by H. L. Burke
A surge of Aiden’s energy arched up Fade’s arm like a bolt of lightning. He flew backwards, losing his fade. He slammed into a wall. The air abandoned his lungs in a painful whoosh.
“Fade!” Tanvi shouted.
Aching everywhere, Fade staggered to his feet. Aiden turned towards Tanvi. Her knees wobbled, and her face pinched.
“Ow!” She grabbed at her forehead.
“No, you don’t!” Fade scrambled forward. He managed to catch a hold of Tanvi’s wrist and extend a new fade into her. She still collapsed into him, shivering.
“Aiden, please come back,” she whimpered.
The sound of a helicopter rose from outside.
DOSA backup?
The wind whipped up around them. Fade spun to face the hole in the wall left by their earlier scuffle. His chin hit his chest.
A massive drone with a platform large enough to hold multiple passengers rose level with them. There was a click, and Crushwave’s disruptor fell from his neck.
Fade’s heart dropped to his feet. Brink had the deactivation signal for DOSA disruptor tech?
“Yeah, this is really not good,” Tanvi whispered.
Crushwave and Cromlech stood, flanking a glowing Aiden. Fade kept his hold on Tanvi. Energy probed at him, trying to break his fade.
“Aiden,” Tanvi shouted over the hum of the drone’s rotors. “It’s me, Tanvi! Your friend. Please, listen.”
Aiden swayed slightly on his feet. His whole body convulsed.
Fade braced himself.
“Look alive, lads and lassies!” Keeper’s voice shouted through Fade’s earpiece.
A flock of pigeons burst into the room, unleashing chaos in their wake. Cromlech swatted at the winged creatures. Crushwave let out several bursts of sonic energy, each one shaking the building around them.
Wildfyre rushed through the door at the end of the hall. He spun his hands in great circles, sending out hoops of fire.
Cromlech snatched both his accomplices around the waists as if they had been small children and jumped through the gap in the wall. The drone dropped momentarily from the added weight.
Wildfyre slid to the edge of the gap and shot off several blasts of flame. Too late. The drone burst away, disappearing behind the parking garage. Sirens screamed in the distance, backup coming too late.
Fade tapped his comm. “Keeper, can you keep eyes on them?”
“Trying, lad, but they’re going a wee bit faster than the average bird.”
Fade’s shoulders slumped. They’d lost them. Which meant both that Aiden was still out of their hands and Lucia was still in danger.
Lucia—
Fade jerked to attention again. “We need eyes on Prism.”
“We have them,” Keeper said. “Yui’s there. Says she’s a wee bit shaken, but physically fine.”
Fade relaxed slightly. Yui and Keeper had a telepathic connection when she was in any of her animal forms, similar to what Keeper had with actual animals.
“I still need to see her.” He glanced at Tanvi and Wildfyre. “You two secure the area and help rescue personnel, all right?”
“Roger, boss. Go see to my girl.” Tanvi clapped Fade on the back before nodding to Wildfyre and jerking her finger towards the nearest exit.
Fade sprinted up the flight of stairs and onto Prism’s floor. She was nowhere to be seen. A nurse, slowly coming to, moaned and cradled her head in her hands near the door to Prism’s hospital room. The body of the Adjudicator lay nearby.
Fade averted his eyes. As much antagonism as he bore the Adjudicator, he wouldn’t have wanted him to end up like this. If Aiden was indiscriminately killing DOSA agents, then it was too late for him. The Aiden Fade remembered—and Prism loved—would never have used his powers like that.
Stepping over the body, he entered Prism’s room. She sat on the bed, cradling Ruby. Tears streamed down her face. Yui—in the form of a sparrow—sat on the sill of the now open window, one eye on the mother and child, the other looking out over the parking garage and city beyond.
“Are you hurt?” Fade murmured, coming to sit beside his wife.
She shook her head but continued to weep. Fade lightly brushed a finger over Ruby’s exposed face before pulling them both into his arms.
“It’s okay,” he breathed. “It’s going to be okay. We’re going home.”
WITH THEIR HOSPITAL torn up and the obvious danger their presence caused, the doctors easily signed off on a somewhat early release for Prism and Ruby. Fade didn’t try to hide his relief. It would be easier to protect them back home at HQ. The baby slept the entire ride home, soothed by the movement of the car beneath her and unaware of the peril she’d recently survived. Prism stared silently out the window. Occasionally she’d sniff back tears or blow her nose, but other than that she didn’t make a sound.
Finally they pulled up in front of HQ. Fade parked the car and reached over to squeeze her knee. “I’ll get Ruby. Why don’t you head inside and get settled in, okay?”
“I’m not about to fall to pieces, Fade.” Prism angled away from him.
“No, but you’re hurting, and you’re tired, and I want to make sure you get some rest.” He walked around the car to open the door for her.
She stepped out and paused, facing the fading light over the western hills. The setting sun glistened on the tracks of her tears. “He’s out there somewhere, though, probably still in the state.”
Fade drew her into an embrace.
“Please, Luce,” he murmured. “For now, let the team take care of you.”
For a moment she buried her head against his chest, then she withdrew and took the diaper bag out of the car. “Let’s get inside.”
Before they could reach the door, however, headlights washed over them.
Prism squinted and held her hand over her eyes as Fade clutched Ruby, still in her carseat, close to his body.
A caravan of black SUVs pulled into the parking lot. They parked, and Talon jumped out of the first one. He rushed to them.
“Lucia, thank goodness you’re all right!” He offered Prism a one-armed hug, took a second to smile at Ruby, then waved them towards headquarters. “Let’s get inside. I don’t like how exposed we are out here.”
As they entered HQ, more DOSA agents, including several sables Fade recognized from the LA, San Diego, and Vegas teams, poured out of the SUVs and started to take up defensive positions around the building.
Prism hugged herself. “What’s this about?”
“Knowing that you’re a target, we’re not taking any more chances,” Talon explained. “If Brink’s team attacks you here, we’ll be ready.”
Fade snorted. “Talk about too little too late.”
Talon shoulders hunched. “Unfortunately we didn’t anticipate Brink being so bold—or so determined to go after Lucia specifically.”
They entered the lobby. Tanvi, Keeper, and Wildfyre hurried to meet them but stopped when they saw Talon.
“What’s going on?” Tanvi asked.
“Apparently DOSA’s decided protecting Prism is worth some resources,” Fade said.
“About time.” Tanvi scowled. “What’s Talon here for?”
Ruby started to squawk, so Fade put down the carseat and unfastened her. He draped her over his shoulder.
“Multiple purposes, including checking on my goddaughter and meeting her new baby,” Talon said, his voice staying genteel in spite of the challenges. “However, there is something we need to talk about, Lucia.” He faced Prism. “Alone?”
“Fade gets to be there too,” she said firmly.
“Yes, I think that’s a good idea,” Talon agreed.
“Conference room.” She touched Fade’s wrist. “Bring Ruby. I think she needs a diaper change, and when that’s done she’ll probably want to eat.”
A few minutes later they settled around the conference room table. Prism unpacked the diaper bag, laying out the changing pad, a container of wipes, and a fresh diaper before placing the newborn on it. The baby star
ed wide-eyed up at her mother as Prism started to do her work.
Talon angled away. Fade snickered quietly. It was good to see some DOSA higher-ups squirm.
Freshly changed, Ruby began to kick her little legs.
Fade passed Prism a blanket. “Want me to take over?”
“No, I got it.” Prism carefully swaddled the baby and scooped her up. She then eyed Talon. “Do you want to hold her?”
“Yes, please.” The older man settled into a chair and accepted the baby into his arms. He laughed quietly. “She’s beautiful, Lucia. Your dad would be so proud. I wish he could see you right now.”
Prism plopped into her chair. “Considering his son just killed off a DOSA sable in an apparent attempt to kill me, I’m kind of glad Dad can’t see us right now.”
Fade started. Prism wasn’t usually so frank. He came to stand behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders. She quivered beneath his touch, whether from rage, fear, or exhaustion he wasn’t sure.
“Seems you’re in a mood to get to the point,” Talon sighed. “All right, then. The remaining committee members and I called an emergency meeting when we heard what had happened to the Adjudicator. Lucia—if Aiden is capable of killing with his mind and willing to use that power on DOSA agents, then I’m sorry. No matter who he once was, he’s now too much of a threat for us to risk even attempting to take him alive.”
Prism shrank in her seat.
Fade sat on the edge of the table, avoiding her eyes. He couldn’t say he disagreed with the committee’s decision. If Fade hadn’t reached Prism when he did, it was probable she would’ve been Aiden’s next victim.
“I know this looks bad, but if he’s being compelled by forces beyond his control—” Prism’s voice cracked.
“I wish we could afford to take that chance, but how can we? Not when he’s already killed one of our own.” Talon frowned. “We still don’t know Brink’s endgame. We’re assuming that he sent the team to the hospital after you, but seeing that the Adjudicator was on site, chose to switch to the higher value target.”
Fade had to work to keep from openly scoffing. Maybe she didn’t have the political clout, but he couldn’t help thinking the loss of Prism would be overall worse for DOSA than the absence of the Adjudicator would prove to be.
“What if that is Brink’s goal?” Prism asked. “His first attack was on a banquet where all the committee members were in attendance, which I wasn’t even supposed to be at, apparently. Glint only added me to the guest list after the final approval. The Adjudicator made a point of telling me so.”
“I didn’t realize you two had been left off the initial list. It’s possible you’re right, but since then, Brink’s gone after you twice.” Talon bounced Ruby lightly, keeping his eyes focused on her. “The second attack, maybe I could imagine he somehow found out that the Adjudicator would be near you, but not the first. Assuming that Earwig was hired by Brink and that wasn’t some sort of weird coincidence.”
“It wasn’t,” Fade said before he could stop himself.
Talon eyed him. “You seem certain.”
“Call it a gut feeling, but I’m a big believer in the simplest solution generally being the correct one,” Fade quickly added. “We weren’t even expecting the Adjudicator’s visit. Assuming Brink found out in time to move his entire team across the country doesn’t make sense. If you don’t mind me saying so, the Adjudicator’s true identity was a terribly kept secret. He would’ve been just as easy to attack in his ritzy DC penthouse as he was at that hospital.”
“That’s true. Hidden identities don’t really provide much protection in these days of doxing and constant cellphone footage,” Talon agreed. “Either way, Lucia, you knew Aiden better than any of us. Do you really think if there were anything left of him, what happened this morning would’ve happened?”
Prism’s eyes fell shut, and she remained silent.
“I didn’t think so.” Talon stood and offered Ruby to Fade.
Fade took the baby who started smacking her lips again. He put his knuckle near her mouth and allowed her to suck on it. The sensation was odd, to say the least, but it seemed to satisfy her temporarily.
“I felt you deserved a warning in person, which is why I’m here, but from now on DOSA agents will be under orders to take out any of Brink’s team on sight. We can’t risk losing anyone else.”
“I understand,” Prism whispered.
Talon rested his hand momentarily on her shoulder, his gaze somber. “I’m sorry that we’re seeing each other under these circumstances. This should be a happy time for you. I’m going to make sure you’re protected until Brink’s team has been neutralized, one way or another. In the meantime, take the time you need. Try and focus on your daughter.” His expression lightened slightly. “I just realized, I never asked her name.”
“Ruby,” Prism said. “We named her Ruby.”
“That’s lovely.” Talon smiled. He then nodded to Fade. “I have to get back to DC. Brink’s team has disappeared again. We found his drone ditched east of San Diego, but the trail went cold after that. We’re expanding the search into all southwestern states, but depending on the transportation available to them, they could be halfway back to DC by now. Even so, you need to be cautious.”
“I will. Thanks for the warning.”
With one last sad smile, Talon left.
Prism leaned forward in her chair, drew several deep breaths, then sat up straight again.
She glanced at Ruby. “Is she hungry? She looks like she’s going to town on your hand.”
“She’s getting there,” Fade said.
Prism stood. “I’m really tired. I’m going to go upstairs and feed her then see about getting some sleep.”
“Do you want to talk about what Talon said?” Fade asked.
She shook her head. “Not yet. Maybe in the morning I’ll have more clarity. Right now ... I don’t know. Nothing makes sense anymore. I feel like I’ve been pushed into some alternate dimension where I can’t trust the institution I’ve been employed by my entire adult life, where my brother is now my enemy, where ... where I have no idea what the right choice even is.” Tears dripped down her face. “I need to sleep. If only for a few hours.” She ran her hand across his shoulder and down his arm before easing Ruby out of his embrace.
The baby immediately twisted her head in the direction of her mother’s chest and commenced smacking her lips again.
Prism laughed. “I think she smells the milk.”
Fade pulled a face. “So weird. Do you want me to come up with you?”
“Are you ready for bed already?” she asked.
He shrugged. “I will be soon. I’d like to check in on the team first, make sure everything is locked down. As nice a gesture as the DOSA bodyguards are, I trust our team more. I want to make sure they’re filled in on what’s going on.”
“That sounds like a plan,” she said. “Tell them I’ve put you temporarily in charge now that my maternity leave has started. You can speak for me for a few days at least. You’re my right hand man, after all.” She held her face upward, and he bent down and kissed her lips.
“I’ll take care of it.”
As soon as Prism left, Fade fired off a text with the cliffnotes version of their meeting with Talon as well as Prism’s assertion that he was covering for her while she rested. A series of acknowledgement texts answered him. This done he collapsed in a conference room chair.
He should go to bed, if only so he could watch Lucia and Ruby sleeping, to be there in case they needed him. However, his mind still churned. There was no way he could stay still enough not to keep Lucia awake. He’d give them some time to fall asleep before he joined them.
The conference room opened, and Tanvi entered, her brown eyes downcast.
Fade straightened. “Hey, you okay?”
“No, not really.” She fiddled with her ponytail. “I owe you an apology and maybe a little bit of groveling.”
He leaned forward in his chai
r. “What for?”
She let the words go in a rush. “Today at the hospital, when I should’ve only been thinking about protecting Pris and your baby, I ... let other emotions get the better of me.”
“You could’ve fooled me. As far as I could tell you were your normal badass self.” He flashed her a smile, hoping to reassure her. Instead her eyes watered.
Oh, crap. Crying woman. This isn’t in my job description. Where’s Prism?
Realizing he couldn’t bother Prism right now, he stood from his chair to face Tanvi. “Hey, easy. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be snarky. I was just trying to make you feel better.”
Tanvi rubbed at her eyes. “In the hallway, when I had to take the shot at Aiden—” She choked.
Realization flooded Fade as he remembered the chunk of wall Tanvi had tossed at Aiden—only to hit nowhere near his head. “You missed on purpose?”
“I’m not sure.” Her shoulders dropped. “I started the throw with every intention of taking him down, then I saw his face, and my arm went all wobbly. It was like half of me wanted to hit him and the other half just wanted to drop to my knees and beg him to come home again.”
Fade’s discomfort softened to empathy. He placed his hand on her arm. “You’re not the only one who is conflicted over this whole mess. I keep wanting to believe the kid isn’t all gone, that we can find a way to bring him back. I’m not sure I’d have been able to take him down either.” Not completely true. Fade couldn’t think of a person in the world he wouldn’t straight out murder if it would keep Ruby and Prism safe.
“It would be so much easier if he didn’t look like ... himself,” she whispered. “I kept expecting him to shoot me a sardonic smile and say something acerbic but hilarious, you know?” She wiped her eyes on her sleeve. “Sorry to dump this on you. I normally cry on Prism’s shoulder, but she’s got so much going on right now—”
“It’s okay.” Fade squeezed her arm. “Take a minute.”
She stood tall again. “No, I’m good now. I just needed to get it off my chest. I’m going to see if there’s any margarita mix left in the break room. You want to join me?”
He shook his head. “No. I was just clearing my mind for a minute before turning in for the night. Sorry. I know you hate drinking alone.”
