Marcus Pelegrimas - Extinction Agenda

The major wasn’t the sort to twitch when someone struck a nerve, but the pause that followed that question, compared to the snap response he’d given them before, told Cole more than enough. “I’ll see to it that no such devices are planted on you. As far as satellite tracking goes, the military’s expense account is taking a big enough hit just mobilizing to respond to those new reports across the border.”

“You’re talking about those attacks in Brazil?” Paige asked, referring to a story that had found its way into the headlines over the last few days. Apparently, creatures resembling Half Breeds had been creeping in from the Amazon jungle led by a Full Blood that didn’t match any others photographed over the past few months.

“Correct. With everything escalating the way it has, you can’t even imagine the requests we’re getting from other countries for assistance.”

“How many other countries?” Cole asked.

“I’m not at liberty to divulge those details to civilian contractors,” Adderson said, without even trying to be subtle in his constant effort to recruit them. “Let’s just say that the U.S. is on the map for the majority of instances that have been made public, but there are plenty more leaking into public awareness from across the globe. Whatever these things are, wherever they came from, they’re obviously not contained within American borders. That’s what makes it even more pressing to create a more effective way of dealing with them that falls short of melting down or blasting apart large sections of civilian structures and population.”

With that, Cole was given a glimpse at why Paige must have agreed to sign on with the IRD in any capacity.

“Fine,” she said. “Count us in. Where do we pick up this sonic thing?”

“A mobile version is being put together now,” the major said. “I’ll have it prepped and ready to go by 0600.”

“That’s six in the morning, right?” Cole grumbled.

“Affirmative,” Adderson said with a sadistic grin.

“We could use some more clothes, some guns, supplies, and a vehicle,” Paige said. “Plus some money would be nice since we’re probably going to be on our own for a while. It’ll take a few days just to get the smell of all this equipment off us.”

“What are you talking about?”

“These things track by scent,” she told him. “Anything from gun oil, gasoline, to boot polish stands out from the norm. And we’ve also got to assume that they’ll probably see us long before we see them. Look, I can’t tell you any of that is certain, but if you want us to do you any good, we need to work our own way. And if you don’t trust us to do that, then we’re no good to you whether we get to wear the cool patch or not.”

Adderson thought that over and nodded. “All right. We’ve got weapons and ammunition, as well as a few changes of clothes for you. As to the rest, we should be able to scrape something up by morning. Is that good enough or should we air drop it in a field somewhere so you’re not seen with us?”

“Where could you drop it?”

The major’s tired grin wavered and dropped off. Apparently, he’d already been around Paige long enough to know when she wasn’t kidding. “We’re not air dropping anything, but if you have to play it that way, we can leave it at a secure location of your choice.”

“Perfect,” she said with a nod. “I’ll write up a list. You can leave it a few miles from here and we can pick it up after you guys roll out. You were planning on leaving soon, right?”

“You know damn well we were scheduled to move our mobile command into Kansas to check on those pack animals you told us about. The Shunkaws?”

“Yep, and you guys shouldn’t have any trouble clearing them out. Remember, they like sugar. They’re tough, but bullets should bring them down just fine.”

Seeing he wasn’t going to get any further with her than that, Adderson nodded and turned on his heels to step back into the main camper. When Paige started walking toward the open area, away from everyone else, Cole followed her.

“Whatever vehicle they give us, we’ll need to check it from top to bottom just to make sure it wasn’t bugged with a tracking device,” he said.

“Bugged? Too many movies.”

“No, there’s about a dozen ways to get the job done using crap you can buy online or at Best Buy. I don’t even want to think about what the military could come up with. Actually, since the IRD may be some sort of shadow organization, we should probably insist on renting a car using their cash.”

She bent her right arm across her body and rubbed it with her left hand. The injury she’d sustained in Kansas City had been improving ever since she was able to reform her weapons properly. “You really get off on the whole shadow organization thing, don’t you?”

“I guess. I’ve written games about them for years and now I’m in one.”

“You’re a civvie. Don’t forget that. And as far as the whole car thing goes, we only need to drive it around long enough to make sure we’re not being followed. After that, we’re outta here.”

“Outta where?”

“Here,” she said, as if the ground itself had become inhospitable. “Away from these people.”

“But you’re the one that signed up with them.”

“That was out of necessity. The way things were headed, military involvement was going to happen whether we liked it or not. At least Adderson seems to be going about it the right way, but this isn’t the way Skinners are supposed to operate. I was hoping they might be able to get some surgeons who could help you with your problem.”

“I’ve got vampire tendrils wrapped around my guts,” Cole reminded her with a tired chuckle. “That’s not exactly the sort of thing you go to the emergency room for.”

“I know. It was worth a shot.”

“That’s not the only reason you started all of this, is it?”

Paige stuffed her hands into her pockets and whispered, “All of this was happening already. Adderson approached me with this whole IRD thing already in place. With everything getting too big to hide anymore, it made sense to help those who looked like they had the best chance of succeeding.”

“In the words of the great and wise Daffy Duck, if you can’t beat ’em . . . join ’em.”

She shook her head. “I thought they could help you, Cole. At the very least, I knew they could get you away from all of those cops who just wanted to string you up after we were framed for all of those cops who were killed by the Nymar.”

“You don’t have to explain yourself anymore, Paige. I get it.” Dropping his voice, he asked, “Where do you want to go once we ditch these guys?”

“We’ll field test their sonic thingie somewhere along the line, but I don’t think that’s going to turn the tide. I think we need to get back to basics and tackle this problem the best way we can. No helicopters. No fire teams. Leave all that for the mopping up.”

“What happened to that thing that was in Cecile’s arm?” Cole asked. “The Jekhibar. It was important enough for two Full Bloods to hide and another to tear up an entire state looking for it. Do we even know what it’s supposed to do?”

“Never got a chance to find out, but there’s at least one guy who does know. Didn’t Jessup tell you he had it?”

“Yeah. When I talked to him after the Breaking Moon set, he said Cecile was more than happy to get it out of her and that he and the rest of that Lancroft cult had it. The Vigilant.”

“That’s them. We need to check them out, and we sure as hell can’t afford to get close right now. They’ll be looking for it after Jessup announced his involvement with them in New Mexico.”

“You think Rico’s really turned on us?” Cole asked.