Reservoir Part 1
It was an absolutely beautiful day. The air was warm, the sun hung high in the sky. Not a single cloud drifted through the big blue. The sun glistened off the water within the city swimming reservoir. The reservoir was contained like many city spillways. High concrete walls surrounded the waters. Small platforms extended from the wall, barely big enough for people to walk along. A spillway vent was built in to prevent flooding of the area. The manmade beach was packed with people. Several stayed on land, sunbathing, while most were on the water, relaxing.
“Derry, come on, let’s go back to the beach.” Whined a young woman. She was tall and slender. Her dark red hair was pulled back into a ponytail.
Derry looked over his shoulder. “Oh come on, Heather, we’re almost there. Where’s your sense of fun?”
“On the beach where we should be.” Heather replied.
Derry rolled his eyes and kept walking.
“Why are you so interested in the spillway, anyways?” Heather asked.
Derry turned and winked. “You’ll see.”
Heather sighed. She followed Derry along the walkway. They came to the entrance of the spillway. Derry stopped and inspected the spillway.
“That’s weird.” Derry said.
“What?” Heather asked.
“There’s water running off.” Derry answered.
“Well it is a spillway. Water does spill from it.” Heather replied.
Derry shook his head. “No, the spill way is meant to have water run into it, not out of it. Especially in the summer.”
“So?” Heather asked.
Derry walked off the walkway and stood in the entrance.
“What are you doing?” Heather asked.
“I’m gonna go take a look.” He answered.
“Are you mad?” Heather asked.
“Look it’s just a spillway. What’s gonna be in a spillway?” Derry asked.
Heather shook her head. “Derry-”
“Look, two minutes and we’ll go back to the beach.” Derry said.
Heather sighed.
Derry walked into the spillway. Heather walked to the entrance and watched Derry disappear into the spillway. Heather bit her lip and looked back at the beach anxiously. She looked back at the entrance and took a hesitant step into the entrance.
“Derry? Heather asked.
“Whoa.” She heard.
“What is it?” Heather asked.
“I don’t know. It’s huge thought.” Derry answered.
“Okay, let’s go back.” Heather called.
“One sec. I want get a closer look.”
“Derry!” Heather pleaded.
“What in the hell? Heather there’s something in here.” Derry called.
“Derry get out now!” Heather yelled.
Suddenly Derry cried screamed bloody murder. Heather jerked form the entrance in shock, slipping backwards into the water. She slipped under the water. As she surfaced, she heard something splash into the water near her. Heather surfaced but saw nothing. She turned around, facing the entrance again. Heather shook as she watched blood mixed with water run off the spillway. She turned and started swimming back toward the beach.
Something brushed past her legs, catching Heather’s attention. She stopped swimming and looked around. She couldn’t see anything along the surface near her. It brushed past her again, harder this time. Heather gasped in surprise. She started swimming back toward the beach. Then something sharp latched onto her legs. Heather managed a weak scream before being dragged beneath the water’s surface.
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Four black government vehicles pulled into the parking lot of the reservoir. The passengers emptied out quickly, each one carrying a variation of the same weapon. Most were dressed in black clothes, giving a military feel to the unit. However, three of them wore more natural clothing.
“Wow, so this is the cities new reservoir.” Connor said. His brow rose slightly. “Looks cool. Maybe we can visit it later. You know, after we deal with the anomaly.”
“Or maybe you can take a dip with the creature?” Becker offered.
Connor’s eyes widened slightly. “I call anomaly duty.”
Becker and Abby smirked.
Matt smirked. “You’ll need a layout of the area and with Jess out-”
“Just say ‘please’.” said an excited voice. Everyone jumped. Connor jumped to the side as Jess appeared behind him. She had a large floral tote bag over her shoulder. She wore a pair of jean shorts that was actually longer than her skirts. Beneath her light blue lace top was what appeared to be the upper half of a light purple swimsuit. Her hair was let loose around her face, but held back by a headband.
Becker tried to keep his glances from Jess, but he found it difficult. It wasn’t every day that Jess wasn’t in a skirt or a dress at the office. She was wearing clothes that didn’t seem her style. Truth be told, it didn’t look like Jess at all. But she was an eye-catching sight nonetheless.
“Whoa.” Connor gasped.
“Jess, what are you doing here?” Abby asked.
“Well it was my day off until the police closed down the reservoir. I was leaving when I saw you guys pull up and I thought I’d help.” Jess said.
“Jess you’re not a field agent.” Matt said.
“No, but I won’t be any good to you guys driving to the ARC when you need information now.” Jess said. “Besides, I already know all you need to about this place.”
Matt looked and Jess and sighed. “Connor, you, Abby, and Becker stay here on land and search for the anomaly. Jess and I’ll search the reservoir.”
“I’ve got a boat already waiting.” Jess said.
Matt nodded. “Good work, Jess.”
“Connor, Abby, you two have a look around. I’ll catch up with you in a bit.” Becker said.
Abby nodded slowly. “Sure.”
Matt noticed Becker eyeing him. “Jess, why don’t you head down to the boat, I’ll meet you there.”
Jess nodded. “You got it.” She turned and headed toward the dock.
Matt turned to Becker. “If you’ve got something to say, say it.”
Becker waited until he was sure the others were out of earshot. “Alright. What in the blazes are you thinking allowing Jess in the field? She has no proper training for fieldwork, nor does she have any idea how to handle a creature incursion. Having her out here is only going put her in danger and slow us down.”
“Which is exactly why Jess is with me. I’m aware of her lack of training, Becker. If Jess is going to be in the field, I want her in my sight.” Matt explained.
“Jess shouldn’t be here in the first place.” Becker replied.
“You’re right, she shouldn’t be, but she is.” Matt said. “I’ll keep an eye on her, Becker.”
Matt could see that Becker wanted to say more, but he didn’t. Instead, Becker nodded and turned from him. He walk from Matt, following the direction Abby and Connor had set out minutes before. Matt sighed deeply and walked toward the docks where Jess was waiting for him.
Jess was waiting in the pontoon on the docks. She’d tied her hair into a ponytail and set her back aside. She was standing on the front deck of the pontoon, leaning against the railing. She turned her head, seeing Matt.
“Everything okay?” she asked.
“Yeah, fine. Everything ready?” Matt replied.
Jess nodded. “All set. Sonar’s reading clearly, all comms are distributed, scanners are reading black boxes and the anomaly.”
“Let’s go then.” Matt said.
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Becker watched the pontoon drive from the dock toward the center of the reservoir. He could see Jess sitting on one of the benches watching the water beside her. He knew Matt was could watch over her, he trusted Matt. But Becker couldn’t shake the uncomfortable feeling gnawing at him from the inside. Something about having Jess out on the water, out of his aiding reach just made him uncomfortable.
“Oi, Becker, you coming?”
Becker turned. Connor and Abby were watching him, ten meters ahead of him. Connor was holding the portable anomaly detector in his hand. Abby was standing beside him, watching Becker.
“Do you have the coordinate for the anomaly?” Becker asked.
Connor nodded. “Yep. It’s about halfway across the reservoir.” He looked up. “On the other side.”
Becker and Abby turned their heads toward the reservoir. They’d just gone several meters in the wrong direction. Becker gave Abby an irritated glance before he started walking toward the other end of the reservoir.
“Hey don’t blame me; I’ve never been here before.” Connor protested.
“He’s not Connor. Becker’s just a little worried about Jess.” Abby said. She turned to follow Becker.
Connor followed behind them, still following the detection devise. “There’s really no need to worry about Jess out there. All the real dangerous sea predators wouldn’t survive in the reservoir.”
Strangely enough, Connor’s words eased a little bit of Becker’s concerns.
“I’d be more worried about Jess drowning.” Connor stated.
Or not.
“Connor.” Abby warned.
“Oh…shuttin’ up now.” Connor said.
“Thank you.’ Becker snapped.
Connor smirked and glanced to Abby. She shared the smirk, but looked back ta Becker. “Besides, Matt’s with her. He’s about as careless as you. Jess is in good hands.”
Becker said nothing as they walked around the reservoir.
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end of part 1