Chapter 4 Kian
KIAN
Kian studied the map of the Indian Ocean displayed on the main screen of the war room. The red dot representing the submarine was moving excruciatingly slowly now that it was in stealth mode, and it would take another hour or so before it reached its destination.
"Coffee?" Wonder held the carafe above his still half-full cup.
She'd requested to be in the war room during the critical part of the mission, and he hadn't had the heart to deny her.
The most important people in her life would soon meet at the bottom of a cliff, in one of the best-guarded spots on the planet.
The problem was that she was vibrating with nervous energy, and it was distracting.
He lifted his cup, letting her pour fresh coffee into it. "You don't need to do that."
"I need to keep busy." Wonder finished pouring and moved over to top up Turner's cup. "I'll go crazy sitting and doing nothing."
He sighed. "I get it, but at least sit down between trips to the coffee maker. You're making me nervous."
"I'm sorry. I'll try to stay out of your hair. I'm just so anxious."
"We are all nervous," Turner said without looking up from his screen, his calm tone and southern drawl making him sound as if he had not a care in the world.
"But the plan is solid, and it should work fine.
The cliff face is unmonitored because it's considered unscalable, the harem guards are human and easy to manipulate, and weather conditions are optimal—low wind, calm seas. "
Wonder let out a breath. "Thank you for doing this, Turner. Having you here makes me feel more confident about Tula's chances."
Onegus lifted his head from his laptop screen and cast Wonder a mock glare. "So, I'm no longer good enough? You wouldn't have felt good about the mission without Turner being here?" He didn't wait for her answer before shaking his head. "Thanks for the vote of confidence."
She put the coffee carafe on the sideboard and returned to the table. "Rescuing people from hostiles is what Turner does. You can't compete with years of experience doing one particular thing. It's called mastery."
Kian agreed, which was why he always involved Turner in cases of this nature.
"I should have been there," Wonder said. "In the submarine, I mean."
Carol had wanted to join the mission as well because of her experience on the island, but Kian had vetoed it.
She'd already told them all she knew, and there was no need for her to be there in person.
He'd okayed her to join the command center in the war room, but she was either running late or was still peeved about the veto and decided not to come.
"If Esag could go, why not me?' Wonder continued her nervous tirade. "I'm stronger than most immortal males, including Esag."
"You don't like fighting," Kian reminded her. "You didn't want to join the Guardian Force. I offered. You said no."
Wonder slumped in her chair. "Tula is my sister.
For her, I would fight. Does that make me selfish?
I should be willing to fight for all the sisters and daughters and cousins who were taken from their homes either by force or by coercion.
Saving victims of trafficking instead of serving coffee in the village café would have been a better use of my time and my special abilities. "
"You like working in the café." Kian put his cup down. "Being physically capable doesn't mean that your heart is in it. You help in other ways."
Wonder closed her eyes. "Tula is all that is left of my family—" She stopped and glanced at Brundar. "That came out wrong." She stood up and walked over to stand beside her brother-in-law. "I meant my old family. You're my family now, Brundar. You and Callie."
Brundar nodded but said nothing.
The long moment of silence was interrupted by Onegus's phone ringing. He glanced at the screen and frowned. "It's Carol."
"She was supposed to be here," Kian muttered.
"What's up, Carol?" Onegus answered. "Running late?"
"Spencer started transitioning, and we don't have a doctor in the keep because Julian is with the rescue team."
So, that was why Carol was a no-show.
"I'm in the war room with Kian, Brundar, Turner, and Wonder," Onegus told her. "You are on speaker."
"Hello, everyone," Carol said a little more cheerfully.
"Sorry I had to bail on you, but I had a situation here that was unclear to start with.
Now I have no doubt. Our boy Spencer is transitioning, and I couldn't be happier, but I'm also freaking out because I don't have a medical professional on hand. "
"Congratulations," Kian said. "The Fates have interesting timing."
"My thoughts exactly," Carol replied. "It's been over a week since Spencer's induction, and we all thought he wasn't going to transition.
He started running a fever in the afternoon, but I dismissed it as a virus, then he got worse as time went on, and now he's slipping in and out of consciousness. Can we get Bridget? Or Merlin?"
Kian didn't want Bridget at the keep, leaving the clan with just Merlin for emergencies. Three different species resided in the village, immortals, Kra-ell, and humans, and Bridget had her hands full.
"Bring Spencer and his girlfriend to the village," he said. "No point in making this harder on Bridget than necessary. We have an ambulance in the keep if you need it. And any one of the Guardians can provide emergency medical care if needed."
Carol huffed. "Did you forget that I trained with them for over a year? I know basic stuff, but not how to take care of a transitioning Dormant. Lokan and I will load Spencer and Sofia into the ambulance and drive to the village. I'll call Bridget to let her know we are coming in hot."
Kian smiled. "Good luck. See you here."
"The Fates do love their drama," Wonder said. "Starting his transition the same night my sister is being rescued. What are the odds?"
Kian pursed his lips. "I wonder if Spencer being an aura reader has anything to do with Tula. The Fates like to weave an intricate web."
"How old is he?" Wonder asked.
"Eighteen."
She waved a dismissive hand. "Too young for Tula."
"He has a girlfriend." Onegus turned to face her. "Her name is Sophia, and she's a potential Dormant as well. I forgot what her paranormal talent is."
"Precognition," Turner said. "But very weak. Her talent is almost negligible."
Of course, the guy had catalogued the talent of each of the paranormals in the former government program.
Their comms came alive with Yamanu's voice coming through. "We are in position. Team one is ready to deploy."
"Acknowledged," Onegus replied.
Wonder sucked in a breath. "It's really happening." She swallowed hard. "What if…"
"Don't." Kian reached for her hand. "Don't spiral into what-ifs. We've planned for every contingency. We have backup plans for the backup plans. The team knows what they're doing."
"But—"
"Wonder." He waited until she looked at him. "I know you're scared. But you falling apart won't help Tula. Trust the team. Trust the plan. And if you need to keep busy, make more coffee. We're going to need it."