The last three days leading up to Destruction Day went quickly. Some people were waking up with mutations, and some people were dying. Ata, Carla, and Soph were busy helping those who had woken up. I helped sometimes. I have a lot rattling around in the empty space in my skull. I am also a selfish bastard. Soph is still playing her games with my stuff and Eliza. Not so much poop as moving things and leaving things etc. It is quite clever where they are managing to do some things. I ignore them for now. I chalk it up to training.

I let them recruit me to take trips into the Anomaly Zone with the freshly enhanced. They needed to build up their resistance and learn to flood the essence through their bodies.

I asked Ata how she learned to flood her body with Essence, and she said Commander Lewis taught her. Apparently, Lewis said, “It is not that complicated, not like Wilkinson made it out to be.” I never claimed to be a teacher, let alone a good one. I will leave all that to Soph in the future. That is good. It is something else I can get out of doing.

Two people who woke up will need medical attention for the rest of their lives. Most of the others were OK. The mutations were not always visible. One guy had clawed hands and feet, which was going to make his life difficult. Another person could lower a protective film over her eyes like the emu. She could still see in dust storms and the like.

Some of the medics that tried to copy Amanda were interesting. One had an increase in their immune system like her but also seemed to exude an oil through her skin, making it soft and constantly oily. Another had her skin turn to grey bark. One who used the Emu bush seemed to produce a natural antibiotic. The stinging nettle has changed the person, so anyone who touches them gets a rash, but their blood is also being investigated for health benefits.

The soldiers obviously went for the creatures with offensive capabilities. There were various dingo versions around. I wonder if they will all form a pack. A few adventurous ones went the snake route. The spider attempt died. The acid termite person can spit acid, but it burns his mouth every time. The first time, he almost died from it. I hope his body will build a defensive skin or immunity over time; otherwise, he is in for a lifetime of pain. A few had various senses upgraded.

There is a lot of variety appearing. I couldn’t see a pattern in the mutations, but I am sure a researcher is making lists somewhere. Good or bad, they all have an essence pool. They all wanted to spend time in the zone to strengthen and flood their bodies with essence, hoping for an upgrade or sometimes a cure.

D-day dawned bright and clear. Ata and I were sent 2km into the zone to sense when it was destroyed. Others were at various distances, no one closer than 10km.

“Why are they destroying the anomaly?” I asked. “Everyone seems to want to use it, and it is out in the middle of nowhere.”

“A number of reasons. The Aussie government is under pressure from the public to do so. Their agreement with the Americans was for their help to destroy it, and that was publicised. I think mostly it is to prove they can. The bigger the anomaly gets, the harder it is to destroy with normal explosives. No one has attempted to destroy one this large yet.”

“If they can’t?”

“There is talk about going nuclear.”

“Aussies won’t like that.”

“That is why it is only talk at this point. Normal explosives first.”

We settled in for a long, boring day. The bombing runs would happen, followed by various missiles, progressively getting bigger. I could hear the explosions with my super hearing, but I couldn’t see anything. Ata said she could see the planes in the distance, but her eyes were mutated, sorry, enhanced for distance and clarity. Mine were only to see in the dark.

I like long, boring days. I bought my e-reader, but I also had a lot on my mind.

“Do you think you will stick around us when the baby comes?” I ask.

“Still deciding. I get on well with Carla. Soph is very supportive. Apparently, you are the fucktoy?”

“Carla and I used to hook up. I am not good for much else.”

“Good to know that from the start.”

We lapsed into silence for a while.

“Do you want to be involved in the baby’s life?” Ata asked.

“Not sure. I don’t do people. I need space.”

“That’s not a no.”

More silence punctured with background explosions.

“Carla and Soph said that about you. You are a selfish bastard, but then you went all out and almost died, saving Carla’s life twice. It doesn’t make sense. Do you love her?”

“I am not sure I know what love is.”

She looked at me in silence for a while.

“Would you do that for me or the baby?”

“Not sure. You and Soph, probably. I don’t value my life very highly. The baby? I don’t know, I haven't met them. I know some people get emotional when their partner gets pregnant. ‘Do anything for the kid, blah, blah, blah.’ That is not me.”

“But you would do it for me? Why? We have probably only spent a week together in total. We barely know each other.”

“You seem like a good woman. What I know about you seems better than what I know about me. Better you live than me.”

“Shit, you are depressed and suicidal.”

“Best you know these things upfront. I would argue it is not suicidal. I am not planning ways to kill myself. Your life has more value than mine.”

“But you know nothing about my life. I could be a violent, abusive person.”

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

“I doubt it. The way you dealt with your subordinates in the Navy was more motherly than abusive. The fact you want to keep the kid speaks to you valuing life. Carla and Soph have accepted you if they are telling you about me.” I shrugged, “That's enough.”

“I am still going to kick your ass,”

I shrugged, “I do kick back.”

Ata just laughed.

Then the radio spluttered to life, “Lieutenant, the 1km scouts report the zone is retreating, report.”

“Zone still active here.”

“It might be reducing in strength, though,” I said after concentrating. Ata repeated that to them.

Fifteen minutes later, the essence strength was reduced below what I could sense, and Ata passed that on. It was going to be a long day.

“I joined the Navy after spending time in prison,” Ata said. “Petty crime. A car theft. I was drunk and did some drugs. What actually put me inside was hitting the arresting officer. The Navy straightened me out, and I found a home. They gave me a chance at officer training.”

I just nodded.

“The Navy is important to me. I have been able to help some others straighten out, too.”

I nodded again.

“This baby puts all that at risk. I will be on light duties when they need all hands on deck. Especially us enhanced people.”

I stayed silent. I didn’t know what to say. Some people would offer advice or platitudes. That is not me. I get the feeling she is just thinking aloud. If she wants my opinion, she will ask for it.

The silence stretched out.

“You think this life is worth more than yours?” She asked.

I nodded, “Definitely.”

She studied me in silence for a while.

“I am not sure who I am without the Navy.”

“So keep being Navy. Why stop?”

“Being a mother and an active officer is not really compatible. I spend months out at sea.”

“And you want to be a mother?”

“I really think I do, yeah.”

“You get Maternity Leave, right?”

“Twelve months. Most other women who take it don’t return. Some do, most don’t, not those active on ships. Also, I am not sure you have noticed,” she said, waving her arm around, “But the world is going to shit.’

We lapsed into silence.

From the radio chatter, the zone was reduced by 5km before the bombing stopped. The Americans were prepping some larger missiles. 5km from the 27km total didn’t seem a lot.

“The world is going to go to shit everywhere, whether you are in the Navy or not,” I said.

She nodded. “The kid is going to need someone to guide them through the mess. Probably someone with the same essence type. That is one draw card to stick with you guys. We all have the same essence type.”

I didn’t respond.

The radio came to life. “All personnel are advised to find cover. Multiple MAOBs will be incoming, and the blast radius could be beyond the 5km mark with wider effects. There will be a five-minute warning.”

“MOAB?” I asked.

“Massive Ordinance Air Blast, more commonly known as the Mother of all Bombs,” Ata supplied.

“How does that stack up to a nuke?” I ask.

“A small nuke is probably a thousand times stronger. If this doesn’t work, the nuke discussion will increase.”

We ate lunch while we waited.

“Why do you think they are waiting?” I asked.

“Probably to see how far the Zone retreats before the next blast.”

I nodded.

“If the baby and I stick around, will you take off?”

“Don’t know,” I said truthfully.

“Carla and Soph said that you might. They want you to stick around. Carla is particularly worried.”

I just nodded.

“I could find somewhere else to go. It is unfair for me and the bub to break up you three.”

“You never wanted to be pregnant, though. That is also on me.”

“I am choosing to keep it. All the researchers will be pissed if I abort, but it is my choice.”

“But you are choosing to keep it regardless of it turning your life upside down.”

She nodded. We sat in silence for a while.

“Five-minute warning. Acknowledge.”

Ata acknowledged. I looked around for cover, but Ata said, “We will be fine. It is over twenty kilometres away.”

Five minutes later, a series of massive explosions happened.

“At least that will have killed the Crocs,” I said. “How long do you think they will make us wait?”

“All day anyway, depends on what happens further in.”

Silence.

“If you leave, where will you go?” I ask.

“I’ll find somewhere. I am no longer an incompetent and drunk teenager.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“I had an abortion back then. I sort of regret it and sort of don’t.”

I just nodded, and we lapsed into silence again.

“I am going to fail, you know,” I said eventually.

She just raised her eyebrow.

“If we both stick around. I am not good with people, and I actively avoid kids.”

She nodded.

“I leave for long periods.”

Ata nodded, “So Carla said, and then you come back to get laid.”

I snorted a laugh, “It’s probably not that bad, but basically. I am the fucktoy.”

“Carla and I can make sure you keep getting laid as long as you keep coming back.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“Carla and I will really enjoy fucking your brains out as long as you keep coming back,” she rephrased it.

“Ha!” I laughed. “That is more enticing. I am still going to fail.”

“I know my parents tried and failed. If this kid goes through the rebellious teenage years I did, I will probably end up killing them myself. The point is my parents tried. They still failed because it was idiot, stupid me, but they tried. I got there in the end.”

“You want me to stick around, don’t you?”

She nodded. “We are both fuck ups. This world is going to be soon fucked up badly. I don’t see any way of succeeding in life anymore, but I want to do my best for the kid.”

“You're not nearly as fucked up as I am,” I stalled. “You’re a bloody saint.”

She rolled her eyes. “Stick around?”

“It is going to stuff up our superhero names.”

“We could just go for “The Bastard’s Bitches,”” Ata said.

“Oh, hell no!”

“The Bitches’ Bastard?”

“Slightly better, but no.”