Flexible Loyalties
Chapter 1
A blast sounded through the air in front of them as flames engulfed the K-directorate building. Lauren soothed a piece of her dark wig back behind her ear. Sark stood beside her smirking at a job well done as he watched the agency burn to the ground.
"Well that's done," Sark said as he placed a tranq gun in his black bag. His short blonde hair a mess after taking his black knitted hat off.
"It is," Lauren replied slipping her wig off and placing it in Sark's bag along with his gear.
"Come on, we best get back to Covenant headquarters, love." Sark said as he shot a glance at Lauren.
"We probably should before Tanners blows his cork," Lauren replied turning around on her heel and walking off with him. They both got into the black car and sped off towards the Covenant's headquarters.
As they pulled into the parking lot they could see Tanners up in his office watching it like a hawk. Lauren got out of the passengers side and made her way up the stone steps and through the glass doors, followed closely by Sark. Sark and Lauren placed their hands into the gel scanners so that they could enter the core of the Covenant. The large doors opened into a facility. Another agent who new Lauren and Sark walked up to them. His name was Sam.
"Hey guys, uh, Tanners wants to see you in his office now," Sam said. Sark and Lauren exchanged glances and left without further discussion.
"Joy this should be fun," Lauren muttered under her breath.
"No, duh," Sark replied rolling his eyes at the thought of how Tanners was going to chew him and Lauren out for being late.
As soon as Sark and Lauren entered the office Tanners muttered,"Your late."
"How can you expect us not to be late, we had to set up the devices and stuff," Sark argued.
"Sark is exactly right," Lauren muttered under her breath.
"What was that Ms. Reed?" Tanners asked.
"I just said that it won't happen again," Lauren lied. Lying came naturally to her, working with the Covenant and all.
Tanners sighed and then said, "Ms. Reed I do believe that was a lie," he said rather hotly.
"I, but-" Lauren started but was cut off.
"Would you rather me beat it out of you or will you tell me willingly?" Tanners asked as he stepped towards her.
"Tanners do you really think this is necessary?" Sark interrupted and stepped in front of Lauren. Tanners was shocked by this act.
"We have business matters to attend to, and I do believe that this work is far more important then interrogating one of your most prominent members on matters that aren't important," Sark said. "Besides, you are finished working here," Sark added pulling a manila folder out of a hidden compartment in his coat tossing it at Tanners. Tanners was stunned as he read over the contents in the manila folder that Sark had just given him.
"This can't be; this is impossible," Tanners argued.
"I believe it is possible," Sark replied in his smooth British accent. Lauren smiled to herself.
"These are lies," Tanners stormed. "The CIA has no idea that K-directorate has been destroyed, just like we planned. We are one step ahead of them. Unless, of course, you two are betraying the Covenant," Tanners said pulling a gun out from his desk and pointing it at Sark.
"You know better then that. Unless you have forgotten...maybe these will help refresh your memory," Sark said tossing a pile of photos containing Tanners and Agent Bristow of the CIA, talking. "Do you remember now? Do you remember selling the Covenant out to the CIA?"
"So, why did you do it?" Lauren questioned. "Was it out of fear for what the CIA might do to you? Or maybe you have caught a slight liking to this Agent Bristow and are willing to sacrifice your life to better yourself in her eyes?" Lauren pressed. "So enlighten us, what makes a man such as yourself turn to betrayal?"
"I confess, yes we were talking at a nearby Cafe, but this doesn't mean I have a slight liking as you say Ms. Reed. Perhaps you're pushing all this into my face to hide your relationship with Mr. Sark, am I onto something Ms. Reed?" Tanners replied smirking at his smart remark.
"How much did you tell Agent Bristow?" Lauren asked taking out a gun herself.
"Yes, please share what you've told Agent Bristow, maybe we'll all get a good laugh at what was said," Sark replied. His accent cocky and dripping with sarcasm.
Just then a shot was fired through the window hitting Tanners square in the head and killing him instantly. Lauren and Sark looked down into the parking lot just in time to see a figure run away into the darkness.
"Great," Lauren commented, "Now we won't get any information from him. Do you suppose security section already knows abut this incident?"
"I'm sure they do, and I see no point in remaining here. We should go work on our debrief," Sark replied.
"Your a little touchy today, what got into you?" Lauren retorted pulling her shoulder length blonde hair into a low ponytail. Sark looked over his shoulder and pulled Lauren into a clean room, "I believe Tanners wasn't alone in this and that the Covenant is playing us," Sark explained truthfully to Lauren.
"Oh, and what suddenly had you come to this conclusion?" Lauren snapped. She was still kind of angry for how Sark acted only moments ago.
"Have you not noticed the changes that have been made recently within this agency? Not to mention how the higher ups act towards us has been changing immensely."
"Yes, I've seen the change, quit acting like I don't have clearence to talk about anything, and if I were you I would get out of my way," Lauren replied harshly. She shoved her way past Sark to the door.
Sark just let Lauren shove past, "Suit yourself," he commented.
"I will," Lauren replied slamming the door in his face. Sark just smirked, Lauren was in for a big surprise. Little did she know that the Covenant had orchestrated a full time investigation on the two of them. But Sark wasn't about to tell Lauren this in the middle of Covenant headquarters.
Lauren made her way out of the Covenant building and into the parking garage. Just as Lauren reached her car she heard the parking garage door open and shut. Lauren whipped around to see Sark standing there.
"What do you want Sark?" Lauren asked putting her purse in the car, then turning her attention back to him. Sark didn't say anything, instead he handed a piece of paper to her and walked away before Lauren could say anything.
Lauren opened her car door and got inside shutting the door behind her. She unfolded the piece of paper and began to read it.
At 6:37am the next morning Lauren was calmly waiting for Sark outside a small Cafe. Growing all the more angry every minute he was late. Finally Sark arrived and walked up to the place where she was sitting and greeted her with a kiss. Then he sat down beside her.
"Good morning love, I'm sorry I was late," Sark said.
"Good morning to you too, and why was Sark late?" Lauren asked before she leaned in and kissed him back.
"I was followed by a particularly good tail this morning. But I'm here now."
"Good, now what is this second agency plan of yours?" Lauren questioned as they ordered two waters from the Cafe waiter.
"Well see it wouldn't technically be a second agency, just another cell of the Covenant. This cell would be run by us and could easily be separated from the Covenant if worse comes to worse. I was just thinking about it and it's affiliated enough through the Covenant to be allowed but loose enough where we could commit to our own missions."
"How long have you been planning this? Do you think the Covenant will still be conducting that ridiculous investigation on us still?" Lauren questioned. Sark lifted her chin so her eyes met his.
"I haven't been planning this too long, I couldn't keep this from you," Sark said giving her a gentle kiss, "and I don't think they will keep investigating us after we propose this to the agency."
"Well, let's hope not, oh and did we get an ID on the shooter?" Lauren asked.
"Not that I'm aware of," Sark replied.
"Speaking of which, who is filling in for Tanners, do we know?" Lauren asked.
"Some Bomani guy," Sark said.
"Who the heck is that?" Lauren asked raising an eyebrow.
"I'm not sure, but he's got to be a lap dog or something. Somebody that the higher ups know won't plot against them, after what Tanners did and all."
"Oh goody, we get another pathetic piece of crap as our boss," Lauren sighed rolling her eyes.
"I know, but at least he'll be scared of us considering what we did to Tanners with the blackmail," Sark said. "Great," he added pointing to a car that had just pulled into the parking lot. "That's the guy who tailed me. What do you say we get out of this place and have some fun?"
"What are you trying to do seduce me?" Lauren said smiling. Sark only smirked at that. He glanced back at the parking lot. The guy who had tailed Sark was looking around trying to get a glimpse of them. Luckily the guy had yet to see them. Sark and Lauren got in Sark's car and sped off. They drove in silence for awhile until Lauren asked a question that was weighing on her mind.
"Why did you defend me last night?" Lauren asked as she looked out the window. Sark didn't respond at first he just glanced in her direction then back to the road.
"So why did you?" Lauren asked again.
"I don't know," Sark started. "It just felt right."
"Oh, it just felt right considering your feelings for me maybe," Lauren replied smiling while looking out the car window.
"Perhaps," Sark said pulling the car over.
"I think I'm onto something Mr. Sark," Lauren said as she started to kiss him.
