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Chapter -7- Back on Track

September 12, 7:30pm PDT Airport Security Holding Office San Francisco, California ...

Reno ran his hands back through his hair and took a deep breath. "Yes, okay, there's a discrepancy with your machine - fine. Can you, or can you not see t­hat I don't have this stupid plague thing? I swear, you guys are either inept or your machine sucks. This is the third scan since I arrived from Hawaii. It's not like I left the goddamn country. What's all this fuss for anyhow?"

"Sir," said the security agent, "I need you to be patient. We're doing our best."

"Your best has taken almost twenty-four hours. You've scanned me with three models of that thing. Your first guy, last night, told me I was clean, but the machine was acting weird. So what's the deal?"

The security agent looked around nervously. "Your scan shows no sickness, Mister Carrington. The problem is that you've been flagged in the system as a flight risk, but the entry was made twenty-seven years ago."

Reno arched his brows. "Look at me, kiddo. Twenty-seven years ago, I was in diapers. Are you trying to say I look old? Seriously, I'm twenty-nine years old, man. Obviously you've got a mistake in your system. The problem is, you've detained me for almost twenty-four hours. Now, I know the law - the police can detain me, but if they don't formally charge me, they have to release me. I have a right to a lawyer if an arrest is made. Now, you've detained me for an excessive amount of time, and you're a peace officer. You don't have the right to make an arrest. If you hold me against my will for this long, I'm considered a hostage. So, you either let me walk out of here, or I'll call the police, myself, and have you arrested for illegally detaining me. How does that sound?"

The security guard swallowed, staring at Reno in silence.

"Yeah, I know, that's the most I've said the whole time I've been here. But this is bullshit, kid. What the hell is the hold up?"

"I need you to be patient sir. It's protocol, I had to call the FBI because it's flagged through them. I don't know why they didn't send an agent right away."

Reno glared at the security man. The kid was barely twenty-one, and appeared extremely nervous around Reno. He kept his hand on his taser for the past hour, much to Reno's amusement.

"You dummy, did you even _look_at my credentials? I have an FBI badge. I'm part of an investigatory service that operates under the FBI. What the hell, kid? Who told you to hold me hostage, huh?"

"Sir, we've been waiting for the FBI to show up. They haven't showed. We've called them again a few hours ago, and they said someone is on their way. A special investigator that's flying in from Chicago. I don't know when he'll arrive. That's all I know."

Reno narrowed his gaze. "I've been here twenty-three hours, kid. I've been given one goddamn sandwich from a vending machine. And it sucked. There is this thing called a constitution, and it says, as a citizen, I have rights. It even mentions cruel and unusual punishment. So, by not feeding me, you're violating my rights, you dickhead. I've got money. I'll spring for a pizza. Now get to ordering."

"Sir, my orders are to keep you here until the agent arrives."

"I am an FBI agent, you jackass! That badge is legitimate! I do special investigations for the bureau, and you're detaining a federal agent! After my people arrest your boss, you're next! Now either order the goddamn food or let me walk out of this room."

An alarm sounded out in the main section of the airport. The security guard held his earpiece to his ear and listened to the radio chatter coming over the line.

Reno folded his arms. "Jesus, now what?"

The door swung open and a man in a black lamb leather jacket rushed in. He flipped the security guard onto the floor and rendered the man unconscious with a carefully placed grasp around the young man's neck.

The attacker looked up and smiled. Kalen Kincade. "I'm here to rescue you. Did you seriously not even try, Reno?"

"Why do I need rescuing?"

"You triggered something with their biometric scan, which put a lockdown protocol in place. USPRI was dispatched to handle a 'high level supernatural.' Those policies were designed in 2025, but fell out of use by 2030. I guess they still have you in the database."

Reno rubbed his forehead. "I work for USPRI now, technically. So what the hell?"

"Someone put you back into the system as a threat."

Nevada stood up and pushed in his chair, calmly. "So how did you find out what's going on?"

"I'm in a relationship with a member of USPRI. I have her laptop; I've had it for years. I log in every now and then. I saw the e-notice that a high-power supernatural is reportedly at this airport. Here you are."

Reno knelt down by the unconscious guard. "He was just a TSA goon, you didn't have to lay him out, man."

"TSA? I haven't heard it called by that name in decades. Reno, they're taking this seriously. There are people out front with assault rifles. They're waiting for USPRI to show up."

"I work for USPRI now! Technically, I mean! Through Lance's contacts."

"Reno, Lance is dead. You never finished that investigation. Who are you supposed to report to?"

"I don't know! Nobody ever approached me! And they've had twenty-three hours to show up, and they haven't. I'm not sitting here forever. I need to know what's going on. Why didn't they show up?"

"I do not know. Would you like to go to Chicago and find out by asking the director?"

Reno rubbed his chin. "I know you're being sarcastic, but that's a good idea."

Kalen sighed. "We don't have time for that. I have to get back and continue to guard the mirror. Mistress Natalia will be flying in soon. I can't just..." The vampire froze. "Did you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

"Assault rifles. Someone is being shot at."

"What?" Reno stepped over the guard. "I didn't hear anything." He opened the door, leading out to an empty security office. A distant sound came from somewhere in the airport. "Okay, I heard that. You have good ears, man. Who's shooting who?"

"I am afraid it would be best if we simply leave. You know how important this mirror is, correct? You flew back to help me guard it, Reno. Why would you just sit here and wait around for trivial mortal drama?"

"Oh geeze. They didn't even give me a phone call, Kalen."

"Reno, you could have teleported from here, correct? You have the ability to assume the form of a lightning bolt, or am I mistaken?"

"God, you're taking this stuff awfully serious, Kalen. Nobody even knew I was flying in except for you."

"That biometrics scan you set off? That is in a system, somewhere. Let's move." Kalen lead the way out of the empty security office. There were computer screens with security footage displayed.

Reno paused, his eye caught on the surveillance footage. He reached for Kalen's jacket and pulled the vampire to a halt. "Look on the third monitor, here." Nevada pointed to an image of several men in black military gear coming through the airport with assault rifles. "Just like Falcon's people - remember those goons?"

"I do. Why would _they_come for you? They were perfectly happy staying beneath the Atlantic."

"Yeah, well, none of them have insignia patches. Look, it's just ninja-ass black flak gear. Just like Falcon's people used to wear. Why would they attack a goddamn airport? Because of me? Because they finally found me, is that it?"

"Perhaps that is why USPRI never showed? Maybe Falcon intercepted the request. For them to come all this way just for you ... that's impressive. We should leave."

Reno sighed. "Okay, fine. But I can't do the lightning teleportation thing here. No windows. Let's just ... holy shit!"

"What?" Kalen blinked at the outburst. He glanced back at the security monitor and frowned. "Did one of them just kill a bystander?"

"Yeah! Just opened up on him! C'mon, let's go flatten these guys."

"Reno! We have to get back and guard that mirror! Everything depends on that!"

"Then what are you waiting for, Kalen? Get your pale ass back there and keep it safe! I'll handle these douchebags."

"I'm serious, Reno. I won't be able to provide backup. This could be a ploy. They might have intercepted your landing in an attempt to draw me out. If that's the case, our best course of action is to hurry back."

"I can't let them kill people, man. If they are looking for me, they'll tear that place up when they find out I've escaped. Just go, Kalen. I'll meet you there shortly."

Kalen swore beneath his breath. He sighed and nodded. "I wish I could stay but I have to hurry back. Be well, Reno. Don't get yourself killed." He opened the door leading out to the airport just in time for a man with an assault rifle to come through.

As though rehearsed, Kalen placed his palm over the man's ski mask and guided the man's forehead into the doorframe aggressively. The attacker staggered. Kalen drove his head into the doorframe two more times, quickly, then released him.

The attacker dropped to the floor, unconscious. "I'll head left. You head right, Reno. That's the direction he came from. Please hurry. Save these people if you must, then meet me at Natalia's residence. Do you have the address?"

"Yeah, I know where it's at. Get your ass in gear, Kalen. If you're right, then they might already be there. I'll hold these idiots off."

"See you soon." Kalen headed left out of the security office.

Reno turned right and threw up an electric field, like a barrier. Bullets slammed into the field from up the hallway. Reno glanced over his shoulder. "Just go, man, I got these guys."

Kalen held his right hand out to signal that he heard Reno's words. He dove through the first window he came to, and hurried out onto the second story rooftop.

Reno shook his head with a chuckle. "Dramatic as shit." He turned back to the energy wall, which absorbed the assault rifle rounds. "My turn to be dramatic." He shoved his hands forward, pushing the wall towards his attackers. It knocked them over. He moved up the hall and picked up the closest attacker, eyes narrow. "You better have a real good reason why I shouldn't kick your ass right now."

"Who are you?" the attacker exclaimed.

Reno blinked. "What? What do you mean who am I? You leveled this place to start a beef with me, and now I'm going to..."

"You're not the target!" the man exclaimed. "But you have powers, who the hell are you?"

Reno eyed the man for a moment, confusion obvious on his face. "You guys came into the security office like you were coming after me."

"We need to coordinate with airport security. Who the hell are you? I won't ask again!" The man withdrew a handgun and pointed it at Reno. "Answer me."

"Dude, your stupid gun won't do shit. Now get it out of my face before I get pissed off." Reno withdrew his identification and showed the man his badge. "SSA Nathanial Carrington, FBI under USPRI. Now, who the hell are you?"

"Simon Lancaster, USPRI. I didn't know there were investigative agents on scene. We're part of the tac-team sent in to deal with a level seven threat. She was trying to leave the country."

"She? Who is she?" Reno paused and reached forward, pushing the man's handgun away. "I told you to get that thing out of my goddamn face, Simon. Now who is USPRI's target?"

"Her name is Laura Bathory. She was part of a super soldier program in 1999. She was completely unstable until sometime shortly after 2024 when she reappeared on the grid, briefly. The serum stabilized and she fell back off the radar until this year."

Reno stared at the man for a moment. "Lara?"

"Laura," replied the soldier, pronouncing it with a slight flourish. "Why are you here?"

"I landed last night and their stupid bio-scanner thing couldn't read me because of my electricity ability. So they had me in holding because of this stupid bullshit plague thing going around. You don't seem to be in a hurry to find her." Reno reached for the man's hand and helped him to his feet. "Is this chick like ... a hideous freaky monster thing?"

"What?" Simon got to his feet. "No, she's a thirty year old woman with impressive strength, speed, agility, and healing abilities. She's extremely dangerous."

Reno frowned. "Okay, my mistake. C'mon, I'll show you where the security office is. But, damn man, why are your people shooting civilians?"

"What?" Simon blinked in confusion. "We would never."

Reno snagged Simon's hand and disappeared. A bolt of lightning zipped back up the hall. They reformed by the security office door. Simon stumbled but Reno snagged him by the collar of his vest, keeping the man on his feet.

"Easy, now. Watch your step." He pushed the door open and walked Simon over to the monitors.

It only took a moment to figure out the simple controls to reverse the footage. Reno went back just a few minutes to where a man in tactical gear shot a bystander.

Simon blinked in confusion. "That's not one of my people. We don't wear ski masks."

Reno moved around to the other side of the desk and grabbed an unconscious man with a rifle. He dragged the man over by the security monitors. "Like this dope?"

Simon knelt down and pulled the man's mask off. "This isn't one of my team members." He reached a hand up and touched his ear. "Bravo-6, we have unknown hostiles in the airport dressed in black flak gear - they are armed with assault rifles, several pistols and they are shooting civilians. Be advised, they are shooting civilians."

Reno leaned down, putting his ear against the attacker's nose. He placed two fingers against the motionless man's neck. "Goddammit."

Simon paused and listened to the radio reply then turned to Reno. "Mister ... Carrington was it?"

"Yeah."

"They must be here for Laura. I've heard rumors that there have been attackers who go after high-end supernaturals. We're not sure who they are, but this has to stop. We can't let them kill civilians. Our intel suggests they're capturing these freaks and taking them somewhere to the District Coast."

Reno narrowed his eyes. "Freaks huh? And, no, if these people work for who I think, they're taking the 'freaks' to the Atlantic Ocean, beyond the District Coast. Let's go, Lancaster."

"Sorry, sir. I didn't mean to insult you. I didn't know we had agents with abilities."

"You do now, kid. How old are you, anyhow?"

"Twenty-five, sir - why?"

"You look twelve. Shave the peach fuzz off your top lip, or learn to grow a full beard. C'mon."

X

X

Across the airport...

Laura Bathory-Cunningham appeared about thirty, with somewhat long brown hair, and a fair complexion. She wore simple jeans and a t-shirt with a logo on the chest that read, 'I love San Fran' and a graphic of the Golden Gate Bridge on the back.

She also had an attacker in a headlock beneath her left arm. His ski mask was bunched up around his nose, making it so he couldn't see through the eyeholes. He flailed about, unable to get free.

Laura snatched his gun from his belt and threw it at the ticket attendant. The weapon slammed flush with the attendant's forehead, knocking them out cold.

"I just want to leave! Go away!" She picked the man up, over her head, and threw him at one of his teammates, knocking both to the floor. The second attacker's assault rifle skittered across the tiles.

Laura sneered at them. "You tell Doctor Falcon I'm not going back to him! He had his chance and he abandoned me! I spent weeks in that goddamn laboratory! I could have starved to death!"

A gunshot rang out, causing her to wince from the loud noise. Laura looked down at a bloody stain on her shirt. She cupped her hand over her bust, where the round pierced through her body and tore through her back.

Her ribs mended with a popping sound. The skin glazed over, which tickled a bit. The hot sensation of the wound faded. Laura clenched her hand into a fist. "You can't kill me, you stupid..."

Her head snapped back. She stumbled and leaned against a ticket counter. Blood ran down the bridge of her nose from a gunshot wound to her forehead. Unlike the prior wound to her chest, there was no burning sensation in her head, just a pinch of pain skin-deep at the front and back of her scalp. The tickling sensation followed and the blood flow ceased.

"Dammit," she muttered, losing her train of thought. After a moment, it came back to her. "As I was saying, you can't kill me, you stupid assholes." She rubbed her forehead. "That better not cause a tension headache later."

Two more men ran on scene from off to the left, further down by a different airline brand's ticket counter. Another two came from the right. Unlike the first attackers, these men didn't wear ski masks.

Laura noticed gold badges hanging from various places on their uniforms. One man had his on his belt. Another man had his beneath the front of his collar. "Wait," she said, narrowing her eyes. "You guys aren't with Doctor Falcon ... who are you?"

"FBI. I need you to stop, Ms. Bathory. Just calm down. We can talk about this away from the airport. We don't want to hurt you. We just..."

"You can't hurt me, you idiots. Why would I want to go with you? I want to leave this country! I paid for my ticket to Hungary! I want to leave. I'm not trying to cause trouble. You guys are the problem!"

"Miss, please. It doesn't have to go this way."

"You're right. You can let me go. Screw your country and your stupid plague, and your goddamn political drama. I'm going to my mother's home country. I'm not coming back."

"Laura!" A new voice came from across the way. Laura turned to face two more men. One of them was in paramilitary gear, the other was in plain clothes. He looked tired and had dark hair. He seemed familiar to her, but she couldn't place the face off the top of her head.

"Who are you?"

The man ran his fingers back through his hair, pushing it back. And, in that instant, with his hand over his hair, pushing it straight back, she realized where she recognized him. The last time she saw him, he was bald, and had a bit of facial hair.

Laura narrowed her eyes. "Wait, I know you."

The man blinked. "You ... do?"

"You found me in that laboratory beneath the nightclub. You tricked me and left me there to rot."

"I knew it!" the man erupted. He grimaced and turned to the man at his side. "Simon, you need to clear the civilians out of this area. I mean, now."

"Agent Carrington, what if she tries to attack while we move them? We need to find another way to subdue her. Quick and easy."

Carrington shook his head sullenly, and said, "If I'm right about who she is ... who she was ... then God help us, man."

"What's that supposed to mean? She's immune to bullets, but she's probably not immune to sedatives."

"Listen, kid, if I'm not mistaken, this girl finally grew up from the last time I saw her."

"Yeah? And now she's a weapon. Weapons can be disarmed."

Carrington shook his head again. "Yeah? If this girl is who I think she is, then we're all screwed because there is no holster for this weapon. Get everyone out of here. I'll handle her."

"Alone?!"

"Alone." Carrington cleared his throat and addressed Laura from across the room. "Listen, let us get the civilians out of here. These guys, who are with me - the ones with no ski mask, they work for the United States. Once they pull back, they can handle Dr. Falcon's men. That just leaves you and me. We'll work out our differences one-on-one, okay? No one needs to get hurt, and I will treat you like the adult you've become since last I've seen you. No lies, no drama; we're just going to talk this out ... okay?"

Laura narrowed her eyes. "You've got three minutes to clear this room. And you've got thirty minutes to get me on a plane to Hungary. And just so we're clear, I'm not the same person I was when I attacked your brother. I remember it vividly - Dr. Falcon wanted me to become more aggressive ... more useful. They put me into an arena with other creatures and turned me loose on them."

While she spoke, Simon Lancaster organized a rapid and efficient maneuver to get everyone out of the room. He and another man backed up to one of the emergency exits and, after everyone was out, he stayed at the door to make sure no one would come in or interfere.

Laura continued, "I was stuck_as a child. I was left to starve. I was treated like a freak. I was mocked. I was abandoned. I was _lonely. And you expect me to trust you, policeman?"

Carrington licked his lips apprehensively. "You, uh ... you knew I was a cop back then, huh?"

"You told me that boy was your brother. You said you forgave me for hurting him because he lived."

"You've got a mind like a steel trap, Laura. So let's just settle this peacefully."

"Why? You can't hurt me. Why be peaceful? They can't kill me. All they can eventually do is agree to let me leave."

Carrington swallowed and then sighed. "Look, Laura, I'm not like those guys. I don't even use a gun anymore. And I'm a different kind of cop, now. Call me Nathan Carrington. Let's talk this out."

She narrowed her eyes and looked up at a skylight. The glass panel shattered and two men dropped down on black cables. "Ski masks," she muttered. "They're with Falcon."

Carrington groaned. "Okay, look, we'll fight'em together. Those guys had me in stasis for twenty-five years. They're not on my team."

"Do whatever you want. I still don't trust you," she said and approached the two men that came in from above. They opened fire on her and she continued to advance. After unloading their entire magazine, Laura approached the men and grasped them by their faces in her palms. "I may not look scary," she told them, "But I AM." She threw both men clear across the room by their heads.

The two attackers bowled down a half-dozen metal poles with nylon gate straps used to create lines in front of the ticket counters.

"Bullshit!" Carrington roared, adding, "Get down!" A rocket propelled grenade streaked in from the skylight and struck the tile floor.

X

X

** Natalia Kincade looked up at the copilot.**"Excuse me?"

The man cleared his throat and repeated himself. "Miss Kincade, the airport is on lock-down. We do not have permission to land."

"I paid for our overnight stay in Chicago at an extravagant hotel. I paid for the fuel to Dallas - Fort Worth, and I paid for the fuel to California. You said there was a storm system over Denver and we had to stop in Texas for our layover. Now there's _another_problem?"

"Ma'am, it's not my fault. Please understand, Ms. Kincade, San Francisco Airport has redirected us to Oakland."

"Why?"

"According to the news, there's an attack at San Francisco's airport. Men in black uniforms stormed the airport with assault rifles."

Natalia turned to Sinopa, Tamamo and Sekhmet. "Ladies? Methos would not approve of whatever it is you are thinking."

Sinopa frowned. "And you, Natalia-san?"

Natalia sighed, pondering to herself. "Oakland is closer, so it is not as though we can claim fuel to be an issue. Truthfully, our actions will require a great deal of money to cover up whatever is..."

Tamamo noticed the way Natalia trailed off and asked, "What is it?"

The vampire glanced at the nearest window. "If they are Falcon's people, they are there for a reason - an Esoteric with a great enough ability that they would come all the way from beyond the District Coast."

Silence.

Natalia turned back to the co-pilot. "How old are you, young man?"

"Ma'am? I'm thirty-six."

"How would you like the opportunity to retire tomorrow?"

"Pardon, Ms. Kincade? I do not follow."

"Land in San Francisco, drop us off, and leave. I will ensure you can retire after this flight. Both of you," she said, referring to the other pilot. "Go on. It is not as though you will be shot out of the sky. The lock-down means you will have no air traffic with which to contend. If anyone asks, it was a medical emergency. I will handle the rest. Leave the airport and head to Oakland afterwards."

"Y-yes ma'am." The copilot headed back to the cockpit.

Natalia turned to the women and pursed her lips in thought. "Sekhmet, you said Loki came through with you?"

"Yes."

The vampire nodded. "It is possible that Aris Falcon would want the powers of a deity, correct? If it's possible, we cannot allow his forces to take a god. We do not yet know if human sedatives would work on a deity, so we must consider this a priority. It is best we land, we search for the attackers, and we fight. There can be no other way to handle such. Aris Falcon would not leave his 'nest' without a good reason."

Sinopa glanced at Tamamo then back to Natalia. "Agreed."

Tamamo nodded in agreement. "It was good that Kalen-san woke you after the disappearance of Lance Patterson. You are quick to take command, knowing we are in need of leadership. Let us follow your hunch, Natalia-sama. What would you have us do?"

Natalia folded her hands. "Ladies, clear the path. Sekhmet and I shall handle Falcon's ... people. I will enshroud Sekhmet in the shade of my ability. Felines have natural night vision. She will hunt in the gloom. Can we agree on this?"

"I agree," said Tamamo.

"It is a good plan, Natalia-sama," Sinopa added.

Sekhmet huffed through her nose. "You are an excellent tactician, vampire. What will our enemies look like? I will not kill any women."

Natalia shook her head. "Such will be unnecessary. Falcon's mercenaries are men wearing black military armor. Not armor that you are accustomed to seeing - it will be hardened fabric in appearance. They will wear black stocking masks over their heads to conceal their identity. They will be armed with weapons that shoot shards of metal called 'bullets,' powered by the ignition of gunpowder. It is lethal to humans. It will hurt, but..."

"I have learned of this weapon," said Sekhmet. "It does, in fact sting. However, it is of little concern to me. How long before we land?"

Sinopa glanced at a digital clock above the cockpit door. "Less than ten minutes. Let us meditate in preparation."

X

X

Meanwhile...

Reno Nevada sat up with a groan. His ears rang, and he was covered with plaster and soot, just a few feet away from a crater in the floor. His clothes were torn and tattered, with blood around the edges of the fabric. His skin, however, appeared unmarred, despite being covered in dirt.

The world slid back into focus and he got to his feet with a grunt. "Laura, are you okay?" He looked up and saw her fighting four attackers, who were attempting to overpower and grapple with her. "Goddammit," he said, rubbing the dirt from his eyes. Flecks of floor tile littered his hair.

He brushed the dirt and loose bits of debris from his face and muttered, "Well, at least now we're back on track for where shit gets exciting." Reno stumbled, still getting his wits about himself. "I'm ... I'll be right there to help, kid."

He looked around again and spotted Laura scaling the rope towards the skylight. She moved up the line with ease, the way Jon Parker used to do. As she neared the top, one of the attackers cut the line.

Laura dropped back to the floor and landed on all fours with a grunt. She stood up and looked around, eyes wide and alert.

Reno moved towards her. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, but I still refuse to trust you. You'll lock me away again the first chance you get."

"Look, about that ... I didn't know what to do, and..."

"Shut up and fight."

Reno glanced from left to right. They were surrounded by more men in ski-masks and paramilitary gear. They opened fire from all sides. Not just assault rifles, but RPGs came from four directions.

Reno threw his hands up, creating an energy field. Simultaneously, he created a kinetic energy field that pushed all the debris away from himself. It slowed the incoming rounds, but did little to stop them. "RAUL!" he shouted, hoping that time would stop, but it didn't.

Simon called out from somewhere behind him. "Is that your handler, Carrington? Do you have backup coming?"

"No, my handler is dead, kid. Get out of here, before you get yourself killed!! Seal off the hall!"

"Stay alive, man!" Simon retreated into a back hall meant for maintenance and emergency exits.

The assault rifle rounds continued to pummel Reno's energy field. The energy of the ammunition absorbed the energy of the field, causing it to shrink and dwindle. The field closed around them, growing smaller by the second. "Raul! Goddamn, where are you?! Help me stop this bullshit!" For what seemed like five or six months, he could call out to Raul to stop time when things became too difficult when training on the island. Now there were no more training wheels.

No reply.

"Your friend is not here to save us, Carrington. Chin up. Have dignity."

"Easy for you to say," he grumbled. "You heal instantly. And you said it tickles. I'm about to be turned into Swiss cheese and it does not tickle."

The room went dark. Laura put her back against Reno's and said, "They cut power. They'll undoubtedly have night vision goggles. We need a way to light up the room."

Reno sighed in relief; the gunfire stopped. "No problem," he said. "We'll blind'em." He clenched his hand into a fist then opened his fingers slowly. An orb of raw electricity grew in his cupped palm. However, the luminescence did little to cast the room into illumination. Oddly, the room remained dark just beyond a few feet from where they stood, back-to-back.

"That seems unnatural," she remarked in regards to the abysmal shade.

"Look, Laura, I know it doesn't make up for what I did, but I am sorry. I was afraid of you. You nearly killed my brother, you weren't like you are now - you weren't able to have a conversation. It was like arguing with a child. I'm sorry I left you."

"I appreciate your words, but you're right - it doesn't make up for leaving me. But good for you, for being man enough to say something ... I can at least respect that. You want to prove you're sorry? Get me to Hungary and leave me alone."

"We could use your help against Falcon. He'll do to someone else what he did to you. He might even try to do it to you again. Help us stop him."

"Just shut up and be ready."

Someone screamed in the distance. "That was a man," Reno said. "That didn't sound very good."

"Did you hear how it was cut short? Someone killed the person. They caused him pain at first; his death was abrupt after the initial blow. Which way did it come from?"

"I don't know," said Reno. "It was too muffled for me to be sure."

"Maybe the killer had a hand over his mouth. Your friends without the ski masks, perhaps?"

"Yeah. Yeah, you might be right. I told them to fall back, but..."

"Shh, listen." She reached back and elbowed Reno into silence.

A muffled groan came from across the room followed by the sound of what could only be described as wet meat slapping the tiled floor.

"That sounded outta place," Reno groused.

"I smell blood," Laura whispered. "Why can't we see? Make it brighter."

Reno amped up. The glow of his energy orb reflected back the inside of what appeared to be a black cloud. "What the hell...?"

"It is a ... a miasma of some sort. I don't think the airport is on fire but it is like smoke ... wait, can your energy field block smoke? Perhaps that's what it is."

"I'm not generating the field anymore. I don't smell smoke."

Laura sighed in frustration. "Why is it that every time I see you, I feel trapped?" She paused, then, in a lower tone, added, "I'm glad your brother survived. I was not in my right mind when I impaled him with my fingers. I ... feel remorse for people whose lives I take. I don't want to kill people; I want to go to Hungary and be left alone."

Reno glanced over his shoulder at her. "You feel bad?"

"Yes," she hissed back. "I don't care if you don't believe me."

"No, it's not that. Most people who see that much death at a young age ... they soak it up and become some sort of psychopath. It makes them..."

"I do not need your psychological assessment. You're hardly qualified. I feel remorse when I see pain, confusion and sadness in the eyes of those I've killed. It haunts me, Carrington. I see it every time I sleep. I hear the screams every time I..." she trailed off again.

The sound of gurgling came from off to the side. Seconds later, there was the sound of a body dropping onto the floor. They heard the squeaking of someone's shoes against the tiles, at an angle that suggested they were kicking and flailing.

And then...

An eerie silence fell over them.

"Someone is attacking the men in black uniforms," Laura said quietly. "One by one, they're dropping. I can smell the blood all around us."

"I don't want to be next. Let's move. Stay close, we can watch each other's backs, Laura." Reno began backing up, prompting her to move forward. He kept both of his hands out, trying to create light.

Laura stopped, causing Reno to stop. "Wait, look," she whispered.

Reno looked down and back, at her feet. A man in a ski mask had his throat and torso slashed open. His eyes were open, half-lidded, pointing in two different directions. Nevada cringed. "Fuck. What the hell did that?"

"It looks similar to the people I've slain before I regained my human appearance and my normal mentality. When I had the talons. This man was slashed open by claws and fangs."

"Werewolves?" Reno whispered.

"What?" Laura blinked at him. "Those exist?"

"Goddamn right they do."

"Then let's hope that is what is attacking these men. Will they pose a threat to us?"

"None that I've met," Reno replied. They stepped over the body and began moving again. Werewolves are protectors."

"Are you afraid? I feel your heart thudding against my back, Carrington."

"Look, I'm Nathanial Carrington to the rest of the world. But when it's just you and me, just call me Reno. Okay? Just keep that between us. I want to be honest with you. I don't want you to hate me."

"Too late. And Reno is a stupid name. Nathan suits you better."

Reno smirked. "And no, I'm not afraid. Adrenaline causes my heart to race. That's a flight-or-fight response. But I fight. So just ... keep walking."

Another cry of pain rang out from across the room. There was a grunt followed by the sound of another body hitting the floor. More squeaking filled the area. Someone was dragging the body across the tiles for several feet.

Silence again.

Reno ground his molars together, ready for anything. "Being afraid and being on edge, kid, that's two different things."

An explosion knocked both of them down, followed by the loud ping of ringing in their ears.

Reno looked up just in time to see a terrifying sight - an enormous lion face came into his field of vision. Two effeminate hands reached in from below, and pulled him to his feet. He staggered backwards over Laura's body, still on the ground.

Nevada rolled over quickly, grabbed Laura and pulled her up by her wrist. "Go! Fucking GO!"

"What...?" She rubbed at her ears. "I can't hear..."

"MOVE!" he shouted, taking her wrist and pulling. "GO, go, go!"

As they hurried away, the darkness began to thin out. They approached one of the ticket counters.

Reno peered back and saw an enormous black cloud at the center of the room. It extended to the ceiling. "What the hell is that?!" He whisked Laura up into his arms, put his right foot up onto the baggage scale and hurdled over to the other side of the counter.

Reno released her legs to the floor and gave her a gentle push at her back, guiding her into the next step. "Keep moving, Jesus Christ that thing was no werewolf!"

"You saw it?" she asked, following his lead, astonished that something would have such an effect on him. "What the hell was it?"

"A fucking lion, kid!" He took her by the wrist and hurried along the back wall, away from the large black cloud at the center of the large room.

"Are you serious?!"

"A freaking ... were-lion thing. She had blood all over her face."

"She??" Laura closed her fingers around his wrist and pulled him to a halt. "How do you know its goddamn gender?"

"No mane, duh! Haven't you ever seen the Discovery Channel? Those are the ones that hunt - the females. You don't mess around with those. I ... I think she had hands."

"Hands?? Not paws?"

"No paws. I think she had, like, hands."

Reno glanced back at the shadow. "She's still in that thing."

Laura eyed it from across the way and frowned. "Do you think she caused it? Maybe it's a smoke bomb or something."

"I guess. Never seen a smoke canister look like that. That's some freaky looking crap, kid. You ever seen Lost? No, of course you haven't. It looks like that thing."

Laura seemed less interested in the enormous black cloud at the middle of the room and turned towards him. "You're different."

"Dif - wait, what?"

"You locked me in that room. I remembered you differently."

"I didn't mean to lock you in there. The door was broken. You managed to get it ajar, but not enough to fit through. Then you came at me with those freaking ... claws, and I didn't think, I just acted. Next thing I know, I was on the other side of the door. I turned into a bolt of ... I know this'll sound weird, but I do this lightning thing. And I turned into a bolt and went through that gap in the door." Reno paused, glancing back at the black tar-like smoke. "Anyway, there was no way to get it open. I couldn't have pulled both of us through. It wasn't like I was going to grab your hand and take you through with me. Your fingers were claws." Reno took a deep breath and put his hands out. "I said I'm sorry. We can talk about this later. We should keep moving. Those attackers are going to hurt innocent people."

"Not my problem. All I want to do is leave this country. I want to go to where my mother lived. I don't remember much about her, but I know she's from Hungary."

"Do you even speak that language?"

"No."

Reno shook his head. "Okay, as Karla would say, let's put a pin in that. We've gotta go."

"No, I want to see this creature that freaked you out."

"Are you serious?" he exclaimed.

"You throw bolts of lightning, Carrington. You stop bullets and rocket propelled grenades with a force field. You turn into lightning and zip through narrow gaps in broken doors. If you only saw the look on your face a minute ago..."

"You want to see that thing?!"

"You moron, I can't die. It's impossible!"

"Yeah? That thing would rip your head off your shoulders! Let's go!"

Laura narrowed her eyes. "I told you, it's impossible. I would know - I've tried everything."

Reno opened his mouth to say something but words failed him. He looked over her shoulder at the cloud of shadows then back at Laura. His gaze flitted back to the shade then to her again. "Seriously?"

"Yes. My head reattached itself. And believe me, it didn't tickle."

His mouth went dry. He looked back at the shadow miasma then back at her. "Fuck."

"Is that all you can think of to say? I went through it. Nobody wanted me. I didn't want to live with the loneliness. I can_not_die. Now I just want to go to Hungary. But first, I want to see this creature that made the blood drain out of your face."

"I'm not afraid," Reno snapped, eyes narrow. "That thing just ... startled me, that's all."

"Then let's go over there together. I want to see it."

Reno eyed her. "You're crazy."

"I cannot die. All I have left in my life is my curiosity. I want to see it. I'm going to look."

"Laura..."

"I owe you nothing! Certainly not an explanation! Now go away. Or come with me, I don't even care. But don't tell me what to do. And don't pretend you care. You lost that right when you left me in that lab to starve."

"When ... did you become human?"

"Almost two years after you left me in that room. And then I started aging normally."

"Wait, so you're indestructible but you age?"

"I'm indestructible, but I'm not immortal. I tried to kill myself, Carrington. I tried everything I could think of. Nothing worked. So I learned patience. Eventually, I'll die of natural causes, and then I'll be free. In the meantime, I just want to go to Hungary and be left alone. I starved for a month in that room. Solitary confinement and I had the mind of a child. A child, goddamn you. But I can't die from starving. I cannot die from sulfuric acid or hydrochloric acid. I cannot be blown up with mercury fulminate or dynamite. I cannot melt the flesh from my bones with incendiaries. I videotaped my attempts. Whatever is left of me pulls itself back together."

"Jesus Christ, kid."

"Now ... I want to see this creature."

Reno sighed. He ran his hands up through his hair and leaned back against the wall, behind the ticket counter. He waved his hand towards the ominous black cloud across the way. "I'm not leaving you this time. I want to take down Falcon, and you can join if you want."

"Whatever." She put her hand on the ticket counter, vaulted over it, and walked back towards the blackness. "Creature! Show yourself!"

The cloud of shadow dispersed. Standing in the middle of the room was a woman in a fashionable, yet somewhat archaic gown, and a creature with the body of a slender woman, dressed in a simple red dress. Just as Reno described, the second woman had the head of a lioness.

The lion had something resembling meat in her joules. She spit it onto the tiled floor, revealing it to be a throat, separated from the head and the shoulders. A section of the spinal column appeared at the top and bottom of the bloody chunk of meat.

The lioness looked up at Laura, gaze narrowed. "I am Sekhmet. Who are you to be so disrespectful?"

"I want you to try and kill me," said Laura.

"I do not feast upon females."

Laura smirked. "Disappointing." Her eyes panned to the other woman. "And you? Who are you?"

"Natalia Kincade. We came to fight Dr. Falcon's armed thugs. Who are you, my dear?"

"Laura Bathory. I was Dr. Falcon's so called 'weapon of unbridled fury,' which he disposed of. He lost interest, or found something that kills more efficiently, perhaps. So, I am Dr. Falcon's trash."

Natalia frowned. She nodded in understanding. "You are most certainly not trash, child."

Laura glanced at the dead attackers strewn about the floor. "You say you came to fight those men? Why?"

Natalia approached the girl. In passing an injured man on the floor, she swiftly brought her foot across the man's face, breaking his neck. The man began to choke, unable to take a breath. His body trembled, unable to move his limbs any longer.

Kincade approached Laura and brought her hands up, gently cupping the woman's face. "Mm, let me have a look at you, dear."

"I'm not your dear. Why did you fight those men?"

"To rescue you," Natalia said.

Laura eyed the pale-skinned lady. "I do not need rescuing."

Natalia drew her left hand back. She brought her palm across Laura's cheek. "Speak with respect. If you wish my respect, you will earn it. But I command yours."

Laura blinked in confusion. "I cannot believe you just slapped me."

"I doubt you can be injured if Falcon considers you a weapon. It was not meant to harm. It was meant to demand your attention and respect."

Laura drew her fist back and buried it into Natalia's stomach.

Natalia appeared unfazed.

Laura looked down. Her fist had gone completely through the woman's torso, however Natalia's body took on a black shadow form, allowing Laura's fist to pass through, harmlessly. "How...?"

"I can will my body to become non-corporeal. You cannot harm a shadow by punching it, my dear. And I smacked you because you deserved it."

"How do you know what I deserve?"

Natalia gaped at the girl. She brought her hands back up to Laura's face. "I saw that look in your eyes, just now. How dare you think yourself unworthy to live?"

Bathory grimaced. "You gathered that from my expression?"

Natalia eyed her. "...You've tried to kill yourself, haven't you?"

"Yes. Many times."

Natalia drew the girl into a gentle embrace. "You have value. You have worth. The fact you were denied the release you'd hoped for from suicide should be proof of that. Even if you cannot see it, yet, you will in time."

Laura shrugged out of Natalia's embrace. "Don't ... don't touch me, woman. You don't know who I am, what I've done, or what I'm worth. Just stay away from me."

"I will swaddle you like a kitten in a blanket and hold you until you change your mind if that is what it takes."

"You can't..."

"Quiet, child. To use your_words, you do not know _me, who I am, what I've done, or what I'm worth." Natalia waved her hand. Tendrils of shadow crept up and wrapped around Laura, constricting her like a snake so that she could not move. Natalia placed her hand on the girl's exposed face. "You see? I will swaddle you like an errant kitten, and pet you until you see that I mean you no harm. Or until you respect me as an ally. I will care for you, and you will come to see that."

"Why are you doing this," Laura sneered.

"Did you know your mother ran a finishing school for girls? I, too, take in errant talent and mold it to perfection. I will not harm you, child. Be at ease."

"You can't harm me, you can only torture me until you become bored with me," Laura snapped, unable to move.

"For one who claims to be immune to harm, it seems to me that you've been hurt by everyone you've ever met. The way I see it, that is why you act this way - your heart is broken, your spirit is broken, and your will to live has been crushed. Just because you cannot be injured physically does not mean you are immune to emotional pain. Now, whether you wish it or not, I will be here with you every step of the way and to nurse your injuries."

Laura looked away in silence.

"You may call me Mistress Natalia, or simply 'Mistress' will do. Why do you feel this way, Laura Bathory? Why do you feel so alone in this world?"

"Because I _am_alone. I've been discarded by anyone and everyone I've met. I've been used until my usefulness ran out, and then I was thrown away like trash."

"You are far from trash. Just because Falcon ran out of uses for you does not mean I am like Aris Falcon. I have a perfect track record of rebuilding errant, wayward girls. You are not alone anymore. And I am immortal, so you will not be alone ever again."

Again, Laura looked away in silence.

Reno approached the women, reluctantly. "I've seen abilities like that..."

"Yes, from my brother, Donovan, and my nephew, Eric."

"I ... don't recall if I knew Donovan. I remember the name, but that's all."

"Karla named her son after my brother," Natalia said. "Perhaps you haven't met him. No matter. So, shall I call you Nathan, then?"

"Ah, yes."

"Splendid. We have not yet had a formal introduction. For that, I apologize. I am Natalia Kincade. I believe you know Kalen. I am his adopted mother and the head of the Kincade household." Natalia gestured to the Egyptian with a slender human female body. However, the woman possessed the head of a lioness. "This is Sekhmet. She is also Hathor, but not at this time."

Reno appeared confused. "Excuse me?"

Natalia eyed Reno for a moment then said, "Karla referred to her as the 'Incredible Hulk,' and Hathor as 'Bruce Banner.' Are you familiar with those names?"

Reno deadpanned. "Yeah. She's currently Mr. Hyde. Hathor is Dr. Jekyll. Is that appropriate?"

"Quite." Natalia turned back to Laura, struggling from the shadows coiled around her form. Natalia brought her hand up and gently brushed her palm over the girl's cheek. "When I say that I will not hurt you, little one, I mean that I will not betray you. I may show you tough love, I may punish you, but I will never leave you. I will never betray your heart. I will never leave you alone forever."

"We'll see," Laura murmured.

"I will tell you up front that I sometimes sleep for years at a time. I will not lie to you. Dishonesty is not becoming of a lady. Having said that, you are allowed to have your own secrets. And I have my own, but that is different than lying to you. Finally, I want you to know that I knew your mother."

Laura looked up, meeting Natalia's gaze.

Natalia brushed her thumb over the girl's soft lips. "Elizabeth. I also knew her brother, Andrew, Voivode of Transylvania. She was a countess, raised Calvinist, and lived in Cachtice Castle in Slovakia."

"I thought she lived in Hungary."

Natalia tilted her head. "You will have a world of academia at your fingertips if you let me offer you such, little one. When your mother lived there, it was the Kingdom of Hungary. However, it is now the Slovak Republic, since the Velvet Divorce. It has been that way since New Year's Day, 1993. If you wish to visit Cachtice Castle, I will take you there. But first, you must do something for me."

Laura narrowed her eyes. "Everyone wants something."

"I want your fealty. You give to me, and I give to you. That is the way this world works. I reward you for helping me."

"What is it that you want?" Laura demanded with a sneer.

"Ask again, in a tone of respect, little one."

Laura eyed her for a moment, then simply decided to try it Natalia's way. "Very well ... what can I do for you?" She rephrased the question without the venom in her voice.

"Much better. See? You are quite capable. I wish your aid to stop Aris Falcon. He has broken your heart and he has ruined the world. I seek to put him into a shallow grave with no headstone."

Laura looked Natalia over. The way she was dressed, her posture, and her mannerisms. The way the woman spoke. It was so ... different.

Laura nodded slowly. "You ... have a very ... ladylike demeanor."

Natalia offered a brilliant, rare smile. "I am delighted you think so, my child. But, many from my past saw me as a rebel for my time."

"Why, because you have a personality?"

"Mm, quite so. Just like your mother, and like Lady Mary Wroth, I was never considered 'ladylike.' In my day, dear, silence and obedience was a sign of femininity and chastity. Therefore, rebels were automatically assumed to be whores and harlots." Natalia released Laura from the blanket of shadows. "What do you remember about your mother?"

"Not much. I ... she was gentle to me. She said when we were together, nothing could harm us. She called me her shield of love. I was very young. But I remember she loved me."

"Mm, you had the unique ability to shield your mother and father, making them invulnerable to injury. Now you shield only yourself. It was a side effect of the serum."

"I don't understand."

Natalia gently cupped the girl's face again. "Your father, Jasper Cunningham, was part of a military-funded project discovered by Karla Howard and her friends. Aris Falcon, then-Sokolov, was tasked with creating a perfect soldier. After trial and error, he managed to perfect your father. The man became a genetically enhanced superior soldier."

"How did it affect me?"

Natalia folded her hands. "Jasper passed the serum to you genetically. As a young girl, you could shield your parents within an aura, which made them invulnerable to physical attack. However, as you grew older, you became unstable. You became the monstrosity you remember being for so many years. But it appears your body repaired its own genetic code over time, and you've stabilized. I assume you returned to a human state just before or during puberty."

"It doesn't make sense, why didn't I age as the creature?"

Natalia pondered for a moment. "Let us assume the change somehow manage to retard your metabolism and aging cycle. I see you age normally, now."

"I ... yes. I was ... I was a young girl as that creature. I retained that mentality for almost thirty years. And then, one day, my body began to revert. I lived on the streets for a while. I learned how to read from programs in homeless shelters."

"No one will ever treat you poorly, ever again." Natalia brushed her lips over the girl's forehead. "You have my word. Will you help us?"

"Get revenge against Dr. Falcon? I will help for now, because I am curious to see if what you've told me is true."

"Excellent." Natalia turned to Sekhmet and Reno. "What are the two of you waiting for? There are surely more attackers. Sinopa and Tamamo are working to keep the mundanes back to a safe distance. We must find the rest of the mercenary squad. There can be no survivors, lest an informant get word to Dr. Falcon. Let us find them all."

Reno frowned at the thought of hunting the hunters in such a way. "You want us to kill everyone the way you and kitty-lady just did?" He glanced at Sekhmet and grimaced at the way she narrowed her eyes at him.

The vampire spoke in a calm, relaxed voice of authority. "We must stop them from reporting to Dr. Falcon by any means necessary. Nathan, I have a different task for you."

"Who put you in charge?" asked Reno.

"Everyone," said Natalia with a confident tone. "Head to the security office. Destroy the computers that save security footage. There can be no record of this attack. There can be no record of Sekhmet's existence. It would surely be shown on the internet and come under investigation by USPRI. Are we clear?"

"Yeah. I'll fry the computers."

"Excellent. After this, I have another task for you, involving your investigation into the murder of my mate, Lance Patterson. Also, in order to retain your useful status as an investigator, we need for you to have a new handler. I want you to track down James Parker's father, at Lance's safe house in New York. He is the director of USPRI." She turned back towards the lioness and Laura. "Ladies? Let us find the rest of Falcon's people. Follow me, please."

Reno stood there, with a blank expression as the three walked away and began hunting for the attackers.

Natalia placed her hands on Sekhmet and Laura's shoulders. She dissolved the group into a tar-like collection of shade. It began to drip upwards, defying gravity, then it crept across the ceiling, and up through the skylight, into the night.

Reno rubbed his face and ran his fingers back through his hair. "Christ." He headed for the security office. Now if only he could figure out why airport security had been detaining him. That would have to go on the backburner for now, since he had other questions needing answers, all of which took precedence.

After all, he told himself he could only handle so many investigations at a time. The mystery of being detained could wait for now. He opened the door to the security office and cracked his knuckles. It was time to destroy the evidence - the physical hard drives, and the off-site cloud network.

Of course, Reno knew he couldn't access the network, or the cloud-drive from the security computer. But he knew enough about computers to get started on how to find it. He opened a file exploring window, right-clicked on the cloud-drive, and opened the properties tab.

Reno wrote down the IP address for the drive on a piece of paper with a ballpoint pen adjacent to the keyboard. He'd have to ask Conner or Rachel Razin to figure out how to delete the off-site drive. Whoever could do it the soonest.

He pocketed the paper, backed away from the computer and held his hands towards the computers. A raw beam of current lanced from his palms and struck the desktop casings, which were rather small, mounted to the bottom of the desk.

The two desktop computers erupted into flames, their overloaded power supply working to burn the logic boards and physical hard drives. After a moment, the sprinkler system activated, drenching him and the office in water.

An automated fire alarm sounded out in the main section of the airport.

Reno dusted his hands together, satisfied he'd done the job well.

He glared at his distorted image in the water-drenched monitors. The water matted down his hair.

"Laura doesn't know what she's talking about - I was _not_afraid of that lioness chick. She just ... _startled_me, that's all."

---

Next Chapter: https://www.sofurry.com/view/779654