We Who Remain Read online

  “How do you explain that one?” Janet asked. “I mean this can’t get out, this has got to be some sort of weapon.”

  “Agreed. We explain it as a flash fire,” Mallory replied. “That’s the only thing I can think of. We’d need DNA in that case.”

  “Mallory?” Walker called out. “Can you come to the front of the plane please? The kitchen.”

  Malory and Janet made their way up, Walker wave them to the kitchen. “Take a look.”

  He pointed to the counter and a substance on there. It was similar in texture to the remains in the seats, but the coloring was different.

  “What is it?” Janet asked.

  “I haven’t a clue. But whatever did this to the passengers, got something else.”

  “We’ll sample it, try to figure out what it is.” Mallory looked at Janet. “It struck humans and whatever was on this counter. Do you know of any weapon that is this intelligent?”

  “No,” Janet replied. “Maybe it isn’t man made. A natural phenomenon. But I would really venture to guess a weapon.”

  “Me, as well.” Malory shook her head. “We’ll find traces of it in the remains. We’ll figure it out. I believe that. Whatever it is targets its victims.”

  “And … whatever it is,” Walker added. “It’s also horrifying.”

  4 – WAITING

  Cleveland International Airport

  Six more people had joined the room. They stayed near the window. Liv updated her husband with a ‘still nothing yet’, and told him she’d get back to him as soon as she knew anything. Most of her information came from watching the news on her phone.

  “Here.” Mitch extended a cup of coffee to her.

  “Wow, thank you.” Liv took it.

  “They brought in sandwiches, if you want one?”

  Liv looked up. “They brought in sandwiches? I didn’t even notice. No, I’ll wait. Thank you.”

  “So, it looks like they’re coming here to shuttle us to the Marriott. The other family members just arrived from New York,” Mitch said.

  “From New York?” She looked down to the time on her phone. “Jesus, I didn’t realize we were in here that long. How did you find out?”

  “When they brought the sandwiches in. I asked. You … were pretty deep into your phone.”

  “I need information. It’s driving me nuts.”

  “Well, we’ll get it when we get to the Marriott.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Positive. Put down the phone, Liv. Take a break, okay?”

  “Yeah, I suppose you’re right.” She placed the phone in her purse and sipped the coffee. A Few minutes later a man and woman from the airlines came to the room. They promised answers as soon as they arrived at the hotel.

  They took them out a side door to an awaiting shuttle van and drove the short distance to the hotel where they were brought in a back door and escorted to a large meeting room.

  Liv and Mitch had barely taken their seats when an eruption of voices rang out as the family members of 6520 filed in. Or at least she supposed they were.

  There was no coffee, no water, no sandwiches. By that, Liv could tell they weren’t keeping them long.

  A balding man in a suit approached a podium, there were two men behind him and he gave his name and introduced the other two, Liv didn’t catch the names, he said them so fast and it wasn’t like watching the news with a ticker tape rolling on the bottom of a screen. She only heard that he was from the airlines and the other FAA.

  He spoke flat and matter of fact as he read from cards. “Thank you all for your patience. As you know the world is watching right now and we wanted you to be aware before the information becomes public. There were one hundred and thirty-seven passengers and eight crew on board flight 6520. It is with our deepest sympathies that we inform you that all but one have died. A crew member has survived.”

  Please, Liv begged in her mind. Please let it be my brother. Then she searched it, she searched her soul for the twin connection to feel him like she always did when there was trouble, and there was nothing there. No connection.

  A sinking feeling hit her and then she felt Mitch grab her hand and squeezing, holding it for support, his and hers.

  A mumble of voices erupted, all asking questions. The airline man held up his hand beckoning silence. When that was achieved, he spoke.

  “At approximately seven fifteen, for reasons unknown at this time, a fire broke out on board and instantly became a flashover, killing everyone instantly. Because of this we ask for help in identifying the remains by giving DNA samples. We also request that you stay here at the hotel and refrain from speaking to media or the general public in regard to this matter until we have more answers.”

  Liv saw through the corner of her eye as Mitch lifted his hand.

  “Yes?” The man asked.

  “Who survived? I am going to assume the pilot,” Mitch said, “Since he was in the cockpit.”

  “No.” He shook his head. “The surviving crew member was a first officer who happened to be in the cargo area at the time. No suspicion is placed on him.”

  “The cockpit door is supposed to be locked,” Mitch said. “How did the fire reach the pilot?”

  “We don’t know.”

  “What about the CDC getting on the plane,” Mitch pressed.

  “We didn’t know what we were dealing with. Again, we ask that you remain here, we appreciate your silence in this matter and we will get back to you as information becomes available.”

  He and the two FAA people walked away.

  Questions were shouted out at them.

  ‘When will you release the bodies?'

  “Will we be able to identify the remains?’

  ‘What about dental records?’

  But the questions didn’t get answered, the three of them kept moving along.

  “My brother’s gone,” Liv sunk deeper into her chair. “I can’t move. I can’t breathe. My brother is gone.”

  “I’m sorry,” Mitch said.

  With a sharp inhale, Liv brought her hand to her mouth. “Oh my God, I am so sorry for you, too.”

  “I’m in shock. It hasn’t hit me yet.” Mitch sniffed hard. ‘Something doesn’t make sense. It just doesn’t. Why not say a fire to begin with? Why all the secrecy? They aren’t telling us something. Maybe someone posted something on social media or …”

  She gasped so loudly it silenced him.

  “What?”

  “My brother.” She reached down for her purse. “He was messaging me. He sent one just about that time. God, I feel so horrible for not looking.” She fumbled with her phone, opened the app and raised her eyes to Mitch. “It’s a video.”

  “What time?”

  “Seven twelve.”

  “Don’t play it. Not yet.” Mitch stood and helped her to her feet. “Let’s take you elsewhere to watch it first.”

  “Don’t you think I should let them know?”

  “That’s up to you,” he escorted her holding on to her arm. “But I think you should watch it first.”

  She would have agreed had he not hurried her along before she could answer.

  There was really nowhere private to go. Even though they were not sequestered, they were still questioned on where they were hurrying to.

  Liv blurted that they were smoking a cigarette and that was that.

  Outside, Mitch led her off near to the dumpster. Far enough away from earshot, and close enough that the metal dumpster blocked out noise.

  “I’ll let you watch it in private,” Mitch said, backing away.

  “No, you can watch it with me. I’m nervous.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Positive.” Liv pressed play.

  “Look, Liv, look what I get to see.”

  The video aimed out a window.

  “What are we looking at?” Mitch asked.

  Liv shook her head.

  “That folks. Is set to make a close pass in four days.”

  “I
s that the comet Pyrrhus?” Liv questioned.

  “It’s something. I see a white speck.”

  “It looks like it’s getting closer. Just a small speck, growing. Wait, is that another one? Nah, just an illusion.”

  “Looks close. But in reality it’s …”

  The image on the phone shook as the loud roaring was heard, in the background of the recording there were panicked screams.

  “What the hell?”

  “We have to go!”

  The roaring sound grew even louder then transformed into static as a bright light that drowned out the video and the video ended.

  Liv could barely breathe. “What ... what was that? Was that the fire?”

  “I don’t know. Can you play it again?”

  Liv grabbed the slider on the bottom of the video and brought it back a few seconds.

  “What the hell?”

  “We have to go!”

  Roar, static. Bright light … nothing.

  “I don’t think that’s a flash fire,” Mitch said, “Something else happened on that plane.”

  “Yeah, but what?” Liv rewound the video and watched it again.

  Liv was certain she would play that video a lot in the days to come, more so to hear her brother’s voice. She called and told Mark about Brandon and said she would be home soon, they had them at a hotel.

  She forwarded the video to him and to Mitch. And she was glad she did. When they showed it to the airline guy and the FAA people, they looked at her as if she were nuts.

  “That’s not a flash fire,” Mitch said.

  “And you’re an expert on them … how?” asked the FAA guy.

  “I assure you, it's a fire” the airline man said. “This video confirms it. We appreciate you bringing it forward.”

  And then they took her phone. It was at the precise moment they did that, Liv decided she was leaving. Wanting her to stay or not, Liv wanted to go. She wanted to be around her husband and daughter, at least with her phone she could talk to them.

  She and Mitch called for a ride share, retrieved their cars from the airport.

  <><><><>

  They were relentless after Mitch and Liv left the hotel. Even going as far as to send the police to his home.

  “I haven’t committed any crime,” Mitch told them. “Neither did Liv next door. If you don’t mind, we’re grieving and we’ll go back tomorrow for the DNA testing or whatever it is they want with us.”

  The police got it, they really did.

  And even though they said they’d report back to Airline officials, the airlines and FAA still called constantly.

  It did not make any sense to Mitch. None. There was no reason for them to wrangle the families of the victims and swear them to silence.

  Unless they were covering something.

  His wife had sent a text asking if Mitch was okay, she hadn’t heard from him. He wanted to tell her he wasn’t okay, that his parents had both been killed, but he didn’t. She would have driven over, pretending to care and Mitch would have fallen for it.

  Instead he opted just to say he was fine.

  He wasn’t.

  How could he be?

  Both his parents were gone and there was no way to process it because Mitch had a hard time believing what they told him.

  After seeing the video message, Mitch was convinced something went wrong on that flight.

  But what?

  He watched the news, went to the internet to see conspiracy theories, he watched the only survivor, the first officer, avoid interviews as he was escorted by guards into the same hotel.

  None of that helped, and Mitch kept going back to that video message.

  With a slow and steady alcohol consumption, Mitch sat at his home computer. He didn’t know why, but he felt guilty for reviewing the message, Liv sent to him as a safeguard, not to play with. He couldn’t help it, though, the answer was there.

  If he had to go frame by frame, Mitch was certain he’d find it.

  <><><><>

  Liv sat sideways in the living room chair, her shoulder against the back, legs over the arm while she swiped through her tablet watching videos of her brother. It was a mixed bag of emotions. She wanted to smile and cry at the same time as she watched them.

  What she wanted to do was go through his social media account. Read those crazy posts he made with random thoughts that always made her laugh. But his account was down. In fact, the video he sent her via messenger had disappeared.

  Liv was glad she sent it to others as a back up.

  “Here you go, Mommy.” Danni set down a mug on the end table next to her.

  “Thank you, Honey.” Liv swung her legs around and grabbed the mug.

  “How are you?”

  Liv shrugged. “I don’t know. Sad, but it hasn’t really hit me yet. I’m sure it will.”

  “I’m here. Dad’s here.”

  “I know.” She reached up and squeezed her daughter’s hand.

  “Can I do anything for you?”

  “Actually, how do you feel about driving to get your dad from work?”

  “Really? Are you okay with that?”

  “As long as you promise me you’ll be careful and drive the speed limit.”

  Danni held up her right hand. “I swear.”

  “I appreciate it. I do. My heads not in it.”

  “I understand. Do you want us to stop, get you something to eat?”

  Liv shook her head. “It’s late. But if you guys want to stop, that’s fine.”

  “I’ll be right back.” Danni leaned down and kissed Liv on the cheek. She backed up, grabbed the keys from the table and left the house.

  Liv usually didn’t let Danni drive at night. But her daughter was sensible, and Liv just was afraid her mind would drift while she drove.

  Once Danni was gone, Liv brought the mug to her lips and sipped. The coffee was hot but slightly strong. Thinking, ‘a little more cream’ Liv stood to head to the kitchen.

  Walking through the dining room, she stopped at the back sliding glass doors. She saw Mitch in their shared backyard. He stood there, arms crossed, just staring up to the sky.

  Liv opened the sliding glass doors and stepped outside, walking across the small yard to join him.

  “Hey,” she said softly.

  “Hey,” he replied. “How are you doing?”

  “I’m doing. You?”

  “Doing,” he replied.

  “You all alone?” Liv asked. “I mean obviously out here, but are you alone tonight?”

  “Yep.” Mitch answered.

  “Your wife isn’t here for you?”

  “My wife left me today,” Mitch said. “She’s been having an affair for some time.”

  “Yeah, I heard.”

  Mitch hurriedly looked at her. “You heard?”

  “Yeah.”

  “How?”

  “Um … she uh … she posted on social media.”

  “Oh my God,” he said in shock.

  “I’m lying. She didn’t. I heard you guys arguing this morning. Well, you, she’s quiet.”

  “Yeah, she is. Sorry about that.”

  “No, I’m sorry,” Liv said. “Did you think about calling her? I mean, she is technically still your wife. There has to be something there that she can be here for you.”

  “I thought about it. But no. I’d rather not.”

  “If you don’t want to be alone. You are more than welcome to come over with us.”

  “I appreciate it,” Mark said. “But I’m good. I’ve been busy. I saw something. Which is why I’m out here.”

  “What?” Liv asked.

  “Don’t get mad.”

  “Why would I get mad?”

  “That video you sent me,” Mark said. “I slowed it down. Did a frame by frame of the end.”

  “I’m supposed to be upset about that?”

  “You didn’t give it to me to watch or play with.”

  “That’s fine, did you see anything?”

 
Mark reached to his back pocket and pulled out his phone. “The images are better on the computer. You can see them clearer.” He swiped through his phone. “This is the image just as it brightens.”

  Liv peered down. The entire picture looked over exposed.

  “But the last frame. The very last frame before the camera stops. Look.” He showed her another image. This one of the plane window and something outside.

  “What is that?”

  Mark pinched the screen and made it larger.

  The image was clear. A bright fiery blue streak outside the window.

  “Is that a stream of fire? Smoke?” Liv questioned

  “Look closely,” Mitch said. “It’s a tail.”

  Liv did. “It’s the little one.”

  Mitch nodded. “Whatever happened on that flight, happened at the same time this tail passed over them.”

  “Do you think they know?”

  “Oh, yeah, without a doubt. That’s why everything is so secretive. This is the tail of the one they said would land. Alexander.”

  “If it’s that close, it had to land, right?” Liv asked. “Why didn’t we hear anything about it?”

  “Want my theory?”

  “Of course.”

  “If everyone on that plane died when Alexander was making it’s descent,” Mitch said. “Imagine what happened when Alexander made impact.”

  “If it did.”

  “Oh, it did. I’d bet money on it. It landed,” Mitch said. “But where?”

  5 – INFORMATION WELLS

  Rose City, Michigan

  It took longer than it should have or rather, what General Buford Cane would have liked. He headed to the United States Nasa’s lesser known department of Planetary Defense Coordination. His team’s primary goal was to track NEO’s or Near Earth Objects and should they prove a threat to the United States, coordinate an effort to divert that threat.

  To him, the Triple Threat as people called it, wasn’t all that much of a threat.

  They came into view every eleven months. It was named Olympias when it was first discovered by a Greek Astronomer in 1965. It was one very large comet that happily made its way harmlessly across the universe. Then somewhere around 1998, something happened. It was speculated that Olympias collided with another celestial object, because suddenly, Olympias was trailed by two smaller comets.