The Alien Agenda (22 page)

“It's every bit as bad as we thought.”  Brid admitted.  “They attacked nearly everywhere.  They have decimated the Eldership.  They attacked in force, moving quickly from one place to the next, completely planned and ruthlessly executed, they followed the night and made a complete sweep in one 24-hour period.  We are now woefully few in number.  The St. Louis Enclave is the only one to have come through it totally unscathed.  We expect this is a situation they will want to alter.  We expect them to attack at any time.”

“What have you done with the Russians?”  Sonafi asked.

“Volga is making herself acquainted with my Field Generation technology.  I'm never going to hear the end of it now.  She thinks I am some kind of super
-geek, or something.”

I realized that this, to him, was some kind of a compliment, but it was what he had not said, something I thought I detected by omission, that drew my attention.  “What about Nikita?”  I asked.

“What about her?”  Brid asked after a noticeable pause.  He had an expression I recognized on his face.  Embarrassment.

“Yeah, what about her?”
  Sonafi asked, looking up from her computer screen.  “Where did Nikita spend the day?”

“They both spent the day at my place.”  Brid evaded.  Sonafi looked my way, a slight smile curling the corner of her lip.  We both thought the same
but let it pass.  Brid was obviously unwilling to admit anything, but I was sure that there was more here than met the eye.  Brid changed the subject.  ”James Ray has come through this well.”

“I was not so very well just a short while ago.”  James Ray said.  “I was sure I was going to die.”

“In a sense, you have died.  Died and then resurrected.”  Brid said.  “You may look the same.  You may retain all of your memories.  But you are not the same.”

“I’m beginning to understand that.” James Ray said.

Chapter 19

Brid led us to his car and then we drove to a neighborhood I did not recognize.  I noted the flitting shadows as we turned the
corner of the block but of their mental signatures I could make out nothing.  It must have been the thermal suits Brid had designed.

“I see them.”  I said, guessing correctly that this had been a test.

“That's not good.”  Brid said.  “We were hoping we would be totally inconspicuous.  If you saw them, the Others will too.  It is too much to expect to fool them twice.”

“Who are you talking about?”  James Ray asked.  He had, of course, seen nothing.

“We're surrounded by Vampires.”  Sonafi said.  “Don't you see them?”

“No.”

“You won't.”  Brid said.  “I can't.”

“But you can?”  James Ray asked me.

“Yes.  I can.  I'm old.”  I said.”  I guess that's a good thing.”

“I've done everything I can to make them invisible.”  Brid said.  “I don't know how else I could possibly tweak it.  We're going to be visible to the Elder O
thers.”

“If you don’t perfect your strategy you’ll be caught in your own trap.” I said.

“I’m aware of that and I’m working on it.” Brid said.

“I'm hungry again.”  James Ray interrupted.  “It's beginning to hurt.”

We took James Ray into the night and helped him find his first meal.  It wasn't that he would have needed the help.  We came along only to assure that he did not kill.

“I feel like a horrid monster.”  James Ray said
once he had fed.  We still stood in the Human's home, the Human waiting patiently to be told what to do.  If he thought anything of James Ray's statement, he did not say so.  If anything it would be to him confusing. 

“Are we not at least as humane as Humans?”  Sonafi asked.  “We do not kill. 
Most of us.  We take only what can be given without hardship.  The experience was even pleasurable for him!”

“I still feel horrible.”  James Ray said.  “I knew what the price was when I asked for this, however, and I know there is nothing I can do to stop myself when I am within its throes.  The hunger is overwhelming.  There was nothing in my Human experience of it's like.”

“You must forever guard your innocence.”  I said.  “Once taken it cannot be reclaimed.  I wish I could go back and undo many of the things I have done but things that have been done cannot be undone.”

“I do not want that.”  James Ray admitted.

Sonafi and I fed close by and then we rejoined James Ray on the street where he waited for us.  I still carried all three swords but I had been thinking about that, whether I should keep them both.  I could fight two handed, of course, but the cane-sword was my second weapon of choice.  I could use its hardened steel case effectively to block strike or with a flick of the wrist free the short blade for thrusting.  The short blade was ruthlessly effective in close quarters and if my Cumosachi was keeping them busy elsewhere, the short sinuous blade of the cane-sword would often sneak in to find a home.

I would hate to part with Rostov's blade.  Its workmanship was the equal of my own Cumosachi, but I could think of no better gift to give my son to show my new admiration for him.  Trebly so because Sonafi and I had
just lost all of our belongings or we presumed that to be so and to give something of this value now would be to add especial honor to the act of giving it.  Maybe Brid might then have an old blade he might give James Ray.

But
the Others had placed the Community in a precarious position with their thorough assault.  I believed that if the Others were able to eliminate Sonafi and I now then the rest of the Community would soon fold without much more of a struggle.  Strike off the head and the body must die.  I had not been actively participating in the leadership of the Community, but now that the parameters of the struggle were clearly understood, the remaining members of the Community would quickly rally round me.  Or around Brid, and I would execute Brid's will.

“Will you call the Federal Agent?”  Sonafi asked, reminding me.

“I suppose that I must.”  I said.  “I am almost afraid to hear what he has to say.”

“If that number hasn't been disconnected.”
  James Ray said but somehow I did not think that it would be.  Even if the FBI did not want to play along they would not throw away the possibility of tracking and capturing one of us if we were foolish enough to call.  Well apparently I was going to be that fool.

We were only seven blocks from Brid's new home
and we could not call from this close in case all did not go as we hoped.  After distancing ourselves several miles we found a secluded spot in someone's back yard to make the call.  James Ray was completely preoccupied with his new senses and we basically just ignored him.  I pulled out the phone Brid had indicated I should use and entered the numbers I had memorized directly from Irving's mind.  I had to wonder, as the phone began to ring, if knowing that I knew every detail of his life meant he had uprooted his entire family, his friends, his Agency associate’s families, the list went on.  I had spared his life yesterday.  Just by that act alone he should know I could be trusted, yet after having had time to think he may have doubted his first impressions.  It wouldn't be the first time someone had second thoughts, about something they once thought they were sure of.  The ringing ended.

“Marcel?”  Curt Irving asked.  I had not told him my name.

“Curt.”  I said.

“I was not sure you would call.”  Curt Irving said.  “You might not believe with what anticipation not only
I but the entire Agency have been awaiting your call.  They accepted my evaluation with a great deal more enthusiasm than I had expected.  They are eager to meet you!”

“I just bet they are.”  I said, but I wondered how they would go about lying to Irving without his being aware of it.  The same way, I supposed, that I did not really know he was telling me the truth now.  Though we are both telepathic, there are limitations to these abilities.  I could sense nothing of what he was thinking now
.  Not over a telephone line, but the lie could be passed down the chain of command and he who passed the lie to Irving no more aware than Irving, who now passed it to me.  I told it straight the way I saw it; “You do realize that I neither believe, nor disbelieve, what you're saying.  You may be as much an unwitting puppet as your masters wish to make of me.  I am not even sure now that I see the merits of such an association.  Humans have almost no power to affect the Others, one way or another.  I am not sure what advantage there would be in it for me.

“Perfectly understandable.
  I knew these thoughts would occur to you.  To be honest, I was not sure you would even call.  I am not sure I would have, had the roles been reversed.”

“So you have a convincing argument with which to attempt to make the sale?”  I asked, sure that he would.  I was wrong.

“I wish I did.”  Curt Irving said reluctantly.  “The truth is, and this is obviously as clear to you as it is to myself, that we need you more than you need us.  Humanity is dealing from a position of weakness.”

“So why should I try to help?”  I asked but I felt that he had probably given the best answer that he could. 

“We know that we need you.”  Curt Irving said.  “We are actually more aware of what is happening than you may believe.  I was not aware of the depth of the atrocity being perpetuated until you showed me, and I told no one, that the blind test of how far my superiors would be willing to open up to me.  That is why I now believe they are truly serious.  They raised my Clearance all the way to the top and opened all the files to me.  I was briefed by the President himself, if only by a closed circuit camera.  So yes, I think they are taking this thing very seriously, and now knowing everything, I can see why!”

“All right.”
  I said.  “We'll meet.”

Chapter 20

“Just like that?”  Sonafi asked.

“No guts, no glory.”  I replied with a brave smile
.

“I suppose you are right.  But someone else should go.”  Sonafi said.

“Someone else?”
  I asked.

“Are they sending the President?”  Sonafi asked.

“The President of the United States?”  I asked.

“He's your equivalent.”  Sonafi said simply.  “They send their top man, we'll send hours.”

“I see what you are saying but it must be I who goes.  I have the best chance of walking out of there alive if it turns out to be a trap.  I think I owe it to the Community.  Who else could I send that I would not be sending to their deaths if it did turn out to be a trap?”

“Since I see that you have made up your mind,” Sonafi said, “and that you will not be talked out of it, I will be going with you.”

“Dammit Sonafi!”  I snapped.

“You have something to say?”  Sonafi asked.

“I would greatly appreciate it if you would not.”  I said.  “Who will come to my aid if you get caught beside me?”  She stared daggers at me for a moment but then relented.

“I'll stay back, but I
am
coming.”

“I can live with that.”  I agreed.

“I'll no doubt have to rescue you.”

“It won't be the first time.”  I conceded. 

“Nor will it be the last.”  Sonafi said.  She could chop it up with the best of them, my Sonafi.  I kept my mouth shut unless I did not ever want to hear the end of it.

I turned to James Ray.  “I want you to go back and tell Brid that we are going to the Federal Building.  Agent Irving has guaranteed safe passage.  I believe him.”

“I think we could accomplish a lot more if Humans and Vampires worked together.” James Ray said.  “I hope they are able to see that.”

“I hope they do, too!”  I said.  “I'm the one walking in there.”

We found a cab and gave the driver a downtown address.  A club we were familiar with, not far from the Federal Building and soon enough we were there.

“Positive you want to go through with this?”  Sonafi asked as we looked down the broad avenue towards the Federal Building ahead.

“No, but I'm positive that time is running out and we have to do something.”  I said.  “We have to explore every avenue open to us.  Like it or not I don't see many alternatives.”

“I agree with you, even if my mouth doesn't.  My mouth always has had a mind of its own.”  Sonafi said.

“A very contentious mind of its own.”  I said with a laugh.

We made our way to the same building we had used before and after leaving our shoes in the shadows next to the wall went up the same way as we had before.  It was generally never a good idea to create a pattern by which someone else may predict your movements, but I was hoping that in this way I might discern if a trap had been laid for me before I got all the way into the snare.

Carefully we went over the parapet wall, searching every nook and cranny as we went, but there were no telltale signs of tampering, nothing out of place whatsoever, that either of us could see.  The old roofing material had not been so much as scuffed.  Attuned as Vampires are to the world around us, we would have known if any Human had been there.  None had.  Still not satisfied, we went back down the way we had come, then flitted around to the next building.  We went up this building and made the same search as that previous, with the same results.  We found no traces of intrusion anywhere along the original path we had traveled.  If there was a trap, it was in the Federal Building itself, or not at all.