Myla was also exceptionally intelligent, but of a more serious demeanor. He was a trained scientist, negotiator and scholar. He was fascinated about the variety of cultures on earth and had been a good friend with Lizzie, whose sense of adventure paired with a bright and inquiring mind was very attractive to the serious avian.
Ingot gave an appearance of gruffness, but when you got to know him, he turned out to be a sensitive soul who listened carefully to everything that was said by all members of the group before making any pronouncements. He always continued discussions until every viewpoint had been heard and then reached a conclusion only after all had been taken under discussion.
It turned out that Bob knew way more than Jenny had suspected about the different theories about alternate timelines, contrasting dimensions and even theory about time travel. He had more than one PHD in physics, engineering and, of all things, social science. He was able to keep up his end of conversations that went way over Jenny's head, taking time to explain things to her in Earth terms when she got lost in the science that seemed to be beyond her. He was really good at breaking down complex concepts into terms that were easy to understand. His military service before college also gave him a fairly good grasp of tactics and strategy.
She commented to him that he would have been a great teacher. He was surprised, "Didn't you know? I thought I told you. I was an engineering professor at Cal Tech."
Jenny thought back on all the conversations they had had over the last few months. "Nope, but it fits."
Among other things, Bob received a necklace similar to Jenny's in function, but instead of a key, it was the infinity symbol. This designated him as an Agent of the Alliance. As an agent he had similar privileges as Jenny for the gateways, but he still needed to go through a Guardian or Gatekeeper to get access to the gate rooms. To his delight, he was also issued an MDP and a quarterstaff as well as having the Alliance apps installed on his cell phone. He was now included in Jenny and Tarafau's workouts. Jenny was surprised how quickly he picked it up.
"It's very similar to pugil stick fighting. It was part of basic training when I was in the military," he replied when Jenny asked him about it. "However, it hurts more when you make contact," he grimaced, rubbing his shin where Jenny had whacked him earlier. "You're pretty good at it yourself."
"I train every day with Tarafau," Jenny admitted. "I'm still learning."
"Well, Tarafau must be a great trainer," Bob said, wryly. "You sure surprised the heck out of me. I've got to learn not to 'go easy' on you." And he laughed.
Jenny giggled, despite herself. It had really helped her confidence to get in some good blows on both Tarafau and Bob that day.
The three days passed rapidly, with very little time to rest mentally or physically. Jenny's confidence was definitely shored up by all of the new information, training and the comradery she now felt with both the Chief Councilors and Bob.
She had been trained more thoroughly, alongside Bob, on tactics using the MDP. She was taught how to transfer mindspeech to someone who did not have the ability, and she learned more about how her key worked as a universal pass to the entire dimensional network. She alone did not need another person to access every gateway in the network. It was politeness and protocol to access gates through the Guardian of that gate, but it was not necessary for her.
She also discovered that it was her responsibility to help Guardians choose their successors. Apparently, Miriha had been involved in her aunt's choice. And in the process of that training, she also learned that she had a method for observing potential future Guardians with tech that was painlessly inserted under the skin. This was why her aunt knew enough about her to choose her. As it turned out, she had not been the only one in her family that Lizzie had been observing, but evidently Lizzie had liked what she saw in Jenny.
One of the things she also began to realize was that the time would come for her to choose a successor. She would want to spend enough time with people outside the Earth Guardian council to allow herself access to potential candidates. Where she would find time for that, she had no idea.
Jenny wasn't sure what in particular her aunt had observed about her behavior that had helped her decide that Jenny would inherit the position, and she had mixed feelings about having been chosen. She was still filled with awe that her aunt had decided that she had the qualifications even for the Guardian position and she wondered, if Miriha had been able to choose her successor, if she would have decided to choose her, after all.
The time came for them to return to Earth. Ingot laid his hands on both of Bob's shoulders, looking directly up into his eyes. "Your first assignment will be to protect The Gatekeeper and aid Burt in his search for Sam. She must be found and questioned. I have a really bad feeling about her. You now have the same tech as Burt, and he will instruct you more fully in their use. Keep a careful eye on Jenny and her house. It is doubtful that Sam will suspect you, as she could have no idea you have been received into The Alliance."
Bob nodded. "I will see to it," he said gravely. The determination in his dark eyes appeared rock hard. "If it is within my power, no harm will come to Jenny. I owe that to her aunt. I am also glad to be able to call Jenny 'friend'."
He looked over at Jenny. "I'll be your nosy neighbor. Maybe Burt and I can concoct some misinformation to send her way, if she doesn't suspect my involvement."
Ingot released Bob and stood before Tarafau. Unable to reach his shoulders, he looked seriously up into Tarafau's eyes. "Take care, my friend. I know you to be a fierce warrior and a faithful companion. You are one of our most trustworthy and skilled Guides. I know you will continue to oversee the training of these with diligence and kindness. Know that our best wishes and hopes go with you."
He then turned to Jenny. "Gatekeeper, you have come to your position unexpectedly and unprepared. You have shouldered a great burden with integrity and valor. I know we ask more of you than you ever expected to be responsible for. However, even in your youth, you have the qualities we value most in a Gatekeeper. Honesty, diligence, compassion and the willingness and humility to take on tasks greater than you think you are. If ever you need anything, you may text me."
Jenny goggled at him and he grinned. "I have taken the liberty to add all three of us to your contacts on the dimensional aspect of your phone." He said with a smile. "I hope you don't mind." And his shoulders shook with suppressed laughter.
Jenny threw her arms around him, surprising him only for a moment. He hugged her back with feeling then drew back and smiled up at her. "Thank you, Jenny," he said gently.
Jenny then went to Myla and Liliath and hugged each in turn. Hugging a dragon…who knew they gave great, and gentle, hugs?
Her eyes now tearing up, she put one arm through Tarafau's and the other through Bob's and like Dorothy, she started down a road that she never expected to follow, with a faithful companion on either side.
Chapter 21: Cloak and Dagger
Jenny realized when she got up that morning that she felt safer and more like she was in a good place than she had felt in a long time. She had been encouraged by The Council to continue her training with the other Guardians, while Burt and Bob continued to search out the elusive Sam. She had no texts or phone calls waiting when she got home. It was clear that Sam knew that she knew. This made Jenny so sad, but she also felt more than a little angry that Sam had fooled her so very thoroughly.
All those years in college, hanging out, whining about being overburdened with homework, helping one another prepare for exams and pop quizzes professors were so fond of, and she had never had a single clue that Sam wasn't exactly what she thought she was.
"Don't let it make you cynical," Bob had advised her. "That's one thing about your aunt. She knew about the world and how not everything or everyone were like they seemed, but when it came down to it, she still found optimism, somehow, to treat every person she met as if they were as honorable, kind and caring as she was. We can all learn a lot from that."
To her surprise, he was already there, doing his warm ups. She remembered she had keyed the gate office to him and had given him permissions that included the workout room and the Alliance gateway. She and Tarafau joined him.
First mental workout, then quarterstaff. The graceful coordinated moves of the body and staff in the workout routine was much like a dance. It was a soothing way to get started on her day. As she moved through her paces, she allowed her mind to wander over the last few days. She realized that it was the best she had felt in a long time.
They took turns pairing off with the quarterstaff. They cheered one another on, occasionally making wry remarks about a particularly poorly executed move, without being critical. At the end, they were all sweating happily.
They took out time for showers and joined one another on the patio for a green drink. Tidbit dabbled happily at the koi as he lay at the edge of the pond. Jenny imagined he might have been too tired, after their workout, to chase butterflies.
They had only been chatting for a few moments when Burt showed up, coming through the garden gate.
"I've found her," he said without pausing for greetings. "She is holed up in a cabin near Arrowhead. There are a number of somewhat shifty types coming in and out. She does have wi-fi, however and she is using her cell phone. I put a tag on it and now we can track her when she decides to come out for any reason. She is having groceries and other things delivered. I may be able to find a way in by taking advantage of that little loophole."
Jenny gritted her teeth. She knew the little cabin well. She and the other girls in their hiking club had stayed there more than once, looking forward to a good hike and chatting and laughing together. Such good times…now tainted with Sam's betrayal.
"So, what do we do next?" Tidbit sent.
Bob started in surprised and then grinned and pointed at each of them. "You two have been talking behind my back all this time, haven't you?"
"Indeed," Tidbit sent, with a mental feeling of a wicked grin. "Such interesting conversations about all of your foibles."
"Foibles?!" Bob sent back. "You're a cat. You chase butterflies and annoy the koi, not to mention terrorizing Cinder. You've got no room for comparison, Kitty. Foibles…huh!"
Jenny couldn't help but laugh and Burt guffawed. "Mindspeech can be a convenient thing," he added with a conspiratorial wink.
Tidbit repeated implacably, "So, what do we do next?"
Burt sobered up quickly. "We stalk her carefully. Now that I have Bob to help, I think we can pull off a bit of subterfuge. I think the way in is through the delivery, like I said. I think between the two of us we can create a ruse that will work to get us into the cabin. Then I will show you how we extract information without damaging a person and without letting them know we were ever there. Let's leave these two to their breakfast and fish watching and you and I can work out the details."
They sauntered out through the back gate, evidently to have their conversation at Bob's place. Jenny picked up their empty glasses and headed into the kitchen, leaving Tidbit to his fascinating occupation.
She found it incredible that the big, strong, intelligent man could find such enjoyment in something so simple as fish or butterflies. Evidently neither existed in his home dimension. She often wondered about his long-lived species and what his life must have been like before he became a Guide for the Alliance. Up until now she hadn't had the courage to ask him about it. She made up her mind to have that conversation soon. By now she realized that there was nothing she couldn't discuss with Tarafau.
She cleaned up the glasses and put them away, then went into the living room with the idea she might take a break with that book she'd been trying to get to.
But as she sat down in her reading chair, book in hand, she heard a soft but emphatic mind-send from Tidbit. "Jenny…"
What he had been about to say, she never found out.
She dropped her book on the table and ran out to the garden. Tarafau lay at the edge of the pool as before, except he wasn't looking at the koi. He lay there as if taking a nap, the tip of his tail trailing in the water, a fish swimming up to it curiously. She ran up to him and looking down on him realized his eyes were indeed closed. She bent to rouse him and then saw stars, felt a sharp pain in the back of her neck at the same time. Then she saw nothing at all.
She awoke in darkness, not a speck of light. She tried to stand, but then realized she was tied to something, she thought it was a hard-backed wooden chair by the feel of it. Her wrists were painfully tied behind her and each ankle was tied to a chair leg. She felt dizzy, even sitting there, and her head hurt like blue blazes, as her dad would say. Her mouth was not bound, so she attempted to call out. "Hello? Hello!!! Is anybody there?"
Suddenly she realized that calling out might not be the best idea. Her captor or captors (she had a strong suspicion who that might be.) did not seem to be in evidence. Perhaps she could find a way to wriggle out of her bonds.
But a door opened before her, letting in a painfully bright ray of light. "Ah," purred Sam's voice, a note of satisfaction and smugness in it. "So, you're awake. Good. Looks like your bully boys fell for my ruse. I gave them what they were looking for, a mysterious hideout, suspicious types going in and out, groceries being delivered, my cell phone sending signals off and on. I was never there. It's an empty box, they're watching.
I may have injured your cat, I'm afraid. Perhaps fatally. I couldn't let him spoil my surprise."
She held her hands up in mock enthusiasm. "SURPRISE!"
Her shout sent spike-like pains through Jenny's sore head.
Jenny shook her head gently, not attempting to hide the disappointment and disdain from her face.
"Ah, I see you don't like my surprise. It's OK, I'll bear up under the grief."
She flipped the light switch and closed the door.
Jenny felt a shiver run down her back when she realized that Sam looked very different and not in a good way. Her auburn hair had been dyed black, or was that her natural color? She had a piercing on her lip and she was wearing something that looked like a black sorcerer's robe, belted with a chain of black metal. Sam's eyes were made up with black eyeliner and dark gray eyeshadow which made her eyes look sunken and dark. Even the irises of her eyes, which should have been green, were black. Her skin had a blue-gray tint to it.
"You're not from around here, are you?" Jenny asked, hoping her tone sounded flippant and didn't reflect the terror rising in her heart.
"Got it in one," Sam leered. "You always were pretty quick on the uptake. I'm sure you've figured out that we can't be besties anymore. My boss wouldn't like it much."
"You mean the executive producer at the station?" Jenny snapped back.
Sam shook her head. "Well, my real boss is more of an executer than an executive, but I don't think you really want to know about that, now, do you?"
Jenny clamped her mouth shut, refusing to be drawn into the taunt.
"Well, we shall see, what we shall see. I'm on a bit of a timetable and I don't have any time to waste with pleasantries." Abruptly she slapped Jenny's face so hard it made her already sore head ring like a gong. "That's for bringing in the troops," she said with a scowl. "I had this all worked out. I was going to worm my way into taking you to the airport on a regular basis and then just carry you off. But your new buddies put a kibosh to that.
So, I lured your A-team out to my cabin and here we are. You can be a really high-maintenance friend, you know?"
Jenny sat there in stony silence. She was sure, if anger expressed itself in lasers coming out of your eyes, Sam would have been fried where she stood. And then she realized, Sam was wrong. The A-Team wasn't
at Sam's cabin. They were across the street at Bob's house.
"So, let's begin. You should know by now that I am not a very patient person. So, this is how this will go down. I ask questions. You answer questions. If I have to wait for an answer, I have an incentivizer." She pulled a small taser out of a pocket in her robe. "If you still refuse to answer, I have another incentivizer." She drew out a poniard from a sheath hanging from her chain belt.
"Are we clear?"
Jenny just sat there, praying she could be strong, knowing it was going to be a very long day, if she survived it.
"Hmmm, obviously not. Here's a taster." She applied the taser to Jenny's right leg, just inside her thigh.
Every nerve in her body hummed in pain. Her brain felt like it would explode. When Sam finally lifted the taser away from her skin, Jenny just sat there shaking and panting. A cold sweat had broken out on her skin and she felt like someone had grilled her eyeballs.
"OK, let's try it again. Are we clear?"
Jenny clamped her mouth shut. She knew this was a simple question that she could afford to answer, but she had heard that interrogators usually started with non-essential questions to get their captives used to answering. She was not going to fall into that trap.
"Well, who woulda thunk?" Sam said, her eyes wide in mock surprise. The whites around the black irises made her look like a cartoon villain. "Little Jenny has a backbone after all. But, tut, tut, we cannot allow this. Perhaps we should try something else."
She cradled the hilt of the poniard almost tenderly in her hand and pricked one finger, holding it out so Jenny could see it bleeding. She let the blood from the tiny prick drip onto Jenny's face. She grinned and licked the blood from her finger. "I've always wondered why you never got a tattoo when I went to get my sweet spider. I admit, I'm not much of an artist, but perhaps a butterfly?"
The House on Infinity Loop Page 18