Jacqueline Druga - Protocol One

There was one problem, like staring at a pattern, after a while your eyes play tricks on you and I swore it was happening.

The black on the screen changed. “Did I just see that?”

“I don’t know. What did you see?” Peter asked.

“It changed.”

“How can it change? It’s black.”

“It changed.”

“I think you were looking at it too…” Peter stopped talking “There, was that it?”

“Yes.” I grabbed the radio when both Peter and I saw the tiniest speck of light. It darted in then out like a star in a big black sky. “Tony, I need you in the switch room… stat.”

It took a few minutes for Tony to arrive and during the time we waited. We saw the dot of light just one more time.

He arrived with Abe.

“What’s going on?”

“It could be our imagination,” I answered. “But we saw a speck of light.”

“Both of you can’t imagine the same thing,” Tony said and looked at the screen.

Nothing was there.

“We saw it twice,” I explained. “Both times it darted in and out.”

Abe interjected. “The camera is on rotating. It can be coming from one area and hitting it on rotation.

It happened again. “There.”

“I saw it” Tony said then rubbed his head. “Okay, what is it?”

“I can suit up,” Abe said. “Go out with a headlamp and night vision.”

“Is that wise?” I asked. “That can be dangerous and the night vision may not work.”

“If the head lamp can cast enough light, it will.” Tony said. “Camera is showing that dot east of the fence.”

“I’ll come up through the hatch.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

Peter cautioned. “Cover all parts of you face. Try not to breathe in that air. It’s cold and you can only be out there only a few minutes.”

“Got it,” Abe said. “Give me five and I’ll be up at the hatch.”

I was uneasy about Abe going out there. Not only because of the temperature, but also the fact that someone was possibly there. Tony was nervous too. I could see it, even though he didn’t say a word.

Abe was a trained professional and I told myself that. I wished him luck when he left and waited with bated breath until he radioed.

“Climbing the hatch,” Abe said over the radio. “Christ, it’s cold already. I’m not even there.”

“There it is again,” Peter announced.

Tony spoke to Abe. “We definitely have something out there. Exercise extreme caution.”

“Tony, what’s the plan if there is someone or people out there?” I asked.

“This room gets secured. I want everyone else in their rooms with the doors locked.”

Abe came over the radio. “Almost up top. Getting the head lamp ready.”

“Roger, that,” Tony said.

“Tony, you think just to be safe, we should move everyone there now?”

“You know what?” Tony nodded. “Let’s do this. Peter I need you to start radioing Melissa, Craig and Duke. Tell them to secure their area and head to their rooms.”

“Will do,” Peter turned the chair and began the task.

“Nelly doesn’t have a radio,” I said. “I’m running over there.”

Tony nodded and handed me a radio. “Get them out and to level two. Just to be safe.”

I turned on the radio and when I did, Abe announced he was at the hatch.

I started to leave, but Tony stopped me. “Watch my daughter.”

“Absolutely.” I walked out of the switch room and to the walk away that led to Hive Two. Just as I began my short journey, I saw Nelly and the kids leaving. I raced to her. “Where are you headed?”

“Oh, the kids are restless. I thought I would walk them around.”

“We’re going on lock down. I need you to take them to your room and lock the door. Don’t come out until Tony or I give the all clear.” I said as I lifted Joie to my hip. “I’ll take her.”

“Everything okay?” Nelly asked.

“We’re just being cautious.”

Nelly nodded and holding the hands of the other two children, passed me and continued forward to Hive One.

“What’s going on?” Joie asked.

Abe’s voice came over the radio. “Tony, I’m out. Spotlight on. Damn, is it cold!”

“Tell me what you see,” Tony said.

Listening to the conversation, Joie on my hip, I walked to the switch room. I wanted to just let Tony know I had his daughter and that everything was fine. I arrived there and peeked in the room.

“Not seeing anything.” Abe reported.

“Keep looking.” Tony said, “Ben. Ben, come in.”

I knew that Ben was on watch in the bay.

“Ben, I need a report on those doors.”

Nothing. No response.

Admittedly, that made me nervous. I signaled Tony to get his attention and pointed to Joie.

He nodded in acknowledgment.

“Abe,” Tony called out. “Anything?”

There was no reply.

Just as I stepped back to leave, I heard Tony call out one more time.

“Abe, come in. Ben?”

Moving to the stairwell, I saw Tony rush from the switch room. “Peter, bolt this.” He called out then shut the switch room door and called to me as he ran. “Take her to your room… now.” He lifted the radio. “Skyler, I need you on the second floor.”

“Already in route.”

“Abe. Do you read?” Pause. “Abe.”

Then everything stopped.

At least for me it did.

It seemed as if everything was suspended in time when a male voice spoke over the radio and it was not Abe.

“Abe’s not available. But will I do?” the gruff voice spoke. “I’m already here.”

The sound of the unknown voice sent a bolt through me, causing a shot of nerves to tingle every inch of my body. With a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach and legs feeling like jelly, I didn’t even bother to look to see what Tony was doing. I clenched Joie and high tailed it to those stairs. Our floor was one flight down and my room was not that far.

That was my safety goal.

They came and had made it inside.

That was what was on my mind as I ran top speed down that single flight of stairs. That voice that called over Abe’s radio. We used three channels. One for security, one for general chatter and one that no one but Peter and I used to chat back and forth.

Tony had his radio on the security channel. That voice was familiar. It was Lenny. Without a doubt in my mind, it was Lenny.

My concern was on Joie and getting her to my room. The theory was, if anyone broke into our bunker, they would be more concerned with getting our weapons and our strong people. Those people wouldn’t be hiding in their rooms. So there was a safety factor.

Just as I arrived at my room, I saw the two fire hall children race down the hall in the direction of the stairs.

Nelly moved as best as she could. She wasn’t spry or young, so it was difficult.

“Here, come in here with, Joie.” I said. “I’ll get them.”

“No. No. I got this, go.”

She hurried passed me yelling to the kids to stop.

Why were they running?

I flew into my room with Joie, still holding her tight. After shutting the door, I realized… there wasn’t a lock. I never noticed because I never locked my door.

“Are you kidding me?” I blasted at the door.

“What’s wrong?” Joie asked. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” I set her down and inched her back. “Go by the other door.”

The door opened inward, and not only did I have to secure the main door, but the adjacent door was well. I looked around. What did I have? The dresser, the table, the bed, the chairs. What would be easier to move, yet keep that door shut?

The chairs. I would prop one under the door handle.

I took a second to gather my thoughts. There was no more chatter on the radio and I smacked it against my hand to make sure it was working. The light blinked. Nothing.