This is a work of fiction any similarities between the characters, events, or locations in this story and actual locations, events, or people are purely coincidental.
© 2005 Warlord
Atlantis
By Warlord
I stood for a moment, contemplating the broad, formal staircase. Lisa and Adrienne stood silently, patiently, while I readied myself. I grabbed the banister in my right hand; Adrienne took my left. Lisa stood directly behind me, with her hand on my hip. I began my slow progress, one step at a time. I was simply determined to reach the top landing in one go!
As I stood clutching the second level balustrade, staring down at the tile floor of the foyer I laughed mirthlessly. “Of all the things I miss, I miss my stamina most.”
Lisa gently rubbed my shoulder with a sympathetic expression, as she softly said, “Don’t be down, love. You just fought the dragon; bound to be tired and hurting”
Adrienne nodded in agreement as she asked, “Ready, my Champion?”
I smiled as I said, “Let’s party on. By the way, can we stagger past a toilet?”
Lisa was back to holding my right hand as she replied, “Yes, sir, two doors down on the right.”
As I stood in front of the porcelain bowl, Lisa and Adrienne had not relinquished my arms. Lisa gently held my dick in the palm of her hand. I relaxed, flowing strongly as she giggled, playing, swirling my stream around the bowl. Adrienne asked, “You having fun, Lisa?”
Lisa nodded with a delighted laugh. My stream weakened to a dribble. Lisa shocked us by leaning over, taking the head of my dick in her mouth, and licking and sucking on it. She stood upright, saying with a smirk, “All nice and clean.”
It was disconcerting and should have aroused me strongly but in my weariness it failed. I thanked her for taking care of me.
As we turned back to the door, I glanced around this massive bathroom, with its huge tub and oversized shower. The picture window over the toilet alcove was perplexing. The his-and-hers vanities, with separate make up mirrors, were a nice touch.
Adrienne pointed at the large floor drain surrounded by a cushioned floor, bordered by a half foot high tile ‘lip,’ making an area about four by four in an alcove next to the toilet. She asked, “Any ideas what he designed that for?”
I was laughing as I replied, “That looks to be his purpose-built, ‘golden shower’ area.”
Lisa giggled as she said, “Does anybody want to test it out?”
Adrienne said sternly, “Settle down there, girlfriend. We have work to do before you play.”
We moved back out into the corridor of the immense house. You realize the scale when you spend time traversing the lengthy hallways.
Finally, I staggered to stop in front of a steel door that clashed mightily with the décor. The girls were wrong; the door had THREE deadbolts, one in the ‘normal’ center spot, with two more, each six inches from the top and bottom of the door, respectively.
I asked Grid, “Grid, can you see inside the room and around the door? Is the door booby-trapped? Will the room blow up or burn if we open this door?”
Lisa and Adrienne looked surprised at my questions. Grid responded quickly, “I can see and sense in the locked room. There will be no explosion or fire caused by our entry. No added wards are present. It is safe.”
I said, “Thanks, Grid. Stick, please open the locks.”
Three quiet, well oiled clicks followed, with the door unlatching to swing toward us, partly open in ominous silence.
Adrienne grabbed the door, swinging it full open. A magnet embedded in the hallway wall held the door in its opened position. Lisa reached in, flipping the row of switches adjacent to the door. The room was brightly illuminated.
We stepped into a large, well-appointed planning space. A large oak desk, with oak bookshelves above it, was in one corner. Several work lights, on articulated arms, surrounded the desk. One wall was covered in cork, making a full-sized bulletin board, with maps and charts pinned onto it, and a long inclined ‘plan’ table below it holding more maps. Track lighting lit the wall. A computer desk held a CPU with flat panel display. A laser printer and collating copier were next to it.
Lisa and Adrienne were checking the large storage room, while I stood in front of a large map of the United States pinned up in the center of the wall. I stared at the map trying to divine who JW was and what he was planning.
The map had orange dots stuck in various locations. The ones for our hometown and Las Vegas were easy to understand. There were others that I was having more trouble with!
Dots were stuck on the map in five scattered locations: Central Colorado, Eastern Wyoming, Northeast Nevada, Northeast Arizona, and Northeast Montana. The pattern of dots made no sense to me, but I was comfortably sure that JW wanted them right there!
I had just found a thick red three ring binder on the oak desk. Flipping it open I saw pages of documents, excel spreadsheets, with written notes and CDs in clear pockets. Lisa called me from her location in front of an open cabinet, saying, “Who’s Alison Boyd Gartner?”
I shook my head, saying, “I haven’t seen that name yet, why?”
Adrienne said in wonderment, “You need to see this.”
She swung the cabinet door to show me the label “Alison Boyd Gartner.” Then full open, to show me several CPUs with flat panels -- ALL for surveillance of Alison. Monitoring Alison’s apartment (and life) was taken up by these different machines.
One machine was monitoring phone calls, including tracking caller ID, and making audio files of incoming and outgoing calls. Another did the same thing with the several microphones scattered in the rooms. There were two ‘lip stick’ cameras – one facing the door, and one overlooking the bed, with another CPU accumulating video files from both of them.
Currently, Ms. Gartner was sleeping naked on top of the covers on her bed. It was a lovely sight! Alison was quite buff, slim and trim, with a dark, short, low maintenance haircut above a face charming and relaxed in her repose.
Now that we established that Ms Boyd Gartner was important to JW, we needed to figure out WHY? I returned to perusing the big red three ring binder while Lisa opened a large horizontal file cabinet. Adrienne in the meantime began accessing phone, mic, and video files
Lisa and I hit pay dirt simultaneously! She found the file folder, just as I got to the page in the binder. They were both back clustered around me as I said, laughing, “I just love following a guy with a lousy memory. JW had to write down everything, making our job that much easier. This red binder is his ‘go-to-war’ file. Alison Boyd Gartner is his sleeper.”
Then we all laughed, having seen her doing just that only moments before. Lisa tossed the open file folder down next to the binder as we looked at the life history of ‘Colonel’ Alison Boyd Gartner, commander of James William Miles’ Shadow Army.
Lisa was reading from the executive summary page of the ‘personnel’ file. “Alison was a Captain in the regular army. She had parachute wings among other specialties. Held Expert rating with rifle, pistol and other weapons. Stationed at Fort Huachuca for last five years before her disability discharge. No combat listed, somehow managed to collect a purple heart with clusters and a bronze star.”
Adrienne nodded a she said, “JW found a warrior to lead his army. That explains his keen interest in her. Who else you got?”
I flipped the pages in a futile search as I said, “Nobody -- she’s his only sleeper.”
Lisa exploded. “BULLSHIT! She can’t drive all the trucks and shoot all the guns herself. I don’t give a fuck how good she is.”
Adrienne patted her, as she said in a calming voice, “This is the only name we’ve come up with, unless you found more files?”
Lisa shook her head in bewilderment. “No, that’s why I’m frustrated. I’m finding inventory lists for vehicles, and equipment. No people!”
I asked, “How about at the other sites?”
Lisa shook her head as she replied, “No, just more army stuff. Same as the warehouse.”
I sat back in my very comfortable (expensive) ergonomic chair. Lisa and Adrienne waited patiently while I silently thought it through. I finally said, “Look, we’re going in circles chasing our tails. We need to collect Colonel Gartner, enslave her and find out what she knows.”
Lisa nodded saying, “Easier said than done, after looking at this file.”
Adrienne agreed, saying, “We need a perfect opportunity, when she’s very vulnerable. Let me check her phone logs again.”
I waved her and Lisa back to the surveillance cabinet as I sat staring at the red binder. Something was nagging at me. I decided to sit quietly and let it come to me!
Adrienne suddenly shouted, “Jackpot!”
As Lisa stood, laughing, I swung my chair around asking, “Is it really that good?”
Adrienne nodded happily as she responded, “Yeah, it is. You wanted her vulnerable; how about naked, wearing a paper hospital gown?”
I looked quizzical as she continued, “I have her making an appointment for tomorrow with her gynecologist.”
I was quick to ask, “Sick?”
Adrienne shook her head. “No. Regular check up with pelvic and Pap smear. All the good stuff.”
Lisa giggled at her description, then said, “We get there early, take over the office and wait for Alison. Then our Champion enslaves her.”
I shook my head, smiling. “Right now, your Champion couldn’t enslave a sick Chihuahua.“
I stood up to walk back to the cabinet to observe the recumbent figure of Alison, then asked Grid, “Can you see inside her head?”
Grid replied, “Yes, Champion. I can see her thoughts clearly.”
I mused aloud as Lisa and Adrienne joined me looking over my shoulder, “It’s more complicated than just enslavement. I need to retain her warrior spirit. Even pacified war dogs sometimes turn and bite their owners! How can I ensure her loyalty, and most important, guarantee that she is safe for us to bring into our family without blunting this sharp warrior’s edge.”
Grid said, “This was also a problem for JW. The hooks of his control are tiny and shallow.”
I nodded as Lisa said, “That explains the wall-to-wall coverage. JW knew he didn’t have her completely under his thumb.”
Adrienne asked the logical question. “Grid, why’d she stick around?”
Grid replied slowly, “It seems complicated contradictory with overlapping motivations. Alison is plainly terrified of JW and the Kris knife, yet she hungers for the power they promised. She misses the thrill of her missions, and hopes to recapture those intense feelings, as well as the ‘brotherhood’ so missing outside that special ops community. In the end, Alison does not trust JW and feels little loyalty to him.”
I snickered, “It was only a matter of time before the lovely Captain Gartner blew his brains out, leaving his body to rot in the wasteland.”
Adrienne said very calmly, “Then she must love you, Champion, with every part of her heart and soul, as we all do. Failing that, you must kill her swiftly, using every weapon at your disposal, without regard to casualties or collateral damage.”
I frowned, shaking my head, as Lisa chimed in her agreement with Adrienne. I kept looking at Alison, the lovely adrenaline junkie, as I asked Grid, “Let’s talk about sex. What’s her orientation and is she getting any?”
Adrienne and Lisa were laughing uproariously at my question. Grid answered quickly, “She likes men, Champion. She is in what she herself terms ‘a dry spell’ after a disastrous end to her last relationship quite some time ago. She also has many contradictory emotions about her idealized relationship.”
Grid went silent. We stood quietly, waiting patiently for her to continue. Grid finally continued, “Alison has a strong, dominating personality, attracting men who follow her lead in the relationship. She ultimately finds this unsatisfying and frustrating, waiting in vain for these man to take charge.”
Lisa giggled as she asked, “She picks the ‘wrong guys’ and waits for them to change?”
I nodded, “Sounds like it. Did I hear that she wants a dominant man?”
Grid answered quickly, “Yes, sir. You may find fertile ground in Alison Boyd Gartner for planting the seeds of your dominion.”
I nodded as I said softly, “Let us be lucky with Alison. I feel deep down, that we need her with us for ALL our long term good.”
Lisa said soberly, “You must honor your instincts, Champion.”
I said, “Grid, I want you to arouse Alison. Strongly arouse. I want her to wake up twelve times tonight each time masturbating with fingers and dildo into a clammy frenzy without release. She must not climax! With each disappointing jilling-off episode I want her to become more and more convinced that her happiness and sexual satisfaction depend on giving herself to a strong man, with my face becoming progressively clearer in her mind as HER idealized man.”
Adrienne was applauding as she said, “That may work, Champion. Then you close the deal at the doctors office.”
Lisa spoke up, “Champion is an evil man. Remind me not to make you angry at me.”
Then she giggled as she continued, “Grid, don’t forget Alison needs to be horny and distracted tomorrow, masturbating throughout the day. Put a compulsion against her looking for a mercy fuck. She should arrive at the doctor’s office a sweaty, sodden, horny mess.”
We stood, rooted, as the video feed from the Gartner bedroom showed Grid implementing my orders. Alison’s legs were spread wide, with two fingers of her right hand buried in her cunt, while her left hand pulled at her left nipple. Her increasing frustration at failing to find release was palpable as Alison sagged back in exhaustion, her fingers still in her visibly wet gash.
I realized that I was stroking my cock while I watched the screen. Lisa’s hand replaced mine as she said, “I’m guessing, you probably won’t have to force your self to fuck her.”
We laughed at that as Adrienne closed the cabinet, saying, “It’s suppertime. Let’s get our Champion back down those stairs.”
Staggering into the huge, well-appointed kitchen, I found Tammy supervising Jade and Brandi as they moved efficiently among the commercial ‘restaurant’ quality appliances, preparing our meal. All three were dressed, barely, in cute bib aprons. Their trim butts peeking out the backs of those aprons were pleasantly distracting.
Tammy directed us to the table in the Sunroom alcove. The table settings were fine china, crystal goblets, and sterling silver flatware. Jade poured each of us a glass of Pinot Grigio wine. Sitting peacefully, while sipping my wine and enjoying the pleasant company and aimless conversation, I could feel my body gathering the strength needed for tomorrow.
Brandi brought our salads, while Tammy ascertained steak done-ness orders. In only moments, Jade and Brandi were serving our meal of Porterhouse steaks, home-fried potatoes, and California medley, with French bread painted with garlic/basil infused oil. Jade continued to keep our wine glasses filled brim full, while Brandi kept serving platters heaped with food. In between, Jade and Brandi sat primly at their place settings with their hands folded. I looked over at Tammy inquiringly. She smiled as she shook her head, “Leave it alone, love. They weren’t allowed to eat until everyone else had concluded their meals. We haven’t time for you to fix it.”
I nodded in understanding; in truth, I wasn’t sure I had the strength. Brandi was taking away our dirtied dishes, while Jade brought a silver coffee service to the table. As we drank our coffee Lisa asked, “Where do you want to sleep, Champion?”
I smiled at her, saying, “I was perfectly relaxed on the couch by the fireplace. I’ll sleep there tonight, if that’s alright with my ladies.”
No sooner were the words out of my mouth than I was stretched out on the huge couch, with my head pillowed in Lisa’s luxurious tits. A silk coverlet over me, while Tammy and Adrienne added fuel to the fire! That would be the fireplace’s fire…
Jade and Brandi quickly joined us with trays of after dinner drinks. They were kneeling attentively at the foot of the couch, when Tammy took charge of our evening entertainment. The coffee table was moved and a satin blanket put down.
Lisa’s fingers on my cock distracted me. Well, that and kissing those soft lips. When I looked again I was confronted by an arousing tableau.
Jade and Brandi were on their backs, joined by a pink, double-headed dildo. Tammy squatted with her cunt in Jade’s mouth while Adrienne squatted with hers in Brandi’s. Tammy was slowly stroking the dildo back and forth. Lisa’s fist stroked me in the same cadence. The sights, sounds and smells had my body responding. Lisa turned my head, kissing me, with our tongues dancing as my orgasm overtook me. I settled back in her gentle hug, listening to her soft murmurs as my eyes closed…
As my eyes opened in the soft pink of dawn, I was on my side, pressed back into Lisa’s soft body which was spooned against my back, her hand resting on my hip. I looked around to see Tammy and Jade in a sleeping embrace, while nearby, Adrienne spooned behind Brandi.
Lisa’s breath and soft whisper in my ear welcomed me to wakefulness, as she hugged me back to her body. I relaxed in her loving embrace, realizing that overnight my body had healed. The next time I looked around, Jade was sitting up, regarding me with attentive eyes.
She rose to her feet. Gracefully walking to my couch, she was back on her knees in a fluid movement, her beautiful face close to mine. She whispered, “Good morning, Master.”
She kissed me softly before continuing, “Would you like breakfast? Or anything?”
I could almost ‘hear’ Lisa’s smirk behind me. I said, “Coffee for me, please. When it’s brewed, we’ll rouse the rest of the sleepyheads.”
Another gentle kiss; then, rising bonelessly, Jade was moving to the kitchen. It was not very long before Brandi was following, after delivering her own morning lip brush. Tammy and Adrienne were sitting up, regarding me solemnly; sudden smiles wreathed their faces as they threw themselves into my arms, hugging me, Lisa, and each other.
Adrienne looked at me. Smiling brightly, she chirped, “You’re back.”
I nodded, surprised by the sudden tears as her face was pressed into my chest. I lifted her chin, saying tenderly, “You’ve healed me. The three of you have made me whole.”
There were smiles now, as we held each other. I hated to break out of this hug fest, but we had ‘work’ to do.
I asked, “Where’s my coffee?”
Tammy and Adrienne were giggling merrily at my coffee issues as they stood up, pulling me to my feet, then helping Lisa upright.
Lisa tossed me my wizard robe as we wandered into the kitchen. Brandi and Jade were busy with preparations for breakfast. I grabbed a cup of coffee as I enjoyed the ‘view’.
I said, “Don’t start cooking just yet, ladies. Who wants to join me opening up the secret room downstairs?”
Quick clamorous assent from my ladies, and we were almost immediately at another steel door with multiple deadbolts. I was smiling to myself when Grid asked, “What is so funny, my champion?”
I replied, “I was wondering when you were going to wake up and join the party.”
Grid answered with some asperity, “I am here, Master. There are no wards, traps or alarms attached to the door or inside the room. It is safe to enter.”
I smiled as I thanked her, before calling on Stick to open the three deadbolts. Three soft clicks followed by the door swinging wide open in total silence. I reached in the doorway, flipping up the row of switches. The lights blazed on, followed by audible gasps of surprise from my ladies.
The first thing I noticed -- mounds of elephant tusks. Next to them were slabs of ivory in long rows. Then my eyes were drawn to the stacked slabs of golden metal, ranked one behind the other. Before it could all register I saw the chair -- or more accurately, The Throne!
It was a broad chair, made of a gleaming, copper-colored metal, on a raised base of ivory, with a thirty-six-inch, crystal, thirteen-point star set in the metal of the back, six feet above the seat. It was framed by two huge, matched, curved, elephant tusks, over 12 feet long, decorated with gold filigree and scrimshaw, set upright in the chair’s pedestal. The chair arms were more ivory, with ivory, gold, and silver, accents through out.
A highly decorated ivory rod, three feet long, with an eagle at the end, was on the chair seat. Leaning against the chair was an ivory staff six feet long next to a copper broad sword.
Glancing down in front of the chair, I saw a huge, thirteen-point crystal star, over six feet across, with double pentagrams surrounding it, made of ivory, silver and gold. All of it was set in a copper frame, with diamond and ruby accents.
I finally found my voice, “Okay, Grid - talk to me. What is all this?”
There was a pregnant pause then Grid began speaking in a tiny voice, “Champion, before the cataclysm these were among the most sacred relics of Atlantis. I never expected to see any of them since leaving our lands.”
Grid lapsed into silence. I decided to ask a question to get things moving. I asked quietly, “Tell me about the tusks and ivory?”
Grid answered right back, “I’m sure these are from the most revered elephants. All the elephants were magically enhanced to grow massive tusks, and we usually had several harvests a year.”
I was stunned. “You killed your special elephants and replaced them that often?”
Grid giggled. “No, our magic allowed us to harvest the ivory tusks, while the elephants lived to grow another set. The process was continuous, and we harvested more than one set per year from mature bulls.”
By now Adrienne was lifting drop cloths on other tusk piles as she asked, “So how’d it all end up here?”
I shook my head as I pointed to the copper metal. Grid answered without further prompting, “The metal is Orichalcum, a special Atlantean alloy of gold and copper. Our temples and castles were sheathed in Orichalcum while our ceremonials were made of this sacred metal.”
Grid continued, “The throne is from Atlantis as well. Made of Orichalcum, ivory, and other precious metals. The eagle scepter of our queen is there. You, my Champion, now have your staff and sword.”
I shook my head as I said, “My what?”
“Grid answered with enthusiasm, “The ivory Staff of Shu and the Orichalcum Sword of the Righteous, both leaning on the throne are the Atlantean Champion’s. Both used to protect your people.”
As the ladies wandered the room, examining gleaming swords, spears, and armor stacked to the ceiling, I walked up to the throne. Just behind it was a luminous set of armor made from Orichalcum, breast and back plates with shoulder spaulders. The copper colored armor was decorated with gold and silver filigree, with ivory adornments.
I picked up the Orichalcum broad sword. It was beautifully balanced with, a one-and-a-half-hand bastard grip made from ivory. The blade was engraved with gold and silver accents. I held the blade; it seemed to rouse as I made figure eight passes through the air. I carefully placed the sword in its decorated scabbard, as I turned to the tall ivory staff.
The Staff of Shu was six feet long, and a little over an inch in diameter, made of ivory, with Orichalcum bands every foot and Orichalcum caps at each end. The staff and its metal fittings were covered with intricate carvings and engraved runic symbols, with abundant gold and silver trim. As I held the staff studying its markings, it warmed and began to glow softly. Like the sword, the staff pulsed slowly as if wakening from a long sleep.
When I examined the armor more closely, I found a slim double-edged dagger, also of Orichalcum with ivory handle, its sheath hanging from one of the straps. I placed this sheath on the inside of my left forearm.
I stripped off my wizard robe. Naked, I donned the armor. The breast and back plates seemed to mold to my body, even before the leather straps were tightened. Grid suddenly commented, “Champion, the armor has protective wards which are activating now as you wear it.”
Nodding, I continued. The spaulders went up on my shoulders, while the sword scabbard rode comfortably on my back as I lifted the staff in my right hand.
I have no explanation for what happened next…
I strode to the center of the large crystal. After standing quietly for a moment, centering myself, I touched the staff to the surface of the crystal. A flow of electricity suffused my body, exciting every nerve. The crystal began to glow, softly at first, then brighter and brighter, until a coherent beam of bright blue light surrounded me.
Suddenly I heard Grid in a giddy voice say, “OH, Master…”
As I felt POWER permeate my body down to the cellular level. At the same time, I ‘connected’ with my newest acquisitions. I don’t know how long I stood bathed in the light. Finally, the crystal dimmed back into darkness.
I stepped off the crystal and pentagram to find Tammy, Lisa and Adrienne waiting. Not apprehensive this time, smiling and curious.
Adrienne wrapped my wizard robe around my shoulders as she said softly, “We watched you stand in that blue light, unmoving for over an hour. Your corona was bright and strong. You didn’t answer anything we said, but we could see your calm, centered expression so we felt no anxiety.”
I nodded as I asked Grid, “What was that all about, Grid?”
Grid answered in an excited tone, “Champion, you assimilated your newest weapons and armor as you claimed the crystal and pentagram. This power you have at your disposal comes from an entirely different magical stream and it is very potent. I was drunk with it!”
I shook my head as I asked, “Claimed, Grid?”
Grid responded, “Yes, my Champion. Only you control this large crystal. It is tuned to your aura, your emanations. It seems that you now have three ‘streams’ to draw from, with this being far and away the most powerful.”
I looked at the staff as I asked, “I might even be able to wear the armor if I take the shoulders off, but how do I deal with my staff and sword?”
Grid answered, “If they are near, you can still control them, in fact, you can call them.”
I asked incredulously, “Call them?”
Grid answered quickly, “Yes, Champion. At your summons they will be in your hands immediately even through intervening walls, or doors.”
I nodded as I asked softly, “If my staff is in my SUV and I am inside a high rise, if I summon it, it just appears in my hands?”
Grid answered simply, “Yes.”
A smirking Tammy held my hands as she looked in my eyes, saying, “Much like your women. Summon us and we are in your hands.”
I had to laugh at that, as I said, “Yeah but we have some obedience issues with my women.”
Adrienne was laughing as she replied, “We obey most of the time.”
A laughing Lisa amended it. “We obey some of the time.”
Tammy was giggling now as she offered, “We obey when it suits us.”
All three were smiling happily as they hugged and kissed me, saying, “But we love you even when we’re disobedient.”
As Lisa added, “Because we’re hoping you’ll spank us.”
I finally surrendered saying, “Okay my occasionally obedient loves, how about breakfast as we get ready for “Operation Alison?”
We headed up the steps to breakfast and the rest of our day.
We stood in the spacious attached garage after breakfast. Jade and Brandi would be staying behind. We decided we wanted at least two vehicles for our foray. Tammy pointed at the black Denali. In Las Vegas, that was as good as invisible.
We stood together outside under the awning, between the Denali and our Mercedes, for our final briefing.
Adrienne said briskly, “First stop is Nevada Uniform Supply, on McLeod Drive just south of Sahara.”
She looked pointedly at me, saying, “East of the Strip.”
I nodded, grinning at her. She stuck out her tongue before continuing, “We’ll get the same surgical scrubs they use at Desert Springs Hospital. We can probably get stethoscopes and other small gear to add authenticity at the Uniform Supply as well.“
I nodded but my expression was more serious as Adrienne went on, “The Southern Nevada Women’s Health Clinic is east of the hospital on Desert Springs and Pecos Road. Not that far from the UNLV campus.”
All three now looked expectantly at me as I took up the briefing, “We’ll survey the situation and make final plans at the clinic for takeover, then for enslavement of Ms. Gartner. Biggest problem I foresee is Alison’s special ops ‘hyperawareness’ alerting her.”
My three companions nodded soberly at the ugly possibilities, with our prey suddenly ready to act as a quite competent hunter. As my daddy used to say: “Ain’t no fun when the rabbit got the gun.”
We split the arsenal between our two rides. Lisa climbed behind the wheel of our Black MB as I slid in the passenger seat, my sword and staff behind me. Adrienne, with Tammy riding shotgun, led us out into the hot Las Vegas sunshine.
With Adrienne leading, weaving in and out of traffic at breakneck speed, we were quickly at the uniform store. We entered a cavernous warehouse, filled with every kind of uniform in use in the area. Racks filled with police, fire and sheriffs’ gear for every jurisdiction were next to racks of mundane work uniforms for the various casinos. Some of the keno runner and cocktail waitress uniforms were hardly ordinary, being more risqué.
One section was devoted to used armed forces uniforms, apparently bought from discharged troops leaving Nellis and the other military bases in the surrounding desert.
Tammy quickly corralled a clerk, who led us to the hospital uniforms, pointing out the section for Desert Springs Hospital. While Adrienne and Lisa efficiently filled a cart with surgical scrubs and accoutrements, Tammy was busy finding a ‘classic’ white nurse uniform, including the winged hat.
I frowned at her. “Tammy, we only need the scrubs.”
Tammy giggled merrily as she held up the hat. “This is for later, Master.”
I shook my head as Adrienne grinned over at me. I pushed the laden cart to the front counter, where Lisa produced a credit card. I reached for mine, but she shook me off. Softly, so the clerk wouldn’t hear she whispered, “You’re not here. Remember?”
I’d forgotten. I came by wizard flight not airline.
Right behind me, Tammy’s voice immediately spoke right into my ear. “No -- you not being here doesn’t mean we three are carrying all this crap out to the car.”
I laughed. Can’t win with these three. Though the consequences for my losing weren’t hard too take, either.
I pushed the cart out to the Denali, loading the clothing in the back.
I asked, “Any suggestions for a staging area for this next part?”
Lisa perked up. “Isn’t this next to Sunrise Mountain Gallerias?”
At Adrienne and Tammy’s nod of assent, she continued, “Then we pull in the mall’s parking ramp, go to an upper floor overlooking the clinic, and make the final plans while we get the lay of the land.”
We all agreed, so we headed for our rides. As we drove south, paralleling the Strip, I asked Grid a question that puzzled me. “Grid why aren’t we up to our ass in wizards with my new pentagram? This blast of power must have been the psychic version of the Fremont Street experience to a wizard or seer.”
Grid ruminated, “Champion, your pentagram was impossibly old even in Atlantean times. It was ancient long before we built our sacred circle.”
I asked quietly, “Sacred circle?”
Suddenly, in my head – Stonehenge! Very different from today’s, its circle of stones each sheathed in Orichalcum with mages drawing a vast double pentagram in the center. Phalanxes of troops with glittering spears and shields encircled it; ranks of drummers made the very ground throb with their pounding beat, even as dancing girls spread flowers, while in a prominent place of honor, Queen Isobel, sitting on the throne and surrounded by her Hundred, observed the enormous throng celebrating.
Grid continued, “It is Summer Solstice, our focal festival. The Solstice and Equinox are by far our most significant celebrations.”
I shook my head as the vision cleared; it was impossibly real, almost as if…
I started as I yelled, “Grid, you didn’t?”
You could hear a smirk of satisfaction in her voice, “You were just there, my Champion. Sorry -- the power is amazing. Transporting your corporeal body would have been no problem at all.”
I laughed. “Goddamn it, Grid, just ask first. Okay?”
Grid sniffed. “You would not have understood without actually seeing the festival.”
I nodded as she continued, “Your pentagram was discovered on Atlantis by our mages amidst ancient ruins. The ruins were of an immense castle or temple, built with massive carved stones. Even by that time, it was completely destroyed. Those primeval ruins long predated Atlantis, and we were unsuccessful in ever identifying the builders. We also have no idea what agency destroyed it or them.”
I frowned as I tried to comprehend the span of history Grid was describing. Grid went on, “Our mages had little luck unleashing the pentagram, speculating that its magic stream was so different that they lacked the keys to unlock the power. This is why your power is unremarked by modern mages. They do not sense this unknown, primal stream of magic. And the answer is no. I have no idea why you have the ability to access the totality of this previously bound up force.”
I shook my head as Lisa poked me lightly. I looked up, as Lisa silently pointed at the tall parking structure, just as we followed the black Denali in. As we slowly rolled around and up the ramp, I checked out the shopping center. The Galleria was a four-story glass fronted monstrosity, with the ubiquitous Las Vegas fixture of a reflecting pool and fountain at the main entrance, as if its mere presence wasting water somehow convinced you that this wasn’t a desert.
Parking level seven, one down from the open rooftop, was deserted. Adrienne pulled up in the corner facing the clinic, with Lisa right next. Lisa handed me a pair of Swarovski SLC 15x56 WB binoculars. Adrienne grabbed the SLC 10x50 WB pair with Lisa and Tammy each with SLC 7x50 B.
As I climbed out of the car, I said to Grid, “Could use a bit of that fog and miasma, Grid. Plus look around see if anybody is interested in us or the clinic.”
We all stood back in the shadows of the garage, observing the Southern Nevada Women’s Health Clinic and its approaches. A single story brick ‘clinic looking’ building, on a triangular corner lot, with the ramp directly behind it.
Adrienne spoke first, “Can any body say fortress?”
I nodded, from my position braced in the corner, as Lisa spoke, “Look at all the cameras and sensors. Razor wire in back and up on the roof. The walls are brick faced with all windows glass block. The building sits up and back from the street with a brick retaining wall and enough concrete barriers to prevent any vehicle from getting anywhere close.
Tammy asked, “Is it a JW thing?”
Grid answered, “There no magical emanations from the clinic nor is there any signature from JW.”
Adrienne commented, “Well it is a Women’s Clinic. With all the politics and threats surrounding that, the rather excessive security makes some sense.”
I nodded as I replied, “Yes, but it’s not helping at all, even if it’s totally unrelated.”
I finally put down the field glasses saying, “I got nothing.”
I asked Grid, “What about it, Grid?”
Grid replied, “No interest in us or the clinic. Two women inside, a receptionist and nurse, waiting for their doctor to return from rounds to begin appointments. No alarm or urgency, just a normal day. ”
I looked around at three expectant faces as I said, “Okay, let’s rock.”
Quickly I was stripped out of my jeans and clothed in the light green scrubs. Tammy looped the stethoscope around my neck as Adrienne handed me a file folder and a couple big envelopes. Lisa tucked my Walther TPH in the folder.
With a fake ID hanging from my collar, I looked for all the worlds like a hospital tech delivering test results to the clinic. Hopefully this appearance would slow their ‘alarm’ response enough for our purposes.
Lisa would be driving the Denali. She’d drop me at the door, and then put on a stall of trying to park. Tammy and Adrienne would stay topside with their rifles, ready to provide cover if this went wrong.
The ‘gloves were off’ if need be; any amount of mayhem and magic was permissible to keep Alison from harming one of us or escaping. After last questions and hugs all around, I climbed in with Lisa.
It was quiet as we rolled out into the sunshine and around the corner, into the clinic parking lot. I softly said, “Grid, when I walk in, I need whoever is in sight of the door to push their seat back away from any alarm buttons and sit still until I can get full control.”
I pulled open the clinic outer door, as the buzzer of the inside door’s electric lock sounded. I had envelopes in my right hand, offering them to the astonishing blonde receptionist in her glass bubble. She pushed back her chair after triggering the electric door lock, and was sitting quietly in a clear space, well back from her desk.
I dropped the envelopes pulled the TPH quickly saying, “Stick, the door.”
The door to her workspace opened and I was past the armored glass. She was sitting, hands folded in her lap, with a quizzical smile on her sculpted face. I smiled at her in what I hoped was a reassuring way. She was dressed in whites, a nurse’s pantsuit clearly tailored to her voluptuous body.
I asked Grid, “What have we got here?”
Grid replied, “This is Sarah McIntyre, she is the nursing assistant and receptionist here in the clinic.”
Smiling, I said, “Hello Sarah, who is here with you today?’
She grinned as she answered, “Lara Connelly, our clinic registered nurse, is in the examining rooms, getting things ready for today.”
I nodded, “Let’s go find her, Sarah.”
She enthusiastically answered, “Yes, sir.”
She led me through a door among the file stacks behind her, and down a corridor. Sarah kept up a happy running commentary, telling me all about the clinic as we walked. I asked Grid quietly, “She seems deeply under my control, Grid. What’s going on?”
Grid replied, “The power at your disposal is such that a mere mind’s touch and she is irrevocably bonded to you, Champion.”
Before we could pursue this conversation, we were around the corner and into the presence of Lara Connelly, RN, a black haired knockout apparently moonlighting as a nurse when she wasn’t posing for Playboy.
Grid quickly corralled Lara and the three of us sat down in a small lunchroom to chat. First I asked Grid to contact my cover team and tell them we were in control.
So far, so good, so what?
Then I asked the question that was now uppermost in my mind, “You two are quite lovely. Is it a coincidence?”
Lara laughed delightedly as she said, “No, we’ve had a tiny bit of help. It doesn’t say so on the sign, but part of our services is Aesthetic Surgery. Doctor Murphy calls herself a body sculptor and we are her two favorite subjects.”
Sarah quickly stood up; taking my hand, with Lara following, she pushed open double doors at the end of the corridor. I was in the observation room for a full-blown hospital’s surgical suite next to an intensive care hospital room with nursing station. Lara observed, “We have tightly controlled access for the clinic because of the many high profile patients who come in to our clinic for treatment and services. We even have a secret entrance!”
Ah, fuck, right at that moment I wished I had brought Aoife to the party!
I asked with some trepidation, “Secret entrance?”
Sarah replied gaily, “Oh, yes, next to the basement loading dock for the mall we have reserved parking and a tunnel into the clinic. It’s our ‘Hollywood’ entrance.”
I quickly pointed at Lara, “Scamper out to the SUV and direct Lisa into one of those special parking spots. Bring her in here through that tunnel.”
Lara quickly assented and practically ran for the door. I had question for Sarah, “Sarah, is this a busy day for the clinic?”
She shook her head, “Routine, not heavy at all.”
I nodded, “Ever cancel patient appointments and set them up on another day?”
Sarah nodded, “Yes, sir. If Caroline, Doctor Murphy, has surgery or any kind emergency, we cancel her clinics and reschedule.”
I nodded, “Sarah, here’s what I need. Please cancel all the non-emergency appointments except Alison Boyd Gartner. Please verify Alison’s appointment. Oh yeah and when are we expecting Caroline?”
As Sarah walked toward the front desk, she said over her shoulder, “Caroline is finishing her rounds now, and barring unforeseen issues at the hospital, she should be here within the hour.”
No real surprise, staring at that world-class derriere, Sarah had to repeat it three times before I heard her. On my further, less distracted questioning, Sarah shared that Caroline parked in an assigned space by the mall’s loading dock and entered the clinic by their tunnel.
With that heads-up, Grid was ready. Doctor Murphy was under Grid’s control as soon as she entered the clinic corridors. Grid then brought the now deeply bonded Caroline into my presence.
Doctor Caroline Murphy, physician and surgeon, was a lovely Irish pixie right down to the patina of freckles on her button nose. She was sitting across from me in her office as we shared a cup of coffee while she described her patients and clinic saying, “We are an extremely discreet full service facility. Movie, music and television stars come to us from all over the world to solve their problems. Be it an STD, a blemish, or an unwanted pregnancy, they know we can handle it here in perfect secrecy while their publicists blather about their visits to the Hard Rock Casino.”
I nodded as she continued, “We have show girls, strippers, call girls and hookers who also have the same range of problems, with a similar need for silence, along with the usual mix of the visiting spoiled rich who get into trouble wherever they go.”
Then she snickered, “Since I’m a workaholic, this clinic is open to everyone and the snooty rich bitches amply subsidize my patients who come here with no insurance of their own.”
Caroline paused and looked at me in an appraising manner as she said, “But it’s your clinic now, Master, just as you own me.”
Before we could pursue this further…
The phone buzzed. Ms. Boyd Gartner was parking her bright yellow Hummer in the parking lot. I picked up my silenced MP5 off the desk, standing quietly by Caroline’s office door. Lara led Alison to the scale to get her weight and height, then led her into Examining Room Three, right across from Caroline’s office.
In the examining room Lara sat down with Alison and took her full medical history. I wanted the medical office routine to blunt Alison’s instincts. I asked Grid, “How are we doing, Grid?”
She chortled softly, “She is naturally on edge, feeling quite vulnerable being here in the clinic, as well as thoroughly, desperately horny. Despite her heterosexual orientation Alison is appraising Lara as a sexual partner. Right now, her sexual tunnel vision precludes any notice of us.”
I pointed at the doctor, “Caroline, I want a bit different examination this time around, with you and Lara quite unprofessional, with many touches and caresses of Ms Gartner. When she’s in the stirrups for her pelvic, her clit should get a good workout. Then you keep her legs up and spread, while you block her view of the door so I can come in.”
Caroline smiled hugely as she responded, “Yes, Master.”
I quickly said, “Grid, when they’re playing, build Alison’s arousal, but remember, no coming until I get there.”
As Caroline closed the door to Room Three, Sarah and Lisa joined me in the hall. The clinic was deserted of patients, with no further appointments scheduled today. Lisa covered the door with her MP5, while a topless Sarah stripped me before going to work as my ‘fluffer,’ keeping me stimulated as I waited for my entrance cue from Grid.
Kneeling Sarah’s lips and tongue worshipping my cock, with her nipples rubbing my thighs, made me lose track of time. My fingers delved into her blonde locks as my cock was driving deep into her clutching throat, and suddenly my cock spasmed, with my cum splashing down Sarah’s throat into her belly. Sarah smiled around my cock as she continued her ministrations, keeping me hard and thoroughly aroused.
On Grid’s signal, Lisa silently swung open the examining room door. Sarah sat back on her heels with a satisfied look as I strode into the room. Lisa quickly followed me, gun at ready but one look confirmed that Gartner was in extremis sexually.
Her naked body was slick with sweat, her plump nipples under assault from Lara, with the good doctor sucking and licking her engorged clit, her fingers driving deep in Alison’s cunt. Alison’s head lashed back and forth a she wailed her frustration, her juices flowing down her slit until her crease was wet.
I stepped between the widespread stirrups. Grabbing the doctor’s chestnut hair, I pulled her none too gently out of my way, gliding forward as Lara reached, positioning my cock at Alison’s opening. I grabbed Alison’s spread thighs as I slammed forward, deep into her wet velvet.
Alison screamed as the first orgasm rolled over her. I continued stroking, her ankles up on my shoulders as orgasm after stronger orgasm besieged her. Alison stared at me, her eyes wide between wracking bouts of intense pleasure. My cock thickened as her cunt convulsed squeezing and clutching at me. My cum sprayed deep as her orgasm exploded overwhelmed her senses. Alison collapsed back on the examining table, with my cock still inside as I laid with my full weight on her. Alison was mine!
After our short nap and joint shower, we joined the others in the doctors office. Doctor Murphy quickly rose, giving me her seat behind the big desk. Adrienne, Tammy and Lisa began by explaining the whole of the Atlantean connection to Caroline, Sarah, Lara, and Alison. Alison was surprised by the news of JW dying. He had forbidden her any contact with any form of news media, so that story had passed her by. Alison’s days were spent at the gym, dojo, and shooting range.
Alison described the JW world domination plan to us, most of which we’d already deduced from his office and the warehouse. But to the vexing question of the rest of the troops Alison answered, “No sir. JW did not tell me who or where his sleepers were. I was always concerned about that.”
Then she paused with an excited look, “Except! Except, that he wanted me to meet him at his big house next time he was in town to show me something important out in the desert. It came up in the middle of our last discussion about training and deploying the troops.”
Then she slowed down, “But that doesn’t help. He’s dead.”
I smiled happily, “It does help, Alison. It means the notes are there in the big house. He left nothing to memory, wrote down everything. That’s what has been nagging at me this lack of written words about his sleeper army.”
Soon a caravan left the Women’s Clinic, heading for Piedmont Estates, following Adrienne in a headlong dash through Vegas traffic. Adrienne pulled the Denali back into the garage on Rancho Vista View Lane, as we lined up the rest of our rides under the verandah.
Alison led us to the end of the garage, flipping back a tarp to show us J.W.’s jacked-up, tricked-out S-1 Hummer wagon, with all kinds of expensive off-road add-ons, saying, “This was what he was going to use to take us out into the desert. Where in the desert I have no clue.”
I gestured for everyone to follow me into the house. We weren’t even to the door before Sarah and Lara were asking when they could move in. The only tiny little glitch in our homecoming was my failure to countermand Brandi and Jade’s previous instructions about greeting me naked in their expected face down submissive posture. This time they expected us, and their only costume was strappy stiletto high heels as they waited patiently, their noses pressed to the floor.
Lara and Sarah were giggling as they quickly undressed, joining Brandi and Jade kneeling in the entryway. We moved into the great room, where Brandi and Jade were soon serving drinks and snacks.
I just collapsed on the leather couch in relief that our kidnap had succeeded. Alison was sitting next to me, with the others scattered around the room. Adrienne, of course, had questions about searching for the sleeper notes. I roused myself as she grinned at me. I was laughing as I said, “You’re going to force me to work whether I want to or not.”
There were several smiling nods around the room as I continued, “Upstairs is J.W.’s planning office. I want you to ‘take the room apart’. Somewhere in that space is the key to our sleepers. Jade and Brandi, please make sure everyone searching has their food or beverages of choice. Whatever anybody needs to stay focused. We’re staying on it until we find something.”
There was quick agreement around the room then I asked, “Who’s in charge of supper for all of us tonight?”
Sarah enthusiastically raised her hand saying, “I love to cook, Sir.”
I smiled happily as I said, “You’re excused from the search, Sarah. Brandi and Jade will show you the kitchen. If you need anything from the store take whatever wheels and go for it. Somebody toss some cash on the kitchen table for grocery buying.”
Then I paused lost in thought. JW usually had a safe with cash at his houses; sometimes several. Where was his safe in this Las Vegas Casa? My ladies looked at me expectantly. I said, “Go to work ladies. Grid, Stick and I are going to do something we should have sooner; we’re going to look for safes and secret rooms. “
Alison helped me to my feet then paused asking, “Do you need my assistance for your search sir?”
I shook my head, “Not really, Alison. Why?”
She continued, “With your permission, sir. I really should be bringing in all our weapons, sorting them out and then figuring out what guns, equipment, and supplies we need for our trip into the desert.”
Alison continued softly, “And sir. There should be a gun room with his personal weapons.”
I was alone sitting on the couch in the great room staring into the cheery fire Tammy had laid in the fireplace. The ladies with the exception of Sarah in the kitchen and Alison in the garage were upstairs tearing the planning office and master bedroom apart.
My part was easy sitting meditating staring at the fire while Grid was examining every cubic inch of the house and grounds. She had started some six feet underground inside the perimeter walls working slowly and methodically up to the roof peak. I had no idea how much time had elapsed. I did know that no one had come anywhere near us except to tend the fire since we began.
Finally Grid spoke, “Sorry to take so long, my champion. You were right to require a methodical search. There is a small safe in the attic. Cloaking with wards, and miasma preventing me from finding it at first. It is likely what you seek.”
I nodded happily, “Great work Grid. Anything else?”
Grid giggled as she answered, “A gun cabinet concealed in the hall linen closet.”
I looked around realizing that it was quite late. At my unspoken question Grid responded, “Alison has converted the formal dining room to a staging area for your desert excursion; Sarah, Brandi and Jade are in the kitchen; with the others still upstairs engrossed in their searches.”
I stood up and stretched. After visiting the downstairs toilet and wandering into the kitchen to get coffee and kisses, I stopped in the dining room, requesting Alison accompany me.
First to the hallway linen closet, where, after Grid completed verifying safety, Stick swung back the wooden towel shelves, to reveal a seven-foot tall gun vault. Stick quickly opened the gun cabinet as well. I looked in to see a mix of long guns and handguns with the ubiquitous stacks of currency on an upper shelf. I turned to Alison, “Take care of this after we check the attic.”
She nodded as we followed Grids directions to a remote guest bedroom closet where we found a discreet roof hatch and fold down stairs. Grid offered that the wards were broken and it was safe to proceed. Alison touched my arm as I reached the ladder, offering to go up first. I shook her off as I called Stick into my hand.
I poked my head up in the space to find a light switch right next to the ladder. Flipping it on lit lamps running the length of the roof peak. A number of boxes, plastic bins and suitcases were scattered about the abundant floor space. The small safe was tucked under the eaves in a corner.
Alison followed me up the ladder, as she stood next to me she observed, “We need to take a look at this stuff as well, sir. This is not an old house; why would JW stash things up here so far out of sight? “
I nodded, good point. We walked to the safe. Alison activated a bright yellow cyalume light stick then dropped it next to safe. Then reached into her back pocket pulled out her Streamlight flashlight shining it on the safe. I grinned; Alison was proving to be a joy to have around.
Grid offered that it was not dangerous to open and I had Stick pop the door. The contents were sparse: several manila envelopes stuffed with currency, a small stack of green account books, and half dozen CD jewel boxes.
Alison stacked up our small pile of booty next to the entry hatch as I sat back on my heels facing the safe opening. I was still nagged the thought that I was missing something. Alison stood patiently waiting as I sat musing. I began running my fingertips slowly along the entire inside surface of the safe. Slowly touching along bottom, sides and top. In the safes top back corner I found it. A piece of paper carefully taped into the corner that was for all practical purposes invisible. Only my careful tactile examination revealed it.
The paper covered in tiny script, filled with numbers. I showed it to Alison. She shook head asking, “Secret code, maybe?”
I replied slowly, “I don’t know. I do know it’s an important, maybe even key piece of intelligence.”
Alison nodded in agreement to that, as she carried our minuscule stack of safe contents down to the office. I ambled slowly along behind her, still trying to puzzle out the tiny numbers. My ladies made way for me as I walked into the office, with Adrienne gently leading me to the ergonomic chair. I vaguely heard Alison fill them I on what we found in the attic as I was lost in thought.
There was something about the numbers -- it was so tantalizingly close. In frustration I swung my chair around. Looking directly at a seven and half minute topographic map of the North Las Vegas desert area. Peering at the paper and then the map and then the paper. Back and forth scrutinizing both. My rather odd behavior captured everyone’s attention, and Tammy finally could not take anymore as she poked my shoulder, hard and said brusquely, “Talk, big boy. You’re driving us fucking nuts the way you’re acting.”
I looked up at her, threw my arms around her and gave her a big sloppy kiss yelling triumphantly, “I figured it out! I broke the code!”
I pinned the notepaper to the corkboard next to the ‘top’ map. As they gathered around I began to explain slowly and carefully, “They’re latitudes and longitudes; degrees, minutes and seconds. JW did not put them in columns or separate the lats and longs. He just lined them up one after the other. I gestured at the paper and tiny script, “It’s impossible to hide the repetition of numbers. Keeps repeating 36 and 115. Those are the gross latitude and longitude for this area.”
Alison’s trained eyes flicked to the map and then back to the listing before her emphatic nod. She quickly took it a step further as she excitedly blurted, “Waypoints! It’s a GPS route; the changes in minutes and seconds are the waypoints of the route out into the desert ending up at…
As she peered at the paper, “36, 35, 21 latitude and 115, 10, 40 longitude.”
Then back at the map as she softly said, “Somewhere in the foothills of Sheep Mountain by Yucca Forest.”
I nodded happily as I stood up and stretched. I turned to the assembled beauties asking, “Who’s hungry?”
Adrienne looked around asking, “I suppose I’m elected to tell him?”
General nods all around seemed to decide her, as she stood up close, making eye contact, saying clearly, “Breakfast then, Champion. You were on that couch with Grid, probing for hours. It is nearly daylight. We’ve been up all night with this search.“
I was incredulous, squinting at each of them in turn, suddenly laughing as I commented, “Yeah, some champion I am -- can’t even figure out to look at my watch.”
The ladies were giggling as they led me down the stairs to the kitchen and breakfast. As we reached the bottom of the stairs Alison waved the paper with the GPS route and pointed to the garage. I nodded and she was off at a brisk walk.
Brandi and Jade again had the sunroom table laid with fine china and crystal. Sarah was soon dishing up a hearty breakfast of eggs, two kinds of sausage, bacon, fried potatoes and toast with jam. Juice and milk washed down the scrumptious meal, with coffee after.
At the meal’s conclusion, we walked to the front of the house. Caroline, Lara and Sarah looked at me expectantly. I grinned as I shook my head, “No playing hooky for you, ladies. You have regular hours today at the clinic. Come back here to keep Jade and Brandi company while you wait for us. Plus you’re our safety net!”
I handed Caroline a copy of our GPS coordinates with Christy’s phone number scrawled on the paper as I continued, “If we’re not back here in twenty four hours, you call that number and report the situation. The cavalry will arrive shortly thereafter.”
We stepped out under the verandah for hugs and kisses, before they climbed in our Mercedes AMG, heading for the clinic before dawn. The tempo quickened with their departure as Alison was moving the last our personal gear into the Hummer. Lisa tossed a cooler of one-and-a-half-liter water bottles in back of our ride, while Alison hung two plastic six gallon containers filled with water in the brackets on the back of the four wheeler right next to the five gallon ‘jeep’ cans full of gas.
As the ‘false’ dawn faded, Alison pulled the Hummer out under the verandah. We walked back in to arm up for our journey. This time my new, gleaming armor was over my jumpsuit, with my sword up on my back, wizard robe covering it all, staff held in my left hand. Alison did not have a robe yet, but her black jumpsuit was crammed with lethality. Lisa, Tammy and Adrienne were robed, carrying their favorite MP5 and Benelli weapons. Jade gave me a full travel mug and a large thermos of coffee. That action, accompanied by general laughter, was our signal to mount up.
We walked back out, kissing Jade and Brandi goodbye as Alison climbed behind the wheel of the tricked up H1. I asked, “How do we get out of here, Alison?”
She smiled, “I went scouting last night. There’s a controlled access powered gate through the high wall that your neighbors with the dirt bikes and ATV’s use to get directly out into the desert.”
I looked in surprise, “You went out? Why didn’t you trip our wards?”
Grid answered quickly, “She did trip them, Champion. Going and coming. You were busy.”
I nodded, good point. I made a wind it up gesture to Alison. Alison smirked, saying, “You might want to belt in, Sir. “
Yeah, and I might want to hang on so tight I leave fingerprints in the dashboard!
Once clear of the gate Alison had two speeds, scorching and
airborne! My coffee had whitecaps as we
tore through the desert scrub. I
couldn’t see her eyes behind her ray bans and under the brim of that black
baseball hat, but she was grinning happily as she charged along, hitting every
bump while George Thorogood and the Destroyers sang Bad to the Bone
at window rattling volume.
We stopped every hour, stretching our legs, hydrating and glassing the vicinity, including our back trail. With Alison’s full tilt boogie, we were soon at the entry to a valley into Sheep Mountain. The course changes were frequent as we picked our way along narrow trails and streambeds. We stopped for a break, looking at an overgrown, very faint, two wheel tracked trail ahead of us.
I commented, “Great job driving, Alison.”
She shook it off, smiling. “Piece of cake, Sir. Ain’t had to use the winch or chop down a tree.”
Adrienne jerked her thumb upwards asking, “You want somebody airborne to scout ahead?”
I nodded as I started to levitate. Tammy grabbed my hand, shaking her head emphatically as Adrienne reproved me, “Not you, Champion. My turn.”
Adrienne floated up over the trees with Tammy right behind. Alison looked on quite unsurprised commenting dryly, “Handy. Glad I’m on your team. Sir.”
I nodded saying, “Me too, Alison. You’ll be able to do that soon enough. You’ll get something we call wizard jewelry and that will open up a world of abilities.”
Alison nodded as she asked, “Will I get a little voice, too, Sir?”
My head came around on a swivel as I blurted, “You hear Grid?”
Alison nodded grinning, “Yes, sir. Ever since the clinic I hear your internal dialogue clearly.”
Tammy and Adrienne returning near ground level along the trail interrupted us. Adrienne gestured, “No blocks, couple brush in the trail, then it just ends at a rocky slope and bluff. “
I answered, “We should be close to the end. See anything?”
They both shook their heads as we climbed back aboard our four-wheeler. We went on, stopping in the tree line. Our route ‘officially’ ended some meters up the slope but rock falls complicated things and it really did not seem to matter. Close enough. We glassed the rock face carefully and got nothing. I asked Grid, but her preliminary scanning was fruitless as well.
I levitated up onto the roof rack of the hummer, sitting cross-legged I directed Grid to look deeper and see if she could find and break the warding. I glanced down. Alison was already building a small fire. I went back to my meditation, holding the staff across my lap.
Grid suddenly, excitedly exclaimed, “Got it!”
I asked what she had and she replied, still quite excited, “A cave mouth half way up the slope with extensive miasma and warding. The rock falls will complicate the approach, Master.”
As I came down off the roof, Alison handed me a plate heaped with hot food, saying, “Mixed some MREs, Sir, its mostly Beef Chili Macaroni, I hope you like Tabasco.”
She looked up, smirking. “Don’t forget your crackers. Spiced apples with pound cake for desert, lemonade and coffee.”
I dug into it and realized that Alison liked Tabasco –A LOT. She was, however, an excellent trailside cook. As I stood sipping my hot coffee, Alison asked, “How are you going to do this, Sir?”
I shrugged saying, “Pretty much brute force. Fly up, break the wards see what’s behind it.”
She dug around in back of the Hummer bringing out a bag with a couple hundred meters of climbing rope with knots every couple of feet. She handed me pitons, locking gate carabineers, and a hammer. With my sword on my back and staff in my left hand I rose smoothly, with Grid directing me upward along the rock face. We stopped and I sensed the magical energy of the wards in the cave mouth. These were not merely hiding appearance, but dangerous, with their own crackling malevolent energy.
This time I felt my power as I raised my staff, the tip touching the center of the opening, and with a surge of brightness from my staff, the ward collapsed, revealing the cave opening. I tossed half-a-dozen activated bright yellow cyalume light sticks in the cave. After setting the pitons in the cave mouth, I secured the rope using the carabineers, letting it hang down the slope.
I drew my forty-five and stepped into the cave. Looking down, I saw Lisa, Tammy and Adrienne flying up to join me. Tammy and Adrienne had simply grabbed Alison’s combat harness, carrying her aloft with them. Inside the cave, I found a typical six foot by six foot wood framing used in frontier mining. The shaft seemed a typical abandoned mine shaft as it slowly descended into the rocky outcrop. We followed it for a couple hundred meters dropping light sticks every few feet.
Suddenly it changed completely!
No longer the rough rocky walls of hand hewed jagged rocks, now eight foot by eight foot tunnels, nicely squared smooth as if concrete-sprayed, even painted beige and with a bright light source visible not far ahead.
In one motion, all the safeties came off as we silently moved forward. We stepped into a broad, open rock chamber, with several openings into more natural rock chambers. The chamber was nicely lit by fluorescent shop lights hanging at intervals.
Grid quickly said, “Master, on the right.”
We all looked to the right to see a narrow cave mouth blocked by a shimmering white aura with a beautiful nude woman behind it. Then left in a larger chamber, to see four Atlantean crystal ziggurats in a loose square. Beyond in the next huge chamber, stacks of armor and weapons to the ceiling, while in the last a wizard battery powering the lights. I asked, “What have you got, Grid?”
She replied, “No one save the captive, Champion.”
I walked closer to examine the ward as it simmered and crackled seeming to try to reach out to snare me. Suddenly Grid hissed, “Jannah!”
Grid blurted, “Kill her, Champion. She is totally evil. Kill her now, my Master.“