by Siegel, Alex
Aaron nodded. "Good."
"Did you see the monthly statement from the accountant?"
"Of course."
"It was alarming," Rosenblum said. "This hotel lost money last month despite being fully booked. Our costs are too high."
"We've talked about this before. It's not your money. Don't worry about it."
"I'm sorry, but I feel it's my obligation to keep an eye on the bottom line. It's normally considered part of the job of general manager."
Aaron sighed. "Fine. You've officially done your job. I'll see you later."
He walked towards a side corridor. Marina and Tawni followed close behind.
"Management issues?" Marina whispered.
He shrugged. "Putting my headquarters on top of a hotel may not be the smartest decision I ever made, but I'll make it work."
They entered a long, narrow corridor with doors on both sides. A huge mirror at the end allowed him to see if anybody was following, and nobody was. He glanced over his shoulder just to be sure.
The group opened a door and entered a small conference room. Six brass chairs were arranged around a black hexagonal table. The walls were covered with golden wallpaper with blue vertical lines.
He grabbed a remote from the table and punched in a special code. A computer monitor on the wall turned on, and it showed live feeds from surveillance cameras in the area. He watched the video for a minute to confirm again that nobody had tailed them.
Finally, he waved to a piece of abstract sculpture standing in the corner. It was made of lacquered wood and full of tiny holes.
The whole room began to rise up like an elevator. It emerged into a concrete chamber with a dome ceiling. Aaron, Marina, and Tawni stepped onto a bare floor. The conference room descended to its original position behind them.
They proceeded into another elevator. After Aaron typed a code into a keypad, the elevator rose swiftly.
"What do you think of your headquarters?" Marina asked Tawni.
"It's great!" Tawni said. "I never want to leave."
"I'm jealous. We're still living in a temporary facility in San Francisco. It could be another year before we move into a permanent headquarters. It takes forever to get these things built no matter how much money we spend."
"What sort of headquarters are you planning, ma'am?"
Marina shook her head. "I can't tell you. We don't share those secrets between teams."
Tawni frowned.
They reached the secret twenty-second floor, and the elevator doors opened. They walked into another concrete chamber. The walls were painted white, and the only furniture was a small, white couch. Intense illumination made Aaron squint.
Nancy was sitting in the security booth behind a window that was six inches thick. As usual, her thick lips were curved in a pleasant smile. Her brown, frizzy hair stuck out at odd angles. Aaron couldn't see what she was wearing because the booth was dark, but he expected it was baggy and had stains.
"Hello, Marina," Nancy said. "I didn't know you were in town, ma'am. It's good to see you."
"I got in last night," Marina said.
"Is everybody else here?" Aaron said.
Nancy looked at him. "Smythe and Kamal are eating breakfast, sir. Norbert and the twins are running a little late."
He furrowed his brow. "That's unfortunate. I need the twins to do some research for me. We're starting a new investigation."
"I'll let them know."
A side door buzzed.
Aaron led his female companions through the door and down a gray corridor. Metallic tiles with a granular texture covered the ceiling and floor. They were one of several layers of armor that protected headquarters.
The group entered the kitchen. There were two sinks in a long, stainless steel counter that ran along an entire wall. On the other side of the room, a pair of massive industrial refrigerators hummed quietly. Two dishwashers were beside them. An abundance of wooden cabinets provided plenty of storage space. Copper pots and cooking utensils hung from ceiling hooks. A big, circular table made of smoky glass occupied the center of the room.
Smythe and Kamal were sitting at the table, eating bowls of cereal.
Smythe stood up with a smile. "Marina! I didn't know you were coming. This is a pleasant surprise." He gave Marina a friendly hug.
His short hair was the color of rust. A big, square jaw was his most striking feature, but his blue eyes were a close second. The color was so light they looked watery. A gray T-shirt was stretched across his huge chest and shoulders.
"I didn't want to announce my travel schedule," Marina said. "It would be unfortunate if the legate heard I was here."
"I understand."
"You and Odelia are still seeing each other?"
"She's been here twice," he said, "and I've been to Los Angeles three times."
"I wish I could see Aaron that much. It's so hard for commanders to get away, and my team is still missing pieces thanks to Xavier's betrayal. I already feel guilty about abandoning my responsibilities."
"Your team can survive without you for a couple of days."
"I wish I was sure about that," Marina said.
Kamal shook her hand. "Hello, ma'am. Welcome back."
His blue slacks had creases so sharp they looked dangerous. A white shirt was buttoned all the way to the top, and it fit his slender frame well. He wore a black bowtie which somehow looked proper and elegant on him. His parents had come from southern India, and his skin was very dark.
"How are the dangerous scientific experiments going?" Marina said.
He smiled. "I still have all my fingers."
"I never understood how you could spend so much time alone in your laboratory. Doesn't it get boring?"
"Science never gets boring. There are always new discoveries to make and new things to learn. Every day is a step towards the future."
"I guess so." She shrugged.
Aaron started making a cheese omelet for Marina. It was her favorite breakfast, and he knew how to cook it exactly right. Being with her again put him in a great mood. After he finished cooking for her, he made omelets for everybody else.
Finally, the leisurely meal was over. Aaron checked his watch when he realized Norbert and the twins still hadn't arrived. They were an hour late for work.
He looked up at the ceiling and yelled, "Nancy!"
"Sir?" Nancy's voice came down from overhead speakers.
"Where the hell is the rest of my team?"
"According to the tracking system, they're on their way. Maybe ten more minutes. Should I call them?"
"No," Aaron said, "but when they get here, send them to my office. I don't mind if people come in late, but they'd better tell me ahead of time. Communication is important. I don't like to worry."
"Yes, sir."
He and Marina went to his office. He had done the cooking, so he didn't feel guilty about leaving a mess in the kitchen for the rest of the team to clean up.
His office was large and sparsely furnished, which made the room feel empty. The most impressive piece of furniture was his desk. It was built out of thick plates of metal welded together to form a solid piece. The alloy had a smoky gray appearance and would never corrode. A row of gray filing cabinets lined the wall. He had an old-fashioned approach to record keeping, and he preferred ink and paper to computer files. Electronic data was too easy to manipulate. Shelves on the back wall were meant to hold trophies from successful missions. At present, there was only one: a white telephone.
Marina walked over to a video camera aimed at a gray curtain. A giant television monitor stood beside it.
"It's weird seeing this setup from this side," she said. "How many times have we used this video link? A hundred?"
"At least," Aaron said.
"Is it going to be like this for the rest of our lives? Sneaking off to see each other for just a few days at a time with months of loneliness in between?"
"I don't know. I hope not."
He sat behin
d his desk on his ergonomic office chair. The soft webbing made him relax automatically. She took another, less comfortable chair built out of wood.
A few minutes later, Norbert finally arrived. He had an exasperated expression on his round, puffy face. His curly, brown hair was thinning prematurely on top. Blue jeans showed off his very muscular legs. He also wore a stylish, brown leather jacket.
"Marina? I didn't know you were coming. It's good to see you."
"Focus on me," Aaron said. "What happened this morning?"
"Sorry, sir," Norbert said. "The girls were extremely difficult. I actually had to drag them out of bed and dress them like they were children. They didn't want to do anything."
"Where are they?"
Norbert turned around. "Come on!" he yelled. "Aaron is waiting! Marina is here, too. You're being rude to two commanders at once."
A moment later, Bethany and Leanna shuffled into the office. Their skin looked deeply tanned but it was their natural color. Wavy, black hair went all the way down their backs. As always, they wore white shirts, pleated red skirts, and no shoes. They had dressed exactly the same way for as long as Aaron had known them. Bethany also had a diamond necklace with a giant pendant named the Eye of Satinia.
Neither twin looked up to meet Aaron's gaze.
"What's wrong with you?" he said.
"It's the project we're doing with God, sir," Bethany said. "We're not making enough progress. The math is too hard."
"And that's an excuse to pout like little children?"
"You don't understand."
He glared at her. "Then explain it to me."
"We made a promise to God. That's why He saved you, Marina, and Smythe from General Doolittle. If we fail, I don't know what will happen. Something terrible. He could kill all of you as punishment."
Aaron sighed deeply. For months, he had done his best to avoid this conversation. He had no suggestions to offer that could possibly help. It had seemed the twins could handle this problem on their own. Obviously, the time had come for him to get more involved. Bethany was right about the potential consequences of failure.
"Start from the beginning. What did you promise God exactly?"
"That we would upgrade His firewall," Bethany said.
"What does that mean?"
"There is a protective barrier around the universe. It keeps the bad stuff out and the good stuff in, or at least, it's supposed to. Sometimes, God's enemies find a way to sneak through. The Gray Spear Society was created to deal with those intrusions. We're trying to design a better solution, but it's so hard! The universe is a delicate machine. There are layers of hidden complexity and subtle relationships. All the components are fully integrated. If you change anything, you change everything!"
"I obviously can't help you with math or physics," Aaron said. "What if I bought you faster computers?"
"We already have the fastest computers."
"In the world?"
"Yes, sir." She nodded.
He raised his eyebrows. "I wondered why they were so expensive. I guess all I have is advice. Being depressed won't make the work easier, and quitting isn't an option. You have no choice but to keep pounding away for as long as it takes. I have faith you'll eventually succeed. The Lord must believe in you, or He wouldn't have given you this important task."
Both girls just stared at the floor. It seemed his words weren't getting through. Norbert shrugged apologetically.
Aaron walked around his desk and stood before the twins. They had become truly beautiful women during their time in the Society. Norbert made sure they ate a healthy diet and exercised every day. He managed every detail of their lives according to a tight schedule. They were autistic and hated uncertainty, so this arrangement was ideal for them.
"Let me put it another way," Aaron said. "I'm ordering you to get back to work and give it your best effort. Ditch the negative attitude. If you refuse this order, there will be unpleasant consequences. You know I'm telling the truth."
The twins became visibly tense. This time, his message had been heard.
"One more thing," he added. "We're going to have a team meeting in a half-hour. I want both of you to do a little research until then. Learn about the Super Double Monkey machine. It's a casino game."
The twins didn't respond.
"Hello?" Aaron said. "Did you hear me?"
"Yes, sir," they both replied softly.
"Get out of here."
They turned slowly and left the office.
Aaron faced Norbert. "Tell me what to do. How do I fix this?"
"I don't think you can, sir." Norbert shook his head. "They communicate with God several times a day about this project. He is deeply involved in it. That's a lot of responsibility for two young women with a mental disability. A lot of pressure. We can't even imagine the challenges they're facing. All we can do is provide the love, friendship, and care they need."
"And a gentle kick in the butt occasionally."
"Yes, sir. What is this Super Double Monkey machine?"
"Marina and I ran into it last night," Aaron said. "It was a troubling experience."
Marina walked over. "You're looking good these days, Norbert. Very strong." She patted his biceps.
"Thank you, ma'am." Norbert smiled. "Do you want to spar later?"
"Absolutely. I think you'll finally be able to challenge me."
"I hope so." Norbert glanced at Aaron.
* * *
Aaron looked at his team gathered around the table in the conference room. It was a good group. He was very proud to be their commander.
The oak table was big enough to seat twelve easily. Engravings of swords and shields decorated the edge all the way around. The chairs matched the table and had thick, gray cushions. Shelves on the back wall held hundreds of books bound in leather. They were the tabella, the secret historical records of the Gray Spear Society.
Having Marina in the room was an extra treat for Aaron. Her presence made the meeting feel like old times.
"Marina and I were up in Wisconsin last night," he said. "We saw a magic show at the Huhawira Casino. The magician was Sheryl Kapanina, a.k.a. the Mistress of Mystery. She was very impressive. I invited her to perform for us tonight at eight. She's coming here."
"We will be her audience?" Smythe said.
Aaron nodded. "Just my team. Nobody else."
"Why, sir?"
"Because Wesley told me she'll be my new legionnaire. I'll interview her tonight in front of all of you."
Aaron paused to allow this news to sink in. Aside from Marina, everybody seemed surprised.
"Doesn't she need to get tested?" Tawni said. "Like you tested me, sir?"
"Of course. But Sheryl isn't the main reason I called this meeting. While we were in the casino, we saw something called the Super Double Monkey machine. It's an extremely addictive game. It was so addictive Marina and I both found it very suspicious. I want to know a lot more about this thing. Who makes it? Where is it made? What is the secret behind its success? Bethany, did you get any information?"
Bethany's eyes were half-closed. The question woke her up, and she stared at Aaron with a startled expression.
"Well?" he said.
"A little, sir," she said. "Only three casinos have the game: that one in Wisconsin, one near Chicago, and one in Indiana. We couldn't find the manufacturer. It's not listed as a product anywhere."
"Keep digging. This is high priority."
"Yes, sir."
Aaron looked at the rest of his team. "The logical next step is obtaining a few of these machines. I want to take them apart and see what makes them tick. Does anybody have a suggestion?"
"We could sneak in during the night and steal one," Tawni said.
"No. They're in constant use and security is tight. It would turn into a gun battle. We have to avoid violence at this stage of the investigation."
"Let's just buy one," Marina said.
"From who?" Aaron said.
"The cas
ino near Chicago. We'll go there and pay whatever they ask. We'll take it right off the floor. It's just a glorified slot machine. How expensive can it be?"
He nodded. "Good idea. You and I will go as a wealthy and obnoxious couple."
"Sounds like fun." She grinned.
* * *
Aaron and Marina walked into the Aladdin's Magic Casino. His shoulders were tense in anticipation of another assault on his senses, and those expectations were fulfilled immediately. Long rows of slot machines jangled and flashed wherever he looked. Table games filled the floor in between. Instead of appearing happy, the gamblers had dead eyes and slack jaws. It was the middle of the morning, and Aaron expected they had spent the night here.
"This investigation just started," he said, "and I already hate it."
"That could be a good sign," Marina said. "Your instincts are telling you we're onto something."
They had dressed as a couple with money but no taste. He wore a green silk jacket and a black leather tie. Cowboy boots made from alligator skin pinched his toes. She wore a little red dress covered with sequins. A high hemline showed off long legs and black fishnet stockings.
The casino was attached to a large hotel. They walked over to the front desk which was pleasantly distant from the noisy slot machines.
"Hi!" Aaron smiled at the woman behind the counter. "I need to talk to the guy who runs the games."
"What do you mean, sir?" she said.
"The boss of the pit bosses. The president of gambling. I don't know his exact title."
She raised her eyebrows. She was a perky blonde in a yellow suit, but her hair had black roots. "It sounds like you want Mr. Balzar, but he's a very busy man. I could call his secretary and try to set up an appointment."
"Could you have somebody just show us the way? Our business is urgent. It can't wait for an appointment."
"I'll see what I can do."
She walked off and had a conversation with her coworkers. Somewhere nearby, a slot machine started ringing in a particularly loud and annoying manner. Aaron clenched his jaw.
He looked over at Marina, and his mood improved. The world was a happier place when they were together. She smiled at him seductively.
The woman returned. "I'll have security escort you."
