Blueblood

Story: Blueblood: Red Alert

Chapter 2 Asbest, Siberia Russia

Author: Eric McQueen (mcqueen.richarderic@gmail.com)

Adult Readers, Sexual Situations, Sex

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They travel to Russia to get George back.

Asbest, Siberia Russia

We were flying from Barbados to New York. Our system of communication was being watched, or so Stan feared. His Sentry Buddies had warned him there were eyes trying to see in. Had someone done it?

John had finally agreed to try and sleep on the long flight back. He had gone back to the isolated bed in the closed off portion of the cabin to attempt to do that. Things were pretty tense as we rode in silence for a while.

I noticed Stan was looking a little more intensely than usual. Mark sat right beside Stan, but he looked worried as he observed Stan working on his computer. Mark didn't bother Stan right now and let Stan work, concentrating on the programs and what he saw. Stan was dedicated normally, but I could see that Stan was taking this personally and it bothered him.

"Are we compromised?" Colin finally broke the silence asking Stan who was still watching his monitor.

Stan looked up and just stared at Colin and blinked. Reluctantly he shrugged. "I don't know." He didn't like being outwitted and was having an issue with the thought he might have been. "My programs are good. The computer system that makes up Buddy is very good. I can't say with any certainty we were or weren't."

I touched Colin's arm but looked at Stan. Mark just rubbed his husband's back. Stan needed reassurance that it wasn't his fault because of something he didn't know about, so I said. "The fact is...if we were breached... whether it is Buddy or something that George did, they knew where George and John were going and took him. The people George contacted are not on Buddy could be observed by these people. No one is being held accountable or responsible, Stan."

Stan nodded, but his face didn't tell me he was convinced. "But they aren't that smart." He shook his head. "I feel confident our systems are secure." He took a deep breath sitting back and waving at the computer on his lap. "When we first came to Manhattan, to Holms' Laboratories those five some odd years ago, there was just Holms' Laboratories and the computer which I named Buddy. George was doing a lot of research with Buddy that needed a lot of memory and processing speed for sifting through genetic codes and various elements and chemicals and a sophisticated computer to analysis what he was researching. Then when we closed down Marissa and the First Vampire nonsense, we got the vampire capitals and contacts from around the world." He pointed at Colin. "Then you sent that first broadcast and we were the VUN. We invited everyone to reply that got that broadcast, so I created fail safes and posted my first Sentry Buddies to watch for any unwanted eyes on us. Anyone can send a message to us. Then you asked to create a webpage for VUN International, I created a deeper level with tougher securities and toughened up my Sentries. I don't think communicating Buddy within Buddy has been compromised. In fact, I'm sure we weren't. Even our cellphones, tablets and androids are covered and secure by Buddy...Buddy to Buddy. I am certain that is secure. I had to create a way that all those scientists in other countries to be able to access the webpage while doing research on the venom and serum, but only the medical part of the VUN. Only with the approved password can any information about the venom and serum can be accessed but nothing else. I created the deeper level of security for the VUN personnel that only those like you, Devon and the others that are key with the VUN can access anything about the VUN politically or otherwise. I am almost ninety-five percent...no, make that ninety-eight percent sure no one can break in. I can't say one hundred percent, though." He looked out a window but wasn't looking at the sky going by as he sighed. "Buddy is very tough. I dare say that the other organizations like the NSA, FBI, Interpol or any other organization could not break in." He held his hand up. "That is not to say no one can." He clarified. "These people that took George think they are clever."

I nodded. "Those PDTUs, how did they know about them and how to block Buddy from reading George?"

He grinned. "They didn't. They aren't that clever. They knew there was something, I'm sure. The general field they created to block George's PDTU was good, but a field to block a wide range of...things used for tracking. Once I found the...difference in the area of the plane, Buddy and I were able to crack it. The PDTU really isn't a unit at all, the only working part is the host the PDTU is in. The person's body can be read as Buddy can focus on the PDTU to read the host...a focal point for Buddy's eye. They erected a field that generally blocked George's body from being read." He waved at his laptop. "I will be able to do more when I get to Manhattan. The delay of time is only a fractionally different, but with the main CPU, I should be able to tell where George is and access other systems and programs quicker."

Colin smiled nodding. "That's damned clever. Devon and I knew there was a risk with anyone coming out as a vampire to the world. George should not have come out at all, but he did. Stan, you are smart. I know that any system can be compromised. I would never hold you responsible for that."

Stan grimaced with a nod, but he was still holding himself responsible. "I try to think of all the ways it could be done and find a way of protecting..."

"Stan!" Colin said loud and quickly leaning forward stopping our friend. "Stop it! You are the best...programmer, operator...whatever you are...to do with computers."

Mark pulled Stan back against him pressing his lips to Stan's temple. "Colin's right, baby. We'll find George because of you." He got a nod from Stan.

"Is there any more about George's location?" I asked. "He landed in..." I frowned as I tried to remember, "what was the name of that town?"

"Yekaterinburg." Stan grinned chuckling. "It's a good thing Mitch did so much to get the Russian language into the Delkenzie program. I know we'll need it." He shook his head. "That area of Western Siberia has a lot of caves and mines." His eyebrows waggled.

Colin rolled his eyes. "Sure." He groaned. "Caves. The domain of choice for vampires everywhere."

"It just makes sense." Mark shrugged. "They offer shelter from the weather, freedom to move, and it's not a grave."

"He has stopped moving," Stan said. "He's in an isolated area in the mountains east of Yekaterinburg."

"We'll need everyone in on this," Colin said as he thought.

"Iilya was Russian." I pondered out loud. "I wonder if Lucian knows about this group."

Colin looked at me warily. "Do you think he would help us?"

I shrugged. "The only thing I could really sense with Lucian was he loved Iilya." I looked at Colin. "From what Lucian told me, Iilya was mentally disturbed most definitely, but Iilya loved Lucian. He got a sort of peace with Lucian. Then again, Lucian was so traumatized by life before he became a vampire and probably afterward...they sort of fed off each other's love. I believe that love was real...it wouldn't hurt to ask Lucian."

Colin nodded. "Sure, I'll get Ruben to get him back to the VUN. We'll ask him." He groaned as he thought of something. "I guess we need to inform the President."

"Why?" Mark asked. "We won't be using any military forces to get George out."

"Because he needs to be informed," Colin explained simply. "We have Dr. Canaday working with us for that reason and will get Dr. Canaday to tell that George has been taken. If we don't keep the line of communication going, he won't trust us."

Stan nodded. "When we do go to Russia, it would be seen as an incursion if the military is used. The President can't and won't authorize that. We don't have the Russian President in the know yet, so he won't help us."

"But the President of the United States will know what we're doing and why," Colin said.

Mark chuckled. "Rumor is the President and the Russian President are pretty chummy," Mark said with a grin.

"Mark." I shook my head, slightly chastising. "Who knows if those rumors are true?" I shrugged. "It doesn't matter. He's the President and we said we'd keep him up to date."

We landed in New York and were flown by helicopter to the VUN in Manhattan.

Going quickly down to what we used as the Control Room where Stan sat quickly and began quickly typing on Buddy without saying anything to anyone there. The others were returning from their various locations. Dr. William Canaday was also there speaking with Ruben.

"Now, maybe I can get more information more quickly," Stan said to no one and anyone as he worked.

Dr. Canaday looked up at Colin. "You all should have stayed here." He said a little angrily. "To prevent this from happening."

"Our lives go on, Bill," Colin said quietly. "We have lived a lot longer with this than you can imagine."

"As I said before, Bill," I said to him, "this situation is new and you feel an urgency with the recently gained knowledge that has been going on for them for decades and even centuries."

"We knew this would likely happen if we told the world." Colin shrugged. "Our lives can't be put on hold because of this. We will handle this."

"How can you handle this?" Dr. Canaday asked.

"We go and get George back," Colin said simply.

Dr. Canaday's eyes grew. "The President can't authorize a military involved extraction."

Mark nodded. "They are not asking for one." He waved around him, indicating the building. "There are enough trained people here to deal with this."

"And internationally." Stan chuckled as he studied what Buddy was telling him.

Dr. Canaday shook his head. "You're a government agent for the United States." He said to Mark.

"Who won't be going in as U.S. government agent." Mark nodded. "I will be going to get a friend, who is also my husband's employer."

"You are here to keep the President apprised of the situation." I pointed out. "We are doing what we need to do."

I did notice something, though. I was looking at Ruben. His dark hair had begun to thin and I had noticed that when we met him. Now I was noticing a little more was gone and the grey was creeping higher in the temples and spreading more in his dark hair. I looked at Mark and Stan. They had both been in their early thirties and now were in their late thirties. Seeing them almost every day, I didn't notice. Ruben, I didn't see that often. I noticed a difference. They were aging. I looked at Colin. He looked the same as he did that day we first met five years ago. No change. I suddenly felt apprehensive and was getting the idea of what people were wanting to get for themselves. The drawbacks of being what Colin had been made were almost gone...except for the aging thing. I was now getting my first bit of understanding about what Colin mentioned about losing people. Mark, Stan, Chuck, Shelley, Amir, and Ruben were not going to always be here. When we all aged, it was just a part of life, so we didn't think about it. Hopefully, they would be here another forty or fifty years, but we would lose them. I felt the new pang of ache as I understood that now.

We gathered in a pretty big conference room, which reflected these vampires' distaste for anything dark. Unlike many I had seen of others, this had no dark wood or anything like that. It was white. The floor, the ceiling, and walls. Even the conference table was white as were the chairs and there were ten on each side and two at the ends. There was a large window on one side of the room allowing a lot of sun in and let us see Manhattan that stretched out below. The VUN with all of the couples attending, including Shelly and Chuck, the five past years was now being seen by me with those two as well from my new awareness. Vlad, Gaius, Wayne, Amasis, Kev, Ellis, and the others all spoke briefly to John who was not really responding more than a word or two, withdrawing even more into himself.

Stan got to the end of the conference table and spoke to everyone. "Okay, people...here's what I have." Stan waved at a large monitor screen on the wall where it showed a map of some aerial shot of Russia. "This is Yekaterinburg." Stan said. "That was the town or city that George landed in Russia." He hit a button on his keyboard and the map moved East to an area that didn't have much there but trees and mountains. "This is Asbest, Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia. Asbest is an industrial and mining community just east of Yekaterinburg by about fifty miles. Chrysotile is what they mine for mostly."

"Wha's that?" Ellis asked.

Stan chuckled. "Asbestos." He saw Ellis nod as he understood. "The biggest company is Uralasbest which is a joint-stock company. They also have a poultry processing plant, make ferroconcrete, as well as porcelain, bricks as well as mining for asbestos. It is just on the eastern slopes of the Ural Mountains which is where George was taken. This is all Western Siberia and there are a number of mines there."

Wayne grimaced. "Yep." He said a little sour. "Mines again." He moaned as he rolled his eyes.

Ellis shrugged with a grin. "If they `aven't go' tunnels like we did..."

"Isn't it cold there?" Shelly asked motioning to the map. "It's Siberia!" She said as if it was inevitable.

Stan nodded. "In the winter...yes, it can be very cold, but right now it's about eighty degrees. It normally gets into the seventies or even the sixties during the day in the summer."

"All these Russian names." Mom lamented holding her head.

Stan gave a shrugging nod. "Yes, it is a good thing that Mitch McKenzie had to be able to translate Russian first. That is the one language other than English Buddy knows the best. It should be no problem for Buddy or the translators."

"When are we going?" John asked quietly not really looking at anyone and really hadn't since we left Barbados. He had sort of been stewing silently at the table. His voice communicated his impatience quietly as he sat with his arms folded across his chest. He had listened but hadn't commented at all. I could not imagine what kind of hell he was going through. In many ways, I got the feeling from him of a caged panther being very still before he pounced to attack. Not knowing what he felt, I could only imagine Colin felt when I was taken. I know I couldn't sit still easily if Colin were taken.

"Tomorrow at the earliest, but as soon as we get things together...we go," Colin answered. He did know what John felt. "We fly to England first and gather some of the others like Edwin and Matt. There are others from Romania coming as well." He looked at Dr. Canaday. "We will be taking a number of guys from here. This is..." he shrugged, "a vacation?" He smiled.

"Vacation!?" Dr. Canaday balked. "To a town in Siberia!? Who does that!?"

"Or..." I began, "we can say again the truth as we did in Romania." I shrugged. "We're working for the betterment of the Delkenzie program." I watched Colin chuckle and nodded at him. "You have to admit, it's a great cover story." I grinned at Colin. "We need to thank Mitch for the perfect reason to go some odd places."

"We need to invite him for dinner when we get George back." Colin nodded at me and then pointed at John. "We'll do whatever we need to. George will be back with you..." he grimaced, "And us."

John nodded. "You know what I'm going through. It's just hard to sit and do nothing just as it was for you."

Colin nodded. "I do know. We are doing something, John." He looked at everyone at the table. "To everyone else there in Asbest, it's the perfect reason to be there." He looked at Stan. "However, the ones that took George will be alerted if we show up. They watched our broadcasts and know my face."

Vlad nodded in agreement. "And mine."

"We shouldn't take the Holm's plane," I suggested. "We fly to London, get everyone there and we take commercial flights to Russia."

"Or charter a plane to get our equipment there," Mark added. "Those coming to support us can fly in commercially."

Those that are coming should go to..." I frowned at Stan. "What is that town's name that George landed in again?"

Stan laughed. "Yekaterinburg."

"Yuckenburg..." I shook my head and thumbed at Stan. "What he said."

"Really..." Dr. Canaday began having calmed down, apparently. He seemed to see we were taking this very seriously. "You shouldn't all land in Yekaterinburg at all." He looked at John sympathetically. "I know, your husband needs to be found and brought back." He shrugged throwing his hands out slightly in helplessness. "You are right." He smiled at me. "I was reacting on the novelty of this old, unknown to me, situation." He sighed. "I've gone over and over George's notes and am still not clear about most of what he's done over these decades. He needs to come back."

Kev nodded in agreement. "I have been a doctor a long time and even I can only understand some of what George has. Granted, I was not an operating doctor for almost..." he stopped knowing that telling he was a vampire was not what Dr. Canaday was told.

"I figured that out for myself, Kev." Dr. Canaday chuckled and held his hands out to stop any replies to what he was going to say. "I know, this is the new..." he did finger air quotes, "Don't Ask and Don't Tell." He smiled. "I'm not asking and don't tell me, but you have tells. You have an almost classical way...an older world reference when acting and talking...I know you are one of them. I suspect others..."

Kev shrugged. "Yes, I suppose I do have tells..." he chuckled, "if I were what you think." He shook his head and went on. "What I was saying, I didn't practice for a while, but George has been doing this for more than half a century. He uses symbols and a kind of...shorthand for processes to keep the notes short...many of which I can't decipher, but he knows instantly. We will bring him back."

Dr. Canaday smiled. "I am a doctor, but a military doctor. I know some military strategy. You need to go in, not together, but separately as couples. Moscow, St. Petersburg, and any other cities you can arrive in. Don't come from the same place. The ones in Romania should come from Romania. The others come from say...Heathrow." He pointed at Kev and Ellis. "You come from Gatwick. Don't show up all in one big wave." He looked at Vlad and Gaius. "You two and Colin and Devon shouldn't come in on a commercial flight. No passenger manifests with your names. As you said, your faces are known. Fly to an isolated small airport on a private plane and then travel on land to Asbest."

Stan nodded. "Dr. Canaday is right."

I smiled at the commander, glad he was understanding now and giving good advice. "Thank you, Bill."

"Oh," Stan remembered something. "Make sure you use your android, tablets or computers that has Buddy's restricted Wi-Fi connections when speaking with each other for added security."

Gaius frowned. "Gina uses her connection to..." Gaius waved his hand, "does whatever that magical way is to talk to Kelly in Scotland who is not on Buddy."

Gabriella chuckled. "I don't think Gina is going to give away VUN secrets to Kelly."

"No, but he's got a point." Stan held his hand up but nodded to Gaius. "Don't tell Gina that we're leaving or even Nicolae as he might say something to Gina and she passes it to Kelly." He pointed at Colin. "We need a couple of those smaller CPUs of Buddy to take. One as a backup. The Wi-Fi will go through him."

Willie sat forward. "Okay, we'll deal with the Russian Language part. Are there any contacts in Russia we can trust?"

Mom nodded. "What about Sasha Lebedev? David McKenzie's husband? He is Russian and even served in the military for almost ten years. Can we ask him for help?"

Colin looked at me and then looked back at Mom. "I believe he doesn't need to be involved with this. Whether or not Mitch told him what some of us are, we would have to tell him about us if we did." He shrugged. "He can be a backup for if we're in a jam, but no."

"What about Lucian?" I asked.

"He's in transit now," Ruben reported. "He should be here in a few hours."

"Hours?" I asked a little surprised. "Where exactly is he being held?"

Ruben chuckled. "We have a facility in the Gulf of Mexico. Very nice, I'm told but away from the general public."

"Anywhere near or in...I don't know...say Cuba?" I asked.

Ruben just smiled but didn't answer the question.

"Okay." I simply said back. "Moving on..."

Colin frowned. "You think Lucian can be trusted?"

"Baby, you and I both will talk to him," I said. "Between your ability to tell if someone can be trusted and what you all say I can do to talk to people..." I looked at Vlad, "does your ability to influence or suggest work on vampires?"

"I may have to push a little more, but it has." Vlad nodded.

"Then we all three will talk to Lucian," I said simply. "Between the three of us, I think we will find the answer." I smiled. "Besides, even with what he did and the confusion caused by the venom and Iilya, I do believe Lucian will be happier from now on. I'd like to think he would tell the truth." I remembered the Old Ones. "This is crazy, but I feel guilty not spending time with Ralph, Iustina, and Repetate. I feel like I'm neglecting them." I saw Colin look at me with surprise. "Don't look at me that way." I griped but smiled. "I'm more attached to them than I should be, perhaps, but I really like them." That was true, I was very attached to them.

Mom smiled. "It's like having three special needs children."

"That's right." I shrugged a nod. "Children who are very ancient but dependent on us." I looked at everyone. "I know what they are and I know they can't be let out, but they are human...of sorts. I don't know how I'd deal with being pinned up in one room with little to do."

Wayne sat forward a little. "They made us what we are."

I nodded. "And they were made what they are." I looked at Wayne. "Imagine you were created to just kill. You never know friendship or love. Driven by urges you can't not indulge in. It's that or die," I smiled at Wayne. "I know, Ralph was the one that turned you." I nodded, knowing that Wayne probably couldn't understand what I was going to say. "I don't think he knew it was wrong."

"It was!" Wayne protested. "That thing you call Ralph destroyed my life. He and the others like him destroyed all our lives."

"Which is why we need George back." I nodded. "He's giving back those lives." I urged him to see that. "No," I shook my head, "it should never have happened. I see them as victims, just like you and Colin. They are the enemy because they were created to be that enemy. They are following what they were made to do." I nodded. "I know, this is very personal to you and I get that. I see them as...almost innocent."

Wayne shook his head. "Innocent." He repeated not believing it, but not really contesting it much.

"You say they're coming along," Colin stated simply. "Explain it to them." He looked at the others. "If there's nothing else?" He asked. "Let's get ready to go." He looked at Vlad. "When Lucian gets here, we'll need you."

Vlad did a slight bow to Colin as he stood up. "And I will be there to serve."

Colin nodded as he rose. "Let's get ready to go."

I went to see Iustina, Repetate and Ralph as it was about sunset. Entering, I carried their needed blood and looked at them as they slept. As with many people, even the scary ones, they were much less threatening as they slept. I had gotten used to their appearance a while ago. They had a look of innocence when asleep. Sleep. If that was what it was. I didn't dream when I was a full vampire. Then again, I didn't always remember dreams when I was fully human before the venom and serum. I didn't always remember my dreams now, but I knew it was normal and I did dream. I just never remembered what they were about. Lucian said Iilya did have nightmares. With some of those horrors in his past, it wouldn't be surprising. I was always telling myself what they were and what they were capable of.

I heard the door open and expected Colin, but when the man entered, I knew it was Vlad.

"I keep having to tell myself what they are." I said to him waving at the boys. "Now, I just can't see it."

"Why?"

"They sleep the sleep of innocence." I said as Vlad sat beside me. "Like a child that has had no trauma. Absolute peace on their faces."

Vlad nodded. "I saw that, too. With Iustina and Repetate when I first acquired them."

"That is why I don't believe they are evil." I said softy. "Nothing could sleep like this knowing what they did."

"Perhaps they don't dream." Vlad suggested.

I shook my head. "Almost every creature dreams. Dogs, cats, great apes..." I pointed at Ralph who moved slightly in his sleep. "See? He's having a reaction to what he's seeing now."

"So? They are normal." Vlad said shrugging.

I nodded. "Understanding more and more..." I looked at Vlad. "What will happen to this innocent sleep when they know what they've done?" I went on. "They play! They laugh and tease each other and me."

"You think they'll lose that when they know and understand what they've done." Vlad smiled. "They might." He shrugged. "They did do it. When they understand they might have trouble." Then Vlad smiled. "I know of someone they know and trust to help them when they do. You help me deal with my bloody past. I know if anyone can, it will be you."

As always, even the sun wasn't visible, we knew when it was sinking below the horizon. We watched as the three started to stir and move. They knew what was there for them, so they weren't anxious.

Iustina looked at me and smiled grandly. "Devon! Dragon! Here!" The other two were equally happy to see us.

"Yes, we're here." Vlad chuckled receiving the rubs from them as I did, too.

I grinned at their ready affection. "We need to tell you something."

Ralph frowned. "Bad?"

"Well," I began, "we won't be here a while."

They looked unhappy, but curious. Repetate asked, "How many sunsets?"

"We don't know." Vlad said. "George was taken somewhere and we need to get him back."

"Why he take?" Iustina asked.

Grammar and tenses would be forthcoming, but now I didn't care. I knew what he said. "George is very, very smart." I thought how to explain. "He knows things that others don't. They took him so he would tell them."

"No ask?" Ralph asked.

"No." I shook my head. "They didn't ask."

Ralph frowned more. "Bad." He confirmed what he knew.

Vlad nodded. "Yes, very bad."

"Far?" Repetate asked.

I nodded as I tapped on my laptop. "Remember where you are?"

"New York City." They said. "Manhattan." Ralph added.

I smiled and nodded. "That's right." I pulled up my maps. "We are here." I indicated where we were on the maps and did a quick type of the town of Asbest. A yellow line went from Manhattan, across the Atlantic, across Europe to the destination.

Three sets of eyes grew seeing that. "That's far." Iustina said and as his translator was better at reading his expressions, gave him an astonished tone.

"Yes, it is." I nodded. "We have to get George."

"Bring Red back." Repetate said firmly.

"Red?" I grinned.

"He the one." Ralph said smiling. "You, Colin, Dragon black." He touched my hair. "Just George have red."

I heard Vlad laugh at that and I chuckled. "Yes, he does." They had given George a nickname! They were human!

"Red nice." Ralph said. "Bring back."

As much as I wanted to, we were flying out in the morning. I had to sleep. I went to the control room where Colin was speaking to Mr. Mattingly of MI5. I saw his face on the giant monitor. He was neat and pressed as always.

"...are British citizens." Colin said. "The passports you gave them should work. I just felt it necessary to keep you informed. There are some at the VUNGB going, as well."

Mr. Mattingly nodded. "I thank you for the update."

I grinned at the "stuffy" man. "Isn't it late where you are?"

Mr. Mattingly gave a ghost of a smile. "Terrorists don't care what time it is." He shrugged slightly. "As a member of the Royal Services, we do what's necessary at whatever time." He actually sighed. "I wish I could send someone from our militia."

"That would have to be brought up to speed and know what they can do even if it's not policy." Colin added. "The two agents...Dave Burrows and Deborah Saxon. They brought you in on this. They could be caught up quickly. They already know about us."

"I'll send them to Thornwood." Director Mattingly nodded. "They will, as your own agents be out of their jurisdiction."

"We understand." Colin nodded. "More feet on the ground will be what we need. I'll let you know when we land." He cut the connection and turned seeing me and instantly smiled. "Hey, Babe." He rose coming over to me. "How'd the boys take it?"

I grinned. "Very well." I chuckled. "They want George back, too. They nicknamed George." Putting my arms around Colin.

"They did?" Collin smiled. "What is it?"

"Red."

Colin laughed, "That makes sense." He looked puzzled. "They know the colors?"

I chuckled patting him on the chest. "I taught them once." I said proudly. "They remembered all of them." Then I remembered what I said to Vlad.

"What?" Colin asked seeing my face.

"I'm glad they're comprehending more." I said. "I hate when they know what they've done."

"Okay." Colin nodded, "But they did a crime." He looked deeper into my eyes. "We can't deny they are killers." He started nodding and hurried on. "I know. They were made to be. It wasn't their fault, but they are responsible for millions of deaths."

"Yeah." I said without joy.

It wasn't long before we were told Lucian was being secured in a holding room. It wasn't one like the one that held vampires. It had windows, but secure. Vlad joined Colin and me going to talk to Lucian. Opening the door, there was a different Lucian than before. It was him, but the Old World wardrobe fashion was gone. His hair was even styled like many younger men in the world. It was still white, but cut short and had bangs that flipped up a little in the front. He was still looking as he did, in his mid-thirties and slim. The hair cut made him look even younger. He was dressed in jeans and a blue shirt that also cut some years from the man. He was just a young man in the twenty-first century. He was in a room that was furnished with a bed, a bedside table with a lamp, some chairs around a small table. There were blinds on the windows which were open. A blue curtain would cover the blinds. I briefly wondered if Gabriella had a hand in decorating. Even the bedspread and lamp shade were blue. Lucian looked up from a book he was reading on the bed. He smiled and rose as we got nearer.

"Should I be concerned about this?" Lucian asked seeing the three of us. "I was brought here with no real explanation."

No matter what he'd done. He should be treated correctly. We did for the Old Ones. I smiled going to him extending a hand. "I apologize, but the men that brought you may not have known why." He took and shook my hand. "We would like your help."

Lucian looked surprised. "My help?" His eyes narrowed. "This is sounding serious."

"It is." Vlad said. "It effects all of us."

"George was kidnapped." Colin stated. "He's really the only man that understands the serum. We're trying to add others in this, but he's the one showing them."

Lucian's eyes widened. "Kidnapped? How can I help?" He hurried on. "I will, to show I can be trusted again. What do you need from me?"

"Have you been to the vampire group in Russia?" I asked. "In Asbest?"

Lucian's eyes widened again. "In Asbest? Sure. Iilya took me there three times." He frowned. "Are they the ones that kidnapped George?"

"He's being held in some old mines in the Ural Mountains." Colin said.

"I see." Lucian nodded and sat down. "They have a headquarters there." The news seemed to add weight he couldn't take standing. "That's very bad."

"Why?" I asked.

"Their leader is Yuri Vasilievich. He claims to be the true Tzar of Russia." Lucian reported.

"Okay," Vlad said. "I know of this Yuri. He was born about the time as I was." He looked at Colin and me. "His brother was Ivan IV Vasilyevich. Otherwise known as Ivan the Terrible."

"He's a vampire?" I asked Lucian.

Lucian was nodding before he spoke. "Yuri? Oh, yes."

"But Ivan was Tsar." I said.

Lucian chuckled. "So?" He got up again. "Yuri thinks he was passed over to rule because he's deaf."

"Deaf?" Colin repeated.

"Yes," Lucian said. "He was given Uglich to rule. It's one of Russia's oldest cities."

"Okay," I said holding my hand up. "We'll research this Yuri, but how does this group operate?"

Lucian shrugged. "They can be rather ruthless." He began as he spoke with his arms folded and gesturing occasionally. "They have been around a long time. There are twelve..." he looked at us, "Старейшин?" He smiled. "Elders."

"They are vampires." Colin confirmed.

"There are plenty of vampires there. Most are victims of other vampires in Russia." He looked seriously. "These vampires were men that Yuri thought would further his agenda." He sighed. "Yuri made them vampires to do that."

I nodded exasperated. "Just like Marisa did."

"What about their abilities?" Colin asked. "How much can they see? They saw our broadcasts. How advanced is their technology?"

Lucian gave a grudging nod. "Well, that's just it. They are capable of some things, but not that savvy. They have some technology, but I don't know how well they use it." He grinned. "You sort of...made it simpler so almost everyone could see them, didn't you?" He chuckled. "What George was using and what I saw in Romania was beyond their capabilities." He gave another nod. "There are men, not vampires, that watch things with the government. There aren't that many."

I nodded. "Fine." I said quickly. "Do you know where they hold prisoners there?"

Lucian thought a moment. "Well, they would want George near the labs. They will want him to make the serum. There are a couple of cages near that lab to hold specimens. Vampire specimens."

"Can you tell us where that is?" Vlad asked.

"I can tell you." Lucian said in a way that said it would be difficult. "I could even draw a map." He raised his eyes to us. "Or I could take you there." He said hopefully.

"What!?" Colin balked.

"What can I do?" Lucian asked quickly.

"Seek help from these very vampires!" Colin stated loud.

"I'm trying to make amends for what I've done!" Lucian said just as loud. "How do I do that in that prison?" He nodded with a chuckle. "It's a nice prison, but I can't do anything to say I'm sorry. This will! You can hold a gun to my head the whole time! I loved Iilya, but none of those vampires! I don't want anything to do with them. They are responsible for what happened to Iilya! They made him a killer. There is one of the elders that served with the USSR and it was his idea to use those innocent children like they did!"

The fact was, I did believe him. His passion about getting justice for Iilya was real. I didn't need Vlad or Colin to confirm that. I looked at Vlad and Colin. "Well?"

"He's being truthful." Vlad nodded. "What do you say, Colin?"

Colin was not responding verbally, but there were issues going through his mind I could. "I sense the sincerity." He said at last.

"Let me show you." Lucian begged. "I won't let you down."

We got up and were loaded on the helicopter and in the early morning and flew to England. The flight wasn't long but we lost six hours. We were taken to Thornwood. I frequently checked on John observing his behavior. If asked a question, he answered. He was completely withdrawn and sullen. This was one time I insisted Colin talk him.

"Why me?" Colin asked in the car to Thornwood. "You can talk better. You're the counselor."

"Because empathy goes farther than sympathy." I said in almost a growl. "I can sympathize for what he's going through, but you can empathize having actually been where he is. You know what he's going through and know the emotions having had them yourself."

"What do I say to him?" Collin asked in a near whine.

I smiled at him. "What you say is less important. Listening is. When he tells you he's frustrated, you had that, right?"

"Oh, yes." Colin nodded. "Impatient, too."

"That's why you need to talk to him. You know." I said.

"This is a tough situation," Colin said. "I won't lie to him."

"Lie? How?"

"Telling him things will be okay."

I chuckled. "Who said you have to?" I shook my head. "You know I hate clichés. Don't give any platitude remarks, just listen, and assure him we're doing everything humanly possible. Legal or not we are getting George back."

What should have been early afternoon was evening here. Entering Thornwood, we were greeted by Edwin, Matt, and another man I didn't know. He was a vampire that had been treated and was like we were. He was big. He had been in his mid-thirties when he was bitten. What I saw about him was he had been military. He stood at parade rest. (That's hands clasped loosely behind his back and feet in a perfect V. Brown hair cut in a military fashion. (Hair grew for us, so this was a choice by him.) He'd done it so for so long, it was natural for him. We were hugged by Edwin and Matt.

"Colin, Devon," Edwin waved at the new man. "This is Russell Chadwick. Formally Sargent Russell Chadwick of the SAS." His eyebrows waggled.

"SAS?" Colin asked.

The man nodding sticking his hand out. "Special Air Service." He gave a shrug. "Like your Rangers or Seals." He shook my hand. "Please call me Russ."

"It's great to have you with us." I looked at him carefully. "You're going with us?"

"If you think I can help." Russ nodded.

"When were you bitten?" Colin asked.

"In the late nineties." Russ admitted. "I wandered around for about twenty years. First it was the Tubes when I was in London." He scratched the back of his head. "I ventured out shortly after that. Seeing all those people was too tempting. I made it to the farm lands and found blood I could get without killing anyone." He chuckled, but little humor was in it. "I was found by Sarah Bennett. She got me here."

"Sure," I nodded smiling. "I know her pretty well. She's very helpful."

All were being greeted. We gathered in the library and Collin went to talk with John. Edward came in with two people, Dave Burrows, and Deborah Saxon who both were carrying small bags of things.

"We're really going into Russia?" Deborah asked incredulously.

I nodded. "To get George back, we'd go to the moon if necessary."

Shelly rose from her chair and walked over to her. "We often operate outside the law." She began. "They," she waved at me, Edwin, and Matt, "are outside the law. I was the same way at first. Trust me. They know what their doing." She smiled. "It's good you came."

We allowed Lucian some freedom, but assigned two guards Lucian didn't know about. He probably figured it out as every time he went to look about this wonderful mansion he was followed. Chuck and Alex did it. Then Willie and Mark. Me and Colin. Lucian had his own room, but didn't want to get away.

It was about two hours before Collin came down again. He was smiling, but it was a tense smile. He sat on the sofa with me. "That was hard."

I nodded, "But he talked and you listened."

"Yes. He did and I did." Collin leaned back and stretched his arm around me. "I knew about all he said." He sighed and turned to me with a sad smile. "About the ache he's feeling." He touched his own chest. "Then the lack of emotions other times. Nothing is funny. Nothing is sad. He was no ability to focus on any book or television show..."

I turned so I could kiss him more comfortably. "He's in mourning. George's disappearance is a loss for John."

Colin shrugged again. "I didn't know what to say."

"There is little to say." I said. "Nothing will make things better. You were there. He was there when I was kidnapped, so he knows you understood."

Colin chuckled. "He's better behaved." He turned a little red and his eyes darted to me without moving his head.

"Why do you say that?" I asked. "What did you do?"

"I sort of," he said softly, "destroyed a bedroom."

"What!?" I said, but couldn't help smiling at that.

"Not everything!" He said quickly. "The mirror in the bathroom, the windows when I threw a chair at them. A couple of the chairs, a drawer and those glass and ceramic knickknacks..." He shrugged and grinned at me. "I went a little crazy."

I chuckled. "Yes, you did." I shortened the distance kissing him. "I would, too."

As much as I respected Commander Canaday's opinion, I was having an issue with our approach. The men that took George were human, but they were being told what to do by vampires. They were also Russians. The temperament of Russians were believed to be about power. Hell, all oppressors were one way. What they knew was they were superior. No, that wasn't just Russian. Marisa had it. They were above common laws because they weren't common.

I went to Stan. "Before we took Marisa, you did a scan of the area that told you of power usage. Can you do that now with the old mines in the Ural Mountains?"

"I did." Stan said. "There is a great bit of power coming from Asbest. More than a city that size should be using." He frowned. "There is a Wi-Fi signal being used. I'm working to break into it without alerting them that's what I'm doing."

I didn't like that. "The people of Asbest don't mind that much power being used?"

"They have a great power plant." Stan said. "I can access public records, the average power bill here is lower than any of the cities or towns surrounding for thousands of miles." He did some quick keyboard taps. "An article was written about a new electric heating and power for the people of Asbest." I saw the picture of a man in his forties with dark hair speaking to some gathering of people. "He promised they'd never lose power and never be cold if they switched to this power plant." Stan shrugged. "That was about 1994. They haven't been cold or without power since."

"That's convenient." I muttered.

Stan nodded. "Isn't it?" He agreed. "We maybe suspect from the people of Asbest."

"They are supporting the vampires?"

"They may not know what they are, but someone there is supporting them. They need blood." He shrugged. "Where are they getting it?"

I nodded. Good question." I thought a moment. "Shelly was right. Right now, the weather is fine, but it is cold mostly. What are the active animals in Siberia?"

Stan shrugged. "There are a few." His fingers flew over the desk top. Windows opened with various animals. I knew them, but the tiger was a little surprising. "There is the Siberian Tiger, Wolverines, Bears, Wolves and Musk Deer." Stan looked at me. "They have cows like Edwin does, but you're making the assumption that they follow the same rules you do. They may not."

"I don't think they do," I said deep in thought. "Depending on the number of vampires there are...they need at least two pints of blood every day. That requires a lot of blood daily." I looked back at Stan. "How many people call Asbest home?"

"About sixty thousand," Stan answered.

"This may not be like England or Romania where the people knew about the vampires and didn't talk about it." I said as I waved at the map. "It's so close to the Arctic Circle. They'll needed the blood every day. What substitutes are available?"

Stan thought a moment. "Cows or sheep if they are kept covered in the Winter." His fingers went over the surface again. "Assuming it must be a mammal. Warm blooded." He shook his head as he grinned. "Rats are mammals. They have blood that is warmed." He gave a shrugging nod. "They do have a bunch of chickens."

My lip curled at the sound of drinking chicken blood. "I prefer my chicken fried, baked or in a casserole, thank you."

Stan chuckled. "Your Chef Bertie makes some good fried chicken back at Wentworth."

I smiled back. "Well, she ought to. She was born and raised in the South. It's expected to be served at every picnic, family gathering and social event."

Stan shook his head. "I just thought people were too cheap or didn't have time to make anything."

"There's that, too." I pulled a chair over to him and sat. "You did a satellite scan of the compound in Charleston when we were after Marisa..."

Stan gave an almost smug look. "I'm way ahead of you." His fingers again seemed to barely touch the black glass top moving so quickly they seemed to vanish. My mother had done one hundred and twenty correct words per minute in the past and never looked at her fingers or the keyboard, but wondered if she could she now. Hell! It was twice my speed. My best was maybe fifty words a minute and still there would be errors. Thank god for the spell check and the reverse key. Computers were better at correcting errors and then you printed a hard copy. Hard copies. Who did that anymore? Now it would be sent by your computer by email to someone else's computer. Hard copies were filed like contracts and other legal documents, but even that was done on computer now. You signed on the screen once and tapped the areas it should go. Done.

Colin came over to us. "I've got us a house!" He announced happily.

"A house!?" I repeated.

"Or should I say houses?" Colin threw his arm over my shoulder with a grin. "You know? Houses, four walls and a ceiling and floor."

I lowered my eyes to look at him with a smirk. "I guess they don't have a Holiday Inn."

"There are some hotels in other areas. There are trucks going into town and out." Colin replied and frowned. "There is something called the Dal'noboyshchik."

I shook my head. "I don't have my translator on. What does that mean?"

"Truckers' Inn."

"The houses are together in Asbest?" Stan asked.

Colin shook his head. "It's a few kilometers south of Asbest. An area known as Rezhik." He shrugged. "It was a farm that was a co-op that started after government apart fell apart, but then failed." He sighed. "And there really isn't one man in charge. They incorporated the town of Asbest. I got in touch with Mitch and he called to arrange lodging. These houses meet our needs."

"It's on that power station?" Stan asked to be sure having being frustrated in Egypt when didn't have the needed power.

Colin nodded smiling. "Buddy will have power." He was actually getting excited by this. "Mitch told them about different dialects and the area was perfect. Northern, Southern and Central/Middle. Asbest has all three."

I smiled at Colin. "So, you rented houses."

Colin shook his head. "No, Mitch McKenzie the owner and CEO of Delkenzie rented it. Our names weren't even mentioned."

"Great!" Stan nodded.

"You were saying, Stan?" I asked.

Colin came and looked at the screen with us. "Sorry for interrupting."

"They did strip mine around the area." Stan pointed to the area around the town of Asbest. "The mines in the Ural Mountains are older and more traditional tunnel mining was done there." Then he grinned. "George's PDTU puts him in those mines." He stated and the screen beeped red and had "George" written. "They thought what they had done getting George away had worked and there is that energy field still up to block Buddy from finding him." Then he raised his finger to tell us there was more. "There are tunnels that go underneath Asbest itself." The screen increased in size and Stan pointed to where a whole network of tunnels ran from the mines to the town.

I sighed, feeling dread now. "I guess our wondering about the town's people know about them has been answered."

Stan nodded. "I'd say, yes." He pointed again to some tunnels. "I thought maybe they were access tunnels for the mines during winter. However, this tunnel ends right below the Administrative and Municipal Centers." He looked at Colin and me seriously. "I say, this group of vampires is the government in Asbest."

"Damn," Colin swore. "I don't guess don't know far reaching it goes?"

Stan shook his head. "Many records were destroyed when the Soviet Union collapsed. There aren't any to go through."

I grimaced. "The Cold War is over." I threw my hands out in frustration. "I feel like we're going up against the KGB!"

Colin nodded. "Maybe they are the KGB. Iilya was. He came from Asbest. We need to be careful. There's no telling how far their power extends. It could go all the way up to the Kremlin."

"That's right." Stan agreed.

Colin stood upright. "We'd better go." He thumbed over his shoulder. "Burke is about go without us."

The different situation with this was, we didn't let anyone know we were coming. Unlike Edwin or Amasis no one was expecting us. Those of Asbest had to know we would try to find George. They couldn't know what we were capable of. We did get a taste for what they thought they were capable of when they kidnapped George.

Our group had really grown in a few years. Colin, John Burke, Wayne, Amasis, and I traveled with each other by a commercial flight. Gaius, Vlad, Lucian, Ellis, and Kev flew separately. Mom and Willie on another flight. We would all converge at the houses Mitch had rented us. Amir, Shelly, Stan, and Mark were traveling with our equipment. We all had the directions on our tablets and androids. An army of us were going to get George back. We landed at the Knukovo International Airport near Moscow and took another toward Asbest.

No matter what country it is, airport security was the same. A man bored with his job sat not really looking at us but our carry-on bags. He asked in the same with the monotone voice as he worked. Mitch was a godsend with the translators. Colin put his translator on. We had gotten permission to carry them on the flight. We got to the man to stamp our passports.

"Tsel' vizita?" The man asked us without looking up as he was to stamp our passports. He asked what our was purpose in Russia.

Colin touched the translator and said. "This is." The translator said Eto.

Now the man in his forties looked up with eyes that widened. He was a nice looking person with dark hair, which there wasn't much of. He wasn't bald, but the hair on his head was cut so short he might as well have been bald.

(I'll spare the reader and type the rest in English)

"What is this?" The man asked as he looked amazed as what he asked was translated into English.

"It's a translator," Colin said smiling. "My company wants to have one that can translate any language." He looked at the little screen and pointed. "See? It's telling me you speak with a Southern accent..." he looked again to the screen. "It says you're probably from an area near the Ukraine!"

The man nodded. "I was raised in Kursk!" He rose a little from his stool to try to see the screen, too. "That's only a few kilometers from the Ukrainian border."

We had used that feature with Amasis' language, but Buddy had to find to find commonalities for that almost unused language. We've said it before. It worked well with Russian! That was almost instantaneous here.

Colin then he looked at the man again. "This is what brought us here. We're trying to make it so everyone can understand everyone!"

I could kiss Mitch! It worked again! We were in!

We connected with another flight to Yekaterinburg. That was the nearest city with an airport to Asbest. I saw Colin reading a little book. I strained to see what it was. He was using the translator to read it as he scanned. It was in Russian!

"Okay," I said finally. "What is that?" I pointed to the booklet.

Colin chuckled. "Pravila dorozhnogo dvizheniya."

He smiled even more as I gave him a look that said it all.

"It's a book on driving laws and rules in Russia." He shrugged. "You don't want to be pulled over for a traffic violation, do you?"

At the airport we rented a vehicle. Paperwork. Sign here, date there and initial. When I saw the vehicle. I didn't know the make. It was a Viking. It was like a Ford Bronco. If a Bronco had a bigger, muscled brother. It looked more menacing. Big tires (not like the ones in Egypt) black and just said, "Don't fuck with me! I dare you."

Colin saw our shocked faces and shrugged again. "We're going into the mountains," he explained. "Who knows what conditions we'll face." He pointed at the exhaust where it vented that from the roof! "We can traverse the roughest terrain...even cross a river!" He looked at the evening sky and sighed. He looked at Burke and put his hand on Burke's shoulder. "We're going to get George." He assured. "I will spare no amount of money and will use any resource to get my friend back." He hugged John tightly. "And your husband." He turned to us. "It's getting late. There's hotel near here." He turned to Burke. "We're almost there, John. We'll rest and head out at first light."

John may have said a word when asked a question, but didn't talk. He had even forgone much of his meals.

We checked into the hotel right next to the airport. It was a good hotel. It was the Ekaterinburg. It was a Hyatt Regency!!

I watched John just disconnect with everything even more. After a good meal I went to John as we walked to our rooms.

"I know we don't get sick," I said to him. "I can't use the argument about making yourself sick but it has to hurt." I tried to be as sympathetic as I could. "To be so close, but so far from him would be torture for me." I put my arm around his shoulders. "However, you need to be strong to get George back." I pointed at Colin who was in a conversation with Wayne and Amasis. "I know he loses his strength if he doesn't eat. I know you're worried. I will say what you may find hard to do. You will need a good breakfast and rest to help us to get him back soon."

Then John just stopped walking and looked at me. Furious! "Why aren't we going like we did with you!?!?" He yelled. "We blew in there...guns blazing and broke you out! Why not now?" Now there were tears coming. "What are we waiting for??"

A hotel corridor was not where you had a breakdown in any language and John was doing that. Colin, Wayne, and Amasis stopped turning. Colin grabbed John's arm and pulled him in Colin's and my room.

Colin forced John to look at him. "I know what you're going through, John." Colin said softly shaking him slightly. "I do, but this is different."

"How?" John wailed.

"Devon was in Europe." Colin said. "Jumping into Germany from England was far more simpler. We went in and got out in a matter of hours. But this is Northern Asia."

I walked closer to John. "It isn't that I'm more important than George." I pulled John into a hug with Colin. "We know George is very important." I looked at his now red and swollen eyes. "If anything, he is more important." I heard Colin begin to say something. Holding a finger up for him to wait. "I'm a vampire, but I'm just one of many. He is our way out of this. Hell, you've known for hundreds of years." Smiling at him, I continued. "Colin would do the same if it were our mother, Willie, Alex...anyone of us. That includes you."

Colin nodded. "He's right. This was..." he chuckled, "and still is somewhat friendly enemy territory." He had John look at him again. "If we were caught in Germany, there would questions and here..." Colin sighed. "We get along now with Russia, but they would see us as a threat. Not as vampires, but as Americans."

Amasis nodded coming closer. "We got in and out of Germany that time and retreated. No harm done. Here we need a place to retreat."

Colin nodded and pulled his phone out and pressed a button. He smiled as he got an answer. "Stan, how's George?" He grinned at what he heard and was nodding to Stan who couldn't see him. "Keep me informed if that changes." Smiling at John he said. "George is fine."

Wayne added. "They will make sure he is fine to get him to work for them and give them what they want."

"This frustrating," I said to John. "We're almost there. A day or two and we'll have George back in our numbers. I promise."

"Also," Colin added. "This town isn't just people that know and don't talk about vampires. We think the whole town is supporting these vampires."

"These people could all turn against us." Amasis said. "That's why we need to be as careful as we can."

"We'll get with the others and find the best way to get to George." Colin said. "I know Stan is doing a continued scan to come up with entry points."

John was nodding as he rubbed the heel of his hands over his face to get rid of the tears. "I know," he chuckled. "I know. I'm just going out of my mind!"

Colin chuckled. "Of course, you are. He's your husband. However, please...don't destroy your room."

John's eyes widened and then he remembered what Colin had done at Thornwood and chuckled shaking his head. "No," he replied. "I won't do that."

The next morning, we saw a determined John. After we got up, he moved swiftly. He was ready first. He ate quickly and was barely patient for us to join him. Most of us would arriving today. Tomorrow at the latest. Our friends from Romania were driving up. It was an army of people, but we didn't know what was going to greet us.

We left Yekaterinburg behind and headed East toward Asbest. I will tell you again, I'm glad I wasn't driving because we'd still be looking for our destination. It was the middle of Summer so it wasn't cold, but also not the humid Summer weather of the United States' deep South. There were a lot of trees! A road is a road, but there were a few differences. Since these roads were covered with snow and ice most of the year so there wasn't the attention to lines in the roads. No designated lanes. At least they drove on the right side of the road.

Colin used the GPS on the Viking and we got there pretty quickly while it was morning. This farm cooperation was brainchild of some Russian professors, two universities, the Peace Corp, and businessmen. After Russia's government fell apart, Russia became hot property. People were flocking here to "help out."

We reached "Zolotyye fermy." That's Golden Farms in English. I wondered if someone like George was responsible for the name. No more zing than Disflavor. Maybe it lost that zing in the translation.

I don't know what I expected, but it was a collection of large buildings. I was no farmer, but everyone knows a greenhouse when they see it. There was a barn, sort of. No red wooden building edged in white, but a utility barn of metal. There were four houses with multiple bedrooms and a kitchen.

There wasn't a lot of agricultural farms in this part of the world. There wasn't much of a growing season. No warm oceans nearby. There was the cold Arctic Ocean to the North. There were mountains to the South blocking warms air from Central Asia...they tried when settlers first came here, but gave up in the late nineteenth century. The twentieth century was going to be different! New technology, materials and initiatives were going to make a difference. The growing season was stretched using these greenhouses made of PVC pipes (a hard plastic) and plastic covers. Now those pipes were just skeletons of the dream. Temperatures were increased and crops were arranged in rows and rows of plastic containers. There was a lot of land to be used. It was a great idea! It worked in some areas, but interest and funding ran out. After ten years, it fell apart. This dream failed. Cattle and dairy products and the fur industry was fine here and blah, blah, blah...and you don't care any of this. We had more than enough room!

It needed cleaning up and that's what we did or at least we made it habitable. There were other small communities around us, but Yekaterinburg was the nearest city miles...kilometers, I mean...West of us.

Wayne and I went to find the power box to get the power on. The water was on and we carried our own phones, but we needed power for Buddy. Wayne and I were the ones to deal with that...and again, blah, blah, blah, you don't care about that either...we got the power turned on.

When we passed some small towns we passed a few markets where we stopped to get supplies. Near the town of Bol'shoy Istok we found a store and got the needed supplies including post and pans. Plates, knives and forks and cups. Silverware.

Because we didn't speak Russian we used our translators and became very popular quickly with the store keeper and other customers. We told these people what we were doing in the area to improve communication. That would help getting the word around as people could see the product. John, Amasis, and Wayne weren't citizens of the United States so they had accents that told everyone they were from somewhere other than the U.S. Okay, John had been in the United States so long and had the slightest accent but it was heard. Colin and I kept any comments friendly, but short. If any of these people saw Gone With The Wind we would be known as Southerners of the United States.

A car pulled in and a van arrived about lunchtime. As people were showing up. Soon everyone was there but Stan, Mark, Amir, and Shelly. They had to get the CPU here to use Buddy here.

As we gathered, it was Russ Chadwick, our newest member of the VUNGB that was conferring with us in the kitchen at the table to come up a plan with Stan, Mark, Amir, and Shelly on video conference by computer.

"There are some areas of concern that need to be looked at," Russ began as he pointed at Colin. "The first is your face is known, Colin." He pointed at Vlad. "And so is yours because of those broadcasts you did. So, you two should be in the background."

"It's known that Devon and Colin are married." Mom said. "They didn't hide that. Would they recognize Devon?"

Russ gave a shrugging nod. "Yes, by name. There was a short shot of him by Colin's and Vlad's side in Romania but not that long."

"So, how did they know to grab George instead of John?" Gabriella asked. "George hasn't been filmed or photographed."

"George made the reservation in his name," Russ pointed out. "They knew where George and John were and likely followed them around in Barbados." He shook his head. "They waited until the end of George's and John's honeymoon to be sure they got the right man."

"We need to get familiar with the area," Chuck put in. "Stan, did your scan of the area tell you where the various entries are?"

"There are several I could see," Stan said. "I can send you all a highlighted map. There are large areas that could be where the lab could be. George is often in two of these." He sighed.

"There are also tunnels under tunnels," Mark said. "At least with Amasis' City, he kept it pretty well on one level. Here there are several layers of tunnels"

"Yes," Stan added. "I would need to have control of the satellite to do a more thorough scan to see how many."

"Is there a way t' see wha' traffic they 'ave?" Ellis asked in his Cockney. Everyone looked at him surprised. "Wha'? Tha' magic eye in th' sky can see a lo'." He shrugged. "I thou' I'd ask."

Stan chuckled. "He's right. The problem again is the lack of control of the satellite. Even with a thermal imaging, untreated vampires need to feed before they'd show up on that scan."

Ellis nodded quickly at Kev with a smile proud he knew that possibility. "See? I knew it."

Mark laughed at Ellis, "You keep that up, Ellis. No one will suspect you're from the United States."

"They know you guys were in England and Romania," Russ pointed out. "They might not know the name we call ourselves, but would know what countries we're from." He looked at our two borrowed Brits Deborah Saxon and Dave Burrows from MI5. "You two can help, the problem with that is you two don't have the Personal Data Transfer Units. You need to be teamed up with someone who does."

"Did you bring the necessary..." Deborah thought a second and asked, "weapons for these vampires?"

"What about the Drones? They are still human." Dave asked quickly.

Colin blinked. "Drones? The what?"

I laughed at that patting Colin's hand, but asked Dave. "A big movie fan?"

Dave nodded with a grin. "Huge. Especially the good vampire movies."

"A Drone is..." I also had to think, "If it's from this movie I saw," I said to Colin, "A Drone is the offspring from a male vampire by a human female to go around and do things in the daytime for their vampire masters."

Dave was nodding again smiling and pointed at me. "That was one of them, but yes."

Colin gave me a wide eyed look and sat back from me a few inches. I nodded, amused by Colin's expression. "A Return to Salem's Lot." I said. Colin didn't say a word but his expression remained. "It really held no candle to the original Salem's Lot by Stephen King, but it had Drones in it." He didn't move. "Don't look at me like that!" I said mockingly cross. "You know I love movies and thought vampire stories were cool." I shrugged.

Colin shook his head looking over at Mom and said quietly and seriously. "Mom, when this over...we need to talk."

"Why?" Mom's eyes twinkled. "It's too late."

"My question remains," Dave said chuckling. "What about those not vampires...if they attack?"

Colin nodded. "We don't have firearms. We don't want to kill anyone. Vampire or otherwise. Those Sun and Serum guns will work. Hand-to-hand combat will be needed."

"That would put the U.S. And Great Britain in a bad spot if we killed any citizen." Russ nodded. "We go in as stealthily as possible, see if anyone comes and goes and then we move in. Okay?" He looked at John. "We'll get George back!"