The Infected [Books 1-6]

by P. S. Power

  "Asshole." She muttered the word, and he didn't turn around, but he waved over his shoulder just then, as if he'd heard her. With him that could mean anything though.

  At least he hadn't stopped and asked her to explain, since she really didn't want to. She'd come dangerously close to saying she loved him already and that would make her too vulnerable to him. She couldn't live with that, could she?

  Just because it had nothing to do with her first mode, that didn't mean it wasn't a fact, did it?

  Chapter eight

  The second she got back into the office there was a string of problems that came in faster than she thought would be possible, to tell the truth. At first it was just a call from Florida, where there had been a string of murders that the IPB local in Miami wanted some backup for. They didn't really have any leads, but that was kind of the point. They weren't even totally certain that it was an Infected person at all, but the FBI had brought them in, because they had some resources that no one else in the world could bring to the situation.

  Like Ellen Doer.

  Marcia suggested it instantly and made a call, to Sam Morris actually, since Ellen wasn't strictly on any team or even called an operative. Technically she worked in the admin section.

  "Pretty much the best detective in the U.S., but she's considered a class one ability, since it has no combat application at all. Technically we don't take a person on as an operative if they aren't at least a strong class two, and in the main we won't really look at you if you aren't at a class three, unless you have something else to offer. She does, but it's in office work, not the field really. To that end I'd like you to work up a security detail for her. See if you can get with Rob and get a few of his team to do it? If this turns out to be a mundane serial killer, we don't want it to look like we sent a hit squad. At the same time, if anything happens I want her covered. Can you do that?" There was a bit of an edge to her voice, but Penny thought it didn't sound that hard. She was asking a question, rather than being abusive.

  "You mean can I go and ask about it? Or are you asking if I can work with Torque at all? I really don't have that big of a problem with the man now. He knows not to screw with Karen anymore, and that should be enough. Really, and I mean this with love, my big problem there was how he let himself get caught. Or at least that's what I'm telling myself this week. I can do it though. I'll be back in a bit. He's on the first floor, so it might just work better if I go in person." It would be faster to walk than to call twice and try to get him to wait ten seconds for her voice to start coming across. At least in person he couldn't hang up on her, right?

  Besides that, she could use it as a chance to practice relaxing in stressful situations.

  The man was in his office when she got there, working at a computer, typing faster than seemed reasonable for a person without super speed of any kind. He looked like he'd healed up from the beating that the guys had delivered well enough and really, if anything he looked even better than before. Trimmed, coifed and tidy, of course, but also a little leaner than he had been, but in that good way that meant someone had been hitting the gym. Probably so he could kick Denis's ass the next time they were alone together. If that was the case she hoped he was working out a lot, since Den was. Daily even. Practicing running and fighting with Hobbs from Team Two.

  Taking a few deep breaths and letting herself have a few moments before she started to say anything, she let the tension go from her body. It took nearly fifteen minutes, but she thought she was kind of ready to start talking then. If not the man would just get an ear piece, since it was kind of a tense situation.

  "Torque? Um, knock-knock?"

  Looking up he smiled but then seemed confused for about ten seconds, looking at her, but not making eye contact. Honestly it seemed like he was looking at her breasts, more than anything else.

  "Penny? I'd heard that you were able to be a bit more present now. That's... Very impressive actually. What can I do for you today?" He seemed pleasant enough at least, so she just jumped right in.

  "We need a detail for a trip to Florida. The Miami IPB needs some help, so Ellen Doer is going. Ms. Turner would like an escort for her. People that can actually fight, but also look good for the cameras, and all that. Since this could be out of our jurisdiction. That pretty much means your people." She wasn't good on video at least.

  "I understand. When will they be needed to leave?"

  "Today. Probably within a few hours. Marcia has that part going already."

  She sort of expected that the man would just call a few people and either ask or order them to go, but instead he just shrugged and looked where she was standing in the doorway. Again, looking at her chest. After a few seconds she understood the idea, he was reading her shirt, which said Team Three. So he wasn't openly being a perv or anything. Just kind of sliding it in covertly.

  "I don't know who would want to go. I need Jason for a meeting tomorrow, but the rest of the crew has a more open schedule, at least the ones that are still here. Perhaps you could tell me who you pick, after talking to them about it? That would allow me to reset any scheduling conflicts so it shouldn't be a problem."

  "Wait... Shouldn't you be the one asking them?"

  "In the main, but this is coming from the Deputy Director's office, and she didn't bother to call me, so I have to assume that she wants you to handle it. We can call her about it, but that would take a lot more time, since, I'm certain, that she'd rather have you hand pick a team than have me do it. We aren't exactly on good terms right now, she and I."

  "Ah. Right. OK, I don't suppose you know where anyone is?"

  He probably did, since he actually kept a pretty tight rein on his people, but he didn't share that with her, just looking a bit mysterious instead. She got the idea, he was being a pain on purpose, but not a big enough one that anyone could call him on it overly. She'd asked for some people and he told her that she had to get them herself, but that he'd allow it. He also knew that she wasn't exactly a people person, and had at least something to do with him being beaten up. That created the perfect conditions for the situation at hand.

  If she did anything but scurry to find people, it would be wasting time and even then she'd have to convince them it was worth doing. Perfect.

  She didn't really know what to do, but given the time of day they were probably all either in the gym or, even more likely, having a late lunch. That meant that her best plan was to walk over and see if anyone was doing the second one, since the restaurant was closer.

  The hostess couldn't see her, since she'd tensed back up a lot and was mildly uncomfortable already, having to talk to people she didn't know very well. There were actually several people from the first team there however, all sitting at the same table. She headed over, but stopped, realizing that she didn't have any ear pieces on her at the moment.

  "Fine, so, do your thing and stop being a baby. Pirate Penny, remember that? You're a pirate, not a worried little girl." Except for that part where she actually was, of course.

  It didn't take as long this time, standing there with her eyes closed, letting go of tension enough that one of the four people at the table actually spoke to her. It was Georgia that did it, actually noticing her clothing first.

  "Well hello, you fill those out nicely. Are you new here?" Her tone was flirty and warm, as if she wanted to date rather than actually talk about pesky things like work.

  "Hi Georgia, Karen." She looked at the others and smiled, knowing they wouldn't see it at all. They weren't an intimidating group at all. "Doug and Jessica. It's me, Penny? Anyway, I learned a new trick." Leaning in she touched Karen's hand lightly, which got her to smile and turn her palm over so that they were touching. It was enough that she started to tense up, so had to take a moment to stand back and start over.

  "Anyway, I need a guard detail for Ellen Doer. It's in Florida. Jess, you're from there, aren't you? So you should go with her. That will give her someone that knows the area as a guide." She wasn't a grea
t fighter really, being very non-confrontational. She could put out a bullet and energy proof shield though, so if the plan was to run away when bad things happened she was kind of the queen of the moment. "Doug...Will you do it too? I know you two are the rookies on the team, but this shouldn't be that dangerous. Maybe we can get someone a little older to go with you, to round things out." Who that would be she didn't know, until she felt a hand on her shoulder, which got her to suddenly tense so much she vanished hard, making the man touching her seem confused for a bit.

  She had to relax again and remind them of what she was talking about, but no one tried to leave before she got that done.

  "Sorry, you scared me." The man was pretty nice looking. Handsome in a fit way, with brown hair and a dimpled chin. Not as good looking as Prime or anything, but enough so that she recognized him from around the base. Shiva. It was a funny name for a man, until you learned that his power had nothing to do with having four arms or anything like that at all. Then it was just bizarre.

  "No problem. I was just going to say that I could go, if a slot is open? It would be nice to get into some decent weather for a bit. I prefer the heat to the cold."

  "OK. That's a reason at least. So I can put you three down to go? The plane leaves soon and this might be anything from a knock down drag out battle, to an extra vacation for a few days. True that's a bit of a craps shoot, but what do you want? Tickling? If so I can manage that now, I think." Probably not for long, since it would be embarrassing, but she'd managed to keep herself calm enough to talk to everyone here, hadn't she? That was a big deal for her. Huge in fact.

  "Why not? As long as I don't gain any weight, I doubt that I'll be locked into staying on the base. I've never been huge on traveling, but maybe I should make a change? Get out into the world and try to be a positive role model or something?" This came from Doug, who was looking right at her. He at least kept scanning her body, instead of just looking at her shirt.

  Jessica was too, and Georgia slowly reached out, around Karen and put a hand on her ass. It was warm and the women clearly seemed to be enjoying it, until Shiva winked and cleared his throat at the woman.

  "Georgie, not in public. I don't want to have to explain to Director Moore why an orgy started in here. It would be embarrassing."

  That it would, Penny decided. Strangely the unfamiliar contact didn't make her tense up, but it did make her want to throw Pixie on the floor and do things to her that she really didn't think she'd be able to live with very easily. She liked men after all. Though in that moment she was more than willing to give the short haired woman next to her a try. Right until her hand was removed. Then the feeling suddenly left her, like a faucet being turned off.

  "Oopse, sorry Penny. It's just not every day that I get to make a new friend who's invisible. We should do something together some time." There was no hint that the woman meant catch a movie or go on a bike ride by those words. None at all.

  "Um, no? Nothing against you, but you have that whole girl thing going on. You understand, right? If you ever grow man parts we're totally dating though."

  That got a chuckle from the table at least and an agreement from everyone going to be ready inside an hour. Then she just had to jog back to Rob's office and tell him, and get back to Marcia as quickly as possible. The woman listened to the team assignment and seemed a bit less than pleased by it, but didn't tell her she'd been stupid in any way.

  "A bit raw, having the two newest people in on it. They aren't particularly good fighters either. Harry does all right that way, but he's not exactly first string. Then again, they're all solid enough and will probably focus on running if things get too hot, which makes sense for this mission. We just need our asset protected. If this requires a real takedown we can call in Team Two. I take it that Robert was being a pain in the ass then? He could have just supplied the names and cell numbers for them all."

  "Yeah, I figured that he wants to get me a bit, for, whatever he thinks I actually did to him, or had done. It's probably fair enough, since... you know." She'd confessed to having him beaten after all. Marcia knew what she meant, even though Penny didn't say it out loud on camera.

  "Nah. He's good. My guess is that you were doing so well that he tried to set it up as an exercise for you. He isn't really a complete bastard you know. You got the job done, too. It would be good if you could handle things a bit faster from now on however. Make a list of contact numbers as well as who's in each room for everyone on the base, so that you'll have it on hand all the time. Also, if we're going to be seeing your clothing, I expect you to come to work in something other than sweats. A button up shirt, sweater and slacks, or a uniform, since you're an Operative. I'll let it float for a few days until you can find something. See to that though. We have an image to uphold and it shouldn't shock you if a few people try to get you on camera for a while. It's an interesting effect, the floating clothing thing."

  Another thing to do, she realized, since it probably meant stealing some clothing from someone. She nodded though, and realized that if she had a hat on, that would actually show now. At least part of the time. If she had a helmet and a body suit on, possibly with some gloves, she'd be almost normal looking. Or, well, at least like a person in a full costume. Technically face masks were illegal, but she might be allowed to manage something. Motorcycle helmets covered the face, for instance, and there had to be some kind of combat things that did too, right?

  She got to spend almost five whole minutes trying to dream something up before Marcia got a call and hung up with a good bit of force, after doing no more than muttering a bit.

  "Crap. Fight outside the fence line. Or at least there's about to be. A couple of townies seem to have gotten into it with our guards. We can't just kick their asses. Really, we need Denis in on this one. I'm getting a bit sick of this. Every three weeks we get the same group back and they don't seem to learn at all. I'm pretty sure they're actually hoping that someone gets injured so that they can press charges. That they can't doesn't seem to have occurred to them yet. Maybe they just want to make a big stink in the press?" She grabbed at the phone again and made a call down to the fourteenth floor, but no one could find Denis.

  "Right, so we take care of this ourselves. I don't suppose that you want to do it? We could make the bodies vanish and..."

  Tensing a bit, feeling like something bad was about to happen, she vanished hard, getting Marcia to slip an ear piece in. Penny hadn't realized that she hadn't had one which got a small thrill to run through her. After all, she could talk to people now? Like a real person? Cool. Fantastic really.

  "I'll deal with it. We need them alive, but thinking that it would be a poor idea to come back? I can give that a shot. Come with me though? That way you can act as backup for me. Try not to kill anyone though, since to really make them vanish I'd have to carry them and I don't have your kind of strength."

  She jogged behind the white clad woman. Quartz. That's what the press would be calling her on the news later that night, if they messed anything up at all. Sighing Penny stopped and stripped in the hallway.

  "Wait up Marsh. I'm, uh, making myself camera ready."

  "Good. That will probably work better. That does mean that you're going commando, right?"

  "Yeah. Why do they call it that, do you know?"

  "Hell no. I always wondered that too. I was connected with Special Forces groups for over a decade, and let me tell you, they all wore underwear, all the time." There was a hint of pleasure in the words, but that could have been about Penny's coming discomfort. Not that she was really feeling that. No one could see her, so it didn't matter at all.

  The men at the gate, and there were six of them, all looked pretty surly and like they wanted to try and fight with the guards, who were just regular rent-a- cops, wearing blue-gray uniforms that reminded her a bit of what the police used to wear on very old television programs. For their part the three men on their side of the little gate had clubs out and side arms on. If it came to it,
her money was on the guards. The other men didn't even have sturdy looking signs with them. That was poor planning really. She would have been armed if it were her.

  The hard part was for her to relax enough to be heard, even though no one would see her at all. If Brian came out it would be embarrassing, but she'd live. Thinking that didn't help, but Marcia was trying to play nice to start with, actually using her words, instead of hitting first, which both saved the men's lives and made her look good, since one of them was holding up a cell phone in order to get her picture.

  "Gentlemen... To what do we owe the pleasure of your company? Again. Did you come to visit someone? I didn't see any of your names on the sign off list for that." She smiled, and it almost seemed nice and everything.

  "We have a right to know what's going on here! This is government property and you work for us. Our tax dollars pay your salary!" This came from the man with the camera, who was actually decently well spoken if a little bit geeky looking. He also looked a bit young to have paid in much as far as taxes went.

  Penny moved closer to him, fighting to not tense up.

  "Um, well, that sounds fair, I suppose. It's just, you know, we've had some problems with hate groups trying to bomb us and all. I don't suppose that you and your friends would allow yourselves to be searched before you come in? We can get you a snack or something and you can chat with some of us. It'll be fun." That was a bit of an overstatement, but the man freaked and hopped back anyway, as if he hadn't known she was standing there. She hadn't touched him or anything, so it seemed a bit over the top. Screaming like a little girl. "Or not."

  "What the hell is that? Something just spoke to me. Telepaths... mind rape..."

  She made herself sound young and innocent, or at least tried to. Acting wasn't her strongest area.

  "Oh, my... no, nothing like that. I'm Penny. You just can't see me. Don't worry, I'm pretty nice, over all. So, do you guys want to come in or not? Strip search first, but I'll do it myself if you want, so that you won't have to worry about some guy feeling up your junk. Unless you want that, then we can get you someone. Let's go. We can have some pie or something. The food here is pretty good."