by Kyrii Rayne
“Yeah no. As long as you give us some basic instructions we can all switch off. Keeps any one of us from getting too burned out. You can set it up on our laptops like you did on yours, and we'll take turns.”
He glanced around the room at the others, who nodded— except for Gray, who gave him a blank look.
“No worries, brother, you don't have to sit listening to the squawk box if you don't want to.”
Gray shrugged and shifted restlessly, staring at the laptop.
“I understand what you wish to do. But all computer buttons look the same to me.”
“That'll change with time.” He patted his brother's huge shoulder and turned to the others. “So who wants to take the shift after me?”
Chapter 6 - Malik
“We have been monitoring this group of Hunters since yesterday.” Jake stood tensely behind his seat at the long table in the guesting-hall, looking around at the shocked and mostly pale faces of the other Bears. “There are over two dozen of them, they appear to be part of some religious-extremist based paramilitary organization, and so far, we don't know how much they know, or how or when they plan to attack us.”
“Oh great.” Paul exploded to his feet, and stood on wobbly legs, meaty hands gripping the back of his chair. “That's just great! How in the Hell was this allowed to happen?”
“Well,” Jake replied, rubbing his face. “Nine of your drinking buddies decided to follow my crazy father into putting on the kidnapping and hunting of six human beings as game, while the rest of you looked the other way. You and their other friends then begged Helga to exile the six surviving Bears instead of executing them, and she did just that. And then three of them decided to get their revenge by giving out details on the Lodge and its members— including you— to three Hunter groups. They would have done more, in fact, if we had not stopped them.”
Behind Jake, in her seat, Anna felt her fists clench under the table as she shared the anger which she could hear deep under the calm tone of his voice. Yes, this exactly. And we're all so damned sick of cleaning up all the messes that have resulted.
Paul's face had slowly drained of color and bravado as Jake had covered the facts of the matter. Finally, he sat back down, sweat broken out on his forehead. The rest of the group seemed just as subdued, although a few of them scowled at the tabletop while turning various shades of red and purple.
“Fine. Then how do you plan to get us safely out of here?”
Darrin stood up beside Jake and spoke quietly.
“If you're planning to run away like a little bitch, oh aspiring Lodge Father,” he said in an openly mocking tone, “We are arranging for the shuttle to fly people out to Idaho Falls.”
“But that's ninety miles out of the way!”
Jake slammed his fist on the table.
“Yes, it is, you fucking idiot, because the Hunters are watching the airport in Jackson! If you try to evacuate via Jackson, you'll end up being picked up by the Hunters just like two of us were last time. 'Ninety miles out of the way' is ninety extra miles between you and the Hunters, so what in the Hell is your problem with it?”
Muttering rose around the table. Anna looked around at all of the older Bears, and noticed that most of them looked thoughtful as well as frightened.
Some were glaring at Jake for laying a truth bomb on them, but she was still glad he had.
“Begging your pardon,” Malik said mildly from his end of the table, “But while some of these good gentlemen are running for their lives via Idaho Falls, what will you and your associates be doing?”
“We will fight!” Gray growled from his seat across from Jake, his booming voice filling the room for a moment and making Paul jump. “This Lodge is our home. It is our place, where we can be Bears and still hide our secrets from Hunters. And it is the place that Helga-mother built! We cannot lose it.”
Darrin nodded.
“Our mates and I, and a few associates, will be holding the fort. Literally, if we have to. Because we can't go in and attack the Hunters directly thanks to their using civilian shields, we will work to protect the Lodge, and lure the Hunters into the wilderness where we can deal with them.”
Malik nodded, looking mildly impressed. He toyed with one of his short, graying dreadlocks, watching the muttering, nervous Bears around him with obvious amusement.
“I presume, then, that you will need backup in order to ensure everyone's survival.”
“Very likely.”
“Well, you're not getting it from me!” Paul barked, rubbing his face almost convulsively. “I'm on the first shuttle out.”
Four or five of the others nodded agreement. But the majority didn't seem as supportive of his plan to flee. Some looked between Darrin, Jake and Gray speculatively, including Malik.
Others stared at the tabletop thoughtfully. Some wore their fear openly on their faces, but just as openly fought it, jaws trembling as more and more of them left off their muttering and bickering and turned to listen.
“No one expects anything from you, Paul.” Darrin's tone dripped with disgust. “Go ahead and run. But don't expect anyone will support your bid for Lodge Father now that you've shown your true colors.” He looked around at the small group who seemed in agreement with Paul, and sniffed. “The shuttle leaves in an hour for Idaho Falls. If you're going to run, be on it. And since the rest of the meeting is meant for those who actually plan to defend the Lodge, you are very welcome to leave my sight now.”
Another rustle went through the crowd. Paul got up and looked ready to lunge at Darrin again. But Jake stepped up beside his friend, and Gray cleared the table in a bound and stepped up on his other side. Anna watched them, smiling with a mix of pride and rage. Further down the table, Julia and Carly wore similar expressions. It was always hard watching Jake and Darrin fight their own Lodge's politics to try to get anything done. She was glad that Gray was stepping up too.
Paul stared at them, chest heaving, as three others got up to join him. But after a moment, his head slowly drooped, and he turned and started walking out. The other three trailed after him, looking just as subdued. Maybe even a little ashamed. Everyone watched them go, and the door banged shut behind them.
Jake looked around at the score or so of members who were left, and Anna saw his expression of mild astonishment. Last time, most of them had run.
They hadn't even discussed it first: simply bailed, concerned only with preserving their own lives. But not this time. This time, no one else so much as stood up. They simply turned back to him and to Darrin once the door shut, expectantly.
“Interesting what a difference a few months makes around here,” Malik commented in that same calm, nothing-gets-to-me tone. “As I recall, last time, most of the Lodge scattered to the winds at the mere mention of Hunters.”
“It's different now,” a huge, gray-bearded man whose name Anna couldn't recall rumbled sadly from behind a full tumbler of liquor. “I can't run and let a bunch of new guys fight for the Lodge and our right to stay here unmolested twice in a row. I don't have that much cowardice in me.”
Some of the others nodded. Malik chuckled.
“Well isn't this fascinating.” He looked around at them, then turned his gaze back to Darrin. “Well, I for one fully intend to do my bit in this matter, even if it does end up involving violence.” He tapped his lips with a slim finger. “I presume that you have some kind of a plan?”
“Right now, we're still monitoring. Unfortunately we couldn't bug the trailers themselves. We can pick up on their vehicles' movements and their phone conversations. But all that has helped us determine thus far are numbers and their basic organization. We don't know their plan, so all we can do right now is sort out evacuation and potential countermeasures.”
“Then you need a spy.”
“We have a spy, but her capabilities are limited. She can't actually infiltrate their organization.”
Darrin glanced down at his smart phone. “She was able to place the monitoring devices,
and was nearly caught in the process. They are a very insular and paranoid group. They seem to follow a religious model, are apparently all male, and it is safe to assume that they come heavily armed.”
“What have your monitors picked up thus far?” Malik leaned forward, his expression going more serious.
Anna looked at him curiously. He had contested Darrin for the High Seat, but now that there was an actual crisis he seemed more interested in actually dealing with it than playing politics. Not bad. What's your game, Malik?
Gray lumbered back to his seat, and Jake sat down beside her again as Darrin addressed this.
“Thus far we have largely picked up interactions that indicate a high level of conservatism in the group. No drinking, no women, no swearing. All have various Southern and Midwestern accents. Racist jokes are pretty common, so they're probably all white. The men's lives are heavily monitored and regulated by their 'elders'. Otherwise, all we know so far is that they are expecting some kind of ‘delivery’ at the airport in a few days.”
“A killer cult.”
Malik's thoughtful frown took on a disgusted edge, as did his voice.
“Yes. Exactly.”
Darrin looked at the man curiously, and received an almost mirrored expression in response.
“I would like access to these monitoring efforts, so that I may assist in the analysis. I have some experience with psychology, and may be able to interpret more information from their interactions.”
Anna blinked and she and Jake exchanged glances. He and Darrin looked at each other as well. Then Jake spoke up.
“Well, I don't see why not. We have the setup in Helga's old office.”
Darrin nodded, and looked around at all of them.
“As soon as we have any real information on what form the Hunter threat will take, and whether they have found a way here, I will let you know. In the meantime, you all have my cell number, and can text me with any questions.”
The Bears started getting up and filing out, but this time, Malik did not join them. Instead he stood and headed down to their end of the table. Anna watched him walk up, his slim form in a tobacco-colored suit today and his manner just as calm and studied as ever.
He drew near them, and smiled faintly.
“Gentlemen, ladies, let us adjourn to the office, and you can show me what you have. I believe I have some resources which can be of assistance to you, but they are the sort that I prefer to discuss only with small and select groups.”
His smile tightened slightly for a moment, and he rocked on his heels.
Darrin's nostrils twitched slightly. His brows knit. Gray too was sniffing the air, confusion in his narrow black eyes.
“What is it?” she asked Jake, assuming he would be able to smell whatever it was as well.
“Not sure,” he replied softly.
Malik just smiled.
They had each taken shifts of six hours monitoring the Hunters, but they had learned little. No idea what the ‘delivery’ tomorrow was. No idea what kind of weapons they actually had. No way of predicting the Hunters' next moves.
Malik sat listening to the few recorded conversations, full lips pursed and eyes thoughtful.
“Definitely a cult. And not one with all that good control. The same three members keep sneaking off to buy alcohol in town. They have been caught twice and chewed out for it, but they continue. I suspect that one of them is an alcoholic.”
“That would follow.” Darrin seemed fairly impressed with his one remaining competitor for the High Seat. Malik might be a snark machine whose motives were kept too quiet for Anna's taste, but he was stepping up, and he certainly had a good brain in his head. “Do you suggest that we take advantage of this somehow?”
Malik's smile was slow and lazy, like syrup spreading over a pancake.
“I do indeed. I suggest, in fact, that we remove one of these three and replace him with an imposter, who will gather intelligence for us directly.”
“Wait, wait.” Jake shoved his hands in his pockets and lifted his eyebrows at the newcomer. “How in the hell exactly are we supposed to do that?”
Malik chuckled.
“I will do it myself.”
Anna just stared at him. Finally, she spoke up before anyone else could.
“How in the world are you going to do that?”
He looked back at her, and threw back his head with a laugh. Then suddenly... he shifted. But not into a bear.
He shrank perhaps six inches, his body filling out a little, his features thinning and his skin and hair bleaching out until he looked like a very blond white man. His hair relaxed and shortened into a headful of cowlicks that looked a little familiar. His brown eyes faded to a light hazel, and he flashed a grin. He had just turned into their helicopter pilot.
“...Jesus,” Jake said, stiffening next to her. “How the Hell did you do that? What are you?”
Malik spoke, and his voice was the pilot's lazy drawl.
“We Chameleons are very, very good at blending in,” he said in a cheery tone. “If you worked with any shifters outside your own species--”
“Um... actually we do,” Darrin quietly pointed out. This seemed to surprise Malik.
“You do? That's a surprise to me. The older generation of the Lodge has always been very... exclusionary.”
“Well, I'm not. One of my best friends is a Crow. She's the spy I mentioned, and she's responsible for us getting the sound and GPS feeds. She's also mated to a friend in town who has been acting as our sentinel since all of this started.”
Darrin took a step toward the strange shifter, one eyebrow lifted, more intrigued than aggressive.
“You've been here for over a year. What's your angle?”
“I fear that in this matter, I must beg your pardon.” He inclined his head slightly, and his body shifted back to what Anna guessed was his natural form. “I did not come here to spy on you in particular, nor the Lodge in general. I was here watching Anthony Matson, Jake's father.”
Jake let out a heavy sigh, eyes widening.
“Then... some of the other shifter species....”
“I am part of a multi-species organization which monitors potential problems in our community. When Anthony Matson commissioned a hunt which involved kidnapping human beings, I chose to infiltrate the Lodge and gather information on his activities. As they were using an unethical and very stupid helicopter pilot to deliver both hunted and hunters to the wilderness, I had little trouble replacing him.”
“That means you killed him.”
Anna remembered that terrible helicopter ride, the bag over her head, her hands tied. She had been warned that if she screamed or told the pilot that no, they weren't participating in a TV reality show, they had actually been kidnapped, she would be shot right there.
She remembered how that cheerfully greedy idiot hadn't even considered how strange the drop-offs were, or how odd it was that the Lodge members had tipped him so very much. He had simply taken the cash and asked no questions, and as a result, four human beings had died.
“A regrettable necessity. The individual in question was quite mercenary, however, and contributed to the vulnerability of your Lodge. I assure you that if he was still in place, the first group of Hunters would have talked their way onto the helicopter and paid you a most unexpected visit. But fortunately, they simply never could seem to find the pilot in time to make their proposition.”
His dark eyes twinkled.
Jake huffed a sigh.
“So you were watching my father.”
“Yes. Your father's vendetta was a danger not just to humans, but to all shifters. His attempts to engineer a war between humans and Bears threatened to expose all of us. Not just to Hunters, but to the world at large.” He put his hands behind his back, looking at the ceiling pensively and a little sadly. “Our mates and the occasional friend notwithstanding, we can't risk exposure to humans at large. Human xenophobia is one of the race's greatest flaws. It is such a powerful in
fluence in most humans that they find excuses to be prejudiced even against different groups within their own race.”
“Don't think anyone here could argue against that,” Darrin said sadly. “So... if you were here to watch Anthony Matson, why did you stick around afterward?”
“Curiosity, mostly. I wanted to see how you and Helga Thorsdottr would rebuild things in the aftermath. But then Hunters became involved.” Now Malik looked deadly serious. “Anthony's followers came close to exposing all of us just in their mission for revenge. Hunters don't normally communicate, but your renegades got around that by contacting multiple groups. I have honestly been spending a great deal of the last few months debating whether to introduce myself or not. I have deliberately stayed in the background. I wasn't certain how you would react to an outsider offering help, or to the fact that I had infiltrated you.”
“Well, I have to admit it doesn't exactly engender trust.” Jake smirked and poked at his brother, who was crouched nearby and kept sniffing at Malik. “Gray, that's rude.”
“Scent keeps changing,” Gray marveled quietly. “It's so weird!”
“My apologies for any confusion. It's in a chameleon's nature to change a little all the time.”
“But given that changeable nature, sir, I have to ask... can we trust you?”
Anna sat forward a little on the bench, her hands clasped in front of her.
His expression stayed serious as he inclined his head her direction. “You can trust me to work for the general good of shifters, and humanity for that matter. You can trust that I am not your enemy. Though I was certainly Jake's father's.”
“Well, that's kind of all of us at this point,” Jake muttered, raking a hand back through his hair in discomfort.
“My point is that I am quite willing to consider the circumstances and earn that trust. Hunters are a danger to all shifters, which is why the organization I work with was founded. I have already put a lot of work and risk into our continuing efforts to thwart Hunters, and I am perfectly willing to do it again.”
Darrin leaned back, putting his hands behind his head.