guessed.
“With no calls going through this close to land, people know the news isn’t good and there are crowds gathering at the Port. I think it’s going to get crazy down there soon,” Ashley said, taking a turn at the window looking down toward the Port’s terminal. “The cops are fencing off the perimeter near the ship’s berth. It looks like they will bring the Sunset Rose right to the terminal it departed from.”
“Why would they bring a ship full of sick people in so close to the city?” Reid asked.
“I can only guess that it’s because they don’t want to cause a panic or heighten the tension by leaving everyone’s loved ones floating on a ship in the Gulf,” Eric answered.
Conversation was pointless now due to the roar of the helicopter on the roof. They all huddled around the security monitor and watched as the door to the helicopter slid open. “TDC” could be seen on the door facing the camera. Two Terra Corp personnel in hazmat suits hurriedly pulled a single person out of the helicopter.
Damn , o nly one, Mike thought. He looked hard at the covered form. “OH MY GOD, THAT’S MARLEE,” he said harshly, knowing Marlee’s shape anywhere. They were taking her vitals and prodding her with all sorts of hi-tech medical equipment. Mike was so shocked to see her it hadn’t registered that she was back and just one floor above him. Eric put a hand on his shoulder. Mike realized it wasn’t simply for comfort; Eric wanted to make sure he didn’t rush off and do something stupid.
The team that had looked over Marlee efficiently shoved her into a hazmat suit while the other Terra Corp personnel watched from a distance. Mike was sure this was a precaution to protect those around her.
With a roar, the helicopter’s rotors spooled up as it tore itself from the roof, the powerful turbines easily overcoming gravity’s pull. Mike got a quick view of the pilot and he could see he was wearing a protective suit as well. The caution they were taking with Marlee felt like a blast of cold water. These guys weren’t taking any chances with anything or anyone that had been aboard the Sunset Rose .
Mike breathed a sigh of relief. Marlee had looked stable and he hoped whoever had rescued her from the Sunset Rose would release her soon so he could find out why the people aboard the ship went crazy; at least he didn’t have to come up with a way to get her off of the ship.
Moving next to the window, Mike looked down at the Port. The terminal parking lot was filled with local residents, gawkers, and family hoping to be reunited with loved ones. Most just wanted to watch the ship dock and see for themselves the mystery that shrouded the Sunset Rose . The shopping center’s overflow parking lot was filled with the vehicles of first responders. He looked out into the Gulf and could see the Sunset Rose’s enormous form as it entered the canal leading to the terminal. Towed by only a single pair of tug boats, it was a slow and precise process.
Soon enough the ship would be moored and the process of offloading the poor souls would begin. Paramedics and first responders were ready to work through the night to rescue and transport the sick, injured, and deceased. As the crowd pressed into the fencing blocking the public from the terminal, yearning for a glimpse of their family and friends, no one could predict the chaos that would soon follow. Nothing would ever be the same.
CHAPTER 3
Debarkation
The cruise ship’s mammoth bulk drifted to a gentle rest against the concrete pier. The tug crew’s expertise made the berthing of such a large ship look like child’s play. The Sunset Rose stood still, towering over a collection of boutique shops and various port facilities. Blocked from entering the terminal by a fence, hundreds upon hundreds of faces peered up at the silent ship. Empty balconies, portholes, and party decks stared silently back at the crowd. There were no streamers, no
“With no calls going through this close to land, people know the news isn’t good and there are crowds gathering at the Port. I think it’s going to get crazy down there soon,” Ashley said, taking a turn at the window looking down toward the Port’s terminal. “The cops are fencing off the perimeter near the ship’s berth. It looks like they will bring the Sunset Rose right to the terminal it departed from.”
“Why would they bring a ship full of sick people in so close to the city?” Reid asked.
“I can only guess that it’s because they don’t want to cause a panic or heighten the tension by leaving everyone’s loved ones floating on a ship in the Gulf,” Eric answered.
Conversation was pointless now due to the roar of the helicopter on the roof. They all huddled around the security monitor and watched as the door to the helicopter slid open. “TDC” could be seen on the door facing the camera. Two Terra Corp personnel in hazmat suits hurriedly pulled a single person out of the helicopter.
Damn , o nly one, Mike thought. He looked hard at the covered form. “OH MY GOD, THAT’S MARLEE,” he said harshly, knowing Marlee’s shape anywhere. They were taking her vitals and prodding her with all sorts of hi-tech medical equipment. Mike was so shocked to see her it hadn’t registered that she was back and just one floor above him. Eric put a hand on his shoulder. Mike realized it wasn’t simply for comfort; Eric wanted to make sure he didn’t rush off and do something stupid.
The team that had looked over Marlee efficiently shoved her into a hazmat suit while the other Terra Corp personnel watched from a distance. Mike was sure this was a precaution to protect those around her.
With a roar, the helicopter’s rotors spooled up as it tore itself from the roof, the powerful turbines easily overcoming gravity’s pull. Mike got a quick view of the pilot and he could see he was wearing a protective suit as well. The caution they were taking with Marlee felt like a blast of cold water. These guys weren’t taking any chances with anything or anyone that had been aboard the Sunset Rose .
Mike breathed a sigh of relief. Marlee had looked stable and he hoped whoever had rescued her from the Sunset Rose would release her soon so he could find out why the people aboard the ship went crazy; at least he didn’t have to come up with a way to get her off of the ship.
Moving next to the window, Mike looked down at the Port. The terminal parking lot was filled with local residents, gawkers, and family hoping to be reunited with loved ones. Most just wanted to watch the ship dock and see for themselves the mystery that shrouded the Sunset Rose . The shopping center’s overflow parking lot was filled with the vehicles of first responders. He looked out into the Gulf and could see the Sunset Rose’s enormous form as it entered the canal leading to the terminal. Towed by only a single pair of tug boats, it was a slow and precise process.
Soon enough the ship would be moored and the process of offloading the poor souls would begin. Paramedics and first responders were ready to work through the night to rescue and transport the sick, injured, and deceased. As the crowd pressed into the fencing blocking the public from the terminal, yearning for a glimpse of their family and friends, no one could predict the chaos that would soon follow. Nothing would ever be the same.
CHAPTER 3
Debarkation
The cruise ship’s mammoth bulk drifted to a gentle rest against the concrete pier. The tug crew’s expertise made the berthing of such a large ship look like child’s play. The Sunset Rose stood still, towering over a collection of boutique shops and various port facilities. Blocked from entering the terminal by a fence, hundreds upon hundreds of faces peered up at the silent ship. Empty balconies, portholes, and party decks stared silently back at the crowd. There were no streamers, no
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