* Two months later, at an undisclosed location*
He hit the floor grinding his teeth. His body ached and a dull paint engulfed him. He got up and grinned.
"Again. Again, I've said."
His instructor grinned with a crooked smile. He was just so happy to oblige. Behind the mirror glass, Eli smiled at Malachi.
"He is a machine, Officer Ben Gidon. Every day, from dawn to dusk, he's here, getting his butt kicked. He seems to enjoy this type of punishment, from an outsider's view. But you know what, Malachi? He is learning. Two weeks ago he couldn't even touch Moishe. Last night I saw the bruises Moishe had on his ribs. Tell me Malachi, what drives you to do your job?"
Malachi swallowed. Hard. After all, this was the Director of Mossad, a man who hold powers of life or death over him. But he decided to be honest.
"The need to protect others. The need to feel wanted, to take away the pain that could descend on my people."
"That's one way to say it. But in his case, what drives him is the need to prove himself. He doesn't care if he lives or dies, he just keeps going. And this, my friend, is the path of a supreme warrior. To tell you the truth, I am afraid of what I am creating. He is a damn good investigator. He is becoming a fight machine, a war god. I am almost scared to appoint him to the position requested at the meeting, but we have no choice. After he is done here, send him to my office."
* Eli David's office, few hours later *
Wiping the crimson blotches from his face with a bloody towel, Tony made way and entered the office without bothering to knock. He had a strange pleasure in making Eli David go mad. But not this time, Eli was expecting him.
"Oh, Anthony! Keep doing that with Moishe and all that is going to be left from your face is just a memory."
"Don't involve my face in this, Director. I won't let it and you date and you know it. What is the meeting for?"
Eli took out from the drawer something and handed it to Tony. It was a balaclava mask.
"Anthony, my job is not to protect you or to help you heal the feelings, my job is to shatter all that's left from the former you. So, put on the mask and do not speak when my visitor arrives."
Waiting in the dark corner of the office, Tony was busy remembering all the things that drove him over the cliff. Everything was going great until his team members decided to let the ball slide over the fence and leave him without backup. All was ancient history now, from his point of view. His path in life was chosen and there was no turning back from it now. When the door opened and he saw the person entering, it took all his strength not to jump and get the throat of the newcomer between his hands; that's because none other than Ray Cruz made his entrance. The slimy CIA agent didn't acknowledge him but made eye contact with the Mossad Director.
"Director David."
"Raymond Cruz. What do you have for me?"
"There is a little interference in the plans. Jonas Cobb is out of control and started a chase after the Project's initiators. So far, CIA, FBI and NCIS don't have a valid start, but it's just a matter of time before they get a hot trail. What should we do?"
"We? There's no 'we', field operative Cruz. Mossad hasn't supplied a trainer for 'Operation Frankenstein'; therefore Cobb is your problem. Tell me Raymond, did Ziva suspect your involvement in this special project?"
"No, Director. She is kept out of the loop, but I don't know how long I can do this. She is getting curious about my knowledge of the 'Port to Port Killer', as NCIS calls it."
"This is your problem, agent Cruz."
Eli took an envelope from another drawer before handing it to Cruz.
"Here. The price asked by you for the intel. Be aware agent Cruz, there are forces outside the 'Frankenstein' that can't be controlled."
Flipping over the lid, Cruz managed to get a glimpse of money. As if on cue, Tony started to whistle the theme song from Kill Bill, getting nothing more than a fugitive look from the CIA agent on his way out. Eli smiled.
"Very good, Anthony! You planted a beacon, right?"
"Part of my charm, Director. Part of my charm."
* One month later, near a church*
The black limo was parked inconspicuously at some distance from the church entrance. Dressed in black cargo pants, a black hoodie and combat boots, Tony was leaning on the front hood. Near him, dressed in a white suit, Eli David kept his face unreadable. He placed a hand on Tony's shoulder.
"You know Anthony, it's your show. See the building over there? On the roof, Officer Tuvia holds a sniper rifle and awaits your order. She will obey you, no matter what. Or almost no matter what in case you have the thoughts of getting me in the crosshairs."
"She's your daughter, Director. She's your last living child. Why do you want to make her a widow? What kind of parent are you? "
"A terrible one, Anthony! You should know that, your father was like me. But his motivations were different."
Banging his fists on the hood, Tony felt the impulse of ordering Officer Tuvia to take the shot at Eli David. But he just knew the order would be ignored. Eli wasn't done yet.
"I am a terrible father. When it was time for me to choose, I chose her sniper abilities over dancing. Krav Maga over horse riding. Pain over childhood's joy. So I was and I am a terrible father, Anthony DiNozzo. And you are not like me, because I would already give the order for the kill shot."
Tears were streaming down his face. There she was, dressed in white, her bridal dress. And near her there was that slime ball Cruz, acting as if it was the most important day of his life.
"Tell me Director, he is using her, right?"
"Yes Anthony, he is. He wants to accede and he's using my daughter for that. He is trading confidential information for money. 'Kings may love treason, but the traitor hate'!
. What do you intend to do?"
"Nothing. She chose her way as I chose mine. Let's go Director, there is nothing waiting for me in this town anymore. My destiny awaits me."
"One more thing before turning the team over to you, Anthony. I am a man who does nothing for free and you know that. You owe me a favor from now on."
An apex predator smile lighted Tony's face.
"Director, consider our situation in the following way: you caught a tiger by its tail. That favor I owe you… is the insurance. You can hold the tiger's tail and it won't attack you. Use that favor and you're letting the tail go. Guess what the tiger will do?"
"Yes, indeed! I like my chances, Anthony. I love the tiger. Even if its tail is in my hand."
Tony left the following morning. He left his former life, friends and everything behind. The only friend who knew something about him was Jimmy Palmer. But despite this, Tony just knew he would return and cross the paths again with his former friends.
Before he embarked the plane, he gave an order. A life shattering one. For the first time in his life, Tony ordered the death of another man. Jonas Cobb was shot before he could endanger the lives of any of his former friends. That feeling of utmost power scared Tony. Nobody should have such a power over another man's life, even if it was a bad person. It was a dirty job, but somebody had to do it.