by Mel Todd
JD froze, unsure if he should pull Charley into a hug or not. But before he could decide to move, Charley stood, carrying another piece over to the round pipe they'd gotten.
"Can we fasten this to the top of this pipe like a ramp over it that tilts?"
Letting him be, JD figured out a way to create a secured seesaw effect with some brackets. It let the board tilt one way or the other. The pipe was the largest they had at the home improvement store and would allow the kids in animal form to scramble through it, though in a few years it would be too tight for them.
Years. We may not have weeks.
That thought made him redouble his efforts. They could at least have fun for a while. Before everything changed, again.
Trust. It's all you can do.
"I keep sensing a tiger."
It took him a minute to figure out what Charley was talking about, lost in his own fears.
"At the other end of the not-light?"
Charley nodded, his pale hair flying up and down.
"And she's the only tiger I know. And it feels like something is tugging at me from there. I think it's tugging Jamie, too. He keeps dreaming of tigers but doesn't talk about them when he wakes up. And he and Jessi talk about everything, and he won't talk about them."
"Huh. How do you know about the dreams?" JD made sure to keep his voice casual and focus on what he was doing, which was good ‘cause he almost hit his hand with the hammer when Charley responded.
"I can see their dreams if I want. He was sleeping and looked upset. I touched his head and I could see the dream."
JD didn't know what to say about this, so he let it lay for a minute until he was sure he could speak without sounding freaked out. Having someone read his dreams didn't sound good to him.
"Have you talked to McKenna or Wefor about this?"
"No. I mean I only found out right before we, um, were hiding at your house. I didn't say anything, not even to them. They don't know."
"Makes sense. Maybe talk to Wefor? She might have an answer."
"Oh, yeah. Since McKenna removed the distance I can talk to her, too. I'm so glad she did that. Not being able to talk to Jessi and Jamie right now would not be good."
"I know that feeling. It's better to be able to feel her all the time. Well, all of you." JD cast a glance at Charley. "We worried about you, all of you, while we were gone."
Charley snorted. "You think we didn't? You were taken by men with guns. We couldn't feel you. We didn't know if you were dead or alive." His voice broke with that, and JD responded that time, pulling him into a hard hug as Charley sobbed a bit, the stress from the last few days leaking out.
His control is way too good for a kid his age. We need to remember to watch all of them better. Just because they can talk to us doesn't mean we don't need to ask if they're okay.
JD tightened his hold on the boy, lending his strength as Charley tried to regain his composure.
~Everything okay? Is Charley crying?~ McKenna's voice filled his mind on a private channel.
~Yeah. But he'll be okay. We need to remember they're kids. We forget sometimes because they act so old.~
A soft sigh of regret and worry. ~Are we doing the right thing keeping them? Am I putting him in danger by fostering him? Should I give him up?~
JD rolled his eyes and snorted mentally. ~Like you could, and he would never let you. You're the best thing he's ever had. And we know right now there isn't any place that is safe.~
~True. I just worry.~
~It's call love, Kenna. We all worry. It's normal.~
A hmmm sound was the only response. But since he didn't hear the door opening and her coming out he figured it was all okay. In the meantime Charley had pulled away and wiped his nose and eyes on his t-shirt.
He coughed a bit and avoided looking at JD, instead focused on the structure. "So I think we need a high point here we can jump up on and watch from."
"Sounds good." They worked in silence for a while before Charley spoke again.
"I asked Wefor."
"And?" JD was interested, this wasn't something he'd seen anyone of them do and with all of them in pack style sleeping in the jungle he didn't remember any shared dreams.
"She said it's a command module function, but she doesn't know why I have it. She said she can have McKenna taste my blood and do some analysis."
"Huh. Okay."
Charley shrugged. "I'll wait. Doesn't matter, I guess. Just need to see if Nam is the missing light."
"You'll know Saturday."
Charley grunted in reply, and they went back to working. The ping of JD's phone around noon pulled them out of their creative endeavors.
"It's late. Let's go clean up and get lunch?"
Charley was gone before the words finished coming out of his mouth. Grinning, JD pulled up the phone and glanced at it.
*JD—you calling me back or what?*
Crap, I forgot.
He leaned back against the little tower they'd built and dialed Joey.
Joey answered on the first ring. "JD?"
"Yeah. Was sidetracked last night. What do you mean Tom Clancy shit?"
A huge sigh from the other side, and JD felt cold skitter across his spine like a spider with icy legs.
"I tracked it back to a government purchase via serial numbers. And this guy thought he was being smart, but he wasn't."
JD shook his head, keeping an eye on the house. McKenna didn't need this stress also. "What do you mean?"
"Well, the guy reinstalled Windows over the image that was originally there. But he didn't realize that when you install a commercial version of Windows over an image it just puts it in a new folder and doesn't actually erase the previous version. This means I can see all the info that came pre-installed on the government image. And what's even better, I think I can pull up his domain and login. I'm working on that now. My question is, do you want to know? I don't know if the user name will be useful, but it might be."
"Why wouldn't it be useful?" JD asked, confused.
"Think about it. Our user names are our initials and employee number. Look, mine is TT2341564. Which to an outside user would mean nothing. But lots of places use first initial last name and then numbers. So maybe. I'll keep digging, but this is someone who took government property, relatively new government property, and used it for a clandestine operation. You can't tell me what happened to you doesn't qualify as wet work."
"Huh. Point." JD didn't normally go towards conspiracies, but right now Joey had a point.
"So do you want me to figure this out? And I swear if I have MIBs pounding on my door in the middle of the night over this, my mother will make your life hell."
"You mother knows I asked you to do this?"
"Not yet. But if I get killed, my ghost is damn well going to make sure she knows." Joey responded instantly, and JD had to laugh.
"I've been warned. Yeah, keep digging. I want to know who set all this up."
"On your head." Joey cleared his throat. "So I took what you said to heart. Stocked up ammo for my .45 and my shotgun, anything else?"
"I don't know. But something should be happening in the next three weeks. Make sure you have water and extra food that won't go bad quickly. And pay attention to what's going on in the world. It might be a good idea to be a bit more aware of the world around you, especially what the government does."
Another uncomfortable sound from the other end, then a sigh, "Got it. And I'll let you know, JD."
He hung up and looked out at the afternoon sky, cloudless and blue, the Sierras in the distance.
Let's hope. Be nice to have someone I can focus on. Trust. That's all I can do, is trust.
With that thought he headed into the house. Lunch sounded good, building a child's vision was exhausting.
11
Whirlwind
Underground hate groups calling Shifters abominations and saying they are children of the devil have started to pop up. Some of them seem to have roots back to f
undamental Christian groups. While normally the government is very quick to jump on any new hate group, they haven't responded to the first protests these groups have staged. The lack of reaction is causing discussion—does it mean the government doesn't take them seriously or that something more important is going on? ~TNN Talking Head
The entire time the government people were there, JD kept his attention split. Part of it he kept on the food, burning the chicken or burgers would do no one any good. Then there were the kids, and Nam had to be the cutest thing he'd ever seen. He watched the kids and made sure they weren't under any undue stress or danger. He noted Toni paying close attention, too. Her stress level probably made the rest of the adults look calm and relaxed.
Then the men with weapons took up another part. They were all nervous about strangers right now, and being from the government added an extra set of wariness. Anyone who even thought about pointing a gun at any of his people and they'd see how fast he could move, whether he shifted into warrior form or not. He forced a growl down. If he growled now it would confuse everyone and get the kids upset.
JD glanced over at Cass and had to fight a smile. She occupied the last bit of his fractured attention. Talking to her in his head as they listened to the men talk. Getting her opinion and thoughts.
~I don't know if I'm happy or not that you agree with me that they are probably trustworthy. Or at least as much as anyone that has to follow orders can be.~ His opinion was colored by his tour in the army and general dislike of following people he didn't personally have faith in.
She huffed a laugh in his head even as she sipped her drink.
~I get that, but this is what we wanted to happen. So I guess being annoyed at the reality of it is kinda counterproductive. Besides, we didn't have any other options did we?~
~True.~ He refocused on the kids, and his gaze snagged on Nam again. The tiny tiger cub looked scrawny compared to the sleek healthy bodies of the two jaguar cubs.
~So what's the story with the tiger cub and why do the kids almost seem rabidly protective of her?~
JD focused on the other kids at her words and they did seem overly protective. No matter which one of them was between the tiger cub and the strangers, and at least one black jaguar was at her side at every moment. Probably Jaime from his reactions. What the four of them would become was something he couldn't imagine, or even how freaked out Toni must be.
~Toni. You okay?~ He sent the question privately even as he dealt with a flurry of needing to flip and manage the meat on the grill.
~Why does everyone keep asking me that? No. I'm not anymore alright than you or anyone else is, but there isn't a damn thing I can do about the fact that my children are changing in front of my eyes.~ Her tone held exasperation and was a touch sharp.
He didn't take offense, only sent her a wordless pulse of sympathy.
Another sigh from her, and he watched her shoulders sag. ~Sorry. It's scary. Maybe scarier than aliens coming. I'm watching my children change, and Wefor can't tell me what is happening as children are so rarely changed. But they are becoming other.~
~Other than what? We're already Kaylid and human, what else could we become?~ Her comment caught JD off-guard. How could they be other than them?
~I don't know, but they're becoming it. They act differently than we do. They feel different now. Complete, almost. Like a single unit. It scares me, but they're happier and more—~ she fumbled for the word in the mind space and finally finished. ~More content. As if they're exactly what and where they want to be. It's both thrilling and terrifying.~
~I can see that. But if you need anything…~ he let it hang there. She knew he meant the words with all his heart. The long week when the kids were taken had cemented their relationship. He picked up the conversation with Cass who had pinged him softly.
~Started talking to Toni about the kids. Distracted me for a minute. She's not okay, but she's holding it together.~ He paused to start serving food, the stress level dropping as even the military guys ate and the tenor of the conversation changed to more genial. He set out more chicken for the kids, watching Nam eat. And doctoring the food as the kids wanted. Charley with his mustard.
~As to Nam. I don't think we really know. Her mom dropped her off this morning with two duffels of stuff and ran off saying take care of her. I think there are implications of her dad thinking she's a monster. McKenna has no idea what to do, but with her childhood the idea of turning her over to Child Protective Services is a no-go. Plus, the kids are all but frantic to protect her. I'm not sure why, but look at her. You can't help but want to protect that tiny bundle of cuteness.~
~Truth there.~ Cass's voice had a level of aww that JD couldn't help but agree to as Nam licked her lips, a cute red tongue over a white muzzle.
They ate watching, then the Brigadier General Davis dropped the bombshell.
"We have basically four weeks to prepare for this. I'd like you to come to Washington. We need you to help deal with what's headed our way." The brigadier's voice was calm, matter of fact. JD's reaction was not.
~He wants us to go to DC? Now? Today?~ He spluttered out a bit in the mindspace as his world view shook.
He wants us to leave?
JD inhaled trying to control the knee jerk reaction.
Leave my friends, the family I've built? My job? My home?
It slammed into him with the power of an unexpected punch.
"No. I'm not going anywhere without my friends." McKenna's voice gave him the anchor he needed, and he focused inward.
George Davis looked at all of them and shrugged. "Fine, they can come, too, but we need to get going."
"I am NOT leaving my children." Toni and McKenna growled in almost one voice and JD smothered a laugh as they started to argue with the general.
His eye snagged on Cass leaning down to pet Nam, who leaned into her and he calmed.
McKenna is going. She's family. My house is in ruins, and if this isn't solved I might not have a job. Charley and the twins I love as if they were my own. Toni is as much my sister as Kenna is. And Cass.
He watched her for a minute then smiled.
Who knows what she might be, but this is my home. Of course, I'm going with them. Good thing most of my stuff is already here.
That eased his stress, and JD tuned back into the conversation. It didn't take long before they all agreed together would be better than separated, though Wefor's comments about the nanobot transfers planted ideas in the back of his mind.
They started making plans as he cleaned up the food and closed up the grill for what might be a while.
Cass's sharp voice pulled his attention and he focused, listening to both sides of the conversation.
"Fine, Chuck. Be that way. I quit. You can take the job and shove it." She hit disconnect on her phone and turned and glared at everyone watching her. "I really miss land line phones some days. They are so much more fun to slam down than just hitting a button." She took a deep breath, closing her eyes for a second then popping them back open. "I need to head home and pack. I'll call my sister from the car."
~Cass? You okay? What happened?~ JD had to tamp down his anger and desire to go find this Chuck and strangle him.
Cass glanced at him, and her body sagged a bit. ~Chuck, my lab manager, said I'd taken too much time off already and he wouldn't authorize my time off. It isn't like in my job I can work remotely. He started threatening me, and I said screw it. You heard the rest.~ She sounded defeated in his mind, and he wanted to wrap her up and protect her.
~Anything I can do?~
Besides go down and teach this jerk how to be a human?
That thought sounded way too good and he pushed it back even as he moved towards her, unable to resist the need to protect her.
~Well, if we all survive I might need a place to live if I can't pay my rent in a few months.~ Her comment dry. ~But for now, no. Makes things easier, and I'm not hurting short term.~
~Okay, let me know.~ He fought down the desire t
o offer her his house to live in. A few reasons. One, he hadn't even kissed her, offering her his house might be a bit extreme. Two, he didn't have a house at the moment. He needed to keep his knight tendencies under control. Not everyone needed rescuing.
She flashed him a smile. ~I will.~
With a whirl of efficiency JD had seen occasionally in the military, before any of them had a chance to think too much, they were being driven to Beale and ushered onto a Gulfstream. He took one last look out the door at the rolling Northern California hills and a pang of foreboding gripped him.
With a shrug he pushed it away and moved into the jet. Settling his bulk into one of the seats, he took a moment to look around and felt a bit better to see Perc having the same problem. Even nice jets weren't made for someone of their size. The kids flopped into chairs, surrounding Nam and McKenna. The little girl looked exhausted and a bit freaked out. McKenna held her and it took only a few minutes for the little girl to fall asleep.
The trip passed in a blur, but mainly because he focused on Cass sitting next to him, her hand in his.
These people are my greatest treasure and the people I trust. The house doesn't matter, aliens don't matter.
A half smile curved his lips as he let his gaze drift over the kids. Toni watched them with a pensive gaze, McKenna, and Perc watched her with an expression JD recognized from the mirror when he thought about Cass.
They are mine as much as I am theirs.
His hand tightened around Cass's and she squeezed back. He let the stress seep away as he focused on the family he'd chosen, a better one than the one he'd been born to.
Come and try to take my family away. I'll be waiting.
12
Politics in Action
All requests for interviews with McKenna Largo and Percival Alexander have been met with silence. When asked, Alexander's agent has no information as to when he will be available. What is more interesting, the others have all taken leaves from their jobs and no one seems to know where they are. Standing requests for interviews to discuss their adventure have been ignored. Are they hiding something? ~Editorial Comments