by Claudy Conn
“But we have a goal. We will bring the Gods and the supernaturals together to live in peace with humans. That is what we want, Jacie. That is what we all need.”
“The humans have military weapons that annihilate life—even immortal lives, and they have numbers. With a thought, we can do great things, we can outwit them, beat them, stop them…” Jacie responded.
“No, Jacie, they must want peace. Humans have courage and a need for freedom. If we force them, they will feel subjugated and a true peace will never exist. You must trust me in this, and you must be able to take orders,” Apollo cautioned.
“Yes, sir,” Jacie said, pulling a face. “I owe you everything I am and will always defer to you and your wishes.”
“Remember, Jacie, primitive humans called us Gods, but we are not Gods. We came from another place similar to Earth…all of us from another time. We are…all very different from one another, and yet the same. We are a community that thrives on peace and love.” His smile vanished as he added, “Listen now, child. This is important. Crawly’s militia is unaware that we have infiltrated the ACE special units. Therefore, your job will be specific. You will be on the inside of the NYC ACE unit that is in charge of the Lower Planet where Retaal is being held. You will be located right at Crawly headquarters.”
“How is it possible for us to infiltrate? I was taught the humans do a blood test that identifies all supernaturals. Don’t they still?” Jacie was surprised.
“I had, some months ago, completed my final development stages of a serum that disguises our DNA…so yes, they will draw your blood, but it will be tainted and simply hide…in your case, your supernatural gene. Humans are innovative and when they discover we have done this, I am sure they will develop a new method to ferret us out. But, for the time, this serum will work. The problem with the serum is quantity. In order to produce it, I have to extract the pollen from a flower grown only here on Devos, and thus far, my experiments to mass produce the flower have failed. So we must use it sparingly and wisely.”
“I understand,” Jacie said, and lowered her eyes. He was placing so much trust in her. Was she up to this task? It was one thing to be first in your class, quite another to put your skills to the test in the field.
He twirled his finger and a glass of Negus appeared. “Here, little one…the serum.”
Holy crap, Jacie thought. This was actually going down. She took the glass, drank it all and handed it back to him.
He chuckled and with another twirl the glass vanished, no doubt, Jacie thought, back to the kitchen cabinets all washed and dried.
He took her chin and gave it an affectionate squeeze before he sighed and said, “As I have often told you, we so called Gods know how to survive. We will succeed in the end simply because we must. Humans will one day long to interact with us because we have so much to offer them. What we need is the patience, the will, and a steady hand. We will bring our forces to bear, and then negotiate a way to peace, open and secure. We must get past their fears.”
“Yes, I know. You want us not to look back, but forward.” Jacie had her doubts, but she could see Apollo would never agree with those doubts. He loved the humans.
“Jacie, our enemies are ruthless, and the only way we can defeat them is with superior abilities, both magic and careful, thought-out planning. The magic we, and most of the ancients, can pass on to our children must survive. I have trained you and you have your own skills as well. Your enormous powers handed down to you by your father and mother, and those instilled in you…by my hand, make you the most formidable witch on the planet. You can be a force to be reckoned with, but you must keep a low profile with the humans. Understood? Never use your magic when you don’t have to.”
She was stunned. “You gave me power? Magical power, but how?” She shook her head. “I don’t remember anything…”
He cut her off, “When you slept, over the years, I came to you in what you thought were dreams and touched your magic with my own. I knew one day you would go out into the world and I wanted you protected. I love you, daughter. I could not love you more had you been of my own blood.”
She threw her arms around him, and as he patted her shoulder, she slid back on the stone bench and said, “This is all such a huge responsibility…I…”
“You can handle it,” he said. “Jacie, you have handled so much and it has made you strong, stronger than most Cumas. Believe me.”
“But…if I am to infiltrate their headquarters…won’t they need to know where I served before, how I qualify…how I…?”
He laughed. “We have our own network in New York. They are efficient hackers, demigods who have been living amongst humans as humans. We use magic to infiltrate the computers and leave no trace. Your records are already on file in the Crawly database. Besides that, you will be working with someone you are very comfortable with. Your partner is already entrenched with the ACE unit you will be assigned to.”
“Who?” Jacie asked.
He laughed. “I want that to be a pleasant surprise. For now, all you need to know is that he has managed to gain status with Crawly’s NYC ACE unit. He has his unit’s trust, or rather, they don’t distrust him at the moment. They have a frequent turnover, so they were happy to acquire his services.”
“Frequent turnover?” Jacie raised a brow.
Apollo laughed. “Indeed, my son’s team was instrumental in that field. Easy enough to eliminate an ACE unit member or two, even though Retaal does not kill…he has no qualms when he must break a leg rather than take a life. A human laid up, for six months or so, leaves a vacancy or two in ACE.”
Jacie smirked, but said nothing.
Apollo shrugged and grinned. “Those two ACE men deserved what they got, and as I said, they are alive. Those two humans hurt many…many of our own.”
“So, easy peasy?” Jacie chuckled. “In and out?”
“No. It won’t be easy. Remember, we instilled your information into the computer, but if you come across someone who should recognize you and doesn’t…that is a situation where you most certainly may, and should use your power of compulsion…just as I taught you.”
“Got it…what about clothes…a place to stay…?”
“Your partner has made arrangements and your clothes are packed and ready to go with you as soon as you are ready. You will meet your partner in your living quarters, as he will be there awaiting your arrival.”
“Wow.” Jacie took a long drag of air. “But this compulsion thing—magic, you said I shouldn’t…”
“Compulsion is mind over matter more than magic. It is a psychic power and can’t be detected by humans.” A secretive smile swept into Apollo’s silver lit eyes and he added, “Do you doubt my orders, Jacie?”
“No, but…”
He laughed, cutting her off, “Jacie, we are here on Devos, secluded from the rest of the world. Do you think that an accident?”
She shook her head and smiled. “No…but that is because of you. How will I manage without you nudging me in the right direction?”
“Ah, child, you don’t need me. I have seen for a long time that you always know exactly what direction to take. Now, there is no more time. You leave today. As I said, I had your clothes packed and ready to travel with you. Also, I left you an ACE uniform. Change into it. You may feel repulsed at the thought, but instead, think of Retaal in the Lower Planet and all our brethren waiting there for you to release them.”
“Oh…my gosh, this is really happening?” Jacie said, all at once feeling butterflies take over her stomach.
“Go…change into the ACE garb, take the duffle bag I have prepared for you and shift to…”
Jacie put up her hand. “Wait! I don’t know anything about this ACE unit. I…barely know the inner workings of Crawly’s militia.”
Apollo put his palm against her forehead.
Jacie froze as a flood of information, pictures of humans with their names and their identity profiles all flowed from his warm touch into her memor
y banks. She had already been educated with regards to many of Crawly’s prominent members and how the various divisions worked within the system. But now she was being educated with so much more, and all at once.
She reeled with the sudden swarm of information and Apollo steadied her.
Jacie’s hand went to her head and she said, “Woo…it is so much—too much.”
“It is no more than you can handle. Whatever you need to know is now in your memory bank. When you meet someone you are supposed to know something about, your memory bank will immediately click into the ‘on’ position and give you what you need to know. Also, you can silently ask for whatever facts you might need. When you hear a name, just go into your memory bank and you will find everything neatly stored for you to call upon. Got it?”
“Got it, sir,” she said.
“One more thing,” he said as he held up a long syringe needle. “This might have some side effects that you should be aware of.”
“Like what…ouch!” she exclaimed as he plunged the needle into her bare arm. “What is that?”
“The second dose you need to get past the blood test they will most certainly give you when you arrive at ACE. My formula will undoubtedly heighten some of your senses…but no worries, most of the side effects should wear off within an hour or so,” he said, and smiled.
“Anything else you need to tell me?” Jacie asked.
“Like what, dear?”
“Sir, if your son, if Retaal is being held in what they call the Lower Planet, he will be heavily guarded. My magic could be used to easily get him out. Couldn’t it?”
“No, from what we can ascertain, they have developed something that will make it more than difficult for you to use your magic inside the Lower Planet. Besides that, we don’t want to alert ACE of your existence and power. This will not be your only mission, so we can't have that. You would render yourself useless to us if that happened. In addition, imagine how many witches they would kill while looking for you.”
“I see. What about…”
“Life and death, Jacie,” Apollo said sharply. “Find as human a way to rescue him as you can. Find a way they can’t use your formidable magic against you and the others. We know that they have a way of keeping our supernaturals from breaking out. Your job will be to identify what that is and nullify its power. Don’t you see, if you use magic, you and your partner will both be exposed. We can’t risk that. Once they realize they have been infiltrated, it will make our future work very difficult, and we have enough obstacles to deal with at present. Understood?”
“Sure, you want me to do the impossible,” she said, and pulled a face.
“Precisely, but only because I know, Jacie, that you and the partner I have assigned you can get it done,” he said as he got to his feet and pulled her to hers. “Now go on, you have a job to do. Shift away and keep me posted when you can.”
“Yes, but…I…well…”
“I know, you have never shifted out of Devos before. I know you can do it, but until you get your confidence and your bearings on Earth, I have decided to send you to your new home via portal. The portal is open and waiting for you in your bedroom. It will close as soon as you step out of it.”
“Uhm okay, but then what? How will I know who my partner is? Why can’t you tell me who he is?”
“You will know him when you see him and be pleasantly surprised. As I already said, he will be in your apartment awaiting your arrival. Only I, Retaal, and you will know his identity. We simply cannot be too careful. The only furniture you will find in it, I am sorry to say, is a bed. Take a day if you can—go shopping. You will find credit cards and cash in your duffle bag.” Apollo smiled encouragingly at her. “Now go, you have a great deal to do today, and, Jacie, always remember what ACE stands for.”
“Yes, yes, right, nothing like diving right in,” she said breathless and just a little uncertain about her immediate future.
“Tell me what ACE stands for,” Apollo said grimly.
“ACE stands for Apprehend, Confine, Extinguish,” Jacie said, and frowned darkly. “How could any of us forget that? They want to apprehend, confine, and extinguish us, all of us.” She shook her head. “And they hate us even more than I hate…”
“Tch tch, Jacie. What did I drum into your gorgeous head all these years?”
“Hate is an ugly word.”
“Exactly, but yes, many humans hate us and we…we must be ever wary and careful in dealing with them,” Apollo said quietly.
“Right, I get it,” Jacie said.
“Good, don’t forget their motto, and be careful, Jacie. I caution you against hate, but that isn’t to say you should trust the humans. Don’t. I have loved them, but I have paid dearly for that love. Just remember what they are capable of doing.” He paused and added, “And remember our goals. We don’t want to cause them unnecessary harm. Also, as you know, we have a rebel faction amongst our very best soldiers. They believe fiercely and more strongly than you that the war can only be won with might. They want freedom for us all, at any cost. They are good at heart, but misguided in this. I am sure one or two rebels will confront you and it might not be pleasant. They are angry and impatient.”
Jacie nodded. “Got it, free Retaal and the others, find how they are keeping our witches imprisoned and free them. Don’t trust the humans, and keep an eye out for our SRB rebels who are unpredictable.” Suddenly, Jacie felt a wave of insecurity. Was she up to this daunting task?
He put a hand on her shoulder. “SRB?” He cocked a brow.
She laughed. “Yeah, gotta give them a name. Supernatural Rebel Beings, right?”
He chuckled. “Off you go.”
Jacie hugged him fiercely. Apollo thought she was the right person for this job and she would be damned before she would let him down.
She brushed away all her doubts and took a long breath before she nodded, and with a thought, just a thought, she shifted (Fae style, just as Apollo had taught her) to her room to change.
* * * * *
She stepped out of her shift into her bedroom, and stood for a moment trying to collect her thoughts. Just as Apollo had said, a portal was opened there in the corner of her room. Its swirling colors of blue and black seemed to sizzle as it invited her to enter.
Through it, she would enter a world she hadn’t been to since she was ten years old. Through the portal…she would once again encounter humans. She would have to mingle and interact with the worst of those humans, the ACE unit. She was a warrior, she told herself, she could do it. She had to do it. Even so, she took a fortifying breath at the thought of where she was about to land and reaffirmed to herself that she was up to the task.
One day soon, she would have to improve her shifting skills over long distances. In an emergency, shifting back to Devos might be necessary.
Shifting, a thoroughly convenient mode of locomotion. The legendary Fae called this form of instant travel, instant gratification. This style of travel was available to the most powerful of the Cumas, but very few supernaturals, shifters, and witches like herself—were capable of shifting. She smiled as she remembered her first excursions when Apollo trained her in the skill. Once, she had found herself in the rose bed outside her garden window. Another time, she had landed in the lake instead of on the green.
Fun memories…but now she had to make ready to leave for New York City.
Matters were dire. Humans had left the fate of their ‘Gods’ in the hands of their government, who had evidently given off the job to this Crawly creep. Rumor had it that he thought them freaks with powers he wanted to usurp for himself.
Apollo had once told her that humans fear what they cannot control. He had drilled it into her that the supernaturals had thus far been unsuccessful in their attempts to calm those fears. He had always believed that power was a driving force behind evil and that one who had power had to be forever vigilant, lest that power be abused.
She should go. Right, and yet…she needed to look around he
r room and remember every detail.
A wet nose nuzzled her hand and she cried out as she dropped to her knees, “Topsy.”
Topsy whined and she hugged him. Retaal had presented her with Topsy when the Golden Retriever had been just a puppy.
“What will you call him?” Retaal had asked, and pulled on one of her braids.
At that point, the puppy had toppled down the hill to right himself and joyfully bark.
“Topsy…and thank you,” she had cried, and flung her arms around him. “Where did you find him?”
“I went to Olympus, and Zeus was kind enough to give me one of the puppies just born to his favorite retriever. Topsy is immortal, so he will be with you always,” he said, and she had hugged him again before turning to run off and play with her pup.
She had been on Devos only a few months and had not yet adjusted to her new life after her parents’ deaths. Topsy had made the difference for her. She had to care for him, love him, and teach him so many things. Retaal had known what she needed.
“I shall miss you, Topsy, but you have a job to do while I am gone. Play with the loneliest of the children…the ones who haven’t yet found their way, yes?”
Topsy barked, and Jacie knew he understood.
Apollo’s beloved son, Retaal, was the result of a short affair he had with Demeter, the goddess of the four seasons, nature and fertility, and he was a power to be reckoned with. How then had the humans captured him? This was troubling because Retaal’s skillsets and magic came from two formidably skilled parents. He had the power of the earth, wind, water, and fire in his genes, and was a master in battle, yet humans had captured him.
Jacie pictured him in her mind and it brought back the memory of their first meeting. Jacie had only been on Devos for a month and was still in mourning. She was a child of ten and sadly depressed, unable to shake her grief.
Apollo had done all he could after he took her into his home. She was his ward, and all the Cumas and supernaturals had been overly kind, but the hurting over her parents’ deaths was overwhelming.