I nodded. "Yeah, okay, good. So can we pick one of those things? The most urgent one? Because I can't talk about all of that at the same time."
"The disease, Esteemed Bridge," Loki suggested. "This seems to me to be the most pressing of our problems."
I nodded, agreeing with him wholeheartedly, but glad he was the one to say it. The last thing I needed was either Wreg or Balidor fighting me because they'd decided I couldn't be objective about what was going on in San Francisco. Because, well, I couldn't be, of course...but that didn't mean it wasn't still the most pressing thing on our collective plates.
"Okay," I said, exhaling. "So we start there. We know the city's under quarantine. We also know we have no people there that we know of...so we don't really know what's going on behind those walls." I paused, looking around at all of them but Revik. "So...scenarios? Have you any thoughts on what we should be doing to address this...?"
I saw Wreg frown, even as Jon gave him a hard look.
"None so far, Esteemed Bridge," Wreg said.
I nodded again, biting my lip as I restrained myself from scanning Jon. "Okay," I said. "So can we talk about the why of all this? Why now. Why there. Why our people go missing in the middle of it..."
I gave Revik a fleeting glance, seeing a perceptible nod. He could see where I was going with this. He wanted to follow the same line, too.
Good, I couldn't help thinking, fighting to contain my relief.
"Okay," I said, taking another breath. "...We know this Shadow guy is trying to confuse things, right? By the way," I added, glancing at Wreg. "I think Balidor's probably right. I think, based on everything Chandre's told us, that this Shadow person probably hired Varlan to destroy the thing as an excuse to get ahold of a sample of it...or perhaps to eliminate any possibility of anyone else engineering an antidote..."
Before Wreg could respond, I raised my voice slightly, lifting my hand.
"I also think," I added, giving Balidor an equally warning look. "...That Wreg is right, too. Whoever Varlan was working for, he is also using this as a diversion...to split the seer factions even further and create chaos in our ranks, hindering our attempts to rebuild alliances. There's no way a human-killing disease wouldn't be divisive to the seer community. If this person is as smart as Varlan claims, then he had to have known that, going in. At the very least, he would capitalize on that division, find some way to use it to his advantage..." Exhaling a bit, I glanced at Vash. "Clearly this guy is running multiple games at once, so it's pointless to fight about how many of them are intentional...or even which is the most important to him. We need to figure out which is the most important for our aims, which isn't necessarily going to be the same thing. I know you infiltrators like psychoanalyzing everyone, but we just flat-out don't have time to figure this guy out. Let's just assume ill-intent, okay, and work from there...?"
I watched Wreg frown at Balidor, even as the Adhipan leader made an impatient but conciliatory gesture with one hand.
"No one is doubting your words, Alyson," Balidor said grimly. "It is not a matter of who is right, but what is the more important of these issues. And the issue at hand is, finding some way to slow down or stop the spread of this disease...before it takes out an unrecoverable chunk of the human population of North America..."
Wreg grunted, but didn't speak.
"I find it very interesting as well," Vash said into the silence. "...The timing, I mean."
Everyone stopped to stare at the elder seer, perhaps because he spoke so rarely in most of the actual strategy meetings, and he'd just done so...twice.
He met my gaze, smiling wider even as he gestured smoothly with one hand.
"One might even say the timing has the most clever aspect to it of all," he added, once all eyes had turned to him. "...As if a number of pieces, well planned out in advance, are coming together at just such a critical juncture as has been created now..."
"You're saying whoever it is, this Shadow person...that they planned all of this?" Wreg said, his voice holding some scorn. "Didn't we already know that, old man?"
"I am saying that, yes," Vash said, smiling warmly at Wreg. "But I am saying that in perhaps a more all-encompassing way than you think I meant. I believe it is very possible that this person has timed a great number of events over a very, very long period of time. I am definitely beginning to suspect that they had a direct hand in the finding and reawakening of our brother, Syrimne, with the specific strategy of using our dear Bridge as a means to that awakening, as well as a key weapon against him..."
Making a respectful gesture towards me and then Revik with one hand, he added,
"...If you've noticed, there have been a number of seemingly well-timed events since the finding and the awakening of the Bridge. Too many for me to believe that this could all be mere coincidence..."
"So you think this guy was definitely active?" I said. "Before, I mean. When Galaith still ran the Pyramid...and Terian was running the Rooks?"
"Most definitely," Vash said, nodding to me seriously. "I have thought for some time that someone is very carefully planning and guiding these forces in directions they would wish history to move." He added, looking at Revik, "Your aunt thinks much the same."
Loki spoke up, surprising everyone, if only because usually he was relatively quiet, too.
"I take it you do not see this as a friendly hand at that wheel, uncle?" he said respectfully to Vash, using the traditional moniker as he spoke from the far edge of the table. "...This maker of history of whom you speak?"
"I do not," Vash replied, meeting the Middle Eastern seer's gaze. "I think this person is very probably someone who does not have the best interests of either the vast majority of seers or the vast majority of humans at heart..."
I glanced at Jon and Wreg, before returning my gaze to Vash's.
"Given that," I said. "Is it possible that Chandre and Cass' disappearances are connected? I have to say, it's a little weird to me too, all of this happening at once. Really, if this guy wants us confused, he's doing a great job. Wouldn't it make sense that he might have timed these disappearances to coincide? To split our teams, as Wreg is suggesting?" I glanced around the table. "...Maybe to get us fighting about priorities, too?"
There was a brief silence as they looked around at one another, not quite guilt on their faces, but a different kind of understanding maybe.
"...Or Cass could just be cut off in quarantine," Jon said, his voice neutral. He gave Wreg a level look, but I felt the pale accusation there. "We never sent anyone, so we have no idea who's stuck behind that line..."
Vash was nodding at my words though, his dark eyes serious once more.
"I agree with this, Alyson," he said. "I think it is wise to follow this line...to assume things have more purpose than otherwise. It is far less dangerous to examine this possibility at least, than to ignore the potential ramifications..."
I nodded at that too, hesitating before I glanced at Revik.
He was already looking at me.
"Jon is right, too," Revik said. "We should send someone. To San Francisco...behind quarantine. Not only to find Cass, but to pull anyone we can whose name is on that list. We need eyes behind that wall. I think the risk is worth it..."
I nodded, trying not to show my relief. "That's what I think, too."
"Finally..." I heard Jon mutter audibly.
Wreg gave him a dark look, but I saw the ex-rebel's eyes concede our point.
"And bring them where, exactly?" Balidor said, skeptical.
"Here," I said, turning to him. "Where else?"
Balidor sighed, clicking softly as he ran a hand through his auburnish-brown hair. He'd had it cut again since I'd last seen him. Noticing that, I couldn't help wondering again how Revik and I managed to be out of commission for a whole week.
No wonder I felt so weird.
"This is turning into a full-fledged refugee camp, Alyson," Balidor said, refolding his arms. "We are running out of room...we still have infiltrat
ors coming in from the rebels. We have refugees from the camps who have come here, looking for the Sword..." Giving Revik a fleeting glance, he looked back at me. "...And we caught two more Lao Hu assassins this week, trying to gain entry to the upper floors. One of them almost got in...they're getting bolder, Allie."
Grimacing a little at that news, I wondered fleetingly if I'd known whoever it was they'd sent. Feeling a questioning ping from Revik, I pushed the thought from my mind, focusing back on Balidor.
"Are they alive?" I said.
Balidor made a negative gesture with one hand, and I frowned.
"Have you had any luck in your attempts to negotiate with Voi Pai?" I said.
He shook his head, clicking. His voice showed more irritation that time.
"She still refuses to speak to anyone but you," he said. When I started to answer, he held up his hand. "...And the answer is no, Esteemed Bridge. You cannot speak with her...absolutely not. Not when you are still bonded to her group. It is still there, in your light...I can see it right now, as we speak. She knows it, too. She is only looking for a line in, for intelligence, and I cannot permit you to give that to her..."
Giving me another hard look, he added, his tone more conciliatory,
"...It is a risk as it is, the connection you have from your brief membership in the Lao Hu. Which of course is why she made it contractual for your deal in the first place. She took advantage of you in that, Allie...it still angers me that she would demand such a thing of the Bridge, as if you were a common servant, appropriate to be bonded in such a way..."
Avoiding Revik's gaze, I nodded to that too, leaning back in my chair.
"What if Revik talked to her?" I said finally.
I felt him jump in the chair across from me, but Balidor only looked annoyed.
"To what purpose, Esteemed Bridge?"
I raised a hand, tilting my palm in a seer gesture of emphasis. "She's afraid of him," I said. "He's probably the only seer alive she does fear...apart from these mysterious employers of hers. Maybe he can give her reason to fear us more. It shouldn't be too hard...she can hardly be unaware of his feelings regarding her actions of the past year, both to his people and to me. And he did manage to take her captive out of her own City..."
Jon smiled, glancing at Revik, who only shrugged.
"I doubt that, Esteemed Bridge," Jax said, glancing at Revik before adding, "...Respectfully, boss. If this man she works for is the same Shadow that sister Chandre is now held hostage to down in Argentina, Voi Pai seems to fear him a great deal more than any of us. At the very least, she holds that alliance in higher esteem..."
I nodded, feeling my jaw harden, if only because I agreed.
Wreg grunted, however. "I'd still put money on the boss," he said.
I smiled, glancing at Revik. A smile touched his lips in return, but I saw a harder look in his eyes, and knew Wreg hadn't been kidding entirely.
"So what about South America?" I said after another pause, looking around at the rest of them. "Do we go there? In person, I mean?"
Revik clicked softly from the other side of the table. When I glanced at him, he was shaking his head, his eyes showing him to be at least partly in the Barrier.
"I would advise not, Esteemed Bridge," he said, glancing at me. "I don't like going into a place like that blind..."
I nodded. I'd kind of expected that, too, and not only from him.
"So how would we get eyes in there?" I said.
Revik glanced at me, then at Wreg, his fingers toying with the water glass that sat in front of him on the table. After another pause, he shrugged, still fingering the glass.
"I would need to consult with the others on this," he said. "But I think we might want to try tracking Chandre first. Using our thread to her to hack their construct..."
"Is that doable?" I looked from him to Wreg to Balidor.
All three of them looked doubtful.
"Possibly," Revik said, smiling at me wanly. "I think we should start there, Esteemed Bridge." I winced when he used my title again, and his smile crept wider. "...If we can't, then we'll look at pulling together a team." His eyes grew more warning. "But we need to be clear about what we would be doing there, if it came to that. There's no way they won't be waiting for us. And if they're working with the Lao Hu, they have a lot of infiltrators at their disposal...more, if Salinse is allied with them as well. We should assume they have four times the numbers we do. Those kinds of numbers can cover a lot of ground...not only in the Barrier, but in the physical, too. There's a good chance they're trying to use Chan to flush us out of hiding, since they aren't having any luck so far, getting at us here..."
"But they can't possibly think they can take you on," I said, my voice skeptical.
He shook his head, once. "You're talking a major military op then, Allie. I'd prefer if that wasn't our Plan A. There are too many risks involved, even with a telekinetic seer. And they know about me. They would have prepared for my coming already..." He paused, meeting my gaze directly. "In any case, it means a lot of dead seers, Allie. Hundreds. Maybe thousands, for all I know. If this guy is smart enough to do what Vash is suggesting, then he will be ready for me...it means he'll have numbers. Constructs I can't operate in..."
His eyes grew slightly harder.
"Remember, I was heavily shielded, even back in the day. By the Dreng, Menlim, and usually at least a dozen seers in addition to the two they had side by side with me at every single military campaign after the first. That was then, too, when the number of military-trained infiltrators was far fewer..." He hesitated, letting his eyes grow more meaningful. "You already know it's possible, Allie...to cut me off from that ability."
Realizing what he was referring to, I felt my face redden. I shifted my eyes away, nodding.
"There is another development, too," Balidor spoke up from the other side, sitting forward in his chair. He glanced at Wreg, who gave him a hard look...a look that told me that whatever this new development was, Balidor likely hadn't seen fit to share it with him.
"...We were approached by another party two days ago," Balidor said, ignoring the increased glare in Wreg's dark eyes. "This party came to us directly with a request for audience with the Sword. In fact, she refused to leave until it was granted...so we have her in custody."
I couldn't help noticing Wreg's countenance darken further.
"And who is that?" Revik said.
Balidor glanced at him, then at me. "...Elan Raven."
Folding my arms, I made a grunting noise. "And the fun just keeps getting funner..." I let my words trail when Revik gave me a warning look.
"What does she want?" Revik said.
Balidor shrugged, one-handed, still avoiding Wreg's stare.
"I do not know precisely," he said. He avoided my eyes in that bare pause, and something in the way he did it made me wonder if he was lying. He shifted his gray eyes away again, an instant before adding, "...She claims it's important, Nenz. She also claimed a connection to 'our friends in Argentina' and Chandre's disappearance..."
I stared at him. "How could she know about Chandre?" Thinking, I answered my own question. "...Voi Pai?"
Balidor shrugged, pausing briefly as he seemed to notice Wreg's glare fixed heavily on his face. "I really do not know. But she said that there is a time element involved, with this information she would like to share..."
Seeing Wreg's eyes widen further, Balidor made his voice curt.
"...I told her nothing from our own end, of course," he added, folding his hands on the surface of the table as he glanced around at the others. "...And of course, as Allie mentioned, we are all very aware of her ties to Voi Pai and the Lao Hu...as well as her history with Terian and Galaith. It is unlikely not to be a trick of some kind..." Hesitating, he shrugged again, once more avoiding my eyes. "...But she subjected herself to a number of very thorough scans. She allowed us to restrain her, and collar her...and agreed to remain in the hotel as our prisoner until we were able to arrange for he
r to meet with the Sword in person. She is particularly insistent on that, the need for a direct audience..."
"Which is why we shouldn't give it to her," I muttered.
Glancing briefly at Wreg, I saw him agree. Something in his expression told me he'd encountered Raven before, too.
Balidor made a noncommittal wave of his hand.
"Perhaps," he said. "However, she claimed that the Sword himself would have a strong personal interest in her news...that he would not thank us if we were to deny her, given that the truth is likely to come out in some other form, as she put it..." Seeing me staring at him once more, he made another of those conciliatory gestures.
"...So she claims."
"The truth about what?" I said.
Again, Balidor gave me only an eloquent shrug.
Feeling my fingers curl slightly on the table, I forced my emotions to one side, annoyed that Raven still had that power over me, given everything.
"Fine." I said. "Can't she give her message to someone in the Adhipan? Why all the drama about seeing Revik personally?"
"She claims it is the only way," Balidor said. Briefly, his eyes leveled on mine. "She claims the Sword will not believe her unless she is able to present the information to him in a context where he can determine for himself that what she speaks is no more and no less than the absolute and unequivocal truth. She claims he will be resistant to the information, otherwise...and that it is imperative that he be made to see the truth. She claims it is a matter of life and death..."
I glanced at Revik. His eyes had narrowed at the Adhipan leader, almost as if he were scanning him. I knew there was a good chance he was, and that chances were just as good that he wouldn't get through, given 'Dori's usual nuclear-bunker-style defenses.
"So face to face then," I said, nearly in resignation.
Balidor made a more formal gesture of affirmation. "Yes."
"And what do you think, 'Dori?" I said, my voice more pointed. If nothing else, I thought it might help Revik in his scan. "...Do you think she is telling the truth?"
Allie's War Season Three Page 25