Authors: Bernard Lee DeLeo
“I will protect the girl and Karen,” Connor explained. “Everyone else I will leave up to you and your team. There will, I imagine, be innocents in all of this at these sites, but I will be able to get on-site intel to you before you head in.”
“The purpose will not be simple extraction then?”
“No, you will be making a statement for the countries involved,” Connor answered.
“I like it,” Johnny replied. “I take it this will be like
Mission Impossible,
in that all association with us will be disavowed?”
“No one gets left Johnny, not even bodies,” Connor corrected. “After I get Karen and the girl free of the fire zone, I will be back to make sure everyone else gets clear.”
“Works for me,” Johnny said. “When do we start?”
“Karen and I will be leaving the day after tomorrow. I would like you and your team in Europe by then. Once I have the information, we go on immediately. Nate, Derek, and Greg will be here coordinating missions from the list even while we hit. There will not be much time for breaks in the action. The slower we proceed, the less chance the next girl on the list will still be alive.”
“Forgive me for saying so,” Johnny smiled, “but this sounds like something not sanctioned by anyone outside of this room.”
“No,” Connor admitted, “but I will tell you this Johnny, there will be a big bonus for everyone who goes on this mission. I will see to it personally, or Nate will. We are leaving no one but myself out on the limb.”
“I am glad you and Nate are the ones behind this. I liked what Director Haynes had to say about the mission, but I figured it would be another half-ass unsupported screw up.”
“Yet you volunteered anyway,” Connor commented. “I like that.”
“As I said, I have two daughters,” Johnny reiterated.
“Who might lose a father,” Connor pointed out.
“Yea,” Johnny laughed. “I’ll be safe just assassinating people. Did you forget what my particular department does Thomas?”
“No, but I have an offer for you after this is over.”
“Yea Thomas,” Nate broke in, “good idea. Johnny, you have got to come in with us. You would be great here, and we need the help. Besides, we need an oriental to make our quota.”
“You son.oh I see,” Johnny relaxed, “pick on the oriental day is it?” He joined in their laughter.
“I am not sure how I feel about you hiring away my operatives,” Greg broke in.
“Relax Greg,” Nate told him. “We will still be working with you, and the three of us can impart a lot of knowledge to your new recruits. Johnny here has been in this stuff a long time. He needs to get out in the private sector.”
“I ain’t driving no limo for a living Nate, so get that through your shiny head right now,” Johnny said as he looked around at the super computer setup, “but I see you do a hell of a lot more than that. When we get done, you talk, I’ll listen.”
“Fair enough,” Connor agreed. “Well folks, Nate and I have a business to run, so if there is nothing further, we have to get back to work.”
Karen sat next to Connor disguised as Raymond Yee in first class as they were a quarter of the way to their destination. She had been dozing comfortably. Connor had to stay awake to maintain his appearance. “I find your disguise after reading Mr. Yee’s file to be repulsive.”
“You are not going to start complaining already, are you? Next it will be when do we get there, and are we there yet?”
“I am just making conversation,” Karen retorted.
“Yea, well beauty is only skin deep.”
“I hope you don’t get frozen in that shape shift Mr. Yee, or I may have to rethink my fondness for you.”
“You have wounded me greatly madam,” Connor replied.
“We have not had a chance to talk since you set up our appointment yesterday. What do you think about it?”
Connor held up a quieting hand. He took a small electronic notepad and made a few screen changes until he was satisfied. He put it back in his suit jacket pocket and looked at Karen. “Did you forget the word I told you to speak if you wished to talk to me about our meeting? I explained I cannot know about every device that may be aimed at us.”
“Sorry,” Karen said, realizing she had forgotten her security training completely. “Are we clear.”
“A little late for that now my dear. Yes, and my conversation with our host went very well. He needs money, and my figure of five million just about made him drool through the phone line. He will have us picked up at the airport, and then we will be taken to an estate he owns. From there we must adlib the rest.”
“You told him you would have a companion?” Karen asked.
“Yes, I told him I was bringing a secretarial assistant to handle the fund transfer. He thought it humorous I intended to use the list to extort money and favors. I expect he kept it all along just for that purpose, but he was in no position to reap the benefits.”
“Look at this.” Karen looked around, and then hiked her knee length skirt up at the corner closest to Connor. She had a garter belt and stockings on, but no panties.
“You bitch,” Connor whispered tightly. “Why in the world did you show me this now?”
“Just to watch the great mutant wonder squirm in his seat on this airplane.”
Connor started to reply and then he just smiled. Karen gasped as desire swept through her, and she clenched her fists at her sides.
“Thomas,” she whispered fiercely. “Pl…Please don’t. Yo…You’ll get my skirt wet. Oh…no…don’t…”
Connor let up, and Karen sat up slowly. She looked over at him with her cheeks flushed red. “You bastard…I…”
“Careful,” Connor cautioned.
Karen shut up and looked away, knowing anything else she said would only cause her immediate embarrassment. “This is not fair Thomas and you know it.”
Connor laughed. “I guess someone will think twice before she brings a knife to a gunfight, huh?”
“I only wanted to tease you a little,” Karen protested, still not making eye contact.
“Right back at you Doc.”
“Do you think we could stop at our hotel before going to the meeting?” Karen asked.
“Sorry my little Mata Hari, we have other places to go when we get off of the plane. I told you, they will be picking us up right from the airport. We will have to solve your little dilemma after we get through with our business.”
“I think I hate you.”
“We’ll see,” Connor laughed.
As Connor and Karen cleared customs, a man approached them, sign in hand, with the pre-arranged word global on it. “I smell like a street walker thanks to you,” Karen said sideways to Connor as the man walked up.
“Mr. Yee,” the man inquired.
“Yes,” Connor replied.
“Please follow me,” the man directed. “The car is right outside. I am having your bags picked up for you. They will be brought out to the car.”
Connor could get no read at all from the driver, so he nodded at Karen to follow along. They worked their way out of the airport. The driver led them to a Mercedes parked with a policeman actually watching the vehicle. The driver nodded at the policeman, and then opened the door for Connor and Karen to get in the backseat. After their baggage was loaded, they drove off quickly, and Karen gripped his hand strongly in her lap with both of hers. Connor could feel the fear. For the hundredth time, Connor wished he had not agreed to bring her.
They traveled for about a half an hour out into the countryside, eventually turning onto a long winding road, leading to Pierre’s estate. There were no gates or guards, and Connor could feel Karen relax a little. The driver slowed about fifty yards back from the lavish chateau. Gardens encircled the estate. A large ornate fountain lay between them and what looked to be the entrance. Trees lined the approach from the road.
The flash which shot through Connor just before the car stopped, gave him a split second in which to throw open the car door, grab Karen around the waist, and dive out of the car. She screamed, as he gripped her to him, and started running. Something, Connor figured to be a missile, slammed into the car and exploded. Shrapnel tore into his back and legs as the blast threw them forward into the air. He cushioned Karen’s fall by twisting to hit the ground shoulder first. Ignoring the blinding pain, Connor lurched to his feet with Karen in his arms, running for the trees. He did not stop running until they were far from the chateau.
Connor could feel the blood running down his back, and he knew he needed to stop and heal. His vision had begun to blur, when he finally stopped near a clump of trees at the edge of the estate. He laid Karen down on the ground. She released her grip from around his neck. Her teeth were chattering, and her eyes were glazed, but other than that, Connor could find no evidence of any wounds. He looked back the way he had come, and saw no immediate pursuit. Connor held Karen close to him. She put her arms around him as she began to sob. When she felt how wet the back of his suit coat was, she pushed him away.
“My God Thomas,” Karen said as she turned him away from her. “You’re cut to ribbons. Lie still.”
When he did not answer, Karen turned him over a little. Connor had lost consciousness. She hurriedly tore the jacket off she had worn and held it tightly against his back. She glanced up, and saw the flaming wreck in the distance. Connor had carried her at a dead run for over half a mile.
She saw figures standing around the fiery wreck, and after a few moments, they began to move slowly towards them. She could see blood everywhere, but it had slowed considerably. Karen considered dragging him, but she knew they would follow easily, and she might kill him in doing so. She started to get up to go and surrender, and plead for their lives. Connor pulled her down, and then rolled over to his side.
“I’ll get them to help you Thomas,” Karen said quickly. “We can get them a lot of money. I.”
“Karen,” Connor said quietly, “take it easy. I’m healing. I just need some time.”
“They’re coming Thomas. You’ll never get well enough by the time they get here.”
Connor looked up at where the men were proceeding carefully, following the blood trail he had left. He counted eight men he could see. He looked at her and smiled. “Did you ever see
The Thirteenth Warrior
Karen?”
“We don’t have time for game show questions Thomas.” She looked into his eyes, which were bright and cold. “Are you fading out again?”
“Nope,” he replied sitting up. He could not see any of them searching with binoculars for any kind of trap. They were confident. “In
The Thirteenth Warrior
the leader of these Viking warriors stood dying on his feet, and facing a horde of oncoming enemies. They had a chant, which I always loved, and he recited it as he faced them. The.”
“Lie still Thomas,” Karen sobbed as she watched him weakly lie back down on his stomach, and inch forward so he could see the oncoming men clearly.
“. The other warriors joined him in the chant:
Lo there do I see my Father. Lo there do I see my Mother, and my sisters, and my brothers. Lo there do I see the line of my people, back to the beginning. Lo they do call to me. They bid me take my place among them, in the halls of Valhalla, where the brave, they live, forever.”
Connor’s voice had risen as he recited the movie lines. As he ended the chant, he moved. Karen reached to hold him, but he was not there.
“Thomas,” she yelled, but he had already begun to zigzag quickly towards the men. They did not spot him until he had gotten within what Karen figured to be about seventy yards and closing. They opened up with automatic weapons fire, but he was amongst them in seconds. They closed on him, and she could hear the screaming, even from where she had begun to run to join him. Bodies flew literally into the air as she watched, spellbound at the carnage she was witnessing. She halted fifty feet from the scene, as Connor tore the last man screaming into the air, and slammed him head first into the ground. She heard him grunt as he twisted the man’s head and tore it from his neck.
Karen screamed, clamping her bloody hands to her face as he turned in a rage at the sound, the man’s head dangling grotesquely by the hair from his right hand. Covered from head to toe in gore, Connor dropped the head and straightened, looking around at the bloody scene around him. Bodies lie broken and maimed in twisted lumps all around him. He saw Karen staring at him in disbelief. He waved comically at her as he collapsed.
Thunder sounded in his head, coming from the hooves of many horses. Connor rolled and twisted to avoid the crushing blows. The darkness hid the riders mounted on the beasts, but the silhouettes against the slightly lighter sky were that of horned devils. A thick mist covering the ground around him receded. And the pain in his arms, legs, and back rushed into his consciousness, awakening him to groggy awareness. Memory of his last moment caused him to start to his feet, but a hand pulled him back.
“Keep still Thomas,” Karen whispered. “We’re okay for now.”
Connor rolled painfully to his side and looked around. Karen had dragged him away from the dead bodies, and now sat cross-legged with an AK47 on her lap, watching the Chateau. She looked back down at him and smiled.
“Your healing powers are amazing. I’ve been watching your body for the last twenty minutes, sealing your wounds. I didn’t think you could do that while unconscious.”
“I’ve only been out for twenty minutes?” Connor asked.
“Plus the time it took me to drag you out of the blood.”
“Anyone come out to check on things yet?” Connor continued.
“No,” Karen replied. “They must think that bunch are still out hunting for us. You look like something from hell.”
“I feel like hell, but anybody in that Chateau is going to feel a whole lot worse.” He stroked her leg with his bloody hand. “I can see up your dress.”
Karen shook her head. “You are stark raving mad Thomas. That chant, and then you charging out right at eight armed men. And then.”
“I know. I’m sorry you saw all that, and I sure didn’t mean for us to walk right into a trap.”
Tears began to course down Karen’s cheeks. She brushed them away with the back of one hand. “I.I’m glad you’re okay Thomas. I thought we were dead.”
Connor sat up next to her. He looked down at himself. “I guess I need a shower.”
“You go first,” Karen laughed.
Connor patted her hand. “I will be right back.”
Pierre sat in a lounge chair, staring out of his window. He could see the still smoking hulk in his driveway. His men had been gone a long time, but one of them had told him the people in the car were badly injured, and they would be getting them soon. That had been almost an hour ago now. A scream of agony came from the floor below. He jumped to his feet, as he heard more screams and commotion. Running over to his dresser, he pulled out the 9mm automatic stashed in the top drawer, and shakily aimed it at the door. He jacked a round into the chamber and waited. The screams had stopped. A moment later, the door to his room burst right off the frame, and to the floor. A ragged, bloody spectre stood in the entrance, smiling from cracked lips at him.
“Hi there.”
Pierre jerked the trigger, and the gun bucked in his hand and then he no longer had it. The pain hit him then, as he looked down to the hand he had held the gun with. His hand flopped loosely at a right angle to his wrist. He screamed as he fell to his knees, hugging his maimed appendage to his chest. Pierre threw up. Connor grabbed him by the back of his shirt, and dragged him away from his vomit. Dropping him again to the floor, Connor crouched down next to him.
“I am going to make this simple and fast because I know you are in a lot of pain. How did you know about us,” Connor asked in French.
Pierre looked up through pain filled eyes into his torturer’s face. The bloody face was still smiling at him. “I.I checked with my.my contact in China. He said they ha. had not heard from Yee. They felt he had been compromised. I.I have money, we can.”
“We will get to the money later Bub. I want the list of girls who you took from the United States,” Connor said, “and I want to know all about where they ended up.”