The Agency, Volume II

by Sylvan, Dianne

  Rowan rolled off the couch with a grunt and got up to answer it. When he looked through the peephole, he started, not sure what to think.

  “Sedna,” he said as he opened the door. “How can I help you?”

  The Elf looked from left to right, and there was something hunted in her expression as she said, “May I come in?”

  He stepped back and let her enter, closing the door behind them. She looked around his quarters, her face for once without its mask of disdain, her hands clasped in front of her. She was pale, clearly anxious. It was a complete 180-degree change from only half an hour before.

  He thought about making some sort of sarcastic remark about her deigning to visit, but her manner was so odd that all he could think to say was, “To what do I owe this honor?”

  She looked at him. He was utterly shocked at the difference in her face—without the sneer, she was really lovely. “No one saw me come,” she said. “I only have a moment.”

  “Not to be argumentative, but we have cameras on your door and in all the hallways.”

  “No, no…I mean, she didn’t see me. I don’t know what I’ll tell them—I’ll make something up. But I had to come. I had to warn you.”

  He frowned and sat down on the couch. “About what?”

  She was unlacing the cuff on her sleeve, shaking her head. There were tears—honest-to-goodness tears—in her eyes as she said, almost hysterically, “I’m the only one in the Clan with hair, did you know that? It isn’t just the warriors who cut it off. It’s a rule. They let me keep mine as part of the plan. I had to look normal. To get us in.”

  “What are you talking about? What’s going on, Sedna?”

  She yanked back her sleeve, and he gasped.

  There was an implant in her wrist…just like the one the slave traders had put in him. He could see the edges of it under her skin, the faint red light. With the push of a button the light would pulse, and screaming agony would engulf her, he remembered…he still dreamed about that red light, still woke looking for it.

  “Why did they do this to you?” He asked shakily.

  “To make me obey,” she replied. “It doesn’t hurt me—when they activate it I feel a vibration, but the pain…the pain is all for my son. He’s no older than Elora, and I hear…I can hear him screaming…my mind is full of it. They showed me, twice, to make sure I would do as they said.”

  “Are you really a Councilor?”

  “No. I’m a Bard…I was a Bard. I was one of the refugees of Aspen, part of the Temple choir. It’s only been a few weeks…we got separated, Joele and I, from the other two survivors, and Yew found us. The others…I hope they got away. I hear there are other refugee Clans that aren’t…this one…she rules it like her own tiny kingdom. They say the slavers drove her mad...”

  “She…”

  “I had to warn you—they’re going to kidnap the child tonight. That was the plan all along, to take her away if you didn’t turn her over.”

  Rowan stared at her, looking for a lie, but he found none. She was truly terrified, he could feel it.

  “All right, Sedna,” he said, rising. “Sit down and make yourself comfortable. I’m going to call Ness, and we’ll get Elora someplace hidden and safe. Then we’ll help you too—we have medical personnel here who can remove the implant, and we’ll get your boy back to you. Trust me—this will not stand. I won’t let it stand.”

  Sedna didn’t sit, but she smiled a little, wiping tears from her face. She looked around the room again, and said sorrowfully, “You must have been very happy here.”

  He went over to the desk where his cell phone was on the charger. “Don’t worry…we’ll take care of you. You’ll have asylum until we find one of the other refugee Clans.”

  She nodded, but she was walking toward the door. As he started to say something, she looked over her shoulder at him and whispered, “I’m sorry.”

  Sedna reached out and turned the deadbolt, then opened the door.

  Outside in the hall stood the four other Elves. One was holding a wriggling bundle of blankets whose muffled, fearful cries were barely audible over the fabric bag that had been pulled down over her head. The other three Elves had somehow gotten their guns back.

  In front, Kaeli gave him a smile turned his blood to ice. “Hello, Father.”

  She lifted her arm, and a split-second later he felt a sting at his neck, half a breath before the world went black.

  Part Eleven

  Sara had only been at the Agency for seven months total, and in that time she had seen a lot of unbelievable things, but to date the worst thing she’d seen was SA-7 helpless.

  They were on their way back with Ardeth when Sage’s voice erupted over Jason’s Ear, telling him there was an emergency in the base—a Code 5. Sara ran along a few paces behind the vampire and Elf, wracking her brain to remember what exactly that was, and as they reached the tunnels it came to her: a Code 5 meant that the base had been attacked from the inside. Pentecost had been a Code 5.

  Sara dreaded what she was going to see, and focused on running, the physical activity quieting her mind enough that she didn’t panic before they reached the tunnels and raced back to the underground entrance.

  They found the base in chaos. Ness met them at the door, her cell phone to her ear. She was yelling at the APD: “They can’t have gone far. They disabled the tracker in the van, but it’s still a big fucking black van. Pull over every one you see.”

  She hung up and took a deep breath. “SA-7, I think perhaps we should sit down.”

  They stared at each other. “Tell me what’s going on,” he demanded.

  Ness looked from him, to Sara, to Ardeth, seeming to notice the Elf for the first time. “I’m sorry, sir, for the unceremonious welcome—I’m Vanessa MacMillan, Director of the Texas branch of the Shadow Agency. SA-7 tells me you’re Elora’s father?”

  “Yes,” Ardeth answered. “Is she all right?”

  Sara couldn’t remember ever having seen the look on Ness’s face—the Director really didn't know what to say. “We should definitely sit down. SA-7 let’s go to your office—“

  Jason cut her off. “Ness, I’m doing really well right now not to slam you into the wall and yell very, very loudly like they do in the movies, so I think you should just give it to us straight.”

  “All right…the Elven delegation has fled the base. They broke into weapons storage and took back all their guns, then kidnapped Elora from the day care facility, leaving one of the teachers in critical condition with a gunshot wound to the stomach.”

  Next to Sara, Ardeth swore in Elvish, his face ashen. “Who are these Elves who would do such a thing?”

  “That’s not all,” Ness went on. “They…” She glanced over at Jason before continuing. “They took Rowan. They stole one of the vans and took off—SA-24 and SA-12 are both dead, shot attempting to stop them. We can’t track the van and we have no idea where they’re going.”

  That was when Sara saw it: helplessness, causing Jason to sag back against the wall, all trace of color—which wasn't much to begin with—drained from his face. The most decorated Agent in SA history looked completely lost, amplified when he asked in a hollow voice, "What do we do?"

  Ness stared at him like she'd never seen him before, but after a moment shook herself and said, "We've got APD and the FBI after them using satellite imagery, and the Eyes are searching for any trace of Rowan's energy signature. Agents are combing through the security footage and trying to enhance the sound to see if there's any indication where they're headed. I got the word out to the other four branches with Elven Agents to send us anything they know about Clan Yew."

  Ardeth put a hand to his forehead and slid it down to his mouth. "Clan Yew…I had never heard of them until tonight. They must be keeping details of their makeup secret."

  "All we really know is they’re a refugee Clan with some serious issues," Sara explained, seeing that Jason couldn't seem to speak. "They claim they have members from Birch. The le
ader of the group is a woman named Sedna—"

  "Bard Sedna?" Ardeth's eyebrows shot up. "Sedna of Aspen? Why would she work with such people?"

  "Ness!" someone yelled. They all turned to see Beck waving to them from the doorway of Conference One. "There's something you need to see!"

  Once they had gathered around she clicked on the monitor, revealing film footage of one of the staff quarters' hallways. "This is the hall right outside SA-5's door," she said. "Three minutes before this mark, Sedna went to the door and he let her in. Now, watch--“

  Moments later, four black-clad figures came around the corner. One was dragging along a struggling shape that Sara knew had to be Elora. Behind her she heard Ardeth make a strangled noise.

  The lead figure, whom Sara guessed was Kaeli, drew some sort of gun from her belt; it didn't look like a regular pistol, more like a dart gun. Sara's guess was confirmed when Kaeli loaded it with what looked like a tiny syringe. When the door opened, Kaeli raised her arm, and fired.

  Sara watched as three of the Elves entered Rowan's quarters. One emerged hauling Sedna along by the arm; she was crying and shaking her head, but a snapped order from Kaeli silenced her. Kaeli herself was helping the last Elf pull Rowan's inert form out the door. They'd put a black bag over his head.

  Jason turned away from the monitor, and Sara saw Beck lay a comforting hand on his arm, which he brushed away. His expression had gone from bewildered to stony.

  "All right, I think it's safe to assume they'll be taking both Elves back to wherever Yew is based." Ness smoothed her hair back, a nervous habit Sara had observed in her several times though outwardly her demeanor was almost always unruffled. "Our next step is to find out where that is. This isn't a typical kidnapping—there probably won't be a ransom demand. So we have to take them back by force."

  "Is there any way for Rowan to contact us?" Sara asked. "Anything in the van he could use, or any way we can reach him psychically?"

  "We could try the Ears," Beck piped up. "If we can find him we could communicate using the network, if he's strong enough to receive without tech assistance."

  "He is," Jason said. His eyes were shut tightly in thought. "But we'd have to at least have a direction to search in, otherwise we'd be shooting in the dark. And it's likely that they have him shielded—they have to know how powerful he is. Otherwise he would already have tried to contact us."

  "You mean, contact you," Ness pointed out. "If he was going to try to speak to anyone it would be you, if for no other reason than you're the strongest telepath in the building."

  "What…what will they do, if they get my daughter back to their Clan?" Ardeth asked hesitantly.

  Jason crossed his arms. "They're going to try and brainwash her. They have some sort of militant belief system that demands absolute obedience under penalty of torture. They have an institutionalized hatred of all other races, called the Way."

  "But that…" Ardeth shook his head in confusion. "That is unlike any other Clan that has ever existed. We simply do not do that kind of thing. Where did they get such a…if you will pardon the idiom…pile of crazy bullshit?"

  Beck smiled. "Who are you, again?"

  "Ardeth, of Clan Willow. Elora's father."

  "Rock on," Beck said. "I like you already. Are you some sort of leader?"

  "No, not really. Willow only has a dozen members. I was once an Artisan, a metalsmith." He turned his gaze back to Jason. "Your kinsman here has a piece of my work he confiscated from me."

  Jason blinked, then reached into his coat and retrieved Ardeth's knife, handing it to him wordlessly. The Elf bowed his head in thanks and held it out to Beck, who took it and admired it for a moment.

  "This is fantastic. The balance is perfect for throwing. If you ever get back into the business again—"

  "Can we focus, please?" Jason snapped. "We can't just stand here babbling while those people are doing god knows what to Rowan and Elora. We have to do something."

  "We're doing everything we can," Ness replied calmly. "Until we get some sort of bead on where they are, it's not as if we can just go banging on doors asking if anyone's seen a van full of Elves. If you have any ideas please let me know."

  "I do, as a matter of fact. Sage and I will try to contact Rowan. If he's unshielded and within sixty miles I can reach him."

  Sara stared at him. "You can project sixty miles?"

  "With an Ear I can. Meanwhile, you go to Rowan's quarters and see if the room tells you anything. Beck, go with her, your senses might catch something too. Then do the same in the suite the Elves were in. Ardeth, you come with me." He turned back to Ness. "Any objections?"

  The Director was smiling faintly as she shook her head. "Have at it, Agent 7. Report anything you find to me immediately."

  "Likewise," Jason said, already walking away toward the Floor.

  Beck grabbed Sara's arm. "Let's go, babe."

  Sara managed to keep up with her better than she had her twin, and trotted alongside her to the elevators. "Do you think we'll find anything?"

  Beck was all seriousness, for once, any trace of irony gone from her voice. "Probably not. But it's best not to argue with the freaked-out boyfriend with a gun." She hit the button for the surface level and crossed her arms, the resemblance to her brother suddenly very strong. "Those bastards have no idea who they've pissed off. If they hurt either of them there's going to be hell to pay."

  Sara nodded. Anger was starting to build in her own chest, competing with fear to see which emotion would rule her. "I think there already is. If Jason doesn't shoot them all, I will, so help me god."

  Beck flashed her a feral grin. "That's my girl."

  *****

  Thunder…vibration…a low thrum, accompanied by a steady pounding, a fist on a door. Time and space lurched in the blackness, painful stars rushing in…like the Perseids…he'd seen them once, up on Mt. Bonnell, so late at night a city of half a million people seemed at peace. Streaks of white in the velvet, rushing headlong to their cold deaths in the silence of space. Thunder…

  Something large was making a good deal of noise under his head. Rowan opened his eyes, but could see nothing, and for a second he thought he had gone blind; he struggled, moaning, fighting for light, for anything.

  There was a violent tug and suddenly the light was blinding. He was aware, then, of just how badly his head hurt, and how dizzy he was.

  He lay on his side on a metal floor, a vibrating metal floor. He couldn't move his arms.

  Slowly, he lifted his eyes to the woman sitting across from him. She was watching him with what appeared to be real concern.

  "Try not to make any sudden moves," she said. "You've had a high dose of sedatives."

  "Kaeli," he ground out. The sound of his own voice sent a spike of pain through his temple. "Why?"

  "Did you think I could just leave you there?" She was examining something slim and metal in her hand, and he noticed that she had a case on the floor beside her full of what he feared were torture implements resting in foam. A scalpel, he realized.

  "We only came for the girl, but when I saw who you were, I knew we had to bring you both home. I owe you that much. The rest of our family is gone—we're all we have left, Father. I have to take care of you. If you've strayed this far from the Goddess, it's my duty to help you back. You would do the same for me."

  "I'm fairly certain I wouldn't."

  "You'll feel differently after the purification. Don't worry. But it's a long journey, and I can't risk you trying to get away, so…" She indicated another small box at her feet. "We'll have a rest stop soon and I can put it in."

  "Put…put what in?"

  "It's all right. If you really feel remorse, and offer yourself up to the process, you'll come through fine."

  He probably would have been very, very afraid if he'd had full use of his mental faculties, but instead he asked. "What exactly is involved in this purification?"

  She was apparently glad to see him showing interest. The look on
her face became reverent, although he wouldn't exactly call it sane. "First you have to be cleansed physically. That…thing…touched you, molested you, so we have to wash his filth away inside and out with consecrated salt water. Then comes the mental cleansing, through physical pain—we strip away the memories, the impure thoughts, using pain as negative reinforcement. Last is the spiritual cleansing, with magic."

  Rowan forced himself to roll partway over so he could see his surroundings—it was definitely an Agency van, complete with the monitors and equipment, though all of it appeared to be turned off. He wondered if they knew about the tracking sensors; surely it would have occurred to them.