Page 53 of Wild Tempest

I pulled out one of the antidote kits, tore open the vacuum seal, and loaded a syringe from the vial. I didn't know anything about this serum. Where it came from, how effective it would be, or what kind of contaminants might be in it. I was hesitant to use it, but at that moment, I didn't have much choice.

I gave Jack an intramuscular injection in the shoulder. The notes I had read from the lab described that as the proper way to administer the serum. According to the logbooks, it should have a noticeable effect within 15 to 20 minutes.

"Hang in there, buddy," I said to Jack.

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It wasn’t long before Jack's breathing eased. Tempest helped me get him into a bunk. She looked after him while I hustled down to the med bay, grabbed another IV, and returned. I got him started on fluids, and we waited for him to come around.

"Do you think that would work on my father?” Tempest asked.

I shrugged. "I think it's worth a shot. But we don't know what the long-term effects are.”

"The long-term effects of the virus are psychosis," she said dryly. "That's not acceptable.”

Multiple explosions below deck rumbled the ship.

Dread filled me.

"What was that?" Tempest asked.

"I don't want to know," I replied. "I'll be back.”

"Give me one of those antidote kits," she said. “Make that two.”

I dug into my pocket and handed her two kits. "Be careful," I said. "He's not in his right mind. He's dangerous. If you get close to him, he could hurt you. Wait till I get back.”

Tempest nodded.

I hustled below deck to the cargo hold. My suspicions were confirmed. A foot of water had already flooded into the ship. The goons had set shape charges on a timer. Seawater gushed through multiple breaches in the hull. The goons had planned to be off the boat by now.

I grabbed as many life vests as I could on the way back up to Level 02.

Tempest hovered over her father with the syringe.

He wasn't having any of it. "Get the hell away from me with that damned thing! You ain't gonna stick me with that poison!"

"I'm trying to help you!" Concern filled her eyes when she saw the life vests. "What's the problem?"

"We need to get off the boat, now!" I tossed her a life vest, then moved into Jack’s stateroom. I helped him put one on. He was still pretty incoherent.

I found Dale and helped him vest up as well. "You think you can make it down to the main deck?"

"If the boat is sinking, I don't have much choice.” I helped Dale to his feet and escorted him out of the room. He winced with every step.

Tempest managed to inject her father with the serum. He shoved her away, sending her tumbling across the deck.

"Are you okay?" I asked, helping her to her feet.

She nodded, her eyes misting.

"Help Dale down to the aft deck. I'll come back and get your father."

She nodded, and Dale slung his arm around her shoulder. Tempest escorted him to the port side hatch and onto the side deck.

I grabbed Jack from the stateroom. "Come on, buddy. It's time to go.”

I slung his arm over my shoulder and lifted him to his feet. He staggered forward, and we made our way out of the stateroom. We stepped onto the side deck and followed Tempest and Dale down to the main deck.