by Siegel, Alex
Marina hadn't visited Chicago since August and was eager to see Aaron's headquarters. He had insisted on coming to California instead for their infrequent trysts. He had hinted that significant changes had occurred, but he had been annoyingly vague about the details. Something impressive had happened to Bethany and Leanna in particular. Marina was dying to see what all the excitement was about.
The elevator doors opened, and she stepped into a white entry chamber. Her first sight came as a shock. She had expected to see a human in the security booth, but a computer was there instead. Dozens of components with lights on the front occupied tall racks. A huge bundle of network cables and power cords hung off the back of the equipment.
"Hello?" Marina said cautiously.
"Hello, Marina. I've heard a lot about you." The voice was Jack's.
She knew Jack was dead. He had succumbed to a fatal gambling addiction during a mission. He had been the security chief in Chicago, and they had served together for several years. The news of his death had come as a terrible blow. Hearing his voice again was more than creepy; it was ghoulish.
"Are you a computer?"
"Yes. The twins built me and named me Jack."
Marina made a sour face. "How clever of them." She wasn't pleased with the notion of a computer in charge of security. It was too much responsibility for a machine.
"This is the first time we've met in person, so I'm unfamiliar with your biometrics. I must establish your identity another way. When you and Aaron first met, you fought the Church of One Soul. Two boats were destroyed at the end of that mission. What were their names?"
She stared at the computer. "That was a long time ago."
"It was a significant day," Jack said. "You should be able to remember."
"Uh." She rubbed her temples. "Scimitar of Allah and Aegis of Allah."
"That is correct. Welcome to Chicago."
The side door buzzed. She opened it and hurried into the hallway beyond. She had actually felt nervous answering to a computer.
She almost tripped over a big hunk of scientific equipment. She saw similar junk up and down the hallway, and scraps of high-tech debris were heaped in the corners. Somebody needs to clean up their mess, she thought.
Marina made her way deeper into headquarters. She discovered the conference room had been turned into a second scientific laboratory. The machine shop was also cluttered with equipment that looked like it belonged in a science fiction movie. She couldn't believe Aaron had allowed his headquarters to become such a disaster area.
Nancy was working in the machine shop. She was the mechanic for the Chicago team, the local equivalent of Imelda. Nancy's brown, frizzy hair was cut close to the scalp. Blue coveralls hung loosely on her generously proportioned body. She never stopped smiling, but now her smile was forced and brittle. Her coveralls had a chemical stain down one leg. Her eyes were bloodshot. She looked very busy, so Marina left her alone.
When Marina entered the large exercise area, she stopped and gaped. It had become a technological junkyard. It looked like an alien spaceship had dumped its cargo in the middle of headquarters. Thick power cables ran along the floor with no attention paid to safety. Equipment glowed and hummed in a disconcerting manner. What in God's name are they building? she thought.
Marina saw two robots moving in the middle of the mess and approached cautiously. When she saw their bodies, she realized they were Bethany and Leanna. Marina couldn't believe the change. The girls' skulls were made of smoky gray metal now, and their eyeballs were large, black crystals. Their faces were stiff and expressionless. Below the neck, they were still human. Their skin was the color of coffee with cream, and they had skinny, girlish bodies. They still wore the same dorky white shirts and red skirts as always. Becoming cyborgs clearly hadn't improved their poor taste in fashion.
"Girls?" Marina said.
The twins ran over and gave her a hug.
"Hi, Marina," they said in perfect unison. Their voices sounded like simplified, electronic versions of human speech. It was all clicks, hums, and pure tones.
"You've changed."
"God made us much smarter," Bethany said.
Her crystal eyeballs were disturbing. They had golden structures deep inside the translucent material. They were made of alien technology.
Marina raised her eyebrows. "I see." And I'm not sure I like the change.
The twins were working on a device that looked like a giant donut covered with colorful sprinkles. It was made of countless components, some as small as grains of sand. The pieces were arranged to form loops, swirls, and rings in a hypnotically beautiful pattern. It was an elegant blend of complexity and symmetry.
"What's this?" Marina said.
"The aperture," Bethany said. "It's the key to our project."
Marina heard Aaron's voice in his office. She had more questions for the twins, but they could wait until after she greeted her lover.
She picked her way through the high-tech junkyard to reach the office. Aaron was tall and very muscular. Bushy eyebrows shaded his brown eyes, but an unnatural darkness made them even darker. His brown hair needed a trim. A strikingly handsome face always made her sigh like a girl meeting a rock star. He had a grim, brooding expression, but she liked how it looked on him.
He noticed her and immediately ran to her. He gathered her up in his arms and gave her a big hug that squeezed the air from her lungs. He kissed her on the lips with almost angry passion. Then he hugged her again more gently. For a long time, they just held each other and enjoyed the physical contact. They were finally together again. It had been far too long.
"You weren't joking about the changes," Marina said. "Jack turned into a computer, the twins became cyborgs, and your headquarters is a disaster area."
"And I turned into a legate," Aaron said.
"What!" She stepped back.
"Ethel ran off to save the President. Somebody had to take her place temporarily."
"Wow." She raised her eyebrows. "I guess that means you're my boss again, just like old times." She could live with the situation for a little while.
"Wrong," a young, musical voice said.
Marina spun around to find Wesley standing there. He had actually grown a little since his visit to San Francisco three months ago. His straight brown hair always looked like it needed a quick combing. His flawless skin seemed sculpted from marble. He had a perfect face, as beautiful as an angel's, but his eyes were his most captivating feature. The irises glittered like bright blue jewels. They held a light and a wisdom that was as eternal as the stars in the sky.
Norbert, Yvonne, and Guthrum were standing behind Wesley. The odd combination confused Marina. Norbert was one of Aaron's legionnaires, and Yvonne and Guthrum were part of Wesley's team of bodyguards. He was supposed to have four bodyguards.
"Where are Charles and Atalanta?" Marina asked.
"Atalanta went with Ethel," Wesley said. "Charles is right here."
Charles was easy to miss because he had the gift of psychological invisibility. His hair was the color of hard frost. Long years of service had left deep seams in his pale face. As always, he wore a gray business suit perfectly tailored for his very tall, thin frame. He was sitting by a desk with his famous silver cane within easy reach.
The former legate waved to her. "The kid fired me. I work for Aaron now."
"And I'm protecting Wesley," Norbert said.
Marina looked at him. "Huh? My head is spinning. I need a cheat sheet to keep track of who works for whom around here. It's like a game of musical chairs."
Norbert had started his career in the Society as a big, strong man, but he had grown into an athletic freak since then. He had muscles on top of muscles. She wondered if he were stronger than Ipo. Norbert's puffy, round, and always sincere face was the only soft part of his body. She also liked his brown, curly hair. She knew him well and considered him a good friend.
"You haven't heard the best part," Wesley said.
"Whic
h is?" Marina said.
He looked around and frowned. "Not here. We need a more appropriate place. This is important. Let's go up to the roof."
"But it's freezing cold outside."
"God's love will keep us warm. Bethany and Leanna! It's time."
Marina gave Aaron an anxious look. She didn't like surprises, particularly the kind Wesley liked to spring. Aaron shrugged and looked exhausted.
The entire group went up a flight of stairs to the roof. Marina expected to walk out into biting wind and a blizzard of snow, but it was shockingly pleasant instead. A setting sun had punched a hole through the clouds. Its red rays were heating the roof like a giant laser beam and leaving the surrounding area untouched. Snow on the roof was melting rapidly, and it felt like spring had suddenly arrived. The phenomenon was clearly supernatural.
Then she realized it wasn't the sun. God was staring down on them. This is important indeed, Marina thought. She took Aaron's hand and gave it a hard squeeze.
Wesley walked to the center of the roof and beckoned Aaron and Marina to join him. Everybody else moved off to the side. Bethany and Leanna were smiling as much as their stiff faces allowed.
Aaron and Marina faced Wesley.
"Love is the most important thing," the boy said. "It is the glue that holds the universe together. It joins mankind to God. Without love, there is nothing. It is finally time to make your love official."
Marina drew back. "What are you talking about?"
"Aaron Glade, do you take Marina Pavlova for your lawful wedded wife, to live in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love, honor, comfort, and cherish her from this day forward, forsaking all others?"
Aaron stared at Wesley as if the boy had grown a second head. Marina was equally confused.
"Do you?" Wesley asked cheerfully.
Marina started to grin. An impossible dream was coming true. Had all the rules suddenly changed? Her heart fluttered, and she felt like she was floating in the air.
She elbowed Aaron in the ribs. "The kid asked you a question, mister!" She wasn't about to let his shock get in the way of their marriage.
He croaked, "I do."
"Marina Pavlova," Wesley said, "do you take Aaron Glade for your lawful wedded husband, to live in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love, honor, comfort, and cherish him from this day forward, forsaking all others?"
She nodded eagerly. She wanted to squeal with joy like a little girl. "I do."
"Then in the name of the Lord Almighty and in front of these honorable witnesses, I declare you husband and wife for all eternity. May your undying love always guide you through the challenges you will face. You may kiss."
Marina grabbed Aaron's face and kissed him on the lips. At first, he was stiff, but then he became passionate. The kiss went on and on, and she melted in his arms. The small audience clapped enthusiastically the entire time.
When it was over, she was too flustered to speak. What had started as a miserable day had become the best day ever. She lived a life full of miracles, but she had never dared to hope for this one. She wished she had worn a nice dress.
Aaron looked at Wesley and said, "Why?"
The boy gazed at God hanging low in the sky. "In times of war, there can only be one supreme commander. A single voice must lead the army. A single will must drive it forward. Seven bickering legates won't do."
"I don't understand," Aaron said.
"The Lord wants you to lead His army, but you can't do it alone. The task is too difficult. Your other half must be at your side. You were always meant to work as a team."
"Wait. I'm the supreme commander?"
Wesley faced Aaron and Marina. "Both of you are. You'll be known as the Lord and Lady of the Society."
She cocked her head. "We're in charge until the mission is done?"
"This is a permanent appointment," Wesley said. "You report to God, and the rest report to you, forever."
The magnitude of the moment was slowly penetrating Marina's brain, and her knees grew weak. In a single stroke, the boy had rearranged the command structure of the Gray Spear Society. He had created a marriage in a place where marriage couldn't previously exist. He had destroyed all of her assumptions about what the rest of her life would be like. He hadn't just broken the rules. He had written new ones.
She looked up at the warm, red orb in the sky. God clearly approved. Thank you, she thought.
"Why us?" Aaron said. "There are many others with more experience."
"You have the necessary qualities. It will make sense in time."
"And I'm a little confused by terminology. You used words like 'forever' and 'permanent.' Marriage vows normally include an exit clause like 'until death do us part.'"
Wesley just looked at him.
"We have another surprise coming, don't we?" Aaron said. "Getting married and promoted at the same time wasn't enough. You're saving the whopper for last."
That statement chipped away a bit of Marina's happiness. Life with Wesley was one shocking surprise after another, but in this case, she couldn't imagine what else he could throw at her.
Wesley patted him on the arm. "Don't worry about that now. We go to war tonight, and God's army is waiting for your orders. You need to come up with a plan. You don't have much time. The Society is gathering at sunset, and they'll expect you to have the answers. You're their leaders now. Both of you."
Aaron had a terrified expression. The bottom dropped out of Marina's stomach as she realized the promotion wasn't ceremonial. The two of them were about to face enormous challenges of all kinds, and the stakes couldn't be higher. She gave him a hug to comfort herself as much as him.
Wesley walked off. Norbert, Yvonne, Guthrum, and the twins followed him downstairs.
Charles remained behind. The old man walked over and shook Aaron and Marina's hands.
"Congratulations," Charles said. "That seems like a very small word for what just happened. The 'Lord and Lady of the Society.' I never imagined such a thing was possible. In retrospect, it makes sense though. It was clearly necessary. You can't run a war by committee."
"We're a committee of two," Aaron said.
"Two people who love each other and will always find a way to work out their differences. Male and female wisdom wedded together. It's perfect." Charles smiled. "God is a really smart Guy."
"If He's so smart, why am I having bowel control issues? This is the craziest thing that ever happened to me! I have two hours to come up with a complete battle plan for the whole damn Society!"
"Wait," Marina said. "I came in late to this movie. What is this war about? Who are we fighting?"
Aaron turned to her with a grim expression. "The cannibal mess was just an opening gambit. The true purpose was to bring me and my team to a bedding factory out in the wilderness. The enemy was using bed bugs to spread the genetically engineered disease that causes cannibalism. They were growing the bugs and feeding them infected blood in a lab in the factory."
"Yuck."
"That's an understatement. We destroyed the factory and killed the bad guys. We thought the mission was done, but the true enemy followed us back here. It was all a trick. The twins were the target from the beginning."
"Oh." She grimaced.
From their position on top of the roof, she could see the suburbs of Chicago all around. Rows of homes stretched out until the snow prevented her from seeing any further. O'Hare Airport was to the west. The view was familiar but now it seemed full of danger.
"Our hidden adversary controls the United States Army," Aaron said. "Several divisions of heavily armed soldiers are coming to attack this hotel. It will happen tonight or tomorrow. The President was kidnapped to prevent him from interfering. We're dealing with a massive, far-reaching conspiracy."
"And what's the point?" Marina said. "Specifically, what are the twins doing?"
"They're building something called the 'aperture.' It's a portal that allows people to leave the universe and meet God without the annoyan
ce of dying first. The twins will use the portal, and once they're outside, they'll reengineer reality. After they're done, God's enemies will have a much harder time getting past security."
The warm light was starting to fade. The clouds closed in, and the temperature fell rapidly. A cold wind kicked up.
"Let's get below," Aaron said.
He, Marina, and Charles hurried downstairs. They went to Aaron's office, and he sat behind his massive, gray desk. Marina could tell from his sullen expression that he was thinking hard. She and Charles didn't disturb him. Aaron had many talents, but his ability to plot and plan his way out of trouble was his most valuable.
Marina was still wrapping her head around what had just happened. She was actually married. She and Aaron would never be separated again, and together, they would rule the entire Society. She wondered if she were having a hallucination. Maybe she had been gassed back at the Golden Gate Bridge and was still asleep.
A tall, thin, and very geeky man walked into the office. His skin was the pasty white of somebody who avoided sunlight. A mop of brown hair sat on top of his head. His oversized glasses looked like a stage prop, and she couldn't believe anybody would wear them on purpose.
"Hi!" He smiled. "I'm Perry. I don't think we've met."
Marina shook his hand. "I'm Marina."
She remembered Aaron mentioning Perry. He was the third computer hacker in Chicago. With Bethany and Leanna so busy with the project, Aaron had needed a spare, but it had required special permission from Ethel. Teams weren't supposed to have so many members.
"Oh!" Perry's eyes widened. "The Marina?"
She bowed her head. "In the flesh. You should address me as 'ma'am.' I'm now the Lady of the Society."
"The what, ma'am?"
Charles explained the situation to Perry. His eager friendliness evaporated and was replaced by nervousness.
"You disturbed us for a reason?" Marina said impatiently. Aaron needed peace and quiet so he could think.
"Yes, ma'am," Perry said. "I've been working on the Red Eye radio. I wanted to deliver my report to the, uh, Lord of the Society."
Aaron glared at him. "Go on."
