Shay leaned back, her eyes flicking to the side as several motorcycles zoomed past the car going the opposite direction. “Can the Vax take out ships in orbit?”
“Who knows? The Alliance is remarkably unwilling to share concrete intelligence on the matter. I think they figure if we know too much, we won’t accept their help.”
James growled. “It doesn’t matter. You’re saying they’re going to attack.”
“I’m saying there’s a good of chance of that, yes.” Senator Johnston replied. “If the Vax comes to LA, I presume the Alliance would bombard it, and I’m not convinced they’ll stop if we haven’t finished the evacuation.”
James furrowed his brow. “I can’t fucking fly. Not even sure if Whispy works in space. How the fuck am I supposed to stop four spaceships?”
Senator Johnston waved a hand. “You don’t need to worry about it, son. We’ve already got a plan for that. It’s a little something I’ve been working on for a while. It uses our advantages and their disadvantages. It’ll also help send a message that our backward little planet can bite when necessary.” Johnston grinned, reminding James a little of a soberer Professor. “You only need to concentrate on your relative, because we’re not going to be stupid about this. This isn’t going to be like some alien invasion movie where we send a bunch of cannon-fodder soldiers to die pointlessly against an enemy we know is beyond them.” He clucked his tongue. “It’s always the same. Step one, send military personnel to die. Step two, drop a nuke. Step three, realize the nuke didn’t work. Step four, hope and pray you find a weakness. We’re going to skip past step four and send you.”
Shay cleared her throat. “James is tough, and he has been exposed to radiation, thermal energy, and that kind of thing, but I’m not sure he would survive a nuke. I get the Oricerans refuse to break the Great Treaty, but what about nuking the guy when he comes over?”
“We’re not evacuating Los Angeles for fun, Miss Carson, and we have every reason to believe he’ll appear in Los Angeles. We’re evacuating the city to minimize the loss of life, and we’re hoping that James here can do his best to take out the Vax bastard and minimize the overall damage to the city.” Senator Johnston pointed over his shoulder with his thumb at a passing gas station. “We drop a nuke, and even if we win, we’ve lost. We will have just taken out one of the major cities in the United States, and it only gets worse. My people tell me if that Vax arrives in the next few days, there’s no way in hell we’ll have this city totally evacuated. Best-case scenario, even excluding military personnel, we’re still talking thousands of people.” Any hint of humor or light-heartedness left the senator’s face. “With God as my witness right here, Miss Carson, I will do everything I can to prevent the deaths of thousands of Americans up to and including sacrificing my own life.”
Shay blinked and nodded. Death and destruction were one thing, but the potential scale of the casualties went well beyond the kind of pain James and Shay had delivered even to the Nuevo Gulf Cartel, and those bastards had had it coming.
James stared straight ahead, the movement of the cars in both lanes idly drawing his attention as he thought about everything he had been told. He had always assumed the Vax would come, but for some reason, he had allowed himself to believe it would be years in the future, or maybe decades.
If I want a peaceful life, I’m gonna have to fight for it. It’s time for a fucking galactic Brownstone Effect.
Senator Johnston handed James his phone. “Sorry, son. The minute you got in this car, we started jamming your phone and your hacker friend. We couldn’t take the chance some Alliance assassin decided to take you out, but I’m sure you’ll want to contact your daughter. Keep her at that school. She’s far safer there than she’ll be here, and I’m sure you have a few other calls you need to make.”
James grunted. “Yeah. I’ve got one other thing I need from you for this shit.”
“What’s that?”
“I need someone to go pick up my dog,” James explained. “And he better be well-fucking-treated, because if he isn’t, the Purifier will look like a Cub Scout compared to me.”
14
I kept wishing for Dad to quit bounty hunting, Alison thought, but that wouldn’t have made a difference this time.
Alison swallowed when James finished explaining the situation. She clutched the handset of Headmistress Berens’ phone in her hand. She had wondered why the headmistress had summoned her, but hadn’t expected the news she had received.
The girl’s stomach churned as she leaned forward in her chair over the front of the desk. While this wasn’t the first time she had received an emergency call at school, it had never been in conjunction with the government declaring martial law and a state of emergency. Even when her father had fought the Council, it still felt like him doing what he always did: being a bounty hunter.
This felt different, like a soldier calling his daughter from the front lines.
“Alison, are you all right?” Headmistress Berens asked, concern on her face.
“Yeah, just taking in the news from my dad.”
“I would like to tell you more,” James rumbled over the phone, “but there’s no point, and I don’t have a huge amount of time right now. I just figured you should know the truth.”
Alison would have preferred it if her father had called her directly. Having to process all her emotions in front of the headmistress of her school was uncomfortable.
Unfortunately, Alison didn’t have any choice. Her father’s attempts to call her on her phone had failed, and he’d called the headmistress in a last-minute act of desperation.
Alison wasn’t surprised. They had experienced difficulties in recent weeks speaking with each other over her phone. The professors at the school were always adjusting the wards and other spells around the main building and the grounds. That was likely the reason.
The Entrepreneurs Club had even been complaining about it, since some of the recent modifications were disrupting a few of their research projects. She could easily imagine a time in the future where cell phones might not work at all on campus.
We’d really be separate from the world then.
“Dad,” Alison whispered, “I should be there.”
“No way,” James rumbled back. “It makes no sense for you to be here. At least I know if you’re back there at that school, you’re safe, no matter what happens here. Besides, I’m not gonna lose. You know me. The closer I get to losing, the more pissed-off I get. I just figured you should know. I’ve got to go now. The senator’s got to talk to me about other crap. You know how saving the world is. Lots of annoying details.”
“Okay.” Alison teared up. “I love you, Dad.”
“Don’t cry,” James replied softly. “I can hear you choking up. Remember, it’s just a few months until the wedding. I need you to keep it together until then.”
“I… I will. You promise we’ll have the wedding on time, right?”
“If we don’t, your mom’s gonna be a lot scarier than some assholes from space.” James grunted. “I love you. Talk to you soon.”
The call ended.
Alison barely noticed the headmistress as she handed back the handset. Feelings swirled inside and threatened to overwhelm her.
It hadn’t been all that long ago when her dad had admitted he was an alien. As in all things, he had been blunt and straightforward during the conversation. Somehow learning he was an alien made sense. She couldn’t even claim she was that surprised.
He’s an alien, and I was a secret Drow princess. That’s just the way things work in our family.
The truth didn’t bother Alison for another reason. James Brownstone was her adopted father, so the revelation didn’t change anything about her past. In addition, she had peered into his soul and knew he was a good person.
Alison attended a school with teachers from both Earth and Oriceran. All her dad telling her about being a Vax accomplished was adding a third planet to the list of places where people
she loved had been born.
Learning about the rest of the Vax disturbed her. She couldn’t help but compare her dad’s situation to her own. The Drow had hunted for her, and they had killed to get to her. Even if the Drow weren’t inherently evil, they’d done a lot of evil in the name of her people, just like the Vax.
Alison took a deep breath and turned her head slowly to look at Headmistress Berens. “Let me go. I want to take the train to LA. I need to be there. It feels wrong to sit here safe in Virginia when my dad’s in danger.”
Alison wasn’t even sure what her father had told the headmistress. He’d only mentioned that she didn’t know the total truth, and it was best if Alison didn’t pass it along.
“Please, Headmistress,” Alison added.
The dark-haired older woman sighed and shook her head. “Alison, your home is under a mandatory evacuation order. While I understand that your father is involved in this incident somehow, there’s no way, as an educator and a person who cares about your well-being, that I’m sending you to a city with such a dangerous artifact. It’s insane.”
I should tell her the truth. I should tell her there is no artifact, and it’s just my dad fighting another alien, but it’s not like that’s any better.
I could sneak out.
Headmistress Berens’ gaze turned penetrating. “Within the next hour or so, I suspect every student on this campus will be worried about relatives or friends in California, but the best thing everyone can do right now is not create additional trouble. Do you understand?”
Alison’s shoulders slumped. “But I feel so helpless.”
“I understand that feeling all too well.” The headmistress reached over to pat Alison’s hand. “Believe in your father, and believe he will be all right. He’s an unusual and impressive man, and I’m sure that however he’s involved in this Broken Wand incident, he’ll be a help.”
Alison took a deep breath and nodded, then squared her shoulders and wiped away her tears. “You’re right. My dad is not just anyone. He’s the Granite Ghost, and he’ll do what he can to make sure everyone’s safe.”
“I’m glad to hear you feel that way, Alison. I think the best thing to do in situations like this is simply go about your daily routine to get your mind off your problems.”
“Thanks, Headmistress.” Alison stood and pushed her chair back into place. “I’m going to do just that. I hope…” She shook her head, her face gleaming with pride. “I know my dad will be okay.”
Shay tapped her fingers on her leg, waiting for Peyton to pick up.
He’s smart. He wouldn’t stick around.
“Hello?” Peyton answered, uncertainty in his voice.
Shay glanced at James and Senator Johnston, who were chatting quietly about potential strategies. Peyton’s system had probably flagged the phone as a government device.
“It’s not Fortis or shit like that,” Shay explained. “It’s me. I’m in a government car, not a prisoner or anything like that. They needed James’ help, and I came along for the ride.”
Peyton let out a sigh of relief. “It’s hard not to be paranoid with all the craziness that’s happening. I tried to call you right after the big alert went out, but I couldn’t get hold of you, and then I didn’t know what the hell was going on. Everything about this Broken Wand declaration smells like crap to me, but I also don’t get why the government would do something so flashy, and why they might go after you. And thanks for the last cryptic message, by the way. Loved that. ‘They might be coming for James. Things about to get bloody.’”
Shay furrowed her brow in consternation. “Okay, I’m not gonna call you a dumbass, but you really need to get the hell out of town.”
“Shit. There is an actual MAMD?” Peyton groaned. “Just lay it out for me, because as bad as I hate to admit it. I’m totally lost right now.”
Shay sighed. “It’s not a MAMD, it’s an AMD.”
“Artifact of mass destruction?” Peyton asked. “What’s the difference?”
“Not an artifact, an alien.”
Shay proceeded to explain the situation succinctly.
“Well, fuck,” Peyton muttered. “So even if James wins, there are probably going to be a lot of destroyed buildings. Hope that Vax doesn’t portal in near my apartment or Warehouse Two.”
“Can we try to keep a little perspective?” Shay asked. “And James will win.”
Peyton scoffed. “In that case, all the more reason to hope that neither my apartment nor the warehouse gets blown up.”
“Since when do you care so much about the warehouse?”
“I don’t think you get how in tune I am with that pizza oven.” Peyton let out a labored and melodramatic sigh. “I’m not sure I can produce the best pizza ever without it.”
Shay rolled her eyes. She knew humor was Peyton’s way of coping with stress, but she might have to slap him later anyway. “Just grab your cat and your girlfriend, if she hasn’t left already, and run through a portal or take a plane or whatever you need to get way the hell away from here. James already called Heather, and she’s on her way to the Oriceran Consulate with her son. Everybody at the agency has been ordered to retreat to Las Vegas until James says otherwise.”
Peyton fell silent for a few long seconds. “This is the real deal, isn’t it?”
“Yeah. It is, but I believe in him. I know he won’t lose, not to some asshole who wasn’t even smart enough to show up at the right address before he threw the first punch.”
Peyton sighed. “I know you’ll probably throat-punch me the next time you see me if I say what I’m thinking.”
“Then think about what you’re going to say carefully.” Shay narrowed her eyes and checked on James again. He was still murmuring to Senator Johnston.
“Screw it. I’m just going to come out and say it. What about you? Why are you staying? You’re the toughest woman I know, but even with your sword and all your artifacts, this isn’t a fight you can help with. If even the military is deferring to James, you should too, and let’s be honest: he could lose.”
Shay ground her teeth. “He won’t lose.”
“I didn’t say he would lose, I said he could lose. This is another Vax; another badass with a symbiont. It could end up anything from James curb-stomps the bastard to the Purifier tears him apart, and if that happens, you shouldn’t be anywhere near that city. Because the only thing scarier than James Brownstone is a monster who beat him.”
“I’m not leaving,” Shay muttered.
“But it’s not like you’re going to help him fi—”
“I’m not leaving,” Shay shouted.
James and Senator Johnston looked her way.
Shay locked eyes with James. “He needs to know that I believe he’ll win, Peyton. He needs to know that I’ll be waiting for him.”
James gave her a tight nod.
Peyton groaned. “Fine. It’s not like anyone can ever talk you out of doing anything you’re determined to do. I’ll have my phone. Assuming LA doesn’t end up a radioactive crater, you know how to get hold of me. This will just be a little unscheduled vacation.”
Shay managed a small grin. “Yeah. And secretly convince your girlfriend to get her pals to invent an anti-Vax-portal device. Who cares about all this talking to aliens and probes and shit?”
Peyton snorted. “If I’m going on vacation, I’m having a good time. No work, no talk about aliens or LA. Because one thing I’ve learned from everything that has happened in the last few years is that no matter how hard we plan, we’re never truly in control. Good luck, Shay. Tell James to throw a few punches for me.”
“I’ll do that. And just to be clear, no matter what happens, we’re having that damned wedding if I have to come back as a ghost.”
Peyton laughed. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
15
Senator Johnston smiled and opened the door to the modest barracks room. Two twin beds were inside, along with two wooden desks and a small closet. A tv hung on the wall. “I
know it’s not luxury, but at least it’s somewhere to stay.”
Shay frowned as she stepped in after James. “If we just needed somewhere to sleep, we could have done that at our house.”
James grunted and nodded his agreement.
“The problem is that the situation is still fluid,” Senator Johnston replied. “We don’t want to go looking for you at your home instead of just sending you in a helicopter or one of those fancy new dropships to wherever our boy pops out.”
Shay rolled her eyes. “And we can’t have our phones?”
“I mean, if Mr. Brownstone objects, it’s not like we’re in a position to fight him, but there’s a strong possibility that the Alliance might decide to pull something even before their fleet arrives, which is why I’m having your phones driven around at random right now.” The senator shrugged.
James marched over and laid down on the stiff bed, his hands beneath his head. “They want me to fight the Vax, but they don’t even give me a decent bed? That’s the government for you.” He chuckled.
“So, in the car, you mentioned the Vax is marching to some resonance zone that might be where James crossed over?” Shay stated.
Senator Johnston closed the door and reached into his pocket. Something clicked inside, and he pulled his hand out. “Just making the room a little more secure to talk in, but yes, Miss Carson. That is the latest information, based on what the Oricerans have passed along to us. At his current pace, he will arrive in four days.”
“Four days?” Shay scoffed. “And you rushed us over here now?”
“Four days isn’t a lot of time. Even with the portals, we might not be able to evacuate the city.”
The Unbelievable Mr Brownstone Omnibus 3 Page 109