My hand goes to my mouth involuntarily. “That’s horrible.”
“The court agreed. New Mexico almost re-instated the death penalty for them but didn’t. They were sent to the South Dakota UltraMax.”
Oh no. “Epic, are they still there?”
Alarm flashes across Kate’s face. “Why wouldn’t they be?”
“Because Cat7 released all the prisoners during Ericsson’s attempted coup.”
They are kept in stasis in the lowest level of the prison. After several attempts to escape, and fourteen murdered fellow prisoners they decided the only way to imprison them was to freeze them. While some superhumans’ powers can be neutralized by signals or electrical impulses, “magic” as they call it has no detectable energy signature.
I nod. “Well, that’s something. I still don’t understand though, it looks like Red—”
“Ricardo,” she adds.
“Ricardo was the only one not involved in the crazy,” I say. “Or is there something that wasn’t in the public news.”
“Not anything I could prove. When I worked for the CIA he was on our list.”
“List? I don’t—”
She cocks her head to the side and raises an eyebrow.
“Oh, that kind of list.” A kill list. “Is that what you did for them?” I ask in a whisper. She never did go into detail about her time at the agency. Only a little here and there. The only reason I know is that we were both on the lam together.
“Among other things. I dug into him and on the surface, he’s untouchable. After his team disintegrated he formed his non-profit, recruiting people with powers who didn’t want to be superheroes or villains. They cut a deal with the UN giving them access to every country that has a treaty with the UN. They basically are a country unto themselves.”
“I get it, you think he’s a bad guy, but is there any chance you could be wrong?”
She shrugs. “Sure. Are you ever wrong about physics?”
That brings me up short. “Uh, no. Not normally.”
“I got close to him once, Amelia. Just the one time. I could smell evil on him. His mind was a bag of demons and it nearly killed me just to look inside his emotions. A furnace of contained rage and contempt for life. But here he is, in charge of one of the most powerful, benevolent, richest organizations on the planet.”
“Wow. How come I’ve never heard of it?”
“There isn’t a lot of unexploded ordinance in the US.” She finishes her coffee off before standing up to stretch. “I need a shower. How long, Epic?”
ETA thirty minutes.
Argentina is gorgeous from the air. I imagine it is just as pretty from the ground. I’m not sure what I was expecting but as we come down to only a few thousand feet, I can see forests and lakes, immense cliffs and waterfalls. It’s breathtaking. The city itself is huge! Right on the mouth of a bay with parks and trees right next to skyscrapers and old buildings that look like they are straight out of ancient Rome.
Epic has had us flying in circles over the city for almost an hour while we wait for clearance. We’re not here on “official” business, no powers, no costumes. I had Major Nelson issue us some special passes to come down here and ask a few questions. Something he was more than happy to do if it meant I stopped being angry with him. Which I have. He’s a cog. A nice guy, but a cog all the same. He can no more refuse to follow an order than a worker ant. Great for fighting wars, terrible for making value judgments.
“It’s breathtaking, isn’t it?” I ask Kate. The walls of the jet are see-through in full image mode. I feel like I’m flying inside an invisible jet. It’s beautiful, but a little unnerving. Good thing it’s only invisible from the inside.
“It’s not the prettiest city on the planet, but it’s a close second,” she says. I don’t ask her what the prettiest is. I suspect she thinks it’s Paris. Considering her power-set she could live anywhere in the world and commute to work in a few seconds.
The Emjet straightens out as it turns for Ezeiza International Airport. “Looks like we’ve finally gotten clearance to land.”
Amelia, I feel like they were stalling in the hopes we would run low on fuel and be forced to divert to another city. It was not until after I explained to them we have unlimited flight time that they gave us clearance to land.
“Methinks you may be on to something, Kate.” I look over as she emerges from the shower suit. Her hair falls in a perfectly straight waterfall around her head. She’s switched into her casual combat clothes, as she likes to call them. Jeans, a canvas button up shirt, and her two-inch heeled biker boots. She has three belts looped around her waist where she’d normally keep IP pistols and other accouterments. She shrugs on a three-fourths long coat over her shoulders and gives me a smile.
“What? This isn’t a costume and I’m not carrying any weapons.”
“Uh-huh. And let’s say, for the sake of argument, that we were to get into trouble down here… I’m sure you don’t have all your weapons laid out next to your cat?”
“Pshaw. Perish the thought,” she says with mock offense.
I laugh. I’m so happy to be back and to have her by my side again. I wish we could do this as a team. For a fleeting moment, I think about Luke before I get my head back in the game. Any sign that we’re here as heroes and we violate all kinds of international law. The only crime we could even think about stopping down here would be a murder and we’d have to prove we didn’t go looking for trouble.
She grabs my handles and pushes me toward the door. The hatch slides open as the ramp lowers down, enabling us to walk at a nice angle with no risk of me flying wildly out of control.
Dang if it isn’t cold, though. I hug myself; even through my puffy down jacket, the forty degree weather nips away at me.
“Right now, I wish you had fire powers. Maybe we should look for an elemental to join our team while we’re down here. We keep going to cold places,” I tell her.
“You should try a Russian winter if you want real cold,” she says with a smirk as we reach the bottom.
Waiting for us is the black Ford Expedition I ordered ahead of time. It was rented it through a very private, very expensive security firm down here. No one could tell just by looking at it how armored it really is.
However, we didn’t order the uniformed woman waiting for us by the car.
“Greetings,” she says in almost perfect English. “I am Sergento Catia Tichenor, I’ll be your liaison while you are here in beautiful Buenos Aires.” I raise an eyebrow and glance up at Kate.
Sergento Tichenor stands patiently, all five foot, four inches of her. She’s clearly fit, her white top hugs her, showing off the taut muscles in her arms as she holds her hand out to shake mine. I look up at her tan face and bright blue eyes as I shake her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Sergento Tichenor.”
“Please, call me Tia, the rest of my name is a mouthful, even for me,” she says with a smile. Her grip is firm, but not domineering. I don’t sense any power plays here, just a pleasant person doing their job the best they can.
Kate lifts her eyebrow as she takes the woman’s hand and I recognize the look on her face. It’s subtle, but she’s reading the police officer.
“I noticed you brought your own vehicle? I would be happy to drive you in my patrol car,” she says, pointing over to a blue and white sedan that would look more at home in the suburbs than as a police car.
Kate holds on to her hand for a second longer than is appropriate giving Tia her best smile. “That’s okay, Sergento— Tia, we’d prefer to take our own vehicle. Though, neither of us have ever visited your beautiful home. Would you consider driving?”
“Of course,” she says. Her face lights up. “It would be my privilege to escort two such honored personages as yourself. It is why I’m here. When the Chief found out that Arsenal and Domino, heroes of the war with the Th’un were visiting, he insisted.”
My cheeks heat and my face warms up despite the cold air. “Uh, you know wh
o we are?”
“Sim senhora. Everyone knows who you are.”
I sink down into my coat. People recognizing me on the street isn’t something I’m used to. Kate puts a hand on my shoulder. “It’s okay. Breathe.”
“That’s easy for you to say,” I whisper. Kate pushes me toward the SUV. Sergento… Tia follows, opening the front door after I unlock it. As she does I realize she’s only wearing her uniform. Black shoes, pants, the white shirt, and badge. No guns, no cuffs, no clubs, nothing.
“You noticed that,” Kate whispers to me as we go around the back. “She must be an admin…”
“But?” I ask.
“She’s incredibly confident. Both of her place, and of herself. It’s hard to pin down.”
I shrug. At least she’ll be a good driver. Two ground crew from the private group we contracted with, come over carrying our bags and load them into the back of the Expedition. Kate easily scoops me up, placing me in the rear seat before folding my chair and sticking it in the back with our bags.
Within a few minutes we are exiting the airport, the heater hums along keeping the inside of the vehicle a pleasant seventy-six.
“Where will you be visiting today?” Tia asks innocently.
“You weren’t told?” I’m a little stunned she doesn’t know. I figured half the reason she was here was because of who we were coming to see.
“No. Should I have?” She glances in the mirror to look at me. Her green eyes holding my own for a moment. Kate reaches back with her right arm and taps my hand. Truth.
“We are visiting the non-profit group, Superhumans for a Super World?”
“I’m afraid I don’t know where that is. We have many fine organizations who headquarter here because of the weather and beaches.”
I reach into my bag and slip on the glasses I use to interface with Epic. “That’s okay. Epic, can you upload the location to the car’s navigation, please.”
Done.
“Who is Epic?” she asks, stumbling over the unfamiliar word.
“He’s my friend. He handles all the computer stuff.”
I suppose I should be thankful you did not call me ‘your assistant’ or something.
“Quiet you,” I whisper.
“We will be there in fifteen minutes, please allow me to give you the tour while we go. Buenos Aires is the best city in the world. Allow me to tell you some of its history?”
“By all means, Tia,” Kate says.
I tune her out as we drive, bringing up the virtual keyboard to do a little programming. The suit’s delivery system still needs a little work and this is the perfect time to do it.
Superhumans for a Super World might as well be a headquarters for a corporate giant. The building isn’t the usual skyscraper, but a dome. Engraved on the outside is a map that takes up the entire side of the building. The metal exterior is brushed so as not to reflect the sun. The lines that make up the map are raised, catching the sun and highlighting the outline of the landmasses on the Earth. An interesting design.
“The building has restricted parking,” Tia tells us as we drive past. “I can find us a good spot only a few blocks away.
“Sure, that would be great,” I tell her. I know she’s concerned about my chair, but it really isn’t an issue. I’ve wheeled around rougher areas and with Kate here… well, worse case, she could just pick me up.
A few minutes later we’re on the street having left our vehicle in a secure parking structure. Now that we’re a little closer I can see the cracks in the facade. Tia walks like a woman on alert, eyes scanning the area around us as we move from street to street. My nerves creep up on me, sending goosebumps all along my skin. I can’t shake the feeling of being watched.
“Quit it, Amelia. You’re freaking me out,” Kate says as she pushes me down the street.
“It’s not me,” I say, nodding at our guide a few feet in front of us.
“She’s just being a cop, checking angles and watching out for her charges. We’re not in any real danger right now. Can your paranoia for a minute so I can think!”
I bite down a remark about how my paranoia is completely justified. She’s right, though. Kate’s an empath, and me freaking out could put us in actual danger if she can’t read the emotions of the people around us because I’m hyperventilating.
I take a few breaths and let them out slowly. She pats my shoulder. “Good girl.”
Our escort leads up to the front entrance of the building. The dome cuts an impressive figure up close. The double front doors look like some form of armored glass. I don’t miss the armed guards behind the desk as we enter. They greet Tia in Spanish. I can understand some of it. They seem friendly enough. That’s something.
“How may we help you?” They ask in English.
I hand over the official looking letter from the US Department of Justice, courtesy of Major Nelson. He takes the letter and scans it, his eyes narrow.
“I’m afraid there’s been a misunderstanding.” His voice is pleasant enough but the tone of his body, and his companion, completely shifts. Kate picks up on it too as she stiffens. I don’t quite have all the bugs worked out of my delivery system, but I reach for the bracer wrapped around my left wrist just in case.
I shouldn’t have worried.
Airborne toxins detected. Epic informs me. Well, they’re not toxins per se. Just Kate’s pheromones kicking into overdrive.
“As you can tell,” she says in her deceptively seductive voice. “We have all the correct provisions to meet with Mr. Rafael. Per his contract with the UN, inspectors from any signatory government can review his procedures.”
I watch the haze fall over the guard. Tia gives me a perplexed look and I just smile. Kate told me once that she can target her pheromones to men or women and I’m guessing Tia is like me, she doesn’t feel the effects. But boy, do the guards.
“Of course, señorita. Let me punch this code into the computer and we will generate you some passes, si?” he actually seems like he’s asking her permission to proceed. Kate nods and leans over the front desk allowing her scent to infect them even more. The poor guy on the left looks like he’s about to pass out, just standing there, eyes wide, swaying in the wind.
A few seconds later he hands us two badges.
“What about the Sergento?”
“I’m sorry señorita, but the paper is only for the two of you. If you could sign here,” he says barely more audible than a whisper. Kate signs the form then hands it to me.
“Tia, you mind waiting for us here in the lobby? It shouldn’t be that long, but if you have other things to do please don’t let us keep you,” I tell her.
“No, no, that’s fine.” She slips a thin black device out of her pocket. “I will just read until you return,” she says as she walks over to the small waiting area and plops down. It’s hard not to admire the way she moves, incredibly graceful, each muscle pushing and pulling, rippling under her skin. Regret swells up in me before I push it down. Walking isn’t worth Kate not having an arm.
Kate pins the badge to my shirt before placing her own. “Thank you, gentlemen.”
They both nod enthusiastically. “If there is anything else you need,” he says, handing her a card. “This has my private number on it. Call me anytime.”
“Thank you, Hector.” She smiles and pats him on the cheek. “You’re a doll.” Kate resumes her spot behind me, smiling the whole time as we turn away from the guards toward the bank of elevators.
“I’m never washing this cheek.” I hear Hector say as we move away. I do my best to stifle a laugh. I’ve been on the receiving end of Kate’s beneficial whammies before. She can make anyone feel like the center of the universe. It’s quite the rush.
“I wouldn’t have taken her for a reader,” Kate says as the lift doors shut.
“Who? Tia?” I ask. I can see Kate’s reflection in the mirrored elevator as we talk.
She nods. “There are few people I have a hard time reading, she is one of th
em.”
“Does she have a power that blocks you? Or maybe the police have tech?”
Kate shakes her head. “No, nothing like that. She’s an open book. It’s not that I can’t tell what her emotions are… it’s more like I have trouble interpreting them. She’s so honest and good-natured, my brain tells me she must be lying. Too many years at the CIA or too many around you, I’m slipping into old habits of paranoia.”
I scoff. “Don’t look at me. I’ve been paranoid since I was six years old. I warned you all what would happen if my armor got out there. And here we are, with my tech out there in the hands of people who are less than savory.”
She sighs. “I’m very sorry, Amelia. You have to know they didn’t have any choice.”
I shrug. “What’s done is done. Now it’s my job to fix it. Though I fear I won’t be able to put this genie back in the bottle.”
The lift dings letting us know we have arrived. The doors slide open into a lush waiting area with a single, sparse desk. A dark-skinned, voluptuous woman in a low cut red dress that doesn’t quite go past her knees, sits behind the desk waiting for us. She’s wearing a headset on one ear and as the doors lock open she reaches up and presses the button.
“Mr. Rafael, your guests from the US government are here.” Her voice is so uniformly pleasant and even I can’t help but think she has a programmed response. She nods to something we can’t hear as Kate pushes me out of the lift to come to rest in front of the desk. She smiles at us and holds up her hand with one finger out in the universal “wait” gesture.
I glance up at Kate who shrugs. We wait. What the heck could he be saying that is taking so long? A full minute goes by according to the clock display on my AR glasses.
“Mr. Rafael apologizes for the delay,” she says suddenly. “He’s in a meeting at the moment and cannot be disturbed. Perhaps if you were to come back later…?”
Kate shakes her head. “Tell Mr. Rafael that he has no choice here if he wants to continue operating within the UN.”
Her mask slips for a second. She opens her mouth to speak but stops suddenly as if someone interrupted her.
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