Fantasy, abandoned by reason, produces impossible monsters; united with it, she is the mother of the arts and the origin of marvels.
~Francisco de Goya
APEX: A GIANT MONSTER STORY
RISING
Act One
April 24th, 2013
Singapore
Local Time/ 9:00 am
The morning sun rose over the shapes of creatures that have long been gone. The mighty Tyrannosaurus Rex stood on two powerful legs that held its body above the well curated ferned ground that lay beneath it. The forty foot long prehistoric behemoth stood amongst the other technicolor marvels from an age that mankind could only learn about but never experience. This once feared predator loomed over local joggers and layover tourists. This statue and other dinosaurs added a splash of unique color and presence to the hustle and bustle of the Changi Airport in the metropolitan jewel of Insular Southeast Asia, Singapore.
The coastal nation that had been an important part of the region for the past millennium was an island city-state which had an international airport that matched its maritime port in activity and connectedness to the world as a whole. The airport was just as much of a hub for trade as it was for travel. Thousands of people would walk among the crowds of Changi arriving or departing to the various locations that connected what would have been an insular island to the whole of human civilization.
And while his fame had aged a bit, he couldn’t believe despite all that, he was still caught.
With everything going on, this was honestly the last thing Rick Winston needed right now. Sporting a vintage RUSH concert tee with his torn jeans and green laptop bag, he thought that he was low key enough to just look like some run of the mill tattooed white guy tourist in Asia.
“But of course my passport would flag me,” he thought to himself, “I knew I should have updated it fully instead of just being okay with that damn mark.”
Didn’t matter regardless though as he was continued to be led by airport security to the customs hub. As they passed through the doors of the hub, one of the guards turned to him and placed cuffs on him.
“Well that’s unexpected,” he thought as he was escorted into an interrogation style-like room with one of the guards. His bag was taken from him awkwardly, since they didn’t get the bag before putting cuffs on him. The guard that stayed with him took a seat while reaching into Rick’s bag. With his free hand he motioned for Rick to follow suit and take a seat. Rick took it and noticed the guard had his British passport out and was comparing Rick with his much outdated photo.
“Your photo looks very different to how you are now,” the guard said in English, “and you don’t have an accent despite having the passport?”
“Yeah my British passport is still being updated, as you can see by the mark by my name. If you want, I think I have a digital copy of my American passport on my phone, if that helps you a bit more.”
“Two passports?”
“Dual citizen,” Rick responded quickly, “But passports aside, you still haven’t quite told me why I am here and detained in the way I have been.”
“Your passport was flagged,” the guard said stiffly, “And judging from the information given, we were told to detain you at this level.”
“I mean I figured it was serious,” Rick gestured to the shiny cuffs on his wrists, “Handcuffs. But what could I have been flagged as if it requires me to be handcuffed.”
“The American representative from the embassy might be able to answer your questions properly. Until then,” the guard smirked, “handcuffs.”
“The US embassy,” Rick questioned, “The US embassy flagged by British passport?”
“I must admit, it surprised us too. But we are just following orders.”
Rick rolled his eyes and let out a loud sigh. He knew what he had to do but he hated it for a variety of reasons. With another breath he looked right at the guard with a smile and a bit of charm.
“Okay, I hate to pull this card but, you know who I am right? You’ve looked at my name enough I’m sure you realized who I am. My family more or less is a household name in this and most countries around the world.”
“I know the name. Wild Winstons right? That show in the 90s,” the guard responded.
“That’s the show. You a fan?”
The guard shrugged, “I have seen some of it, yeah.”
“Well I’m sure if you have seen some you know we recently had a live TV broadcast the other day and I’m sure if you didn’t watch it, the news has definitely been made public since; if that is the case, you know why this is honestly the last thing I need right now.”
“I understand and I am sorry for your loss,” the guard nodded and put Rick’s passport back in his bag before looking at Rick directly, “but you were flagged at customs and–”
“I get it,” Rick interrupted with exacerbation, “my passport was flagged. This is protocol. But why? Do you have any information on the exact nature of why I’m being detained at such a level? Is this even legal? I feel like this is as shady as a subway tunnel right now.”
The guard looked at Rick up and down and then shook his head, “No.”
“Great!” Rick said, moving back in his seat, “So we are just wasting each other’s time. That’s efficient. Happy these aren’t my tax dollars at work.”
Before the guard could say anything, a loud knock on the metal door interrupted their
space. The guard looked at Rick again and then got up from his chair and moved towards the door. From where Rick was, he couldn’t see who the guard opened to but could hear the click clack of the high heels.
“Is this where they are being detained?” a woman’s voice said.
“Yes,”the guard nodded at the presence of the US Embassy official walked into the room, “are you from the Embassy?”
“Yes I am,” the woman responded.
She was American for sure but Rick was honestly impressed; for a Cacuasian who living in Singapore, she was anything but tan. Her hair was in a ponytail and her suit well pressed ; adding to the clean and professional look of the representative of the United States. The black rimmed glasses she wore seemed to also accentuated her appearance as a figure of authority. Her smile soon faded when she saw Rick in handcuffs.
“Why are they handcuffed!” The embassy official said, looking fiercely at the guard, “You didn’t have to handcuff them.”
“It’s protocol apparently,” the guard responded, “just following your Embassy’s rules.”
“He doesn’t need to be handcuffed,” she responded and then looked at Rick, “You didn’t need to be handcuffed. I’m so sorry.”
Rick was about to say something but then the guard interjected, “You sure? You never know with-”
“Release him,” the official interrupted with an authoritative tone. Rick was impressed by her but not really surprised by the guard’s reasoning for the handcuffs. There were now doubts that the embassy wasn’t the one for the cuffs but local beliefs seemed to still bear its shackle.
“Alright then,” the guard said with hesitation as he removed Rick’s cuffs.
Rubbing his wrists, Rick looked right in the eyes of the guard and smirked, “It’s been a real pleasure buddy.”
“Likewise,” the guard said and turned to the door before turning his head back to the room, “ma’am.”
As the door closed shut, the words still lingered in the air around Rick like daggers. It was not a new feeling, but it was a feeling that hadn’t been felt in a spell.
“I’m so sorry about that,” the official said and took the guard’s set, “I had no idea that-”
“They’d arrest me,” Rick interrupted with a bit of temper in his breath, “You know if this gets out, its going to look bad on everyone. It’s no secret that Singapore has certain views on-”
“That I can assure you Mr. Winston is not the case. It truly has nothing to do with that.”
Rick, noticing the sincere nature in the woman, realized that he might be a bit more on the defensive then he needed to be. Being more upset than he already was would do no favors and he had to figure out what was going on right now so he could get out of this room and work on what he had to do here in Singapore.
“I’m sorry. That is usually the first thing most of the time. Some people really can’t see past that particular fact about me,” Rick said gesturing to himself and smiled, “Also just call me Rick. Mr. Winston is my…”
Rick trailed off, the showmanship in him faded at the realization of what he just said.
“Mr. Winston was my father,” Rick continued with sorrow leaking from his words, “Woof. I’m going to have to get some new lines on how to respond to being a ‘mister’ anything.”
“Then I’m assuming I’m using the right language with you then?”
The question from the woman snapped Rick back to the present and out of the still fresh past, “Yes no! You are good. Better than most government officials, miss?”
“Vale,” the woman said, “Mrs.Vale.”
“Like a veil of mystery then? For a government agent its a good name to have,” Rick mused.
“It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve heard that joke,” she smiled, “some think I married my husband just so I could get a job like this.”
The two laughed and Rick was starting to feel a little more comfortable. Maybe he could use the good ol’ Rick charm and get out of this quicker than he thought.
“Well then” Vale said with a smile, “First and foremost I want to express my deepest sympathies to you for what you have lost Rick. I truly can’t imagine what the past forty eight hours have been for you. Its an unfathomable experience and I can say with a fact that the whole world is grieving with you right now.”
Rick was impressed with the sincerity of the woman and felt that he could stay on top of it. But suddenly her smile seemed to morph and her face became stern. Professional.
“Oh right,” he thought, “government agent.”
“I do have some questions for you though Rick,” Vale said.
“Ah I see. So this is just more bureaucratic nonsense that our government is known for. I gotta admit though, I’m impressed that you guys even had my British passport under watch. How did you pull that one off.”
She moved her hands off the tables in a way that seemed to show that she had nothing up her sleeves, “I’m just the messenger.”
“I bet,” Rick thought to himself.
“No, I get it,” he replied, “Everyone has a job to do.”
“Exactly the point Rick; your job was to go straight to Honolulu for your debriefing with the rest of the survivors of the Conan Doyle.”
“And I am doing that Vale, I–”
“I’m aware that you have a flight to Honolulu booked in the next few days but you were supposed to be in Honolulu today. And last I checked Rick, I’m a US agent for Singapore and not Honolulu. We weren’t supposed to meet like this.”
“I get what you are saying. Return to the States. I’m doing that as you said. I’m just doing it kind of the long way round.”
“You are avoiding the question Rick? Why are you here? You were requested to fly straight to Honolulu. Not take your time to eventually get to Honolulu. You are delaying-”
“Look!” Rick interrupted her with a raised voice. Silence was between them as Rick could see that she was a bit surprised at his interruption. Rick took a breath to regain his composure.
“Look,” he said calmly, directing his gaze at Vale directly, “Like you said. You are sorry for my loss. You are completely right; it’s an unfathomable and unimaginable loss that I’ve experienced. In all honesty, I still can’t figure out what happened. But what I do know that did happen is that my father and my step mom are dead. I myself barely survived the sinking of the Conan Doyle so absolutely the past forty eight hours have been nothing but a hell of attempting some sort of physical, mental and emotional recovery on top of dealing with government meetings, the media and anyone else who wants to know why those two are dead at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean from a horrific and truly unfounded way. So forgive me if I don’t go running to Honolulu to be talked down yet again by some military big wig about what must have happened instead of listening to me about what did happen.
Mrs. Vale took a breath herself. Rick noticed she must have been trying to figure out how to talk to him. The circumstances were truly unique in the case of natural disasters and no one really knew how to deal with a survivor of such an event.
Not even Rick.
You are right Rick. The world saw a tragedy that is obviously a lot more personal for you than for myself or others. Again I can’t imagine what you are going through as well as how you are holding up this well with all that has happened out there. But I will speak for myself that this tragedy does effect in such a way just as you said. It was a live event, Rick. In a way we were all there when it happened.
“What do you mean?”
“I was watching the live stream.”
“Oh, well then-”
“With my son,” Vale interrupted. Rick went wide eyed at the sight that this agent wasn’t just some person doing their job. But a mother. A mother who had their child see what everyone looking at their screens did.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Is your son okay?”
“He is young,” Vale said, not showing an emotional response to Rick, “It was a serious talk afterwards on where his reasons of why he wants to be a scientist when he grows up went.”
“I apologize.”
“There is no reason to apologize. You are not responsible for the accident.”
“Right.”
“So,” Mrs. Vale said directly, “Why are you in Singapore Rick?”
Rick didn’t respond right away but didn’t break eye contact with her.
“I need,” he muttered, “a break.”
“That’s the answer?” Mrs. Vale said with a confused smile, “I mean sure, Singapore is a nice place to relax but between you and me, I would jump at the chance to go to Hawaii for that.”
“Yes. That is my answer. I need a break. I need a breather from all this. I came to Singapore because I’m staying with a friend who is right now the closest thing I have to family this side of the Pacific.”
“But Rick-”
“But nothing,” Rick interjected, “My parents are dead. On top of that, I myself had a near death experience that is to say the least, a lot to deal with. I understand the importance of getting to Honolulu, I really do. That is why you know that I have a red eye flight out of here in the next few days and that me coming to Singapore isn’t me running away. I will make it to the time of the talks with the Navy and whoever else wants to know the “truth” behind the events of the Conan Doyle incident. But I won’t be able to help anyone if I don’t have time to process all of this and it would be nice to at least begin the mental gymnastics I need to do with someone who is close to me and my family before I have to discuss it with all the people you want me to talk to.”
There was a pause as Rick’s words seemed to have some sort of effect on Mrs.Vale. Hopefully Rick played the card of someone who had a lot to deal with well. Though even he himself knew that while usually this was an act to avoid responsibilities sometimes, deep down Rick knew this was the truth. The fact that he hadn’t snapped quite yet after all that has happened was a personal record for his mental integrity. Vale moved back in her chair to stand up while pulling out a small cell phone from her pocket. Rick took a deep breath and didn’t quite know how to feel about playing the “dead parents” card for the first time. He didn’t know how to deal with that in particular but if playing this new social cue helped his real reasons for being in Singapore and gave him the time he needed to see where the tip of the iceberg of what had happened before getting back to the United States.
“It will work out. Somehow,” Rick said to himself softly, placing his hand on his forehead and breathing deeply in. This coping mechanism always helped him since he was a kid when feeling overwhelmed and it would stand to reason it would help him out at this moment.
The door opened and Mrs. Vale, still on the phone, walked back in. She moved towards Rick and was nodding her head to respond to whoever was on the other end.
“Understood. Passing you to him now,” she said to the person on the other end of the line, “It’s for you, Rick.”
Rick took the cellular device, curious on who was on the other end.
“Hello?”
“What the hell do you think you are doing Rick!?”
“Ah,” Rick responded to the all too familiar government agent’s voice who was handling him after the Conan Doyle back in Guam, “Agent Mackenzie. Good to hear your voice again.”
“Don’t ‘Hey Agent McKenzie’ me. You had strict orders for Honolulu. The other survivors are already here in Honolulu as we speak. You made me a promise you would be here on the next flight out of Guam after you had some time to mourn in private.”
“I mean I am still in mourning, McKenzie,” Rick said, “ I have a direct flight for Honolulu in the next forty eight hours so from where I’m standing, I’m keeping to my word.”
“I stuck my neck out for you Rick. To fly unescorted I had to put a lot of faith in you. So this is how you repay me? By trying to loophole your way out of our arrangement?”
“You must have known I was going to do something like this though right? You guys flagged me with my British passport. That is some serious spy shit Mackenzie.”
“Don’t do this to me right now,” Mackenzie barked on the other side of the phone, “You know damn well that this current situation has already drawn enough suspicion as is. It’s going to be pretty hard no matter what when one of the most focused people in the media right now is moving around like nothing has happened.”
“If you are worrying about the media getting to me before you guys–”
“The eyes of the world are watching us right now Rick,” Mackenzie interrupted, “Everyone is trying to make sense of what happened out there and you know damn well we want to know the truth proper before everyone starts going off–”
“On what actually happened,” Rick sharply interrupted.
There was a pause as Rick could hear Mackenzie try to regain his composure. He had met Jared Mackenzie in the aftermath of the Conan Doyle’s sinking in Guam. Mackenzie was some sort of American Special Agent, Rick honestly couldn’t figure out which department of US security. FBI? CIA? Special forces? Even the purple circle that held some sort of white sailing boat on a badge Mackenzie flashed had Rick more confused about his authority, but the agent seemed more than familiar with who Rick’s parents were. Even more so, everyone on the American base in Guam treated Mackenzie with intense respect or had no idea who or what he was. Rick thought it was due to him being a confident looking black man in a government job, an “out of place” kind of sort that was akin to Rick, but it seemed to be more than that.
“We don’t know,” Mackenzie finally managed to say with gritted calm, “how credible your claim is Rick. You were delirious when we fished you and other survivors out of those waters. It seems that a majority of you have varying explanations on what exactly occurred after your parent’s sub feed cut.”
“Mackenzie-”
“No,” Mackenzie interrupted again, the calm still there but Rick could sense that a serious storm was brewing behind Mackenzie’s words, “You listen to me. You need to get on the next plane to Honolulu.”
“Is that an order, Agent Mackenzie?” Rick said with snark.
“Rick. I understand if you are stressed. If you are still mourning. If you are still struggling with the reality of the situation you were in. Before you interrupt me, that does also include the situation you claim to have experienced. But this isn’t the time for your “celebrity” special treatment. We need to figure out–”
“I’m tired,” Rick interrupted with exhaustion.
“What?”
“I’m tired of this!” Rick snarled; his voice trembling. This conversation was scraping against the walls of whatever was holding Rick together. Whatever was preventing him from breaking down to the truth of what he saw that night. The truth of what took his parents and nearly took him down with the ship quite literally, “I already told you what happened. It’s’ never not going to be the truth. I know what I saw. And I understand you want to double, even triple check if any of my story is true. But it is true. My parents died more than seven miles down beneath the Indo-Pacific and we will never get their bodies for burial. Thank god you guys gave me a phone that no one has the number for because when I logged online to check my e-mail back in Guam on the computer, it was overwhelming. The world is looking at me for answers. So I thought I could hide from the world. It is well established that Conan Doyle survivors are with military escort to Honolulu. So if I am walking about in Singapore why would anyone think twice? I’m not supposed to be here. No one remembers who I really am anymore anyways. I’m about to try and answer questions that no one ever thought they would have to ask and you expect me to be able to answer them? Those kinds of questions?”
No answer from the other end. Rick noticed that Vale couldn’t keep eye contact. He knew it was time to bring it home in the hopes that he will get what he wanted. What he needed to do. The real reason why of all the places, Singapore.
“Like I told your official here,” Rick calmly continued, “I have a red eye flight in less than two days from now. If I remember correctly, talks don’t start until Saturday. My flight will land before then and the moment my feet are on US soil, I will be at you and any other government official’s disposal. You can talk to me and question me ‘til the cows come home. You could make it a freaking holiday for all I care. But right now, I just want to rest. I want to process. I want to just deal with this loss and put as much of it as I can behind me so I can be at least some good to you guys so we can figure out a proper solution without me being emotional at the drop of a hat.”
The other side of the phone was still silent. Rick took the phone off his ear to just double check that they hadn’t been disconnected and he wasn’t just making his case to no one but himself and Mrs.Vale. The phone still showed the connection was strong. Mackenzie had heard him. The ball was in his court. If the game was played, then Rick would have enough time in Singapore to actually do the processing he needs to do, but also to see if he can make sure that his theory about what exactly is going on, isn’t. He needed to know the full extent of this Pandora’s Box that was opening.
After a deep breath on the line, Mackenzie spoke, “You’ve booked a red eye.”
“By Saturday morning and some time changes, I will be in Honolulu and by extension American soil. All I have is the bag you guys found me with when the Doyle went down and the phone you gave me in Guam. Mackenzie, sir, please. I need to deal with this. I want to be at my best for you guys. Surely you can understand where I’m coming from.”
“I do.”
“Well?”
“The person you are staying with is a civilian? Another scientist?”
“Yes, a civilian. No, not a scientist. Have you ever heard of the travel writer, Jenn Forest?”
“Yes I know of her. She covered Colleen’s work in Thailand a few years back for National Geographic, yeah?”
“Yeah. I’m surprised you know of that.”
“It was a good article,” Mackenzie responded, “Who doesn’t read Nat Geo?”
Ignoring Mackenzie’s comment, Rick continued, “Yeah well she lives here in Singapore at the moment.”
“As long as you stick with the currently approved story we agreed with in Guam, I am sure I can get this approved for you. But only if you stick with what we have already released for the public if she asks any questions, right?”
“Of course!” Rick said with a smile to cover his lie, “Like you said to myself and the others in Guam. An unexpected typhoon is a lot more believable for a story than the one that I have been telling you guys? You honestly think someone would believe that it was because of a sea mon-”
“This is not a secure line Rick,” Mackenzie interrupted, “So please no mention of your-”
“Truth,” Rick finished Mackenzie’s sentence without sounding offended, “Yes of course.”
“Can you give me back to Mrs.Vale?”
“You got it,” Rick said and handed the phone towards Vale, “He wants to talk to you.”
Vale nodded and took the phone and motioned to Rick to wait, she left the room to continue the conversation. Rick sat back down and just tapped at the metal table, waiting for the final decision. He needed to get out of this room. He needed to see Jenn and run his little errand. While he was looking forward to actually processing the event with Jenn, the importance of what he needed to do first was taking much more precedent. He had to know. He had to prove to himself that he was wrong to think that what he saw was the truth. It couldn’t be. If he was wrong, then there was nothing but to accept that he was mistaken. But if he wasn’t proven wrong, then it wouldn’t be just himself to grapple with the truth of what was lurking in what he now was considering; a much bigger world.
The door opened again and Vale walked in. She was off the phone and Rick perked up, excited to see what the verdict was, “Well? Am I under arrest and being shipped to Honolulu?”
“No,” Mrs. Vale said with a smile fit for customer service, “You are free to stay for your planned trip in Singapore. Given the circumstances, Agent Mackenzie understands and agrees that you will need time to process the loss of your parents before you go up to speak to the various representatives about the incident.”
“Rad! Well, if you don’t mind me,” Rick said as he started to get up but noticed that Vale had left a pointed finger up. She still wore the smile but her eyes had a sternness in them that Rick knew meant that was a catch to all of this.
“Only if you stick to the details you gave to Mackenzie and myself. Stick to the public story. Stick to your plans. And if you stray from any of that.”
“One way ticket with an escort to Hawaii?”
“Exactly.”
“So,” Rick said as he continued to stand up and grab his bag, “I can leave?”
Mrs. Vale nodded, “Yes. Of course.”
Rick followed Vale’s lead and the two of them walked out of the interrogation room and back into
the security hub’s sterile fluorescent hallways. The guards around didn’t make eye contact with them. It was as if they all knew that whatever was going on, it was above their pay grade. At the door, Vale motioned for Rick to stop before they walked out the door. The government official appearance seemed to falter a bit as she looked at Rick with her own personal cell phone in hand.
“Rick,” Vale said, “Before you go. Can I ask something of you? Its a little unprofessional but-”
“A selfie for your kid?” Rick grinned, “No, it’s fine.”
The smile for appearances evolved on Vale’s face as one that Rick was all too familiar with. A smile of a fan. As they went through the motions, Rick was somewhat flattered that even after all this time and change, he was still a celebrity to some. As the interaction continued, the click of the cell phone’s shutter started to somewhat whisper in the back of Rick’s mind the looming reality of his situation. He was only a celebrity in this woman’s eyes because of who he used to be. What he used to be a part of. That even here, on the run from the US government and more things in the world he could count. The one thing he seemed to never be able to escape from, was the legacy of his father.
“Thank you for that Rick,” Vale said looking at the selfie of the two excitedly, “my son is going to freak!”
“I’m always happy to help a kid smile,” Rick said.
“Best of luck Rick,” Vale said as he moved through the door, “with everything.”
Rick smiled and looked forward, returning once more to the hustle and bustle of the Changi airport. Moving amongst the crowd, once again unseen, Rick managed to get through the crowd and to the baggage claim and arrivals greetings. Families, friends, business folk were either greeted by signs, waves, or nothing as they left this part of their journey to enter the metropolis of the Indonesian waters that was Singapore. Rick had stopped by Singapore a few times in his life so far, but mostly for connections and layovers. This more or less would be is first time Rick would get to enjoy Singapore. Relatively speaking.
“Rick!” a familiar voice shouted amongst the sounds of airport announcements, baggage claim interactions and other travelers reuniting with those who are picking them up.
“Jenn!” Rick said with a cheer as the lovely fit blonde woman whose attire looked professional in Singapore’s heat, though anywhere else it would look like she was about to hit a gym then a meeting. The old friends gave a hug that locked them together.
“Took you long enough! I was getting worried!”
“Well luckily for me, it was nothing too big. Just a little detainment due to a passport issue per say.”
“You were detained!”
“Yeah. Again nothing too big. I’ll explain later.”
“Was it cause–”
“No! Surprisingly! Have some faith Jenn. Its 2013 and I can safely say I think people are finally being a little more opened minded about everything.”
“Yeah but–”
“It’s going to be okay Jenn,” Rick said and grabbed her hands to reassure her that it would be, “trust me.”
Jenn looked Rick over and slowly let go of his hands, attempting to hide her concerns behind a pearly smile.
“Are you going to be okay though,” she muttered, “What can I do for you?”
“Well, I know I need some food and a shower.”
“As someone who just hugged you,” Jenn said with sas, “I can tell that easily.”
“But first, I need to do one thing before we go back to your place. It will be quick.”
“Oh,” Jenn said curiously, “and that is?”
“I’ll tell you on the way.”
