by Jan Stryvant
"I've got Fen setting up a second place already," Chad replied. "I want to get a thousand before I call them up and start talking terms."
"When do you think they'll notice?" Ray asked.
"Oh, I think they'll start being suspicious around dinnertime, when folks start missing people. But they'll probably start off suspecting each other. This isn't how we usually operate, after all."
"Hey, Chad!" Jace said, coming into the room with two others who were carrying yet another unconscious body. "I got an idea!"
"Okay, give."
"What do you say to getting a whole bunch of firefighter's gear? We could set off some smoke bombs on the roof of one of those new clubs they opened up. Those things have their own air supply, so we gas all the patrons, then just pick up the ones who are mages, and we stick 'em in an ambulance to 'take them off for treatment'."
"We'd need an ambulance."
"And a fire truck or two," Max added.
Jace grinned evilly. "Well, there's this firehouse just around the block from one of the places. We could gas the mundanes, borrow their gear, and have it all back before they woke up."
"I don't know..." Max started.
"Nonsense!" Chad laughed. "Fortune favors the bold! Jace, you're in charge, ask me if you need help planning, just remember one thing."
"Yes, Chad?"
"Screw this up, and I'll nail your hide to my door, with you still in it. Understand?"
Jace gulped. "Got it," he said, and with a nod, he ran off.
"You know there'll be repercussions, right?" Max told him.
Chad shrugged. "We won't be here long enough to care. The locals can deal with it."
#
"Gentlemen," the Secretary of Homeland Defense began, looking around the table, "again, thank you for coming in on such short notice."
"I warned you, Ma'am," Carl said, smiling, then he turned to Cohen. "Just how badly did your guys get spanked?"
"That was uncalled for, Mr. Mince," the Secretary said, glaring at Carl.
"With all due respect, Madam Secretary," Kensington said, looking around the room. Once again, Peter Cohen, Tom Matthews, George Walker, as well as himself, Carl, and Alistair were here. "Your sole expert on lions and this conflict gave you good advice, which you promptly ignored."
"They didn't get that badly spanked." Cohen sighed.
"I don't know, getting pulled into an alternate reality and read the riot act sure sounds like a spanking to me." Carl smiled.
"How did you know about that?" Cohen said, looking at Carl in surprise.
"I called Sean up and asked him exactly what he did to you when you wouldn't share your report with us," Carl said with a shrug.
"You did what?" the Secretary said.
"I told Carl to call him," Kensington said. "According to our men in the White House, you know, the ones who guard the President? There has been some concern voiced over possible issues after a 'Thank You' card appeared on the President's desk this morning, thanking him for his stance on freeing the lycans."
Carl nodded. "He apologized for any concerns it might have caused, but he was afraid sending it through the normal channels might not confer the depth of his gratitude."
"Or the unwritten message that he can get into the White House whenever he wants," George said angrily.
"I thought the White House was warded against that?" Peter said.
"It is, now," Kensington said. "Sean was nice enough to tell us which one we missed."
"How nice." The Secretary snorted.
"You really are looking at this the wrong way," Alistair said, speaking up for the first time.
"And what way is that?"
"The magic users don't fear us, Madam Secretary. They never have. But they do fear the lions, now that they're learning exactly what lions are capable of. Further, the scholars at Eruditio are starting to dig up documents, very old documents, with the help of the dwarves and the elves. The lions once ruled the Earth, Ma'am. They had the power of life and death over everybody and everything. They're a lot more powerful than anybody realized."
"So what happened?"
"According to what Sean told one of the Eruditio's leaders, they moved on to other things. Apparently they found ruling the world to be, and I'm quoting here, 'boring'. Sean very clearly made the point to them that they could take over the world tomorrow if they wanted to, but that they really don't want to."
"Well that's a refreshing piece of news," George said sarcastically.
"And again," Kensington said, "they're really pleased with the President's going to the Supreme Court to get a ruling on this. We have an opportunity here for the kind of alliance that would guarantee us a measure of security we haven't had before. No other country has yet freed their lycans from the grip of the magic users, and I think it's a safe bet that, once they're done here, they'll be moving on to the rest of the world."
"So what do you advise then, Victor?" the Secretary asked.
"That the President goes to Reno and meets with Mr. Valens, personally."
"You want the President to meet with a twenty-one-year-old boy who just set off a nuclear device outside Los Angeles?" George said, standing up.
"As a matter of fact, yes I do, George. I also want you to leave the room right now, or I will personally pay a visit to the oversight committee and tell them you are interfering in domestic affairs," Kensington said, turning to face him.
"Now, just a minute, gentlemen," the Secretary started.
Kensington held up his hand. "This is non-negotiable. He leaves now, this instant, or I'm out the door, and I can guarantee you'll see a shit-storm the likes of which you've never seen before. George is inserting himself where he has no right to be, in violation of the law. He goes, or I go, and you can be damn sure I will be taking all of you with me."
"Fine," George grumbled and, getting up, he stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
"Really, Victor! That was uncalled for!"
"I'm sorry, Madam Secretary, but how much of your last decision was based on George's input?"
"That's hardly relevant, Vincent."
"Yes, well, I was here, I heard what he had to say, and I saw the results. Now Peter's department has egg on its face, and if there are any two groups in this country that are going to want to start recruiting lycans, it's the Secret Service and the Marshals. Think about that for a minute, officers who can take a couple of bullets, lose an arm or leg, and still show up for work the next day?" Vincent looked around the room. "Yeah, I want that.
"So again, Madam Secretary, with all due respect, this isn't a 'kid'; this isn't even a young man. This is the representative for a group of people all the lycans view as their gods. So much so that they're going to war for them. We can either make them into the people we want them to be, namely our friends and allies, or we can turn them into the people we're afraid they'll become."
The Secretary sighed. "I'll talk to the President."
"If it's all the same to you, and with all due respect, I'd like to be there when you do."
"I'd like to be on the advance team for the trip, if that would be acceptable?" Carl asked.
"Why?" the Secretary asked Carl.
"I want to meet him, face to face. I think I've got a good feeling for Mr. Valens, and I'd like to get a better idea of who he is and what he wants, so the President can be fully briefed beforehand." Carl shrugged. "Also, if he's going to meet the President, someone needs to check him out and vet him. Who's better suited for the job than me?"
"He's got a point," Peter agreed. "He did get Valens to tell him how he penetrated the White House."
"Okay, fine," the Secretary nodded, "I'll set up a meeting with the President for later this afternoon. Vincent, bring Carl with you."
"Thank you, Madam Secretary," Vincent said, standing and bowing, as Carl and Alistair followed suit. "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go prepare."
"Excused."
The Secretary watched as the three me
n left the room, then turned to Peter Cohen, "How well do you know Vincent, Peter?"
"Not that well, but I've never seen him go off in a meeting like that before. Then again, everything dealing with the magic users and, by default, the lycans, is supposed to be in his bailiwick, and you not only abused his authority, but he ended up having to deal with the consequences this morning."
"Do you think he would have followed through?"
"Definitely, Ma'am. Vincent takes his job very seriously; all the SS guys do. Guys like him, they'll throw themselves in front of a bullet if they have to."
"And George?"
"I don't see George doing that kind of thing. He's more the type to throw other people in front of the bullet."
The Secretary nodded thoughtfully as she thought about that.
"Alistair," Kensington said when they got out to the car, "I want you to start digging through all your contacts. I want to know how involved with the magical community George is over at the CIA."
"You sure about that, boss?"
Kensington nodded. "I'm about to climb so far up George's butt I'm going to know what he had for breakfast. I don't know how he wormed his way into that meeting, or why he's taking a hard line with the lycans, but I'm damn well going to find out."
If at First You Don't Succeed, Cheat
"One thousand four hundred and sixty-three." Jonas was shaking his head. "How in the hell did you do that?"
Chad grinned. "After the fire truck worked so well at the club, they went around and hit a few other popular hangouts, as well. Now, let's make some phone calls!" Chad looked over at John. "You got that phone link set up?"
"All done. Totally untraceable."
"Great, I'm gonna hold you to that."
Picking up the phone, Chad dialed the first number on the list.
"Hello? Who is this?"
"Ah, Mr. Lee? I'm calling about your missing people."
"What? Who are you?"
"Why, the man who has them, of course, or perhaps I should say, the lycan who has them."
"I will not deal with criminals!"
"You give me my people, I'll give you yours. Simple trade."
"Outrageous!"
"Yes, keeping slave is, I'm glad you agree. Oh, and kill mine and you won't be getting yours back, either. Lincoln freed the slaves, Mr. Lee. Time for you and the rest of the Jade Society to get with the program! I'll be in touch."
Chad hung up the phone. "Okay, Mr. Saad next."
"Who is this?"
"Mr. Saad, I'm calling about your missing people..."
The call to Mr. Saad went the same as with Mr. Lee, except Mr. Saad seemed much more agreeable.
The last call was to a Mr. Wang of the Huan Council.
"I see you have decided to pit yourself against us," Mr. Wang said after Chad had told him he had his people.
"Well, I must admit I was impressed by your initial strategy, perhaps someday we can share some tea over a game of 'go'. However, I have been tasked with the freeing of my people, so I will do as I must. I'd rather deal with this in a pleasant and friendly manner."
"Kidnapping is hardly pleasant or friendly."
"Keeping my people as slaves when you knew I was coming to free them, as they deserve to be, was not pleasant or friendly either."
"We view them as property."
"Would you appreciate it if I were to say the same about your friends and family members whom I currently hold?"
"That would be a very grave mistake."
"And as the Gradatim recently discovered, we are not dealing from a position of weakness, Mr. Wang. We are showing restraint in an effort to keep from killing anyone. However, do not mistake our own kindness for anything other than what it is: a simple desire to do this with as little loss of life as possible. Understand, I'm not the one who destroyed the Gradatim. I'm not the one running around slaughtering their people. That's my boss.
"I'm the reasonable one. I'll be in touch."
Chad hung up the phone and looked at the others. "That one may be a problem."
"I think we may have another problem," Baron spoke up.
"What's that?"
"One of the men we grabbed won't tell us which of the three groups he belongs to."
"Great." Chad sighed. "Well, let's go talk to him."
"I put him in a separate area," Baron said as he led Chad and the rest to the back of the building.
When they got to the room, there was a man kneeling on the floor with a hood over his head and his hands secured behind his back. Each of his hands had been wrapped with bandages to prevent him from making any gestures.
"Okay," Chad said, standing well away from the man, "what's your story."
"Why are you holding me?"
"Because we're swapping all the people we grabbed last night for the lycans being held by them. Fairly simple. You got picked up in the sweep, as you're a magic user. I've been told you won't identify which of the three groups you're with. Is that correct?"
"You have no idea who I am, do you?"
"Oh, trust me when I say we can find out fairly quickly, if we choose to." Chad waved at John and then pointed at the man on the floor. They'd gone over everyone's ID and whatever else they had on them.
John nodded and left the room.
"However," Chad continued, "we're not the police, and we're definitely not the morality brigade. So if you're a Dragon Triad we picked up by accident, I'll just call your boss and ask him to send me his lycans."
Chad noticed the man stiffen.
"Or we could maybe reach a deal that would allow you to save face."
"You would do that?"
"Course I would! I only have one goal here, to free the lycans. Hell, I don't even care if you have them working in your organization, just as long as they're doing it willingly."
"That is a very enlightened attitude. Yes, you are correct; I am a member of the Dragon Triad. For me to be found in this position would be most unfortunate for myself and my family.
"If you were to free me, however, I would find myself in your debt and would be inclined to bend myself to help you with your current goal."
Chad thought about that a moment; honor among criminals was rare, but he'd heard people say that the larger criminal organizations tended to live by their words and their agreements because it was good for 'business'.
"I think we can agree with you on that, Mr.?"
"Li, Qian Li."
"Mr. Li, my name is Chad. I'll have one of my men drive you a good distance from here and release you. I'll make sure to return all your things, and I'll include a phone number so you can contact me. Just understand, once all of this is over, the possibility of doing business in the future will exist if you help us now."
"That is an interesting proposition, coming from a lycan, Mr. Chad."
"A lycan that just successfully kidnapped over a thousand very powerful and well-placed people, Mr. Li."
Li laughed briefly. "A valid point, Mr. Chad. You may be right; a profitable relationship may be made."
"Baron, detail one of your men to take Mr. Li back to town. Return all his things to him, and put this in with them." Chad pulled out a piece of paper and wrote the number for his latest 'burner' phone John was keeping him supplied with.
"Sure thing, Chad," Baron said. One of the other wolves helped Mr. Li to his feet, and several of the guards kept a wary eye as they escorted him from the building.
"You'd deal with the Triads?" Jonas asked softly.
"If it gets our people back? Yes. Also, if he believes there may be money to be made in the future, he's a lot less likely to oppose us in the present. Now," Chad looked around, "let's get the instructions ready to send out on how we're going to do this exchange."
"Mr. Lee, Mr. Saad," Mr. Wang said, standing up and shaking hands with the two men as they came into the tea shop and joined him at his table.
"It is sad that we only come together when there is trouble, is it not?" Mr. Lee said as they all sat d
own.
"I talked to the gentleman today who has taken our family members. I have also received his notice on how and where he wishes to do this trade. Have you all received the same?"
The other two men both nodded.
"I'm considering doing as he asks," Mr. Saad said. "The rumors have been quite clear, as well as what I have heard from the Americans. Lycans are being freed; if you go along, they leave you alone. If you do not, they will do to you as they will until they've gotten what they have come for."
"Yes, it would appear that our little ploy was too successful." Mr. Lee sighed. "Instead of a straight-up fight in which we might have prevailed, we are now faced with a position of weakness."
"Does that mean you will agree as well, Mr. Lee?" Mr. Wang asked.
"I do not see that I have much of a choice in this." Mr. Lee gestured helplessly, "They have too many of my men's wives and sons."
"But what about the principal of this? If we bow to them, who else will we then find ourselves bowing to?"
"As Mr. Lee said," Mr. Saad replied, "our tactics put us in this position. We blocked the direct approach, so they came in another way. They have the advantage of time, they can simply wait and pick us off as they see fit. We can not hide within our walls forever."
"But how can they be trusted?" Mr. Wang asked. "They snuck in like thieves in the dark and kidnapped our wives and children. Now they ask us to put our faith in their declared goal, that once we have turned over our sole bargaining chip they will release their hostages? We know what they did to the Gradatim, we know they are without honor. We should stall. Stall and prepare a trap of our own so we might teach them a lesson about real men and real honor!"
"Ah, gentlemen, what a rare sight to come across the three of you sitting here so peacefully, talking with each other.
"We have no use for one as you, Mr. Li. This is a private matter!"
"Do you have any missing family members?" Mr. Saad asked.
"No, I do not."
"Then why have you joined us today?"
"Because I know whatever the three of you decide shall concern me. I am not at war with the lycans; neither are any of my associates. War is, after all, a bad thing for business and trade. Which is why I and my associates avoid it so. If the three of you should decide to make that mistake, however, I fear I will bear the consequences in equal measure."
