Cloud Invasion: R-D 2 (R-D #2)(51)
There may be a whole new complex named after him, Maye said.
That won't feed his ego or anything, I pointed out.
"Ahem. Will somebody pass the tortillas?" Opal interrupted.
Maye laughed. I hadn't seen her laugh or smile so much in the entire time I'd known her. Richard was working miracles, in my opinion. It helped, too, that she and Nick were beginning to see me as a real member of the team.
"I like this-being able to share meals with all of you," I said. It helped with the pain in my heart-after recent events, some things would never be the same again.
"Well said," Nick held up his glass of beer.
Auggie, I'm thinking of you, I sent to him. Stay tough.
*
Notes-Colonel Hunter
So many times, I wished there were a way to respond to Corinne's telepathy. I would have thanked her for her words-Matt and I received fresh news of more creature sightings, this time in northeastern Washington State.
It made me think Askins was intending to check the facility we'd abandoned inside Pilchuck. At this point, I wanted him to look. James had taken photos before they left-Corinne didn't leave anything to chance. The facility looked gutted-just as it should. It amazed me that she could accomplish what she did, but that was just part of the changes she'd experienced.
We were fortunate to have her on our side. Without her, Askins and Phillips would likely have taken over. They could still do it, but with Corinne, we had a fighting chance, at least.
*
Corinne
I was asleep when the wards I'd left inside the Pilchuck facility were tripped. They weren't shielded when they walked into the place-perhaps they didn't think it necessary. The creatures (most of them, anyway) and their handlers had moved in, lock, stock and furry barrel.
Auggie, James, Leo, I sent to them. I'm sorry to wake you, but Askins just moved his band of bogies into the Pilchuck facility.
Chapter 11
Notes-Colonel Hunter
"You can speak freely-we're not bugged here," Matt said.
Here was inside his office in Silver Spring.
"Our opponent has taken over the facility at Pilchuck," I said. "Without paying a pet deposit."
"That confirms that he knew we were there," Matt said, drumming his fingers on his desk for a moment. "Any word on DB?"
"None. I don't know where he was placed, but nobody has seen anything."
"I think they really want him," Matt said. "To prove their point. The others aren't giants and can probably be contained once we find them."
"You think they want him to attack a coastal city?" I asked.
"I think they've been watching too many monster movies," Matt huffed. "Don't get me wrong-I'm glad they don't seem to have many original thoughts."
"That would be frightening," I agreed.
"You think they imagine that they're hidden well enough at the facility? That we won't suspect they're there?"
"We have no reason to-we abandoned the place and left nothing useful behind. For all anyone knows, it's just an empty shell."
"Or, if they think we know, they're just rubbing our faces in it," I said.
"I'll put somebody on that," Matt said. "Did Corinne block the tunnel leading out of there?"
"Yes. I asked James to set explosives, but she had a better way."
"How did she block it?"
"The entire thing looks like it imploded. Completely filled with big rocks, now. They'll have a hell of a time getting through that mess."
"Good. Very good. When will the team arrive at the launch site?"
"Later today if we're lucky," I said.
"You'll let me know?"
"Of course."
*
Ilya
Lieutenant Cross arrived ten minutes before the scheduled time, so Corinne offered him a cup of coffee. He accepted and watched as the rest of us loaded our gear. We had two large military vehicles to carry us into Chingaza, where the roads were less than hospitable much of the time.
Our targeted area was in a mountainous region, which would likely require the climbing equipment Nick and I loaded into the back of each vehicle. I worried for Corinne-she'd never done anything like this in her life. I think Nick and I were prepared to carry her if she couldn't make it on her own.
"Do you prefer Nathan or Lieutenant Cross?" Corinne asked before loading into the truck with me.
"Nathan's fine-I almost feel like a civilian right now," he grinned at her.
"Awesome. Want to ride with Trey and me, Nathan?"
"I'd be happy to."
*
Corinne
The drive was a long, tedious one, across narrow, grassy tracks at times, as we followed the GPS coordinates we'd been given. Our vehicles roared, growled and whined as we drove slowly along, while the rough roads shook or swayed all of us in our seats.
With only a brief stop at midday for a quick meal we'd packed ourselves, we were on our way again. After a while, we had to leave the trucks behind and backpack the rest of the way. Our arrival below the sharp, rocky peak that was our destination occurred before three that afternoon.
"Experienced climbers could get up there without much equipment, but we're taking no chances," Rafe said, slinging a pack and a coil of rope about his shoulders. Nick did the same and both went up together.