Cloud Rebel: R-D 3 Read online

  "Are you feeling the effects of those, my love?" He came to me immediately.

  "I just-this is so fucked up," I flung out a hand. I felt like crying and it wouldn't do to show up in Auggie's office sniffling.

  "It is, as you say, fucked up," Val tucked my head beneath his chin and held me close. "We will get through this-I promise."

  * * *

  Twenty minutes later, we arrived in Auggie's office. Matt and Opal were already there. I wanted to glare at Matt; Val pulled me onto a chair before I could do so.

  "Coffee? Water? Bourbon?" I could tell Auggie wasn't comfortable with whom-and what-he had in his office.

  "We must change our bodies in order to feel the effects of alcohol," Val said. I watched as Opal attempted to hide a smile.

  "Ah, my blue-skinned rescuers are here," Rafe arrived and nodded toward Val and me. Yes, we looked like Larentii; we'd only made ourselves smaller to fit on human furniture. "Thank you-for my life and that of my daughter's husband," Rafe added.

  "You are welcome," Val nodded. "Rinnelar is quite adept at healing. She surprises me constantly."

  "Awww," I turned to Val and offered him a smile.

  "The-ah-President received an unusual message an hour ago," Auggie broke the uncomfortable silence that settled over us. "It is written in several languages, I assume to make sure we understand it."

  "Which languages?" Opal asked.

  "Spanish, French, English and German, along with another language we can't decipher."

  "Do you have a copy of the message?" Val asked.

  "Here," Auggie lifted a sheet of paper from his desk and handed it to Val. I looked at it while Val held it up for both of us to see.

  "Alliance common," Val and I said together.

  "Unfortunately, the English and German are poorly worded," Val added. "They should work harder on these language skills." He handed the paper message back to Auggie.

  "Madam President wants to know what we think about this-among other things," Auggie said, setting the paper aside.

  "What does it say?" Rafe asked.

  "It is a greeting and an offer to relieve the planet of-and destroy-drug survivors and any remaining drug," Val interjected smoothly. "That includes you, Mr. Black."

  "Is that why you're here?" Rafe sputtered. "To kill me?"

  "Far from it," Val said. "We're here to-as Rinnelar would say-protect your ass. You have a choice, however. You can choose to have your blood neutralized, so no other may be made from it, or you take your chances with these new arrivals who work for the ASD."

  "Neutralized?" Rafe immediately became suspicious.

  "Just the drug in it," I attempted to smooth his ruffled neck hair. "You won't be changed in any other way. You'll still be the tough badass you always were."

  "What?" Rafe's eyebrows lifted.

  "No offense meant," Val said. "The choice is certainly yours, but I would consider the benefits carefully."

  "How long and painful is the neutralization?"

  "I can achieve it in seconds, and there will be no pain."

  "Then do it."

  I understood then that this was something he'd already considered-that someone, somewhere, could use his blood to create more like him, and exploit them for more nefarious purposes.

  "The information that this has been done won't leave my office," Auggie declared as Val began to glow and reached a hand toward Rafe.

  * * *

  Personal notes-Richard Farrell

  "Doc, I gotta tell you, I had a helluva dream," Brett said. His eyes were closed-he didn't realize he could see if he opened them.

  "What was the dream?" I asked, sitting on the chair beside his bed.

  "I dreamed I was running," he said. I watched a smile pass across his face. "Chasing rabbits. It was fun."

  "Open your eyes, Captain," I said. "From here on, you can make that dream a reality if you want."

  * * *

  Jennifer Troutman, 1st Lt, US Army

  The last thing I recalled was watching the armored vehicle in front of mine explode. Afterward, things get extremely hazy.

  Until now.

  My eyes were open; I stared at an unfamiliar ceiling over my head. Glancing to the side, I saw the familiar rails of a hospital bed. I'd been injured. Now I was in a hospital, somewhere-probably Germany. I couldn't say why I thought that, but it was the most sensible thing-the worst cases often ended up on a base in that country.

  I didn't speak a word of German, although several words in that language bubbled to the surface of my brain.

  "You're awake."

  A scrub-wearing nurse smiled down at me and spoke in English. "Dr. Farrell will be happy to hear you're still with us."

  "Am I-uh-whole?"

  "As whole as I am," she smiled. "My name is Kathy. When Dr. Farrell says it's all right, I'll bring food and you can sit up to eat."

  "Is she awake?" A hopeful voice sounded in the doorway.

  "She is. Lieutenant, this is Dr. Farrell."

  He was beside my bed quickly and taking my hand. I blinked at him in confusion. Part of me wanted to say I knew him. Another part of me knew that was impossible. "Hello, Dr. Farrell," I said.

  I was stunned when he wiped tears away.

  * * *

  Captain Brett Walker

  I felt some weakness, but Dr. Farrell said it would pass. He'd told me the drug was experimental and that I'd been chosen, since I was at death's door when it was administered.

  I didn't know whether to laugh or consider that I really was dreaming.

  "A change in your appearance is expected," Dr. Farrell said. I stared at my image in the mirror.

  Before, my hair had been nearly red. Now it was dark, as were my eyes, which were blue, before.

  I didn't mind the change and the Doctor was correct-I would run again. I was whole in the most miraculous, unexplainable way possible. At least I didn't have to worry about contacting family members-my mom was dead and my dad disappeared when I was little.

  Nobody left, and contacting former friends or family was forbidden anyway, because of the secrecy surrounding the drug.

  I didn't care-I was going to run again.

  * * *

  Notes-Colonel Hunter

  According to Cori and Valegar, Rafe's blood was now neutralized. He could donate blood and it would be just as normal as anyone else's. We were discussing the tracking of other survivors when the call from Richard Farrell interrupted.

  "Check your e-mail," Richard said before I could get an entire hello out of my mouth.

  I tapped my keyboard and brought up the e-mail in question. Two photographs were included, without any text. I froze.

  "Madam President gave permission," Richard quavered. "Colonel Hunter, it's wonderful, isn't it?"

  "Holy fuck," I sighed. Maye and Nick's faces stared back at me from the e-mail. Across the room, I heard Corinne's muffled holy shit.

  * * *

  Corinne

  Rafe drove the van; Auggie sat in the front with him. Matt and Opal took up the second set of seats; Val and I had to make ourselves even smaller to fit in the back. Our destination was the ugly building in Arlington, but on the inside, I'd made changes the last time I was there.

  Richard Farrell, without informing Auggie, had gone over his head to get Maye back. I wasn't sure that doing this for personal reasons was the proper thing to do, but it was moot, now. It was done. At least the participants were military.

  As of now, the Program was up and running again.

  "I've forgotten how inelegant travel by Earth vehicle is," Val remarked as we bounced across a pothole in the ugly building's parking lot.

  Auggie feels he needs an alternate form of escape, in case we left him here after folding space, I sent.

  Understandable. I would feel the same, Val agreed. Perhaps it is a good thing that our Karathian Warlock in the driver's seat never had his power awakened, he added. His shielding ability and the talent for invisibility is something he'd have had,
anyway.

  Yeah. We were supposed to be reborn on Karathia, I heaved a mental sigh. You see how that turned out.

  I'm pleased that you were reborn a second time as Larentii. Only the most deserving achieve that.

  I held back from telling Ilya that he's almost immortal, I responded. I'd changed the subject to get Val away from talking about me-it embarrassed me, when most Larentii would merely acknowledge the truth in the statement.

  He can still be killed; I'm sure he realizes that, Val responded. Shall I transport us out of this infernal mechanism?

  Please.

  * * *

  Jennifer Troutman, her eyes and face identical to Maye's after she'd received the drug, smiled when Val and I walked through the door. She and Nick's clone, Captain Brett Walker, waited in a room on the top floor that was flooded with light.

  Seats and plants were scattered about-it was decorated as a sanctuary for those recovering in Richard Farrell's personal hospital.

  "This is Colonel August Hunter," Richard Farrell began introductions before I could accost him for what he'd done. "He's Secretary of Defense and the one in charge of the Program."

  "I know who Colonel Hunter is," Brett Walker held out a hand. Auggie obliged.

  "Thank you for your service," Auggie said. "I hear you were severely wounded in Afghanistan."

  "Wounded would be putting it mildly, Colonel. I have to say, this miracle drug you've developed is, well, a miracle." It was hard to watch-Brett's words coming from Nick's mouth.

  I coughed to clear my throat. Auggie shot me a frown before turning to First Lieutenant Jennifer Troutman. "I heard your convoy was attacked in Iraq," he said. "You're the only survivor."

  "I haven't had time to deliver that news," Richard muttered.

  Or a lot of other news, I pointed out in mindspeech.

  Corinne, please don't, Richard begged. You have no idea, he cut his words short when I nodded toward Rafe.

  After all, to everyone except Rafe, I looked like the old Corinne-before the taller, bluer Corinne. Only Rafe saw me as someone different.

  For both our sakes.

  This isn't Maye, this is Jennifer, I pointed out.

  I know. Richard turned away for a moment.

  He still doesn't realize what an abomination the drug is-especially to those who've been cloned. They have their set of memories, and another set that threatens to emerge. Some clones have an extreme amount of difficulty coming to terms with that, Valegar said.

  So those who had Sirenali obsession were better off? I asked.

  In some ways, he agreed. But, as you realize, the orders to kill that were likely put in place are extremely unhealthy-to all involved.

  Auggie, I sent, You'd better have Leo waiting to talk to both of them. Val says they'll have their old memories plus a new set trying to emerge. That could spell trouble.

  He threw a look in my direction that said he wanted words with Leo-plus the President and Richard Farrell-as soon as possible. One of Val's hands touched the back of my neck and his fingers began to massage it-if he hadn't, I may have spoken out of turn and rounded on Richard Farrell for doing what he'd done.

  Jennifer and Brett didn't need to hear that. For now, they were grateful to be alive and free of pain. For that, I was happy. So many other problems could come of this, though, and I hoped they could overcome those obstacles and be their own person.

  With the Program's resurrection looming over their heads, I doubted that was possible. They'd be expected to fill Nick and Maye's shoes, complete with their skill sets. Their own lives could drown in the choppy waters of those whose blood they'd been given.

  * * *

  Notes-Colonel Hunter

  I wasn't given the opportunity to speak with Madam President before her meeting with the ones who'd identified themselves as ASD agents. I wanted Corinne with me, but I'd been instructed to come alone.

  I was about to participate in the first formally arranged meeting with extraterrestrials, and I was terrified.

  Relax, Auggie, Corinne's voice sounded in my head. We're here, you just can't see us.

  * * *

  Corinne

  Val and I were shielded as we stood near the door in the Oval office. Four ASD agents were already there, with Auggie, the President and six Secret Service.

  The ASD had figured out a way to get weapons past archaic detectors-all of them were armed with concealed laser pistols. Auggie and Madam President thought they were unarmed.

  Remember, these are from current day, when Norian Keef was still in charge of the ASD, Valegar informed me. You know that is not true in the future.

  Yes. I did some research. I understand Keef often played fast and loose with the rules in order to make things come out the way he wanted.

  True.

  "Wish to hunt survivors of Lyristolyi drug," one of the agents informed Madam President.

  "It's polite to introduce yourselves first," Auggie pointed out.

  "Apologize. I-Ralvus Verain. He, Dervus Verain. He, Invus Verain. He, Brade Deplan. We hunt drug survivors."

  He'd pointed out each one as he named them, beginning with himself.

  Half Elemaiya, Val's silent words conveyed his sarcasm. They can no longer gate onto the planet, so they were transported by ship. In this time, they are still immortal. That will not be true in the future.

  This is going to be hard, isn't it? I asked.

  Val massaged my neck again. With Elemaiya involved and without Keef's understanding that this is what they are, many things can go wrong, he said.

  "Drug survivors dangerous," Ralvus repeated, as if he were attempting to convince a child.

  He and his brothers are here to search for his King's crown, I turned to Val. Brade is here to search for the Queen's.

  The crowns are no longer here, Val huffed.

  They don't know that, I said.

  We will allow them to discover that for themselves, Val cautioned. I understood that interfering with the idiocy of the expelled Elemaiya wasn't in our job description. We merely had to let them know that hunting drug survivors with ties to the U.S. was off limits. They could do whatever they wanted with those the Russians had made.

  "I understand your concern," the President inserted smoothly. "I do not give permission for you to hunt any of those drug survivors employed by the United States. Your own laws say you must have my government's permission to hunt them. I do not give it."

  "Where information come from?" Ralvus demanded.

  "I have that information from one who calls herself Larentii."

  "You lie," Brade Deplan rose from his seat and hissed. "There are no female Larentii."

  I learned something, that day.

  Never piss off a Larentii.

  Valegar dropped the shield he had around us, folded space to place us before Brade Deplan and began to glow so bright a blue that Brade stepped back and fell onto his chair.

  "You will never deny the existence of Rinnelar," he snarled. "Tell that to your deposed Queen."

  * * *

  "It was a moment of weakness, I think."

  Valegar still wasn't speaking, Madam President's four guests had been ushered out of the White house, all four almost as pale as the building itself, and here I was, attempting to explain our uninvited presence in the Oval Office.

  "At least they didn't call me a liar again," Madam President sighed. "I must say-this is-quite a shock." Val and I were still tall and blue-after all, you can't prove you're a Larentii unless you look like a Larentii.

  "I think it's so much better, from an intrinsic standpoint, that is, than those foul Sirenali," Valegar finally spoke.

  "But I'm only thinking about Corinne before," Madam President halted her words and considered the gaffe.

  "To me, she is wondrously beautiful," Valegar stated. "You are very limited in your experience with other beings. We will go now. I will leave you with this word of warning-you should watch those Elemaiya-they are not to be trusted. The one who sent th
em has yet to learn that basic fact."

  Val folded us out of the Oval Office.

  * * *

  Ilya

  I waited for their arrival. If the Larentii hadn't healed Sergei, then Katya would have arrived-alone and widowed. She and I had much to be thankful for. A military plane was scheduled to arrive at a nearby base; I waited under an awning outside a small building to stay out of the falling rain.

  "They're about to land," a pilot placed a cup of coffee in my hand. "I hope you take it black."

  "This will be fine," I mumbled. "Thank you." The coffee steamed in the chill air while the pilot walked away. Rain continued to drip off the awning over my head, spattering onto the concrete surrounding the low building.

  Ten minutes later, the transport pulled to a stop on the tarmac. I watched as the steps were lowered and someone walked out of the plane holding an umbrella. Katya and Sergei appeared moments later, and the woman carrying the umbrella held it over their heads as they descended the steps.

  Without caring that I'd be soaked, I began walking toward them. Katya and I embraced on a cold, rainy day while Sergei looked on. I hoped at that moment that she would be welcomed as a U.S. citizen one day-and Sergei with her.

  * * *

  "Papa, this is nice," Katya took in the townhouse after we left the car in the garage.

  "The kitchen could be bigger," I shrugged. "But it is okay for now. Sergei, please sit," I motioned him toward a barstool at the island. "I will fix something for lunch."

  "Papa always cooked when he was home," Katya laughed.

  "I love to cook," I corrected her. "You make it sound as if I did it only out of duty. Sergei, how are you feeling?"

  "I feel good," he said. "A little tired, perhaps. Better than it could have been."

  "I have a tentative meeting scheduled for you with Dr. Shaw," I said. "In case the kidnapping still troubles you."

  "I will accept the meeting," he nodded.

  "Papa, he has nightmares," Katya hung her head.

  "Look, this is nothing to be ashamed of," I took her face in my hands. "Either of you. Take the help you need to feel better. Perhaps you both should go this first time."

  "I'd prefer that," Sergei said.

  I made a mental note to alert Dr. Shaw-my daughter was fragile after Sergei's abduction. It appeared I owed the Larentii for a great deal, and had no idea how to express that gratitude or repay the debt.