Magic Bullet
Ch. 12: Valhalla
BPOV
I reigned in both my temper and my Authority before we entered the Temple. There was still a job to do and I needed to set a good example. Rosalie was right behind me, and it looked like she had her game face on. To the casual observer her body language bespoke confidence, not arrogance, and her expression neutrality; if you looked closer you noticed that the blonde was taking in every detail so that it could be committed to memory.
An elderly man in a black suit walked up to us. The yarmulke and shawl around his shoulders indicated that he was a Rabi. I flashed him my credentials when he was just a couple of feet away and recognition flashed in his expression. Unlike the moron cop outside, this man had actually read what he was shown. The Rabi had given the two of us an appraising glance before he spoke.
"I am Rabi Tuckman. How can I assist you," he inquired in a mild voice.
"Blackmore and Hale, we're here about the break-in. You've withheld information from your official statement," I responded curtly. He knew what OSS credentials looked like, so there was no need to tap dance around as we baited each other until something slipped.
"Indeed. It is a pleasure to finally meet the infamous Colonel Blackmore, I have heard about some of your exploits. Let us take this discussion to my office," the Rabi commented and led us away from the public area of the Temple.
The office radiated an air of tranquility and looked as though it had been well used. A darkly stained maple desk with a matching bookcase filled with religious texts dominated the small room. The top of the desk was a neatly controlled chaos. Rabi Tuckman took his accustomed place behind the desk and motioned us to sit in the two chairs opposite him. He stared at us for a few minutes as he gathered his thoughts. Rosalie angled her chair so that it faced the door, most Cherries needed to be taught to be that paranoid.
"My maternal grandfather was Joseph Hauptman, a Rabi and practitioner of Kabbalah, who lived in the border region between Franc and Germany during WW II. He helped to fight occult battles against the Thule and occasionally aided OSS missions. During a raid to destroy a Thule backed SS research center, he discovered files for a Project: Valhalla and Operation: Ragnarok.
"Project: Valhalla was designed to create Aryan Super Soldiers through a combination of science, alchemy and ancient Teutonic magic. When the time was right, the Thule would unleash their perfect creatures on the Allies. The exact details of Operation: Ragnarok where not listed, only the date it would have gone into effect; two days after Germany surrendered.
"For whatever reason, my grandfather kept those files instead of burning them. Now the madness they held has been set loose into the World again. They were the only things that had been stolen in the break-in," Tuckman explained.
Rose gasped and I swore as the ramifications of what had just been revealed hit us. By now, the Thule had those files in their possession. It was only a matter of time before they started the Project up again. The Occult War was back on and it looked like Sparkles and I had a front row seats. Rabi Tuckman pulled a chain from around his neck and removed something from it.
"I never read the files, myself, but I am no fool. The pages were scanned into my computer then transferred to this Flash Drive," he said and placed the device into my right palm, then closed my fingers around it.
I thanked the Rabi then Rose and I headed out to the car. A plan of action formed in my mind during our walk. Headquarters needed to be warned and every Agent not on assignment needed to be conscripted for a new Thule Taskforce. Rosalie had taken the Flash Drive from me and toyed with it in her hands. She noticed a change in my expression and looked at me quizzically.
"What's the plan," she asked patiently.
"First, we are going back to HQ to get you all kitted out. Then, we round up some Agents and start to Hunt," I answered with a grim smile. With the skill of stunt driver, I turned the Hummer back the way we came and headed to Port Angeles.
"Where exactly is HQ," Rose wondered.
"Sedona, I'll need to charter a plane once we arrive in Port Angeles. Before you ask, where else would you put an agency dedicated to saving everyone from Supernatural Threats but a place known for weird things to happen? We won't be leaving until later tonight, so we won't have to worry about the sun," was my reply.
The drive was over before we knew it. I had called Charlie from the road and briefed him on the situation. He agreed that it would be best if he and Leah relocated, I didn't want him to feel obligated to risk his mate by following me on some fool crusade. The flight plan was filed and we had a few hours to kill.
Sparkles gave me a seductive look and pulled me in the direction of the nearest hotel. At least we'd both be relaxed when we got to Arizona.