By the time Scarlett returned, Lady Jaye had found what she was looking for.
"Want to see?" she showed Scarlett a chart she had created with all the connections mapped out. "I found several other connections to our little incident mentioned in the paper. I haven't had a chance yet to talk to my friend. I'd like to see his take on this."
She got up, taking her chart with her. "I'll be back."
Scarlett nodded, following up on a lead of her own.
Lady Jaye decided to get some fresh air. She made her way outside, walking towards the small creek that flowed through a back corner of the grounds. She'd be guaranteed privacy there. It was a bit of a trek, but definitely worth it.
A wave of contentment swirled through her as she settled under the tree. She smiled. This was her favorite meditation spot on the base. Few knew about it, or made a point of trying to find it, but it had drawn her from the beginning.
She absentmindedly ran her hand across the moss that grew next to the tree, just enjoying the peacefulness that radiated from the area. She was not looking forward to what she had to do.
Sighing, she flipped open her secured phone – another gift from her family's business – and dialed the once-familiar number.
She spoke briefly in German, listened to what her contact had to say, then disconnected. She was glad he seemed busy and had gotten right down to business – she really hadn't wanted to rehash old times.
She stared blindly at the creek, almost swearing she could smell the smoke and hear the crackle of the flames as they came closer. Shuddering, she forced herself back to the present. She closed her eyes and focused on her breathing, the way she had been taught. Slowly her heart rate returned to normal.
It had been the call that had brought it all back to her, she knew – she had been able to distance herself before with just reading about the area.
Getting up, she dusted herself off and decided it was time to fill Scarlett and Hawk in with what she had found. They might have to use Dr. Olivari again after all, she thought wearily. The man had proven himself to be a royal pain, and the Joes had gladly shipped him off to a government safe house.
She checked the office first for Scarlett. Filling in her teammate with the information she had gathered, they grabbed her chart as well as Scarlett's intell, and made their way to Hawk's office.
His expression remained neutral as they laid the facts before him.
"So your opinion is this matter generator survived and is being put to use by Cobra in the German countryside?"
Lady Jaye tried not to look annoyed. Hadn't that been what they were just saying? Scarlett stood still, but her stance betraying her thoughts.
"Why is it called a matter generator and not a matter replicator?" Scarlett asked suddenly. The other two looked at her. Scarlett continued. "The way the doctor explained it, it replicates matter, correct? I would think the term 'generator' would actually create things. Something isn't sitting right here."
Lady Jaye nodded. "I agree. Granted, it's just a term, but normally scientists are very specific on what they're creating, including the names. I think we're going to have to have a heart-to-heart with Dr. Olivari and see exactly what this machine does, and how it can be disabled for good."
Hawk sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I'm not sure if the name is the most important factor in this situation, but you're right about bringing the doctor back in. Give me a few minutes to call the team together and you can present your findings to them. We'll figure out what to do."
As they began to leave, Lady Jaye turned around and looked at Hawk.
"Yes?" he asked, his voice impatient.
She knew her timing wasn't good, but she had to do it. "Sir, I realize we'll probably be sending a team out to the area. I would like to request…" she paused, then steeled her nerves, "I respectfully request," she amended, "that I not be a part of that team."
Both Scarlett and Hawk stared at her. "Can I ask why? You're the one with contacts in that area. This type of mission needs our covert agent and resident linguist."
Lady Jaye was uncomfortable. "It's rather personal, I'm afraid, but I feel that I wouldn't be 100 percent in the field, knowing where I was. There are others on the team that speak German, and I'm not sure my contacts can't give any more information than they have already." She hesitated to tell them anymore. Even Hawk didn't know about this part of her life – it was not on her military record - and she preferred to keep it private.
"And if we have no choice but to send you?"
She repressed a sigh. "I can't refuse, but know it would be against my better judgment."
She left it with that. Scarlett looked at her thoughtfully as they walked down the hallway, and Allie was grateful her friend didn't push the issue.
She should have known better.
"This has something to do with your nightmare," Shana said in a low whisper, knowing Allie would be embarrassed if others found out about it. "I know it does. You've never asked to be excluded from a mission."
She merely shrugged, and Scarlett let it go, knowing the nightmares were already a sensitive area. Hopefully Allie would explain it to her later. She was worried about her friend.
"Let's head over to the conference room," Lady Jaye suggested after they had walked in silence for a moment. "It won't take long for Hawk to gather the troops."
"What exactly does this machine do again?" asked Beach Head later in the conference room.
"We were told that it duplicates existing objects – nonliving ones," explained Scarlett.
"You don't sound too sure about that," the fourth in command drawled.
"We'll know more once we have Dr. Olivari with us," explained Hawk. "Which brings me to the next matter. We have reason to believe the doctor wasn't telling us the whole story when we rescued him before. Beach Head and Flint, I'll need you two to work together to gather it from him."
Flint merely nodded, but Beach Head grinned. "It'll be a pleasure," he said. Granted, he'd have to work with Flint – not his favorite person – but he'd get the nut to crack, so to speak. He just hoped Flint didn't get in his way.
Hawk addressed the whole group again. "Once we get the right information from the doctor, we'll see about sending a small team in to investigate. Scarlett, you and Flint will head up the first team with Duke and Beach Head's teams on backup."
Flint glanced over at Allie, confused why she wasn't leading a team. He knew she spoke fluent German and would be essential to the team in discovering Cobra and their activities. Granted, Scarlett knew some German, as well as Duke, but the covert specialist not coming on this mission?
He was about to say something, but Hawk dismissed the group. Lady Jaye was the first out of the room and already out of sight by the time Flint reached the hallway.
Scarlett put a hand on his shoulder. "Let her go," she told him softly. "I'm not sure what demons she's fighting, but she specifically asked not to go on this mission."
Flint looked incredulous. "She asked not to go? Since when do we get to request our assignments?"
Scarlett shrugged. "I don't think we do, but for some reason, she feels she wouldn't be effective, and told Hawk that. She refused to say why, and he let it go." She didn't want to tell Flint about the nightmares. That was something personal that Allie should only share with him, or anybody else.
She hesitated, then added, "I'm not sure if we should pursue it. She seemed really upset about the matter, and that's not something I see a lot from her. Give her some time. Maybe she'll open up to one of us," she sighed, looking in the direction her friend had disappeared.
