Climatic Climacteric Omnibus

by L. B. Carter

  "Why are you so eager to go back?" Henley asked Val. "I thought you just said you were angry that Reed turned you in?"

  Val nodded. "I am. But it's incredibly hard to sock him in the junk from this far away." She glanced at Nor. "You don't happen to carry a dagger on you like your brother does, do you?"

  He scowled.

  "That's all right. Teeth work just as well." She smiled wide.

  "Ms. Acton?" Richard was nervous. Or he'd been running again. His forehead was damp.

  "Lead on, Richard."

  The group trailed behind, listening as he spoke.

  "You are to make a deal."

  "A trade?" Nor asked. His guess had been right.

  "In a sense."

  "So, I stay and Reed gets to go? That seems like some bull," Val grumbled. "What's he done to earn freedom?"

  "No," Richard used his badge to open a door, standing back to let them pass in front of him. "You all will be assisting in trading Ms. Acton in exchange for assistance with the clean-up in the Midwest."

  "What?" Val exclaimed, screeching to a stop before entering the stairwell. Ace bumped into her from behind.

  "What about Reed? We leave him?" Nor demanded furiously.

  Richard lifted his palms. "He is not one of us. We can do nothing about that. That's between him and BSTU. And yourself, I suppose."

  Val passed, blocking out Nor's heated debate with the assistant who could only tell him what he'd been told. She was the sacrifice for the betterment of the rest of society. Just like Jennifer. It was her motto. It seemed fitting.

  The door at the end of the hallway forced her to stop. Not having a badge was annoying. Not for much longer. "Fine," she spoke up, cutting off the riling bickering. Richard jogged to the front. "I'll do it. I claim the right to punch Reed if we’re both stuck at BSTU together forever, though."

  Richard's face was uncertain as he stood to the side, opening the door to the stairs that led to the roof and helipad. "Uhh... I'm not sure I can—?" He was so used to catering to requests, he floundered with that one.

  Val waved him off and stomped up the stairs.

  "And Sirena?" Val heard Nor ask the guy. "We leave her too?"

  "She's BSTU property. No matter what Ms. Acton may have attempted, Sirena is not ours to take."

  Val reached the top door and made eye contact with Nor, raising a brow. She grinned and Nor's blue eyes narrowed, intrigued. "Except," Val said. "I'm not with the government anymore. I'm BSTU property. I can do what I want."

  ◆◆◆

  The flight was tortuously lengthy but not long enough for Val to work through her frustration. She kept shifting around in her seat, antsy. She hadn't gone for a run since they were at the Juarez's. Reed probably hadn't either. Maybe that's why he was also being a jerk. And he was still blue in the pants.

  Nah, he was always a douche.

  Douche wasn't a strong enough word after this. He'd ruined her career, shamed her family, maybe her plans if she couldn't patch things up.

  She spent a lot of the time en-route considering ways to make him suffer even though she wasn't sure the opportunity would present itself. He was being held by BSTU, and pretty soon, that was going to be her new home, too.

  God, that sounded awful in her head. Trapped inside that institution...

  The skyline of Boston came into view out the window, the BSTU campus clearly visible near Faneuil Hall and the waterfront.

  Now there was a brainwave. She'd be trapped inside the campus of the place with the most advanced technical knowledge, facilities, and brains, no longer locked into governmental duties, red tape beaurocracy, and low budgets.

  Never mind. A smile slid onto her face. Thank you, Reed.

  He hadn't freaked her over as much as he thought he had. He'd given her a new opening. She wouldn't even need Sirena if she could get her hands on everything else. She could simply make another Sirena. Hell she was another Sirena to a lesser extent. Then she'd be free to leave the original with Tate to get her off Val's back.

  She'd been limited the last time she'd been at BSTU, rushing to get out before she was noticed, knowing her looks alone would not make her switch with Jennifer believable. Truly, it was only because Jennifer's mom had such an obsession with her work over her family that Val had gotten away with it.

  Before that, she'd been stuck in a boring office, telling idiot minions what to do because they were too dense to make decisions themselves, relying on waiting for her brother to come back with news.

  Well, she hadn't needed him once she got wind of Sirena from Jennifer, which would trump any of the information Ace gathered. She had been certain, being the nerd that he was, his intel wouldn't have been useful to her anyway. It would have been too narrow-focused. He always got stuck on the trees, missing the forest. To be fair, she hadn't checked whatever he’d gleaned, being single-mindedly focused on Sirena once she and he had ditched BSTU.

  Well, he could report his findings back to Marissa now. It would probably be blueprints for a satellite or something. Like she gave a crap about monitoring the climate these days. They all knew it was going to hell; they didn't need any more readouts telling them that.

  What they needed was a long-term fix, and now Val had the opportunity to actually do that, hands-on, with BSTU backing. They had more power than the government, really, though politicians were careful to avoid alerting the public to that reality.

  She could even be the intermediary. Forget rolling out their animatronic androids. They could get superhuman modification on the market—BSTU would make millions, and Val would finally make some headway where everyone else was running around in circles, getting nowhere.

  The chopper landed on the helipad, far above any other skyscraper. Val reached to unbuckle and saw Ace watching her with narrowed eyes. "What?" she asked into the mic, hands stilling on the earpieces she'd been about to remove.

  His gaze was unrelenting like their mom's. "Whatever you're planning, don't. We're all in this mess because of your far-fetched plans. Please. For everyone's sake. Think of others for once." He took his audio off and ducked out as the blades of their bird whumped overhead. With long strides, he caught up to Henley, who was walking with Nor behind one of their escorts—some dude in a serious-looking suit.

  Ace was such a conservative chicken. This was why he never got anywhere, a lowly analyst, while Val soared up to the director position. Didn't he get it? She was thinking of others. She was thinking of the entire world, the whole human race. He was the narrow-minded one, blind to anything around him while he solved unimportant problems placed in front of him by someone else. Hell, it had taken several near-death instances for him to even notice Henley, who he had apparently been tracking since the forest fire as a child.

  He'd see. They'd all see.

  And then they'd thank her.

  The BSTU goons led their group, which included their own USGCS goons who felt like used teddy bears next to the university's flashy new-toy counterparts, to a conference room.

  Val took the lead without invitation, smacking the double doors open with enough force that they bounced off the wall, beautifully announcing their presence and simultaneously relinquishing the power in the room to her.

  Everyone in the room jumped though Val was disappointed to find that there were only three people there—not counting their suited escorts who took stances outside the doors, leaving Val, Nor, Ace and Henley to enter alone. Their arms made a barrier when the government escorts tried to follow.

  Val waved them off. They didn't stand down until Ace made the same motion, and Val sucked on her cheeks. That little motion had effectively destroyed the I'm-in-charge-here vibe she'd just created with her dramatic entrance.

  "Ah, thank you so very much for meeting us," Katheryn Tate said as she rose gracefully, extending a hand. At least she'd gotten the memo on who to address first.

  Val stared at it, not returning the gesture, then shifted her eyes to Katheryn's face. Her bangs were misaligned. "N
ot like you gave me a choice—"

  Katheryn showed her teeth and inclined her head in agreement.

  "—Mom," Val said with vengeance.

  The smile vanished. "Yes, we'll be discussing what you've done with my daughter shortly." Katheryn looked Val up and down, eyes narrowing. "But first, let's seat ourselves like civilized adults, shall we?"

  "Civilized? Oh, so you don't want to form a bridge blockade again?" Nor asked with sarcasm inherited from his brother. "Or send in our own colleague to surprise us?"

  Katheryn raised a single brow that slid neatly beneath the jagged ends of the hair hanging limp over her forehead. "Barbara chose to assist me when she learned that you and your brother, here, were unable to complete your contract with me." Her hand gestured at the man standing behind her whom Val was resolutely pretending didn't exist, pretending that he'd stayed dead.

  Nor inhaled heavily through his nose and couldn’t resist a stride forward toward his living, breathing brother.

  Val felt a similar tug to step toward Reed that her frustration resisted. Her arms stretched out before she could stop them and she covered the weak moment of succumbing to her body’s desire by crossing her arms over her chest with a scowl. Whether the motion would have ended with her punching him or hugging him, she was not sure. Neither was she willing to pause to analyze the impetus.

  "You went missing. They made first contact after that, picking up the pieces."

  "Yeah, but did you even sign that contract?" Reed interjected.

  The grin on Katheryn's face made Val want to slap it off, which was friskier than she liked to be, and then just allow momentum to accidentally hit Reed on the follow-through. Since he was there. Not on purpose, of course.

  "Let's sit," Katheryn said jovially, indicating the chairs around a massive conference table. Even though the mahogany slab was huge, ensuring they'd have to shout to be heard across it, the room was even bigger, leaving unnecessary space between the chairs and the white boards that were dispersed around the walls. The ceiling was even farther away.

  Val whistled scanning the cavernous room as she strolled around—intentionally taking her time to sit. "Looks like someone is overcompensating."

  Tate remained standing, waiting tensely, her smile all toothpasty but strained like she just found out she had a cavity.

  Reed smothered a laugh with a cough.

  Val ignored it and cut her eyes sideways to her host. "Is that because it's just you here? Didn't want to roll out the big guns to come chat with us? I mean, it kinda seems like I'm a big deal." She winked. "Me and Sirena are your claim to fame at the moment, right? That's why you went so far as to expose your work before you had a chance to really look me over and confirm that you do in fact have two successful cases."

  Tate began to squirm, Val's inference making her nervous.

  "As a scientist, that seems bold. I'd guess it would be the last thing you'd try to do if the contract with Green Solutions is real." Stopping across from Katheryn, Val leaned on the back of a chair, glancing at her companions, who were smart and had thankfully remained by the door so that Val could do her power-play.

  Katheryn's face remained mostly immobile, but it seemed to close up slightly, a lower eyelid twisting. She recognized Val's move. She was stuck at Val's mercy—Val was what she needed.

  "So, sure. Let's sit and have a polite conversation about the fact that you just put yourself in the spotlight, as well as Sirena and me. And more or less blackmailed me, ruining my life, to get me here." Val stood tall and spread her arms. "Well, here I am."

  There was drawn-out silence.

  Reed broke it with an escalating slow-clap. Val continued to ignore him.

  Katheryn cleared her throat. She couldn't seem to develop a comeback. "What do you want?"

  Val squinted. "I want to have this discussion with just you and me and Sirena. The rest aren't involved. They leave."

  Glancing up, she noticed Henley and Nor with their mouths hanging open. Ace was smiling, which was a rare enough occurrence that Val knew he was just as startled at her demand. That was kind of insulting. Hadn't they gotten it by now?

  She was trying to save them all.

  "You know I can't do that."

  "Then you don't get me." Val started to stride for the door.

  "I don't have the authority." Katheryn had enough regret in her voice that Val paused. "The contracts Ms. Bickford and Mr. Acton broke were not with me."

  Val sighed. She didn't turn. "Then let the Stanleys go, at least." She could sense Reed's stare tickling her spine. And for once, she was certain he wasn't trying to undress her with his eyes or ogle her ass.

  "Absolutely, they're free to leave whenever they choose."

  Val whipped back. "Wait, really?"

  Reed was as flabbergasted as Valerie. "What happened to 'You must pay for your crimes?'"

  Tate removed her glasses and cleaned the spotless lenses with a cloth from her breast pocket. "I needed your cooperation."

  "And you didn't get it," Reed reminded her. "So why keep me?"

  "Wait, you didn't sell us out?"

  Reed's expression was one of utmost disappointment when he rested it on Valerie. They stared at each other, so much unspoken traversing between them. "Of course not."

  "Then how did you know where we were?" Nor questioned, stepping forward.

  Katheryn sighed and gestured at the seats again. "Please? It will be so much easier to lay everything out on the table, so to speak."

  There was collective hesitation then everyone shuffled into various seats. Val retained her position, sitting directly across from Tate. Reed took the head of the table—a different attempt at commanding power. The spot also put him in between the two sides. Val, Nor, Ace, and Henley were on one side. Tate and a miserable Sirena sat on the other.

  Nor was careful to sit right across from her and was trying his damnedest to make eye contact, but the girl refused to look up. She hadn't so much as given any indication of noticing them after the initial jump-inducing arrival.

  "Now then," Katheryn started. She folded her hands together. Unlike Marissa, it looked awkward and forced, an uncomfortable gesture for the scientist, contrary to Ace’s and Val's mom, who embraced her power. It reminded Val that she used to head an entire division, and the woman in front of her was just another faculty member amongst many at this university, with children at her beck and call.

  "Now then," Val echoed, mimicking the pose. "We're all ears, mommy dearest."

  Chapter Fourteen

  Reed tried not to be turned on, but damn, Val was hot when she got all bossy. He was trying to channel schoolteacher—which in his case had been his mother and thus an extra layer of cold shower—but instead, his mind conjured leather. She'd actually be great on his team, running missions. She delivered orders beautifully and took no excuses and gave no fucks.

  Though he wished she might reconsider the last...

  Reed leaned back in the cushy office chair, locking his hands behind his head, elbows wide. If he pulled the fire alarm and they cleared out the room, this solid wood conference table would definitely support some fun. His gaze flicked from the lacquered surface to Valerie's equally immovable expression, and he grinned. She had the stare down. If he were good ol' Katie, he'd be sweating through his panties.

  He tried not to feel a pang of anything that Val hadn't looked at him; it would ruin the vibe she was creating to cut her stare even for a second, especially since she'd freely suggested the Stanleys leave. Katie would be more willing to let him and Nor go if she didn't think they had any deeper connection to the rest of the group than fulfilling the contract with Sirena. He shouldn't care that she'd tossed him out so blithely. It wasn't like he anticipated her to run sobbing into his arms, grateful he'd survived the flood because she couldn't live without him.

  That wasn't Valerie.

  And that wasn't the kind of girl he wanted; his Val had been very doting, fawning over him.

  Look where that got
her. While Reed had no doubts he was one of Father's best at Green Solutions, he was beginning to doubt his ability to protect those he loved as opposed to those he had to keep safe on the job.

  Nor also hadn't looked Reed's way; he was too busy focusing on Sirena.

  Well, what did anyone expect? Reed was his father's son through and through. He wasn't trained to love. That was a skill Mother had taught Father, and Father had been moderate at best, truth be told. Maybe if Reed had spent more time with Mother like Nor had...

  Too late for that regret now.

  His Val could have taught him to love if they'd had more time, if he had kept her safe.

  No, he had to stop thinking that; it was habit. He hadn't dragged her into the danger. It was this Valerie who'd pushed his Val into that life, into his path. She'd sentenced Val to death, and now she was staring down the woman who was his Val's mother with no qualms.

  She definitely belonged in politics, clearly used to being in a leadership role.

  Reed adjusted his seat, his pants uncomfortable suddenly. "We just going to sit and glower at each other, or what?" he asked irritably.

  "Got somewhere else to be, Reed?" Val's focus didn't deviate from Katheryn, her tone cool. "Like dead?"

  "Mmm, funny that you, of all people, should bring up death. Why don't we start with Jennifer Tate?" he asked her.

  "No," Katheryn cut in, twitching slightly. She was resistant to face what Reed had avoided for ages. He was trying to trade denial for acceptance like a slow-drip IV into his blood and coursing into his heart. "We start at the beginning."

  Reed's palms hit the table. "I fucking hate when people say that. The beginning is different for each of us... assuming you're referring to the beginning of this mess and not the beginning of each of our lives. Because I'd rather not discuss births. I'm already nauseated."

  "Technically speaking, our lives begin before the birthing stage."

  Reed snapped a quelling look at Ace that blew over the kid like a light spring breeze.

  "Let us start where you enter the picture," Katheryn suggested. Since she hadn't ditched her staring contest, Reed wasn't sure to whom she was referring.