"That means nothing to me," Corinne snapped. Zoran took a step back, a fleeting expression of surprise crossing his features.
Rafe, stunned by what he was seeing, stared at the tall, blue creature before him, speaking with Corinne's voice. I understood, then, why Cori had never revealed her true self to us. Rafe had no idea what to do, now.
"You had the same blood type as Zoran, didn't you?" Corinne asked.
"Yes-right again. That's another nail in your coffin." Zoran took another step backward, placing his one remaining guard between himself and Corinne.
"He was born to a drug survivor, wasn't he?" Corinne hammered at Zoran/Phillips, while Rafe and I blinked stupidly at both of them.
"Colonel Hunter," Opal pulled at my sleeve and spoke softly, attempting to move me toward the door.
"Get Hunter and Madam President out of here," Matt hissed on my other side.
Aside from us, only Madam President and the Ukrainian President had survived the first attack by the lizard-men. The Ukrainian President was already limping toward the door-at least he had the sense to do that.
"You need to come, too," I hissed back at Matt.
"I have a problem with any of you leaving," Zoran/Phillips turned toward us.
"I have a problem with your problem," Corinne announced.
"You are such a fool," Zoran/Phillips laughed humorlessly. "You," he turned toward Rafe. "Kill her."
My heart stopped when Rafe turned his weapon toward Corinne. I think I began to realize at that moment where all the brain fog Corinne spoke about originated.
Phillips, who'd shared a blood type with the Russian President, turned out to be stronger, smarter and ultimately more evil than Zoran could ever be.
Too, he'd asked for this meeting, probably to place a fog on every world leader in the room. If he could command Rafe to kill Corinne, whom he loved, then he could command almost anyone to do anything. He hadn't wanted only the White House, this time. He'd planned to take the planet. Corinne was the only one to defy him.
Get out, Auggie, Corinne sent.
"No," I said. "Rafe, put your weapon down."
"He has my obsession, now," Zoran/Phillips laughed, confirming my fears. "He won't rest until she's dead. What shall I tell you to do, Colonel Hunter?"
Corinne didn't wait to tell me again-she used power to send me, Madam President and the Ukrainian President to the Oval Office, leaving Matt and Opal in the Cabinet room while I shouted at her to stop.
* * *
Corinne
"Remove the obsession," I demanded, "and I'll let you live," I snapped at Phillips. Just because he'd taken the drug and now looked like President Zoran meant nothing to me. He was an evil, evil bastard.
"No," Phillips laughed. I watched in horror as Ilya's hand shook-he was ready to fire the weapon I'd given him.
"They're coming," I said, turning Ilya's weapon to sparks that died quickly, leaving him empty-handed and blinking at his fingers in shock.
"They already got here, or did you miss something?" Phillips snapped. "Kill her with your bare hands, you stupid Cossack," he shouted at Ilya.
I was forced to place a heavy shield around Ilya-he'd leapt toward me with murder in his eyes. "Take off the obsession," I demanded as Ilya punched futilely at the invisible wall around him.
"Let me walk out of here and I'll consider it," Phillips examined his fingernails. "Better yet, agree to serve me and I'll see you get him and anyone else you want."
I turned toward Matt Michaels, who stood immobile on the other side of the conference table, as if he couldn't decide what to do. Opal appeared to be having a mental argument with him. I turned back to Phillips.
"Take off the obsession-this is the last time I'll ask. They're coming," I said.
"Who were those who already came?" his wounded guard asked.
"The descendants of the ones who created the drug," I said. "They've outlawed it and are on a quest to destroy any of it that's left," I shrugged. "Last chance," I said to Phillips. "They're coming."
"I refuse," he said.
His particles separated as he grinned.
I'd made a promise to Ilya.
I kept it.
Auggie skidded to a stop in the hallway outside the door as they landed all around me. Blinking tears away, I saw that Ilya had beaten his hands bloody, attempting to punch his way through my shield.
* * *
Notes-Colonel Hunter
Six tall, blue men surrounded Corinne, all of them with close-cropped blond hair, except the tallest. His hair was deep red and hung in waves to his shoulders.
I still don't understand how I could decipher their language, but for a moment, that's what happened.
"You will come with us, and if you wish to live, you will not resist," the red-haired alien spoke to Corinne.
"I understand," Corinne replied, hanging her head. I watched as a crystalline tear fell to the floor, followed by another. Corinne wept.
"Who?" I said, struggling to keep my voice steady while stepping into the bloody, bullet-riddled room.
"We are Larentii," one of the others said. "It is what this one has become, after the drug was administered. We have never seen such and must decide whether she will live or be subjected to particle separation."
"Auggie, don't argue. There's nothing you can do, now," Corinne quavered. "Good-bye, Ilya." Those words were accompanied by a sob.
The Larentii disappeared with Corinne. The shield around Rafe dropped at the same time. I will never forget his scream of rage and loss as he dropped to his knees on the blood-soaked floor.
* * *
Ilya
I can't even think her name without going into a terrible rage. Doctor Shaw showed me her photograph once.
I destroyed his office as a result.
The truth that I see-in his eyes and others around me-is that they fear she is dead anyway.
Nevertheless, the obsession stands. If I were to see her again, I'd attempt to kill her.
Madam President survived the attack, as did the Ukrainian President. All the others died-if not during the initial attack, then later, at a hospital.
The lizard-like attackers also had other targets-six locations in Russia and one in Canada were destroyed. In all, more than four hundred bodies were discovered-both drug survivors and civilians-including Hal Prentice, whom everyone believed to be former President Phillips. The alien attackers in Russia and Canada managed to escape-at least that's what appears to have happened. She and I-we'd killed those who'd appeared at the White House.
At a terrible, terrible cost.
Nick and Maye-both dead.
President Zoran-the real one-was found dead at a facility in Russia hit by the attackers. That information wasn't released to the public. Instead, the public believes the man in the meeting room was the one responsible for all the deaths. Either way, both died. There was little sorrow expressed at their passing.
Sorrow was saved for world leaders who'd died at the White House meeting. State funerals were held, one after another. Madam President attended several of those. Director Michaels was forced to find additional guards for her.
I know the President discussed her death with Colonel Hunter.
I was left out of that conversation-for obvious reasons.
Six months have passed since she was taken away. Colonel Hunter turns pale every time anyone speaks of her. Maye and Nick received highest honors and a burial in Arlington for saving Madam President's life.
Richard Farrell is little more than a ghost. He and I-we are the only known survivors of the U.S. Program. Both of us are empty shells, our love torn away from us. We have no idea if any of the Russian drug recipients survive, although Colonel Hunter and Matt Michaels are watching constantly for any sign. As for the drug-every grain of dust is missing and presumably destroyed. Perhaps it is just as well.
After all, we have no idea whether there are more Zoran clones out there. If there are and they have the same talent as Phillip
s, we could all be in very deep trouble.
In my dreams, however, I see her.
Love her.
Touch her.
When I wake, I find my suite destroyed.
There is no escaping this affliction-it consumes me in my waking hours and in my sleep. I have to destroy what I love; that is the nature of Zoran's curse.
I weep.
Not for myself, but for her.
* * *
Notes-Colonel Hunter
I told Laci I had to go to Seattle to shut down the Pilchuck facility once and for all.
It was an excuse.
I'd taken a rental car as far as I could drive before leaving it in a clearing and climbing up the rest of the way. When I arrived at a peak near the summit, I stopped to catch my breath and look about me.
The night was clear, with a sliver of moon shining low over Puget Sound in the west. Stars so close they appeared to be woven together, wheeled overhead. I drew a ragged breath and breathed it out again.
"Cori," I said. "I'm so sorry. I hope I can see the stars of your world from here. I wish-I pray-that you're alive, and that the Larentii welcomed you home."
The End
Cloud Dust Page 26
