CH53

Serena landed in Rick's back yard just like last time with little trouble then shut everything down. Joanne was starting to suit up and grab a weapon. "You aren't going to need that here. However in the Kodiak community it might be a good idea," Serena said, stopping Joanne from arming herself as she started walking down the ramp headed for Rick's house.

When they reached the wall of windows in the basement that lead outside they found that the glass had been replaced. "Hayley said the glass was almost completely shattered in the attack," Joanne pointed out. "Looks like Rick has had the windows replaced and I don't see a doorbell," Serena said which had them walking around the side to get to the front door.

After repeatedly leaning on the doorbell Joanne commented, "Apparently no one's home." Serena began walking back around the house. "Are we leaving?" Joanne asked as she followed her. "Not without Rick, no, but I might as well have some fun while I wait," she grinned. Joanne followed her back around the house and watched her climb up the steps and slide down one of the slides of Alexis's playet, only to do it again and again before finally switching to one of the swings which was where Joanne joined her.

xxxxxxxxxXXXXXXXXxxxxxxxXXXXXXXXXxxxxxxxxxXXXXXXxxxxxX

Rick knocked and Oscar answered the door. With the door open Midas and Maggie darted in. Playing in the house with Patch and Thor was definitely on. "We came over to see if you needed any help," Rick informed him. "I can't think of anything, but you can come in," Oscar said as he opened the door wide. "Is that man code for we should never have come over in the first place?" Rick asked amiably while still standing outside though Alexis and the dogs were already inside.

"Jo's in the shower," he told Rick. "ALEXIS! Time to go, we need to go see Kate," Rick yelled which had her come running with Midas and Maggie right behind her. "We're going to go see Mom?" Alexis went out the door to get back in the truck. "Mom?" Oscar asked with a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Long story, maybe tonight after the restaurant closes?" Rick suggested smiling. "Or not." He took the hint Oscar was giving him. "Midas, Maggie say goodbye to Patch and Thor and let's go," he said and hustled them out to the truck. Oscar closed the door and smiled now that he had all day to work on Johanna's wall.

Rick wasn't quite sure what to make of that quick trip but he wished his friend luck. "You've certainly got your work cut out for…you. What the he...!" He watched as a part plane and part helicopter that he had seen before literally flew over his head and landed somewhere near his house. He looked in his rear view mirror and saw Alexis sitting there with a big smile on her face. Rick held up both hands side by side and starting juggling them up and down. "Kate or Serena and whomever? Kate, my fiancée, or Serena who wants something? My life mate or Serena and her friends?" He looked in the mirror again and turned right onto US85. He turned up the radio and started rocking to whatever the stupid song that was playing was 'til he figured out what it was and turned the radio off.

Rick left the dogs in the truck and opened the door to let Alexis in who had never been in this building before though neither had he. "Where's Mom?" Alexis inquired of the first person she came across and got a hesitant hand pointing at Kate in her office. That had Alexis running just as Rick stepped inside and found all eyes on him which had him looking at his shirt and then turning around and checking to see if he felt a breeze before turning back around and smiling back. "Ladies, I'm just...I'm going to go that way," he pointed to where Alexis had gone.

Walking away didn't prevent him from hearing the whispers behind him. However he could hear "HI MOM!" as Alexis bounced into her office catching Kate by surprise. "ALEXIS!? How did you…" She looked out her windows to see Rick at the front door looking uncomfortable which had her chuckling at his expense. "We came to surprise you," Alexis announced as Kate lifted her up into her lap and held her close while she kissed her cheek. "I'm definitely surprised sweetie." Kate had only left her at home an hour or so ago.

"Hi babe," she greeted Rick as he entered her office. "So this is where you spend your time." He looked around. "Real exciting looking isn't it?" she said rhetorically, knowing that the entire building was anything but. "Oh, I don't know. Who's to say that there isn't a hidden button somewhere that lowers this entire room underground several levels into a secret government base filled with fancy technology that we got from aliens," he said gleefully, while trying not to give himself away.

"Aliens, a secret base? Yeah, don't I wish. And if I find that in your book, you're sleeping on the sofa for a week," she warned him remembering he wanted to write a book about her. "Well, you are a CIA spy after all," Rick countered grinning. "Righhhttt." She didn't believe a word of it and there was no way anyone else would either. It was a good thing she knew he wasn't serious. At least he'd better not be serious!

"So why the sudden visit?" Kate asked him as she hugged Alexis. "I spotted a very familiar plane...helicopter, whatever that thing is, landing in our backyard as I was leaving your mother's house about 20 minutes ago," he told her which was a shock to Kate. "What do they want?" she wondered aloud. He shrugged. "They're involved with you know who," he prompted her.

She sagged against Alexis. "Oh, crap." In an unintentional reflex she held Alexis just a little tighter. "We haven't done anything to them," she whispered. Kate just wanted Paladin to leave them alone. "I don't think it works that way," Rick reminded her gently. "Yeah, I know," she sighed. Kate knew he was right, but she could wish couldn't she? "What about Alexis?" she asked knowing that they were going to have to go find out what Serena wanted. "Your mother and Oscar are…busy," he told her being cryptic which had Kate looking at him funny. Just what did busy mean? Then she was looking at him with a shocked face. He didn't mean what she thought she did, did he?

"I think I know someone. How would you like to spend some time with Sam today while your dad and I go see someone?" Kate asked Alexis and watched her smile grow. Kate got on the phone and made arrangements to leave Alexis with Amber and a smiling Sam. "You be a good girl sweetie and do what Amber tells you to do." Kate kissed her head then walked to her Jeep and waved to all three of them with Rick right behind her. Amber was immediately on the phone calling in reinforcements and soon had Jenny and her mother at her place. The adults talked as the girls played.

Rick parked behind Kate and they, along with the dogs, entered the house. Looking out the wall of windows in the living room showed them that their guests were still there. Looking a little closer found them relaxing on the swings side by side.

"Okay, it's not Paladin," Kate said in relief since if it was those two wouldn't be so casual while not carrying weapons. Although she could see weapons that were hanging under the Osprey's wings. Even the ramp was still down as it sat there.

Kate and Rick walked out to them wondering what their visit was about. Joanne stopped and stood as soon as she spotted them, while Serena kept swinging gently. "Just visiting or is there a reason?" Kate inquired. "The Kodiak community will be starting the selection process for a new alpha today. Since I've been elected to be the lead protector of most of the shifter communities and families I thought I should attend. I was hoping Rick would come with us. You can come too if you wish. I want this selection to take place without interference and be recognized as being valid."

"With Jackson Hunt permanently gone it leaves a gap in the Kodiak Bear community hierarchy, something that can't remain that way for long," Serena informed them. "What's an alpha?" Kate asked, perplexed. "An alpha is the head of the clan or community. In this case, the new alpha will be the winner in the challenge for leader," Serena replied. "So we would be there just to watch and make sure no one cheats," Kate said simplifying what Serena was asking of them. "That about sums it up, yes. The number interested in the job will tell us how long we'll need to stay there," Serena added.

"What do you know about the selection process?" Serena asked looking at Rick. "Only what's written in the old books. My father has been absolute alpha for so long this hasn't been done for decades. I only know of one instance where he was challenged," he remarked. "What happened?" Kate asked being curious. "It was a bear fight between him and my father. The challenger was torn to pieces and was dead in less than a minute. It wasn't even close. The clan collectively learned a lesson; my father was never challenged again," he replied.

Serena was soon landing just outside of the mansion the new alpha would take possession of after he or she won. After dropping the ramp they were met by a number of people from the community. It was here that they learned a lot about today.

An hour later they reached the park where the decision would take place followed by final bout tomorrow. It was there that they found out there were four challengers, three men and one woman. Paul Finch, Andrea Fisher, Evan Hinkle, Brian Morris.

"Contenders front and center. My name is Serena Kaye and this is my mate Joanne Delgado. I was selected by a large number of other shifter communities and families to lead our concerted attempt to combat Paladin and what they hope to achieve. Simply put, Paladin wants the extermination of all shifters. We've had some recent successes and Paladin has taken some losses."

"I've been asked to verify the selection process here and make sure it's conducted fairly. I've brought Richard Rodgers and his mate with me. Richard, for those of you who don't know, is the son of Jackson Hunt and Martha Rodgers. Richard himself has no desire to be alpha, however he is also here to make sure this selection proceeds smoothly. The first two combatants are Paul Finch and Evan Hinkle," Serena called out and everyone watched as a human and a bear entered the area.

"You are limited to the park area; if you willingly exit the park you are disqualified. You will not be allowed to destroy any portion of the town. Who are each of you?" Serena informed them then asked a question. The human raised his hand. "Evan Hinkle."

"Indicate that you understand the limitations." Evan nodded. "Shift into a human and indicate you understand the limitations," Serena told Paul who didn't change. "Shift and indicate you understand the limitation or be disqualified," she warned him. "You have 30 seconds to comply." She held up her hand to look at her watch. Paul growled while staring at her. Joanne pulled the slide back on her weapon and put it on full auto. "Fifteen seconds," Serena called out. "Five seconds," she called out and readied her weapon just as Joanne had.

However Paul shifted into a naked human male and everyone heard the sounds of metal falling and hitting the blacktop of the parking lot where they all were assembled. One of the citizens walked over and picked up one of the metal pieces. "Metal claw attachments," he remarked disgustedly and tossed it to Serena who studied it. "Cheating is an automatic disqualification. The new alpha will determine if you are to be penalized or ejected from the community," she said coldly as everyone from town scowled and growled at him for his actions. He just became a pariah. He walked away but was really crawling inside. His family members had expected it of him or worse. They were ashamed that he had been caught, not that he had tried to cheat.

"Brian Morris, step forward." And those gathered watched him walk up as a human. "Do you understand the limitations you are to work with?" Brian nodded. "If any of you are helped by anyone in the community you will be disqualified and the new alpha will decide your fate," Serena said, giving one last warning. "Strip and begin at my signal," she ordered. Soon there were two naked men standing far apart from each other. "Begin!" she yelled and both naked humans shifted into bears.

Kate had been watching all of this and couldn't help but notice that both of the men were larger than normal humans. Still her mate/fiancé was larger. Then she saw them as bears and saw that Rick was easily bigger than either of those two. She was pretty sure he could take either one of them. "Are you not a part of this because of your father?" she asked him quietly as she half paid attention to what turned out to be a bear fight like those seen in a movie. Rick nodded. "If my father had his way I would have been simply chosen by him and expected to rule just as he had - ruthless and without pity, not to mention just as corrupt," he confirmed.

Kate went back to watching a bear fight that was filled with loud growls and huge paws with razor-sharp claws ripping open deep slashes. There was soon blood everywhere it seemed. Then one of them got in a really good bite that had the recipient roaring in pain. However neither backed down. Their choice of battle seemed to be close-in fighting, using teeth to inflict damage on the other.

"When does it end?" Kate whispered to Serena. "When one backs down or is dead," she replied. "DEAD!?" They were here to fight to the death? "Babe, did you know they would fight to the death?" Was that a reason that Rick wasn't a part of this because he might die? Kate watched Rick nod. She continued to watch while holding onto his arm with both hands. She wanted him whole and undamaged. This was barbaric and a waste. If one of them died that was one less member of the community and it wasn't all that big as it was. What she hadn't noticed was all of the town's people who were there to watch were mostly growling themselves with saliva dripping from their mouths. The fight was primal and the town's people were willing participants in the selection process.

The fight was slowing down as the combatants tired. Both of them were very bloody by this point. It was this tiredness that provided one of them with an opening and he sank his teeth into the other's neck, ripping it open allowing his heart to pump out spurts of blood up into the air. The bleeding bear groaned in severe pain as the fight came to a stop. Kate watched the injured and dying bear shift into a naked human male who quickly bled out and died. The other opponent remained a bear so he could heal his damage for the fight that would take place tomorrow.

Evan Hinkle laid dead on the ground leaving Brian Morris in bear form. "The family of Brian Morris is now free to see to their injured family member. As for the family of Evan Hinkle, you have my condolences on your loss. He was a brave bear who had a dream, fought for it, and lost his dream. Brian Morris has 24 hours to recover from his injuries and will fight Andrea Fisher starting at this time tomorrow afternoon," Serena announced.

It was then that Serena, Joanne, Rick, and Kate were escorted to a house that they could use for the remainder of the day until tomorrow when there would be a winner. They would verify he or she was the winner and leave that person as alpha of the Kodiak clan community.

They were taken to an interesting community housing location. What they found was a central large building with annexes off to each side. The central building had gym area that had a full size basketball court, a large communal kitchen where all meals for that housing group are all made along with his and her restrooms complete with showers. It also had an extensive living room with a large wood burning fireplace of natural stone. The place was a little minimalist for Kate's taste but it was lovely.

The annex buildings went east/west. The five units on the south side were one story one bedroom units with a single bathroom, complete with a living room and a study area. The units on the north side were two story two bedroom units that had 2 bathrooms, a living room, and a study area. The open space between them was partially covered and had large green spaces along with lights hanging from beams between the two units. Each building was made of insulated tilt up panels that had wood accents from ground to roof. In addition the shed roof had solar power panels as well as solar hot water panels. What they didn't know was that the water they used during their stay came from a cistern that held rain water. There was one located under each annex building.

"How many of these are there?" Kate asked the person that escorted them to the two story two bedroom unit they would be using tonight. "There are four at this time with two more presently under construction," she was told.

The living room was colorful enough with a painted accent wall, real hard wood floors, and carpet in the bedrooms. The furniture was comfortable though minimalist looking. Paintings were on the walls, likely done by someone in the community. Each bathroom was equipped with everything they would need. There was even a large TV in the living room with an Xbox.

"It certainly looks nice, though I can't say I would want to live here. The only kitchen has to be shared with ten families on this side and ten more on the other," Kate remarked, offering her opinion. "It's nice I suppose especially since I was expecting a permanently placed travel trailer that has been here for years."

"Actually I'm impressed. Each annex is self-sufficient. They generate their own power so if the city goes dark they still have power. The central kitchen with a large living room creates a family atmosphere. It would be interesting to learn if the other central buildings also have a basketball court or if one has an indoor pool or maybe a tennis court," Serena offered which gave Kate something to think about.

They found themselves in the main kitchen cooking dinner for themselves finding a lot of everything already there when another family joined them and asked if they could cook with them.

"You are Serena Kaye?" one of them asked. "I am," she confirmed. "How many shifters species are there?" she asked Serena. "I don't know them all, but these are the ones I do know," Serena answered and ran down a list: Bears (polar, Kodiak, black, brown, Himalayan brown and black bears, Andean bears also known as Spectacled bears [white faced] ); wolves, coyotes; lions, tigers (Siberian, Bengal, Malaysian), mountain lions, jaguars, leopards (standard and snow), panthers, cougars, cheetahs, lynx, bobcat; gorillas (low land and high land); boars (European, Russian, Wart hogs, feral hogs); horses, deer, elk, bison; eagles, ospreys, great horned owls, falcons, hawks, ravens, pigeons, and mourning doves. And those are just the ones I know about. I'm sure there are others like dolphins, perhaps all 43 species, sharks like hammerhead, tiger, reef, and countless others. Perhaps even turtles. Some turtles live a long time," Serena responded.

"And all of these follow you?" she asked. "Follow me? No, I'm not their leader. Each clan or family has an alpha. It's just that most of these have agreed to help us stop Paladin from killing all of us off. In that regard, yes, I'm their leader. I happen to live amongst and lead the local Mountain Lion clan where I live," Serena told her.

"Do we join you in the fight against Paladin?" she inquired wondering if they will have help and friends or continue to live alone. "That's up to your new alpha. I'm simply here to verify that the selection process is done fairly. Most clans have an alpha as well as a council. The alpha handles the big matters while the council handles the finances, establishes laws, and enforces them. Sees to the welfare of each member of the clan. Helps each business be profitable to the benefit of each member."

"It will be up to your new alpha as to what he or she does or how he or she rules, with or without a council. Still it has proven to be beneficial to have a council. No one person can handle or rule effectively without help," Serena told her.

"Lord Hunt was alone," she countered. "And cooked the books and stole millions from the community since he was solely in charge," Kate spoke up having had her mother finish looking at the ledgers. "Your new alpha and the council will be given all of this money, including the thousands in cash he had hidden away in his house," Kate added."Why should I believe you, outsider?" she challenged Kate. "Because Kate is my bonded life mate," Rick spoke up and used the family connection that he really wanted nothing to do with to support Kate.

"Lord Hunt's son." She knew who he was. "Why are you not challenging for alpha?" He was family after all. "My father wanted me to rule just as he did. He was ruthless and thoughtless of others and I have a life that I much prefer. When you see what a true alpha can do with the money this community makes, you'll understand just what kind of alpha my father really was," he told her.

The rest of the evening went simply and with a lot less emotion allowing them to retire to their rooms. After Kate contacted Amber and made arrangements for Alexis to stay overnight, then called and left a message asking her mother to take care of Midas and Maggie, she and Rick finally relaxed enough to get some sleep before the final fight tomorrow afternoon. Knowing the final bout was scheduled for the afternoon, Rick made arrangements with one of the off duty guards to take him and Kate home in the wee hours of the morning. Kate had to be at work by 6 am so she could take off by noon for the final bout and Rick had to pick Alexis up at Amber's by 8 am.