SWNOVELS Chapter 51
Perhaps the most surprising thing about the entire night’s events was how quickly they had managed to convince the Prime Minister that what they were saying was right and true. They had laid out the broad premise of the events of the week and invoked the name of both Ruth and MOO (though there had been a brief spit on the floor at MOO and Rick didn’t like to pry). Of course, any government which had a division like MOO would know full well that there was far more super in the natural than was widely known – it almost made him want to ask about Roswell.
All it needed was another demonstration of Andrew’s powers and Rick turning his glass of whiskey into an overflowing Slushie and most of the doubters were convinced. It turned out being trapped underground and not knowing what the hell was going off on the surface had taken its toll. There was the Prime Minister, a half a dozen agents and that was it, the others outside somewhere. He’d been shuffled into the bunker – which when they looked around was more of a glorified meeting room and corridor, although thankfully en-suite.
Seven people, a limited supply of air and only one bottle of whiskey stashed in the meeting room’s cabinet and again that was it. That was all they had access to and none of them knew if that would be enough. It probably wouldn’t, they knew, and for the previous few hours had been contemplating whether or not there would be any rescue. Whether there was still a world high above them on the surface.
The PM was glad to know there was, it seemed despite being of a political party that Rick thought was slimy, he wasn’t so unbelievably trigger happy that he’d push on the red button without a second thought. He seemed considerate, cautious – and blessedly open to listening to suggestions. The main suggestion that Andrew transport them all out of there was gratefully received, even though Rick had made it very clear the dangers that would await them outside.
What had been harder was convincing them not to panic when the pounding began. A crackle on his earpiece told them Sandy, Louise and Angel had arrived and managed to make their way to the concrete door. When the hammering started, trigger fingers seemed to grow twitchy and Rick had to reassure them that the hulk beating at the door seriously was a five foot two blonde skinny doctor with freckles. He could practically hear Andrew’s jaw grinding but did not pass further comment.
When the door caved inwards to reveal their only slightly dishevelled friends, Rick felt a wave of relief.
“Hey guys, what took you so long?” he joked, before adding pointing to the man on his left, “This guy, might vote for him next time. He’s alright.”
“You know he’s…”
“People who share LadBible memes shouldn’t throw stones,” he warned her.
“This is it?” the PM asked, his shoulders slumping in a very un-leader-like way. “Even with my men…”
“Your men are not going out there, mate,” he shot back, forgetting for a moment who he was addressing. “Not with what we’re facing, they’ll be torn apart in seconds. Up there on the surface is a God, a Devil and all their flying monkeys – each one of them with the powers we’ve been barely learning about for the past two years. Even without using them, might put them off their little charade, they are armed to the teeth and will mow you down in seconds.”
“So what are you going to do?” the PM repeated.
“We are going to make a stand,” he answered, honestly. “Maybe it’ll buy you and your men enough time to flee through the back door up there or maybe you’ll be killed along with us, I don’t know. But I am not going to give in to any of this anger, or pain, or fear. I am going to go up there, stand beside the people I love and tell those fucking New Order control freaks that they can take their war and they can shove it up their arse.”
The leader looked at him for a long moment, clearly not used to being spoken to in such a manner, “Have you ever thought about doing motivational speaking?”
“Every hangover.”
That was when the Earth moved and War came to them.