Cloud Invasion: R-D 2 (R-D #2)(21)

"I worry that he'll be seen in the bay," Rafe pointed out. "Once that news gets out, along with a few cell phone photographs, the truth will be splattered on every television screen whether we want it to be or not."

"This is a nightmare," the President shook her head. "Ms. Tadewi, have you contacted Matt with this information?"

"We spoke earlier," Opal confirmed.

"Does he have a team prepared to go to Seattle? I want him working on this, too."

"He may come himself, and bring others with him," Opal said.

"Then tell him he has my blessing to do whatever it takes to keep the population safe and get rid of this menace at the same time. The same goes for you, Colonel Hunter. I understand that you think this is a diversion, but I beg you to cooperate as much as you can with Director Michaels while you search for the enemy's next plot. I have a call scheduled to the former President, to ask if he may know anything we don't."

"Madam President, will that be a video call?" Auggie asked.

"Yes."

"May I have a recording of it-audio and video?"

"Of course. Why do you ask?"

"You know the former President has shied away from the cameras since he left office. I'd like Corinne to take a look. She may see something that he is reluctant to tell you."

"I'll do what I can." Madam President ended the call. Auggie had done what I'd wanted to do-ask for a current image of the former President. After all, he's the one who'd approved the drug for use on volunteers. I wanted to know exactly what he knew about the Program.

*

"Honey, I'm starved, and I need to sit with the sunlamp for a while," I mumbled the moment Rafe and I arrived at our suite.

"Let's do both-I feel the need for some light in my life," he agreed. "What shall we fix for breakfast?"

"Oh, my God, what time is it?" I looked up at him.

"Nearly seven in the morning. It's really foggy out."

"Breakfast?" James walked in, a hopeful expression on his face.

"What do you want, hon?" I asked. "How are Laci and her guards?"

"She finally went to bed when it looked like the ground wasn't going to shake again. The same news, shown repeatedly on television, put all three of them to sleep. I found quarters for the guards, so we're okay for the moment."

"Good work," I rubbed his back. "Want eggs, omelet, ham, pancakes-what?"

"I want ham, pancakes and eggs," he said. "And then a bed, if Colonel Hunter doesn't come looking for me."

"I'll see what I can do," I said. "Come on, you can make coffee while Rafe and I do the rest."

Leo arrived in time to get fresh pancakes, and then the others dribbled in. I'm beginning to wonder why we have a cafeteria, Rafe sent as he surveyed the crowd at the table.

Let's hope everybody else inside the mountain doesn't find out, or they'll be here, too, I replied.

"Auggie, you look like you've been in a war," I rubbed his back when he sat beside me and accepted the plate of food Rafe handed to him.

"Yeah. At least Laci is asleep. That makes my life marginally better."

"Small miracles," I agreed. "We'll take 'em."

"She'll be staying here with me until the mess in Seattle is sorted," he went on, his words grim. "She probably won't like it, but that's all there is unless she wants to stay with her parents again."

"I don't think she wants that," Leo offered.

"I just don't want her to feel trapped here with me," Auggie said.

"Nobody's trapped here," I said. "If she wants to go somewhere, I can take her."

"Cori," Auggie warned.

"Yeah."

Rafe snorted.

*

Ilya

We slept for six hours after breakfast before Colonel Hunter woke us with a message. Madam President had her conversation with the former President, and we had a recording to view.

"Wake up, sleepyhead," I nuzzled Corinne's cheek before planting a kiss on her temple.

"Ilya," she grumbled, "let me sleep."

"I would like nothing better than to keep sleeping with you," I said. "But Colonel Hunter is calling for our presence."

"Slave driver."

"Me?"

"No. Auggie."

"Come, cabbage. We have time to shower and make a sandwich before we go."

"All right."

She wasn't happy, but she sat up in bed and forced her eyes open. "See," I smiled at her. "You can wake up when necessary."

"It shouldn't be necessary."

"It is. Come along. My cabbage's leaves looked wilted. A shower will remedy that."

She slid off the bed and walked toward the bathroom, cursing in several languages while she wobbled along. Some of those words sounded alien to my ears.

Half an hour later, we were in Colonel Hunter's office. James had arrived ahead of us and he looked concerned.

"What's wrong?" Corinne asked.

"Colonel Hunter thinks Merle Askins has been playing everybody," James mumbled.

"Why?" I asked.