Sub-lets in Hell, chapter 14.

Greetings from the past. I was sure this one would win at least first or second, so I wrote it in advance. I hope you enjoy.

Clay and Karen were both waiting in front of my door, dressed and ready to jog. Only one of the two were awake; the other was fighting off yawns in a track suit that looked brand new.

The better to cover the slight pudge accumulating on those hips.

Once again, the mad yawner had no coffee in hand; this time I was not ready for the lack, since having Karen do something healthy twice in a row was kind of insane. "Got a PHO coming up?"

"Shaddap you. You should be happy to be graced with my presence. So happy you wouldn't dare imply that I'm only running with you now so I can pass my periodic health assessment. How dare you."

Whatever severe glare she was trying to give me was spoiled by the next yawn.

"Well, no coffee today. Guess we'll have to hit up the cafe on our way back." I did have water... and my supplies. I'd be cutting this short a bit and working on another tower.

Another two days, maybe three, and I'd have the basic bolstering done. After that, it would take some of the worst our enemies had to offer to get in here. Hopefully.

Clay set the pace, and it wasn't an easy one. I matched it, but the wild yawn beast was having a bit of trouble, huffing and puffing loud enough to give away our position, not that such a thing mattered here.

Clay was grinning at me. Karen hadn't noticed yet, of course, she had her head mostly down and was doing her best. Soon she'd figure it out, but for now? I let my own smile ease out.

We worked our way around, Clay leading, and even adding a small distance to the route by virtue of an alley that took us back a bit. All through it, Karen didn't say a word.

When we stopped before the tower, Karen leaned over almost double and quietly gasped for air. The sentries here did their best to pretend she didn't exist, which worked since Clay and I were closer.

The sentry closest simply saluted and got out of the way; it was clear they'd been warned about me. That and were more focused on their job - he was already back at it, peering into the darkness as if he could see any and all things sneaking up in the dark and would drive them off through perception alone.

That would actually be a cool way to do things... perhaps a set of glasses....

No, bad me. Mad science things later. That wouldn't work for the sentries anyway, and I could do things far more efficiently.

I used my power screwdriver, handed the panel to Clay because he was close enough, and got to work painting what needed to go where.

Clay held it the entire time I worked, a good thirty minutes putting down the preliminary coat and making sure my brushwork was up to par.

When I turned, he wordlessly put it down and moved up to the sentry, fixing him with a stare. "Let it dry, then put the panel back over it. You don't need to use all the screws."

"Yes, sir," the man saluted and went back to his lonely vigil, rather pointedly ignoring us.

Karen was still here, hunched down on the curb of all places, her breathing steady and even.

She perked up when she saw me: "breakfast time?"

"Nah, we got to watch the newbies fumble around, then it's breakfast time."

Karen pouted. She pouted more when Clay led us out, setting the pace again, just fast enough that she had to work at keeping up.

The recruits were all there, of course. Just like I'd expect them to be. So were the instructors and drill sergeants. "Karen, can you answer a question for me?"

"Sure, what's up?" Karen replied. Once she was able to, anyway. Once she had breath again. She really needed this.

"Where is everyone?"

"Ah, you noticed. Well, we've been low-key about it, but we're moving all non-essential personnel out. Going to run the place with a skeleton crew, just in case you-know-who comes calling. Even though he's been pretty restrained lately, for himself. We expect him to figure out where you are eventually and hit us here."

So, they've been moving everyone out that they could while still keeping the operations looking normal... which is why they can't move the students.

If it were me, I'd be looking for a way to move the students. They weren't going to be useful in what was coming, and had their whole lives ahead of them.

"Should I add another set?" Something to be added to the outside, in case we could lure him in.

"It's being handled," Karen confirmed, just like that.

They clearly didn't want me involved in those; either my blood or mind was suspect then. I'd go with blood... I'd bled enough, and the big S had been right there for some of it.

Of course, that begged the question of why he hadn't already found me. If he had my blood, he could have been here by now.

He could still have my blood, though; he had been taking his time, all this time. Why he wasn't being a little quicker about things, and why he wasn't being a bit more serious - or lethal - was anyone's guess.

I'd really like to find who summoned him here; there had to be a summoner somewhere, right? Or could a demon that strong enter through the gate? I didn't really know much about the rituals, especially the older ones, but I was pretty certain the ritual used would have to have been an old one.

There was one ritual I'd seen a bit of when I worked with my fellow donut eaters, but only the aftermath. I'd not seen enough to put the entire thing together, either - but it could have done the job?

Could I get that file again and check it? There might be a clue or two in there that I'd missed. Of course, I could also have missed the ritual somehow; it could have happened half a world away, and this one was a smaller, lesser summoning. I had the clearance, technically.

Did I want to know?

"Have you been checking it all out?" Oh, that was my voice. I'd said that out loud to Karen.

"Of course. No need to worry."

I knew that. Karen was more reliable than she appeared. Mom would have said something otherwise.

My parents were still out there, in the wind, living their best lives. Why hadn't the big S simply gone for them?

I would come to him if he went to them. I don't think I would be able to help myself. Assuming he wanted revenge or his pound of flesh for whatever reason, he had to know that. Was there some reason he couldn't?

There was nothing in Mom's contract safeguarding her life, only her soul. The moment she died, Grex got his payment from her. Dad didn't even have that much.

Too many questions. I always ended up with more.

It was comforting, in a terrible way. We were family; we'd all burn together. I should check to see what other honored ancestors were burning, even now. I couldn't even give them a break - there was no way the demons would renegotiate, not when I had nothing to offer them.

I could always ask, I guess. Questions were free enough, when you had a demon lord of your very own. Something to do later.

I was sure other people had thought of these things in the past; I was no genius. But maybe there was something I could do or some service I could offer. Slowing or freezing time had all sorts of useful applications, and if I was careful with it, I could limit the damage done to humanity as a whole.

Maybe even nullify it entirely, but hope could only take you so far when dealing with a species that only wished for your own eradication as a species. But if I was careful, maybe something could be done.

I'd have to look up past attempts; I'm sure there were more than the few cautionary tales I knew of. Research was crucial in cases like this.

"Anyway, we can't just move the students; there is no place to put them and we need the tower to appear busy, but everyone past a certain clearance knows whats going on, and those that aren't know something's up. Most think it's due to the possibility of a terrorist attack."

I mean, that was a thing that could happen. "Any truth to that?"

"Some," Karen answered. "Some rumors have already been floated; command thought it was best to see if we could double up."

Right, so operation bait was going forward. I thought it'd happen, as early as the plane stateside.

"So why not tell me?" I was the bait, after all. Keeping me in the dark sold it more, but I'd have to be blind not to notice.

Karen shrugged, her eyes glued on the recruits below. "I just hadn't bothered. I knew you'd figure it out, and if you didn't, there was no reason for you to know. But just in case you're thinking we are hanging you out to dry... the orders of recall have already come for some of our best... and some of the best of other countries are going to be joining us here for team building and joint exercises, as soon as the red tape gets cut. Some people are still objecting, but it will eventually happen. We've also go some teachers exchanging with others across the world."

When she turned, her grin was feral.

We weren't trying to break even. We weren't fighting for anything as mundane as survival. We were going for the win. Despite everything, despite who our enemy was, we were going for the win.

"Right. I'll do my best to sell it for what it's worth."

Karen's grin softened. "No need to try too hard; after all, you're pretty clueless naturally."

"Screw you." My reply lacked any real heat because I was too busy admitting to myself how true it was.

Clay decided to remind us both that he was still here, by draping himself on the both of us and delivering the dumbest opinion he'd ever uttered in my presence: "My fellow captains... you're both clueless!"

I shoved him off a half a second before Karen got to it, but we both managed to flip him off at the same time.

I very carefully did not take note of how many people saw Clay horsing around, the recruits included. Just like none of those who saw us would very carefully not say anything to us later.

"I would write you up, but I actually need you," Karen told Clay. "Somehow, your musclebound antics are motivating the newbies."

Clay made a show of holding up his arm, flexing, and leaning to the side to kiss his bicep. "What can I say? It's a talent."

Karen looked on with clear incredulity before forcefully shaking her head and moving past the unnerving scene.

Not that the other show was all that impressive, and in a matter of minutes, Karen was griping again. "Can we go yet? This is boring."

Clay gave me a look. I nodded; of course, we should get more training in. "Sure, let's go."

For a third time, he set the pace, and I followed, moving past Karen and away from the cafe that Karen undoubtedly wanted to go and order something decadent in.

Karen's sigh was so seismic I felt it as well as heard it. But to her credit, she was soon pounding along behind us. After all, if Karen was staying, she had to be combat fit and not just desk job fit, and no one knew it better than she did.

It wasn't a good idea to stay, but the two with me? They'd never been good at counting the odds.

Clay led us a block over, then to the far wall opposite the road. Then one block over, and back up - finally taking some pity on our third wheel and pulling up at the cafe.

Karen wasted no time going in, not even bothering to settle her breathing. How she was sweating I had no idea; it was still far too cold for that.

My direct commanding officer already had two donuts in one hand and was waiting for her large coffee before I managed to reach the counter. She wasn't going to lose any weight that way, but it wasn't my business.

My own metabolism was still young and crazy enough that I could get away with that; I only had to worry about staying in shape.

I ordered an oat bran muffin and a large coffee, black.

Clay matched my order, but added a fruit salad of all things. I didn't even know the place served fruit salads, but there it was, a prepacked bowl of sliced strawberries, bananas, apples, and peaches... with some blueberries mixed in.

It looked good, but expensive, and not something I wanted right now. But it was also something I'd remember for lunch.

Karen looked at my muffin as if it deeply offended her somehow.

I shrugged at her. I mean she knew I ate some stuff like this the entire time; I hadn't hidden it. Clay's order didn't even warrant a glance.

"My muffin didn't kill anyone in front of you."

"Don't be too sure," Karen sniffed. "Oats are for horses."

"People have been both farming and eating oats for thousands of years. Almost certain we are the reason horses are hooked on them at all."

Karen waved me off. "Details, details. So... what are you doing this weekend?"

No use hiding it. "I had planned to go into town, see my parents, and maybe look up old and not so old friends. Unless weekend passes are cancelled?"

"They aren't for you," Karen answered firmly. But if you do go out, you might take the chance to pop into another city. Maybe visibly. Vladivostok? Paris? Any place in Siberia you want to see?"

Right, I could do all that. "Maybe on Sunday. Will Sunday work?"

Karen leaned back and sipped. "Sure, Sunday would be fine. You might also check in with any armies nearby. They will all be expecting you just in case, but don't feel too pressured; it's only important you be seen."

Right, buying time. I'd been expecting to do it on my own; it would be nice to have official sanction for it.

It was also nice to have an unofficial pass to go anywhere on the planet, almost. Any major city on the other side of the world, for sure. I did not want to be declared absent without leave, ever, and that sort of permission bought me all kinds of leeway.

Karen was finishing her second donut, and I wasn't even halfway done with my muffin.

"So, how's Germany look?"

Karen held up a hand to give her time to chew, then gulped it down in what looked to be the most painful way possible and chased it with half her coffee. "It's too early to tell. We've sent some patrols in, and they are finding demons, including some of the weird floaty ones you described that we hadn't seen before. Fewer than before, and less human helpers than before, but the resistance is still stiff."

Still stiff meant more body bags... or worse, no body bags and empty caskets. I hadn't seen an influx of either type of coffin here, and this was a major hub for such shipments. A tell-tale sign, maybe? Leave it to me to miss that one.

Well, potentially. They usually took place weekly, so it was possible to miss one or two and not think much of it.

Our enemies? They would notice. I had no doubt there were eyes in the desert, counting all our air every time it took off or landed. They might even be close enough to the road to check vehicles, despite all the patrols.

I wondered what the brass had in mind for those people; they certainly hadn't given up, despite the incredibly bloody nose they got just months before. Fanatics seldom let a thing like bloody, prolonged, violent death stop them in pursuit of their goals.

It was funny; if they weren't so stupid about it, I'd be supporting them. I too longed for the day when the war would be over. I just didn't want humanity rolling over and dying or being enslaved for it. There was a time and place for beating our swords back into plowshares, and now was too soon.

Maybe when we retook Germany.

"Good, maybe in a year."

Karen shook her head. "Give it five, minimum. We'll have to do sweeps upon sweeps upon sweeps, until every square inch is checked, before we will declare that land safe. We also got to handle Russia and some of the other Baltic countries and clear our own backyard. Clearing our own backyard will be the easiest, of course. The oceans have helped us immensely."

There were a variety of reasons suspected for that, but the good news was North America had never been swamped; there had never been that many demons to hit us, compared to the rest of the world.

Then someone had opened some kind of super gate about a year ago, and let the big guy in. As far as I knew, we never did find who. the logical assumption was that it was Cords, somehow. At least, after the fact, but demons or their servitors kidnapped people in positions of power or authority all the time. There were even protocols for it, check in, code phrases, even blood and other biology-based tests. All of which the big guy had passed with flying colors.

The damage would have been extensive if that breach, the demon involved in that breach, had been focused on anything at all other than little old me. I was never more sure about anything, then that the possessed Cords was too busy trying to get in my good graces to turn the watch commander, the police chief, the mayor, or even the general, all of which would have been better targets than me.

I hadn't been the only one to notice that, of course, but the other people who knew had access to more information than I did. If I wanted to know, I'd likely end up having to ask.

There was a way to ask some people who might know and were a little less dangerous than the big guy, though. I'd need a little time to work that problem, and maybe some questionable advice.

I shouldn't be worrying over any of this just yet. My muffin was finished, but my coffee was still calling me.

"Five seems pretty optimistic to me; ten sounds much more reasonable, with all that happening. Maybe even twenty."

Karen shook her head again. "Nah, it'll get pretty obvious pretty fast; the more ground we cover in the broad strokes and the less resistance, the faster it'll go. If we go from one side to the other once, then do it again, we should see half or even less the resistance of the first time. Unless, of course, there is another gate somewhere. We can't just dismiss that."

What a terrible thought. But with free access to a large number of willing sacrifices, it could happen.

"Right." Karen stood up. "Got to go. Places to go, people to see and harass. Be sure to text if you need anything, but I'll be too busy to come in person unless you have something pressing.

She left at a sedate pace, apparently done with panting her way around... or letting those donuts settle.

Well, that had to be answered. I drained my coffee. "Want to get another lap in?"

Clay made a show of looking at his phone. "Going to be cutting it close."

"We can just go another block over; if we sprint, we can make it."

My large compatriot grinned and stood. "A sprint, huh? Now you're speaking my language."