Insurrection (Nevermore #1)(19)

Least of all him.

And it was the last thing they could afford. They needed every member they had, if they were to survive this.

Josiah turned back toward the base at the same time a loud explosion rocked the ground under their feet.

They all stumbled from the force of the impact.

Lobo sucked his breath in as he saw the destruction that lit up the night sky around them with a bright purple and yellow hue. It was an ominous glow that continued to burn and twinkle. That would bring the Drabs down on all of them. “I hate the Rems almost as much as the Drabs.”

Josiah could understand that. But they were all on the same side. “Don’t, Lobo. They’re hurting. Just like us.”

More so, in fact. Unlike them, the Rems lived with a death sentence.

“Yeah, but we need to be pulling together, not fighting each other. We’re human, too. Not food.”

Not to them. And Josiah could understand that, too. Remnants didn’t have their magic or psychic abilities. So, they viewed the Scraps as Drab knock-offs.

Something they hated them for. Something they held against them, as the Scraps had something the Remnants didn’t. A benefit that the Rems would give anything to possess—just like there were Scraps who begrudged the Rems their superior strength and intelligence. And since they couldn’t have it or weren’t blessed with it from birth, the alternative was to hold it against them and begrudge them every breath they took over it.

It’s not fair! Why you and not me!

The rallying cry of humanity.

“The more things change, the more they stay the same.”

They turned to stare at Josiah.

“It’s an old human saying.” He sighed. “At any rate, head to base. Take separate routes and watch your backs.”

He for one, intended to guard his.

By the time Josiah reached the base, he was completely defeated. The last thing he wanted was to face the rest of their people and tell them what had happened.

That their team had been eaten by Remnants.

Honestly? He wished the Remnants had eaten him and spared him this confrontation.

At least that was his thought until they entered the main hall and found a small group gathered there, waiting for them.

Dread filled him. Ah, God, what now?

It had to be bad for Angie to be here with her daughter. She never did that. Not unless it was something catastrophic, and they were trying to calm the masses.

He slowed his approach even more as he caught sight of a tall, lean man in their midst he didn’t recognize.

What the...?

They never got visitors. Or anyone else.

Ah, shit. This was going to be apocalyptic. Maybe he should take a minute to find some Kevlar.

Or a grenade.

“Josiah! We’ve been trying to reach all of you.”

His gut tightened even more at Angie’s excited tone. He narrowed his gaze. “Why?”

The man stepped forward and extended his hand. “I’m Dr. Leon Waters, Commander… the head research physician for the Phoenix colony.” He said that as if it should mean something to him.

Anjelica stepped around him so that she could meet Josiah’s gaze. “They were hit because they hold the location of the last batch of untainted human DNA, Joey.”

Josiah’s jaw dropped at her unexpected bombshell. Forget the Kevlar. He needed a stretcher. Had he heard that right? “Pardon?”

Leon nodded. “It’s true. There’s a DNA repository outside of Phoenix where I’ve been working. We’re called Noah’s Ark.” He handed Josiah a slide of that appeared to be human tissue. “This is a sample of one of the specimens so that you can verify it. It’s a catalogue of every human race that ever existed. From the past, and at the time the Matens arrived. Complete and untainted. I’m from a small colony of survivors who guard it.”

“Relics, Joe.” Angie was practically dancing with her enthusiasm. “An entire colony of Relics, who have saved us!”

He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Was it even possible?

Leon tightened his fist around Josiah’s hand. “We desperately need your wife’s research, Commander. Dr. Crow was the only one who had a vaccine for the toxin the Drabs released on us. We have to redevelop her inoculation before the Drabs or Remnants find the last Relics and destroy them. You’re our only hope. If we fail, the human race will die out.”

Now that had to be the most terrifying thought of all. That he was the only hope.

Shit.

He met Angie’s gaze and laughed. “Wow. My father’s rolling in his grave. The thought of the fate of mankind resting in my hands ...”

Sobering, Josiah sighed. “Sad to say, I can hand it over, but you’re still screwed.”

“What do you mean?”

“Meaning it’s coded. No one can read it without the key.”

Leon’s skin turned ashen. “You don’t have the key?”

“No. Only one person besides my wife had it.”

“Let me guess. They’re dead?”

Josiah shook his head. Then pointed to the razor-thin dark blond kid in a corner wearing an oversized Pokémon headset while he played Call of Duty oblivious to everyone and everything around him. Dressed in baggy clothes so that they wouldn’t bind him and set off one of his epic tantrums, he kept his hair shaggy on top, and cut short on the sides. “He’s not exactly communicative.”