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Chapter -20- Injured Animal

Rue shook his head."You hardly know me. You ain't owe me attention. I just wish I could help ya find yer lil' brother."

"Rufus, you've had a hard time," said Elvena. She sponged his forehead. "It will be hard to take a shower until you find a way to stand in the shower. _Let_me baby you."

Rue grinned. "I'll be."

"What?"

"You never had someone to baby. I'll be damned. I'm your first sick boy."

Elvena scoffed with a grin. "Yeah. So? My mother did this to you, so I feel like I should be the one to help you."

"Nah. You're helping because you're a kind person."

"No, I'm not. I've focused on my career and I've put my all into being the best USPRI agent I can be. And what did that get me?"

"You're a right perdy girl. You should be surrounded by boys right now."

"I've had guys flirt with me before." Her voice lowered. "It usually happens right up until my mother walks by. But whatever. I've kept my focus when it comes to my career path. So far as being a kind person? No. I'm bitchy like my mother. I have a crappy personality like my father, and I'm emotionally broken like both of them combined."

Rue laughed and shook his head. "The badass Elvena, super agent and skilled operative ... bein' dramatic because she's mad at her folks. You ain't ever had anyone point out just how privileged you is, so you're blind to it all."

She tilted her head. "Did you seriously just say that to me?"

Rue grinned. "You're being honest and you ain't babying me - I'm handicapped. I cain't even climb my ass in the shower and bathe m'self. So I'm returnin' the favor - I'm telling you shit like it is, sister. You. Are. Privileged. Best education, big ole house, wealthy folks, mega-wealthy godmother; prestigious Government job with several years of back-pay owed to ya'. Oh, let's not forget, you're just the perdiest lil' thing down here. So chin up."

She stared at Rufus for a moment. "How old is your son again?"

"Technically, he's a few months older'n you. But that whole freezing thing makes you a few _years_younger." A sly smile spread across Rue's face. "Why you askin'?"

"Shut up." She grinned. "No reason, Rufus. I was just trying to figure out if you always flirt with people your son's age."

"I'd flirt wit' people my age, but they're all dead. So I flirt with girls who look around the quarter-century mark. You gotta problem with that, Jane Bond?"

Elvena looked away and feigned rolling her eyes. "God. James Bond jokes now, huh? Cute. I'm clandestine sector, but I'm not a spy, Rufus. Still ... cute."

"Ayup. I try. Reckon I had to drop outta 'cute' school, though. Never graduated."

She took a deep breath so as not to be flustered. "You're the first guy to really take the time and flirt with me. I appreciate it. It's been nice. But you don't have to do it to make me feel better about how pathetic my love-life has been."

"What'cha mean?"

"You slept with my mother, didn't you?"

"I did. A few times when we first met, and a few times when she thought yer daddy passed."

She turned back to Rufus and nodded. "The honesty is refreshing. But you know what?" Elvena sat down on the block of stone that was a bed without a mattress. She put her hand on his knee and gave a gentle pat. "I could have been your daughter. You were sleeping with my mother right before I was conceived. Hell, maybe I _am_your daughter. You ever think of that?"

"I ain't gonna begrudge you havin' Eric's personality. For the record, your mother could control shadows while she were pregnant wit'cha. You gonna let that defense mechanism run your life? I ain't gonna judge you. Guess what?"

She fidgeted. "What?"

Rue shrugged. "I just found out I gotta son. I mean I just found out. I ain't never settled. I'm still thirty years old," he said, pointing to his forehead, "right here, where it counts. I may always be thirty, 'n set in my ways. Who knows? You need to overcome that defense thing."

"Didn't you just lose someone?"

Rufus took a deep breath and sighed through his nose. "It's complicated, but yeah. I was right crazy about Ulfey. I could'a married her if things were different. And yes, I'd have wifed-the-hell out of that girl. But just because we gotta twenty-six year old boy doesn't mean I'd had a chance to bond with her."

"Why not?"

"Why you think I only just found out I had a son?"

Elvena frowned. "Because you haven't seen her since before she found out she was pregnant?"

"Ayup. It were a one-night-stand, darlin'. A _long_time ago. And then I cross paths with her for a few weeks and she dies because of Falcon's people. I'm mournin' the death of my son's mother, and the loss of a girl I had chemistry with. That ain't the same as mournin' a wife. Besides, I'm familiar enough with loss and grief to know how to cope."

"I just don't want to be some ... rebound."

Rue tilted his head. "Rebound, huh? There's gotta be some sorta relationship interaction for there to be a rebound. You sayin' you're interested in me?"

"I'm not saying anything. I'm just saying, I don't want you to flirt with me if you're only doing it to make me feel better. Also, I don't want you reaching out to me because you are in need of a rebound."

"Ah." Rue smiled. Just as quickly as he smiled, the expression faded away. "I'm the poison apple, babe."

"What?"

"Ulfey took a bite and died. Nichole took a bite and died. Your mother's a fighter. She took a bite and now she's fightin' the poison. I think I like you too much to poison you, too, Elvena."

Vena looked away again. "My mother has been talking like she won't survive the assault on this city. And if she were to die, you need to know it's not your fault."

"That'll be debatable. At the very least, it'll be a disgusting coincidence. Yer mom don't deserve to die - she's just gettin' her kids back. She just reunited with her husband. To be honest, though, I think she's always the exception to the rule. She ain't fallen victim to my poison. She survived the Silent Inquisition. She deserves a bit of the good life for all the shit she's endured before the twenty-first century."

"Why did you flirt with me anyhow?"

Rue shrugged. "You want the honest reason?"

"Uh,yeah. Don't sugar coat it."

Rufus' smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Fine. It's because you got all the good things I liked about Karla twenty-six years ago. Best yet, you don't suffer from any of her flaws. You're a better version of a good catch. Simple as that. I know women don't like being compared, but ... you're Karla-two-point-oh. For starters, you don't look so god-awful young. Two, you ain't a know-it-all. Three, you don't monologue. Four, I wouldn't have to wonder how I 'compare' to past lovers. Five, you don't make a joke about things every two seconds. You want me to keep going?"

She smiled a bit. "Yeah."

"A'ite. Six, you don't got kids with another man. Seven, you don't correct how I talk. Eight, you don't use four 'n five syllable words to make a point of highlighting yer intellect, or to make others feel stupid. Nine..."

Elvena began laughing. She covered her face, ran her hands up through her hair and took a deep breath. "God. Okay, okay. You're a sweet man, Rufus Darken. But you're the first person to flirt with me since waking up. Hell, the first to flirt with me in a long time - probably since high school. And as much as I like it, I don't want to jump at the first guy to say sweet words in my direction."

"I ain't asking you to have a family with me, and prepare for our seventy-fifth wedding anniversary. I'm just flirtin' with you because you're fun. I'm comfortable with that if you are."

She nodded with a smile. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm comfortable with that."

"A'ite, then. Besides, it's only a matter of time before my competition is a flirty guy with both feet."

"Oh geeze. I'm not that shallow."

"Never said you'd fall for it. Just sayin', he'd be my competition."

Elvena shook her head. "Are you really a werewolf?"

"Ayup. That's another reason you wouldn't want to date me. I'm a dog. Most gals ain't into that sorta nonsense."

"It_is_ a little weird, I won't lie. Can I see?"

"Yeah. But right now, it'd take a lot outta me. And changin' back would be a pain. But I promise you'll see it soon enough."

Elvena nodded with a slight smile. "Alright. Fair enough." A knock at the door caused both to grow quiet. "I'm going to go see who that is."

Rufus leaned back on the large stone slab. "It's yer mother. I smell her perfume, that dry French shit she wears around yer father, because he likes it."

"We're on the second floor."

"No windows in this room, so it's wafting under the door. Go on."

"Get some rest, Rufus. I'll check on you later."

"I look forward to it." Rue put his hands behind his heads and smiled at her. "Go on, now. She's knockin' on that damn-near petrified door because she wants to be polite. And how rare is that? She usually walks in on everyone."

"Yeah, you're right. Why didn't she do it now?"

"I dunno. But she must think you needed yer privacy." Rue smiled, adding, "Walkin' in on people like she owns the place was gonna be number nine on my list."

Elvena laughed and walked out of the upstairs bedroom. She took ancient stairs, which were made of stone and part of the building's design.

Karla stood in the doorframe of the foyer. "I didn't ... disturb anything did I?"

"God, mom. I only just met him."

Karla grinned. "Sorry, honey. I'm a scramjet on steroids, and I sometimes forget you're a helicopter, just cruising along at your leisure. Be glad you weren't born with my hunger. It ruins just about everything." Karla's expression broadened into a genuine smile. "Do me a favor and take your time with whatever you decide to do with your life. Don't rush around blindly like me. Promise me."

"I ... okay, I promise. Of course, I'll probably be too old to bare children by the time..."

"Oh, stop. That is such bullshit."

"Why are you here? I..." Elvena frowned. "I didn't mean to sound like that ... I mean, what brings you by?"

"Your father found your brother."

"What! Really? And you didn't open with that? Hell, I'm surprised you didn't teleport up to the bedroom and tell me right away."

Karla chuckled inwardly. "To be honest, I thought you guys would be making kissy-face. So I ... didn't mean to judge you by my standards. It won't happen again. Anyhow, I wanted to respect your privacy, so I knocked."

"Well ... thanks. So where is Donnie?"

Karla gestured to the front door. "You want to help? We'll do it as a family."

Elvena smiled. "Yeah. Let me get my things from upstairs."

Karla grinned. "You're going to tell Rufus what you're doing, aren't you? You don't have to check in with him."

"I want to." Elvena went upstairs and approached Rue on the bed. "They found my brother. I'm going to go and get him. Just sit tight. We'll be leaving for the surface when I get back. How's that?"

Rue pointed at Elvena. He crooked a finger, gesturing her to come closer. "C'mere, you."

Elvena moved closer, curiosity shining in her eyes.

Rue sat up, and reached for her. He kissed the side of her face, at the corner of her lips. "That, there, is for good luck. I'd go with you, but I'd jus' slow you down."

She bit her lower lip. "Thanks, uh ... yeah."

Rue smiled. "Now go on, darlin'. Go be the hero."

Elvena meandered off. She headed back downstairs in silence, not knowing what to say.

Karla grinned. "You're blushing."

"So?"

"He kissed you."

"Not the way you're thinking."

Karla grinned. "He didn't kiss you?"

"Not the way you're thinking," Elvena repeated.

"On the side? Like on the cheek? Jesus. What did he say?"

"He told me to go be the hero and he'll be waiting for me when I get back."

Karla scoffed with a grin. "What's he going to do? Just sit here barefoot 'n pregnant? Tell him to have dinner ready by the time you get back from savin' the world."

Elvena grimaced. "God, mom, enough. It's too much sometimes. Come on, let's go get my brother."

Karla smiled. "Let's go get my son. We'll show these assholes why the Loupe girls don't take shit from anyone. We keep our men safe, not the other way around. Let's go kick some asses."

Elvena walked outside with her mother behind her. "I've never fought with my folks at my side. This should be interesting."

Karla cracked her knuckles with a bright smile. "Honey, kicking asses is the family business. I'm just glad you're finally old enough to be part of it. On a side note, I'm excited to see this place."

"It's just a mission objective to me, mom."

"It's Ultima Thule! It's Atlantis! It's Mu, babe. It's Shambhala, El Dorado; we're in the capital of Hyperborea. Whatever you want to call it, this is the real city that all those myths sprouted from. I want to see this place. I mean, just look around, Vena. Look at all the architecture. Look at these buildings! They've been abandoned for ten thousand years, and most are still standing. They've survived quakes that defy the imagination. This was a technological epicenter, once. People that lived here, in this ... this mecca ... they didn't need cars. They teleported like I do. Peter said they could move about instantly. They used nanobots and ruled with technology so powerful it made the gods fear them."

Elvena cut her eyes to her mother and, slowly, she swiveled her head to the left. "Jesus, mom. A little excited are we?"

"Atlantis was on my bucket list." Karla grinned a bit. "In all seriousness, I'm so nervous about rescuing Donnie that I don't know how to act."

Elvena nodded in understanding. "We'll get him back. This is what you've come to do. We're doing it."

"Yeah. I'm worried about putting him in even more danger. I could have killed Rufus or Heimdallr ... or all of us for that matter. Also, I'm worried Donnie will be upset with me for not rescuing him right away. What if Stockholm Syndrome set in?"

Elvena swallowed. She'd never seen her mother worried like this before. "Hey, hey. Relax - we're going to do great."

Karla feigned a smile. "Thanks. I just needed to hear it, Miracle."

"God, you haven't called me that since ... Middle School. I remember hating it but ... it wasn't such a bad nickname, I guess."

"You're my little miracle girl." Karla reached over and zhushed her daughter's hair. "C'mon. Let's find your father and get started."

Conner dropped down from a two-story building. He landed in a crouch and stood up, cutting his eyes from Karla to Elvena. "You realize you're going to need my help, right?"

Karla tilted her head. "Is that so?"

"Yeah. I can hack computer stuff, remember? What if your son is in a place where you can't use teleportation? What if he's in stasis or you can't..."

Karla reached up and put her hand on his mouth. "You've made your point. No arguing with me, are we clear?"

Conner stepped back from the hand on his mouth. "If I'd said that to you, your reply would be to repeat me in a mocking tone. While there is a part of me that wants to do that to you right now, I won't."

Elvena looked from Conner to her mother. "He's right, you know. You do that to people sometimes."

Karla shrugged. "You want an apology? I'll bake you cookies later. But first, we've gotta get Donnie, kill the 'bad guys' and get out of here."

Conner offered his hand to Elvena. "Conner Parker. I'm Topaz's son."

Elvena took his hand and shook it. "Vena Loupe. I'm Topaz's goddaughter. You've grown a lot. Last time I saw you, you were little."

"I'm not that kid anymore. That's why I reintroduced myself just now. You met a kid back then. Now you're meeting the real me."

Elvena nodded in understanding. "Fair enough."

Eric stood stoically at an intersection up ahead. He ignored the amazing architecture around him. He kept his eyes on the trio approaching. Once they were in range, he nodded and asked, "Conner?" He frowned. "This should be a family affair."

Conner stopped, across the street. "Do you not want my help?"

Karla held a hand up to Conner and her daughter. "Wait here, you two."

Karla teleported the across the street and appeared in front of her husband. "We don't know what technology is going to be standing in our way. Conner volunteered to help."

Eric rubbed the back of his neck with a sigh. "Karla, you know what Cybil initially saw? James and Jules were supposed to be killing Falcon with Reno Nevada. Some ... some girl werewolf I've never met - was supposed to be apart of the final attack. Now I have to wonder if..."

"Falcon is dead," Karla said. "Remember? Jules and Ulfey are dead, but we managed it without them."

"Her name wasn't Ulfey. It was Peri Lynn. Cybil speaks in his sleep. Sometimes he has waking dreams. His visions of the other fork have faded, but I used to trail him to keep tabs on his visions involving you."

"You shadowed him, huh?"

Eric grimaced. "Yes, I was trying to avoid the pun."

"Why? It was a good one." Karla placed her hands on Eric's chest. "Honey, Conner can help. Peri ... I don't even know what to tell you about her - she died fifty years ago. Cybil couldn't have known about her."

"He also said you were married to a telepath. So, with all due respect, stay away from Charlie Foster. Please?"

Karla squinted at Eric. "What? I don't even know Charlie. I met him, briefly, on the way here. Why would you think I'd give a damn?" She gave Eric a firm pat on the chest. "Let's not talk about telepaths anymore. I'd rather not think about that right now."

"You still love that boy don't you?"

"Eric, stop."

"It was fifty years ago," he said in a gentle tone.

"Don't even talk about him," Karla said, referring to Chance. "Let's go, babe. I want to get Conner back to his grandmother in once piece."

Eric nodded. "Sorry I..."

"Don't apologize. Let's get moving." She reached up and ruffled Eric's hair. "This isn't going to be easy or safe. Do you think we should keep Elvena out of this? If something happens to her, she won't be able to take Donnie back to the surface while we finish making a mess down here."

Eric looked up.

Elvena and Conner approached. Elvena stepped besides her mother, looking at both of her parents.

Karla kept her eyes on Eric and winced. "You heard me?"

Elvena nodded. "I did."

"Look, it's not like that, Vena. I just got you back. I'm just being protective and..."

"Wait." Elvena reached her hands up and put her palms on her mother's right shoulder and her father's left bicep. "I'm not opposed to the idea. All of you have abilities, even Conner. I don't. Humans have to play things differently - smarter not harder."

Conner withdrew his staff from the holster on his back. He twirled it. "You don't bring your logistics operative, or your driver onto the field. You don't bring your sniper into the trenches." He looked over at Elvena. "You're important enough that they're considering your after-action usefulness."

Elvena laughed and shook her head. "I get that, Conner. You're still a bit of a know-it-all, you know that right? I want to do this as a family but I am mature enough to understand that we all have our role to play. Mine is to take my brother to the surface before this place is destroyed. I get that."

Karla turned to her daughter and smiled. "You're not upset with me?"

"No, mom. I'll find a secluded location so I can keep an eye on the elevator. If we don't have a secure escape route, it will be too dangerous for Donnie."

"How old is he?" asked Conner.

"Seven," said Karla.

Elvena opened her mouth to reply but gave pause, hearing her mother's words. She licked her lips. "Seven now? Jesus, I've been gone for a long time."

Eric nodded. He turned to Elvena and hugged her. "If anyone can keep our escape route clear, it's you. I believe in you."

Elvena opened her mouth but was stunned. After a moment, she returned the hug. "Uh..."

"This is what you've been trained for. You'll do great," said Eric.

Elvena swallowed. "Thank ... uhm. Just ... wow. Thank you."

Eric stepped back and nodded. "There are batteries in the light fixtures that hang down with the air ventilation ducts. Get your hands on one and rip out the light and the battery. If the elevator is clear, you light it as a beacon and put it near the elevator. I'll approach first and look for your signal. Then we'll leave as a family."

Elvena nodded. "Come back in one piece, everyone."

Conner turned to her. "Do you want anyone to join you?"

"How do you mean?" asked Vena.

"I can hack into the communications and get a message to the other city. I'll have someone come down and join you if you prefer."

Elvena thought about her options. "No, we have enough people down here already. Rufus is staying in a building with a clear line of sight to the elevator. I'll go check on him. I'll be fine."

"Alright." Conner turned to Karla and Eric. "Where do you guys want to start?"