Cloud Invasion: R-D 2 (R-D #2)(4)

*

Ilya

I held Corinne close after the helicopters landed and we were allowed off. The facility had been excavated into the southern side of Mount Pilchuck, located north and east of Seattle, with only two camouflaged windows facing southwestward. I imagined that if we looked through those windows hard enough on a clear day, we might see Puget Sound.

At the summit of the mountain lies a fire lookout, and on the western side a popular hiking trail meanders upward. Where the facility was located, the mountain was much more inhospitable, with steep sides, rocky cliffs and pines lower down that jutted into the sky.

At one time, a ski resort was located not far from the western edge of our new facility. It closed in 1979 after a combination of weather problems resulted in a lack of snow and a subsequent refusal by the Forestry Service to renew the lease.

Sometime after that, the resort was destroyed by a mysterious fire. I didn't wish to investigate the cause or the outcome-I had no interest in it, after all.

"You need warmer clothing," I murmured against Corinne's hair when she shivered against me. She wrapped her arms about my waist and buried her head against my chest. The ride had been torture for her, and the ensuing helicopter flight only added to her misery. She needed to lie down.

"Let's get her inside," Dr. Shaw walked up beside us. "She needs rest."

We followed Colonel Hunter as he walked toward a thick, steel door, painted to match its rocky surroundings and nearly hidden behind pines and plants. It required a code and an eyescan to get inside. It made me wonder about Corinne's ability to defeat the security system in place, and whether it had been modified to prevent that.

An elevator stood at the end of a wide entry; we rode it to the main floor, where all offices and suites were located. At that moment, I hoped we'd have a kitchen.

*

Notes-Colonel Hunter

Cori was asleep on her feet when Rafe pulled her down the hall toward their shared suite. "We'll have a meeting in the morning, when she's awake," I said and opened the suite door for them. Rafe lifted her and carried her inside. I closed the door behind them and walked toward my new office.

The facility had been built after the attack on Fort Stevens in 1942 by the Japanese. Originally, it was built as a command center in World War II in case of further attacks, but it was never finished-the end of the war came. It sat there, an empty bunker, until nine presidents ago, when it was selected as a potential spot for local military personnel in case of an attack during the cold war.

That idea was abandoned the minute the wall fell outside East Germany, so it sat empty again, until the President considered it as a retreat for the Program. Recently, as in the last eight weeks, it had been modified to accommodate the Program. Thankfully, Madam President hadn't shared that information with Hal-she'd come to me and I'd secretly enlisted Navy engineers for the cause.

It was nearly finished, a few windows and upgrades notwithstanding, and we had a tunnel, complete with electric vehicles to drive through it, which ended in a ranch farther down the mountain.

I found it amusing that our exit hole was located near a resident's home, converted from an old train caboose. While I had no desire of my own to live in a converted train caboose, I silently applauded the inventive repurposing of the abandoned car.

From the exit, we could take one of the waiting SUVs if we needed to drive to Seattle or anywhere else. Several military agents were set up to treat the property as their own and guard the tunnel entrance. They were already in place, and some of them would act as bodyguards for us if needed.

Shaw worried that some of ours would get cabin fever, being so far from everything. An occasional outing would be allowed, unless we were under lockdown. Laci was also being moved-to a nice house in Seattle. I promised I'd see her at least once a week.

I wanted the others to visit the city, too, to eat out or shop. They'd have guards with them, watching from a safe distance. Once Corinne approved the personnel we'd brought with us, I was hoping to loosen the restraints we'd worn closer to the Capital.

*

Ilya

Shaw arranged for sunlamps to be installed in every suite until the engineers and their staff could cut windows in the side of the mountain containing our rooms. That would take time.

I made sure Corinne was covered warmly after putting her to bed. I sat beside her, toying with the tablet Colonel Hunter had given me-several dozen photographs were loaded on it and I was checking them first to see whether I recognized anyone before Corinne looked.

I considered, too, what Baikov might be doing and where he could be at the moment. If I knew anything about him (and I did), then he was likely plotting death and destruction for someone.

"Honey, stop obsessing. I can feel it in my sleep," Corinne mumbled.

"Cabbage?" I set the tablet aside to scoot into position beside her. "How's my darling?" Pulling her against me, I settled her head onto my shoulder.

"Tired," she lifted her hand to cover a yawn.

"That plane ride was too much," I grumbled. She was already asleep again when I tucked a strand of pale blonde hair behind her ear.

*

Notes-Colonel Hunter

"Corinne's sunlamp burned out this morning," James informed me when I walked into our shared office, stifling a yawn.

"She can have mine," I said. "What happened? Those things are new."