Dave Freedman - Natural Selection

Jason immediately knew the animals were moving much too fast. He wasn’t going to make it. Lisa had to blow the tunnel; she had to blow it right now.

She saw the creatures were almost on top of him. She stepped back, her finger on the button, not pressing down. Jason was so close, almost there, almost past the explosives…. She backed completely out of the darkness and into the light, not taking her eyes off him.

He looked back at her, and his eyes said it. I love you. And don’t wait.

She pressed the button.

Like an earthquake, the entire mountain shook. Lisa was thrown hard to the rock as the great space fell on top of itself, massive boulders plunging with violent, loud crashes. As the rocks settled, nothing flew out of the space. Nothing walked out either.

Then she couldn’t see. Thick clouds of black dust rose up. Lisa ran into them, looking everywhere. Jason was leaning against a boulder the size of an SUV. She extended a hand and they entered the clean air.

She hugged him. “It’s over, my God, Jason. It’s finally over.”

Over the twinkling of falling pebbles, he eyed the distant sea. “You think?”

She broke the hug. “You don’t?”

He eyed her cryptically. “Lisa, I think this was just the beginning.”

BEYOND THE clanging glasses and chatter, Jason Aldridge and Lisa Barton stood alone on the balcony, admiring the distant sunset over the Pacific Ocean. They hadn’t enjoyed a sunset in a while. After the San Diego funerals of Darryl and Monique Hollis, Craig Summers, and Phil Martino, Jason and Lisa had done nothing but prepare for this moment. And now it was finally here. Their “coming-out party.” A dinner/news conference presenting them and the new order of Demonray to the entire world. A roomful of tables, each with white linen tablecloths and patterned Spode china set for ten awaited. While guests dined on rack of lamb and seared tuna, Jason and Lisa would make a full slide-show presentation. Notes, pictures, charts, and detailed commentary from Bandar Vishakeratne of Princeton and Mike Cohen of UC Berkeley would also be highlighted. Publicists had tirelessly promoted the event to every major TV station and newspaper around and, in the words of one, “hyped it to the moon.” Besides the media, the guest list of 250 was a virtual who’s who of the most respected ichthyologists, oceanographers, and evolutionary biologists alive. They’d come from far and wide to this tasteful oceanside reception hall in Laguna Beach, an hour south of Los Angeles. Soon they would make Jason Aldridge and Lisa Barton household names.

“Hors d’oeuvre, sir?” In a tuxedo and white gloves, an enormous eighteen-year-old, probably a football player from the local high school, held out a tray filled with tasty little morsels.

Jason peered down. “What are those?”

“Carmelized onions on crostini with Gorgonzola cheese, sir.”

Jason gave the kid a look. “Pretty fancy. You pick those out?”

The kid smiled. “The catering manager, sir.”

“I’m fine, thanks.”

“Ma’am?”

“Oh, thank you.” Lisa took one. “Mmm, delicious.”

The kid went back inside, and Jason shook his head at all of it. “Swanky affair, huh?”

Lisa nodded sadly. “Craig and Darryl would have loved it.”

“Yeah.” Jason exhaled, sadder than he could say. Then he kissed Lisa’s hand. “Look at my beautiful fiancée.”

She smiled at her new one-carat diamond engagement ring. A celebrity would have laughed at its size, but Lisa Barton absolutely loved her ring. She loved the man who’d given it to her even more. “Thank you, Jason. For everything.”

“Want a drink?”

“Sure.”

They entered the reception area, heading toward a tiny crowded bar when—

“Excuse me. Jason, Lisa?”

They turned. And so did their stomachs. It was Harry Ackerman, as cold-eyed and even-tempered as ever. “How are you two doing?”

With several reporters in earshot, the couple just stared at him.

“What do you want?” Jason said in a loud voice meant to be overheard.

Ackerman’s pleasant demeanor evaporated. “Everything here is my property. Every last thing.”

“It was nice seeing you at Darryl and Monique’s funeral, Harry.” This was also very loud.

Ackerman blinked. “Oh. Yes, I heard about that. I couldn’t make it.”

“But you didn’t send chocolates either.”

Ackerman started looking self-conscious. Jason was staring at him with palpable rage. He was the evening’s star attraction, and several reporters were beginning to take notice.

“You also didn’t make it to Craig and Phil’s funerals.”

Ackerman looked away, saying nothing.

“You remember Phil Martino, don’t you, Harry?” Again, more volume.

The eyes remained calm. “This is my news conference.”

“I said you remember Phil Martino, don’t you?” The entire room was watching them now.

“Yes, I remember him.” People Ackerman didn’t know were starting to give him angry looks. “Everything related to the discoveries you made while working for me is my property. It’s in the contracts, and I want all of it.”

“You terminated the contracts and voided your rights. My attorney assured me of that.”

Ackerman paused. “I didn’t think attorneys were your style, Jason.”

“They weren’t.” He glanced at Lisa. “My technical adviser suggested I get one. Take us to court if you don’t like it.”

“You son of a bitch. I will.”

Jason almost smiled. “Will you? Because I heard you had to declare bankruptcy and are under investigation by the IRS, too. You sure you have the financial resources for a lawsuit?”

Ackerman couldn’t retort. It was all true. One of his companies had defaulted on several loans he was personally liable for. To cover it, the banks had already acquired his stock and bond portfolios and were in the process of taking possession of his massive La Jolla home.

Jason thrust out a powerful hand, daring the man to shake it. “But thanks for coming by to congratulate us.”

Ackerman just eyed the hand nervously. And Lisa laughed hard in his face. Others didn’t know what was so funny, but they smiled. Humiliated, Ackerman stormed off.

Before Jason could put his hand down, someone else strode up and shook it. “Jason, it’s great to see you.” Bandar Vishakeratne looked excited. “I just flew in, but I must say these bloody appetizers are the best I’ve ever had.” He raised a tiny plate. “This one right here, I swear to Buddha, is called ‘miniature poppy-seed-and-chive buttermilk blini with onion.’ It tastes fantastic and it’s vegetarian.” He glanced at Lisa. “Do you believe it? Even at Princeton, they don’t serve appetizers like these.”

Jason and Lisa laughed heartily. Then Veesh leaned into Jason and whispered, “All joking aside, my sincerest congratulations to you. From the bottom of my heart, you deserve this, all of it, and I’m honored to participate.”

Jason shook the hand warmly. “Thank you very much, Veesh. By the way, have you met my colleague and fiancée, Lisa Barton?”

“Fiancée?” Veesh smiled. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lisa. You know, I’m sure you’re very accomplished; but I must say, I think you’ve landed a good one here.”

Lisa chuckled. Then Veesh excused himself and the pair returned to the balcony. It was so quiet out here, the sunset even more beautiful than it had been a moment ago.

Lisa turned to her husband-to-be. “Did I tell you how proud I am of you?”

“Lisa, we both—we all did this.”

“But you were our leader. You guided us. You even trusted us. You wanted this more than anyone, and… I mean it: I’m proud of you.”