by Michael Todd
Juntto stuck out his lip and bowed his shoulders forward. “Yeah, calling Security on me for having fun.”
Angie put her hand on his back, trying to hide her laughter as she led him back upstairs. The last thing she wanted to do was scare someone in the complex where they lived. She knew he meant them no harm, but with everything that was going on in the world, his appearance would terrify them. When they got to their door, Juntto pushed it open and sulked over to the couch, plopping down. Angie followed and sat next to him.
He let his arms fall to his thighs and sighed. “I just don’t get people. I am not that scary when I am trying.”
Angie rubbed her hand through his silver hair. “I know, baby, but it will take a while for people to get used to all the changes. You have to remember they’re already facing an invasion by demons and hell-beings. I don’t think they can take alien on top of it. Their heads might explode.”
Juntto shifted away from her and put his chin in his hand. “I was simply celebrating my victory. You know, like football players do. I’ve seen grown men dancing around all over the place when they win a Fortnite battle. I watch the YouTube videos, so you know it’s real. They scream at the top of their lungs, but no one calls Security on them. All I wanted to do was tell the neighbor I was just celebrating and maybe he would join my victory dance.”
Angie giggled. “Sweetie, I don’t think it works that way here. People don’t join something they aren’t personally involved in.”
Juntto grunted. “They should. I am from a warrior society where we celebrate each other. You don’t understand, Angie.”
2
The plane came to a stop on the runway and Katie stood up, rolling her shoulders. Pandora spent so much time outside of her now that every time she jumped back in, she had to get used to the feeling again. It wasn’t foreign by any means, just a bit of a jolt to the system.
She took the short sword and shoved it longways into her duffel bag, then slung it over her shoulder. As the stairs began to lower, she saw Brock standing to the side, smiling widely. Pandora groaned. Oh man, he looks like a fucking puppy seeing his owner for the first time in a week. You got the poor guy strung… Katie?
Katie ignored Pandora, keeping her eyes locked on Brock as she carefully stepped down the stairs. The two walked up to each other, their bodies touching, but no words were exchanged. After so much time, she was really glad to see him in tip-top shape.
Pandora gave it a moment, then cleared her throat. Earth to Katie. Fucking talk. This is starting to get gross.
Katie chuckled and took a step back. “You look great.”
Brock looked down. “Thanks. No more need for crutches or anything. The demon fixed it all, I guess. You look great, too.”
Katie smiled. “Thanks. Where is everyone?”
Pandora grumbled. Oh, how times have changed. We no longer get the welcome wagon like we did when we were at the peak of our game.
Katie sighed. We’re still at the peak of our game. We just have fewer people around and more work to do.
Brock looked back at the main building. “Stephanie had a meeting, Joshua is overloaded with orders, and Timothy said he’ll be down as fast as he can.”
Katie nodded. “Well, thank you for meeting the plane.”
Brock smiled. “I had to, although I do have to get back. With Stephanie running the whole base, I am helping train the military guys for an incursion. Damned or not, we want everyone to be ready to really put it down if they come back here. Moving again is out of the question, at least right now, so we are preparing the best way we know how.”
Katie chuckled. “Learning how to kick ass and give zero fucks about their names.”
Brock pointed at Katie and winked. “That, ma’am, is exactly right.”
Katie looked at a group of soldiers running in ranks. “How are they doing?”
Brock nodded at them. “They are doing really well. Things are coming along fast, especially now that everyone is out of the hospital at last. I think if demons dropped right now we would give them the fight of their lives, or at least for the last couple of decades. I’m really proud of them.”
Katie let out a deep breath. “Good. I’m glad to know you are all taken care of when I’m out.”
Brock rolled his neck. “Well, I gotta get back. If Timothy doesn’t come out, he should be either in the comms room or the kitchen. I’ll check in with you in a bit. And make sure to come say hi to the guys.”
Katie nodded happily. “I will do that. Tell the soldiers ‘thank you’ for me.”
Brock smiled and jogged toward the gates. Katie didn’t want to tell him yet that she had his sword. She wanted them to have a moment between them for that, so she shuffled her boots through the sand and started making her way toward the main building. As she approached Timothy walked outside, looking as suave as ever in a black cashmere sweater, scarf, dress pants, and shiny-tipped dress shoes. He took off his faux black-rimmed glasses and put his hands on his hips.
Katie giggled. “Hello, my darling.”
Timothy swished his imaginary hair to the side. “Oh my goodness, look at how magnificent you are! I’ve missed you, sister. Aren’t you cold?”
Katie realized for the first time since she got off the plane that it was much cooler in the desert than normal. “Oh man, I didn’t realize it was December already. What is it, fifties?”
Timothy put his arm around her shoulder, leading her inside. “Yes, and at night it’s in the thirties. Colder than a witch’s titty, my friend. I broke out the winter wear to keep me nice and warm.”
Katie could barely feel it. “I think Pandora is keeping me warm.”
Timothy smacked his lips. “Well, I’ll take cold over that asshole of a demon I had any day. I am free, baby. Free at last. And after being out there demon-less with Korbin, I am loving the sacredness of my control room. Just chain me up in there and let me know when it’s all over.”
Katie chuckled. “You know, I don’t think anyone would argue with that. You are our tech genius.”
Timothy waved his hand. “Girl, you flatter me. Keep going.”
The two laughed as Timothy stopped by Katie’s room so she could drop off her stuff. She smiled when she went in, having almost forgotten how good a job Stephanie had done decorating. They made their way to the control room, which was still comfy on one side and teched-out on the other.
Katie looked at a new bank of computers. “What are those for?”
Timothy rolled over a second chair for Katie. “Those are why I am bringing you in here. We figured, why just have Korbin out there doing work with the government when we could make use of it too? So we connected the new forts Korbin is setting up.”
Katie nodded, impressed. “Nice. How many do we have so far?”
Timothy brought up a wide view of the world with two blinking lights. “Right now two, almost three. The first, of course, was in Romania, and it took a bit of political pushing after your trip to the World Council. Don’t worry, though, he talked his way through it.”
Katie winced. “Damn.”
Timothy shrugged. “We don’t like it when things are simple. Anyway, the second is in Munich. They were much more into letting him do his work and having it connected through us. The third, which is where he is now, will be in Taipei. All of the forts are connected and can share information. It’s great.”
Katie leaned closer to the screens. “It is. Fucking great work, dude.”
Timothy pressed some buttons on the keyboard. “Thank you. So that is what I have personally accomplished while you’ve been away. I know those handsome guys out there have been busting those tight booties for you and for the base, though. In fact, the Special Forces guys want to talk to you and Pandora.”
Katie stood up. “Perfect. I told Brock I would come see them. I think I want to unpack my stuff real fast and freshen up a bit, then I’ll go.”
Timothy gave Katie a fake kiss on the cheek. “Yes, girl. Love you! Come back and
visit me.”
Katie smirked and walked from the room, heading down the hall to her quarters. She had just gotten to the base, but it was nice to be alone and take it all in for a minute. She felt like she had done nothing but run around since the World Council meeting, and even before that. She didn’t get more than five steps into her room before someone knocked on the door, though.
Katie groaned and turned around, flinging the door open. Then she stood up straight and smiled. “Brock. I thought you were training. Doesn’t matter. Come in.”
She pulled him into the room, shutting the door behind him. “I have something for you.”
Pandora snickered. Yeah, she does.
Mr. Belly pulled on his golf glove, narrowing his eyes at it. He didn’t see the point; he couldn’t play golf worth shit. He had expressed this to Wilson, but apparently it was all for show. Wilson had managed to get in touch with Oklahoma Senator Carl Boatsworth and invited him for a rousing round of golf. The weather was cold but it was a beautiful blue-skied day, so things weren’t too bad.
Wilson and Belly stood back, watching Boatsworth tee off from the fourth hole. The first three had been nothing but small talk between the three. Wilson was catching up, doing the normal round of family well-wishing. Belly largely stayed quiet, since he didn’t know the senator and had no real reason to get heavily invested.
The ball shot off the tee and curved to the right, landing at the edge of the rough. Boatsworth frowned, but Wilson clapped his hands. “Good job, Senator. That wind definitely isn’t doing you any favors, but you know how to skirt around it.”
The senator looked up, feeling only a light breeze, but took the excuse. “Yes. Had I known, I would have aimed a little bit more to the left, but it’s not going to take me down today. All right, Belly, you’re up. And please try to keep the club in your hand this time. I think that goose you hit off the second tee is stalking us.”
Mr. Belly pretended to laugh as Wilson and the senator stood way back. He put his tee in the ground and balanced the ball on top. Grasping his rented driver, he tried to mimic Wilson’s swing and hit the ball. He actually got it up in the air this time, only to watch it slice to the right and bounce hard off a tree. It landed in the sand trap and buried itself pretty deep.
The senator chuckled and looked at Wilson. “So, you brought me out here for what reason? And don’t blow smoke up my ass. I know you didn’t come out here for a nice vacation.”
Wilson chuckled, walking up to the tee box. “We need funding for our project.”
Boatsworth put his club away. “Yes, this demon-slaying thing you are doing. Hush-hush business.”
Wilson teed off, purposely putting his ball into the rough. He pulled the tee from the ground and put it in his pocket as he walked over to the first golf cart. “It is, so we can’t directly push for funds. We figured you could just add the funds into another bill. A few million here and there. Nobody would think twice.”
They drove over to the balls and waited for Mr. Belly to hack his out of the sand trap. The senator thought about it for a second. “What about special metal bullets? We got them and they would be easy to get to you, courtesy of the World Council.”
Mr. Belly gruffed as he climbed out of the sand trap, “We don’t like the Council.”
The senator nodded. “You are right about that. I don’t like them either.”
Wilson squared up to his ball. “Shit, I don’t like big government either, but even a stopped clock is right twice a day.”
He hit his ball up the fairway, and it landed close to the green. The senator went last, chipping his shot onto the green and watching it stop a foot from the hole. He turned around with pursed lips and looked at Mr. Belly and Lt. Col. Wilson. “You know what? I like what you are doing, and I sure as hell don’t trust this Katie. I’ll help you start a new unit, the Demonic Defense Force. We can call it DDF, but I will need to see results.”
Wilson nodded. “What type of results?”
The senator dropped his club into the bag. “Basically what I’m saying is go kill some demons, then we’ll talk.”
Mr. Belly chuckled with a smirk. “We can definitely handle that.”
Katie walked out onto the parade grounds outside of the barracks and waved at Eddie, who was leaning on a crutch. Sean turned in his wheelchair and maneuvered over to greet her. Katie smiled and shook his hand. “You’re getting pretty good with that thing.”
Sean shrugged. “Make do with what you got, I suppose, but a little more therapy and I think I’ll be able to ditch these wheels. I can become a hobbler like Eddie.”
Eddie scoffed, giving Katie a hug. “It looks better than it really is, trust me.”
Turner put his hands in the air from behind a group of soldiers standing awaiting instructions. “The prodigal daughter returns. Where is my snappy Pandora?”
Pandora purred, I’ll show him snappy.
Katie winced. Calm down, demon. He just got human again, and well. I don’t need you breaking him.
Turner walked up and gave Katie a hug. She smirked. “Pandora says hello. How is everything going out here for you guys?”
Turner glanced at the soldiers. “I think it’s going good. Me and Eddie have been working with Brock to train the soldiers, and Sean there has been putting in time learning IT shit with Timothy.”
Katie looked at Sean, impressed. “Nice. Are you enjoying it?”
Sean nodded. “I am. I mean, I think Timothy likes having someone to teach and boss around, but I enjoy it. It feels good to do something normal without the voice in my head constantly beating me up over it.”
Turner went back to the soldiers and glanced at Sean. “Hey, man, come help me whup these boys into shape. It’s PT time. They always run faster when you’re chasing them with your wheels.”
Sean chuckled and looked up at Katie. “I’ll get with you when we get back.”
Katie laughed. “I look forward to it.”
Eddie put up his hand. “I’ll catch up with you guys.”
He turned to Katie, sticking his hands in his pockets. “I was actually hoping I could talk to you and Pandora for a sec.”
Katie nodded. “Hold on. The queen is stepping out.”
Katie closed her eyes and gritted her teeth, hating the feeling when Pandora slipped out of her. Wear some clothes this time.
Pandora paused. Goddamn it. Fine.
She stepped out of Katie in fatigue pants and a green low-cut, skin-tight tank top. “Oh yeah, that’s the stuff.”
Katie opened her eyes, took a deep breath, and glanced at Eddie. “Go ahead. Lay it on us.”
Eddie swallowed hard. “I know the other guys are content with being demonless but I’ve put a lot of thought into it and I really would like a demon again.”
Pandora looked at Katie. “What do you think, boss?”
Katie chuckled. “I am not one to put a demon in someone unless it’s an emergency or they really want one. You sure you’ve considered everything?”
Eddie stood up straight, holding his crutch. “Definitely. I feel like something is missing, and I could sure use some assistance when it comes to this healing shit.”
Katie chuckled. “Well, I’m down. Pandora?”
Pandora scoffed. “Please. I think it’s a fantastic idea. You ready now? I can pop one up from hell for you.”
Eddie looked around. “Hell yeah, I’m ready. Let’s do this.”
Pandora stretched her arms and shoulders, then stepped in front of him. She concentrated hard, pulling her hands through the air. Several sparks shot out and the air wavered, but no rift opened. She cleared her throat and tried again, this time grunting as the space in front of her tore open. She let go and smiled, dusting off her hands. “A little rusty, but I got this.”
A wave of heat washed over Katie and Eddie as they stood back, watching her put one foot through and then the other. On the other side, Pandora looked around the rocky terrain, narrowing her eyes at a demon just a few feet away from her.
“Well, hello there, little guy. I got somewhere for you to go.”
Katie wrinkled her nose, watching the rift shuddering and spitting. She had never seen it do that before, even when being shot with missiles. Suddenly the edges began to shrink, and Katie’s eyes went wide. “Pandora! The portal!”
Pandora turned, the demon not yet in her hands. “Fuck. Goddamn it.”
She took off running for the portal and leapt through. She put her hands over her head and twisted her body, coming back through just as it snapped shut behind her. Pandora rolled across the sand and came to a stop on her ass. Katie hurried over and put her hand down, pulling Pandora to her feet.
Pandora took a deep breath. “Well, apparently there are technical difficulties with the whole portal thing right now.”
Katie shook her head. “I’ve never seen you not be able to hold a portal open. What the fuck is going on?”
Pandora glanced up at Eddie and shook her head, cutting the conversation short. “I’m sure it’s just me not doing my demon duties lately. No big deal.”
Katie caught on to what she was doing. “Right. Okay. Sorry, Eddie.”
Eddie looked distraught. “So, is that it? I’m stuck as a human?”
Pandora shook her head. “No way, dude. Fucking hell is hot. I’ve gotten used to this Earth weather, which also means I’ve become a pussy. I promise I will get you a demon soon. I’ll make sure it’s got fucking swagger and fighting skills. You will be kicking ass by day and getting ass by night.”
Eddie smiled. “I’ll take that, for sure. I guess I should hobble along and help them out. Let me know when you want to try again.”
Eddie hobbled off, and Katie turned to Pandora. “This does not look good.”
3
Katie opened the door to the armory and smiled, taking a deep breath and listening to the sound of the machines going to town in the background. Every time she entered the place, she thought back to the first time she’d found Joshua; to the business she’d started with Korbin and the others. It was the beginning of something she hadn’t known would become such a huge part of the war. It made her nostalgic but excited at the same time. Joshua never failed to amaze her with his innovative weaponry.
