CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR

Birds of a Feather

"Maybe we should ask Wonder Woman if we can borrow her invisible plane," Alan quipped.

Carlotta groaned. Picking up a newspaper she neatly smacked Alan on the head.

Hiding a smile Rachel held up a hand, "Wait, he might have something.

"The government has a group of aerospace engineers working on that very concept. Unfortunately, they have been on it since WWII.

"The Core labs have only recently joined in the search. For now they have concentrated solely on metallurgy. Forrest and myself hope to involve Phantom, and yourself, Agent Berkley to explore other angles. If he is willing to work on it, I expect the two of you will have a prototype in under six months."

Brows furrowed, Summer stood up and walked away, "You aren't saying we are facing an invisible type of transportation, in enemy hands no less?"

Forrest picked up a plastic tub placing it on the table. Picking out random files he passed them around to the others, "Here are minuscule samples of sightings or non sightings, if you will. Core has a store-room full of others."

"This is starting to sound like an Indiana Jones movie," Alan sighed as he pinched the skin between his eyes. He shrugged, raising his brows when Carlotta's elbow gouged his ribs.

"Before we go any farther," Rachel placed file boxes in front of each agent, "These are your individual files. They start from the time of your birth until the kidnapping of Ms Daae."

Alan nearly turned his chair over, "How…,"

"The sad fact it wasn't hard, Agent," Forrest gave a solemn moue.

"We are a minority but Rachel and I are of the opinion that since the Phantom works for Core, the four of you could hardly be blamed for Ms. Daae's disappearance. Although we don't have a complete picture, her kidnapping may have something to do with the Phantom's Machaeon work.

"He is known for acting first and reporting later. The man has access to sensitive, classified information on both sides.

"I know this isn't new to the six of you, but there is obviously one, if not several moles in the Core infrastructure. The President doesn't want to bother with the puppies. He insists if we capture the big dogs the pack will follow.

"Don't quote me but I see a complete revamping of Core substructure in the future."

Hesitating for a second, Forrest ran a hand across the back of his neck. "There is no easy way to say this, so here it is... we received a tip that the company Vice President is looking to blame someone in this group with the security leaks. It looks like it is secondary solely to the timing of the bombings and subsequent kidnappings."

Agent Vandyke raised his hand at the sudden cacophony of voices, "Colonel Marcum of special forces was apprised of the situation. His men are preparing to search the ranks at headquarters for answers.

Forrest surveyed the furious Agents," To go off subject a bit, Rachel and I were actually glad to hear from Shade. Trustworthy agents are 'few and far between' it seems."

"I'm sorry, but I don't follow," Lance interrupted, shaking his head in consternation, "You surely aren't talking about us."

"If I am reading the situation right, the five of you were about to go rogue.

"That's what I would have done, if for no other reason than to clear my name. I presume that thought is foremost on your minds now, considering this new information.

"But... from what I understand, before you met us, you planned to take Ms Daae from Phantom and her consorts from where ever they are, that sounds like you were still working in Core's interest to me."

Rachel picked up a blip file from the box, "Help us with this and allow us to help with your mission. Become ghost members of our team. After it is over, we will provide affidavits of your loyalty."

Reyer narrowed his eyes in response to the new situation, "Before I respond, why would Core allow you to leave in the first place? Rachel as lead spotter, and yourself as a foreign agent would possess invaluable information."

"How does any agent retire? Not everyone goes out in body bags. Believe me, we wanted to work as regular contract scientists, but Core insisted on keeping their fingers in the pot. They promised all the safety protocols available to them if we would help when needed.

"For Cole and Tatiana's sake we agreed to act as engineer consultants. They help us eradicate any electronics that fall into the wrong hands, and most importantly protect our children, and we stay on-call," Forrest stood behind his wife, hands on her shoulders.

Summer sat down, "Agent Vandyke, with moles on board, can the children stay safe?"

Rachel's lip twisted for a moment, "No matter where we place them now, it would be uncovered. Who would protect them better than us?"

Summer darted a quick glance at Lance, "How do other agents keep their families safe?"

"Most don't take the risk," Reyer muttered pensively as he rolled his pen between his fingers.

The younger agents were well aware of the reasons behind Reyer's single state. A heavy quiet hung in the air.

Clearing his throat, Forrest redirected the conversation,"I don't know if any of you have thought of this troubling angle, but the hypothetical question of the moment on our minds is… do invisible airplanes carry invisible nuclear weapons."

"Santa Madre de Dios," Lance sighed, opening his file.

"Who does Core think invented this inviso-plane," Reyer asked.

"Special services have ruled out all the educated countries, the best British and United States operatives have launched espionage missions since the mid forties."

"How can I help," Carlotta firmly snapped her file shut, "I can't speak for the others, but until I am healed completely, I will need help in clearing my name and dodging that oncoming accusation bullet."

"Each one of us has many talents to offer, Agent. It just so happens your Ninja training is on hold for the time being. You are tasked with a new level, equally valuable to your cohorts. After today's news, I wouldn't blame you if your loyalty to Core was less than stellar," Rachel stated with a matter of fact tone.

"Your mission is two-fold. We are trusting you with our most valuable secret, our children. They will be under your jurisdiction. Start thinking like Grandmother Vandyke."

Carlotta swallowed turning pale.

"If any of you wish to decline this mission, I will give you a head start but will have to eventually apprise Core of your last position." Forrest turned to each agent individually. Everyone nodded their understanding.

Taking a deep breath, Summer asked, "What are our orders?"

"Agent Giudicelli yours is the most varied mission. When called upon, you and the children are to assist Rachel in manning the radar and telescope computer readouts.

"Cole and Ana know how to print the information and are invaluable resources as gophers. We have done our best to keep their childhood normal, but obviously had to instill extra safety issues. The kids used to think everyone had a basement like this in their barn.

"Agents Rose and Reyer, you are a father-daughter team who will be purchasing a warehouse in Popular Hollow, Washington. When up and running, this warehouse will be where we build our first, to use Agent Reyer's term, inviso-plane prototype.

"Shade's orders are to locate the Phantom and apprise him of the new situation. We have lost contact with him.

"Since Shade is sure Phantom has Ms. Daae, then all the better. She is the last known healer available. London's and Israel's healers were taken as well. The European rogue is still at large. I would assume the kidnappers will amp up the search for that individual too.

"Lance we want you to concentrate on the warehouse's security.

"The Phantom has the best working knowledge available to us. I assume that you have by now deduced that he is a double Machaeon-Core agent."

Summer cleared her throat, "An invisible plane that has been around for decades and has not yet been captured… my thoughts are: whoever owns this craft has other things to hide.

"No one saw any of the recent healer compound attacks coming, or the bombing of the Cherokee Reservation casino. It looked like it imploded. Invisible transportation would explain that."

"I read the President is like a 'hen on a hot rock' about the healer abductions," Alan spoke thoughtfully.

"Until needed at the warehouse, why don't you and Agent Cousteau investigate invisibility in regard to the kidnap victims," Forrest nodded in approval.

"We didn't get a single bite in Mexico, boss," A trendily dressed teen informed Zane Dugan.

"We had to clear the area, Mario. So, Doctor Chaney isn't adverse to untruths when it suits him. Mario, I want you to work in the lab with Chaney and the Giry woman. Report every seemingly innocent conversation."

"What are we to do with those healer creeps, boss?"

Dugan smiled faintly at the new speaker, "For now keep them happy. Start spreading the cruelty rumor regarding Sorelli, among those poor, lost sheep, Barrow.

"We can't count on Bouquet any longer, sources say he was clipped. Garoted, probably by the Phantom.

"Phantom is aware of the shakedown by now. I don't believe for one second he left The Ratcatcher alive out of the goodness of his heart. Anything that man told us is suspect. Let mask-face think we are on the lam.

"I'm sure the Daae woman isn't taking her kidnapping sitting down. We need to concentrate on Sorelli for now.

"Okay, boss." Barrow left the office.

"His antennae doesn't go all the way up. What a waste of a test tube, remind me to rid ourselves of him later. No wonder they killed him and the Parker woman," Disgusted, Dugan tossed a pencil on his desk.