Chapter 14

A.D. 2011-2012

Will and Tina sat in a Westwood Village coffee shop enjoying the first real coffee they had had for months. To passersby they looked like any couple enjoying their morning caffeine fix. Closer examination might have shown an unfocussed appearance to their eyes. This was not surprising in light of the fact that their attention was several blocks away, doing a thorough scan of the FBI building on Wilshire Boulevard.

Will was searching for documents or computer screens that might contain the information they sought, while Nine scanned the minds of the building's occupants.

Students from nearby UCLA studied or held long intellectual discussions at surrounding tables, never realizing that the quiet couple at the corner table was spying on the FBI.

When Will had finally declared himself satisfied with their training, they had been faced with the problem of where to start their search for terrorists. Both agreed that it would not be wise to clean up the Middle East if there were still terrorists on American soil, so their choices were limited to U.S. cities, but that didn't help the decision-making process much. Washington DC was an obvious choice, but Will thought that might be like jumping off into deep water to learn how to swim.

There was also the temptation to start in the San Francisco Bay Area in hopes of finding the men who had destroyed Will's life, but he wasn't sure he was emotionally ready for that just yet.

They finally settled on a place that was somewhat familiar to Tina, but which should offer enough of a challenge to make good use of their skills.

Once they had made the decision to start in L.A., it had still taken a few days to get there. First, they needed money. Getting it was more of an annoyance than a problem. Will bounced them around, individually and as a couple, between Carson City, Albuquerque, Placerville, Blackfoot, Las Vegas, Telluride, and other places where he had found stores that bought gold for cash. By the time they were done, they had well over a hundred thousand dollars, all from small sales of gold that shouldn't raise much more than an eyebrow or two, unless someone happened to notice the number of transactions and the similarity of the sellers. Much of their bankroll was wrapped in heavy duty plastic bags and left in the cave with the rest of their gear.

It was safe enough. The mice and rats that found their way into the cave were not likely to think the money tasty enough to bother with and the thick plastic bags should deter them from deciding it would make good nesting material. They weren't worried about anyone else finding it since they were only two humans in the world, as far as they knew, that could get into and out of that cave without extensive digging.

Since the sweat suits they had brought with them from the underground facility constituted pretty much their entire wardrobe, Will and Tina had also had to go shopping for clothes before they presented themselves to the world.

Sometimes their purchases were made in the same cities and towns as their gold transactions, sometimes in other places. Since their little 'coming out party' at Coronado Island, they weren't trying to make a secret of their existence, only to keep anyone who might be searching for them off guard. They didn't bother bringing luggage with them, not when it was just as easy to store things in the cave and either pop back to change or teleport what they needed to wherever they were.

With their money supply assured, and their wardrobe made presentable, they had searched for a public place near the FBI building where they could spend some time without attracting too much attention.

The coffee shop, with its proximity to the university campus, offered the perfect solution. What they hadn't counted on was that the place would be so full. Will felt a little guilty about the 'accidental' coffee spill that had sent one student off to change trousers, thus assuring him and Tina a place to sit, but the stained student would find an extra hundred bucks in his pocket. That would not only cover the cost of a new pair of slacks, but buy his coffee for the next few days, as well.

It was not strictly necessary for them to be anywhere near the site of their search, but they had been cooped up in their cave for so long that the prospect of getting out with 'normal' people made it almost an imperative.

At the FBI offices, Will quickly scanned computer screens and documents, moving his mind methodically from office to office, top to bottom, searching each floor of the building for evidence of someone who might be working on terrorism. He had just spotted a document in a stack of reports on someone's desk that seemed to come from a department that dealt with terrorism. Now if he could just find the office from which it originated...

Got something! Nine's thought interrupted Will's search. These guys seem to be the ones we're looking for.

Will hitched a ride on Tina's thoughts as she delved into the minds of several different individuals. He got a feel for their location, and sure enough, one of them had authored the document he had already seen. While Nine probed their memories, Will probed their files and scanned computer screens.

Ha! Will thought, as he discovered a report detailing surveillance of a particular residence where the ringleader of the local cell was believed to live.

Got it! Tina thought simultaneously, as she dug the same information out of the memory of the agent who had written the report.

Hey, that's in my old turf! The former gang member added. I wonder what my homeys would think about having a terrorist in the 'hood.

I don't know, Will replied, but what do you say we see if we can find this guy? He might be easier to locate if we're in the neighborhood. Want to go visit the old homestead?

I don't mind, Tina thought with a feral smile. I'm older, wiser, and a whole hell of a lot tougher than I was when I was a scared little teenager on those streets. Let's go say 'Hi' to my boys and girls.

Only one of the college students nearby noticed the fact that the couple at the next table vanished into thin air. His friends looked at him like he was crazy when he mentioned it. Too much caffeine and too many sleepless nights, they thought.

No one in the East L.A. neighborhood where they appeared would have said anything to anyone even if they had noticed two people appearing suddenly on the broken concrete of the alleyway. Apparently, no one did, but the couple walking down the street didn't exactly look like they belonged on the rough streets of East L.A. They had walked about half a block closer to the address they had come to check out when a young man wearing a bandana around his shaved head stepped out in front of them, his white 'wife beater' clinging to the sweat on his torso and his baggy jeans looking as if they would fall down any minute.

"What you two want on this block?" he said, one hand reaching for the handgun in the back of his waistband. "You ain't paid the tax, so I got to collect."

"Back up Pablo," Tina said quietly. "You don't want none of what me and my friend got to offer you. Since when you get so tough, huh, Pablito?"

"Tina?" Pablo's eyebrows went up to his do-rag. "That you?"

"Yeah, that's me, little cousin," Tina replied. "Now tell those other three to come on out. I ain't kiddin' about us bein' outta your league, homes. This here's serious business we're on and you four ain't got the cojones for it."

"Hey, knock it off with the 'little cousin' and 'Pablito' crap, Tina!" The young man looked nervously around. "You gonna screw up my cred! Don't nobody call me that crap no more!"

"They gonna call you 'Queso Suisa' if you don't let go of that piece and come give your cousin a hug," Tina teased. "You think I can't still kick your bony ass, cuz? Get the hell over here and give me some love!"

Pablo grinned and gave Tina a heartfelt hug as Will scanned the three other young men who emerged uncertainly from between the houses.

"Damn Tina!" Pablo said, stepping away. "You got strong, Mama! Feel' like you been liftin' for years! Ain't you got nothin' else to do wit' your time in the friggin' Army?"

"I'm into somethin' else now, Pablo." Tina smiled, "Me and Will here, we're kind of a private army. We're lookin' for terrorists. You notice anything funny goin' on around the old Sanchez place?"

Pablo shrugged, "I know old man Sanchez kicked the bucket about a year ago. Some Arab moved in a few months back, but he kinda keeps to himself. We shook him down when he first moved in, told him he had to pay the tax, and he just paid up. No fuss, no argument, but a few days later, when we knocked on his door for another installment, he met us with an AK in his hands, so we don't mess with him no more."

"Hey, homes!" One of the others called as the three approached, "Who's the chick? How come you act like... ? Holy Crap! Tina? I knew you couldn't stay away, chiquita!"

"Yeah, it's me, Julio." Tina said, contempt dripping from her words. "Don't go thinkin' I came back for you, asshole. You try to lay one friggin' finger on me an' I'll take your whole arm off. You got that?"

"Hey!" Julio sounded genuinely hurt. "I thought you liked me! After I took you in and protected you, this is the thanks I get?"

"Yeah, you protected me all right." Tina sounded as if she might take his arm off anyway. "From everybody but your homeys! You're lucky I'm after bigger fish this trip or I'd tear out your balls and feed 'em to the dogs! You never wondered why I left after you made me pull a train with the whole friggin' gang?"

Tina spat in the dust at Julio's feet.

"You don't talk to me like that, puta!" Julio started toward her, only to run into the iron bar of Will's outstretched arm. "Get out of the way, Gringo, or I'll cut your friggin' arm off!"

Almost lazily Will plucked the switchblade from between Julio's fingers, folded it back into the handle, and let the gangster watch as, with three fingers, he bent knife and handle into a horseshoe shape.

"I'm doing you a favor, Julio." Will told him. "This is not the frightened teen you took advantage of a few years ago. She can do to you what I just did to that knife without even breaking a sweat, so if I were you, I'd back off and be thankful I'm feeling generous. You have no idea who you're dealing with, and you don't want to find out the hard way!"

"I don't give a crap, man!" Julio acted less impressed than he was. "Me an' Tina, we go way back, an' if she don't want to talk to me, she can tell me herself."

Will shrugged, already knowing from Tina's mind what was about to happen. Try not to make a scene, Nine, We want to try to get something out of that guy down the street and I don't want him bolting because the street's swarming with cops. The FBI's got an agent across the street from the house, and he's already noticed our little pow-wow here.

Don't worry, Ten, Tina thought back. I've been thinking about this meeting for a long time. I got it wired.

As Julio stepped forward to confront his former girlfriend, Tina turned seductive and slipped her body in close to his. "You think we can still get back together Julio?"

"Sure, baby," Julio grinned triumphantly. "You was always my favorite mujer. See? I knew you still liked me!"

"Yeah, baby," Tina said, slipping her hand down the front of his baggy jeans. "But things gonna have to be a little different this time, okay?"

"Sure baby, whatever you say," Julio replied trying to cop a feel over Tina's shoulder.

"For starters, Julie," Tina said, her voice hardening as her hand closed tightly on Julio's most prized possession, "You gonna hafta be the girl this time, Julie. Maybe I'll just rip this off an' make you a girl for real. Then you can pull the train with your homeys!"

Julio's eyes crossed comically and his indrawn breath stayed in his lungs for a long moment before he could expel enough to squeal, "Hey, take it easy, Tina! I didn't mean nuthin'!"

"I do, baby," Tina's voice turned sweetly seductive again, but her grip only tightened, her enhanced muscles doing permanent damage to her former boyfriend's family jewels. "You ever come near me again and I'll tear this off and feed it to you, you got that?"

"Okay! Okay!" Julio squeaked, both hands trying to pry Nine's arm away from his crotch, but having no success.

Tina finally relented, pushing her former boyfriend away disgustedly. It was not a surprise to anyone when, after catching his breath and fondling his damaged equipment, Julio reached for the automatic in his jeans.

With a sigh, Will, who was closer to the gangster, closed his hand over that of the would-be shooter, wrapping up Julio's hand and most of the action of his weapon.

"You're kinda slow, aren't you Julio." He said quietly as his grip tightened on hand and gun.

The others could hear bones cracking as Julio's hand surrendered to the incredible pressure that Will's enhanced muscles applied. Julio tried to scream, but his lungs emptied themselves silently as he stared at the bloody, shapeless mess that used to be his hand, now appearing to be permanently molded into the action of the weapon.

"Now, go away." Will told him, giving him a slight shove up the street.

On autopilot, Julio staggered away, whimpering, his left hand cradling what was left of his right hand as blood dripped onto the sidewalk. Occasionally tenderly touching his aching private parts, he whimpered even louder.

Pablo and the others were staring in fear and awe at Will and Tina.

Pablo jumped as Tina leaned over and kissed him affectionately on the cheek. "I guess you're the leader now, Pablo," she said. "You guys might want to consider another line of work. Seems like being in a gang is bad for your health. I'll see you around Pablito."

Let's go, Nine, Will thought to her. FBI guy is taking far too much interest in our little group.

Casually, as if nothing had happened, they turned and walked back the way they had come. Around the corner and halfway down the block, they turned into an alley that ran behind the houses. Once out of sight of the street, Will teleported them into the old Sanchez house where the single occupant was peering out at the gang members still on the street, his right hand clutching an AK-47.

Tina was already probing his mind as he turned away from the window on hearing the displacement of air from their appearance. Will used his mind to silently remove the ammunition from the terrorist's weapon without removing the false security of the weapon's weight from his hands. The shock on his face was reflected in his mind, which, thinking they were from a law enforcement agency, automatically inventoried all the incriminating evidence in the house, as well as all of his connections to the terrorists in his cell. In seconds, Tina had everything she needed from him, and Will, whose mind was linked with hers, quickly found the explosives in the house and wrapped them in an energy shell to keep them from doing any damage to the neighborhood until the bomb squad could safely remove them.

Foremost in the terrorist's mind was a meeting that he was preparing to attend with other members of his cell. That was the kind of information they needed to add more threads to their net, and Will was eager to be done here so they could plan what to do about the meeting.

"Who are you?" The man asked. "Why are you in my house?"

"We have come to show you the error of your ways," Will told him. "You really should read and interpret the Quran for yourself. Your Imams and Ayatollahs are only human, and they have their own agendas. You have been misled."

"What are you talking about?" Hasim, as Will and Tina learned his name was, asked in bewildered anger. "How dare you accuse my religious leaders of lying to me?"

Will extracted the image and probable location of that very person from the terrorist's mind, and sent his own mind to the other side of the globe, seeking among the people in a certain small village. There. That was the one. Digging into the mind of the Mullah, Will extracted the exact thought processes he used in turning irate farmers, workers, and others into jihadists for his cause. Linking Hasim's mind with his own, he showed him, in a way that he could not refuse to believe, how the Mullah had twisted the words of the Quran to make it seem as though Allah would forgive the killing of women and children if it was done as part of a holy war - a jihad.

When Will released his mind, Hasim sank to his knees, sobbing. "What have you done to me? What have they done to me?"

"Why don't you discuss it with them, Hasim?" Will asked, reloading Hasim's weapon and teleporting him and his weapon to the crowded market where the Mullah was shopping for fruits for his morning meal.

You know he'll kill the Mullah, then be killed by the crowd, don't you? Tina asked.

Probably, Will shrugged. The pain of the death of the two people he loved most was still fresh in his soul, and he wasn't in the mood to care too much about a man who had allowed himself to be duped into committing such acts. Right now, my concern is that meeting he was getting ready to attend.

Here's how I want to handle this, Nine. You with me? Will projected an image of his plan for the two of them invading a meeting of terrorists. I want to just appear among them, talking to each other. We'll ignore them, initially, but say the most insulting things that come to mind. The idea is to get them as angry as possible. They're bound to be armed, so they'll most likely start shooting at us. We'll let our shields absorb the rounds at first..."

I don't know, Ten, Nine replied. We haven't tried these shields against anything worse than a couple of rocks.

They'll work, Will thought, knowing better than she about the feedback mechanisms of the shields. He had tried explaining the dynamics of it to Nine, but her thought processes were more people oriented than his engineer's mind and she grasped it only in the simplest terms. He wondered if that might be why she was good at the mind-reading stuff, but had trouble with telekinesis and teleportation.

If you say so, Ten. I guess if you're going to trust your life to the shields, then I can go along.