My Ride is a Bitch (The Kurtherian Gambit Book 13) Read online

  “Good,” Sheila said, squeezing Mason’s hand.

  Mason looked at Barnabas, his mind thinking over his words. He caught Barnabas’s eye, “Ever?”

  Barnabas looked straight into Mason Jayden’s eyes, and unflinchingly said, “Those men are permanently banished, they will not be able to bother your family, or any other human, again.”

  Mason nodded his understanding. They had kidnapped his wife and put explosives around his daughter. His desire to flip the switch and watch them fry in an electric chair was not ever going to happen. However, he wouldn’t lose any sleep over their apparent deaths, either.

  Mason considered his next words very carefully before speaking, “I need to talk to the Queen, there are three more families that are likely going to be in jeopardy.”

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Chapter 5

  West Wing Deep Underground Command Center (DUCC) Washington D.C., USA

  The President nodded to the two men, both military but only one in uniform. The other gentleman, retired, was sitting, uncomfortably, in a three-piece suit.

  Passing strange, that.

  “Gentleman,” he said as he sat down, “why do I suspect I’m about to receive a history lesson?”

  Jimmy, the President’s behind-the-scenes military liaison, spoke first, “Because you know I don’t bring people here unnecessarily, Mr. President. Henry Wells is stronger on military history than almost any other individual I know. That history covers both what is in the books and what has never made it to print. He is even stronger on history than he is uncomfortable in his business clothes.”

  “Annoying,” Henry commented grumpily, “Suits are for young men trying to get the eyes of the ladies or the power brokers here in DC. I’ve been married for forty years, and she likes me just fine in shorts and tall, white socks.”

  The other two men smiled as they both applied mental erasers to the visual that flashed in their brains. The risk you took when you asked someone that did not play in your same arena, was that sometimes you had to accept different types of behavior. When you needed the best, and the best was strange, you took what you could get.

  Even if it made you want to drink afterward.

  “So,” Jimmy said, after closing his eyes and unsuccessfully shaking the memory away, “There is a plan by the military to go to Antarctica and look into rumored technology.”

  “Why would there be alien technology in the ice?” the President asked, “Did it happen so long ago the ice was gone?”

  “No,” Henry took up the conversation, “This is actually something that started during WWII.”

  “Nazi?” the President guessed.

  “Yes sir, but not exactly what you think,” Henry admitted, “unless you know much about the Thule Society?” The President shook his head.

  “Ok, then I’m going to have to give you a little bit of a history lesson, is that ok?” Another nod came from the President.

  “There is a significant amount of misinformation regarding whether Hitler was an occultist or not. Most of this has to do with the head of the Nazi SS coming from the Aryan Pool Society and quite an occultist himself. Furthermore, there are rumors that Nazi Germany started a base in Antarctica during 1938. When you add the Thule and those that believed in communicating with aliens to the mix, it becomes quite far-fetched, until you realize two interesting pieces of information.”

  The President nodded, "Go on, I can see where one of these is going to play out.”

  "Indeed, we now know that there are aliens, so the claim that people were communicating with aliens is not so crazy anymore. The second is Operation High Jump in 1947.”

  "High Jump? I vaguely remember something about this. It had to do with a Navy expedition to stop the Russians?" the President asked.

  “Yes, that was the explanation given for it,” Henry agreed, “However, in this case, the rumors about the real experience are closer to the truth than the lie we told. The lie was frankly more believable, too.”

  “How so?”

  "The official title of the operation, which was organized by Rear Admiral Richard E Byrd, was 'the United States Navy Antarctic Developments Program.’ It lasted from 1946 to 1947 and was led by Rear Admiral Richard Crimson. It started in August 1946 and ended in late February 1947. Task Force 68 had 4,700 men, 13 ships, and 33 aircraft. The stated goal was to establish the Antarctic research base called Little America IV.”

  Now that he was in teaching mode, Henry didn't look uncomfortable in his suit anymore. He did not even look like he remembered how he was dressed.

  "Almost all of the deaths and the lost ships have been blamed on the inclement weather in Antarctica. However, there are a lot of fictionalized versions where Task Force 68 encountered superior technology. Mostly from Nazis who had been building an Antarctic base in Swabenland. The truth, not recorded anywhere, is that the Task Force was attacked, but not by flying saucers. Rather by people using some sort of highly advanced weapons. Our planes and helicopters down there couldn’t provide any effective air cover. The attackers seemed completely impervious to the cold that was debilitating our men.”

  “So, they did not have a bunch of flying saucers running around blowing up all of the ships?" The President asked.

  "No," Henry laughed, "However, I do have information that proves those from Antarctica did arrive in Washington DC to have a conversation in July 1952, using what we believe were flying saucers to travel. If you go back to the newspapers at the time, it was a big story. However, their leader is, or was, a pacifist by the name of Maria Orsitsch. Within fifteen years, the government had no communications with that group any longer.”

  “We didn’t try to go down there, again?” the President asked.

  “No, we had captured a few examples of Nazi technology of our own, and the Thule leaders didn’t want to provide any alien technological insights to a belligerent country such as the US. Because of the scientists we pulled out of Nazi Germany during Operation Paperclip, the US was making some pretty heady advances. If they want to visit, they will. If we go knocking without an invitation, we will be met with the same result as last time, or so we were told.”

  “Ok, so what has changed?”

  “When all of this alien stuff came up, someone remembered that we had a small project which sent out a coded message every month to Antarctica. Every month since 1967 we have received a reply. It became routine, boring if you will, and I’m surprised it even continued. However, sometimes you always do something because it has always been done, and this was the same. Two weeks ago, a researcher found the small group responsible for sending this message and documenting the results.” Henry shrugged.

  “And?” The President urged.

  “Four years ago, the return replies stopped,” Henry answered.

  QBS ArchAngel over Tokyo, Japan

  “Two meetings, two locations,” Bethany Anne muttered as she and John were walking briskly down one of the long corridors in the ArchAngel.

  John grinned from behind her, “What was that again, my Queen?”

  She looked over her shoulder, “Is my Queen your version of BA for today?”

  “No?” John answered, “Maybe? Perhaps I’m trying it on for size to see how it fits you. I mean, you can’t exactly get mad at me, you admitted to the whole world that you are a Queen.”

  “Yes,” she turned back around, “I did. It needed to be done to get others used to the idea we aren’t part of any country. It might prove to be a speed bump in the future.”

  “Oh? How so.”

  “It will be us against them,” she admitted. “So, even if that happens, it will still prove to everyone we are separate from all countries. However, our disagreements are likely to get a lot bloodier.”

  “Well, if it would help, instead of calling you my Queen, I could go for TW?”

  Bethany Anne’s left hand popped up over her shoulder, flipping off her guard.

  —

  The ten chosen business leaders sat qu
ietly around the table. Bobcat, William, and Marcus had entered, and there had been some introductions, but everyone was waiting for the big arrival.

  The meeting room was large, and could easily hold a couple of hundred in the surrounding seats. But the table at the bottom would only accommodate fourteen, tightly packed.

  The doors opened, and everyone turned to see a young Japanese woman enter. Some of the men around the table had dismissed her before they noticed the man who arrived right behind her.

  Then, everyone at the table went from polite inactivity, to actively being very polite.

  Bobcat raised an eyebrow. He hadn’t expected Akio and Yuko to join them for the meeting, so he straightened up in his chair. The Queen was up to something. He tapped William who nodded slowly and then passed the alert onto Marcus.

  Marcus looked up and noticed Akio and Yuko sitting on the front row of the auditorium. He turned to William, his face confused and mouthed a ‘what?’ and shrugged.

  William winked at him, so Marcus turned off his tablet and set it down. Apparently, his friends wanted him to pay attention.

  —

  Akio whispered, “You represent our Queen, you are no timid flower Yuko, and you will not dishonor us both in this effort. Are we in agreement?”

  Yuko nodded and whispered almost imperceptibly. “Yes, understood.”

  —

  Bobcat was still making mental notes when the doors opened a second time.

  John came in first, and his presence never failed to bring about a reaction. However, Bethany Anne coming in behind him made most of the attendees forget about the large man.

  The study in minor facial movements from the people around the table was starting to fascinate Bobcat. He watched as many of the men as he could while Bethany Anne strode to the single chair waiting for her at the end of the table. When she didn’t sit in it, he could almost feel the men's calculations running rampant in their heads. Bethany Anne didn’t sit, rather stood behind her chair, resting her hands on the tall back and looked down the table to those sitting.

  “I understand,” she started, “that there is a particular way of communicating and adhering to certain customs when working on business deals with those in Japan.” She paused a moment before continuing, “Unfortunately, I’m neither polite nor do I have a desire to follow formal ways. I have to be in another meeting, with another representative from your country who is also ‘not’ presently here on our ship just like the ten of you are also ‘not’ here right now.”

  She looked up and down the table, “I am her Royal Highness Queen Bethany Anne. My lineage is varied and in a way, I’m both from this century, and centuries before me. I understand you have all been individually instructed in how we are going to work with your companies?” She received ten short, sharp nods, “Excellent. Now, here is something not in the original download.”

  She turned to her side and raised an eyebrow, “Yuko?”

  This time, those that could, watched as the young Japanese woman strode down from her seat, affecting an air of competence and assurance she did not exhibit when she entered earlier. Bethany Anne pulled out the seat and offered it to her as she spoke, “In your country, the Emperor appoints the Prime Minister. In these transactions, Yuko is my designated representative to confirm all things and speaks with my authority to accomplish the goals I and my team,” she nodded to Bobcat, William, and Marcus, “so designate.”

  She looked over to her side again, “Akio?”

  As Akio came down, Bethany Anne stepped back and to the side, allowing Akio to stand behind and to the left of Yuko, “I am not blind to the potential issues that can affect a project such as this one. So, Yuko has the wisdom, guidance, and protection for her person and her project as represented by my Elite’s leader and half of his team. Trust me in believing that you have no idea the amount of wisdom Yuko now has at her call, should she feel in need of it.”

  Bethany Anne paused, pursed her lips and then said, “I trust every one of you gentleman will provide the appropriate level of respect to all of my representatives on this ship, and in your country. I will not be pleased should either side not act honorably. Akio will accept any complaints you have that should originate from those on my team. He will take up those issues, with you, personally, if there is a problem with any of you or your representatives. Have a fruitful discussion.”

  And just like that, Bethany Anne left the room, and Bobcat wished he had a handful of antacids to give out to his new Japanese partners.

  Apparently, having Akio as part of the group had just thrown a William-sized monkey wrench into their negotiation plans. He wasn’t sure, but Bobcat had an inkling that these guys were screwed.

  Yuko started the discussion, “I am very aware,” she said, forcing her voice to remain calm. Years of effort on the dark web didn’t prepare her for this, but this is what her Queen wanted. “That you may be personally affronted with being required to deal with a young woman. However, you will have the opportunity to make your displeasure known in a few minutes. First I have something to say and something for you to watch.”

  The men, expecting the young woman to force her title and authority were curious. They had been notified that working with the Queen was potentially dangerous, but all laughed it off. As leaders, almost conquerors in the business world, what did they have to fear from a thirty-year-old looking Queen? Now, she substituted a woman ten years her junior.

  “They say, knowledge is power,” Yuko’s voice turned cold, “and in the realm of knowledge you are but swaddling babies to me.”

  All of the men’s eyes narrowed in annoyance, but then a feeling of fear hit. It wasn’t much, but it was real.

  “Pull out your communication tablets, pull up the email that I just sent to each of you. This information I am sharing is what I found out about you in the last twelve hours. This is my effort, not even asking for support from the team of which I am part, or my friend, who could have helped me.”

  The men, a few cautiously, some quickly, pulled out their phones or tablets and went to their emails. Sure enough, each had an email with an encrypted document.”

  “What,” Shimizu Yuma asked, “is the password?” All of the men noticed the tiny smile on the young woman’s face.

  “Why, what would you expect from someone who has hacked your computers? It is your own, of course.”

  A few were annoyed. A few stared with disbelief. In a few seconds, however, all believed.

  Then the reading, the annoyance, and the irritation occurred.

  “This!” Shimizu Yuma spat, pointing at his phone, “is not honorable!”

  “That,” Yuko spoke in a calm voice, “is what I do. I point this out because I am here to save you from yourselves!” Yuko’s voice had risen at the end before Akio placed his hand on her shoulder and she calmed down. “My Queen cares nothing about our country’s long history and the proper way to do things. She cares about results and time. In her mind, you get results more quickly without the efforts to hurt each other, whether that means in business, or personally.”

  Yuko waved a hand towards them, “I can hurt you by releasing this information.” She turned to look at her watch, “In four more seconds, it will not exist.” The annoyance of a couple of the men turned to astonishment when the very documents they were reviewing, disappeared.

  “I do this not to upset, or dishonor you. I seek to make a point. A point, I might add, that is only known here within these walls. My Queen does not know I did this, and you can feel free to tell her if you would like. But, here is the second and more important lesson you must know.”

  Behind her, Akio touched a button on his watch. He had been introduced to the technology by Yuko, and it appealed to the stoic warrior.