Cloud Rebel: R-D 3 (18 page)

In this case, it was what had arrived.

"I am a who," Kalenegar, Head of the Larentii Council, declared. Ridding himself of his clothing with a thought, he sat beside Val and me. "Continue frolicking," he waved a hand at James and Nathan. "Have sex if you want. Larentii are surprised by nothing."

I clapped a hand over my mouth-it wasn't polite to guffaw. At least I didn't think it was.

"Lean back, close your eyes and rest," Valegar said, pulling me closer. "Kalenegar is here to feed with us."

I opened my eyes again. "You know there are some politicians," I said to Kalenegar, "who think that sharing our sunbeam here will deplete the amount of sunlight available for all of us."

Kal studied me for a moment before his eyes lit with humor and he smiled. "Tell that to the plants," he chuckled and turned his face toward the light.

"His cock is huge," I heard Nathan whisper to James.

I collapsed against Val, laughing.

* * *

Ilya

"Cabbage?" I found her sitting in the kitchen at the ugly building in Arlington. It was obvious that wherever she'd gone with Valegar, she'd taken James and Nathan with her. Both sat beside her at the island while eating soup and sandwiches from a nearby deli.

"We have some for you, too," she turned and gave me a smile.

"We went to Hawaii," James explained. "I feel so relaxed, now."

"Roast-beef?" I asked, heading for the white paper bags stacked on one end of the island.

"I got two for you," she said. "Plus au jus if you want to dip."

"That sounds wonderful." I opened bags to find dinner. "Do we have anything to drink?"

"Depends on what you want," she said.

"I'll take whatever you have."

"I'll have some, too," Leo Shaw walked into the kitchen. "Everybody here, now?"

"We're all here. I should take Nathan back to Canada later, but that can wait," Corinne said. "You need something?"

"I'll go back to Canada with Nathan, then," Leo said. "I hear things may be a bit strained, there."

"If Finch would stop being an ass," James said.

"Leo, you need to watch Dr. Farrell," Corinne suggested. "I think he's having issues, since he's only now learning that Jen isn't Maye."

"That concerns me," he said. "In fact, it was a call from him that turned my attention back to Canada."

"I'll take you. Call if you need me afterward, too," she offered. "I don't want him stalking Jen or giving anyone she's interested in a hard time."

"Understood. Did you learn anything at the White House, today?"

"Nothing significant," she shrugged.

Taking my sandwich and au jus from a bag, I took the barstool next to Corinne. "Did you decide what you wanted to drink?" she asked while Dr. Shaw rummaged through the bags for a sandwich.

"How about Macallan?" I asked.

"Thirty year," she held out a hand and a bottle appeared there. "Glass with ice," she said as those items appeared in her other hand.

"I love you," I said while opening the bottle.

"Just as long as it's you," she sighed. I understood exactly what she meant. The other me-the obsessed me-terrified her. I sipped excellent Scotch before turning back to her. "Here," I turned her head toward me with a finger and leaned in for a kiss.

"Mmm, Macallan," she whispered as she tasted it on my lips. "My favorite."

* * *

Corinne

My second day as a White House staffer was much like the first. Nobody I saw knew anything. Yes, Val and I had already employed our
Looking
skills, with no results. Whatever had happened was successfully blocked by Sirenali involvement.

Some employees, these closer to Madam President than those the day before, wept as they answered interviewers' questions. I heard through rumors and by reading it in some employees' gazes that Graye Sanders was packing to move out of the residence.

His personal staff would be leaving with him. I made a mental note to ask President Granville for a moment with them before they left.

Meanwhile, Norian Keef's scheduled arrival the following day weighed on my mind. I worried that he'd walk in with guns blazing, or slither in with fangs dripping and things would go south in a hurry.

In addition to that, I had an unnamed worry that aggravated my senses and wasn't identifiable in any sense. Forcing my thoughts away from that sense of dread, I focused on the line of people waiting to be interviewed.

* * *

"Did you know about this?" The Chief of Staff and I were having another lunch meeting with President Granville. We watched the noon news program while they had sandwiches.

There, on the screen, was the last thing I expected to see.

The perfect image of former President Phillips spoke with a well-known and respected news anchor. "Yes, I've issued the invitation to Graye Sanders to stay at my home in Virginia," the Phillips clone announced. "I spoke to him this morning, and he's considering my invitation-for after the funeral, you understand."

"Have you spoken with President Granville?"

"I've left messages for him, but I'm sure he's rather busy at the moment. Taking the reins of the finest country in the world is a heavy burden, especially when it lands on your shoulders so abruptly."

"He hasn't left me a goddamn thing," Granville growled.

"He was always good at spouting fiction," I said. "And this is his clone, in case you hadn't guessed already."

"I know the original is dead," Granville nodded. "What I can't figure out is how they got him to look like his former self."

"Surgery can be an amazing thing," I sighed. "Because that's exactly what has happened, here. You need to warn Graye Sanders that he needs to reject the invitation."

"I'll do that tonight," the President said. "I have a full schedule this afternoon. Kyle, make sure to send word to Graye."

"I'll see to it," the Chief of Staff agreed.

"Cori," the President turned to me. "What do you think they're doing?"

"Trying to get back in the White House, if my guess is correct," I said. "And then he may set his sights on world domination again."

"I hate this," Granville shook his head at the screen.

* * *

As it turned out, Graye Sanders didn't wait for a visit from President Granville. He and two staffers left in a limo that afternoon, with packed bags.

Word came to Granville through others that Graye would be staying at Phillips' estate in Virginia until after Amelia Sanders' funeral, scheduled for the following week.

Auggie, Matt, Rafe, Val and I fit ourselves into the meeting time Granville originally scheduled with Graye Sanders.

"The media is fascinated by the fact that the opposing party is now extending its hand to Amelia Sanders' husband," the President huffed.

"Sir," Kyle Lakin poured two fingers of bourbon in a glass and handed it to Granville while we sat in the Oval Office. Granville nodded his thanks and drank it in two swallows.

"What do you think?" He turned to the rest of us, then.

"The law states that Phillips can't run for the White House again," Matt began.

"But it doesn't keep him from bucking for the VP position," Auggie pointed out. "I'm waiting for somebody to suggest just that."

"That means they'll need my cooperation," Granville countered.

"Which will be easy if they get one of their schmucks to place an obsession," I said.

"You know what will happen if we attempt to call them out on this-in public or private," Matt agreed. "It'll sound like bad blood and sour grapes between parties, at a time when everybody is harping that we need to stand together."

"I'm sorry Amelia didn't announce his death when he actually died," Granville said. "We're stuck in the middle of a mess we made for ourselves."

"It would have taken some creative explaining," Matt nodded. "He wasn't slated to be here. The Secret Service records indicate he was abroad at the time."

"Where are those Secret Service agents now?" I asked. "I'm sure they're either dead or obsessed, wherever they are."

"They're with the new and unimproved Phillips," the Chief of Staff said. "I checked on that earlier."

"So they've likely been programmed to report that all is well in Phillipsland?" Auggie asked.

"Yep. The Director confirmed that this afternoon."

"No," I said, holding up a hand. "Has anyone laid eyes on them? Since the real Phillips and the real Hal Prentice died?"

"No," Kyle breathed.

"Fuck." I rose and pinched the bridge of my nose. "They may look like the original agents, now, but there's a really good chance they're replacements and all on board with the new agenda."

Dearest?
Val sent.

Cabbage?
Ilya's sending was right behind Val's.

"Wherever and whoever they are, they're obsessed-I can almost guarantee it," I said as Val rose to stand with me. "Phillips-and his clone-are Sirenali. Why wouldn't he obsess his employees?"

"Dear God, we're stuck in the middle of a bad sci-fi movie," President Granville moaned.

"Honey, we've been there for a while," I turned toward him and shook my head. While it may not have been proper to address POTUS as honey, he didn't seem offended. What I did see in him was this-he was terrified now to meet with anyone or go anywhere without me. While I couldn't blame him, it would put a crimp in my plans.

We have Norian scheduled to show up tomorrow,
I sent to Val, Auggie and Matt.
The President wants to add me to his staff
, I added.
Like immediately
.

It would be better if you provided protective services, rather than clerical,
Val offered.
I may have a solution too, for additional security
.

I blinked at him-he knew something I didn't.
I have to get permission, first
, he said.
I am contacting Father now
.
Perhaps you should contact Belen-he will have a say in this, too
.

Why?
I began before it hit me.

Belen was the ultimate supervisor for the Saa Thalarr. Whatever he said went, as far as they were concerned. If the future Belen contacted the future Saa Thalarr, that would make it even better.

After all, some of them were currently making their homes on Earth, in the here and now.

Val wasn't wrong-we probably needed help wrangling Norian and his team, as well as keeping President Granville safe-if we wanted to preserve the timeline as much as we could.

"We will have more security solutions for you shortly," Val announced. "I can arrange to have both you and your Chief of Staff shielded from harm, and provide some talented bodyguards."

"Are these bodyguards to be trusted?" Kyle Lakin asked.

"You will never be guarded by better or more trustworthy," Valegar replied. "Father is arranging it now."

"We're here," someone announced. I blinked as I studied the ones who'd come.

Justin Griffin, Mack Walters, Drake and Drew Tatsuya, Gavin Montegue and Anthony Hancock crowded into the Oval Office.

"What the hell?" Granville recognized Hancock.

"I graduated," Tony grinned. "From Earth."

"I want to add one more," I said.

"I know the one you want," Val nodded. William Winkler-the one from the future-also appeared.

I had a plan, now, as far as the current Winkler was concerned. I just needed some time to put it together and make it come out right. "We can only do guard duty," Tony Hancock explained. "We're not allowed to do more than that. We can only stay as long as we're needed, or if we're ordered to leave by you, Mr. President," Tony nodded to Granville.

"Good enough-for now," Granville agreed.

* * *

It took some doing-and several hours, to manipulate the Secret Service records and the minds of other agents to accept the new arrivals.

Val showed me how to accomplish all those things. None of those who'd arrived would be susceptible to any obsession.
Who are these people?
Rafe silently begged for an answer.

"Saa Thalarr," Winkler answered Rafe's unspoken question. "Don't worry, you are in the best hands possible."

"Saa Thalarr?" Rafe asked.

"Ah. I'll let Corinnelar explain that to you-or Val. You must understand that our very existence protects itself-you will be unable to speak of me or any of the others without permission."

"That's not frightening," Rafe mumbled.

"Very true," Tony Hancock smiled.

Chapter 11

Corinne

"Mack, Winkler and Justin took the first shift," I told Auggie. He, Matt, Val, Rafe and I sat in the kitchen at the ugly building in Arlington. It was late and we were still working out the protection plan.

"I'm still trying to figure out how Mr. Winkler is from the future and in Texas at the same time," Auggie yawned.

"Auggie, stop worrying about that. The President is having enough trouble coming to terms with the fact that Tony Hancock isn't dead. He, Gavin and the Falchani Twins will work the day shift tomorrow," I added.

"Maybe we should leave you in your current disguise, then," Matt suggested.

"Perhaps," Val nodded reluctantly. "It will allow her access to most meetings and such."

"And there I thought I could give up the perky outfits," I grumped.

"We have shields added to Valegar's on the building," the Falchani twins walked into the kitchen. "Any chance of a late dinner?"

"What would you like?" I asked.

"Fish?"

"Be right back," I said and folded space.

"This is very good," Ilya said. I'd gone to Paris to get something everybody would like, bringing back turbot aux beurre blanc, salad and cheeses. I added a good white wine to the mix and all humanoids were enjoying their dinner.

"Norian Keef just landed on the planet," Drew looked up from his fish to announce.

"Great. I was thinking daytime," I grumbled. "Not ten minutes after midnight."

"My love, would you like to accompany me?" Val asked. "We will greet Mr. Keef as our true selves."

"Awesome," I said. Val took my hand and we folded space.

* * *

Personal Record

Lendill Schaff

Norian looked annoyed when the two Larentii appeared in front of us. I, on the other hand, was outright terrified.

Father had warned me. Norian probably didn't realize how much trouble he could be in if he didn't mind his manners.

"Mr. Keef," the female Larentii began.

I blinked first because she was female. I blinked again when she frowned at Norian. "I see everything you have planned, you stupid, snake-assed excuse for an ASD Director," she snapped. "I warn you now, either listen to what I have to say or I send you right back where you came from-without the ability to bite anybody."

* * *

Ilya

One of Corinne's captives looked as if he were about to explode. The other had a confused expression on his face.

"I have ensured that they can speak and understand English," Val said, following behind as if he were herding both men.

"Well, what do we have here?" Colonel Hunter asked. "Want coffee or something stronger? I warn you, you won't get away from Cori. Not when she's like this."

"Who are you?" the second man asked. The first was turning purple with anger.

"I'm commonly known as Colonel August Hunter, Secretary of Defense," he introduced himself. "I have other titles, but those aren't as widely known."

"I'm Lendill Schaff, Vice Director of the Alliance Security Detail," he said. "I understand it is proper to extend a hand to you?"

"As long as you're not armed," Colonel Hunter held out a hand and clasped the one the Vice Director extended.

"I am not-the Larentii, here, made sure of that," he said.

"Please, sit," Colonel Hunter invited. "If you're hungry or thirsty, we will provide something. We must talk about those four agents who were sent, and how many murders they committed while engaging in a secret agenda I assume was never sanctioned by your agency."

"They committed murders?" Schaff asked while taking a seat at the island.

"They murdered twenty-two, including children, in a small town in the state of Texas, then two police officers in a nearby city before traveling to the state of Oklahoma and murdering everyone they found in a restaurant, there. Val and Cori will have to give you the particulars on their secret agenda; I'm still attempting to understand it myself."

"They had no secret agenda," the first man exploded.

"Shut up and sit down," Corinne snapped at him. When he refused to move, he found himself floating through the air before being dumped onto a barstool. When he attempted to slide off the stool, he was held there with power.

"Now," Corinne shook herself, as if dealing with the first man gave her the shivers, "Have either of you heard of the Elemaiya, and what happened to them?"

"My father said the race as a whole was beginning their descent, but I didn't know what he meant," Schaff said.

"Then you are the one we wish to speak with," Val nodded. "I know who your father is. He is most wise, I assure you. Those four sent by Director Keef, here," he jerked his head toward the other man, "were all half Elemaiya. They were sent on an alternative mission. Did you ever ask yourself how they came to know some of Earth's languages? It's because they were here before, when the gates were still open to them. More than three decades ago, the Bright Queen and the Dark King chose this world as their final battlefield. The one who prevented them from destroying Earth took their crowns so they couldn't do the same thing to any other worlds. The four agents sent by Director Keef were searching for those crowns, in an effort to get them back. They traced pockets of power left behind by the one who took the crowns and banished the Elemaiya from this world. Wherever they found the traces of power, they killed innocent inhabitants in an effort to obtain information those inhabitants did not possess. Is any of this getting through to you?" Val asked.

"You mean to tell me that they didn't search for drug survivors or remaining drug dust?" Director Keef hissed.

"They did not," Val stated flatly. "I hope you know that a Larentii does not lie-there is no reason for us to do so. I can recreate images of the carnage your four agents left behind if you wish to see it, or bend time and fold space to allow you to witness actual events, although I warn you that the images of dead children upsets Corinne a great deal."

"At least one of your agents had the talent for power blasts," Corinne leveled her gaze on Director Keef. "He burned that small town in Texas. Some of those babies were sleeping when they died. Maybe next time, you'll be more careful when you hire somebody."

"What do you expect me to do about it?" Director Keef hissed.

"Unless you can bring back the dead, maybe you ought to climb back on your spaceship and get the hell away from here," Corinne snapped.

"We should give a full report to the Founder," Schaff suggested. "That means examining the sites, recording images and gathering evidence before we go. We should also collect the bodies of our agents, to return them to the Alliance."

"You'll only get two of them," Colonel Hunter said. "Valegar separated the particles of two. Those bodies no longer exist."

"A Larentii felt it necessary to separate particles?" Schaff asked, his voice expressing wonder. "Norian, they must have attacked a Larentii."

"They were leveling power blasts at my Corinnelar," Val agreed stiffly. "I am allowed to protect my mate."

"May the stars never fail us," Schaff muttered. "I'll pass that along to my father."

"So the Larentii are responsible for the deaths of two of my agents?" Norian huffed.

"Yes," Val nodded. "If your Founder, Ildevar Wyyld, wishes to question a Larentii," he began.

"Norian," Schaff warned, placing a hand on Keef's arm.

"Who killed the other two?" Keef demanded.

"A werewolf, whom I refuse to identify," Corinne said. "Without his help, those fuck-ups you called agents would have killed more people, looking for crowns that are no longer on this planet."

"Then where are they?" Keef asked.

"With the Mighty Hand," Valegar replied. Keef snorted his disbelief. Schaff went completely still.

"You know what he's saying, don't you?" I spoke for the first time. Schaff had gone pale at Valegar's words.

"The Three are waking?" he shuddered.

"Hmmph," Valegar snorted.

"What in the name of the eternal light is he talking about?" Keef turned to his second-in-command.

"The god wars," Lendill muttered and dropped his gaze. "I can't say more than that. All I can say is that I need to have a long talk with my father when I get back."

"I thought you didn't get along with your father."

"I don't get along with my brothers."

"I see." Keef clearly didn't.

"Who the fuck are you?" Keef rounded on me, now, since I'd spoken to Schaff.

"That is a Karathian warlock, whose power hasn't been wakened," another man arrived in the same manner that Val and Corinne could travel.

"Father, we're handling things," Schaff muttered.

"And fucking them up quite well, I might add," the new arrival announced.

* * *

Corinne

Lendill Schaff had no clue.

None.

His father from the future had arrived to defuse the situation. Lendill thought it his father from the present. Kaldill Schaff tossed a glance in my direction. I understood much from that swift contact.

None of this was supposed to happen, yet here we were, having a discussion that should never have taken place.

I knew the drug was to blame for every bit of it. I began to understand better why it was death on other worlds to have or use it.

I understood something else from Kaldill Schaff, too.

Sometime in the future, the drug would be found again. I shivered at the thought.

I'm here now, because we may need you in the future
, Kaldill sent mindspeech.
In all the history of the drug, you are the only bright spot in it
.

* * *

That night turned out to be a very long one. Val and I-or mostly Val-bent time and folded space with Norian Keef, Lendill Schaff and Lendill's father, Kaldill. We were silent, invisible witnesses to the destruction caused by four half-Elemaiyan ASD agents who had a secret agenda.

Norian recorded every murder they committed on his handheld, while Lendill looked away in disgust and Kaldill silently blessed the spirits of the dead. When we ended up at the small restaurant in Cordell where the four Elemaiya died, Norian asked the question I knew was coming.

"He's with me," I said, meaning Gerrett. "If you think to take him, then you should think again."

"You will leave him where he is," Kaldill decreed. I watched as a blank look washed over Norian's features before he nodded.

The King of the Elves had spoken.

* * *

"Child, I think you should stay to help," Kaldill said to Lendill when we arrived at the ugly building in Arlington. Val had bent time again to bring us back just after we'd left.

"What about me?" Norian sniffed.

"You may do whatever you like, although your expertise would be useful," Kaldill leveled his gaze upon Norian. "Much is happening here. It will serve as good training for what you may face in the future."

"Can you expand on that?" Norian asked. He was learning respect-or at least offering it grudgingly.

"Not at this time. I believe that offering your services to the new President of this country will not go amiss. Especially since your agents did such damage on your watch while you ignored them."

It's not exactly his forte to take responsibility like that
, I sent to Kaldill.

"How, exactly, could I help him? I have little knowledge of this world," Norian said.

"I can show you an empty facility in Nevada, where rogue Lyristolyi wrote
fuck
Earth
on the ceiling while they were clearing it out three months ago," I said.

Norian went still. "Yes," he nodded after a moment. "Lendill and I should definitely stay."

* * *

"You said the magic words," Kaldill beamed at me before kissing me on both cheeks. "The Lyristolyi have been on Norian's list for a while. He knows they're up to something, he just hasn't found sufficient evidence, yet. He will do anything to prove their guilt."

"They hide behind Sirenali," Valegar said. "But we have learned that a mundane investigation may work much better than one fueled by power."

"Then perhaps they need assistance from more mundane sources here," Kaldill suggested. "I must go-many things require my attention. I hope to see both of you in the future."

"I hope so, too," I nodded. "I'm glad we met."

"If all goes well, we will do so again," Kaldill raised a hand. "Peace and joy to you," he said and disappeared.

"Sun and sleep," Val said. "Immediately."

"I'm all over that," I yawned.

* * *

I discovered later that Val bent time once again, to ensure that I had enough sleep before going back to work at the White House the following day.

I had coffee and a doughnut with James and Auggie before James drove me in. Auggie intended to bring Norian and Lendill up to date on what we knew about the Lyristolyi, but most of it revolved around the attack more than a year earlier and their suspected presence at the Nevada facility.