by Mel Todd
~I thought only Commanders could do that?~ Her thought didn't really mean to be a question as she tried to focus on everything at once and failed.
[Interesting, too many commander modules must have been transferred with the blood.] Wefor's tone had interest in it but McKenna pushed it to the side. That, at least, could wait until later, much, much, later.
"What in the hell is going on out here?" The booming voice caused everyone to freeze, everyone but Toni, who sidestepped around McKenna in her single focused walk to the embassy.
"I am going to home to my children, NOW!" Toni's voice thick and growly as she stalked up to the Marine who, even from where McKenna stood which was a good five paces behind Toni, could see his eyes widen. He didn't step back or flinch, but the men behind him had snapped up their weapons.
"And where would your children be, ma'am?" The question in his voice struck McKenna as funny, and she had to choke back laughter. Right now Toni looked like fur covered death, and she heard more than one whispered prayer behind her.
Instead McKenna put a bit of speed into her steps, trying to catch up. Toni halted and looked at the man her claws flexing in and out.
"California, Rossville. I want to call them." Her voice broke, on the next words. "I need to make sure they didn't kill them anyhow."
The thought slammed into McKenna and she felt her knees give a bit. Could that have happened? Could Charley already be dead? And they did this all for nothing?
Toni lifted her claws up towards her face and a man screamed out, "It's going to attack, shoot it!"
Chapter 44 - Hope
With all the news about shifters and some children still shifting for the first time, schools have received an unprecedented amount of focus from parent groups on both sides of the issue. While some compare it to the arguments for and against segregation, there is one argument no one can refute: A shifter child that transforms can hurt others badly with claws and teeth, much worse than they ever could with fists. At this point all everyone is doing is talking but this is a tinder box waiting for the first match, or in this case the first incident of a shifter child losing control and badly hurting another child. ~ TNN Talking Head
McKenna spun, looking to put herself between Toni and whoever had shouted that and froze as she took in what had happened behind her.
The same officer that had been giving them a bad time stood there with his gun drawn pointing at Toni's back. JD stood to the side, long wicked claws wrapped around the man's throat as Cass stood between him and Toni, a snarl on her lovely face with her own claws spread out, dangerously like her comic book namesake.
"I would put down the gun if I were you, otherwise we'll find out how you function without a throat." His voice soft, but the sheer menace in the words clear regardless of any language barrier. The cop paled and she saw a streak of darkness spread down his khaki slacks. Other men pointed guns at everyone.
A scream like a cat in pain, a scream that cut through all the civilization and veneer of modern society echoed in the air. McKenna turned to look at Toni who stood there, her tail lashing under the dress.
"All I want to do is call my children. I am walking to that embassy as an American citizen. If you want to shoot me, fucking do it and prepare to die if you do." With that she turned and stalked towards the still open gate The Marines were standing there, guns ready, their eyes darting back and forth.
"On behalf of the American embassy, I accept these people as citizens. Please let them in." said the older man. He shifted his attention to the man wrapped in JD's claws. "Diego, thank you for your diligence, but I'll take responsibility for them." To JD he nodded. "If you would please release the good lieutenant and enter US territory, we will see how to get this taken care of."
McKenna seriously contemplated passing out from relief but instead she rushed after Toni. The men guarding the gate had backed away, watching Toni as she stalked up the path towards the embassy. Two of them had detached and were pacing her on either side, eyes wary, but the guns weren't quite pointing at Toni or McKenna.
"Toni, they're letting us in, but you're scaring people, and you know how hard it is to talk in this form. Why don't you change back? You want Jamie and Jessi to understand you."
Toni halted, turning to look at McKenna, her body quivering. She took a deep breath and shifted back to human, then stood there swaying on her feet.
"Fuck, that was stupid, wasn't it?"
At least the dress thingy didn't tear, though none of us really care about modesty anymore.
She put her arm around Toni, and then another arm helped. "I got her." Perc's voice rumbled softly as he picked her up.
~The shifting drained resources she didn't have.~ McKenna told them, guilt beating at her. ~I should have realized how stressed she was about the kids. I'm worried, but Charley~ she faltered not knowing what to say.
~But you are still getting used to being a mom. It's okay, Kenna. Just let’s get me to a phone before I break. I hurt worrying that maybe all of this was for nothing.~ Toni's voice held a quiver and the pain she felt ripped through McKenna like an earthquake, forcing her to close her eyes.
"Is she okay?" The voice made her open her eyes to see the man standing in front of her.
~He's a Major,~ JD said, even as he and Cass stood behind them, guarding them.
"Yes. It's been a stressful few days. I know you need to talk to us but is there some way you can let us call our kids? Please?"
She'd beg if she had to at this point, for all of them.
The man glanced at the doors to the building, which by this point had people staring out of them, and a man pushing his way through in a sharp suit. His balding head reflecting the setting sun.
"Probably. That's the Deputy Chief of Mission headed our way right now." The Major nodded towards the man who had almost approached them, all but skidding to a halt.
Sharp brown eyes took them in, narrowing then locked on McKenna's face.
"It is you. I'm not sure whether to dance for joy or resign right now. This is going to be a cluster." His voice had East coast accents lacing it, but all McKenna cared about was his recognizing them.
"You know who we are?"
"Oh, your faces have been on every TV news channel and on every bulletin they've sent out. You've lost a lot of weight, and excuse me for saying this, you look like hell. But yes. Cassandra Borden, JD Davidson, Toni Diaz, Percival Alexander, and McKenna Largo—the shifter cop. I'm Deputy Chief Milton Phillips."
McKenna choked back a laugh. "Well that makes one of the first times I've been unreservedly glad for my fame. Can we call our families? Please?"
They all must have stared at him, with something in their gazes, because both he and the major took a step back shaking themselves a bit.
"Yes, I think we can arrange that. Let's get you inside and we'll start the process to get you home but first, phone calls."
The next few minutes were a confusing array of introductions, shuffling of rooms, and people staring at them. But soon they were in a quiet conference room. Water and some fruit had been provided while people went to chase down paperwork and a cellphone.
Toni didn't care about any of that, and McKenna knew her stress level about matched, but alienating these people would not be a good way to get home faster. She laid her hand on Toni's when she saw claws come out and started to dig into the table.
~Deep breath. We'll call them soon but we need these people to help us.~
Toni closed her eyes but her hands shook. ~It is everything I can do not to grab someone and yank their cell phone off of them and call home.~
~I know.~
The five of them sat in the room, waiting - the hardest part. But the mental support of all of them holding up each other helped.
The Deputy bustled in, holding a phone. "Sorry, I know you must be anxious to call home, politics isn’t always people friendly. You can use this phone to call home." He handed them a mobile phone, the screen unlocked. "Don’t worry about anything
, it’s unlimited. Call. We’ll get the rest of your information in a bit, and then we’ll work on getting you home. Everyone is very glad you are okay. The Secretary of State wants to talk to you, but I told him your kids mattered more right now." He smiled at them all and backed out of the room. "I’ll leave you alone to make your calls."
Toni sat staring at the phone in her trembling hands then looked up at all of them. "May I?"
"Go. Call. We want to hear them too."
She took a deep breath then typed in her home number, flipping it to speaker and laying it flat on the table. The phone rang and rang, then flipped over to the voicemail. Eyes bleak she hung up and looked at McKenna.
"Don't panic yet. They just aren't home. Call my cell. I left it in the house. I'm sure someone has it with them."
I hope.
McKenna could feel the stress in the room rising as she told Toni the number and typed it in. She had to do it twice, her hands shaking so badly she couldn't put the numbers in correctly. No one even made a twitch like they might take it from her.
The phone rang and rang, everyone in the room holding their collective breath.
"McKenna Largo’s phone."
McKenna felt her heart leap as she recognized Anne Holich's voice. That was the first good sign they'd had.
"This is Toni Diaz, Anne is that you?"
"Momma?" The shrieked word of a little girl punctured the stress in the room like a balloon and McKenna knew if she hadn't been sitting down she would have fallen.
"Jessi," Toni gasped the word out like a prayer.
"Is Charley there? Is everyone okay?" The words slipped out of her before she could stop them, needing to know.
"Charley is here too. Everyone is fine. What happened?"
"They’re okay?" She needed to hear, to know again.
"Yes, Jessi, Jamie, and Charley are all okay. It's been an eventful week but we're all fine. Are you guys all okay?"
"We're fine, Anne." JD spoke over her shoulder. "Made a new friend, had some drama, but we're okay."
"Good," relief clear in her voice. "though you might not be happy when you see your house. But where are you? When are you coming home?"
McKenna glanced at the others. "Currently, Bogota, Colombia."
"Wait, what?"
McKenna shook her head. "It's a long story and telling it over the phone would take too long. I think they are working on getting us home. We're at the US Embassy in Bogota now. I'll let you know when we figure out how we are getting home. But for now, tell everyone we're okay and we're headed home as soon as we can. We need to let some other people call and then talk to the people here."
"Okay. I will. Just, guys? You were missed, and not just by the kids. We've been worried."
McKenna felt the words catch in her throat and couldn't respond.
"We missed you too. Give them hugs for us," JD said and Toni chimed in immediately.
"Yes, all the hugs. I'll give them more when I see them."
They hung up and Toni slid the phone over towards Perc and Cass who had sat down on the other side of the table.
"Go. Call." McKenna smiled at them. They looked at each other and Perc slid the phone to Cass.
"Call your sister. Make sure your family is okay."
Taking the phone she typed it in, but she held it to her ear, and the relief blossomed across her face as she started to talk.
"Helena, it's me Cassandra… Oh gods, everyone is okay. No one has hurt you?"
McKenna tuned out the happy babbling and looked at JD. "Why do I think things were a bit more than eventful while we were gone?" Her low voice more normal than talking to him mentally. This way Toni could hear too, though Cass wouldn't be distracted.
"Because I'm now wondering what happened to my house?" JD said dryly, and McKenna saw Perc flash a sudden grin as he paid more attention to them than to Cass talking.
"And why did she assure me the kids were fine, but I only talked to Jessi?" Toni's voice had dry humor but she didn't look stressed.
"You think something is wrong?" McKenna asked. She hadn't even spoken to Charley.
"Oh, I think our children have led people on a merry adventure while we were gone, but I don't think anything drastic has happened. Anne sounded relieved and happy, not stressed out and lying. But I want to go home and hold my kids."
McKenna nodded fervently, even as she saw JD watch Cass from under his lashes.
The woman in question hung up the phone and turned to them with a wide smile.
"They are just fine. Only heard I hadn't shown up to work yesterday. I only call them about once a week. But they are fine. No strangers, no threats."
Perc took his turn but it had the same outcome as the rest. Parents delighted he was okay, mom crying in relief, but no threats and no one had been hurt.
The overall sense of relief threatened to just pull her down into the exhaustion that clung to all of them.
Perc rose and pulled open the door. A Marine stood just outside and waited expectantly as Perc looked out.
"Could you tell whomever we are done?"
"At once, sir." He tapped on his radio and started to talk even as Perc closed the door.
"I want caffeine, sugar, and food, and not necessarily in that order," Cass declared, and that combination sounded pretty good to McKenna.
They had just gotten settled, and her thoughts had fixed on going home to see Charley, when Milton bustled back in.
"Did you get a hold of your families?" he asked, actual concern in his manner and voice.
"Yes. So, can we go home now?" McKenna didn't think she whined, barely.
He cringed and shook his head. "Now? No. But we are working on it. How about some food and drink? They should be ready to take your statements and the Secretary of State wants to talk to all of you."
Toni looked at their clothes. "Dressed like this? Looking and feeling like this? Heck, I don't want my own kids to see me like this."
Milton smiled and gave a half laugh. "Understood. We do have barracks and locker rooms with showers. I've got people working on some real clothes for all of you." He glanced at JD and Perc. "Though you two may be a bit more difficult." He frowned for a minute like he might ask something, then shook his head.
"So what would you like first, food? Or showers and clothes?"
"Food!" all of them said as a chorus as he stepped back, a bit in surprise and blinking at them.
"So, noted. Up to braving the cafeteria."
"It’s food. I need it." Toni’s voice flat as she stood up and swayed a bit. Perc and JD were at her side almost instantly.
"Need one of us to carry you?" Perc asked in a low voice.
She shook her head slowly. "No, I’ll be fine. I brought this on myself. Shifting was stupid. We hadn’t recovered as it was." She smiled at them and headed to the door where Milton stood looking at them curiously. None of them bothered to explain. If you weren’t a shifter, you’d never understand.
Tired, filthy, starving, and emotionally drained, he led them to the cafeteria. When they walked in, the moderately busy room fell completely silent and everyone turned to look at them.
Chapter 45 - Done
At least four missing persons cases have been solved nationwide with the same disturbing result. Each of the victims, identified via DNA tests, were found as misshapen lumps of flesh. The incident of the kid who shifted in front of his parents and ended up in a similar state inspired the tests. The families, while still grieving, are relieved to know what happened. ~TNN News
McKenna did a quick glance down and sighed in relief after verifying she had clothes on. Being naked in public had gotten old.
"Is there an issue, people?" Deputy Chief of Mission Milton Phillips suddenly didn’t seem like the awestruck, deferential man he had a short bit ago. This man, McKenna could believe, ran an embassy. His voice made the question an order, as well as a reproving slap. People jerked their heads back to what they are doing.
"Much better." His voice qui
eter as he turned back to them. "Sorry about that. I’m afraid you have a bit of a celebrity status at the moment. Please help yourself to what you need. I’ll talk to the cashier."
"You are aware we are going to eat way more than you’d expect, right?" She didn’t know how the money for the cafeteria got accounted but she didn’t want to run up a few hundred dollars on this man’s card. Especially as most cafeteria’s she’d ever been too were slightly over priced.
"Don’t worry about it. The Embassy, or the US Government, is picking this up, depending on how you want to look at it. Get what you need." With a half nod, he strode away and headed to the cashier.
McKenna shrugged. It smelled good and she really wanted some coffee. All of them headed that direction, though they kept an eye on Toni and Cass. Cass because hers had been the worse and she still got shaky, not quite recovered. Toni because of the half shift just seemed harder and more caloric demanding than going to animal.
They piled up plates of food and headed to a table. They’d lived in each other’s heads for so long, they didn’t bother trying to talk out loud, but they didn’t have much to say. McKenna knew she could only think of home and figured the rest of them were about the same. She polished off her first plate and got up to get some more. While normally sugar didn’t attract her, their diet had been so protein and fat heavy, she craved simple carbs. Plus, they had cheesecake.
She walked by a young man, watching something on his laptop with headphones on. A vague sound wobbly and in strange pitches slipped out as he pulled off his headphones and rubbed his ears.
[Stop. What is that?] Wefor’s voice had an imperative quality to it McKenna had never heard before.
~What is what?~ She stopped mid-stride looking around.
[The sound, where is it coming from?]
McKenna had to think for a minute then looked at the young man. ~The sound from his headphones?~
[Yes. Where is it from?] Her voice held an urgency that made the hairs on her arms stand up, but she listened. With a mental shrug she tapped him on the shoulder.
He jerked a bit, having put the headphones back on as she waffled. Tilting his head back he looked up at her. "Yes?" He obviously didn’t recognize her and looked young, nerdy.
