Cryostorm (Touch of Frost)

by Lynn Rush

  “Oh. Jasmine. I want to see Hudson so I can tell him more about The Center and GenCorp.”

  “I’ll track him down.”

  “I’ll go heal Nate. No need for him to suffer through recovery if I can fix it.”

  “I’ll go with you,” Georgia said.

  “No. That’s okay. I’m good. Thanks.”

  I was nowhere near good, but this one I had to do alone. “Jas. Text my phone and let me know where I can find this Hudson guy.”

  “Sure thing.”

  Within minutes, I found my way through the maze of hallways to the medical unit. Nate lay flat on his bed, sheet up to his chest and motionless. I crept up to him. Monitors spewed out an even-beeping tone. That same IV, the one keeping him unconscious, dripped its sleeping potion with steady drops.

  Would they keep him like that for always? Drugged out so he can’t act on his mission with me? Would the computer geeks find a way to hack into his brain and shut Robo Nate down? But the main question was would I be able to be with Robo Nate as his wife?

  I scrubbed my face with my hands and sucked in a deep breath. I loved Nate, but could I love Robo Nate, too? Deal with that glowing red eye forever?

  Leaning forward, I pushed all the hair from his forehead and let my hands follow the curves of his cheekbones, then over his chin, and down his neck to his chest. I pressed my lips to his, then to his ID stamp, then I stepped back and threw a healing shell over him.

  Focusing on the hole in the back of his head, I closed my eyes. Heal.

  I dwelled on that and lost myself in the images of Nate flashing through my mind. Our first kiss in his apartment. Up on the trail for my birthday surprise. Then after he picked out all those tracers. All our sneak make-out sessions while on the road, searching for Lois.

  My stomach lurched. He could not be gone for good. Just couldn’t be. I refused to let The Center snuff out My Nate. My husband!

  A knocking sound drew me from my daze. I pulled in my healing ice and turned around.

  There stood a tall man with two scars running down the side of his face. He was so big he nearly filled the entire doorframe. He wore black army fatigues, had one of those earpieces stuck in his ear, and guns and knives strapped everywhere else.

  “You must be Hudson,” I said.

  He nodded. “I understand you’re looking to get in on the Wyoming mission.”

  My turn to nod. Seemed the thing to do here. “And my sister. We’ll come in handy.”

  “I hear. Very powerful.”

  I brushed my hand over Nate’s chest and rested it on his markings as I kept my stare on Mr. Army.

  “Report to base in fifteen minutes. Get fitted up.” With that said, he turned on his heel and marched away.

  A wave of apprehension and excitement slammed into me, but I turned to face My Nate. I leaned in and kissed his cheek. “I’ll be right back. Just going to quick go kill those bastards who did this to you.”

  Chapter 48

  “We’re to secure and observe for now.” Mr. Army said to the troops piled into the back of the van. “Once everything is in place, it’ll be a simultaneous strike.”

  “Legal eagles didn’t work, huh?” I ran my hand down my chest over the black vest. “Told them they were slimy.”

  “Had to try. We’re the last resort option.” He glanced at the rest of the team. “We have two newbies with us. Despite how powerful they are, they are new to the fold so watch out for them.”

  One guy slapped my shoulder. “Stick with me, I’ve got your back, little one.”

  Sure, this guy was tall and wide as a hundred year old tree trunk, even sitting, but he didn’t have a power. I smiled pretty, knowing I’d probably be healing him later. “Thanks.”

  “Don’t listen to him. He’s a big talker,” a girl, who had long, blonde hair, pulled back in a braid that wove around her shoulder and rested on her chest, said. “You guys do what you do and you’ll be fine.”

  “And what do you do?” Georgia asked.

  She held out her hand, palm up, and a zip of electricity flickered above her skin.

  “Hey, careful with that. We’re in a car. Small space. Electricity. Doesn’t go well,” the one they called Hayes said. He pinned me with a stare. “Saw you two flying around. That’s pretty tight.”

  “Thanks,” I said. “What’s your power?”

  “I hear well. Like your friend Jasmine.” He grinned, showing me a mouthful of perfectly white teeth. “Plus, I regenerate. Can’t heal anyone else, but any injury I get heals up pretty fast.”

  “Sucks when you’re fighting him in the ring during training, though,” Braid Girl said.

  “Please. You couldn’t injure me if you wanted to, lightweight.”

  “We’ll see you in the ring tomorrow, buddy.”

  “Amanda. Georgia,” Hudson said. “When we strike it’s quiet as possible. You two, along with Electro Hands here will guard the perimeter while the rest of us go in. Some will get through. It’s inevitable.”

  “We kill them?” Georgia asked.

  “Do what you need to prevent them from leaving. Those who survive will be brought back to base and questioned.”

  I glanced at Georgia. “Any chance the ones responsible for Nate’s chip are here?”

  Hudson nodded. “There’s a chance. From what our research team gathered, the ones responsible for that technology originated from this base.”

  “But Bev said she was having someone in Florida brought to Nevada who was named in Nate’s records. So he or she might not be here.”

  “We’ll keep our eyes and ears open. We’re here to clean house and bring back what we can.” He pinned me with a glare. “We are to effectively shut down this base as the others are getting shut down. You hear me?”

  “Yes, sir.” I nodded. And for once, I was fine with it.

  I’d hit the last straw with everything where Nate was involved. I would do what was needed to end this, and if that meant killing some of these assholes, I would. Hell, I might even smile while doing it. “Then we move on to Bev and her minions.”

  Hudson smiled. “I think we’ll get along just fine.”

  The rest of the ride went on in relative silence. Georgia and I weren’t fitted with the heavy firepower like the rest of the team. I found a few knives in my zillion pockets, but other than that, Hudson pretty much said our hands were our weapons.

  He was right.

  “Tim keeps texting me,” Georgia whispered.

  “Is he mad?”

  “No. Just worried.”

  “Well, he loves you.”

  “Yeah.”

  “You know they’ll figure something out with Nate. They’ll get that thing deactivated.”

  I rested my head back. I wasn’t so sure, and the way Georgia’s voice cracked, I could tell she wasn’t either. “Not sure I love Robo Nate like I love My Nate. You know?”

  “I know.”

  “He’s different. Yet the same.”

  “Maybe over time, he’ll seem more like the real Nate. You said some of him was coming through. And the last time I saw Robo Nate, he was trying to kill you. So, you’ve made progress.”

  “I guess.” I slid my eyes shut.

  “Why’d you marry him, then?”

  “I married Nate.”

  A warm hand grabbed mine. “I know, girl. And until your Nate busts through Robo Nate, we’ll get you on some heavy duty birth control.”

  The thought of my first time having sex being with Robo Nate made my gut clench—and not in a good way.

  “Who knows, maybe he’ll let your Nate be at the surface during your first time like he did at the wedding.”

  “I can’t think about this right now, G.” Tears stung my eyes.

  I needed to focus, and the thought of sex, Nate, Robo Nate… that didn’t help with the concentration. Actually, it made me angrier, so that might come in handy with the battle we were facing.

  “Bet you never thought we’d be dressed in army fatigues,
huh?” I whispered to Georgia.

  “Never. But then again, everything went all wonky when you waltzed into my life.” She backhanded me. “You’re kinda nuts, you know?”

  I laughed. “Yeah, well, being chased most your life’ll do that. But this college place looks pretty cool. I think I’ll like it.”

  “A little part of normal?”

  “What about the rest of the gang?

  “Zach and Lois’ll stay until the threat is neutralized.” Georgia smiled. “Scott and Jasmine can come and go as they please once all this is over. It’ll be like we’re away at college. They’ll come visit.”

  “I don’t know. Jasmine was in her element with all this tactical stuff. She might want a job.”

  “True. Think Scott’ll give up smoothie making in the desert for Colorado living?”

  “I’m thinking yes. Especially if you and I are here.”

  “So, The Center really killed your folks?” Electro Girl asked.

  “Yep,” I said. “What’s your gig in all this?”

  “Third generation mutant. My mom has this, as does my grandmother.”

  “Always passed to the chicks?” Georgia asked.

  “So far. But you—um—you’re second generation?” She leaned forward. “But really the first, because your mom was turned?”

  “I guess. Don’t really know this generation stuff, but yeah, Mom was stuck with some needles of juice that altered her DNA. Then me and Georgia here turned out like we did.” I squeezed her hand. “Twins.”

  “But opposite,” Electro Girl laughed. “Kelvin and Blaze. I like it. You’ll fit in nicely around here. Especially if you can heal.” She pinned me with a stare. “I got so filleted on one mission I was out for a month. Would have been nice to have you around.”

  “Guess I’m going to be working in the medical ward, then, huh?” I said.

  “Okay everyone. On your toes.” Hudson clicked the gun he was holding and shoved it in a holster beneath his armpit. “Target just a few clicks.”

  Electro Girl leaned forward and touched my knee. “Former Army dudes, still always trying to talk the lingo.” She winked. Hudson cast her a glare. She smiled sweetly, and I almost laughed. Okay, I was going to like Electro Girl.

  The van slowed and jostled as if navigating bumpy terrain, then pulled to a stop. A door slammed from up front, then seconds later, our side door slid open. Hudson jumped out, his gun at the ready. Each followed, leaving Georgia and me for last.

  I glanced at her and nodded. She held up her phone.

  “What?”

  “Nate’s gone.”

  “What? I didn’t get a message—” I patted my pockets down. My phone hadn’t vibrated or chimed. “What happened?”

  “Woke from the anesthesia. Seemed to know you’d gone. He sped out of there.”

  “Shit.” I moved toward the door. “He can’t know I’m here.”

  “I’m thinking he does, because Scott said the team tracked him going north.”

  “They have a tracer on him?”

  “Not sure.” Georgia stepped out of the van.

  Hudson approached, tapping his ear. “Seems that husband of yours made quite a mess breaking out of the medical ward.”

  “Husband?” Electro Girl asked.

  “Long story,” I said. “You got eyes on Robo Nate?”

  “No.” Hudson shook his head. “That fucker is—excuse my language—that guy is like nothing I’ve ever seen. Rolled through our guards without breaking a sweat.”

  I looked at Georgia. “This should get interesting real fast.”

  Chapter 49

  I scanned the area surrounding my post in the tree I’d jetted up, watching. Chatter of the other operatives floated over my earpiece. We were all in a holding pattern, waiting for the synchronized go ahead.

  The thought of The Center coming to an end with an organized swoop sent a satisfactory chill down my spine. GEM sure had proven truthful. They were obviously way more powerful than The Center and could make things happen. Even better, they weren’t evil psychopaths.

  I thought about Mom and Dad and how happy they’d be that it was ending.

  That left Bev’s organization. Hudson said they were next on the list if GEM couldn’t get them legally like they preferred. But, to silence The Center in an effective swoop would hopefully show Bev that we meant business. Hell, I didn’t even know if she survived my freeze during my escape. Regardless, they’d know what they were up against.

  When would Robo Nate appear, though? What would he do?

  I clicked my earpiece. “G, you see anything?”

  “Clear. Just waiting.”

  They’d put me, Georgia, and Electro Girl—I really needed to ask her name again—in three key exit points. We’d been strictly instructed to stop anyone from getting in or out. By all means necessary. If they survived they’d be taken back, otherwise, the facility would be cleaned out completely by the clean up team that’d follow us in.

  I shifted on my branch and some snow trickled down. I threw up a thin layer of ice to keep the biting wind from my skin. The army fatigues sure were comfortable, and I was able to move surprisingly well, but they didn’t keep me too warm.

  My earpiece crackled. “We are a go. Perimeter team, ready.”

  My stomach flopped and each muscle in my body tensed. I pulled in a few breaths of the cool, crisp air, trying to calm my hammering heart. I could do this. For me and my family. For My Nate.

  It had to be done.

  The silence that followed was nearly deafening. I’d expected to see explosions and some gun fire from the structure we surrounded. But it was still. Dark.

  They really meant it when they said they tried to be quiet as possible. I could tell they didn’t enjoy this part of the process. They went about it with a certain methodology and respect, even. Their actions confirmed we’d chosen the right team to join. They were on the up and up. Like Hudson had said, “We fight terrorism, both foreign and domestic.”

  A pop sounded and the window in the bottom left-hand corner of the house shattered. A dark figure dove through, somersaulted into the snow, then took off running.

  Directly down the exit path I was guarding.

  “Shit.” I leapt out of the tree and eased myself to the ground. I crouched behind a small bush, watching. Sure enough, some dude in jeans and a T-shirt was sprinting through the knee-high snow.

  Barefoot? Really?

  To run out without enough winter clothes, he must have had some information in that noggin’ of his he didn’t want anyone getting access to.

  He held something black in his hand. A gun? I couldn’t tell because of the lack of light, but I wasn’t taking any chances. I iced down and raised my hand toward him.

  His grunts echoed off the trees surrounding me, and I knew it was time. I sprayed ice over his legs, and he lurched forward. The black thing flew out from his hand and landed several feet away. He tried to crawl to it, but I covered him with ice. Two steps brought me to the item. Looked like an iPhone in a super protective case. I picked it up and shoved it in one of my pockets. Might come in handy.

  Since he wasn’t going anywhere any time soon, I backed away, scanning the area for more escapees.

  Three more figures started creeping toward this direction, but these guys were dressed in dark clothes, just not like ours. Headlights were affixed on their heads, guns in their hands.

  Agents?

  I clicked my earpiece. “I think we have Agents lurking around.”

  “Three here,” Georgia said. “Black, headlamps.”

  “Idiots,” Electro Girl said. “Can we say target practice? Take ‘em out.”

  Three more filed in from the woods like they materialized from thin air. Was there a shed out here like there was back at our camp? Did Hudson miss something?

  No. They’d scoped this area out.

  I layered on some more ice protection and crept toward the first three approaching. My heart hammered. I streamed a line of ic
e at their faces with one hand, while letting ice bullets fire from my other. One ducked and rolled in time to miss my stream of ice, but some bullets pounded against his shoulder, and he flopped back.

  I threw a layer of ice on him so he wouldn’t be getting up again.

  The other three trained their weapons on me and fired.

  There wasn’t anything more surreal than having bullets pinging off your ice protection. I still couldn’t believe I had this much power sometimes.

  My ice crackled, the pressure and heat of the bullets doing their work on my shield. I jetted up into the air, then propelled myself over them and landed behind. I streamed ice at them, instantly freezing two, but the third one darted away.

  Trudging around the new ice sculptures, I scanned the area. I heard heavy breathing, but couldn’t locate it. The trees and dark distorted my perception. I stepped forward, but a force pummeled into me, slamming my back against a tree the size of a tank.

  Hard as one, too.

  The back of my head smacked against my ice and stars flashed at the edges of my vision.

  Dark, evil eyes stared at me.

  “Let’s see if your ice can stop this.” He pressed the barrel of a gun to my frozen forehead.

  A whirlwind zoomed by, and the guy was gone. The gun fired, though. It grazed the top of my head, the sound ringing in my ears, radiating through my ice.

  I called the protective ice into me and flopped to the ground, shaken. Everything muffled, like someone had shoved cotton in my ears. A grunt and another shot rang out. I stood on wobbly legs and scanned the area. Two guys rolled around in the snow. Sounds of fist to flesh echoed around me. Then a body shot up into the air and crashed into a tree trunk.

  “Amanda,” Robo Nate shouted.

  I followed the sound of the voice and found him standing on the other side of a tree trunk. The guy he’d propelled into the other tree melted to the ground, unconscious. I threw an ice cave over him then turned to Robo Nate. His eye glowed furiously. Pulsed even. His chest heaved.

  “You aren’t safe out here.” He stepped toward me.