by Gini Koch
“Actually, no,” Mom said. “And if it helps, he, like Kevin, also felt that you and his father were probably more in control than anyone else believed.”
“Excellent! Nice to know that there were three whole people who actually could look back at past events and take a wild one that we weren’t going to roll over and play scared. Christopher, and only Christopher, can meet us wherever Arthur is having us land. I am not in any mood to do the Happy Reunion Dance and, frankly, after this reception, I find it hard to believe anyone else in this ship with me is, either. Christopher can come and get us and, if the rest of you are lucky, convince me why I should speak to any of you ever again.”
Lizzie sidled over next to Walker and whispered something to him. He nodded.
“What are you two chatting about?”
“Lizzie would like her father to come with Christopher,” Walker said. There was something about his tone that made me choose my next words very carefully.
“Is he able to do that?”
There was silence on all ends of the line.
Cleared my throat as I saw the color drain from Lizzie’s face. “Let me rephrase that question. Where are Benjamin Vrabel, John Wruck, and Malcolm Buchanan?”
More silence. Finally broken by Mom. “We don’t know.”
CHAPTER 75
MAHIN WENT TO Abigail and Lizzie and they did the group hug. I censored the variety of things I wanted to say. “When did they go missing?”
“They went after you,” Kevin said.
“Well, it’s nice to know they cared. Against orders, too, I’d have to guess, based on how little activity was centered on finding me and the others. Against the direct order of the terrorists, too. After I divorce Jeff, I’ll see if any of the three of them are looking for a solid relationship.”
Heard some more shouting on the other end. Was sure it was Jeff. Continued to ignore it.
So did Kevin, since the shouting didn’t sound like it was on his end of our many-lined conference call, which made sense since he’d said Jeff was with Reader. “They went based on intel that we received from Crystal Maurer. And yes, we know she’s an android, because half of your team made it back to the White House.”
Half. More than half should have made it back, really. I’d rolled with a huge entourage. “Where are Colette, Manfred, Len, Kyle, Evalyne, and Phoebe?”
More silence. I was going to hate this answer.
“Again, we don’t know,” Kevin said, having obviously drawn the short straw or being the only one willing to man up. Censored myself again so that I wouldn’t share that I was, if possible, even more angry than I’d been before.
“I’m out of communication for a little while and things just go to hell in a handbasket, don’t they?”
“Pretty much.” Kevin didn’t sound any happier than I felt.
“I feel your pain,” Camilla said.
“Ready to prep for landing,” Hughes shared.
“Belay that, Matt. Kevin, Mom, when was the last time anyone saw or heard from Len and those others?”
“Right after you were kidnapped,” Mom replied. “Len contacted Malcolm and was told to follow you. Then he was contacted by Jeff and told to ensure that he and the others returned to the White House immediately. They haven’t been heard from since.”
“They were supposedly with Burton Falk and his team. Has Falk checked in?”
“No,” Mom said. “And no one from his team, either. Not since they went to follow Crystal Maurer.”
“I appreciate Malcolm, Len, and the rest of these folks so much right now. And I’m going to say that if any of them are hurt, the men who didn’t support them going after me are going to pay for it.” Looked at Adriana. “What are the odds that they followed you or us in some way?”
She shrugged. “Len knew I was coming, what I was driving, and how I was dressed. And Manfred is an A-C, yes?”
“Yes, and so is Colette. Nice to know my Second Marriage Pool is even larger now. Those listening in can just guess who I like more than all of you right now and potentially forever after, and if you need it spelled out for you, which I’m sensing that you do, it’s the people who actually cared enough to try to find us, orders or no orders.”
Heard more yelling and my phone rang again. Jeff. Continued to ignore both. “And, oh, wow. I think I know where they are, and kudos to everyone currently living in the Sovereign and Flying Nation of Kitty Land who prevented us from checking out that ‘detention center’ nearby for help. Matt, turn this puppy around. Mom, Kevin, when you lose contact with us, and you will, trust me when I say that it’s not us or the helicarrier doing it or, amazingly enough, our side blocking us.”
“I thought you said the Kendroid was why we couldn’t make calls,” Abigail said.
“And I thought your mother said it was our own people,” Mahin added.
“Right, well, trust me, based on the fact that Keith couldn’t make calls, it’s more than the Kendroid or our own people. So, when you lose us, Mom, trust me, it’s not us doing that. James, are you still on the line?”
“Yes, and cringing with anticipation.”
“Good. Tell Chuckie and Jeff—who I am refusing to speak to directly right now—that there is an NSA black site right by the abandoned Forest Haven Insane Asylum. And I do mean right by. That’s where we were, by the way, and also by the way, I’m going to suggest to any man of mine who is even considering making the weakest joke about me and the insane asylum that you should consider just how far your charm isn’t going to get you in this situation and keep any and all witticisms to yourselves.”
“Check,” Reader said. “Speaking for all your men, who are all incredibly sorry.”
“Save it, James, I’m too angry to forgive at the moment. My husband for potentially not much longer least of all. Mom, tell the security team at Charlie’s that their R and R is over. I need them to commandeer or simply borrow cars and get to the NSA site. Trust me, they all know where it is because we all avoided it in case we could get in easily but not get out in the same way.”
“Kitty, there is no NSA black site where you’re saying,” Reader said, voice tight.
“Yes, there is, and at least some of our missing people are there. But, you know, feel free to argue with me. I think I’m the angriest I’ve ever been with people who are not my sworn enemies, but I’m always interested to see if I can go even higher on the rage scale. She-Hulk definitely wants to smash, James, and Wolverine’s Berserker Rage is all set to go off, so go for it.”
“Got it, not arguing with you. Just saying we have no record of this.”
“We freaking looked at it. It’s not a small facility. And I can guarantee that it’s not showing up on grids because it’s got the most sophisticated GPS scrambling and cellular blocking in the world going on. As in, whoever’s running it is very possibly not our friend. And by ‘our’ I mean America’s and by ‘friend’ I mean is probably an enemy of the state. You know, just like I am, apparently.”
“Kitten, is that level of sarcasm necessary?”
“Yes, Mom, it is. It’s part of my process.”
“Well then, carry on. Be careful. I’ll be busy putting intelligent protocols back in place.”
“I love it when we’re in Rage Sync together, Mom, but not with each other. I feel so bonded.”
“That’s my girl.”
Was going to say something else, but heard static, then nothing. “We’re in range of the NSA black site,” Jerry said. “Clearly we have no more outside communications.” The rest of the team chimed in that their phones were back to being good for taking pictures or listening to music and that was about it. Mine, too.
“Not that our communications were all that successful.”
Jerry nodded. “Good point. And before you take my head off, I figured out how to put the cloaking back on when we were over And
rews. No one can see us, presumably whoever’s at that site included.”
“Yeah, I’m sure, because they’d have taken this ship, or at least investigated, if they’d been able to see it somehow.”
“Tossing me, Matt, and Chip into your Marriage Pool, by the way. We’re all willing to be Prince Consorts.” He looked at Abigail over his shoulder and winked. She snorted a laugh while the other flyboys all chuckled. “What about you, Richard, you adding your name in, too?”
“Oh, I insist on always being on Our Sovereign Leader’s Options List, Jerry.”
“You complete me, Jerry. I love your confidence, Mister White, though you’re not wrong.” Rhee cleared her throat. “Yes, the Pool is open to the available females, too. Kitty Land welcomes everyone.” Rhee grinned, and Rahmi and Camilla laughed.
“If our wives are as ‘concerned’ about us as Jeff appears to be about you, Kitty, count me and Randy in, too.”
“Thanks, Joe. Maybe we’ll just have a multiple marriage or something. Though until this experience, I’d have told you guys that Lorraine and Claudia were really worried and wanted you home safely. Same for Tito and your mother, Rahmi and Rhee.”
“Fear makes many people incredibly stupid,” Camilla said. “Meaning the terrorists probably had compelling evidence. I’m not suggesting we give them a pass for being morons, but if they acted out of fear and reasonable doubt, then it’s a little more forgivable.”
Took a deep breath, held it, let it out slowly. “You’re probably right. But I’m still upset.”
“That’s normal.” Camilla managed a smile. “Use the anger now, just remember that you may want to lose it once we’re back.”
“Will do, Agent Ninety-Nine.”
Camilla rolled her eyes. “I knew I shouldn’t have shared that.”
“Your mother sounded proud,” Lizzie said. She sounded shocked, though I doubted it was with my openness toward my second marriage.
“She is.” Heaved a sigh and went to Lizzie to take her from Mahin and Abigail and give her a hug of my own. “We’re not really a line of women who bow and curtsey and weep and hide. We’re a line of women who get mad and get even.” Lizzie hugged me back. I could tell she was trying not to cry. Kissed the top of her head. “And you fit right in, Quick Girl. Let’s see who all is being held against their will. If Mister Dash is not amongst them, I’m just betting that Falk will have some guesses as to where he, John, and Malcolm are.”
“You think they’re together?”
“Yeah, I do, I really do.”
“How do you want us to do this, Commander?” Hughes asked, getting us back to business. “Raining fire from the sky, landing on the roof, or a stealth attack?”
“What do you guys suggest?”
“We get to offer suggestions?” Walker asked.
“Yep. I’m not mad at any of you, not even Keith.”
“Thanks,” he said, sarcasm knob easily at nine on the scale. “But if you mean it, I think a combination of obvious and sneaky is the way to go.”
“Keith, you may have quite the future after all. So, who’s going to go with me to be the distraction?”
“You’re not doing the sneaking in?” Mahin sounded shocked.
“Nope. Adriana’s here. She’ll be Sneak Team Lead. And before anyone even thinks about giving me an argument about it, she’s KGB trained and better than all of us put together. Matt, can you fly this without Joe and Randy?”
“Yes, if someone else can handle simple controls. But why?”
“The why is because I want our personal Six Million Dollar Men with the raiding party. Keith, my man, you’re up. Time to learn to fly. Try not to do something that will make me mad at you.”
“You got it,” he muttered, as Hughes directed him to cover Joe’s position. Joe gave him some quiet instructions.
“Need one more, Commander,” Hughes said.
“Has to be a human. Lizzie, while I’d love to take you with me, it’s going to have to be me and Richard knocking on the front door. Abby and Mahin, want you two with Lizzie and the flyboys in our Sovereign Nation Ship because if we need cavalry I’d like said cavalry to be together and actually coming for us. Plus, the security folks know you both and you’ll have to coordinate with them when they get here.”
Lizzie nodded and went to Randy’s seat. He patted her shoulder then did the instructions thing.
“Commander,” Jerry said, “I think you’re forgetting one key thing.”
“Only one? What are you referring to, Jerry?”
He grinned at me over his shoulder. “This is a helicarrier. Created for battle. As in, we have weapons that can leave the ship.”
Stared at him for a long moment. “Giving myself the ‘duh’ on that one. I honestly didn’t think this was equipped since no one used anything to escape.”
“We couldn’t access the weapons,” Daniel said. “Trust me, we tried.”
“The security repels with painful force,” Joshua added.
“It does,” Jerry agreed. “When you don’t have control of the ship. But we do now. So . . .”
“Gotcha. Gang? Let’s weapon up.”
CHAPTER 76
DANIEL AND THE other A-Cs led us to an area somewhere rather close to the command deck. Couldn’t have said where it was—the helicarrier, like so many other things, was a rat maze to me already and I was completely lost.
The room we arrived at was clearly an armory, however. Glass or Plexiglas or Vatusus’ version of either made up the top half of the walls. The bottom half was metal. And inside were an array of weapons and body armor that would make the armed forces of every country on Earth drool with desire.
“We couldn’t even open this door before,” Lucas said as Daniel quite easily opened the door.
“There are at least ten others like this scattered around the ship,” Marcus added as we went inside and everyone, even those I’d have said were slightly more pacifistic than the others—namely White, Abigail, and Mahin—were running around like kids in the most dangerous candy store in the world.
“Commander,” Walker said over the intercom, “have spotted the security forces. Do you want to try to get them into our Floating Fortress of World Domination?”
“Yes, because those guys deserve to be armed for bear and protected just like the rest of us. Drax Industrial definitely has the contract for Kitty Land. See if Keith can give you numbers so you can try to call them first. Who knows, maybe we can get through even though we’re cut off from our supposed friends at Andrews and the White House.” Had another thought. “Chip, I’m going to give you a phone number. See if you can make contact.”
“Will do.”
Gave him Drax’s number that I’d saved to my phone, then went back to equipping myself and everyone else.
The body armor actually conformed to each individual, kind of like a wetsuit but without being as hard to put on. Wasn’t as easy to use as the stuff Alfred in Bizarro World had created, but, if it worked, it was a lot less bulky than Kevlar and a lot more maneuverable than actual armor.
The guns were lightweight and came in a wide variety of sizes and magazine loads and, unsurprisingly to any of us who’d been on the Murder Train, there was also a huge assortment of knives available.
Before we were done choosing our weapons of personal destruction, Walker was back on the com. “Commander, have connected with the other security forces via text, which we still seem able to use, though only via Keith’s phone. They’re at what Devon insists is the entry to the area we were in. Will be picking them up shortly. There are some civilians asking if they need to come along, too.”
“Tell them thank you but no. I think we have enough people in danger right now. Be sure someone gets contact info for all the nice people at Charlie’s who helped out, though. Then tell them to leave the area immediately.”
“
Already handled on the contact info and will do on evacuation order. Also was able to connect your call, mostly because I think he has the ship wired for it somehow. You now have Mister Drax on the line.”
“Awesome. Gustav, how goes it?”
“I’m deeply confused about how your government handles things, but otherwise, I’m good. How are you?”
“Oh, no longer kidnapped, about to do a raid, just as confused as you are about what’s been going on, and really pissed off at my husband and close friends.”
“Interesting. I’d relay a message but I and my retainers have been put into lockdown in your embassy for the duration.”
“Why ask why? Clearly there’s a distinct need for my input over at The Big House.”
“Possibly. So if you’re hoping I can assist you, I’m limited. I’m under guard, but they did allow this call.”
“Super. The Sovereign and Flying Nation of Kitty Land is hella impressed with your skills. You’re officially our weapons dude. We have no money, but we’ve already got your stuff, and we’ll definitely be giving you sterling recommendations.”
“You found the helicarrier?” He sounded elated. Good.
“Yes, we did. Long story that I’ll tell you later, but rest assured, it was not the real Thomas Kendrick who took it, so you two can remain friends and business partners. Here’s the thing. Can this puppy extract people from either the ground or a secured facility?”
“I don’t follow you.” Heard voices in the background, then heard Drax relay my request. “Sorry, Tevvik says that he does follow you. Call is now on speakerphone.”
“Missus Martini, are you asking if the ship can ‘beam’ someone up?”
“Hey, Tevvik. Let’s go with Commander Kitty right now. And yes, I do mean that. How did you know?”
“Your father is with us and is providing any interpretation we might need.”
“Hi, Dad! Please don’t let Jeff have Francine impersonate me to the kids.”
“That’s not what’s going on, kitten, I promise, though I understand why you’re upset.” Dad was oozing parental support. Clearly Mom had told him how angry I was. “We’ll get it straightened out once you’re home. The children are fine and missing you. But I’ll let you get back to Tevvik. The Vata are fascinating. Did you know—”
