She shivered in the cool early morning air. Later, it would be in the low nineties, but wrapped in only a towel, she was feeling the cold.
“Let’s get dressed. The meeting will be soon, and there’s a small chance the herd has saved us something.”
“At least coffee.”
The building wasn’t really ready to be lived in. They wouldn’t have full power until the following day, so the emergency generator was being used only for dim lighting and for the one full-sized refrigerator in the small kitchen outside the second floor conference room. They had a dozen flashlights, three cases of batteries, and a couple of lanterns, thanks to Tom’s practical mind. He’d even stocked the kitchen with milk, yogurt, cereal, bananas, bagels and cream cheese, as well as coffee. Ingrid was in heaven.
“Thank you Tom. You’re a prince.”
“It was Alan, too.” Tom pointed toward the former APM, sitting at the end of the table, a little lost.
“Of course. Thanks, Alan.”
He smiled the way most young men smiled at Ingrid. “You’re welcome.” Ingrid picked the seat next to his and he practically glowed.
Once they were all assembled for the eleven a.m. meeting, Gene began. "As of today, we have a base of operations—maybe a little sooner than expected, but I think it's perfectly adequate. We're close to the Bayonne Bridge and also the channel, in case we have to sneak out of town quickly. It might be advisable to eventually purchase a small boat and keep it stocked and ready to go. We can have the witch glamour it to hide it."
Johnny seemed enthusiastic about the new place. "We can fit twenty or thirty more people downstairs."
Gene frowned. "I'm sorry, man, but this is not another safe house." Johnny started to protest, but Gene interrupted him. "Our safety is not negotiable. We're locking this place down and keeping traffic to a minimum, for security's sake. We'll find another house to replace your old one."
Staci raised her hand in an old-fashioned gesture. "We’ll be setting up a clinic on the first floor, correct?"
"I'm not sure that's a good idea," Gene said, frowning.
Her voice became more insistent. "There's lots of room on the first floor and there's even an entrance straight in from the back. We'd use it for emergencies only. I can organize it with Sam."
“I’ll help,” Ingrid offered.
Gene twisted his mouth in irritation. “Our security…”
Staci interrupted. "We need to do something to gain their trust. Street thetas are not going to believe we want to help them without some kind of proof. A clinic would be a good start."
Mack spoke up. "I agree with Staci. It also supplies us with a place to get quick medical attention if any of us are injured in the field."
Gene looked at their determined expressions and gave in. "Okay, I can go along with the emergency clinic idea, but it can't be announced to the theta population. We’ll have a line at the door.”
Alan was standing near the window. “We can set up a communications network. Each safe house or neighborhood group will choose a representative to contact if there’s an emergency. That person can have a secure way to reach one us.”
Gene held up a hand to stop him from continuing. “We need another layer. The neighborhood rep will have a way to reach a top tier rep, one who’s passed regular mental screenings by a troupe theta. That second representative will have a way to reach one of the people at the clinic.”
“The injured person could be dead by then,” Alan grumbled.
Gene shot him a hard look. “Better than all the rest of us being dead.”
“We’ll run practice drills to make it fluid. It should work,” Mack said. “I like it.”
Ingrid smiled to see her guys working together to save the world, but she realized for the first time what a huge responsibility Gene had shouldered. It was up to the rest of them to pitch in wherever they could, otherwise he might burn out. Or worse, the job might change him in a bad way.
“Good, ‘cause I’m putting you in charge of the drills, Mack. Thankfully, we shouldn’t be bombarded with emergencies, since thetas heal pretty fast all on their own.”
Johnny scowled. "The flu hits us hard every year. Measles, too. We always lose a few young ones and older ones. You’ve never had to worry, because troupe thetas are inoculated for everything.”
Staci patted his hand. “I’d never heard that. I’m so sorry.” Johnny smiled back, touched by her compassionate words.
Tom added, “And we can’t go to a city-run clinic, because they always draw blood. When they find out we aren’t human, they take our kids to the institutes and torture us for information.”
The room grew quiet. This was worse than Ingrid had imagined.
Gene raked his hand through his unruly hair. He was wearing a tee shirt and jeans that looked like he’d slept in them. Ingrid had never seen him so disheveled. "That's messed up. I'm sorry if what I said sounded harsh. Staci, inoculations are now a top priority.” She nodded, smiling, making notes on a legal pad she’d carried to the meeting.
“But where will you get the vaccine?” Tom asked.
“We’ll figure it out. One step at a time, okay?”
“Sure, Gene.” Tom seemed to be accepting Gene’s new position more readily than Johnny or Liz.
Ingrid became more and more concerned about Gene as the meeting progressed. He was taking on so much, purchasing the building, organizing the departments, ensuring they were secure. The morphing and glamouring he did yesterday had taken energy. He’d need a reboot soon.
"Do you know of any doctors who'd be willing to help us?" Staci asked.
"Liz does," Tom said. But Liz hadn't shown up to the meeting.
“Anyone know where Miss Sunny Disposition is this morning?” Gene asked. No one answered. “Did anyone check her room?” Silence. “Tom…”
“Sure.” Tom left, heading toward the staircase.
"We'll need basic medical equipment and supplies. Also drugs." Staci was writing down Gene’s suggestions furiously.
Gene looked around the room. "So these are our immediate plans. Johnny, please talk to Liz about getting the names of some cooperative doctors, then over the next weeks you, Liz and Sam can rotate hitting the other safe houses and asking them to pick two representatives—one local and one who’ll be trained as a hunter. The hunter will be the one who gets in touch with one of us when there’s an emergency. He or she will have to agree to be mentally scanned at our discretion.”
Staci, would you and Sam accompany Tom to purchase furniture and supplies for the common areas and the clinic? That's really all we can do until we have some medical staff to tell us what else we need."
Staci leaned against Sam's body. “Of course we’ll help.”
“Thank you.”
Tom had arrived back. “No sign of her.”
Gene’s expression grew dark. “She and I need to have a chat.”
“Liz comes and goes as she likes,” Tom said
“Meetings are a requirement for all voting board members. You don’t show up, you don’t vote. Agreed?” Everyone nodded. “Good. Tom, can you be here when the electrician and the plumber arrive? I'll show you what I need. Alan can help too."
"Yeah, sure. No problem."
“Okay, thanks. Everyone can leave, except Mack and Ingrid.” As soon as the others filed out, Gene slumped into his chair. "The three of us should start to train, find out our limits—especially related to long distance communication.”
"You need to rest.”
“Can’t. Not yet.”
“Distance shouldn’t be a problem since each of us is unique. As long as we're keyed into you, mindspeak should work like a conference call," Ingrid said.
“Let’s give it a shot.”
They worked on it for several hours, Mack and Ingrid morphing and splitting up, contacting him in his upstairs loft from various places in the neighborhood. At the end of the day, the three friends discovered they’d been able to speak easily, even though they wer
e sometimes miles apart.
When Mack and Ingrid returned, Gene took hold of Ingrid’s hand, looking guilty. “I hate to ask this of you, but Alan needs to be looped and so does Johnny. Today, preferably,”
“Can we discuss it upstairs?” Ingrid asked.
“Sure. I’ll meet you on four.”
The three friends sat on folding chairs on Mack and Ingrid’s balcony.
“Have I taken on too much?” Gene asked, raking both hands through his tousled hair.
Ingrid had never seen him looking this stressed. He obviously needed their support. “You’re doing so well. We’re proud of you.” She placed her hand on his shoulder.
He smiled gratefully. “You’ve always been honest with me. Don’t stop now.”
“I’m being honest, but…”
“But?”
“You scared me.”
“How?”
“Are we really okay with taking away memories, like we did with the real estate agent and the witch? With plunging into someone’s mind and reading their thoughts, learning their secrets? I did it myself with Johnny. Are we okay with Influencing people to do whatever we want them to do?”
“We didn’t hurt them and we paid them very well. Our need for a secure base trumped the few minutes of memories we blanked out. Nothing we did will affect their lives; in fact, it may even save their lives.” Gene seemed so sure of what he was saying.
“I have a problem with…”
“Ingrid.” His tone had sharpened. “Those were on-the-spot decisions that had to be made immediately. You elected me CO. I have to be the one to make the tough decisions. I’ll take full responsibility if things get fucked up because of one of my decisions, but you have to defer to me when there’s no time to call a vote.”
She nodded. “I do trust you. It isn’t that.”
“I know.”
“Are our hunters going out to kill?”
“No. They’ll be doing what they have been doing. Protecting the other street thetas and their families.”
“Liz has killed. I think she likes it,” Mack said.
“Under me, no one will kill unless it’s necessary.”
“And who decides when that is?”
“Me, or in the field, Johnny. If you’re not in communication with either of us, you decide for yourselves.”
“But who makes sure our motives are clean? Who keeps us in check? What mental blocks are in place to prevent us from abusing our powers? From turning into another Director?”
“We’re nothing like him,” Gene snapped.
“No, we’re not. Yet. But when Joseph Herron began killing other alphas and absorbing their powers, it turned him. Not every werewolf is a Joseph Herron or every vampire a Giovanni. Some of them are innocents, too. I won’t support a group that kills randomly by species.”
Gene shook his head. “You know me. I would never condone that.”
“I’ve wanted my freedom for so long, but not at the cost of taking away the freedom of others,” she said.
“What do you suggest?” Gene rubbed his face.
She scanned their concerned demeanors. “For now, we three should police each other. We drop our shields and lay ourselves bare every few days. If we see anything—anything that doesn’t look right, we discuss it. If the person in question refuses, the other two will be able to encourage him.”
“Or her,” Gene said, his expression grim. “I’m not saying no. It’s a valid point and a great idea. But it isn’t only us. Staci and Sam have looped. Soon Johnny and Alan.
“Checks and balances,” Mack said.
“Exactly. Why don’t we reboot at the same time?” Ingrid asked warily, hoping they’d agree. “That would take care of both problems.”
“Very efficient, but I’m not into ménage. At least, I don’t think I am,” Gene grinned.
Ingrid rolled her eyes. “Mack would kill you.”
“Would you?” he asked innocently.
“I think I might. Is this another experiment?” Mack asked, leery of the answer.
“How can this possibly work?” Gene asked.
“I had an epiphany.” Ingrid stretched out her hands.
Mack groaned. “Do what she says, or we’ll never hear the end of it.” They each took a hand.
“Now drop your walls and loop with me. Your circle will split and link through my two energy centers. I’m the peanut butter, you’re the bread.”
“Oh god, that vision…” Gene sighed.
“Behave yourself,” Ingrid warned.
“Unless you want a broken nose,” Mack growled.
“Fine.” Gene sighed and closed his eyes.
Mack and Gene’s power connected to hers with a jolt of pain: spirit numbing, mind shattering, soul-splitting pain. But Ingrid was the top ingénue in the country and hadn’t earned that position by being coddled and babied. Years of excruciating training had taught her how to accept pain and move forward, to take away its power to blur the mind and still focus on the task. And today’s task was to reboot their trio so they’d have the power they needed to kick ass.
She reached into her depths and found the courage to create her own unique magic, to bind and weave and mold an unbroken circle connecting three thetas, more than anyone had ever achieved before.
From Mack to me to Gene to me to Mack. She sighed, feeling the support of the two males she knew well and the silent source she was just beginning to understand. A few heartbeats later, it was over.
The three friends sat there, breathing hard, still holding hands like little kids in a playground.
“Holy Fuck.” Gene couldn’t believe she’d pulled it off.
“I think you said that last time,” Ingrid said, giggling.
“You’re an angel.” Gene kissed her hand.
“Now you’re being silly.”
“She’s my angel,” Mack grunted, snatching back her hand.
“Noted,” Gene chuckled.
“Good. I wouldn’t want to have to dangle you by your feet from the roof,” Mack teased.
“So now that you’re all topped up and we’ve read each other’s deep dark secrets, how about I send up Johnny or Alan? They need to get loopy, too.”
“Do I get a few minutes to breathe, at least?”
“Yeah, of course. I’m not an unreasonable boss.”
“I insist on payment.”
“Payment?”
“If I loop Johnny and Alan, I get two quarts of ice cream to share with everyone. Aaaaand, I get to watch you guys work out.”
“We don’t have any equipment,” Gene protested.
“Since when do you need equipment to do five hundred one-handed pushups?”
Mack narrowed his eyes. “Why do you want to watch Gene work out?”
Ingrid slid into Mack’s lap. “I’ll only watch you, but it will give me great satisfaction to hear Gene grunting in pain, off to the side. Looping is hard work.”
Gene crossed his arms against his chest. “Ha. It won’t be me grunting in pain.”
“Are you challenging me?” Mack asked, looking amused.
“You boys are so cute when you have a pissing contest.”
Half an hour later, Gene sent Johnny up for his looping session. Now that Ingrid had the hang of it, Johnny’s looping went smoothly. It was painful for him, but she sent him off to take a nap, asking Staci to keep an eye on him and to have sunglasses ready, just in case. Because Alan was busy working with Tom, she’d have to wait until later to take care of his looping.
Mack and Ingrid were hanging out in the conference room, when Alan shouted. "You guys need to see this. They found Diane and Dave."
The broadcast was live and impossible to watch for long without wanting to throw up. Diane and Dave were being interrogated separately, the camera switching back and forth between the rooms. Rem and Zerec, two of The Director’s top generals, were making a show of shaving Diane’s head, cutting her scalp in several places on purpose. They didn’t bother to hide the erections th
at bulged under their pants, deliberately rubbing their crotches in front of the camera.
“Someone should cut off their cocks and shove them up their asses,” Mack growled.
After both Dave and Diane’s heads were shaved, The Director’s soldiers used disgusting phrases, describing what they were going to do to make them talk. Rem used his long braid to choke and whip her, but Diane continued to plead, telling The Director’s top general the location she'd given had been accurate and that if it was deserted, then it was probably because the other members of the troupe had run when they’d heard Diane had been captured. Dave told Zerec exactly the same thing.
Liz had finally arrived, informing everyone she’d decided to sleep at a friend’s house. Gene told her she could sleep wherever she wanted, but that meetings weren’t optional and that participants were to show up on time.
She watched the live feed for a few moments. “Traitors,” she hissed.
“Shut up, Liz. You don’t know how long you’d last under the threat of torture,” Johnny snapped.
Mack’s estimation of Johnny went up another notch.
“I know one thing—I wouldn’t be a squealer.”
“You’ll shut your mouth and respect their sacrifice, or I’ll kick your ass out of here so fast, you won’t see the street until it hits you in the face.” Gene was livid.
“You’re not my boss,” Liz shrieked.
“If you want in on this rebellion, I am. You voted for me. Don’t ever forget it.”
“Fucking trouper.” She stormed out, heading who knew where. None of them gave a crap.
Their eyes were drawn back to the screen as Rem pulled out a wicked-looking blade, using it to cut the straps of Diane’s dress, then her bra. Diane was trembling, sobbing.
Ingrid turned it off and ran upstairs. Staci followed her.
Mack decided to give them a few minutes. Staci had a natural gift to calm people down. It made sense now that he knew she was a healer.
“She’ll blame herself, you know,” Gene said.
“I know. Thanks for being there for her—when I wasn’t.”
Gene wiggled his finger back and forth. “Don’t fuck it up.”
“Never again.”
Staci and Ingrid were sitting on the small cement balcony, stargazing, one of Ingrid's favorite things to do to calm herself when she was upset. When she heard Mack’s shoes on the cement, she jumped up and ran to him, practically throwing herself into his arms. He caught her easily, hugging her hard against his body, feeling the coolness of her skin as her hands wrapped around his neck.
Playing with Passion Theta Series Book 1 Page 31
