Cryptid: Resolution: Cryptid Trilogy, #3

By Jacob Roff and Douglas Roff

About the Book

 

They live among us.

 

Adam continues the development of his own immense mental and physical powers as he begins his peace overtures to the Gens Collective and the Black Shirts, searches for the elusive Nobilus Maximus and Derek Nobilus, newly discovered to be their hereditary leader. What's so special about the Nobilus and their gruff Brit leader?

 

Behind the scenes, Saldana Ri, ruthless leader of the Black Shirt Movement, and Cardinal Bellinelli continue to plot against humanity, each other, and the Gens Collective. Kidnapping, murder and attempts to murder Adam's closest friends and extended family results in horrific retribution designed by Adam.   

Adam can now achieve deep mind union with others and transfer knowledge to those he trusts and chooses. The result is not always positive.

Historical allies begin to doubt each other.

 

Adam seeks a peaceful solution to the existence of the three races, but governments and others seek to steal his knowledge. Adam begins to focus in on the key aspects for survival of the planet, more attempts to disrupt his efforts ensue from many sources.

 

A new being, half mortal and half immortal finally makes herself l known to both Adam and his family. Her role is not clear at first, but, in the end, it is revealed she has been sent to Earth to kill Adam when the final battle for supremacy is fought, no matter who wins.

 

New beings, governments, terrorists, and even former friends all seek to divert Adam from his destiny; his response, though cruel, is focused on the task of saving the planet from its own folly. Will he succeed? Even Adam has his doubts. Those who stand by him are resolute and ready to die for him. Others see only their own survival, their own gratification, and the pursuit of petty private victories.

 

Massive battles take place and the carnage is horrific. Old enemies switch side when they gain the knowledge Adam has to offer, and with each tiny victory or step forward, Adam inches toward the final battles that will offer either the hope of survival or the certainty of death.

Does he have the will, the strength, and the fortitude to complete his tasks he believes are assigned by God? What will the Vatican do? Who and what is Cardinal Bellinelli and what is his agenda for the future of Earth?

 

New tech, new weapons and new characters move the intensity of the storyline along as the pieces eventually all fall into place.

 

Twists and turns, plot surprises and duplicity unfold as the struggle for power comes to its final conclusion. Will Adam survive? His family? Who will control planet Earth after the final battle?

 

Murder, intrigue, deception, treachery, lust, and betrayal all come together in the Cryptid Trilogy as mankind faces off against an unknown species and new forces bent on absolute control leading to the total destruction of homo sapiens as the dominant species on the planet.

 

Can the planet survive such a clash of unknown forces? Will it?

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Douglas Roff
• Release date: Jan 28, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224059782

Book preview

Part One

Challenges

Chapter 1

It had been months since the residents of the Loft relocated to the Manor. Team Hannah Parker moved into the old manor house while new accommodations were being planned and then constructed. After all the commotion at Caskey AFB with the Fortizi sisters and the Gens military, the Barrows Bay crowd returned to the manor in time for Nocera 'Noki' Lee to give birth to her son with Adam St. James, Abraham David St. James. The arrival of Abraham St. James brought daily work life to a virtual standstill as the parents, grandparents, cousins, and aunts, and uncles, and the many new friends in residence, all needed facetime with the newest member of their burgeoning extended family and his mother.

The elders of the St. James clan fussed over the child, and advice, whether sought or unsought, was given and received by his parents. Noki had experienced grueling field training in the Army, starting in OCS and continuing long afterwards. But she told Misti Alarcon St. James that it wasn’t as tiring or stressful as motherhood. She worried if her son slept normally, and then again if he cried to be fed or needed his diaper changed. She told her friend that she was exhausted all the time, and, if she wasn’t worrying, she was sleeping and then she felt guilty for being a bad mom for resting, leaving her son to be tended by the entire campus at the manor and not her personally.

No matter what she did or thought, she somehow knew she was already a terrible mom.

The practiced moms told her these feelings were normal and would dissipate in time, except the worrying, of course. That would last her entire life. Moms, they told her, worry about their kids, no matter what their age. And they told her to enjoy these few short years of childhood that would disappear in a flash. Noki was tremendously happy and fulfilled, yet teeming with apprehension and anxiety every day.

Adam was never far away, and spent hours, and hours tending to his own responsibilities as a new and inexperienced father to his son, and helpmate to his partner. They both read books, plenty of them, on child rearing and early childhood development but, in the end, they mostly just asked Maria Suarez, Julia Eagan, Betsy McQueen and the Fortizi sisters what to do about one thing or another.

Adam was distracted, joyfully, but knew time was running out on his big call with Enzo and Paulo Fortizi. He had promised to return their wives and kids, but so far had only made good on returning Jason Fortizi to Paulo and allowing the Asinamayov’s to leave Caskey. Adam had failed to apprise Paulo of the many changes that had taken place over the past few months, including that the Fortizi women and children no longer dwelt in the United States. And he had only hinted at the final and staunch decision by Helena and Bella Fortizi to never return to their Gens mates.

Then, this very morning he received an email from Paulo expressing impatience at the lack of progress and contact. He insisted on speaking to his family and soon. When could they do that? Adam thought briefly, then replied he would call Paulo at ten in the morning the following day and they could discuss the situation.

Paulo replied quickly that the time was fine, but to call a new number, and, as far as he was concerned, there was no situation to discuss. The wives and children should be packed up and taken to the nearest airport and sent to Wilmington as expeditiously as possible. And they had better be happy and healthy. Things would deteriorate quickly if the families had been ill-treated in any way.

Adam still marveled at the bellicose nature of Paulo’s communications, but it wasn’t tens of thousands of humans that lay dead in the forests of Idaho. While Paulo’s threats were most certainly idle, his sentiment was not. If his wish for the return of his wife and children was genuine, there would be problems. But Adam suspected neither Paulo nor Enzo wished for the return of their families. According to Helena and Bella, the release of the families would be awkward and inconvenient; they had greater propaganda value as hostages held against their will by humans. Even the return of Jason was problematic to Paulo’s developing story that the brothers’ wives and children were probably dead at the hands of cruel humans.

No, the purpose of this call would be about something else entirely.

THE DYNAMIC HAD CHANGED once the sisters arrived in London; most important was the continuing relationship between Octavio and Bella, and a new man in Helena’s life. There was no possibility that either woman, or their children, the girls anyway, would ever be returned to the Fortizi men.

Things started out rough at Caskey, but as time went by in London, Bella and Helena became more comfortable in London, though they lived at the Loft with Octavio and the Thierry’s, while everyone else lived at the manor.

By the time this situation with the women and girls going back to Paulo and Enzo reared its ugly head, demanded by Paulo, there was simply no way it was ever going to happen. But how to resolve this dilemma? Most thought Adam would simply have to tell Paulo no, and be prepared for the threats and vitriol.

Adam had a different plan.

ADAM CALLED HELENA and Bella and asked them to bring their men and meet him at his home in the Misti Building. Helena couldn’t figure out what was such a rush; Bella knew right away. She too, like Adam and Edward, knew this day would come.

Fifteen minutes later, the two couples were seated with Adam, Misti, and Alana McCarthy in the large living room, each set of friends seated in couches facing each other.

Bella wasted no time, They contacted you, didn’t they? They called to make us go back to them.

Adam had tried to prepare himself, but, while he knew he would never give up Bella, Helena and the kids, he wanted to make clear to Enzo and Paulo why. There were the real reasons, and then there would be the ones he would give. While they were related, they were not identical.

Yes, the day has come. Paulo wants a chat tomorrow and he wants you, Helena and the kids on the next flight to Wilmington.

Helena panicked, You told him no, right?

No, not exactly ...

But you wouldn’t ...?

You’re not going anywhere Helena, nor your kids nor Bella or the girls. But I don’t want to just email him to fuck off either. But since this show isn’t really about you, I’ve suggested that we really ought to do this man to man, so to speak. He still threatens and although he can’t touch you or us, and will never be able to do so, he could still do something stupid to turn this situation to his advantage. This is what I think it’s really all about. Something retaliatory and lethal.

Bella looked at her sister.

He’s right, you know. Paulo and Enzo don’t want us back; they just want to drum up more trouble with the Collective about the Human. He’ll make it sound like this was a kidnapping, and we’re being tortured underground in some medieval castle. When we come back, if we come back, we’re dead shortly afterwards, and it’s all because of the humans.

Helena began to cry. She didn’t want this day to come; she just wanted Enzo and Paulo to go away. She was happy and her kids were happy. She could never return to her old way of life. She’d rather die.

Bella steeled herself for the inevitable. What’s the plan? You have one, I assume.

Adam said, Of course. Plan A was to kill Paulo and Enzo. Problem solved. But it looks like we will have to go to Plan B until I can fulfill Plan A.

Which is?

I’ll talk to him, explain what I now know about the Code of Strictures, Stricture 57, and tell him we’re giving you sanctuary. And, since you guys were never formally married in the legal sense in America, you will not be returning to your mates or returning to the Collective. You’ve decided to stay with us.

Helena said, He and Paulo will claim ‘common law marriage’ and get us back legally. He’s just that cruel.

Adam chuckled, not to the liking of Helena, Bella, or any of the women. This wasn’t funny.

"Sorry ladies, but, no, he won’t. He’d have to appear in a human court, which he will never do, submit to human justice, which he will also never do, and reveal himself, which he can’t.

Bella was frightened of any contact with her husband, and was weak in saying, You don’t need to do this, you know. Helena and I should make the call. They’re our mates. We should be the ones telling them, not you.

Helena’s look was utter panic.

Adam said, "If this was just marital discord, then yes. But this is the planned outright murder of you and your kids. Besides, Gens law is meaningless in America and in Great Britain. You can’t just make up some law and say, ‘I get to kill my wife. She can’t cook, and she’s lazy.’ That’s nuts."

Adam thought for a moment.

This has nothing to do with you, Helena, or the children. Paulo and Enzo both know I’m coming for them and, when I do, I’m going to kill them. While he may threaten and try to make something out of this, he’s not going to succeed. I’m not trying to interfere if you really want to talk to the brothers, but I think you should leave this to me.

Bella summoned all her strength and said, It’s really not your problem. Let us do this. We want to help.

"It is a family issue now, not just yours, or just Helena’s. It’s all our problem. You are family, and this is the way we do things in this family. A man once threatened Alana; now he’s dead. Again, problem solved."

Adam paused.

Besides, who said you aren’t going to help? You both have plenty to do. Assignments coming soon.

Alana looked at Bella and Helena, then came over sitting next to the sisters, and said, Don’t worry ladies, Adam will take care of this. You have nothing to worry about. If he says this problem will go away, it will.

Adam looked at Bella, But, like I said, I do need your help. You and Helena.

Whatever you want, anything. What can we do?

How good are you at writing articles for newspapers?

Never written anything in my entire life. Neither has Helena, so I guess not so good.

Adam looked over at Dr. Norman Drake, the new anthropologist and language expert.

Sports reporter and editor for your college newspaper, right?

Yeah, a million years ago, said Norman.

Minor in sports journalism?

Correct.

"Well, I need about two thousand words from Bella and Helena, and you’ll ghost the story. Then Bella and Helena will translate into the Gens common tongue and audio record the message."

Helena said, Nobody’s going to read them or hear anything. A waste of time, no?

Nope, that’s where Alana and I come in. Well, to be honest, it’s just her, but I’ll be with her like a cheerleader all the way.

Misti laughed. Cross dressing? That’s new.

Don’t knock it ‘till you’ve tried it.

Misti said, I have. It’s ... liberating!

Adam turned to the ladies and Norman.

I need this right away. Thought through, written, edited, and translated by morning. I happen to have an outline of talking points. I’ll see you all by midnight or at the latest by five in the morning. Up to you. Alana and I have some work to do, then I make the call tomorrow at ten. Misti will be there as will you, Octavio. Norman, you are also invited, but I suspect you’ll be up late. Ladies, your presence is neither requested nor required.

The ladies and their men left the residence, heading back to their temporary lodgings in the old manor house. Progress had been made on their new homes, but it would still be a while before the homes would be completed. Security protocols being what they were, these construction projects would take a little longer to finish.

Bella stopped outside the front door of their temporary home. She looked at Octavio and Norman. OK, fess up. Do you know what he’s up to?

The men looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders.

No idea, said Norman.

Ditto, said Octavio. But I think we might have a clue or two from the outline he gave us. But he didn’t bring Normie or me in on any of it.

Octavio continued, I think cousin Adam and cousin Misti and Alana McCarthy don’t think this has anything to do with you, Helena, or the kids. It has to do with Adam. Just him. Misti wants to be involved, pregnant and all, because of the Grand Canyon. I think they want me there to be the boogey man.  But what, how, or why is beyond me.

Helena looked at her new mate. Normie?

I’m sorry, luv, but he didn’t say anything to me and I didn’t ask. Besides I’m a lot more afraid of Adam and Misti than I am of you, especially when Adam has that look. Don’t get me wrong, you’re not a woman to be trifled with, but Adam kills people who annoy him and so does his wife.

Helena was unsatisfied not knowing the plan, but relented. OK, let’s start writing then. What is the outline for?

Chapter 2

Norman and the ladies presented themselves at the front door of the Misti Building a few minutes before midnight.

Helena said, You have two languages on the written articles and common tongue on audio. Normie says these should make you happy. BBC quality. Now are you going to tell us any more of this ‘strategy’? We are, after all, involved, you know.

"You are indeed, but fugit inreparabile tempus."

Bella said, That’s an answer?

Norman said, "Tempus fugit is old Latin for ‘time flies’. He means he has more work to do, time is short, so good night, ladies, sleep tight, and don’t let the bedbugs bite."

Helena and Bella were confused. They hated human rhymes, mushy terms of endearment, and words they thought snooty along with witty double entendres.

Exactly, said Adam.

And with that, the door closed, and Adam was off with Alana to the brand new tech center. The pair labored for several hours, but somewhere around four or five in the morning, they were back in the Misti Building, Alana now sleeping with Misti, and Adam now with Noki. The pair caught a couple hours of shut eye, then they convened in the secure communications room of the tech center with Misti and Octavio for the ten in the morning call with Paulo.

READY?

Adam looked around the room. Since Adam would do all the talking, and he was the only one who knew all four corners of what he had in mind, they all nodded yes. Alana peeled off from the group, sat at a computer and put on headphones. The gentle tapping of her keyboard was the only sound breaking the stillness of the morning.

Adam dialed the new phone number which Paulo answered within a few rings.

Why Adam, punctual as always. How are you and yours today?

Good, good. Thanks for asking. Still tracing our calls, I assume?

Why not? You?

Certainly. Got a teensy bit suspicious about the new phone number. On the move, are we?

Let’s say an old army base isn’t my preferred accommodation, for me, or for my family. And, on that subject, when can I expect them home?

Well, Paulo, I have some negative news for you on that front. The bad news is that both Bella and Helena are unwilling to return with the kids to the warm and loving embrace of the brothers Fortizi. Seems that they think their lives would be in danger if they did.

Ridiculous! Why would their lives be in any jeopardy at all? This is a manufactured excuse for you to keep them as hostages. Jason said he expected you would try something like this. He said your treatment of him, and the rest of our family was abysmal. You delight in physical abuse of our families, which Jason said was an open and daily entertainment for your jailers. And that Bella wept openly when he left at the thought of separation.

"Really? That’s interesting that you said that as I have video of Jason leaving, with sound. I suspect you just made that up, so you can replay our conversation today as proof of a false assertion. You recording this Paulo? No matter. Let’s move on.

"You are the head of the entire Gens Collective, correct?"

Of course.

Paulo was suddenly uncomfortable with the direction of the conversation; he had in fact decided to make a series of false accusations and spread the word that the humans couldn’t be trusted, and that their depravity had reached even his own family.

What exactly is stricture fifty-seven in the Code of Strictures?

Some obscure rule from who knows how long ago. What does that have to do with anything?

Well, because it isn’t so old, and, besides, it was you who proposed it. Twenty or thirty years ago.

So?

"So, how long have you known about the issue of the many transformed Gens unable to return to natural state, Paulo? When you were back in Italy, or only after you landed in the US? A convenient method to suppress dissent and kill the opposition, wouldn’t you say? And you must know that this kind of punishment is illegal in America and in the rest of the civilized world."

"We’re not human. We can do as we please. We’re the Gens Collective."

How long have you known, Paulo?

This isn’t an interrogation. I will not stand for this. When are you returning my family to me?

"I told you, Paulo. Never. Your mate and daughters will never come back to you. You’d only have them killed. Just like your Uncle Thomas, dear old Tomas di Gensarii.’

Ridiculous, scurrilous slander. You’re making all of this up!

"No, I’m not Paulo. And you know it. You and your brother have been biding your time plotting to kill your wives and eliminate them from the picture. You and your brother have other mates and children, proper women from good families in the Collective. Not like Helena and Bella, from inferior stock. Gens Germania. The arranged marriages with them didn’t work out so well, and your political wrangling to use them began to fray at the edges. They had to go. Tomas knew this secret, and so do Bella and Helena, as well you know. The kids would find out sooner or later and then what? The king of the Gens Collective with a human family. Can’t transform. Oops we can fix that, with stricture fifty-seven. Can’t transform, so legally, according to the Strictures, they must be put to death. That is what the stricture says, isn’t it? Quickly and quietly. Face it, they were never going to return alive, no matter what. They’re dead in each of your scenarios, except one; the one that actually happened.

You thought this would be an enormous headache. Better to get them at Caskey in South Dakota rather than wait until they got home. But you couldn’t get at them at Caskey. You thought your psycho friend Demitri could get close enough to deal with them quietly at our base, but the ladies wanted no part of seeing him.

You have quite an imagination, Adam. You can’t prove any of this.

"Prove any of this? Prove it! That’s rich. Oh, no my friend, we don’t need ‘proof’ of this fuck up; that’s where you’re wrong. You see, I can and will prove all the other things you’ve done in secret. For example, I can prove how inept you were in accounting, and how much money was taken from the Collective over the past ten years to fund the Black Shirt Movement. I can prove that the Black Shirts bamboozled you. Tactically. And they made fools of you and your councils. Right from under your very noses. And, I can prove that the Black Shirts are much larger than you thought, are better organized, and much better run than the Collective."

No one will believe you. The story is absurd on its face; slanderous.

Slander is only slander if the statement is false.

"Not to us. Not the Gens."

"It’s a good story and defense until you’re audited. Did you know that the Preserve in Colorado was mortgaged by the Hanley brothers, and will likely go into foreclosure in the next six months? We have so much on you and, for that matter, on them. About the members of your councils, many of whom can no longer transform. How many millions of Gens are there who can’t transform any longer either? Do you intend to kill them all, or just a few to make a point? Is that how you keep a grip on the councils and the rabble; coerce them by threatening death? How long have you known this, Paulo? You and your brother? Your brother lost the demora to you - twice. Yet he’s still alive? Got something on you, bud? I read in one of the books just how the Fortizi clan, from a small rural and backwards part of Italy, suddenly ascended to the heights - global leadership of the Collective."

Meaningless banter and drivel.

"Perhaps, but then we also have access to all of your dark sites on the web, in the cloud, and elsewhere, you know the ones the councils don't know about. We have the access codes to all the websites the Gens go to for information and we now have control of them. You built them, the Black Shirts stole them, and now we stole them back from the Black Shirt thieves. Man, you guys are incompetent. I mean really, really incompetent."

Adam paused for effect. And that little trojan you created, the one your techies put in the websites to save their lives if codes didn’t get input every so often, they’re gone too. So is the techie and his family.

So?

"Now, here’s what we’re going to do Paulo. You’re going to say that your families have been found unharmed and moved to a secret location for their protection. I’ve already drafted that message. We have uploaded a small volume, a tome, that recounts, and proves, your misfeasance, malfeasance and stupidity along with your power drunk brother. It’s already on all your Gens sites. If I don’t enter a code every other day, then this tome gets published on those sites. Emails go out automatically informing the populace. Your wives have drafted a little manifesto, which we have compiled, and verified the existence of the Black Shirts, their leadership, and their little science experiments, all with funding thanks to the Collective."

Paulo said, I see.

"I hope you do Paulo, because if anyone ever bothers either Helena or Bella, or any of the kids, I will rain hell down on your heads. I believe we will meet one day, and I think you know why, and where, just not when. I will meet your brother, too. In the end, I will kill you both. Never, I repeat never, say a bad word about Bella or Helena; only lavish praise and admiration for them as the paradigm of modern Gens warrior princesses. Be heartfelt and sincere or your fucking days are numbered."

"Big talk for a puny human. When I meet you, we will both be in our natural states according to the prophecy, that mythology of days gone by. Every Gens knows the story. Like Little Red Riding Hood. Only when we meet will we see who walks away, and whose carcass is left on the plains for the carrion vultures to dine on."

Perhaps. Perhaps not. But I can tell you Paulo, and you too Enzo if you’re listening in, that if you deviate one iota, I will send my enforcer to meet up with you. He’s here with me now. He’s been fucking up your folks for me since Princeton, and the Grand Canyon. His special Ops teams, about which you know nothing, are the very ones that destroyed your labs, and killed so many of your people. Then I’m going to send my other teams who did a number on the Black Shirts in Barrows Bay and in Idaho. When, and if, you meet up with them, you will literally be staring at the face of extinction. Behave and we all find time to work out our relationship. But transgress, and you are all dead.

OK.

Is there any part of this message that’s unclear to you?

No.

Then, have a nice day.

ADAM LEANED BACK IN his chair and looked at Alana.

Any luck?

Nope. The base has been abandoned, maybe a few folks left behind. But essentially they’re gone.

Electronics?

Changed. One hundred percent new and, so far, untraceable.

They must’ve figured something out, you think?

"Nope. They probably couldn’t figure anything out, so the best plan was to ditch the compromised stuff and get all new stuff. Then rebuild with one or more new air gapped systems, and a new phone system."

Can we find them again?

Maybe, but if they’ve gone offshore, or really go far off the grid it could be difficult. On the other hand, I’d bet cold cash that one or more of his people who were supposed to turn in or shut down their electronics failed to do so.

Why?

Human nature, so to speak. Why throw out perfectly good stuff? Especially if Paulo didn’t explain why they should ditch the old stuff. Family, friends, pics, video, even humans they had grown to like. Keep the phone, then see what happens later.

Wouldn’t getting all new stuff compromise their ability to communicate? They would need to do a lot of new networking.

No, not really. Building a new network wouldn’t be that hard if they have enough cash. But, if they’re cash poor, then they have the same problem as the Black Shirts. And I’ll bet they haven’t widely distributed the new tech.

Can we cripple them further? Any good ideas?

A few. A bunch. Oh hell, they’re already locked out of their cash accounts. I thought that’s what you would want me to do. I checked their spending and they’ve only bought a little bit of new stuff. They’re probably wondering if we can find them after this call today.

God, you are amazing. A-fucking-mazing.

OCTAVIO WAS STILL IN the room, as was a very pregnant Misti, and Alana. Adam turned to his cousin and said, Take a copy of the conversation, and share it with the girls and Norman. I hope it will ease their minds.

Is it all true?

Almost all. Some wasn’t completely confirmed, but very likely to have been the case. The best stuff is what Bella, Helena and Norman wrote last night. Give them our thanks, and our congratulations on a team project well done.

Octavio turned to exit the Com Center and go home. As he left, he turned to the remaining three.

You guys are wicked smart and wicked tough. Glad I’m family, and even more that we’re on the same team.

Misti said, And you thought we girls were just sex toys with gorgeous tits.

Well, you are both beautiful, I don’t know about the sex toys and, let’s face it, you each have amazing tits. That’s not rude, just an observation. And cousin Adam, thanks. Thanks for everything you’ve done. Fuck that was smooth.

Adam turned to Misti and Alana and asked, Can we go home now? Grab some sleep?

Yes sir. I think a little nap is called for. You did good today, mister. Very, very good.

Truthfully, Alana did all the real work, along with Normie, Helena and Bella. I just barked on the phone, and sounded all tough and badass.

You have additional info. Something you’re not sharing, I take it.

A little. Might be real, might be fiction. Helena has been holding off telling us more about it thinking we would just laugh at her along with Bella. Silly superstition, according to Bella. Paulo mentioned it in passing, but if it is that widely known, then there is purpose for everything we do from now on. Helena said Bella isn’t laughing any more, nor should we. They will put a thing together, and then we’ll all meet and talk about what it means, if anything. But they also told me something they didn’t think was important, but I now believe is actually critical.

What’s that?

ADAM’S RELATIONSHIP between himself and his wives on one hand, and the truth on the other, were never as strong as his wives hoped. While he discussed developments in the project with his mates, there were things he didn’t reveal and weren’t discoverable, even in mind union with him. His wives thought that they were all open books. They were not; Adam was not either. For the past year or, so Adam’s brain/mind function had continued to develop at an accelerated pace; indeed, this development could be traced back to Hawaii. He assumed it was some sort of maturation process, and perhaps it was. But the key new feature of the development of his skills and abilities was that not all his progress and knowledge went automatically to his wives when in union. Adam knew what was and what wasn’t shared, but still failed to tell those who should have been told.

Two women already knew of the myth; neither knew that Adam was aware, and already believed in it.

One of these abilities was something that was critical to his survival in the fight against Paulo. The Prophecy stated that Adam, or at least the Chosen One, would fight one of two brothers in his natural state, human form, and the brothers while each was in natural state. The fight would put Adam at a disadvantage if he was in human form while Paulo was in Gens natural state. He did not give it much thought, as he had been taught by his Father confessor and Maria that God never gives us a task we cannot fulfill.

What struck him like lightning one day, out-of-the-blue, was that he had somehow acquired the ability to transform from human state to Gens natural state unaided by blood or water. He could simply will it, and when he did, he could transform into a monster known to the Gens as the Red Gens Manti. In this state, he couldn’t be defeated by any living Gens who didn’t match his genetic qualities. Adam assumed that neither Paulo nor his brother had those abilities, so he decided that revealing this factoid wasn’t in his best interest; Paulo would likely go into hiding and try to defeat the prophecy by holding up somewhere and waiting Adam out. Thus, he decided not to say anything to his wives or colleagues for fear of it leaking out, and eventually getting into Paulo's ears.

A mistake, as he would learn more than once before this saga ended. While in most cases, his defense was he did not wish to worry his wives or his people, it was always their wish to share his burden. And it was their right to know. The risk applied equally to all; so too should all, or almost all, have relevant knowledge.

The discovery of his ability came to him while exploring his own genetics, and after exploring and re-exploring Helena’s mind trying to simply unlock the physical mystery of transformation. As he began to understand how the Gens transformed, he realized that he was not fully human, but an entirely new kind of being that had all of the genetics of humans, Gens and Nobilus. His natural state was no longer human, but a combination of at least the three.

Plus, one more.

What remained without revealing his true nature to his wives and colleagues was to get a more intimate understanding of the prophecy that Paulo casually mentioned, also known to most Gens, but not to all.

Adam discovered the existence of the Eighty-One from Helena while she was otherwise occupied in union and physical congress, enjoying robust sex.

What more he wished to learn could only, at this point, be derived from entering the minds of Bella and Helena who had critical knowledge he wished now to learn. It was likely not experiential knowledge or something they knew then later forgot, but instead was something still lodged deep in memory or perhaps in their DNA. Accessing this knowledge now was probably next to impossible. They would never permit Adam that kind of access.

Failing to reveal his new knowledge coupled with the need for union with Helena and Bella was explosive if not revealed truthfully and soon. He could simply lie and say his awareness was recent, which was at least partially true. Nonetheless, Adam kept his own counsel on this matter; likely a mistake and a gamble.

It wouldn’t turn out well when discovered.

Chapter 3

The ladies, the kids , and Norman were ecstatic over the results of the call with Paulo. Everyone was in a good mood, but Octavio sensed that while his cousin Adam was happy, he wasn’t that happy.

What’s up, cuz? You don’t seem very festive.

There’s a shit load more to do now, and the level of danger, for all of us, and to the success of our project, will be decided in the next couple of years with and by people we haven’t met, we don’t know, and whose trustworthiness we’re unable to assess. There are variables we don’t control, and some new capabilities I have in development I don’t yet fully understand. But in a month or two, maybe longer, I am going to need your help and support. I want you to come to work for me right away, just me, and find a replacement for your job in Ops.

"You sure, cuz? I mean what can I do for you that isn’t Ops?"

Trust me when I say you are not only qualified, but overqualified. Now about that replacement. Who do you have in mind?

Francois can take up most of the load. I can pull in one of the cousins to support him.

Who you thinkin’ of?

Danny Ortega. He’s got the best pair of eyes and sense of smell for problems I've ever seen. Cousin Cindy thinks so too. Francois is a great planner and very detail oriented, but Danny can troubleshoot the plan in the real world just as well as Francois. You know, things like ‘what about this, what about that?’ That kind of stuff.

"How are the plans coming along for the Gens libraries?"

"So far, so good. We've confirmed where they are, and their level of security. Francois has an idea he developed with Danny for how to simultaneously breach the entrance to all the Libraries and pacify whoever is inside without killing anybody. Bethy and Hannah wanted to stress that these Gens aren’t likely to be military or fighters, so there’s no need to be overly hostile with them. But if we have some lurkers, you know natural state types, then some shit may go down. We’ll try to take them out first, but then we should remember that every battle plan is great until the engagement begins. Then all hell breaks loose. The stuff that Bitsie is doing is helpful, but I’m getting some pushback on how effective her input can be when the bullets start flying. Time, and the fog of war, they think, will be limiting factors on utility."

Maybe we should get some of the field commanders in a room with Bitsie and see if she can address some of their concerns. Maybe make it more usable in the field.

The guys are a little worried that Bitsie may not understand what they do. Being in the field, what that’s like, you know. Or maybe she thinks they don’t understand the tech or how to use it.

"You know she did all the prototypes, and the first few versions for the Army. The field guys loved it. And her. She’s been out in field conditions, but not on Ops. But don’t not talk to her because she’s a chick, a techie, and a nerd. She happens to be all three of those, but she’s uber practical and understands field operations."

I’ll pass it along.

Set up a meeting. Let them meet her and talk to the guys. I think she’ll surprise them and you.

WEEKS EARLIER.

Marcus Thierry opened the door to his apartment cautiously, and quietly looked across the hall to see if anyone was working in the tech center. He thought he heard periodic taps on a keyboard, but it was five in the morning, and he had been awoken by his cell phone ringing at this ungodly hour. He was normally an early riser, but not a five in the morning early riser. Six, sure; seven was his preference. But five, why would you do that to yourself? Or anyone else?

He had gotten a call a few minutes ago from his friend Edward St. James that he needed to pass on some information to the ladies across the hall, who were already up and hard at work. Sisters Bella and Helena Fortizi were each facing three computer screens on two desks that faced each other. As they worked, they seldom spoke. While their work was related, the tasks undertaken were very different. The sisters had been putting in long hours lately, making excellent progress on their tasks and assignments.

Now, apparently, Adam St. James had taken notice of the enormous volume of quality output, and decided it was time for an unannounced visit to the Loft by him and his new protégé, Dr. Norman Drake. Adam and Norman, the latter who was now commonly referred to as Dr. Dork by staff, had been making slow progress in writing code for the DL Main to use in translating, decoding and deciphering the Gens common tongue. They had made some progress, but in truth and fact, they were barely at a first-grade level.

Adam habitually stuck his nose in everyone’s work, just to see what was what. Some didn’t mind; some wanted to take a nice thirty-six-ounce aluminum baseball bat to his skull. Adam’s habit was analogous to peering over the shoulder of an employee while at work. The PhDs, in particular, were deeply annoyed; boss or no boss, it was a bridge too far for their sensitivities and egos.

The ladies, Helena and Bella Fortizi, harbored no such feelings of hostility in terms of work environment, work product, or simple nosiness, at least not toward Adam. Helena was delighted with Adam’s attention and, more specifically, his ‘mind thingy’; with Edward things were a little different. Helena tried very hard to avoid and ignore him. Unlike Bella, Helena was well-aware of which of the two St. James males was the dangerous one. To Helena, Adam was easy to read and understand. Adam was dangerous, very much like any Gens male, and, like any Gens male, could readily and predictably be understood as to what might spark one angry reaction or another.

But Edward was a different cat entirely, and he made her uncomfortable. It was as if she could read everyone’s mind except his. She trusted not a word he said, preferring instead to speak to Adam or Misti about any new matter assigned to her or to Bella. Helena took great pains to avoid Edward; Edward for his part thought he understood what drove Helena and gave her plenty of room to roam - away from him.

Edward was wrong; once again he had failed to understand basic emotions, and primal instincts which drove most humans and, for that matter, most Gens. Understanding the transformed Gens was an entirely new discipline, and one for which Edward was thoroughly underqualified. Out of his depth as the Brits would say.

Edward and Adam each suffered from the, "I’m a genius in something, therefore I am a genius in everything." No, it simply wasn’t that way, though the men were mostly convinced otherwise.

As to Edward, Bella had a different take. Bella viscerally hated Edward for being, to her way of thinking, the best example of the worst human characteristics. In many core respects, Bella thought Edward was closer to Paulo in thinking and temperament. She, unlike her sister, didn’t fear Edward or what he could or might do to them; she just didn’t care. Edward, for his part, didn't trust Bella and kept a close eye on her, usually having others report to him on her activities. Bella was well aware of Edward and his spying; she would very often flip him off whenever she thought he was intruding on her privacy.

But in this case, and on this morning, Edward thought to warn the sisters that Adam and Norman were dropping by. Why Edward thought it necessary, nobody knew. Adam got on well with the sisters; in fact, Adam and Misti made it a point to join in with the sisters, their children and Octavio at least once a week for dinner or walks.

Marcus, still in his robe and slippers, tiptoed across the hallway, and gently knocked on the glass door so as not to startle the ladies.

Come in Marcus. The door’s open. Did you bring that Kona coffee you promised?

How do you even know it was me? I know you can’t see me coming.

Bella said, "We hear you walking and we can smell the coffee. Two major improvements to the human genome, if ever passed on."

Walking?

Sure. Like fingerprints. You have a definable cadence to your walk; it’s easy to hear you well before we can see you. But enough of this chit chat; you brought coffee and news. What’s up?

News? What news?

"It’s five in the morning Marcus; you aren’t a five in the morning kinda guy. So, as Mrs. Sherlock Holmes, I deduce you have news. What gives?"

Just got a call from his nibs, you know Edward, to give you a head’s up that Adam and Dr. Dork are on their way over for a visit. Adam wishes to speak to you, Bella, while Dr. Dork wishes to speak to you Helena. About your work.

Something bad?

No, quite the opposite. Adam is very impressed, which happens about once a millennium. He thinks there may be a way for you, Bella, to speed up Adam’s work with a tweak or two regarding emphasis and presentation of data, while Dr. Dork seems to think if he spent more time with you, Helena, he could speed up the development of the language interface, and the algorithm development he does with Adam.

Why the head’s up? They can drop by anytime, announced or not; it’s no bother.

On that point, I have no clue, but Edward wanted me to warn you, that’s all he said.

And...? said Bella.

I am an informal messenger and barometer of the ‘we hate Edward’ faction. You’re not alone in your distrust, mistrust, or just general lack of trust of the man. As you probably know my own daughters don’t like or trust Adam or Edward one bit. Edward thinks it is far past time for a thaw in relations between you two, but especially with you Bella. He knows you don’t like or trust him, but he thinks it’s time to bury the hatchet, as the old saying goes. But he would prefer the hatchet not to be buried in the back of his skull.

Why doesn’t he drop by for lunch? Why all this cloak and dagger?

Who knows. Edward is quirky about relationships and doesn’t have a lot of close friends. As far as I can tell, he has Misti’s Dad, Carlos, and Maria and Agustin. He feels safer with just a few he can always count on. He suspects, I would actually say he knows, that he’s misjudged you, and made too big a deal out of it. Admitting he’s wrong is, let’s just say, not an attribute that he’s well known for. He might admit to his misjudgment and apologize, but then that would probably signal the end of times to him. Don’t expect contrition on his part as much as a new beginning.

OK. There’s more?

He’d like to give you some insight into his past, as well as those of Misti, Adam, Alana and Noki. Plus, a little primer on Hannah and Vera.

OK. Bella was suspicious. Not sure why that isn’t coming from him, but do tell.

"Like I said, Edward is a strange cat. Edward wants my family, you, Helena, your kids and Octavio to relocate to the manor. To live with us and be part of our growing family. He’d like me to explain the family to you and what that means. He’d like you to read the book he wrote called The Curse of the Minotaur. It’s a story, but Edward believes the book is more about family, and tolerance, and what those things mean to all of us here, and in the Eight Families. None of the families are actually related. Yet their family has endured for over thirty years, longer if you count the time he spent in Mexico before everyone came to Seattle and later to Barrows Bay."

I’m in shock, to be sure. But if he’s really sincere, I’d be honored.

I think you’ll find Edward, once you strip away the gruff asshole he can be, to be a genuinely decent fellow. He wants to be liked though he’d never admit that. Adam is just like his dad. Fortress St. James. It’s all a bunch of bull pucky. But I think that they believe that if you never let anyone get too close, you can protect yourself from the pain of human existence. He’s wrong, of course, but he also fails to see the joy possible when you let down your defenses. I’d be happy to tell you what I know later, if you’d like to hear.

We would. Then we have something we’d like to share with you. We’ll want to have Adam, Misti, Noki and Alana along for the chat, as well as Hannah and Vera. It concerns them all greatly, but it’s Adam it concerns most.

Deal, Marcus said. We can chat when the St. James men aren’t around.

Marcus left, and the sisters sipped coffee and discussed what they just heard.

Chapter 4

The ladies sat quietly for a few moments, leaning back in their new ergonomically designed work chairs. They thought about what Marcus had said, what it might mean for their futures, and how it might impact the wellbeing of their children. Bella wondered what Octavio would say when the prophecy was revealed, and what it meant to him - and them. She loved Octavio in the human way and didn’t want to lose him. But fulfillment of the prophecy was dangerous and many were going to die before all was said and done.

The Prophecy.

Every Gens knew it; the number that believed in it was, however, dwindling. That included Bella and Helena until recently. If Octavio and Bella were front line in the coming war and died, their children would have to carry on the seeds of hope. If the prophecy was real, the children had a big role in what was prophesied to be the future of the planet.

Bella suddenly asked Helena, What do you think? Progress or trick, sister?

Helena responded, "Progress. Adam and his family, which I want to join, is one of the elements to the fulfillment of the prophecy. You originally brought up that old myth yourself. Now re-read the prophecy again, considering all that has happened and this revelation. I’m sure of it now; Adam is the Chosen One."

How so?

Easy. First, the mind thingy. Second, he’s evolving his mind, and capabilities quickly from within. Third, Adam has a large, no, a huge family. His father is the patriarch, but no longer controls events. Adam does.

So?

"So, though the family is huge, none are actually related. His family is mankind; no clans or packs, no political agenda, no country he needs to belong to. His paradigm has shifted; he no longer thinks like a human. He’s changing and evolving - from the inside. That’s the key. He isn’t reading ‘how to books’; it’s something else, some other kind of knowledge that only he has and only he can access.

Finally, he can now share that information with others, mind to mind. Soon the others will learn to share their knowledge and, in time, those who are capable and willing will be able to acquire that knowledge too. They will be able to share it, teach it and, more importantly, have their offspring acquire it genetically. They’ll be born with that knowledge and grow into it.

Bella was somewhat unsettled, remained cautious, and was more than a wee bit skeptical. Even though it was she who first brought up the possibility that Adam could be the Chosen One, the awesome power of the Chosen One was both hopeful and frightening.

Now what?

We must do the tests, and if he passes, we must then go to them, and tell them what we know. For that we will need Edward’s help. Then, Adam will go to Germany. Probably with Octavio as his second. Sorry sis.

MARCUS WALKED BACK to his apartment in the Loft looking forward to a couple more hours of sleep. Message delivered, he returned to bed and didn’t give it another thought. Around ten o’clock, Bella heard the elevator doors pulling apart, and the unmistakable footsteps of two men walking in their general direction. Helena was in another part of the lab, re-reading some arcane treatise on the grammar, and sentence structure of the English language. Another book lay open nearby and was the identical book by a different author about the vagaries of the German language. She was deeply engrossed in the books, hearing nothing in the background as the door to the lab opened.

Hello, Bella. It’s been far too long, said Adam, smiling his best, and friendliest smile.

Or not long enough. Depends on who’s out in the lobby. Is it your father lurking out there again snooping around for evidence of malfeasance?

Well, you do have his proclivities down pat, but gladly, no. Besides I think he’s retired from his old job as a professional snoop. Today it’s just me and Dr. Norman Drake.

Adam looked around, and not spotting his new friend went back out to the lobby. Norman? You lost, professor?

Nope, just answering a text from your wife. Reminders. Like I’m a child or worse. An absent-minded professor. A man-child unable to cope with grocery shopping or holding a proper conversation with an age appropriate woman.

Are you annoyed with the mistress?

Misti? Heaven’s no. I feel fortunate that she even knows that I breathe.

All arranged, and his shirt smoothed out, Norman stepped into the lab just as Helena came out of the stacks, her reading glasses lodged on the end of her nose and peering up to see who was there. She was expecting Adam, who she had come to enjoy, but was not expecting this other one. This scientist or professor, or whatever he was, was young and handsome. She was expecting a short, red-faced old man, seriously lacking a bushy head of hair she found so erotic on human males.

Dr. Dork didn’t look that way at all.

Helena took no time to begin undressing him in her mind. For his part, Dr. Norman Drake was doing precisely the same thing in his own mind. Helena walked straight past Adam and Bella and said, And who might you be Mr. ...

Norman. Uh, Dr. Norman Drake. Sorry if I was staring; that was terribly rude. I’m here with Dr. St. James ...

Adam. You’re here with Adam. Yeah, I put that together already. You’re not at all what I was expecting. I thought you’d be, you know ...

Taller? Thinner? Better looking? he said smiling. Sorry if I disappointed you.

Oh, no. No, no, no. You’ve got it all wrong. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Until this very moment, I thought that Greek gods were only mythical. Now I can see I was wrong.

Wow, said Norman. "What is your name, are you single, and what are you doing tonight for dinner?"

Adam and Bella were laughing. Finally, Adam said, Whoa their kitty cats, before we set a date, let’s talk. You know, about work?

Oh, right, work. Yes, we should have a chat about that. I mean that’s why we’re here.

Right, Norman. Work.

Norman turned to Helena as if no one else was in the room.

You know, they call me Dr. Dork out at the manor. I have no idea why, but I assure you I am not. A dork, I mean.

And I can assure you that I don’t care one whit about that or why they call you that silly name. But I do want to know everything about you. And I do mean everything. Maybe later, we can have lunch. Just the two of us. After we talk over all this boring stuff that Adam and my sister seem so interested in.

It’s a date.

Adam’s cell buzzed, and he saw it was a text from Misti. All it said was yes/no.

‘Yes’ was his single word text reply. A few seconds later, Helena’s cell jingled, and she picked up a text, also from Misti.

It said, Please see the attached photo album. Dr. Dork is actually Dr. Hunk. See my slide show.

Helena said, Just a sec. Emergency item from Misti. Be right with you.

The other three stood a few feet away for privacy, but said nothing, watching. Bella looked at Adam like What’s up? Adam shrugged his shoulders, signaling I’ve no clue.

Helena was busily flicking through one pic after another then she abruptly clicked off her phone, and said, OK, let’s get down to business. We have work to do.

Bella started to say something, but Helena interrupted.

Sorry sis, but I just remembered that you, Octavio and Adam were going to take the kids to Hyde Park for lunch. You do remember that, don’t you? And you too, Adam?

Bella looked at Adam, then said, That’s right.

Exactly, said Helena. Now you'll need about three hours today, just so I can plan my work around the picnic.

Adam looked at Bella, winked at her and said, OK, three hours, then back here to the grindstone. We promise.

"You’re both dears, and I think three hours will be quite enough time - for the children, I mean. Now, what are we talking about this morning?

"THE BOTTLENECK WE’RE experiencing at present stems from the lack of coordinated knowledge between Norman as a linguistic anthropologist and me, as a software developer. I kinda know what Normie does, just as he kinda knows what I do. Of course, the bigger issue is the complete lack of understanding we both have about the Gens language. At first, I thought the solution was to add Misti to our group due to her expertise in linguistic anthropology and maybe Hannah Parker who probably is best in these kinds of situations. Unfortunately, none of the additional ‘help’ solved the ‘what we don’t know about the Gens language' dilemma.

I’m sorry to say that I hadn’t kept up much on the background resources you ladies were doing, so I completely missed the obvious answer. Include you both by aligning what you are doing with what Norman and I am doing along linguistic lines. When I took a deeper look at your output, I knew this was the right way to go. Norman and I talked about it and we came up with a solution. Actually, I think more of an approach than a solution.

Helena asked, Which is?

"Which is as follows. Bella and I will focus on vocabulary, development of a functioning dictionary, understanding the alphabet, rules of inflection, spoken language, and a million other things relating to how the Gens understand and use language."

Helena asked, Does that mean Norman and I will be doing something else?

Yes. You, and Norman will continue your work, Helena with common tongue grammar, syntax, diction, rules of construction, verb conjugation, and sentence structure. Of course, that’s a cursory overview since, truthfully, I have no idea what any of what I just said means. Norman had to write it down for me.

Adam and Norman turned to the ladies, and Norman asked, So, what do you think? Genius?

Helena, and Bella looked at each other, and started laughing.

We said something funny?

Bella recovered the quickest.

No, certainly not. It’s just that we don’t know whether what Helena, and I are actually doing matches what you think we’re doing. Maybe it does, but we just don’t know. Since childhood, we have spoken common tongue and German, not English. I don’t think either one of us understands a single thing you just said. Helena does what she does in German, then writes down what she thinks it is in English. We both call Misti all the time, since she speaks German and English.

Adam said, This was really her idea you know. I thought she was just being nosey and showing off when she was really on top of this from the start. Now what?

Bella said, Why don’t we slow down, take some time for us all to get on the same page. We may need more of Misti’s time to smooth everything into English, but I’m confident that we can do this. Sis?

Ditto what she said, but we need to be clear that we will definitely need some intense Misti time in the beginning, then when the training wheels come off, we should be cooking on all burners.

Everyone stared at Helena.

Adam said, Good use of mixed metaphors.

That’s James. He has taught me some other very naughty English words and phrases. Vera’s no slouch either.

Adam said, Then it’s settled. We start tomorrow.

Bella said, You mean today. After lunch.

I stand corrected.

Bella and Adam sat at one of the tables, and talked about organization, while Helena, and Norman sat on one of the couches, and looked at a laptop.

That’s you? she asked.

Yup. High school varsity middle linebacker.

And this?

College.

And this?

When I graduated from college, I wasn’t big enough, fast enough, or quite frankly, good enough to go pro. Professional. I switched to ‘CrossFit’.

Cross what?

Different exercises and physical tasks, like running, weight lifting, swimming, and all kinds of other disciplines that test all around physical fitness. Not a sport that gets a lot of attention, but the athletes are amazing.

And you do this?

Next page.

Oh my, this is how you look doing this ‘CrossFit’ sport?

Next page. Misti took this yesterday.

Helena turned off the tablet and walked briskly over to