Seven Days of Summer 2021: Day 4

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Title: Escape The Concrete Canyons For The Starry Fields
Fandom: Sylum Clan Universe, Tallikut Clan, Oceania Clan
Characters/Pairings: Meriwether Lewis/William Clark, Thomas Jefferson, Lady Rogue
Rating: PG-15
Summary: When Meriwether Lewis heard his old boss, Thomas Jefferson had returned to the United States from Australia, he bought two tickets from Glacier Park International Airport to Los Angeles. What happens after that proves they are better off staying in the wilds of Montana.

~ Present Day ~

When he got word Jefferson had returned to the United States two years ago, the first thing Meriwether Lewis did was book a flight for himself and Will from Glacier International Airport to Los Angeles. He had trouble picturing the third President of the United States living in the city of Angels. Though if any place could use a mind like Jefferson’s, it was California. The state legislature was lucky he wasn’t living in Sacramento.

He wished the trip to Los Angeles was all pleasure, but he also was scheduled to meet with Bruce Wayne. The Sylum Spy Liaison had been reluctant to talk about whatever information he had on the phone, hence the in-person meeting.

Even though he and Will chose to live on The Farm and spent most of their time tramping through the wilderness that makes up the Clan’s home, they spent enough time in various cities collecting information from his network of contacts to survive in the concrete canyons as well as they survived in the rock canyons of their home.

Pulled from his thoughts by the ding of an email notification, he pulled his phone from his pocket to see who demanded his attention. As the Tallikut Spy Liaison, Meriwether had several email addresses he used to receive news on various fringe groups along with a few that were moving into the mainstream. One new group had taken a cue from a group started in the ’40s where three counties in California and four counties in Oregon would become the State of Jefferson. This new group wanted the five eastern counties of Oregon to become part of Idaho.

Meriwether was about to delete the email when a name caught his attention … Wilkinson. Memories came forward. General James Wilkinson had been the man whose assassination attempt had ended his first life. He, along with then Vice-President, Aaron Burr, had also been in collusion with the Spanish to take over parts of the Louisiana Purchase from the United States. After they were successful, they had their eye on taking over parts of Mexico. Thankfully, the evidence he’d collected on Wilkinson and Burr was already on its way to Washington with a trusted aide when he’d been attacked at Grinder’s Stand on the Natchez Trace. The front door slamming as his Will entered their house pulled Lewis from his memories. He pushed the Forward option and typed one word before sending it to four other email addresses.

Pushing his memories back in their box, he went in search of his Mate to see what kind of mischief he managed to find while he had been preoccupied.

~*~*~*~

Meriwether didn’t give the email another thought until he and William were relaxing in the extremely comfortable living room belonging to Thomas Jefferson. The former President was passing out snifters of brandy he’d had shipped from his warehouse in Virginia. He had stashed away all the things he didn’t want to leave at Monticello when he ‘died’. The fourth glass was handed to the Head of Wayne Studios.

“After I got your email, I took a brief look into Mr. James Wilkinson. Though separated by six generations, the apple did not fall far from the tree. I would even go as far as to wonder if the soul of the original has returned.” He breathed in the aroma of the aged liquor be taking a sip. Holding the brandy on his tongue before swallowing made him appreciate his Vampire senses.

“With Thomas back in the country, why wouldn’t one of the worst spies in the history of spies turn up again?” Lewis drawled sarcastically causing Clark to sputter as he’d started to take a drink.

“Do NOT make me spit out this exceptionally fine brandy. I might have to insist we meet on the field of honor, Sir.” A wide grin broke across his face as he gave up trying to keep a straight face.

Meriwether turned his attention back to Bruce. “Now, then, what is it that you could not tell me over the phone?”

Lewis watched as the two older Vampires tried not to squirm. There were very few things that could make a 4,500-year-old Vampire and a former President uncomfortable.

“For some unfathomable reason, there has been an upsurge in articles, documentaries, and even two reality show ‘explorers’ that talked the Montana Masonic Museum and Library into letting them take DNA samples from the bloodstains on your lambskin apron.”

Meriwether gave his Mate a questioning look.

“I’m glad Neelly was a lazy bastard and didn’t bury you too deep. I wasn’t looking forward to digging up a real grave to get you out. I couldn’t get Mrs. Griner to give me your gear, even after explaining who I was. I didn’t have time to figure out where they were keeping your stuff because we had to get you out of the area before anyone official got there.”

“So, who got my gear?”

“Neelly wrote me a letter about your tragic death that included your official papers in the packet and hired sent one of his men to Washington. Of course, Nico made sure your real reports got to me. I heard later your brother Reuben got everything else.”

“The DNA thing is the least of it, they also dive into General Wilkinson’s background as a spy for the Spanish. They’re bringing in a codebreaker so they can find out what was in Wilkinson’s letters to his handler.”

“Are they bringing up Aaron Burr, the duplicitous ass?” Jefferson growled at the thought of his former Vice-President.

“Not that I’ve heard.”

“Okay. I’m the new flavor of the month and a guy related to and named after the guy who assassinated me is contacting me to attend meetings about part of Oregon becoming part of Idaho … This is starting to sound like one of those conspiracy shows.” Meriwether scrubbed his hand through his dark hair. “Why did everything everyone wrote after I died sound like I was a complete head case when I wasn’t tramping through the wilderness looking for the Great Northwest Passage.” The others chuckled at Meriwether’s complaint. “Wait. Where did they get my DNA to do this supposed test? Shouldn’t anything left behind have deteriorated?”

The men exchanged looks of confusion. How, indeed?

~*~*~*~

While Lewis and Clark went through memories to try and remember where and who might have Meriwether’s DNA, Bruce was firing off a group text.

“William, when you picked up Meriwether’s body had they washed him and dressed him in clean clothes?” Thomas had pulled a journal and pen from somewhere in the room.

“He was cleaned up.”

“His bloody clothes?” That got him a shrug from the pair. “You think the Griner’s were part of the assassination attempt?”

“The Mrs. did the majority of the talking. Mr. said little about anything.” Will nodded as though confirming his memory.

“What else did Neelly get besides my papers? He was one of Wilkinson’s toadies.” Lewis asked.

“We don’t know. It was more important to get you out of the area before people realized you weren’t dead.” Clark shook his head.

“It was not our best-planned operation. If you weren’t such a sneaky bastard about your papers, Wilkinson and the Spanish might have gotten your real reports. Wilkinson was nearly apoplectic when he found out, and then when Burr got arrested and charged with treason, he was too busy trying to save his own ass to worry about you besting him.” Bruce looked down at his phone. “Depending on conditions, DNA can stay viable for a very long time.” Bruce informed the men.

“I’m not liking the sound of this.” Meriwether exchanged a worried look with Will. “Why is someone trying to pull me into the public eye?”

“You are still a spy. People tell you things even when you don’t ask. Maybe someone Turned Wilkinson, and he’s looking for revenge since you outed him as Agent 13 for the Spanish.” Thomas offered.

“What I want to know is why after all the evidence I gave you, nothing happened to him. Sure he was stuck with nowhere assignments, but he was still passing information and abusing his command.”

“He was Teflon. Nothing stuck, so we just put him where he would cause the least amount of damage until we finally sent him to Mexico City as an Envoy after he retired from the military. Spain already knew what was happening with Mexico, so nobody mourned when he died after six months in Mexico City.”

Thomas sighed. He knew Lewis was constantly frustrated when politics interfered with how he thought the story should end. He was a great spy, but Thomas made sure he kept the younger man too busy to concentrate on the endgame. His attention was brought back to his living room by the heavy sigh coming from his couch.

“I’m going to have to meet this James Wilkinson, aren’t I?” Meriwether sounded resigned.

“We’re going to meet him.” Clark was determined his Mate wouldn’t be going through this alone.

“I’ll follow Wilkinson from the womb to the present.” Bruce assured them. “Shouldn’t be hard to determine if the records are genuine or implanted into the system like we do when we change identities.” Wayne had called his car and stood to leave. “I’ll keep everyone in the loop.” He shook hands with everyone before he headed for the elevator.

“Just once it would be nice if the dead would stay that way.” Lewis growled beginning to feel closed in with all this talk of the past.

“Why don’t you boys head to bed. As much as I’d like if you stayed a few more days, I can see this has got you longing for home.

Meriwether and William said their goodnights and head to the guest room. “We’ll be where we can see the stars this time tomorrow.” Will whispered as he curled around his Mate.

~ Finis ~