In the Shadows (Metahuman Files Book 3)

by Hailey Turner

  The two met up with the rest of the team in the ready room assigned to Alpha Team. The combat uniforms everyone wore were the same color, made of the same lightweight, military-grade spider silk and nanoengineered material. Each uniform was uniquely tailored and modified to work around a metahuman’s individual power. The top-of-the-line tactical body armor everyone put on was streamlined and precisely fit to each person.

  Everyone on the team had their preferred weapon. The standard AKR-75 assault rifle was in everyone’s hands except for Kyle, who opted for a larger sniper rifle. Smaller tactical handguns were strapped into place on hips and thighs. Alexei added a half-dozen knives to his collection of guns before putting on his hard helmet and snapping it into place.

  Of them all, Sean was the least weighted down with weapons. His phase power interfered with many of the high-tech sights and electronic biolocking mechanisms on each one. Alexei frowned when he remembered what Sean had told his mother about calling.

  “No comms for you in field?” Alexei asked.

  Sean shook his head. “Katie will keep me telepathically linked. I’ll be phased most of the time.”

  They’d kept him in the loop the same way in London back in January. While Alexei would prefer to have Sean’s voice in his ear, he knew Katie would keep an eye on him.

  After everyone geared up, they exited the ready room for the tarmac sitting adjacent to the main building. Ground crews were busy stocking several X-17 Hermes combat jets with additional gear and weaponry for the upcoming fight. Everyone on Alpha Team had their own assigned pre-mission duties and got to work.

  Alexei and Kyle did theirs together, going through a checklist of things that had become second nature during their time with Strike Force. By the time everyone was strapping in for the flight west, Alexei was satisfied they had everything they would need.

  “<>” Kyle mused as he tugged on the straps of his flight harness to ensure it was locked.

  “<>” Alexei agreed.

  Matthew Gailani hadn’t been with them on the Geneva mission. Their team’s second-in-command at the time ended up with a promotion after their old Strike Force captain died in Geneva. Matthew had always been a stand-up guy, and he’d hated to lose them to the MDF, but was ultimately just glad they’d survived. Alexei and Kyle had kept in touch with their old team as much as possible, but working under communications blackout conditions for their missions made it difficult. Regardless, anyone from Strike Force would be more than good enough.

  The flight west was a quiet affair, with everyone having their own pre-mission habits no one dared to interrupt. Alexei slept for most of the flight, head rattling against the fuselage of the jet. He’d mastered the art of sleeping anywhere years ago, and took advantage when and where he could. Kyle nudged him awake before they landed, coming to immediate alertness when he opened his eyes.

  “<>” Kyle said.

  Annabelle was flying them, and their landing was as smooth as ever. Alexei hung back with Kyle as the ramp lowered, letting Jamie and Katie be the ones to greet the soldiers on the tarmac who were charged with bringing Alpha Team’s officers to the brass for a quick and dirty meeting before the group-wide briefing.

  The rest of them were escorted off the combat jet and hustled into a large hangar empty of aircraft but full of people. Alexei only got a brief glimpse of the surrounding Mountain Home Air Force Base before they were sequestered out of sight of curious eyes. The men and women milling about in Strike Force combat uniforms all eyed the newcomers with more than a little wariness.

  The MDF had cleared everyone’s identities and powers with SOCOM for this mission. Both groups worked under Top Secret clearance the majority of the time, which ensured everyone’s identities would remain safe. While all MDF agents would wear nanotech strips to help hide their facial features, they were allowed to provide their real names to their fellow fighters for this mission. For Alexei and Kyle, that was a no-brainer. Working with Strike Force again was like coming home.

  Alexei scanned the surrounding group, hoping to spot a familiar face or two from his years wearing that uniform, and lucked out.

  “Brannigan! Dvorkin! Didn’t think I’d ever see your ugly faces again,” a deep voice boomed out.

  Alexei grinned, striding forward with Kyle as the crowd of Strike Force operatives shifted to give a tall, dark-haired man with startling blue-green eyes in a tanned face space to approach. It might’ve been almost a year since they’d last seen Captain Matthew Gailani, but the older man’s back-slapping hugs were still the same.

  “Fucking hell, Matthew. I was hoping we’d get to fight with you again,” Kyle said with a smile.

  “Only the fucking best to show you fancy-assed MDF idiots how to get the job done,” Matthew cheerfully replied before knocking a fist against Alexei’s shoulder. “How’ve you both been?”

  “Good. Was tough adjustment, but we get through it,” Alexei said.

  “Glad to hear it. They give you a decent captain, at least?”

  “The best,” Kyle replied.

  “Nah, can’t be the best since it’s not me. Just tell me they didn’t stick you with any civilians or something. Don’t the MDF recruit from all areas? Be a waste of your skills if they did.”

  “Not know you care,” Alexei said with a smirk.

  Matthew snorted. “Hated to lose you more than the brass did. They weren’t the ones in the field in need of a decent scout sniper team.”

  “Got a good replacement, I hope?” Kyle asked.

  “Yeah, Davis is real good with a gun.”

  Kyle jerked his thumb over his shoulder at where their team stood a few feet away. “We got slotted in with Alpha Team.”

  Matthew raised an eyebrow. “The one always blowing shit up on the news?”

  “It’s not fun if there aren’t a few explosions in the mix,” Madison said with an easy smile and a flash of her power between the fingers of one hand.

  Matthew slapped Kyle on the shoulder. “You should introduce us to your team. Where are your fucking manners?”

  Alexei waved the others closer, letting Kyle do the rapid introductions between their old team and new. Out of the corner of his eye, Alexei could see a few other MDF field teams introducing themselves to the surrounding Strike Force members. Some of the initial wariness seemed to be fading in the wake of Matthew’s easy and immediate acceptance.

  “Seems we’re missing two,” Matthew said, glancing over the group after Kyle had gone through everyone’s names. “Doesn’t Alpha Team have eight members?”

  “Sergeant Ovechkina and Captain Callahan are checking in with the brass. They should be here shortly,” Donovan said.

  “Where’d you all come out of?”

  The chorus of “Recon Marines” was followed by Annabelle’s lone “Night Stalkers” call out, earning Alexei and Kyle an approving nod from their old captain.

  “At least they aren’t some fucking paper-pushers,” he said.

  “Such faith,” Alexei said. “Think we stay with people we don’t like? Have more options in MDF.”

  They spent a couple more minutes catching up, the two teams mingling a little more, before Matthew drew Kyle and Alexei aside for a quick conversation.

  “They been treating you two good?” Matthew asked in a low voice, looking from one to the other to gauge their answers.

  “Would’ve asked to transfer off Alpha Team and form our own if we didn’t get along,” Kyle said with a shrug. “The MDF likes to keep its metahumans happy.”

  “Your team looks rock solid. How’s the leadership?”

  “I’d follow our captain anywhere,” Kyle admitted without hesitation, looking Matthew right in the eye. “Same way I followed you.”

  Matthew’s expression didn’t change. “That so?”

  “Is fact,” Alexei said. “We trust him.”

  “Good to know. I want to meet him.”

&n
bsp; Alexei peered at the entrance to the hangar where a small cluster of MDF stragglers was making their way over. “Have chance soon enough.”

  Matthew followed his gaze, eyes widening a fraction once he got a good look at the newcomers. “You called him Captain Callahan earlier.”

  “Yeah,” Kyle said, watching Matthew through narrowed eyes.

  “That’s Jamie Callahan, the senator’s son, coming this way.”

  “It’s a good thing you Special Forces types get stuck with the same NDAs and security clearances we do. That information isn’t something you get to disclose to anyone.”

  Matthew slanted Kyle an unreadable look. “I’m not going to run my mouth.”

  “Callahan’s a good man. He’s nothing like his father.”

  “Probably a good thing, otherwise I wouldn’t be here,” Jamie said easily enough, coming to stand by his team.

  Alexei and Kyle stayed where they were, watching as Matthew and Jamie had a quiet, intense stare down for a long minute before Matthew smirked at Jamie. “So you’re the one that got stuck with my crazy Russians.”

  “I’m not Russian,” Kyle retorted.

  “Close enough.”

  “Actually, Jamie got stuck with three. I broke him in long before these two showed up,” Katie said with a shrug as she stepped forward, extending her hand. “Sergeant Ekaterina Ovechkina. Alpha Team’s second-in-command.”

  “Stuck is such a terrible word,” Jamie said. “More like assigned. Gifted, even.”

  “Gifted at keeping you in line.”

  “That, too,” was Jamie’s easy response.

  Matthew shook Katie’s hand, taking her measure with a quick flick of his eyes. “Captain Matthew Gailani, at your service. You got a good team, Sergeant Ovechkina.”

  “It’s only as good as its leader, and we’ve followed Captain Callahan through hell and back. Ready to do it again tonight,” she said, never blinking.

  Alexei nodded agreement, watching as Matthew reassessed them now that the entire team was present. He knew Matthew wasn’t going to see anything but a solid group of people who trusted each other down to the bone.

  Exactly how his old team had been.

  “Glad you’re here,” Matthew said after a moment, nodding at Jamie. “It’s a surprise, that’s for damn sure. Never thought I’d see a politician’s son in uniform.”

  “Wouldn’t want to be in anything else,” Jamie replied honestly.

  Matthew edged past Katie to go shake Jamie’s hand. “Yeah. That’s why we’re all here.”

  Alexei breathed out a sigh of relief when he realized Matthew wasn’t going to have a problem with Jamie fighting by his side. Jamie’s status as a billionaire’s son and heir was definitely being eclipsed by his status as a past Recon Marine and his rank as a metahuman. Alexei knew the soldiers in Strike Force didn’t like politicians all that much, but they respected those who put on a uniform to fight.

  “Brass will be here soon. We should get settled,” Katie said.

  “Then let’s get up front. We’re running this briefing with them,” Jamie said to the team at large.

  Alexei turned around, searching for Sean. He’d been introduced earlier, but had managed to slip into the background unnoticed, silently watching them. Alexei made his way over, planting himself by Sean’s side.

  “Ready for this?” Alexei asked.

  “You know, I joined the CIA instead of the Army for a reason,” Sean said.

  Alexei grinned at him, patting him on the back before pushing him forward. “Boring.”

  “It really wasn’t.”

  Serving their country could be called many things, but definitely not boring.

  15

  Bring the Rain

  Night flying through the Rocky Mountains at low altitude and high speeds was a new experience for Sean, as was sitting between two well-armed Strike Force operatives in the belly of a stealth combat jet. He was the only metahuman on the jet, but he wasn’t the most dangerous person in the group assigned to lead the attack.

  The FBI, working in partnership with the MDF, had attempted to serve a search warrant on both North Star International and Vitae Neurotherapeutics earlier that evening. When they arrived, they found the private property encased in a military-grade defensive energy shield. Attempts to reach anyone inside had come up empty, and the FBI had retreated. Declan’s people knew they were coming, and the chance of evidence being destroyed was high.

  Through satellite surveillance, the MDF knew Declan’s training facility was surrounded by camouflaged defensive weaponry both inside and outside the energy shield. The shield itself covered the headquarters of both companies in a wide arc. Sean’s job was to take out the main device connecting the energy points in the sky. The machinery hovered high in the sky over the base, tucked safely beneath the shield it was boosting, and watched over by gunners scattered in the surrounding countryside.

  The combat jet they rode in had its own personal shield, but if they took heavy, sustained fire, the limited battery would quickly be drained. Sean’s group would rely on their Night Stalker pilot to get them in close for a quick pass of the device in the air so Sean could deactivate it with his power.

  Which essentially meant he would be jumping out of a moving aircraft with no parachute.

  I take it back, he thought. The CIA was never this crazy.

  Quiet laughter echoed through his mind and the mental link tethering him to Katie for this mission. To be fair, Strike Force is a different brand of crazy from pretty much all other Special Forces groups.

  Now you tell me.

  You’re sleeping with Alexei. You should be able to recognize crazy by now.

  Sean made a face at his hands where they rested on his lap. You’re no help at all.

  I’m keeping you occupied.

  That was true, if still unhelpful. Sean glanced up as the jet banked hard to the left, sliding a little on his seat. The woman sitting next to him grinned, teeth a dull flash of white in the dim lighting of the jet. They were running dark for this portion of the mission, despite the other side probably anticipating their arrival.

  “Never flown like this before?” she asked.

  He couldn’t see her eyes through the opaque tactical goggles with their HUD display and night vision capabilities she wore. Sean wondered what she’d seen in his face to prompt the question. “Not like this. I’m not usually part of a field team.”

  “Baptism by fire, eh?”

  “I’m used to it.”

  We got your six, Katie telepathically said.

  I know.

  It was a comforting thought that made it easier to face what was coming. The jet banked sharply again, and Sean lurched against his flight harness, sliding forward on the hard seat a scant few centimeters. Through the fuselage of the jet and the humming of the energy shield, Sean could hear the dull boom of anti-aircraft ordnance exploding in the air. The jet banked again, straps digging into his side even through the tactical vest he wore.

  “Looks like they’re expecting us!” their pilot said over the public comms. “Taking evasive maneuvers. Wraith! Get ready for the drop.”

  Sean took a steadying breath and kept his eyes on the Strike Force group’s leader near the rear of the jet. She would signal him when it was time to get out of his seat and get ready to jump. His stomach roiled a little as they banked again and again, even with the internal dampeners to help buffer them against the G-forces their pilot was pulling. The jet cut through the air with a precision he could only feel, not see, their pilot maneuvering with the same innate skill Annabelle had. Night Stalkers only employed the best, after all.

  The red light started to flash, the warning siren abruptly losing depth as the ramp opened onto a strangely lit night sky, wind whistling through the jet’s interior as they dove. It felt like seconds when it was probably much longer than that before Sean got the hand signal to move as the jet leveled out. He slapped his hand over the release on his harness, slipping free of it. Be
yond the dark line of the ramp’s edge, he could see the blue-white glow of the shield shining against the night sky.

  Sean raced for the entrance, the jet juddering under his boots as he ran. The shine of the energy shield burned his eyes even through his tactical goggles. The ground devices all fed their power into this single point, and it shone like a small sun in the night sky.

  Sean pushed off the edge of the ramp with a silent snarl, diving out into the open air. For a single second, he was weightless. Then gravity tugged at him, heavy and demanding, and he fell toward the floating shield device directly below him. Sean would spare a moment later, when the wind wasn’t rushing past his ears, to be in awe at how close their pilot managed to get for the drop.

  For now, all he could do was fall.

  He could feel the heat from the device’s energy production even through his tactical armor until he phased, the cool rush of the wind suddenly slowed as it passed through his body. Sean’s descent went from a deadly fall to a controlled return to earth that passed through the humming machinery below.

  Energy washed through him as he passed through the shield, sinking into the heart of the aerial connection that gave the shield its shape. The lightning-bright explosions of electronic overload burned through his tactical goggles as he passed through the interior. Sean couldn’t see anything but the sparking guts of the machine before he slipped free of it, only for a fiery explosion to engulf him.

  His power kept him safe from the concussive force of the blast as the damaged machine broke apart. Fire burned all around him as he floated downward, passing through heat that never seared him. Sean squeezed his eyes to help protect his night vision.

  Multiple receiving anchors that helped form the shield were spaced around the perimeter of the training facility and the biotech lab. The backwash from the explosion disrupted the flow of energy, disintegrating the shield. Bright bursts of fire erupted on the ground far below, growing bigger with every second that passed as the shield crumbled.

  Sean kept falling, a free-floating descent that followed the streaks of fire down to earth. He kept his eyes on the ground after the initial explosion, ignoring the flashes of fire from anti-aircraft guns embedded in the mountains surrounding the ranch. The shots cut through the night, but never through him, exploding well beyond him in brief bursts of yellow-red in the sky that quickly faded to black. Sean couldn’t be hurt in his phased state, and that security was what enabled him to keep the panic at bay even as the thunder of a war come home to roost erupted all around him.