Generations Beyond

A few days after Christina’s disappearance, the external cameras watched a dark-colored sedan with tinted windows pull in front of the mountain house where Cross holed up. The engine stayed idling for five minutes before the driver killed it and stepped to open the rear passenger door. The dark navy, fitted suit curved along the driver’s physique, face hidden behind reflective aviator sunglasses. His lips drew into a fine line as his sharp features showed zero emotion. He stood and waited for the passenger to emerge from the back of the vehicle.

A uniformed body rose from the car and settled an officer’s hat on his graying head. Not a word was spoken between the men as driver shut the door and re-entered the vehicle. The decorated four-star General made his way across the manicured yard to the front door of the house, disregarding the plants underfoot. A beige file grasped in his hand tucked under his arm as his right fist raised in a ball and fell against the grain of the portal.

Cross was aware of what took place outside and sat in the living room with his Beretta and a fresh magazine. He looked toward the door at the sound of fist hitting wood with a smirk. Based on the name on the chest, and the stars on the shoulder; Penn. Cross’ fingers performed their well-rehearsed ballet, sliding the magazine home and pulling back on the action. He hadn’t met the man, nor seen any pictures, but Cross knew this asshole. Cross had watched the sedan approach the house through the camera monitors with conviction. The cameras were mounted with such care and secrecy, no one from the outside knew of their existence. They spied on every inch of the external perimeter. Unexpected visitors to buildings where classified operations were held deserved a proper welcome. Barefoot and in a pair of jeans, Cross walked the hallway and to the front door and positioned his left hip and shoulder so they caught the wood as it swung open with his hand. The right arm hung at his side, but the position of his body hid the gun.

“Evening,” he said after he opened the door. “Can I help you?”

“Cross,” Penn replied, the younger man’s name sounding like an accusation rather than a greeting.

“Ah, yeah.” Cross nodded with a questioning smile. “That’d be me.” He let his eyes dart down and up, scanning the uniform-wearing man on his doorstep.

“I think Aarons gives you far too much credit. Shame. If that’s the case, son, I’d rather find out sooner rather than later,” Penn remarked with narrowed eyes. The lower lid to his right eye twitched.

“Look, old man.” He shrugged. “I’d love to stand here and chat. I would, but I have things to do.” He tilted his head to indicate into the house. “So, unless there’s a good reason for us to stand here chattin’ away, I’m gonna say good night.”

“I do, Captain Cross,” he hissed the name. “First thing, you’re going to open this door and invite me in. The second,” he paused as he looked the younger man up and down through the slightly opened door, “is put that handgun away you’re trying to hide. There’s a sniper three doors down that’s been trained on you since you opened the door. And three,” he lifted the envelope for him, “consider Aarons before you do anything.”

“Well,” he laughed, “since the cat’s out of the bag.” He let his arm hang, no longer worried about concealing the weapon. “And to address your demands. One, not a chance without proper ID. Two, not a chance without proper ID. Three,” he tilted his head a touch, “I consider everything before making any decisions.”

Cross didn’t take his eyes off Penn as the older man reached into his left back pocket and pulled out his credentials. He flipped the leather bound wallet open for Cross to inspect, but didn’t hold it close enough for to him to take. The wallet held Penn’s Military ID and his Department of Homeland Security badge. After he held it for a minute, Penn closed the wallet and placed it back in his pocket. When he raised his hand with his index and middle finger in the air, and he made a motion toward Cross twice. A bullet hit the wall behind and to the left of Cross’ head. “Anything else, Captain?”

Cross stepped without flinching and let the door open the rest of the way after he inspected the documents. “Come on in,” he thumbed the safety on and pushed the matte black barrel into the waist at the small of his back before closing the door. “Apologies General, but I need to maintain the integrity of my AO.” He motioned to the right of the hallway, “living room and kitchen that way.”

Penn walked in and right by Cross without looking at him, slipped his head cover off, and tucked it under his arm with the envelope as he stepped in and moved toward the directed room. He ignored it and continued walking until he saw the invoices and blueprints on the dining room table. “My base,” his voice rumbled.

“Yes, sir,” he nodded as he came along the right side of Penn. “On track for completion after I nudged one contractor in line.”

Penn shook his head. “Won’t do.” He tossed the envelope onto the table right in the middle of the blueprints and glared at Cross, a deep scowl moving over his face. “The date’s been moved.”

“Well,” Cross frowned and did some mental math. “How far?” He crossed his arms and looked from the table to Penn, “We talking days, weeks, or a month?”

“Open the envelope,” Penn’s tone carried across the table.

“Okay,” Cross retrieved the envelope from the table where Penn had tossed it and ripped the end open. “Pictures of me and Aarons having sex tells me what?” He tossed the envelope on the table and looked across at the man.

“Three weeks earlier,” he said with an unchanged expression. “I will walk into my finished base on July 25th. All equipment, all security, up and running. When she gets back, she’ll have a much better understanding of her role. Do you understand?” he asked as his eyes narrowed.

“Tacop support and systems design,” he shrugged, “it wasn’t in question.” Cross looked at the blueprints and assessed the new deadline compared to the current progress. “Twenty-five July should not be an issue. I’ll lean harder on some of the lazier contractors and get additional cooperation from the airjockies.”

The left side of Penn’s lip twitched. “We understand each other.” He turned and walked toward the front door and spoke from the hallway, “I assume you armed the house as soon as we walked inside, Captain Cross.”

Cross followed him and gave the slightest nod in answer to his question, “Affirm.” He keyed in a burner code on the panel to the left of the door before opening it for him. “Have a pleasant flight, General.” Cross offered a smile. “I’m sure everything in the Mountain will be to your satisfaction.”

Penn walked through the door and placed the cover on his head as though Cross hadn’t said a word to him. As Penn approached the car the driver appeared, opened the door and closed it behind him.

Cross didn’t wait to watch Penn leave, he relied on the security to alert him of any further movement as he studied the plans laid on the table. “Twenty-fifth.” He shook his head. He looked at the envelope for a second before he picked it up on his way onto the patio where he lit the grill and burned the envelope with the photos.