David Golemon - Legend

It took thirty minutes to pry Mendenhall and Sanchez out of the engine room. They found the body of Lebowitz pinned underneath the mainmast where it had crashed onto the deck. Professor Ellenshaw had been trapped beneath one of the bunks in section six and it had taken a hacksaw to free him. Heidi Rodriguez had a nasty wound on her forehead and they had thought she wouldn't wake up until she suddenly sat straight up and screamed that she was drowning. She had been found in section seven under an overturned stainless-steel table amid broken beakers and tech equipment. The bright floodlights from what remained of the deck lights lit the opening and surrounding dock and stairs that Teacher sat upon.

There was no sign of Jenks or Virginia. Danielle and Ellenshaw had shown up after they had freed the engineering section, and said they had been separated from the other two. Ellenshaw excitedly explained how Danielle had saved his life and almost killed him at the same time, by making him dive deep beneath the falls to keep from being crushed.

Danielle was now wrapping Heidi's forehead with gauze from sickbay and talking softly to her. Jack took stock of the many bodies they had pulled out of the lounge and science sections, twenty-four in all. Ellenshaw's two young assistants were lined up on the dock along with five of the Group's security people, including Shaw and Jackson. Carl came up behind Jack and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Jack, I checked the holes that were punched into us. Two separate charges, definitely explosive devices. We have scorching on the hull and it was bent inward. I would say a three- or four-pound charge, the same with the engineering section."

The major continued to stare at the covered bodies and didn't answer at first. Carl was about to speak again when they were approached by Danielle.

"I hope Sarah is safe," she said.

Jack turned on her, his gaze demanding to know what she knew.

"Major, the beast took her when our section was flooded. She and I both were grabbed. I struggled free, but Sarah didn't. I'm sorry."

"Why would the animal come into the ship?"

"This may sound strange to you, but I had the distinct feeling it was trying to help Sarah and me; don't ask me why, it's just a intuition." She turned away.

"Jack, are you all right?" Carl asked, rubbing his bruised legs.

"Will," Jack called out, ignoring the question.

"Yes, Major," Mendenhall answered from where he was helping to tend the wounds of Ellenshaw and Stiles.

Jack walked over to one of the glass windows that now had a crazy line of cracks through it. Using a flashlight, he smashed out the remaining glass. He reached in and pulled out two handheld radios from the communications compartment, and quickly checked the settings and charge. He tossed one to Mendenhall.

"I have a job for you, and it's damned well dangerous."

Mendenhall looked from Jack to Carl and smiled. "Yes, sir."

Jack just nodded, never more proud of the man he had sworn to make an officer, then a thought struck him. "Staff Sergeant Mendenhall, you are hereby promoted to the temporary rank of second lieutenant, United States Army, as witnessed this day by—"

"Lieutenant Commander Carl A. Everett, United States Navy," Carl said in all seriousness.

"And based upon pending approval and recommendation of the director of Department Fifty-six fifty-six, Dr. Niles Compton, you are hereby notified of said field promotion. Is that understood, Lieutenant Mendenhall?"

Mendenhall frowned. "Yes, sir, understood. Now, you've given me the sugar, so I guess I'm ready for the medicine."

Jack took Mendenhall by the shoulder and steered him away from the others.

"Look, Will, I need you to go out there and get to high ground. That means finding some way out of the lagoon, and climbing out and up beside the falls. I don't know if the radio will reach me in here but, once in position, you are to watch the lagoon. Dig up a set of night-vision goggles and report on secure channel seventy-eight; you'll be speaking with a mutual friend of ours who's call sign is Night Rider One and your call sign is Conquistador. You are to tell him that Operation Spoiled Sport is on and to fire at will, if and when you see an armed element reach the lagoon, either on land or by boat. We hope it's by boat. You tell Night Rider to execute, execute, execute. Three times, you got that, Will?"

"Yes sir, three times, and then what?"

"And then what? Get your ass behind a big rock and hope that Mr. Ryan's burned-up body doesn't land in your lap."

Mendenhall just looked at the major.

"Seriously, if Operation Spoiled Sport works, you stay down until you know it's safe, and, believe me, you'll know when that is."

"Major, who are these men coming?"

"We have to assume they're bad guys. Boris and Natasha picked them up yesterday, heading our way. They're heavily armed, and Niles and the president can't account for 'em."

"Yes, sir, I'll do my best."

"Good luck, Lieutenant."

The major was joined by Carl, as they watched their new officer load his radio into a large plastic bag and stuff it in his shirt.

"All right, Commander Everett, let's get ready and see if we can find anyone alive in here."

Sarah was just entering the small cave when the sound of splashing water sounded behind her, and she quickly backed out in time to see first Virginia, then Jenks, as they were lifted out of the water by the creature. It started walking, dragging the choking and puking duo across the hard rock. It deposited them in front of Sarah, then turned away and walked slowly back to the water, where it disappeared.

Sarah helped Virginia to her feet and hugged her. Then she helped Jenks struggle to one leg before he shook off her assistance and sat back down.

"God, am I glad to see you two," she said, crying. "Come on, Virginia, I've got something to show you."

"Don't worry about me; it's only broken in two places. Ain't shit," Jenks said, looking at his leg.

Virginia ignored the master chief for the moment and followed Sarah to the largest of the cave openings. Sarah pulled back the cover as she again held the torch inside. Virginia immediately rushed inside, careful to avoid the bubbling magma caldera in the center of the room.

"Helen Zachary?" She went to her knees and placed her hand on the burned and scarred face of her old Event Group colleague. "My god, what happened?"

The young man next to her moved and his eyes fluttered open. He reached down to place a hand in the small running creek that coursed through the wall of the cave, and then wiped his face. Then he started to sob, waking up the other nine people that were sleeping along the rough-hewn walls.

"Thank god," he said through his tears.

"What happened, why are you here?" Sarah asked.

"The… creature, it brought us here. It's been…feeding us, keeping us alive."

"What's your name?" Virginia asked.

"Rob, I mean Robert Hanson, I was… am, Professor Zachary's assistant."

"Well, you've done well in keeping your people together," Sarah said.

"Kelly, Kelly, come here," Robby said into the darkness of the cave.

As Sarah watched, a young woman eased forward and sat next to the crying assistant. She smiled at Sarah.

"God, are we happy to see you," she said with tears welling up in her own eyes.

"We have to get her out of here," said Robby.

"We're here to get everyone out," Sarah said.

"You don't understand." He reached out and took Kelly's hand. "This is the daughter of the president."

"What?" Sarah asked loudly, startling all those that had awakened and were inching toward their rescuers to make sure they were real.

"Knock it off, Robby; I'm no more important than anyone else here."