Project Hyperion (A Kaiju Thriller) (Kaiju #4)

“You caught a piece of shrapnel when the plane exploded above us.”


I look up and find Collins standing in the doorway. Her tan uniform, which had become a torn, dirty mess, has been replaced by a pair of jeans and a form-fitting black tank top. Both must belong to Cooper, because while the two women are nearly the same height, Collins has a lot more curve and these clothes are snug. Her hair has been pulled back into a wavy orange ponytail that looks a little like dragon fire.

“It’s nothing major,” she adds, “but an inch to the left...”

Buddy jumps up, stubby tail wagging, and greets Collins. He licks her hand then gets his forehead under it. Like a well trained human, Collins starts scratching.

“Knocked you out cold,” she says.

“Why am I here?” I ask, but then I clarify, “Why am I not at a hospital?”

“That’s where we were headed,” she says, “When Ted called. He insisted we bring you here. Said you would want to be brought up to speed as soon as you were awake.”

She looks worried that this was wrong, so I speak quickly. “He was right. And, for the record, I’m glad you came with.”

“You’re my boss now, right?” she says, but I can’t tell if she’s being sarcastic.

She strikes me as the kind of person I can be straight with, so I ask, “Are you joking?”

She looks confused, bumbles over her reply for a second, and then asks, “Weren’t you joking? I mean, you were—serious?”

“I’m not really sure what you just asked me,” I say, “so let me make the whole thing official. I need a partner. Someone I can trust. Someone with brains and guts, and someone who can put up with my personality flaws, which in your case might include gawking, drooling and the installation of a webcam in the bathroom.”

When she laughs, I do too, and man does it hurt.

“The point is, while I have never really needed a partner before now, I have also never met someone who compliments me as much as you do—and I don’t mean that in a webcammy way—”

“I know what you mean,” she says.

“Good,” I say. “So yes. I was serious. And once we defeat the giant man-eating monster, we can do something quiet like search for a Yeti in Colorado or something.”

She steps forward and extends her hand. “In that case, I accept.”

I take her hand and shake it, but I note that Buddy has left her skin wet with slobber. “Might want to wash your hands. That dog licks his balls like he’s training for puppy porn.” It’s actually not true. The poor dog is neutered. But I like to see Collins smile.

We both laugh and it must have been loud, because a second later, the door opens and Watson leans in. His pudgy face is a sight for sore eyes. While Cooper is a trusted co-worker, Watson is a good friend, perhaps my only real friend, though I think the number of names on that list is growing.

“Good! You’re awake.” He leans back out. “He’s awake!” Then he leans back in and points to my dresser. “Water and painkillers over there. Come out soon, there’s a lot to catch you up on.”

“How long was I unconscious?” I ask.

“Two hours,” he says.

“And there’s a lot to catch me up on?” I shake my head, and more quietly say, “What could have happened in two hours?”

It wasn’t a real question—I have a very good idea of what could happen in two hours—but Watson answers it anyway. “For starters, Portland got leveled.”

Then he’s gone and he takes Collins’s and my smiles with him. He gives a whistle and Buddy leaps from the bed, following his master.

“I’ll let you get dressed,” she says.

I look down and find myself wearing just my boxers. My chest still has grass stains from my drunken romp in the woods. “Just like old times.”

Collins manages one more smile before she leaves the room and closes the door.