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  Commander

  Kaylid Chronicles

  Book 2

  Mel Todd

  Bad Ash Publishing

  Atlanta, Georgia

  Copyright © 2018 by Melisa Todd

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior written permission.

  Bad Ash Publishing

  Powder Springs, GA 30127

  www.badashpublishing.com

  Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.

  Book Layout © 2017 BookDesignTemplates.com

  Cover by http://www.ampersandbookcovers.com/

  Commander/ Mel Todd -- 1st ed.

  ISBN 978-0-9905182-5-9

  To those that have loved and lost.

  Do not tell me what I can or can't do to save my kids.

  ―Toni Diaz

  CONTENTS

  Chapter 1 – Picking at the Wound

  Chapter 2 - Whiplash

  Chapter 3 - In Your Mind

  Chapter 4 - In your Blood

  Chapter 5 - Check in at work

  Chapter 6 - Making the Offer

  Chapter 7 - Preparing for War

  Chapter 8 - Down the Rabbit Hole

  Chapter 9 - Possession is 9/10ths

  Chapter 10 - Talk About It

  Chapter 11 - Prejudiced

  Chapter 12 - True Calling

  Chapter 13 - Paying Respects

  Chapter 14 - Knowledge is Dangerous

  Chapter 15 - Day One

  Chapter 16 - Making an Impression

  Chapter 17 - Kids Hide Things

  Chapter 18 - Options

  Chapter 19 - Interviews

  Chapter 20 - Dog & Pony

  Chapter 21 - Accusations

  Chapter 22 - Side Effects

  Chapter 23 - Training the Nose

  Chapter 24 - Coffee Drug Hubs

  Chapter 25 - Being a Parent

  Chapter 26 - The Nose Knows

  Chapter 27 - Story Time

  Chapter 28 - Discovery

  Chapter 29 - Calling in Favors

  Chapter 30 - Attack

  Chapter 31 - Not in Kansas

  Chapter 32 - Rules of the Game

  Chapter 33 - Putting on your Skin

  Chapter 34 - Jungle Life

  Chapter 35 - Tooth and Claw

  Chapter 36 - Lurking Everywhere

  Chapter 37 - Trampoline

  Chapter 38 - Showtime

  Chapter 39 - Kill Squad

  Chapter 40 - Changing

  Chapter 41 - Past Bearing

  Chapter 42 - Past Limits

  Chapter 43 - Obstacles

  Chapter 44 - Hope

  Chapter 45 - Done

  Epilogue Part 1

  Epilogue Part 2

  Chapter 1 – Picking at the Wound

  Nobel Prize rumors are surfacing about the work of one Davi Veeranthapi. A genetic scientist, he shifted into a tiger, and immediately turned all his attention into researching how the change happened. With the use of blood and tissue samples from himself both as a human and as a tiger, and the use of an atomic force microscope (AFM), he has discovered the presence of tiny cells that are not organic, but yet are a fraction of a nanometer. While an explanation of the existence of these cells has not been provided, already there are whispers of nanobots and advanced technology. While further testing is needed to see if these cells are present in all shifters, the ideas are terrifying. ~ TNN Science News

  Officer McKenna Largo kept quiet on the drive home. JD drove keeping up a stream of chatter between him and Charley. Joseph Daniel Davidson, known to everyone as JD, was her best friend, partner, and he also changed into a bear, the same day she changed into a cougar. Charley, one of the kids she’d guarded for over a week, chattered back at him. A child she’d refused to let go to social services. The idea of having a child didn’t terrify her anymore. Not compared to everything else changing in her life. And safe guarding a child willing to fight meant more than anything. Even her job as a police officer, no matter how much the looming specter of losing it haunted her.

  Her mind couldn’t let go the words that had floated through her mind as she left the hospital.

  [We do need to discuss this, and relatively soon, Commander.]

  Even the thought of what those words meant scared the hell out of her and she shied away from it, instead focusing on what the next couple days would bring. More social services people, though she didn’t care about that at all. She meant every word she spoke. If they pushed it, they would find out just what the most famous person on the planet could do via social media with the press on her side. Nothing could get her to leave Charley behind.

  Either she would be a hero at work once the investigation finished, or she’d be fired. Another mental shrug. No matter the consequence, she didn’t regret a single choice she made. Especially not the death of the idiots who had taken her and the kids.

  A slow smile spread across her face as she remembered the taste of her rapists' blood. They’d probably make her get counseling for that and the rape, but nothing on Earth would make her regret ripping his throat out.

  Lost in memories that would make any sane counselor run away screaming, the Hummer coming to stop surprised her.

  "We here already?"

  "Already? Took the normal amount of time. I didn’t speed if that is what you are implying. You’ve just been in the zone. So yes, we’re here."

  Charley flashed a smile that tilted up and down in stutter starts and McKenna reached out to touch him.

  "Quit it. You’re my wolf, and you aren’t going anywhere. Feel like helping JD bring stuff in?"

  He flashed her a smile and jumped out of the car, moving around to the back to help JD. McKenna frowned. He talked so little, but she tried to remember the drive, and she thought his chatter had matched JD. Maybe?

  Sighing she slid out, feeling weak and tired. The week of protecting the kids, mixed with stress, plus the rapid shifts, lowered her weight to a level she knew she’d need to over eat for a while to put it back on. Being skinny didn’t appeal to her, not like this.

  Moving into her house, she sighed as she walked in. It had only been hers for a few days before they captured her, but just walking in she felt the stress melting off. With a sigh of relief, she headed to the cupboard, whiskey and chocolate were mandatory at this point in life.

  Walking back out she headed to the deck, a full tumbler and a bag of chocolate in her hand. Being inside at this point made her antsy and the fresh air soothed some rough parts in her soul.

  "Where do you want me to put Charley?" JD’s voice interrupted her zen appreciation of the back deck.

  She shrugged. "Ask him what room he wants. You know which one is mine. He can have any of the others he wants. We can try to get him furniture in the next few days."

  JD wandered out to the deck, leaning against one of the chairs even while he watched the living room.

  "You sure about this? Not that I’m arguing that any kid needs to be left with those harpies. But you going to keep him?"

  "If I can. I mean, for all I know his parents had a valid reason to leave. I can’t think of one, but I’m a bit slow tonight." She shrugged taking another slug of whiskey. "I’m not perfect and who knows what all of this will end up meaning. But he doesn’t deserve to be abandoned on top of everything else. So, let him choose. He had little enough choice in anything the last week or so."

  "You okay?"

  "Nope. I need to tal
k to you, but not until he’s asleep and I’ve had more to drink. I’m not ready yet." She paused and looked up at the stars. They were far enough from the city the stars shown bright and she closed her eyes for a minute to let the beauty sink in. "Thank you. For everything, for not giving up on me, for doing this, for taking care of him."

  JD straightened up with a huff and moved over dropping a kiss on her forehead. "You’re my partner, my best friend, and my sister. Shut up." Without another word he stalked into the house, his kilt snapping with his movements and she huffed out a soft laugh looking back at the stars. She felt so tired.

  A strange sound echoed through the house and it pulled her from her reverie. McKenna ignored it. It didn’t matter what the sound heralded, she had no intention of moving, though she might need more whiskey. The sound quit, and she went back to not thinking, not thinking seemed sane. The sound of a sliding glass door opening pulled her attention, and she glanced over, expecting to see JD standing there, though he hadn’t left too long ago. Instead, to her displeasure and trepidation, Anne Holich walked out, holding an unopened bottle of whiskey and another glass. Anne was her sergeant at work and was quickly becoming a friend. Right now, friends might be needed, but a lot of this didn’t need to be made public.

  McKenna eyed her warily.

  "Anne." Her voice cool and she didn’t move as she watched the woman approach and sit down opposite of her.

  "Relax, I’m not here in any official capacity. And I brought booze." She held up the whiskey and McKenna had to acknowledge the quality of the offering. Holich sat down and cracked the seal, pouring a hefty splash into her own tumbler and holding the bottle up with a questioning look at McKenna.

  McKenna finished off the dregs in her glass and held out the tumbler. Holich splashed some into it. McKenna sipped and smiled slightly, the whiskey had excellent depth and hit all the right notes. With a grudging smile she nudged the bag of Ghirardelli chocolate towards Holich.

  "One." She took a single chocolate, and unwrapped it, popping it in her mouth with a half-smile. "Unlike you, everything I eat goes straight to my hips." Anne cast her a sharp look. "You’ve lost too much weight. I’ve heard the official bullshit they’ve put out. What really happened?"

  McKenna took another long drink and glanced at the door. JD walked out a minute later. "Charley crashed just about as soon as we got his bed made. Spare sleeping bag, a pillow, and an inflatable mattress." He paused looking at them then sighed. "Give me a minute." He disappeared back into the house and a minute later was back with a cookie, a glass for himself and three bottles of water. He set everything down on the table, poured himself a glass of whiskey. Settling back down in the chair, JD caught her eyes. "Okay, tell us what happened. The real stuff, not the sanitized version you reported."

  McKenna dropped her eyes and focused on her drink, or the stars above, unable to see their faces, and she started to talk. Starting with the kidnapping, the rules, the training, the whipping, the rape, and her gamble to get them out. JD kept refilling their glasses as they talked, and she never looked at them, unable to take the chance she might see pity or contempt on their faces.

  She didn't mention the warrior form or the voice in her head as she talked. When done, she lifted her eyes to look at them, about to speak and froze caught by the looks on their faces.

  JD's face resembled an icy mask, his rough features carved from granite, brown eyes burning like coals, while his fingers were white gripped around his tumbler. McKenna blinked, glad her glasses were heavy cut glass, or it would have fractured under his pressure.

  Anne looked at her, face pale under her hazel eyes, a pinched look around her mouth and she took a large gulp of alcohol as McKenna looked.

  "I knew you were something special, Largo, but I never knew you had balls of titanium," her voice choked as she looked at McKenna. "I would have lost it or been in a corner. What you did? Just damn." She shook her head looking at McKenna with wide eyes.

  It dawned on McKenna that her eyes held respect, not contempt or pity. Some of the tension eased from her shoulders.

  "There is more," McKenna admitted her voice a hair louder than the insects surrounding them. They'd polished off most of the bottle Anne had brought.

  "More?" JD and Anne echoed together. "I think I'm going to need more alcohol," JD muttered and got up. Minutes later he came back out of the house with another bottle and chips and salsa. "I'm stress eating, I admit it, and I don't care." He dropped everything on the table and filled glasses, then sat back down, his eyes locked on McKenna. "Okay, I think I'm ready. Shoot."

  Anne nodded in agreement, watching McKenna as if she might unfurl like a snake and bite her.

  JD knew a bit of this, but she'd never really shared it before. Looking out at the stars, she started to talk, not seeing them, but the past.

  "My mom was a drug addict and schizophrenic. Her drug of choice? Cocaine. When I was ten, I heard a loud explosion from the bathroom. I rushed in and found her body on the floor and her brains scattered on the wall. I don't know what prompted it, not sure I really want to. But I'd always known she had issues. She heard voices, talked to people that weren't there and sometimes did weird things. She wouldn't stay on her meds because the cocaine drowned out the voices better. I'd never had a dad, and even my birth certificate had a blank space for his name. Which meant I got dumped into the foster system."

  McKenna closed her eyes, the vivid image of her mother laying on the floor springing to mind, along with the familiar guilt at the feeling of relief looking at her body. She shrugged opening her eyes back up and focusing on JD and Anne who both were frowning at her.

  "I tell you this, so you can understand how much the idea of hearing voices has always terrified me." She swallowed past the lump in her throat then took another sip of whiskey. The alcohol had floated away a lot of the weight of the last week or so, but she hadn't reached that point of no mental pain. Part of her wanted to, and part of her couldn't let herself be that distant.

  She set the glass down and rubbed her face. "After I changed, I started seeing symbols when I glanced at some people, and I started tracking them." JD nodded at that, his brows drawn together, but he listened and didn't comment. "When I glance at people if they can shift I see a symbol, and I'm pretty sure the symbol tells me what they turn into. Can't swear to it, but it is consistent and if I focus the symbol comes back, and it is consistent for each person." McKenna pressed her hands flat on the table to stop them from shaking.

  "I've been having thoughts that aren't my own," the words fell with leaden finality into the night, and JD and Anne both froze looking at her.

  "What do you mean thoughts that aren't your own?" Anne asked her voice hesitant, and her hand on her glass clenched and unclenched.

  "Exactly what I mean. But there is more. Remember the guys I killed at the kidnap site?"

  Both police officers nodded at her, JD's eyes narrowing.

  "I turned into a typical werewolf like form to do it. The voice in my head called it a warrior form." JD and Anne just looked at her blankly and she sighed. "I'm not shifting right now but think about every bad movie you've ever seen. Biped, humanoid, but with a muzzle, claws, fur, fangs, and a tail. That is what I turned into. And I killed them all."

  And I enjoyed it.

  JD turned pensive. "Wonder if I can do that?"

  "That's what you get out of this, can I turn into that?" McKenna found herself torn between laughter and wanting to scream at him.

  "No. The voices thing freaks me out. But another form? Why not? Not anymore outlandish than turning into an animal in the first place." He shrugged. "I'll deal with that later. But back to this voices thing. What do you think it means?"

  "To be clear, it isn't voices. Just one voice. Sounds like me, but it isn't me. And," McKenna unwrapped another piece of chocolate stalling as she ate it slowly. "The last time it spoke to me, it called me commander."

  She looked up, expecting them to be looking at her like she had fl
ipped out. But JD just pursed his lips looking at her while Anne had relaxed a bit.

  "Why aren't you looking at me like I'm crazy and calling the men in white coats to come lock me up?"

  JD glanced at Anne who shrugged. "While you were gone, some scientists discovered stuff in the cells of shifters. Not sure I understand it all, but what if something is talking to you?" He asked.

  [That is a correct assessment. Information needs to be passed on and your fear is making this process inefficient.]

  Chapter 2 - Whiplash

  Everyone has been talking about the rescue of Officer Largo and the children and the gruesome remains that Largo left behind her. No charges are pending for a cop that killed over six people? I mean I get they were scum, but you shouldn’t get to kill people like that and get it white washed away just because you did it in cat form. If she’d used a gun she’d be on administrative leave until hell froze over. ~ Irate caller on Harvey Klein show.

  McKenna looked up, her eyes widening as the voice filtered through her mind.

  "What? What's wrong?" JD demanded, leaning forward as his nose flared and head turned looking around. Anne stiffened.

  "The voice is talking again," she whispered even as she tried to stay calm. She drained the rest of the whiskey in her glass, her hands shaking. With everything in the last few days, the idea of going crazy drove her to almost panic level.

  [This is not an effective way to communicate with others. Get out your phone and put three drops of blood on the input portal. That should allow communication with all of you for a short period of time.]

  The flat no nonsense voice removed a lot of her panic. All the times her mother had talked to the voice it never made any sort of logic. Though putting blood on the phone didn't strike her as logical.

  "If I go insane, kill me." Her voice dry, but her humor had slipped back in. "JD, you have your knife on you?"

  "Why?"

  She opened her mouth shut it, opened again and paused. "There is literally nothing I can say that will make sense right now. So, can I just borrow it?"