Feros and the Underworld Prince (17 page)

“
I’m trying to decide whether or not I’m going to have to kill you to keep the girl safe.” I say with a serious tone. In her defense, Carla doesn’t even look scared.

“
Who did you find in the central lab? How is she connected to all of this?” Carla inquires.

“
A three year old girl that I’ve grown attached to. The leader placed an order to kill her because they couldn’t risk her falling into ‘our’ hands and that she was no longer needed, right before I stepped in.” I say while judging her reaction. It should be obvious to Carla that this girl is somehow involved in the creation of whatever is enhancing the enemy forces.

“
I’m not allowing her to go to some lab to be studied.” I say sternly and Carla smiles in response, which worries me.

“
Well, then I guess it’s a good thing that we have the means to get what I need and what you want. She doesn’t have to go to a lab and I know of a person whom you trust to not run any harmful tests or procedures.” Carla says. It only takes me a moment to realize who she’s talking about.

“
Having Sara run tests from home is an acceptable compromise.” I concede.

“
Good; I’ll assign Katie as a research assistant and kill two birds with one stone.” Carla says and then we both exit the office.

Natasha’s waiting a little ways down the hall, looking like a nervous wreck. She breathes out a sigh of relief when she sees that we haven’t killed each other.

“
So what was that all about?” Natasha thinks.

“
Let’s just say that I have someone to introduce you to when we get back home.” I reply.

“
ALRIGHT! I’M AWESOME!” Ryuji shouts while raising his arms above his head.

“
Ryuji, what did Carla say about playing dating simulators in the office?” Natasha scolds.

“
What is ‘Only the non-pornographic kind, when you have no other work, and if you’re going to break rule number one, at least where headphones you jackass’?” Ryuji recites from memory like he’s answering a Jeopardy question

“
Exactly, don’t you have any work to be doing?” Natasha asks.

“
Not anymore! Thanks to the swift efforts of Harem King Feros over there—” Ryuji starts.

“
I told you to stop calling me that.” I interrupt while slowly shaking my head.

“—
I was able to get the location of their data transfer before the program they activated could erase everything.” Ryuji finishes.

“
Well, where is it?” Carla asks.

“
A night club in Minneapolis.”

Chapter 17: This One is Analogy Heavy

“
Alright, we need to move quickly on this. Cole, can we count on you again? We only lost four operators on a mission that would have been a total failure if it weren’t for you.” Carla asks. I nod in response, knowing that she can just manipulate me into going by giving this assignment to Natasha anyway.

“
Ryuji, bring up a blueprint of the building and any relevant information.” Carla orders.

Less than three minutes later, a blueprint is projected on screen showing a large structure with twenty foot ceilings and a raised ‘second-floor’ with a single office at the back of the club.

“
The club is owned by Dominic Hader, resident vampire; Special records indicate that he is 143 years old…” Ryuji says. I hear a few groans at the mention of his age.

“
I don’t get it, what’s the problem?” I think to Natasha.

“
That’s pretty old for a vampire, Cole. The oldest vampire that I’ve ever met was Reyna’s mother and she’s 287 years old. Vampires tend to live short, violent lives and they are by no means immortal. I don’t think it’s confirmed how old they can be, but five hundred years seems to be the record. However, the average life expectancy is just over fifty due to various reasons, mental health issues being up there, but murders are the biggest factor.” Natasha explains.

“
Murders?” I ask.

“
Yeah, vampires tend to kill each other often. There aren’t any non-human reasons behind it; they just have a stronger killer instinct, much like weres, so some small sleight like love can usually escalate to murder fairly quickly. Any old vampires that you come across are usually very clever, very strong, and/or very crazy. It also doesn’t help that their strength and speed seems to increase with every decade they’re alive.” Natasha clarifies.

“
Okay, so here’s the plan: Delta team will split up and enter the club starting at 1930 local time and disperse throughout the club. Cole and Natasha will enter the club at 2000. Cole, you are going to have to go in unarmed, is that alright?” Carla checks and I nod.

“
Natasha will get into position here, while Cole moves over to the bar and orders a drink. Katka, I want you to position yourself near Cole when you see him at the bar. Cole, you’re going to finish the first drink, and order a second. Then you are going to spill your drink on Katka, or step on his shoes, or some other stupid provocation for a fight. Katka, you are going to then take the finished drink and throw the glass at Cole, who is going to dodge it so that it hits someone else. Cole, you are going to punch at Katka, who is going to dodge so that you hit the person behind him. When this starts, I want the rest of Delta to just hit somebody. Everybody sees the picture I’m trying to paint here right?” Carla asks.

“
Yeah, but wouldn’t we need Woody Harrelson, Will Ferrell and a trained bear to get the kind of panic necessary to distract all of the security personnel for Natasha to sneak upstairs and connect me to their network?” Ryuji jokes. I start dying from laughter and everyone just looks at me.

“
I could always just run around in circles while screaming ‘AHH! EVERYBODY PANIC! OH MY GOD THERE’S A BEAR LOOSE IN THE COLOSSEUM!’ hahaha.” I laugh and Ryuji starts cracking up while everyone else just looks at us like we’re idiots.
4

“
Riiiiiight… let’s save Cole’s plan as a backup and continue with my plan. Ryuji, Delta, get ready to leave for a flight out of Seatac immediately. Natasha, Cole, meet us at the Minneapolis office at 1900 local time. You’re all dismissed.” Carla says.

“
People will just never understand us dude!” Ryuji says after I walk over to him.

“
I know right? I think letting a bear loose in the club would be a much better distraction!” I joke.

“
Totally. Anyway, I have to get ready to go so I’ll see you guys there.” Ryuji says as he leaves. I turn my attention to Natasha.

“
So I think going home and going to bed would be good right about now.” Natasha yawns as she grabs my hand.

“
I concur.” I say while touching my triskele.

“
IF THAT ASSHOLE THINKS HE CAN JUST REPLACE ME WITH A YOUNGER MODEL, I AM SO GOING TO FREEZE HIS BALLS OFF!” I hear Cheza shout in the kitchen after porting Natasha and myself to the front door. Maybe I can just port us to Natasha’s apartment/ house and I’ll lie low for a little while…

“
Ah Cole! Perfect timing!” Tia exclaims from the kitchen. Oh you bitch, Tia!

“
We’re home…” I say sounding much more timid than I was hoping to, but it’s not every day that you hear the woman you love talking about cryogenically preserving your testicles. I round the corner and Cheza glares at me.

“
I have never been so disgusted with you in my entire life.” Cheza says and then storms toward her room. That is actually saying a lot considering that she once found me with a naked thirteen year old girl in my bed and assumed the worst.

“
AND THAT SUIT MAKES YOU LOOK GAY!” Cheza screams from the hall.

“
I don’t think so.” Natasha thinks.

“
Why is Cheza disgusted with me?” I inquire.

“
I may have told her that the girl was the newest member of your harem…” Tia replies while avoiding my gaze.

“
Alright, so can you please explain things to us now Cole? Who is that girl?” Sara asks from the kitchen table.

“
I rescued her from a lab where I’m pretty sure she was being used to manufacture the agent that is enhancing the supernaturals I’ve been fighting lately. I wasn’t going to let The Agency take her to some other lab for study so I brought her here. Carla and I reached an agreement before things got out of hand to the point that I would have been forced to kill her. It was decided that the girl would stay here, you would run the tests, and that Katie would assist you.” I explain.

“
Why do you feel driven to kill to protect this girl? Is it solely because of her resemblance to Chezarei?” Tia asks.

“
Frankly, yes it is. After looking at her aura, there is little doubt in my mind that she is Cheza’s half-sister from Fenrir. By the way, where is she?” I inquire.

“
She’s asleep in the master bedroom.” Sara replies.

“
Damn… I was hoping to get to talk to her a little bit before we had to head out.” I say.

“
Where are you guys going?” Tia asks.

“
Minneapolis, on a follow-up mission. We need to strike now before the enemy has a chance to relocate. Speaking of which, I’m having some issues with my gun, Tia; the rounds aren’t fast enough to connect against these enhanced vampires at longer ranges. I think I’m going to need something with a higher caliber.” I inform her.

“
Well a higher caliber won’t help velocity. At this point, only rifle payloads will be faster, unless… I’ll talk with Archer and see what can be done.” Tia replies before walking down the hall towards her room.

“
Alright, thanks Tia!” I shout after her. I head to my room and change into my armored jeans, a t-shirt, and my jacket while leaving my holster.

“
Natasha, let’s go to your place to get some sleep.” I think to her.

“
The whole ‘freezing your balls off’ thing has got you too worried to sleep here, huh?” Natasha asks.

“
Exactly.” I reply. Natasha responds by sending me an image of her apartment.

“
Alright, we need to get going. I’ll be back late tonight or early tomorrow at the latest.” I tell Sara as I walk into the kitchen.

“
Okay, just be careful, Cole.” Sara says and stands up to hug me.

“
Of course!” I reply while breaking away.

I grab Natasha’s hand and port us to the image she showed me. We arrive in the entryway of Natasha’s penthouse apartment. Off to my right is a modern looking kitchen with chrome appliances, granite countertops, and bar seating that leads into the living room. The living room is simple with just a flat screen, brown leather couch, and two end tables. The far wall has floor to ceiling windows and a sliding glass door that leads out onto a balcony. Judging from the view of buildings and desert in the distance, I’d say that the penthouse is somewhere in Phoenix. What appears to be the master bedroom is through two open French doors on the left wall of the living room, just to the left of the flat screen.

“
So… I guess I’ll just crash on the couch.” I say awkwardly, not exactly knowing where our relationship stands, but knowing that it would be a poor choice to presume things.

Natasha heads into the master bedroom without a word… I guess that answers my question. I sit down on the brown leather couch, which is quite comfortable, and I strip down to my boxers. I really hope that nothing slips through and gets stuck to the couch while I’m sleeping… and that Natasha has a spatula in the event that something does.

“
You could do that…” Natasha calls out from the bedroom.

“
Or, there is enough room in my bed…” Natasha adds in a suggestive manner.

I stand up and walk into the master bedroom, noticing the giant master bath and walk-in closet off to the left. Natasha is lying on her right side, facing the wall. I slide into bed behind her and turn away from her, onto my left side. Silicon carbide arm decides to veto my executive decision and forces me to turn onto my right side. I close my eyes and try to get some sleep.