She nodded, but he could see she was already deep in thought and he slipped down from his chair.
“I will leave you to your preparations,” he told her. “Please, enjoy the tea.”
Pens and several notepads appeared beside the cup and she raised her head, her brow furrowed with surprise. When she noticed the Meligornian was about to leave, she stepped down from the chair and bowed deeply.
“Hartuitus baskilor, Master M’rick.”
He smiled and waved her thanks aside. “I look forward to seeing your course design.”
Stephanie watched him fade to nothing and returned to her seat. “I think the first class should be the basics of MU for both humans and Meligorns. That way, they can see the similarities.”
Not yet ready to put anything into the computer, she scribbled that onto a clean page in one of the notebooks.
“It needs to be a combination of practice, theory, application, and ethics,” she muttered, writing Practice, Theory, Application, and Ethics in a list.
“Now, where should we begin...”
When the call came, it felt as though no time had passed. Looking at her notes, Stephanie knew it had. The notebook had several complete pages and the document she’d created on the laptop had begun to take shape.
She’d moved from one to the other and back again, using the notepad to scratch out her thoughts before putting the draft final version into the computer. Inevitably, this was revised half a dozen times as more ideas arrived so retained its draft status.
The soft jangle of chimes drew her out of her head.
“I am sorry to interrupt,” Ms E said when she answered, “but I need you to come out now.”
Since it was unusual for the woman to interrupt her when she was in the Virtual World, she nodded. “I’ll be there shortly.”
Once she’d saved her ideas and filed her notebooks, knowing they would be available when she returned, she prepared to leave the Virtual World. “Exit pod,” she told the AI and waited until her mind surfaced in her body.
When she’d settled, she popped the hatch and stepped out to find Elizabeth waiting with a robe.
As the woman slid the garment over her, she glanced over her shoulder at her. “Did the Navy call?”
Ms E nodded as Stephanie turned to face her, doing up the front of her robe. “Their timing sucks, as usual, but rats are always rather annoying in that they move at the worst of times.”
“I’ll be quick,” she told her and set off for her quarters.
She resisted the urge to jog but increased her pace as the team hustled past her toward the roof.
Lars fell in step beside her. “You dress. I’ll pack,” he told her.
Vishlog changed direction and ran into Frog, who bounced into a wall and slid to the floor amidst a rattle of gear and torrent of curses.
“I will help with the cats,” the Dreth told Lars and picked his teammate up by the collar before coming alongside.
Stephanie might have argued but she decided there wasn’t time and she could use the help.
They passed the team’s prep room and she glanced through the door without stopping. The guys were in the last stages of their prep.
“Did I hear Marcus tell Avery he needed a bigger gun to match his mouth?”
Vishlog grunted. “They’ve been comparing sizes since Elizabeth told us to gear up.”
“Weapon sizes,” Lars hastily corrected. “Weapon sizes.”
“Yes,” the Dreth agreed. “Of course, weapon sizes.”
Zeekat and Bumblebee bounded over as soon as he opened the door and she had to shoo them out of the way so Vishlog could get through.
“My gear’s in there,” she told Lars and pointed at the cupboard closest to the door. She was glad she’d taken Elizabeth’s advice and put a go-bag together as well as keeping her combat gear separate from her other clothes.
The woman had been right about wanting some space to call her own.
Both cats demanded head-rubs as they wound around her legs and threatened to knock her off her feet.
“Out of the way. Out,” she told them and shoved them gently to the side. “Go mug Vishlog. He’s gonna help you with your armor.”
He gave her a startled look and she pointed to a locker she’d had installed beside her gear cupboard. “It’s over there. You’ll know which is which.”
“I will work it out,” he told her and turned to the locker. “Here, kitties.”
Lars fished in his pocket and withdrew a small package. “Here,” he called and threw it to the Dreth. “This should help.”
Stephanie didn’t know what was in the packet, but it certainly caught the feline’s attention. Zeekat bounded toward Vishlog, but Bee tracked the package in flight and leapt enthusiastically. He and the parcel reached the alien at the same time.
The Dreth barely snatched it out of the air before the cat’s teeth closed.
“Bad kitty,” he scolded. “No treats for you.”
Bee landed at his feet and gave him a look that said he’d take the treats if he had to, and Vishlog closed his fist around the packet with a smirk. “Armor first, then treats.”
She left them to it and had almost reached her bathroom door when Lars called behind her, “Hey, Steph! Catch.”
He’d caught her by surprise but she had time to register the bulky block of clothing and armor he’d hurled at her. The solution was easy. Drawing on the magic within, she wrapped the flying bundle in blue light and floated it to her.
“Cheat,” he muttered but was already dragging her pack out of the cupboard and making sure it had everything he thought she needed.
With the door closed behind her, she set her armor down and stripped out of her robe.
Five minutes later, she followed two armored cats and one slightly scratched Dreth out the door.
“That was fast,” Lars told her.
He’d insisted on carrying her pack but she had refused to let him check her armor.
“On the shuttle,” she’d snapped. “We can do that in the air.”
He hadn’t argued, simply grabbed her gear and steered her to the door.
The cats exited first, followed by Vishlog. Stephanie was about to step after them when there was a yowl of protest followed by a hasty apology from Frog.
“Sorry, Bee.”
The cat hissed and Vishlog lunged forward. Stephanie hurried out to see what was happening and found the black-and-yellow beast wrapped in Vishlog’s arms and tucked under his chin while the Dreth stroked his neck.
Frog stooped to pick up the pack he’d dropped, and Marcus looked concerned. Zeekat had flattened himself against a wall and glared at the two of them, his lips lifted in a silent snarl.
“Man, if looks could kill,” Stephanie joked and hurried over to lay a hand on the cat’s head. “Come on, Zee. They won’t step on you, again.”
“Step on him?” Frog was outraged. “Damned if the pair of them didn’t step right out under our feet. They almost sent me ass over teakettle.”
Both animals’ tails twitched with agitation.
Johnny stuck his head down the stairs.
“We lift in five.”
The argument ceased and they raced up the stairs. Vishlog set Bee on his feet when they reached the roof. Looking up, Stephanie discovered the Navy had sent transport.
“It’s always nice when the date comes to pick you up,” she commented and kept one hand on each of the felines as the massive shuttle descended. “That thing’s almost as big as mine.”
“We’re catching a ride up top,” Johnny told her. “It’s the fastest way to the target location.”
“Do we have that yet?”
“No,” Lars told her and stooped so his mouth was close to her ear. “They’ll brief us as soon as we’re on board.”
“What did Ms E have to say about that?”
“I was as uncomplimentary as hell,” Elizabeth said, her breath warm against Stephanie’s other ear.
She jumped and n
udged Zeekat. “You’re supposed to tell me when she sneaks up like that.”
The woman gave the cat a fond look. “We have an understanding.”
“We’ll see about that,” she told her with a grin. “I can’t have my cats teaming up against me.”
Elizabeth exchanged glances with Zeekat, whose tail twitched. “I didn’t say they’d agreed to work against you,” she reassured her, “only that we had an understanding.”
The Navy shuttle’s hatch opened as it descended and Marines were now visible, clinging close to its edges. They jumped to the roof as the shuttle settled, picked the gear up, and threw it to the loadmaster as two more hurried the team on board.
They were directed to seats and handed headsets as they boarded and the Marines slapped their backs as they passed.
“I take it you can all hear me,” the sergeant said and addressed them while the rest of his team closed the hatches.
The shuttle lifted as soon as one of them banged on the cockpit, but Steph and the team nodded.
“Our target is a group of twenty rebels hiding in a Dreth consulate in Berlin. I’ll send the floorplan to your HUDs. They think they’re safe because they’re on Dreth soil but we have news for them.”
He stopped and showed his teeth in a feral grin. “Correction, you have news for them. The Dreth agreed that we could send you in. Your instructions are to eliminate the cell but to try to keep as many of them alive for questioning as you can. If you can’t...” He shrugged. “They’re the ones working for the enemy. The main priority is that they no longer do that. But please, try to bring us back a little gravy.”
Stephanie nodded her understanding, although her mind was only half on what he was saying. When the shuttle reached space, she took advantage of all the gMU around her and drew as much of it in as she could hold.
Given that they were going up against twenty—that they knew of, but it could also be more—enemies, most of whom were Dreth, she would definitely need as much as she could draw. And, of course, that didn’t include the possibility that there might be one or more Nihilist aliens among them.
She shivered. There’d better not be any Nihilists. That would be bad.
“This is only a short ride,” the sergeant explained. “No-one needs to know you’re inside.”
That made sense. Given the Nihilist’s offer to her, she could imagine that offer being made to others. There was no way to know who had been compromised or not.
Hardly any time passed before the pilot’s voice reached them over the headsets. “Preparing to drop. We drop in three, two, one...”
The craft descended hard and fast before it settled.
“We’re almost there,” the pilot told them and the team stood to check each other’s armor and weapons.
“Turn,” Lars told Stephanie as the pilot spoke again.
“Ground support says they have an expectation of new sensors up, but they’re probably looking for something larger.”
“We’re fairly large,” Lars muttered and headed forward.
He didn’t look happy when he returned. “We’ll come in hot.”
“Hasn’t anyone told them shooting only happens on the second date?” Frog asked.
“They can pick up the shuttle?” Stephanie asked.
“They will soon.”
She looked at the rear hatch. “Pilot! Hold this altitude.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he confirmed through the headsets.
“Do you guys trust me?” She looked at each member of her team.
“To do what?”
“Only to get us into more trouble than we already are.”
“That’s only on a normal day, Frog.”
“Oh, yeah…well, then, sure we trust you, Steph.”
“Good.” She smiled and tapped the loadmaster on the arm, but Frog wasn’t finished.
“Yeah, only until the time you screw up. Then, my remains will flip you the finger and I’ll haunt your ass.”
Stephanie rolled her eyes and looked at the loadmaster. “Open the hatch,” she ordered and gestured to the rear door.
He gave her a startled look but didn’t argue and instead, murmured something to the pilot.
“They what? Okay...”
“Oh...” Frog watched as the hatch slid open. “Boy, you sure know how to show a guy a good time.”
“Great,” Marcus added from where he stood beside him. “A jump from a perfectly working shuttle with no chutes or anti-grav—exactly what I was looking forward to.”
“We aim to please,” she quipped and looked around for the cats.
Bumblebee growled and backed away a pace, Zeekat beside him.
“Lars, get everyone together, I gotta...” She gestured at the felines.
“You heard her. Let’s make sure nothing falls off us when we jump.”
“I think Frog’s nerves fell off a long time ago.”
“Better than my balls.”
Stephanie ignored them and knelt in front of the cats.
“Trust me,” she told them and looked into their eyes.
Zeekat gave a doubtful yowl and Bumblebee wrinkled his lip. She placed a hand on each of their shoulders. “Trust me,” she repeated. “I will protect you.”
Bumblebee gave an offended huff and flicked his tail. It was his job to protect her. Zeekat growled in protest.
“Then trust me,” she told them. “I need you on the ground.”
“And there will be lots of squeeeeeekies,” Vishlog added from behind her.
Both cats’ ears pricked, and she looked back at him. He nodded at her. “Lots and lots of squeekies.”
The animals took a step forward while their eyes gleamed and tails flicked. They looked from the Dreth to the door and glanced at Stephanie.
“I swear those things understand every word she says,” Johnny murmured and she wasn’t about to argue.
“So, are we going already?” Frog bitched. “Or are we gonna stand here and contemplate the view?”
“Ooh, someone has his panties in a bunch,” Marcus teased and offered Frog his arm. “Come, young man, you can jump with me.”
His teammate linked arms. “Don’t mind if I do.” He looked at Lars. “And you?”
He jerked a thumb at Stephanie. “My dance card’s already full,” he said.
Frog pouted and turned to Johnny. “You, then.”
“We’ll be over the target in five,” the loadmaster told them and all joking ended.
The team hooked arms and Vishlog caught both cats by their armor’s harness.
“In three...two...one...” the man said and found he was speaking to thin air.
He looked at the sergeant. “They are either certifiably insane or beyond courageous. I’m not sure which.”
The other man walked over and looked down, unable to make out the team in the darkness below. He pressed the hatch controls and stared through the gap until the door closed. “She’s the Witch. It’s probably both.”
Chapter Fifteen
“Whose dumb-ass idea was this?” Frog’s voice shook as the team fell.
“Who are you calling a dumbass?” Stephanie challenged and glanced at Vishlog to see how the cats were coping.
Both animals had twisted in the Dreth’s grip and wrapped their paws around him to dig their claws into his armor as they hung on. Their ears were flat against their skulls and their tails were coiled around his legs.
It’s a good thing he’s armored, she thought and made a mental note to pay for repairs.
“Steph, we’re falling too fast.” She was sure Lars had meant that to come out in calm, measured tones, but he sounded worried.
“Don’t worry, guys. I’ve got this,” she reassured them and drew several disbelieving snorts as she pulled a platform of eMU beneath them.
“Oh, sure,” Frog snarked, “because no one will notice a glowing blue circle highlighting our asses.”
She dropped the magic and they began to plummet again.
“Nice one, Frog!�
�� Johnny yelled, while she flicked through the mission brief and fixed on a picture of a small park half a block from the consulate grounds.
“Be quiet!” she commanded. “We’re coming in to land!”
“Land? At this rate, I’m not gonna have any fingers left to flip you,” Frog protested.
“Remind me to get a less whiny dance partner next—” Marcus’s voice was cut off when the team vanished out of the air. “Oof—”
They landed hard but not as hard as they would have if Stephanie hadn’t dropped them into something thick and sticky and black.
“What was that?” Lars asked, his soft query coming loud and clear through the helmet.
Whatever it was, it dissipated as they sank chest-deep into it.
“This stuff had better come out in the wash,” Frog grumbled and wiped an imaginary stain on his armor.
“As if you ever wash,” Marcus sniped in response, keeping his voice low.
“Ssshh, guys, or they’ll hear us.”
They? At her warning, they all froze, dropped into crouches, and surveyed the area around them. Their HUDs displayed where she had dropped them.
“What are we doing here?” Frog asked, his voice subdued.
“I didn’t know where they were watching at the consulate,” she replied. “Now, shsssh.”
She raised her head cautiously to look past a children’s playground to a bench nestled in the middle of a rose garden.
“Man, the dude sure knows how to pick his location,” Marcus murmured.
“In full view of a kids’ playground?” Johnny argued. “That’s tacky.”
“In the middle of a rose garden in full bloom.” Avery sighed. “Even I might ignore the playground for that.”
“Besides, it’s nighttime. The little menaces are all in bed. It’s not like they’ actually see...anyth— Oh, dude!”
“There’s no way one of them won’t notice us going past,” Brendan added. “It’s a nice little courtyard of flowers and a good place to cast a blanket. With enough cover, we won’t be seen in the shadows, but each of those exits follows a path to a lamp post.”
“Who says we’re taking the paths?”
Witch Of The Federation III (Federal Histories Book 3) Page 18
