Cloud Rebel (R-D #3)(59)

Thank you, I returned. For now, keep an eye on Farrell. I'm concerned about what he may do if the President pulls Jen and Brett away.

You think this may happen?

They're his to command, so yeah, I think it could happen. He doesn't have control of us, remember, and he realizes that we won't involve ourselves in all his hastily made plans. Jen and Brett are still military and he can order them to do whatever he wants.

Not good. I think on this.

Yeah. Let me know what you come up with.

I will.

"Bekzi's still with us," I said aloud. "I don't think he'll leave until we do."

"Perhaps we should turn our attention to other things, then, since the President no longer desires our help," Ilya suggested.

"Honey, remember, you're still part of the Program, too," I pointed out. "He'll call you in with Jen and Brett—count on it."

"I dislike this greatly," Ilya growled.

"You'll have to be our eyes and ears on the inside, then," Matt and Auggie walked in, both looking grim and out of sorts. "Colonel Hunter just got a call from the President, asking for all three members of the Program, along with Dr. Farrell, to be sent to the White House."

"I quit," Ilya declared.

"You're in it for life," Auggie muttered. "Remember the agreement you signed? The only reason he isn't trying to order Cori around is because he knows he can't."

"What happened?" I asked. "Why is he suddenly running scared? He had ample protection. He sent them away." I flung out a hand.

"I think he's having control issues," Matt suggested. "He doesn't like what he can't control, and he couldn't control them—not really. All he could do was ask. He can't control Phillips—not openly. So he's employing what he does have control over."

"He's going to get people killed," I snapped. "You know it'll happen."

"We understand he isn't taking the long view on this," Auggie said. "If you'll recall, he and Phillips have bad blood between them, anyway. He was in Phillips' cabinet, remember? They disagreed on almost everything."

"So he's settling old debts by doing the worst thing possible, now? I don't believe this," I said.

"He feels threatened by Phillips. You understand Phillips—or the one posing as Phillips—will do everything in his power to take over the country. Granville wants to destroy Phillips using his own methods and on his own terms."

"He'll find himself on the losing end of this, mark my words," I snapped.

"Cori, we're not disagreeing with you," Auggie rubbed my shoulders.

"Then what do you suggest?" I asked. "Wait for the fallout and attempt to do damage control?"

"That may be all we can do at this point," Matt said.

"Fuck. Ilya," I turned to him.

"What is it, Cabbage?" he asked.

"You need a crash course in warlockery one-oh-one," I said. "Beginning with how to fold space so you and anyone you care about can get the hell away from a dangerous situation."

*

Ilya

By the end of the day, and before I was called to the White House, Corinne and Valegar taught me how to fold space. I also learned how to level power blasts, melt metal or plastic, burn anything combustible and Pull anything to me that I could focus my mind on.

Unlike my Larentii tutors, however, I could not control atoms. I couldn't create or destroy the same way they could. Whatever I blasted that afternoon, they rebuilt with barely a thought so I could destroy it again. An advanced spell might do the same, but I didn't have enough time to learn it and it wasn't the same as commanding atoms, anyway. It was merely reconstructing the bits and pieces left after an object's destruction.

Still, I hoped to learn it, someday.

"Time to go," Colonel Hunter walked warily into the basement where I practiced my new skills.

"Here," Corinne held out a hand and ensured that I was dressed appropriately in a dark suit and tie. "Wouldn't do to go see the Prez looking like you just reduced a wall to rubble, you know."

"What if they won't allow me to return here?" I asked.

"You can fold space now, remember?" Corinne said. "Send mindspeech. I'll let you know where we are. I doubt we stay here—there's no reason for it."

"All right. What about Brett and Jen? I understand the meeting is so late because the President was waiting for their flight to arrive."

"You can take them anywhere with you," Corinne said. "If they want to come."

"What about Katya and Sergei?"

"Bekzi will keep them safe," she said. "Count on it."

"All right," I said, straightening the cuffs on the suit I wore. I could tell by the feel that the fabric was expensive and of the highest quality. Corinne had dressed me like royalty. "I am ready to go," I nodded to Colonel Hunter. "We will get this over with quickly."





Chapter 13

Notes—Colonel Hunter

"Thank you for coming on such short notice," the President said. I wanted to laugh—these four didn't have a choice but to appear at the President's bidding.