by Gini Koch
“Missus Martini, myself, and Adriana as the strike team. Everyone else here.”
Adriana nodded. “I agree with Richard.” She handed her walkie to Lizzie.
“Should one of us try to find a store or something?” Lizzie asked. “Everyone needs water and they’re all totes hungry, too. And most of them are at least a little hurt. And maybe we could, you know, phone home or something.”
The “little hurt” observation looked to be a gross understatement. Had no idea what the conditions the Secret Service captives had been in, but they looked flat-out awful. The P.T.C.U. folks looked like the flyboys—they’d seen better days. And it was a tossup as to whether this had actually damaged the A-Cs’ healing factors or if they were so badly injured that natural repairs were taking a long time.
“I’m worried about leaving, honestly.”
“Why?” Adriana asked.
“Because I don’t want to, say, send Abigail off so that the Kendroid can grab her. Then we’re waiting for rescue that won’t come or we have to send someone else, who gets captured, and so on.”
“Why do you think I’d get captured?” Abigail asked.
“Because the Kendroid is still at large and I think he’s slavishly trying to get Stephanie’s takeover bid back on track.”
“Kitty, you’re probably right, but everything we’d need is in the helicarrier,” Jerry said. “Food, water, medical—it had it all. And our jets.”
“Super. Anyone know how to get into an invisible thing we can’t see?”
“I say we just go back to where it is and start feeling around,” Abigail said. “What are the chances we’ll actually hit something dangerous?”
“High,” the flyboys said in unison.
“I don’t think it’s where you all think it is,” Daniel said. Joshua nodded. Nice to see they were a synced team.
This earned him the group’s attention. “Beg pardon?” I asked for all of us.
“It’s bigger than the space you all think it’s in. We’ve been discussing it, so I know where you think it is, and we looked as we came to the car. I know everyone’s basing their idea of where the helicarrier is due to crushed trees. But other things could have done that.”
“How do you know how big it is?” White asked.
“When we were captives with Drax we weren’t really shackled up,” Joshua replied. “We had free run of the helicarrier. We couldn’t touch anything we weren’t supposed to—the ship was set up to prevent that and it did, effectively.”
Daniel nodded. “So we,” he indicated Joshua and himself, “ran it. And we timed ourselves. We know how fast we run, and we did tests. It’s too big to be where you think it is.”
“Then where is it?” Hughes asked. “It’s not hovering in the air or something.”
“Are you sure it’s here?” Walker asked. “I mean that seriously. Just because it took us here doesn’t mean they left it here.”
“There’s only one guy who can fly it right now. Trust me, it’s here.” Thought about it. “Dan or Josh, has either one of you seen The Avengers?”
They both nodded. “Yeah,” Joshua said, clearly as enamored of his nickname as the others were. “We both saw it. Why?”
“Would you say Drax’s helicarrier is around the size of the S.H.I.E.L.D. helicarrier?”
“A little smaller, actually,” Daniel said. “But along those lines.”
“Awesome. I know where the helicarrier is, then. And probably where the Kendroid is as well.”
CHAPTER 62
“WONDERFUL,” White said with enthusiasm. “Where are they?”
Everyone looked at me expectantly. “We need to save the others first.” This earned me looks of confusion and frustration, depending.
“Not that I’m arguing,” Abigail said, “but why don’t you have the rest of us get the helicarrier while you and Uncle Richard get the others?”
“Because I think it’s going to take subterfuge to get it, because I’m pretty sure that’s where our missing android is hiding out. It’s probably helping him send out the GPS scrambling and cellular dampening, too. I think that if we wander over there and seem to be searching that he’ll zap us or grab us or something. And, since we’re in a danger situation, I’m going to be brutally honest—out of every person here, the one most likely to get the Kendroid to see our side of reason is me.”
Lizzie nodded. “My dad says that’s one of your skills—flipping enemies.”
“Out of the mouths of children and all that. And before you say whatever retort I can see forming, Lizzie, just know that it’s an old saying and let it go.”
Lizzie closed her mouth, shot me a glare, then grinned. “Fine, fine. But I think you’re right.” She swallowed. “And I think you guys are going to need me on the strike force team.”
“Why is that?” White asked, sounding like Christopher normally did when I suggested White do something dangerous.
“Because I’m the smallest, so I can get into places you guys can’t. And because my dad and the uncles trained me.”
“Speaking of which,” Walker said, “when do we get to find out what the hell is going on?”
“Fine, fast update, I’ll do a recap when we find the others. Cliff Goodman launched a bioterrorism Doomsday plan that ended up backfiring, but not before it killed a variety of people, including President Armstrong.”
Everyone stared at me. “That means Jeff is the President,” Jerry said finally.
“Yep.”
“Wow,” Hughes said. “That means you’re the First Lady.”
“Yep.” Saw the Secret Service and P.T.C.U. folks all get a hell of a lot more alert, feeling awful or not. “And while I can see that many of you are about to try to give me the old wheeze that you now need to stagger up and take the bullets for me, my reply is simply this—hells to the no. This is my turf, in that sense, I’m in charge, and I’m staying in charge. Period.”
“There are other ramifications,” White said.
“Like the fact that the uncles died to save me.” Figured using that term wouldn’t freak out the Secret Service and P.T.C.U. folks but would tell the flyboys what was going on, which, based on their expressions, it did.
“But a goodly portion of the leadership of this country was killed,” White added, “along with many other innocents.”
“New people are in the roles now, and while Cliff got away, again, he was unmasked as the Mastermind on national and international TV. Guaranteed the person behind you guys getting taken by the Kendroid is Stephanie. There is another plan going, too, that involves robots, but that you’re going to have to wait for until we find the others. Drax isn’t actually a bad guy, he’s just from a planet far, far away and unclear on how to actually do a good sales pitch. Thomas Kendrick is also not a traitor as far as we’ve been able to tell. Abby, Mahin, if they must know details, enjoy sharing.”
Lizzie handed her walkie to Abigail and took White’s hand. Adriana took her other hand.
“Anything else you want to share?” Abigail asked me.
“Don’t get separated. Don’t leave this area. But someone try to hot-wire the car. Team Terror, let’s head to where I think the rest of our people are being held.”
“I’ll provide the speed?” White asked.
“And I’ll steer because, don’t faint, I actually know where we’re going.”
“I remain impressed.”
“You need to work on your lying skills, Mister White.”
“I’ll keep it in mind.”
We zipped off to the building that had given me the distinct feeling that something was going on inside of it. The building was a large rectangle, one story, with forest and scrub growing closely around it. There was also a broken-down, ancient bus at the start of the woods on the side where the entrance was. The entrance faced away from the rest of the va
st complex, which might have been why it seemed suspicious to me.
“Well, this place is beyond totes creepy.” Lizzie looked around. “Think there are things in the woods?”
“Define ‘things.’ Just kidding, don’t. And I’m sure there are. The question is, what’s inside of this place?” Checked the BT. Couldn’t swear to it, but it looked more green and less yellow. Handed the walkie to Lizzie, then got my Glock in my right hand and the flashlight in my left. “I’ll take point, Adriana, you bring up the rear. Lizzie in front of you and behind Richard.”
Everyone nodded and we walked through the doors that, interestingly enough, did not say No Trespassing. The interior was possibly the worst we’d seen yet—there was an accumulation of so much ancient junk that it was hard to identify what most of it was. Old computers, chairs, desks, sports equipment, medical equipment, beds, and more. And, of course, shoes. More and more shoes.
The shoes here weren’t in neat piles. They were thrown everywhere and no pairs were together. Actively chose not to focus on this, because I was sure it meant something horrible.
The others linked up, then White and I trotted us through at the slow version of hyperspeed. Fewer windows here than in some of the other buildings, and less breakage of said windows. They were all filthy, so it was darker than many of the others we’d visited.
Mr. Flashlight was still going strong, however, so it was relatively easy to see. The entire place was the same as the first room we’d come into, and most of the walls were down or so broken that they might as well have been down.
The ceiling didn’t look much better and was sagging in places. Trees had managed to grow here, too, and a few had broken through the roof, letting light filter in in ways that managed to make the place even eerier than I’d have thought possible.
But there was one thing missing. This place didn’t stink.
Oh, sure, there was the smell of decay and such, but for the amount of ruin here, it should have been as bad as the other buildings, if not worse. But it wasn’t.
“You sure this is the place?” Lizzie asked.
“Yes. Look for a way to get underground.”
“Do we have to touch things?”
“Since when did you get so dainty?”
“Since we went into that cafeteria.”
“Good point. Let’s hope not.” Wondered if I had any of the evidence gloves Serene’s team used with me, or if I could or should ask for some. Decided to cross that bridge when we discovered it burned down.
Midway between the two biggest trees that had broken through was an area that was relatively clear, except for a broken-down wheelchair that looked like it had been used to beat androids dead. It was sitting almost bathed in light.
“It’s under that,” I said to White. “I’m positive.”
He nodded. “I don’t see any signs of a trapdoor, however.”
Went up to the wheelchair and shoved it out of the way with my foot. Nothing happened. But I noted that the floor moved in a way that floors didn’t normally. “I think there’s a tarp down here, or something like it, that’s camouflaged to look like the rest of this place.”
Adriana also had a flashlight, and she played hers around the area. She shoved the wheelchair back with her hip. “I believe that the wheelchair does not mark the doorway, but rather we should look where it was facing.”
Did as she suggested. The chair had a great view of the biggest tree to break through. “Huh.” Went over, paying attention to how the floor was reacting to my footsteps. The tarp was still under my feet.
Reached the tree, kicked the various pieces of crap that were here away, and found the edge of the tarp. Used the Glock to flip it back. Sure enough, there was a wooden door here. “Score another one for Adriana.”
“It’s a team effort,” she said as the others joined me. “Who goes down first?”
“Me, but Mister White, if you’d be so good as to carefully open the door?”
He nodded, pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket, and used that on the handle. “I’m not dainty, but I don’t know what might be on this.”
“You think she’d put a toxin on the handle of her own trapdoor?”
“I think she would if she’d already taken the cure. Our recent brush with infectious disease is still quite fresh in my mind.”
“Hang on. Let me see if I have any of the evidence gloves Serene had me using earlier.” Dug through my purse. Sure enough, four pairs were available. And the BT tracker was a brighter green. We put the gloves on while I mentally thanked Algar, ACE, Naomi, Sandy and the Superconsciousness Seven, and any other powerful beings who might be taking note and helping out.
White still used his handkerchief to open the door, but the extra protection of the gloves was appreciated by all. Sure enough, there was a stairway leading down. Sniffed. Didn’t smell anything like we’d found in all the other underground rooms here.
“Reminds me of Bizarro World. I’m definitely going first, and Mister White, no worries, I’ll be looking for traps like you wouldn’t believe.”
So saying, I headed down at a very slow and cautious pace.
CHAPTER 63
FLASHLIGHT OR NO flashlight, visibility was close to nil. We were back to inky blackness that swallowed light, meaning even though I was being extra-cautious, I could easily miss something.
However, I made it all the way down without issue. We were in a short corridor that appeared to be made of cement. It was decently wide, though the ceiling was low, but not so low that White had to hunch.
We walked about fifty feet with no incident and reached a door. It had an old-fashioned door handle, one where you had to push down on a lever with your thumb to open it.
I handed the flashlight to White and touched the handle lightly and quickly. Nothing happened. Took the handle in my hand. No electroshock. So far, so good. Then I pushed the lever down. The door didn’t open.
Heaved a sigh. “I think it’s locked. Adriana, who’s faster at lock picking, you or me?”
“Me.” She stepped forward, pulled something out of her backpack, and got to work. Heard the click of the lock opening. Adriana stepped back. “You have the gun, you go first.”
“You didn’t bring a gun?”
“I brought a rocket launcher.”
“Good point.” Took the flashlight back from White, made sure the safety was off on my Glock, then nodded to Adriana. She opened the door.
Another dark corridor. Went down it cautiously. No traps, or if there were, we didn’t trigger them. Reached heavy black drapes. Moved one part of them slowly aside. And turned off the flashlight. Because it was well lit in here. Lit with fluorescent lights.
As we stepped into the room my music finally changed. “All the Right Friends” by R.E.M. came on.
This was definitely a Secret Lab/Villain’s Lair combo, but I had to hand it to Stephanie—she certainly had her own style.
First off, it was one gigantic room, with some circular walls that I was pretty positive were encircling the tree trunks. Oh, sure, there were lots and lots of various kinds of equipment with lights merrily flashing, a few big servers, also very active, and all the other Mad Scientist Lab bells and whistles. There was what looked like a throne at the far end. Either that or it was a super-duper massage chair. Really couldn’t tell from this distance.
There were other rooms within this room, but they were all glass or Plexiglas. These rooms were scattered throughout—some were for medical, based on their equipment and things like hospital beds, some were for the Business of World Domination, based on their computers and phones and other items.
It was easy to see into everything. Meaning it was easy to see where Joe and Randy were. They were in their own rooms, next to each other, lying on hospital beds, next to other hospital beds that had what certainly looked like android innards on them. The guys were
naked, except for a small towel to provide some modesty, and tightly strapped down. Each of the beds was hooked up to what looked like a big light board but what I was pretty sure was a computer of some kind.
The guys had thin tubes inserted into them in various places—elbow joints, knee joints, belly button, and nipples, with five tubes going into their heads. The tubes were very thin—so thin that it was unlikely that a mark would be left if they were removed. And I definitely wanted to remove them.
“Wait,” White grabbed me before I could take off running. “Be sure it’s them, be sure it’s not a trap.”
“Good point.” We walked over. Took a lot of effort to walk, but we did it. Reached Joe’s room first. The glass door slid open when we stood in front of it. Looked for traps. Saw none. Went inside.
Joe appeared to be unconscious but he still looked alive. Touched his wrist. Felt a pulse, but he didn’t react. His breathing was shallow.
“Joe,” I said quietly. “Joe, it’s me, it’s Kitty.” No response. Shook him. Nothing. “We need a doctor, Tito, Melanie, Emily, Lorraine, and Claudia for preference.”
Lizzie nudged me. “There are phones here.”
“Duh, and good catch. You and Adriana go see if they work. Call your dad, tell him what’s going on.”
She nodded and the two of them trotted off to a clear room a couple away from where we were.
“Mister White, any guesses for how we wake Joe up?”
“None yet. I suggest we see if Randy responds better.”
We went to his room. Same thing. There was a pulse and he was breathing shallowly, all his tubes were inserted into the same places Joe’s were, but he gave no response. “We need to see if Camilla and the princesses are here.”
White nodded and zipped off. Because I could see hyperspeed I was able to watch him for the most part. He was back quickly. “No, only Joe and Randy are in this room.”
Lizzie and Adriana came back. “The phones require a code to dial out,” Adriana said. “We tried several obvious ones, but they didn’t work.”