Cloud Rebel: R-D 3 (22 page)

Unlike my Larentii tutors, however, I could not control atoms. I couldn't create or destroy the same way they could. Whatever I blasted that afternoon, they rebuilt with barely a thought so I could destroy it again. An advanced spell might do the same, but I didn't have enough time to learn it and it wasn't the same as commanding atoms, anyway. It was merely reconstructing the bits and pieces left after an object's destruction.

Still, I hoped to learn it, someday.

"Time to go," Colonel Hunter walked warily into the basement where I practiced my new skills.

"Here," Corinne held out a hand and ensured that I was dressed appropriately in a dark suit and tie. "Wouldn't do to go see the Prez looking like you just reduced a wall to rubble, you know."

"What if they won't allow me to return here?" I asked.

"You can fold space now, remember?" Corinne said. "Send mindspeech. I'll let you know where we are. I doubt we stay here-there's no reason for it."

"All right. What about Brett and Jen? I understand the meeting is so late because the President was waiting for their flight to arrive."

"You can take them anywhere with you," Corinne said. "If they want to come."

"What about Katya and Sergei?"

"Bekzi will keep them safe," she said. "Count on it."

"All right," I said, straightening the cuffs on the suit I wore. I could tell by the feel that the fabric was expensive and of the highest quality. Corinne had dressed me like royalty. "I am ready to go," I nodded to Colonel Hunter. "We will get this over with quickly."

Chapter 13

Notes-Colonel Hunter

"Thank you for coming on such short notice," the President said. I wanted to laugh-these four didn't have a choice but to appear at the President's bidding.

Ilya wore no expression-he waited to see what the President's command was. Jen and Brett-they had no idea what was going on. Farrell sat nearby, undisguised anger marring his features.

"I received a note yesterday," the President said. "From former President Phillips. I've made copies for you to see," he said, pushing four sheets of paper toward Jen. Trust him to expect the woman to act as secretary and distribute the notes to the others. I also noted that I wasn't included as a recipient. I also wondered at his reason for withholding this information from Matt and me earlier.

It's because he didn't have it earlier
, Cori's voice whispered in my ear. Once again, she was in the Oval Office, shielded from sight. The information she provided made me want to shiver.
It's fabricated
, she confirmed.
I've already told Ilya
, she added.

"This is a threat against you and your office," Brett set his copy of the note on Granville's desk.

"Yes it is," Granville agreed. "I am taking steps to eliminate that threat. This is where you come in. As members of the Program, your assignment is to assist in the search for evidence at Phillips' home in Virginia," he said. "It is my plan to wait until he is away. You and my special unit will get inside, take evidence, make it look like a break-in and get out. We need to know what his plans are, you understand."

Until they discover that Phillips isn't gone and he and his goons either become dead or make Granville's team dead,
Corinne said
. My bet will be on the latter. Granville has no idea what he is facing, including Sirenali who can command them to shoot themselves or each other, to a brain-damaged version of Ilya, who is a loose cannon
.

At that moment, I wished mightily for mindspeech. Granville had gone off the deep end, in my opinion.

He wants to be able to point a finger at Phillips-for Amelia Sanders' death, Graye Sanders' suicide and conspiring with the insurgency. I doubt he'll get the evidence he wants
, Cori said.
I think he wants the path smoothed for his election and get rid of an old enemy at the same time. He's been thinking about this ever since he first sat in that chair
.

I guess the old saying was correct-
power corrupts
. It certainly looked that way from where I was standing. I realized, too, how precarious my position had become. Matt's too, when it came down to it.

The President could replace either or both of us, on a whim.

"Why am I here, then?" Farrell demanded.

"I think you know why," Granville turned to him with a smile. "I have a feeling you know where more of the drug is. Don't you?"

* * *

Corinne

Richard Farrell did know. Just as he'd kept blood from Maye and Nick, he'd kept a stash of the drug left over from the experiments on himself. I'd ignored it, since my life had been saved by a second dose of the drug early on. I considered it insurance, in case Ilya needed help.

Well, that time had just passed. Granville wanted to bring back the experimentation. He wanted to deepen his resources. Make his own Sirenali and who knows what else?

Farrell
, I sent,
Tell him that the drug and any remaining blood has been destroyed. As of five seconds ago. By me. If he doesn't believe you, tell him to check for himself. All of it has been neutralized
.

You didn't
, Farrell snapped back.

I did. He's not going to do this a second time. If Phillips doesn't kill him, the Lyristolyi will
.

"I know where it is, but its effectiveness has been neutralized," Farrell informed the President stiffly. "I can tell you where it is, but it won't do any good."

"How was it neutralized?" Granville became angry immediately.

"Corinne," Farrell said. "She said if Phillips didn't kill you first, then the Lyristolyi would if you used the drug for more experiments."

"Then tell Corinne that she is no longer welcome in the United States," Granville hissed. "I have no control over other countries, but she needs to get off American soil."

"Your wish, my command," Corinne dropped her shield. "If your ass needs saving again, don't look to me to help you." With that, she disappeared. I listened while Granville cursed a second time that day.

* * *

Ilya

I'm in Canada
, Corinne informed me.
For now. Is it all right if Val and I use the villa in Italy?

Of course, my love. Please, take Sergei and Katya with you. I want them to be safe. I fear that Granville will want to ensure my cooperation with this mad scheme he has concocted. Taking them hostage will be first on his list
.

I'll take Bekzi and their friends, too
, she responded.
Finch can continue his witch-hunt here in Canada without us. I think the enemy is much too smart to leave anything useful behind for him to discover
.

If there were something, I feel we would have found it by now
, I agreed.

Yeah. Well, you know where I'll be
, she said.
If you want to get away
.

That may be sooner than you think, my love.

I love you, too.

I know this. Stay safe, beloved
.

* * *

Corinne

"Leo, you should come with us. Is it possible for you to take Nathan along-as an assistant?"

"With Matt's permission," Leo agreed. "I think we can get that with little argument."

"Good. I just didn't want to leave him here to listen to Finch," I said.

Leo Shaw and I stood in the kitchen while Val shielded us-I didn't want anyone else to hear while I explained what happened in the President's meeting. Leo understood what I didn't say, too-that Auggie and Matt could lose their jobs just by pointing out the flaws in the President's plans.

"Something has caused this mental break-this acute stress disorder," Leo said. "Perhaps due to the pressure suddenly placed upon him, coupled with the fact that he is likely marked for death-at Phillips' earliest opportunity. You saw how easy it was to get President Sanders out of the way."

"I understand that part. What I don't understand is dismissing the best protection he'll ever have, just so he can go after Phillips on an ill-conceived whim."

"And if he were thinking clearly, he would realize these things. He is not thinking clearly, and as he holds the highest office in the country, he has the power to enforce his ill-conceived whim."

"This is insane," I whispered.

"Not insane, just in desperate need of help, which is something he isn't getting, that's obvious," Leo said.

"Leo, it's insane in the fact that he can cause World War Three if he isn't careful and right now, he doesn't understand that."

"Let me call Colonel Hunter and Director Michaels. We can continue this discussion in Italy, once we have permission to take Nathan with us."

* * *

"Cori, I want you to come for James," Auggie said over the phone. "I know you have Nathan there with you, and since things are so dicey here, well, you understand what I'm saying. I'm approving an extended leave of absence, and I've sent Laci to her sister's."

"Yeah." I did understand. Auggie was worried about anybody close to him. When Granville's plan went into action, then anybody could become fair game if the Phillips clone survived the attack.

I was also beginning to worry about Norian Keef-we hadn't heard from him or Lendill Schaff in a while.

"I'll be right there," I said.

When I arrived in Auggie's office, James stood beside a packed suitcase and threw his arms around me when I appeared.

"Honey, Nathan's waiting for you," I kissed his cheek. "Stop worrying, okay?"

"Cori, keep him safe," Auggie said. "No matter what happens."

"You know I will," I said. "He's my son."

That caused James to hug me harder. "Come on, honey, let's go. I think we can get you some dinner from Carano's before they close."

Leo had already gotten takeout when I set James down in the villa's kitchen. Nathan lifted him up and gave him a generous smack before setting him down again.

"I think I got four of everything," Leo grinned as James and Nathan took seats at the table. Katya, Sergei and their friends were already seated and waiting. "Wine, too," Leo added. "Want anything?"

"No. Go ahead. I think I just want Val to take me somewhere sunny so we can feed."

"I watch and eat, too," Bekzi declared as he scooted a chair back. "Go. Get sunlight. We be fine."

Val, who'd watched everything with half a smile on his face, offered me a full grin before transporting me to Australia, where the sun was shining the following day.

* * *

"I guess I'm a woman without a country, now, since the President kicked me out," I said. We sat on a private stretch of beach, both of us naked and shielded. Val wrapped his arms around me while I leaned my head against his shoulder.

"He has no control over you, my love. You must understand that. It is that which he fears-that he has no control. Therefore, he acts irrationally, to exercise the control he can. To him, the world is spinning away from his grasp, making him fear for his life. He knows not how to deal with that."

"Should we go find Mister Norian and company, after we feed?" I asked, closing my eyes.

"Sleep now. When you are rested, we will hunt for him. I will bend time if necessary, to ensure that we find him."

"Awesome," I mumbled and allowed sleep to claim me.

* * *

"May we come with you?" Sergei asked when I explained that Val and I were going to look for Norian Keef the following morning. Val had let me sleep through our feed and then got me in bed at the villa without waking me. I felt better, at least, after the tiring events of the previous day.

"Val?" I turned to him after Sergei posed his question.

"I think it will be all right-if you wish it," Val nodded.

"Sure," I shrugged at Sergei. "You may get something interesting for lunch, but what the hell?"

"I've had interesting things for lunch before," Sergei flashed a grin. "I'll tell Katya."

* * *

Half an hour later, we were in Nevada again, where Val worked to coordinate Norian's movements.

"This is how my brothers and I learned to track those important to history, and detail the events surrounding them," he said, closing his eyes and employing his
Looking
ability to search for Norian's next stop. "Las Vegas," Val opened his eyes and smiled. "We will go to the hotel where he stayed."

The hotel Norian chose wasn't on the strip and didn't house a casino. I assumed he paid cash for his room-I doubted he had any credit cards. "Only one night," Val said as we studied the room. "I must
Look
again to find his next destination."

"Can you not just use your talent to find where he is now?" Katya asked.

"We don't know where he is," I informed Katya. "He and Lendill dropped off the radar days ago."

* * *

Unofficial communication from:

Geethe Cheriss, Prime Potentate of Lyristolys

To: Outland Commander Fisk Boralus

Subject: Capture

I am unsurprised by Keef's shapeshifting ability-he reveals the serpent I always imagined him to be. Condolences on the loss of two of yours from their wounds in capturing Keef. Keep him unconscious as much as possible. Threaten the death of his companion if he fails to cooperate. You understand the importance that their bodies be found elsewhere-I do not wish to have another conversation with Deonus Wyyld. I suggest you implement your plans quickly-I want this situation resolved very soon.

* * *

Morrett read the message a second time-quickly, before Fisk came back. It would be destroyed, just like all the others. Fisk's footsteps at their hotel door in Paris caused Morrett to retreat to his corner, where the comp-vid he was allowed to read lay waiting.

When Fisk arrived, there was no evidence that Morrett had ever moved from his corner. With hooded eyes, he watched as Fisk erased the message from Geethe Cheriss before stuffing the comp-vid in a trouser pocket.

Morrett knew some of the plans Fisk had for Earth.

They terrified him.

Fisk was about to unleash the first wave of attacks, and many would die. Morrett huddled farther into his corner and searched desperately through his comp-vid for a favorite story to read.

* * *

Ilya

Someone I didn't know had been placed in charge of our group. He was CIA, but claimed he worked for Matt Michaels.