CHAPTER 52
Immari Advance Fleet Alpha
Near Tangier, Morocco
Dorian marched down the cramped corridor. The hatch stood open, revealing the darkened deck. Four helicopters purred on the launch pad. Soldiers stood beside them, waiting for him, ready to fly into battle.
For the first time since he had awoken in that tube in Antarctica, he felt normal. He felt like himself. A soldier going to war. He felt at home.
Sailors poked their heads out of the intersecting passageways, hoping to get a glimpse of him—the chairman of the last empire humanity would ever see, the man who had died and arisen, someone more than mortal—a God or the Devil.
The pitter-patter of bare feet on the iron floor caught his attention and he turned just in time to see Johanna, running full on for him. She jumped and he caught her.
She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him. He stood there, still as stone at first, but slowly he wrapped one, then another arm around her, held her tight, and kissed her back.
Whistles and hollers erupted down the corridor.
Dorian felt himself smile as he set her down. He quickly let it fade as he turned and walked through the hatchway toward the waiting soldiers and helicopters.
Martin opened his eyes. His head was clear. He could think again. Kate was there. He was in a lab, or a hospital. A man leaned over him. Martin knew him. A memory came to him; he had spoken with the man over a videoconference. The doctor was the researcher in China, who had conducted the trials on the Bell. Dr… “Chang,” Martin said, his voice raspy.
“How are you feeling?”
“Awful.”
He heard Kate laughing, and she stepped closer to him. “At least you know how you’re feeling. That’s an improvement.”
He smiled at Kate. He wondered what she had done to save him. Had she risked her life? He hoped not. It would be a waste. He had so much to tell her, so much she needed to know. “Kate—”
The ship shuddered, and Martin was thrown across the room. He slammed into a steel refrigerator and dark spots crowded his vision.