Transformations: Latigo Key Ch. 04

Akimi burst out laughing. "Colonel, I don't bite and I'm still a little sore to seduce you. Take my hand."

Menser walked closer to her and took her hand. "I'm sorry. I'm truly sorry..."

"For what? You saved my life. Or, rather you spared it."

"Come again?"

She laughed. "You could've killed me from the helicopter. Why didn't you?"

"I missed," Menser said.

She shook her head. "You don't miss. Everybody knows that, Colonel."

Menser sighed. "Maybe I should have killed you. You put us in a world of hurt, Akimi."

"I know. Part of me didn't want to betray my country - or you, for that matter. This is bigger than all of us, Colonel. We're saving the world. I'm afraid that has to come first."

"I can respect that. So, what next?"

"For me? I go home to my coven. My spy days are over."

Menser smiled. "Too bad. You're good at it."

"Thanks." She nodded toward the door. "Now, my Mistress needs to talk to you."

"Guillotine? Firing squad?"

Akimi shook her head. "Above my pay grade. But... we're not like that, Colonel."

***

Menser walked back into the hallway.

Gwen was waiting for him.

And, unlike Akimi, she was not smiling.

"For what it's worth? I'm glad she's okay," Menser said.

"That's not worth much to me, Colonel."

"I understand."

She stared at him and then sighed. She shook her head. "I am so very tired of conflict." She smiled. "Walk with me."

She led him outside into the courtyard.

"I take it I'm not being executed?"

"For fuck's sake, Colonel, we don't do that. Well, not often. Truly horrible people are the exception - you don't qualify. You're annoying but not evil."

Menser smiled. "Finally, some job validation - at least you people think of me as an annoyance."

"Oh, you are a real pain in the ass, Colonel. Trust me."

"Project Diadem was meant as a defensive measure."

Gwen laughed. "Oh, come on, I'm not stupid, Colonel. It's both defensive and offensive. You plan on putting those headpieces on all your soldiers and sending them in with rifles to kill us - we'll find a way to counteract them. You know that."

"Maybe."

Gwen nodded toward a Whoremaster who had been following them.

He walked over with a blue, canvas bag and handed it to Menser.

Menser opened it.

Inside was the prototype Diadem device and some flash drives.

"I don't understand," Menser said.

"You said it yourself a few days ago: it's the property of the United States Government. We're rendering unto Caesar."

Menser stared at her. "Why?"

"We analyzed it. We know its weaknesses - you'll never be able to produce it in sufficient quantities to make a difference in any event." Gwen reached out and touched his cheek and Menser gasped. "I don't want you to take offense at this but, Colonel? You are like chimpanzees who think they can stand against gods. The outcome of this first conflict is already decided. I think part of you already knows that."

"Perhaps, Mistress Kincaid. I suppose we'll see."

"Goodbye, Colonel. The Whoremaster here will show you out." She turned to walk away.

"One last thing?"

"Yes, Colonel?"

"You said 'first' conflict... what do you mean by that?"

Gwen turned and smiled at him and he felt warm inside, the same as he felt looking out at the sun rising on Latigo Key.

"That, Colonel? That's above my pay grade..."

The End

The Transformations Story will continue with Transformations: Demonica