The Quantum Objective (20 page)

‘We’ll need her,’ he nodded at Rana. ‘We won’t be able to find it without her.’
‘You are out of your mind mister-’
‘I’m not sure-’ Decker said
‘We all go,’ Galen said.
Everyone looked at him. ‘We work as a team. We all go.’
‘I’m staying.’ Mimi flashed her palms up. ‘Just saying…’
‘I’m coming,’ Kade’s mouth was set. Rana turned to him but made no comment.
Beth stared at the group in silence, then chuckled. Mimi frowned and caught Decker’s eye. His head shook faintly.
‘Ok, ok, I’m coming. Wouldn’t want to miss the party.’ Mimi kept her gaze on Beth.
It’s going to be a hell of a bash.
*
‘What’s cooking, Honey B?’ Mimi closed the conference room door. The others had gone to get their battle rattle on. She probably had two minutes before someone else barged in.
Beth looked up from the plans spread out over the desk.
‘Cooking?’
‘The new Easy Breezy Beth is beginning to give me chills over here. Is it the music thing? I heard there was something about your mother. You fainted and won’t talk about it. That might wash with the others but you know I’ll harass you till you spill, so spill. Save us both the trouble, ok?’
Beth just stared through her for a long moment and Mimi’s heart tripped.
‘It’s…I’d forgotten something…which I didn’t think was possible. Actually I’d forgotten many things.’ Beth shrugged. ‘My mother committed suicide when I was seven. It was a terrifying time and I guess I blocked certain things out. Well, one thing…I think. Music. She’d been a chemist like my father, but her passion was music. She was gifted and taught me to sing and play. It was what we did together aside from academics. I suppose I shielded those memories to manage my grief. I’m still processing the knowledge that I can forget anything.’
Beth stretched her arms above her head and rolled slim shoulders. ‘I was pretty tired of not having answers about the present and future, but I’d felt secure in my understanding of the past. Rana ruptured that bubble and the shock, evidently, was more than I could handle. I’m fine now - this roller coaster is careening so far out of control, the idea that anyone, least of all me, is supposed to be responsible for its outcome is laughable, that’s all.’ Beth chuckled, then laughed. ‘Mimi, tell me it’s not funny.’
The muscles in Mimi’s face didn’t move.
‘Come on.’ Beth smiled. ‘You know what else? I don’t even know what I’m doing. I don’t mean my decisions; I mean I have no clue what my body and mind are doing. I was commanding Galen without knowing it. I was blocking people from thinking about music, that’s why Rana didn’t experience it till the hotel. What else am I doing right now that I’m unaware of? It’s ironic that I have powers neither I, nor anyone else understands till it’s done enough damage to be picked up.’
Mimi crossed to her friend and gave her a squeeze.
‘If it helps, none of us knows what we’re doing. We’re all bluffing our way through life. None of us remembers our past with any real accuracy and we’re all equally clueless about tomorrow. It’s called being human. Welcome to our world. There is no control. What’s laughable is that you ever thought there was. You’ve taken a lot of hits already, but a bunch more knocks are no doubt coming your way. You must be ready for them.’
Beth groaned.
‘I’ll be there to help you stand back up, but you can’t get punch drunk.’ Mimi
‘Who’s drunk?’ Decker poked his head in. ‘No drinking - we’re up. The others are waiting.’
Mimi nodded and he ducked out.
‘So you ready for your first armed raid on a cult with suspected superpowers?’ Mimi said.
‘Of course.’ Beth mumbled as she pushed away from the plans laid out on the table, ‘I was born ready, I just don’t know it.

Tampa, Florida
Mimi’s heart thumped heavy in her ears. She couldn’t see them, but she knew they were there. Shapes moved in the shadows untouched by the retro streetlights that lined the quiet harbour. There were up to thirty armed men awaiting their orders. Across the still waters, the columned convention centre blazed with lights.
Their small group moved towards a fire exit at the side of the target building. They waited. Decker glanced at his watch. The seconds ratcheted tension like a garrotte. Galen turned down his palms and eased the pressure.
The door clanged open like a cracker in her chest.
For God’s sake! I’m not made for this shit. She slipped into a dimly lit corridor with the rest. Their Girl On The Inside handed a pass to Decker and disappeared through a side door. He motioned them forward and they hustled down deserted corridors towards Wesley’s office. They reached the stairway and began to climb.
Rana moved ahead of Decker and hesitated, continued, then stopped, staggering their progress like a stalled train. Then Mimi heard it.
‘Bach?’ Kade said. Rana shook her head.
‘It only got to play one time - at its creation.’
‘Was it lost?’
She shrugged.
‘So whoever’s playing it is seeing it as you do?’
Rana turned and moved lightly down the stairs into the dark stairwell. Beth was the first to follow, two steps at a time. They came into a narrow corridor that looked like a service passage. Rana was already halfway down. She opened a door and the music funnelled loud to the group. They stepped into an auditorium close to the stage where a solitary figure was hunched over a white grand piano. His fingers flew over the keys, his hair shielding his face from view.
Rana stepped onto the stage in one soft bound. The music stopped. Rob lifted haunted eyes to her, not seeming to register their presence. Then his gaze focused and his brows lifted. Mimi couldn’t believe he was really here. God he looked rough. Taller than she’d imagined though.
‘So, you came after all,’ he smiled at Rana.
‘Where is the stone?’ she said. He shrugged.
‘I never knew; Wes wouldn’t tell.’ He turned back to tinker with the keys, ‘now not even he knows.’ He began to play again. Mimi looked to Decker, who looked to Beth.
‘Why doesn’t Wesley know where it is?’ Beth asked.
Rob’s fingers slipped on the keys.
‘You don’t know?’ He looked at the group properly for the first time. Seeing a small crowd he straightened, as though becoming aware he had an audience. He flashed a familiar smile. God it was weird seeing Rob Larson like this, Mimi thought. She used to have his picture stuck in her childhood diaries. She used to take him wherever she ended up in the world.
‘The devil came to take it last night…he got it too. It was pretty amazing actually.’
Mimi blinked.
‘What do you mean the devil?’ Beth said. Galen stepped close to her.
‘You know…the Dark one. He who will not accept no for an answer.’ Rob laughed low. ‘Wes was never bested before. He didn’t take it well. You’d better leave. He must know you’re here by now.’
‘Where did this devil take the crystal from?’
‘Wes’ neck…right after he cut his head off.’
‘What? You just said…is he dead?’
Rob frowned at her.
‘Of course not. A little thing like decapitation wouldn’t stop Wes for long.’ The group digested this in silence.
He started playing again. Beth stepped close to him, Galen at her heels.
‘Did this happen here? Can you show us?’
He sighed as though longing for a little peace, but too polite to ignore them.
‘Sure.’ He stood and gave them the Larson smile again. He crouched in front of Rana and gazed into her eyes. His mouth bent into a thoughtful pout and he rubbed the stubble on his chin. He stood and led them down the corridor, through four high-security doors to a chamber deep in the building.
Mimi’s heart rate jumped at the gasps from Beth and Galen. A walk-in safe about three meters square stood in the centre of the room; one half of it had melted into a large puddle of steel. There wasn’t a corpse to be seen.
‘What?’ Mimi said. Beth looked like she’d seen a ghost.
‘I think I know your devil….’ Her pale face split into a wobbly smile. Then she laughed out loud, spun on her heel, and raced out followed by all except Mimi. She stared at Rob’s expressionless features. Ageing, but still sexy. Concern tugged for her childhood hero. He didn’t seem so bad.
‘What about you?’
‘Me?’
‘What will you do now?’
His eyes shone with unshed tears, ‘they’ll find something for me no doubt. They usually do…I will shine again.’ He met her gaze and erupted with enthusiastic laughter. Mimi flinched and ran after the others.
*
Beth burst from the building and looked out at the harbour lined with boats. The others crashed and bumped to a panting halt nearby. Decker touched his ear.
‘Hold fire.’
Her heart pounded so hard she clutched her chest to keep it in. Oh God, what if it works? What if it doesn’t?
She moved towards the water. Alone, she breathed deep and focused on the blood rushing through her. She narrowed her vision to a point and opened her mind wide.
‘Come,’ she whispered.
Nothing happened. Louder?
The railings in front of her liquefied to a puddle and he crashed from the dark sky. She was blown backwards and just kept on her feet, arms wide.
He was crouched on his knees, naked. He slowly lifted inscrutable black eyes to hers. She swallowed and pulled a little air into her lungs. Her eyes stung, but she didn’t dare blink. Tremors shook her from the inside out. He’s here, alive; here and now.
He rose unhurried, the metal puddle climbing up him, shaping itself over his muscles like a second skin. It reached his chest and blew out into a long tunic.
His gaze was cool as he took her in.
‘Miss me?’
Where was it…the surge of power that might have shielded her from this reunion? The thrash of joy and fury seized her muscles, only her heart pistoned life through her. Her balance was going, the lights on the water too bright. A hand on her arm steadied the world once more. Galen.
Then Rana stepped in front of her father. His hold over Beth broke and he crouched to level his face with his daughter’s. The air was still as a picture.
‘What’d I miss?’ Mimi’s low whistle startled Beth who threw her a warning glance, but she wasn’t looking. Her eyes were fixed on Khoen and Rana.
‘There’s no time for this. They’re here,’ Galen said.
Armed men ruptured from every direction. Dressed in black cloaks with thick red chords round their necks they looked like a clerical street gang. Decker conjured an enormous pistol; orders rattled from him as he sprang closer to their group, Kade at his side. More guns appeared from every shadow, sprouting at windows and gunwales.
The forest of barrels parted and Wesley strode forward.
‘I want it back, Khoen. And I don’t care how I get it.’
‘You know I’ll only take your head off again.’ Khoen lifted his arm and every gun ripped out into the bay. The soldiers and cloaks clutched their burning hands.
Decker paled; Rana smiled.
‘We’re leaving now,’ Khoen waved towards a powerboat moored nearby.
Wesley laughed, jabbed his finger at them and the air exploded in a rush of feet and tackles as soldiers and cloaks clashed in a storm of fists. The melee surged towards them like a twisting scrum.
Mimi screamed. Decker yanked her over his shoulder and grabbed Kade’s arm.
‘Move out!’ He fled towards the boat.
The thudding blows, crackle of bones and putrid stench of fear manacled Beth. Galen shoved her at Khoen who clamped an arm around her ribs and marched after Rana and Decker.
Galen turned back to the fight.
Beth opened her mouth, but no scream emerged.
Could he stop them? They can’t hurt him can they?
He opened his hands, fingers rigid. A low whoomph pulsed from him and the closest men dropped liked puppets, the others staggered and stumbled.
‘Hah,’ she yelped. Relief poured through her. Galen spun and ran towards her, but a broad back abruptly blocked her view. She gasped when the blonde head turned; lips twisted in triumph, Jamie clasped Galen to his chest like a favoured son and vanished.
Her screech staggered everyone to a halt. Rana ran in slow motion to the empty spot. She was saying something but the world was underwater, sound and light distorted. A sharp pain yanked her into focus.
‘Stay with me, Beth. Call to him. Call for him to come.’ Khoen’s stern tone rebooted her thoughts.
‘Galen! Galen! Come back now!’ Her screams echoed back from the buildings across the water. A hoot cackled from the side and they spun to Wesley. His smile threw acid over her insides.
‘You get him when I get the stone. You underestimated us and now…you lose.’
Rana stalked towards him, her impassive face lit by the bloody glow from her markings. Khoen’s arm released Beth, and she collapsed to her knees, unable to look away from Rana.
She looked like a sprite from the bowels of hell. It swelled her heart.
Tear him limb from limb. Skin him alive. Get Galen back.
Wesley smiled as Rana bounced off an invisible wall between them. She stepped back from the impact and rubbed her head. The night deepened as lampposts uprooted and flew at him. They smashed mid-air into the shield and marked where it stretched around him and a few of his men. Khoen looked at Rana and shrugged. She smiled.
Khoen raised his brows and ran for Beth. He scooped her up and dashed along the pier, Decker and the others were already aboard. The dock shook and rumbled, accompanying the crack of concrete and panicked screams that ricocheted around the harbour. Beth clawed up Khoen’s chest and craned to see what was happening. Rana’s palms flashed like beacons against the darkness beyond. Beth could see nothing but dust. No Wesley, no men.
What did she do with them? Where’s Galen? Galen. Galen. Galen.
‘Holy mother of Jesus. Did you see that?’ Mimi was pale as pus. Khoen leaped into the bow, Rana one nimble hop behind.
‘A sinkhole. It swallowed half the building. You’d better go without me. There’ll be a lot of questions here.’ Decker shouted and leapt back out onto the pier. Khoen leaned on the throttle.
He spoke but Beth wasn’t listening. Terror choked off her air and pushed her to the floor as the boat raced out of the harbour.
Stop! We can’t leave without Galen. How am I going to find him if Wesley’s dead?
Ugly heat split the panic in her stomach and she vomited hard. Khoen was instantly at her side. Mimi shoved him out of the way.
‘Honey B, you can’t lose it now. There’s no Galen to calm you, so you have to do it yourself. He’s their only leverage; they won’t kill him. He’s also able to protect himself. Keep some perspective.’
A howl ripped from Beth’s throat and she lunged for Mimi. Khoen caught her and pinned her thrashing body to his just as the boat, Kade at the helm, bumped against the boarding platform of a yacht.
‘Release me!’
Khoen’s arms fell away. Mimi yelped, sprang over the edge and flew up the steep steps.
Beth didn’t give chase. She was locked in concentration. Her body shook with a rage that frothed her mind with black profanity. This was her closest brush with hate. Terror crawled over her like hungry maggots, but she held still.
Far in the back of her mind was Galen as a small boy, an island in this hurricane of fear. She fought for control, gathering what will power she could dredge up.
There’s no time for this. I have to save him. For once it will be the right way round. Whatever it takes, I’ll get him back.
She opened her eyes. Rana stood nose to nose with her. Fleeting sadness in the mismatched eyes made her blink, but then Rana smiled. It was a small tilt of lips, but it perhaps marked a nugget of respect. Her arms ached to clutch her daughter close, but she didn’t. Years of stinging indifference had broken the maternal bridge. She didn’t know how to cross the gulf.
Khoen’s intense look could have swallowed her whole. Beth turned away and saw the first rays of dawn sketch the horizon. It was time to act. She stepped off the boat and climbed on board.
*
His daughter’s energy was like a flare. He could feel it hiss and crackle around her.
‘I need it.’ Rana spoke to Khoen’s back.
He continued to stare over the peaceful bay waters, the slush of the bow wave whispered below. He turned and walked back into the salon where the others were strewn over white upholstery, sipping at hot coffee the stewardess had hastily rustled up.
Beth was curled on an armchair, chin on her knees, eyes closed. He dismissed the possibility she could be sleeping. She was thinking. He could feel it in his own head. Their connection had changed since the parting, but it was still there. Her flaming river of hair triggered a wash of memories he’d thought dead and buried. He’d murdered them brutally, repeatedly, yet here they were; arisen like ghouls to haunt him. Residual shock at being near her again trickled along his nerves, twitched small muscles in his arms and legs.
He walked to a bronze mermaid figurine at the base of the curved staircase. He reached out and the metal parted like a curtain to release the crystal. He stared at the small violet hexagon, and couldn’t help another glance at Rana’s violet eye before handing it to her.
Small fingers held it at the edges, like a disc. She sank cross-legged to the carpet at his feet and patted the space in front of her. He obeyed. Kade, whose gaze never seemed to leave her, moved to watch from the bottom step.