A rumpled looking Liam Kincaid stalked out of the elevator and wandered across to the console where Augur was working. The hacker-extraordinaire had placed a frantic call to him about ten minutes earlier. He had refused to say what the problem was but Liam knew from the tone of Augur's voice - it wasn't good.
"Hey, Augur, I'm here. What's got you so worried?"
Augur looked up, startled, from the information he had been scanning; he hadn't even heard Liam approach. Eyes burning with the intensity of what he had to say, Augur sighed. "Someone has hacked Liberation files."
"What?! Augur, how could they break your security? Who and what have been compromised?"
Augur rubbed a hand over his tired face. The security breach was bad; there was no denying that. Thankfully, it had been caught early. It was old files that had been accessed, Liberation files. All but one project was now defunct; no active Resistance personnel were at risk. There was one problem and that was the nature of Augur's concern. There was one person at risk. An innocent. Somebody who had been caught in the machinations of the Taelons before. Now there was information out there that could put them in harm's way - again.
"Liam, I've already instigated full emergency protocols. The cells have been notified and all codes have been changed. That is a precautionary measure; we caught a break, our hacker accessed old Liberation files not current Resistance ones. The information stolen contains data that is a potential security risk to one person, somebody the Liberation relocated before you were born. Boone and Lili arranged it.
"Until I identify the hacker and their motivations for their attack, this person is at risk. She was given four alternate IDs and told to pick one. Lili never knew which one she used. Jonathan wasn't as willing to trust as Lili was and for once that's worked in our favour. He had me monitor all four IDs until she picked one and began her new life. I know where she is.
"She'll need to be moved and given another new identity. Immediately. The problem is Boone and Lili were the only two of us that she trusted, even a little, and they're gone. She's not going to be happy about this."
Liam had begun to breathe a little easier. Only one person to protect and relocate was the best that he had dared hope for. The thought of the entire Resistance movement facing another disaster had been the stuff of his nightmares ever since the crackdown.
"I'll go. In the meantime, I want you to do a complete review of the security of our files. I don't want this happening again. Fix it. Find the person that did this.
"Now then, where am I going and who am I looking for?"
"Los Angeles. The woman you are looking for is using the name Emma Grayson. Her real name is DeeDee Sandoval."
Augur watched as Liam's eyes betrayed several varying emotions; apprehension, astonishment and curiosity. Liam had the information that Augur had on Emma/DeeDee downloaded into his global and departed soon after.
Augur turned his attention back to the matter that had been occupying him for the last two hours. Who had hacked the Liberation files? How? And why?
Liam counted his blessings that Da'an had told him - in no uncertain terms - to take the next two days off. Okay, so he had escaped death by the skin of his teeth - again. He had succeeded in saving the people in the portal station before the sabotage had overloaded the portal and caused the resultant explosion.
Sandoval was tracking the saboteur, a disgruntled former employee of the portal authority. He too would be out of Liam's hair while he dealt with this situation.
Liam gave a resigned sigh. He'd been standing in this underground parking garage for three hours. He'd even almost been caught once! That would have been awkward, trying to explain why a Companion Protector was skulking around in the garage of a city-centre office building.
Why was he waiting around? Because when he had tried to call Emma Grayson that morning, using Lili's name as a proof of sincerity, she'd refused to accept the call. This wasn't going to be easy. She had been working at her office, it wasn't the best place to contact her but he couldn't risk the wait.
He'd followed her from her house earlier in the day and he hadn't been the only person to do so. There was somebody else, a man in his late twenties, who was following her too. He had managed through sheer fortuitous happenstance to catch an image of the man by using his global. Augur was running a trace now.
Liam heard footsteps echoing through the garage. In his hiding place he straightened his stance and poised himself for action. It was her. She had dyed her hair brown but he recognized her instantly. He watched as she made her way towards her car and fumbled for her keys. Out of nowhere a figure emerged and grabbed her from behind, the attacker was trying to use something - a gas - to subdue her but she was struggling fiercely.
Liam raced across the expanse of the garage and kicked the attacker in the back of his knee. The man gave a pain-filled yell and lost his balance. As he fell, he lost his grip on both his intended victim and the small gas cylinder he had been using to subdue her. He scrambled away and Liam was forced to let him go. He had to protect Emma/DeeDee.
He pulled her to her feet but she twisted and struggled in his arms as she tried to break his grip. Exasperated, Liam pulled her close and placed a firm hand over her mouth. Looking into her terrified eyes he said, "Please stop struggling. I'm not here to hurt you. I was a friend of Lili's; you've been compromised. The man that just attacked you should be proof enough of that.
"I'm here to help. That's all. Here me out. If you still want me to leave after that then I will."
Emma ceased her struggles. This man's tone invited trust. He vetoed the idea of using her car. Taking his instead, they left the garage and headed for a secluded restaurant. They were unlikely to be noticed but it was also a public enough venue that Emma would feel secure enough that the man could not do anything to her without drawing attention to himself.
It was late in the afternoon by the time Liam and his wary companion entered the little restaurant. Liam headed straight for a table near the fire exit. The position allowed a clear field of vision on all the exits. His innate good manners, which he had inherited from his father, came to the fore when he automatically held DeeDee's seat for her before taking his own.
Nervously, she lifted the water jug and poured herself a glass. She sipped at it and tried to wash away the lingering after-taste of the gas her attacker had used on her. She opened her mouth to demand an explanation for the disruption of her new life but was interrupted by the arrival of the young waitress.
Liam picked up a menu and scanned it quickly. "I think I'll have the seafood salad, please.
"Have you decided yet, Emma?" asked Liam with a smile.
Picking up from his cue, DeeDee replied, "Oh. That sounds like a good idea. Could you make that two, please?" Smiling, the waitress nodded and headed off to place their order.
"What is going on?! I was told that I would be left alone."
Liam sighed and rubbed a nervous finger over his left palm. This was going to be awkward. Speaking softly, he began to explain. "Late last night, there was a security breach on some of the older Liberation files. We caught it early and minimised the damage as best we could. Only one of the few files that were accessed was still active. Unfortunately, it was yours.
"Augur reported the breach immediately. We began immediate steps to trace the person that hacked the files but we had to assume a worst-case scenario and that you might be a target.
"I came here to warn you; to relocate you... and to apologise. This is our fault. Augur said that Lili told you we wouldn't trace the identity you chose. She kept her word, Doors didn't. As a result, there was current information about you stored in our files. This mess is our responsibility to clear up."
DeeDee hissed, "This mess is my life," just before the waitress returned carrying their salads. Liam flinched slightly.
"I am truly sorry, Emma. Lili and Boone are gone. I'm here in their place. It's the least I can do.
"After that little altercation in the parking garage, we have to assume that you are a target. I'll find whoever is responsible and stop them; I give you my word. Trust me, please."
DeeDee sighed. She didn't really have much choice, did she? Strangely enough, she did trust this stranger. There was just something about him...
"All right. I want an answer first. I know I've seen your face before. Who are you?"
"Liam Kincaid. I'm Da'an's Protector. I took Boone's place."
DeeDee paled. "You work with Ron?"
"He's my boss."
DeeDee's eyes grew speculative. There was something about his tone of voice when he had said that. There was more to that answer.
"Fine, Liam. I'll trust you, only you. Your friend Augur can help you track the person after me. If I have to have another new identity it won't be from the Resistance. Once bitten, twice shy. Can you arrange a new identity on your own?"
Liam frowned as he thought things through. "That's doable. You'll forgive my presumption but you'll be staying in my hotel room with me tonight."
DeeDee grinned and batted her eyelashes. "Why, sir! I'm not that kind of girl!"
Liam almost choked on the forkful of salad that he had just eaten; he was laughing that hard. They ate in a companionable silence and left the restaurant an hour or so later, heading for Liam's hotel.
With soft footsteps DeeDee emerged from the bathroom, gently towelling her hair dry. They had arrived at Liam's hotel about forty-five minutes earlier and had made their way straight to his room; he was taking no chances with her safety.
There had been an awkward moment when they first arrived; it was a double room - that was all that had been available. DeeDee had sighed, exasperated. Liam with a faint blush on his cheeks had assured her that he'd be fine sleeping in one of the chairs.
Fighting a grin at her companion's unease she had said, "Well, roomie, if you don't mind I think I'll go take a shower. Scrambling round that parking garage has made me feel totally grungy." Then she'd stopped in mid-step and said, "Oh, damn! I don't have any fresh clothes to wear..."
Saying nothing, Liam had headed to the wardrobe and pulled out his duffle bag and rummaged around till he found what he was looking for. He pulled out a long, black T-shirt and handed to her. Smiling her thanks, she had impulsively reached up and placed a kiss on his cheek. He'd flinched back in surprise, confusing DeeDee with his actions. Not saying anything, she'd headed off for her shower.
Liam hadn't noticed her re-emergence from the bathroom; he was too busy talking to someone via global. Not wishing to disturb him, DeeDee stood quietly where she was. Consequently, she heard Liam's side of the conversation.
"No, Augur, I'll take care of it. That's the way she wants it...
"What do you think?! Of course it's awkward... we're sharing a hotel room! I think she thinks that I'm finding it awkward because I work with Sandoval... No, of course I haven't told her anything else!...
"Look, Augur, stop with the helpful advice. Please. Just run that trace; I've seen you find people with less information. I want to know why in the name of God anybody would want to target her. She's done no one any harm, no one. It makes no sense...
"I'll talk to Da'an if I need more time; which I won't know unless you get back to work! Keep me apprised about Sandoval. Now is not the time for him to be getting curious about where I've got to...
"Yeah, Augur. I'll take care of her. See you soon."
Liam flicked the global shut, turned around and gave a start of surprise as he saw a quietly fuming DeeDee Sandoval standing there. She'd heard him.
She stormed to the bed and grabbed for the trousers that she'd laid there. She started dressing, obviously preparing to leave. Quietly, Liam said, "DeeDee wait."
Glaring at him, she replied, "You stay back. You've lied to me about your reasons for being here. That means I can't trust you. I'm leaving."
She was half way to the door before he caught up with her. He grabbed at her arm, whirling around she slapped him in the face. Shocked at her own actions, DeeDee paused. With a strained tone, she whispered, "I thought I could trust you..."
Liam sighed and closed his eyes. What a mess. "You can trust me, DeeDee. All I want to do is keep you safe."
"Then tell me what's going on. What have you been holding back?"
"Damn it, DeeDee. You don't know what you're asking. I tell you this and you're putting three lives in danger. Yours, Sandoval's and mine. Can't you please just let it go?" said Liam.
"Ron? I knew it; I knew it had something to do with Ron. Why would he be in danger?"
"Sandoval's not just my boss, DeeDee. He's my father. That's why I reacted the way I did when you kissed my cheek. That's why I came here personally. I couldn't trust your safety to anybody else."
"WHAT?!"
"Liam, if you're going to lie to me at least do me the courtesy of making the lie believable!" snapped DeeDee.
"DeeDee, do you really think I'd make something like that up!" said Liam, in an exasperated tone.
"He's my father. I swear it's true."
DeeDee sat down on the edge of the bed and stared up at Liam with a mixture of distrust, bemusement and slowly dawning acceptance that was she had been told might actually be the truth. Privately, Liam was very impressed with her reaction; she was taking it a lot better than Renee had. He crouched down and brought his gaze level with hers. Tentatively, he reached out a hand and grasped one of hers, ridiculously relieved when she didn't flinch away from him.
DeeDee slowly reached out her other hand and ran it down the side of his face in a gentle caress. She realised what she had been feeling when she had been watching Liam. Recognition. Over the last few hours of their short acquaintance she had witnessed determination, diffidence and concern from this man. Some of his mannerisms had seemed strangely familiar - they were. Ron had been like this once, a long time ago.
Quietly, she said, "How? Why?"
Liam closed his eyes for a moment and took a breath.
"It all started a few months after Boone and Lili arranged your death..."
DeeDee listened silently as Liam recounted the events that led to his birth; the inadvertent release of Ha'gel from his eons long imprisonment, the hunt by the Companion Protectors, Ha'gel's ability to assume a human body as a host - without harm to the host - Liam had hastened to add, the Joining in the church, Ha'gel's death...
He had fallen silent at that and DeeDee gave him the time he needed to compose himself. When he was ready, he began his story again. The love and grief in his tone as he described his mother tugged at DeeDee's heart. He explained how his mother had remained conscious just long enough to name him after his maternal grandfather and then, he paused his story again, standing he walked away from DeeDee and towards the window.
Refusing to look at her, he continued the story of his life... his accelerated growth, the fact that he had full genetic knowledge of all three of his parents... he told her it all. His account stopped as he said, "I saved Da'an from the replicant at Boone's funeral, and from that point forward my path was set. I took Boone's place as Da'an's Protector and as a deep cover operative for the Resistance."
It was a lot for DeeDee to take in. One thing had caught her attention, something he had said, well to be more precise - the tone of his voice when he said it. Softly, she said, "Your human parents have no memory of this? Ron has no idea who you really are?"
Eyes haunted, Liam shook his head. "I was only able to tell my mother when her CVI broke down. She was dying, she had the right to know."
Liam's tone was defensive; DeeDee caught it. "Of course she had the right to know! Who said otherwise?"
"Jonathan," whispered Liam.
DeeDee frowned. "He was wrong, Liam. You did the right thing when you told her; you know that, don't you?"
Liam nodded and brushed away the single tear that was making its way down his cheek.
DeeDee sat, curled up, arms hugging her legs and her chin resting on her knees as she thought about what she had been told. A sudden thought had her looking at Liam and blushing. "You have all his memories?"
Liam smiled at her. He knew what she was thinking. "I don't know everything, DeeDee. It's more a subconscious feeling on my part. Some things, obviously, I know. I was a functioning adult at a day old, my parents' memories made that possible.
"I've always tried to let their private thoughts stay private. Some of the stronger feelings I can't help but experience. He loved you so much, DeeDee. The first time his CVI broke down he was absolutely horrified at what he had done to you. When he was told you had been killed - a piece of his heart died that day. He has never stopped loving you."
DeeDee sitting there with tears streaming down her face, said, "He still loves me?"
"Oh, DeeDee. He always will. He wears your wedding ring, the one that you gave to Boone, on the little finger of his right hand. It's never left it. He still carries a photo of you both in his wallet. I've seen it.
"DeeDee, please don't cry. I didn't mean to upset you," apologised Liam.
"Upset me? Liam, you've eased a pain in my heart that I thought would never go away. Thank you."
Liam smiled. "You're very welcome."
Tiredness soon overtook them and they made ready to turn in. Just before she fell asleep, DeeDee gazed across the darkened room to where Liam was resting in one of the chairs. She whispered, "I'll keep your secrets, Liam. I promise.
"Keep your faith in him. I know it's hard to love him when he's done so many terrible things. He's worth it. If it's possible, I want us to stay in touch after you sort whatever mess it is that I've been landed in. You need to be able to talk to someone, someone that understands what you are being put through. It's the very least I can do for you. You're his son and my friend. I want to, no, I need to help."
The persistent beeping of his global roused Liam from his fitful sleep. Quietly as he could, he rose to his feet and headed for the doorway of the hotel room, it provided a secluded area to talk. DeeDee was still sleeping, the previous day had been full of so many surprises for her, and the constant tension had finally caught up with her.
He opened the global and asked quietly, "What have you found, Augur?"
Augur frowned. "Why are you whispering?"
Liam rolled his eyes. "DeeDee's still asleep, that's why. Only insomniacs and Resistance members are awake at this time of night. What did you find out?"
"Our hacker is one Nathan Fredericks. Liberation member, before your time. He was so extreme that Jonathan kicked him out."
Liam blinked at that. "What about him was too extreme for Jonathan?"
Augur shrugged. "I never knew the whole story. Nathan was weird; I was relieved when he left. He made me nervous. The final straw was Nathan's reaction to what the Liberation did when Sandoval's CVI broke down.
"Jonathan wasn't best pleased about the fact that Dr. Belman and Boone arranged for him to be re-implanted, but he let it go. He wasn't about to get into a shouting match with them over it. That's probably why he kept tabs on DeeDee though, even though Lili told her we wouldn't. Information to be used - just in case.
"Nathan was in a rage about the fact that the Liberation saved Sandoval; I mean it, I've never seen anything like it. Jonathan had to assign two security guards to him for the next month to make sure he didn't do anything stupid. Nathan was gone from the organization not long after that."
Liam eyed Augur, concern in his eyes. "What you're saying is that this is personal for this guy. He wants to hurt Sandoval; he can't, so he's going after the next easiest target. DeeDee."
"That's about the size of it, yeah."
Liam swore furiously, Augur looking on in surprise. He couldn't remember ever hearing him swear before. Augur eyed his friend and worried. Liam was personally involved in this little melodrama too. He should have expected it. Liam's meeting DeeDee had been bound to cause undercurrents. The question was - was the kid too involved to think straight?
Liam sighed and rubbed a hand over his tired face. He said, "I'm going to need help, Augur. Call Renee for me, please. Tell her the entire story.
"Ask her to come to LA, tell her I need her help."
"What are you going to do?" asked Augur.
"When Renee arrives, I'll have her stay with DeeDee while I make the arrangements for her new identity. We'll move her and hopefully by that point, you'll have a location on Fredericks for me.
"Renee and I are going to pay him a visit and explain to him nicely that DeeDee Sandoval is permanently off limits," said Liam, his tone ominous.
Liam broke contact and returned to his chair. He didn't sleep; he sat vigil over his father's wife instead. Morning was fast approaching and with it, a whole new set of worries. Nothing was going to happen to DeeDee, not on his watch.
Liam and DeeDee had ordered breakfast from room service and were just finishing up when his global signalled a message. Apologetically, Liam broke of conversation with DeeDee, he opened the global and breathed a relieved smile, Renee.
"Augur said that you need my help. I'm in the hotel lobby, is it okay for me to come up?"
Liam eyed DeeDee nervously, he hadn't actually got round to telling her that he was temporarily leaving her with someone else.
"Come on up... and, Renee... thanks for coming. I appreciate it," said Liam.
Turning his gaze back to DeeDee, Liam saw the uneasiness she was trying to hide. Hastening to reassure her, he said, "It's all right. Renee is a friend."
"Why is she here, though? I told you I'd trust you, not the Resistance. Not again."
Liam sighed. DeeDee had good reason to be wary of the Resistance, but she was just going to have to deal with this. Fredericks was a dangerous opponent and he knew that he was going to need help. DeeDee's safety had to take prominence, even over her own objections to outside help.
"DeeDee, you're going to have to trust me on this; at least a little bit. I need someone I can trust to stay with you while I go arrange for your new identity.
"Renee is Resistance, but she's a deep cover operative like me. To protect you, I'm going to have to trust you with her secret too. She's a friend; I care about her. I trust her to look after you. Please, trust me."
DeeDee sighed and nodded. There was no way she could refuse Liam. She wondered if he even knew the effect he had on people. How could somebody compete with a person whose instinctive behaviour was honest and decent, and who truly cared about others?
Moments later, there was a quiet knock on the door. Liam motioned DeeDee to hide, taking no chances. He checked the identity of the person at the door through the spy-hole. Only when he was satisfied as to their identity did he open the door.
Renee closed the door and leaned against it. "So, Liam, what's so urgent that I had to come to LA?"
"Augur's told you about the security breach?"
At Renee's nod, Liam continued. "He called me last night, after you were en route. The hacker is a former Liberation op. that Jonathan drummed out of the movement. He's... well, unstable would be the politest way to put it.
"He broke in to get information on one thing; the location and identity of a witness that Boone and Marquette were protecting. That's why you're here.
"I need you to stay with her while I go arrange a new ID - outside Resistance channels. Once she's safe, you and I are going to pay a little visit to this rogue op."
Renee nodded her agreement. It seemed simple enough. She said, "So, where is this witness?"
Softly, Liam said, "It's OK. You can come out now."
DeeDee emerged from her hiding place in the bathroom. Nervously, she approached the woman with Liam; her eyes widening as she recognised her.
Liam said, "DeeDee, this is the friend I told you about." Then, he addressed Renee.
"Renee, this is our witness; DeeDee Sandoval."
Renee's jaw literally dropped. Amused, Liam was about to try to calm Renee down when his global beeped. He flicked it open and read the message that Felix had left for him.
"Ladies, I have to go. I'll be back in a couple of hours, I suggest you get acquainted."
After Liam had left, the silence in the hotel room was deafening.
Renee stood in the hallway, still in shock. DeeDee Sandoval was alive. That, she had not expected. Silently, Renee promised herself that as soon as she got back to DC she was going to visit Augur and find out what else she had been kept in the dark about. It was an unsettling feeling to find out that people she trusted had kept secrets from her.
Like you've never kept secrets from them? she asked herself in a mocking tone - Ma'el's ship immediately springing to mind. Now the shoe was on the other foot and she found that she didn't like it. True, they'd kept the truth about Liam's heritage from her - that was understandable - his life was on the line every time he revealed that particular truth.
Renee brought her attention back to the present and glanced curiously at the other woman in the room - a woman that had been married to Sandoval! Renee sighed; she hoped to God that Liam knew what he was doing. Looking at DeeDee's impassive face - obviously something she'd picked up from her husband - Renee, for one of the few times in her life, had no idea what to say.
DeeDee broke the ice. "Ms Palmer, we may as well make ourselves comfortable... shall I call room service for some more coffee?"
Renee followed the other woman through to the heart of the room but declined the offer of coffee. Her gaze flitted round the room, assessing. It had not escaped her notice that DeeDee was wearing one of Liam's T-shirts; she spotted the blanket and pillow on one of the chairs, relieved, a hint of tension left her shoulders. Nothing had happened. Good. Renee blinked. Where had that come from?!
DeeDee eyed the other woman and hid a smile. Liam may not have noticed Renee's initial gaze of astonishment at DeeDee's appearance. She had. She most certainly recognised it for what it was. It was purely and instinctively territorial reaction on Renee's part to another woman being close to Liam.
Just friends, Liam? thought DeeDee. We'll see.
"So, Renee... may I call you Renee?
"Liam says he called you because he trusts you and that I should trust his judgement. You'll forgive me if I retain some doubts. Him, I trust. You - well, we'll have to wait and see."
Renee eyed the other woman, genuinely curious. "Why? Why do you trust him? You've only just met."
"He reminds me of Ron. The way he used to be, before he was Implanted with that damn CVI."
Renee sat back in her seat and gazed at the other woman. Unsure of how her next question would be received, she asked, "What happened, DeeDee? Why did the Liberation relocate you?"
DeeDee blinked in surprise. Renee didn't know? She took a deep breath to steady herself and met Renee's gaze; her own eyes shadowed with memories. The other woman was here to protect her; she had a right to know what was going on.
"When Ron's CVI broke down..."
Renee listened, astonished, to DeeDee's tale. She'd had no idea that Sandoval had ever been free of Taelon control. It was bitterly ironic that had been the Liberation movement that had been responsible for his re-Implantation.
She really needed to have a long talk with Liam about Sandoval. Renee knew that she had wounded him deeply when she had called Sandoval a surrogate; perhaps it was time to look past her prejudices. There might be more to Sandoval than she cared to admit. To be honest, as far as she was concerned, he was and always would be the enemy, but she was forced to admit that maybe, just maybe, he was a good man that had been twisted to serve the wrong cause. Not a power hungry traitor as she had always thought.
Turning the conversation back to more mundane matters, DeeDee said, "So, Renee, dare I hope that you have a spare change of clothes in that bag that you dropped at the door."
Renee gave a small grin and said, "I think we should be able to come up with something for you to wear."
An hour or so later, Liam signalled that he was on his way back. DeeDee looked at Renee and took the opportunity to give her one thing more to think about.
"Ms Palmer, before he gets back, I have one more thing to say to you about Liam."
Confused, Renee looked over at DeeDee and was surprised by the steely determination that she saw in the other woman's gaze. DeeDee said, "If you ever do anything to hurt him, I'll kill you."
Liam sat quietly in the car and wondered what had gone on between DeeDee and Renee when he had gone off to meet Felix. When he had arrived back, he had been on the receiving end of a pair of intent gazes. Neither had said a word about what they had discussed in the time that he had been gone. They just nodded quietly when he said it was time to leave.
Here they were, hours later, driving through London. DeeDee had been more than a bit surprised to find that she was being relocated outside the US. Liam had simply looked at her and said, "Trust me."
He smiled quietly. DeeDee was in for a few more surprises yet. Felix had outdone himself. The old guy had to be nearing eighty - he was the feistiest eighty-year old that Liam had ever seen. He was a master of his craft too.
Liam had met him not long after he started working for the Taelons. He had happened to be walking along a side alley in DC one evening and ran into a fight. Three youths were trying to assault an old man; trying being the appropriate word. The old guy had been holding his own until one of the youths picked up a broken bottle from the alley and slashed at him. Instinctively, Liam had moved in to assist Felix. The youths had been chased off and an unlikely friendship was born.
Not even Augur knew about Felix and Liam intended to keep it that way. He truly liked the old guy; in many ways, he was the grandfather Liam would never have. After his mother had died, he hadn't turned to Lili or Augur for comfort - he had gone to Felix. That was when he had taken his fate in his own hands and told him the truth about who and what he was.
Liam grinned to himself. Felix had barely batted an eye. He accepted Liam on his actions and not his heritage. It was a welcome change from the Resistance movement and Da'an.
In turn, the old man had revealed his secrets to Liam, his role in a network that spanned the globe. This network was very old and operated outside of the law but it was not anti-law. On occasion, people needed to relocate and start over. Abused spouses and children, victims of crime that the system couldn't help. Whatever. Seven times out of ten, the network found them and offered their assistance. Not all took it, but the offer was always made. The network had funding from several very old families around the world. Earlier generations had been 'helped' and succeeding generations funded the network so that others could receive the same assistance that they had benefited from.
Liam had used the network on several occasions and had also assisted them with some relocations too. Felix had outdone himself this time. DeeDee was as protected as she possibly could be.
Renee spoke up. "So, where are we going?"
DeeDee tore her gaze away from the sights of London to hear his answer. Where was she going?
Liam gazed at them both, mischief in his eyes, "We're hiding her in plain sight.
"The house we are going to is a safe-house, of sorts. DeeDee will stay there with Mrs Ferris. That lady is truly remarkable; if you can ever get to talk about her past adventures you're in for a treat. Trust me.
"A house will be arranged for you and soon as a reasonable time has passed you'll be relocated to it. Your new job is being set up for you too."
"Where?" demanded DeeDee. "What will I be doing?"
Liam grinned. "You're going to be deputy-head archivist of personnel records at New Scotland Yard. I'd like to see anybody try to get at you in the basement of a building full of police officers."
Renee gave a slyly approving grin as DeeDee gaped at Liam in astonishment. That was brilliant. Nobody should ever think to look for DeeDee there.
Four hours later...
Liam held a tearful DeeDee - now Audrey - in a comforting hug, as they said their goodbyes.
"If I could, I'd stay longer. We have to get back before Sandoval and the Taelons start getting curious. You'll be safe, I trust these people.
"Oh, yeah. In a couple of days, my friend Felix is going to visit. You'll like him. He's one of a kind. He's going to set up two secure channels for you in the public access system of the British Library.
"One channel is for any time you want to contact me, I'll be able to leave you messages there too. The other channel is to Renee. For any reason if you need help and I'm not there then you call her. Promise?"
DeeDee nodded.
Liam placed a gentle kiss on her cheek and took his leave of her. He headed out to the car and Renee. Time to get back to work.
Quietly, Renee asked, "Are you all right?"
"I will be."
"Now what?"
"Now, Renee, we go have a little chat with Mr Nathan Fredericks..."
Eyes intent, Liam watched as Fredericks and Renee drunkenly made their way along the sidewalk and to the main entrance of the seediest hotel in the area. Inwardly, he winced. Renee was going to make him pay big time for this. She hated fleapits like this and here she was entering this one with an inebriated psycho... she was not going to let his payback of this favour go in a hurry.
Augur had contacted them a few hours after they had returned from London, Fredericks was still in LA. In fact, Augur had tapped into surveillance footage of him back in the parking garage of the building that 'Emma' had used to work in. Neither Liam nor Renee had believed that the guy could be that stupid but apparently this psycho - for all his hacking skills - didn't have the sense to stay away from an area where he had already been compromised once.
Liam and Renee had trawled the local bars until they had found him. Renee's eyes had taken on a dangerous glimmer when she had watched him pawing at one of the hapless waitresses in his latest watering hole.
Thirty minutes later, dressed in an outfit that just begged for attention from drunken sleazebags, Renee had tottered into the bar on a pair of ridiculously high high-heels. Showing wisdom beyond his tender years, Liam had kept his mouth shut when he had seen her clothes. Instead, he had given her the location of the sleaziest hotel in the neighbourhood. Ten minutes after entering the bar, Renee had Fredericks eating out of the palm of her hand. An hour later, they had headed off to the hotel.
Swiftly, silently, Liam entered the hotel a few moments behind the pair. The desk manager had looked like he was about to say something. One look at Liam's grim countenance had changed his mind and he'd dropped his head back down and stared at fascination at the news displayed on the beaten-up console on the desk.
Outside the door of the hotel room they had 'booked' Liam heard what sounded like a fight coming from inside the room. Alarmed, he was about to kick in the door, when it was suddenly opened from the inside. Renee Palmer, irritably trying to tug her very short top back into some semblance of decency, motioned him inside with a jerk of her head.
Worry alleviated, Liam entered and looked around for Nathan Fredericks. He spied the man that had been targeting DeeDee sitting slumped in a heap at the bottom of the bed. The remains of a lamp were scattered around him, silently, Liam said, "Ouch!"
He looked at Renee and said, "Are you OK, Renee?"
Sourly, Renee looked at Liam and said, "Please! Do you really think I would let that slime hurt me?
"Unfortunately, I think I got a bit carried away. We're going to have to wait till the jerk wakes up before you and he can have 'a little chat'.
Liam watched Fredericks while Renee slipped into the dingy little bathroom to change into some more suitable clothes. Nervously, Liam nibbled at his lower lip. This was not going to be easy. Fredericks had to have recognised him in the parking garage - after all, he'd made no attempt to hide his identity. Renee too, would be recognised. Anyone that had a hatred for the Taelons would monitor the humans that worked for and with them.
Looking slightly less irritated now that she was wearing normal clothes, Renee Palmer emerged from the bathroom. Quietly she asked, "What now?"
"Help me get him on the chair."
They maneuvered the unconscious man to the ratty old chair and Liam headed back to the doorway where he had dropped the bag that he had been carrying. He quickly removed a length of rope - well, Volunteer issue, Taelon designed rope - and soon, Nathan Fredericks was trussed to the chair like a doomed Thanksgiving turkey.
Studiously ignoring Renee, Liam delved into the bag and retrieved a few more items. Renee delicately arched one eyebrow as she eyed the contents. It seemed that Liam was fully intent on not leaving here until he was convinced that DeeDee Sandoval would be safe.
A groan switched their attention back to Fredericks. He was coming too. Liam stepped back out of his field of vision. He wanted the man unbalanced; let him think Renee was the only person there for now. Renee instinctively knew what Liam wanted her to do. It was one of the reasons that they worked so well together in situations like this. Up till now though, she had always played the bad guy. It appeared that was about to change.
"Ah, Mr Fredericks... so good of you to join me. I do hope you understand about earlier but after all, I do have some standards."
Straining at his bonds, Fredericks said, "Let me out of here you Taelon-loving *****!"
Renee's eyes turned cold. "Mr Fredericks, I do advise you to watch your mouth! If not, I'll quite happily knock out some of your teeth until you learn to be quiet!
"My association with the Taelons has nothing to do with our little chat. I am here for another reason entirely. You broke into some restricted files recently and I am very, very determined to make you realise that it was an incredibly bad idea."
Fredericks' eyes narrowed speculatively. Renee Palmer was Resistance. Maybe he could cut a deal.
"Okay, fine. I apologise for my earlier remark. You have done a very good job of hiding your true sympathies. My interest in the files was personal. I didn't hack current files, I only went after one thing--"
Renee interrupted him, saying, "I am well aware of what you did and why you did it. It stops now!"
"Why should I stop?!" hissed Fredericks.
Footsteps from behind him startled Fredericks into silence. A hand reached down to grasp his left hand; his arms were tied to the chair, he couldn't move. Another hand covered his mouth to muffle his scream of pain as his little finger was forced back and every bone in it was broken.
Gasping, Fredericks looked on in fear as his assailant made his way round and stood in his field of view. It looked like... No! It couldn't be! Major Liam Kincaid - a very angry Liam Kincaid.
"Thank you, Ms Palmer. I'll take it from here. You may leave if you wish."
Liam's distant tone confused Renee until she realised he was protecting her. His dismissal of her would make Fredericks believe that she wasn't in too deep with the Resistance, that she was only peripherally involved. In a soft tone, she replied, "I'm always happy to be of assistance. I only wish you and your friends would call me more often."
Renee exited the room and went out to a café across the street.
Back in the hotel room, Liam looked at Fredericks for a long moment, not saying a word. The hacker looked on nervously; he'd survived in the field by being sneaky and being a bully. Neither of those techniques would work on this man.
"You are to stop your vendetta against Sandoval. Is that clear? DeeDee Sandoval is under Resistance protection and is off-limits. Do you understand?"
"What?! You're Resistance. How can you even think about ordering me to stop? Sandoval deserves to be punished!"
"Quiet!" Liam's voice cracked like a whip.
"Sandoval is not your concern. As for DeeDee Sandoval, you were told at the time that she was to be protected. Boone made that perfectly clear. She has done no harm to humanity, no harm to the Resistance. If she is guilty of anything it is falling in love with Sandoval when he was still a dedicated FBI agent. She had no control over what the Taelons did to him and paid a high price for what followed. She is to be left alone. She earned that right."
"Will you agree to leave her alone?"
Fredericks' mutinous eyes conveyed their own answer. Lips compressed, Liam picked up one of the items that he had retrieved from his bag. Once again, he approached Fredericks and muffled his cry of pain as, this time; something was injected into his neck.
"What did you do to me, you son of a *****?"
"Nothing... as long as you tow the line. It's a microcapsule of nerve toxin. It's untraceable by any medical scan. It'll settle in your lungs and wait dormant for the signal to activate.
"You go near Resistance files again and it'll be activated.
"You have any form of contact with Agent Sandoval, we'll know it. The capsule will be activated.
"You ever attempt to harm DeeDee Sandoval again and I'll activate the capsule - but only after making sure that you wish you'd never been born!
"Your every computer access will be monitored. Your personal communications will be monitored. You leave your city of residence for any reason and you don't tell us and the capsule will be activated.
"You do as we tell you and you live. You disobey and you die. Clear?"
Cowed completely, Fredericks nodded.
Liam smiled a cold, predatory smile, and Fredericks flinched back.
"Oh, one more thing. If you plan on betraying myself or Ms Palmer to the Taelons - don't. Evidence has already been fabricated that implicates you in the murder of two Volunteers. You really wouldn't like what they'll do to you. You try and betray us and the Volunteers will receive that evidence.
"Now that our business is concluded I will release you. We will exit this room and make our way out of this hotel. You will smile and act as if nothing is wrong. When we exit, you are free to leave. Please remember what you have been told."
Liam packed away his 'toys' and untied Fredericks. The man stood there, nursing his injured hand and jumped noticeably as Liam touched his shoulder and sent him to the door with a gentle shove, saying, "Move."
Ten minutes later, Liam was sitting in the café and drinking a coffee as he tried to ignore the intense gaze being directed at him by Renee Palmer.
She would want an explanation for his out of character behaviour. He looked up, met her eyes and opened his mouth to explain. Raising her hand, she silenced him before he could begin.
"I understand, Liam. She's family and you want to protect her."
A week had passed since the relocation of DeeDee Sandoval and the education of Nathan Fredericks. Things had actually been quite quiet for Liam, both in terms of his duties as a Protector and his responsibilities to the Resistance.
He'd exchanged a couple of messages with DeeDee/Audrey in London - reassuring her that the situation with Fredericks had been handled and, at the same time, reassuring himself that she was coping all right. It turned out that DeeDee was more than just coping; she was enjoying herself. For the first time in over a year, she felt safe. She loved staying with Mrs Ferris; apparently the older woman had 'adopted' her. She was even enjoying her new job and had made a couple of friends.
He'd read that last part with a smile on his face. In the space of forty-eight hours he had grown very fond of his father's wife. Talking to her had filled a void he hadn't realised was there. She listened to him with her heart. She didn't make him feel childish to ask for reassurance about things. She seemed to instinctively realise that he needed - not a mother - nobody would ever replace Beckett in his heart, more a friend to confide in. In turn, he was her link to her past. He was her link with Sandoval and what might have been.
Liam glanced at his watch. Twenty minutes till he was due to meet Renee. He pushed his chair back from his desk and grabbed his leather jacket. Quickly taking his leave of Da'an, he headed off to his shuttle. He was picking Renee up for a meeting with Da'an. The meeting was a couple of hours away; they had arranged to have lunch first.
Renee was curious about how DeeDee was getting on and they weren't going to run the risk of being overheard in the Embassy. They'd take her car from her office and head off to the restaurant before returning to the shuttle and flying back to the Embassy and the scheduled meeting.
An hour and a half later, a laughing Liam and Renee were in her car and heading back to her office at Doors International HQ when - all of a sudden - their car was hit side on by another vehicle.
Stunned and dazed, Liam stirred in the passenger seat. It was Renee's side that had suffered the main impact. Horrified, he saw her crumpled form in the seat, caught by the seatbelt, blood slowly matting her blonde hair. His gaze also took in the driver of the other car - Fredericks!
Liam hissed. How had he managed to give his watchers the slip? He was supposed to be in Los Angeles! Fumbling for his global, he quickly put out a call for emergency assistance and then, eyes cold, he punched in another code.
He hadn't been entirely honest with Fredericks - it wasn't nerve toxin that he'd injected. The internal damage that caused was too easily identifiable. It was a substance that simply stopped the heart from functioning. It produced symptoms that looked like a natural heart attack and was undetectable unless you knew to try testing for it.
Smiling grimly, Liam watched as Nathan Fredericks died.
Liam had survived the impact with cuts and bruises; Renee hadn't been that lucky. Apart from the scalp wound that she'd received when her head impacted off the side window, she'd suffered a broken arm and internal bleeding as a result of a ruptured spleen.
When Liam was finally allowed into her hospital room, she was lying unconscious and hooked up to so many different monitors that he was scared to think what they were all for. Resolutely, he pulled up a chair and took her hand in his. He'd lost too many friends already; there was no way he was moving from her side until she woke up.
Two days later
"Liam!"
Liam jumped to his feet and stood at the side of Renee's hospital bed. Gently, he clasped her hand in his and spoke in soft reassuring tones as he tried to calm her.
"Easy, Renee. You're safe. You're in the hospital. Don't move around too much, you're a bit banged up. You're going to be all right, though."
As he spoke, Liam pressed the call button and soon the room was filled with doctors and nurses checking on their star patient.
Dr. Wilson, Renee's chief physician looked at the protective form of Major Kincaid as he stood sentry at the side of his patient's bed. Sighing, he said, "Major, she's awake and she's all right.
"Would you mind waiting outside while we work?"
Liam gave a faintly apologetic grin. He knew that he'd been a pain in the butt for the medical staff over the past two days. Time to let them work. Besides, he had to notify Augur, Joshua and the Taelons that Renee was awake.
Bending down, he brushed a stray strand of blonde hair from Renee's forehead. Placing a chaste kiss on her cheek, he answered the questions that had been burning in her eyes since she had regained consciousness. In a whisper he said, "I'm fine. Fredericks is dead. Don't worry about anything else. Just concentrate on getting better. I'll be back after, I promise."
Three days later, Renee Palmer left the hospital, the staff smiling as she left. They were hard pushed to decide what had been more annoying. Her irritable insistence that she was all right. She didn't need to be in the hospital. Sure she didn't! A ruptured spleen and multiple contusions and lacerations were minor inconveniences, nothing more. Or, Major Liam Kincaid. He'd haunted the hospital corridors the entire time she'd been unconscious and now that she was awake, he was even worse.
The doctors had presumed they were a couple, but the nurses disagreed. As usual, they were right. The doctors sighed and paid up on the wagers - they should have known better than to bet against the nurses.
Earlier that day, there had been a huge blazing row in Ms Palmer's room. It was easily heard down the other end of the corridor. The gist of the argument was the fact that Ms Palmer had been less than pleased to discover that she had been granted release on the sole condition that someone stay with her for the next two weeks, to help keep an eye on her and to prevent her from over exerting herself.
She'd yelled at her doctor, saying that she didn't want or need a houseguest. Major Kincaid had responded, yelling at her that he'd spent enough time in this damn hospital already this week. She would follow her doctor's orders because he was damned if he was going to be back here next week because she'd further injured herself due to neglect.
An unspoken battle of wills had taken place, witnessed by Doctor Wilson. Finally, Major Kincaid had resorted to a soft-spoken plea.
"Renee, you're my best friend. I don't like seeing you like this. Please don't argue. I'm going to stay with you, it's not like I'm a complete stranger. You co-operate and we'll get through this with a minimum of fuss."
To the doctor's astonishment, Ms Palmer gave in. He reported the conversation to his co-workers and that was when the nurses had grinned and demanded that the doctors pay up.
Two nights into his stay with Renee, Liam sent a message to DeeDee.
I'm sorry that I've not sent you a message for so long, but things have been a bit hectic.Now that Renee's out of the hospital she's been trying to catch up on the work that she's missed. I swear it's like trying to keep up with a whirlwind! She has got to be the most exasperatingly annoying convalescent on the planet. In fact, just this morning I mentioned my opinion to my doctor - the one who delivered me.
She burst out laughing at that muttering something about the universe having a sense of humour after all. I get the distinct impression I was being insulted but I'm not going to push it. She's got a looong memory. She'll make me pay for any comments I make.
Anyway, I might have been less hasty to volunteer to baby-sit Renee if I knew what had been involved. I have to say though, aggravation aside; it's been fun.
Having the chance to just relax and hang out has been good for our friendship. We've never had the opportunity before to just get to know one another; Resistance business has always gotten in the way.
The more time I spend with her, the more I like her. She's a good person and she's got a wicked sense of humour. I like her.
Hope to hear more about how you're getting on in the new job. Have to go. Milady is bellowing again.
L.