Halflings (19 page)

“Thanks,” she quipped. Handling it well? No, she was a firecracker ready to explode.

He stopped at the next landing and turned her to face him. “Nikki, we’re on the winning side. Hold that truth in your heart. It’ll comfort you.”

She shook her head and felt several fallen strands of hair tickle her neck. “I’m sorry, Mace. But I don’t think anything will ever comfort me again.” She pulled away from him and continued down.

“There’s one more thing,” he hollered to her.

She paused, heaved a sigh, and stomped back up the steps to him. “Fine. Fill me in. If I pass out from fear, just leave me here, okay?”

“You won’t pass out.” His voice had softened and she wanted to get lost in the words. How could she go from
so
cold to
so
warm that fast?

“Nikki, I swear I’ll see this through to the end.”

The words stopped her. It was an oath, a promise that he’d not leave her. But it also meant
she’d
have to see it through, when all she really wanted was to crawl into her bed and forget. “You might, but I’m not making any promises. Don’t be surprised if I run away.”

He spun a dangling strand of her hair around his finger. “You won’t. You’re a fighter.”

Something within her gut clenched, acknowledged the term and accepted it, even embraced it. She shook her head, slowly. “I’m just an art freak who likes karate.”

“No.” His hands found their way to her upper arms. It was a motion against his better judgment, she could tell. “You’re so much more. There’s destiny in your eyes. Your heart thumps with a warrior’s beat. Now that you know the battle, you’ll never run from it.”

“Don’t be too sure.” Her voice cracked.

“Never. It’s what you were created for.”

A
guy she assumed was Zero tugged the metal door open and offered a tight smile.

Mace reached to hug him. “Bro.”

Zero fidgeted at the embrace. Tall and thin, pale and wiry, Nikki could see why he lived down here. Like a worm seeks refuge in the ground, Zero seemed perfectly acclimated to his subterranean surroundings. His hair and skin were lighter than anyone she’d met.
He’s a Halfling? Maybe he’s ill.

She followed Mace into a metal room where computer equipment decorated each wall. Lights flashed and blinked and threw flickering shadows throughout the space. In one corner, a rumpled futon sagged.

Mace reached to the low ceiling and tugged the chain on a hanging light illuminating the dimly lit room.

Nikki gasped when the light caught Zero’s gaze. His eyes sparked with colorless flashes of brilliance, reminding her of
sunlight shining through icicles. Barely a drop of blue amidst the silver.

“Have you been outside?” Mace asked.

Zero turned away. “About a month ago.”

“Dude, that’s not healthy.” Mace strolled to a fridge in the opposite corner of the room. The freezer bulged with frozen dinners. Mace pulled one out and shook it at him. “Not real food.”

Zero shrugged. “Sorry Mom. I got Pop-Tarts.”

“They’re not food either. I thought Trinity was checking on you.” Mace pointed to the trashcan overflowing with juice boxes.

“I don’t need no angel babysitter. Vegan brings me food now.”

“Vegan?”

“Yeah, she’s a Halfling.”

Mace’s eyes lit up. “A female? Zero, what’s she like?”

A hot, thick stream slid through Nikki’s system, and her cheeks felt on fire. She blinked in surprise. Was this
jealously
over Mace’s sudden interest in females?

“What do you care?” Zero pointed. “I see you’ve found your own.”

Mace laughed. “Who, Nikki?” He shook his head. “No, she’s no Halfling. A human, a Seer.”

Before she could protest, Zero snagged her by the chin. Cold, bony fingers tipped her head back while he reached for a swinging light. He angled the brass half circle until its glare stung her eyes.

That strange silver-blue gaze examined her from no more than three inches away. Finally, he tilted her head down slowly and stared at her face-to-face. His thumb and forefinger dug
into her chin. “Why’d you bring her here?” Other questions in his eyes, and his focus made her want to wrench from him. But she didn’t. She stood fast, letting him search her.

“We’re on a journey and she’s helping us.”

“You and your journeys.” He rolled his eyes and shoved her away. “I can’t be in contact with humans. You know that.”

“Why?” Nikki interrupted, rubbing her sore chin. “Lack of manners?”

Mace gave her an accusatory look, but the smile toying at his mouth said otherwise.

Icicle eyes narrowed. “I suppose this is just some fun game to you, little girl.”

Could he have said anything more stupid?
A game, a
fun game
? Her hands slid to her hips. “Absolutely. It’s a blast to be chased by demonic dogs and crazed men in SUVs.” Nikki let loose every lick of her pent-up anger, and could feel it clash against the impermeable electricity that was Zero.

“Calm down, both of you. It’s my fault for bringing Nikki here. Zero has specific instructions to remain away from humans. Not for their sake, for his own. Zero —”

“Tell it like it is, Halfling,” he scoffed. “Zero doesn’t play well with others. Angels don’t want me in their charge. Other Halflings can’t stand me.”

Mace casually sank his hands into his pockets, a posture Nikki rarely saw him exhibit. He usually remained alert like a predatory cat, ready to bolt or fight at any moment. “It’s not like that. Zero has a higher purpose.”

“Really?” Nikki’s eyes widened innocently. “Even higher than sucking down juice boxes and eating frozen dinners?”

Mace bit his cheeks.

Zero’s sneer broke into a smile. “I like her.”

“Zero runs the network,” Mace said.

“What’s that?” Nikki crossed the room and sank into a computer chair. Behind her she could
feel
Zero cringe. It was such a nice computer, top of the line, even. She lightly ran a finger along the edge of the keyboard.

“Don’t touch that,” he growled.

She batted Bambi eyes and seized the mouse.

“Don’t.” His hands flew to his head. “Mace, can’t you stop her? There are settings and you …”

When she moved to hit
send
, he slapped the table. “No. Don’t do that.” He stumbled over his words until finally she spun in the chair, grinning.

“I didn’t do anything,” she admitted. “I promise.”

He heaved a sigh, then grabbed and dragged her from the seat with those shockingly thin fingers. After pushing her away, Zero spun to the computer and stroked the monitor with an open hand.

Mace laughed. “Zero, you really need to get out more.”

Feeling satisfied, Nikki crossed her arms and donned a Cheshire grin. “I suppose on the rare occasion, it’s like a fun game. Thanks for playing, little
boy
.”

Zero’s sneer returned. But this time it was Mace’s eyes that surprised her. Softly focused, they seemed to smile. He was … proud of her. When the understanding surfaced, she realized she wanted, no
needed
him to feel that way. A silent moment of understanding crossed between them.

Breaking the spell, Mace pulled the charred computer from his backpack. “Can you do anything with this?”

Zero smirked. “Looks like you’ve done enough already.”

“We got it from this lab about thirty miles from here.”

“Omega Corporation?” Zero took the laptop into loving
hands and rested it gently on the table. From four inches above, his eyes scanned the charred mess. He coughed at a puff of dust when he pulled a dingy disk from the wreck and slid it into another system.

“Yes. How’d you know?” Mace asked.

One eye peeked from under strips of silver-blond hair. “Please.”

Mace gestured toward the supercomputer. “You’ve been tracking them?”

“As much as I can.”

Mace’s eyes widened. “You haven’t broken their security code?”

“Their systems are encrypted, of course. But they’re layered too. I get close then,
bam
! They shut me out.”

“What do they do there? Weapons, nuclear stuff?” Mace asked.

“Look, they’re locked into an international network. It’s not like I can just flip a switch and …” Zero’s words trailed.

“But Zero, what are they
doing
?” Mace said.

“You want the short answer or the million-dollar answer?”

Mace’s jaw clenched. “Any answer at this point will suffice.”

“Studying EMP.”

“What?” Mace frowned.

“Electromagnetic pulse,” Zero said.

“Thanks, I know what it is.”

“Good, then you understand the implications.”

Nikki interrupted the two. “Excuse me.” She waved her hands. “Human present. Could someone please translate?”

A
humph
slipped from Zero’s thin lips. “Under the right circumstances, EMP could become the backbone of modern warfare. Nuclear EMP is the worst, but Omega doesn’t seem to wade on the nuclear side of the swimming pool.”

“So what are they doing?” Mace sank his hands into his hair, the casual demeanor of a few minutes ago gone. “What
could
they do?”

“Don’t know. Nuclear EMP is pretty antiquated for warfare — with its discovery years ago, too many countries placed devices for protection. But non-nuclear EMP has smaller, still horrific effects.”

Mace nodded.

“Still lost here,” Nikki said.

Mace turned to her. “Electromagnetic pulses are magnetic fields produced by electricity. They have the capability to make every electrical device in range completely useless. Cell phones, vehicles, even the US military.”

“Try
every
military,” Zero said.

“Anyway, it’s like technology’s kryptonite. When an EMP happens, everything dies. Tanks, trucks, computers. Think of an electromagnetic pulse like a giant magnet. The pulse goes out and erases … everything in range.”

“So,” she said, “it would disable the bad guy’s stuff too. Right?”

“Not if they’ve figured out a way to direct it,” Mace said. “If man obtained the power to shut down specific pieces of equipment, technology, or specific computers, there would be no end to the damage.”

“Or the power.” Zero’s words fell with a thud. “An entire nation could be rendered helpless. With no defenses.”

“Whoever wielded the power could eventually control the world,” Mace inserted.

She dropped. Luckily, most of her weight fell into a chair. As if being a target for termination wasn’t enough, now she had the entire world to worry about? “Wait, are you telling me sixty
miles from my home, some madmen are creating a device to
take over the world
?”

Zero pointed at her, but directed his question to Mace. “It sounds so sci-fi when she says it. It’s not just one facility. I take it you got this computer from the small Omega lab that burned tonight. But, there’s another one. Much bigger, right outside of Harrison. Plus, they’re global. And EMP isn’t the only thing they do.”

She blanched. “Can it get any worse?”

“Sure, it could get much worse.” Zero peered at the ceiling, rubbing thin, white fingers over his chin. “Actually, no. It really can’t get worse.”

Mace walked to her. “Nikki, this is what we do. This is why we’re sent. It’s not to rescue kittens from tree limbs. Every journey has eternal consequences. And sometimes many lives hang in the balance.”

Her head felt light, and Mace’s words were just fluttery little pieces of dust passing by. Maybe she was about to pass out. With any luck, she’d hit her head and forget everything she’d heard. Did they realize what they were talking about? This was World War Three kind of stuff.
As if the war between heaven and hell wasn’t enough
…

She jetted out of the chair. “I don’t want to do this. I can’t save the world. You —” She pointed accusingly. “You all have powers, and can” — she flailed her arms — “can break glass without getting cut and can see in the dark. But I’m just a girl. Like Zero said.”

His face scrunched. “I never said that.”

Mace kept telling her she’d learned enough. Finally, she believed him. It was too much, in fact. Too big of a problem for a human mind, too insurmountable an obstacle, and right now
there was way too much concrete and dirt separating her from clean, fresh air. She needed to get out. “Look, I’ll, uh, just meet you in the car.” Her pace quickened as she headed toward the exit. “You two have fun talking about your war strategies. I’ll head on up and listen to the radio until you’re done.”

As she pulled the door open, Zero’s voice stopped her momentum. “Don’t you want to know what’s on the computer you brought?”

No. Thanks, but no. I just want to leave
. But what if the information could help Mace and the others? What if it could stop the bad guys? Such a big part of her wanted this nightmare to end. And yet …

Yet a tiny part of her wanted to embrace it. Like a moth to flame, Nikki was drawn to the task. With a long, surrendering sigh, she turned. “You’ve already retrieved the information?”

“What’s left of it.” His almost colorless eyes scanned her. “Up to you. You can walk out and have Mace take you home and you’re free, baby girl.”

She chewed her lip, one hand on the door, the other ready to grab the banister and propel herself up. She chanced a look to Mace.
You’ll never run from the battle
, he’d told her. But she
wanted
to run. Her feet carried her one step higher. When she glanced at him again, she saw the flash of disappointment. He’d also said he’d see it through to the end.

Zero’s voice mocked. “You’re right. You’re only a human. What could you do? Go on, chicken. Run home.”

Nikki jumped off the step, slammed the door, and leveled her gaze on Zero. “No. I might be a chicken. But I don’t run.”

Both guys smiled. Zero’s was a grudging admiration, but she didn’t care. And Mace’s … well, she’d have to process that look later.

“What’s on the computer, Zero?” Mace asked.

“The hard drive is toast. I’ll keep working with it, but don’t hold your breath.”

“Is that it?”

“I retrieved a few words from the disk. First ones are
Genesis Project
, second’s a name. Nick.”