Cloud Dust: RD-1 (R-D #1)(76)

"We had it in our backyard for six years and didn't even know it," Madam President's shoulders sagged. "Corinne was wise to hide it, I think."

"The ultimate question, in my opinion, is what Cutter's backers want, other than a desk in the Oval Office. Why go to the trouble of killing an entire town, when there are other ways to get what they want?"

"Perhaps it's a way of exposing the Program."

"By using it against the people? They just killed twenty times what we have, and none of those volunteered. Besides, it was your predecessor who created the Program, and then insisted that it continue, even when so many," I stopped. "He's in this, too. I'll bet money on it."

"He appointed you to the Program," the President pointed out.

"I'm not na?ve," I said. "He appointed me because he was pissed at the Joint Chiefs, since the Joint Chiefs never liked me. Not even for a minute. You see he assigned me to what he considered the most worthless of the survivors."

"Does he know that's changed?" She turned and lifted an eyebrow.

"I don't know," I answered honestly. "If he and Cutter had regular conversations, then it's likely. If that didn't happen, he may be out of the loop unless he's connected to Cutter's backers. If he's connected to Cutter's backers, then he's in this just as much as they are."

"If he's one of Cutter's backers, that's a problem," Madam President sighed. "You know how they all feel about a woman in the White House."

"I remember the attack ads," I said. "Clearly. He didn't come out and endorse Cutter, because he didn't want to alienate the women voters. His cronies endorsed Cutter, however, even after you'd been selected as the nominee at the convention."

"They pressured me to drop out of the race. Kept telling me I didn't have a chance against the opposition, when a man would," she shook her head. "Colonel Hunter, what the hell is going on? I realize that every president faces the prospect of wars, assassinations and every other difficulty you might imagine, but this time, the situation is jacked up—as if another level has been added to the game and we're scrambling for instructions on how to play it."

"Things began to change when the Program was introduced," I said. "I know what all the sci-fi novels and comic books are about, but this is reality and we don't have anybody who can swoop in and save the day. Without names or images, Corinne can't point to anyone. Without that information, the others can't do anything to protect us. Hell, we're scrambling just to stay alive on most days."

"I'm making the announcement tomorrow—that you're the new Secretary of Defense," Madam President sighed. "I realize that may paint a target on your back, but I'm getting pressured by both sides to make the call."

"I understand. I'll let Cori know. Do you want me to talk to her about this newest threat? It's likely she'll know about it anyway."

"Go ahead and tell her. Rafe, too. They need to know that somebody is after them."

"Thank you, Madam President."

*

Corinne

I knew the minute we walked in Auggie's new office. Madam President had been approached. She'd been offered the next election, in exchange for Rafe and me.

Fuck.

For now, she was saying no. I worried that her decision might waver in the next few days.

"You know he'll do his worst, just to convince her," I said before Auggie had a chance to talk.

"Perhaps someone will include me?" Rafe asked quietly.

"Corinne was right," Auggie said. "The one behind all this does approach people. He offered the President the next election and the ones behind the Montana massacre—in exchange for both of you."

"The ones responsible for Montana didn't make a very good deal with their benefactor, then," Rafe observed. "Obviously they forgot to include provisions—such as avoiding capture or prosecution for their crimes."

"Or, maybe they're just so megalomaniacally rich they think they're above all that," I said. "The ultra-wealthy sometimes fall into that trap. Generally they're correct; their money does cover a multitude of sins."

"Cori, I don't think that's a word," Auggie pointed out.

"Megalomaniacally?"

"That's the one. James," Auggie shouted. James appeared within seconds.

"Get photographs of all the wealthy people in the U.S.," Auggie said. "Give them to Cori. We have killers to catch."

*

"We have new orders and a new batch of the drug," Death reported.

"I wasn't aware that our people could move that fast," Famine said.

"It came from higher up," Death said. "We have enough to kill ten thousand or more."

"We won't get into the next water supply so easy," Conquest pointed out.

"This batch isn't designed to go in the water supply. It's in mist form and can't be seen by the naked eye. The drug can be inhaled and still work. It's genius, actually—ours were toying with the idea, but they said it was a long way off. We have it now, courtesy of our benefactor."

"We pay for that," War said.