Generations Beyond
Chapter Twenty-Three

“And a flight out of Calgary into LAX, three hours, getting in late Friday night. The target frequents an internet cafe known as Sanctuary. She’s waiting for Fall classes to start, so a majority of her time’s spent there. I believe that Penn’s team will move on her soon, that’s why we need to intercept and evac ASAP.” Christina finished up her explanation to Grigor when she met with him the next morning.

He nodded. “A well-planned excursion,” he offered, complimenting her. “We must not sit by and allow this Gabriela to come to harm if we can prevent it.” He gave a somber smile. “Captain Cross and yourself believe you can extract her safely and without incident?”

“I believe so, yes. One of my specialties is moving in and out of an area of operation unseen and Captain Cross has an excellent mind for planning and executing said actions.” She sat. “I would estimate the entire event to take three days,” she said.

“Well,” he nodded once more, “I say to you, Godspeed, Christina. I shall arrange transportation between Waterton and Calgary for you. Your new identifications have been compiled,” he picked up two packets and handed them across to her. “One for you, one for Captain Cross. I have had your parents’ and brother’s paperwork started, but it shall take us a few more days before we can have them ready.”

Christina stood and picked the packets up from the desk. “Thank you, again, for everything you have done and are doing, Grigor,” she said, giving him a smile.

He offered his own warm smile, “My dear. When you return we must have a conversation about your gratitude for simple courtesy.” He bowed his head, regardless. “Despite the lack of need for thanks, you are most welcome.”

She smiled at him again before turning and leaving the room. She wound her way from of the compound and into the lush forest. It was late morning, but she needed to get things moving.

It took a few minutes for her to arrive back at their cabin and back inside the main room. “Jonathan,” she called out his name to locate him without roaming through the house.

He emerged from his room soon after she called. “Yeah, what’s up?”

She walked toward his room after hearing his voice. “Transportation’s taken care of.” She held the packets to replace the names written on them. “These are our new IDs to use once we get to Calgary.” She slid her gloved finger along the glued seam of the envelope, popping it open.

He took the offered package and proceeded to the dining room to upend the contents onto the table. “Jonathan Williams,” he read the name typed on the United States Passport. “Dual citizenship in Canada and the United States.” he sifted through the other documents, committing everything to memory.

Christina walked to the counter and pulled out the paperwork. The passport dumped out and she opened it. “Christina Martin,” she said the name out loud. “Same dual citizenship, born in Ohio.” She picked up other pieces of paper, looking them over. “I’ll give them this, they’re pretty thorough.”

“A professional outfit,” Cross muttered, skimming over a comprehensive life and family history on both the maternal and paternal side.

“Were you able to get any signal out here to talk to Z?” she asked as she put the papers back into the envelope.

“Negative.” He studied his papers. “I got Grigor to send a message for me, though.”

“Do you think it will be enough to get us the gear we need when we touch down in LA?” she asked as she leaned a hip against the counter.

“Yeah,” he looked at her, “I can call once we get closer to civilization to confirm.”

“Good,” she said, pushing off the counter with her hip. “That leaves one day to wait, do anything last minute around here. Tomorrow we’ll get to the lake to get to Calgary. Can you think of anything we’ve forgotten?” she asked as she walked back to her room to put the papers away.

He gathered his paperwork and sat on the couch to continue studying. “Can’t think of anything, no. You?”

“I need to go talk to my parents before I leave.” She came back from of her room.

“All right.” He didn’t glance up as he read, “I’ll be right here when you get back, I’m sure.”

She rolled her shoulders a few times like a boxer getting ready to go into a match. “Yeah, I know,” she said, heading toward the door, “I’ll be back.”

Christina made it back to the house she shared with Jonathan and Chase in about half the time it took for her to get to her parents. She walked in and past Jonathan, on the couch where he had been when she left, without a word and went right to her room, closing the door.

Cross looked up as her door closed and sighed. He set his paperwork aside and stood, shaking his head. Jonathan walked to her door and opened it. “What happened?” he asked as he walked in.

She was in the middle of pulling on a sports bra. A pair of running pants lay on the bed. “Oh, you know,” she said, sarcasm dripping off her words, “the usual shit.” She finished pulling on the spandex top. “The usual shit. Why can’t I stay? Why do I have to leave? It’s not like I can show my mother my scars.” She unbuttoned her pants next.

“That’s your hang up, not hers.” He closed the door and walked to her. “And did you answer her questions, or stone wall her?” he asked her as he hooked his fingers under the sports bra and pulled it up and off without her cooperation.

“Hey,” Christina grabbed for her clothing. When she couldn’t get it back from him, she stood there, hands on her hips. “I can’t tell her the full truth.” She glared at him. “You can’t tell a mother things like that. It wouldn’t be right.” She shook her head as she finished saying it.

He threw the sports bra across the room and stared into her eyes. “You tell her that her daughter is going back, risking her life, so that other people can be safe.” He swallowed, “You’ve never told a mother that their child was dead, and have her be clueless that her son was even in the Army. So what’s worse, clueing her in on the horrors of reality, or keeping her in the dark and possibly losing a daughter, without knowing why?”

“Jonathan.” She breathed, most of the anger from earlier gone from her voice and demeanor. “I’m trying to protect her, them. They don’t need to know. Chase didn’t need to know last night. He’s probably telling my father.” She moved her hand to motion toward the lake.

“Better you or him than me,” he said. “I dropped hints about it. So, yeah. I hope he is telling your dad.” He shook his head, “Your mom doesn’t need protection. She needs you. The woman has a daughter she doesn’t know, and she lost a son and her entire life.”

“Damn you.” she raised her bare palms flat on his chest. “

“It’s a curse.” He smirked. “You’re having dinner with your family tonight. No arguments. No excuses. I told your brother to invite them.”

“Great,” she said, looking at him with a smile and dropping her hands. “That means you’ll be here, too.”

“Someone has to cook them food that won’t kill them,” he grinned.

She didn’t lose the smile on her face. “You’re an ass,” she said a she waited for him to look.

“Yeah. But,” he said, leaning down inches from her face, “I’m cute, so I get away with it.”

“You’re more than cute,” she said, taking a step forward. “Now, are we going to stand here with me half naked or are we going for a run?”

“No run,” he said. “But we can go for a light jog.”

She narrowed her eyes at him and went on her tip toes to plant a quick kiss on his lips, “Fine, a jog.” She took a step back before turning and unzipping her pants and letting them drop to the floor.

He took a half step back and admired the view. “Damn. Damn, damn, damn.” He shook his head and gave her ass a smack. “If it wouldn’t kill me, I’d throw you down on that bed right now.” Instead, he walked back toward the door. He scooped up the sports bra and tossed it back to her, leaning against the door.

She made a small squeak when his hand connected with the flesh on her backside and she turned to look at him. “You know,” she took a step toward him. “there’s nothing saying we can’t take a shower before and after our jog.”

He nodded, staring at every inch of her, “I like that idea,” he nodded again, “a lot.”

“In the shower, thirty seconds, go.”

“Looks like you might be over your fear of touching me,” she put two of her fingers on the top of his chest and walked them down his body as they were washing up in the shower.

She closed her eyes for a moment and bit the corner of her lip as he washed a particularly sensitive part of her body. “Is this some elaborate plan to stop me from going for a run?”

“It doesn’t seem all that elaborate,” he answered. “Does it feel elaborate?”