“What the fuck do you want, Lars?”
“It's nice to see you too,” Lars replied in a dry voice. “I'm guessing your condition has something to do with Valentina's disappearance? She never returned last night.”
“She is gone,” he said, going back over to his bed and sprawling across it. He threw his arm over his eyes to block out the light. “Turn off the light on your way out.”
“Did you drink all of these last night?” Lars asked, the clank of empty bottles causing Sergei’s head to feel like it was going to explode. “I'm not sure if I'm more impressed by the quantity or by the fact you're still alive.”
“Stop. Talking. Or. I. Will. Break. Them. Over. Your. Head.”
Lars chuckled, and Sergei cringed at the sound of the recycler being opened and the clatter of the bottles being tossed inside.
“I hate you,” Sergei groaned through gritted teeth.
“I imagine you hate yourself more right now,” Lars retorted.
Sergei grunted, agreeing with his assessment.
“What happened with Valentina?”
“None of your fucking business,” Sergei snapped.
“I'm not leaving until you tell me what's going on. Alec is concerned that her leaving has something to do with the meeting request.” Lars paused and added, “If you tell me, I'll get you something for your headache.”
Sergei sighed in resignation. “She was on comms with me and overheard Brant mention the meeting with Nikolai. Valentina was… displeased. I hadn't told her about it or my part in assisting you with the preparation. She threatened to cut out my heart next time she saw me. Then she left.”
“That response seems a little… dramatic.”
Sergei made a noncommittal noise and rubbed his chest, wondering if Valentina would keep pretending to miss when she flung her next blade. “You do not know her. She is naturally suspicious and rightfully so.”
“No, I don't know her.” Lars was quiet for a minute and then asked, “Did she think you'd betray your people?”
“I believe Nikolai ordered her to investigate me,” Sergei admitted. “He is probably concerned after what happened with Pavel. Valentina stole the data off my tablet and broke into my office in the construction tower to snoop. She made a point to leave several traces so I would know. It was her way of warning me they were unsure of my loyalties. Brant's comments did not help my case, and that is why she left.”
“Dammit!” Lars said, and Sergei heard another scrape of a chair and then footsteps pacing the floor. “You haven't betrayed anyone. Will she really kill you?”
Sergei grunted. “I was hoping she would come kill me this morning and put me out of my misery.”
“I'm serious, Sergei,” Lars insisted. “Is she a threat?”
Sergei couldn't help the smile that spread across his face. “Yes, she is, but I don't know if she will kill me. At one time, I would have said no and believed it.” He paused and then added, “But things have changed. If Nikolai orders it, she will do it. She may regret it, but she will do it.”
“Would Nikolai order it?”
Sergei shifted and winced as a stream of light crossed his vision. He closed his eyes again. “Yes, without hesitation and regret. If I become a liability or an obstacle, he will order it done. But he does not toss aside weapons as easily as others.”
“I don't see how you could be seen as either a liability or an obstacle. You've always been steadfast to your cause.”
“There is a long, shared history between Nikolai and me,” Sergei admitted. “We parted ways several years ago. I would not have thought him capable of many things he has done since then. He is no longer the same man I used to know.”
Lars was quiet for so long that Sergei would have thought he had had left if it weren't for his steady breathing.
“This history,” Lars began, hesitation coloring his words. “Does it have something to do with Valentina?”
Sergei's jaw clenched. “I am finished answering your questions, Lars. Either get me something for my head or go away.”
Valentina viewed the map of the surrounding area they had decided on for the meet. She pointed to two distinct areas. “What do you think about installing two sniper teams here and here? The ground covering will offer some natural camouflage.”
Yuri glanced over and nodded, making some adjustments to the map. “That should work. I will arrange to have the cloaking technology installed over those areas. It should blend seamlessly with the rocky surroundings.”
She frowned. “Has OmniLab developed a way to detect it? They employed a similar cloaking device during the tower attack.”
Yuri lifted his gaze to meet hers. “Can we rely upon Sergei for that intel?”
Valentina hesitated. She wasn't sure of anything anymore when it came to Sergei. She might be inclined to try it if it were just her at risk, but she wasn't willing to risk Nikolai's life on such a gamble. “No. We should use low-tech options to avoid the possibility of detection.”
“That will hamper us a great deal, Valya,” he said with a frown. “We will need to move our snipers closer to keep them effective, but that will increase the likelihood they'll be detected when OmniLab does their sweep.”
She swore and pushed away from the table. “We need another location then. None of these will be sufficient for our purposes.”
Yuri sighed and ran a hand over his shaved head. “It's too late to change locations. We must figure out a way to make this one work.”
Valentina began pacing back and forth, various scenarios rushing through her mind. The problem was that Sergei had knowledge of most of their tactics. And with Lars having lived with them for several years, he'd have an understanding too. Either of them could be a liability. They needed to come up with a more unpredictable plan.
She turned back to the map. “Move the meet closer to the top of the ridge. We will have our people install electrical wind pulses at all of these locations.”
Valentina marked off more than a dozen places along the ridgeline and highlighted two other areas. “We will put the sniper teams here instead, but they'll remain on standby to protect our escape, if necessary. The lower-level outcroppings will make it more difficult to detect them.”
Yuri raised an eyebrow, turning the map to view it in three dimensions. “You intend to create a dust storm?”
“Yes,” she agreed, flipping the map back toward her and expanding the radius visual. “If things go bad, we will use the dust storm as a distraction. It should give us enough time to relocate Nikolai to a secure area that is more defensible.” She pointed to a new location, marking it to have a backup team on standby.
“What's to stop this Alec Tal'Vayr from using his wind talents to knock out the dust storm?”
“Electrical fields,” she explained, pressing another button to simulate the effect. “The electrical pulses we're going to plant will react with the wind. If he uses his powers in the vicinity, it will only increase the severity of the dust storm.”
Yuri nodded. “That could work. The electrical pulses could be explained as being tied into our UV shield.”
“Exactly,” she agreed, walking around the table to view the map from a different angle. “Do we know how many people they will bring with them?”
“Only five from their side will be permitted within the perimeter,” Yuri said and glanced down at his tablet. “Alec Tal'Vayr, Lars Cerulis, Jason Alivette, Ryan Thomas, and Brant Mason. Sergei will also be there but acting as a neutral liaison.”
She frowned. “I have met three of them, but I do not know the other two. Alec and Lars have powers. Brant is one of their security officers. He appears more comfortable with a weapon than the others.”
Yuri glanced at the tablet again. “The notes you stole from Sergei's tablet indicate Brant Mason can only cancel out others’ talents. He does not possess offensive abilities like the rest. Jason Alivette is the twin brother to Ariana Alivette, the young woman who was abducted. He most likely has some
sort of ability, but we don't have details. We also don't have any information on this Ryan Thomas.”
Valentina sighed and sat in a chair, propping her feet up on the desk. “I suppose you can ask Sergei if he knows anything more, but I don't know how reliable his information will be. I would not trust it. I am not sure of his agenda.”
Yuri lowered his tablet and pulled up another chair. Resting his elbows on his knees, he said, “Does Sergei need to be eliminated, Valya?”
Her gaze flew back to him. “That is not our call to make, Yuri.”
“Not yet,” he agreed. “But if Nikolai asks your opinion, what will you tell him?”
Valentina dropped her feet to the ground and stood, her heart hammering in her chest. “The same thing I am telling you. That's not our call to make. Do not ask me this again.”
Chapter Eight
Sergei picked up his commlink and turned it over in his hands. He could try to contact Valentina, but it was unlikely she'd respond. She'd probably be there this afternoon, but he had no way of knowing what sort of reception he'd get. He suspected it wouldn't be a favorable one. Otherwise, someone from Nikolai's team would have reached out to him before now, if only to gather intel.
He knew there were doubts about his continued loyalty, even without Valentina's not-so-subtle warning. This alliance was the first of its kind, and his friendship with Lars and the other exiles was well known. Now that he'd been named ambassador, the rumblings were even louder. His initial orders had been somewhat straightforward: secure OmniLab and then step aside to allow one of the chairmen to manage its operations. But now he was in a position to run this new facility, and many of their people weren't particularly pleased with the idea.
Most of the construction on the new tower had come to a halt, with the exception of a skeleton crew primarily consisting of ruin rats. Orders had been made to recall most of the Coalition forces to some of the outlying camps pending the outcome of this meeting. If things had degraded to this degree, it was possible their leaders, including Nikolai, had concerns about his continued worth to the Coalition. A serious attempt on his life was most likely imminent. He didn't know if it hadn't already happened because Valentina had refused to allow it or because she wanted the privilege of executing him herself.
“Sergei? Are you all right?”
He glanced over to see Ariana walking toward him. Sergei shook off his mood, rising from his seat to press a kiss against her cheek. He inhaled the light floral scent that always surrounded her. “All is well, Ari. How are you feeling?”
“Nervous,” she admitted, clasping her hands together. “I don't know what to expect from this meeting, and I'm worried about being away from Alec. He assures me this is the best way to smooth over any tensions and help cement our alliance though.”
He gave her a warm smile. “You shouldn't worry. Your people and mine have much to gain from making this alliance work.”
“I know,” she said with a sigh. “Have you heard anything from Valentina? I was disappointed I didn't have a chance to see her again before she left the towers.”
Sergei frowned. “No. She will most likely be there today, but I have not spoken with her.”
Ariana took a step closer, searching his expression. “You're worried about her, aren't you?”
Sergei hesitated and then nodded. “I have known Valentina a long time. She is capable of taking care of herself, but…” His voice trailed off as he tried to figure out how to explain.
A small smile crossed Ariana's face. “You care for her, don't you?”
“Yes,” he admitted in a quiet voice, unable to deceive Ariana. “But she belongs to another.”
“Nikolai?”
Sergei sighed. “It's a long story, and one I do not enjoy revisiting.”
Ariana reached over and placed her hand on his arm in a comforting gesture. “Sergei, the moment I met her, she reminded me of you. Other than you, she's the only other non-sensitive I've had difficulty reading. But when I was healing her, I picked up on a few of her emotions. I sensed that she cares for you, but it hurts her.”
Sergei stiffened. “I do not believe she would want you to tell me this, Ariana.”
“I'm sorry,” she said, lowering her head. “I don't like to see anyone suffer, and I can tell you're hurting. I thought my words might bring you some comfort.”
Sergei lifted Ariana's hand and placed a kiss against it. “You have a beautiful heart. I appreciate your gesture, but I do not deserve your comfort.”
“Ari,” Lars's voice interrupted them. “We're leaving in a few minutes. If you want to say goodbye to Alec before we go, he's finishing up with Brant in his office.”
She nodded and leaned over to kiss Sergei's cheek. “I'll see you soon.”
He watched the door to Alec's office close behind her and then met Lars's gaze.
“I don't have a good feeling about this,” Lars admitted with a frown. “Brant's been trying to talk Alec out of going. With the construction being shut down and everyone disappearing, we're all on edge. We've launched drones over the surrounding areas, but there's no sign of your people.”
“You know how skilled we are at staying hidden,” Sergei reminded him and began heading out of the executive offices.
Lars grabbed his arm, stopping him. “If you knew something or suspected this was a trap, would you tell us?”
“As long as your people remain calm and there are no overt threats, I do not anticipate a problem. Alec and the rest of your people will be safe. My issues with him aside, Nikolai is honorable. He wants this alliance to succeed as much as I do.”
Lars nodded. “What about you, Sergei? Will you be safe?”
He sighed and turned away again. “I do not know anymore.”
Valentina held on to the handlebar mounted on the ceiling of the caravan. They were only a few minutes away from the meeting point, and as far as she knew, everything was in place. She would have liked to investigate the area personally, but they'd caught sight of OmniLab drones in the area and weren't willing to risk it. Fortunately, they'd been able to get their crews in to bury the diversionary devices before the drone surveillance had been launched.
Nikolai wrapped his arm around her waist and gripped the bar mounted above her head. He looked down at her, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. She couldn't help but smile in response. If they'd been alone, she would have teased him about being as giddy as a child. The daily monotony of his position sometimes bored him. Ever since they'd learned about the Omnis’ powers, he'd been eager to discover everything he could about the towers.
Yuri had chosen well in selecting the other two guards to accompany them. Both were well-seasoned and formidable. Valentina had been on expeditions with them before, and she knew they'd do what was necessary to make sure Nikolai was protected. The rest would fall to her and Yuri.
The caravan came to a sudden halt, and the UV shield beeped loudly, indicating it was clear for them to exit. She and Yuri jumped down from the caravan to help secure the meeting point. In the distance, Alec's vehicle was rapidly approaching. She grabbed one of the UV poles and shoved it into the ground to widen the radius around their vehicle. The others did the same and began pulling out some temporary seating.
She'd wanted Nikolai to wait inside the caravan until they determined OmniLab had followed the meeting guidelines, but he'd refused. He was now prowling around under the UV guard, much like a predator pacing the perimeter of a cage. She grinned at the mental image, knowing he'd appreciate the comparison.
The OmniLab caravan stopped, and the doors opened. She moved over to stand beside Nikolai, her hand brushing against the weapon holstered at her side. There had been some arguments back and forth about whether weapons could be brought to the meeting. Alec didn't want them present, but Valentina had put her foot down and convinced Nikolai to refuse the demand. With their well-harnessed supernatural abilities, these Omnis possessed innate offensive talents which would put their people at a disadvantage.
They were all armed, except for Alec and the man she suspected was Ariana's brother. It made sense since she had the impression the leader of the towers didn't have any sort of military training. The concept was rather strange, but then again, many of the things these Omnis did was unusual.
Relaxing her body slowly to give herself a more casual appearance, Valentina rubbed the side of her neck, making sure three of her knuckles were slightly elevated to alert her companions there were at least three energy channelers. Sergei's sharp gaze flew to her, but she ignored him. She'd deal with him if and when it came down to it.
Sergei approached them. “Alec Tal'Vayr, this is Nikolai Berkutov.”
Alec inclined his head and held out his hand. Nikolai shook it and gestured to the seating. “Please, join me.”
One of their men had pulled out a small table from the caravan and placed it down in front of them. Nikolai placed his hand on Valentina's lower back and led her over to one of the seats while several of the others joined them. To all appearances, it was a chivalrous gesture on Nikolai's part, but it was carefully designed to disarm. Both their weapon hands were kept free, and the small gesture served as a subtle reminder that this was an amiable meeting between allies. Most of the time, especially given OmniLab's culture, a woman's presence could ease tensions.
Brant and the other armed man, whom she suspected was another security officer, remained standing while the others seated themselves. Sergei took the chair directly across from her, which somewhat surprised her. If it was his intention to appear nonthreatening, sitting was a good move. Sergei was still dangerous, but he might be trying to show them he was still one of them.
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