Cherished by Ghosts, page 24
“That’s what happens when you get kidnapped.”
Beckett laughed. “And you decided to stay with these idiots?”
“What can I say...they do wonderful things to me.”
Beckett laughed even harder. “Oh, to find a female that could handle us all...” He kissed her hand. “Welcome and good luck with these two.” He winked his weird eye at her.
“So, what’s this surprise?” she asked as she inhaled and moaned. “Is that...”
“Fried chicken,” Blue said. “Holy hell... You got us...”
“I might have mentioned to our townspeople that you guys were inbound,” he said as another male walked in with a massive basket in each hand. He was tall, lanky and wiry, with short blue hair, a piercing through his lip, his ears topped with side-turned points.
“Oh, they are here.” His voice was melodic, his eyes resting on her. “And they brought a hottie with them.”
“Fortune, this is Blue, Milo, Galen, Foster and Zeke, and their lady, Evan.”
“Welcome,” he said. “Nice that they went through all this trouble for you guys. Wick, Pick, Glass...get your asses in here.”
"I was just getting the beers," Glass came into the kitchen, a six-pack in each hand. "Can't have fried chicken without cold beer. Unless you'd prefer cider, in which case you're also in luck because Pick's on his way with a couple of cold ones." Depositing the beer on the counter, he grinned at them all, his bright white teeth slightly pointed and a sharp contrast to his ebony skin. "I'm Glass. Nice to meet you all in person after all these days on a screen."
"I'm here!" Pick skidded into the kitchen with two ice-cold bottles of cider in each hand, dripping condensate all over the floor. At first glance he was tall but average looking, soft brown hair and slightly tanned skin, but when he turned his eyes on them, the bright, vivid burnt orange color left them in no doubt what he was. "Greetings to all and all that," he nodded, speaking with a British accent that was thick but musical. He snagged a bottle-opener from a nearby drawer. "Who wants a cider?" Foster wordlessly held up a hand.
Wicker walked in, tall like his brother, but his eyes were a dastardly red. "Okay, I knew you had a lady but she is stunning," he said in his accent, matching his brother’s. "Hope you guys got a healthy appetite."
"When have we not?" Galen laughed. "Where are we eating?"
"Through here,” Wicker said, beckoning them into the dining room. Set up with a massive table and chairs to seat twelve, they all settled in as the 444 and Blue and Milo helped bring the food in. Zeke sat next to Noori with Pick on her other side.
"This smells just as good as I remember," Foster said happily, accepting the plate he was handed and taking a deep breath. "I hope you ordered twenty of everything."
"We went with twenty-five just to be sure," Glass laughed. "Eat your fill, my friend."
"Should we be worried that word is out in Abbotstown?" Galen asked, accepting his own plate. "Do Caldera or his cronies have any trade with the town? Will word have gotten to him in any way that we're coming?"
"Not a lick," Fortune said. "This town has fortified since we got here. They have night patrols which we are helping with, both land and air. Only the elders here know you were coming..."
"That's good," Galen nodded. "Still, a food order of this magnitude might raise eyebrows. If you wouldn't mind keeping some ears out in the town tomorrow, it would be appreciated. And guys, while this feast is a pleasure we don't have all that often, please don't over-indulge on the alcohol. The last thing I want is for Atticus and the others to turn up tomorrow to a group of hungover soldiers."
"I'm working," Blue said. "Who is coming with me?"
Noori took a sip of the cider she was drinking as Blue looked over at their hosts.
"I am," Fortune said. "Beck is going to go in with your lady, just in case."
Blue nodded and then looked to her. "Beckett can slip shadows like I can. If something happens, he can get you back to command quickly."
She nodded. "Shadow travel?"
Beckett shook his horned head. "Not like Blue can, I can hide in them, use them to conceal myself and others if need be."
"I can portal," Glass offered quietly. "I know a shortcut through hell isn't on anyone's wish list for a happy life but I can extract you if needs be."
"That's very kind of you, but Noori is an excellent shot and she'll have Beckett there to back her up," Galen said with a grateful nod. "I'm sure she won't require our assistance and what we mainly need to focus on is Caldera. Blue, is your contact here and is he ready to work? How long will it take him to secure the floor of the east wing?"
"And will there be any obvious signs of it?" Milo asked. "Foster and I were testing the root thing yesterday, before we left, and recorded seismic activity as far away as the perimeter of the compound.”
“He’s here, and he’s ready to work...provided the payment is met,” Blue said.
Beckett laughed. “Asshole still wants truffles, doesn’t he?”
“Right?” Blue said. “How fucking off do you have to be to want mushrooms? I mean Foster flicks his finger and these things fucking appear.”
"The market value exploded when the Fractals arrived," Foster pointed out mildly. "The street value of truffles is more than twenty times their weight in gold."
Blue spit out his water. “You’re shitting me. Why the fuck aren’t you selling them constantly to fill in our finances?! That battle pay only goes so far...”
“Amen on that, brother,” Fortune said. “And I think we missed the boat not getting a Natura in our group.”
"Flooding the market only devalues them," Foster shrugged. "I sell a few from time to time and put the money away in savings. It's not like we're struggling financially. We bought the compound outright."
“Granted...but...” He looked to Noori. “Gotta think of the future.”
Zeke swallowed what he was eating and then took a sip of water. “So meeting with Atticus in...what...ten hours?” he asked. Beckett nodded. “Where?”
“About a click outside the town, forest country.”
“Going to be a bit hard to get there unnoticed.”
“Not if you have a tunnel to it,” Wicker said. “The elders gave us this house when we got here, because it’s defensible and it’s got an escape tunnel right to where Atticus’ forward area is.”
"Is that where we're staying?" Milo asked, confused, "Or are there two forward commands?"
“It’s where you guys are staying...and why we told you guys to come in in a civvie car. It looks like people living here are having guests,” he said. “And it’s a quick jaunt through about a click of concrete tunnel. Apparently a few earth elementals made it and reinforced it. Nice guys, too...their female owns the barbershop here.”
"Still...we'll have to clear the premises when we arrive tonight and post a watch around the clock." Galen shook his head. "If we're outside the city walls, we take no risks."
"I can take first watch," Milo volunteered, pushing his beer away.
"Thanks, Milo," Galen nodded. "Blue, you join him on first watch. Foster and Zeke on second."
"We can help out, too," Pick offered. "I don't mind taking third watch from the air."
“Same,” Wicker said.
“Fortune and Glass are on patrol here in town tonight. And I’m taking the far glen.” Beckett looked at Galen. “You are welcome to join me so you can get the lay of the land there. I know when you guys were here last you didn’t get to recon.”
"Sounds good. We'll go four-hour rotating shifts," Galen confirmed. "Everyone needs to be rested. Blue and Fortune are excused from morning duties since you'll be working through the night tomorrow."
“I do need a full six hours...” Fortune offered. “Otherwise I get twitchy.”
“Can’t have a tweaking Demonae with me,” Blue said and grinned.
Noori liked seeing them with other people, and the 444 were likeable and funny. She was surprised they didn’t have a woman between them already. She turned to Zeke.
“How commonplace is it for GCs to find females to connect with?”
“No idea. I mean it’s not like we talk about it. We didn’t join up to be part of a reality show where we find our mates...”
“I know that.” She laughed. “I’m just wondering...”
“Because we’re just cool guys and we need a girl, right? Well, we haven’t even discussed it,” Beckett said. “I mean three Monstera and two Demonae...it’s going to be a rare female that is into that. I mean largely, what...predisposed Monstera females aren’t going to be into two-fifths of us, and ones that are for Demonae won’t be into us Monstera...so..”
"No one is into Demonae," Glass said flatly, although it was without bitterness. "The whole access to another dimension thing tends to freak people the fuck out."
"That's not strictly true," Foster frowned. "Technically, Atticus is extra-dimensional...or supra-dimensional...whatever. English. And Sybelle loves him to distraction."
"But he's still technically Monstera," Milo pointed out thoughtfully.
“In any event, Monstera and Demonae aren't that far apart," Foster persisted. "I suspect a predisposed Monstera mate wouldn't have a problem with non-Monstera factions. Just look at Noori—she's a true mate to all of us, including Blue, who is a Monstera."
She nodded. “There are Demonae females out there. A friend of mine back home, she went to school with me, she’s mated to four Demonae, though I don’t know what kinds,” she offered.
“Maybe we aren’t looking in the right places,” Wicker said. “Maybe Zeke’s idea of a reality show isn’t far off.”
“Could you see it? Buncha thirsty females let loose in GC headquarters on crew day?” Beckett grinned. “Oh, what a world.”
"Nah, just keep doing what you're doing," Foster advised them. "The right girl will come along when it's time. This is a nice town—might even be a few here."
Wicker snorted. “Right.”
They finished eating, polishing off the chicken, sides, chili and a chocolate cake that had been sent over as well. Noori was full, and cuddled in Zeke’s lap as they talked about past non-classified missions, and their time at academy. She was starting to nod off when Blue stood up. “Let’s get going, yeah? We have a female to settle in,” he smiled at her. “Galen? Fos? Wanna help me get the gear?”
"Sure." They rose to their feet and Milo stayed back to help the 444 clean up the wreckage from their food. It didn't take long to grab the bags and before long they were hiking through a damp underground tunnel to the forward control point. Milo had taken Noori's bag despite her protestations that she could carry it herself but deep down she was grateful. One click turned out to actually be quite a long way.
Beckett travelled with them, getting them situated in the dorm rooms and pointing out a small kitchenette where they could grab snacks and breakfast before he wished them goodnight and disappeared back into the tunnel. The guys for first watch quickly refreshed themselves as the others moved throughout the complex, ensuring it was empty, and then they headed out while everyone else bedded down for the night.
“Zeke...” she said as she slipped into bed with him. “Tomorrow is going to be crazy.”
He nodded. “Our time is going to be limited, starting soon. We are good, right? I mean you’re okay?”
“More than.” She pulled down the front of her shirt, to show him the pearl that was embedded between her collarbones. “We are perfect, love...”
He sighed. “Good. Are you worried about tomorrow?”
She shook her head. “A little but not overly much. I know Blue will do it up...and I know you guys will prevail.”
“Just don’t take any risks yourself, love.” He kissed her forehead. “Now, sleep. Atticus will be here first thing and we wanna make sure we are ready.
Chapter.
Morning brought a flurry of activity, two helos had transported several teams in, including a full medical team that were conferring with Zeke, supplies and an arsenal that any army would be proud of. Atticus was not fucking about with this one.
They were sitting in the large tent, GCs 231, 444 and the medical GC45, with Atticus, Balthazar and Thorn at the front of the tent. Noori sat with Sybelle, as they listened to Balthazar’s brief.
“So that’s where we are at. This is largely a two-thirty-one operation, though myself, Thorn and the 444 will be assisting.”
"General Atticus won't be in the field?" Galen clarified, somewhat surprised.
"Negative," Atticus shook his head. "My other form is not conducive to a tight theater. Too much risk of danger to friendlies. I'll be coordinating from here."
"Understood. Gentlemen, and lady, we'll have to be aware of our helmet cams to be certain that forward command has real-time information about what's happening." Galen nodded and sat down, handing the floor back to Balthazar, who went over the known targets and rooms that Blue and Fortune would be striking overnight before the general assault at dawn.
“Blue and Fortune will be handling the first wave. Our intent is to ensure less hostiles to contend with, to get us to our goal earlier,” Balthazar said. “We have Mister Cailean Voss,” he motioned to the guy standing in the corner in a hoodie, “on retainer for our ground assault. Cailean?”
"Thanks," Blue's Elementara friend took the floor, looking for all the world like a distant cousin of Milo—sandstone colored hair, pale skin and slate grey eyes—although he was more muscular than the Elementara, filling his dark combat wear with clearly honed muscles. "I've studied the aerial footage taken by your Atmosphera," he nodded to the twins, "And I agree with you that the end section of the East wing is the logical area to trap Caldera if you can herd him there. To that end, I plan to go out tonight with the advance team and put in strategic subterranean rock barriers in these places..." he pulled up a new graphic that he'd overwritten, "So that if he tries to bail from anywhere else in the compound he'll hit an issue and have to tunnel back."
“A killbox,” Noori said.
"Exactly," Cailean said firmly. "But it's going to take me a long time to do all that so I'll need to get started early."
"There was a concern about seismic activity," Milo raised a hand. "Will turning the earth to stone cause any noticeable warning signs to anyone in the compound?"
"No," Cailean said firmly. "I'm not shifting any earth...it's not like tunneling or growing roots through it. I'm simply petrifying what's already there—it will have the same volume, it will just be really hard. If anything, they might get an odd noise or two like a house settling, but that's it."
Balthazar nodded. "Which is a boon. Beckett will be with Evan, Quinlan and Gerber on the extraction team. The plan for them is to get the girls out of here..." He showed off the satellite images of the holding pen. "Commander Beckett will get you in, Evan will secure their cooperation. Gerber and Quinlan are on hand for medical and support."
"And what about a sniping position in that sector?" Galen asked. "As we explained, Noori is an excellent shot. If we require overhead support, it would be nice if we could have her route mapped out to that area."
Atticus sighed when Balthazar glanced across at him. "We have identified a position but, Evan, I have to know if you're certain this is a line you want to cross? This isn't like killing in retaliation a man who is actively hunting you. This is cold-blooded deliberate killing of men that cannot harm you. No one here would think less of you if that's not a stain you want on your conscience."
“I can’t leave my guys when the need me,” she said evenly. “Evil men are evil men, their choices brought them to this crossroads. They are going to die by someone’s hand while here. If it’s by a bullet I pull the trigger on, that was their fate.” She looked him in the eye. “I understand that. As someone that was on the receiving end of the evil they are perpetrating, I don’t have any illusions, Atticus. To keep others safe, I’m here, and I’ll do what needs done to help my team.”
"Good." He studied her for a few moments but she was resolute and he seemed satisfied. "I'm glad to hear that, but if you do need any counselling or help afterwards, GCHQ has your back. I'll see to it personally."
She nodded. “Thank you.” Catching Blue’s eye, he gave her an almost imperceptible nod. Clearly he was proud of her and telling her it was okay.
Balthazar returned to the mission beyond and they broke ranks shortly after. Blue and Zeke were with her in an instant, Milo, Foster and Galen crowding around. "Help Zeke set up the triage, yeah?" Blue said with a smile. “You need anything, love...”
She nodded. “I know. If I don’t see you guys before...” She went to each of them and kissed them on the cheek, leaving Blue for last. "We starting our date here once we are done?"
The man laughed. "No, but I'm going to remember that to ensure I come back without a scratch."
Chapter
Blue strapped his throwing knives to his vest, and then pulled on his fingerless gloves. They would allow for his claws to come out when he shifted for the fight, which was his secondary weapon. First were always his knives, and of course the dread that emanated from him when he went into stealth mode. It was one of the hallmarks of his breed, what made whatever went bump in the night so maniacal, so foreboding that the majority that were in its wake were struck heavy with fear and paralysis. It wasn’t something he put into play unless he was on mission ever since he learned to control it, but tonight he was letting it go with both barrels.
“Blue, you in here, man?” he heard Fortune say as he walked in. Blue covered his face up, unsure of how the Demonae would take his physical appearance. Beckett, he understood, but the rest...he would err on the side of caution.
“Here,” he said, his voice garbled. “You good to go?”
Fortune was dressed similarly to him, though he had a headset on. “You got your optic running?”
Blue nodded, having put the contact into his left eye only moments before.
“Then we are on point.”
Balthazar and Atticus walked in followed by Thorn and Beckett.
“All good?” Beckett said.
They both nodded.
