by R. D. Brady
They flew first to Colombia, stopping at Luiz’s ranch, and then they headed north, staying in international waters before landing in the northern Canadian province of Nunavut. It might be overkill, but Laney wanted to reduce any chance of them figuring out where everyone else was, including hemispheres.
Getting over the border was a little trickier, due to the increased border surveillance. But David knew a guy who had a tunnel that went under the border, landing them in North Dakota. Apparently, tunnels under borders weren’t just for Mexican cartels.
In North Dakota, David arranged for a car. Once they were in Iowa, they called the number Nancy had given them. If the person on the other end of the line had been surprised they were in the United States, they didn’t show it. They promised an escort would meet them within the hour.
The trip had been grueling, and Laney wanted nothing more than to curl up in the back of the plane and nap. But as Laney stood at the airfield waiting for the government transport, she knew she needed to ignore the fatigue trying to weigh her down. The next couple of hours were going to determine not only the lives of the people in Havenville, but the world.
David, who’d been sitting in the car with the door open, stepped out with a police radio in his hand. “Looks like we have company.” He nodded to east, where cop-car lights appeared in the distance. If she strained, she could just make out their sirens.
“Over there.” Matt nudged his head toward the sky in the opposite direction.
Laney squinted. “Is that . . .”
“A Blackhawk,” said David. “Fully loaded, capable of carrying up to thirty-two Hellfire missiles. Sixteen ready to go and another sixteen inside that can be reloaded in the air.”
Drake flexed his fingers. “So, trap?”
“Not necessarily,” Matt said. “Could just be precautions.”
Laney sighed, raising her hands. “If they go back on their word, I am leveling whatever place they try to hold us in.”
David nudged her shoulder. “But you’ll protect those of us without special abilities that may be hiding there with you, right?”
Laney kept her eyes on the chopper. “Sure.”
David grunted, raising his hands slowly in the air. “Oh, good. I feel so comforted.”
Chapter 49
Newton, Iowa
Nervous. That would be how Laney described the military police who met them at the Newtown Municipal Airport. After a few tense minutes, Laney and the guys agreed to travel in the back of one of the military trucks to Camp Dodge in Johnston, Iowa. Laney looked at the fence perimeter as they rolled through the camp’s gates. “I wonder why they didn’t take us to Des Moines.”
David grinned. “There’s an ammunition plant there. I’m guessing they want to keep you away from that.”
Drake scoffed. “We don’t need ammunition.”
Matt shrugged. “Still a wise precaution.”
“I suppose.” She looked at the two soldiers who sat with them; both looked too young and too nervous for this detail. “So any idea where we’re headed or who’s meeting with us?”
One just stared at her, his eyes wide. The other shook his head, a bead of sweat rolling down the side of his face.
Drake puffed out his chest, deepening his voice. “You should strike them dead with a lightning bolt for failing to answer your questions, Ring Bearer.”
Both men blanched.
Laney rolled her eyes, hitting Drake’s chest with the back of her hand. “Cut it out.” She glared at David, who was trying to hide his smile behind a cough. “You too.”
The truck stopped in front of a brick building, which to Laney’s eyes looked like a dozen other buildings they’d seen on the base.
“Um, you guys need to get out,” one of the soldiers said as the other opened the back door.
“No problem.” Laney climbed down from the truck, pretending not to notice the nervous tremor that ran through the dozen soldiers who were lined up, six on either side of the truck. Their nervousness was making her nervous. Not because she was worried about being harmed, but if one of them had a nervous trigger finger, their attempts at working with the government were going to go sideways real quick.
Luckily, a female officer stepped out from the building and walked briskly up to them without a trace of fear. Her eyes scanned Laney’s group before meeting Laney’s gaze. “Dr. McPhearson, I am Major Candace Park.” She extended her hand.
Laney shook it. “Major.”
“Your transport will be here shortly. If you would follow me.” The major gestured toward the building she’d appeared from. Laney fell in step with her while Drake, David, and Matt followed. Six soldiers peeled off and kept them all company, three on either side.
Laney said nothing about the armed escort. If it made them feel better, that was fine with her.
The major led them through the foyer and to a room at the end of the hall. There was a door at the back of the room that led directly out to the airfield. A small breakfast buffet had been set up along the wall to the left, and wooden tables with barrel chairs were to the right.
The major gestured to the buffet. “I thought you might be hungry. I’m assuming it was a long trip.”
Matt shrugged. “Not too long.”
“Thank you,” Laney said.
The soldiers lined up along the wall by the door they entered. A quick glance out the back window showed more soldiers, about eight that she could see lined up along the back of the building.
Drake grabbed a pastry. “Whom exactly are we waiting for?”
“Captain Jerome Fielding, United States Marine Corps.”
Drake’s eyebrows rose. “Why do I know that name?”
“He’s the Marine who escorted us to the task force meeting.”
Drake gave Laney a sardonic grin. “Oh, well, what a good omen for the outcome of this meeting.”
Fielding showed up forty-five minutes later with his own set of soldiers. From Laney’s count, there were two dozen.
Drake stared out the window as the plane’s door opened, and soldiers began to pour out. “It’s like a clown car.”
“Where’s the trust?” Laney grouched, spying Captain Fielding as he stepped from the plane and strode toward the building.
He didn’t hesitate as two soldiers held open the door that led to the room Laney and her friends were waiting in. Fielding scanned the room, jolting at the sight of Drake, who blew him a kiss before he nodded at Laney. “Dr. McPhearson.”
“Captain.”
“We will be taking a short flight over to Norfolk. Time is of the essence, so if it’s all right, I’d like to answer any questions you may have in flight.”
Laney looked at David and Matt, who nodded back at her. Drake grinned. “This is your show. You’re the headliner. We’ll follow your cues.”
“All right, then. Let’s go, Captain.”
They were taxiing down the runway less than five minutes later. David and Matt sat in the row behind Laney and Drake. After they reached their cruising altitude, Captain Fielding appeared from the cockpit. He gestured to the seat on Laney’s other side. “May I?”
“By all means.”
Fielding sat down, glancing over at Drake, whose eyes were closed.
“He’s out,” Laney said.
“Not yet,” Drake murmured. “But close.”
“Well, I think the captain here needs to chat,” Laney said.
Drake cracked open one eyelid. “Seriously?”
“Well, you know, trying to avoid World War III here.”
Drake gave a highly exaggerated sigh. “Fine.” He stood up, smiling at the captain. “Same rules apply as last time. A single hair on her head is disturbed, and you feel my wrath.” He kissed Laney on the cheek.
She rolled her eyes in response before swatting him away. “Go to sleep.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Drake gave her a lazy salute before heading down the aisle and collapsing in a seat.
Fielding glanced back at Drake.
“He’s . . . unusual.”
“You have no idea,” Laney muttered.
“I’ve been told to brief you on the state of the world. I’m not sure how much you are aware of.”
Laney wasn’t sure if he was fishing to see where she might have been hiding or if this was just his idea of an intro. She shrugged. “Let’s assume I’ve been living under a rock.”
Drake snorted from down the aisle.
Fielding either didn’t hear it or chose to ignore it. “The borders of every country have been closed. Trade has come to a complete stop. There are reports of food shortages, oil shortages, blackouts, and internal unrest in practically every country across the globe to varying degrees.”
“Including the U.S.?”
Fielding nodded. “We import twenty percent of our food supply. Thirty-five percent of our fruit. It’s beginning to be a problem.” Fielding cleared his throat. “Gang violence has become an issue as well. In various locations, individuals are targeting food warehouses. The National Guard has been called out to protect them. For the first time, the U.S. military has been given permission to actually fight on U.S. soil. Homicide rates have spiked.”
“What about the Fallen?”
Fielding let out a breath. “Mixed bag. Some have exploited the situation on the ground to enrich themselves. But some have actually been reported to be defending cities, warehouses, people.”
Laney wasn’t surprised. She just wished the government was less surprised. “What about the Omni? How many countries have soldiers with Fallen abilities?”
“China is the only one confirmed. We do know the Omni was sold to individuals after the government auction. As a result, it is suspected that Russia, Great Britain, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Iran all have access to the Omni.”
“My god.” Laney shook her head, trying to imagine that many countries with forces that had enhanced abilities.
“It gets worse. We believe those countries, with the exception of Great Britain, may be working together.”
“Well, that’s just horrible. What’s their goal?”
“So far they have not declared one. But China has moved a number of its forces to the islands it has created in the South China Sea. Russia has moved its warships closer to the U.S., right on the border of the international boundaries, and they have essentially parked there. As for Iran, we have received chatter that they have forces moving on Israel and into Europe.”
“And the British?”
“They are playing everything close to the vest. They have troops stationed around the globe. We don’t know what their response will be.”
“Any good news?”
“Sergei Yanovich was killed in Macau, so at least he won’t be selling any more Omni.”
“True, but being all the animals have already escaped, I’m not sure how closing the barn door at this point helps.”
“It doesn’t. But it’s one player off the board.”
Laney sat back, letting the awfulness wash over her. This was why she had never trusted anyone with the formula. She knew if one person, one country got it, it would easily make its way into other hands. And that’s exactly what had happened. Now the world map was going to radically change because the power was concentrated in the hands of a few countries.
And the only way out is to either give it to everybody or take it from everybody.
Fielding glanced at her from the side of his eyes. “I don’t know what you’ve been up to these past few months. I’ve heard some reports about you protecting Fallen.”
“Not just Fallen,” Laney said quietly. “Anyone who’s been targeted because of their connection to the Fallen.”
“When I first learned you had a way to make enhanced soldiers and you were refusing to divulge it to the U.S. government, I was angry. I thought you were unpatriotic at best.” He gave her a tight smile. “But you were trying to avoid this, weren’t you?”
Laney nodded. “No one should have these powers, not even me.”
“The higher-ups, they won’t admit it, but they’re scared. And they are all hoping you have a plan.” He paused. “Do you?”
She nodded. “I do. But I’m going to need a lot of help, especially once the other countries who have the Fallen realize what we’re up to.”
“Will your plan stop this?”
“Yes.”
“Then I can guarantee you will have whatever you need.”
Chapter 50
Washington, D.C.
The general slammed his fist onto the table. “Absolutely not.”
So much for having whatever help I need. General Sam Rockefeller glared at her from across the table. He was a relatively short man but stocky. She could picture him as a younger man, built like Yoni. His pale skin was now blotchy as he stared daggers into Laney. “I am not committing my forces to a battle when I do not know what the end goal is.”
After landing at Norfolk, they had been flown to Fort Lesley J. McNair and then been driven directly to the Pentagon. Waiting for them had been the chairman of the Joint Chiefs and the secretaries of the Navy, Marine Corps and Army. General Rockefeller was Army.
Matt crossed his arms over his chest. “You know what the end goal is. We need to allow Laney to get to the Giza Plateau.”
Rockefeller didn’t look away from Laney as he spoke. “But why? You haven’t explained that part.”
Laney crossed her arms over her chest. “And I don’t plan to. You are just going to have to take my word for it.”
They had decided not to let anyone from the government in on the full details of the plan. It increased the risk of what they needed to do leaking out. The last thing they needed was more obstacles to getting the capstone in place. If there was a way to avoid telling them about Giza, Laney would have done it. As soon as she said the location, she knew there was a ticking clock on that information being leaked to the other side. The general was not handling her secrecy so well.
“Your word,” the general sneered. “I’ve been in the service since before you were born. If you think you’re going to saunter in here and start giving orders, then you are—”
“Attention!”
All the military brass got to their feet as the soldier by the door’s voice rang out. Laney looked over her shoulder tiredly. God, she needed a nap. And a handful of ibuprofen for the headache that was starting to build behind her eyes and maybe some earplugs to drown out the general. She didn’t know why she’d thought this meeting would go better than the External Threats Task Force meeting, but she really had. Ah, stupid, stupid optimism.
President Rigley stepped into the room, followed by Nancy. Laney got to her feet grudgingly.
Nancy gave Laney a quick smile. Rigley did not smile. She glanced around the room. “I’m going to need the room for a moment. I’d like to speak with Dr. McPhearson alone.”
The general balked. “You cannot stay in here with her. She cannot be—”
“Now, General.”
The general’s lips tightened, and he nodded. The President inclined her head toward her Secret Service agents. “Stay right outside the door, please.”
The agent hesitated before nodding. “As you wish, Madame President.” The agent waited until everyone left in front of him, the general taking his time, before he closed the door.
Silence descended on the room. The President nodded at the chair Laney had been using. “Please sit.”
Laney resumed her seat and waited. The President didn’t speak for a full minute. She just studied the screen where foreign troop movements were indicated. It seemed as if every country had troops on the move.
Finally the President turned to Laney. “Quite a dilemma we find ourselves in.”
Laney gestured at the empty chairs. “I take it this little show of trust was meant to put me at ease.”
“Something like that. I don’t believe I have anything to worry about from you.”
“You never did.”
“I’m beginning to realize you are not qui
te like other people, even without your powers. Could you imagine if Senator Shremp had been the one chosen to be the ring bearer? He would have crowned himself emperor.”
“Like Samyaza tried to do before I stopped her.”
“True. Captain Fielding tells me you still refuse to hand over the formula.”
Laney crossed her arms over her chest. “I do.”
“Even though you know our troops could use those abilities to counter enhanced fighters from other countries?”
Laney shook her head. “You still don’t get it. They are not a gift. They are an accelerant. Adding more enhanced is only going to make this fire burn hotter.” Laney gestured to the screen filled with colors. “This fire needs to be smothered, not flamed.”
“And you have a way to do that?”
“I do.”
“But you won’t tell us what it is.”
“No. All you need to know is that I need to get to the Giza Plateau.”
The President studied her for a long moment. “So we’re just supposed to take you at your word?”
“No. You’re supposed to view my actions and then ask yourself whether I am someone who would try to end this war or keep it going.”
“And if I choose not to help you?”
Laney gestured at the screen again. “Then this all gets worse.”
“It’s going to take years to get the world back to normal, if we ever can.”
“All the more reason to end this as quickly as possible. Too many people are dying. Too many people are being displaced. Too many people are hungry. This needs to end.”
“And what about you? When all of this is done, what do you want?”
Laney didn’t hesitate. “A normal life. For people to forget about me.”
“I’m not sure that’s possible.”
“You can help make it possible by keeping up your side of our bargain.”
“You doubt my word?”
“Yes. You authorized the torture of a child. You authorized the abduction of a psychologically fragile intellectual. So yes, I doubt your word.”
