The Soul of a SEAL Page 16

  “I can’t believe you would accuse me of such a thing. I need you to leave my personal chamber. Now.” Yuri shifted his eyes toward them, and his anger was evident. He was daring them to start something.

  “How well did you know Rigley?” asked Melo.

  Yuri’s lips thinned. He walked to the door and pointed. “Out, now.” When neither man moved, he added, “He gave me my computer and updated my phone.” He gritted his teeth. “Leave. I need my rest for the next set of tests.”

  “We’re allowed to hold you, to detain you, and to keep you from being considered for the pilot position of the Warren Shuttle.” Melo swept his arm dramatically, indicating that all of this could go bye-bye, and then he smiled.

  Yuri’s fingers rolled into a fist and his arms stiffened. The man looked about to blow his top, but then something stopped him. He laughed, a burst of a strange, maniacal sound. “You gentlemen can try to do whatever you want.” Then he strode past them and lay down on his bed. He put the headphones back on. Closing his eyes, he blocked them out, the odd smile still on his lips.

  Bennett gestured with his eyes to the door. What an odd person Yuri was!

  Melo left the room first, skirting the edge of the bed with his foot and sending a shimmer of movement along the mattress. Ah, he was a mischief maker.

  Yuri didn’t move. He winced and then resumed his “cool,” supine posture.

  As Bennett crossed to the door, about to walk out, he looked over his shoulder. Ah, there it was…

  Sure enough, Yuri had one eye open, watching him. The expression on his face was one of deep satisfaction and relief. The Russian had won this battle, but the war wasn’t over. Yuri wasn’t going to win the next one. Bennett would make sure of that, if he had to die trying.

  * * *

  Kimberly was bored to death. Waiting outside Hubbard’s office was a tedious taste of retribution. She could imagine that was exactly what Kess was thinking. It was her turn to pace back and forth while she waited for some kind of communication. Nothing good could come from having the facility manager and the project director chatting one-on-one.

  The hallway was bleak, devoid of people and any other human touches. Hubbard preferred the place sterile, so it didn’t have so much as a kitty poster on the wall. Well, there might be one in someone’s personal quarters, but not out in the open. Actually, given the collection of individuals housed in this place, “warm and fuzzy” probably wasn’t on anyone’s priority list.

  “C’mon,” she said softly. “Let me in.”

  Well, maybe being left in the cold was her fault. Originally, they’d kicked her out of the office when she started a shouting match about this being her shuttle. Neither Hubbard nor Kess had taken very kindly to that notion. She had to admit that many people had contributed bits and pieces of the inner shuttle workings to get the project moving faster, but the overall hull design was hers, and it did bear her name.

  “Am I that much of a tough cookie?” she asked herself. Of course, she would rather be made of tough stuff than be soft and squishy. If there had ever been a learning curve for her, this was it: standing up for herself.

  She straightened her spine and took several long, slow breaths. When she grew tired, she leaned her head against the wall and wondered where everything had gone wrong. Somehow, she had been losing control an inch at a time, and Kess had been gaining ground. Would it solve anything if Kess left? As disheartening as it was to admit, it wouldn’t accomplish anything…not at this point. They needed to finish this work and launch this baby.

  She checked her watch. It had been hours. Perhaps she should just head back to her room and let them page her when it was time to return.

  Abruptly, the door slid open. A voice beckoned from inside. “Dr. Warren, please join us.” It was Kess.

  She cringed. She’d never get used to that man. Pasting a pleasant smile on her face, she pushed off the wall and went inside.

  Sunlight poured into the room from the large windows along the eastern wall. The sunrise was a welcome sight after such a long and complicated night, and it reminded her that she hadn’t gotten much sleep. And when that was added to the emotional upheaval of the last few hours, it was no surprise her feelings were a tad raw.

  Seeing the two men hunched over a computer screen next to each other made her feel excluded—as if they had a secret. Yellow pads of paper filled with notes sat on either side of them. Pencils sat abandoned, as if all the hard work was already done.

  “Take a seat,” Hubbard said, pushing back from the table. It wasn’t a question, but she wasn’t used to accepting commands, so she paused for several seconds before she chose a spot.

  Kimberly ignored Kess as she focused on Hubbard. She only wanted the answer to one question, so she took the initiative and asked, “What did you decide about the launch?”

  Her nemesis grinned wickedly at her. “I’ll let Hubbard explain. I have work to do.” Kess shook hands with Hubbard, got up from the table, and paused in front of her. “You know that we have cameras everywhere.” He smiled again and lifted his hand to touch her shoulder before thinking better of it. He went out the door. It slid soundlessly shut behind him.

  “What does that mean?” she asked. “As far as I know, we don’t have any footage of the murders or any other illegal activity.” She didn’t understand what was going on. What did these men know that she didn’t?

  “We don’t,” replied Hubbard. He made a noise somewhere between a choking sound and speech. “Excuse me.” He crossed the room and helped himself to another cup of coffee. “Do you want some?”

  “No. Thank you. What I’d like are some answers. I’ve been outside waiting for over an hour. Are we launching?” Her impatience was getting the best of her. She tried to rein it in, but it didn’t work.

  Hubbard sat down again. He took several sips from his coffee cup and then placed it on the table. “The short answer is yes, we will launch. The long answer to a very complicated issue that Kess brought to me is that you will no longer be in charge of pilot selection.”

  “Why? Give me one reason.”

  “I can provide several, but this is perhaps the most poignant.” He turned the computer screen toward her. Photos sped across the screen, ones of her with Bennett in some seriously compromising positions. The word naked didn’t even begin to cover it.

  Her jaw dropped open. When she found her voice, she asked, “Where did those come from…?”

  “At Kess’s request, we added cameras to several additional places in the Lester Facility, and he’s been monitoring them. He captured these photos and didn’t think it would be an issue until he saw how emotional you were in the R & D Center. That’s why we talked first. He’s in charge of the launch; I owe him that.” Hubbard spread his fingers. “You understand, of course, that Kess will be going forward with his choice of pilots.”

  She laughed, softly at first and then louder, until Hubbard moved uncomfortably in his chair. “You bought that?”

  “Dr. Warren, are you okay?”

  She presented him with a wide, toothy smile. She leaned forward, putting her elbows inelegantly on the table. “I had an itch and I scratched it. Men do it every day. So why discriminate?” She rubbed her hands together and stood. “It’s not your decision, or Kess’s choice. SECNAV appointed me the decision maker, and if you want to change that, then either one of you can go through the proper channels. Until then…” She walked to the door and opened it. Looking over her shoulder, she said, “Don’t threaten me.”

  Hubbard sputtered as the door slid shut, closing him inside.

  As Kimberly walked down the hall, she said, “Sally, delete all images of Bennett and me together. Make sure you check for backups.”

  Cold air blasted down on her from above.

  “Hey, Sally, make sure you check the temperature. For some reason, it’s like an iceberg in here.”
>
  “Done. Confirmed on images, and temperature is adjusted to a comfortable seventy degrees Fahrenheit,” said Sally.

  Kimberly sneezed. It didn’t feel different. Maybe Sally needed a diagnostic, or some kind of checkup.

  She headed straight for her room. Upon reviewing the discussion with Hubbard, her anger bubbled up inside her, so hot it could melt steel. This was the fuel she needed to get over the hump. They were going to solve the issues that faced them—or else.

  Chapter 8

  Kimberly sat in her quarters and stared at her phone. She’d already fielded two calls from SECNAV and three from Ouster.

  Somehow she’d let slip about her involvement with Bennett, and they’d all freaked out. First of all, she didn’t expect that anyone would find out or that she’d be so angry that she leaked it. Second, weren’t her bedroom activities private? According to Ouster, the answer was no, and she had jeopardized Captain Sheraton’s position.

  SECNAV was leaning toward allowing Kess to choose the candidate. She knew Ouster would support her, even if he didn’t like doing it. The Admiral was so overprotective, and had sought someone for her more stable and ordinary than a SEAL. But she had never been a regular soul, so how could the person she dated be?

  Dated. Huh? Were they actually dating? She’d have to think about that.

  She stood up and paced, checking the clock on the wall. Time was speeding by, and she hoped Bennett would arrive on time for his pool simulation. His score on this test would factor into the final decision, and she needed everyone to see how well qualified he was. In her mind, Bennett was the only man for the piloting job, but she knew she’d have to justify her decision.

  Her phone signaled a text, and she smiled as she looked at the screen. Several individuals were on her side. She guessed her situation was making the rounds on the gossip train. Also, the monitor from the pool sent several of the candidates’ results to her. Yuri was in the tank, and Bennett was next up.

  “C’mon, Bennett, kick ass,” Kimberly said. She sat back down in the chair and waited.

  * * *

  The heavy door slammed shut behind him. The smell of chlorine stung his nostrils. His eyes scanned the pool area. It was packed with people. Bennett was less fond of man-made swimming holes than he was of rivers, lakes, and oceans. Give him salt water any day, even with the threat of toothy predators, and he was a happy guy. This place was hardwired, with a shuttle structure sunk into the pool. Frankly, for an astronaut, it was an ideal training area.

  He shook his head, trying to dislodge the order stuck in his head. Ouster had called right before he entered the pool area and insisted he stay away from Kimberly on an “intimate” basis. How had she spilled that fact! He’d almost told the Admiral to screw himself but had held his tongue. SEALs were known rule breakers, and he could just ignore it. But it was impossible to argue with the notion that hooking up with Kimberly endangered the mission. He was better off sticking to the parameters of his assignment, and so was she.

  It was hard to ignore how angry it made him. He liked Kimberly, but he had to break it off. Was there any other way to get through this with their psyches and the mission intact?

  He stepped in a puddle of water, and it splashed him. The cold spray was just what he needed to focus.

  Concentrate, Bennett! Do your job.

  Focus was a favorite word of Gich’s, as in “be present in a situation”—in other words, do what you’re doing when you’re doing it. Stay grounded in your tasks, and focus your mind on the matter at hand.

  Bennett pursed his lips. He needed to do that right now.

  He pulled his sweatshirt over his head and slipped his legs out of his sweatpants. He was going to ignore Kimberly until the mission was sorted. It was for the best. He dropped his sweats on an empty bench, and his flip-flops smacked loudly on the tiled floor as he approached the monitor and checked in. “Captain Bennett Sheraton for the two o’clock slot.”

  The monitor looked him up and down. “You’re early for the simulation. Take a seat over there, or you can observe from the far wall.”

  Bennett preferred standing and watching; it was a better view. He wondered who was down in the pool right now. Whoever it was had lost two of his tools and was doing the steps out of order. The dexterity rating was going to be nil. Didn’t anyone read instructions anymore? Being a sailor had taught him that there were actually right and wrong ways to perform tasks. Knowing the difference saved a lot of pain. Research was the first step to every success.

  The safety diver signaled from below, and three more divers jumped in the pool. They released the man in the space suit and brought him up to the surface. Popping off the mask, they shoved an extra mouthpiece into the wearer’s mouth. As they turned to the elevator launch and a large set of stairs, they hauled the man and his giant space suit out of the water.

  Bennett was there to lend a hand. Locking his arms under the man’s armpits, he aided the divers’ movements, and they thanked him.

  The man inside the space suit didn’t say a word. He was too busy sputtering and coughing up water. He looked up into Bennett’s eyes with a sneer. It was Yuri.

  It took much longer for Yuri to be extracted from the suit and for a new space suit to be located and the mock-up reset. By then, all of the candidates were arguing with the monitor.

  Staying out of the melee seemed like a wise idea, so Bennett mentally practiced what he was going to do in the pool. It was probably why he was ignoring Yuri when the man came up to him and started pelting him with questions.

  “How many hours have you logged in the water?” Yuri spat out the question, sending a spray of spittle with it. “How can you be considered when this is your first time in this pool? You don’t deserve to be here. Why don’t you quit already?”

  “Oh, but I have been in this pool. Not for this particular task, but I’ve been through many like it.” Bennett brushed the droplets off his skin. “Most of my career has deployed in and around the water, so let’s say I’ve spent roughly twelve thousand hours in the drink.”

  None of the men around him commented further. Yuri was still finding his tongue as Bennett secured the space suit and entered the elevator, which lowered him into the pool. It took him a few minutes to get used to the gloves, but he was able to secure the safety line to his suit and get to work.

  The simulation to set up the array in space was contained in a rather deep pool. The mock-up was simple. With all the parts color-coded and labeled, Bennett was able to assemble it quickly. The difficult part came when he was turning the array and trying to lock it into place. No matter how he shifted the hardware, it wouldn’t stay aligned. When a diver pointed at his watch to tell him that he’d reached the time limit, frustration set in.

  Bennett was tempted to pull off the suit and perform the task without the gear, but this action would have disqualified him altogether. At this point, he had one more chance to pass the test.

  Making his way along the bottom of the pool, he followed the protocol, securing his tether to the elevator and activating the Up function. Slowly, he was hoisted out of the water.

  When he placed his feet topside, he unclipped the tether and stepped clear of the elevator. The test was officially over now.

  Pulling off his gloves, helmet, and suit, he waited for the monitor to approach him. Several people were gathered around, and their voices were raised in disagreement. The monitor stepped clear of them and headed straight for Bennett. Ripping a piece of paper off his clipboard, he said, “You passed, Captain Sheraton.”

  “Wait,” said Bennett. “The array didn’t lock into place. I failed the second part of the task requirements. I’d like to do it again.”

  “Do it as much as you want. But hear me on this…” The monitor shook his head and said, “The gear is not functioning correctly. No one could have locked it into place unless they cheated and took off t
heir gear, which would essentially kill them in space or allow water into their space suit, creating a dangerous situation.” He threw a glance in Yuri’s direction.

  “Interesting.” Bennett was curious as to why the array wouldn’t lock into place.

  “In terms of training, you’re the best-qualified person in this facility. Good luck, Captain. I hope you get the mission.” The monitor hurried away, leaving the pool mock-up and testing area.

  Bennett looked at the diver sitting on the edge of the pool. He spun his finger in a circle. “Rack ’em up. Let’s do it again. Nothing better than having muscle memory.”

  The diver nodded. He gave Bennett a thumbs up before he pulled on his mask, secured his mouthpiece, checked the air on his tank, and hopped back into the pool.

  The room was emptying out. It appeared that everyone had come here to watch him fail, or maybe they were here for Yuri.

  Funny how nothing ever went well for those tragic types, like they invited pain into their lives so they had something to complain about. That was the opposite of how Bennett dealt with life—magic came from hard work and the belief in one’s own power and capability.

  Time to muster his magic skills. Bennett made sure nothing would get in the way of his pool time as he secured the space suit, helmet, and gloves and made his way to the elevator. Blissfully, the only people in here now were the on-site medical team, the divers, and himself. Using the precise protocol again, he secured the tether to the elevator and sent it down into the pool. “Time to make the doughnuts.” He chuckled at his own joke and mentally prepared for his tasks. Having them fresh in his mind kept him directed and gave him the edge he needed to improve on the timing of his first test.

  If he practiced a few more times, he knew he could make it even better. SEALs rehearsed over and over until they could perform an action in their sleep. Bennett was going to make sure he had every action nailed down. Though the odds of his return were not favorable, given the danger involved in the mission, he was going to give himself the best chance he could…to come home alive.