Michael stopped twenty feet later in a twenty-foot-square space, ejecting the three Wechselbalg first and giving them two seconds to prepare before he dropped the five remaining security guards one at a time, one second apart.
Once he had completed that effort, he headed toward the office in the corner.
—
He entered Raiden’s office, where the man was ignoring the fire alarm to focus on his work.
Just as Michael had ordered.
HIM! Demon hissed in his mind. He is the one who hurt me. He commanded those who captured me. Give him to me and I will work with you!
Michael dropped Demon out of the Myst and solidified in the middle of the office. He would have informed the cat that he wasn’t asking her to work with him.
But she was busy.
She had Raiden’s neck in her mouth and had already bitten down. The blood sprayed his monitors as she pulled the struggling coder out of his seat.
Michael’s eyebrows lifted as the man’s gurgling screams finished just four seconds later.
Demon stood up and put her padded front feet on the desk as she growled her success. The fire in her eyes and the tail swishing behind her in exultation caused Michael to throw up his hands in defeat.
“Fuck it. Bethany Anne has a dog, and now I’ve got a cat.” He smiled as he opened the door. “C’mon Demon, let’s go see how the others are doing.”
Michael? Akio called.
Yes?
The fire department has been called.
One second, Michael replied as he located the three Wechselbalg. Gaku had a clean hole through the muscle in his arm. “That will heal nicely,” Michael told him.
Tanith was cleaning blood off her face. From the purple bruises and what was left of a cut, one of the guards must have given her a good crack in the head.
Shiang was limping, and there was blood on his leg as well.
None of Raiden’s guards were awake, however. “That one,” Michael pointed to a guard who had apparently been thrown against the wall, “is still alive.”
“What would you have us do?” Shiang asked. He wasn’t asking belligerently, just wanted to know.
Michael pursed his lips and pulled a ball of Etheric energy into his hands. He casually tossed it onto the body, where it started melting the flesh. “Justice is served,” Michael answered. As he started weaving a much larger ball of energy his writhing anger was barely constrained, and he focused on it until it was easily two feet across. “I will take you three away from this place,” he told them. “I hope you don’t need anything here?”
All three were just telling him they didn’t when Michael pushed the ball away from him into a collection of cubicles. Flames immediately sprang forth. “Time to go!” Michael changed to Myst, grabbed the three Weres, Demon, and sped out of the room.
Michael grabbed the other programmer too and commanded her to sleep.
He would wipe her memory after they got out of the building.
Not finding any other heartbeats, he sent a command to Akio to stay back from the building. Six seconds later there was a massive explosion in the lower three levels, which destroyed them and caused the foundations to crack. Parts of the upper floors tilted and two windows shattered on the top level as furniture went through them to fall to the ground below.
Twenty minutes later the programmer walked back to her car in a daze. Michael, Demon, and Akio had left after speaking with the Wechselbalg.
They had a new lead on one of Raiden’s partners.
By the time they reached the Pod, even Akio was straining under the weight of the cat’s curiosity.
Abandoned Airfield, One Hundred Fifty Miles North-Northwest of Chengdu
The trees in the distance moved gently, the wind rustling in their limbs as the shadow solidified.
The black box touched down for the umpteenth time next the abandoned aircraft hangar. None of the military had been here in years, not since the fall of China. Shortly after WWDE things like their defense budget took a hit, along with most of their economy and people.
Mark was the first to hop out of the cabin, and he stretched as he looked around, taking in the scenery. He turned back to watch Jacqueline as he rubbed his arms. “You know, a hot shower and some hot chocolate would really be a treat right now.” He jumped up and down to keep warm.
Jacqueline felt the cold and scooted back into the box for a blanket, which she wrapped around herself before going back outside.
“Thought Weres didn’t feel the cold?” Sabine asked, trying to make conversation rather than antagonize her.
Jacqueline pulled a face. “I’ve gotten soft,” she shot back dryly. Mark started to snicker and then, realizing he was out of line, gave her a hug while the others disembarked.
Eve and Yuko pulled the last crate from the box, this time managing to carry it instead of dragging it. Sabine’s senses searched their surroundings, peering into the darkness for any signs of movement.
Jacqueline noticed and wandered over to stand with her. “You think we’re still being followed, don’t you?”
Sabine shook her head slowly once, her attention only partially on Jacqueline. “I think it pays not to get complacent. And besides, my trigger finger is tingly.”
Jacqueline frowned. “And that’s a sign?”
She shrugged. “Could be.”
Jacqueline gently exhaled through her nose in response and ambled into the hangar after the others.
Eve had been monitoring the place for several days before this day came—the day when the team finally united all the boxes that had been hidden by the Sacred Clan.
It wasn’t much, but it was in a secure location and had electricity from a local generator. Power was still an issue in these parts, but it paid for the Chinese to still fund a precious few locations locally for clandestine operations, and for the sake of having servers and data centers in remote and almost untraceable areas.
The door closed automatically, leaving Sabine outside on her own. She started walking around the building, listening for any noise on the wind.
The heating clicked on inside in specific locations that Eve had earlier deemed to be most efficient.
No point in freezing their asses off before they got this mess assembled. And besides, the workspace needed to be fit for humans by the time Michael and Akio finally stopped killing people and got around to bringing them some geeks and engineers.
“So, uh, when do you think Michael might return?” Jacqueline asked Yuko and Eve as she followed them through the expanse of the place to the far end.
Eve cocked her head. “As soon as they’re ready.”
“And not a minute before,” Yuko added playfully.
“Right,” Jacqueline said. “But what about... I mean, we need to make sure we have food and stuff.”
Yuko grinned at her. “Beautifully volunteered!” she exclaimed. The pair placed their heavy burden next to the other crates.
Yuko looked at the array, oblivious to Jacqueline’s exclamation of protest at her latest assignment. “You know, I think we should start opening these in the morning. Get a start on it when we have proper light.”
Eve glanced up at the old florescent lights, whose ballasts were barely able to function with most of the current being drawn by the heaters. “Probably a good idea,” she agreed.
Mark had already started fondling the nearest crate. “You mean you’re just going to let all this tech sit here unexamined for anyone to waltz in and steal out from under our noses? Without us getting to even touch it?”
Jacqueline growled. “No one is taking these from us. I’ve got this, Babe.”
Mark grinned and winked. “You can be so romantic.”
The whole hangar shuddered and all heads turned toward the door. Sabine was trying to close the enormous door behind her.
“Damn thing is so noisy,” she grunted, tugging at it irritably.
Jacqueline visibly relaxed and called, “Nearly got your head taken off there, l
ove.”
Mark grinned. “Sounds like you’re antsy, which means that you’re hungry. How about we go find food for everyone and unwind?”
Yuko agreed and sent them on their way, with permission to use one of the Pods and take their time getting back.
Mark and Jacqueline, who still had a blanket wrapped around her, headed back across the hangar floor, passing Sabine on the way. Mark smiled, but Jacqueline mostly just nodded in her general direction.
Yup, she’s angry all right, Mark thought, hurrying her along before anything else kicked off between the two women.
—
The Pod took off, barely visible beyond the perimeter of the airfield. All was calm…peaceful almost. A faint glow emanated from the hangar, again hardly visible.
Unless you knew what you were looking for.
Several hours later a black-ops stealth chopper flew into the vicinity, depositing a number of dark figures. The figures moved like shadows, but were armed to the hilt like the samurai of old—only with the most modern tech the Chinese government could afford.
They started hiking silently in the direction of the airfield.
CHAPTER NINE
Japan, Mount Fuji in the distance
Akio looked down at the mountain lion, who looked back up at him.
Food?
Michael smirked. “No, not food.”
Akio’s eyes narrowed. “Are you speaking to the cat?”
“Yes.” Michael nodded at the three of them waited for transportation. He looked down. “Her name is Demon, and she was a science experiment for Raiden back there.” Michael jerked his head in the direction of the orange glow reflecting from the clouds and smoke in the night sky. “Apparently he was doing research into programming things with nanocytes, and injected her with enough of them that the nanocytes have been trying to help her.”
Akio bowed slightly to the cat. “Welcome, Demon. I am Akio.” He waved a finger. “And I am not food.”
Demon sniffed and looked around. I wasn’t asking if you were food.
Akio could just detect the mental connection. It was solid, if faint, and she seemed to have a dry sense of humor. I was asking if there was food.
“Oh? I seemed to have misunderstood.”
Michael looked around, a smile playing at the very corners of his mouth.
Akio glanced at Michael, his eyebrows pulling together in thought. “There is a park approximately three miles in that direction.” He pointed north. “There should be something there.”
Michael’s head swiveled in that direction. “We will head there to see if she can find anything.” As Akio nodded his understanding, Michael and Demon disappeared.
Akio looked around in the night, his hands behind his back. He had considered sending them five miles to the west.
There was an amusement park in that direction.
He could always explain that he had gotten his parks confused.
—
Michael stood under a large tree next to a moonlit clearing fifty yards in diameter as the X-wing Pod silently lowered itself in the darkness.
Akio jumped out of the ship and made his way over to him. “She is almost done,” Michael answered the unasked question. “It seems she doesn’t like to be watched as she eats fresh kills.”
Akio turned his head in the direction of the sound of the crunching of small bones in the massive jaws of the cat. “Am I to assume you have adopted a cat?”
Michael shrugged. “Bethany Anne has Ashur, or at least I assume she still does?” He glanced at Akio, who shrugged in his ignorance. “Well, she had Ashur in the past, so I don’t think it will be a problem.”
“You know that cats do not have masters, unlike dogs, correct?” Akio asked. “They have slaves. Or if you are lucky, they have housemates who fetch them water and open their food containers. They go to the store, clean out the kitty litter—”
Akio stopped speaking for a moment, then snorted. “That’s going to be a very large litter box.”
Michael opened his mouth to argue, then shut it. “We will adapt, I’m sure.” The two of them could hear rustling as Demon finished her meal. “Plus, I will explain outer space and what it means to have to walk back.” Michael smirked. “She is smart enough to understand.”
—
Demon walked through the park, enjoying the sensation of the grass on the pads of her feet. A slight feeling of sadness swept through her as she considered her paws, which had no claws.
They had been removed.
Even finding and killing this whatever-she-had-just-eaten had been a challenge. One of the chases had found her turning quickly, only to have her legs slide out from underneath her. She had rolled over and over before hitting a tree.
While capturing her own food had been nice, acknowledging the loss of a part of her was difficult.
She could hear Michael speak to the non-food, Akio. So he had arrived. Demon smiled, and shrank, willing herself to become as small as possible as she slunk through the undergrowth, her tail twitching.
—
Both men looked at the tablet. “Eve connected us with the police,” he updated Michael. “The one we seek has a team of fighters who killed some high-level political figures right after Yuko had tied them up. They will need to be notified of any takedown we accomplish so they can close the case.”
Michael glanced at the map. “This is the middle of downtown?” When Akio nodded, Michael asked, “Does it not seem odd that such a Clan would have their base in the middle of town?”
“Not really, no,” Akio answered. “This group fights well, but they probably sell their services. It is easier to hide in the middle of the city than to have us track them to a remote location using vehicles.”
Michael nodded his understanding.
Akio glanced at the time. “We can do this tonight, or we can wait.”
Michael leaned back to peer at Akio from a distance. “Wait?” He smiled. “What is this ‘wait’ you speak of?”
—
Demon had made it to some bushes just two pounces away from the men. Michael had his back to her, and Akio could not see through the man.
It was perfect.
—
Akio was about to answer Michael’s question regarding the meaning of “wait” when Michael blazed into action. He twisted and ducked as a figure leapt over him, headed straight for Akio.
Akio set his legs, his right arm reaching up and under the head of the cat as his left braced to catch the rib cage.
The cat slammed into him, making a gurgling sound as Akio whipped Demon against the Black Eagle.
Ouuuuuch! Demon keened as Akio dropped her. My heeeeaaaad!
“And that is why Akio is not food,” Michael told the mountain lion as she wove in a crooked line while trying to catch a breath.
You did that on purpose? Akio asked in surprise.
I’ve been working to cover her noise, Michael admitted. She has to learn she isn’t the apex predator anymore.
The big cat laid on the ground after Akio released her. That was painful.
“You should not have tried to sneak up on us,” Michael reprimanded her. “You could have been killed.”
She sighed. I was playing! Who knew Akio was so fast? She turned her head to look at Akio, who was staring at her with one eyebrow raised. And what happened with your eyes?
Akio didn’t answer. He merely glanced to Michael, who answered, “They flashed red.”
Oh.
Akio pointed to himself. “I am a vampire, as is Michael. Occasionally, when we are angry or surprised, our connection to the Etheric will cause our eyes to flash red as you saw.”
Like the others flashed the color of the daytime?
“Yellow,” Michael told her. “Akio’s were red.”
I caught red the first time. She licked a paw. It’s not like I’m a dog, here. My lack of claws doesn’t make me stupid.
Akio glanced at Michael.
Michael sighed.
Getting her acclimated to Ashur might prove to be a challenge.
“Let’s look at your paws, Demon,” Michael told her as he walked over to where she was laying down. “And if you so much as look at me wrong, I will backhand you so hard you will roll until you hit the sea.”
She looked up at him. What’s the sea?
“Large body of salt water,” Michael replied.
What’s salt water? she followed up.
“Water with salt in it,” Michael answered, turning her paw over in his hand.
How far away is that, and in what direction? she asked, trying to twist her head to look around.
Michael’s shoulders slumped and Akio turned around, not allowing Michael to see him cover his mouth or the glint of laughter in his eyes.
Downtown Tokyo, Japan
The black Pod slipped through the upper atmosphere toward the massive city of lights. “They have full holographic advertisements?” Michael asked. He didn’t bother to hide his shock as he watched enormous holograms a hundred feet high—or higher, in two cases—spread their marketing messages in the night.
There was no need for the sun. The sheer amount of light in the city was enough to permit them to walk around.
Shadows, he surmised, might be hard to find on the major streets below the massive skyscrapers. Everywhere he looked, he saw floating and flying vehicles.
The two had dropped Demon off at one of Akio’s safehouses just south of the city. Michael had promised that eventually he would get her claws back for her, and Akio had just happened to have his tablet in a position to take a photo of Demon licking Michael’s face in appreciation. He had grimaced as the cat’s tongue scraped the side of his cheek.
It was good blackmail material for the future.
“Yes, there were some movies back before WWDE which imagined the reality of what Japan is now.”
“Very impressive,” Michael commented as Akio took them around the largest area of lights and ads and dropped them onto a medium-height seventy-five story building that was in the shade of a larger two-hundred-story building. “Just pop the hatch. I’ll take us down,” Michael told him.
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