“Proud of you for not saying that it’s because he’s blind, Stryker. That’s some personal growth, that is.”
“She says he’s a better hacker because he can’t see.” Heard voices. “Oh, Big George, Ravi, and Henry all say that Chernobog thinks of them as nephews, too. But she likes me best of you guys.” More voices, many raised. “No, we’re not all equal to anyone. I’m Kitty’s favorite, too, in case you aren’t aware. I’ve known her longer than anyone around other than Chuck and Amy. And I’m still Chuck’s go-to man, and don’t the rest of you forget it!”
“Stryker! Focus, dude.”
“Huh? Oh, right. But anyway, we have a ton to tell you about all the alien landing sites, but Ravi says that since his wife is in the Middle East, right in the middle of one of the triangles we should focus on that one.”
“I’m one with Ravi on this thought. What about this one? The triangle points are three impressive buildings, two of which are quite old. Why so?”
“Builders were drawn to those locations, we’re sure. They’re over places where we have known Z’porrah power cube rooms. Same with every other triangle we could find. All points of the triangles have a Z’porrah power cube room under them.”
“Interesting, especially since almost none of the spaceships we’ve seen so far are triangular, the Z’porrah’s in particular. Any relevance for averting the end of the world as we know it?”
“Doubt it. But there’s also a power cube room under the Persian Gulf, nearish to Kharg Island. I think it’s connected to whatever the Treeship is going to land in or on in a few hours.”
“Super, something to mull over in the downtime I don’t have. Anything else?”
“Nope, other than that I think Chernobog would appreciate it a little more than she’s saying if you wouldn’t kill her son.” Heard voices in the background again. “Nope, sorry. She says that it’s up to you, a hundred percent. She just appreciates that you called to check with her first. Unlike some people. And that’s a direct quote.”
“Gotcha. Love to all, be home soon. I sincerely hope.”
Reader hung up. My music turned right back on, yay technology. Now I was listening to “Flip, Flop And Fly” by Indigo Swing. Presumed this was a hint and/or encouragement.
“So, Russell, your mother is not on your side at this precise time.”
“Because you’ve stolen her from me.” He sounded jealous and defeated and more than a little sad.
It was stupid, because he was a killer—the Israelis hadn’t had him locked up for stealing lollipops, after all—and he’d helped kill a lot of my friends and family. And yet, I felt sorry for him. If someone had me at gunpoint and was asking my mother what she wanted them to do, it would crush my heart if she’d said what Chernobog had. My mother would have said to let me live. No, my mother would have offered to take my place. Demanded to take my place. Begged, even, depending on the situation. And my mother didn’t beg. But if I were in this situation, she might, if she thought it was the only way. Because she loved me.
Pulled the gun away from his head. He gaped at me. Heard Jeff grunt in a very annoyed way that I was, due to being me, very familiar with. Shrugged. “Dude, I can kill you any time, and my arm’s tired. Plus, I have a bunch of men with me who will be more than happy to kill you if I don’t feel like it.”
“So, what are you waiting for?” he asked in a low voice.
“Honestly?”
“I’m dying to hear what it is, myself,” Jeff said, sarcasm knob at eleven and threatening to go for twelve.
“Many things, really. But, first off, I want my friends out of suspended animation.”
“Not Butler!” Christopher shouted.
“Um, okay, why not?”
“I think it’s all that’s keeping him alive.”
CHAPTER 81
LET THAT SIT on the air for a moment. “Mind explaining?”
“Yeah.” Christopher came over to where I was. So did the other guys. Meaning Kozlow was surrounded. Therefore, I could look at Christopher. It was nice to move my neck. “I took a hit when I touched the doorknob and woke up just like you found me. The others arrived pretty much as I was coming to.”
“Why were all three of them zapped? Only takes one to open the door.”
“They were all holding hands,” Kozlow said. “The current traveled. The A-C and the human, they just dropped. But the other one . . . he’s an android, right?”
“Yeah, he is.”
“I hadn’t intended to use suspended animation, but he was shorting out, herking and jerking everywhere. So, I gave it a try to see if I could get him to stop short-circuiting. It seemed to help. So, I put the others in suspended animation, too. In part so Nerida couldn’t tie them up to more equipment. One set up that way was more than enough.”
“So, let me be sure I understand this, but you did what you could to save the android?” He nodded. “Why?”
He eyed Jeff. “I’d lie, but why bother? The boss wants hostages, and an android is a great addition to any crew. I figured if things went badly, I could offer him to Mister Gadhavi.”
Jeff was growling. “How noble.”
“Look, I’m not on your side, okay? Stop acting like this is some sort of surprise, that I might not be doing everything for altruistic reasons.” He shot me a look similar to the ones I’d given him when talking about Nerida as “Another Version Of The Truth” by Nine Inch Nails came on my airwaves. “Is it only clear to you?”
“Potentially. Let’s wake up the human and the A-C and make sure they’re feeling extremely well. If they’re not, we’ll need Tito to gate it over here faster than fast.”
“I already have him ready and waiting,” Tim said.
“I need to stand up,” Kozlow said. “I need to concentrate to not release all three of them at once.”
We let him stand and moved en masse with him as he stepped over to the bodies. It was clear he was concentrating. Jeremy lowered to the ground and the glow around him disappeared. His eyes fluttered, then opened. “Where am I?”
Jeff helped him up. “Who am I?”
“Ah, the President? Jeff Martini? Don’t you remember?” Jeremy sounded worried.
“How are you feeling?” I asked him.
“Like I’ve been trampled by elephants. What happened?”
“Tell you in a minute. Russell, well done. On to the next.”
Kozlow concentrated again and Buchanan was lowered. The glow left him. But his eyes didn’t flutter. “Time for CPR?” Jeff asked worriedly. Kozlow stepped closer and Jeff stepped in front of him. “Just what do you think you’re doing?”
“I think he might need more than CPR.” He looked at me. “I’m clear I die if he does.”
I nodded. “Give him his chance.”
Kozlow knelt down and put his hands on Buchanan’s chest, in the same places a doctor would put the defibrillators. The way Buchanan’s body bucked it was clear that Kozlow was acting as a human defibrillator, too.
But it worked. Buchanan coughed and opened his eyes. “What the hell?” He grabbed Kozlow by the neck. Siler pried Buchanan’s hand off and I pulled Kozlow out of the way. “Let me at him,” Buchanan growled.