“Rosie. And, by the way. Wow”
“Yeah.” Litha laughed softly. “Wow.”
“She brought me home. I told her I needed some time alone with you before I teach her how to ride a bike.”
“She didn’t tell you anything about our house guest?”
Storm’s sharp black eyes narrowed and slammed into focus with laser intensity as suspicions started to take form. He lowered his chin and rumbled, “What house guest?”
The hungry way her eyes moved over his face made him feel every bit of how much she’d missed him and ached to find him. She gave her bottom lip a suggestive lick and said, “If you come back to bed, I’ll tell you the whole story. I need to feel you close.”
His face softened, but his voice still sounded gruff. “Close, huh? I can go along with that. There’s plenty of time for talking later. Now that I’m back home, I’m not going anywhere again.” She watched his eyes darken as he reached for her nightshirt. “Let’s get you out of this.”
Rosie was eager to tell Glen and Elora the good news and maybe spend the night with Glen, but first, she decided to stop at the flower market. She wanted the house to look and smell like a celebration. So she took her time picking out flowers and scheduling them for delivery the next morning. She then went to the bakery and spent an hour looking through the book of cakes. When she realized that she was morphing into a raging perfectionist, she chose one and arranged to pick it up the next morning.
She asked if she could use the restroom so that she could disappear from there without a fuss.
Glen had never been so conflicted or agitated in his life. He was stuck guarding a locked door in research, hearing sounds of explosions and gunfire every now and then over Spaz and his funky shit playlist. Other than bizarre intercom announcements, he didn’t know what was going on and couldn’t leave to go find out because of what was behind him in that locked room. Namely the smartest man on the planet – probably - the younger trainees, and, most importantly, an elfling that meant the world to Ram and Elora. And Ram and Elora meant the world to Glen. He wouldn’t want to try to survive witnessing their suffering if anything ever happened to that baby.
So there he was. He and Bo, standing with their backs against the entrance to Fire Testing, weapons at hand. Glen had convinced the younger boys to get inside by explaining that they would be the last line of defense for Elora’s baby and the civilians. Thank the gods for one less worry.
Thinking about Glen, Rosie expected to come out of the passes in his quarters. Instead she was deposited on Sublevel 2 outside a closed door with an armed guard, weapons drawn. What was even more confusing was that one of those guards was a very anxious-looking Glen. The other was his soft spoken easygoing, intellectual assistant.
“Glen. What…?”
He rushed forward. “Rosie. Not a good time.”
“Not a good time for what? I came to tell you we found my dad. He’s… he’s home.”
“Wow, baby, that’s great, probably the best thing I’ve ever heard.” Glen’s words were rushed. “Now go get him and bring him here as fast as you can.”
The floor underneath their feet shook from the shock of another detonation and she thought she heard occasional gunshots over the weird music, which stopped. Thank the gods.
“Give it up for new kids on the block, Kris and Wakey, hangin’ tough, at pick up sticks. That’s five, six, pick up sticks. Mother will be proud. And, on that note, Spazmodoc, The Voice of the Fray, leaves the eighties behind to bring you a gooooooolden oldie. This is Three Dogs at Night for you, Mother.”
Rosie just stood there in freeze frame staring at Glen.
“Glen. What is going on?”
“Rosie, go get Storm. Now.”
Her head jerked in the direction of distant shouts and more shooting. She looked back at Glen. When her brows came together and her mouth set with determination, she looked so much like Storm.
“No. What are you…? No. He just got home. I shouldn’t be bringing him here. I should be taking you away.”
She started toward Glen and he threw a hand up to stop her. “Stop! Elora Rose! You’re not thinking clearly. I can’t leave here. This is my job.”
“But you…”
“We need your dad, baby. I wouldn’t ask if we didn’t. If something happens to your auntie or Helm, or any of us, and you didn’t give him a chance to help, he’ll never get over it. Please. Go get him.”
“He just got home,” she whispered. Glen couldn’t hear what she said, but he could read her beautiful bow mouth. At the moment she looked like the little girl he remembered. Only he’d never seen her look lost or uncertain.
“I know he just got home, but this is part of home for him. Rosie, please. You’ve got to understand. Your dad’s a Black Swan knight. No. He’s THE Black Swan knight. Lots of people here need him. That includes me. And your auntie. Please. Let him do what he does.”
Glen saw Rosie’s face transform. He didn’t know what she was up to, but it was something. “I’ll get him. But I’ll be back, too.”
“Rosie. Wait…” She hesitated. “Helm is in this room behind me. Will you please take him to Litha where he’ll be safe?”
She rushed forward and gave Glen a breathless kiss while a wide-eyed Barrock looked on. She pulled back and looked at Barrock. “Take off your shirt.”
Glen couldn’t have been more astonished. “What?”
“You heard me. I need his shirt. It’s a button up and I need a way to secure Helm to me.”
“Oh.” Glen nodded at Bo, who handed over his gun long enough to take off his shirt and give it to Rosie.
She grabbed it. And was gone.
Elora let out a breath she’d been partially holding once she knew that Kris and Wakey were okay. She looked at her watch. An hour and a half until the gas wore off and, if she was understanding Spaz’s cipher, there were six Ralengclan left.
She didn’t know the song the little shit was playing, but she didn’t like it any more than she liked all the other stupid mother references.
Mama told me not to come. Mama told me not to come. That ain't the way to have fun, son.
Rosie arrived at the vineyard, after having promised her dad to give them some alone time. She walked out of a pass into the hallway outside her own room and heard the low tones of quiet talk in the kitchen. When she was just outside the kitchen door she got a glimpse of them. Her dad was shirtless, wearing a pair of sweat pants. Her mother was in her Japanese silk robe, sitting on his lap and snuggled into his chest looking safe and happy with strong arms around her. She was also clutching a black velvet box.
Rosie knew there was no time to delay, but the idea of interrupting that scene was breaking her heart.
“Did I ever tell you about the first time I saw you?” Litha asked.
“No.” He kissed the hair swept back from her temple.
“I was standing on the mezzanine overlooking the grand foyer when you arrived with the entourage.”
He chuckled. “The entourage?”
“You know what I mean. Ram, Elora, Kay, Aelsong, Everybody was out of their offices whispering that the great B Team from Jefferson Unit was in the house. You were looking all around like you were sizing up the place, or maybe marking the escape routes. I don’t know. Anyway, your eyes drifted right over me like I was invisible. But you weren’t invisible to me. I took one look and said, ‘I can’t live without that.’”
Storm’s voice was gentle, filled with love and warmth. “You never told me that.”
Rosie flicked at a tear that tried to escape unnoticed. She was thinking about how to let them know she was there when Helm settled the matter by blowing a nice noisy raspberry.
“Don’t want to startle you.” She stepped forward into the kitchen and looked right at Storm. “I know I promised to give you time, but it’s an emergency. Glen made me come. Jefferson Unit is, um, under attack.”
Storm set Litha on her feet and was already moving toward the bedroom t
o get dressed. Litha moved forward to help get Helm out of Bo’s shirt. Rosie had put it on herself, held Helm next to her body, and gotten Monq to button them in.
It was a really good thought on Glen’s part. The vineyard was an ideal place to bring the baby. It had diapers his size and food appropriate for his development level on hand.
“Who would be attacking Jefferson?” Storm demanded.
“Some men are after auntie.”
As Litha took Helm and set him on a cocked hip, she looked at Storm, shook her head, and muttered, “Of course.”
As soon as Storm was dressed he started firing other questions at Rosie.
“Why didn’t Glen call me?”
“I don’t know.”
“Okay. Just take me to Glen. Drop me off and get out.”
“I’m staying.”
“No you’re not! You can’t be there, Rosie. I know your heart’s in the right place, but if I’m worried about you, I’ll get myself killed.” She hesitated. “Promise me.”
“Promise.”
He wrapped duct tape around Rosie’s waist, looped it over his wrist. He looked at Litha as he took a death grip on the end just above where he tore the tape off. “I will be back.”
She nodded, trying not to have him see that she was too choked with emotion to do anything else. Helm had leaned out and was studying her face with a little frown. When she saw it, she gave him a reassuring little smile, kissed his chubby cheeks and asked him how he felt about strained peas.
CHAPTER 24
A couple of minutes later Storm and Rosie were standing in front of the door to Fire Testing. They had just arrived when a rumbling vibration shook the whole building and threatened their footing. The weird music that was blaring through the intercom was just ending.
Storm looked at Glen. “What the f…?”
He was cut off by an announcement from Spaz. “E.T.s controlling central ladder. Repeat E.T.s controlling central ladder. And the Spazmodoc is bumpin’ the time machine from Early Proterozoic as The Voice of the Fray brings you Scary Kids Scaring Kids and “Losing My Religion”.
When the intercom base restarted its own brand of rumble, Storm’s brows pulled almost together. He looked at Glen like it was his fault and spoke as quietly as he could and still be heard over the screamo.
“Briefest possible version of the brief. First, why are you standing in this hall?”
“Monq and some civvies are inside. And some of the younger kids. Looks like the same guys back to finish the job on Elora. We think she’s pinned down in Operations. Possibly with two of the trainees.”
He turned to Rosie. “Can you take me to Operations?” She nodded. “Stay behind me. The second I’m there, you’re gone. Agreed?” She nodded.
Elora looked at her watch. Less than an hour until the gas wore off. Six of them to go. Six male versions of her with her enhanced abilities would be enough to raze all of Fort Dixon to the ground. She knew she couldn’t let it go any further. She was what they came for and she was pretty sure that, if they killed or captured her, they’d be satisfied and leave.
She couldn’t walk but she could probably crawl. All she had to do was get out the door into the Hub. She’d be in the open, helpless, easy pickings. She was moving to drop down when she heard a rustle behind her. She turned her head to see Storm sliding in next to where she sat.
The last thing she needed right then was a fake version of Storm to take care of. When she opened her mouth to tell him so, she looked him in the face and something in his eyes made her freeze.
Storm.
He reached up to touch the swelling around the cut on her cheek. “You know you’re not supposed to get in trouble without me.”
Big tears immediately started sliding through the grime on her face. “Is that a rule?”
“Hard and fast.”
“Yeah? Well, you’re not supposed to get lost in space either.” She reached up to swipe at the rivulets. “Glad you’re back.”
“Me, too. Where’s Ram?”
“Ireland.”
Storm’s eyes widened at that. “Ireland.”
“Yep. The mum’s big deal birthday.”
“Great Paddy.”
“Exactly.”
“Okay, let’s see where all this blood is coming from?” He started to rip her shirt from the shoulder, but she stopped him with a hand on top of his.
“Not serious. Leave it alone.”
He decided to capitulate for the moment. “Who’ve we got?”
“Glen, Fennimore, Z Team, and my kids.”
“Trainees?”
“They’ve been astounding. Some of them should get medals.”
He nodded. “Z Team?”
“Who knows? Haven’t seen or heard them for hours. You were right about them. They didn’t want to work with any of us or listen to what we had to say. So they’re off on their own and I can’t begin to tell if they’re helping or...”
Storm let out a string of curses. “Sounds exactly like them.” He looked back at Elora. “So, where were you off to when I came in?”
She studied his face. “You know who they are?”
His face didn’t move at all except that his mouth tightened. “The same fuckers from the woods.”
She smiled and winced. “Well, not the same ones. Obviously. But yeah.
“Here’s the thing. Monq developed this gas. He calls it the Equalizer. Installed alarms all over J.U. that disperse the chemical.”
Storm looked puzzled. “What’s it supposed to do?”
“What it does is makes them the same as you. For three hours and seventeen minutes.”
Realization flickered over his face and his eyes ran over her body. “That means you, too.” She nodded. “How long do we have left?”
“Less than an hour. We’re almost out of time. I…”
The intercom cut her off. “Knights under fire, center ladder going up, between Hub and two. Kris and Wakey, E.T.s behind the spurt.”
Storm looked at Elora. “Can you interpret that?”
“I think so. We’ve got people taking fire in the central stairwell between here and the second floor. Two of my trainees are approaching the fountain with trouble hiding behind it.”
“Okay.” He reached over and withdrew her pistol from her holster.” Let’s see what you’ve got for me.” When he saw it was the snub nose, he said, “I was hoping you brought a real gun.” He said that last as he was moving to the door. “Stay where you are or you’ll answer to the acting Sovereign. Understand?”
He didn’t wait for an answer. He plastered himself to the wall that curved around the Hub and began moving toward the stairs. The Ralengclan were busy on and near the Hub stairs and didn’t notice him stop at the coffee counter, where two aliens that should have stayed home lay dead. He picked up one of the weapons and examined it quickly to make sure he understood its operation, then slung the strap over his neck and picked up the second to carry.
Checking around, it appeared that all who were engaged in the conflict were occupied and not expecting another player to jump in so late in the game. He was thinking that could be just the edge he needed to put this thing to bed nice and quick. He started toward the stairwell, hugging the wall as he went.
Across the Hub, Kris and Wakey were doing the same thing, converging on the center stairs from the opposite side. He saw the two trainees and recognized them, although he didn’t remember their names. He caught their attention and signaled a gesture meaning, “Stay where you are.”
They stopped and nodded. Disobeying Lady Laiken was one thing. Saying no to Sir Storm was a whole other game level they knew they weren’t ready for.
When Storm was almost at the bottom of the stairwell, he glanced back at the kids. There were two Ralengclan coming from who knew where. He was about to break silence and give himself away to shout, when “Shoot to Thrill” was cut off and replaced with a broadcasted voice yelling, “Wakey! Falcon! Behind you!”
Storm’s adr
enaline had spiked when he saw the imminent danger those kids were in. He was too far away to give much support with what he had. The alien weapons were rapid fire, but they were heavy and surprisingly short range. All he’d be able to do was watch like the horror show it was.
Without a blink’s hesitation Kris and Wakey raised their weapons and turned like synchronized swimmers then advanced on the aliens acting like they thought they were made of Shieldo instead of flesh and bone. It was just as beautiful as it was insane.
The aliens were so surprised by the display of bravado that they hesitated. They got off some shots. Wakey felt a hint of air and heat go by his face, but they never hit targets. The team of Wakenmann and Falcon weren’t laying down scatter. They were into pure surgical, just like Mother said. Face and groin.
In under a minute the skirmish was done. Two kids gave each other a high five like they’d just scored in basketball while Spaz proudly announced, “And the Rising Hawk team scores! Three, four, open the door. Hope Mother is listening to this broadcast. New kids like four on the floor.”
The boys turned toward a pale-looking Storm who gave them an appreciative nod and that simple gesture made each boy grow a couple inches taller on the spot.
The stairwell erupted in a near-continuous volley of fire. Storm looked around the corner to see what he was facing before he started up the stairs. For the first time in his career as a Black Swan knight he froze in the middle of a fight because of what he saw on the landing. Sir Fennimore was down, hit multiple times. He appeared to be unconscious, but it was impossible to tell because of the guy who was shielding Fenn’s body with his own. That guy, who happened to look exactly like him, had an autofire in each hand, one pointed up the stairs, one pointed down. The two of them were pinned, but the lookalike was keeping the aliens off Fenn. Or trying to.
Thanks to Spaz’s heavy metal blast, the Ralengclan had no idea someone was approaching from beneath them. So Storm picked them off effortlessly. When they went down, that left him face to face with his twin.
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