Chapter One
St. Petersburg, Russia
Summer, 1942
This was a miserable day. The fighting between the Russians and Germans was particularly harsh today. The Russians were determined to keep the territories they had gotten back from the Germans, but the Germans wouldn't give up so easily. They were fighting like rabid dogs to regain their lost territories. So for days battles raged, seemingly out of control at times. The entire area reeked of the smell of blood, death, gunpowder, and smoke. The sounds of gunshots and cannons could be heard no matter where you were in St. Petersburg. In the midst of all this horror The Boss had to find the last potential member of her unit, Sashenka Yerik Trofimoff. According to one of the Russian commanders, he was on a reconnaissance mission in the north, but he was due back any day now.
There was nothing for The Boss to do except wait for Sashenka to return. She had been here for six days waiting for him to come back from this recon mission. If only she had finished her last snatch mission sooner, she could have been on an earlier flight out to Moscow and she could have gotten to him before he had taken off. But it was no matter. It felt kinda nice being with the Russian resistance soldiers. They would fight so valiantly against the Germans. Never had she seen a group fight so fervently for their country. It was probably good that they fought so hard, they after all were the ones taking most of the heavy causalities in this war.
The Boss got up from the cot she was laying on. Reaching into her backpack, she grabbed the file on Sashenka Yerik Trofimoff. Opening the file, she glanced at his picture. His file said he was about 32 years old, but they weren't sure of his age. He looked a lot older then 32. From the black and white photo, it appeared that his hair was white and it was most definitely receding too. He was burly, and very tall; he was about 6'3, but wore glasses, his demeanor was so gentle and unassuming. He didn't seem like the type of man who would be in the military. But according to his records he was a genius in reconnaissance and a formidable fighter.
However it was something else about his character that intrigued her something terribly. It was the fact that this man could communicate with the deceased. She was so curious to know how someone could possibly communicate with the dead. After all there was nothing after death, at least that's what she believed. There was no heaven or hell, just a bright light and then nothing. But who knows, maybe there was something after death. Perhaps he could explain it to her once they met.
She continued to thumb through his records, pausing to read some of the more interesting notes. Like it was his ability to speak to dead soldiers that helped him become such a mastermind at reconnaissance missions. Also he was the subject of many governmental tests to asses the nature of his powers. But all the test were inconclusive, the only thing they were able to determine is his brainwaves were more heightened then the average person.
Closing the file and placing it back into her backpack, she went out of the room she was given, to go get something to drink. As she walked down the hallway, she could hear the sounds of the Russian commander praising one of his soldiers. Apparently whatever news he was just given brightened the commander's day, she could hear his praises even after she was well past the commander's office.
Grabbing a cup of coffee, The Boss made her way back to her room, but as she crossed the commander's office, the door opened and the commander walked out.
"Oh I was just getting ready to go and get you Boss." The tall portly man said.
"Yes." She answered. "What is it you need?"
"Nothing," The commander said. "It's just that Trofimoff has just returned from the north and I know you wanted to see him.
The commander turned away from The Boss and shouted from Trofimoff, who instantly stood up.
"Please come into my office." The commander said kindly to The Boss.
She walked in and there before her was Trofimoff.
"Trofimoff," The commander introduced. "I would like to introduce you to The Boss. She is the best solider in the world today."
"It's a pleasure to meet you." He said saluting her.
"No the pleasure is all mine." The Boss answered back.
"The Boss has been waiting for you to return from your mission." The commander continued. "She's also been fighting the Germans with us while she was waiting. You've never seen someone fight so hard and with a smile on her face to boot. She's quite an amazing person."
"Thank you commander." She said kindly.
"I'm just being honest." He said. "But if you two would excuse me, I have to report to the troops."
The commander left the room and closed the door behind him. The Boss and Trofimoff both sat down at the table and began to talk.
"I'm sure you are wondering why I was waiting for you." She said.
"Yes." He said softly. "That thought has crossed my mind."
"I was wondering if you would be interested in joining my unit." She said bluntly.
He didn't answer.
"I was told that you were the best when it came to reconnaissance missions." She said.
"I'm not that good." He said.
"There's no need for modesty." She said. "I've heard about your talents, why even the commander says you have a gift."
"It's more like a curse." He answered softly.
"Well, no matter what you call it, you are still a very talented man." She said with a smile. "I want the best in the world to fight with me, and I just about have the best."
"You do?"
"Yes. All I need now is you to complete my unit." She said. "Will you please join me?"
Trofimoff looked at her and smiled brightly although she couldn't understand why he was smiling at her.
"Yes," He said. "I will join your unit Lilith."
"What did you just call me?" She questioned instantly.
"Lilith?" He asked. "That is your name isn't it?"
"How do you know that?" She questioned sounding completely astonished.
"She told me to call you that." He answered cryptically.
"Who?" The Boss asked.
"Your mother told me." He answered. "She's watching over you right now. She's always watching over you."
The Boss didn't say anything to that comment. She never really gave much consideration to her mother, especially considering she never met her. She died in childbirth, so she never got a chance to meet her. From everything her father use to tell her about her mother, she was a sweet soft spoken woman, who was feminine to an extreme. That was everything that she wasn't.
"I'm sorry." Trofimoff said very apologetically. "I didn't mean to…"
"No." The Boss interrupted. "I understand that you can't control your powers."
"Normally I can." He said. "It's just that I saw that beautiful woman behind you, and I couldn't help but listen to what she had to say."
"In any case." She said trying to change the subject. "I will trust that you will never mention my real name ever again?"
"You have my word." He said. "What shall I call you? Commander?"
"Call me Boss." She said with a grin.
"Yes Boss."
