Page 31 of Gates of Tartarus

She smiles viciously, raising a single brow at Smith and interrupting him. “Per the existing agreement? Unfortunately, well, unfortunately for you that is, our previous agreement is about to undergo some fairly radical overhauls. Changes which are already in the works, actually.”

She motions to Tennireef, who rolls his eyes at me before getting to his feet and joining her at the head of the table.

“Elena and I have been working on some ideas together,” James explains. “I’ve long held an interest in her department. I’ve admired her work, and... would like to support it and show my admiration in a more tangible way.”

The team exchanges wary glances. Not that the CDS is a secret, not exactly, but very few people in the government know about it or look into it. It’s similar to a private club. To find the door, you have to know someone who can tell you where it is and give you the password to enter. It’s like the CDT – the Center for Developmental Technology – in the government. The CDT is where all the spy gear is developed. No shit: it’s like Q from James Bond. They make micro cameras, fishing poles with microphones in them, long-distance listening devices... things you haven’t even dreamt about are already real and in the field. But most people haven’t even heard of the CDT. They think the CDT is a Hollywood invention. Something out of a conspiracy theory. So I’m both concerned and curious about how Tennireef learned of the CDS, and how deep his knowledge goes.

He continues. “We’ve been discussing her department’s budget lately, and, as a current member of several appropriations committees, we’ve come to an agreement that I will put forth my name to be the liaison between the CDS and Congress. Congressional oversight of the CDS has been lacking, and we feel –” he looks to Elena, who nods and smiles in agreement, “that my presence and approval, for lack of a better term, could net the CDS more government funding, to use at their discretion.”

“I’m sorry,” I begin slowly, “Gomez is voluntarily giving up some control of CDS?” The thought goes against everything I know about her, and I’m not surprised when she and Tennireef exchange a look.

“Well,” Tennireef says, clearly searching for the correct words before answering my question. “I believe I will soon be assigned ageneraloverview of multiple underperforming or seemingly unimportant departments. This overview would be well within my capacity, as… well, perhaps it hasn’t hit the news yet. The Vice Chair of the US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence just had to resign for personal reasons.” Tennireef makes every attempt here to be self-effacing, but I already know what’s coming, just based on the smug-fuckedness of his tone. “I was happily promoted from within, so to speak, and am now the Vice Chair.” He smiles gently. “Of course, with elections approaching in another year and a half, and with several key states poised to switch allegiance, the long-term plan is…”

Is for Tennireef to be Chairman of the Select Committee on Intelligence.God-freaking-damnit!

“I don’t believe such small departments within the intelligence sector will require reporting to Congress as a whole, so we anticipate that we will be able to maintain CDS’s anonymity. And as one of the heads of the Committee tasked with allocating funds to those agencies, I can distribute resources, to a large part, at my discretion. It will be a bundle deal, for lack of a better term.”

Thinking rapidly, I process what he’s said and am left with a single, burning question. “Why?” I say, dreading the answer. “What do you get out of this?”

Gomez watches me through careful eyes, as though wanting to see how I’ll react. “Well, Ms. Reed. Senator Tennireef has long been interested in the Developmental Sciences. As part of our agreement, he’ll have full read-in on all of our programs, our testing, our facilities, etc. Complete oversight. Like a silent partner. He will spend the next two months being briefed, given tours of our facility, meeting our agents, and learning about our progress.”

There’s a collective intake of breath from around the table.

“And why areyoudoing this, Gomez?” I ask quietly.

She smiles, a tiny, victorious smile, and replies, “Because, Ms. Reed. The man before you will undoubtedly become President of the United States. My department has been stripped of funding, left to struggle, mocked, made fun of, and doubted. Very real, very finite science has been discredited. I am a laughing stock amongst my colleagues. The people who work for me are belittled publicly, but privately are tasked to assist other agencies. Off the record, of course. Our department is a vital but dirty little secret. This department deserves government support and recognition, and the senator has promised us that as part of our agreement. The senator has already increased our funding by a third, just in the last three months, and is about to increase it again by half as much. We’ve agreed to remain in the shadows until he is elected President, and perhaps after that, though we’ll review the situation at that time. And the senator is in favor of more... aggressive… recruitment tactics than we’ve been permitted in the past. He’s very open to working with me on achievingmyvision regarding the future of the CDS.”

Shit. SHIT!

Tennireef nods. “I’m tremendously excited for this partnership,” he says enthusiastically, looking around the table. “I think we have the ability to accomplish amazing things with slightly more funding and a... broader mindset towards... permissive actions, so to speak.”

Gomez continues. “Assuch, however, previous agreements with… outside... entities have to be reassessed. The prior contract had us exposing information that we no longer feel comfortable sharing on such an intimate level.”

Gomez is clearly talking about Babylon here but doesn’t say as much, which means Tennireef hasn’t been read-in on Babylon yet. I don’t know how his relationship with CDS will affect his knowledge of Babylon, but, judging by Smith’s and Donovan’s faces, we’re just been caught with our pants down and kicked in the teeth at the same time.

“And so, as we will quite soon have a specific, assigned representative from Congress, I’m afraid that takes precedence over any outside agreements or arrangements. Loyalty must be to our nation first and foremost, of course. And our new friendships will need to be strengthened before we readdress those previous fellowships.”

Smith is scrambling; though his face is placid and almost blank, the waves of frenetic energy coming off him are pushing against my shields, causing my hands to shake.

“And you won’t be able to answer any of our questions... why?” he asks slowly, trying to find his feet.

“Ah. Well. The information is classified at the moment.” She looks at Tennireef, who nods, then addresses us regretfully.

“I’m afraid,” he says, “that the incident wesuspectyou are going to ask about is classified to certain CDS operatives. And as there are no CDS operatives in this room,” he looks around playfully, like one could be hiding in the closet, “nope, none here... as such you don’t have the legal ability to look into it.”

Smith gets to his feet, pushing out waves of anger so bright they’re almost painful, towering over the suddenly small Tennireef, making him seem almost wispy in comparison. Everyone leans back slightly from the flare of his white-hot rage. “I assume you have documentation?” Smith asks, voice flat. He already knows he’s been stymied.

Tennireef reaches into a briefcase and passes over a paper, which Smith glances over, before closing his fist around it.

“That’s it, then, is it, Elena?” he asks, venom thick in his voice.

She nods. “It’s really not your fault, Agent Smith,” she says condescendingly, even as she steps back from him slightly. “If a first grader plays chess with a grandmaster, he should expect to lose. Now, should either of you –” looking at Jonah and myself, she offers a gentle smile, reverting to her warm, grandmotherly persona, “decide to join CDS officially, I do think we can revisit this discussion. If you sign a binding agreement, of course. But it would be a nice gesture of good faith between us and would, I’m sure, open a lucrative information gate to you. You see, I dowantto answer your questions, of course I do. Because I think that the answers would be vital to the work you’re doing now. But,” she adds, faux regret heavy on her face, “I’m afraid I’m limited by the requirements I now find myself bound by.”

I look at Tennireef, who is watching me through careful eyes, very clearly a predator stalking specific prey. “I’ve been told that you’re very unusual, Kailani.Veryunusual. We’d love to have you as part of the team. And would be willing to compensate you accordingly.”

He checks his watch and pretends to startle, looking up with surprised eyes. “Goodness, is that the time already?” he asks. “I’m tremendously sorry to have to do this, but the Joint Chiefs of Staff are meeting at the Naval Air Station Whidbey and have requested my presence.” He shrugs self-deprecatingly. “I have to go where I’m called! Kailani, I’m very much looking forward to Friday evening. Elena?”

She gathers her things and looks at our deflated team, almost pityingly. “It would all go easier on you if you just play ball,” she says quietly. “After all, we’re all on the same team, hmmm?”

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