Unity and Destiny Pt. 09

And then there was the endless grind of maintaining their protection. Oaxaca was large enough to have a number of Changed, more than she would expect for a city its size. But the Mexican would certainly be watchful for newcomers this close to him.

Lukas was on his cellular phone as soon as they got a signal outside the city, and by the time they arrived he had arranged four rooms in a hotel downtown.

While the others unloaded the van, Lukas pulled Esther aside, walking some distance down the block.

"Esther, you didn't successfully distract the men in the hills," he said quietly. "I heard a fragment of their dismay when the bomb malfunctioned. The gunfire and the grenade were a last attempt to hit our van. Surely you knew all of this. Were you hoping to impress my men by allowing them to misunderstand you? If so, it was well done. As were the rest of your efforts."

She swallowed. She hadn't wanted Lukas to know this, but what if it was important? What if this was what she needed to defeat the Mexican?

"I'm afraid it was the opposite of trying to impress them," she said. "I did distract the men in the ambush, though not as perfectly as I'd hoped. But I also deactivated the bomb in time. Multiple failsafes, as best I could."

For a long time Lukas stood still, his eyes distant.

"I hardly believed it possible," he said. "Is this a refinement of our ability to distract others' senses by hiding? I have always imagined that there was a physical mechanism underlying it, just as with Franklin's methods, or the way you and your teacher could call people with your minds."

"That is what Nicola believes," she said. "Something like her infrasound capabilities. I don't know for sure, and I warn you that this ability has been very difficult to make use of. I will reach for it in desperation, but it is time-consuming and not something to rely upon."

Lukas nodded. "I understand, and I will not tell my men. But some time, when things are simpler, I would love to discuss these questions with you. Or mathematics, for that matter."

Esther nodded. "Lukas, it seemed like more than good luck that you knew so much about that captain's background. How much information about the soldiers here did you memorize?"

"All I could find," he said. "As soon as I suspected I might have to travel to southern Mexico. Multiple failsafes."

She nodded. "One last question. Suppose we succeed here, defeating the Mexican and turning him over to the government alive. What will you do after that? Return to Europe, saving individual Changed people? Try again to break down and rebuild the Internet properly? Go back to the Chosen?"

"Never the Chosen," Lukas said. "Perhaps I will begin to extricate my former companions, and attempt to understand Unity, from a safe distance. As to the rest, it will be as always. I will find a way to keep the Changed safe, as best I can see. Perhaps that is not as reassuring an answer as you would like, but it is what you already assume, and it is true."

Esther nodded, and the two of them walked back to the hotel. But she was pretty sure they would never have that conversation about mathematics.

* * *

Javier watched Esther wake up. He loved that brief moment, when she was technically awake, but not quite aware yet. Her subconscious brain was working, but the rest of her had forgotten for a minute that the entire world rested on her shoulders.

Someday, maybe she'd look like that more often. For now, he had to settle for these glimpses. He kissed her and she sat up.

"Everything's set," he said. "The extra cars, the shopping, all of it. We could go tonight if you think it's safe."

But a few minutes later, there was a knock on the door. Grace hurriedly pulled her shirt on, then went to answer it.

Lukas was there, with an unhappy-looking Oscar. They came in and closed the door.

"Oscar, tell Esther what happened."

"I woke up feeling a little off," he said. "I asked Felipe when we were going to find out what the mission was. I knew we were in Oaxaca, but I'd forgotten where we were going. I thought it was maybe somewhere well to the east, in Chiapas. Just like Lukas."

Esther nodded, closing her eyes.

"I'm protecting you as much as the others," she said. "But last time we found this effect was much stronger for some people, regardless of basic sensitivity. This might turn into a problem. If it takes me too much concentration to protect you, that makes other tasks harder."

Oscar sighed and exchanged a look with Lukas.

"It is decided, then," said Lukas. "I had asked Felipe to stay here in the city with the rest of the support team. Oscar will stay instead. And we must be prepared to make more difficult decisions if they arise. Whatever else, you must get safely near the Mexican, with enough support to immobilize him. That means Nicola and Mark must accompany you, and perhaps my skills will be of use up to the end. But Esther must weigh how many are appropriate, and whether their extra skills outweigh the disadvantages."

Esther nodded. "I need to make my true surveillance effort shortly. It will take some time, and as I meditate, I will intentionally reduce how I shield you from the Mexican's illusions. I will however keep my own illusions hiding us. But you should prepare for some odd sensations."

Lukas nodded, leaving with Oscar to join the others. And without further ado, Esther closed her eyes.

"Kat, run and get the others," said Javier nervously. "I don't want us walking out of here in confusion."

She returned shortly with Raj, Nicola, and Mark. Selena had apparently gone to babysit Lukas and his men, which was smart. If any of them could resist the Mexican, it would be Selena.

Javier felt something buzzing, like bees in his skull. But it was just his nervous hallucinations. He still remembered where the Mexican was. Up in the mountain, fifteen miles. Maybe he'd be better off, now that he'd gotten through the experience at the farm on the border. A kind of immunity.

He looked at the others, who also seemed nervous. Well, it was just for these moments that he'd picked up a couple decks of cards at a touristy shop.

* * *

"Hah!" Kat said. "Pay up, Grace. Oh, wait, you're out of crackers. How about your shirt?"

Grace rolled her eyes, smiling. "I swear, you have barely even a one-track mind. More like zero-track, your locomotive just stopped in one admittedly pleasant spot. You were right, by the way. This was a romantic vacation."

"What?" Kat blurted.

Javier nodded. "Yeah. I always wanted to see the rest of Mexico. What should we do tomorrow?"

"OK, guys, that's not funny," said Kat. "Please don't tell me you're actually serious."

Javier squinted at her. She was right: there was something he was forgetting, something he'd been telling himself was vital to remember. But his thoughts kept sliding off it, focusing on irrelevant things. The pretty designs on the back of the cards in Kat's hand. A strand of hair sticking to Grace's forehead. The outline of a hard nipple under Grace's shirt. She wasn't wearing a bra. His dick stirred, and he guiltily looked around for Esther. She was lying on the bed, deep in meditation, and she looked exhausted, as though carrying an even heavier weight than usual.

"Tonight," he said slowly. "We were going out tonight. Something important, like we did up on the border. We've been planning it."

Grace looked confused, but she nodded as well.

Five minutes later, Javier remembered it all, but only after Nicola had explained it several times. Kat and Raj admitted they'd forgotten some details, too, though far less than he and Grace had. Nicola and Mark were fine, in part because they both felt the effects consciously.

"It's incredibly distracting," said Nicola. "Esther's right, it's reminiscent of the ancient places. Maybe there really is one, hidden inside. Wouldn't that just take the cake, having to deal with that on top of the rest."

"If there is an ancient place, Javier will be particularly valuable," said Mark. "And Lukas's men, the ones without Changes."

"Berthold and Felipe," Nicola said. "Well, good thing we've practiced so much resisting the effects of those places. I guess Selena wins on all accounts. And she'll be a menace with that tranquilizer gun. We should have found her something like that before."

"Thanks for the pep talk," said Javier. "I'm feeling pretty useless right now, but at least I still remember what we're doing. I forgot when my mind wasn't focused on it, the same as with Oscar when he was asleep."

"Makes sense," said Kat. "Luckily, I think we'll all be pretty focused when the time comes."

* * *

An hour and a half later, everyone gathered around Esther's bed to hear what she had to say.

"The facility is smaller than I thought," said Esther. "An old stone building, maybe as much as two hundred years old, covered in moss, with trees growing out of the courtyard. It is in otherwise good repair, with a single grand chamber and about a dozen other rooms. It has electricity but doesn't seem very modern, with a phone line but no computers that I saw. The Mexican is alone in the large chamber, and I avoided looking closely. There are only seven other people. Two are in a room in the back, an older man and woman who seem to be servants. But three of the remaining are powerful Changed. One of them is Janelle, and of them I think she is the least dangerous."

Javier nodded seriously. Honestly, it wasn't as bad as he expected. It didn't sound like wonderful odds, but they were a very strong group themselves. Well, the others were. He shouldn't give himself too much credit.

"Janelle," Kat said, making a face. "Of course this is where she'd wind up, with the biggest asshole on the planet. Mark, could you handle her all right?"

"Yes," he said. "And we have other means as well."

"Exactly," said Nicola. "Esther could stop someone more dangerous than Castillo now. Is that how dangerous the other ones are, Esther?"

"Possibly," Esther said. "They are stronger and more sensitive than Janelle, but none of them is in Castillo's class when it comes to stealth."

"Aside from the Mexican himself," said Lukas. "Remember the plan. If we are subduing these others first, we've already made a serious mistake. We must focus on complete stealth followed by an overwhelming assault. What Esther describes sounds promising. A small facility, likely no electronic surveillance. I imagine he relies heavily on his own abilities, and perhaps he has sent other powerful associates on missions during this war."

"Yes," Esther said. "But there is something else about that place. The stone building is not truly ancient, but underneath and surrounding it are other stone remnants. Many are hidden underground, almost like a small city. I'm still not sure if this is an ancient place for the Changed, but it has certainly been important in the past."

Grace opened her mouth in astonishment.

"An unknown pre-Columbian site? But that's extraordinary. Around here it could be Zapotec, or Mixtec, or even Aztec. The Triple Alliance made it this far south late in their empire-building. And the Mexican's just squatting there, keeping it all to himself?"

"Sounds exactly like what someone calling himself 'the Mexican' would do," Javier said. "It could even be, what, two thousand years old then?"

Selena interrupted. "It doesn't matter much, except that as Esther said it raises the chance that this is an ancient place for the Changed. That would slow our escape, and make it less likely we could do so while bypassing the Mexican's associates."

"And it cements my decision," said Esther. "We will take everyone who was planning to go. Javier, Felipe, and Berthold may have difficulties on the way in, but I will do what I need to shield them. They might be necessary on the way out. And we will go tonight. I am somewhat tired, but the longer we are near him, the more tired I will get protecting us. I'll sleep now, if I may."

* * *

Their cars crept slowly along the winding road. It was torture for Javier, who just wanted to get to the dangerous part. But of course, this was already the dangerous part. Esther needed them to move slowly so she could more easily hide the noise from the vehicles.

There was an old Spanish mission way up at the end of this road, and apparently it did get a reasonable amount of traffic, enough to disguise the road's use by the Mexican's people. When they suddenly stopped, Javier looked out, wondering what was going on.

Nicola hopped out of the driver's seat, and he squinted after her. They'd been driving without headlights, so his eyes were adjusted to the dark, but he was having trouble looking in the direction Nicola had gone. That meant something. This must be the start of the Mexican's road. Something about a gate. Suddenly he remembered his night vision goggles, and he quickly got them on. It was pretty cool to see Nicola pop into view so clearly. This was how the others could see even without aid.

Shortly afterwards, Nicola returned, and the cars turned off the road. A heavy chain and padlock hung loose on the gate.

"You opened that lock?" Frederick whispered. "I would love to learn how you did that."

"I doubt I could teach you," Nicola whispered. "Ssh."

The air was cool up here, filled with the smell of pines. Not so different from the Sierras. Javier found himself daydreaming of the Shack, the cozy fire, his friends and loved ones around. He couldn't wait to get back down.

He caught himself, repeating what he'd already repeated so many times. The Mexican. Aside from Esther, this mission was the most important thing in the world right now. And Esther was right next to him, the fate of this mission and maybe all of humanity on her shoulders.

The radio in his ear buzzed. He listened to Lukas's quiet instructions.

The relay spot is just ahead. Park as far off the road as you can, ready for a quick getaway.

Nicola backed the car carefully between two trees, far enough that it should be invisible to a casual glance. Anything that could help Esther with her concealments. Then they got out as quietly as they could. Javier concentrated on walking silently, the way Mark had been trying to teach him. The night vision helped, as he'd hoped.

Good luck, said Grace over the radio. Grace out. She and Kat would stay here with the cars, providing a radio link with Raj and Oscar back at the hotel. They were also the emergency getaway drivers.

Come back safe, Raj's voice came, clear despite the distance. Raj out.

They moved at a fast walk down the road. It seemed crazy to Javier that they were walking right in the front door, but Esther and Lukas had agreed that any other approach would take so much longer that she'd be physically and mentally exhausted upon their arrival. For now Javier stuck close to Esther, focused on silent footsteps, concentrating on the mission. It seemed a little easier now, like at the border farm, where the illusion weakened as they moved inside its layers. It wasn't far now to the compound.

Javier touched the big bear spray canister, ready in a pouch at his side. It was the only weapon that would be useful for him, and even then, it probably couldn't spray far enough to help in the blitz against the Mexican. Javier had to be ready for the aftermath. He could help against an ordinary person, or maybe he'd even get to bear-spray Janelle. He smiled a little, but he kept his eyes on the ground. Quiet, quiet, quiet. It was their only chance.

* * *

The Mexican's power was breathtaking. Even now, he was attacking someone in Moscow, battering at their mind. She had hoped he'd be asleep already, and something told her he would be soon. Even for him, these brutal attacks took their toll, which meant he'd be most tired just after he fell asleep. So far their timing seemed pretty good.

The attacks also meant he was devoting less attention to his immediate surroundings, which was all for the better, because now Esther had to hide their group from the substantial sensitivity of another man, one of the Mexican's powerful lieutenants. He and Janelle were awake and alert, along with one of the non-Changed guards and both of the servants in the back.

She relayed these facts by mental voice to all her friends, and also to Lukas. When they were this close to her, it hardly took any effort.

Esther had a tentative plan. There was a side approach that led onto the broken old courtyard. From there it was a single locked door, and then a stretch of hallway leading to the great chamber. It was quite possible they could manage it without getting very close to any of the others.

The Mexican's chamber was a throne room. In fact, it was the room she'd seen in one of Diana's visions from many years ago, and the Mexican was surely the one she'd seen on the throne in that vision. He was a large man, dressed in some kind of ceremonial outfit. But none of those facts was very important. She only needed to know his mental state, and his exact location.

The Mexican finally stopped his barrage, slumping in his throne. She stopped the group just before the final turn, waiting, listening to the Mexican while she poured her skill into their concealment.

Sure enough, in just ten minutes he was asleep. She carefully began the techniques she'd used with Amelia, the patterns that helped a sleeping person stay asleep. This was the right time. She gave the signal.

They moved faster now, still trying to stay quiet, though she had to work harder, particularly with Javier and Frederick. Their path skirted a parking lot, the modern vehicles a jarring interruption among the trees and stone. The most sensitive of the Mexican's people was sitting in the frontmost room, very alert. She breathed a little more easily once they'd sidled around his position.

The side entrance to the courtyard was ahead, and she led them slowly, waiting to see which direction one of the men inside would move. But Lukas nodded, seeming to already know, and of course he was correct. She briskly walked to the door, the others following.

Nicola slipped to the front, her hands near the lock, listening and pushing. Esther had helped a bit with the other lock, but she didn't have the attention to do that now. Still, Nicola had it in just a minute, flipping the tumbler with a dull click and silencing the noise herself.

Mark took the handle, and Esther nodded. He opened it silently and they all filed in, following her down the hall. No one had noticed. It was going exactly as she'd hoped. There was no lock on the heavy, ornate door to the Mexican's chamber, and they gathered in order: Mark and Lukas in front, Selena and Nicola just behind, the others to the side of Esther. She made a final careful check of the Mexican. He was fast asleep, his subconscious working to maintain his general protection with a well-practiced ease despite his exhaustion. There was no mistake. He had not noticed them.

She swallowed, raising her hand silently. Mark took hold of the handle, and she gathered her concentration for an overwhelming attack.

And then the Mexican opened his eyes, and Esther felt nothing but white noise.

* * *

She had lost some time. Her mind had fled to otherspace, hiding herself from the Mexican's onslaught, maintaining her defense and at least some protection of the others. But it hadn't been enough. Janelle and the man from the front of the house were already there, guns trained on Mark and Lukas, and the rest of the guards arrived mere seconds later. Esther had her wits back, and she was still capable of attack. But this was the wrong moment. She had to risk waiting. The Mexican was not directing much of his attention at her, which meant he still didn't know her power. She saw the looks of horror on the others' faces, and she hoped they understood it wasn't over yet, and that they wouldn't do anything foolhardy.