by C E Johnson
Ready, Z? Emily asked. She pulled off her sweat top and bottom and dove into the water in her swimsuit. The liquid came from the bottom of the dam and it was breathtakingly clear and cold.
I’d go with you anywhere, Xena boasted, plunging into the water. Emily dove underwater and headed toward the bottom of the shallow lake. Xena took a breath, put her head under the surface and likewise swam underwater after her bondsmate. The Whaynes had been shocked the first time they saw the black Doberman swim with their daughter and actually go underwater. They thought Xena was drowning, but the big dog’s great bond was so strong that she had learned to hold her breath and stay next to Emily. They paddled around for a while, and Emily held onto the fur on Xena’s neck, letting her pull her through the water like a lifeguard. They went across the lake to a boat-shaped rock where Emily liked to rest. Xena jumped on the rock and Emily lay on the smooth surface next to her. Closing her eyes and placing her head on her dog, Emily absorbed the heat both from her bondsmate and from the sun like a sleek reptile. They went deep into their link, deeper than they had ever gone before. Emily lowered her mental-shields to their lowest levels, letting pure thoughts and emotions wash freely between their two minds. Concerns, feelings and anxieties timidly flashed delicately at first, then rushed across the pathway in a flood. The release was like a dam breaking, and Emily let it go. All she called her ‘self’ was abandoned. It was cathartic, and she hid nothing, while accepting a similar release from Xena. They assimilated each other. Neither judged the other in their link, they simply acknowledged that which was.
The gentle waves from the edge of the lake were slowly lapping at the shore, making them drowsy, but Emily knew it was time to get back. She toweled off. Xena jumped down from her rock warily sniffing the air. Once satisfied that no danger was present, the two started their trek back home at a more relaxed pace. However, this time Emily was watching more carefully for any strange men and listening closely for any alert from her bondsmate.
CHAPTER 11
Confrontation
It was midnight. Dysis was in a specialized government utility vehicle on the Whayne’s street a short distance from their home. A warm, evening breeze whistled gently through the open window. Dysis glanced through the hazy gloom from her seat amongst her handpicked Team One of Blacksky agents. Another SUV was positioned a quarter mile away with Team Two. She whispered into her phone to Hadrian, “I’m in position.”
“Good. I want you to keep a very close eye on Emily Whayne over the next day.” Hadrian sounded on edge. “Since we started targeting surveillance around Austin, we’ve picked up clusters of aberrant activity from our internet and phone searches mentioning a team of contract soldiers being hired to kidnap a young girl and her Doberman in Austin, Texas.”
“Who’s coming for her?” Dysis asked. Her heart began to race.
“The contract soldiers are being hired by a man known only as Droth.” Hadrian sighed. “If the chatter we’re hearing correlates with Emily Whayne, there really is something unusual about this girl.” Hadrian sounded begrudging as he added, “Great work, agent.”
Dysis felt proud of his compliment. “I’m glad you assigned a second team of agents to my command,” she began, wanting Hadrian to know she appreciated him. “I’ve got them close to the house with me.”
“Keep a close perimeter, Dysis, and watch for anything unusual. Keep Emily under close surveillance.”
“Both teams are activated, fully armed, and ready to engage.” Dysis spoke with more confidence than she felt. “Why would others be tracking this young girl?”
“I don’t know,” Hadrian answered thoughtfully. “Did you gain any insight from the initial interrogation today?”
“No,” Dysis stammered. “Somehow Emily evaded two of my best men.” Dysis knew Hadrian would be disappointed in her. She glared in the rearview mirror at a red-haired agent in the backseat.
Hadrian snorted, “Never assign to others what you can do yourself.” Dysis hated for him to learn of her mistakes.
“You’re right,” she spoke ruefully. “I should have gone to talk to her first. Now I’m sure she’s going to be extremely guarded with strangers.”
Hadrian continued speaking, sounding as if he were reading through Dysis’ written analysis of Emily Whayne. “Her family isn’t engaged in anything illegal, so I doubt they’re the source of the conflict, but perhaps Droth wants to kidnap her to get to Dr. Dalton. Try and keep her safe until we have more information.” Something in his tone changed, “And, Dys, don’t get hurt.”
He’s never called me Dys before. Dysis was surprised by Hadrian’s concern, and she allowed herself a faint, pleased smile. Hadrian started talking again, and Dysis could hear more apprehension in his words, “I’m going to send another set of agents out there. Something about this just doesn’t feel right.”
They ended the conversation and Dysis sighed as another breeze rifled through the car. She closed her eyes for a minute to relax as memories burst into her mind of her father walking with her in Kitakyushu, Japan, through a wisteria flower tunnel with flowers swaying in a similar wind.
* * * Droth * * *
Droth was one street away from the Blacksky agents, sitting in a rental car with Marcus Tate, waiting for the team of Earthly agents he had hired. The men pulled up next to his car in two large vans. The team leader exited the forward vehicle. Droth snorted at the supreme confidence displayed in the man’s arrogant manner of walking and in the lift of his chin.
“Where did you find these guys?” Marcus asked.
Droth rolled his eyes. “I hired these mercenaries because reportedly they’re the best money can buy, extremely skilled at quietly obtaining a human target without leaving a trace of their presence.” From his research, he was very impressed with this group, at least for Earthlings.
“Do you want me to get the girl instead?” Marcus asked. “These guys are idiots.”
“No, I don’t want magicians involved,” Droth said. He gestured to Marcus to stay where he was before getting out of the car to instruct the mercenary leader.
The mercenary regarded him suspiciously. “Why can’t you kidnap a puppy and a young girl on your own?” He smiled dangerously. “One car, some dog treats and some candy. It ain’t too hard.”
Droth clenched his jaw, trying to hide the anger that was dying to flash across his face. “My reasons are my own. Just do your job. I want you to bring the girl Emily Whayne and her dog to me alive.”
“It’s your money,” the mercenary scoffed while giving Droth a short bow. Droth had already paid the soldiers a huge sum of cash and he detailed another bonus that he was offering as a reward if they were able to secure the girl and dog tonight. Thankfully, with the amount of money on the table, the mercenary leader became much more diplomatic. They began to review their final plans, coming to an agreement on the technique and approach to be used. The leader introduced Droth to each of his men. Casting a spell to read their abilities, Droth studied the eight members of the squad. They were very well trained, all ex-military, and all special operation warriors. Being in close proximity to them, Droth used a low-level incantation to read a portion of their surface thoughts. They were definitely focused on their job, but he could also sense their condescension and disgust with his slow movements and quick breathing.
The mercenaries showed Droth the tranquilizers they had on hand and the cages in the backs of their vehicles for their victims. Droth examined the bars of the cages carefully. If these men can just deliver the two to me, my squad of magicians can keep them under control in a magus-cage until Samil returns.
“I’m impressed with your organization. You appear to be ready for anything,” Droth said thoughtfully, attempting to focus on the positives and encourage them before battle. The men were laden down with assault rifles and tranquilizer fire arms.
The leader laughed in a mocking tone as if the notion that there might be trouble amused him. “We’ll be in and out in five minutes. Stay saf
e over here where the little girl can’t beat you up.”
Droth’s hands curled into fists, but he bit his tongue, nodded, and remained silent by the vehicles. He watched the mercenaries disappear into the night like half-deads fading into the shadows.
Marcus got out of the car and stood by Droth. “You’re a General, Droth. Why are you sitting in the shadows?”
“Exposure,” Droth answered angrily.
“Is this the female Doberman?” Marcus asked.
“I haven’t seen the dog or her owner yet, but Milo informed me that both the girl and the dog have blue auras.” Droth trusted Milo.
“Milo is a powerful red magician,” Marcus began, “he would know.” Marcus studied the house before them. “If this is the dog and the elf, Samil will be very happy on his next trip out.” Marcus paced by the car. “I wish I had my lion bondsmate with me.”
Droth nodded. “I wish I had my pack of Dobermans with me.” He had trained his three Dobermans so well that even though they were aura-less, visiting magicians questioned if one was his bondsmate. All the same, he had left the dogs at his headquarters. If satellite images were reviewed in the future, he was sure the dogs’ presence could be used to help track him down.
He glanced into the darkness that had swallowed the mercenaries up, hoping they were as good as they appeared. Once Blackbarb is complete and I hand over this girl and dog, I’ll walk away from Samil forever, Droth promised himself. As the darkness intensified, Droth put on his night vision goggles to watch the distant shapes of the men approach the Whayne’s home. Once the soldiers progressed out of the range of his goggles, he quested out with a spell to evaluate their advance.
* * * Dysis * * *
Dysis awoke abruptly from her dream in which she continued to walk hand in hand with her father. She glanced out the window. Nothing caught her eye.
“What’s wrong,” her red-haired agent asked, one eyebrow raised. He was currently assigned to visual guard-duty.
“I’m not sure,” Dysis whispered back, trying to figure out what had awakened her. She glanced up at Emily’s dark window. She was impressed that the teenager had ditched her Blacksky agents so easily. I wonder if I could have done that at her age. Dysis sighed, leaning her head against the headrest while thinking about her parents, far away in Japan. I wonder if Emily’s mother is proud of her. Her own mother had been so impressed by her strength and dedication in her gymnastic competitions. I wonder if my parents truly believe I’m a data analyst working for the American government. Her mother hoped she would marry soon and was constantly sending her pictures of nice men she and her friends predicted Dysis would like—doctors, engineers, and lawyers. Her mother thoroughly believed that there was a lid for every pot and she wanted to help her daughter find her lid. Dysis, however, wanted to experience the thrill of battle for a little longer before she settled down. She was a warrior and she relished combat.
A noise, a clink of metal on metal, caught Dysis’ attention, and she lifted her head. “Did you hear that?” she asked in a hushed voice.
“What?” The red-haired agent’s eyes were glazed and tired. He perked up as Dysis scanned the area. Something wasn’t right. She felt danger thick in the air.
“There,” Dysis pointed excitedly toward the Whayne house. I did hear something. She again heard the sound of metal striking metal, an ominous sound that she associated with weapons. She put on her night vision goggles and froze. “What in the world?” she murmured. A chill went down her spine. “Someone’s approaching the Whayne home.” She was instantly on her phone. “Hadrian,” Dysis spoke in a low voice. “There’s a team of armed men encircling Emily’s house.” Her agents were all awake now, leaning against the windows, studying their enemy.
“Dysis, they’re not with Blacksky or the federal government. Take them out immediately.” He was speaking in a rush and his voice rose. “They must be Droth’s mercenaries. Eliminate them now!” Dysis had seldom heard him lose control. She could tell he wished he was at the scene. “Your backup is on its way.” His tone fell and Dysis could barely hear him whisper, “Good luck, Dys.”
She felt warmth flood through her body as she realized how concerned he was for her. Perhaps there is a ‘lid’ for this pot. She exited the car and spoke on a radio to Team Two while Team One stood at attention next to her, listening. “There’s a group of enemy mercenaries surrounding the Whayne home. They’re not aligned with our government. Hadrian believes they plan to harm or kidnap the girl. You’re all clear to eliminate the enemy.” Dysis looked at the raised eyebrows of her agents at the word ‘eliminate,’ but, they didn’t question her commands, they were always ready for a fight.
After checking over their gear and weapons, her team began adjusting their night vision goggles. Once ready, Dysis wordlessly signaled the advance. As she approached the Whayne’s house, she felt an icy calm descend through her body as she shifted into attack-mode. The agents beside her began to breathe more rapidly, but Dysis began to slow her breathing, casting away her anxiety. Her two teams would rely on their training, acting interdependently as a cohesive unit, while Dysis would attack on her own.
* * * Droth * * *
As the Blacksky agents approached the Whayne’s home, Droth’s magic sensed their advance. Sucking in a rapid breath, he focused with his goggles until he could see several of the men. He whispered a new incantation, and his spell quested out to count the number of well-armed enemy warriors approaching.
“Who is it?” Marcus asked.
“I’m not sure,” Droth answered, “but they’re good.” Wiping beads of sweat from his forehead, he was amazed at the exertion associated with his spell. He tried to shake off the weakness his incantation was causing, but he was certain he would need the rejuvenators soon.
“Should we get involved?” Marcus asked, leaning toward the battle.
“No.” Droth shook his head. “I’ll alert them, but I want them to deal with this.” He remained hard as stone, calmly speaking into a small microphone to warn the mercenary squad. “There are nine agents approaching your team, and they have weapons drawn. I recommend you take shelter, now.”
“Take cover,” roared the mercenary leader through his microphone. The mercenaries immediately began ducking into defensive positions. Handguns and machine guns with silencers flared, and muffled bullets began to spray from both sides.
* * * Dysis * * *
Dysis observed the turn of events and the transformation of the parameters in amazement. Instead of fear, she felt a building sense of excitement. This was a scenario she didn’t expect, but one which she planned to deal with quickly. Her initial benefit of surprise was gone. The calm before a hurricane was nice, but the turmoil of the strongest storms brought out the best in her. She knew her Blacksky agents had been incredibly silent, so there must be a spotter somewhere that she would have to deal with later. For now, she would wade directly into the growing chaos of the deadly battle.
Identifying her first victim, Dysis crept stealthily forward. Before she went two feet, she gazed at her chest, incredulous that she was immediately targeted by blood-red laser dot sights. I’m spotted. Heart thundering, she dodged to the right as bullets began to spray toward her lithe form. Swiftly performing evasive maneuvers, a touch of fear screamed through her mind and she licked her lips at the unusual sensation flooding through her veins. Changing position to avoid the flurry of deadly missiles, she spun in the air, ducked, and rolled. Two of her adjacent agents were not so lucky and their lifeless bodies hit the ground next to her.
These are no ordinary criminals. They’re special operatives with lethal shots, she thought to herself while spinning again in the air. Landing in a crouch, she reassessed the situation. Both groups were losing warriors with the survivors seeking better cover and becoming pinned down. The enemy squad has more impressive weapons of greater caliber and capable of more rounds per second. They’re going to sequentially pick my Blacksky teams apart.
Dysis flexed her fing
ers, doubts rising in her as she sorted through her options. Although Hadrian wouldn’t like her decision, she knew what she had to do. There was an expectant silence, and even the breeze seemed to still as the battle paused. Dysis pulled her sword from the sheath on her back, her five hundred-year-old weapon made by a grand master. Delighting in the familiar thrill as the sharp edge whispered to her of war and death, she signaled for her remaining agents to stay down and cover her with their ground-fire. She studied the ghostly flicker of her metal in the moonlight, shiny and elegant, a beauty beyond compare. She caught the glint of the gun of an enemy close to her position. She was ready to go on the offensive.
In her youth, she had been one of the greatest gymnastics champions in Japan and her countless hours of training were ingrained in her every movement. She soared over a hedge, performing an aerial cartwheel with a fly spring and a dive roll in a floor routine that would have made her mother clasp her hands together in delight. The enemy combatant cursed in disgust at his mistake when he saw Dysis materialize next to him from the shadows. Using the blunt end of her sword, she knocked him unconscious in one fluid motion. Hadrian will probably want to interrogate him.
One mercenary after another went down under her sword as it cut the air with a sweet and satisfying tune. The cold metal flashed determinedly as if it were in control, completing its own steady, silent job. When all enemy targets were dispatched or had fled the area, Dysis bowed her head, her initial elation at success was replaced with a flood of guilt and remorse. She had lost six of her team of eight federal agents and her success in preventing the abduction was severely tempered by the sad loss of life.
She called Hadrian, apprising him of all that had happened. He informed her that he was sending in a team of cleaners. Dysis and her remaining agents bound the mercenary fighters. The cleaners began to appear in another wave of government vehicles. They picked up the bodies of the dead federal agents and unconscious prisoners. Dysis supervised the cleanup as a warm rain began to fall. Her long hair fell wet and heavy on her shoulders. Wishing she could be soothed by the light touch of the drops on her forehead, she looked up to the sky and closed her eyes, wondering what Hadrian was up to. Outside, she kept up a stoic mask for her surrounding agents, but inside, she felt wracked with waves of heavy sobs at the loss of life. What could I have done differently? she asked herself time and again.