Cloud Rebel: R-D 3 (9 page)

"I've seen enough of Merle," I said, breaking the tension. "Let's look at the others."

Drawers were pulled out for the next two; one had been shot by Rafe, the other showed no physical signs as to why he died. "How did you do this?" I asked Val. I'd have separated his particles. Somehow, Val had avoided doing that, leaving our intended attacker just as dead.

"He was threatening you," Val said. "A Larentii is always allowed to protect his mate. I merely separated his life force from his body, so your esteemed Colonel and our compatriot, here, could examine the body at their leisure." He'd nodded toward Rafe when he'd said compatriot. He'd almost said co-mate-I understood that quickly.

Val was already considering Rafe/Ilya a member of our family.

Wow
.

"Can you see anything in either of these?" Rafe asked me. I stopped still for a moment. It was a question he'd have asked-well-Corinne.

"Not a clone," I said of the first one-the one Rafe had killed. "Had an obsession," I sighed. "No idea what it was, as usual. No ID from fingerprints?" I turned to Auggie.

"Nothing in the database."

"Could be a drug survivor-in fact, that is most likely," Val agreed. "Since Rinnelar cannot find his identity any other way."

"What about the other one, then?"

I turned to the other one-the man Val had killed to protect me. Now I could see much in him.

Unfortunately.

"Denton Kemp," I sighed. "Former Black Ops. More recently of the CIA. He and Merle were like this," I held up two crossed fingers. "Also, recent visitor to Ireland. Need I go on?"

"I'll get Matt on the phone," Auggie said and hauled his cell from a pocket.

* * *

Cori
, Matt greeted me in mindspeech when we walked into his office.

Matt
, I nodded in return.

"Please sit," Matt said aloud. "So, Denton Kemp, eh. He's been undercover-according to the CIA-for a very long time."

"He's under a sheet in the morgue, now," I pointed out. "He and Merle, both."

"I imagine Askins led him astray," Matt blew out a breath. "He was a decorated officer in the military."

I felt the same way and offered Matt a slight nod of agreement. Askins had too much blood on his hands, and a rather large percentage of it was innocent blood, or nearly so.

"I'm glad you wanted to come by," Matt sighed. "I heard from Opal about an hour ago. Those in the Dublin photographs, according to latest reports, are headed this way and bringing some of their less than sympathetic goons with them."

"Why?" Auggie asked.

"Because Matt and Opal just emptied Dublin of the underground, and now the hounds are on the scent," I said.

"Better to fight them on familiar terrain-to us, anyway," Matt said. "I'm hoping that if we capture the right ones, we may be able to get to those behind this new movement and bring it down before it has a chance to develop into a new world-domination scheme."

"Fucking hell, Michaels," Auggie snapped. "You could have warned us ahead of time."

* * *

"Where do you suppose they are?" Rafe asked. He, Val and I were back at the beach house in Port Aransas. I felt weary after Matt's bombshell. We sat on the back deck of the house, in full sunlight; Val was nearly naked while I wore a tank top and shorts in order to soak up as much sunlight as possible.

Rafe wore Ray-Bans, jeans, boots and a light jacket-the temps were in the high fifties on the south Texas beach. Val had chosen to cover up his sweet spot with a Speedo. Yes, some people can wear Speedos.
All
Larentii can wear them.

"You wanted to see us?" Sergei and Katya joined us on the deck.

"Yes," Rafe nodded. "It seems that Director Michaels has arranged for your friends from Dublin to come to the U.S." he began.

"That's wonderful," Katya said.

"He's using them as bait, to draw the enemy in," Rafe concluded.

"And that's not so wonderful," I said.

"I beg you to protect them-as you did me," Sergei pleaded.

"Honey, I'll do my best, but with Sirenali involvement, that may be too little too late," I said.

"Do they know when and where they will arrive?" Katya asked. She pulled Sergei toward the love seat so they could sit together.

"He only gave them a time and place to show up at the Canadian border-plus enough cash to get there," I said. I anticipated having another conversation with Matt Michaels-when I was calm enough not to call him a half-meddling cactus molester.

"That is quite humorous, my love," Val said aloud.

"What?" Rafe turned toward Val.

"She called Director Michaels a half-meddling cactus molester."

"Not out loud," I defended myself. "I just thought it. I can't help if Val reads my thoughts."

"I love your thoughts," Val chuckled.

"Sure. Good thing I don't have to use the bathroom, then. You'd back away quick. What can we do to help Katya and Sergei's friends?"

"I go get them," Bekzi offered.

"I'll go with you," Rafe nodded.

"Daddy, they don't know you," Katya began.

"Would it be better to take Katya or Sergei with us?" I asked.

"You're going?" Val lifted a blond eyebrow.

"I think we're all going," I said.

"What's this? Where are you going?" Leo walked onto the deck, a cup of coffee in his hands. "We have a session planned for the afternoon," he reminded Katya and Sergei.

"We need to grab their friends before the bad guys do," I said. "Then you can talk all you want."

"Then I'm not staying here by myself," Leo grated.

"Fine."

"I believe they are currently caught in a snowstorm," Val announced. He'd gone
Looking
for them, evidently.

"What?" Katya turned concerned eyes to Val.

"I understand that it was their plan to pose as hikers. A heavy snowstorm is falling where they are and they only have tents to protect them from the elements."

"How does he know that?" Leo whispered.

"I'll explain later," I offered. "For now, we really ought to get them out of there. Val, are they armed?"

"Yes," he nodded.

"Damn," Rafe muttered.

"I'll make sure nobody freezes if you'll disarm them," I suggested to Val.

"Done," he agreed. "We will return shortly," he said, and leaving a shouting crowd behind us, transported just the two of us to a forest in Quebec.

Snow fell heavily about us and in the distance, I could see the top halves of two, bright-blue tents. Winds whipped and moaned about them; if they hadn't been half-buried by snow, they'd have toppled over with the force of the storm.

"Honey, what's that sound?" I turned to Val when the mechanical growl reached my ears.

"My love, the vision of those in the tents has just been cut off," Val said.

"Sirenali," we said at the same moment.

"Well, well, fancy meeting you two here," Opal landed in the snow beside us. She was capable of folding space, just as Val, Matt and I could.

"There is a Sirenali nearby," Val said. "My vision of those inside the tents has been negated."

"Mine, too," Opal agreed. "I figure whoever is driving that Snowcat has a Sirenali with them."

"They believe there will be no opposition when they take those inside the tents?" Val asked.

"Yes," Opal confirmed.

"Then I suggest we remove those inside the tents and send them to Katya and Sergei," Val offered.

"Want to replace them with us?" Opal wagged a finger between herself and Val.

"You want a full, frontal assault?" I asked.

"Suits me." Opal pulled a pistol from a jacket pocket and checked the charge. She still carried the weapon I'd given her last time. A ranos pistol would make short work of any attackers-and destroy their Snowcat, too.

"So you can't bring one in, but if somebody gives you one," I grinned at her.

"Yep. You don't know how many times I've thanked you for this." She held the pistol up.

"We have movement," Val whispered.

We did. Someone was using a camp shovel to dig his way out of a tent. He'd heard the Snowcat, just as we had. Once he had enough room to move his head and shoulders out of the entrance, someone in the tent handed a rifle through.

Brave man
, Opal sent.

Yeah. Val, I'll move them
, I began.

The ground exploded in a half-mile radius around us.

Chapter 6

Corinne

I wanted to curse. Val and Opal remained grimly silent nearby, so I kept my mouth closed. Leo was busy in the media room, checking Sergei and Katya's friends for injuries and hearing damage.

At least they'd settled down and stopped shouting when they landed at the beach house next to Katya and Sergei. I imagined Leo was swamped with questions, not least among them how they'd arrived in Texas before getting blown up in Canada.

"Matt's got people searching for those responsible," Opal grumbled before searching for a chair. "It's obvious we can't get a handle on them because of Sirenali involvement."

"I figure the Canadian government will have something to say if they find out who sent these folks in their direction," I pointed out.

"He's doing damage control," Opal said. "Neither of us imagined they'd get attacked like that. I went anyway, just to make sure they were safe in the snowstorm."

"Anything left of the Snowcat?" I asked.

"I can check on that," Opal nodded. "Be back in a few."

"I love her," I said after she disappeared.

"She is most competent," Val agreed. "She added her shields to mine to protect the tents and their inhabitants," he added.

* * *

Notes-Colonel Hunter

"These are the satellite photographs," James said, handing his tablet to me so I could look at the huge crater in Quebec, where pristine wilderness used to be. The dark pit was made more prominent by the heavy layer of snow that surrounded it.

"Matt says they barely had time to get those people out of there before everything exploded," I shook my head at the damage. "If the Canucks hear of our involvement," I blew out a breath.

"So everybody's all right? Cori, too?" James asked.

"They appear to be fine," I said. "I just heard from Leo-he says no hearing damage, even, so Cori and Val had some serious protection going on."

"I miss seeing her every day," James said. "I haven't had good cookies in more than a year."

"I never thought I'd consider the days at the mansion as the good old days," I said. "But you're right. I miss seeing her all the time, too."

"Nathan wants to move up our wedding date-just in case," James shifted uncomfortably.

"So Corinne can come?" I asked.

"Yeah. We want her to stand with us, as a member of the family," he said.

"You know she will-if it's at all possible."

"Do you know where she'll be-where she'll go-when this is over?"

"I have no idea where the Larentii homeworld is," I said. "Ask her. She'll be more likely to tell you than me, I think."

"Why?"

"Corinne has always considered you the son she wanted," I sighed. "Rafe, too. They'd protect you with their lives, unless I'm much mistaken."

"I wish there wasn't a problem with Rafe," James dropped his gaze. "You know he'll go nuts if he figures out who she is, now."

"You want both of them there at the wedding, don't you?" I was beginning to understand James' dilemma.

"Yes. Nathan's family will be there-I want Cori and Rafe there as mine."

"Let me talk to Shaw-perhaps he can present this to Corinne and Val. They may be able to come up with a viable solution."

"I just worry about the wedding turning into a disaster if Rafe goes nuts," James admitted.

"I see your point," I said. "Meanwhile, ask Director Michaels for a meeting. We probably should inform the President of our involvement with a newly-formed crater in Quebec. We should also investigate the types of explosives used. Get Captain Finch on the line-I want to speak with him."

"Yes, sir."

* * *

Corinne

"Nothing left of the Snowcat except burned, twisted wreckage," Opal reported when she reappeared. "It looks as if it were controlled remotely-at least there at the end. The driver and his pet Sirenali may have made a run for it before the explosives detonated. "

"So, they wanted everybody to pile out of the tents and then boom," I mimed an explosion with my fingers.

"Looks that way. The Snowcat was armed with remotely controlled guns, too, if my hunch is correct."

"So if the explosion didn't work?" I guessed.

"That's my guess, too," Opal agreed.

"I find this fascinating-the lengths some humanoids will go to just to kill others of their kind," Val said.

"It's frightening," I said. "We lost Nick and Maye and I still miss them," I added. "Besides, are Lyristolyi and Sirenali considered humanoids?"

"If they spend more than half their time in a humanoid guise, the Larentii consider them humanoid," Val said. "Although in the Archival Index, they have a coded description that any Larentii can decipher easily. It indicates that they have at least one alternate shape. The Saa Thalarr are also listed as such."

"I ran across some of those," I nodded. "Thanks for clearing that up."

"I regret that I was not there to meet you upon your arrival. I would have enjoyed showing you the Archives and answering your questions."

"They're all fine," Rafe strode out of the house and chose a chair nearby. "Thank you for saving their lives," he nodded to Val and me. "Sergei and Katya didn't need that blow."

"I'm glad we could do something about it," I said. I was also glad Val and I had gone without the others, but I didn't say it aloud. The explosion as it happened around us was terrifying enough, and we'd been shielded throughout.

"Honey," I turned to Val, "I need sunlight."

"I, too," he agreed. "Come, I will transport us."

* * *

Ilya

"How are you feeling?" Opal asked. "Any bad dreams or unexpected rages, lately?"

"They disappear almost before they can form-on both counts," I replied. "Do you have an explanation for that?"

"None at the moment," she shrugged.

"That's-Rinnelar. She's," I couldn't get the words past my lips.

"I believe Val has devised a way to keep the obsession from manifesting," Opal said. "If I were you, I'd be glad about that."

"I am glad. I feel jealous," I admitted.

"Don't. Or, if you just can't help it, ask him to remove it. It's fairly simple for a Larentii to do; it doesn't harm you in any way and doesn't interfere with anything else except your jealousy."

"That's a fascinating concept," I mumbled, unsure whether I should ask the Larentii for any favors. I felt I owed him enough as it was.

"You'll be surprised at what Val might do for you-if you ask," Opal said. "He won't interfere past what he's already done, but that, in essence, was to protect Rinnelar first."

Opal's admission ramped up the jealousy I already felt. "Don't let it get too far or I'll call him back here myself," she cautioned.

She was right-we didn't need dissension among our ranks. We needed to stand firmly together or we could end up losing this war. The explosion in Quebec was a grim reminder of that reality.

There were so many questions I wanted to ask-not just of Opal or Val, but of Rinnelar. That's not all I wanted from her, but was terrified to even entertain such thoughts.

"I know this is hard for you," Opal said. "We'll sort it out, just have faith and bear with us."

"Before, I'd be ripping this deck apart while having this conversation."

"I prefer the more peaceful version," she deadpanned.

"As do I. I finalized the deal on the Italian villa. Should I inform Rinnelar?"

"I'd wait-we haven't tested Val's solution to its fullest extent," she replied. "It's difficult to gauge the strength of any obsession placed by a Sirenali."

"Ah. Probably wise."

"Probably."

* * *

Corinne

I hadn't meant to fall asleep while soaking up sunlight. I woke in Val's arms, both of us naked, of course. "Are you rested?" Val breathed against my cheek. "If not, I will sing you back to sleep."

"We should get back," I yawned.

"Then I will see that you sleep again when we arrive."

"Okay."

* * *

Captain Brett Walker

We'd been talking with Dr. Shaw much of the morning, then working out under Dr. Farrell's supervision most of the day. Therefore, Jennifer and I knew little about the events of the day or why there were now five new people at the beach house.

When we walked into the kitchen, searching for something that might pass for dinner, we found Rafe and Rinnelar working together to cook dinner while Val and Opal, another new arrival, sat at the island to watch.

"Is that chicken and dumplings?" I sniffed the air. My stomach growled, informing me that chicken and dumplings was exactly what was on the menu. I loved chicken and dumplings.

"Correct," Rafe turned and nodded at me. "A drink is in order, perhaps? We have Scotch, wine, rum-the liquor cabinet is fully stocked."

"How about an old-fashioned?" Opal asked, rising from her chair. "I make a pretty good one."

"I'll take it," I nodded. "Jen-what about you?"

"Wine?"

"We have pinot noir, Riesling, cabernet sauvignon, shiraz, several others," Rinnelar said. "Your choice."

"Pinot noir," Jen said immediately.

We watched as Rinnelar popped the cork from a bottle with barely a look, caught it neatly and set it in front of Jen while the bottle turned itself and poured into a wineglass.

"How do you do that?" Jen breathed as the wineglass floated toward her and set down gently by her hand.

"Power, young one," Val said. "Her hands are covered in flour, else she'd have done it in a more conventional way."

"That's amazing," Jen said before lifting the glass and tentatively tasting the wine. "Good," she nodded.

"It's my favorite red," Rinnelar smiled and went back to cutting dumpling dough into squares before dropping them into boiling broth. Rolled and cut dumplings-my favorite.

"Our werewolf is hungry," Val announced. I went still.

"Huh?" Jen's head swiveled toward Val.

"It is time Dr. Farrell told both of you what you are," he said.

"I was waiting," Richard Farrell snapped as he walked into the kitchen.

"What were you waiting for?" Val demanded. "Perhaps for the time when the full moon comes and he begins to feel its pull? Perhaps for that time? Things were different for Nicholas, because he'd grown up seeing it in others. This-you have three days, Doctor. I suggest you get to it. If you have limited experience with this, then I expect you to allow someone better versed in the change to tell him."

"I suppose you think you're going to?" Farrell wasn't happy, and I could scent the anger and embarrassment flowing off him. Yes, it shocked and worried me, but not nearly as much as the rest of the conversation had.

"No, I suggest that Opal make contact with one nearby. William Winkler is in residence down the beach-he is the Dallas Packmaster and will do this for us, I think."

"What the bloody hell?" Dr. Farrell exploded.

"You should have considered this before the drug was administered," Val said, his voice soft. "If you cannot calm yourself, I shall do it for you."

Dr. Farrell took a step toward Val, his face dark with anger. Val rose from his seat before becoming nearly nine feet tall and blue-skinned. Farrell stopped in his tracks. Not because he wanted to, but because Val used his power to prevent Farrell's approach. A long, blue finger snaked out and tapped Farrell lightly on the forehead. Farrell's body dropped gently to the floor as he lost consciousness.

"I'll call Winkler," Opal said and pulled out her cell phone.

* * *

Corinne

William Winkler, werewolf and Dallas Packmaster, arrived in an hour, accompanied by his son, Wayne. "If anybody except Opal had called, I'd be calling them delusional," Winkler said shortly after his arrival. "Now, what's this about a drug and replication?"

"Tied up with national security," Matt Michaels wandered in. I gave him a look-one that said he'd never fool me for a minute. He pointedly ignored my look and paid attention to Winkler instead.

"Want chicken and dumplings?" I went right over Matt's head and employed what would interest any werewolf-the promise of food.

"I smelled it the minute I got here," Wayne declared.

"Then come have some," I invited. "The others are already eating."

That's how Val and I came to know the Dallas Packmaster and his son, who acted as his Second. Richard Farrell, who was now awake again, functioned in a better, more civilized manner as he ate. I suppose he realized that nobody should ever pick a fight with a Larentii.

"Larentii," I pointed to Val and myself when Winkler asked.

"I've only had dealings with one Larentii before," Winkler said.

"Pheligar," Val said.

"How did you know?" Winkler's interest was piqued.

"He is my uncle, as well as the Liaison for the Saa Thalarr, who in turn had dealings with Lissa."