by T K Eldridge
Milford looked less smug and the Senator leaned over to whisper in her ear. Milford unclipped her mic, rose from her seat, and left the stage. A camera followed her as she went through a door, then the scene panned back to the Senator, the General, and Margaret.
“I’m sorry, Senator, what just happened?” Margaret asked.
“I fired that idiot. She’s been lying to me and I won’t have it,” the Senator replied.
General Carver made a rude noise. “You’re both liars. She was just a prettier mouthpiece. You and your cronies nearly got my sons killed a second time. It wouldn’t surprise me if Wilson and Hansen were killed because of your antics. I’ll be looking into the investigation into your actions and the actions of those behind these Facilities.”
Margaret maintained a calm demeanor, but her eyes glinted with surprise at the General’s words. Before Connell could retort, she spoke up. “General, before we went on the air, didn’t you say you agreed with Senator Connell’s actions and supported them in the hunt for the escaped inmates. In fact, weren’t you supposed to head the squad that hunted them down?”
“I was,” the General replied. “But now I’m more interested in gathering up the scattered few that survived and protecting them. Soldiers need order and rules, I’ll make sure they get what they need.”
“Yeah, no thanks, Pops,” Kane said. “We’re done being soldiers. We would much prefer living a quiet life away from wars and missions.”
“We’re done,” I said and kept my gaze locked on the General.
“I don’t think either of you have the freedom to decide that,” he replied.
“Actually, we do. We were forced to work within the Facilities rules and boundaries for years past what we’d agreed to. If anything, Senator Connell and the rest of you owe us reparation and back wages,” I said. “In fact, I’ll have our lawyer contact the Pentagon about just that very thing. A class action lawsuit should settle this all very nicely. Don’t you agree, Margaret?”
“Yes, I do think that would settle things,” Margaret said.
“But…” the General started to say and Margaret interrupted him and shut him down. “I’m afraid that’s all we have for tonight, but for now, I’m Margaret Bryant, and this has been the Evening News.”
“Cut!” was shouted across the set and Senator Connell got to his feet, finger wagged in Margaret’s face. “I’ll have your ass in jail for this! I’ll…” the senator raged.
“You’ll leave this studio and shut your mouth. You have no legal standing in this situation and I will remind you of the documents you signed before you came on the air tonight. Leave. Now,” Margaret said as she got to her feet, one arm out to the side to show the Senator the way to the exit.
The Senator huffed indignantly and stormed off the stage, his mic ripped from his jacket as he moved away.
That left the General and Margaret – and us. He shook Margaret’s hand, then turned to us and spoke.
“I would like to see you, boys. Where can we meet?”
“You can contact Dr. Thorpe and he’ll arrange a neutral location. We’ll meet, but there are no promises,” I said.
“I understand,” he replied and turned away. He took a few steps and then turned back to look at us as if he was still not completely convinced we were alive. A faint shake of his head and he left the room. Margaret then turned to us and smiled. “I appreciate you being here, gentlemen. If you need anything, or wish to counter any of the ridiculous claims being spread about you, please let the good doctor know and he’ll contact me. We’ll figure out a way to correct the narrative. I’m on your side.” A polite nod of her head and she gracefully made her way off the stage.
Our monitor went dark and I sighed. “Jeezus, Doc, you sure know how to make a statement,” I said.
“You both did well. I…” Doc started to talk to us and then paused, attention on something off to the side. “Well, isn’t that a twist?”
“What’s a twist?” Kane asked.
“It seems the Senator and Ms. Milford got into their car and just as it cleared the parking structure, it exploded.”
I just blinked. “It…wait, what?”
“Seems someone was displeased with their appearance on the show. Or, the result of their appearance on the show. Both of them and the driver are deceased.” Doc then looked up at us once more. “Don’t worry, the General got on the road safely.”
“I wasn’t worried,” I muttered.
“In any event, Margaret is helping with our PR and she’s wonderful. Her youngest son, Anson, is in the northeast compound, safe and secure. She has a vested interest in making sure things play the way we want,” Dr. Thorpe explained. “You two go relax. I’ll get back to you with the particulars of the meeting with the General in a few days.”
“Thank you, Doc. It’s appreciated. Stay safe yourself,” I said.
Doc nodded and signed off.
I looked over at Kane. “Let’s change and go for a run. Sound good?”
“Sounds perfect. Then steaks on the fire pit and beer. Lots and lots of beer.”
“Gawds, we must be related,” I joked as we headed out.
Chapter Fourteen
It had been a little over three weeks since the TV interview, and Dr. Thorpe and the General were still working out the meeting details. Dino and Marissa were moved into their cottage, and he was getting around well enough to help with patrols and with maintenance projects. Most of the furniture, clothing, and other supplies that folks had ordered to get settled and comfortable had been picked up and distributed.
Today had Cole, Gideon, Logan, and Affie out to get supplies and a load from the storage unit. Affie already needed maternity clothes and she wanted some things for later on when it would be less safe for her to go out. Edgar, Hattie, Peyton, and Sam were also out on a trip to find Peyton’s wedding gown. They’d had a few delivered to a bridal shop run by one of Hattie’s friends, so Peyton could try them on. I wasn’t allowed to go. Something about bad luck seeing the gown before the big day.
You’d think having both of my ladies out of the house would have me relaxing or doing something with the guys. Not quite. I could not find a way to relax, knowing they were out there and at risk. Kane and I couldn’t go out in public after having our faces splashed across prime time news. We’d be recognized, someone would tell the wrong person, then we’d all be at risk. It was weird. Before, at the Facility, we couldn’t go out unless it was a mission, and while it chafed, it was just how things were. Now, when everyone else could go out and we could not, it was making me a little crazy.
I had settled at my desk in the bedroom suite, but left the door open. I didn’t like closed doors much after the Facility.
Kane tapped on the door frame and came in. “You, get your swim trunks on. We’re going to go play water volleyball.”
“I’m busy,” I said, feeling cantankerous enough to not want to socialize.
“No, you’re not. Let’s go or I’ll drag you down to the pool as you are.”
I sighed and went into the bathroom to change. I came out with my trunks on, a towel over my shoulder and sandals on my feet.
“That’s more like it, let’s go.”
We made our way through the house and down to the pool where everyone but Sinjin and Dino were in the water. Those two were probably on patrol, since we had a two-man team system set up.
“About time you got here,” Z said and shot the ball at me.
I dropped my towel on a chaise and caught the ball, doing a volleyball serve with my fist back at him. “I was busy,” I said as I pulled off my shirt and stepped out of my sandals. I dove into the deep end and swam towards the group at the shallow end of the pool and picked a spot. Kane was on the other team, and the game got started.
There was a lot of laughter and shouting, splashing and shit-talking as we ended up the best two out of three. When the game was over, some got out, some cleaned up the gear and a few just swam lazy laps in the water. It was pretty
awesome to have this and know that even in the middle of winter, we could come out here and swim and burn off energy.
The truth was, I was bored. Sure, there were tasks to do and activities to enjoy. Jobs that needed to be handled – but a couple of months into this life and I missed the adrenaline rush. Yeah, I was going to marry Peyton, be a father to Samantha, be a leader for all of the rest of the team, but what was I leading? A team of maintenance crew? No, we were soldiers. Now, sure, Kit…er, Kate, wanted to do schooling and Affie was going to be a mom, but what about the rest of us? Not all of us want to do gardening forever.
My sat phone chirped and I pulled it from the clutter on the table. “Hello?”
“Jericho, it’s Dr. Thorpe. The meeting has finally been arranged.”
“Great, when is it?” Here I am, thinking it’s going to be in a few days or something.
“In about three hours. I’d suggest you visit the armory and get some of that nanotech armor. Make sure you’re both protected and unarmed. They’ll check for weapons, not for body armor. The helicopter will pick you up in about an hour in the clearing behind the house.” The call disconnected.
“Kane, let’s go,” I called out. “Z, I need to get into the armory.”
On the way into the house, I told Z what we needed and he said he’d drop the suits in our rooms. Kane and I hit the showers and within an hour, we were armored and dressed in another version of the slacks, jacket, and button down outfit. Except the shoes weren’t fancy loafers. I’d picked up pairs of ankle boots with thick soles. Soles thick enough to hide a short punch blade. I wasn’t going near the General without a backup weapon.
The helicopter ride took a little over an hour, then we got into a car and drove another half hour. I had no idea where we were, and I didn’t really care. It was some mountainside restaurant that had only two cars outside. Three, if you counted ours.
The driver pulled up and we got out, then he moved to a spot further down the lot and pulled out a tablet. Kane and I made our way up the steps. A man in a suit with an ear bud opened the door and gestured for us to come in. The place smelled like Italian food and my stomach growled.
Kane elbowed me. “Told ya you should’ve grabbed a sandwich before we left.”
We made our way around the entry wall where we found the General and Dr. Thorpe seated at a table set for four. Placed around the room were what looked like bodyguards, with no way to tell if they were for the General, the Doc, or just here for the building’s security. I was guessing they were Dr. Thorpe’s protection. He was the billionaire after all.
Kane and I approached the table and were stopped by two men with scanner wands. They swept us but with the punch knives buried deep in our soles, they only registered as the metal tongues usually in hiking style shoes. Cleared, we were allowed to sit.
A waiter came by and offered us wine, as the General’s glass was already filled. Kane and I both declined. We liked wine, but this was work. You didn’t drink on the job.
“Thank you for coming,” the General said.
Dr. Thorpe just gave him a look. “You didn’t give us much of a choice, General. At least you agreed to neutral territory and my security team.”
“You were the only way I could get access to my sons. Choice was always yours, Doctor.”
“Boys, can we stop the petty squabbling and get down to business?” Kane quipped and I had to swallow my laugh.
“General, I haven’t been your son in your eyes for more than half my life. I suggest you shut down the attempts at familial affection and tell us the real reason you wanted us here,” I said.
The General balled up his napkin from his lap and slapped it onto the table. “Ungrateful little…”
I just held up my hand in a ‘stop’ motion and glared at him. “Enough. Why. Did you want. Us here.” I bit off the words and kept my glowing blue gaze locked on his face. I was so done playing.
A waiter came over with salads and breadsticks. Silence reigned on the real reason we were here until the waiter left with the orders.
“I want to offer you all a job. Missions and action, travel, all of it. All of those things you’ve been missing for the last few months,” the General said.
“Uh, nope,” Kane said.
“We’ve got a good life right now. We’re not interested in going backwards,” I said.
“I’ve got a place…” the General started and the Doc stepped in this time.
“They’ve got a place. Look, General. These men and women have given more than any other soldier in the history of war have ever given. They not only died, they came back and kept on fighting. Let them live the lives they desire, not what you would want for them,” Dr. Thorpe said.
The General leaned back and sipped at his wine. “Let me ask you this, boys. Do you miss the rush?”
I looked at Kane, then back at the General.
~I do miss the rush, but I’m not going back to a Facility lifestyle. Think we can do this on our terms?~
Kane gave me a faint smile.
~I think we can get him to agree to anything we want. Let me run with it a bit?~
I nodded and leaned back to sip at my water.
“Let me ask you this, Pops,” Kane replied. “How badly do you want us on your payroll? Enough to do things the way we’re willing to do them?”
General Carver grunted, and Kane continued.
“We’re willing to do missions – but we decide which missions we do and how we do them. We do not choose missions that go against our morals or ethics, or against our code of honor. We get paid for each mission, based on the risk factors involved, and any supplies, equipment or medical needs are paid for by you and yours, not the doctor and us.”
The General set down his wine glass. “I’m listening.”
“We get ourselves to and from mission launch locations so our residence location remains anonymous. Not everyone that lives there is going to want to dive back in. Some are starting families. It’s best we protect them by staying hidden,” Kane continued.
~Tell him that if a mission goes sideways, we have the experience to know when to pull out. We don’t get penalized for backing out of a bad situation.~ I sent to Kane.
“If you send us out on a mission and things go sideways, you trust our expertise to know if we have to pull out. You do not penalize us for backing out of a situation gone bad,” Kane said.
“Those are acceptable conditions. I would expect you to come to my site for training,” the General replied.
“No. We’re not going to your site. We’re not going to be under your control. We will work with you, not as your subjects. We are no longer military. This is a private security force and we have the same rights and privileges as any other security employee,” I said.
“Well, you’ll have those rights until the laws pass to qualify you as less than human. Then we’ll reconsider the agreement,” the General said.
At those words from the lips of the man I considered nothing more than my sperm donor, I got to my feet. “Doctor, it has been a pleasure to see you again. Please keep yourself safe. We’re leaving.”
Kane rose with me, glaring at the General. “You almost had it, but you had to get the last word in, as usual. Just keep thinking of us as your dead sons. It’s easier for all of us.”
We turned and started to leave the restaurant, as the General got to his feet.
“I forbid you to leave until we’re done,” he yelled at us.
I put a hand on Kane’s arm to stop him and turned to look over my shoulder at the General. “See, that’s your problem. You have no power over us. You haven’t for a long, long time. Go fuck yourself, Pops. I’m done.”
Kane just flipped him a middle finger as we left the restaurant.
As we waited for our driver to pull around for us, one of the security team came down to talk to us. “Dr. Thorpe has asked that you wait at the airstrip for him. He’ll be along shortly.”
“Tell the doctor we’ll give him an hour,
and we’d love a to-go bag?” Kane said and I had to laugh.
“Yeah, that food did smell amazing,” I said.
The security guy grinned. “Hang on, the to-go bag is already on its way out. You can eat at the airstrip while you wait.”
“I love that man,” Kane said, referring to the doctor as we got into the car.
Moments later, the bag with our food was delivered to the car and we headed out.
“Thanks for the rides,” I said to the driver.
“No problem. Dr. Thorpe pays well and if not for him, I’d not be able to drive anything,” the driver said.
“You served?” I asked.
“No, I was mangled in a car accident. Got hit by a drunk driver. Doc got me fixed back up so I could marry my girl. Our first is due next month. I’d do anything for that man.”
“I get it,” Kane said. “He saved us too. Twice.”
* * *
We sat on a bench outside the hangar, the helicopter parked in front of us. The food was amazing and we didn’t speak while we ate. I think Kane and I were both too wrapped up in our thoughts to really talk much. The last of the tiramisu was licked from our spoons when Doc’s car pulled up. He gestured for us to join him in the limo, so we tossed our garbage and headed inside.
“Thanks for the dinner. That was delicious,” Kane said as we sat down.
“I’m sorry things went so poorly with the General, but then again, I’m not,” Doc replied.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Well, I had a feeling that some of you would have a hard time settling down to a life of gardening and college classes. I had already started to put together what you’d need to take on missions. The Michaelson Group now has an offshoot. SH Enterprises.”
“SH?” I asked.
Doc grinned. “Yeah, Super Hero Enterprises. Allow me my twist of whimsy, will you? You’re all superheroes to me.”
