The Valkyrie’s Ghost

Author's notes:Here comes lucky number 13. I'm genuinely humbled by the wonderfully kind response from this community as we continue this very long adventure together. I'm creeping up on a quarter of a million words, I've sailed past a million characters, and MS Word is glaring at me with a page count of seven hundred and seventy. Yikes feels like an understatement.

All characters are, of course, products of my overactive imagination. If you're new to Valkyrie's Ghost, there are twelve previous installments that might help my writing make at least marginal sense. And please do take the "Beta" tag seriously -- impatience wins every time, and I can't resist getting new chapters out to the brave souls who wade through my prose.

So grab your favorite drink, curl up somewhere cozy, and enjoy the latest chapter of Valkyrie's Ghost. PHD

Chapter 61

Lysandra Vale

Wednesday, January 21st

North Las Vegas Airport

2730 Airport Drive

North Las Vegas, NV 89032

Lysandra-------------

Lysandra Vale was stuffed into a 2013 Toyota Corolla. The paint once was midnight black, but the desert sun had baked it to where the current color was somewhere between primer gray and smokey primer gray. The morning sky highlighted a magnificent sunrise as the battered Corolla rolled up to the North Las Vegas Airport and parked. Elise looked over at Lysandra and the two women exited the car. Elise's exit was simple, while Lysandra had to unfold herself, stretching when she escaped the confines of the small sedan. Elise, popped the trunk, returned to locked the car, and then dropped the keys into the trunk, closing the trunk with a thump.

It was sixty-three minutes earlier when six vehicles were lined up in the employee parking lot of the Brinks Las Vegas office, Rily and Whisper explored each car and truck and then made assignments. Lysandra and Whisper were assigned to drive the Toyota. Riley was the sole occupant of a 1993 Ford F-150. If it wasn't for the crude stickers, Lysandra was sure the rust would have devoured the truck.

Lysandra had listened to the Hermes earpiece that Riley had provided her in the hotel suite as Mags in New York had provided directions to each of the drivers, so they never had all six vehicles going in the same direction on the same street. Mags was a maestro at timing leading cars to pull into a parking lot, a trailing car turning left only to speed on a parallel street to get in front of the Corolla.

Whisper was great at timing lights. If she wanted to slow down, her head would be looking for an address or store front as other cars passed with a few shouted obscenities, shaking of a fist, or raising the middle finger in salute. At other times, she drove like a bat out of hail to just make a light, trapping all following traffic behind her.

Two Eagle drones, that were running low on battery power, continued to scan all following cars and the command center in New York City didn't see any vehicles following through switchbacks or abrupt turns. Mags confirmed they were clean.

Elise Hart and Lysandra Vale walked next to each other, both dressed in Brinks blue uniforms with the names Hernandez and Rameriz on their shirts. Careful observers might detail that they lacked the required steel-toed boots or that Elise's uniform hung off her five-foot two frame whereas Lysandra's six-foot four frame was literally stuffed into a skintight uniform that was a good two inches from her ankles and her sleeves were rolled up to the elbow to hide the fact they were also two-inches shorter.

Elise led Lysandra around to a "Pilots Only" door and Grim welcomed them with a smile. Riley stuck his head outside of the conference room and waved them in. Riley's eyes did a careful inventory of Lysandra's wellbeing.

"We are waiting for Wraith and Octavia. Shade and SiSi are parking." Riley updated them, touching Lysandra's hand to ground himself as she passed. She smiled down at him.

"Any word on the Vegas police officers involved in the attack?" Lysandra asked as she stopped.

"Yes we did. Unfortunately, it is not good news." Riley grimaced. "The cruiser that flipped. The captain driving it was killed instantly. The second cruiser's driver is in a comma."

"If you get the information about a fund for these two or the folks up in Seattle, I want to donate. Anonymously, but donate all the same." Lysandra said with an edge of exasperation in her voice.

"New York, did you get that?" Riley asked.

"Roger that." Mags said.

Lysandra looked down and found Riley's hand in hers, and his thumb sitting next to the Aegis comms ring.

"Wraith and Octavia are on property." Mags reported.

"Mags, can you have Valkyrie One execute Sacramento?" Riley asked.

"Hold for ETA." Mags replied.

"Sixth in line. ETA until wheels up are nineteen minutes. Landing in North Las Vegas is five minutes later." Mag reported.

Riley offered Lysandra a carry on suitcase. "Interested in changing?" Riley asked. "There is a pilot's dressing room that is two doors to the right."

Lysandra took the suitcase offered and hustled to change.

--------------

Riley and Shawna were huddled up near the front of the plane. Talia, Octavia, SiSi and Elise huddled around Lysandra.

"Lysandra, honey" SiSi almost sang, "You have heard of girl talk, right?" The publicist vibrated with energy.

"We have a series of disjointed reports, and we could really use your first-person account to clarify things." Octavia added.

Lysandra held up a finger, stood and walked towards Riley whose eyes caught her movement, a slight smile appeared on his face at her approach. He excused himself and met Lysandra halfway down the aisle.

"Sorry to bother you." Lysandra said quietly, bending to touch her lips against his.

"Not a problem," Riley looked back at the gaggle of girls and looked up at his woman. "Girl talk?"

Lysandra's ears turned pink.

"How did you know?" Lysandra asked in shock.

"Mandi suggested this might happen and it is one-hundred percent normal. Especially as we experience things for the first time." Riley's ears then turned pink, "Of course it was when I was presenting as a woman."

Lysandra let out a bark of laughter.

"She also said it is healthy as long as everyone is respectful." Riley said. "I am new to this, so if it feels right, feel free. Let's just make sure we keep our communication lines open."

Lysandra bent down and whispered into his ear. "If it was like last night, I am all for that. Thank you honey."

"Thank you for asking." Riley smiled back.

Lysandra kissed him and hurried back to the gathering.

"First, I am all new to this, so I wanted to see what I was dealing with, so I brought along a measuring tape."

Riley---------------

Riley sat down across for Shawna.

"There is going to be girl talk." Riley said with a smile. "We can work through the rest of this in Grants Pass."

Shawna hopped up and almost skipped to the back. Fifty-three seconds later and chorus of Whats and No Ways bounced down the aisle. Torque and Grim quickly moved to the front of the plane while Nyx and Shade was invited back as the women moved to the bedroom to finish their chat. Shade went with the women and an uncomfortable Nyx moved forward with the men.

As if they had the same thing in mind, the four of them tilted their chairs back and attempted to ignore the soundtrack of a girl's talk. Riley closed his eyes, but his mind replayed the events of last night, making sleep impossible.

----------------

It was an hour later. The giggling horde of women reentered the cabin with massive smiles and appraising eyes turned to Riley. Riley pulled his chair up and went to find Lysandra and noticed eyes would dip down towards his belt. He ignored the looks, but by the time he got to Lysandra, his cheeks were aflame with embarrassment.

"Are they making you uncomfortable?" Lysandra asked concerned.

Riley smiled at her.

"Just a few glances that is all." Riley shared. "The secret was out anyway, I was nude in front of Talon and Wraith."

"This being my first time, the girls suggested I won the lottery, Oscar, and Pulitzer all at the same time." Lysandra beamed. "You made my first consensual experience the best possible."

"I know my first time was beyond amazing." Riley said, a lost for words.

"We are about to land; we need to speak about the Martins. We had planned to depart much later than sunrise, which was around six-forty-five a.m.. So I took the liberty of texting Kate so she would see it first thing in the morning." Riley updated, but turned a bit pink with embarrassment.

"Well, my text woke her and she assured me that she can have the family to the airport by nine-thirty." Riley said. "I wasn't sure if SiSi and Octavia were planning on coming?"

"So, you have two of your five suites, so we have room if the Martin's don't mind sharing a space. Octavia gets one and SiSi gets another. Right?" Lysandra asked.

"If you are staying with me, that works out." Riley said shyly.

"You don't mind me staying with you, do you?" Lysandra asked unsure of herself.

"I love it, but I don't want to rush you or crowd you either." Riley finished.

"We are couple of newbies." Lysandra said. "The advice I got from the women made me blush. I will not repeat any of it to you. You might die of a heart attack."

"Thank you very much!" Riley laughed.

"Did you tell Elizabeth to bring her shoes?" Lysandra asked.

Riley coughed. Nike cough Signed Valkyrie cough Workout gear cough.

"On second thought, what if you get her shoe size and I will get her some personalized gear?" Lysandra said thoughtfully.

"You are as wise as you are beautiful." Riley smiled.

----------------

The Valkyrie One softly landed at Seattle's Boeing Field and taxied to its assigned hanger. Two golf carts brought out four people and three carryon bags. Dr. Kate Martin and her husband Mike Martin stood behind their daughter Elizabeth who was thrumming with excitement. Standing by the second golf cart was a six-foot-one-inch man in his early forties.

Grim and Talon exited the plane, did a scan of the tarmac and announced the all clear call into their Hermes units.

Riley walked through the door and down the built-in staircase. He smiled and waved at the Martins. He jogged over and Elizabeth moved her hand out to shake and changed her mind before enveloping him in a hug.

"Good morning Elizabeth." Riley said muffled through her North Face coat.

An embarrassed Elizabeth let go, her cheeks red with shame.

Riley thumbed his ring, hoping that the communication's feed would get to Lysandra.

"Can I get you to show Lysandra how to give welcome hugs?" Riley asked.

Riley smiled genuinely. "Mind if I try that out?"

Riley then bounced over to Mike Martin and gave him a bone crushing hug.

"If you don't mind, I am going to hug hello your wife." Riley whispered.

Mike, seeing his daughter's exuberance turned to embarrassment, laughed. "This one time, sir."

"Kate!" Riley called out when he leaped into her arms.

"How is our girl?" Riley asked quietly.

Kate's five-foot-seven-inch frame positioned her mouth close to his ear.

"Good days and bad." Kate said. "She has been living for today, thank you."

Riley turned to the second golf cart and the fourth guest who looked relaxed as he leaned on the cart's roof support. A six-foot-one man with Grey-Blue eyes would bounce between the welcoming of the family and the jet door. The second Octavia stepped into the doorway, his body came to attention, and a sly smile cracked his lightly weathered, sun-touched face. His dark chestnut brown hair with a few rogue strands of silver was windswept, which he would absently minded corral it behind an ear to keep it out of his eyes.

Octavia's eyes lit up in finding her invited guest waiting.

"Silas." Octavia chimed over the varied sounds of the airport.

"Octavia." A rich baritone rang in answer.

"Lysandra wanted to meet you out here, but her security team wouldn't let her out of the plane." Octavia shared as she sashayed over to greet the fourth guest.

"Riley, let me introduce my friend," Octavia called.

"Just head up the staircase and you will get to see Lysandra." Riley said, sending Elizabeth off with a friendly push of a shoulder.

"If you leave your suitcases by the staircase, Shawna will make sure they get loaded up in the luggage compartment." Riley said with a smile to the Martins.

As if Shawna could hear Riley's promise, which she could with a click of a ring, Talon raised her hand in greeting.

"Excuse me." Riley said and moved towards Silas and Octavia who were just now breaking their welcome hug.

"Silas, this is Lieutenant Colonel Riley Rivers." Octavia said as she held Silas's left arm in right arm. "Riley, this is Silas Vardon."

Riley extended his right hand in greeting, which was firmly accepted by Silas.

"Silas, I hope your trip from New York was uneventful." Riley said kindly.

"Riley, I appreciate the invite and ride." Silas offered with a smile. "My trip over was a bit long, but definitely uneventful."

"We are excited to have you and Octavia to join us." Riley said, paused and listened to Lysandra use her comms unit.

"Ghost. Over." Lysandra giggled. "It is getting cold in this here cabin. Over."

Riley smiled, held his finger up to Octavia and Silas, moved his other to his ear. "Valkyrie, over. Message received. Over."

The present Aegis team clicked their rings in confirmation of the communications.

"It seems we are letting out all the warm air out of the cabin, so if you drop your bag by the staircase, we will finish up the greetings in the plane." Riley advised.

Riley helped Grim and Talon carry the bags to the back luggage hatch and stow the luggage.

Grim smiled. "Lieutenant Colonel, the luggage is stowed. Over."

"Grim, do you want me to tell my girlfriend you are making fun of her?" Riley asked.

"Celebrating her entering the business, Mr. Ghost." Grim laughed, "Besides, she is killing us in PT and she isn't even trying!"

Talon, Ghost, and Grim climbed the stairs to see the last of the interdictions.

Shawna poked her head into the cockpit and the copilot climbed out of his seat to do the safety check of the exterior plane.

"Ladies and gentlemen, This is your Captain for this flight. Please find a seat and buckle up as we are hoping to sneak in the queue for departures."

Riley and Lysandra made it a point to sit with Elizabeth. Her mom and dad looked on from the other side of the plane.

"Have you ever flown on a small plane before?" Lysandra asked.

"Nope." Elizabeth looked at the two adults who found her, led her to safety, and fed her while she told her story. "I sort of have a bot who sends me links to all the articles that you both are in, so I know you are dating each other."

"I lucked out didn't I?" Riley quipped. "I am way out of my league."

Funny enough Elizabeth thought for a good two minutes. "I think you both lucked out." She looked down and Lysandra leaned over and took Elizabeth's hand in hers.

Riley made a show of trying to reach her, but the seatbelt held him back.

"Drat the luck. I could have held a pretty girl's hand, but no. My compact DNA strikes again." Riley said dramatically.

Elizabeth and Lysandra looked at each other and giggled.

The captain's voice returned. "We have been offered to enter the queue for departures. Four minutes and we will be on our way back to Grants Pass."

The engines roared to life and the plane started to taxi.

"You were saying sweety." Lysandra urged as she held onto Elizabeth's hand.

"Well, when I ran away and snuck into your estate, I thought it was you who I needed to talk to Lysandra." Elizabeth looked down embarrassed by her next statement. "But Riley was so nice. He listened, anticipated the need for tissues, fed us, and bared some of his own traumas to help me with my experiences. That is rare."

The captain returned. "Get ready for takeoff."

The engines were pushed to full throttle and soon Lysandra was pulled by gravity into her luxurious seat.

"I figured this out later, but he was doing as much for you as he was for me." Elizabeth offered after the plane leveled off.

Lysandra unhooked her seatbelt and moved over to sit next to Elizabeth, pulling the girl's smaller hand into her own.

"Is that all you figured out?" Lysandra asked, interested in Elizabeth's analysis.

"When you did the video call right before Christmas, I knew that you two had caught some feelings for each other." Elizabeth just bullied through any social niceties and shared what she observed. "The Lysandra at her home and the Lysandra on the phone were two different people."

"Was I?" Lysandra asked with a slight smile. "How so?"

"It was late at night and all, sorry about that by the way." Elizabeth grimaced. "But at your home you were equal parts, sad and scared with a dash of outrage."

"The Christmas call you had it bad. But, now, you look like your puppy is lost because you can't touch Riley." Elizabeth giggled.

"She is right, you know." Lysandra said as she tapped on the arm of her chair.

Riley quickly got up and sat on the chair. Lysandra moved her arm around his waist and when she hugged him, he was pulled off the arm and on to her lap.

"Are you ok babe?" Riley asked.

"I love this if you are ok." Lysandra said as she felt the warmth of his embrace.

He turned and kissed Lysandra gently on the lips and turned back to focus on Elizabeth.

"That is why you are out of this world lucky Lysandra." Elizabeth offered with an almost sad smile. "Every man and boy I know, including the world's greatest dad, would have bounced up, looked to see who saw a boy on a girls lap and likely stormed off because you made him look weak."

"He doesn't care." Elizabeth stressed. "He just asked if he is hurting you, kissed you and is listening to a teen bellyache about her lot in life."

"If anyone was crazy enough to say anything, there is a secret society of Ghost lovers who have started to catalog the impossible. From dancing across pews and saving a teen model in a church, to going commando on Laucala Island, to taking down Goliath in like four seconds, and then there is this shadow video of you literally flying across an America Nija Warrior course, but that is likely an AI fake." Elizabeth was talking really, really fast. Almost manically.

Riley asked "Ghost lovers..."

At the same time, Lysandra said "Not an AI Fake. It really happened."

"Shiii, umm, oooot!" Elizabeth breathed. "Right."

"So, when did you form your crush on Riley?" Lysandra asked.

Elizabeth turned pink in embarrassment. "It was his humor, tending my scrapes, food, and his soft, 'you are safe.'" Elizabeth closed her eyes. "He was unbelievably kind."

"I think that might have been the exact same moment for me." Lysandra agreed. "Every experience in which I was asked about what happened with my coach made me feel as if I was a suspect and an evil German Super Villain was shouting questions at me."

"He is also teen idol hot." Elizabeth said with a smile.

"There is that!" Lysandra said.

"He is dying that we are focused on him, isn't he." Elizabeth asked.

"Most definitely." Lysandra chuckled.

"It's my turn." Riley said. "Elizabeth, you were so strong to share with us. That takes real guts. Well to find us, climb a wall, and then tell us about your worse experience, that takes massive guts."

Elizabeth looked down with a smile.

"I associate you with my feelings for Riley. You are now a Riley and Lysandra Pearl."

Riley and Lysandra spent the last forty minutes of the flight describing what a pearl was and its rights and privileges.

Chapter 62

Riley Rivers

Wednesday, January 21st

The Five House