“I’m not at my peak either. I had to use a fair amount to deal with Carl de Bellisle. But I don’t intend to fight Nuru. I don’t want her job!” she eximed.


    Sigrid snorted in amusement, and the phone chirped. Cam pressed the button. “Yes?”


    “Your 9 AM is here,” Felix said.


    “Thank you. Please send them in.”


    Sigrid stood to face the door as Cam joined her. “Remember our visit to Walter’s cavern?” the blond asked quietly, and Cam nodded as she smiled at Nuru, who strode in with her bodyguards at her sides. They shut the door.


    The waves of energy radiating from the leader confirmed Cam’s guess that she’d been overfeeding in preparation for this meeting. She sighed, as in contrast, Cam held back on her output the best she could. She forced a smile onto her lips.


    “Greetings, Nuru Onwudiwe,” Cam began and bowed her head to the other woman.


    “Cam Vimor, you are not presenting the excess of power you did the other night,” Nuru snapped.


    Cam looked up and nodded. “As I exined in my note, that night was an anomalous situation. I was meeting with the leader of one of thergest Were packs in the United States. He doesn’t have a stable mind, so I couldn’t show weakness before him.”


    “As you fail to show respect before your leader now!” one of Nuru’s attendants red, triggering her partner’s aggression, as well. Suddenly, they dropped the mors hiding their spears, the deadly points falling down to point their way.


    “Sun!”


    Cam closed her eyes and threw her arm up before them, but her guests were caught off guard as the explosion of brilliant white light mmed into them.


    Sigrid’s spear spun and knocked aside the two points. Then she turned it again and drove the hardened end of the shaft forward in two quick jabs. Two sharp impacts sounded as the spear women jerked back, knocked entirely off their feet. Sigrid stepped back as she put her weapon and armor away once more. “Moon,” she sighed, content with the brief sparring. Such a short thing could hardly be called a battle.


    Cam lowered her arm and blinked at the sight of Nuru rubbing her eyes and gawking at her two unconscious warriors.


    “Please, this isn’t necessary, Nuru. I’m not challenging your position as head of the Subi Association. I have no ambition to take on that role. My position as CEO of VRL makes me happy and brings me all the satisfaction I need,” Cam pleaded.


    Nuru knelt and touched the necks of her attendants. They were still alive, but each had a sizable bump on their foreheads. She stood and looked at Sigrid. “You’re stronger and faster than we were led to believe Valkyries could be. You’re certainly blindingly bright when you fight.” She looked to Cam. “You showed more power than someone of your age should have. Something is going on here that is far outside the norm. As the leader of the Subus Association, I demand-”


    “I’m terribly sorry. We’re under an edict from the Hidden Races Council not to speak of this,” Cam said. “If you feel you need the information, you’ll need to direct your request to them. I’m unable to tell you anything as they would getwindof it.”


    Nuru’s eyebrows rose up as she stared at Cam, hearing her emphasis. She stepped closer until she was almost nose to nose with the woman. Cam didn’t blink, nor did she give ground. Nuru inhaled, taking her scent, and her eyes showed her shock. She looked at Sigrid, who just smiled at her, so she moved closer to the blonde and inhaled once more. Her surprised gaze looked into blue eyes, then over to Cam’s, and noted the gold flecks in her irises almost appeared to be glowing. She stepped back to look at the two women.


    “I see. I will take you at your word, for I believe you’re involved in something that exceeds the scope of the Subus Association’s leadership. I cannot say I’m not exceedingly curious and perhaps more than a little jealous. Venturing into the unknown like the explorers of ancient times has always been a dream of mine.”


    Cam smiled and nodded. “If therees a time when the edict can be safely lifted, it will be my greatest honor to contact you at the earliest opportunity.”


    Nuru tipped her head forward in thanks, then looked to her attendants and sighed.


    Sigrid smiled. “I’ll call for smelling salts… and ice.”


    -=-


    Homnd Security headquarters was buzzing with excitement. Therge auditorium, which only a day earlier witnessed the unveiling of a new technological breakthrough, now contained soldiers unlike any seen before. Their uniforms were a little worse for wear as moving as fast as they did, the fabric took a beating. Still, they stood at parade rest before theirmanding officer in even rows on the auditorium floor.


    Colonel Crane smiled at his people then turned to General Baines, who was eyeing the soldiers critically. The older man turned to Gordon.


    “Why are their uniforms so badly damaged?” he grumbled.


    Crane nodded thoughtfully and kept his irritation at the stupid question from his face. “We discovered with the original Silver People that their clothes couldn’t endure the rapid movements of their running. They don’t wear clothes at all. The Sergeant has exined that they haven’t yet run at full speed, so the uniforms’ tougher material hassted longer. They may eventually need to go without as well.”


    The general looked at him in shock. “You can’t have soldiers running around with their Johnsons pping in the breeze!”


    “Not to worry, General, we don’t have those anymore!” Yablonski announced happily. The Colonel and General stared at the Corporal as the room went silent. “I mean, we don’t really need them anymore, and running with them would be painful,” the younger silver man said awkwardly.


    “You don’t need them?” the General asked.


    Crane frowned at the soldier as he was annoyed with his loose tongue.


    “Uh, yeah. I mean, we don’t eat or drink, so we don’t need to… release stuff, and I don’t think we have sex the usual way,” Yablonski answered slowly, obviously regretting his urge to speak.


    “Without one, I guess youcouldn’thave sex the usual way,” Gordon asserted.This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    “Yes, Colonel. Sorry, sir,” the soldier said quietly.


    “This transformation to Silver People has affected their discipline, has it?” the General growled at the Colonel.


    Gordon looked to Mick. “Sergeant. Report on status change for Corporal Yablonski,” he called out crisply.


    “Sir! Corporal Yablonski continues to be a discipline issue for the squad. No change in status, sir!” the Sergeant returned, equally crisp.


    Gordon turned back to the General. “The corporal was new to the team before this change and hadn’t quite achieved the required level of maturity. He’s a work in progress.” The General sniffed but chose not to argue the point. Gordon redirected to the older man’s first squabble. “So, their uniforms aren’t really an issue.”


    He did a quick headcount and realized their number had increased! “Jackson! yne! Rewan! Front and center!” he snapped.


    The three young men were instantly standing at attention before him, as silver as the others.


    “Who gave you permission to change into Silver People?” he barked.


    The three looked guiltily at each other but remained silent, so Crane looked to the sergeant who was studiously looking elsewhere. “Why-”


    “We’re part of this team, sir!” Jackson said crisply.


    Gordon wanted to throttle them, but he understood their youthful enthusiasm and desire. That said, he scowled at the team. “No more!”


    “There’s only you and Dne left, sir,” Yablonski offered, then shut up at his Colonel’s frustrated re.


    Rolling his neck to relieve the tension, Crane turned back to the General and was surprised to see the man was looking at the three young men with what could almost be approval.


    The old soldier seemed to realize he was being watched, so he turned to Crane. “If they’re in the army, they need to be dressed as soldiers! We need to be able to identify them by their rank insignia and name badges!”


    The Colonel held back his sigh. “I suppose the R&D department will have to spend some time and money on devising a new uniform that moves with them.”


    “Is that really your first priority?”


    Crane and Baines turned to see a familiar crooked smile and Wace following the man as he watched the General with an annoyed expression.


    “What’s your brilliant suggestion?” the General snapped at the smiling man.


    The tall man stopped before the assembled soldiers and gazed at them. His smile didn’t dim at all as he turned his head toward the Colonel. “I’d like to see a demonstration of making a Silver Person.”


    The chamber went quiet again, and the soldiers shifted uneasily as they watched this stranger.


    Gordon cleared his suddenly tight throat. “We’d need a volunteer-”


    “How fortunate I brought one along,” the smiling man said and gestured for someone to enter the room.


    All eyes turned to see a big, handsome marine in dress uniform wheel himself across the floor to stop before the General and snap a sharp salute to the man.


    Baines’ face was a study in control. He was obviously surprised to see the Gunnery Sergeant. He also obviously recognized the man. He nced at the man who brought him with a sh of hate, then went back to the marine with the merest flicker of worry. He finally allowed himself a proud smile. “I wasn’t aware you were in Washington, Gunny.”


    “General, I flew in this morning after receiving a callst night to report for a special assignment,” the man said.


    It was then the marine noticed the rows of Silver People in torn army uniforms. His eyes widened in shock. “General?”


    “A moment, son.” He gestured for the nameless one to follow him to the side of the room where they had a quiet but sharp conversation.