Time Up (Station One) by McLachlan Justin

Author:McLachlan, Justin [McLachlan, Justin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Boxfire Press
Published: 2013-11-24T23:00:00+00:00

With Cal’s help, Van and Riley arranged for a trailer truck to haul the dragon back to San Diego so it could be put in stasis in one of their holding bays. He injected it with as much tranquilizer as they could wrestle away from the vets who oversaw the animal exhibits at one of the casinos, and then sent it ahead.

Van and Riley arrived back at Station One themselves early that morning. As day had broke, the tsunami’s wrath became clear: Coronado Island, the beach communities and Silver Strand were just gone. The water was receding from Mission Valley, but slowly. The 805 and 15 freeways were bearing the brunt of overflow traffic from the 8, which was mostly underwater. Officials pleaded with people to stay home, but from what Van had seen on their way into town, not many had listened.

Riley locked herself in her office the minute they got back, probably going over the sensor data they had on the last break. Van glanced up from the control deck every once in a while, and if she wasn’t staring at her computer screens, she was on the phone. A few other analysts went in and out, carrying stacks of papers and files. Cal mostly paced in between calls from people who, if Van was correctly interpreting the bits and pieces he’d been hearing, placed the blame for everything that had happened in the last twenty-four hours on him and Station One.

“Merry Christmas,” Ben said. He rolled a chair over next to Van and sat down, then handed him a small box wrapped in silver paper and a green ribbon. Van hadn’t been expecting a gift. “I’d planned to give it to you yesterday, but you know. Dragon attack, tsunami, the fabric of time and space unraveling.”

“I don’t have anything for you.”

Ben shook his head. “I just like giving gifts.” He stood, patted Van on the shoulder and then left him with his present. Inside, he found a silver pocket watch, the kind with a hinged case that protects the face and crystal. He ran his thumb over the casing; it was elaborately engraved in a strange, annular pattern. On the inside, two red hands sat atop an exposed network of shiny gears. However old the watch was, they’d not lost their brilliance. There was a card in the box that read: “Every good Jules Verne fan should have one.”

Van carefully slid the watch into his jacket pocket. He started on his way to find Ben and thank him, but was interrupted when Riley burst from her office and asked for Cal. He’d never seen the look she had on her face, a mix of abject terror and exhaustion. Van pointed down the walkway, to Cal’s office. She turned and went off without a word. A second later, Ben appeared behind him.

“What do you suppose that’s about?”

“Good news, I’m sure.” They stood silent, for just a moment. “Thank you,” Van said. “That was … I feel like I can’t accept it, it’s too much.

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