Unity by Carl Stubblefield (epub read online books TXT) 📕

larger of the orderlies said as he gripped her upper arm with ice-cold hands. She could tell he thought he was being gallant, but his creep factor was off the charts, and she didn’t need her abilities to tell her that.

Why do I need orientation? It’s not like I’m a new recruit… she wondered as she was directed out the door, dread sinking into her core.

Chapter Fifty-Seven

Zero Day

“What the hell are you going on about?” Tempest roared.

“Gwen Vannett is no longer a member of Purple Faction,” Rampage said placidly, the sparkle in his eyes revealing his repressed mirth.

“Like hell she isn’t! She never quit. She has gone through who knows what kinds of horrors in the time she’s been gone.”

“A leave of absence which, as I see here in my records, was voluntary. It has been fourteen years. I’m sure you can realize that Purple Faction cannot be responsible for everyone who has ever been a member if they chose to move on and do something else. From everything I can see in the file, the split was amicable, so we’ve been tolerant with allowing Ms. Vannett to stay in our hospital. She obviously requires more assistance than we are capable of managing here, would you agree with that?” The corpulent man leaned back in his chair and laced his fingers.

“She may just need some time to stabilize. I’m not sure what shock even moving her here could have done.”

“That may be, but that is not our responsibility. I can give you referrals to nearby hospitals more suitable for your wife’s care. I trust that two days would be sufficient to make arrangements?” He turned to shuffle through some papers on his desk.

“I can’t believe what I’m hearing. You are telling me that someone who has served Purple Faction for over two decades is just going to be thrown out like last week’s trash?”

“We are not throwing anyone out. If you still held your original position, then perhaps there could be some concessions made, but as things are…” He upturned his palms as if the decision was out of his hands.

Tempest brightened. “Well, that’s easy then. My son has taken my place. I’m sure that he would be amenable to approving her continued stay—”

“Actually, he is why this is moving as quickly as it is. He agrees with the assessment that she needs to be moved somewhere else.”

“That spoiled little… Where is he?”

“Mr. Cyclone is on assignment, and will not be available until he returns.”

“How convenient. I’m assuming he will be gone for longer than two days?”

“That is correct.”

Tempest clenched his fists so hard the nails bit into his palms, almost drawing blood despite his gloves. Using control honed over years of management, he finally extended his hand.

“Give me the damn list.”

Rampage found the paper and slid the list across the desk, leaving it there for Tempest to pick up on his own and he turned back to his work, implying the matter was resolved. A passive-aggressive move that just made Tempest almost growl. He slapped the desk hard with his hand, startling the man’s calm, and slowly slid it off the desk.

“Thank you,” Tempest said with murder in his voice.

“You’re quite welcome,” came the reply. Not even using any effort to hide the smugness.

Tempest attempted to slam the door, but it had a hydraulic automatic door mechanism and the momentum was absorbed as the door closed soundlessly. This only irritated him all the more.

Probably had it put in since he has that effect on everyone.

Rampage had always been an arrogant ass who thought he was more indispensable than he really was. Now that the tables had turned, he was rubbing Tempest’s nose in it. And putting Gwen’s life in the balance for his pride! His jaw muscles rippled as he clenched in fury. There would be no bargaining with him, Tempest knew that.

Where would he take her? What if Mengele was involved behind the scenes of a hospital near him? No. He couldn’t let that happen. Not ever. It couldn’t be a place where he couldn’t be by her side. Liberty General. It wasn’t strictly for supers, so that boded well, as they probably relied on patient satisfaction rather than Faction subsidy. They would be more amenable to special considerations. On the bright side, Gus could finally visit his mother. So perhaps this sow’s ear could be turned into a silk purse.

He would have to talk to BoJack. He shook his head wearily. It felt like all he did lately was ask for favors.

Yuki dropped onto her bed and stared back at the door.

What was the big rush? We have to head back to headquarters like a bat out of hell and then just stay in our rooms? Stupid!

“Go back to your room and await instructions…” she said in a mocking high-pitched voice, mimicking her supervisor. They didn’t even schedule her for a debrief.

They just think of me as IT, not as a real super. Yuki balled her fists.

Calm down. Clear your head. She took a deep breath and moved to her desk in the small room she stayed in at Purple Faction. Her rig took up most of the space and she checked her messages.

Don’t do it… she told herself as she opened the first message from her father. As expected, it was a combination of passive-aggressive expressions of disappointment, mingled with invitations to come back and help the family. Same as always. Her father always had a way of wording things that made her almost question her own decisions.

How long was she going to stay here as a second-tier super, good for only getting someone’s terminal to work? That was not why she had joined up with Purple Faction. After having experienced more in the past couple of weeks than in her previous years as a super, she knew she wouldn’t be satisfied with going back to a ‘desk job.’ If only she could get some more experience and if someone would just