Cloud Rebel (R-D #3)(50)

"And there I thought I could give up the perky outfits," I grumped.

"We have shields added to Valegar's on the building," the Falchani twins walked into the kitchen. "Any chance of a late dinner?"

"What would you like?" I asked.

"Fish?"

"Be right back," I said and folded space.

"This is very good," Ilya said. I'd gone to Paris to get something everybody would like, bringing back turbot aux beurre blanc, salad and cheeses. I added a good white wine to the mix and all humanoids were enjoying their dinner.

"Norian Keef just landed on the planet," Drew looked up from his fish to announce.

"Great. I was thinking daytime," I grumbled. "Not ten minutes after midnight."

"My love, would you like to accompany me?" Val asked. "We will greet Mr. Keef as our true selves."

"Awesome," I said. Val took my hand and we folded space.

*

Personal Record

Lendill Schaff

Norian looked annoyed when the two Larentii appeared in front of us. I, on the other hand, was outright terrified.

Father had warned me. Norian probably didn't realize how much trouble he could be in if he didn't mind his manners.

"Mr. Keef," the female Larentii began.

I blinked first because she was female. I blinked again when she frowned at Norian. "I see everything you have planned, you stupid, snake-assed excuse for an ASD Director," she snapped. "I warn you now, either listen to what I have to say or I send you right back where you came from—without the ability to bite anybody."

*

Ilya

One of Corinne's captives looked as if he were about to explode. The other had a confused expression on his face.

"I have ensured that they can speak and understand English," Val said, following behind as if he were herding both men.

"Well, what do we have here?" Colonel Hunter asked. "Want coffee or something stronger? I warn you, you won't get away from Cori. Not when she's like this."

"Who are you?" the second man asked. The first was turning purple with anger.

"I'm commonly known as Colonel August Hunter, Secretary of Defense," he introduced himself. "I have other titles, but those aren't as widely known."

"I'm Lendill Schaff, Vice Director of the Alliance Security Detail," he said. "I understand it is proper to extend a hand to you?"

"As long as you're not armed," Colonel Hunter held out a hand and clasped the one the Vice Director extended.

"I am not—the Larentii, here, made sure of that," he said.

"Please, sit," Colonel Hunter invited. "If you're hungry or thirsty, we will provide something. We must talk about those four agents who were sent, and how many murders they committed while engaging in a secret agenda I assume was never sanctioned by your agency."

"They committed murders?" Schaff asked while taking a seat at the island.

"They murdered twenty-two, including children, in a small town in the state of Texas, then two police officers in a nearby city before traveling to the state of Oklahoma and murdering everyone they found in a restaurant, there. Val and Cori will have to give you the particulars on their secret agenda; I'm still attempting to understand it myself."

"They had no secret agenda," the first man exploded.

"Shut up and sit down," Corinne snapped at him. When he refused to move, he found himself floating through the air before being dumped onto a barstool. When he attempted to slide off the stool, he was held there with power.

"Now," Corinne shook herself, as if dealing with the first man gave her the shivers, "Have either of you heard of the Elemaiya, and what happened to them?"

"My father said the race as a whole was beginning their descent, but I didn't know what he meant," Schaff said.

"Then you are the one we wish to speak with," Val nodded. "I know who your father is. He is most wise, I assure you. Those four sent by Director Keef, here," he jerked his head toward the other man, "were all half Elemaiya. They were sent on an alternative mission. Did you ever ask yourself how they came to know some of Earth's languages? It's because they were here before, when the gates were still open to them. More than three decades ago, the Bright Queen and the Dark King chose this world as their final battlefield. The one who prevented them from destroying Earth took their crowns so they couldn't do the same thing to any other worlds. The four agents sent by Director Keef were searching for those crowns, in an effort to get them back. They traced pockets of power left behind by the one who took the crowns and banished the Elemaiya from this world. Wherever they found the traces of power, they killed innocent inhabitants in an effort to obtain information those inhabitants did not possess. Is any of this getting through to you?" Val asked.

"You mean to tell me that they didn't search for drug survivors or remaining drug dust?" Director Keef hissed.

"They did not," Val stated flatly. "I hope you know that a Larentii does not lie—there is no reason for us to do so. I can recreate images of the carnage your four agents left behind if you wish to see it, or bend time and fold space to allow you to witness actual events, although I warn you that the images of dead children upsets Corinne a great deal."