Camp Alien (36 page)

“Me, too,” Randy said. “Well, as normal as we ever get.”

We headed off at a walk since the flyboys had that box of stuff. I was prepared for the trapdoor to be locked, locking us in here, but it was open. White closed it after us and put the tarp back, then we continued on.

Giving credence to Lizzie's theory, and unlike the other hostages we'd found, now that they were up and dressed, Joe and Randy didn't seem to be having any ill effects. Tried not to worry about them. Failed. Utterly.

However, I had other people to worry about more. Camilla, Rahmi, and Rhee were most likely in the invisible helicarrier. Conveniently, I was about ninety-nine percent sure I knew where it was. Unfortunately, I was about one percent sure that I could get into said helicarrier undetected.

Meaning I was going to have to request entry. Oh well, supposedly I had a way with diplomacy.

O
NCE WE WERE
out of the building I insisted that White use hyperspeed to get the supplies to the others. He agreed, took the box, and took off. The rest of us took off our evidence gloves and I had the others link up and we headed after him. Well, with one small detour.

I ran us around the entire gigantic complex, pointing out the buildings where we had and hadn't found people, and had Adriana do the same. I also showed the guys where the Presumed Detention Center was. We stopped by one of the buildings nearest to the other facility, but one we hadn't searched.

“You two are in uniform and you're in better shape than the other flyboys. If worse comes to worst, you two may have to try to get help for us from whoever's in here.”

Joe's eyes were narrowed. “Mahin said we're close to the NSA?”

“Yeah, she did. Not close enough to be able to get everyone there safely, though. At least, I don't think.” I had no idea where NSA headquarters was from here, and I also had no idea who there was friendly toward us or not. Sure, I was the FLOTUS now, but that didn't mean anything. In my experience, it was just going to make me a better bargaining chip.

“You thinking it's an NSA facility?” Randy asked him.

“I think it's possible. And if that's the case, then I think it's a good thing you guys didn't go there trying to get help.”

“Thank Lizzie. She's the one who thought it would be easy to get in but hard to get out.”

She tried not to preen, but she couldn't hide that she was pleased with the praise. “My dad's advice.”

“He's a smart man,” Randy said. “Joe's right, we need to steer clear unless it's our last option. We'll be treated as enemies, not people to help. And while that will stop the moment they know who we really are, the wife of the Vice President shouldn't be making unplanned visits to an NSA holding facility.”

“Oh. Um. Right. You guys didn't get the last update. Um . . . I'm not the wife of the Vice President anymore.”

Both guys stared at me. “What the hell happened to you and Jeff in a week?” Joe asked, sounding shocked to his core.

“Is Jeff dead?” Randy asked, sounding horrified.

“Oh, no. Others are, but not Jeff. Stop panicking, Jeff and I are still married.” Barring him divorcing me for not calling him, which was not my fault. Gave the guys their CliffsNotes version of the past many days' events.

“You're the First Lady now?” Joe didn't sound like he believed it. Yeah, I didn't really believe it, either.

“Believe it,” Lizzie said. “And she hates the job, but the house is nice. So far. I miss the Embassy, though. It's a lot cozier.”

“I've never thought of the American Centaurion Embassy as cozy,” Randy said. “So I can only imagine how you're doing, Kitty.” He hugged me. “Thanks for coming to save us.”

Joe hugged me, too. “What Randy said. A lot.”

“Well, we were kidnapped, in that sense. I was happy to get the double, though, and rescue everyone. Which, by the way, we are not done with. Mission: Save the Rescue Team needs to roll, and roll soon.”

“Yeah.” Randy looked around and shuddered. “I can't believe Stephanie stashed everyone here.”

“You know about Forest Haven? Are you taking the same course with my dad that Mahin is?”

“No, I watch
Ghost Hunters
,
and this is one of the most haunted places they've ever been. Joe, you and Lorraine watched that episode with us.”

Joe nodded. “Yeah, the people on that show were spooked to the max. They felt this place was bad news.”

“And they felt it was genuinely haunted,” Randy said firmly. “And by malevolent spirits as well as just trapped souls.”

“Told you,” Lizzie said smugly.

“What's with the shoes? Did they say?” I sincerely hoped they'd said.

Both guys shook their heads. “It's just how it is here,” Randy said. “Some of them think the ghosts pile the shoes up because they can't leave.”

“No one knows,” Joe added. “No one's supposed to come here, but you know how people are—this place sees a lot of ghost-hunting and thrill-seeking activity. Some people who come to investigate move the shoes. The shoes are always moved back when they aren't looking.”

“Officially creeped out, thanks so much. But, that begs a question—if the
Ghost Hunters
were here, and other people come here all the time, why hasn't anyone spotted us and come over to ask what we're doing here?”

“My guess is that they,” Joe jerked his head toward the presumed NSA site, “just ignore anyone here. It's usually going to be ghost hunters, teenagers, or the homeless. As long as they don't jump the fence, who cares what they're doing here?”

“Adriana used a rocket launcher,” Lizzie pointed out. “She used it a lot.”

Joe shrugged. “If they're well-soundproofed, they might not have heard it.”

“Or they heard it and didn't care,” Randy said.

“Or they don't care about what happens here, even if a bomb drops,” Lizzie suggested.

“Which makes them even more suspicious. Or lax in their security since anyone over here could be here spying on whatever's going on in this facility, though.”

“Yeah, so let's get moving,” Randy said. “Why give them a reason to check us out? Besides, the sooner we leave Forest Haven the better.”

We linked up again and this time I took us back to the others. The flyboys had quite the reunion, and the rest of us ignored whatever manly tears were going on. Jerry, Hughes, and Walker were freaked out and furious about what had been done to Joe and Randy, but White kept the situation under control by reminding them that whatever was going on with Camilla and the princesses was potentially worse. That was us—keeping things calm by pointing out how much worse they were probably going to get.

I insisted that everyone here have water and food bars if they hadn't already and made those who had drink and eat more. Abigail and Mahin were already doing first aid on those who needed it, and Lizzie and Adriana started helping out. Despite the dire situations everyone had been in, a little water, food, and TLC seemed to be going a long way.

I'd been most worried about the two Field teams, but water and food had worked wonders for them and they were looking pretty close to what I considered normal for an A-C.

Once the flyboys had finished their reunion and had more food and water at my direct order, Jerry pulled me aside. The other flyboys, Lizzie, White, and Adriana came along, too. We left Abigail and Mahin riding herd on the security personnel.

“The P.T.C.U. folks can hot-wire the car,” Jerry said. “I've had them wait, though, so we don't burn gas for nothing. But considering no one can make a call and, as near as we can tell, no one cares that you've been kidnapped, I think we might want them to go for it.”

“I can agree with that, only we're going to have to stuff that car full of people.”

“It's a limo, Kitty,” Hughes pointed out. “We can get a lot of people into it.”

“And they don't have to be comfy,” Walker added. “Refugees get to pack in tightly, whoever's getting out of here in the car can pack in tightly, too.”

“But we can't get all the people into it. And, before anyone suggests it, I'm not going to be one of those heading off for safety, because I'm not leaving until I find the team I sent to rescue you guys, not to mention my Poofs and Peregrines.”

“Where do you think the animals are?” Adriana asked.

“Honestly? I think they're in the same place our last three people are—inside the helicarrier. But let's get back to the car situation first. How many people can we fit into that limo, squished up and breaking all traffic laws and rules of decorum?”

“At least a dozen,” Hughes said. “Hopefully more.”

“If we have people willing to get into the trunk, we could probably fit even more,” Walker said.

“By the way, the Secret Service agents aren't clear on
how you roll,” Jerry said. “Despite what you said earlier they want to get you under control and ‘protected.' The P.T.C.U. folks don't work that closely with us, so they're more on the side of that mindset than not.”

“And there are more of them than there are of us,” Hughes added. “And I'm pointing that out because the moment you say what you plan to do next—which is raid that helicarrier, I'm sure—those people are going to do everything in their power to stop you.”

“Thanks for helping make the decision. Have them hot-wire the car. I want all the Secret Service and the P.T.C.U. personnel jammed in there. They're the ones most likely to get immediate assistance as soon as they check in anyway.”

“You got it, Commander,” Jerry said cheerfully. He nodded to the other flyboys, and all five of them went off to handle this. Doubted they were going to win on the first attempt but hope did like to spring eternal.

“You're sure?” White asked me.

“I am. I'd love to shove all of you into that car, too, but, frankly, I'm going to need the backup, and it needs to be backup I can count on.”

“So, where is the helicarrier?” Lizzie asked. “You've been all mysterious about it.”

“And I'm remaining that way until we get everyone shoved into the car.” One of the P.T.C.U. guys got the car started and, the moment he did so, the arguments started too.

“They aren't going to want to go,” White said. “They're going to insist that you and the other women get in, and then insist that I get in.”

“Women, children, and gentlemen of a certain age first. Yeah, I know.” Heaved a sigh. “Let's get over there and see if we can't get them to listen to reason.”

“The First Lady saying that she plans to try to raid the invisible helicarrier that's manned by her kidnapper isn't going to sound like reason to them, Missus Martini. It barely sounds like reason to me.”

“Et tu, Brute White? Really?”

He chuckled. “I'm used to you and the level of risk you find acceptable.”

“Stop trying to pretend you're not an adrenaline junkie by now.”

“Oh, I'd never try to pass a lie like that.” We reached the car and the dispute. Wasn't quite violent enough to be called domestic, but it was heading there. “Gentlemen, if I might have a moment?”

The arguing didn't stop.

“Shut the hell up!” I didn't bellow this, though I could have. But I ensured that my voice was loud and projecting and that I was channeling Mom. The arguments stopped and I received a lot of shocked looks. Whatever. “Thanks so much. Save your breath, if you've been told you're getting into the car, you're getting into the car. Period.”

Mouths opened to protest. Put up the paw. Amazing—it still worked, they all froze. “I'm not kidding. If we have to knock you out, we will do so. Frankly, it will be easier to pack you into the car like unconscious sardines, so don't push it. Many of us are in bad moods for a variety of reasons and we've never been against knocking heads. You will be getting into that car, getting the hell out of here, and getting help. This is an order and it's non-negotiable.”

A big, burly Secret Service agent shook his head and stepped forward. “Ma'am, I'm sorry, but if you're going to force us to physically remove you for your own safety, then that's what we're going to do.” He was possibly the biggest guy here. Did a fast comparison. Yep, definitely the biggest guy here.

“Yeah? Just how are you going to achieve that?”

He sighed. “I'm going to pick you up and put you in the car.”

“Well, you can try.” Moved into a fighting stance. “Come at me, bro, and feel free to bring it.”

T
HE BIG SECRET SERVICE AGENT
looked uncomfortable, but he also didn't look like he was going to back down. “I apologize in advance.” Sure enough, he charged.

I sidestepped and tripped him, because hyperspeed was awesome. Then I picked him up, because I was pissed and super strength wasn't so bad, either. Tossed him into the trunk that Walker had thoughtfully opened. This took about three seconds.

Looked around at the rest of them. “Who's going to try out their insubordination skills next? Or, to put it another way, whose ass am I going to next be kicking?”

“She's not kidding,” Jerry said cheerfully. “She's used to giving orders and having them acted upon immediately.”

“Which is why her team is staying with her, and why all of you are leaving,” Hughes added.

The agent in the trunk had the good sense not to try to get out of it, but he did sit up. “Why are you willing to risk yourself?” he asked me. “That's our job.”

“Yeah? You risked yourselves at the train station and got kidnapped, left without food and water in horrific conditions, and a lot worse was planned for you, trust me. I, on the other hand, got away from my kidnapper and got the rest of my team away from him, too. And that's just for starters. I could continue to brag on myself and my team and our awesome skills, but I'm sure that my husband is really wondering just where in the world I am, and it might be nice, and I'm just spitballing here, if the people I'm
ordering
to get the hell out of here and go bring us help would actually, you know, do what they're being told. Right. Damn. Now.”

The guy who'd hot-wired the car shrugged. “You know whose daughter she is. I say we do what she's requesting.” He nodded to me and got into the driver's seat.

“One person who's seeing reason. How refreshing. The rest of you? I can seriously imitate my mother if I have to. In all ways. And you're really making me want to.”

The other P.T.C.U. agents apparently needed no other threats. They indicated listening to me was the right choice and most of the Secret Service agents grudgingly acquiesced.

“I have never seen people so freaking willing to get hurt as our Secret Service,” I said to White while the various agents were shoving themselves into the car and who else was getting to ride in the trunk was being discussed. “I don't get it.”

“They're protectors,” White said, as if this answered everything.

“Yeah? I get them protecting a position, I do. But I don't get them being willing to die for someone who just wants to get them to safety.”

White was clearly trying not to laugh. “And now you understand how Jeffrey, Christopher, Charles, Malcolm, Leonard, Kyle, and many others feel about you.”

“Whatevs. I'm going to make Lizzie my new partner. She's less likely to toss shade like this my way.”

“I'm willing,” she said. “But my dad probably won't allow it.”

“Lizzie, hon, as you can see by our day today, what we want and what we get are not necessarily the same things.”

The big Secret Service agent I'd manhandled, whose name turned out to be Keith, gave up his place in the trunk so two smaller guys could fit in there. Other than Keith, the rest of the Security Gang was able to fit into the car, so to speak.

Had a thought and trotted over to the driver's window. He rolled it down. Handed him the BT. “As near as I can tell, this is the only electronic that's not being affected by the android who kidnapped everyone. It's dialed in to the flyboys' DNA and it gets greener the closer anyone is to them. I have no idea what's going to happen once you leave here, but in case no one can find us again for some reason, use this.”

He nodded and put the BT into his vest pocket. “Got it.”

“What's your name, by the way?”

“Devon Jones.”

“You have any relatives named Casey?”

He snorted. “Casey Jones? Ah, no. No one in my family is that twee.”

“Works for me.” Hoped he wasn't lying. Then again, had to figure that if he was P.T.C.U. then Mom and Kevin had done a very thorough background check.

The guy next to him nudged him. “She's testing to see if you're related to that nutjob Club Fifty-One terrorist.” Refrained from making a mind reading comment, but it took effort.

“Oh.” Devon snorted. “Your mother's already checked that. And, in case you didn't know, Jones is a pretty common name.”

“If we weren't so pressed for time and needing to save tons of people and probably the world somewhere along the way I'd give you a really sarcastic reply and then we could banter for a while. As things stand, my only reply is no duh and stop smart-mouthing the First Lady lest I go all FLOTUS on your ass. Now, get going. Drive carefully, at least until you're out of this area. As soon as someone has cell service, make sure they phone home.”

“Thank God you're here to tell us that,” Devon said. “That would never, ever have occurred to any one of us.”

“Dude, I look forward to getting to banter with you at another time, I truly do.”

He grinned. “Feeling's mutual. Try not to die. It'll piss your mother off to no end and, since I'm driving, I'll get the blame.”

“Duly noted and I'll do my very best.”

“Good plan.” He rolled his window up and started off.

“Everyone's a critic.” Headed back to the others as the car drove off slowly. “Fifteen men on a dead man's chest.”

“Let's hope not,” Keith said.

The car made it to the end of the street, then turned right. “Why are they going that way?” I asked everyone and no one.

“Where should they have gone?” Jerry asked.

“Left. At least, I think.”

“No one gave them directions,” Keith mentioned. “And we were all unconscious when we were brought here.”

“My bad. Well, hopefully they won't stop at the NSA's detention center and all will be well.” Felt it was important to remember that we needed to tell Jeff and Chuckie that no one trusted what the NSA was doing right now. But also didn't think now was the time to ask someone to take a memo to that effect.

Turned to see if I could tell if there was any action around the helicarrier. There was a good chance that the Kendroid would blast the limo to smithereens. Wasn't sure if those of us with hyperspeed would be fast enough to save them if that happened.

But there were no shots fired that I could see or hear, so decided that the Kendroid either wasn't paying attention to the car or else he had something else going on that boded for us. Figured I should bet on the latter. Either that or the limo was heading for a dead end and the Kendroid just figured he'd hit it on its way back.

Well, no time like the present and all that. “So, gang, we're going to raid a building that has an invisible helicarrier on it. I'm wide open to suggestions for how we figure out how to get inside something we can't see and which the flyboys feel is dangerous to be trying to touch.”

“That's your plan?” Keith appeared to be channeling Christopher for this experience, only without Christopher's speed, strength, or experience. Lucky me. “That's your entire plan?”

“Oh, no. Not my
entire
plan. I have more. I'm just not sharing it.”

“We used to think she just liked to keep everything close to the vest to keep an air of mystery,” Hughes said.

“Then we found out that she has no idea of what she's doing, but likes to work on the fly,” Walker added.

“It keeps life interesting,” Joe said.

“We all work better when we're terrified and have no idea of what's going on,” Randy shared.

“So,” Jerry patted Keith on the back, “you should fit
right
in.”

Keith shot Jerry a glare. Nowhere near up to Christopher's standards. I'd have given a lot to have Christopher here glaring at me right now—he'd probably be able to get into the helicarrier simply by being so fast that he could find the door in less than a minute.

“You guys complete me. Anyway, let's head on over and see what happens, though I suggest we take the remaining food, water, and first aid stuff with us, just because who knows when we'll see food and water again and because we spent a lot of effort to get this stuff here.”

“And the captives will probably need it as well,” White pointed out.

“And that, too. Keith, you're elected to be the pack mule. Try not to make me wish I'd tied you to the roof of the limo.”

Keith shot another dirty look my way, but he loaded up the box with the remains of our stores and hefted it onto his shoulder. “I can't believe we're spending more time at Forest Haven,” he muttered.

“You watch
Ghost Hunters
?”

He nodded. “This is one of the most haunted sites in the country. The thing with the shoes is the worst, but there's not a spot here that isn't filled with evil.”

“I know,” Randy said enthusiastically, finding the common ground of a shared TV experience. “It's even worse in person than it was watching the show.”

“Just leave the shoes alone,” Joe suggested. “Leave what you find where you find it.”

Chose not to mention that we'd blown that one already and sincerely hoped that Lizzie and Mahin wouldn't mention it, either. Mahin didn't say anything to the others, but I was pretty sure I heard her muttering about cleansing with fire again.

“What about the trash?” Lizzie asked.

“Normally I'd say we should throw it away like good citizens, but this entire place is a garbage dump, so just leave it.”

Keith nodded. “I doubt the ghosts will mind.”

“Thanks for that, Keith.” Considered calling him the Cowardly Lion, but that wasn't really fair. I was as creeped out here as he was, after all.

“So where is the helicarrier?” Joe asked.

“Based on what Dan and Josh said about its size, and based on things I know about its creator and things I did and didn't see, I think it's on the top of the biggest, though not the tallest, building here, the one that's just down the road a ways.”

Started off with the others following me. Sadly, the
flyboys were right—I was flying by the soles of my Converse right about now. I knew where our target was, but I had no idea of how to get inside of it.

Lizzie trotted up next to me. “So, when I'm stuck writing about what I did on my summer vacation at this new school I'll be going to, any chance I can write about this?”

“No. Let's pretend that we're all conscientious guardians and that we took you to Europe or something.”

“They'll totes know that's not happening. Unless we're going to Europe once we get inside the helicarrier,” she added with far more excitement than I felt the suggestion warranted under the circumstances.

“You're acting like this is a summer holiday.” My brain nudged. There was something about this that I needed to look at more closely. Not in regard to Lizzie, but in regard to what had happened since Crystal Maurer had shown up.

She shrugged. “So far? It kind of is. We've found everyone and they're all basically okay. We're investigating this totes creepy place, kicking butt and taking names. Honestly, it's pretty fun. I'm kind of hoping we get to go somewhere else interesting when we take over the helicarrier.”

“I'm hoping we're going to Andrews Air Force Base once we get inside the helicarrier.”

“Will they let us in? Or even know we're there?”

“If we radio them to let us in, yeah, they will.”

“I wouldn't let us in. We could totes be bringing in shock troops or something.”

“Like the Trojan Horse . . .” Stopped walking. “Okay, that's it.”

“What's it?” Abigail asked.

“How we're going to get inside the helicarrier.”

“How?” White asked.

“We're going to give the Kendroid a present.”