Chapter 4
The boat crashed onto the shore and continued to move since it was coming in too fast. The leader was screaming at his men to move. Nicolette took the opportunity to disarm her captors and use their guns against them. She put a bullet where there heart was to be and she was covered by Harrison as he leapt from the marooned boat and onto the ground. More gunfire erupted from where Duke and Alexi and her men were; it was chaotic.
The only one standing was the leader of the group and as far as Nicolette knew, he was just the one that ran things for the boss. She pointed her gun at him and said, "Welcome to contingency."
In the end the boat and the airstrip were destroyed after nearly being ambushed by more of the runners. The leader was held and tied to a chair in the nearby hangar bay. Harrison was wiping his face but he was still sporting the cuts and the blood had dried and nothing short of a shower was going to get it off. Nicolette was looking at Duke who was watching the whole thing. She walked over and said in a low tone, "You know what we're gonna do."
Duke nodded his head, "Yes ma'am. But I am good." He looked her in the eye. "I can do this." At the pause he saw in Nicolette, he added, "I… was bothered the first time, but I understand. Some people just need to have a little extra. I can do this."
Nicolette studied Duke for a moment. She then nodded, "Okay. I do need you to keep guard just in case."
"Will do," Duke replied as he pulled up his rifle. He moved to take up position. He paused by Alexi and motioned, "You on guard duty."
Alexi raised her brow at Duke as he picked up her rifle and shoved it at her. She glanced at Nicolette and said, "Looks like the kid learned something from you eh Nicky?"
"Nope," Nicolette replied with a shake of her head and grin. "Follow orders for once in your pathetic life Lexi."
Alexi narrowed her eyes but smiled in acquiescence and nodded. She took her weapon and continued to look at Nicolette. She then said, "Come on kid. Seems like Mommy needs to take care of a few things with Daddy." She giggled at the look that Nicolette and Duke shot at her. It was entertaining to her.
Nicolette took a breath before turning towards where Harrison was waiting with their prisoner tied fast to a chair. She looked at him and said, "Now you're going to start talking. Give us what we need and then maybe we might consider merciful options."
"You think that you can get anything out of me?"
Harrison stepped forward and punched him and said, "This is a major shipment. Who is it going to?" He punched him again. "Where is it going to?"
The prisoner laughed at Harrison and replied, "You know where Harrison. Everyone knows where they are going." He looked at Nicolette and said, "There is a war coming."
"What war?" Nicolette narrowed her eyes at the prisoner. She held her gun down ready to bring up if they were attacked out of habit. She bent to be eye level with the prisoner.
"The war is coming. What was once friends becomes enemies. Soon there is nowhere left to run."
Harrison pushed Nicolette aside and grabbed the prisoner and shook him hard. "Where is the shipment going to?"
"You know who, Harrison." The prisoner chuckled some more even though he was sporting a fat lip. "You really thought your cover was secure? There was always suspicion on the American who claimed to hate his country. We were just waiting for you to fuck up."
"This is a fucking waste of time," Harrison replied.
"Harrison, you know who we have been dealing with. The biggest problem isn't our friends in the Middle East even though your people like to think that it is so." The prisoner liked the fact that he caught the attention of his captors. He liked the fact that he caught the woman's attention. He had underestimated her when she was brought into the compound. There was something about her that he liked. He looked at her, "The war is coming and what you thought were once friends will become your enemies and in the end you will doubt."
"There is no doubting the truth," Nicolette replied as she paced looking at the prisoner. "We know that Russia conveniently forgets its friends." She knew the reasons for it too. She watched the news and she had her contacts in certain areas of government. It was part of her travels while the guys were training or going on ops. Occasionally she would take one of them with her for backup. They never knew the full extent but they trusted her. "The ultranationalists have a funny way of looking at things."
"This is true but that is not your only problem."
Harrison came close and leaned in, "Yeah and what is that?"
"Harrison you should know. You were intimate with the highest levels."
"Bullshit, this is small time!"
Nicolette held off Harrison. It looked like he was going to lose it. They didn't need him dead. They needed to know where the guns were heading and who was pulling the strings. Yeah they knew the ultimate destination was Russia and into Makarov's hands. They weren't idiots and Harrison had been supplying what he had the past few months.
It was only recently that the shipments began to make a change. They had to make their move and it ended up being this. She looked at the prisoner and pulled out a bandana and wound it up. She tied it around the prisoner's eyes and tied it tight. The prisoner asked, "What do you aim to do? Take me for a long walk?"
Nicolette said nothing but grabbed the back of the chair and started dragging it across the ground. She silently signaled Harrison to follow and continued to drag the chair. She may not look like much but she was strong. Part of it was that she trained on learning to carry deadweights. She felt her lip twitch when she recalled one time when it was Royce that said that she couldn't possibly carry someone like Ghost or MacTavish.
She demonstrated with Roach, which really wasn't much since he was about her height and his weight wasn't too bad even with all the gear on. She again demonstrated by asking MacTavish and ghost to gear up. She certainly showed them by first carrying MacTavish in a fireman's carry and then with Ghost in full tactical gear. Later MacTavish teased her and asked if she had broken any fingers with that. She had always been able to do things when the occasion called for it and often surprised herself with what she did.
"So you're going to not tell me? That is a very dangerous game you play."
"The only dangerous game is one where you have the lines erased in the sand," she said.
"Not for you. You're different. Even Harrison here wouldn't be able to say that and stand tall."
Nicolette continued to drag the chair out. With sudden force she pushed it to the ground and let it crack. She watched the prisoner cry out in pain from the jolt since he was tied down. She went over to grab a length of chain and dragged it across the ground so it could be heard and started tying it to the back of the chair.
"Is this what you have planned? Murder?"
Nicolette tossed the other end to Harrison who made a show of it tying the end to a truck. She kneeled by the prisoner and said, "It isn't murder if you are still alive at the end of this. Now, tell me who is in charge of this operation?"
The prisoner looked at her even though he was blindfolded. He grimaced a grin and replied, "And what are you going to do if I don't tell you? Cut off a finger? Strangle me?"
Nicolette ran her finger along the edge of the blindfold like she was going to take it off but she didn't. She made sure that her finger touched his cheek. She then checked the chain and replied, "No. I have something more in mind." She looked at Harrison and nodded.
The sound of an engine starting had the prisoner wonder what she was up to. He taunted her about shock therapy. She said, "Nothing like that." She tugged on the chain and managed to pull the chair a little.
The prisoner got the hint of what was going to happen. He started laughing nervously and said, "Is drawn and quartered a new one?"
"That would imply death. I simply want you alive and in pain for the rest of your life," Nicolette replied with a coy and taunting tone. "You see the road through the jungle is not like a paved street and it is maybe a couple of hours to the village and from there a few more to Rio…" She left it hanging in the air.
"You wouldn't dare. You need me."
"Not really. I know that the shipment is eventually bound for Makarov in Russia." Nicolette looked at Harrison as he stood by the truck's open door. "But I would like more info on why he wants so many guns… who the supplier is and what the word it."
"And you think that I would tell it to you?"
"Oh you will," Nicolette replied as she leaned close and whispered in the prisoner's ear. "You see, I usually get something out of every exchange."
"No. You wouldn't."
Nicolette gave a signal and she had Harrison start the truck. He then shifted gears and started pulling the chain. He only stopped when he felt the resistance and the slight movement. She looked at the prisoner who started to scream for her to stop. She signaled and Harrison stopped. She said, "I'll stop but you know the price for it."
"I can't. He'll kill me."
"You're dead anyway so what the fuck does it matter?" Nicolette continued to kneel by the prisoner. She brushed the hair in a sort of consoling manner. "Just tell me and maybe you get a chance to make a run for it."
The prisoner was trembling, "I can't."
"Okay then."
The engine started up and Harrison switched it into gear. The prisoner screamed for her to stop and that he would tell her. Nicolette signaled Harrison to kill the engine. She righted the chair up and not too gently. She put her hand on the prisoner's shoulder, "Now tell me about the shipment. Who is your boss?"
"Alejandro Rojas… Alex the Red," the prisoner replied trembling. "He supplies the guns… has been for…"
"For what?" Nicolette got close to the prisoner's ear. Her hand jiggled the chain as she jiggled the chair like she was going to tip it over again. She felt him tremble and asked, "For what?"
"Something big… I don't know. All I know is that the war is coming. This is only a small piece but the war is coming." He started babbling in Portuguese and Spanish. He jerked against his bonds. "The war is coming and they will start it."
"You're right that a war is coming," Nicolette whispered, "But I'm here to stop it."
With a deft movement she knocked the chair over. The wood splintered as Harrison turned the engine on. Nicolette took out her pistol and checked the clip. She pointed the gun at the head of the prisoner and looked at Harrison. She gave a nod and he responded with one. She looked down and fired and watched the bullet hit close near the head of the prisoner. She gave a slight smile and said, "Well there's your info Harrison."
I thought it was simple intel gathering.
"And I thought it was a simple pickup and delivery." Nicolette gave a slight smile as she spoke into the burner phone she used when she went on missions. She gave one to MacTavish and he always kept it on him. He didn't question her reasons but accepted it. It bothered her on some level but he had told her early on in their relationship that he knew there were some things she couldn't tell and he understood that. If he had to ask, he would but he trusted her. It said a lot. "You know I could go on and on."
And I can't bloody win with you.
"You try."
And I succeeded. I won your heart.
Nicolette chuckled at that. She teased him, "And I bet you regretted it the moment I beat your ass." She heard him growl playfully at her. "And I love you too."
Nico, you bloody Yank.
"My cute ugly Scottish bastard." Nicolette glanced over at the campfire where Harrison, Alexi and Duke were sitting with the village leader of the native tribe of that area. She heard MacTavish on the other end and it sounded like they were in the middle of something. "Are you reporting in with the module?"
Handed it over not too long ago.
"Any signs of tampering or downloading?"
Not at first glance and Roach couldn't really sit and do a diagnostic. You're the brains for that.
Nicolette hummed at that. Everyone in the 141 knew about her handiness with computers and tech downloads. They pretty much had been the subject of certain things in between the missions and training. "I didn't expect him to do that but any sign of tampering would be evident. You said there was only the one guard inside?"
I don't think they expected us but I see what you're getting at. Even Roach pointed out that the ACS module is information and that kind of thing is valuable.
"That's what I'm afraid of. Look my info here points to something big going on in Russia. That was what the guns were for."
Maybe it has something to do with that new bloke Allen.
Nicolette narrowed her eyes at that. "PFC Joseph Allen?"
Aye. You know anything about that?
"Part of an ID package. Remember?"
I remember. You created the ID and everything. You even had me take a look at it to see if it looked good. Shepherd wanted him to get close to Makarov and he said that he had someone pull the strings to get Allen in.
"That was me. The ID is solid… Can't control what goes on after that."
Nico, don't fall into that hole. You know that this job is a risk.
"I know," Nicolette replied drawing comfort from MacTavish's reassurance. She closed her eyes and took a breath. "I wish I was there with you now." She leaned against the tree she was standing next to. "It's no fun slinging through the mud."
Now mud is definitely an idea. We might try that.
"Troglodyte." Nicolette smiled as she leaned against the tree. He liked to tease her with various ideas.
I wish I had a good one to sling back but muppet will have to do. I miss you too, love. You think you have it bad? I have to sleep with a draft tonight and Roach's snoring for company. Sometimes I think you're punishing me.
"Never," Nicolette murmured with a smile. "Just remember Hereford and the good times we had there."
Aye. I'll have to arrange leave so we could go back so I could take you to bed for a week.
"I'll hold you to that," Nicolette replied. She heard a shout and looked to see Harrison beckoning her over. "Listen, I have to go now. We found some information about the guns but you know me… I like to be sure."
I understand. Hope I'm in your dreams tonight.
"Always. I love you."
I love you. Stay frosty.
Nicolette heard the beep of being disconnected. She was relieved that MacTavish was okay. It wasn't an official rule but she sort of started it when she had to go on a mission for information and in the middle of Afghan in the heart of Taliban territory. He had been worried for her since she was going alone to meet up with David. She called the moment the mission was over and he sounded relived. She made up for it when she got home but that call started something they did now when they weren't together on missions.
She turned to head back to the group. It was a casual discussion about the success of the mission and how Harrison was still in one piece. They went to bed to get a night's sleep under the hospitality of the natives. Nicolette ended up scooting to the side she usually occupied when she and MacTavish slept together and couldn't help but think about their time at Hereford and she smiled before going to sleep.
The morning had Nicolette up early and looking at her laptop and at the latest that was going on in the world. She scrolled through the local news quickly and made a comment about the problems the fashion world was getting before getting to the politics. She had been following the state of politics of the Russian government ever since the ultranationalists gained the foothold they needed. She reached out to people she had met when she first started at the company and tracked them through their careers and rekindled the relationships. The FSO was her biggest thing but also the one she was most careful with.
"What has you up so early, Walker?"
Nicolette motioned for Harrison to be quiet while she adjusted the ear bud in her ear and cued in the newscast report. Her eyes widened as she saw the images of Zakhaev International. She immediately began tapping her keys and bringing up other windows until she got the security feed. She watched as Makarov waltzed through the airport killing everyone there. Actually Makarov wasn't full view on the cameras; the bastard was that good.
The report was in Russian and she translated it into English and pulled the buds out so Harrison could hear. They both stared at the screen while the report was made. Harrison was the first to speak, "This is serious shit, Walker. Since it is one of ours, the Russians are going to blame us."
"Nothing new Harrison," Nicolette replied as she digested the fact that Allen was dead. She was trying to figure out what she did wrong since the ID was air tight. The only thing that she could think of was that it was compromised after it left her hands. "The Russians forgot the help we gave them by doctoring the story of the frigate in the Bering Sea, the missile launches… just like we forget a few things. A dangerous game we play Harrison."
"Yeah but we don't go shooting up an airport of civilians and blame it on the Russians. Who fucking blew our man's cover?"
"That is the question," Nicolette replied as she typed into her laptop. She got a window popping up and read what it said. She said, "Harrison, we need to arrange exfil for the kid and Lexi."
Harrison looked at his watch and confirmed, "Copy that. Walker, what the fuck is going on here?"
"War is coming Harrison." Nicolette shrugged her shoulder as she scanned the security footage and relayed data for Addy's purview. She looked at her colleague, "This is the thing to start a war and what our prisoner was talking about."
Harrison studied the screen of her computer and checked his watch. "I can get the kid and the bitch to outside of Rio for exfil within twenty. I'll go tell them to pack."
"Go easy on the kid," Nicolette warned. "He still doesn't like you."
"And I'm surprised he still likes you," Harrison shot back.
"I know how to make friends."
About twenty minutes later, Duke reluctantly left Nicolette behind to head to Rio along with Alexi and her guys. He wasn't looking forward to the trip but they were inclined to respect his space. Even Alexi was polite to him and left him alone. He suspected that it was because Nicolette left behind some 'friendly' persuasion. Still he left after she promised that it would be okay.
Nicolette and Harrison found themselves heading down a road in the general direction of Rio. However they ended up near some ruins that had been missed by the eager archaeologists and had Nicolette looking at them. It was the coordinates that they both had been sent and they followed them. She was used to it but she could tell that Harrison wasn't used to this kind of thing and was a little bit impatient. She said, "It'll be fine."
"It won't be fine Walker. What the fuck is going on here?"
"It is part of the meeting. Patience."
Harrison made a scoffing noise and crossed his arms over his chest. He looked at her and noticed her calm demeanor. She wasn't impatient or anything but she was studying the ruins. He asked, "How do you know that whoever it is will show. Makes it all seem like a trap like what Mason got into."
"That's the second time you mentioned that," Nicolette replied as she turned to look at Harrison. She looked at him with a narrowed look and asked, "Why are you comparing me to someone who was an operative during 'Nam?"
"You do things very similar and can be nuts when it comes to missions… like this one," Harrison admitted. He watched her expression and added, "Before this I read the histories of various agents for some history project since the old ops were being brought up again."
"And what does it have to do with me?"
"Because he did the analysis on Mason and you," a voice entered. From the shadows of a doorway to a temple emerged its owner. He continued, "A happy coincidence which is understandable and a few deliberate coincidences."
Nicolette looked at the owner of a voice and gave a slight look. This was twice now in all of her career in the field since she was told to go out. She said, "And I suppose this one is deliberate considering the shit that just happened in Moscow… Jensen."
A/N: Looks like they got their man and Nico is called in for a meeting with Jensen. What nest? Find out more on Cry Havoc...
