CHAPTER FOUR

Stephen and Cara approached the reception desk, hefting bags. Actually checking into a hotel was something of a new experience for Cara, but if they were going to scope the place out, they had to be open about it. The receptionist greeted them with a smile. "Welcome to the Bayview Hotel. Do you have a reservation?"

"Yes,"Stephen confirmed. "Mr and Mrs Jameson."

Cara stared at him in disbelief. "What?"

Stephen smiled at the receptionist as he slipped an arm round Cara's shoulder. "She hasn't got used to it yet. We haven't quite decided on the name."

The receptionist smiled in understanding. "Yes, I see that you've booked the honeymoon suite."

Cara fought a battle to remain silent.

"Someone can take your bags up to your room,"the receptionist offered.

"No, we can manage,"Stephen told her.

She handed them a key pass. "Lift's in the corner there. Go up to the fifth floor, turn right and you're at the end of the corridor. You can't miss it."

"Thank you." As they walked a few paces from the desk, Stephen looked around. "Pool. In-hotel entertainment. All-inclusive restaurant. If you were a break-out looking for a place to hide, you wouldn't need to leave here."

"Honeymoon suite?"Cara repeated.

Stephen shrugged. "Well, if we're going to stay here, might as well get the best room. There's still a few funds left in the Ultra kitty."

"Stephen, what's this about?"Cara demanded.

Stephen did his best to look innocent. "Scoping out a new break-out."

"And that requires you and me to stay in the honeymoon suite?"

Stephen had to admit that was a bit of a stretch. "I just thought it would be a good chance for us to spend some time together. That is what you want, isn't it? You haven't given up on us?"

"In my own time,"Cara insisted. "I didn't want you forcing me into it. You realise I could just teleport back to my flat every night and leave you here on your own? In fact, I could do that now."

Stephen knew he couldn't push too hard. "Are you going to?"he asked.

Cara sighed. "You're bringing the bags,"she told him. Then, after a quick check that the receptionist's attention was elsewhere, she teleported.

It could have gone worse. Stephen started picking up the bags.

It felt strange to John to have a gun in his hands again. It was loaded with rubber bullets so there was nothing to stop him firing it. He'd handled them during his time at Ultra, before spending years hiding his ability to kill from the other Tomorrow People. Then he'd gone through it again during his short time with Jedikiah's paranormal unit, only to have the prime barrier reinstated on shaking off Jedikiah's conditioning. And now here he was again, like going back in time.

The woods were full of other members of McLelland's unit. Some were on his side. The ones guarding the opposing side's base that he and his colleagues were looking down on were not.

The team leader glanced across at him. "John Young, right?"

"Right,"John replied briefly.

"Corporal Doug McGregor."

John gave the soldier a brief nod. "Pleased to meet you, Corporal."

"Pierre Lachance,"added the Frenchman on John's other side. John gave him a nod of acknowledgement.

"Take two soldiers to the right, Young,"Doug ordered. "On my command, we spread out and hit them with rapid fire. Go!"

John did as instructed, leading the two soldiers under his command round in a circling motion and then charging in, yelling as he did so. The rubber bullets hit the men on the other side, who obligingly played dead. Soon, it was only John's team who were standing in the base.

A whistle was blown to signal the end of the exercise. Langford came striding over. "Good show, Corporal." Doug stood to attention and saluted, which Langford acknowledged. Langford's gaze fixed on John for a moment, then moved on. "Assemble for debriefing in 20 minutes."

Doug clapped John on the shoulder. "You did well, new boy. I'll shout you a beer after debrief."

McLelland was stood some yards away, waiting for Langford's return. "What did you make of our new recruit?"

"Ruthless. Disciplined. A fine soldier."

McLelland smiled. "Perfect Doomsday Man material."

Cara stalked out of the bedroom laden down with sheets and a pillow, which she dumped on the couch. "That's your bed,"she told Stephen, as though daring him to contradict her.

Stephen simply raised an eyebrow. "Is that normal for newlyweds?"

"We'll tell them we've had a row. I gather couples do that."

Stephen nodded, accepting the point. "I guess we could clear it up before housekeeping get here."

"Now that's a plan. Talking of which, what are we doing this evening?"

If he was honest, Stephen hadn't entirely thought about it. "We could have a meal in the restaurant." Cara gave him a sceptical look. "Well, our break-out has to eat some time,"he pointed out.

Cara conceded the point. "Okay. Show me the menu."

Russell found Irene where she usually was, in the lab staring at screens full of the latest information from Tim. "So, you're in charge around here again?"he commented.

"That's right,"Irene confirmed. "Was there something you wanted?"

Russell adopted his most persuasive look. "A party."

Irene raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"A party! That's what you do when the grown-ups go away and leave you in the house on your own." He leaned against the desk in front of her, continuing to try and look persuasive.

"What exactly would this party involve?"Irene asked curiously.

"Well, I know a guy who knows a guy who can get us crateloads of booze. I can get some music happening, have Tim pump it through the Refuge. And I know an agency that can get us some really nice strippers…"

"No strippers,"Irene said firmly.

Russell paused. "No strippers. Okay, I can live with that. But the rest of it you're okay with?"

Irene sighed. "Yes, Russell, you can have your party."

Russell nodded, satisfied. "Are you going to come?"

"I may poke my head in."

Doug clapped John on the shoulder as they walked away from the office. "Congratulations, Young! I don't think I've ever seen Langford look so impressed by a new recruit. I have a feeling you're someone that we can trust."

"I hope so,"John replied. He was finding the situation slightly uncomfortable. He wasn't too keen on the base's officers but he liked Doug. Yet if the Tomorrow People were right about what the base was being used for, he was quite possibly going to have to expose him.

"We have a different view here from a lot of NATO. They're too keen to make peace, to call ceasefires. You can only trust peace if you've defeated the enemy first. If you've shown them they can't rage war on you without regretting it. That's why the country's full of terrorists. They don't know that we've beaten them."

John wanted to argue but he had to keep playing the role. "I guess it's up to the people that know the truth to protect them from themselves."

Doug nodded in agreement. "That's exactly how we feel." He seemed about to say more but then he spotted someone further along the hall with her back to them: A young woman in uniform. He gestured for John to stay quiet. "Oh, I don't think you've met our new support staff, have you? Lance Corporal Young, Private Finch."

The woman turned to them and John had to fight very hard to keep the surprise off his face. Standing in front of him, in army dress uniform, was Astrid.