“Hey Reuben, is it OK if I use the bathroom first?”

  Reuben and Zoe looked back at Ever hovering by the entrance to the men’s room.

  “Probably wise.” Reuben nodded sagely. “That way you won’t piss your pants when you see the croc. Just come out and join us when you’re done.”

  Ever caught Zoe’s gaze. She nodded at him before following Reuben out the door.

  After making sure he was the only one left in the briefing room, he strode towards the door Reuben and Zoe just exited. Not breaking his stride, he changed into reaper mode, floating through the door straight outside.

  He didn’t have to look very hard to find Krakatoa, not because the crocodile was so large, but because he immediately saw where the group of people gathered. He floated towards them, joining where they stood in a line along the length of the reptile.

  “That can’t be right,” Reuben murmured, rubbing his chin. “Why is he awake already?” As he discussed hypotheses with his team, Ever caught Zoe’s eye standing at the other end of the line. She glanced pointedly at the croc. Talk to him.

  Ever nodded. He floated belly to the ground in front of the formidable creature.

  “Krakatoa.” Ever’s voice carried a slight echo in reaper form. “Can you hear me?”

  The crocodile reacted immediately, opening his eyes, the inner eyelid sliding horizontally across his vertical slit of a pupil.

  ^Mmmm…^ the sound came as a low rumble, deep in his throat. Ever noticed that the reptile’s long snout was bound at the end in black tape. The crocodile shifted his head slightly, making Reuben and his team all jump back several feet.

  If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  “Holy mackerel!” Reuben yelped. “We’ve got to resedate him! Quick, load the dart gun.”

  “Wait,” Zoe said. “We need to wait for Ever to come out.”

  “He’s probably taking a dump, not a piss,” Reuben said matter-of-factly. “Happens to the best of us.”

  Making sure Reuben wasn’t looking, Zoe caught Ever’s attention, tapping her wrist. Hurry up.

  *Mentor.*

  How’s it going, mate?

  *Do you know if Krakatoa’s girlfriend Sheila is still here?*

  A croca-geist, get it? Like a poltergeist but instead it's a–

  *Mentor!*

  OK, OK, sheesh. Ever floated upright as he heard pages riffing. Hey, would you look at that. Sheila the crocodile passed through here. Turns out she was keen to leave. Wasn’t as fond of our mate as he was of her. Poor bugger.

  *OK, thanks.*

  Ever gusted back into the briefing room. Once past the door, he changed back, then quickly made his way back outside.

  “Sorry,” he said to the group.

  “Don’t be,” Reuben said. “Turns out somebody failed maths and didn’t put enough sedative into the earlier dart.” He leered at a young, red-faced member of his team.

  “I need you to take the tape off Krakatoa’s snout,” Ever replied.

  “What?” Reuben spluttered. “You’re off your rocker, mate!”

  “I can’t talk to him if he can’t talk to me.”

  “Well at least let us re-sedate him.”

  “How can I talk to him if he’s unconscious?”

  “You’ll need to wait for him to wake up again.”

  “Reuben.” Zoe joined Ever at his side. “This is why you brought us here. Do what Ever says.”