She grinned as she took the bottle from him. “We tried adding a little water to it after each time, but then it got to tasting like…”
“Like watered down cheap bourbon.” He nodded. “I know.”
Candy came to her feet and patted his back. “Enjoy your new toy.”
“Hey! Where you taking my bottle?”
She gave him an evil grin and wagged her brows at him. “I’m gonna use it to get Roger liquored up then I’m going to undress him with my teeth.”
“Stop.” Hatcher held a hand up. “That’s more than I care to know.”
“I told you I’d never lie to you, Hatch.”
“Next time just tell me…” His mind drew a blank. “Just lie to me.”
Candy snorted as she pulled his door toward her. “Oh yeah.” She reached across the taller file cabinet and flipped on the desktop fan. “Happy birthday.”
She slipped into the hall and Hatcher fought the urge to cry as the fan began to spin. A moment later he scrambled to retrieve the papers it blew into the floor.
Carol didn’t feel as violated as when she woke up nude on the stainless steel table, but it was close. She pulled at the loose clothing they had provided and muttered under her breath as she stepped out of the tent. “Like I’d be able to walk if I’d been bitten there.” She shook her head as she meandered across the deck.
“You there!”
She turned to see a Marine holding a rifle. “Me?”
“If you’ve been cleared, you need to get below decks.”
“But, I’m waiting for someone.” She pointed to the larger tent that the men had gone through.
The Marine waved his rifle at her. “Now. If he’s not already down there, he will be shortly.”
She felt her shoulders sag when the man practically pushed her toward the steel doorway. She stepped into the darkened space; it took a moment for her eyes to adjust. Another man with a clipboard waited for her.
“You’ll need to display this at all times.” He handed her a small plastic badge. “We’ll get you your own in due time.”
She stared at the plastic badge with the red V on it. The word “VISITOR” printed along the bottom. She looked back at him and shook her head. “Really? Is this necessary?”
The man opened his mouth as if to yell at her then sighed heavily. “Ma’am, I don’t make the rules, I just have to enforce them.” He waved her down the hallway.
Carol followed the directions of the men carrying weapons until she was directed into a rather large space with others milling about. She saw a few familiar faces but nobody that she could say that she knew.
Kevin stepped into the space a moment later and looked around. “Wow. I never thought I’d see the insides of one of these.”
Carol approached him and grabbed his arm. “Did you see Broussard?”
“Do you realize they probably had to pull this ship out of mothballs and recommission it?”
Carol shook her head at him. “HAVE YOU SEEN BROUSSARD?”
Kevin stepped back and gave her a shocked look. “You don’t have to yell.”
“Apparently I do or you would have answered me the first time.” She planted her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes at him.
“I am here.” Dr. Broussard stepped into the light and Carol quickly closed the space between them.
“Do you have any idea what’s going on?”
Broussard shook his head. “No, but they are being very thorough.”
Carol felt her face flush. “Tell me about it.”
Broussard nodded his approval. “I cannot say that I blame them after what occurred on the previous ship.”
“Have they said if they’re going to let us continue our work?”
He shook his head and glanced around the room. “I cannot be certain that they could provide the equipment we need.”
Carol huffed and sat down on a grey metal box. It’s not like they couldn’t send some people to the shore and GET the equipment we need.” She waved her arms animatedly. “They could send people to collect a sample of the primordial; surely they could retrieve us a few microscopes.”
“And incubators,” Kevin added.
“And centrifuge and…” He smiled at her. “As long as we’re making a shopping list, how about a DNA sequencer and a scanning electron microscope?”
Carol snorted and fought the urge to laugh. She leaned back on her makeshift seat and tried to count heads. “How many are in here?”
Broussard shrugged. “Perhaps…thirty?”
She groaned and propped her head in her hands. I hope that whatever they have planned they don’t wait until everybody is brought over.”
“I think the wait is over.” Kevin nudged her. He pointed toward the door and a man with a silver eagle on his collar stepped in.
“Thank god.” Carol was on her feet and stepped toward the man. “Colonel? Colonel, please, we’d like to know what’s going on here.”
The man stiffened and gave her a pleasant smile. “It’s Captain. And I’ll be happy to answer your questions in just a moment.
He turned to the crowd and waved them toward him. “If you’ll all step a little closer so I don’t have to yell.” He continued to wave them in closer. “That’s it. Thank you.” The room fell silent as they waited to hear what the man had to say. “I am Captain Proctor and I’m in command of this vessel. We are doing our best to find accommodations for all of you, but in all honesty, we’ll probably have to spread you out over the fleet.”
Carol gave Broussard a questioning look. “They’re splitting us up? Don’t they realize who we are?” He held a finger to his lips and narrowed his gaze at the officer.
“My yeoman will be here momentarily to get your names and ranks. Those of you with Navy ratings will be transferred per the needs of the Fleet. Civilians will be detailed to whichever ship we feel you can do the most good.” He paused and
