Camp Alien (42 page)

D
ANIEL AND THE
other A-Cs led us to an area somewhere rather close to the command deck. Couldn't have said where it was—the helicarrier, like so many other things, was a rat maze to me already and I was completely lost.

The room we arrived at was clearly an armory, however. Glass or Plexiglas or Vatusus' version of either made up the top half of the walls. The bottom half was metal. And inside were an array of weapons and body armor that would make the armed forces of every country on Earth drool with desire.

“We couldn't even open this door before,” Lucas said as Daniel quite easily opened the door.

“There are at least ten others like this scattered around the ship,” Marcus added as we went inside and everyone, even those I'd have said were slightly more pacifistic than the others—namely White, Abigail, and Mahin—were running around like kids in the most dangerous candy store in the world.

“Commander,” Walker said over the intercom, “have spotted the security forces. Do you want to try to get them into our Floating Fortress of World Domination?”

“Yes, because those guys deserve to be armed for bear and protected just like the rest of us. Drax Industrial definitely has the contract for Kitty Land. See if Keith can give you numbers so you can try to call them first. Who knows, maybe we can get through even though we're cut off from our supposed friends at Andrews and the White House.” Had another thought. “Chip, I'm going to give you a phone number. See if you can make contact.”

“Will do.”

Gave him Drax's number that I'd saved to my phone, then went back to equipping myself and everyone else.

The body armor actually conformed to each individual, kind of like a wetsuit but without being as hard to put on. Wasn't as easy to use as the stuff Alfred in Bizarro World had created, but, if it worked, it was a lot less bulky than Kevlar and a lot more maneuverable than actual armor.

The guns were lightweight and came in a wide variety of sizes and magazine loads and, unsurprisingly to any of us who'd been on the Murder Train, there was also a huge assortment of knives available.

Before we were done choosing our weapons of personal destruction, Walker was back on the com. “Commander, have connected with the other security forces via text, which we still seem able to use, though only via Keith's phone. They're at what Devon insists is the entry to the area we were in. Will be picking them up shortly. There are some civilians asking if they need to come along, too.”

“Tell them thank you but no. I think we have enough people in danger right now. Be sure someone gets contact info for all the nice people at Charlie's who helped out, though. Then tell them to leave the area immediately.”

“Already handled on the contact info and will do on evacuation order. Also was able to connect your call, mostly because I think he has the ship wired for it somehow. You now have Mister Drax on the line.”

“Awesome. Gustav, how goes it?”

“I'm deeply confused about how your government handles things, but otherwise, I'm good. How are you?”

“Oh, no longer kidnapped, about to do a raid, just as confused as you are about what's been going on, and really pissed off at my husband and close friends.”

“Interesting. I'd relay a message but I and my retainers have been put into lockdown in your embassy for the duration.”

“Why ask why? Clearly there's a distinct need for my input over at The Big House.”

“Possibly. So if you're hoping I can assist you, I'm limited. I'm under guard, but they did allow this call.”

“Super. The Sovereign and Flying Nation of Kitty Land is hella impressed with your skills. You're officially our
weapons dude. We have no money, but we've already got your stuff, and we'll definitely be giving you sterling recommendations.”

“You found the helicarrier?” He sounded elated. Good.

“Yes, we did. Long story that I'll tell you later, but rest assured, it was not the real Thomas Kendrick who took it, so you two can remain friends and business partners. Here's the thing. Can this puppy extract people from either the ground or a secured facility?”

“I don't follow you.” Heard voices in the background, then heard Drax relay my request. “Sorry, Tevvik says that he does follow you. Call is now on speakerphone.”

“Missus Martini, are you asking if the ship can ‘beam' someone up?”

“Hey, Tevvik. Let's go with Commander Kitty right now. And yes, I do mean that. How did you know?”

“Your father is with us and is providing any interpretation we might need.”

“Hi, Dad! Please don't let Jeff have Francine impersonate me to the kids.”

“That's not what's going on, kitten, I promise, though I understand why you're upset.” Dad was oozing parental support. Clearly Mom had told him how angry I was. “We'll get it straightened out once you're home. The children are fine and missing you. But I'll let you get back to Tevvik. The Vata are fascinating. Did you know—”

“Dad, love you, but you're not Tevvik who you said you were giving me back to.”

“Sorry, kitten, you're right. Go ahead.”

Tevvik chuckled. “Thank you. Plus, Commander Kitty, we've been searching for Prince Gustav for two years. Radio waves carry, and in this part of the galaxy, there's not a lot of interesting things going on. We've received all communications from Earth and the Alpha Centauri planets for over a year while we made our way to you.”

“I thought you could travel hella fast.”

“We can. There are a lot of planets to check, Commander Kitty, inhabited and uninhabited. Vata are thorough people.”

“Good to know. Prince Gustav seems . . . less thorough.”

“I resent that.”

“But you can't deny it, my prince. You're right,
Commander Kitty. The royal family has less need to be thorough—that's what their retainers are for. At any rate, to answer your question, no, I don't believe the ship is equipped with ‘beaming' technology.”

“Bummer. Okay, then we get our people out the hard, yet much more exciting, way.”

“There's body armor and weapons in the ship, or there should be,” Drax said.

“Ahead of you and speaking to you from one of your armories. Anything we should know about any of the tech we're about to start using on a raid to rescue our captured people?”

“Not really. I made them for humans and A-Cs to use. I could tell you how to use the small invisibility irradiation chamber that's on board if you'd like.”

“No. I'm with Thomas Kendrick on that—I'd prefer an easy on and off way to do the Invisibility Mambo. Which, by the way, I think one of our enemies has. Why I'm calling and what I'd like you to do is to contact Serene somehow and tell her that I think that Stephanie has figured out how to use the A-C's invisibility shielding—which is on all their vehicles and around the Crash Site Dome, for your info—and made it something that a human or android can wear and turn on and off and that no A-C can see through.”

“Tevvik has a direct line to Serene and is contacting her now.” Heard quiet speaking. “Ah. And your father already asked her to come over.”

“Great. Your job, Gustav, is to help her figure out how Stephanie did it and how to combat it. And I'd like that done quickly.”

“I'll do my best.”

“Works for me. Not sure if we'll be able to contact you again. If we can't and if they ask, yes, I'm still furious, though trying really hard to see their side of things. If anyone cares, I'm certain the sniper was using this invisibility stuff, and if we discover that Burton Falk and all of that team decided to come after me because they lost Crystal Maurer's trail—which I assume they did and plan to find out the moment I rescue them—it's because she's using that tech, too. The biggest question is who the sniper was. My answer is that I'm going to bet cash money that it was someone Stephanie's worked with before, and it's also someone willing to
play one side against the other. Ergo, my money is on Casey Jones, she of Club Fifty-One and Cliff's Crazy Eights and probably more besides.”

“You're sure?” White asked.

“Not a hundred percent, but to get someone onto the payroll this fast, it had to be someone Stephanie already knows. The other Crazy Eights are mad at her, but Casey was already running a double game. Who's to say she's not running a third?”

“Commander Kitty, your father hooked Commander Dwyer into this call via his phone and she says that she got all that,” Tevvik shared. “She'll be to us momentarily and will take control of this situation and will hunt down any other connections to Stephanie that might have been the sniper.”

“They'll let her in the Embassy when it's in full lockdown?”

“They will because I shared that I'm as mad as you are,” Serene said.

“Nice of you to join the party.”

“I'd have been here sooner but I've been busy screaming at Jeff, Chuck, James, and Tim.”

“You complete me.”

“Doing my best.”

“Commander Kitty,” Drax said. “I realize this may not help, but the ship can ‘see' into buildings. Are your pilots wearing the helmets?”

“Guys, I know Chip left this line open 'cause I know how you guys roll. So, are you?”

“What helmets?” Walker asked.

“Push the button that says INT—it's short for interactive.” Said with a tremendous amount of static.

“I think we're losing you guys. We're going to the presumed NSA black site next to the abandoned Forest Haven Insane Asylum. If we don't come back soon, send an army.”

“Have lost the connection, Commander,” Walker shared a few moments later.

“Figures.”

“Believe they did receive your last comment. Need you back here at command, as well.”

“On my way.” Looked at White. “Well, sorta. Richard, are you equipped?”

He took my hand. “Yes, and I know the way back.” We zipped off and were back at the command center quickly.

All five pilots, which included Lizzie and Keith, were wearing helmets. They looked like what I considered a typical jet pilot's helmet, but with an amber visor that went over the top half of the face. From what I could see of their faces and from their body language, the flyboys looked intent and relieved. The three of them were doing whatever it was they were doing with a lot more confidence and authority.

Lizzie and Keith, however, had gone from looking worried and nervous to looking like they'd had an infusion of Can-Do Attitude and as if this was now the most exciting thing ever. Clearly the helmets were helpful. “What's up and I presume the helmets are good?”

“Oh, my God,” Lizzie said. “They're totes amazing! You wouldn't believe what you can see with this thing on!”

“They help tell you what to do to fly the ship,” Keith added. He glanced over at me. “Can I request permanent assignment to your security detail, Commander Kitty?”

“Keith, welcome to Team Adrenaline Junkie, and yes, you can.” Went over to where Jerry was, since he was the one beckoning to me.

“We don't have a totally clear spot to land to pick the team up. I realize you want to equip them, but they're already in position, just outside of what we think would be the black site's visual radius. Keith's been in constant communication with them, and the thinking is that we either bring down equipment for them or they're the fallback team.”

“Makes sense. So, can we see inside the buildings like Drax said we could?”

“No idea yet, Commander,” Hughes said. “We haven't tried over any buildings we've passed since they were civilian and we're not the NSA.”

Every station had at least one viewing screen. Jerry had three, and one of them was aimed at the road beneath us. We were high enough that we had a good view of the entire area we were headed for, so I got to see Forest Haven in all its glory. It looked a lot better from above, in part because it was almost fully dark out.

Which meant that I noticed the headlights. Lots and lots
of headlights. All heading out of the black site's parking lot and out to the highway. There were other headlights, too, coming from down the road. “Where are those other cars coming from?”

“School for underprivileged youth,” Keith answered. The helmets were clearly as impressive as the team had said. “Meaning it's a nice juvenile detention center. That complex shows clearly as what they are, and we've crossed-referenced. They're legit, and while some of the students live there full-time, and therefore so do some administration and security staff, plenty come and go.”

“Interesting. Wish we'd run that far.”

“No, you don't,” Keith said. “Devon said they checked it out when they went the wrong way to leave. The team decided it was a risk—to us and to them—to ask for help, based on the site we're going back to now. By the way, Devon's certain that's an NSA black site, and half the team with him agree. Whatever we're going to find there, no one expects it to be good.”