Flip described it to the best of his ability. Albert asked an occasional question for further clarification.
Finally he said, “It does sound like you’ve established a form of remote viewing, though not like the typical cases of which I am aware. I imagine that may be due to the paternal connection you share with Alp; and probably with the other children.”
“So, how can I strengthen that connection?” Flip asked.
“Well, that is the question, isn’t it?” Albert replied. “Certainly practice, alone, will help, but I imagine you’ve been doing that, haven’t you?”
“Yes, well at least trying to, but not with much success,” Flip said.
“A key part to remote viewing is a clear and clean mind. That includes drinking only the purest water and avoiding alcohol. I found when I became a vegan that my mental clarity improved tremendously in a matter of a week or two.”
Flip groaned as he stared at the beer in his hand. He enjoyed the occasional drink, be it beer, wine or something stronger. He also loved meat of all types and recipes, but most distressing was the idea that Albert’s suggestions might take so long. He needed something now, not something that might work over weeks of depriving himself of the joys of alcohol and a meat diet.
“What about drugs?”
“What about them?” Albert replied.
“Well, I’ve read accounts where certain drugs can improve mental clarity.”
“Yeah, well that’s hog wash. Plenty of research was conducted during the Stargate Project in an effort to find a short cut, including the use of drugs, but it never led anywhere. One of the problems is that when a drug is used, then the drug ends up in charge of the experience. If the drug is in control of the session, then the person is not. In other words, your perception will be influenced by the drug, not enhanced.”
“Not even over the short-term?”
“Well…” Albert left the word dangling before continuing. “Believe me, the best route is the clean and clear one. Besides improving your remote viewing abilities you get the added bonus of living much longer.”
Great, Flip thought. So I get to be a crotchety old grouch like you. No thanks.
The conversation was proving to be a waste of time. Well, what had he expected? Chunk hadn’t promised anything would come of it.
“Before you go, I have a question for you,” Albert said. “How well do you know your daughter, Alp?”
Flip wasn’t sure how to answer the question so he replied with his own. “Why do you ask?”
“Well, I was wondering if you knew any reason why she lied to you.”
“What do you mean?”
“About the crossed wires,” Albert continued with a note of irritation. “It’s not any of my concern. I just find it curious, that’s all. I was observing her process. She didn’t stumble upon anything of the sort. She did find something though. It was more like a mass, like a walled off abscess. She appeared to be peeling away the layers when something inside it stirred. I felt a strong energy discharge, and that’s when you had your erection.”
Falconcity
The bellhop, dressed in formal attire complete with the circular red cap, unlocked the door and stepped aside to allow Flip and Damba to enter. He then pulled the cart with their four suitcases in behind them. Even though their plan was only be in Dubai for two or three days at the most, it was important that it appear they’d be staying longer. Plus, after their shopping spree back in the States, Damba’s wardrobe had more than doubled in size.
As Damba walked into the deluxe two-bedroom suite, Flip watched his companion’s travel-wearied face light up at the opulence of their surroundings. One thing you could say about the developers of Dubai, they really knew how to add luxury to everything they built. From the tile floors softened by the spacious rug at the foot of the bed with what appeared to be a snowflake pattern over a rich crimson background, to the king size bed with six large pillows propped up against the wood and leather headboard; everything reeked of high class. Over the years Flip had grown blasé about hotel rooms, no matter how luxurious, so it was refreshing to watch Damba’s reaction.
Flip nodded to the bellhop. “Those two bags stay in this room,” he said pointing to his own bags. “You can put the other two in the second bedroom.”
“Certainly, sir,” the bellhop replied.
“Well, what do you think of our accommodations, Damba?”
“They’re amazing. I’ve never seen anything like it.” He walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, bouncing up and down on it lightly.
“Well, don’t get too comfortable there,” Flip said with a chuckle. “That’s my bed. Yours is in the other room.”
“I get my own room?”
“Sure, only the best for my intern.” He walked over to the windows and pulled open the drapes. “And here’s the best part of all. That’s Falconcity of Wonders off there in the distance.” From their seventeenth floor window they could see for miles in the mid-morning sunlight that was already promising a blistering day of heat.
Damba joined him at the window, the look of awe continuing to grow on his face. After a few seconds he looked from the view to Flip. “And is that where…”
Flip nodded as he placed a finger in front of his lips. “Yep, that’s where my company is considering investing,” he said a little more loudly than necessary. It was important they both keep up the facade of being in Dubai on real estate investing business.
“Are those…pyramids?” Damba asked.
“Yep,” Flip replied. “They’re still under construction.”
“But I thought the pyramids were thousands of years old.”
“That’s right and mostly in Eqypt,” Flip said. “These are replicas. And over there is a replica of the Eiffel Tower, and let’s see, over there…that’s the leaning tower of Pisa; again a replica.”
“Holy smoke. No wonder they call it a city of wonder.”
“Exactly. It could be a tremendous investment opportunity as well,” Flip replied as the bellhop entered the room.
“Will there be anything else, sir?” The bellhop asked as he held out his hand.
“No, that will be all for now,” Flip said as he handed the bellhop a generous tip. He glanced at his watch. T minus fifty-five hours and counting.
As the Gulfstream taxied off the airstrip to a small group of buildings, Tao strolled forward from the rear of the plane and stood by the exit door release. As soon as it came to a stop, he opened the door and stuck his head out to wave to the ground crew to bring the air stairs forward.
He turned and gently shook Willow. “Boss, we’re home.”
She nodded without opening her eyes. “It’s good to be home.” She felt like turning her head towards the window and falling back to sleep but duty called. She sat up and stretched.
“Get our two guests off the plane and out of here, first,” she instructed Tao, who nodded.
“Ned is bringing them up now.”
“Are the vehicles here yet?”
“Yeah, they just pulled in. One limousine and a van, just as you instructed.”
“Just as the Sheik instructed,” Willow corrected him. “If I had my druthers it would be a van and a couple camels to take those two deep into the desert. Any idea why they’re here?”
“I heard them whispering to each other, something about a genetic template and how important it was to keep it hidden.”
“Genetic template? What the hell is that?”
“Not sure, boss, but if I had to guess, it might have something to do with these kids’ special powers.”
“Really?” Willow replied as she unfastened her seatbelt and stood up, stretching a second time, and noticing Tao trying not to stare at her shapely figure. It brought a slight smile to her lips. “Why do you say that?”
“I recognized the doctor’s name. He was our inside man at Bio Vita Tech, where the kids came from. I did a little poking around the internet and found out it’s a genetics research facility
. Just putting two and two together.”
“Really?” Willow repeated. “A genetic template that gives humans special powers. Well, I’ll be damned. That bitch has sure tied herself to a rising star. I wonder which one has it hidden on them?”
“I don’t know boss,” Tao replied as he waved the ground crew forward and assisted them with the airstairs. “I frisked both of for weapons before they came on board, but didn’t find anything suspicious.”
“Well, it’s none of our business. Still, bet I could find the damn thing if I frisked them,” she muttered to herself. “Get them in the limousine and out of my hair.”
“Will do,” Tao replied just as Ned opened the door to the business compartment and waved Petty and Chickowski through.
Willow nodded at them; but then turned her attention to collecting her belongings from the overhead compartment.
“Oh look, Thaddeus, a limousine. Isn’t that nice?” She turned to Willow. “That is for us, right?”
Willow nodded, biting her tongue to keep any snide remarks from escaping.
“What’s the van for?” Petty asked.
“For my luggage.” The words escaped before Willow could stop them. “Don’t worry what it’s for. Just get in the limo. The Sheik is waiting for you.”
“The Sheik?” Petty turned to Chickowski. “You didn’t tell me we were visiting a sheik.”
“Not a sheik,” Chickowski answered. “The Sheik. I’ll explain in the car. Just let’s go.”
“You mean, like in the old movie, The Sheik?” Petty persisted as she began to walk down the stairs. “Why that’s one of my all time favorite movies. Valentino was such a dream in it.”
“Well then, you will wet your pants when you meet your host,” Willow quipped, but too softly for either passenger to hear.
Part Two
Cruising
As James brought the C-130 transporter to a cruising altitude of thirty-five thousand feet, he glanced over to Pat in the co-pilot seat even though technically she wasn’t licensed to fly the C-130, owning only a private license for flying single-engined planes. But given the nature of the flight, it was necessary for the team members to also be part of the crew, so Pat became the co-pilot and Todd served as the loadmaster.
The last twenty-four hours had been hectic for everyone, but especially for Pat, who’d checked and double checked the many different details that had to work in order for this mission to be a success. Since the next twenty-four to thirty-six hours were certain to be even more stressful, Pat had already taken his advice to get a few hours of shut-eye.
James was thankful for having Pat’s partnership. He was good at seeing the big picture of such a mission but it was the small details that could make or break such a venture; something he wasn’t nearly as good at as Pat. We make a good team, James thought, and not for the first time wondered what else would be possible for them once this mission was behind them. Plenty of time to think about that later, James reminded himself. After all, realistically they both could be dead or worse within the next day or two.
A light tap on his right shoulder brought him back to the moment. He turned to see Alp’s bright face leaning towards him from the spare cockpit seat.
“Flying with you brings back memories,” Alp said, fairly shouting above the noise of the four turboprop engines. The C-130 was a large plane by anyone’s standards, but then again, the Sheik never believed in doing anything in a small way. It was partially filled with supplies for his Falcon Lair compound, but James had mostly selected it because it provided the HALO team with an easy and safe exit out the rear supply door.
“Yes, it does,” James replied. “Not all good memories, either; like when your sister pistol whipped me.”
“Ahh, I believe you asked us to do that,” Alp reminded him with a precocious smile.
“Yeah, maybe so, but she didn’t have to take such pleasure in it.”
“Well, that’s Tabitha for you. Only too happy to inflict pain. Last time we flew together, my sisters were tied up and drugged in the back.” Alp nodded her head behind her. “This time we have a bunch of your mercenaries back there who are going to risk their lives to help save them. Weird turn of events.”
“Well, remember, your father is paying us all a lot of money. That’s what we soldiers-of-fortune do,” James replied before turning back to check his instrument panel.
“Yeah, I know you want me to believe you’re only doing this for the money, but I don’t buy that for a moment…at least that’s not the only reason you agreed to help us.”
James thought about what she’d said for a moment before replying. “You’re probably right. Maybe I’m finally growing a conscience. If so, this had better be my last mission as a mercenary. Soldiers with a conscience tend to die young.”
“Speaking of soldiers, can I go back and talk to the HALO team?”
“Maybe later,” James replied. “They’ve been instructed to get some sleep right now. They need to be fresh and ready to go by the time we reach the drop zone.”
“Well, can you tell me something about them, especially the team leader. You mentioned you’ve worked with him before?”
“Yeah, that’s right. This will be the fourth mission where I’ve used him but the first one involving the Sheik. Todd came to me highly recommended. Turns out he grew up not far from where I live in the North Carolina mountains…a small town; Waynesboro I believe. Struck me as a sharp kid, so I gave him a chance. Seems like every mission he has been on has turned out better than expected.”
“So that’s why you call him your good luck charm?” Alp asked.
“Yeah, that’s right.”
“Do you really believe that? I mean, do you believe that some people are luckier than others?”
James didn’t know how to answer that question. Finally he replied, “Well, yes, kinda. I think there are people like Todd, who are smart, crafty, street-wise, and it’s those attributes that people describe as being lucky. I think most lucky people create their own luck. I just know that on a mission like this we’re going to need every ounce of it.”
“He was the one with the dark, shaggy hair?”
“That’s right.”
“Well, he’s cute as well as being all those other things,” Alp replied.
James glanced back at the young girl. “You’re growing up way too fast.”
Alp shrugged. “Yeah, maybe. That’s what we Kindred sisters do.”
“The Sheik will see you now,” Willow said as she entered the waiting room where she’d deposited the Sheik’s two obnoxious guests. “Tao and I will escort you down.”
“Well, it’s about damn time,” Petty answered petulantly. “We’ve been twiddling our thumbs in this hell hole for nearly two hours.”
“Calm down now, Miriam,” Chickowski said as he rose from the lounge chair where he’d been napping. “I’m sure our host is a very busy man.”
“And I’m a busy woman,” Petty answered, “Who has a highly valuable commodity that you said he was interested in acquiring.”
“That’s correct,” Willow replied as she took a threatening step toward Petty. “And if you’ll shut your trap and come this way, I’m sure you can get on with the transaction. This way.” She pointed to the door with a knife that has suddenly, almost magically, appeared in her hand.
Petty stepped back a moment in alarm, before finally composing herself. “Well, yes…this way, Thaddeus. We mustn’t keep the Sheik waiting.”
The four of them walked through Falcon Lair with Willow leading the way, Chickowski and Petty behind her, and Tao bringing up the rear. Petty gazed around at the palatial surroundings that she’d been informed was a replica of Rudolph’s Valentino’s Beverly Hills home from the 1920s. Petty prided herself on being somewhat of an aficionado when it came to movie stars of that period, with Valentino being her all time favorite. She remembered reading that Valentino had decorated his Beverly Hills home with lavish antiques, fine art, and imported European furnishing
s; much like the estate she was now walking through. The original Falcon Lair was to be Valentino’s and Natacha Rambova’s dream home, but unfortunately Natacha divorced him shortly after they moved in. Sadder still, Valentino died from peritonitis less than a year later at the tender age of thirty-one.
Who in the hell is this Sheik fellow they were about to meet? It must be nice to be so wealthy that you could indulge in your enjoyment of an old time movie star by building a replica of his home. Maybe she could use this common interest to her advantage in some way.
Willow led them through the estate to a side entrance that brought them out to an oasis-like setting of palm trees, fountains, and a waterfall that emptied into a large pool filled with several curvaceous young woman scantily dressed in swimwear that was definitely not from the roaring twenties era. Petty gazed around at the scene, her eyes coming to rest on a young man, lying face down on a yellow inflatable raft in the middle of the pool, his tanned muscular frame accentuated by tight fitting white trunks.
One of the women closest to him playfully splashed him with water and then pointed to the arriving party. A few words were exchanged in a language that Petty didn’t recognize. Within a few seconds two of the women guided the raft over to the edge of the pool where two others were waiting with towels and a third with a smoothie.
As their host turned around to walk towards them, Petty’s breath caught in her throat. She’d seen dozens of pictures of the real Valentino over the years, but she now realized that none of the black and white images had done him justice; for before her stood the real thing—Valentino in the flesh.
Sedation
Ned stuck his head out of the small cell in the lower level of Falcon Lair where it was his turn to sit with the unconscious boy that had his boss so freaked out. He looked first to his brother, Ted, then to Widget sitting across from each other playing cards in the outer room.
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