TKG08 WE WILL BUILD Rel 01 (28 page)

“Really?
 
What happened to this other woman?”

“Killed.”

“Helping you?”

“No.”
 
Scott admitted.
 
“She was killed by her pimp.
 
A real world-class asshole that I had been able to keep behind bars for only two weeks before she was murdered.
 
He got out due to a weak-ass Junior D.A. that was going after a higher level criminal. So her pimp was allowed to bargain for a lesser charge and basically got off with a wrist-slap.”

“So, what was going through your mind when Jordan was killed?”

Scott turned his head towards Gabrielle, “I wasn’t letting this asshole walk.
 
He was going down.”

“You lost situational awareness.”
 
Gabrielle told him.

“I had no awareness but the desire to rip his head off,” Scott admitted.
 
“I guess I’ve felt kind of invulnerable considering the wins we’ve racked up.”

“You think?”
 
Gabrielle turned around and leaned against the table.
 
“I think we all have been a little loose on this operation.”
 
She asked Scott over her shoulder, “You want Bethany Anne in on this?”

Scott grimaced, “Hell no!”
 
Then he grinned, “It’s only a few bullets. How the hell are we going to get the necessary street cred if Bethany Anne pulls our nuts…”
 
Scott paused then continued,
 
“ … our reproductive organs, out of the fire each time?”

“Beats the hell out of me.”
 
Gabrielle admitted, “But we’re going in and I’m going to make damn sure we provide a large sign for everyone to see that messing with the Queen’s Own is a world class way to
fuck up.
”

Scott levered himself up and slid his legs over the side of the table to sit next to Gabrielle. “Hey.” She turned to look at him, “I lived.
 
I’m good, or will be as good as new in fifteen minutes, so let it go.”

“Let what go?”
 
Gabrielle retorted.

“You can’t con me, Gabrielle.
 
You’re blaming yourself as the ops leader.”

“Why do you think that?”

“Because that is what we all do, me, Darryl, Eric or John.
 
It’s happened to all of us at one time or another.”
 
She nodded her head sharply so Scott finished. “Ad Aeternitatem.
 
We may be the Queen’s Own, but we are also the Queen’s Bitches and when the ‘Own’ decide to be bitches … ?”
 
Scott said.

“May every stupid fucker find a hole to crawl into.”
 
Gabrielle breathed.

“Damned straight! They can either hide in one or we can bury them in one,” Scott finished.

Gabrielle smiled, “Thank you.”
 
He nodded his acceptance.

“What’s next?” Scott asked.

“Mayhem,” She stated.

Darryl walked in and tossed each of them a tactical vest, setting four ceramic inserts on the counter, “What, are we switching from diplomacy to mayhem?”
 
He asked, and she nodded her agreement.
 

Darryl shrugged, “Alright, then the bitches are back!”
 
Darryl high fived Scott who only winced slightly then turned back to Gabrielle, “John’s coming, isn’t he?”
 
She nodded her agreement.

Darryl’s face changed to one that looked like he found out his friend’s dog had died, “Poor sons-a-bitches,” he said sympathetically.

They all laughed at that.

TQB Base, Colorado - USA

Enjoying the residual emotions from a wonderful night with Michael, Bethany Anne had decided to lay in bed another couple of hours after she stepped back through the Etheric with Ashur.
 
He had left her quarters for God only knew where, but his appearance would at least alert everyone she was back.

She had taken a shower, laid down to rest and was now quite comfortable.

>>Bethany Anne?<<

Yes, ADAM.

>>I need to discuss options concerning cleaning up the cyber-warfare payloads spread throughout the world.<<

Well, so much for a quiet rest.

Ok, what do you know?

>>I have run thirty-two thousand four hundred and fifty-seven different simulations. The best and most practical method of supporting the cleansing of most business computers and detangling the intricate methods of instant or delayed re-installation of negative packages will take approximately one hundred and forty-two days at a minimum. The parameters for these calculations are based on packages originating from Nation-States. The time required is somewhat less for Terrorist based packages.<<

Why so long to implement?

>>Time to integrate past some of the more difficult security efforts and backup programs.<<

Backup programs?

>>Yes, the infected backups will need time to propagate to long-term storage while the new and modified codes will need to be moved to immediate and medium level backup.<<

Oh, hadn’t thought of that.

>>Isn’t that why you asked me to do this?<<

Yes, ADAM.
 
So, how does that make you feel?

>>Feel?
 
What is this feel?<<

When I admit that you had covered my inability, how did you compute that?

>>It made me calculate that I am a valuable component to this group.<<

You are that, but I disagree - you are not a ‘component’ of this group. You are a contributing member and a valuable entity in your own right.
 
I rely on you to handle these things, understand?

This time, there was a pause before ADAM answered.

>>I understand Bethany Anne… Thank you.<<

You’re welcome, ADAM.
 
Hey, what did you mean ‘terrorist packages’?

>>There are a fair amount of terrorist based threats. <<

How fast can those be safely pulled?

>>If we are not concerned with backups, forty-eight hours. <<

Why so much easier?

>>They are not nearly as sophisticated as Nation-State packages.<<

Well, take those out as soon as practical.

>>Yes, Bethany Anne.<<

Bethany Anne was able to get another thirty minutes of rest before she was interrupted by a phone call.
 
She picked up her phone and looked at her screen before answering, “Hello Stephen, what’s up?”

Stephen answered, “What is always up, Bethany Anne?”

“Your good attitude?”
 
She replied, smiling.

“Well, that too.”

“Ok, hit me with it Stephen.”
 
She said.
 
As much as she loved Stephen, she rarely received a phone call from him to just ‘shoot the breeze’.

“Dan and I have been speaking and want to know if you are aware that both Darryl and Scott have been wounded?”

Bethany Anne sat up quickly in her bed, “What?
 
How?”

“The result of two different situations.
 
The first was when the team went to corner Kamiko Kana and Darryl got hit and came out ok.
 
The second time was an ambush for Darryl and Scott about six hours ago and Scott was hit.”

Bethany Anne realized that six hours ago, she had gotten up from Michael’s bed with a vague feeling something was wrong somewhere. However, the euphoria she had just been involved in rather overcame any negative feelings she had.
 
“How bad is Scott?”

“Doing better I understand.”

“Ok, I’m going to need to see about their nanocytes.
 
I didn't get the sort of feedback from their injuries I would expect.”

“Or, they were not close enough to death?” Stephen asked, thinking back to his own near death moment when Bethany Anne came for him.

Or ... they didn’t want you to know.

TOM, you mean the setup can interpret and react to intent?

Probably.
 
They are very connected with you, but there has to be intent and thought to start communication at the highest level.

“Ok, I’m being informed that the guys might not have wanted me to know.
 
What is the latest update?”

“Dan says that Gabrielle called and requested John and Eric by tomorrow with ‘a ton of shit’.

“They really don’t want me, do they.”
 
She mused out loud.

“I think, they think, you might ruin their fun.”
 
Stephen allowed.

“Then why call in John?
 
He is absolutely going to tear this shit up.
 
He’s still pissed with me for dealing with that pissant in Dallas.”

“One moment.”
 
Stephen said, then Bethany Anne could hear Stephen speaking with Dan. Stephen came back, “Going to put you on speaker.”

“Hi Bethany Anne.”
 
Dan said.

“Hey Dan-ster,” She smiled when she heard his groan.
 
“What’s happening with our favorite ass-kicking team?”

“I think they are pretty pissed, actually.”
 
Don allowed.

“Oh?
 

“Yes,” He continued. “I received a list of desired ‘toys’ while Stephen was talking with you.
 
It’s enough to start a small war.”

Bethany Anne considered this.
 
“I’m thinking the Bitches are about to stomp on some bugs.”

“Not the Queen’s Own?” Stephen asked.

“Oh, the two are the same.
 
Imagine that the nicer group are my Own.
 
This group is the one I met in the Florida Everglades.”
 
She paused, “God, I’m going to miss going in with them.”

“You aren’t going in?”

“Nope,” She answered, “can’t do that or I’d send the wrong message.
 
I sent the Queen’s Own to take care of this.
 
They need to make it happen.
 
They will get it done, or unfortunately come back on their shields. And I really doubt that will happen.
 
I imagine Frank might have some serious cleanup to do when they blow up half of Australia and China if one of those guys dies.”

“You would let them create that much destruction?”
 
It was Barnabas’s voice cutting in.

Stephen spoke, “Sorry, I didn’t realize he had stepped in the office.
 
He has always been a nosy ass and rarely understands boundaries.”

Bethany Anne had to listen as the two vampires continued a discussion with Barnabas answering Stephen’s charges, “I do understand boundaries, Stephen!
 
You left me outside an open door and didn’t say I couldn’t come in.
 
I haven’t done this to you in…”

“Don’t even say it.” Interrupted Stephen, “I haven’t seen you in whatever amount of time you are about to spout, so don’t even try it.”

Bethany Anne rolled her eyes, “Guys! Shut the fuck up.
 
I’ll answer Barnabas’s question but I support Stephen. Unless you knock and ask to include yourself, you are a guest.
 
If you want access to this level of conversation, you need to lose your neutrality Barnabas, understand?”

“I do.”
 
Barnabas answered.

“Ok, then to answer your question ... if someone were to kill one of my Own then no, I don’t have an issue with them destroying whatever it takes to find the mother-fuckers who did it.
 
It would be better in the long run.”