“I’d love some coffee,” the only other woman in the group besides Jessica said.
She was short and petite, dark-haired and pale. There was blood-spatter on her shirt, and she carried her spear like she knew how to use it. But she smiled with genuine warmth, and Imogen found herself drawn to her. “Rogue, right?”
“That’s me,” Rogue said, taking a seat.
“I think we could all use a cup,” Jessica said, dropping into a chair with a sigh.
“Coming right up,” Imogen said.
She passed out mugs of coffee and put a fresh pot on to boil. Next, she placed containers of sugar and creamer on the table along with teaspoons. A bowl of cookies and another with fruit completed the selection. “Help yourselves, guys.”
“Thanks again, Imogen,” Jessica said. “It sure feels good to be back.”
“It sounds like you had a rough time,” Imogen said.
“You could say that,” Jessica said, taking a big sip of coffee.
“What happened to Lee and Barry?” Imogen asked, allowing her curiosity full reign at last.
“I could ask the same about Ralph and Allen,” Jessica said. “Something happened while I was gone, right?”
“Yes, something did,” Imogen said, exchanging a look with Casey.
“Let’s hear your story first,” Casey suggested. “You’ve been missing for days, and we couldn’t find any signs of you anywhere.”
“We looked every day,” Imogen added, “but, it was like you’d vanished.”
“Not quite,” Jessica said. “We crashed.”
“Where?” Casey asked.
“Portland.”
“What in God’s name were you doing in Portland?” Casey asked. “That wasn’t part of your flight plan.”
“No, it wasn’t,” Jessica said. “It’s my fault. I pushed Barry to go further. I wanted to see more, and I convinced him to do it.”
“I’m sure you didn’t mean for anything bad to happen,” Imogen said.
“Wait until you hear the rest,” Jessica said.
She told Imogen and Casey about everything that had happened: The plane crash, the rescue party, the raptors, Prime City, the outbreak of the Red Flux, the mission to Vancouver, and finally, the attack by the Spinosaurus.
Silence fell across the table when she finished, and a flurry of mixed emotions whirled through Imogen’s mind. The news was both good and bad, and she didn’t know what to focus on first: Barry’s death, Lee being stuck in a distant city, or the Spinosaurus’ death.
“Barry’s dead?” Casey said, her shoulders drooping. The news had hit her hard, which wasn’t surprising. They’d been good friends and fellow pilots with a lot in common.
“I’m sorry, Casey. There was nothing I could do,” Jessica said.
“At least Lee is still alive,” Casey said, with a sad shake of her head. “He’s really okay?”
“He will be once his leg heals,” Jessica confirmed.
“I’m glad he’s safe,” Imogen said, her expression darkening. “But I’m even happier that damn monster is dead.”
“The Spinosaurus?” Jessica asked with a frown.
“It has to be the same one,” Imogen said, looking at Casey.
“It sounds like it,” Casey agreed.
“What are you guys talking about?” Jessica asked.
“Was it missing an eye?” Imogen said.
“It was,” Rogue confirmed, speaking for the first time. “I saw the injury myself.”
“That’s thanks to my shotgun blast,” Imogen said with grim pleasure.
“Did it… is that why Ralph and Allen aren’t here?” Jessica said, her manner hesitant.
“Brace yourself. It’s not a pretty story,” Imogen warned. She filled the group in on the attack, relating exactly what happened. Afterward, she said, “It’s a blessing that the creature is dead. I don’t think it would’ve stopped until we were all dead.”
“But, what do we do now?” Jessica said. “I’d hoped we could fly to Vancouver.”
“Not a chance. Two people can go. No more,” Casey said.
Jessica sagged into her chair. “What a mess.”
“Nothing has changed,” Seth said, leaning forward in his chair.
All eyes turned to him, and Imogen studied him with interest. His take-charge attitude singled him out as the leader, and the way he gravitated toward Rogue meant they were a couple.
“Everything has changed,” Jessica disagreed. “We can’t fly to Vancouver, which means you can’t petition the government for help with supplies.”
“We don’t need to fly. We can continue on foot,” Seth said.
“On foot? That will take weeks!” Jessica said.
“Not necessarily,” Imogen said. “We’ve got the Jeep and the van. Both run, and there’s enough fuel for the trip.”
“It’s too dangerous,” Jessica protested.
“We don’t have a choice,” Seth said. “Our people rely on us for help. We can’t let them down.”
“He’s right,” Rogue added. “We don’t have a choice.”
“You’d really do that? Risk your lives traveling through unknown territory?” Jessica asked.
“We would,” Seth said, looking around at his group.
“We’re all in this together,” Tony said.
“I’m with them,” Bear said.
Jessica shook her head. “I don’t know about this.”
“It’s the only way, but I don’t expect you to risk your life for us. We’ll go alone,” Seth said. He turned to Imogen. “Will you give us the vehicles and fuel? We can work out a trade. I’m authorized to speak on behalf of our people. Both the Primes and the Exiles.”
“Of course. You killed the Spinosaurus. I owe you one,” she said.
“Brittany killed it,” Rogue said, her voice low.
“She sounds incredibly brave. I’m sorry for your loss,” Imogen said. “I would’ve loved the chance to meet her.”
“Thank you, and my condolences for Barry, Ralph, and Allen too,” Rogue said.
“At least that monster is dead,” Jessica said. “I suspect it was a man-eater.”
“Man-eater?” Rogue asked with a frown.
“It hates people, and hunts them whenever it can,” Jessica said.
“Why would it hate people?” Rogue asked.
“I noticed it had a couple of old bullet wounds. Some were festering, and it must’ve been in a lot of pain,” Jessica said. “We’re not the first to come across its path.”
“No, but we’re the last,” Imogen said with a sense of unexpected sympathy. The fact that the beast was suffering cast its attack in a different light. At least, its torment is at an end.
Seth looked around the table. “So, it’s settled. We leave for Vancouver in the morning.”
Jessica sighed. “I’ll go with you.”
“You don’t have to,” Seth said.
“I do. I’ve seen most of the terrain from the air, and I
