Orb Weaver: Storm, Chapter 4

I could hear the thunder outside. Moments after the rain started, clouds had built, Leviathan’s hydrokinesis proving to have other applications than the short-ranged ones. The barometric pressure was dropping like a stone, a storm building, not in days or weeks, but hours.

“We are getting sustained wind gusts of over 60 miles an hour, along with intense rain and lightning.”  A weathercaster said, sweat causing her makeup to run. “The PRT has announced that this is Leviathan, but they currently are not certain where the Endbringer will make landfall, if it will at all.”

Or if it will just stay off the coast and unleash a hurricane…

I didn’t know much about the weather, not more than any layperson, but I recalled a news story, one of those things you listened to when you didn’t have anything else to do, estimating that a full-sized hurricane might release the same heat energy as a 10 megaton bomb, every twenty minutes.

Stop.  If Leviathan can do that, can unleash a full hurricane without ever getting close enough for us to attack, then there is nothing we can do,  so there is no sense in thinking about it. Focus on the job.

“Call up the elevation map,” I ordered and the big map appeared. “All units, this is the Investigator. If the storm continues, even before Leviathan hits, we must prepare for flooded roads. Stand by for reroutes.”

That I sent to the other people. I didn’t know, beyond looking at a map, which roads were safe and which ones would quickly flood or erode. That was up to the locals.

Another image showed, an interstate going all twisty—

Vista.

The roads that had been cleared were now warped, people moving a few hundred yards, or a mile, at most from their point of view, and ending up over twenty miles inland.

They must have transported her to the evacuation point when the danger zone became clearer, but it was helping.

****

Madison sat down under the tarp that had been set up over her in the emergency support region. There were big trucks, from the New York Fire Department, that looked tinker-made, including one with legs. There was Bulwark from the Bay, along with Panacea and some other healers. They were about five miles inland, on a hill. She’d heard a PRT guy say that they were artificial hills, built after Leviathan first appeared, to provide refuge points in case he attacked.

And Assault was… where Leviathan was going to be. He was her minder, and was…

Nicer than she deserved. He’d been her guard when she’d gone and seen Rosita. Rosita was going to get out of Juvie, even though they’d been talking about how she needed to stay. Madison didn’t know why they had changed their minds. But…

She bit her lip. She wasn’t in her Changer form, but it still felt…

Ugly. Sitting here, when other people were going to go get hurt. Because nobody trusted her. Why should they?

Even Assault knew better.

Hey kid, here’s the thing. You’re super strong, but Levi? He’s sneaky and mean, so right now, we just need you to help get people out after the most Handsome Hero in the Protectorate kicks his ass. So don’t worry.

And they wouldn’t have to worry that Madison might do something terrible.

She huddled in on herself as the blue sky went gray, fast—too fast—and then there were fat droplets of rain pattering over the tarp, men and women running back and forth, even as the wind kicked up.

He’s coming.  And presently  Madison started to shiver, even though the wind and chill didn’t affect her at all.

****

“We’re done!” Glory Girl shouted into the net as the last van load of civilians headed over the bridge. Jesus, 30K in three hours… That had to be one for the books.

“Understood,” The Investigator’s voice sounded. “Call out blocks for final search. Kid Win, use your thermographs to ensure we’ve not left anyone who couldn’t leave behind.”

“Rodger.”

“Uh, what about the guys with the guns,” Krewe asked. “The ones who weren’t gonna let us chase them away?”

“Leave them,” the Investigator’s voice was cold. “Krewe, you’re needed at the Texas City Health Center.” Moments later, Krewe flickered away.

Not as fast as Glory Girl, but the people Krewe was moving didn’t like acceleration, and so Krewe’s mover ability was what they needed.

****

Inside the EOC I stood up. “It is time for all emergency personnel  to evacuate the island.” I nodded. “Thank you.”

“Thank you,” someone muttered, and then we were heading out into the parking lot. The building I’d just visited wouldn’t survive. If things had any kind of soul, I hoped it would be content in the people it had saved.

When the door opened, I was hit by the storm. Rain was sheeting down. When I’d entered the building, less than four hours ago, the sky had been blue, a light breeze. Now I could barely see to the far end of the parking lot, and the heavy, warm raindrops soaked us all, the wind roaring down. I heard the crash of a tree at the far end of the road.

Why? To complicate our evacuation? But it hadn’t started until the evacuation of the island was close to complete. Maybe Leviathan needed time? Regardless, Leviathan was showing far too much awareness of the situation for my comfort.

Then I was ushered into the big four-wheeled vehicle and we were driving off. At every intersection, police who had been holding the intersections open hopped into their own vehicles, heading off with us.

When we crossed the bridge, the island would be empty, save for a few who had chosen suicide over listening to those who would save them.

As we drove, I focused on the three tablets I had on my lap and the headset.

“Nobody in the homes, we’re good,” Kid win said.

“Understood.”

“Attention all units, this is the PRT. Wind gusts are increasing to the point where non-Tinkertech manned aircraft can no longer operate in the affected area. Going to drones.”

It would only get worse as the Endbringer approached.

****

Brian got into the PRT APC, along with the rest of the Wards. Right now, flying  wasn’t a good idea, not with the kicked up wind…

And that means Leviathan is on the way. Fuck. How did I end up here?  At least Aisha wasn’t here. They needed her to move more patients out to safe zones. Wards weren’t supposed to fight Leviathan, and that went double for movers.

He looked out through the front compartment, the windshield wipers going  a mile a minute and not doing much. The comments on the net were coming fast and furious.

“No eyes on Leviathan, he’s still underwater. Moving back and forth…”

If that fucker just decides to play headgames and just leave…

I might fucking start going to church again.

They hit the bridge, the water choppy, the wind kicking it up into a froth. Brian saw  a few boats bobbing, abandoned and drifting. Made sense. After the last wave, it wasn’t like tying them up to the pier was gonna help.

God. Everyone here…they’re gonna lose everything.

Brian shook his head, remembering the stuffed cars, yowling cats, barking dogs, kids in safety seats looking around with big eyes as the lie that this was just a drill started to die. He’d never had a lot, but even so… You get thirty minutes, to pick what you’re going to keep and give up what you’re going to lose.

The world was fucked, but at least they had their lives.

Well other than the jerks who had threatened to shoot one of Aisha’s Numbers if she didn’t let them try their luck against an Endbringer. Them he couldn’t care less about.

But even so, Brian couldn’t shake one thought.

Leviathan has to know we’re ready for him. So why is he fucking around off the coast giving us more time?