Cloud Rebel (R-D #3)(21)

"For now, you've done enough. Just don't do any more, okay? This is f*cked up enough as it is."

"Is this why other worlds kill survivors and clones—to send them to their true next lives?" Leo asked quietly.

"I wish it were that altruistic," I sighed. "It's to protect the rest of their population from contamination—any drug survivor with the same blood type can make numerous copies of him or herself—effectively displacing souls and lives. Imagine if you were dying of a terrible disease. They can perform brain transferences, and a brain going into an identical body isn't going to quibble much. Granted the procedure is outlawed everywhere, but it won't stop the wealthy and determined."

"This is worse than I imagined," Leo leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Much worse."



"Just because Earth isn't as advanced as many other worlds, that doesn't mean we can't do our own damage with that f*cked up stuff," I continued. "Whoever has the drug and uses it—or the blood of a drug survivor and uses it—is playing with a firestorm they can't control."

"Will it help if I say I'm sorry?" Richard pleaded.

"For now. I suggest you let Brett and Jennifer come into their own and pull your emotions out of it," I said. "They both deserve better than that."

"I concur," Leo nodded. "I'll help as much as I can, but dealing with a phantom set of memories in both of them will be difficult to handle."

"It was a weakness—a moment of weakness—when I went to the President," Richard admitted. "She was enthusiastic about the idea, when neither of us had sufficient information to make a qualified decision."

"Madam President needs some schooling too, but that will have to wait," I said. "Meanwhile, we have two displaced people out there who need our help."

"And a dozen mysteries to solve," Leo added.

"Yeah."

*

Were you listening? I asked Val when Leo, Richard and I walked into the kitchen. The others were still there, although they'd already finished their food.

Yes—you did well, although you were a bit more forceful than I may have been. I suspect it was necessary to get your point across.

I think it was necessary to get it out of my system, I replied. I should feel ashamed, but I don't. Now, who wants to stay here while the others go to investigate the Nevada facility?

I stay, Bekzi joined our silent conversation.

Looks like you, Rafe and me, honey, I informed Val.

*

"There's nothing here," Rafe shook his head.

He was right. He, Val and I studied the now-empty Nevada facility—it was merely a hollow shell, now. Every piece of equipment, every bit of trash, even, had been removed, leaving a squeaky-clean building behind.

Auggie, I sent, were you aware that the Nevada facility had been wiped clean of evidence?

My cell phone rang almost immediately. "When?" Auggie barked.

"In my estimation, according to the amount of dust that has settled upon surfaces," Val said, "approximately three months."

"Did you hear that?" I asked Auggie.

"I heard. Damn. Fuck and damn. Nobody was supposed to touch that place. By my orders."

"Somebody did," I sighed.

"I'll call Matt. See if he knows anything," Auggie said and hung up.

"I doubt Matt Michaels had anything to do with this," Val said.

"Why?" I turned to him.

"Look up."

I looked up, as directed. On the ceiling, scrawled in Alliance Common, were the words f*ck Earth.

*

Ilya

"Who?" I asked, after Valegar translated the words for me.

"I imagine it may have been part of the same team of Lyristolyi that appeared to wreak havoc more than an Earth year ago," Val said. "I fear the reason Rinnelar and I can't get a better lock on the information is because that team has likely captured a Sirenali who survived the drug. That means all their doings will be hidden, even from the powerful."

"Are you saying that there may have been more of the f*ckers than those at the meeting?" Rinnelar asked.

"I fear it may be true, Lara'Kayan."

"What does Lara'Kayan mean?" I asked.

"It means forever love, in the Neaborian language," Val replied.

For a moment, that troubled me before the thought slipped away.

Rinnelar appeared quite troubled that there could be more Lyristolyi than previously thought. She is troubled by many things, Val inserted into my mind. Your obsession is one of them.

I snorted my reply.

"The only thing left to do at this point," Rinnelar said, "is to question the * Rafe captured in Vancouver. Maybe we can get something from him that the humans couldn't."

"Ah—good choice," Val agreed. "Are you willing to travel with us?" he turned to me and asked.

"Most certainly."

"Good."

*

Notes—Colonel Hunter

They came for me first—Cori, Val and Rafe, before going to the holding cell, which contained the only living captive from the Vancouver assassination crew. So far, nobody else had gotten anything from him, including a squeak when he was threatened with the death penalty.