Rozner saw the wheels in his boss's mind turning. He had his attention. He ventured forward. “And I’m thinking maybe we should go a step further. Make them think he sold out to the Firsts. Obviously we can’t say we were the ones who took him from them, how would that look? So, say, yes, he’s a human, one of us, who’d chosen to betray us. That’ll looks a lot worse to them, one of their own betraying them to a species that’s out to destroy the humanity they’re risking their lives protecting.”
Richards began to speak and Rozner continued quickly, knowing where the objection lay. “I know it’s been important to conceal the existence of the Firsts from them, but under the circumstances, maybe it’s time to rethink that. I’m not saying we should tell everyone at once. But Sir, as it is, if this thing with the Firsts doesn’t die down, we’d be better off if at least some of our field people knew about them, would not be surprised and be ready to pass on what they know and to control the reaction of the levels under them. I mean, what if they attack us? We can’t have our best people freeze in shock because they didn’t know about this other species. Look, we can start by letting just a few in on their existence. A couple of department heads at the facility, maybe, to begin with, and the head of training I brought in, definitely—I want new training routines, new capabilities anyway, it’d be better if we could tell him why, make him more creative in his thinking. I’d tell certain tier operatives, too. People who can . . . reeducate those around them without telling them too much, or telling them gradually, break them in.”
Reeducate. As in manipulate. Poison the mind of, Richards thought with distaste.
“What I’m saying is, let's see if we can replace their attitude toward Rhys, reposition him as an enemy who’s dangerous to them, to their families, to the humanity they are sworn to protect. Use that to de-Rhys the organization, and at the same time begin to build a designated force that is aware of the existence of the Firsts.” And that would not think twice before they go against them when the time came, shoot first and ask later, or not ask at all, Rozner thought, although this he did not say out loud. If things went according to his plan, when he was done there wouldn’t be an operative in the organization, and certainly in the facility, who would think twice before obeying an order to kill one of them, seeing them not as equal to humans, but as strangers, outsiders, who must be destroyed.
And who knows what else he could get them to believe on the way. The organization’s finest obeying his orders—his every order—that could go a long way toward achieving his own goals.
“Might take a while, but ultimately we'll have an army ready to move at our command against the Firsts.” And against anyone else he told them to. Yes, the thought appealed to him.
“A while might be too long if they retaliate now.”
“Some of this I can do immediately. The tiers in the facility I can already work with. I don't need to tell you what these guys can do. And I've read the assessments, Sir. The Firsts have had some weeks to retaliate and yet they’ve done nothing. Initial indications are they didn't expect what we . . . what Jennison did, so they might not be able to do anything at this time.”
Richards's eyes were back on his wife's rose bushes, bent to a breaking point under the strengthening winds. This had better work, he thought. He didn’t like this plan, certainly not after Jennison’s plan had gone so wrong. But the fact was that there might be no choice but to have more people, operational people, know what was going on. Things with the Firsts were too uncertain and there was too much of a likelihood of more encounters with them.
“I've also stepped up recruitment to level training.” Rozner continued, wanting to take his boss's mind away from any questions about this plan of his. He still needed to think about it, finalize it. Make it . . . board proof. “We'll need extra people if it turns out we need to get rid of any operatives currently on probation. If not, then we'll have more field operatives than we've had until now, which is fine with me. We'll need them.”
Richards nodded. Rozner was thorough, no question about it. He’d been a field man himself, had advanced all the way up to tier two before choosing to head the training functions in the facility and then becoming the director of one of the secondary facilities, where he remained until he replaced Jennison. He was the right person to put the facility back on its feet as seamlessly and quickly as possible. And he was the best after Jennison, and unique in his drive, his capabilities.
In the danger he potentially posed. Damn Jennison, Richards thought.
But then he couldn't blame it all on Jennison, could he? It was under him that Jennison had done what he did. It was under him that a man like Rozner grew strong. And it was under him that the organization still hadn’t put the resources it should have into studying the Firsts and preparing for the eventuality that was now here.
“What about the Italy office?” Rozner fished, interrupting his thoughts.
“Melake cleaned it and is heading it for now, we've got someone in mind for it.” In fact, a director from another European office would step in. A damn good guy, a strong director who could perhaps one day be used to remove Rozner, but Richards was not about to let Rozner even suspect that. Nor was he about to tell him that they'd already gone through all offices and facilities of the organization, and have found too many who were Jennison’s loyals. The idea itself that Rozner would know more than necessary made Richards uneasy, the man had a talent for latching onto weaknesses and filing them for later use. He didn’t need to know how far the organization had been compromised by his predecessor. He didn’t need to know just how badly the board had screwed up.
Rozner said nothing. He wasn't here to push. In fact, he wasn't sure why he was here. This talk, until now, could have been done by secure phone or in Richards's office. Why was he at his home?
“I want our intelligence capacity enhanced.”
So that’s it, Rozner thought. “Enhanced how, Sir?”
Richards met his eyes. “Enhanced so as to allow finding and monitoring all Firsts. Enhanced as in finding out their weaknesses. Enhanced as in unlimited resources.” He paused, waiting to see the effect on Rozner. Nothing but a fleeting smile. Richards nodded. “And I want you to set up a covert operation for Kyle Rhys and the woman.”
Rozner tilted his head slightly.
“Find them,” Richards continued. “I don't care how. Watch them. Study them. I want to know what happened. I want to know why they're still alive, why Jennison failed.” Richards's eyes bore into Rozner's. “And then prepare what we'll need to remove them. At my command.” He lowered his eyes back to his glass. The ice cube had given up. “And this is on a need-to-know basis. That applies to everyone but the board and you.”
“So, just identify and observe.”
“For now.” Richards confirmed.
Rozner turned away to hide his sneer. Weak, he thought. The man was weak. It was just a matter of time.
Rozner was more impatient than ever. He had finally landed and was just a car drive away from the facility. His facility. He itched to make the necessary calls, start getting the right people rounded up. But he didn’t do any of it yet, not in the car. He was a careful man, who trusted only himself and didn’t let anyone know more than they needed to. His experience had taught him that. He caught the driver's eyes in the rear-view mirror and reminded himself to look impassive. Rational.
That, what happened to Jennison had taught him.
He had spent his years in the organization planning carefully. As soon as he'd become a tier operative and had thus become privy to priority missions and gained access to high-ranking personnel, he began using them to learn. He was reliable, helped everybody, kept everyone's secrets. He became the man they depended on. And he never misused what he knew. The only things he wanted were to rise up in the organization—legitimately, with as little opposition as possible from within—and to learn everything he could about it, its goals, its secrets. When he knew enough and was positioned well, all he had to do was
wait until his chance came.
Until Jennison made the wrong move. Or went off on a bender, more like it, as he did.
And now he had what he wanted. The facility. This facility. Its resources, its people, its power, to do with as he pleased. As long as he played his cards right, of course. Yes. He needed to be careful now. The organization would be watching closely, the Jennison fiasco had made them more distrustful than ever. He knew he had been given Jennison's job because they needed him, but doubted they trusted him. Richards certainly didn't.
Rozner would give them what they wanted, an intelligence force that would watch that other species, and a combatant force the likes of which had never been seen, bigger and better than ever. He knew what their plan was. Prepare and Deter. An all-out war would be bad for humanity. Wars tended to get messy and should, he agreed, be avoided, unless there was no other choice. The preferable way was to study them, find buttons that could be pushed, he agreed with that too. Only, he thought a way should be found to subdue their will. Make things, well, bad for them, then show them a better way to live, something they would latch on to out of despair—and enslave them. Kill those who dared rise up, use the rest. It wasn't like they were humans, after all.
Except, he thought, and this too he took care to leave out of his discussions with the board, told no one, why not do the same with humanity? Not now, of course. Later. When there was no one to stand in his way.
The car finally arrived at the facility, and he got out and walked in briskly. He had work to do.
As inconceivable darkness surged, building up long sought-for power, confident that it could no longer be stopped on its path to its coveted dominion, and as reality tilted just that much farther away from all that was right and a critical mass was finally reached, a flicker appeared deep within the Light. Unseen, unfelt, unknown, it was beyond the grasp of even the ancient species who walked this world hidden, who had been so despaired when they had beckoned it, when it had answered their call.
Awake now, in its time that had almost come, it sent fine threads to its origins in ages long gone, arousing that which had been hidden beyond existence. In a crash of giants they danced, formed and reformed, then came together as in days past in one that swept on to times present when it would take its rightful place and restore the balance. As a destiny long decided was finally sealed, past and present met in a burst of power that resonated at a level underlying all, initiating that which would bring about what was meant to be, that which had long been foreseen. It spread, becoming one with the Light it had sent before it time and more ago, sending a whisper through forms past, ready to finally awaken within a never before seen form present.
Chapter Thirty-One
Neora stood at the entrance of the great house, Ahir beside her. Both were worried, Aelia knew, although they would not show it, not while all these people, Aeterna's staff and its residents, were looking on. It was all discussed and settled, but the fact remained that the First and the Protector were leaving, and would no longer have Aeterna's protection around them. And while Aelia could ensure that her people would have the confidence that she was always with them no matter where she lived, she could not relieve the worry of their two leaders who knew all the dangers and stakes involved, and who had come to care deeply about Adam and her. But there was no other choice. This had to be done.
Aelia smiled at them and got into the back seat of the car, the door closing behind her. Adam got into the front passenger seat. Rolly was at the wheel, wanting to see them off himself, and they were flanked by two SUVs, mirroring the way they had first arrived here, at Aeterna, except for the two stealth helicopters that followed them high above. As they drove away from the great house Aelia turned and looked at it as it grew smaller, until the vehicles rounded the hill and she could no longer see it. She leaned back and closed her eyes, feeling them, her people. Confident, she was pleased to find. Confident of her.
The jet, her jet, was a bit of a shock. Shining new, almost silvery in the light. Its markings were familiar, except for what she knew marked it as Serena's, instead of Aeterna's. And except for what marked it as carrying the First. Of course, only the Firsts would recognize either. That, and the way the jet would be tagged by their air traffic control systems wherever it would go. She took the time to walk around it, then climbed inside and looked around, curious. It was comfortable and had a designated place for her and Adam to sit together, and place for a security detail in the front. It even had a plush bathroom and a bed in a private area in the back. She'd never seen anything quite like it before.
Around her all was calm. This was Firsts territory, Aeterna's secure hangar, and she was safe here. The hangar was closed, and Adam was standing outside the jet, talking to Rolly. The security detail—a part of her security detail that Adam had brought along with him from Serena—was keeping an eye on the jet, and another detail from Aeterna was outside the hangar, always on the lookout, taking nothing for granted even on their turf.
A short time later she was sitting in her designated place, watching the sky outside. Despite its movement the jet seemed to be still, the hum of its engines unheard, so that it felt surreal, as if she were floating in the sky, unmoving, as if the clouds were the travelers, peeking curiously into the jet, then moving on. Movement close beside her shook her from her reverie, and Adam sat down in the seat opposite hers. She looked at the clouds for a moment longer, then turned to him, found him watching her.
He smiled. “A far cry from the flights we've been on so far.”
She laughed. “Just the flights?”
The smile remained on both their faces as they watched each other. There was a new calmness in him, she could tell. This was it and he was ready. He still had that edge of constant alert, though. This alertness, it would be a part of him from now on. Those looking at him would see a strong man, an impenetrable wall, easily intimidating. He would not show weakness, and there would be no soft spots that could be mistaken as such by those who might wish to bring harm. But she would know what was in him, her he would, already did, let in.
She strained to look out as they landed, but caught only glimpses since the jet never stopped, instead rolling into its new hanger, the large doors closing behind it. A car was waiting inside, a black car, tinted windows. She didn't recognize the make, but she recognized the intention. It certainly looked as if it was here to make a statement.
The jet stopped, and she turned her attention to the door opening up front. Adam was already there. He descended the stairs, and she watched as he walked to the car without hesitation. As he neared it the car's head and taillights came on and it started. He got in and swiftly moved it near the jet. When he got out again he saw her standing at the aircraft's door, watching him with obvious curiosity. He smiled. It took her a moment to realize that they were alone in the hangar, except for the aircrew—the steward who stood at the door not far from her, the pilots still in the cockpit. The security detail that had arrived with them had filed out of the jet and left, and she didn’t see any ground crew, it was nothing like Aeterna's hangar. Her eyes came back to Adam. He'd saved her the commotion, she realized, knowing what she needed, as he always seemed to. She descended the stairs and approached the car, and Adam surprised her by opening the passenger side door.
“It's just you and me,” he said.
She got in and looked around her. Comfortable, and yes, luxurious. But she saw the additions, too. The security console, and a place for a gun, his gun, within his reach. Getting in behind the wheel, Adam saw her look. “It's reinforced, too,” he said. “Ahir had it prepared for us and sent here.”
She was about to ask more when they exited the hangar through a door that opened for the car, and two SUVs that looked exactly like Aeterna's security cars positioned themselves before and after them. She didn't realize Adam had seen her disappointment until he spoke quietly.
“Only until Serena,” he said. “We're still new here.”
She nodded and looked aro
und at the small airfield. There were people around, all of them Firsts, it was obvious to her. They stopped where they were, looking at the passing cars. Adam had the convoy go around the airfield, rather than cut through it, but it was still disruptive, for the obvious reasons. No one knew for sure yet who was in the escorted black car, but they knew. She felt them, their curiosity, their excitement—was it true? Was it Her? But the cars moved away from them, and from the village she only saw from afar, and toward more solitary terrain that was nothing short of breathtaking. They entered the woods, going up between hills and following the road until finally they came to a gate. As they approached it, the lead car moved aside. The gate opened and the car she and Adam were in drove through. Adam signaled the car they drove by, and as she looked back she saw the gate closing, both security cars on the other side, already turning and driving away. Something inside her relaxed as she realized.
This was the first time they were alone since they first fled to Aeterna.
Serena was wild and beautiful, a far cry from the city Aelia had lived in all her life, a pastoral calm after the attention she had received at Aeterna. After they passed the gate, Adam slowed the car down and opened its windows, letting her feel this place he had chosen for her, and that she had so far only seen in images that did not do it justice. He himself was less on edge now that they were here and that she had made the trip from Aeterna to Serena safely. He threw a look at the car console, which told him that Serena's sensors had been activated, had recognized the car, and were watching it, deactivating and reactivating certain security measures as they progressed toward the cottage.
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