Simple Things, page 18
part #13 of The Valens Legacy Series
"Rox?"
"Yes, Cali?"
"I would like to go see Sawyer; would you mind if I asked Dae to take me?"
"No, of course not. What are you going to see him about?"
"This," Cali said, pulled one of the AP rounds out of her cleavage, and showed it to Roxy. "I have faith in Sawyer's ability to produce, more so than the others."
Roxy smiled at Cali, and gave her a hug. "Thanks, Cali. Because you're right, if anyone's going to get us what we need, it's Sawyer. Offer whatever you have to, to make it happen."
Cali smiled and hugged Roxy back; her sister wives where always so warm and loving. If only the rest of her people could learn to be this way.
"I am sure I will be able to offer Sawyer something to make it worth his while."
"I'm sure you will," Roxy agreed.
Putting the bullet away, Cali caught up with Daelyn, who'd already agreed to drive her there.
"You really should learn how to drive one of these days," Daelyn told her as they headed to her car.
"Why would I do that?" Cali asked with a curious look. "I'll never be as good as you, and your love of it is so great, I only have to ask, and you'll take me wherever I must go."
Daelyn grinned and nodded. "Well, yeah, there is that. Come on, let's get out of here before the traffic picks up."
Daelyn walked into Sawyer's new shop, with Cali following. The place looked almost the same as his place in Reno had, mainly because everything on the floor was almost exactly the same. The walls were a different color, and the counter at the end looked nicer, but nothing else really seemed to have changed beyond the location.
"Girls," Marx said from his customary seat by the door. "Isn't Jo with you today?"
"Between the twins and the other things she must deal with, she's been very busy," Cali said. "But I will let her know you were asking about her."
"Thanks," Marx said with a smile. "She's an old friend."
"Cali! Daelyn!" Sawyer called from behind the counter at the other end of the shop. "To what do I owe the honor? And where's Jolene?"
"Jo's busy, and we didn't want to spend a half hour listenin to the two of you spar," Daelyn said with a laugh.
"And how is Sean? The rumors I've been hearing are all over the place. Is it true you've been able to talk to him?"
"The lions have," Cali said with a smile. "Apparently he's been causing something of a disturbance over there."
Sawyer snorted. "Next thing you know the kid'll be running the place. Then I'll have to move there to stay in business."
"I dunno," Daelyn said, shaking her head. "The reports Chad's scouts have brought back sure don't make it sound like the kind of place I'd want to live!"
"I have to agree with you there, Daelyn. Though getting rid of all those bastards would probably make more folks happy than we could possibly count."
"Gee, I'd have never mistaken you for an altruist!" She laughed.
"I never said I'd do it," Sawyer replied with a smile. "But the kid? Your hubby? Yeah, that's right up his ally. But enough of the pleasantries, what brings you both into my shop on this fine day?"
Cali reached down into her cleavage, retrieved the round she had there, and set it on the counter before Sawyer.
"House Valens has a great need for as much of this ammunition as a prince of the Hà`kætunis line can provide for us."
"Is this the stuff that hurts the demons?" Sawyer asked, picking it up and looking at the round.
Cali nodded. "The dwarves are making a version that is iron tipped, but their numbers have yet to reach the level we need. This works satisfactorily for now, and Sean has sent word, when the next large gate opens, a king of the onderwereld will attempt an invasion."
Cali and Daelyn watched as Sawyer looked at the round and, turning it over, he studied the base of it.
"As House Valens needs, the line of Hà`kætunis will deliver," Sawyer said, looking up at Cali. "I give you my word."
Cali smiled. "House Valens will be in your debt."
Sawyer smiled. "I'll send you a bill. Bring your kid the next time you visit, and we'll call it even."
"I'll be sure to do that. I will try to convince Jo to bring hers as well."
"That would definitely be a sight worth seeing!" Sawyer said with a chuckle. "Now, I hate to be a rude host, but I need to make some calls if I'm to get this done."
"Thanks, Sawyer," Daelyn said.
"Have a good day, Sawyer," Cali said with a nod of her head.
Daelyn followed Cali out, saying goodbye to Marx as they passed.
"Well, that went easier than I thought it would," Daelyn admitted as they got into the car.
"He gains favor with us, and he also shows the others that he is working hard to protect us all," Cali told her. "For Sawyer, this is a tremendous opportunity. He is taking part in the war and helping us when we need it most. Helping us when others cannot."
Daelyn nodded. "Yeah, that would be a big feather in anybody's hat."
"And it also shows when House Valens needs something done, they do not hesitate to call on the aid of the Hà`kætunis line first." Cali smiled. "These are the things by which Goblin dynasties, where influence and connections are everything, hold sway."
"Oh! Now let's go home and share the good news."
#
Lieutenant Jack Kennedy sat on his bed and looked at his phone. He had to make this phone call, and while everything he was about to say would come out shortly, he was still hesitant. He'd kept this secret for a very, very long time.
"We're on our way out to the car, you coming?" Bill Channing asked, sticking his head into Jack's room.
"Yeah, I'll be out there in a minute. I need to make a phone call first."
"Important? Because we need to get going here."
"Oh, yeah. This is important all right," Jack said with a lame smile. "I'll be out there. Just go," Jack said and waved his hand.
Bill was tempted to rag on Jack for the rude dismissal, he was old enough to be the young man's father after all, but something in his eyes told him Jack needed a little space right now.
"Don't make us wait too long!" Bill called as he left.
Looking at his phone again, Jack shook his head and pressed the speed dial for General Baker. This was the number he'd been given in case there was an emergency.
"Baker here," the general answered.
"Sir, it's Lieutenant Jack Kennedy."
"Something wrong, Son?"
Jack shook his head, but continued, "Oh, yeah. There's a problem here, Sir. But I don't know if you can help me with it. However, I daresay it's important to you, so I thought I'd better call you first."
"Does this have to do with the move to infect soldiers with lycanthropy?" the general asked, getting right to the point.
"It's related to that, Sir. You see, we're about to infect a couple thousand people today, and, well…" Jack hesitated.
"And you want to be infected as well so you can continue your job there, right?"
"Umm, truth is, Sir, I was born a lycan. Been one all my life. That's why I volunteered to come out here with you. I knew what was going on, and I was afraid if there wasn't a lycan on the team to protect you…well, I take my job seriously, Sir."
"I had no idea, Lieutenant. Looking back now, I guess that explains why Sean and the others were so quick to allow you to accompany them during combat."
"Yes, Sir, it is."
"So what's the problem?"
"The problem, Sir, is I'm about to have thousands of newly infected people I have to deal with. That I'll have to teach, train, break in, all that. The folks here, they want to make me the alpha of all those troops…"
"But you're only a lieutenant," General Baker finished.
"Exactly, Sir. It goes against the chain of command. I'm just too low in rank to be taking this on. Because I'm their alpha, they'll have to listen to me, but being a lower rank…" Jack sighed. "It just goes against the grain, and I really hate to ask this, but the mission needs it."
"You need more weight on your shoulders so the officers and senior enlisted will take you seriously."
"Exactly it, Sir. I hate to ask this, but I was hoping for a spot promotion to something higher, at least until everyone's trained up and they understand how things work here. Once that's done, you can bust me back down to lieutenant."
"When's your captain's board?"
"Six more months, General."
"Okay, let me talk to your CO. You're right, the mission demands it. Where are you headed?"
Jack gave him the address and name of the Army National Guard base they were going to. "The governor already ordered a full turn out; after the news from Sacramento, everyone is finally starting to figure out what's been going on out in the desert."
"Okay, son. I'll take care of it. We'll have something worked out by the time you get there."
"Thank you, Sir."
"No, Jack, thank you. We've been hoping our lycan officers would step forward and identify themselves, because we know there's a learning curve in all this. Good luck, son."
The general hung up then, so Jack stuck his phone in his pocket, grabbed his beret, and ran out the door to the car where the others were waiting.
"You look happier now than a minute ago," Bill commented as Jack climbed into the car. "Good news?"
"Yessir, good news. Let's get over to the base so I can find out how good."
When they pulled up at the gate, the sergeant looked at their orders, then leaned down to look at Jack.
"The base commander asked if you'd stop by his office first, Lieutenant."
"Thanks, Sergeant."
He saluted, and Jack returned it as they waved everyone through the gate.
"What's this about?" Bill asked.
"We're about to get the answer to my question," Jack said as Bill drove them over to the base commander's office.
"What question is that?"
"How high are they willing to promote a werecougar for him to do his job," Jack said, then shrugged. "I can't do this as a lieutenant. No one takes a lieutenant seriously. Even one who went to Ranger School and served multiple combat tours overseas."
Getting out of the car after Bill had parked it, Jack led the way in, saluting the door guards as he went. Apparently security was being increased.
"Lieutenant Jack Kennedy reporting as requested, Sir," Jack said, coming to attention as he entered the commander's office.
"At rest, Lieutenant," said the base commander, a lieutenant colonel, getting up from his desk.
"I just received the most interesting orders from the Pentagon, I can honestly say, that I have ever received. Seems like the Good Idea Fairy has you squarely in her sights, Lieutenant." The commander held the paper in his hand and began to read.
Jack listened as he went through all the standard 'on this day' and 'after due consideration' boilerplate. He'd heard it all before.
"…be it resolved that Lieutenant Jack Kennedy is hereby promoted to the rank of captain in the United States Army." The base commander looked up a moment and smiled. "Also be it resolved that Captain Jack Kennedy is hereby granted the temporary rank of lieutenant colonel, either until such time as this authorization is revoked, or the current hostilities have concluded.
"Congratulations, Colonel!" the commander said and saluted.
Jack saluted back immediately. "They made me a light colonel?" he replied, gaping.
"Apparently," the commander said, dropping the salute and shaking hands. "Good thing I keep a spare set of insignia around here. Let's get that bar off and get the leaves on your shoulders so you can get to work."
"Yes, Sir. Thank you, Sir!"
"There's no rank among colonels, Jack. The name's Chet."
"Thanks, Chet." Jack smiled, quickly took off the bar, and let Chet help him put on the new insignia.
"If you don't mind my asking, what are you anyway? I mean, what kind of were animal, or whatever it's called."
"Lycan. I'm a cougar lycan."
"Ah, okay. Well, not sure how many takers there'll be for cougar; I suspect you're gonna end up with a lot of wolves today, though."
Jack nodded. "Yeah, I think I'm the only cougar in the infantry. But there are a few cheetahs in the enlisted corps."
"There are?"
"Oh, we've been here forever, Chet. It's just," Jack shrugged, "it's not the kinda thing you broadcast, you know?"
"Do you think we'll have a lot of volunteers?" Bill asked from where he'd been watching by the doorway.
"Hell, I'm tempted to volunteer, and I'm over forty," Chet said with a chuckle. "Everyone's been briefed, and I do mean everyone. We all know what's at stake here: our homes, and our loved ones. Folks may join the Army because they're young and want some excitement. But people join the Guard because they want to help protect their home.
"So yes, you're going to have a lot of volunteers. Now that I have someone of equal rank to turn them all over to, you're also going to have a lot of support from the officer corps. Just don't tell them you made colonel today," Chet smiled. "Now good luck, and if you need anything, don't hesitate to ask."
"Thanks, Chet," Jack said and saluted.
Chet returned the salute. "Don't be a stranger."
Heading out the door, Jack fixed his beret, then put it on.
"Well, that was a surprise," Bill said with a laugh. "Who did you call?"
"General Baker."
"He your CO?"
"No, my CO's only a major. But if there's one thing I've learned in the military, it's to go straight to the top. Baker's a doer. Hands on kind of guy. He may drive you crazy, but you know he's always got the mission on his mind."
"Well, let's go meet the recruits," Bill said as they got to the car.
"Yes," Jack nodded, "let's"
#
"We've looked at every person who works for the Speaker, every person who works for every person who works for the Speaker, and we haven't found a damn thing," Granite grumbled.
"What about the other congressmen who were there?" Tisha asked.
"They also checked out, though we didn't go as far with them as we did with the Speaker."
"None of this happened before, with the people in the abbreviated group we normally meet with," Steve said, thinking about the problem, "so we know they're all in the clear. All the people Sean had infected are in the opposition party, right?"
"Yeah, so?"
"Well, then, I think we can ignore anyone on that side of the aisle, because our new friends would have told us if they smelled anything out of the ordinary. And they're some pretty important people, so you know they've gotten around. So where does that leave us?"
"About two thirds of the official cabinet, and the president's party," Granite said.
"Carl and the others at the Secret Service already did a full investigation of all the cabinet members and their staffs. So they're all in the clear now."
Granite nodded. "That's right, and they found several problems over there, as I recall."
Steve nodded. "They did, didn't they? You know what? Start with the Senate majority leader. Run him and his people through the ringer. If that doesn't give us a lead, we'll set everyone on the rest of his party."
"Why him?" Tisha asked.
"If you're going to go after someone in the president's own party, you're going to start at the top, right?"
"I'll get Janet and Criss on it immediately," Granite said, getting up.
"If they find someone, tell them not to engage, just to pull back and watch."
"You don't want them killed?"
Steve shook his head. "No. They probably think whoever they've still got here is safe and we don't know about it. We can use that."
Granite nodded. "Okay, I'll be sure everyone knows."
"So now what?" Terri asked as Granite left, closing the door behind him.
"Now, we wait," Steve sighed, "again."
"Well, as long as we're waiting," Terri said and smiled at him. "How about calling General Baker and seeing if you can arrange for another shipment of ammunition?"
"You know the last batch they sent was stolen?"
"And yet it still ended up in our hands." Terri chuckled. "You think Sawyer did it?"
"As they didn't have to pay for it, no, I don't. But you're right, let's call the good general and see what he can do for us this time."
North
"How far up into the mountains is this place?" Sean asked. They'd been traveling for several days now, and it was beginning to get steep. Living in Reno, Sean had seen and climbed his fair share of mountains, so he knew they had to be getting up there by now. Especially as they'd gotten high enough to enter the clouds hours ago.
"I told you, I have no idea," Estrella replied.
"Well, what do you know?"
"Only the rumors whispered about, that all the ley lines in the area run up to this mountain, and something powerful lies on it that the demons won't go near."
" I can feel the ley lines are definitely starting to draw together," Sean said, looking around. The trees were starting to thin out, and a scraggly brush had become the more prominent vegetation.
"Is it my imagination, or is the fog starting to thin?"
"It is," Sean agreed. "I guess we're finally getting above the clouds, now that we're passing the tree line."
Over the next half hour, the fog thinned quickly, until they suddenly found themselves standing in what passed for daylight.
"Will you look at that," Sean said as they stared at something best described as a blockhouse set against the side of the mountain. It appeared to be made out of the same sort of stone-like material the hellige rings were made out of.
Calling up his enchanting framework, Sean took a moment to look at it. He could see all the ley lines ran straight into it. In fact, several of them joined together before they passed inside. There was a lot of magical power here.
"Looks like a keep of some sort," Estrella said.
"Looks like a blockhouse to me," Sean said and pointed to the long slot across the front, high off the ground. "See how the edges are sloped away from the opening? That's to help repel shells and fragments. And that big metal-looking thing to the left I'm sure is some sort of armored door."
