Page 10 of Dark Shaman: Eternal Hope
"How can we know if it's true, my lord?"
"We can't." Navuh leaned forward. "But I'd rather err on the side of caution and move those cells out of California. I don't think the clan has any presence in New York, and we should move the cells there and plan something big. I'm curious to see if they will be able to sniff this one out as easily as the ones in their own backyard."
"That's an excellent plan, my lord."
Of course, Losham would say that. He never contradicted Navuh, and not just because he was an accomplished politician who knew how to manipulate others, but because he had learned to trust Navuh's instincts.
After ending the call, Navuh stood and walked over to the window, looking out at the island that was slowly being rebuilt. Somewhere in the detention facility, thirty-nine enhanced soldiers sat in isolation, possibly still connected to each other despite the physical separation.
The rebellion had been a setback, but it had also been educational. He'd learned that consciousness might be more fluid than he'd imagined and that his soldiers could evolve beyond his control.
The enhanced ones had transcended most of their limitations, but they still failed because they'd tried to escape the fundamental truth of existence that all power came with a price.
They thought they could shortcut that process and achieve godhood through Zhao's drugs. But gods weren't made inlaboratories. They were forged in the crucible of time, madness, and will.
5
KIAN
The knock on Kian's office door came precisely at nine, which surprised him. Shuttling between the keep in downtown Los Angeles and the village wasn't easy, especially during high traffic times, and it was the second time in a row that Carol had been on time. Was it China's influence on her, or just the business environment she'd operated in while posing as a fashion entrepreneur?
"Come in," he called, setting aside the report on the power requirements for the new exoskeletons.
Carol walked in looking as fresh and energetic as always but then dropped into the chair across from his with a sigh.
"Long week?" he asked, pouring her a cup of coffee from the carafe Shai had brought earlier.
The coffeemaker that his assistant had gotten for him a few days ago had been moved to Shai's office, where it should have been placed from the start, and now he was showing up every couple of hours with a fresh carafe.
"You could say that." Carol accepted the cup gratefully. "Between the paranormals and the recruiting for the new female spy corps, I've been putting more miles on my car than a traveling salesman."
"Let's start with the spy program." Kian leaned back in his chair. "Who are your final candidates?"
Carol's expression brightened. "That's actually pretty good news. Five agreed to begin training. Marlene, Teresa, and Grace are enthusiastic about the opportunity. Regina is nervous but committed, and Greta is reluctant because of what's involved, but she's patriotic and wants to contribute. I think that her experience from World War II will be invaluable, even if she'd rather leave that part of her past buried."
"Did you bring me a list of what you need?"
Carol was a force of nature, but she wasn't the best at keeping things organized, and Kian had been reminding her that he needed an itemized list of things and not generalizations.
She pulled out her tablet. "I didn't forward it to you before because new items keep popping up. Can we agree that the list is fluid?"
"That's fine. You can update it every few days."
She clicked on her tablet, and a moment later, his phone pinged with an incoming email.
"The fake identities will cost a bundle," Carol said. "William promised to provide us with all the miniature spyware, so I don't know if I should include it in my budget or let him include it in his." She pouted, looking like a little girl and not the centuries-old immortal she was. "See how difficult it is? What do I putdown for makeup and wigs when Eva is the one providing those? I asked how much those would be, but she refused to tell me. Claimed she was contributing them to the effort. So, what do I need to put down? Wigs for zero dollars?"
Kian smiled. "You asked and answered. List all the items you are receiving for free so you and I know that those are taken care of, and if anything changes and you have to order them elsewhere, just change the cost from zero to what you need to pay for them."
"Wow." She looked at him with rounded eyes as if he had just revealed the secrets of the universe. "That sounds so simple when you say it."
"It is simple. Have you thought about taking a course in management? It could help you with stuff like that. Now that you are heading two projects, you need to get better organized."
She laughed. "Now I don't have time for that."
"True. So, when do you start the training?"
"Monday. I've invited the candidates to the penthouse. With only five, I can do most of my training there. At least until we are done with the paranormal project."
