Mega 3: When Giants Collide (Mega Series) by Jake Bible Page A

Thorne and Ballantine alone in the briefing room.
    “This isn’t all about a tracking device,” Thorne said. “We’ve always known we’d get caught at some point, so tell me what really has you pissed off.”
    Ballantine opened his mouth, closed it, opened it again, closed it, then sighed and shook his head.
    “We’ve been let go,” Ballantine said. “Officially.”
    “Let go?” Thorne asked as he took a seat at the table. “By the company?”
    “Yes,” Ballantine said. “As of an hour ago, the Beowulf III, its crew, and Team Grendel are officially free agents. We have no country and we have no company to fall back on. We are alone.”
    “Good,” Thorne said.
    “I’m sorry?” Ballantine asked. “Did you just say that’s good?”
    “I did,” Thorne said. “I never liked working for your company, and since I’m disavowed by the country I have spent my life protecting and bleeding for, then I’d rather we were cut loose and on our own. Simplifies things.”
    Ballantine studied Thorne for a long time then took a deep breath.
    “Simplifies things,” Ballantine smiled sadly. “If only that were true. Without the company’s protection, we are now open game for every enemy we’ve made. Plus every enemy I’ve made.”
    “Every enemy I’ve made and every enemy Darren has made and every enemy my daughter and nephews have made,” Thorne laughed. “I am pretty fucking confident Darby’s made some enemies too. We all have enemies, Ballantine. So fucking what?”
    “So fucking what?” Ballantine barked.
    “So fucking what,” Thorne stated.
    “So fucking what…” Ballantine muttered then smiled. “Yes. So fucking what? We have some of the most capable people on the planet on this ship. We’ve proven ourselves as a unit that can’t be taken down. We’ve fought governments and impossible monsters. We’ve dealt with cartels, traitors, and pirates.”
    “Plus cannibal tribes,” Thorne grinned.
    “Yes, those too!” Ballantine laughed. “That was something, wasn’t it?”
    “It was,” Thorne said, “and we’re still here.”
    “We’ve also lost team members,” Ballantine said, “and some of us have been wounded permanently.”
    “Company didn’t really help prevent any of that, did it?” Thorne asked.
    “No, the company did not,” Ballantine agreed. “We probabl y ar e safer on our own.”
    “Less variables.”
    “Yes, less variables,” Ballantine said then slapped the table, but not in anger that time. “Thank you, Vincent. You have cleared the fog from my mind and shown me what we need to do.”
    The lights in the briefing room went out and the constant hum of the ship died.
    “Let’s clean house and begin our next chapter as rogues and malcontents,” Ballantine said as he stood and extended his hand.
    Thorne stood as well and grasped Ballantine’s hand tightly.
    “I think we’ve always had the malcontent part covered,” Thorne said. “You’ve met my nephews.”
     
    ***
     
    “So we sit here and wait for the ships and the shark to catch us,” Lake said as he leaned against the dark control console on the B3’s bridge. “Just hang out in the ocean until we find a tracking device that we should have found a long time ago. What could possibly go wrong?”
    “Not my call, Marty,” Darren said as he systematically waved the scanner over every inch of the bridge. “Carlos says we need the power off and Ballantine does what Carlos says when it comes to tech.”
    “Anyone think to ask me or Cougher or Popeye?” Lake asked. “We’re the fucking professional sailors. Maybe we could have come up with a way to scan without stopping the ship.”
    “Is there a way?” Darren asked, looking up from his work.
    “Fuck if I know,” Lake shrugged. “What the fuck do I know about tracking devices?”
    Darren grinned and got back to scanning.
    “I hear ya,” Darren said. “You have to vent.”
    “Fucking A right I do,” Lake grumbled. “I’m captain of this