Holt answered, “I’ll take care of it.” He smiled. “Passage can always be bought.”
Drachen said, “Border patrol is one thing—the Air Force is another. Once we enter their territory, they will shoot us down without question. And we can’t be sure to find an airfield capable of landing the Dreadnaught. We may have to split into two Raptors to ensure maneuverability and still allow for the number of troops we need.”
Nathan furrowed his brow. “You have access to Raptors?”
Holt said, “I can pull a few favors. Transportation won’t be an issue.”
Drachen nodded. “Once on the ground though, we’ll have to contend with roving bands of remnants in addition to Crowley’s forces.” He stared at Nathan and Alexis. “Not a place for greenhorns.”
Alexis scoffed. “Greenhorn?” She rolled her eyes toward Drachen and said, “Must need real experience to hold doors open for your boss.”
Drachen bristled, but Holt restrained him with a look. “We’re just concerned for your safety. The No Man’s Land is no joke.”
“I’m touched,” Nathan said, “We’re going. Bradley’s ability should guide us right past any remnants or other dangers, anyway. When do we leave?”
Holt stepped away from the table and the hologram of California. “I’ll need a few days to call in my chits—get us transportation. Be ready within the week.”
“I trust Bradley will remain undisturbed and safe in your custody?” Nathan asked.
Holt puckered his lips and answered, “We’re a mile underground, Mr. Miller. This facility is secure. No one will find him here.”
53
Blur waited on the brow of a hill. The lights of the compound in the distance shone bright against a backdrop of stars. He detested the wait and vibrated with pent up energy.
“Must you do that?” Siren asked from her spot next to him, kneeling in the grass. “And get down before you’re seen.”
His voice held a hollow echo from his vibration when Blur said, “No one sees me.”
Siren rolled her eyes and refocused through her tactical goggles. She watched the road leading to the AmeriGEN complex for one vehicle in particular.
Blur asked from the opposite side of her, “Why are we waiting here? I could just go grab him.”
“That’s not the plan,” Siren said.
Back to his original spot, Blur said, “It should be.”
Siren lowered her goggles and focused on the blurred visage next to her. “Stick to the plan. We wait for the guard I met at the bar last night to arrive for his shift. Once he does, he’ll disable the security, and we can follow his intel straight to Scout’s cage. Without interference.”
Blur bent closer to her. “And this guard you seduced…he’ll do as you ask?”
Siren puckered her lips and batted her eyelashes. “Every guy does.”
Blur complained, “It would be easier if I grabbed him. Their security can’t keep me out.”
“The master wants him alive, and unharmed.”
Blur sped to her other side. “Why do you do that?” he asked, “Why do all of you call him master? Why do you bend your knee to such an inferior specimen? With your ability, you could convince him to obey you, yet you follow blindly. It’s sickening.”
Siren stared through her goggles and said, “For all your bravado, you cannot hurt our master, and you know it. His power dwarfs your own.” She shifted forward. “There he is. Our asset has arrived.”
Blur watched the van approach the gate before it slowly opened and admitted the vehicle inside the chain-link fence topped with concertina wire. “How long before we can move?”
Siren stowed her gear. “Give him ten minutes. Then we storm the place.”
Ten minutes. A lifetime for Blur.
The corridor appeared before her eyes. Siren lurched from Blur’s arms and doubled over to dry heave. She coughed hard and wiped her mouth, smearing her red lipstick a touch. “How does that not bother you? I feel like I left my stomach outside.”
Blur leered at her. His face vibrated quicker, and his voice echoed off the walls, “The only way to travel.”
Siren said, “Yeah, can’t wait for the return trip.”
They faced a steel door lit by the harsh overhead lighting. Blur said, “The intel was solid.”
Siren managed a smirk while her stomach settled. “Scout is behind this door. The only lock he couldn’t disable.” She didn’t see Blur move, but he appeared in front of her, next to the steel door.
He looked at her and increased the vibration of his hands. “I’ve got this.” His hands touched the door and a metallic wail filled the corridor. The steel wrenched and cried in its frame until the vibrations popped the hinges loose and the slab tilted forward. Blur tossed it to the side with a loud clang.
“Grab him,” Siren ordered, “I’ll look out for curious guards.” She jogged a few feet away from Scout’s room when a piercing whine split the air. Her hands flew to cover her ears as she turned back to look. Blur collapsed to the ground and convulsed in agony.
They booby trapped the room with a neural inhibitor. No matter how fast Blur is, he can’t move if his brain can’t signal his body. She stepped closer and felt a force press against her skull causing her to move back. I’m on the edge of the radius. She sprinted away from the room to search for a kill switch.
The door at the end of the corridor flew open and three guards stormed in. Siren stumbled to a halt, pressing her hands against the floor to maintain her balance. The lead guard aimed a gold-plated pistol at her head and instinct raised her hands. He ordered his companions to hold her and rushed past her.
Gruff hands grabbed her by the arms and forced her to her knees. She felt the barrel of a gun against her head but remained calm. Siren watched the lead guard approach Scout’s room and raise his left fist. The whine ceased, replaced by Blur’s hollow, unnatural scream. His eyes were rolled back in their sockets, and Blur’s extremities continued to spasm.
His brain is attempting to reboot, but how long until he’s no longer incapacitated?
The guard bent over him and grabbed Blur by the neck. He drove a heavy fist into Blur’s face. The impact cracked Blur’s head off the floor and sent shudder’s up the guard’s arm.
One of her captors laughed. “Give him hell, Drachen.”
Drachen drew his arm back again and struck another blow to Blur’s face with vicious savagery. Drachen then proceeded to put the boots to Blur’s helpless body.
Siren struggled enough for her captors to tighten their grips and lean over her to issue a warning. She smiled and breathed into their faces. Powerful pheromones reached into them and caused their grip to slacken. She said, “Help me. Stop him.”
Both men nodded and turned to Drachen. They charged him. Drachen never saw them coming. The collision sent all three men tumbling through the open door to Scout’s room. Siren leapt to her feet and hurried to Blur’s side. “Blur!” she hollered, “Get up!”
She heard Drachen shout in anger and saw him toss one of his men aside. His eyes met hers and the venom there chilled her blood. “You bitch.” He seethed and raised his pistol toward her. The guard on his right snatched his arm down pulling his aim away.
Shock held Siren in place for a long moment before she snapped out of it. She bent over Blur and slapped him across the face. “Hey, sleeping beauty. Time to go.”
Blur’s eyes snapped back into place. With malevolent intent, he blurred to his feet and stared at Drachen struggling with his men. “Not now!” Siren shouted, “We’re blown—we need to leave. Now!”
Blur increased his vibration. To Drachen, he said, “I do everything fast, but I’m going to kill you slow.”
Siren heard Drachen scream with impotent rage then saw the stars appear in the night sky. She fell from Blur’s grasp and emptied her stomach on the wet grass.
54
“Did I wake you?” Nathan asked.
Alexis rubbed
her eyes and stared at him standing on her front step. “It’s two in the morning, use your detective skills.”
Quinn laughed beside Nathan. “Look at her give you the business this early in the morning. On your best day, you’re not that quick.” Nathan gave him a sidelong glance.
“What couldn’t wait until the sun came up?” Alexis asked.
“There’s been an attack on the facility,” Nathan said, “They came for Bradley.”
Her eyes widened and Alexis asked, “What happened?”
Nathan motioned inside. Alexis opened the door wider to allow him in. They moved to a sitting room off the hallway, and Nathan explained, “Blur and an unidentified woman broke into Bradley’s room. For some fucking reason, no alarms sounded.”
“Did they grab Bradley?” Alexis asked.
Nathan shook his head. “Holt had Bradley’s room wired with a neural inhibitor. Soon as Blur took the door off, he got quite the surprise. And, somehow, that pompous ass Drachen still managed to let them escape.”
Quinn turned the proverbial screw on Nathan. “You know, last time you met Blur, you didn’t fare much better.” Nathan looked over at him with a death stare. Quinn smiled and raised his palms. “Just saying.”
Alexis glanced to where Nathan stared and shook her head. “How is Bradley?”
Nathan shrugged. “All right, considering. He got caught in the radius of the neural inhibitor too, so he’ll need time to recover.”
“Blur bounced back fast.”
“Why not?” Nathan said, “Son of a bitch does everything else fast.” Alexis sat. She played with her hair, looping strands around her fingers. Nathan said, “Holt’s moving our departure up. He doesn’t want to give Crowley another chance at Bradley.”
Alexis looked at him. “Moving it up to when?”
“As soon as he can secure transport,” Nathan said, “We finally agree on something.”
Alexis continued to twist her hair around her finger. She chewed her bottom lip and asked, “Doesn’t Holt having a neural inhibitor strike you as odd?” Nathan gave her a blank stare. She said, “We’re talking about restricted military grade hardware. And it’s not just the inhibitor—he claims access to a Dreadnaught and Raptor’s as well.”
Nathan rubbed his thumb against his index and middle finger. “Money can buy you anything in this world.”
“Maybe,” Alexis said, “But why? Sure, he can afford to buy them, but why would he? Something’s not adding up here.”
“You’re preaching to the choir,” Nathan said, “I don’t trust Holt one bit. But, can you think of another way to get to San Duhamel?”
Alexis closed her eyes and exhaled. She said, “No, I can’t.”
“Well, sometimes we have to do things we don’t like to do what’s necessary.” Nathan stared at her and heard Quinn chuckle behind him.
“Really, Miller?” Quinn said, “You’re giving her philosophy. That’s rich.”
Alexis returned his stare and asked, “Is that what you tell yourself to do the things you do?”
Quinn whistled. “I can’t believe you didn’t see that coming. You going soft on me, Miller?”
Nathan turned away from Alexis. He rubbed the back of his neck and rotated his left shoulder. “It’s late. You mind if I crash here?”
Quinn’s jaw dropped open. “Did you just—did you ask her to spend the night?”
Nathan glanced at Alexis. Her mouth hung open. She stammered. “You—you want to stay here? What makes you think I’d ever let you spend the night?”
Nathan groaned. “Don’t say it like that. I’m tired, just looking for a place to crash.”
Alexis asked, “Does this look like a bed and breakfast? Go home, Miller.”
Nathan tried again. “I’ll be gone before you get up. You won’t have to see me. I’m exhausted, okay? It’s been a long day and…I could use some compassion.”
“Compassion?” Alexis stood and said, “I didn’t think you knew the word.” They stared at each other. Alexis relented. “Take the couch. I’ll grab a blanket. Make sure you’re gone before I wake up, last thing I want to see first thing in the morning is your face.”
“You dog!” Quinn said, “I can’t believe she’s letting you stay.” Nathan glanced at him then collapsed on the couch. Alexis brought him a blanket and turned the lights off without a good night.
Ninety minutes later, Nathan sat up and listened to the silent house around him. He padded across the hall in his socks and entered the office. Quinn leaned against the wall and asked, “How does it work? She sleeps and you ransack her office? Do you really think you’ll find the ledger in here?”
“Shut up.” Nathan moved to the cabinets along the wall and looked through them.
Quinn pushed off the wall. “And even if you do find it, then what? You think she might notice it missing? And who will she blame other than her overnight guest?” Quinn appeared next to Nathan. “You can’t help yourself, can you? You turn on everyone who works with you.”
“Shut up.” Nathan snarled. “I made a promise—I keep my promises.”
“Is that a fact?” Quinn said, “I recall a promise you made when I started as your partner. You promised to watch out for me—to keep me safe. How’d that work out for you?”
Nathan ignored the remark and continued to search. Nothing in the cabinets, nothing in the desk, nothing on the bookshelf. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. He threw his hands up in frustration and paced the room.
“You know where it is,” Quinn said, “Upstairs in her room. Question is—do you have the stones to grab it?”
Nathan whirled on Quinn. He lashed out and watched his hand slip right through him. Quinn materialized on the other side of the room. “How tired are you, anyway? Did you really think that would work? You killed me once all ready, remember?”
Nathan buried his head in his hands. He squeezed his eyes shut but salty tears still escaped to run down his cheeks. “I’m so fucking tired. Sick and tired of your face, of your comments in my head. What do you want from me? What do I have to do to rid myself of you?”
Quinn smirked at him. “Killing me didn’t work.”
Nathan glared back at him. He wiped at his eyes and said, “I killed you because you betrayed me. You sold me out to her.” Nathan pointed upstairs. “I’m sorry it came to that, but it was your fault it did. I feel no guilt over what you made me do.”
Quinn smiled and vanished. His voice whispered in Nathan’s ear, “Tell yourself another lie.”
Nathan heard a noise upstairs and hurried back to the couch. He collapsed on it and fell back into a fitful slumber.
55
Crowley heard the door to his study creak open. He kept his back to his visitor and waited for them to speak.
“Siren has reported in, my master.” Ripper said.
Crowley moved his head an inch so he could see Ripper’s kneeling shadow across the floor. “And?”
A long pause ensued before Ripper said, “They were unsuccessful.”
Crowley turned to face him. He watched his assassin quake—terrified to be the one delivering such news. “How so?” Crowley asked.
Ripper swallowed and raised his head for a moment. “They protected Scout with a neural inhibitor. Siren and Blur barely escaped capture.”
Crowley stalked around the cold room. “I see. They’re still surveilling the location?” Ripper’s shoulders slumped, and Crowley hardened his voice. “Out with it.”
Without lifting his head, Ripper said, “Siren is still in place, my master. But, she’s lost control of Blur. He seeks vengeance against one of Holt’s men.”
Crowley walked over to an ancient heavy desk. He placed his hands underneath the surface and overturned the piece with a roar and a thunderous crash. Ripper scrambled back. Crowley’s knuckles turned white as his face became an angry red. He lashed out and punched the stone wall.
Breathing through his nostrils, he cradled his broken h
and and stared at the frightened look on Ripper’s face.
“Master,” Brutalis said entering the room. “I heard—”
“You heard nothing!” Crowley screamed.
Brutalis cowered. He averted his eyes and whispered, “You’re hurt, master.”
Crowley lifted his limp hand, and they watched it return to shape—the bones healed. Crowley said, “Not for long.” He turned away to look out the balcony doors at the surrounding desolation.
“Give me a week,” Ripper said, “I’ll find Blur and stick a knife in him.”
Brutalis stepped forward. In his simple verse he said, “Blur must go. I end him.”
Crowley calmed his rage and considered his options. He looked at his men and said, “No.”
Ripper chanced an objection. “Master, you can’t be thinking of leaving him out there? Blur is a loose cannon who could undermine any plan to reclaim Scout.”
Crowley curled his lip. “He will not be left out there. I have plans for young Griffin beyond sticking a knife in him. He will be brought before me and learn the price of his willful disobedience. I know just the man for the task.”
Crowley turned from them with an order. “Find Grim. He has work to do.”
56
The obsidian jets reflected the dawn light. Two sleek Raptor XR’s sat on the tarmac being fueled. Designed for speed and maneuverability, each jet resembled a large bat in shape. They held a maximum of seven passengers in a cockpit accessed from stairs lowered at the rear. Each wing housed rotors allowing for vertical take-off and landing and distributed propulsion systems capable of reaching Mach-1.
Tiberius Holt watched as technicians secured the jet’s deadly payload to their underside. Three stinger air-to-air missiles hung under each wing and a 20mm cannon on the nose rounded out the impressive arsenal.
Holt exited the terminal of the private airstrip and swatted gnats that buzzed around his head. He watched his ground crew help a nervous-looking Bradley to the closest Raptor. Nathan and Alexis walked behind him. Twenty feet away, bathed in the light of the rising sun, Drachen ran checks on the gear to be loaded.
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