for his life. Leyak had, through grunts and basic speech, granted his wish◦— as long as he provided fresh meat for Leyak and his tribe. Koto had spent the last six weeks sailing from island to island, first winning the trust of the islanders, and then releasing the Variants into the night to feed. Each time he’d done it, a little piece of him had died.

Koto looked up at the hulking winged beast. He breathed out and pulled out the detonator in his pocket. He held it up so Leyak could see. “Do you know what this is, you demon from hell?”

Leyak glared down at him and bellowed. He pushed off with incredible speed, his wings flapping, stirring up the putrid air of the hold. Captain Arif Koto said a silent prayer, and thought of his wife and children. He looked up at Leyak trying to escape, and pushed the button.

Phase One: Impact.

Phase Two: Recoil and rescue.

Phase Three: Recovery.

Phase Four: We fight back.