"That was nice," Alex said, standing over the backpack. "And speaking of gifts, I've got a going away present for you."
"We'll see each other in three days." I looked at him, eyes narrowed. Susan was on the next travel group, Alex on the last. That way, if something happened to one of us, the rest could carry the plan forward.
He shrugged. "I know – this is just in case I don't see you before we hit the caves." He pulled a larger baby backpack, camouflaged with dark, swirling greens and greys, out from behind his back. "Made of Kevlar, again. And look…" He pulled on the back and the material extended to loop over the top, like a sunshade. "In case there is a cave-in, or something. It might help."
He helped me put Bee in, and then strapped the contraption on my back.
"Sweet!" I exclaimed. "I can barely feel it." Best of all, it didn't cut into the scar on my shoulder.
"It’s designed to put most of the weight on your hips." He patted my side.
"Thank you!" I flung my arms around his neck, suddenly afraid to let go. I held it together saying goodbye to Micah, and then to Susan – but Alex was the last of them, the last of my circle. It felt wrong letting them all go. This all felt wrong in so many ways.
I still couldn't fathom taking Bee down into the caves with me. In fact, Micah had tried to convince me to stay above, but which would really be safer when the sky was exploding around us? Hopefully with my shield, my mother's crystals, and Alex's armor – Bee would be fine.
The Chakra gates opened with a loud squeak and the whir of motors.
Alex untangled himself from me as I realized I had soaked his shirt with tears. "Come on, General. Don't let them see you cry. You're about to lead them into war. You have to be the strong one."
I nodded, quickly wiping my cheeks dry. General, chief, Gaia, fiancée, mom, princess. I was so many titles to so many people – and each one of them difficult to live up to.
I turned without another word to Alex, and started for the gate. No one else moved. At the truck, I looked over my shoulder to find everyone else staring at me, as if expecting some sort of send-off speech. Alex gestured with his hands, nudging me to speak. I glared at him.
He couldn't have warned me about this in advance?
What could I say that would make them fight better? This General shit was hard. But they needed to believe in me, and something told me that hadn't quite been accomplished. I looked back at the faces staring at me. They were tired – the men unshaven, some of the women too. I grimaced at Zola. But they looked sharp in their uniforms, which made me stand a little straighter. And I'd seen what they could do, especially in their circles. The corner of my mouth tipped up in approval.
I held out my hand, forming a small, concentrated ball of Akasha just above my palm. The weaves were similar to my shield, just a different density. I hurled it into the air, above the group. All chins, including mine, tilted up. The right amount of air, strengthened by earth, shot at the ball of light like an arrow. The ball shattered in a spectacular display of fireworks, the elements raining down on the group in a farewell flourish fit for a king. The Elementals clapped, whooped, and whistled.
I caught Alex's eye and raised my arms to ask, 'What now'?
He glanced around to make sure no one saw and shooed me with his arms. I nodded, turned on my heel, and marched away with Bee, the Elementals, and our truck full of luggage in tow.
Chapter 57
A Kiss
Our connection in Paris was delayed. I stayed put near the departure gate, determined to avoid overzealous security guards. I wanted no repeats of the trip to Spain, which pretty much ended in disaster. All of which, I had to remind myself, resulted in Bee – so maybe not such a disaster. More of a blessing.
I was also not so susceptible to motion sickness thanks to Bee. Motherhood took priority during the flight, leaving no room to dote on my own ailments. After a half a day of waiting, our next flight was finally boarded. It would put Susan and me in the air at the same time. My muscles tensed. Hopefully if the EMP were to go off, we would be far enough apart that it wouldn't affect us both.
I stayed alert during all of the flights, expecting the worst at any moment. Not everyone else had the same concern, judging by the way Zola snored at my side. She had her own issues to deal with, though – she still clutched the jar of dirt. By the time we landed in Louisville, Kentucky, my muscles were thoroughly exhausted. The group, dispersed among the other passengers, trickled out of the terminal and into the baggage claim area.
I looked around frantically, half-expecting to see Micah there, waiting for me.
He wasn't.
What the hell?
I paused, getting bumped by the crowd around me. My breathing became faster as my eyes continued to dart around the room for Micah. There were too many people in here. I opened up our familiar line of telepathic communication, resisting the urge to pull out a dust rag. No answer. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to widen the range. Dead silence.
Okay, that's okay. Try something else. Then panic.
I pulled out my iPad and powered it up. I sent him both a text and an e-mail.
Still no answer.
My chest heaved, my palms grew sweaty. I got bumped again.
"Move to the side, lady!" someone grumbled as they pushed their way past.
Bee started to whine on my back. I was hoping to at least have the advantage of energy-giving land here like at the Chakra, but as soon as I stepped off the plane I knew we were on even ground.
Another bump, and a low rumbling shook the airport. Several people around me gasped.
Oh, God. Who is going to save me now?
Micah was MIA, Alex was halfway across the world, and Susan was 30,000 feet in the air. I closed my eyes, slipping deeper and deeper into my panic. The sudden sharp, stinging pain of a palm against my cheek snapped my eyes open.
Brandt stood in front of me.
"What—?"
"Well, I wasn't about to kiss you," he said.
My lips started to form the word 'what' again, but he didn't let me get even that far this time.
"Oh, come on. We've all heard the rumors." He crossed his arms and rolled his eyes. "You get all scared or pissed off and Micah steps in to save the day with a kiss."
I rubbed my cheek as I felt the flames of anger, or embarrassment, redden the rest of my face. I took a deep breath, and let it go. "If only he knew that a slap would be just as effective."
Brandt hesitated, and then laughed.
I took his arm and led him to our luggage belt. "Any word from my knight in shining armor?"
He shook his head. "No. We've been holed up in a motel, and the troops are getting restless."
I pointed to my bags.
He yanked them off of the belt. "We've at least made several trips to the caves, taking guided tours, but haven't delved much deeper. No sign of One Less so far."
"Do you have transportation for all of us to the motel?"
"Five vans waiting out front. One with a car seat." He nodded to Bee. "Oh – and Alex's group is delayed. Freak storm in Indonesia, put the airport out of commission for at least a week they said."
I stopped, mouth open. "That can't be a coincidence."
Brandt shrugged. "At least we got most of us out here in time."
Great. One-fourth of us gone, and the battle hadn't even begun.
"Alex will find a way here," I mumbled. But I knew that every day we waited was a gamble. And apparently, Shawn knew we were coming.
"We need to go in," I said.
"When?" Brandt asked.
"Yesterday."
Chapter 58
Capture the Flag
I laced up my last boot and stood up in the tiny motel room. It smelled of cigarettes and mold. "Ready?"
Susan looked at me and blinked. It wasn't like her to hesitate. I picked up her blue riggers belt from the bed and began looping it through her Alex-issued cargo pants.
She lifted the blouse slightly to give me b
etter access. Her hands shook. "It feels wrong moving forward without the guys."
I completely agreed, but couldn't say so. "This was the plan. Waiting longer could be devastating, for everyone. What was meant to be will happen." I weaved the belt through its own loops, cinching it down. "The guys aren't here – so it’s up to us now."
"Um – am I invisible over here?" Brandt stood from the corner of the bed and pointed to himself. "Guy."
Susan rolled her eyes. "You know what we mean."
He snorted. "Come on, everyone is waiting outside."
I looked down at Bee, already in her car seat. Her new backpack was propped against the bed, with her grandmother's crystals hanging off of it like a string of beads. They would keep her entertained and protect her.
During our overnight planning session, Brandt had proved useful, poking holes in our strategies that could have led to major errors. He rubbed his eyes, staring down at Bee, shaking his head.
"What?" I asked.
"Just – the things women will bring with them into battle."
Susan stopped alongside Bee, holding the old chalice I recognized from Bee's Wiccaning and Uri's funeral. Brandt raised his eyebrow at her. So did I.
She looked at it, pulled at the belt around her hips, and fit the stem snuggly inside. "I couldn't leave it. It feels…powerful." She shrugged. "Besides, a chalice is the Water's symbol."
Brandt held back a laugh, his face contorting with the effort. "Symbols can be a powerful thing, but I'm just not sure what you intend to do with your symbol. Besides have it runneth over, I mean."
Susan removed the chalice and bonked him on the head.
"Ow," Brandt rubbed the back of his head.
"See – powerful." Susan sent him a look.
I picked up Bee in her car seat and opened the door. Our vans started up as we walked into the parking lot. "Have all the covens been contacted?"
Brandt quickened his pace to match mine. "As many as could be reached. They have the information we put together and are waiting for our word."
I nodded. We got into the lead van.
Brandt buckled himself in, then helped with Bee. "So – if you look at this like an intricate game of capture the flag—"
"This is not a game," I said.
"I know, but it is us against them, and we each have something the other wants."
"Okay…" I could at least hear him out. It was a fifteen-minute drive to our drop-off at the caves.
"There are a couple strategies to capture the flag," he continued. "One – hide the flag, and concentrate on your offense; or two – put the flag in the open with a large defense, drawing the enemy in. Use the flag as bait."
I thought back to summer camp as a kid. Both strategies worked, with ten-year-olds.
Susan leaned forward from her seat in the back. "But they know our flag isn't exactly helpless. She is a Gaia, for crying out loud."
Brandt turned in his seat to look at Susan. "I'm not saying Kaitlyn is our flag."
Susan exchanged a glance with me. "Then what is?"
Chapter 59
Confidence
Alexia and Ahi stood side by side inside the storage cavern, suiting up. Even with the low lighting, the stark contrast of Alexia's blond hair and cream-colored skin to Ahi's black braids and dark skin was striking. Ahi eyed the pistol Alexia loaded and put in the holster at her hip. Another one went on her ankle.
"Not confident enough in your powers?" Ahi asked, selecting a handheld GPS unit to find her way through the cave system. It was a low blow to the leader of the Fires, perhaps, but Ahi had been around the elements all her life. There was a good chance Alexia was just now learning about them, and over-confidence could kill.
Alexia shrugged it off, "Shawn's orders - for everyone. Here." Alexia held out another pistol, by the barrel. It wavered in front of Ahi, the rough, non-slip surface of the handle glinting briefly under the cave lighting. She wrapped her hand around the curved grip; it fit perfectly.
Ahi glanced at Alexia, but Alexia was already filling her belt with throwing knives. Ahi retrieved a holster for herself. "Ready?"
Alexia turned, adjusting her blouse over her weapon-laden belt, and nodded. "Ready."
*
The pair approached an even smaller cavern Shawn referred to as the command center. Limestone stalactite formations hung from the ceilings. Metal sheeting shielded the computers, protecting the electronic equipment from occasional drips. Ahi craned her neck over the crowd to see, wondering why they just didn't use tarps.
Alexia began pushing her way to the front. Most of Shawn's people were gathered in the tiny space, standing with their teams. Ahi followed Alexia, searching the crowd for her people's faces as they went. She caught Jose's eye, and standing on the opposite side of the room was Andrés. Shawn had grouped none of her people together. And she couldn't help but notice the ominous holster at each of their sides, the same type of grip sticking out the top. She swallowed, hard. There wasn't even a gun range on Easter Island. In fact, the only tool most islanders had that could even be considered a weapon at all were left behind by their ancestors; obsidian axes, made from volcanic glass, used to cut down trees. There wasn't much crime on Easter Island.
Shawn stood at the front, flipping through reports while waiting for another to arrive. "Airport damage?" He asked a man sitting at the computer.
"Jakarta airport is offline. All the groups got out except one. Alex's team is now at the Bali airport; limited flights only coming out of there."
Shawn rubbed the bridge of his nose, "And the first group?"
"Most of the group went on to the motel, but Micah left from Louisville headed east. We haven't been able to track him since."
Shawn gritted his teeth at the lack of information. The word incompetent came to mind, but stopped at his lips. These people wouldn't stick around for insults; Shawn didn't pay enough for that. Ahi and Alexia approached. Shawn watched Ahi's face closely for any sign of recognition at Micah's name. There was none. That would make his job easier.
What is Micah up to?
He ran through all the possibilities in his head. Before Kaitlyn, Shawn had fully intended to bring Micah in. He just had to wait until he could prove his way was the right way. Micah did nothing without careful consideration. Then Kaitlyn came along, spread her legs for him, and Micah was good and lost.
"Keep looking – send a small team east. They need to be ready to detain Micah when we do find him." Shawn turned to the rest of the group. "Teams of Fires and Airs will proceed to the entrances of the caves and their designated patrol areas in the forest. Waters and Earths are below ground." He glanced at Ahi; she had called his plan into question several times. Something about Elementals working better together when they were mixed. She crossed her arms but said nothing.
Shawn nodded to himself, her lack of response giving him more confidence. The Fires and Airs hated it down in the caves anyway; they operated better above ground. "For those of you staying underground, grab a headlamp and hip-waders on your way out. Several of our usual passages are water-logged."
A heavy drip from the stalactite above Shawn landed on his shoulder.
He sighed, taking a step forward. "All right, people. This is the moment of truth; what we've all been working toward. Remember, the Gaia is to be taken alive – everyone else is expendable. You all know the code words. Keep the airways clear except for emergencies; the others might be listening in. Good luck."
There was no thunderous applause, but nor were there grumbles of discontent. Everyone turned on their heels, intent on their tasks. Only the islanders hesitated, making it clear they would take their final marching orders from Ahi.
She exchanged glances with Shawn, perhaps reveling only slightly in satisfaction. Slowly, she raised one fist in the air, and extended her thumb and pinky finger. Shaka, everything was all right. The islanders returned the shaka salute, then joined their Shawn-appointed teams.
Shawn turned his back on them, pulli
ng Alexia aside. "Let your Fires know we execute Operation Solar Flare today."
"Today? Sir, we're not—"
"We have no choice," Shawn hissed at her, tightening his grip on her arm. "After today, everything will be compromised. Our research, our people." He looked down at her arm going white in his grasp, and let go. "Yes – it has to be today. Now go."
She nodded her head slowly, gesturing to Ahi. "Come on – you're with me today."
"I'll catch up. Grab me a headlamp, will you?" Ahi asked.
"We'll be above ground," Alexia said over her shoulder.
Ahi shrugged. "Just in case."
Shawn shut down the computers and started past Ahi.
"Shawn." Ahi stopped him from following Alexia out. "Remember what I said. Your actions today will affect Akasha. If you go too far…" She stared at him – through him – with her unblinking, large brown eyes. "You will never be able to wield the power."
The list of names ran through his head again.
Chapter 60
Dangerous Conditions
"Come on, baby – it's not so bad."
Bee looked up at me, whimpering as I strapped her into Alex's new baby backpack. To be fair, it wasn't the same, soft material as her last – or the sling I used to carry her in.
"You're growing too fast," I mumbled.
"Here let me help," Brandt jumped from the van.
My team was already disappearing into the dark crevice between large boulders that led down into the labyrinth of caves. I'd prefer to stay with Susan, whose team was dropped off first, or even Brandt – but this team was short an Earth and I was the lucky back up.
Brandt picked up Bee and the backpack, helping to cinch the straps around my shoulders and hips. He looked at me. "Be careful in there."
"You be careful out here," I said. His team was staying above ground, closer to the main entrance of the cave.
He nodded, "You know – I never really thanked you for keeping me around."
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