by Lesley Davis
The corner of Russom’s eyes crinkled at Sofia’s obvious dig at Emory’s vehicle. “What about your work here?”
“I’m merely nitpicking over the saucers. The hard work has already been done. Those saucers are ready to fly. I can’t do anything more here. At least with them. So order me to clean up after the CIA. If I can’t find her then you’ll know never to put an agent in a Damocles position again.”
I’m selling my soul to the devil. Come on, you old bastard, take the bait because otherwise I have no excuse to leave. I want to get far away from you and your laboratories of death. I don’t even want to breathe the same air as you. You who could trade human lives for a chance to advance. I’ll see you damned, Russom, damned to hell. I’ve seen the innocents taken. I’ve witnessed their dead bodies. You perpetuated the deal made so many years ago by the men in power. Men who should have known better than to bargain away human lives to something not of this world. They signed our death warrant and you’ve let it continue, decade after decade, racking up bodies and covering up the truth. How many lives could have been saved if you’d just said enough?
Russom walked around the table to her. “You’ve exceeded all my expectations of you, Captain.”
He offered her his hand to shake, and Sofia tried not to cringe at the feel of his palm against hers.
“Your innovations with the alien machinery ushered us into new directions, opened our eyes to new possibilities, and armed us for the wars ahead.”
Sofia didn’t like where this speech was going. I’m so going to regret just doing my job.
“When all this mess is cleared up, I’d like to expand your role a little more. Get you moved up the ranks a bit quicker. After all,” he smiled ruefully, “I’m not going to live forever, and I think you’d be a worthy successor of the Dionysius mantle.”
Sofia was stunned. “General?”
“You’ve never questioned my authority or my orders. Your work on the saucers and the technology involved has been exemplary. When we were in the laboratory you never flinched.”
That’s because I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. It was horrific and we had a hand in creating it. And I was terrified for Emory. If she had found her family in that lab it would have sent her tumbling over the edge.
“That’s the kind of leader Dionysius needs. Someone who understands that us having the technology we have now was worth every sacrifice we made to secure it.”
But we didn’t make the deal work, every abductee did, and they didn’t sign up for it.
“I can think of no one more suited to take my place and take Dionysius on her shoulders.”
Sofia was dumbfounded. It was the promotion of a lifetime and hers for the taking. A position of ultimate power, because however secret the agency was, Russom commanded a huge amount of respect and power in his position. That would be all Sofia’s.
But it’s no longer the life I want. Not at the price that is being paid by civilians and all the lies it deals in.
“I’ll start setting the wheels in motion and get you placed into position to get ready for the role. I have high hopes for you, Captain Martinez.”
Sofia finally found her voice. “How are we going to stop the invasion, sir? At the moment, we’re doing very little to fight back.”
“If I use anything we have deployed here the aliens will come directly for us. I can’t afford to draw attention to this base; there’s too much at stake here.”
“What’s so important about here? Other than it has an alien lab for experimenting on humans?”
“There’s more here than meets the eye, Captain. But you’ll find out all about that in due time. First I need you to find the whereabouts of Mays. After that, you’ll be helping me on the next stage of my own agenda.”
“Which is?”
“We need a black ship. That’s why I gave orders for them to remain off target, but some moron on that boat ignored my hands-off message.”
“And if by some miracle we get one, what do you plan to do with it?”
“It’s the aircraft carrier. They house the saucers. I want one. I have a fleet of saucers, I want the carrier for them. If it turns out the downed ship in Maine can be used then I’ll blow the other ships clear out of the sky. But until I know it’s flyable, we wait. I’ve got men on it trying to get in and salvage it. So you’d better not waste too much time finding the CIA agent because I’ll need you back here to fly it.”
Sofia gaped at him. “You want me to fly a black triangle craft?”
“You’ve flown the saucers. This would be the next step up. The Ferrari of flying vessels. You could make it work, fit it into our fleet. I have every belief in you.” He moved back around his desk. The discussion was obviously over in his eyes.
“Just be careful out there. I can’t afford to lose you too. The future of Dionysius rests on you.”
“Thank you for your confidence, sir. I’ll do my best to live up to it.” Sofia turned and left the room at a measured pace. Only when she was far away enough did she break into a run. She tried desperately to keep her thoughts together after all she’d heard. They had the means to shoot the saucers down, but Russom was holding it back. What would be left of the planet while he still hesitated?
Sofia gathered up a few belongings then pulled out the bag of weapons from under her bed. She shouldered the heavy bag and headed off to Transport to requisition a vehicle. Emory had a few days lead on her, but Sofia knew Emory well enough that what Russom saw wasn’t the whole picture. Agent Ellen Mays might follow orders, but Emory Hawkes wouldn’t go to a base when she had somewhere else to be first.
And Emory would have no idea that Sofia was hot on her tail. Emory could throw Russom off her trail, but Sofia would be harder to shake off. Especially as Sofia needed to find her now more than ever.
Chapter Thirty
“There’s a decidedly concentrated effort going on to get inside that saucer,” Emory said, leaning against the desk and staring at the monitor that showed the downed black triangular craft swarmed over by numerous groups. “I swear the amount has doubled since yesterday.”
“That’s if they can get inside it and get it out of the fucking great hole, and most of Maine, that it’s wedged in.” Dink handed her a soda and a handful of pills.
“I’d rather have a beer,” Emory grumbled but threw the pills back and washed them down with a gulp of Coke.
“I’d rather you didn’t get an infection in that leg so quit complaining.” He shooed her over so he could take his seat at the desk. For a long time they watched the movements on the monitor in companionable silence.
“Did that lieutenant from the base in Georgia send you any useful information?” Emory hoped that one of the eight US base locations she’d been furnished with would reveal something she could use so she knew where to start searching. She was desperate to get out on her mission. She was all too aware of the vast distances between each base she’d been given. Traveling by road when the skies were so unsafe would use more time than she wanted to waste. Time her nieces didn’t have.
Both Emory and Dink jumped as an alarm went off. Dink spun his chair over to the other side of the desk and swiftly began checking another set of screens.
“Proximity alarm?” Emory shifted to peer over his shoulder. The screens showed a variety of camera angles leading to Dink’s home.
“It would appear we have a visitor.” Dink gestured to the vehicle making its way up to his hideaway.
“Are you expecting one of your friends?”
“I don’t have friends, Em, except for you.”
“It could just be someone looking for a place to hide out from the invasion,” Emory said. She caught a longer glimpse of the vehicle. She stiffened. Was that a military vehicle? Emory wracked her brain. She’d gotten rid of the radio Russom had tried to track her with. She’d made certain she couldn’t be followed.
Emory pulled back from the desk to limp over to the drawer she’d hidden her stolen gun in. “I’
ll go see who it is.”
“I don’t usually answer the front door armed.”
“This is the new normal, Dink. You never know who might come knocking.”
“Well, I doubt it’s aliens driving up here to come pay their respects to the dead one in the cooler,” he said dryly.
“Whoever it is, they’re unwelcome.”
Emory made her way slowly back up to the rooms above. By the time she reached the door she could hear the vehicle pulling up outside. Emory kept the gun close by her side. On hearing a door open, Emory opened the front door and stepped forward to confront the uninvited guest.
She could see someone with dark hair moving at the rear of the vehicle. Emory groaned. “Why couldn’t it have been a damned alien?”
Sofia looked around the edge of the trunk at the sound of Emory’s voice. “So, are you going to just stand there or am I expected to carry everything in myself?”
Emory sighed. “What are you doing here, Sofia?”
“Hoping to save the world, Emory, so put your weapon down. Contrary to appearances, it would seem I’m one of the good guys.”
*
Sofia grabbed a few bags of supplies and hefted them up into her arms. She was just getting ready to toss one at Emory to carry when she noticed the unsteady gait Emory used to make her way toward her.
“I need you to turn around and go away right now. You can’t warn me about Russom tracking me and then drive here and advertise this location. Please,” Emory pleaded, “Please go.”
Sofia shook her head. “I disabled the tracking device in my own radio miles ago. No one has any idea I’m here except you.”
“And how did you find me? I disposed of my radio days ago.”
“The signal was tracked and Russom was concerned it was in the middle of nowhere.”
Emory frowned. “It was supposed to go with the truck straight to Denver.”
Sofia was amused. “And how did you accomplish that trick?”
“I taped it to the underside of a truck evacuating a town I was passing through.” She shook her head in annoyance. “It must have fallen off during the trip.” Emory gave Sofia a suspicious look. “So you’re what? The search mission to drag me back to Tesla Falls? I hate to tell you, Major, but I’m not going back there any time soon.”
“I volunteered to find you because Damocles agents are fading fast.” Sofia looked Emory up and down. “It’s weird seeing you without your glasses on.” She gestured at Emory’s leg. “Did you by any chance get that injury bringing down a flying saucer while armed with a military grade missile launcher that I don’t recall saying you could sign out?”
“I don’t have a clue what you are talking about,” Emory said. “You say someone brought down a saucer? Yay for them. One less to contend with and one more than the military has shot down in recent days.”
“What happened to your leg?”
“I have a wicked Charley horse.”
Sofia shook her head at Emory’s deliberate stubbornness. “Invite me in, Agent. I’ve been driving too many hours nonstop to find you, and I’d really like to freshen up.”
“There’s plenty of foliage around. Do what you need to do then leave.”
Sofia shot her an exasperated look and brushed past her. “Is this where you’re staying? I have to say I didn’t expect you to be hunkering down in the Ozarks, but I did finally get the in-joke when I drove past the statue of Jesus.” She dumped her bags by the door, turning to watch Emory slowly trying to catch up.
“I can’t have you here, Sofia. You’re putting us in jeopardy. Please leave.”
“I’m not here to cause trouble. I’m here because I’ve come to realize that maybe you and Dink know more than I’m being told by my superiors and I’m sick of being kept in the dark.”
“It’s always nice to hear someone finally admit they were wrong all along and we’re right.”
Sofia spun around and found Dink looking up at her. His grin was contagious.
“Dink?” Sofia had never expected the power behind the theories to reveal himself so easily.
“In the flesh.” Dink bowed a little then held out his hand for Sofia to shake. “It’s a pleasure to meet you finally, Captain Martinez. Especially after traveling with you for so long in Emory’s company.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you too.”
“May I ask for your radio?” He was still smiling, and Sofia handed it over. She was aware he’d find no tracker enabled inside. She watched as he very deftly opened the casing and pulled it to pieces.
“You disabled it?” He held up the tiny piece of tech that showed signs of damage. “But you kept it inside?”
“When I return I’ll need proof for my explanation of not being seen on the map. I’m not supposed to know I’m trackable. I figure when I hand this over they will see it for themselves. And before you ask, I disabled the one on my ATV too. I didn’t want anyone knowing where I was headed.”
“And just how did you happen upon us, Sofia? I mean, I’m a little out of the way for you to just drop by. And I know Emory never told you where I lived. For my security and her own.”
“You’re safe. I shouldn’t be here either, so all this is being done under the radar. Literally. And I got here by following the tracking device I planted in Emory’s Bus.”
Emory, who had been leaning on the doorjamb, let out a stream of colorful swear words.
Dink waved his finger at her, scolding her. “Rookie move, Em, rookie move. You let her plant a bug on your VW. You’re losing your touch.”
Emory was still cursing under her breath. “I was desperate to get away from the base housing dead human experiments. How was I supposed to know I needed to sweep my van over because Major Martinez was being a sneaky bitch and planting stuff on my van? While, at the same time, she was removing the weapons we had stored in there.”
“I somehow missed a missile launcher.” Sofia hardened her gaze at Emory.
“No comment,” Emory fired back.
“You don’t need to. Someone was seen in a saucer beam armed with a launcher. You’ll forgive me if my suspicions fell on you.”
Dink started to laugh. “She’s got your number, Emory. Now come back inside and get off your feet before you do more damage to that leg than you already have.” He turned his eyes back to Sofia. “There’s a great deal of land surrounding my home, Sofia. If you’re here under false pretenses I can pick from many an acre to bury your body.”
“I’ll consider myself duly warned. Will this do as an explanation as to why I’m here?” She opened up a case and held out a laptop. “Don’t worry. The tracker in that was taken out ages ago and left on my desk so no one knew better.”
“And this is?” Dink ran his hand all over the casing as if searching it for anything else hidden.
“This is my laptop and I’ve just been given full access to the Dionysius database.”
Emory looked shocked. “Why? And if so, what the hell are you doing here?”
“I’m next in line to sit on the Dionysius throne and have that sword dangling over my head. Russom is grooming me to take his place.”
Emory’s mouth dropped open. “No shit.”
“Indeed,” Sofia said. “I’ll take over from him when he dies, but before that I need to find Damocles Six and make sure our CIA agent is still able to perform her duty of clearing up Russom’s mess.”
“And you’re giving me this why?” Dink asked, cradling the laptop to his chest like it was something precious.
Sofia looked between him and Emory. “I need to know just what Nine Circles of Hell I’m being expected to shoulder. And I don’t think Russom is the man to tell me what my job will entail considering how much he’s lied to me. Help me sort out the truth from the lies and then help me bring an end to Dionysius once and for all.”
“You’re serious?”
“I chose the military because I wanted to serve and protect my country. I never wanted to be a party to the experimentation of
human beings. That’s not what I signed on for.”
Dink and Emory exchanged a look. Dink clutched the prized laptop even closer.
“You’re the one who’s kissed her,” he said to Emory. “Do you think we can trust her?”
Emory’s eyes searched her face. “Emory, I’m risking my career and my life to give you the chance to prove your theories to me.” Sofia pointed to the laptop. “And I’m giving you the ammunition to do it.”
Emory and Dink shared another meaningful look. Emory gave a faint nod.
“Then welcome to the conspiracy theorist version of Tesla Falls, Sofia.” Dink gestured for her to enter.
Sofia let him take the lead, but she caught Emory’s arm to stop her. “I know you don’t want me here, but oddly enough, I have no one else I trust more than you. I know we didn’t exactly part on the best of terms, but…” she shrugged awkwardly, “I missed you.” Before Emory could speak, Sofia kissed her. She sighed at the familiar feel of Emory’s lips against her own. “I missed that as well.” She ran the pads of her fingers down Emory’s cheek then dropped her hands away to pick up her bags. Emory’s eyes were still open, watching her warily until she finally returned the smile Sofia was directing her way.
“Show me your world now. I think it’s time I finally see what you’ve been aware of all this time.”
Chapter Thirty-one
Sofia wasn’t sure what she had expected on entering Dink’s home, but being directed through a false setup of home and hearth and down into a massive underground lair was not what she had imagined. Downstairs, she was confronted by a space that outdid Tesla Falls’ war room and a multi computer setup that was an IT technician’s wet dream. The walls were covered in maps and photographs, while copious books lined a huge bookcase. An entertainment system took up an area where Sofia could tell Dink and Emory sat and chilled out, judging by the cans of beer, soda, and empty bags of chips on the small coffee table. There were obviously rooms branching off this main area which she guessed led to bedrooms and bathrooms perhaps. She’d never seen anything like it.
