by JM Guillen
“Affirmative.” She gazed directly at me. “If I am to spend any time training you in the use of firearms, you will most certainly be in torpor. For this reason, I will spend some time acclimating to this mindset.”
“Are you certain you weren’t just eavesdropping on our conversation about team uniforms?” Wyatt leaned forward onto the table. “Because, Petrova, I am okay with this look.”
Before Anya had opened her mouth to respond, the door at the front of the room slid open. Demetrius Stone strolled in, gave me a nod and Anya a smile.
“Hello, cadre.” He sat in of the chairs, just as the Designate entered the room.
To look at her, one never would have guessed Facility Prime had just been assaulted by Irrational forces.
As always, the Designate dressed meticulously, pencil skirt, black high heels, and perfect, understated makeup. Her glasses hung around her neck and her hair had been swept up in a tight bun.
Good afternoon, Assets. She smiled as she took her place in the front of the room. Let’s get started, shall we?
3
In the end, the Facility needed very little from us.
The Crowns of every Asset in play over the course of the past seventy-two hours will undergo synaptic replication. The Designate folded her arms. To do anything else is to risk the loss of information that we simply cannot afford to let slip by.
“Designate?” I cleared my throat. “Do we have any intel on the location of the Designates who were… affected by Irrational Relic 0918?”
It is unfortunately difficult to say how many Designates may have been compromised. Her smile grew tight. We lost fifteen Designates in the conflict, several of whom are known to have died. However, some of those are very much alive and made away from Facility Prime with dangerous relics of interest.
“Fifteen.” Rachel shook her in head. “If even a third of those became compromised…”
“One rogue Designate ruined our day.” Wyatt leaned forward on the table. “Tell me we’re taking precautions. Necessary measures against them.”
Resources are being utilized. The Designate nodded, and glanced around the room. It is expected that with the Mediterranean conflict behind us, teams can begin to assess our numbers, and determine some hardline facts.
“Because they will be a problem.” Wyatt leaned on the table. “And when they are, is there any question about who will be tasked with that problem?”
None. The Designate tapped something on her tablet, then glanced up at us. You may expect that should one of these individuals be a concern, the Citadel Initiative is our first response.
“I’m so pleased to have been part of all this.” Stone turned toward me. “I don’t always get to feel helpful, Alpha, not in these situations. But I feel like we worked together quite well.”
“Yeah.” I nodded at him. “Me too.”
I did, to be honest.
With the resolution of 108’s relationship with the astral aberrant, the Citadel Assets are considered to be the perfect tool for these situations.
I didn’t exactly feel that my relationship had been resolved. The creature hadn’t appeared again during the rest of the combat, but that was all I knew.
While the Citadel Initiative was conceptualized in response to Aberration 45171R, and Sadhana, this initial excursion concluded beyond our satisfaction.
We satisfied her. Wyatt arched an eyebrow as he linked me alone. I bet it was me.
This being said, the concept of applying a Catalyst Asset to the Citadel isn’t off the table.
“Um?” Delacruz leaned forward. “As in, Bishop take the Catalyst packet?”
Bishop would remain cadre Alpha, of course. The initial configuration of the team involved Gideon DuMarque as Catalyst. While Gideon is irreplaceable, it still may be in the best interest of the team to have a Catalyst in place.
I…” Delacruz say back, thoughtful. “I don’t like it.”
Pardon me? The Designate seemed genuinely confused.
“Bishop is a reckless, cowboy asshole.” Delacruz gave me a sly wink. “If you go back over the phaneric intel, after you scrape our Crowns, you’re going to find crazy choice after crazy choice in this dossier.”
We are aware of his nature. The Designate still seemed off balance. This is why he has the position he does.
“So, he may be an asshole, but he’s also a genius when he’s thinking on the fly. When he acts on instinct, and doesn’t question himself, he pulls off some truly amazing stuff.” She turned to me. “Seriously, dude. I’d forgotten all about the spike in the middle of the sea.”
“The homework with the statues was pretty cool,” Wyatt admitted. “They were like wrecking balls.”
“I think what Asset Delacruz is attempting to communicate,” Anya spoke primly, “is that we often find ourselves in situations where Michael’s instincts are what we rely on.”
“When we’re in trouble, and reaching for the next crazy plan.” Rachel nodded. “Right.”
“Mike is who we rely on when things get really bad,” Sofia continued. “He worked well with Gideon because they trusted each other. But that was a unique relationship.” She paused for a moment. “You don’t have another Gideon DuMarque, hidden away in the basement at Facility Prime, I bet.”
So, as a cadre, you have some concerns about being assigned a new Catalyst?
“Designate, if I may.” Stone cleared his throat and sat up. “I’ve been present for some of Michael’s strategies, and much of the time, what they require is intimate trust.” He waved at me genially. “The man gets inspired, and he just runs with it.”
“Gideon knew how to trust Michael,” Anya said. “It is possible that a new Catalyst wouldn’t.”
“So,” Sofia continued, “in that situation, if he had to clear each choice through a third party, it might be too late.”
Because of the fluidity of these events. The Designate nodded.
“Correct.” Delacruz turned to me. “As an Asset of the Citadel, I’d rather just follow 108. I trust his judgements. I know he’s always going to make certain I come home.”
I wasn’t tearing up. That was someone else.
This isn’t an idea that has been considered, I’ll admit. The Designate nodded slowly. It’s possible to discuss forming the Citadel Initiative without a Catalyst, and having a permanent Designate contact instead.
“That might work out better,” Wyatt drawled. “If it’s a possibility.”
Is that a configuration you would be amenable to, 108? The Designate turned toward me.
For a moment, I said nothing.
My friends gazed at me.
Anya gave the tiniest of nods.
“Yeah,” I said, my voice rough. “Yeah, it would be.”
4
“Sofia!” I called down the hallway. “Wait a sec?” I trotted up to her.
“What now?” She gave me a crooked grin. “A girl has to go get drunk.”
“I wanted to thank you.” I gave a small, casual shrug. “For bringing up your feelings in the meeting.” I paused.
“About the Calayst.”
“Right.” I nodded. “That meant a lot to me.”
“Well, I was honest.” She shrugged. “Imagine if you had to check all your crazy plans with a third party. You know how many times I’d be dead already?”
“Nah.” I grinned. “I just appreciate you being willing to tell the Designate what you thought.”
“Well…” She chuckled. “A fiery Latina speaks her mind, Mike.”
“That’s another thing.” I let the smile slip from my face. “I wanted to tell you about someone.”
“Okay?”
“Elle Quirke was our Gatekeeper, when we went into the Yucatán. She’s the only other person who came out, and her mind shattered during the experience.”
“That was during your first encounter with the Hidden Road.” She nodded, a tiny motion.
“Elle had a laugh like a crystal bell.” I smiled at Delacruz. “She was
a small thing, but always happy. Always so upbeat.”
“Until the Yucatán.”
“Yeah.” I felt my face become grim. “Like the rest of my cadre, Elle never really came back.”
“I’m sorry, Mike.” Delacruz took a breath. “I’m sorry that happened to you.”
“Sofia, Elle was the only other person who ever called me ‘Mike.’” I shrugged. “That’s why it was kind of a deal. That’s why I teased you about stopping.”
“Oh.” She brought one hand to her face. “Oh, Bishop. I had no idea. I’ll stop. I—”
I pressed my fingers to her lips.
“She was our Gatekeeper, Delacruz. She was a brave, fierce woman. And one of the best friends I had.”
I gave her a soft smile.
“Don’t stop.”
Taking Shots
I had no idea what to wear.
I easily had two dozen suits in my closet. I had them in every color, for every occasion. I even had some made slightly larger in the chest, for that brief period of time I thought I might enjoy working out.
I did not enjoy working out.
“Not this.” I stood in front of a full-length mirror, wearing a T-shirt, blue jeans, and tennis shoes. They seemed clean enough, creases all crisp, and were definitely new.
It just wasn’t what I was accustomed to wearing.
I felt like a schlub.
I stood in my closet and searched for different T-shirt when my phone rang. I peered at the caller ID, and then sighed.
GUTHRIE, W.
“Yeah?” I tapped the phone between my ear and my shoulder. “You’re not calling to tell me you’ll be late tomorrow?”
“No,” Wyatt sounded offended. “I can be on time, Hoss.”
“You are never on time.” I glanced at another shirt and scowled at it.
It didn’t turn into a better shirt despite my scowl.
“I am for the big stuff.” His tone took on a touch of solemnity. “Gideon was good people, Hoss. One of the best. I wouldn’t miss it.”
“Yeah, buddy.” I sighed. “I know.”
“Thing is,” I heard Wyatt smile of the phone, “I’m actually early. I touched down in SFO an hour ago.”
“What?” I turned and sat on my bed. “Seriously? Wyatt Guthrie is hours early?”
“I caught a cab, and I’m at a bar downtown.”
“Is it just a bar?” I grinned, waiting for him to name some classy location like ‘Pole Position’ or ‘Loose Lips.’
“Just a bar.” He paused for a moment. “I figured you and I might go and do something a little more interesting this evening, though.”
“This evening?” I frowned. “I’m afraid I can’t, buddy. I didn’t know you’d be here and I made other arrangements.”
“I haven’t even told you what it is.” I heard the smile in his voice. “What if I told you I’d arranged to spend a lovely evening with a couple of ladies here locally?”
“Ladies?” I rolled my eyes, even though I knew he couldn’t hear me do that. “Do they have names like ‘Bunnie’ and ‘Eleckta’?”
“I’m serious!” I could imagine the pout on his face. “I set it all up. Twins, man. We’re taking them out for shots. Met ’em on the AOL.”
“What?” I shook my head. “You’re still into that Internet thing?”
“You really need to pay attention to computers, Bishop.” I heard Wyatt take a drink. “They’re the future, I’m telling you.”
“I’m telling you, I can’t.” I sighed. “Anyway, I wasn’t going to tell you this, but I’ve met someone.”
“What?”
“No, I don’t mean…” I paused. “I don’t mean met met. I have an appointment, and I’m kind of nervous about it.”
“Super suave Bishop? Nervous?”
“I’ve been sitting here for almost an hour trying to figure out what to wear. You know that feeling when you’re looking at three dozen outfits and feel like you have nothing to wear?”
“All the time,” Wyatt said. “Especially when I have a date with someone, but I haven’t met met them.”
“It’s not really a date,” I explained. “I met this Russian girl—”
“Russian?” Wyatt let out a low whistle. “Them ladies know how to take care of a guy, Bishop.”
“What?”
“I know it’s cold in Russia, but you can bet she won’t be an ice princess… if you know what I mean.”
“It’s not like that,” I protested. “She’s actually giving me…” I took a deep breath, “shooting lessons.”
“You’re taking shooting lessons.”
“Yeah, big deal.”
“You’re taking shooting lessons from a woman.”
“We didn’t all grow up killing possums so we could eat.”
“You haven’t lived ’til you’ve eaten possum.” I heard him take another sip. “That’s not my point.”
“Is your point that you don’t think a woman should be able to shoot?”
“No,” he scoffed. “Now you’re just being ridiculous. My mother was an amazing shot.”
“So what is your point?” I stood up and went back to my closet and resumed the clothes search.
“You know how you go on a date every night of the week?” Wyatt asked.
“Not every night.”
“You make fun of me for going to strip clubs, but I think what you do is way worse.”
“Please explain.”
“At these clubs, these ladies know exactly what I’m there for. I pay them, and I pay them well. Then I go home and they go home. Everybody’s happy.”
“I still don’t see your point?”
“You go on dates. You go on two dozen dates a month.” He took a drink, and I heard the ice clink in his glass. “How many of those ladies do you take home to your mama? D’ ya think while you’re dancing the night away, they’re hopin’ you might offer them something significant? D’ ya think they get tired of wasting their time with schmoozy losers?”
“Well.” I didn’t quite know what to say that. “I mean…”
“Let me ask you a question. Last week when you went out for drinks with whatever floofy little thing you went out with, how long did it take you to figure out which Brooks Brothers suit to wear?”
“What kind of question is that?”
“Answer.”
“Probably five or ten minutes.”
“And you expect me to believe that tonight you sat there for an hour, for a Russian girl that isn’t a date?”
“You are blowing this way out of context.” I stood in front of the mirror and held a black turtleneck to my chest.
Yeah. That might do.
“You know it’s okay with me if you actually like a lady, right?” Wyatt cleared his throat. “It’s okay to admit you’d like a relationship that isn’t just a one-time thing.”
“It’s not like that at all,” I repeated. “I met her while out. We talked. She promised she’d teach me how to shoot.”
“Is she hot?”
“She’s crazy hot,” I confirmed. “But a little odd. It’s not romantic, either way.”
“Maybe it should be, that’s all I’m sayin’.”
I sighed.
“Bishop, tomorrow in the afternoon, we’re attending a funeral.” He cleared his throat. “A funeral of a really good man.”
“Yeah,” I agreed.
“Life’s short, Hoss. If you like this girl, and actually think you can make some kind of connection… don’t waste time. That’s all I’m sayin’.”
That…
That hit me. Struck me a little differently than the things Wyatt typically said.
“Yeah.” I paused. “I’ll think about it.”
“You do that.” I heard his grin. “In the meantime, I’ll see you tomorrow. After I go on a date with these twins.”
“Fair enough.” I chuckled, and hung up the phone.
I gazed at myself in the mirror and nodded.
Yeah. This would do.<
br />
Thing was, Wyatt wasn’t entirely wrong. I did like this Anya chic, but I didn’t expect anything to come from it. It wasn’t like she was just some date.
She was a wonderful person.
“I can give it some time.” I smiled, straightening my slacks. “See how things work out.”
That made sense. No sense rushing into anything.
It’s not as if the world would end tomorrow.
###
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