Alien Research

CHAPTER 67

NATURALLY THE CORRIDOR WAS DARK and also naturally it was long. “Any guess as to where they’re going?”

“I’m not sure, but I believe they’ve planted the bombs underground, so the base will collapse into the sea.”

“Nice. I really hate these people. So, any chance you can use your talents and blow the bombs up or away or something?”

“My power doesn’t work like that. I can move earth, things like dirt and sand. But I don’t control wind.”

“You made a freaking dust storm when you tried to kill me and my team before.”

“Yes, there was so much sand, dust, and dirt, I could control it to make it dance. The dance, the movement of the sand or dirt, makes the wind, not the other way around.”

“That’s what you call it? Dirt dancing? Well, in a way I guess it was like a mosh pit with sand instead of people slamming about. So, you’re not really Storm, you’re more like an earthbender.”

“Excuse me?”

“Seriously? Avatar: The Last Airbender? You’ve never seen it? The movie was awful, I grant you, but the animated series rocked.”

“Aren’t you a little old for cartoons?”

“Oh, my God, animation is more than cartoons, but just as a tip, I still read comics. I used to read them because they were fun and cool and interesting. Now I read them because, frankly, they work really well as a guide for how to survive my life.”

“I honestly don’t understand half of what you’re saying.”

“Few do, Mahin. Few ever do.” We reached a dead end. “Well, either there’s a hidden door—which I would never, ever count out as a possibility—or we’ve missed whatever turn they took. Or, you know, we’re trapped with the bombs and are about to die. I give it even odds, any way you want to call it.”

“Why did they want to leave you with me?” Mahin asked slowly. “They didn’t seem to care that you were there . . .”

“Crap. They planted a bomb in or around your cell.”

No sooner were these words out of my mouth than the sound of an explosion reached us. It was a big explosion, and even though the corridor was long, it wasn’t long enough. Flames and debris billowed toward us.

Contemplated options. They seemed slim. Was about to try to send Jeff an emotional goodbye message, when Mahin put up her hands. The billowing continued, but it rolled back onto itself, then back down the corridor, until it died down.

“So, you can stop flames? Not that I’m complaining.”

“No. There was a lot of dust, dirt and debris. I can control that.”

“Huh.” Looked around as the emergency sirens went off. “You realize, then, that everything around us is, essentially, dirt, dust, and debris that’s all put together.”

She sighed. “Yes, I know that. I can’t move it, though. I’ve tried. But it’s too . . . heavy for me to move it when it’s in a more solid form.”

Decided now wasn’t the time to work on Mahin’s talents. Now was the time to get the heck out of here, find the other bombs, and stop the bad guys.

Of course, now was also the time to discover exactly where in the Guantanamo complex we were. We were underground and, as I noted something starting to swirl toward us, under the water line.

“Um, how are you with liquids?”

“Useless.” She put her hands up and out and a wall of dirt went up between us and the water that was definitely starting to flood this area. “I can hold it off for a little while, but not too long.”

“Okay, hold it as long as you can, I’ll be right back.” Ran down the corridor and looked around carefully. There were no doors here. There was no way Ronaldo and company had teleported out of this area. There was no gate. Meaning there was a hidden door somewhere, because there was no way they’d have set off a bomb in this area until they were safely away from it.

“Hurry!” Mahin called. She sounded strained. “I can’t hold it much longer.”

Considered all the options, which were slim and getting slimmer. Had no clue what to do. Decided going for the crazy was probably in my best interests. Dropped my Glock into my purse, pulled out my iPod, and hit play.

Van Halen’s “Jump” was the current song of choice. “Thanks. You’re really earning the milk and pennies in shoes or whatever today.” Dumped the iPod back into my purse.

Looked at the ceiling as I headed back to Mahin. Just before I reached her I saw what looked like a rectangular outline that wasn’t the same as the rest of the ceiling. I jumped up. Couldn’t reach it. Squatted down and did my best frog jump. Still missed.

“What are you doing?” Mahin asked.

“I think there’s a trick door above us.”

“Why would a military base have something like that?”

“No freaking idea. Maybe it’s part of someone’s old escape plan. We can figure out how it got here once we get through it.”

Ran down the corridor back to Mahin’s dirt wall. Water was starting to seep through it. Turned and ran as fast as I could. Jumped at the last minute and was rewarded by being able to slam my hands against the rectangle. It moved.

I landed and spun around. “Screw the dirt wall. Make a hand stirrup and give me a boost.”

Mahin stared at me for a long moment. Then she nodded and dropped her hands into the classic stirrup boost. I stepped onto her hands, and she grunted but was able to get me up.

Slammed my hands against the trapdoor and this time I was able to move it. Grabbed the lip. “Shove hard!” She did, and I was able to pull myself up. Didn’t stop to take in my surroundings, just lay on my stomach, held onto the edge, and put my hand down. “Jump and grab my hand, wrist to wrist!”

She had the A-C ability to jump, which was good, because the water was pouring in. Mahin and I managed to get a good hold on each other’s arms at the wrist, and then the fun of trying to pull her up began.

I wasn’t losing her, but the water made her heavier and it was causing her some issues. Also, if I couldn’t get her up and into this room with me in time to slam the trapdoor shut, we were both going to drown, just on different levels.

Felt something brush by me, and Mahin felt a lot lighter. I tugged, and she flew up with me. Literally. She looked as though something had her clothes held in its talons. She was in, and I slammed the trapdoor down. “Good job, Bruno.”

Looked around. We were in a dark room with what looked like a lot of boxes in it. Pulled my phone out and used it as a flashlight. Had a lot of missed texts and calls. Decided now wasn’t the time to check them out. Checked out the room instead.

Sadly, we weren’t in Supply Room #30. On the other hand, we weren’t drowned or blown up, so chose to see this as one for the win column. Found the light switch and turned it on. Nothing. So they’d taken out the power, at least to this area.

“Any guess as to where they are or we are?”

Mahin shook her head. “I’ve never been here before. In case you weren’t sure.” Oh good, Mahin had a sarcasm knob.

“Help me shove these boxes onto that door. Hopefully it’ll keep the water out.”

Tried to figure out my next move as we did this. Didn’t have a lot of ideas other than “get the bad guys and save the base.” Didn’t feel this was my most sophisticated plan ever.

Remembered I had help with me it was about damn time to use. Opened up my purse only to see that there were no Poofs in it. “Really? Bruno, my bird, I hope you’re still around, because the Poofs have done a runner.” Either to avoid the water or, more likely, to follow Gladys. However, the bad guys had Poof Traps and I had no Poofs on Board. Both were not things that made me happy.

Bruno squawked. He wasn’t going derelict in his duties, thank you very much.

“Excellent. Get us out of here, preferably before the next bombs explode.”

Bruno went visible and Mahin jumped. “Where did that come from?”

“That is Bruno, and he’s been with us the whole time. I think. He’s what helped pull you up out of the water.”

“Oh. Thank you.”

Bruno looked at her, cocked his head, studied her some more, then went over and nudged against her. Mahin looked surprised, but she bent down and petted him. “I can’t tell by the light from your phone—is he a peacock?”

“Peregrine. It’s an Alpha Four bird.”

“Alpha Four?”

“Wow, they didn’t tell you squat, did they? I’ll fill you in later. Right now, we need to find the rest of the bombs and hopefully defuse them.”

“What if we can’t?”

I shrugged. “Then we do the next best thing and you use your earthbending powers to engulf, control, and contain the blasts.”

Mahin nodded. “I can do that.”

Bruno screeched and headed to the door. Used my phone’s light to follow him, then once I was at the door, dropped my phone back into my purse. Decided I’d spent long enough without music, and besides, why make it hard for Algar to give me musical clues? Clipped my iPod to my jeans and put my earbuds in. “Zoot Suit Riot” from the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies came on my personal airwaves. That boded.

“Let’s go. Be ready for a lot of chaos.”

Opened the door and Bruno trotted out. Grabbed Mahin’s hand and headed out after my big bird.