A Soldier’s Passion Page 12

  “Power up,” I ordered.

  “Oh...kay,” Vincent replied.

  I felt it as soon as I reached out for energy. There was an arc between us and we were surrounded by a blue field.

  “That’s strange...I usually can’t see the field with just ambient energy,” I said. “I wonder why this is visible.”

  “Who cares,” Vincent retorted. “Let’s see how strong it is.”

  I expanded the field to surround the sofa. Then, I lifted the whole thing a few inches from the floor.

  “That’s enough,” I said as the sofa eased back to the floor. We relaxed and the field disappeared. I wrapped my arms around Vincent and held him close. He tilted his head back on my shoulder closing his eyes.

  “Ummmm, is that supposed to happen? Bobby asked.

  “Not that I’ve ever heard of,” I replied.

  We picked up our drinks and sipped for a while. Vincent was restless in my embrace. I tightened one arm to hold him still.

  “Stop worrying, love.”

  “What if they want to take us in for testing?” Vincent groused.

  “If they wanted to do that, we’d be in a lab right now,” I soothed. “I am certain they have seen this post mortem.”

  “Could they have missed that flash?” Bobby asked.

  “No,” I replied. “For their own reasons, the brass is ignoring it.”

  “Why? I could make us powerful,” Vincent said in confusion.

  “It could make a pair of us powerful,” I corrected. “The brass has never encouraged Altereds to work together. I realized that they took great care that we always did the opposite.”

  “How so?” Vincent asked.

  “I know for certain that they watched for any hint of a relationship between male and female Altereds,” I said. “Our squad is odd in having so many – it’s usually one per squad. But the ones in our squad have the most volatile and, forgive me, anti-social personalities.”

  “We were more likely to kill each other than team up,” Vincent muttered.

  “It’s easier to control individuals,” I said. “A bonded pair wouldn’t stand for being separated even if the mission called for it. Their first consideration would always be each other.”

  “Are we a bonded pair?” Vincent asked.

  “What do you think?”

  “I think I want to kiss you.”

  “I’m taking a shower,” Bobby muttered stomping into the bathroom.

  “I should get him some pajamas and towels,” I said.

  “In a minute,” he replied, turning in my lap.

  Vincent wound his fingers through my hair and brought my head down. His kiss was needy and clingy. I made him know how much I loved and wanted him.

  “We can protect each other,” I said against his lips. “I will not lose you now.”

  “I won’t go,” he whispered before kissing me again.

  I managed to persuade my lover to move our activities to the bedroom. He took Bobby the nightclothes, sheets and blankets while I stripped down. Vincent was naked and on top of me within seconds of closing the door.

  “Vincent, I didn’t say goodnight...”

  The rest of my words were swallowed in a fierce, searching kiss while that warm, aroused body settled over mine. I gave in to that diabolical tongue, my moaning muffled by those lush lips.

  “I hated not napping with you,” Vincent whispered before sucking my earlobe. “I love being with you when you’re sleeping.

  “I wanted you with me,” I murmured caressing his back down to his beautiful buttocks. “I always want you with me.”

  “You have me,” he replied, kissing me again deeply and possessively.

  We made love as quietly as possible. Vincent’s choked off moans and swallowed gasps drove me crazy. He had me on my side with his face pressed against my shoulder while I muffled my cries in a pillow.

  ***

  I didn’t think anyone’s eyes could get as big as Bobby’s were at the registrar’s office that morning. Despite Vincent’s frequent assurances that no one knew of this filing, he seemed to worry that the Military would swoop in and spirit him away. We were at the court office as it opened. The papers were filled out, sworn to, notarized and filed before 0900. We even had time to drop Bobby off at school.

  Our arrival at the high school caused quite a stir. Aside from the formidable black military sedan, we were in the black fatigues, heavy black boots and long, black coats of our squad. It was a look calculated to say ‘Badasses’ – a teenager’s favorite image.

  “This sure will help my reputation,” Bobby said noting the stares as we piled out of the car.

  “Keep a low profile, little brother,” Vincent muttered with a smirk.

  “You know me. I’m not you,” he laughed.

  Vincent glared at him. I intervened.

  “We’ll pick you up at 1500, then get the stuff for your room.”

  “Right. Bye, guys.”

  “There goes our boy,” I said wistfully. “They grow up so fast.”

  “Let’s find the front office, asshole,” Vincent retorted with a bemused scowl.

  We had a lot of help finding the right office from students and teachers alike. The school secretary flirted with us both even after seeing our names on the guardianship papers. It was weird. I was glad to be back in the safety of the car.

  Vincent peeked at me as we headed toward the meeting. He still seemed befuddled.

  “I really want to kiss you right now,” he said.

  I smiled. “Why? Five minutes ago, you called me an asshole.”

  “You make me happy,” he replied simply. “How come we’re so happy? I thought we’d be wallowing in our shit more.”

  “Me too,” I admitted with a shrug. “I’d been having some really bleak days and some incredibly dark thoughts. All that went away that first night.”

  “Yeah, sure did,” he chuckled. “Short circuited everything. Is that normal or are we just horn dogs?”

  “I understand it happens when people are in love,” I replied. “We have a source of deep connection and strength.”

  “That rocks our world,” he said.

  “Damned straight.”

  Corporate conference rooms were much like Military ones except the private sector didn’t try to subdue the opulence as much. The décor screamed wealth from the rich heavy fabric of the curtains to the butter soft brown leather on the winged back chairs and the incredibly long, shiny, mahogany table. Vincent whistled as we were shown in by a personal assistant better attired than I could ever be.

  “Nice,” Vincent murmured picking up a water glass. “Heavy.”

  “Probably crystal,” I replied absently. “Don’t be intimidated.”

  “Please,” Vincent retorted. “I’m more worried about embarrassing you.”

  “No, you were right. I need you with me,” I replied holding his gaze with my own.

  “I like hearing that, Colonel,” he smiled.

  “That I need you?”

  “Oh, I like that, too,” he purred coming close. “But I really enjoy hearing you say that I’m right. That’s up there with how you moan my name.”

  I glared at him. “I hope you’re happy. Now I’m going into this important meeting with an erection.”

  To my great satisfaction, Vincent’s breath hitched and his amber eyes darkened.

  “Now, what do we do?” He asked with a sigh.

  “Stand behind the chairs,” I suggested.

  My lover gave me a startled look, then scooted behind the chair next to mine. Somehow, we had our best formidable battle faces in place when the VIPs filed inside.

  Aside from Dr. Auerbach, there was Gilbert Stroh and Phyllis Lindstrom, a pair of incredibly wealthy industrialists who had recent turned their massive fortunes toward charitable and civic causes, and Brigadier General Frank Zumwald, retired senior member of Joint Command and a well decorated hero of several global conflicts and the personal assistant who was introduced as Lester Newm
an. He had a recorder and a laptop with him.

  We seated ourselves as they did. I pulled out a file and a notepad.

  “First of all, thank you for meeting with us on such short notice. We know your time is valuable,” I began. “When you brought this proposal before me, six months ago, you asked me to consider a series of questions before I gave my answer. I am now prepared to do that. And in this rare instance, I also speak for Major Vincent Greven.”

  General Zumwald lifted his snowy brows at that. “Let’s hear it, then.”

  “I am ready to step way from the military,” I began. “I am willing to take on the responsibility of this new agency in the search for information that will help in the training and managing of Altereds that will stabilize and improve their lives and service. I seek neither profit nor power in this endeavor and expect the same from the Benefactors.”

  Dr. Auerbach smiled, but the General remained stoic.

  “And now for the hammer, Colonel?” He asked.

  “A hammer of a sort. There are some requirements before we sign a contract,” I replied.

  “Please, Colonel,” Lindstrom said. “Speak your mind.”

  “I know you wanted to keep the lid on this for as long as possible, but Vincent and I need to sever our military service now. We believe that the recent incidents in the Market are designed to further tarnish the military.

  “I concur,” Zumwald said.

  “We also have clear indications from Joint Command that they wish to use us to bolster the military image,” I said. “I don’t think it’s in our interest or that of the new Foundation to be pawns for either agenda.”

  “I agree,” Stroh said. “In fact, in light of recent events, I believe we should go public with the Foundation’s plans now.”

  “Do you think you can sever so quickly and easily,” Zumwald asked pointedly.

  “Yes, with some help from the Benefactors. I recently discovered that the Military has not fulfilled the requirements of the Induction Contract and never has,” I replied with my gaze locked on Zumwald. “We did not know until this past Monday that we should have been given the chance to opt out of service when we turned 18. Thus, we have been serving under a voided contract.”

  “Is that true?” Lindstrom demanded.

  “Yes,” Zumwald admitted. He was somewhat sheepish under Vincent’s glare. “My former colleagues looked upon Altereds as an investment of millions with no more right to leave the military than a tank or a jet fighter. I did not share these views. That is, in part, why I am here. No society can call itself free when it has enslaved any of its people.”

  “I assume you were going to tell us at some point,” Stroh asked tightly. “My question is when?”

  “I wanted the Foundation to have some time to interact with the Military,” Zumwald replied. “This deception must end, but too much change too soon will make Joint Command close ranks and hunker down.”

  “The Brigadier General is correct,” I said. “I would not press the issue of our retirement had this strange conspiracy and a change in our personal lives warranted it.”

  “What kind of terms could we present to Joint Command that they would accept?” Lindstrom asked.

  “They would want the Colonel and the Major to continue maneuvers with the Altereds to keep track of their skills,” Zumwald began. “They would have to keep their dog tags and trackers. The Colonel would have to continue his part of advanced training. They would also want the right to re-activate both men in the event of a national emergency. That’s in addition to oversight of the Foundation’s research findings.”

  “Colonel?” Lindstrom asked.

  “The terms are acceptable with us, but there must be a stipulation that a national emergency is defined as a clear and eminent danger like a flaming behemoth coming to crush a Major city,” I replied quietly.

  “Done,” the Brigadier General said with relief. He looked at the assistant. “Draw up a document citing the violation of the induction contract and setting down the discussed terms of retirement.”

  “You can sign them at the end of the meeting. We will meet with our government liaison and the Joint Command this afternoon,” Stroh said. “We might as well get everything over with.”

  “I’m not worried,” Zumwald said. “General Braun is a practical man. He’ll see that there will be a positive impact on the quality of the Altereds and the public’s perception of them. He can get Mueller to go along.”

  I felt Vincent’s eyes on me. I met his gaze and nodded with a small smile. He relaxed considerably.

  “Now that we have met your terms, Colonel,” Lindstrom said with a wry smile. “Put all the cards on the table. What is going on with you and the Major?”

  “Vincent and I are a bonded pair,” I replied levelly. “It is a recent development.”

  “You could have fooled me,” Zumwald quipped. “I was always hearing that you were at each other’s throats.”

  “I grew up a lot while I was gone,” Vincent said quietly. “There is one more thing you should know.”

  He looked at me and I nodded once again.

  “My Brother, Bobby, has manifested. Rik and I registered as his guardians this morning,” he said.

  “You’ll fight his induction?” Zumwald asked sharply.

  “No,” Vincent replied. “We’re leaving the decision to him. We just don’t want him pressured by anyone. Don’t worry General, for some reason, he wants to be like me.”

  “We will support his decision,” I added.

  “Alright. Now that all the cards are on the table, and the retirement issue is settled,” Stroh began. “Let us formally establish the Foundation.”

  During the next few hours, every aspect of the Foundation for Altered Development and Research (FADR) was set forth. Vincent and I were to have our own lab and library as well as a physical training facility. All of this would be near the Central Market. The staff looked impressive. I was allowed to take only two members of my squad in addition to Vincent. Our monetary compensation made my lover’s eyes bug out. The offer included a spacious, secured living quarters that could be expanded for three. We accepted but stipulated that we had certain requirements for the living space. I was thinking about an oversized tub. Vincent, no doubt, was thinking of the kitchen.

  We also talked about the planned relationship with the military and private businesses. I made it clear that we wouldn’t support any exploitation of Altereds, but would support a fully informed decision of any Altered to work with government and private industry.

  It was exhausting in detail, but I was happy to have everything as clearly spelled out as possible. Contracts for our retirement and our positions with the Foundation were produced as promised. They had everything in them that was discussed. We signed them, as did the Benefactors.

  Afterward, we were shell shocked in the car heading for Central Command.

  “Do you think it will be that easy to retire?” Vincent asked after long moments of silence.

  “There will be grudges, but the alternative is a legal bloodbath that could end the whole Altered Program,” I replied.

  “”What do you think of our Benefactors?” He asked.

  “I trust them, because it’s in their interest to be honest,” I said. “What do you think?”

  “I think Mrs. Lindstrom wants to see us do it,” Vincent muttered.

  I barked out laughing. “Yeah...and we’ll make sure there is no surveillance in our quarters at the Foundation. But other than that?”

  “I think they’re straight shooters, but I’m still worried about Mueller,” he said thoughtfully. “He’s a control freak. No matter how good this could make him look, he’ll want to hit back for losing control.”

  “Yeah, we’ll have to be careful – even with people we know,” I said.

  “Why didn’t you tell them about our inter-connected power?”

  “I want to see how it develops, first,” I said. “I just didn’t want to share that yet. Maybe I�
�m being silly.”

  “No, it like sharing how we make love,” Vincent agreed. “Where to now?”

  “We talk to the squad. Then, I’m taking you to lunch,” I replied. “Off base.”

  “Somewhere nice?”

  “Sure, we’re rich,” I said. “And I want you to myself, even if it’s just at a private table for a little while.”