Chapter 5 - The Night at Black Ridge
At Black Ridge, the air had smelled of diesel, rain, and hot metal. Marcus remembered it in cruel little pieces: Danny Mercer giving his last protein bar to a frightened child; Viper resting his chin on Marcus's boot; the red X on a Northgate truck.
The mission was supposed to be an evacuation. Families from a damaged village waited near the outpost while a new routing system, Lantern, guided vehicles along a supposedly safe road. Colonel Rusk, then a lieutenant colonel, had insisted on using it during the operation.
"Road's washed out by the lower crossing," Danny reported from the lead vehicle. "I've got people walking the shoulder. We need the upper route."
June's voice crackled over the radio. "Lantern marks the lower crossing clear. Stand by."
Marcus looked at the glowing display. "That machine doesn't have eyes. Danny does."
Viper stiffened. His nose worked at the air. Three quick paw taps against the truck floor.
Marcus keyed his radio. "Halt the convoy. Possible hazard ahead."
Rusk's answer came cold and immediate. "Negative. Proceed as planned. That's an order."
Danny climbed down to wave a family away from the road. Marcus followed, taking Viper with him. He heard a little girl calling for her mother. He heard Danny shout, "Get them back!"
Then light tore the night in half.
Marcus remembered being thrown into gravel. His leg lay twisted beneath a broken axle. A child screamed nearby. Through the smoke, Viper seized the strap of Marcus's vest and dragged until the metal stopped crushing his chest.
Danny ran back toward the damaged vehicle. "I can hear someone inside!"
"Danny, don't!" Marcus yelled.
His friend turned once. "Tell Ruby I came back for them."
Another blast swallowed his voice. Marcus tried to crawl after him, but pain knocked the world sideways. His last memory was Viper standing over him, growling at men who tried to move him before the flames died.
The board later said Marcus had broken formation and led Danny into danger. June Park confirmed it.
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Now, sitting in the clinic four years later, Marcus read June's new message.
THE ORIGINAL RECORDING SURVIVED. AND THEY'RE ABOUT TO REPEAT THE TEST.
