Chapter Thirteen After our good-byes to Alex and Liz, we left. Okay, I didn't say good-bye to Liz and I think she was cowering from me. Good. I still didn't trust her very much. I am still not convinced that she's not behind this. I mean, but if she is, then we're totally screwed. I drove with Kyle riding shotgun and Isabel and Max in the backseat. I could feel the electricity in the car and I think Kyle could too if the hair standing up on his arms was any indication. Kyle turned on the radio and I was actually able to drown out my missing Michael thoughts in some music. I didn't know the song, but it had a nice hard beat to it that prevented any serious thoughts from invading my brain. I tried to keep my mind clear of badness. That wasn't going to help anyone or anything. I glanced in the rear-view mirror as I drove the streets I shouldn't know. Isabel was looking out the window and Max was looking at me. I wanted to stick my tongue out at him but thought again. Technically he could zap me into Maria-toast if he wanted to. "So, did you make a new plan, Stan?" Kyle asked turning down the radio and looking at me with a classic Valenti smile. "You don't need to be coy, Roy." See, I knew the song. "Just hop on the bus, Gus." Apparently so did Isabel. We all waited for Max to chime in about 'dropping off the key, Lee' but we were let down. Either Mr. Evans wasn't playing or he didn't know the words. I bet he didn't know the words. "Seriously," Kyle said and I looked at him. "Do we have a plan? Or are we just going to bust in with our non-guns aimed?" "I have an idea," I glanced back at Max and saw him paying attention. That was a good. "Max stays outside, for reasons we don't need to mention right now-" "Because he ran way like a little girl." Kyle sniggered. "Anyway," I fought the smile and thwacked Kyle on the thigh. "Can you guys take out the security cameras from the outside? Find the wires and do your thing on them?" "I can do it," Max leaned up and rested his arms on the back of my seat. "What else." I didn't want to admit that was as far as I had gotten so I bluffed. "We go in the same way as before. I can find my way to the gym from there; the 'containment area' is in that direction according to the maps. I guess we'll go in fighting and get Michael and Tess out. Then we'll have a couple more on our side." "So that's it?" Max snickered and I almost flung my fist back into his perfect smile. "Go in fighting? That's not a very good plan, Maria." "You got a better one?" Kyle reacted before I did on that one. Max was silent, but only for a minute. "Can you get there?" "To the area where we think Michael and Tess are at? Yeah, I can get us there." I said it with a confidence I hadn't known was there. It was different when we were going in to get Tess. Now it was Michael I had to rescue and I didn't have time to be scared or worried. I was being forced to be strong. "Get Tess and Michael and get the fuck out," Max lit up a cigarette and I inhaled the smoke wafting from the backseat. "Get everyone out." I looked in the rearview mirror and thought I saw a nod of acknowledgement from smoking Mr. Evans. Acknowledging me for what? I don't know. Wait, maybe he finally realized I was the fucking captain after all. Ha! I parked a hell of a lot closer to Section that Michael had, but I didn't care anymore about all the secrecy. I needed in and I needed in fast. We walked to that same stupid door and I felt like I was in that stupid movie about Groundhog Day where the day just keeps repeating. I swear the next time I go into Section it will be by the fucking front door! Well, if there is a front door. I watched Max as he did his alien thing on the cables outside. It was always a cool thing to watch. He looked to me when he was done. "Security cameras, cable TV and the Internet are out of service," he smiled. "Do your thing Maria and see if you really deserve the title of captain." I nodded to him and waited for Isabel to open the door. I went in first, then Kyle with Isabel pulling up the rear. We walked quietly and quickly without the worry of cameras. The corridor was silent and we went through it fast. Now I know why I didn't smoke anymore, I bet Max would be wheezing by now. I led Kyle and Isabel through what seemed like a maze. I passed by the hamster cage and it was empty. We cruised soundlessly though the main atrium where I had seen the men in suits up above in the glass encased catwalk; it was now empty. I got a sick feeling in my stomach. Section was never just empty. Something was up. "Maria," Isabel whispered and touched my arm. She held out the little computer thing from Alex, thank God someone that had remembered it this time! I looked and shrugged. She rolled her eyes at me and pointed to an incoming message: I hope you get this. There is an outage at Section, I hope it's you guys. I can get into some more files right now, but I need Michael's password. I can get into his father's and Rena's through Michael's. I think. Help! Alex. Password from Section? Oh God, like I would know. I had no flippin' clue what the password could possibly be. I looked blankly at Isabel. "No ideas? We could find out what they know about us." She pleaded with me and I wanted to curl up in the fetal position and cry. "Maria, c'mon!" Kyle held my arm. I wonder if I was swaying, I thought it was just in my head. I thought back to every conversation Michael and I ever had about Section. Did he change his password before he left Section? Of course he did. Michael was brilliant and brilliant people changed their passwords all the time. "Hamster cage." "I'm sorry?" Isabel whispered. I nodded and remembered how amused he had been when I picked it for my own password. "Hamster cage. Tell him to try it." Isabel typed on a tiny keyboard and we waited. We didn't wait long before we got a message back from Alex. All it said was: Woo Hoo! I smiled and led them further into the depths of an apparently evacuated Section. Isabel handed me the virtual map as we passed the gym that held all my fond memories of Michael kicking my ass in there. Something was up and I didn't like the way it felt. This was too easy. Why was this so easy? There should be operatives all over the place working and doing whatever else they do. But it was like a ghost town. I knew it was late, but… Isabel touched my arm and pointed to a steel gray pillar. I didn't see what she was looking at but when she put her finger to her lips I knew there was someone there. Okay, obstacle number one. I pointed to Kyle to stay put while Isabel and I went on either side of the pillar. Sure as hell, armed man in black. "Hey stud," I whispered in his ear. He turned to face me and Isabel did something to him from the other side. He fell to the ground with a thud. "Bye stud." Obstacle number one? We kicked its ass! Kyle hurried over to us and picked up the gun from the zapped man. He cocked his head to the side. "Do you think I can keep this?" "Honey, you can have whatever you want!" I smiled and then pointed to lump o' black on the ground. "Did you kill him?" "Nah," Isabel made a gun with her thumb and forefinger and blew on the tip of it. "Just think of me as an walking stun gun." Now we were armed. We walked all stealthy like through yet another empty corridor and I'll be damned but obstacle number two was there. I pushed Kyle out for bait this time and I used one of the tactical movements I had learned from Michael on him. Oh yeah, he was disabled. Isabel zapped him and we were off. This still wasn't sitting to well with me and I was waiting for some really big bad to jump out and make me pee in my pants, but there was nothing. Okay, technically, I knew there was something because we've already been assaulted twice. Well, we assaulted twice. I followed the map and it was almost too easy. Everything was too easy. The containment area doors were in front of us. Big steel doors with small windows with embedded chick-wire in them. I peeked through the window and saw nothing but darkness. "Maria?" Kyle stood behind me and peered over my shoulder. I looked at him then Isabel and shrugged. Isabel got us in and we went down yet another hallway then some steps. Okay, now we were going down. Never go down, right? Never go up and never go down, always stay on the first level. I led them down the steps and prayed I wasn't leading them to…I didn't even want to think about it. We turned the corner at the bottom of the steps and there she was. There was Tess. Behind a wall of plate glass we were able to see into a room and there she was. Those unmistakable blond curls weren't quite as bouncy and she was paler than a ghost. She was in a glass box and she was nude. Silver metal bands bound her hands and feet to manacles. Her head lolled to one side and I think she was breathing. Fuck! I couldn't tell. Please be alive Tess. Please be alive. "Tess," Kyle whispered and walked closer to the glass. I reached for his arm and yanked him back. "Wait!" I hissed at him and scanned the room for Michael. Tess was in there alone. Fuck! Where was Michael? "Operative DeLuca, how nice of you to join us." The voice boomed from behind us and I think my heart skipped a few beats. There were two men in dark suits in front of us now along with six men with guns. Things were now officially not looking up for the two chicks and Kyle Valenti. Son-of-a-bitch! Chapter Fourteen I saw Kyle get a better grip on the semi-automatic gun he was holding. I prayed he didn't try to take them out because that would seal our deaths right here, right now. I knew the men in suits; they were the ones on the catwalk from a long time ago. I chanced a look at Isabel and thought she looked okay. Pissed maybe, but not the cowering crying woman I expected. She was standing strong and right beside me. "You got this far, we're impressed." The younger of the two suits said. "I'm Mr. Smith and this is my associate, Mr. Smythe." Right. Smith and Smythe, the cartoon characters that Michael said weren't very funny. Great. I sighed and it felt good. Never let them see you sweat or be afraid. I forced a yawn and I saw the older suit's neck turn crimson. Fuck'em. "Are we boring you Operative DeLuca?" Mr. Smith asked. "First off, my name is Maria." I said and was quite proud that my voice came out so authoritative. I didn't want to tell him my last name; frankly, it was none of his damn business. "Okay Maria," the older one, Smythe, said and smiled. Not a 'happy to see me and you're so cute' smile, more like an 'I don't care what you say because you'll be dead soon' smile. "We'd like to talk to you for a moment. In private." I looked at the gunmen and then to Kyle and then Isabel. Both of them were sending me signals telling me not to. I shook my head. "Nah, why don't we chat here?" "Very well," Smith glanced towards the gunman, no, hold on, gunwoman flanking him and nodded. She raised her weapon at Kyle as Smith spoke. "Please lower your weapon sir." Sir? So they didn't know who Kyle was which probably meant they didn't know who Isabel was and that was a big good. If they didn't know who she was then they didn't know what she was. Or maybe they didn't want us to know that they knew. Maybe they thought that I didn't know that they knew. Maybe I was beginning to sound like an episode of 'Three's Company'. Kyle laid the gun on the floor and kicked it over to them. I would have done the same thing, too many movies. The gunwoman picked it up and it disappeared somewhere behind her. At least they didn't point that one at us, too. "Maria," Mr. Smith said and I hated the way he said my name. Maybe Operative was better after all. "You've caused quite a stir here tonight. We have no cameras and our mainframe has been tampered with along with several other electrical problems. I don't know how you and your ragtag army here did it, but job well done. You might have been an asset to Section after all." I laughed. "Like I would ever want to work for a bunch of murdering fucks like you?" I hate it when I say out loud whatever I'm thinking. Smith was amused. "You didn't have a choice, Maria." I thought back to waking up here straight from the pokey. He was right about that. I hadn't had a choice. I didn't have anything. Except for Michael. "Where's Michael?" Smith and Smythe looked at each other and I got chills. "Michael Guerin is of no importance to you right now." Smith finally answered. "The fuck he's not. Where. The. Fuck. Is. He?" I asked slowly and deliberately. I needed an answer. "Maria," Kyle touched my arm and I shook it off. He grabbed my arm and I let him. "Michael Guerin is being taken care of." Smith, obviously the talker of the two said smoothly. God, everything about them was smooth. "Where is he?" I asked again, my fists were clenched. If they were going to tell me Michael was dead then I was going to rush them and it didn't matter if I had to bite my way through, I was pulling out a heart. Michael… "Maria," Smith shook his head in that condescending way. "We need some help from you." "Help?" I laughed bitterly. "You tell me where Michael is right fucking now and I might help you. Where is he?" "He's been contained." "Like her?" I pointed over my shoulder to Tess. "He's not in there." "No, he's not." Smith grinned. "Now, we need some help from you. One of our associates, Rena, has been missing and presumed dead for five months. We need to know the rest of the information that she gathered. We've been unable to successfully open her files, some of her files." "And you think Rena and I were tight?" I asked and put my hands on my hips. So Section didn't know everything? For a top government institution, they needed better computer hackers. All we had was this ragtag army. "I don't care if you were or not." The harshness in Smith's voice sent shivers down my spine. He motioned to Isabel and Kyle. "Get them out of here." "What?" Isabel stepped forward but I grabbed her arm. She looked at me and I nodded. God if only she could read minds… "You'll let them go?" I asked and wondered if that really was the brightest move, for anyone. "We'll escort them out of Section." Smith's demeanor had shifted and I picked up on it. Yeah, they were going to be escorted out of Section all right, probably in a freakin' body bag. "Forget it, they stay with me." I glanced to either side and was proud to stand with Isabel and Kyle. "Either we all stay or we all go. Which is it?" Smith and Smythe conferred and I looked to Kyle. I mouthed words to him, "we have to stay together. Are you okay?" I got a nod back and smiled. I did the same to Isabel and she smiled and tapped her pocket. Holy shit the computer thing! We could communicate with Alex and he could…what? What exactly could Alex do? Come down here and get shot? Fuck! "Fine, then you are all guests of Section." Smith smiled an evil smile. Maybe it wasn't actually evil, but I just didn't like him. At all. "Wonderful." I smiled as sweetly as I could. I could suck up a little, and I mean a teeny tiny bit, to get Michael back. I could do anything to make sure I got Michael back. My heart was pounding and from here on out we were going to have to play a game. I didn't know the rules, but that didn't matter; I was never very good at following them anyway. I glanced over my shoulder and felt sick. Tess hadn't moved since we'd been down here. "So, can I see her? Can I talk to her?" "Miss Harding isn't accepting visitors right now." Smith clasped his hands together as two of the gunmen stepped in back of the suits. One stood on either side of us and the other two took position by the steps. "Oh yeah, why is that?" I asked and looked over my shoulder at the helpless pile of Tess. I thought I saw her bare chest rise, but I couldn't tell for sure. "What the fuck have you been doing to her?" "Experiments." Smith answered as if it was the most natural thing in the world. I nodded slowly as the realization set in. Michael was here and they might know what he is and…oh, God. No! "I want to see Michael. Now." "Or what Maria?" Smith asked. Maybe I should have let him keep calling me Operative DeLuca because I hated the way he said my name. "What will you do?" I shrugged. "I guess I'll have to take down Section one fucking brick at a time until I find him," I started out quiet but my voice was rising with each word. "And then I'm going to take those bricks and ram them down your fucking throat if you've hurt him." "The young Guerin has a friend, how quaint. That was something we never expected," Smith looked to Smythe who nodded in confirmation. "We always assumed that he would end up half crazy like his father with all his talk about aliens. Funny how things turn out, isn't it?" Okay, so now I was banking on them actually knowing Michael's true identity. "Do you believe me when I tell you I'll destroy this whole fucking place if you don't tell me where Michael is? I promise, I'll see you dead if I don't get what I want." Smith and Smythe conferred again and I wanted to scream. I don't know who had who on this one. I needed to know what Section knew about Michael and the others. I needed to see Michael. I looked over my shoulder again at Tess and then I saw Kyle and the pain in his eyes as he looked at her through the glass. He loved her; I could see it in those sad puppy eyes. He loved her and now I made it my mission to make sure he had the chance to tell her. Soon. Damn. Like I don't have enough on my plate already. "Let her go." I said and shook my head wondering what the hell I thought I was doing. "Let Tess go. Now. Take me and let her go." "That's a very lucrative offer, but unacceptable. Miss Harding is of the extraterrestrial descent and you are just a human. It wouldn't be a fair trade." Smith answered. "Let her go, look at her." I jabbed my finger into the window in back of me. "It looks like she's dying in there." I couldn't even imagine what was happening to Michael. I cast a quick glance to Isabel to make sure she wasn't going to make the same offer I had. I needed at least one full-strength alien out here with me. She stood motionless staring at the men in suits. Hate gleaming in her eyes. "You're killing her." "Not yet, we still need more data." Smith looked over my shoulder. "She's been most cooperative." This was going downhill really fucking fast. I couldn't think of way out of this and it was pissing me off. I had to get Tess out before they killed her. I had to find Michael. I had to find Michael. He was strong and I knew he could withstand a lot, but…I needed him. It might sound selfish, but I needed Michael and I was going to get him back. No matter what I had to do. "What do you want," I put a quiver in my voice and thought it sounded authentic. I wasn't scared, nope, not at all. I was way beyond scared and angry. I was…I don't even know the word for it. But this was not ending like this. I had a life I wanted to get back to. I had a life with Michael that had really just begun. I wasn't giving all that up, not for a couple of clowns in suits who thought they had won. "We want the others." "The other what?" I teased. "We want the other extraterrestrial life-forms." Smith said calmly glancing at Kyle then Isabel. "Besides Tess? Who else is it?" I asked coyly and even managed to get a few eyelash battings in there. "Besides Miss Harding and Mr. Guerin, we don't know." Fuck me. "That's it as far as I know." I shrugged and looked at Isabel then Kyle. "You guys know of any others?" "Michael's an …alien?" Isabel stammered and I wanted to hand her the damn Oscar. "You're not running this game, Maria." Smith said slowly and seemingly dismissed two of the gunmen who vanished around the corner. "We are. You won't win, we will." "Can I be the hat, though? I was always the hat when we played Monopoly in the pokey." I felt the old me roil through and she felt good. The Maria who didn't care if she lived or died. When I moved I didn't even realize it. I was like so fucking fast it was unreal. I took everything I had learned from Michael and everything I had learned on the streets and rolled it up into one. I was in back of Smith within an instant. The gun guys didn't have a chance to shoot without seriously maiming or killing one of their bosses. I had him around the neck with my arm and I could have killed him instantly. "Okay bitch, now you're going let Miss Harding go and you're going to take me to Michael or I'm going to snap your fucking neck." "Maria," he said my name calmly but I could sense the surprise. "Never tell me I won't win, asshole." I whispered in his ear. "Because I'll win just to prove you were wrong. Let her the fuck go!" I could feel Smith look to his counterpart and nod. I glanced at Kyle and Isabel and saw the shock wearing off. They were with me on this; sure, I might have surprised the shit out of them, hell, I surprised the shit out of myself! Kyle smiled at me and winked. "Hey Maria," he called over to me. "Section?" "Fuck'em," I said it as coldly as I could and winked back at my friends. * * * His upper body was bare except for the electrodes taped to his chest. Every vital sign was being monitored. Bruises on his arms from all the needles were blurring together. The metal straps holding his arms and feet in place were stinging his skin. He looked up through blurry vision and red eyes and made a silent prayer to a God he didn't know if he believed in. A prayer to stay alive. To stay alive for Maria. Chapter Fifteen I Had Smith by the neck and now the guns were pointed at Isabel and Kyle. I probably should have been more concerned than I was, but for the moment I think we were winning. "What are you waiting for Smith?" I whispered in his ear and tightened my grip on him. "Let Miss Harding go and tell your lackeys here to take their aim off of my friends or I will kill you." I looked to Smythe. "Then you. Don't doubt me." "We're not doubting you Maria," Smythe said. His confident composure slacked. "I think you may be." "Where's the door?" Kyle asked. "I'd like to get Tess out now." Even though there were two guns trained on him, he was asking about Tess. Once again, another reason I loved Kyle Valenti. Smith nodded, well, as much as he could with my death grip on him, and one of the gunmen stepped away, then another. The first one ran a card of some kind down something in the wall I couldn't see and I watched as a door next to the glass opened. I would have never seen the door on my own. Kyle took a step towards it and had a gun in his face. I didn't see fear on him now, I saw anger. I hoped he didn't do something stupid. Yeah, as I'm standing here about ready to kill a man with my bare hands. No, nothing stupid going on around here. "Tell your men to back the fuck off, now!" I was losing my patience. I knew we had to get Tess out and find Michael and in not a lot of time. We didn't have time for this bullshit and I wondered if Smith and/or Smythe was planning something. Or better yet, already had something planned. Man… Isabel. I looked at Isabel and knew what she was. I knew who she was then I knew what she was. Rena had turned in two of the four aliens. Tess and Michael. At least that's the way my thinking was going. If Rena knew about Tess and Michael and not Isabel and Max…Why? How? I doubt Tess got chummy with her and told their deep dark secret. Rena found out about them somehow and now I was going to make damn sure that I would too. The gunmen let Kyle pass and I was relieved to see Isabel not moving. I didn't want her too far away from me in case something happened. I watched as Kyle ran to Tess and opened the door to her cell and lifted her head up. She was alive! Thank God Tess was alive and well. Okay, not well, but alive none the less. "She's leaving Section," I stated. "I don't think that would be wise." Smith said and I slammed my knee into the back of his. "I don't care what you think." I rolled my eyes and watched through the window as Kyle tried to unfasten the restraints. He wasn't getting it and I could see the frustration on his face. "How does he get her out?" "A release on the side of the holding tank." Smith said calmly and I wasn't sure if I believed him or not. It could be a trap; it could be a bomb. This was when I needed some reasoning going on. This was when I needed someone to tell me everything was going to be okay. This was when I needed Michael. "Tell her to do it." I pointed the gunwoman who was now closest to Isabel. Smith did as I said and we all watched as those metal bands came loose and Kyle swept the little blond up into his arms. He managed to get off his button down shirt and lay it over her nakedness. He carried her out to us and I felt all warm and fuzzy. "Tess," Isabel was at her side. "Are you okay? Can you walk?" Tess looked to her and with red-rimmed eyes and uttered words I wasn't expecting. "Who are you?" Oh fuck. That's it. It's over. We might as well have the fat lady singing because we are screwed. "Did you fucking brainwash her?" I snapped and pulled Smith closer to me. "Is that what you did? Tell me!" "Miss Harding was an extra ordinary specimen, we learned a lot from her." Smith said quietly. I could feel the vibration of sound through my arm. "Her loyalties were deep and I'm afraid there might have been some complications with a memory retrieval experiment." Son of a bitch! I looked at Kyle who still held Tess in his arms. "Can you get her out of here? Can you find your way?" He nodded slowly." Yeah, but I'm not leaving you here." Chivalry is so not dead. "Okay Smith. Here's the plan. We're walking out of here with Miss Harding and Mr. Guerin and you're going to let us. Okay? If not, everything I said that would happen, will begin. I will start with breaking your neck. Does that sound fair enough?" I didn't see it coming and I should have. I've seen in before in movies and I should have known. I was holding up Smith now, I knew there was a bullet in his head; I had felt it when it went in. Smythe was holding a black gun in his hand with a silencer on the end. He killed Smith and now we were seriously screwed. I dropped the dead weight and stood there in the open like a freakin' target. "Now Maria," Smythe said coolly. "Why don't you and your friends join me where we can discuss a few things and then maybe we can sort this whole thing out and you can go. We don't want you, we want the extraterrestrial life forms." All the guns were aimed at me and I understood. I knew why they didn't know about Isabel and Max. I knew it all and now I was even more pissed. "Son-of-a-bitch!" I shouted and put my hands on the back of my head. I looked over at Kyle who was still holding a now shaking Tess. I looked at Isabel and saw the confusion on her face. "Why don't you come with us," Smith touched my arm and I flung it off, fury in my eyes. "Why don't you kiss my ass?" I was answered with a deftly placed gun butt to the cheek. I crumpled to the floor while severe pain ravaged my face. I was looking at the ground and trying to gather my wits when something happened. I don't know exactly how, but I knew it wasn't a good. Before I could stand up I saw Kyle and Tess on the ground and then Isabel. Well, we were ahead for like a few seconds there and now we were back to being screwed. I guess the only thing keeping us alive was the fact that we knew who the other two aliens were. I was helped up by a gunman and let him do whatever he wanted. It was time for a new plan; a better plan. Okay, a plan, period. Kyle helped Tess walk once he convinced her he wasn't there to hurt her. The four of us were led back up the stairs and down a different hallway to a room where we were promptly shoved into. Smythe and his gunmen and woman followed us in. I looked around and didn't like the set-up. Two chairs, plenty of wires and controls coming off them along with wrist and ankle restraints. And of course, no waiting. "Maria, since you seem to be the one in charge, we'll let you decide who goes first." He pointed to the chairs and I felt sick; aside from the blinding pain in my face. Smythe nodded at me and I wanted to rip his eyes out. Given the opportunity, I would do just that. "We will find out the identities of the others that you are protecting by morning. By any means necessary. If you cooperate, we'll discuss letting you go." Riiiight. Like I believed a single word that came from that mans mouth. "I have something to show you, maybe it will help you change your mind." He motioned to gunwoman and I was really beginning to hate her. She pulled back a curtain I hadn't even noticed before. There was glass, and I stood and walked to it as bile rose in my stomach. Michael was behind the glass. He was in a chair similar to the ones in here with us. His wrists and ankles were bound. His bare arms littered with bruises. My whole body was shaking as I raised a hand to the glass. His head was sagging but I could see his chest, oh God, his flawless chest rise and fall. His hair was hanging down obscuring his face. I wanted to see his face. "Michael…" I whispered and put my hand to the glass. I don't know if he knew I was there, if he could see through the glass or maybe he just sense me. Either way, he raised his head and looked straight at me. I felt the tears rolling down my face when I saw him. In such a short time, Michael looked beaten. His eyes were deep sockets of darkness, bruising on his neck and wires taped to his head. Oh God, Michael… I think he could see through the glass because he met my eyes and then I saw something that scared the hell out of me. Zero recognition. I swung around and met the unreserved happy face of Mr. Smythe. "What do you want to know?" Chapter Sixteen Smythe looked at me and waited. My heart sank when I glanced at Isabel. Was I really getting ready to turn her and her brother over to Section? At that very second, I didn't know. Anything to save Michael. I knew I had to do something and fast. Michael…I couldn't even look over my shoulder at him again. The emptiness in his eyes ate away at me. Did he really not know me? Did he succumb to the same fate as Tess with Section's memory retrieval experiments gone wrong? I weighed my options and I thought they all sucked. I didn't even know if Michael could see me at all. Maybe the room he was in was one where we could see in but he couldn't see out. Like a police station interrogation room, I was quite familiar with those. I wanted to ask Smythe, but that would be stupid. That would make him think he was winning again; and that was so not an option. Kyle! Kyle was in the room with Tess that seemed to be like the one Michael was in. Maybe he actually paid attention to the window when he was trying to save Tess. Riiiight. I swirled and looked at him as he stood holding Tess close to his body. She was drowning in his shirt but at least she had something on. I would have paid good money to clothe her. Her expression was lost. She didn't have a clue what was going on around her; that was obvious, but she held on to Kyle's arm like it was a freakin' lifeline. In a wasteland of confusion lay a ray of light. I met Kyle's eyes and I saw something unfamiliar in them. Disappointment. He was disappointed in me. Damn! I guess if I were being honest that I would have to say I was pretty disappointed in myself as well. Technically I only thought about telling for like a nanosecond. There was no fucking way I was going to turn over Isabel and her stupid brother to a fate worse then death. Hell, I wouldn't turn over Isabel for eating grapes in the grocery store. It was only a matter of time before this whole thing blew up in our faces. We had to react. We had to do it fast and I was still without a plan. So Section didn't know who the other aliens were and I knew why. Oh fucking well, I had a feeling everyone was going to find out sooner or later. I had to know about Michael and the only way was if I could telepathically communicate with Kyle about the windows. Part of me knew that Michael could never forget me. I considered myself unforgettable. The pain from my cheek was getting worse; the blinding pain was almost enough to knock me down to my knees. But that would be giving up. I didn't know how to give up. I bored holes through Kyle with the slim hope he was a secret mind reader. All I got from him was the confused dog look that I had mastered a long time ago. I sighed and felt sorry for him. Hell, I felt sorry for all of us. "Maria," Smythe got my attention back. "You were going to tell us something?" "Oh yeah," I put my hands on my hips and knew it was do or die. I was hoping for the 'do' part though. "Yeah, I was going to tell you to kiss my ass." "Maria-" I cut him off with an elbow through the glass in back of me. Oh God, the pain in my face was nothing compared to the one shooting through my arm. I think I nearly ripped it to shreds. I could feel the cool air hit the open cuts. The gunmen responded by covering their boss, guns pointed at each of us. I wasn't sure exactly what to do next, but I could sure use an Isabel-fix-me-up right about now. The pain was excruciating and the only thing I accomplished so far was getting the guns aimed at us. I looked at the group of Isabel, Kyle and Tess huddled together and saw something that I thought was un-fucking-believable. Isabel's eyes were closed and her hands were on the back of Tess. Holy shit, she was trying to cure her! In the middle of all this bullshit, Isabel was exposing herself, although quite clandestinely, and trying to cure Tess. This was a big fucking good in my book. As long as there were no freakouts by Tess and Isabel kept her cool, things were looking up. For the second at least. I still didn't look over my shoulder through the now broken glass at Michael. I couldn't see him like that. I needed my strong guardian angel back. I needed my knight in black leather. To see him now…It would kill me. I didn't need that to kill me when there was a whole room full of other things that could do it. "Maria," Smythe made that horrible tsk-tsk sound and it really took everything I had in me not to pounce and beat. Okay, that and the fact that many guns were pointed and me and my friends. "There is no need for violence." I pointed to the gunmen. "And they are…?" "Necessary evils, I assure you." So he assured me. I could assure him a thing or two. I chanced a glance at Tess and she looked even more confused. Either it wasn't working at all or it was and she was legitimately confused. I was hoping for the latter; just on that slim chance that Michael was…Like her. "Turn over the other ones." Smythe was losing his patience. Something I would have done a long time ago. If I was in charge, I would have popped me when the first smart-ass remark came out of my mouth. Good thing I didn't run Section, huh? "Tell me why you think there's more." I stood my ground and a plan was formulating in my throbbing skull. "We have reason to believe from Rena's files-" "Yeah, okay. Rena's dead." I interrupted. "Give me something better than that. Tell me why." "I'm not sure I follow you, Maria." He said slowly and I think we were just about on the same page. "You follow just fine, asshole." "We have reason to believe-" "Blah. Blah. Blah." I was either feeling very brave or I was losing a lot of blood from my arm. Between the blood loss, the pain of my ripped up elbow and my throbbing face I'm sure that I couldn't be held accountable for anything else I said. I wasn't even sure if I was thinking clearly or not. I just wanted to turn around and see my husband, but I fought it. Smythe moved his head in the direction of Michael and it hurt for me not to turn around and look at him. It was a trick, I knew it had to be a trick. Get the girl to turn around and then whack her. Man. My knees were vibrating and I was about to do something very stupid. I wasn't quite sure how it was going to work, but I had to try. I had to do something. "The jig is so up, Smythe." I began to pace in front of the broken window, still refusing to look at Michael. Not yet. "What are you referring to? It seems to me that the jig is far from being up." Smythe spayed his hands towards me. "It seems you and your friends have hit a roadblock. You can break all the windows you want, make all the demands you want, but none of it will matter in the end." "You're right, Smith-" "Smythe." He interrupted me. "Right, I tend to confuse dead guys." I cocked my head to the side and gave him my very best toothy grin. "Now, what you were saying about nothing mattering in the end? You're right. For you, nothing will matter. I can guarantee you one thing here tonight. I will step over your body when I leave." I hope he saw the flash of serious anger that was in me. I hoped he was really wasn't as calm as he appeared because then we really might be fucked. He smiled at me and I got chills. Damn it! Weren't we ever going to get a break? I looked to Kyle first, then Isabel. I wish I knew what they were thinking. I wonder if they thought we were as screwed as I did. My eyes met Tess's and I saw the glimmer of familiarity. I saw the cosmetologist. I saw the blond number that followed Max around. I saw Tess and she was back. I thought our break must be just around the corner. "Now Maria," Smythe began speaking again and I wished I had a sock to shove in his mouth. "If you tell us what we need to know, you're all free to go." Yeah, yeah, yeah. Heard that one before. People just don't leave Section. I wondered briefly what the fuck Max was doing outside. Maybe I should have let him come in with us; he could have been a help. Maybe. Maybe not. He still had that whole captain issue to deal with. I wondered if he was just standing around outside. He was probably smoking and I envied him. Isabel caught my gaze and I knew something was up. The aliens were planning on fighting back. Woo-hoo! I didn't know exactly what that meant, but if I could get some medical attention it was all good to me. My arm was now hanging lifeless at my side and it was going to take an aspirin the size of Montana to make the pain in my cheek go away. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Isabel raise those slender arms; Tess was along side of her and I wondered what the fuck they were doing. I didn't dare tip off Smythe and his Operatives to alien activity happening right under his nose. "Would you care to tell us who the other ones are now?" "Nope." I shrugged. What's the worse that could happen? They kill me? At this point I would take it over being in this room any longer. My arm hurt, my head hurt and my heart was broken. There wasn't anything left to take from me. "Are you sure?" I shrugged again and somewhere in the recesses of my mind; I knew I had to react. I had to distract them away from Isabel and Tess. Somehow I mustered up the energy to spring forward and throw myself at Smythe. I didn't know I had that kind of strength left in me, I guess it was hiding underneath the pain. The newly formulated plan was going into effect. The gunmen didn't know which way to point their guns or at who. I was a tangle of arms and legs with Smythe on the floor and I prayed something was being done so I could get up soon. My bet was on Isabel to lead. I looked up and saw Isabel and Tess side by side. Something was going to happen but they were waiting for something. Oh God, please don't let it be…I turned as fast as I could and looked to the broken window. When I turned I felt the sharp cool metal of a gun barrel under my chin. It was the gunwoman, the bitch, and her finger was on the trigger. I knew Isabel could fix a gunshot wound to the chest, but what about one that takes off half your fucking head? I released my grip from Smythe and bowed my head. They had me. I had nothing else to give. I finally looked towards the broken window and saw Michael. He was looking directly at me. I couldn't hear him, but I'd know the words he was saying a million miles away. "Sweet Maria." I stood and grabbed the gun barrel in one ninja like fluid movement. It only took a second for me to aim and fire. The gunwoman was now the dead gunwoman. Woo-hoo! I was getting my second wind and most importantly, Michael knew me. Things were looking pretty good in the Maria-verse. I didn't think, I aimed. I took out two more of the gunmen before I felt the pain from the first bullet as it ripped through my thigh. Right through my leather pants. Shit! I went down on one knee. I may be down but I wasn't out. |
| PARTS 13-16 |