Above My Pay GradeX2

Above My Pay Grade X2

By L. E. Doggett

Published by Louis Doggett at Smashwords.com

Copyright 2013 Louis Doggett

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Table of Contents

Forward

Acknowlegements

Chapter One: Na, Old Friend....

Chapter Two: Friend, An Abuser....

Chapter Three: Meetings, Glues....

Chapter Four: Feasting, Cookies....

Chapter Five: A Lesson, Patricia-Jainy....

Chapter Six: Deep Thoughts, More Cookies....

Chapter Seven: A Friendly Talk, Another Talk.....

Chapter Eight: Yet More Talk, Cookies....

Chapter Nine: Introspection, Burglarizing....

Chapter Ten: Translocking, Invasion....

Chapter Eleven: A Hugonmous Battle, Fire......

About The Writer

Foreword:

And Author’ Notes

A lot went into this novel--reading, thinking and writing, a whole lot of revising and definitely a lot of time fixing editing mistakes. I started this novel over three years ago. Finished it--I’m not sure when, but it was probably over a year ago. Since then I have tried to work on revising and letting people critique it. That last though became a problem when all four or so people got busy. Maybe there were too many grammar, typos and lousy writing for them or they just got busy, whatever the reason they all backed out. A few months ago I decided this was it. I found someone to edit it--I thanked her in the Acknowledgment section-for me. She did it in a couple of months. I recently finished going back over her edits. So here it is.

As you may realize by now the action takes place in Boulder, Colorado. I’m not sure why I picked that city except that not many UF stories take place there and it seemed a good place for a UF adventure. I warn you readers that not all of the places and businesses I use exist in Boulder. Some like the Hot Dog Palace, a neighborhood or two, and the Rusty Bean, I made up. Others like the hospital I use a couple of times, the street names and the outdoor mall for the ending, do exist. I made up the Rusty Bean because I wasn’t sure if the owners of a real local coffee shop would appreciate being associated with a Urban Fantasy book. Not to mention that I would have to find one and ask the owners. Two neighborhoods were made up because I needed them for the scene and I wasn’t sure how to look for a neighborhood with the correct specifics.

I picked Daisy as NA’s friend because NA needed one. I made her a Christian because a few UF books use Catholic Priests as friends-advisors. I’m not Catholic and thought a non-priest friend would be good. I should add that I don’t mind the use of Priests--it adds to the story and in real life they are good people-usually. Since all such friends-advisors-coworkers are Priests, I thought it would be fair to use a non-Priest Christian for a change. I know Christians-I go to church with some and have meant others over the years-like Daisy, so I modeled her after those individuals.

There will be a book two and three--I have already finished 60 to 70 percent of the next one as of April 4 2015. At the same time if the sales of this one are even half way good, that will make me feel like it should be written sooner than later. I know how it is to wait for the next book in a series. There are two or three threads I left hanging on purpose, they will be resolved or answered in the next book.

Oh, Billy comes back into the picture, but this time he won’t be the one hunting. I still don’t know exactly what happens to him, but he won’t like it. Red and/or Betty might show up--one at least, but I’m not sure when or how. There will be at least two new characters introduced in the next book. One may not do much yet, but I shall see. NA finds a new partner who becomes a friend--I should say the partner finds her and I have already hinted at who that might be. Hint--may not be who is expected. No, it’s not the geas, even though it comes back.

As I also said in the Acknowledgements the idea for this was inspired by laura anne gilman’s books—that is the way her name is shown on her books. Her tales of Wren, or the Costa Nostradamus, that is. She has out more than one series. Read them all, especially the Cosa books, if you haven’t. There are two series of books--different characters and events, even though the same time frame and city--in the Cosa series. Plus a new series of e-novellas about Danny Hendrickson, a minor character in some books, plus a new character. All great stuff, even though I am still partial to Wren’s adventures. Barnes and Noble sells them as probably do most bookstores that sell Urban Fantasy.

Speaking of different series. I have written short stories set in the Vibration universe--which are not about NA nor take place in Boulder. Three maybe four tales right now-I probably will do more and place them in a story set one day if they don’t sell to certain markets.

I added a bunch of what they call Easter eggs--hidden references to other works. I got carried away and added a bunch. At least one TV show is represented and in one scene there is at least six of them. I would be surprised if anyone person can figure them all out but if you do even though there is no reward from me--except for a mention in my next book about NA--you will know you did it. I give two hints. The TV show Easter Egg is in the first chapter. And there is two, maybe three, references to Wren.

And this isn’t about magic as we normally think of it. V-nergy is based on a scientific theory--there are vibrations at the core of matter. Daisy is correct. :)

For those interested, I didn’t just invent the idea of Vibrations as the core building block-which is what I call it. Here are a few web sites dealing with Vibrations.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/String_theory

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Introduction_to_M-theory

http://www.foothill.edu/attach/1578/Ch.03_Lecture.pdf Page seven

http://abyss.uoregon.edu/~js/ast123/lectures/lec07.html At the bottom of the pages.

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Acknowledgements

My Thank You-s:

Time for the thank you-s. They are a few people I want to thank. For the first chapter there is Edith Maor and others over at Baen’s Bar. They had, maybe still do, but I couldn’t find it the last time I looked, a thread where writer’s can post stories and book chapters for reviews. A few people, including Edith, reviewed the first chapter. They helped make it better even though since it was at least two years ago they may not remember it. Other people over at hatrack--Orson Scott Card’s writing forum-also critted various parts of it.

Most of my thanks, though, goes to Coral who edited it for me. Now that was a long and sometimes difficult job. Even after I go over a story a few times there are still plenty nitpicks--typos, bad grammar, missing commas , etc.. You can ask Edith about that she has reviewed quite a few of my stories. (Rolls eyes on how bad some of those stories were even after I worked on the nitpicks) In this case I forgot to do a final go over of the last five chapters, so they were in even worse shape than usual. Yikes--she did a good job though. However, if you see any mistakes they will be my fault. I probably added 800 or more words to each chapter as I revised her edits. Something needed to be clarified, she pointed out some things that needed changing, a snarky comment was called for, and sometimes I just recalled something I wanted to put in as I wrote it, but hadn’t. So any and all typos, wrong tenses, missing commas etc are my fault. I believed I learned a few things about commas reading her corrections, so my mistakes will not be as bad as they would have been before she edited it. No matter what some of it may look like I worked at correcting what some call nitpicks, went over it, checked it-again, looked up words, spell checked it three times. I always miss some so I apologize for what I did miss--hopefully I caught most of the nitpicks. Coral caught many of them, so hopefully it’s not bad.

And A Big Shout Of Thanks to Ann Lynn of Boulder. She helped me with most of the place names and street names. More on what I used and didn’t use in the forward.

That’s all for the thank you-s I appreciate all the help, reviews and crits, and edits even though some of the people who helped were years ago and I can’t recall their names now.

Oh, a PS here:

Thanks to Jim Butcher, C. E. Murphy, laura anne gilman, and many others who have written Urban Fantasy. You are all an inspiration--in this case especially to Gilman for coming up with a unique idea for how her magic works. That helped me think differently to come up with mine. And a second especially to Murphy and a Seanan McGurie--even though I didn’t list her above--for I used them as models for my writing at times. I didn’t copy word for word, but I saw how they did certain types of scenes and how to get into a Main Character’s mind--not to mention using the Five human senses. I must say that I borrowed one scene from Murphy’s first Walker book. I changed it and redid it to represent the needs of who my MC is, but if you read Urban Shaman you might see where I got the sub-scene in my book where NA falls over an A-frame.

All that said I am in no way implying that my writing is up the standard of those I mentioned--even though I hope its close, I know my writing. But I do think it will be an entertaining read or was an entertaining read, depending when you read this Acknowledgment. And for the cover Thanks to Jake.

Cover art by Jake Logsdon (www.jakelogsdon.com)

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Chapter One

NA, Old friend, Scared Woman, Mother Grizzly, Zombies

I turned, looked up to glare at the young man who wanted to sit at my booth. I came here tonight to help someone escape from her brother, not hook up with anyone. That went double for someone I didn’t like. We hadn’t seen each other for over a year, but I knew him as soon as I heard him call my name. He must have recognized my short, purple and white hair. No, I didn’t dye it that color until after I moved. Maybe my black pants and shirt with a thin, long brown leather jacket over them, caught his attention. I used the jacket as my Mage uniform, even if he didn’t know that.

My glare grew extreme, I tried to decide if I should blast him, freeze him, or transport sewer water to pour over him. I couldn’t catch him on fire; the flames could spread to other tables. My look didn’t seem to bother him, maybe because I was seated. I didn’t feel at a disadvantage though. I’m used to looking up at people, since I’m short.

The name I go by is NA-one word-even though my real name is Nardia. I got NA during my rave days. I’m mostly out of the clubs now. Instead, I help people who need my special aid with things that go bump in the night and those who control them. I also help women escape from abusive people. My skill set helps with that for I’m a Mage. That means I can transform matter, transport objects, form objects out of air, influence people, produce heat and cold and make shields to block all of the above. In very simple terms(which suits me), according to one theory-all matter and energy, way down at the lowest level, is made up of energy and vibrations. We can use, what someone who wasn’t me termed, V-nergy to change those vibrations, therefore change the object or energy that it forms. We have been called many things throughout history, but most of us today like the term mage.

After another glare Tony didn’t get, my temptation grew. I relaxed though because I wouldn't really do any of those things. Even with his party clothes and short, too blond hair, Tony wasn't that bad. I assume, he thinks I want company. I knew he didn’t mind freaks, but I’m surprised the scars on my arms didn’t bother him. The fight with the twelve year old werewolf and later a mystic knife fighter, still stays with me.

I said, Tony, what brings you this far from home?

I could ask you the same thing. He sat down, uninvited, I rolled my eyes. I needed him to leave, not stay.

I said, I moved to Boulder because I needed a new start which, if its any of your business. I’m here to relax with the music.

He didn’t take the hint and said, You used to like to hook up.

You have me confuse with someone else, maybe Nanc.

He said, You and I had some good times.

You and I had one, maybe two, good times.

He shrugged like it didn’t matter.

Just to make sure he understood, and to get him to leave, I added, And tonight’s not going to be one of them.

He must have gotten my tone and look, because he placed both hands in front of him with their palms out.

Hey, chill out, that’s not why I’m here.

I said, Sorry, in a tone that said I wasn’t.

He mumbled something that sounded like, You’re certainly bitchy tonight.

No doubt, I was being ‘bitchy,' but this place was bringing back too many memories, not all good. And a certain person would not leave.

I had a hard week. I thought this might relax me, but it’s not working.

Only a bit of a lie there, the past week was hard and I hoped the music would relax me, since I needed to be here anyway.

He talked some more about how this place compared to our old clubs.

I said, This club is new. The Fried Green Reality opened a month ago. I like the fusion of Punk with Techno and Hip Hop.

The band was good and obviously local band. It had three female band members, which impressed me. The female drummer helped to carry the band along with the techno keyboard player. They all had multicolored mohawks and wore outfits with large rips in them. It looked a little strange on the African American members of the band, but it seemed to fit the whole image they wanted to project.

I loved the idea of girls mostly carrying the band. I’m out of the scene, but I hand drum and I still loved the music.

After a pause while Tony caught his breath, I thought I saw the person I was here to meet. Her outfit gave her away. She had wanted to meet here thinking her brother wouldn’t look for her in this place.

Tony kept talking though, he said something about how Sandra was doing with her son, even though she still had no guy yet. Finally when I didn’t respond with more than distracted nods, he said he had to use the bathroom. I knew he wouldn’t be back, but that was fine with me. As he walked away I studied him for a moment. He had never answered my question about why he was in town. In fact, he changed the conversation. I thought there would be a good reason why he didn’t want to tell me. Later I would learn the reason and it would lead me to a very rough time in my life.

I scanned the crowd again to find that person I had seen. While I looked memories came up: thoughts of events and people I hadn’t thought of in years. I wondered if it had been a mistake to come here--most of what I remembered I wanted to stay forgotten. That included the fact that my first Mentor died before we were finished, my second mentor disappeared after 13 months, and my current teacher is out of town on some long term mission. He, Christopher, still manages to send me lessons though. It’s amazing how many of his lessons will be just what I need days or weeks in the future. I had the feeling tonight might be one of those times.

In the middle of my thoughts, I spotted the woman again. She appeared older than most partiers, but not old enough to be a Cougar. I didn’t know why she wanted to escape her brother, but have I’ve done this type of gig before, so I knew what to do.

She looked at the band with distaste on her face. I nodded. The woman I was supposed to meet said she wanted to meet at the Fried Reality Tomato, because no one would suspect she would go there. She hated that lifestyle and despised the music.

I picked up my virgin cranberry-acui juice. I was staying away from alcohol and they served healthy along with the usual drinks. My drink would break my budget however someone would have said something if I sat without buying a drink of some type. I made my way to the woman. She turned, startled, as I neared her table. A look of fear crossed over her face.

I mentally nodded. Either she had a phobia of purpled haired freaks, or I had the right person. I smiled, what I hoped was one of my friendliest smiles.

She still looked unsure-so much for my friendly smiles. I held up my right hand and with one thought caused electrical arcs to jump between my fingers. I changed the color three times, and ended up with a multicolored arc show, with arcs jumping from one finger to the next and back, while some arcs changed colors in mid leap. I told her she would know me by my hair and by the color show I would put on. I had thought about forming a seven-inch tall, blue light globe on the palm of one hand, or maybe not. It would attract too much attention. When I took a glance around us, I added maybe not.

She took another look at my hair and at my long coat then visibly relaxed. I sat at the table opposite her. She wore a blue, conservative blouse even with her long sleeves rolled up to her elbows, and unbuttoned past her cleavage. She had on bright red lipstick and blue sparkly eye-shadow. Her hair had been teased to stand up on its own. A heavy necklace, with three large costume gems finished her look. Obviously she had tried to look like she fit in here, but it was painfully obvious that she had never been to a club like this before.

My name is NA and I believe I talked to you over the phone.

You did-My name is Patty. I really need your help. My brother has become a monster; he wants me to stay with him always. He uses some type of power he got from a very old book. I don’t know if anyone can stop him.

I said, Sounds like he’s a mage--I can use the same power.

You’re a wizard?

Is that what he calls himself?

She nodded and said, He is powerful. Can you really stop him?

Maybe I should have brought my staff, but they wouldn’t let me in with a stick that long. I’m a girl though, I don’t have one and don’t need one to show off.

She blinked then looked puzzled. A second later a small smile tried to tug at the corners of her mouth, as got my double meaning. I hoped my comment would help her to relax.

After a moment she continued, I-I think he wants to use me in an experiment to gain more power.

I nodded once, placed my hands on the table in front of me, I have known people like that. Many disciplines teach ways to get and use V-nergy. A few call it something else. I believe that no matter what they call it, including black magic, it is all the same thing. Just different ways of manipulating those tiny vibrations. Some disciplines are evil; they teach that harming others or yourself in certain rituals is the way to gain more power. Those rituals change the person doing them. If they weren’t already bad, they begin to enjoy harming others, controlling people. They usually end up wanting to rule the world or dead by something they called up. There are less destructive ways to learn to control this power, but some people want a short cut.

I said, Has he always been like this?

No, while we were growing up he was nicer. He was a bit cold, but nothing like this.

How long has he been this way?

I’m not sure, six months at least; close to twelve months. At first, I didn’t realize that he was becoming-like this. He just seemed to be in a bad mood. But it’s gotten worse, much worse. He wanted me to move in with him to help with expenses. Now he won’t let me leave-as I said, I think he wants to use me. I-I....

Patty looked like she could use a good cry. I didn’t do comforting though.

So you think he wants to sacrifice you while using you? Has he done that to others?

No, no, I don’t think so. I didn’t mean he wants to kill me-that could come later though.

Oh? Then?

I-think he is planning, she looked down, reached for the necklace but stopped her hand,a ceremony where he would,she opened her mouth, closed it, grabbed one hand with the other, rape me.

She said the last two words in a rush. I nodded understanding why she wouldn’t want to say them. I’ve heard there were ceremonies where sex and rape are the focal point in the ritual. Sexual energies can be very powerful and when you connect that to the emotions brought on by using force and fear, it can produce negative energies that either mimic or are a dark version of the power that controls the vibrations. The closer the relative the more dark power to the rapist-or so they believe. Learning that wasn’t the most enjoyable of my lessons with two of my three mentors; Jainy and Christopher. Patricia never made it that far before she died.

At that point a buzz only I could hear went off-loud, while my stomach clenched. I spun around in my seat, my early detection system had gone off. I always keep a shield around me. It can detect when any Mage, or Mythos-fairytale creatures, come within sixty feet of me. I have been unpleasantly surprised two or three times so I developed this shield. It’s passive, so that most mages wouldn’t know it’s there.

I’ve already sensed some small Vibration tricks. That isn’t unusual in a club like this one. For some reason younger Users like this scene.

I thought this powerful spike felt familiar, but I couldn’t place it. A quick look showed me two guys in black suits walk through the door.

You have got to be kidding, I whispered. It must have been louder than I thought.

Patty said, What? After she looked in the direction of the door, a look of fear took over her face. The color drained from it. He found me, I don’t know how, but he did it.

Those two work for your brother?

Yes, they are two of his special assistants. We got to get out of here, they’re very strong.

I noticed the emphasis she put on assistants, but she was too agitated for me to ask what made them special. If they were that strong, he may have augmented them somehow. That would cause a spike like I felt.

We can leave the back way.

We better go now!

I turned back to the two men and found that they were headed straight for us. They didn’t care that people were in their way. They walked through groups of partygoers. One person stumbled as the one on the right bumped him. They ignored the obscenities yelled at them. One young man took too long getting out of their way. He grimaced in pain after one of the two men, stomped on his foot.

By this time, we had stood, she had grabbed her purse, and we were in the process of fleeing the table. I glanced back again and saw a large bouncer came up to the two men. I wondered what had taken him so long. I saw him try to speak to the two, but they ignored him and kept walking.

I heard him yell, You can’t do that here. Get out before I throw you out.

He won’t be able to.

I looked at my client, pulled her along faster. Her eyes were wide and her lips trembled. Another glance showed me the bouncer had rushed up to get in front of one of the two.

Four steps later I heard a crash. A quick look showed the bouncer picking himself up from a shattered table. I knew we were in trouble. That bouncer was big: over six feet, over two hundred pounds of what looked like muscle. Regardless the man in black had just picked him up and tossed him.

All of this happened in the few heartbeats it took us to stand and start for the back door. We started walking faster. More of the crowd tried to get out of the way. The confusion helped us as it slowed the two down. One bumped a table out of his way, these men certainly were single minded. Maybe what ever her brother did to them made them obsessive. I turned. A thought crossed my mind-their movements looked odd. I didn’t want to take the time to figure out why.

I felt two members of the crowd throw Tricks at them, but both bounced off. That didn’t surprise me for neither Trick had been that powerful. I noticed one of the men wore a large necklace. That surprised me.

We made it to the back where the fire doors were. Just like them to be locked; some clubs locked all, but the front doors. I could open them if they were. If I wanted to set off the blasted fire alarm, that is. That would cause an even bigger stampede. I curved around to the hallway that led to the bathroom. It was always dark in there, for reasons I never understood. Now though dark could help us. Surprisingly enough no one was in there. There were usually someone hanging around the bathrooms: couples kissing or doing more with their hands, buying Ecstasy or waiting to use the bathroom. I knew from personal experience, the girl’s bathroom could be crowded. Half of the girls inside would be talking about their dates, putting on makeup, texting or some such. At times I’ve used the boy’s when my bladder wouldn’t take no for an answer. I frowned, my mind was trying to distract me again.

The hallway stunk of too many people, with a trace of vomit. We didn’t make it far down it, before a man came out of one of the bathrooms. By the way Patty gasped and grabbed my arm, I assumed this guy worked for her brother. I could see a strip of Vibration light around his neck. Another necklace I thought, I guessed this one augmented his strength.

He turned to Patty and said, Dave wants you back and he gets what he wants.

He turned to me with a nasty smile and his necklace glowed even more. So I thought, not as single minded as the other two. Patty froze.

Before he could make a move I kicked him between the legs. Surprise blossomed on his face and he blurted, You bit... before he collapsed on the floor. He folded into a fetal position. I said I do dirty tricks.

After I grabbed Patty and pulled to unfreeze her, we stepped around him. Another man came up. His necklace was already glowing brightly.

Two can play at that game, and sent a surge of V-nergy up my arm.

When he looked at me, I made a move with my feet as if I was getting ready to kick him. Instead, as he slowed, I punched him hard in the chest. He flew backwards and smacked into the wall. He slipped down and didn’t get up. I nodded in satisfaction. I put my finger in my mouth to moisture it, tasted my drink and sweat. I made a mark in the air to indicate one down. That feeling didn’t last more then a second though. Three others, including the two original men, came from behind. I caught of whiff of something dead, but ignored it.

The two men didn’t even glance at the two on