“We might have a situation on our hands.”
Wake touched the screen, and the flow of information came to a halt. “Do tell.”
Marco paused, and for just a moment, Wake got the impression that the vampire was uncomfortable “First, let me ask you a question. How is the progress on Warren?”
Wake leaned back, actually intrigued now, This game of cat and mouse wasn’t usually Marco’s style. Wake steepled his fingers under his chin. “Excellent, actually. We are using the latest strain of the virus, which should allow for more improvements on the original model than even you had hoped for.”
Marco’s eyes shifted, but Wake knew that was simply an effect of the contacts sliding slightly. Still, it only made him look more nervous. “Good, good. Keep up the work. When can we expect Warren to be finished with the process and ready to make a public appearance?”
Wake smiled, though he hid it with his fingers. “I’d estimate about a week.”
Now Marco’s discomfort became apparent. “Not any sooner? There is no way you can push the process along?”
This time Wake laughed outright. “We are not making a cup of soykaf, here, Mister D’imato. We are performing an experimental procedure that is probably the most delicate blend of science and magic this side of Aztlan’s delta clinics. Or, to be more succinct, no. I cannot rush this.”
The vampire sighed, and then nodded. “Just had to ask. I think I might have been a bit too hasty.”
Wake steepled his fingers again. “Oh?”
Marco nodded. “I had intended to kill two birds with one stone. My brother is an extremely calm man, except when it comes to family, I had thought to convert Warren to the cause and use his father’s natural protective nature to eliminate a potential problem. Not to mention getting vengeance on the man who has interfered with my plans.”
Marco paused, and Wake, smiling softly, said, “And things did not turn out quite the way you expected them too?”
Marco grimaced. “I underestimated my brother’s determination. I fully expected him to find my son’s killer, which is well within his abilities, and I even had a high degree of confidence that he would be able to dispose of the killer with little problem. However, I was a bit too slow.”
Wake leaned forward. “How do you mean?”
Marco shrugged, looking like a little boy who’s just broken his mother’s favorite vase. “I intended to destroy the small scrap of Warren’s genetic information before my brother could try ritual magic. Unfortunately, he beat me to it.”
Wake settled back slowly, letting the cracked leather of the chair comfort him. “You realize that this is a bad thing, of course.”
For a moment, anger flared on Marco’s face, but it died quickly. “Yes, and coupled with the fact that I can’t reach him… well, frankly, it has me worried.”
Wake shook his head slowly. “Assuming your brother has a mage competent enough to penetrate my magical defenses, what kind of force can he bring to bear?”
Marco shrugged again. “Actually, your best bet is the fact that Julius has no idea who you are, or where you are. I kept him in the dark about everything to do with you, as per our agreement. Also, if he still believes that my son’s killer is the one behind his son’s disappearance, then he might underestimate your compound’s particular capabilities.
“However if he has any decent recon info, then I would suggest you find a way to get out of there. Julius can bring enough firepower to bear to wipe out the entire area.”
Wake nodded. “And what exactly do you expect me to do?”
Marco paused, as if he had been about to say something, then changed his mind. “About Julius, he’s expendable. I’d rather he was captured, but if there is no alternative, then he can be replaced. As far as the rest of the men are concerned, they are disposable.”
Wake nodded. “Very good. You continue trying to stop him from your end, and I’ll make sure he doesn’t get through from this end.”
Marco shook his head. “You don’t understand If I can’t reach him and stop him, he will roll over you and your defenses like they don’t even exist.”
Wake smiled, letting his grin go wide. For the first time since he and Marco had met almost a year and a half ago, he saw something close to fear on the vampire’s face. “Don’t underestimate me. Your brother will not make it past my first barrier. Do you honestly think I would be foolish enough to show you all of my capabilities? Don’t flatter yourself. If you value your brother’s life at all, then I suggest you redouble your efforts to stop him. If he comes after me, I will destroy him.”
Marco took a deep breath, and let it out. “Of course I’ll do my best.”
“As will I.”
Suddenly, Wake touched his screen and Marco’s face sprang to life-size. A nervous tick was causing the vampire’s left eye to jump. “Show me your hands,” Wake said.
Marco looked troubled, and his left eye jumped even more frantically. “Why?”
“Just hold them up in front of the telecom.”
With a frown, Marco did as he was told. His hands, also coated with dusky make-up, twitched and fluttered as if they a life of their own.
“When did the tremors start?”
Marco looked down at his hands as if they had betrayed in. “Almost two weeks ago. However, it’s nothing. It passes quickly.”
Wake cursed. “Why didn’t you inform me?”
Marco shrugged again. “I told you, it’s nothing.”
Wake shook his head. “With a procedure as delicate and radical as the one you underwent, there is no room for posturing. I should have been informed immediately.”
Suddenly there was concern in Marco’s eyes, and because Wake had never seen it there before, it took him a moment to recognize it for what it was.
“Is it something I should worry about?”
Wake considered his response for a moment. “I’m not sure. I’m going to conduct a few tests with the tissue samples I took from you after the procedure. I’ll let you know if I find anything. However, for now, try to identify the times when the tremors hit, and what triggers them. That could be very important. It might be something we can easily correct.”
Marco nodded. “All right, I will. And I’ll try to find Julius again.”
Wake nodded and cut the connection.
He sat back in his chair and rolled up his sleeve again. Pulling another dermal from his desk drawer, he slid it into position next to the first.
Things are getting messy here, he thought, as the drug soothed him. He touched his screen again, and Pakow’s dark features Filled it. The man looked exhausted and wary. His thick hair was greasy, and a line of grime clung to the side of his forehead. “Pakow here.”
“We might have a situation on our hands. Go to code seven-red. We should ready thirty of the controlled troops, and bring another thirty onto standby. Deploy the hounds as well.”
Pakow’s thick eyebrows shot upward. “You’re expecting an assault?” His voice broke on the last word.
Wake shook his head, half in pity, half in disgust. “Get a grip on yourself. There’s a possibility that our friend D’imato may have led the wolf straight to our door. However, I don’t think it’s anything we can’t handle. If D’imato is correct it will be an assault of the frontal variety.”
Something very much like relief spread across Pakow’s face. “Certainly. I’ll call up for seven-red immediately.”
Wake rolled his neck, hearing his vertebrae crack back into alignment. “Excellent. I’ll be working here all night. I want hourly reports. Also, it would appear that Mister D’imato’s deterioration is progressing well ahead of schedule. I want you to run a full battery on the gene sequences we still have on him, and find out if we’ve missed something, or if his condition is an anomaly.”
“Of course.”