Revelations

CHAPTER TWELVE

Moscow, Chinese Intelligence Outpost, Russia.

Li Chen-Wu was an unhappy man. Werecat. Whatever. The elders of the plan had tasked him to find out where the Ghost Bear had relocated. To do that he had to possibly burn one of their best resources for information in Russia. One of the senior spies at this intelligence outpost.

Yes, the man was human, just another readily bribed Communist party member. But he was very effective at his job, more than willing to pass on information, and Li Chen-wu liked him. He also didn’t like having to expend assets he actually personally got along with.

There weren’t many of them after all.

“Bohai, what do you have for me? We gave you a name, and that he was likely involved in the recent disturbances inside Russia. “Li asked somewhat impatiently. The shorter he kept this, the less risk there was to both him and Bohai. Li definitely didn’t want to be in the Ghost Bear’s reach while he was alone in Russia. If they could infiltrate forces to his location and stage an attack, that would be a different matter. Li didn’t care how powerful a Were was, there was no chance that a single Were could hold off several of the clan’s elites.

Bohai bowed deeply, and replied with, “It’s good to see you too, Li. How’s the family? Everything going well for your clan? It would be unfortunate if something would happen to you while you are so far from any help they could offer.”

Li glared at Bohai. “You wouldn’t dare. Besides, this may well be a case where you can gain prestige by setting one of the official enemies of the party against another.”

“Yes, there is that, “Bohai answered. “After all it is clear there are links between this Boris and the Bitch Queen that flattened those mountains in eastern China. But I just wanted to remind you, that payment is due. “A vicious grin erupted on his face, and he continued, “I have reports of your clan’s weaknesses and now, I fear you less. Still, that is no reason we cannot work together. At least when our goals align. But you must think me a complete fool if I didn’t do more research on your people considering everything that has happened.”

Li nodded and hid an internal grimace.

The problem with truly effective agents was that they had to be intelligent. Otherwise, they weren’t worth the effort to nurture and maintain. Bohai was one of the most intelligent agents. He’d always been cautious in his dealings with the Sacred Clan.

It had been as much fear as money that kept him in line. That the fear was now a reduced factor in his thinking was a problem. It was almost as if he expected to start shifting their arrangements, so it was of more benefit to him personally. Possibly turning the relationship into a detriment to the clans as a whole.

That was a problem for another day.

The issue could not be forgotten, but the bigger problem facing the clan was a possibility of not only the technology slipping through their fingers but landing in the hands of an enemy.

“You’re fortunate that I have managed to suborn a member of the directorate of municipalities. It seems that one very unusual town has been set up very recently under the Siberian resettlement program. “He raised an eyebrow at Li.

“Yes, yes I know, the program to expand Siberia’s population base by resettling poor Russians and foreigners in Eastern Siberia. Adding to the population there and developing Russia’s economy as a whole.”

“Yes, well one of the new settlements under that program is in a very unusual location. Its name is also, shall we say, inpolitick in the current climate in Russia. New Romanovka. “Bohai tapped a folder on the desk before he threw it to Li. “You never asked for this before, but considering what you’re facing I thought it rude if nothing else not to give you all the information I had available on the individuals involved.”

The folder was titled ‘Boris’ and Li quickly started flipping through the voluminous data. When he reached a section dating to World War Two, he found something that confirmed Boris was who they were looking for.

Soviet Wartime records showing a codename ‘Ghost Bear’. It seems that Boris had been responsible for disrupting David’s influence over the Weres, whoever David was. He followed that to the footnote. ‘David, supposedly a brother of Peter, supposed child of Michael.’

It seemed that the UnknownWorld was not as unknown as the Sacred Clan or, supposedly, Peter and Michael would have preferred.

“Where did you get this information, Bohai? If I didn’t like you, this information would be a death sentence, one that I would have to carry out immediately. “Li said in tones that showed his seriousness. “To keep my leaders happy I will have to find someone to kill for this information being available to you. Tell me.”

“The intelligence directorate has always collected myths and legends. It’s better to have a collection of them on hand in case they turn out to be true after all. I merely pieced together what was out there. So there is no one you need to kill, Li. You did not have access to the information, and I pieced together what you might be asking about.” He pointed at the folder, “Few in the directorate would risk writing a report like that. To rely on myths and legend, then transpose it across known facts, that is too far outside the box for the directorate’s leaders to find acceptable. This report was written on a private computer that has never been connected to the Internet. You do not have to worry about others seeing it. And I will still be useful to you.”

Li ignored that and quickly moved forward, grasping Bohai by the neck. As he did, he felt the barrel of a shotgun pressed against his belly. “Let go or a load of silver shot will be where your chest is now. I told you I do my research. If I didn’t believe we could come to an understanding, I wouldn’t have turned up for this meeting. I believe we can. I even may have a way for you to infiltrate Clan members into Siberia. What they do from there is up to you and your leaders. But if I have to kill you then a lot of wasted effort has gone into this. And if you kill me you’ll never get that information. I believe we are in what is classically called a ‘stand-off,’ old friend.”

Li started to tighten his grip on Bohai’s neck. He felt the man’s hand twitching and thought better of it. A double load of silver from any shotgun shell would probably be lethal.

That would leave two dead, one with a strange reaction to silver and a report on a third, in which there was a claim he was sensitive to silver. Oh, and a were-creature. That was not something he could leave the possibility of getting out there.

Especially in these circumstances.

Bohai looked into Li’s face and grinned when he saw the flicker of consequences flow through his eyes. He could afford to be cocky now. Once Li let him go, Bohai backed off and moved around the table in the room, keeping the shotgun pointed at Li. “Not to be rude, but I don’t like being choked. I was sure that you’d come round to the potential issues for you, though.”

Bohai shifted unconsciously. How fast Li moved had shaken him. He’d barely managed to get the sawn-off shotgun out and up in time.

“Now, I have made various arrangements that should aid you. Any attack I can arrange on an ally of the so-called Queen would be welcomed, I am sure.” Bohai said, a sober expression on his face. In his head, he added, ‘What I have arranged will be even more appreciated. Arranging a situation where we have two enemies hurting each other, even at the possible cost of some of the covert routes to supply these people weapons, will almost certainly give me a promotion.’

Bohai snorted, “I would suggest you don’t go after the civilian population, however. The… woman seems to have an extreme reaction whenever people do that. But, that is your choice. I wouldn’t want her any hotter on my trail than necessary.”

Li nodded to Bohai. Internally he sneered.

If there were Holy Objects or technology there, it wouldn’t matter what they did. She would be chasing them down relentlessly.

Fortunately, they had a plan for that. Unfortunately, it could only be used once. A one-use teleportation device keyed to his bloodline. And the object he stole would be his family’s from then on, increasing their prestige within The Sacred Clan. The teleportation device was not similar to any other technology the Clan had uncovered so far.

The two other samples, the one that had been used first, and the one that they had tried to deconstruct so they could replicate it, had given off massive energy bursts when they activated. But the first one had transported everything in it’s immediate vicinity to where the devices had been originally found.

That was why his family had moved their ancestral home to where they had discovered the items.

Li considered this plan worth the risk, assuming he could get the Council of Elders to support it.