shut the door and activated the launch sequence. Instead of the usual simulated launch on the communication screen at the front of the pod, they were greeted with a recorded message delivered by the admiral.
“As the captain of this great ship, I am charged with maintaining the safety of each and every person living on it. The lives of the airmen, soldiers and families aboard the Valiant are paramount in all decisions I make. Tonight, it falls on me to inform you that we are facing a new threat to our safety here on this ship,” Orion explained. “Intelligence missions have gathered information that leads us to believe the Splinter cell in our sector has acquired and plans to use nerve agents in a coordinated attack.”
While Orion paused on screen, allowing his words to sink in, Cipher glanced around the pod. It was clear which men had been apprised of the threat earlier in briefings and which were just now learning the details. Dizzy seemed unnaturally pale as she clung to Venom’s arm. Naya, always brave and headstrong, reached for her husband’s hand as if to tell him they were in this together. Ella looped her ankle around Raze’s, tucking herself in closer and holding his steady gaze.
Next to him, Brook swallowed hard. They shared a look that spoke volumes. She had uncovered the threat. It was because of her that everyone on the ship had advance warning and a chance to prepare for the worst. If she hadn’t risked her life to save Terror, the Splinter cell would have been able catch them off-guard with a devastating attack.
On screen, Orion explained that each and every person on the ship would be fitted with a gas mask and drilled on the proper way to protect themselves in the event of an attack. Cipher had already heard the spiel earlier that morning while attending a classified combined SRU and Shadow Force meeting. He interlaced his fingers with Brook’s as she stared with rapt attention at the screen. If she was terrified, she was hiding it well and seemed to be intent on memorizing every word the admiral had to say.
After Orion ended his speech, the screen automatically began playing a short film on the proper shelter-in-place and evacuation steps in the event of a gas attack. They were instructed to seek shelter in the bathroom in their quarters, put on their masks and seal the door until a second alarm cleared the way for an immediate evacuation. Once the second alarm sounded, the evacuation would proceed as usual.
When the film was finished, the screen instructed them to exit the pod single file and receive their masks for fitting. He tucked Brook in front of him, one hand on her hip and the other on her shoulder as they moved toward the exit. Out in the hallway, there were two lines—one for the men and one for the women. There weren’t any babies or children on their floor yet, but Cipher had seen the tiny pediatric masks earlier that morning. The sight of them had twisted his stomach and made him more determined to do whatever he could to help Shadow Force locate and neutralize the missing gas canisters.
Showing no hesitation, Brook joined the women’s line and waited for her turn. She clearly recognized the medic at the front, a younger man Cipher had met in passing at the infirmary. She smiled warmly at Chance and chatted with him as he showed her how to place the mask and tighten the straps to form a proper seal. Cipher looked away just long enough to get his mask and demonstrate he could attain the correct fit.
By the time he looked back, Brook had already moved ahead to wait for him. Her mask dangled from her hand, and she seemed strangely unbothered by the whole experience. He reached for as he drew near, and she happily slid close, matching his strides as they returned to their quarters. Once they were safely inside, he trailed her to the kitchen where she placed her mask on the table and then leveled a stare his way. “How bad is it?”
“Bad,” he said, wishing he could tell her everything. “We wouldn’t even know about the threat if it wasn’t for you, Brook.”
She frowned. “I’m sure you would have learned about the canisters eventually.”
“Too late,” he replied, certain that would have been the outcome had she not gone into the mine to recon.