Royal flush, p.8
Royal Flush, page 8
‘Good afternoon, Jacob,’ Denny said from the speakers on the dome. ‘Was your time in Baltimore productive?’
‘Good afternoon, Denny. We found the kid, so that’s good. He’s going into rehab, which is less good. Picked up a bad habit or two between running away from home and us finding him.’ Popping open the charging flap, Jacob plugged the lead into the car, nodded, and then walked around to the trunk to get his case.
‘At least the person you were looking for is getting treatment.’
‘Yeah, and we gave the family the details on the Union’s training programme. When he’s in a fit state to be around people, he’ll probably get some help controlling his powers. Uh, Andrea’s back from Japan, right?’
‘Yes,’ Denny said. ‘She will be happy to see you back home too.’
Jacob smiled. ‘I’m certainly happy to be home.’ He headed in with his bulky case held nonchalantly in one hand. Without stressing himself in the least, Jacob could lift almost two hundred pounds in one hand. The case had several changes of clothes and his armour in it, but he had no trouble at all carrying it around.
The house was still the same. Outside it was a three-tier wedding cake. Inside the eclectic design continued as you walked through a fairly large hallway, and under a big hole in the ceiling which led up to the dojo, to get to the big, open lounge/dining room/kitchen area where Penny and June were settled onto one of the sofas, reading and watching ACPN on the huge TV screen.
‘Hey, Jacob,’ June said, flashing a smile. ‘Welcome back. Andrea’s in your apartment.’
‘We figure you’d like to get unpacked and stuff before we grill you on your trip,’ Penny added.
‘Uh, yeah,’ Jacob replied. ‘I’ll get unpacked and come out for a coffee.’
‘Cool.’
Jacob had the distinct feeling that Penny was smirking, but it could be difficult to tell with her and Jacob really did want to dump his case and sit down for a while. He continued through, past the kitchen area where there was indeed coffee brewing. The little apartment he shared with Andrea had a complicated door. It was basically a small airlock, though it did not change the air’s pressure as you went through it. Instead, it acted to limit the amount of heat exchange that went on when someone went through because the apartment was kept at a steady forty degrees Fahrenheit, ten degrees below Jacob’s upper limit.
The inner door opened, and he felt the cooler air against his face and hands. Those areas were not protected by the body-hugging suit he wore under his clothes. It was June in Maryland and it was warm enough outside that he probably should have been wearing his helmet, which meant his full armour, but the car’s air conditioning was good and driving in armour was even less pleasant than driving in traffic. Maybe, if he talked to Doctor Ultimate, some sort of lightweight headgear could replace the helmet…
Jacob’s train of thought derailed sharply as he stepped out of the airlock and realised that he was not alone. The only woman he knew who found the temperature in the apartment as comfortable as he did was kneeling on the floor in what amounted to the entrance vestibule with her hands resting lightly on her thighs. She was wearing a dark-blue kimono-style dress which left a lot of thigh showing as well as her shoulders and much of her chest. Jet-black eyes did not quite look up at his, a subservient posture which really did not fit Andrea that well, but she was pulling it off.
‘Welcome home,’ Andrea said. ‘What would you like to do first? You can have food. Or you can have a shower. Or you can have… me.’
Jacob’s glowing, blue eyes got a little brighter. ‘A man would have to be as dumb as a post to get the answer to that wrong,’ he said.
~~~
‘That was some sort of anime thing, right?’ Jacob asked as, some time later, he lay in bed with Andrea’s head on his shoulder. ‘The “food, shower or me” thing? You haven’t suddenly developed a submissive personality?’
‘It’s a trope used in anime and manga,’ Andrea replied, not shifting her position which meant that the words came out a little muffled. ‘Often as a joke. From what I read, it goes back way before anime and possibly didn’t start in manga. And no, I haven’t developed a more submissive personality. I just figured you’d appreciate the kimono displayed to, um, best effect. No new personalities since I put Midnight in her place.’
‘Good. And I did appreciate the kimono.’
Andrea’s lips curled a little. ‘Not that it’s difficult to be submissive for you. My big, super-strong man. All powerful. Masterful.’
There was a slight pause before Jacob said, ‘You’re making fun of me.’
‘Yes, but also no. Why would it bother you if I wanted to act all cute and submissive for you? You are a big, strong man. You’ve got four inches and at least thirty pounds on me. Have we weighed you recently? I bet you’ve put on muscle mass.’
‘I haven’t. Weighed myself recently. And I just think you’re too scary to be cute and submissive. Thought. I thought that. I admit you did a pretty good job out there in the hall. Huh, I told Penny I’d be out for coffee once I’d put my case down.’
Andrea bit off a laugh. ‘I wouldn’t worry about that. Penny and June did not expect you to be back for coffee any time soon. I bought June a kimono like mine, aside from the colour, for her birthday. They had no illusions about what was going to be happening once you got in here.’
‘Uh, oh.’
There was another laugh, more of a giggle this time. ‘I find it adorable that you still get embarrassed about things like that. Come on, I could use that coffee, and we can’t spend the whole evening in bed.’
‘I could think of worse ways…’
Andrews Field, MD, 9th June.
Technically, Andrea did not need Cygnus to get her to the current official residence of the President of the United States. However, the Secret Service tended to get snarky when someone casually ported past all their layers of security to emerge from some shadowy corner of the building or one of the closets. So, Cygnus flew in carrying Andrea, though the reception committee was one agent: Delphine.
‘I think you enjoy this too much,’ Andrea commented as they flew in toward the attractive psychic in her customary blue suit.
‘I’m straight, aside from June, obviously,’ Cygnus replied. ‘Why would I enjoy carrying a lithe young woman in very tight jeans and a cropped top?’
‘You’re just making my point for me. Besides, it’s June and Dom and, as I recall, the Amazon Queen when you were down there. I know you’re just waiting for me to break up with Jacob so you can seduce me.’
‘One, I’d be waiting far too long. Two, why wait? I figure if we get Jacob drunk enough, we can get a four-way going without too much trouble.’ Cygnus went on before Andrea could comment on that. ‘And if you’re so worried about me getting handsy, why didn’t you wear a shirt that covers more of you?’
‘It’s Maryland in June. It’s hot. Jacob had to wear his armour to get to the office this morning. I’m great with cold, but I’m just as bothered by heat as anyone.’
‘Then quit complaining about flying like this.’ Any reply was cut off because that was when Cygnus came in for a perfect landing in front of Delphine, setting Andrea down as she did so.
‘Welcome to Andrews,’ the blonde agent said from behind a pair of clichéd mirror shades. ‘What does the shirt say? Something Chinese?’
Andrea glanced down at the black shirt with the white lithography. ‘Oh, no. I bought it in Japan. I think it says “Harajuku girl” but I didn’t actually check. I don’t think it’s insulting the American people or anything. The shopkeeper looked a little too scared of me to be lying.’
‘Probably okay then. The president’s waiting for you. She’s pretty keyed up about that academy they’ve got going over there.’
President Francesca Hart was dressed for the weather too. She had a thing for sleeveless coat dresses, which had the advantage of looking quite formal while also being stylish, lightweight, and a little sexy. Today, her dress was a beige shade which was more summery than her usual blues and greys. She had pulled her thick, brown hair up into a bun, off her neck, and she was wearing light makeup. It suggested that this was not her first meeting of the day.
‘I had a rather lengthy briefing on the progress of Federal City this morning,’ Hart explained once the immediate pleasantries were done with and they were sitting around a table in the not-Oval Office. There was coffee, sandwiches, cakes, and various cookies. Delphine had accepted a presidential order to get a coffee, but she was drinking it in a guard position nearby.
‘They should be starting construction soon,’ Andrea said.
‘July thirty-first. That’s a Monday. They’re organising a ground-breaking ceremony for the Saturday before. Well, it’s organised. I’m booked in to uselessly dig up a clod of earth with New Millennium’s mayor. Have they invited you yet, Cygnus?’
Cygnus raised an eyebrow. ‘They’re supposed to? I don’t suppose I have other plans, but no, they haven’t.’
‘That’s about normal for New Millennium,’ Andrea said. ‘The government anyway. Most of the people are fine, but our government is a bit… stupid.’
‘I’ll have someone give them a push,’ Hart said with a shrug. ‘Now, how was Japan?’
‘Hotter and wetter than here.’
‘With added giant monster,’ Cygnus added.
‘Which you apparently took down with one shot,’ Hart said. ‘A headshot at over a mile. I had Woodley in here complaining about your destructive potential. Again.’
‘Not sure why you haven’t got rid of that guy,’ Andrea said.
‘It’s… complicated.’
‘I should point out,’ Cygnus said, ‘that I could only headshot the thing at that distance because it had a very big head. I’m not trained as a sniper.’
‘You make quite good artillery. Anyway, I told the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff that I would take his concerns under advisement. What about this academy the Japanese have built?’
‘Ultra Academy. Andrea got to spend more time there. That’s why I brought her along. I got the impression that they had a good idea going, but they were going to be working the kinks out for a while.’
‘That… probably covers it,’ Andrea said. ‘They’re trying to build a community where people can be Ultras without society pressuring them to be normal. It’s partially a response to the cosmic burst. They’ve had Ultras popping out of the woodwork just like we have. Maybe more of them. But they also passed legislation to get genetic testing done in elementary school. Anyone with suitable genetics is offered a place in Urutoraakademī.’
‘That’s a big can of worms,’ Hart said. ‘If we suggested widescale genetic testing, we’d get plenty of support.’
‘Just not from the people you’d want it from. Japan’s a different culture. Fitting in. Being part of the community. That kind of thing is more of a thing over there. Well, one of the reasons they’ve created the place is to reduce the climate of “Ultras are freaks” that pervades society, and I’m not saying that is any different here.’
‘Aside from the testing,’ Cygnus said, ‘if you wanted to create something like their academy here, you’ve got location to consider. The Japanese created an artificial island in Tokyo Bay and, let’s face it, that was partially to isolate the residents. The isolation helps with creating that climate of acceptance, sure, but it’s also to keep collateral damage to a minimum. Wherever you decide to put something like that here, someone is going to complain about it.’
‘We might be able to do it in California,’ Hart countered. ‘There’s already a greater level of acceptance than some other states. There are some fairly large areas we could build in which aren’t too close to major population centres, but they’re also not so far away that it looks like we’re sending the students to a gulag.’
‘It might work,’ Cygnus agreed. ‘You’d know more about that state than I do. I’d imagine you could get FTI on-side for it. Bianca’s always saying that a lot of the innovation her company comes out with comes from studying Ultras.’
‘And you might get around the testing thing if you make it voluntary,’ Andrea said. ‘I mean, open up the place as a new university. Or university and high school, maybe. Anyone can go, so long as they’re open to the idea of living and working around Ultras. Those who go are tested as a matter of course. You’ll get fewer new Ultras out of it that way, but it might make it easier to foster that attitude of trust. Plus, we’ve had more than a few Ultras pop up recently who, genetically, shouldn’t be expressing the genes they have. Urutoraakademī may be being too restrictive in the students it accepts.’
‘Do this right and the Union will endorse the project,’ Cygnus said. ‘They’ve been helping the Japanese in various ways.’
Hart nodded thoughtfully, sipping her coffee and looking as though she was really considering it. ‘I’m going to talk to some people. Get some investigatory balls rolling. Maybe get someone to go over and talk to the people in Tokyo. I’d go myself, but…’ There was a wincing sound from the general direction of Delphine. ‘I get that sort of reaction whenever I talk about foreign visits. Anyway, it would take months to organise and we could do with more immediate information.’ The president’s expression shifted into a smile. ‘Now, does the Union’s American liaison have anything to bring up?’
‘Not really… Where did they get the salmon for these sandwiches? It’s gorgeous.’
The president’s smile broadened. ‘If that’s all you’re worried about, things are going even better than I thought they were.’
Los Angeles, CA.
‘Why, exactly, are we releasing the story in a newspaper I had never even heard of until I saw this copy?’ Jason Sweet was still not entirely happy about the replacement Brightman had found for Beelzebub. Yes, that was partially because Iain Jankowski surrounded himself with just the kind of shadows that Twilight did, but it was also something to do with the man’s way of doing business.
His smile was another point against. He was doing it now. Jankowski smiled at you like you were an idiot for not understanding him, even before he explained himself. ‘We start it small, in a newspaper only the locals will read. Fullerton will not get wind of it until the larger media sources have picked it up. I’ve checked and there’s nothing major hitting the news cycle this weekend. This will be the biggest thing out there for two or three days. Additionally, it was far easier to get this paper to print the story without checking the facts.’
‘That doesn’t surprise me,’ Brightman said. ‘Are the broadsheets going to take the slightest notice of a story in the Daly City Bugle?’
‘Yes.’ There was that smile again. ‘I’ve made arrangements to be sure that they do. They would normally do more checking before printing something like this, but here they can quote a secondary source which the Bugle says they have but cannot reveal.’
‘Which is you.’
‘Which is me, but no one is ever going to find out about that.’
‘It’s still basically just a rumour,’ Sweet said. ‘You’re spreading an essentially unsubstantiated rumour that Bianca Fullerton is Mink. It shouldn’t be especially hard for her to refute it.’
‘Harder than you think. There is one fairly clear way that Miss Fullerton could refute the claim. She is known to be a blonde with long hair. Mink has short black hair. Fullerton wears a wig, obviously, and it would be quite a simple matter for someone to confirm that she is Mink by uncovering that conceit.’ Jankowski let out a short, sharp laugh. ‘I believe that her sister-in-law discovering that fact would disturb Miss Fullerton more than the general public discovering that she’s Mink.’
‘But what does all this get us?’ Sweet asked, pressing the point.
‘It gets the attention of certain parties on the mysterious Mink,’ Jankowski replied. ‘The Queens will certainly put effort into confirming the rumour. I believe they may attempt to eliminate Miss Fullerton on the off chance that the rumour is true. It gives them means of obtaining leverage against Mink, and Diamond will not miss the opportunity. By the end of this, we will be rid of Mink, the Queens, or both. We need to be ready to move into San Francisco.’
‘You’re so sure that Mink can eliminate the Queens if they go for her?’ Brightman asked.
‘Yes. I think she’ll call in some help. And there will be more than the Queens hunting Mink. Sergeant Quail has been arranging things to ensure that another player will join the game when she hears the news.’
Quail was another replacement, the new Sathanus. Jankowski had found him and brought him in, but Sweet was not too sure about the man. He had been part of some sort of super-soldier project which had left him with a few anger-management issues. That was not a bad thing when it came to the role of Sathanus, but Quail seemed to be more prone to violence than Draven, the old Sathanus, had been. Right now he was sitting on the edge of an expensive cabinet looking smug. ‘That’s a pretty lady. It’s hard to believe she’s as dangerous as you say, but she’ll see the headlines and she’ll get out of prison.’
‘Perfect,’ Jankowski said. ‘I’ll keep an eye on her. She may be useful to us beyond her utility in ending Mink. Believe me, gentlemen, in a very short time indeed, the Seven Princes will own the west coast, and then we can see about dealing with… other matters.’
New Millennium City, MD, 10th June.
‘I am receiving a video conference connection request,’ Denny announced. ‘It is being passed through UltraNet, fully encrypted. The caller is Mink.’
‘Lock the house down and connect her, Denny,’ Penny replied.
The big screen changed from showing Denny’s sensor display of the local area to a view of Bianca, in her blonde wig and a T-shirt and jeans, sitting at her computer console in what June called ‘the Mink Cave.’ The billionaire businesswoman and crimefighter looked worried. ‘Thanks for taking the call, girls. I need to talk to Andrea.’
‘She’s in her apartment with Jacob. Denny, could you ask her to come out? Better let her know who wants to talk. Jacob doesn’t know about Mink.’
