Tempest - Kris Michaels Page 0,7

specific."

"I need to find her. I believe her to be as much of a prisoner as I was." He knew Fury had read his transcripts with the doctor. Hell, he wouldn't be surprised if Thanatos, as Fury's second here at the complex, had read them, too.

"Do you know where to start?" Thanatos hiked himself up to sit on the porch rail.

"I do."

Fury puffed a bit before he remarked, "You're not alone in this."

He pushed his rocker a bit and enjoyed the cigar and the companionship before he answered. "Everyone is alone in life... and in death." The memory of Pilar's hand stroking his cheek as he suffered flitted through his mind. "If you're lucky, you find someone to walk beside you." He took a puff on his cigar. "I've never been lucky."

Fury snorted. "Damn good thing you're not counting on luck. Check in with Anubis. The new protocols are in effect."

"Ah, yes, the collar and leash."

There were teams specifically trained and dispatched to the last known location of those who did not report in on time. No longer would Shadows be without support. After he was recovered and had reported the events that had transpired, it had been a logical step to ensure Guardian’s assets could access support immediately. Archangel had stipulated teams locate to a Shadow's general position for support. Check in was every twenty-four hours. Period. One minute late and the teams would be dispatched to go in and extract the Shadow. Logistically sound for retaining assets, but it put restrictions on people who should be able to act independent of control.

"Asset protection." Thanatos tapped his ashes into his hand.

He puffed his cigar and flicked his ashes onto the deck, sliding his foot on top of them to ensure there was no spark left. "Irritating and restrictive."

"Necessary," Fury added.

"Tell me you would have agreed to such limitations." Tempest rolled his head and stared at the original Shadow.

Fury shook his head. "No, but I worked in a different world at a different time. Now there are ways to check in that won't compromise position or concealment."

"And if the enemy should learn these methods?" Tempest stared at the red tip of his cigar.

Fury shrugged. "Then we move to the next method. Nothing is forever. Tech changes, we change."

Which was true, yet he couldn't help wondering... "Have you considered the Shadows may be moving toward obsolescence?"

"As long as there are monsters upon the earth, and innocents without hope, people like us will always be needed." Fury tapped his ashes onto the porch.

"I'm going after them." Tempest cleared his throat. "After I find her, I'm going after them." There was no need to define who 'them' was. Stratus and the Fates were his. He'd survived their version of hell, and he’d earned the right to send them to Satan’s depths, permanently.

"How will you find them? Guardian with all its vast resources haven’t been able to locate them." Thanatos extended his arms wide. "I know where you're coming from, remember I made a vow about my parents' killers. It became an obsession which nearly ruined my career and my life. Besides, Shadows aren't sanctioned to work in the States."

"True. True." He puffed on his cigar again. Guardian might not know how to find them, but he believed he had a lead. First, however, he had to locate Pilar. He prayed she'd done as he'd asked, and stayed safe until he could come for her. Tempest pushed his boot on the boards and set his rocker going again. It had been so long, she probably thought he was dead. Did she continue to rebel? Had her mother's desires become hers as well? The questions chased themselves around his mind.

They smoked together in a quiet, comfortable silence until the cigars came to an end. Thanatos slid from the rail and extended his hand. "I will miss you, and so will Eve."

"Take care, my friend."

"Always. I'm here if you need me as long as you need me." They shook, and Thanatos tugged him in for a hard hug before the man headed back to the clinic entrance of the facility.

Fury spoke, low and quiet, "No bullshit, there are no doctors around, are you okay?"

Tempest rocked in his chair and thought about the question. He'd probably never again be the man he had been, but he was as well as he could be. He had a future which consisted of ensuring the woman who saved him was well and happy and then tracking down and killing every