I finally pulled back from the skinny blond cheerleader. Karthik gave me a polite nod and I gave him the same in return. Karthik was my type of person: all business, no affection. This I understood. However, I was willing to make exceptions for people like Breandan and Reed who had saved my ass a few times. And Kat, because truthfully she was still like a little kitten that I couldn’t bring myself to strangle the life out of. Not that I would strangle a kitten.
I saw a few other familiar faces; the crew that was with me in the last attack on Omega’s headquarters and a girl named Athena that I’d helped recruit to Omega’s protection. She gave me a faint smile even as she looked desperately lost on the cold airport tarmac. “We’ve got hotel rooms booked for you,” I announced to the small crowd. “These vans will take you to there. We’ll all meet soon to talk over what the next step is, but first I have to speak with this lot,” I gestured toward Karthik, Reed and Breandan, “to figure a few things out. This way,” I said, leading them toward the vans.
I’d had Ariadne handle the arrangements. She still had access to all the Directorate accounts, and we were already up and running. Omega may have blown up the buildings, but they weren’t able to damage the banking apparatus. The Directorate still had millions on deposit, ready to be used by us. Which was fortunate because we needed it. Ariadne was looking for temporary office space for us even now. I hadn’t ever given much thought into exactly how convenient our setup was at the Directorate. Helicopters were available to shuttle us around, along with an extensive motor pool. Now we had nothing, and Li had to fight with the FBI as it was for use of the vans we were now sitting in.
I got into the lead van and Karthik, Breandan and Reed followed me. I watched Kat help load Janus into a converted ambulance at the rear of the motorcade. He was on a gurney, a stretcher designed just for transport, his figure looking even more shriveled than I remembered.
“So,” Karthik said, breaking the silence as the van started into motion, “would you care to bring us up to speed with what has happened since we parted?”
“Yeah,” I said, slowly nodding, “I probably should give you a heads up, shouldn’t I? Well, the good news is that our fight just got a little easier ...”
By the time we pulled into the rear loop of the FBI offices, I had them up to speed. There was some disbelief (Reed), some angst at my initial arrest (Breandan), and some minor excitement at the idea that we were no longer in this completely over our heads and by ourselves (Karthik).
“So we have your government’s blessing to do what needs to be done to fight Sovereign?” Karthik asked, listening attentively.
“Indeed we do,” I said with a smile as I opened the van door to step out. “I hope you’re prepared to be deputized.”
Breandan frowned. “Deputized? What the hell is that?”
“It’s where they make you a lawman,” Reed answered.
“I can’t join the law!” Breandan protested. “I have a reputation to uphold! What would my friends think?”
Reed shared a knowing look with me. “That you’re afraid you’re going to be wiped out like the rest of your kind if you don’t get on the side of the only people who are fighting against Century?”
Breandan looked ready to argue then shrugged. “Ah, who am I kidding? I can see which way the wind is blowing, and I do not like the present direction. I’m in.”
“Never doubted for a minute you would be,” I said as we entered the FBI offices. We filed down the hallway in silence until we hit the conference room where Scott was waiting with Li, Ariadne and my mother. Foreman was conspicuous by his absence; it felt like there was a power vacuum in the room. Part of me wondered who would be running this particular meeting, until I realized it was going to be me. I took my place at the head of the table opposite my mother, while Karthik, Reed and Breandan took seats all in a line. Reed exchanged a nod with Scott, a slightly less friendly one with Ariadne, and sent a glare at my mother, who gave him an “eff off” look right back.
“Um,” I said, “I call this meeting to order. Or whatever.” My mother rolled her eyes. Ariadne had moved halfway up the table and sat between Reed and Li. My mother was all the way down at the end by herself. She was quite content with that, I was sure. Breandan had his hand up before I got a chance to say another word. “Yes?”
“Introductions,” he said.
“Right,” I replied. “This is Scott Byerly, he’s a Poseidon-type and a damned good field agent,” I said, nodding at the blond-haired man to my immediate left, “Agent Li of the FBI is our government liaison, Ariadne Fraser, head of our administrative division, then there’s—” I skipped over my mother, “Karthik, head of Omega’s field operations, Reed Treston, my brother and head of Alpha’s field operations, and finally, Breandan Duffy.” I paused with my hand extended at the Irishman, who waited expectantly. I searched for something to say. “Um ... he’s Irish.”