After a lovely morning at the South Street Seaport,
Rakota and Gabrie met Luz Villareal in the lobby of the
EAB building. “Hello, Luzita. Welcome. This is my
husband, Rakota Toyin.”
“A pleasure to meet you, Luz.”
“The pleasure is mine. My mother sent her best
wishes to you, Gabrie. She wanted to make the trip with
me, but I persuaded her to stay in Bolivia. She is visiting
family on the other side of the country we’ve not seen in
ages. Maximo acted like he couldn’t spare us for a single
day. I told her to enjoy herself. She can come to the States
another time.”
“I would have liked to have seen Ana, but come
let’s show you to the commander’s office.”
The EAB’s building was beautifully unique; much
like the agents that made up the bureau itself. Back in the
60’s when it was established, the agency kept a pretty low
profile. In the era of social media, it is much harder to keep
their operation under wraps.
Gabrie and Rakota entered the conference room
with Luz in tow. Commander Hugh Gillette stood up and
extended his hand to their visitor. “Thank you again for
helping us, Ms. Villareal. I know you are not a fan of
Guerra’s, but it still can’t be easy to come forward this
way.”
“It is not difficult, Commander. I have no loyalty to
a man who bullies and terrorizes his own people. Any
people. I created a document to bring you. Here; let me
know if you have any questions.”
“I will go over this with some of my staff. Dr.
Toyin will show you to the lab now. I’ll come find you if I
need any clarification. Again, thank you.”
Luz smiled and gave a little bow. The three turned
and wandered their way to the elevators.
“Have you always known your mother is a
chameleon, Luz?” Rakota asked as he held open the
elevator door for the women.
“Yes. Throughout our family there were many with
the trait. My mother appears to be the last one, but since I
was a very small child I’ve known. Of course people fear
what they cannot understand, so it was not exactly common
knowledge outside the family.”
“Does Maximo Guerra know?”
“He doesn’t. But his father was well aware. It
intrigued him. Claudio Guerra would demand my mother
transform for him. She had little choice in the matter and
knew he would drag her off to his suite to have his fun with
her. A despicable beast.”
Gabrie caressed her shoulder. “I’m sorry Ana had
such a hard time.”
“She’s a remarkable woman. She was very close to
Maximo’s mother. They often dreamt of getting out from
underneath the Guerras, but times were different then. Now
he sees he has messed with the wrong Villareal.”
They stepped off the elevator and made their way
down the hall to the laboratory. Rakota’s passion was
uncovering the mystery of the chameleon, but he was also
top in his field in developing medications, antidotes and
chemicals for warfare. Some of the personnel at the EAB
were medical puzzles to the medical community and his
work had helped them recover quickly from illness and
injury.
“Hey, Rakota. Those test results are in. Do you have
time to look at them?” An extremely tall young man
approached them with a folder in one hand and a stack of
books in the other. “Where are my manners? Hello; I’m
Jasper Marks. Dr. Toyin’s assistant.”
“Nice to meet you,” Luz said as she shook his hand.
“Rakota, please tend to your work. I’m not here to disturb
anyone or get in the way. I’ll chat with Gabrie while you’re
gone.”
“I will only be a minute or two. Show me what you
got, Jasper.” The two men went off to another room in the
lab.”
“I need to go to the ladies room, Gabrie.”
“Sure, follow me.”
They walked down to the opposite end of the hall to
the restrooms. Luz took a brush from her bag and ran it
through her long light brown hair. A very attractive
woman. She was dressed casually in black slacks and a
black blouse. Gabrie was admiring her pretty checkered
trench coat when she noticed movement in her peripheral
vision. A flash of silver.
“Luz…” Before she could issue a warning, a cord
was wrapped around Gabrie’s neck.
A moment later, the two women were surrounded
by a group of six men. Gabrie struggled against the thug
who’d grabbed her, but the cord cut into her throat, halting
her movement.
Two men practically lifted Luz off the floor and
carried her out the restroom. Silver hands; cold as ice were
gripping Gabrie tightly. Her captor would not ease the
tension of the cord.
“Silas, what are you doing?” Gabrie asked her old
colleague. She could hardly believe it was him.
“Just earning my keep, Gabrie. It’s a rough
economy we’re in. A guy’s got to do what he’s got to do to
make it these days, mate.”
“We knew you weren’t happy at EAB, but I didn’t
expect you to go this route.”
“What do you know about me, Gabrie Jordane? Do
you know how frustrated I felt after saving the world just
for them to go muck it up again? Do you know how
hypocritical I find it that this world will accept help from
creatures like us, but you’d better not try to walk around in
your natural state because we must be aliens. What I do
now is more lucrative and more satisfying. Maybe you and
your bloody husband should try it. Let’s go pay him a
visit.”
Silas Strong dragged Gabrie down the hall. Luz
looked petrified and did not fight against the men who still
held her by each arm. Just as they entered the lab, Rakota
and Jasper were ambushed by the rest of Silas’ posse.
“What are you doing? What do you want?” Rakota
demanded to know. Before he could get an answer, Jasper
had been tazed and rendered unconscious.
“Rakota, old pal. I need you to come along quietly.
I really don’t want to break Gabrie’s neck so please don’t
try to brainstorm you’re way out of this. Brainstorm; is that
still your code name?” Silas laughed. “Stupid. Let’s go.”
Not every worker in the lab had phenomenal
abilities, but they were highly trained operatives
nonetheless. Rakota could feel them trying to make their
way to one of the several panic buttons in the laboratory,
but Silas Strong knew they’d go for them, too. He quickly
threw a black hood over Gabrie’s head.
“Don’t even think about it. Grab the good doc and
let’s get out of here!”
Three men grabbed Rakota and covered his head, as
well. They threw tear gas bombs in the directions of the lab
attendants before rushing out the door. They hustled up to
the roof where their helicopter was waiting for them.
There’s no way their ride would have gone undetected by
the EAB, so they scrambled to get their hostages out of
there before the whole plan was a bust.
Gabrie’s pulse was racing. Not from fear, but from
anger. Silas Strong had been an excellent agent with a bad
attitude. He was not a “company man”. He did not like
following rules nor did he like being turned down. Silas
had tried to get a little too chummy with Gabrie a couple
years ago. She told him that she was dedicated to her
husband and her vows. He pretended to have respect for
their marriage, but he just saw Gabrie as a challenge he’d
eventually conquer. Rakota caught him in the act of coming
on to her and put a quick stop to the advances. Silas
mistook Rakota’s calm cerebral demeanor for weakness.
Wrong move. He had had the bumps and bruises to prove
it!
Silas’ body from the neck down was pure silver.
And his heart was just as hard as metal. He was actually
quite a handsome man. An Aboriginal Australian, he was a
beautiful milky coffee complexion with coarse dark curly
hair. He was intelligent and charismatic. However, Gabrie
knew of a few Extraordinary Beings who didn’t quite know
how to handle who and what they were. They joined the
agency to have a sense of purpose, but couldn’t always
come to grips with their differences from mainstream
society. Gabrie couldn’t imagine not being a chameleon,
but not everyone found their abilities to be a gift.
Gabrie was tied back to back with her husband. She
wasn’t quite sure what they’d done to Luz since their heads
were still covered. Flying in a helicopter meant they
weren’t traveling too too far. Or it could mean they were
being transported to a private jet. She was just anxious to
be set loose so she could handle business. Rakota could
sense her angst and caressed her hand to sooth her down.
A couple hours later, the couple could feel the
helicopter landing. Prepared for a fight, they both braced
themselves as they were rustled off the aircraft. Gabrie
stumbled, but her captors kept her from falling. “What have
you done to Luz Villareal?”
“She’s just fine,” Silas answered.
Rakota pulled away from the men that were holding
him. One of the brutes punched him hard in the abdomen.
He bent over slightly, but held his tongue. He didn’t want
them agitated; they might take it out on his wife and Luz.
He had to create a plan, but first he needed to understand
what it was they wanted. It wouldn’t be long before he got
the clarity he was seeking.
As the hoods were snatched from their heads,
Gabrie and Rakota blinked several times to adjust to the
light. They were momentarily baffled at what they were
seeing.
“Amigos, I know this comes as a surprise, but I’ll
explain it to you. Come sit.” Luz pointed to a leather
sectional. “I want to untie you, but I need to be certain that
you won’t try anything first.”
“Luz, how did he get you involved in this?” Gabrie
wanted to know.
The Bolivian beauty smiled. “I’m not part of his
plan. I hired him to help carry out mine.”
“And just what is that?’ Rakota inquired.
“Let’s start with what you do know. My mother
Ana is the last to carry the chameleon trait in my family.
She is a saint of a woman, and would just die if she knew
what I was up to, but for as long as I can remember I’ve
wanted what she has. The ability to transform into
something else. Instead I was doomed to be the bastard
child of Claudio Guerra. Maximo is my foolish half-
brother. He knows we are siblings, but could care less
because I’m a mere woman. Good for nothing in his eyes.
When Claudio Guerra was killed, I came into a great deal
of money. I had no desire to be part of the Guerra’s arms
dealing so I sought other avenues in which to invest my
money. Maximo has no idea how rich I really am. I only
ran his other mansion as a cover. I didn’t need him in my
business. Pharmaceuticals are very profitable. Not your low
life drugs, but elite drugs that fulfill dreams. I have a team
of scientists who have created a serum which transforms
you into a superhuman. It took months to develop it, but it
has limitations still. The effect is short lived which creates
repeat purchases, but strength and agility is not all that I
want this serum to do. I want to be able to become a
chameleon. You, Dr. Toyin are the foremost authority on
chameleons and chemistry. I need you to perfect this drug.
Now cue the evil villain musica.”
“Luz, this is not a smart thing to do. Do you even
know the long term effects of this serum? And you say
strength and agility? How do your customers use this new
found power?”
“What they do with the product is not my concern.”
“If they die as a result of using it should be,” Rakota
said.
“You’ve not used the drug, have you?” Gabrie
asked. “If you were a user, you would have been able to
take care of Guerra’s thugs yourself that day I came back to
rescue you and your mother.” Gabrie pointed out to the
woman who had her completely fooled.
“You are right, mija. I have not indulged. I am
waiting for it to do what I want it to do. And for that I need
your beautiful husband.”
“What makes you think I will help you do this?”
“Because if you don’t, I will have to kill your
beautiful wife.”
Gabrie assumed that was her plan of action. “Silas,
you work for Luz?”
“I’m a very reputable gun for hire amongst a certain
set of people. People who are willing to pay top dollar for
my skills. Much more than the government was dishing
out. I protect, I persuade, I persecute; whatever the client
needs, I provide. It’s just my good luck that my current
employer is so very…tasty.” He laughed loudly.
“Silas, please keep your mind on the mission.” Luz
reprimanded him, but with a sly grin. “In any case, that’s
the deal. I’m sorry it’s not to your liking, but I guess I
inherited some of my father’s ways despite hating him so.
This panic room is impossible to escape from so I suggest
you don’t even waste your efforts. The entire compound is
heavily guarded and totally secluded. I just want you to
solve my problem and then you’ll be free.” Luz gestured to
the men to remove their restraints.
Rakota had to fight to control himself. It wouldn’t
pay to be impulsive, but he wanted to pummel Silas Strong.
Again.
“Yeah, I used to have a thing for your precious
Gabrie, mate. She’s still a looker. But she’s a do-gooder
and that makes her less attractive to me now. I like my
women dangerous and devious. Enjoy your stay.” Silas
gave them a hospitable salute and turned his attention to
Luz. He made a big show of kissing her before they left the
room. Their goons followed, backing out of the room with
their weapons still aimed and ready to fire.
Once the door closed, Rakota cursed loudly. Gabrie
rushed to him and put her arms around his neck. She pulled
him closer so that he’d hear her whisper. “They have
cameras all over this room. It’s probably wired for sound,
as well. That’s why they don’t care about leaving us here.”
She could feel her soulmate’s body tense up. It was
her turn to sooth him. She kissed his ear lightly and softly
sang a French love song her mother had taught her. Rakota
finally relaxed. Gabrie knew his exceptional brain was in
overdrive, but she also knew if he was fueled by anger, this
scenario could get out of hand quickly. They both knew
these people had no intentions of freeing them. Once they
got what they wanted, they would become loose ends that
had to be eliminated.
Comments (0)
See all