I Bring the Fire Part V: Warriors

by C. Gockel

  Shaking his head, he fishes in his desk drawer for a protein bar. There hadn’t been anything untoward in their sleeping arrangements. They’d been cute; both curled up in fetal positions, not touching but facing each other, and very close. In the drawer, Steve’s hand finds only empty air. His stomach growls again, but what is more disturbing than that is the feeling of cotton in his ears he always gets in a Promethean wire room. He scowls up at the stuff on his ceiling. Since taking the serum he hates it, even if he acknowledges the necessity. Standing, he starts to leave the office, just to go out and pace the halls and think, when he hears a knock at the door.

  “Come in,” he says.

  The door opens, and there is Amy. She’s holding the usual medical equipment and a digital tablet. He blinks. Bohdi should be at his post by the door by now, but the hallway is empty.

  “I still need to examine you today,” she says. She rocks on her feet. “Even if we’re leaving.”

  “I’m not turning into a wolf-man,” Steve says, trying to give her his most reassuring smile. She’s been so nervous lately, and he’s pretty sure Fenrir’s strange transformation is the reason. He takes a long breath. “Lewis, even if I did turn into wolf man, it would be better than what I was.”

  She rocks on her feet. “Still …”

  Steve sits down in a chair and begins rolling up his sleeves for the morning blood pressure, blood draw, head circumference, and foot size check. “Right,” he says. “For science.”

  x x x x

  Pulling the tape measure from Steve’s head, Amy allows herself a sigh of relief. “There’s been no enlargement.”

  Earlier in the exam Dale had come into the office with an enormous coffee for Steve. From where he sits on a chair, flipping through a magazine, Dale says, “That’s good. If Steve’s head got any bigger it would pop.” His tone is a touch bitter. Amy’s heard him arguing with Steve several times about how he should be going on the trip today, even though Sigyn and Amy can translate Jotunn just fine, and Gerðr’s English has gotten better of late. It wasn’t Steve’s decision though, it was made by the Prometheans. Eventually, when they gather all the data and plot a course to Utgard’s realm, Dale will be going as the official translator.

  Steve snorts and shoots Dale a look that looks more amused than irritated.

  Amy takes a breath. “And your height is the same and—”

  Steve cuts her off. “And my boots fit fine.”

  Amy exhales. “Yes. And your blood pressure is great.” Better than it was before, actually.

  Out in the hall she hears Fenrir whine and the sound of a plastic bag being opened. “Here you go, girl. Eat your pork rinds,” she hears Beatrice say.

  “Have you been hungry?” Amy asks.

  “Yes,” Steve says, “but it’s been manageable.”

  Amy nods. “Magic raises your metabolism.”

  Steve smiles. “More giant coffees with whipped cream and sprinkles for me.”

  He’s trying to make her laugh. Steve always tries to make her comfortable when he wants something. Amy manages a small smile.

  There’s a knock at the door, even though it’s not shut. Amy lifts her eyes to see Lieutenant Robert Larson standing there. He’s the leader of the SEAL platoon that’s taking them to Jotunheim today. He has dark blonde hair and blue eyes. He’s good looking in the way all of the SEAL guys are; they’re all incredibly fit, and seem to all have the same square jaw. Larson makes Amy uncomfortable, and it has nothing to do with his good looks. She just has a hard time getting a read on him. He’s very courteous and grasps situations quickly, but she’s never heard him crack a joke, or seen him express any emotion, unless focus counts as emotion.

  He nods at Steve and then at Amy.

  “Come in,” Steve says, and Larson enters the room.

  “I was going to ask if you experienced any side effects besides the increase in appetite,” Amy whispers.

  “Just very vivid dreams,” Steve says. “But other than that, I feel great.”

  Larson cocks his head. “Pardon me for eavesdropping, but it could be this mission. All of us are having strange dreams.”

  Amy freezes. Her jaw drops. It could be the mission. Or something else. But the government wouldn’t experiment with troops in the field, would they? That would be irresponsible and unethical. She bites the inside of her lip, and feels a sting in her eyes. What she did to Steve was only out of necessity.

  “Dr. Lewis,” Steve says, apparently reading into her expression, “it’s going to be fine.” He gives her another smile that appears genuine. “This is a short trip, nothing you haven’t managed already. It’s the rest of us who should be worried.”

  Amy nods. They anticipate no interaction with other hominids. It should be the easiest trip to another realm she’s ever been on, possible encounters with ice breaking whales notwithstanding.

  “I should be coming,” Dale grumbles.

  Amy glances over at him. His head is still bowed over the magazine. He won’t be needed on this trip. Sigyn and Amy will be able to translate for Gerðr if it’s needed. She shakes her head and mentally reprimands herself. She’s supposed to refer to Sigyn as Cindy, Nari as Nicholas, and Valli as Victor. It was determined that their identities as Loki’s family were better kept secret.

  From the hallway she hears Bohdi say, “Still working for Steve and not for Odin?”

  “What is wrong with you?” Agent Hernandez snaps.

  “There are many theories about that,” Bohdi says. His voice is light and cheerful as it echoes into the office, and Amy finds herself smiling at the quip. She hears Bohdi’s voice carry again from down the hall, “But you didn’t answer my question.”

  Amy turns around just in time to see Hernandez pushing Bohdi through the doorway. Bohdi’s carrying two paper cups with the emblem of a nearby donut shop on them. “Easy,” he snaps, eyes narrowing in Hernandez’s direction.

  “I found him outside headquarters,” says Hernandez. Lip curling, he adds, “Defying orders.”

  Amy hears Steve take a long breath. She doesn’t look, but she knows he’s doing that peculiar thing he does where he runs his tongue over his teeth. When he’s really pissed you can see him doing it from the outside.

  Oblivious, or not caring, Bohdi walks over and hands her one of the cups. “Green tea latte. I like it for breakfast.”

  As she takes it from his hands, Amy feels a warmth settle in the pit of her stomach that has nothing to do with the warmth of the cup. She tentatively takes a sniff, and then a sip. “It’s delicious,” she whispers.

  With a huff, Hernandez walks over to Steve and hands him a digital tablet. “I did the research on Mr. Patel’s contacts like you asked.”

  “What?” says Bohdi.

  Proceeding as though Bohdi hasn’t spoken, Hernandez says, “The woman he’s living with is a tech recruiter, working for the Japanese government.”

  “You’re living with a woman?” Amy says, the warmth in her stomach cooling fast. Realizing her tone might sound jealous, she hastens to add. “Did our pretend relationship mean nothing to you?” She follows it with what she hopes is a playful smile.

  Bohdi takes a step back. “It isn’t like that!”

  “She tried to poach one of our guys,” she hears Hernandez say. “Dr. Minokichi Ogawa.”

  Bohdi looks at Hernandez, eyes wide. “What? I didn’t know that. Honest!” And then he blinks at Amy and shudders. “And I wouldn’t be sleeping with a woman I was living with. That would be like ... marriage. I’m more house sitting.”

  Oh, well ... that’s ... She blinks. “You haven’t been back to your—her place—in almost a week.”

  Bohdi shrugs. “It’s really okay, it’s not like she has a pet, or any plants to water …” He looks to the side. “ …since her plants all died for some reason. And she has all her mail redirected.”

  Amy’s brow furrows. “Then you’re not really house sitting?”

  Bohdi looks at the ceiling. “No, I guess I’m
more—”

  “Crashing on her sofa?” Amy suggests, smiling for real now.

  “Actually, she has a guest room. It’s really nice, with a view of Lake Michigan and sometimes I even see Sleipnir and his unicorn honeys.”

  Amy’s smile widens at the mention of the eight-legged horse, “Awww …I’m jealous! I would love to see Sleipnir again.”

  Bohdi grins. “How long do you think it will be before I see tiny, eight-legged little unicorns?”

  Amy’s lips purse. Sleipnir’s never had an eight-legged child, but there’s always a first time. Remembering Loki’s lessons with Hoenir and Mimir, she looks to the ceiling. “Unicorn gestation time is generally about eleven months.” Dropping her eyes to Bohdi’s she says, “If you see some you have to tell me!”

  “Lewis, Patel!” Steve growls.

  Amy’s eyes slide to her boss and the other men in the room. Dale and Larson are looking at Bohdi and her with expressions halfway between amusement and annoyance. She blinks—with much more annoyance than amusement, though. Bohdi clears his throat, leans closer to Amy. “I’ll be sure to let you know if—”

  “Patel, you’re dismissed.” Steve snaps.

  Bohdi’s eyes dart between the four men in the room. “Um, yes, Ste—Sir.”

  He backs out of the room, closing the door behind him, leaving it open just a crack.

  The lieutenant clears his throat, “Captain Rogers, Agent Meechum, I was actually here to say Streets and Sanitation has gotten back to us.”

  “Time to go?” Steve says.

  “Yes,” says the lieutenant. “But if you don’t mind, I’d like to discuss some details with the two of you privately.”

  “That’s fine,” says Steve. “Hernandez, Lewis, you’re dismissed.”

  Gathering her equipment and her latte, Amy follows Hernandez to the door. She’s almost out when Steve says, “Dr. Lewis, not going to collect any blood from me today?”

  Amy freezes. It takes her a minute to realize he’s joking. “Nope,” she says trying to flash a game smile. “Not today.” And then she scurries out of the door. Bohdi and Beatrice are standing just outside. Dropping all of her equipment, she cradles her latte to her stomach and leans against the wall. She closes her eyes. She’s been collecting Steve’s blood. Part of her “evil” plan was to introduce it into the ADUO trauma center’s general supply. Steve’s O negative blood type makes him the perfect donor, but Fenrir’s transformation made her chicken out. For now Steve’s blood sits in a separate fridge. She is the worst super villain ever.

  She opens her eyes and finds Bohdi and Beatrice exchanging worried looks.

  An agent walks by with a donut. Fenrir bounds to her feet and gives chase. “This has got to stop,” says Beatrice, running after Amy’s dog.

  Amy meets Bohdi’s eyes. His face is serious. He looks worried, like he did last night. “Thanks for the tea,” she says, trying to make him unworried. “It was really nice of you.”

  Bohdi shrugs. “It was nothing. Don’t think about it.”

  At that moment Sigyn—Cindy—strides down the hall and stands between them. “May I enter Steve’s office? I was summoned for a meeting.”

  Tilting his head, Bohdi says, “That depends. Still on our side?” There is a slight smirk on his face. Is he flirting with Sigyn? Amy swears he was flirting with Gennie Santos the other day.

  Mirroring his expression, Sigyn says, “Yes.” She arches an elegant eyebrow. Is she flirting back?

  Giving a small bow, Bohdi says, “Be my guest.”

  Definitely flirting. Amy has the same sensation she does watching experienced figure skaters at the Millennium Park ice rink—she feels clumsy and out of place. Sighing, she picks up her equipment. “Thanks again for the latte,” she says. She smiles at Bohdi, and hopes it doesn’t look forced. Raising her cup, she leaves them and retraces Beatrice’s and Fenrir’s steps. As she does, she looks down at the latte, still warm in her hands. It was a nice gesture, even if it wasn’t romantic. Turning a corner, she almost bumps into Beatrice. Fenrir is in her arms, snout covered with powdered sugar, a happy dog smile on her face.

  “You’ll be leaving soon,” Beatrice says over Fenrir’s wiggling form.

  Amy’s heart falls. “It will be quick, Grandma. Only a few hours. And Sigyn and Gerðr will be there if I have to come back quickly.”

  “I want to be there,” says Beatrice. Amy puts a hand on her grandmother’s arm. “I know. I wish you could come.” She lets out a long breath and looks down again at the latte. She wishes Bohdi could come, too.

  x x x x

  As soon as Lewis is out of the office, Dale stands up and comes over to Steve’s desk. Dale’s eyes fall to the digital tablet. “I know you say that Patel is loyal…”

  Larson stands a little straighter. He doesn’t have to say anything. His eyes echo Dale’s suspicions.

  Steve runs his tongue over his teeth. He couldn’t get authorization from the higher ups for Bohdi to come on this stint of the mission. Or the data gathering mission. He hopes that before it is time for the trip to Utgard’s kingdom, he’ll wheedle permission out of the Prometheans for Bohdi to go; but the kid is not making it easy.

  “He is loyal,” Steve says. So loyal that he’s been taking his responsibility to weed out Odin’s people a little too seriously. His constant probing has been irritating to everyone.

  “Even if he is,” Larson says, “that inability to follow orders could get people killed.”

  “I know that,” Steve grinds out. He shakes his head. “Besides Lewis and her grandmother, he is the only other human who has experience in other realms. That experience might balance out his eccentricities.” And in a mission so fraught with the potential to go wrong, Bohdi’s ability to make things go impossibly right might be just what they need.

  Larson makes a sound that is almost a huff. “Well, he’d be more useful than Lewis. Her shooting ability isn’t bad for someone with her experience. But her performance during her crash course in self-defense makes me think she’ll never be able to shoot anyone.”

  Steve rubs his temples. He’s heard Lewis was unable to perform the most basic of throws. And Mills described her punches as “so soft it was like she was swatting a fly.” It makes him wonder how she ever managed to escape alive from Alfheim, Asgard, Nornheim, or Svartheimer. Of course, she always had Chaos with her.

  Larson tilts his head. “It’s too bad none of the Asgardians know the way through the Southern Wastes. Cindy, Nicholas, and Victor can all pull their weight.” He shakes his head. “Lewis is a liability.”

  Bohdi is listening just outside the door—Steve knows he can hear everything—Steve made sure he could so he could detect any lies told in the room. “She has medical training that could be handy in the field,” Steve says. It is a truth. No sneeze sounds from the hallway where Bohdi stands guard. But Steve thinks overall, she’d be a liability more than an asset, more likely to be hurt than to fight.

  A knock sounds. “Come in,” Steve says. The door opens and Sigyn is standing in the doorway. She’s wearing a smart black suit, with a skirt that hits just below her knees. Her blonde hair and too tan skin make her look like a California beach bunny that’s decided to go corporate, but she has so much easy confidence in her bearing only an idiot would take her for a shallow blonde. Even Larson gives her a small smile when he nods at her and says, “Now we can begin our meeting.”

  The next few minutes are just a rehash of the plan. Everything seems in order. Despite all his misgivings about eventually having to leave Claire, Steve feels his excitement building. His first trip to another realm—barring the time he stuck his nose into Nornheim with Gerðr after Thor ‘kidnapped’ Amy and Bohdi. He’s never been a day dreamer, or entertained ideas of being an astronaut or explorer. Still, he finds himself feeling like Neil Armstrong, even though he technically won’t be the first person to put boots—or snowshoes—on the ground.

  They’re just wrapping up the meeting, and Steve’s dismissing every
one when his hand brushes the digital tablet that Hernandez left on the desk. Hernandez must not have had a lock on the device, because it immediately opens up to the picture of the elegant Japanese business woman that is—or was—Bohdi’s roommate.

  Sigyn sucks in a breath. “Why is a picture of that woman on your device?”

  Dale and Larson spin around. Too quickly, Dale says, “That is Patel’s roommate. Why?”

  Sigyn draws back a step. She looks down at the picture, meets Dale’s eyes and says smoothly. “Oh, excuse me. I mistook her for someone else.”

  A sneeze echoes from the hallway. Sigyn turns to Steve. “May I speak with you for a moment?” There’s a slight smile on her lips.

  Steve feels himself flush, and is thankful it isn’t visible on his dark skin. He tries to keep his outward demeanor untroubled, but he knows she’s cornered him somehow. “Sure,” he says. He nods for Dale and Larson to go. As soon as they’re out of the door, Sigyn calls out, “Mr. Patel, would you care to join us?”

  Steve levels a glare at Loki’s ex-wife. He tries to look confident, but his knees feel weak. He doesn’t like where this is going.

  Bohdi comes into the room. Smiling, Sigyn holds up the picture of the woman. Apparently, still feeling guilty after Hernandez’s revelation, Bohdi throws up his hands and turns to Steve. “I didn’t know she was a recruiter, I swear.”

  The smile leaves Sigyn’s face. “Recruiter?” she says, her voice no longer confident.

  Raising an eyebrow, Steve takes a step closer to Sigyn. “A tech recruiter. But you know her as someone else. If it can affect our mission, we need to know.”

  Sigyn puts the tablet down. Leaning on the desk, Sigyn traces the picture with her fingers. “It doesn’t affect the mission… She is not your enemy.”