“You think they could be involved?”
“I’m not the one to ask about that. Go see the elf.”
“I suppose I should.” Melanie turns back to the computer screen, where hundreds of images and vital statistics are running across the screen. “There has to be a connection. It’s like Jessica said: no one would kidnap this many people at random.”
“You want me to look into it?”
“If you could. Any idea where Kila is?”
“Focal City last I knew. Maybe you should say her name three times in a mirror and see if she appears.”
“I don’t think it works that way.”
“Just a thought.”
Melanie leans over to kiss Robin again; it might be the last time she gets a chance for a while. Upstairs she finds Mom with her head on Jasmine’s shoulder, apparently asleep. Robin’s right that they do make a cute couple, even if the idea of her mother and Robin’s surrogate father together makes her queasy. She decides not to wake Mom as she creeps over to the door.
The helicopter is still waiting on the lawn, the pilot snoozing in his seat. She taps him on the shoulder. “I need to get to the airport,” she says. Once she’s back in the passenger compartment she takes out her phone to arrange a flight to Focal City. It would be simpler to call Kila, but it might be more educational to see what the Galactic Peacekeeper is up to. And maybe on the way Melanie will get a better idea of what she’s dealing with.
Chapter 5
The blackened circle burned into the ground is all that remains of the first village Diane comes to. She tucks her pistol back into its holster; she clearly isn’t going to need it here. Any threat had already been destroyed.
She kneels down to scoop up a handful of ash. She doesn’t have a bunch of fancy sensors like Tonya, but she does have her nose. The petrol smell of napalm is hard to miss. She shakes her head; it’s a wonder the whole jungle didn’t burn down.
Though she knows it’s pointless, she searches through the ash for any evidence. There is nothing except bits of pottery and metal. Not even any bones. That doesn’t seem possible unless someone cleared the village out before they dropped the bomb. Why would anyone go to that much trouble?
A rustle in the brush prompts her to reach for her pistol again. She steadies herself in a crouch, waiting for a leopard or panther or whatever they have around here. The rustle sounds far too gentle for a rhino or elephant, which is a good thing since not even her TEC-9s could put a hole in those. If she’s lucky it’s something benign like a bird or antelope.
The last thing she expects is a woman to emerge from the jungle. With her dark skin and hair she could be a native, except all she needs is the pith helmet to look like the stereotypical British explorer.
“You’re not one of them,” the woman says with a British accent.
“Who?”
“The men who took everyone away.”
“And who were they?”
“I don’t know. Mercenaries or poachers. I don’t know.” The woman raises her hands as if to surrender. “Which side are you with?”
Diane reaches slowly into a pocket to take out her tin badge. “I’m Major Diane Giordano, GAIA.”
“What’s GAIA?”
“Global Autonomous Intelligence Agency—I think.”
“You think?”
“The acronym is usually good enough. Who are you? Not one of the natives, I take it.”
“I used to be. I was born in these parts, but my parents took me to England when I was small.”
“You picked a bad time to revisit the old stomping grounds.”
“Yes, quite.” The woman lowers one arm to hold it out for Diane to shake. “I’m Dr. Khala Pierce.”
“Pierce?”
“That’s my married name.”
Diane’s eyes narrow. “I don’t see a wedding ring. Someone take it?”
“My husband died quite some time ago. If you must know.”
“So you’re one of those ‘second chancers,’ yeah? You with Moon’s gang?”
“Certainly not. I can explain myself, but first could you be good enough to lower your weapon?”
Diane slips the pistol back into its holster. From all appearances this is a harmless young woman. She doesn’t seem the sort who’d even know how to use a gun. “All right, talk.”
“Perhaps we should get out of here before they come back?”
“I think they’re pretty satisfied with their handiwork, love.”
Pierce glares at her. “You seem quite crude for a military officer.”
“I’m not really with the military. You might say the rank is ceremonial, like one of those rock stars who gets knighted.”
“And this GAIA, are they a legitimate organization?”
“Yes. We’re just a bit underfunded at the moment.”
Pierce motions to a charred log at the edge of the blast zone. “Would you mind if I have a seat? I am young now, but it’s been quite trying these last twenty-four hours.”
“Knock yourself out, Doctor.”
“Thank you.” Then Pierce begins to relate her story.
***
Before the alien weapon was used across the world, Pierce had been a tottering old woman, a physician retired out to the country, where her half-dozen grandchildren and two great-grandchildren would visit her on holidays. She didn’t have much to look forward to except a long, dull slide into the end.
After the weapon was used and after Omega’s defeat, Pierce found herself a young woman again, about thirty years old. Like the rest of the elderly, she’d been given a second chance at youth. But the weapon hadn’t brought her husband back to life, nor could it restore her practice.
Then she heard of the devastation back in her native land and decided to use her second chance to reconnect with her heritage. She loaded up a cargo plane with medical supplies and food and then headed out. Her grandchildren warned her how dangerous the area had been before the alien invasion; it was many times worse now. Pierce refused to listen.
At first everything went well. She brought truckloads of supplies into the interior. She established a clinic in the village where she had been born. At last she was home. She even had thoughts she might spend the rest of her second life here.
Then one day she went off to a neighboring village to help a woman with a complicated birth. By the time she came back, it was too late. “They were herding the women into trucks. The animals must have already killed the men as I only saw women and girls taken away. I suppose it must seem cowardly that I stayed in the jungle to watch.”
“Sounds smart to me,” Diane says. “No sense ending up with them.”
“Perhaps. Once the trucks had gone I came out of hiding. That was when I heard the jet engines. I barely made it to a safe distance before that bomb went off. In seconds everything—the whole village—was obliterated. Almost completely erased. My clinic, all my supplies—my home—all gone. It was ghastly.”
“Is that it?”
“Yes. I suppose I must have been a bit in shock as I didn’t leave this area. I sat in the jungle until you came along.”
“So no idea who those blokes were?”
“No. I am fairly certain they are not native to this region.”
“Hired muscle, then. Not a surprise.”
“Can you stop them?”
“Me? I doubt I could fight a whole army. Best thing to do now would be to get you back to civilization and contact my boss.”
“And then what?”
“She’ll try to send in backup. She’s on good terms with the Super Squad.”
Pierce shook her head. “No, that simply won’t do. By the time you return me to ‘civilization’ and your supervisor’s backup arrives the trail will have gone completely cold.” The woman gets to her feet. “There’s still a chance we can find them. Perhaps we can even save them.”
“I told you, I can’t fight a whole army.”
“Perhaps not, but you won’t be alone. Give me one of
those weapons you keep so conveniently next to your bosom.”
Diane’s face warms a little as she looks down at the TEC-9s beneath her armpits. “You know how to use one of these?”
“I’ve played some of those awful video games with my grandchildren, though I will admit they usually beat me quite handily.”
“Our chances have certainly improved then,” Diane grumbles as she hands one of the guns over. Then they set out into the jungle.
***
Somewhere over Iowa the phone rings. Melanie isn’t surprised to hear Kate King’s voice on the other end. “Hello, General. I’m working on a story that I thought you might comment on.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Why not?”
“Has Sunny Moon been talking to you?”
“What gives you that idea?”
“An educated guess.” Melanie heaves a sigh. It’s no surprise Sunny Moon’s gone to the press about this; she isn’t the most patient person in the world. “You know I can’t say anything about an ongoing investigation.”
“So you are investigating.”
“We’re looking into various leads at this time. You knew that or you wouldn’t have called.”
“You know me too well. What’s my next question going to be?”
“The Super Squad is not involved at this time. I haven’t contacted Apex Girl about the situation—yet.”
“You don’t think she can help?”
“Apex Girl is very busy these days. I don’t like to contact her until I have something solid.”
“What about the cavewoman? Is she involved?”
“Not yet.”
“There are a lot of people in Atomic City who think she should be in jail after she trashed a half-dozen blocks downtown.”
“They’re welcome to that opinion. Garlak didn’t kill anyone. She didn’t understand what was happening to her. Given her prior record, the local police dropped the charges.”
“What about that assassin of yours—Hunter?”
“Hitter. Or Diane Giordano as she’s known these days. She’s working another case.”
“I heard rumors she stirred up something in the Outback recently. Any comment on what that was about?”
“It’s classified.”
“Not being very helpful today.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t like doing this, but it’s global security.”
“Guess I shouldn’t be surprised a smart girl like you figured out how to play the game so quick.”
“I’ve always been a quick learner.”
“Any bones at all you can throw me?”
“Not right now. As soon as there is, I’ll let you know.”
“I know I can trust a promise from General Gaia.”
“I’ve never gotten a chance to thank you for that nickname.”
“It suits you. Especially when you’re in costume. All you need is a magic shield.”
“Captain America’s shield isn’t ‘magic.’ It’s vibranium—”
“I get it. Have fun wherever you’re going.”
“I’ll try. How’s the diet going?”
“Down to a size sixteen. Still huge, but not a blob anymore.”
“I’m pulling for you.”
“You and me both. Want me to forward you a copy of this story before it hits the stand?”
“Sure. Give me a chance to think of how to duck whatever wild allegations you’re making.”
“You know me too well,” she says again, this time with a laugh. “Stay safe.”
“You too.” Melanie breaks the connection. She wishes she could give more information to Kate, but the woman is still far too tenacious a reporter. In a way it’s worse that they’re friends than if they were strangers; it’s much harder not to be honest with a friend than a stranger. It’s one of the many sacrifices she’s had to make since creating GAIA.
With a sigh she brings up her phone’s browser to check the latest news, none of it likely to be good.
Chapter 6
The trek through the jungle is a lot slower now. Pierce might have been born in this area, but she doesn’t seem accustomed to it. She’s far more like the proper old English woman she was before the alien weapon was used. She starts hopping around on one leg when she sees a snake on a branch overhead. Diane shoos it away and then puts a hand over Pierce’s mouth.
“You’re going to wake the dead carrying on like that, love.”
Once Diane has taken her hand away, Pierce says, “I’m sorry, Major Giordano. I’ve never much cared for snakes.”
“Call me Diane please. I’ve never much cared for that title.”
“Whyever not?”
“I used to work on the other side of law and order. You ever hear of Hitter, world-renowned assassin?”
“Certainly a girl like you couldn’t—”
“I wasn’t always this wretchedly cute.”
“I see. But by now you could have changed yourself back. The machines—”
“Our fearless prime minister won’t allow that for felons—or former felons. I change back and I go to prison.”
“I see. What you’re doing with this GAIA is a sort of penance then.”
“I’ve never much been into religion, especially Catholics.”
“Religion can be quite beneficial. It certainly helped me after Walter died.”
“Walter your husband?”
“He was. He was a cardiologist. We met in medical school. Is there anyone waiting for you at home?”
“That’s not really your business, is it?” Diane turns and then stomps deeper into the jungle. This old woman is like being with Melanie, another pleasant do-gooder trying to solve all the world’s problems.
“I didn’t mean to pry, Major—Diane. It’s a force of habit I suppose from the last ten years sitting around the garden having tea with the other old ladies of the neighborhood. Nothing to do but gossip about this and that.”
“I’m not one of your little old ladies.”
“Certainly not. You’re a strapping young lady. You seem quite capable. I suppose that must be from all your years as a hired killer.”
“I learned how to survive long before that if you must know.”
“But your job never took you here before, did it?”
“There were already enough killers here.”
“You’re quite right.” Pierce finally must be getting tired enough to shut her gob. Diane welcomes the relative silence, though Pierce is still making about as much noise as an elephant. If they do catch up to whoever destroyed the village, the blokes will be sure to hear them coming. With all the noise Pierce is making, maybe they’ll think a whole army is on their tail.
It’s hard to tell time since the sky is usually blotted out by the trees. Diane has to rely on her watch to know it’s nearly dawn. She signals for Pierce to halt. “We’re stopping here?”
“They probably will be too.”
“Then shouldn’t we keep going to catch up to them?”
“I thought you might need a rest.”
“I’m not so feeble as I once was.”
“Quite,” Diane says with her best posh accent. “But I haven’t got much rest since I came to this hellhole.”
She sits on a fallen tree and then opens her backpack for two bottles of water and two ration bars. With Pierce along her supplies will last half as long as she intended, but there’s no way around that. They’ll have to hope they can find somewhere to resupply before they have to start hunting for grubs and drinking the fetid water that’ll probably kill them both.
Of course Pierce can’t resist the chance to run her mouth again. “If only my grandchildren could see me now. It took them all by surprise when I decided to do this. None of them thought I was serious. Traipsing through the jungle isn’t for an old English woman, even if she’s no longer old.”
“You’ve certainly proved them wrong.”
“Do you have any family?”
“No.”
“We’re not all that lucky.”
“I’m sorry, young lady. I’ve hit another nerve, haven’t I?”
“You seem to have a knack for it.”
“I certainly do,” Pierce says with a laugh. “It set my husband off quite a few times to be sure.”
“I know how he feels.”
“I’m afraid it’s much worse when I’m nervous.”
“Wonderful.”
“You’ve been quite a dear for putting up with it so far.”
“Thanks.” Diane takes a long pull from her water bottle, followed by biting off half her ration bar. “Haven’t thought of anything else about those blokes who raided the village, have you?”
“No. I wish I could be more helpful.”
“It’s all right. We’ll find them. Then we’ll get your village back so you can get to your business again.”
“I hope so. I’ve heard of all the terrible things that go on here: smuggling, poaching, drugs, and even human trafficking. Do you suppose that could happen to those poor girls?”
“It’s possible.”
“How awful it must be for them to be in the clutches of those…those fiends.”
“Once we catch up to them, we’ll put the hurt on them. I promise.”
“I trust you, Diane.” Pierce gets to her feet. She stretches her muscles as if she’s woke up from eight hours of sleep. “I’m ready to get going again if you are.”
“Sure,” Diane says. The sooner they find who attacked the village, the sooner Diane can be rid of Pierce. This thought is enough to double her pace.
***
The Galactic Peacekeeper office in Focal City is even smaller than the GAIA office in Atomic City. Kila doesn’t have a secretary or much of a desk, only a metal desk probably salvaged from basement storage. She has her elfin ears hidden by her long silver hair, but there’s no way to hide her lavender skin without a full mask.
She has learned enough about human customs to hold out her hand for Melanie to shake. “It is good to see you again, General Amis.”
GAIA: Rogue State (A Girl Power Novella) Page 4
