Cloud Rebel (R-D #3)(13)

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 them has yet to learn that basic fact."