by S. M. Savoy
Anger roiled within Charlie. “You’ll tell me if you find anyone else was involved?”
“Probably not.”
“They deserved to die!”
“I’m not arguing that. Trading in human flesh is despicable. But you rampaging around is sure to lead to leaks we can’t cover up. And we need time, Charlie. We’re still learning and planning. I think you could hide and escape, but the world will panic. The longer we can put that off, the better.
“I’ve read their reports.” He glanced at Sara who slept peacefully beside him. His rage was exhausting her and energizing him, keeping him wakeful, or maybe he was just unwilling to close his eyes and rest. He shrugged off his distraction and snapped. “Save us all the effort and just tell us what you know— when you know it. Not when it’s convenient for you. My rogues will be looking and I’m not going to take it well if you’re keeping her enemies safe from me.
“Liz reports you’re having a hard time controlling your anger.”
Charlie shrugged. “I control it just fine. I just have so much of it.”
Lewis winced. “Keep in mind not everyone invited to that, um, party partook. Being invited shouldn’t—”
“If they were told she was for sale and did nothing to help her, they’re just as guilty!”
Charlie slashed his hand through the air to end the call. His anger was disturbing her sleep or maybe it was me yelling, he thought ruefully as he stoked her hair. She murmured his name but relaxed again into a deeper sleep. He was just dozing off when his phone chimed, the soft sound transmitted through the sticky com he wore constantly now.
A flick of his fingers accepted the call.
A miniature image of Guthrie appeared before him. “I just wanted to make sure you’d been told the official stories.”
Charlie eased from the bed and pulled the light sheet over Sara before tiptoeing from the room.
“Yeah, I just spoke with Agent Lewis.”
“Did he tell you the president will be commenting tonight in a special bulletin that the designers of the new engines were retrieved safe and sound from Cuba by U.S. Marines? He’ll also say that while their loss would be tragic, it would in no way slow production as the plans are already available.”
“It’s so plausible I almost believe it myself.”
“I’ve spoken with Mr. Martin. He’s looking into the will. Find out what she wants to do about a funeral.”
“Let him rot.”
“She—”
“I know!” Charlie shouted and a second later Todd ran down the stairs. Charlie waved him away and waited until he’d returned to the deck to say. “We’ll do whatever she wants.”
“Try to get some sleep,” Guthrie said.
Charlie disconnected and returned to his bed where he lay unmoving, staring at the dark ceiling until Sara woke.
- 26-
Commander in Chief
The guard at the gate of the White House called for security when the Scout’s stepped from the vehicles. Ten secret service agents approached and waved the guard away.
“This way, sir, ma’am.” Their eyes darted over the armor and weapons, and hands hovered over sheathed guns, but no one tried to disarm them or stop them.
“We’d been warned you were an intimidating bunch,” the lead man whispered as he held the door for Rick. “It must be the swords. You’re scaring the piss from my men.” He gave Toric a small salute, the academy ring on his finger winking in the light. “Semper Fidelis.”
Toric nodded acknowledgment but didn’t return the salute. He and Andre were the only two in uniform, dress blues and greens. Everyone else wore full armor, including facemasks and sunglasses. Even Tank wore armor with his name and Scout patch beneath an American flag embroidered on the right shoulder of his bulletproof vest.
Rick knew letting such heavily armed and armored personnel into the president’s presence was unprecedented and had debated leaving the swords, but trust was a two-way street. If they didn’t trust them enough to face them with weapons, he didn’t trust them enough to face them unarmed.
He’d been a bit worried his aura would cause problems, but the agents didn’t seem unduly panicked. He assumed they were all retired Marines, chosen so a warrior’s aura wouldn’t panic them.
They were directed to a small conference room where Pierce Taylor, Captain Sanders and General Campbell waited. Rick didn’t have to signal, his team automatically spread out.
“Take a seat, please,” Sanders said as they entered and took up positions. “You can take off your cover.”
No one sat or removed their face masks or eye protection. Sanders frowned and stood. “I asked politely, but it was an order.”
Rick held up his hand to stop Guthrie from speaking. “Have you seen the footage Stasia recovered?”
Sanders looked confused. “No, I was told about it, of course—”
Rick interrupted. “I assume you have it on the laptop there?” Rick gestured to the laptop and files before Campbell.
Sanders glanced at the general who nodded.
“We’re going to wait in the hallway. You’re going to watch that footage. Then you’re going to think about the fact that our commanding officer did that. Come and get us when you’re done.” They quietly filed out.
The captain’s surprised gaze followed the general as he left with them, leaving Pierce and Sanders alone in the room.
“Have you seen it?” Sanders asked.
“No, just read the report like you. It sounded horrible though.” Pierce turned on the laptop and they watched the footage.
Sanders shut it off at the same point Rick had. They sat quietly a moment. “Let them stand where they want,” he finally said as he rose to invite them back in.
Everyone stood unspeaking until the president arrived. President Carmichael took a seat beside the general.
“I know you’re here for assurances that Major Nelson wasn’t ordered to do what he did,” the president said immediately. “I did not give that order.”
“Mr. President, I invite you to join my raid,” Rick said.
The president eyed him thoughtfully. “I accept,” he said after a tense moment, and shoulders relax. “I assume you have something magical to show me or tell me?”
“Mr. Taylor, General Campbell, I invite you to join my raid,” Rick said.
As soon as Pierce accepted, the room filled with magic.
Rick said, “Did you order Major Nelson, or anyone else, to abduct Sara or Oz? Did you know about it? Did you help in any way? Did you know where they were? Are these the only copies of what happened to them? Do you intend to kill any of us? Do you intend to incarcerate any of us?”
When they’d all answered the questions, Rick removed his headgear and sat. Brenda and Mike sat on either side of him. Hawk remained standing in the back of the room, one hand resting lightly on his gun, the other on Tank’s head. Lee hesitated then stood beside Hawk, her finger hovering over the icon that would send the message to attack.
“Do you have any questions for us?” Rick asked.
“So many that I don’t know where to start,” the president said, a small smile on his lips. “You can recall your magic; I’ll believe what you tell me. My first question is purely personal. Liz has sent me reports, of course, but how are they doing?”
“Very well.” Rick leaned back slightly in his chair. “They’ll be better once they get my report.”
The president frowned thoughtfully. “You really believed I’d ordered that?”
“No, but I can hardly believe Major Nelson left them there, and he admitted it to me. Can you blame us for being cautious?”
“No, I assume you had a plan if I’d done it?”
“Yes, we would’ve left immediately, using whatever force was necessary.”
“And gone where?”
“England to approach the queen and ask for protection for Sara and Oz to work there.”
“
So, you’re no longer a loyal soldier of the United States?”
Rick laughed bitterly. “Would you be loyal to that? We trusted him. He commands us and sold them out! He let that happen!”
“Is our working relationship ruined beyond repair?” the president asked.
“I don’t know, is it?” Rick rose an eyebrow and leaned farther back, clutching the edge of the table lightly.
The president was silent a moment. “I have no use for soldiers who can’t or won’t follow orders, but that being said, these are exceptional circumstances. I can’t expect you to follow blindly to a hideous fate. I assume you trust we don’t intend that now?”
Rick nodded.
“And you’re prepared to follow all lawful orders from your superior officers?”
Rick hesitated. “I’d like to say yes, but we aren’t normal people anymore. The magic has needs we have to fulfill. Right now, Sara can heal Marines because we’re Marines. We could resign, I’m sure she could still heal us, but you’d lose a lot. And we’re all proud of being Marines and of our place in the Core. We want to stay, but we have conditions. I understand that normally that would be unacceptable. If it is, we’ll all quit as soon as we can.”
Campbell frowned. “What are the conditions?”
“All people who join the raid in any capacity must answer those questions to the magic. We’ll never again trust blindly. If any of us or all of us go crazy and wreak havoc, we’ll be contained if at all possible, not killed. We’ll do our best to hide the existence of magic but we won’t accept being murdered to preserve the secret. If Sara runs through town glowing blue and smiting buildings we contain her, we don’t kill her.”
“Is that all?” Campbell asked, still frowning.
“No, all copies of what happened to them are to be destroyed immediately; no notes, memos, pictures or recordings are to remain. They’re never told. It’s never mentioned or alluded to. No one speaks of it again.”
“They really don’t remember anything?” A small, relieved smile lit the president’s face.
“Nothing— and we want to keep it that way. We’re going to ask the magic to make us forget as well.”
“I’m so glad they have no memory of that. My heart aches for them,” the president said.
“They have no memory, but they know bad things happened that we aren’t telling. Sara has nightmares again. God, Stasia has screaming nightmares from it.”
“I’m very sorry,” the president said to the air behind Rick.
Rick snorted back a laugh.
“So you’ll return to your duty?” Campbell asked.
“I can’t speak for Charlie, but the rest of us will. He’s furious. He’s beyond furious.”
The general stood and paced a moment. “The Scouts are allowed special privileges and more leeway than any other soldier— don’t let it blind you to your oath, to your duty. We won’t tolerate insubordination! Am I clear?”
“Yes, sir!” they chorused.
He nodded. “I order you to remain quietly seated.” He tapped his wristcomp to make a call. “Send him in,” he said in a resigned tone.
Major Nelson entered. He wore his dress uniform and saluted crisply.
The roomed gained the deadly stillness of a panther about to pounce
The president spoke calmly, “He turned himself in and asked to speak with you. I ask that you use the magic to discern the truth.”
The magic filled the room in a rolling boil of static and sparks. Agitation was both seen and felt in a wild cacophony that settled down to rage and sadness.
Nelson licked his lips. He was facing a room full of trained killers who wanted him dead, and he knew it, Rick thought in satisfaction.
Nelson said, “I never knew where they were. I received that file telling the outcome of what happened to them a month ago. I was approached on our first visit to Singapore and offered a deal. They’d send me assurances of their wellbeing and make sure that the both of them were happy and cared for if I would misdirect the investigation.”
It took effort to remain seated and not reach for his sword. Rick was surprised he was able to resist attacking when the raids’ anger was so clear to him, but the magic wasn’t pushing for him to kill the man. It was own hatred he felt. His magic was perfectly calm.
Nelson continued, “I agreed after they showed me the reports on the probable outcome of Oz’s invention if he was allowed to continue. I did think they were safe. I also thought I’d be able to find them and assure myself of that. Charlie was hurt but functioning. The raid was fine. I had no idea they intended to hurt them again or of the breeding scheme. I really thought if we brought them back Charlie would go crazy and harm them. You know I’m telling the truth. I was looking for a safe place to stash them myself. Yes, I knew for a month they were recovering, but I also knew they were unaware of who they were— and they were together. I was about to go to the general when Brenda came. Everything I’m saying is true.”
“How many times was Sara raped in that month do you suppose?” Rick asked thoughtfully.
The major winced. “It wasn’t like that. They do love each other.”
“How about if we carve your brain out and tell you you’re in love with a gorilla or an aids-ridden whore? You’d think you were in love until you recovered enough of your frontal lobe to know better. Does that sound fun? Then we’ll do it again, but this time we’ll tell you you’re in love with your mother. It’s okay though because you won’t recognize her. Maybe to add to the fun you could become pregnant, gain awareness, have your hands cut up, be tied down or locked up, have your baby stolen, and have no idea what happens to it, then have your brain cut out again and do it over and over until you die. That sounds safe and happy to me. I think you should try it!”
“I had no idea!” Nelson yelled.
“If she’d been your daughter or wife, would you have left her there? You’re afraid of her, of them, but mostly her. Are you afraid she’ll change you?”
Nelson didn’t answer.
“I don’t get it. You wanted to be one of us. What changed your mind?”
“She controls you all,” Nelson said softly.
Rick frowned. “No, she doesn’t.”
Nelson laughed bitterly. “Then why are you all so upset, so crazy to find her? You’re all obsessed.”
“We love her, you moron!” Stasia yelled, becoming visible behind Rick’s chair. “We love her,” she repeated more calmly. “How do you not see the great gift they have? Not just the healing, but their compassion, their drive to give the healing to others. They spend their time trying to help others. We aren’t their slaves— we love them. God, how can you not see what amazing people they are?”
“I see how she calls and Charlie runs to her. I see how Toric wants her. I see you, Hawk. I see Marcus. I don’t want that. That doesn’t mean I meant her any harm.
“Charlie runs to her because he loves her. She goes to him the same way,” Rick said in disgust. “You’re worried because you play a warrior too. She hasn’t attacked me yet. I haven’t left Stasia. I haven’t even thought of Sara in a sexual way. You won’t become her love slave. You could’ve just quit the raid. Charlie will kill you for what you did.”
Nelson laughed bitterly. “My point exactly. He’s obsessed with her.”
“I’m obsessed with Stasia. Do you feel the need to make her disappear?” He waited for a response. When he didn’t get one, he laughed bitterly. “Your logic doesn’t hold. If I’m a warrior and obsessed with someone else, then Sara didn’t enslave me. I love her for herself. She’s my brother’s wife, my family. You’re a coward.”
“It isn’t cowardly to not want to be at someone’s beck and call, under their complete control. All this is irrelevant anyway. Charlie is angry because I didn’t inform him of the recovery. I didn’t inform him of the extent of the damage either. If I’d told him, it wouldn’t have helped find them. One week. I knew where they were for one
week! Does our past friendship mean so little I can’t get one week’s grace from you? I was about to call the general. I didn’t know what to do. Am I afraid to become addicted to her? Yes! Is that why I did it? No! I was deciding what to do. I feel your anger. Can’t you feel my remorse? If Brenda hadn’t come, I would’ve called the general and reported what I knew. We still would’ve found her.”
“We found them within one day of gaining the information you hid from us. We trusted you,” Rick said. “You were our friend. We looked up to you. How could we trust you again? We forgave you once already.”
Nelson snorted. “I’m your commanding officer. I get to decide, not you.”
Rick jerked away fighting the impulse to summon his sword into his hand.
2He said, “When you shot Charlie, were you trying to kill Sara?”
Nelson glared at him, his face turning red. “I thought we settled this?”
Rick turned to the general. “How can you ask us to follow him?”
“I’m not asking,” the general said.
Rick growled, so angry words failed him.
“I’m not ordering either,” the general said tiredly. “He’ll be reassigned.” He turned to the major. “Were you trying to kill Sara?”
Nelson exhaled heavily, dropping his eyes to his hands. “I suppose I was. I knew it would kill her, and I could’ve sedated her. I did hope it would just remove the magic and leave her alive, but I knew it was deadly.” He slashed his hand through the air. “That wasn’t about Sara, but her magic. I don’t want her dead just not so aggressive magically. You all forget that she isn’t a girl. She’s an alien in a girl’s body, and she’s trying to reproduce for reasons we don’t know!”
“Remove him from the raid,” the general said. “Major, I’m disappointed. You were a tremendous asset. You should’ve come to me about this earlier if you felt she was such a threat. Report to Baghdad base. I’ll decide what to do with you.”
Campbell turned to Rick. “He won’t be court martialed. His orders gave him leeway to act under his own discretion and we can’t afford to hold a trial.”
