REMEMBER ULYSSES
by Lyda Mae (RavenDove) Huff
Chapter Ten: Jeanette's Rescue
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Bond had parked the car behind the warehouse; setting the security system. It was mid-afternoon, and the outskirts of the industrial district were deserted. The three of them made there way through the alleys with caution at every move. Ande, and Bond carried light machine guns as well as their own smaller arms. Bond had a small bag of tools to get past any locks they might encounter. Ande had the first-aid kit. Leaving the demolitions equipment in the trunk for later; they headed down below the old Palace of Justice.
Ande pulled a Walther TPH from within her vest; offering the gun to Annika. "You may need this."
Annika shook her head; refusing the gun. "I use no weapons; I am a pacifist. This fight must be because Ulysses forces it. If anything befalls me; it begins and ends with him. For what ever happens is on his head alone." She continued to lead on.
Bond took her shoulder, and turned her to face him. "This is very dangerous Annika. If things get rough we may not be able to protect you."
"Protecting me is not your job Missure Bond. Stopping Ulysses is. You cannot protect everyone, but you can keep madmen from concurring the world." She turned to enter a passage; hidden behind shelves. "The good of the many; that is the goal." They remained silent; fallowing Annika carefully.
There were many twists, and turns in the tunnels. Annika only knew these tunnels from years of exploration; her curiosity, and wish for solitude had led her down here. When she had first moved from Domremy with Jeanette; she had felt out of place. That is until she found Mouse, and her hidden retreat. Now thanks to Hobear there was no solitude, no Mouse, and if he wasn't stopped no life worth living.
Ande tugged at her sleeve; then whispered in her ear. "Is it much further?"
She stopped and whispered back to them both. "Not far; we are on the other side of the chambers I showed you last night Missure Bond." Annika motioned for them to keep fallowing. They came to a passage that ran across, and above the side of a large chamber. Through the cracks they could see people bustling about; packing things onto pallets for transport.
When they reached the end of the side tunnel; Annika directed toward a twisting staircase. Bond took the point; gesturing for Ande to take the rear. Ande, and Bond had hand guns with silencers drawn. All three moved with near silence.
-----
Jeanette sat nursing her wounds. Hobear had been more brutal than usual; her face was darkly bruised. He was in a frenzy; she didn't know why. Her cloths were torn, and she felt more dirty than usual. He had not forced himself on her in some time. Today in his fury; he had nearly strangled her. Muffling her screams as he abused her body, and wounded her soul.
She thought she heard something. (Could it be Hobear coming back?) Jeanette grabbed up a board from the smashed cot; bracing herself to start swinging.
There was a noise; someone fiddling with the lock. She lifted the board high; for all the good it would do. The door gave way with a creak.
-----
Bond stepped into the small, dark, room cautiously. Something whizzed through the air; he ducked just in time. Grabbing a board in mid-air; he turned to look at the wielder.
Jeanette had swung; missing. Then to find her make-shift weapon trapped in the person's hand. She looked at his face in the dim light. Letting go the board; she fell on Bond's shoulder crying. "They told me you were dead." Came out through her wracked sobs.
He dropped the board, and lifted her face up to look at it. "Exaggeration." He looked tenderly at her in the dim light. "He beat you; didn't he?"
Ande, and Annika entered. Ande on overhearing that she had been beaten; pulled out the first-aid kit. Then 015 gesturing for Annika to fallow; took Jeanette by the hand to a corner of the room. "Stand guard James; I'll make sure she can travel." Making sure to keep quiet; she began to tend to Jeanette. Pulling out a small torch to work by, and handing it to Annika.
Jeanette was bewildered; here was James though not alone. He brought with him Annika, and this stranger. "Who are you?"
"Dr. Andraea Lamont; don't worry I work for the same people James does." She cleaned, and bandaged a bad cut above her eye. "Where else are you hurt?" She couldn't help looking at Jeanette with concern. From the state of the woman's cloths Ande could guess what had happened. She had seen this before; right out of school. That bastard, who called himself Ulysses, would pay.
Jeanette sat quietly; not wanting to speak. She put her hand on her left side. "Here."
Ande pulled up Jeanette's rag of a shirt; just enough to see a humongous bruise across her stomach and rib-cage. It was dark, and nasty, enveloping Jeanette's left side. Ande winced at the sight. "What in the world did he do to give you that?" She thought a moment. "On second thought I don't want to know." Ande prodded at the bruise; trying to asses the damage. "Tell me where it is the most tender." Damn! This was not her specialty. "What I wouldn't give for an x-ray machine."
Jeanette looked at her with agony at every touch. "It is hard to tell; it hurts so much."
"I think your ribs are broken, but they haven't punctured anything. If they had chances are you would be dead." She paused a moment; gathering the items to tape Jeanette's ribs. "Don't hold me to my word though; I'm a Psychiatrist. This would be a thing for a general practitioner, or a trauma sergeant."
Jeanette looked at her strangely. "What is a Psychiatrist?"
Ande had never been asked that one before. "I deal with chemical imbalances, and mental dysfunction; not broken bones. I treat the mind; though I understand the body." She finished taping Jeanette's ribs. "Are you hurt anywhere else?"
"No, but I still do not understand." Jeanette waited as Ande put the supplies back in their bag.
Bond whispered to them from the door. 'What she means Jeanette; is that ribs are out of her field of expertise. Though she knows enough; since they are part of basic medicine."
"Thank you James." Ande said, fastened the bag to her belt. Then she and Annika helped Jeanette to her feet. "I can't give you anything for pain; not until after we leave Paris. You need to be alert, and even acetaminophen can dull senses."
Jeanette nodded her head; understanding. "I will survive."
Bond whispered again from the door. "Are you finished yet?"
Ande helped Jeanette to the door. "She's as ready to travel as I can make her."
They entered the passage slowly. Bond again taking point; Ande helped Jeanette along. Annika stayed close moving with cation.
Part way through the tunnel by the grand chamber; Annika was pulled to a side passage. She would not scream; she knew this was coming.
Ande was surprised; where had Annika gone? She didn't wait long to find out. She looked ahead; to see James had stopped turning to see the commotion.
Set stepped out of the passage; Annika was limp in his arms. Ande looked; hoping for a sign of life. Her chest moved; drawing air.
"What have we here?" The goon smiled, smugly. "Ulysses will be happy to see the four of you."
Bond had his gun leveled at Set. "Who says he's going to?"
"I do; Commander." He pulled a switch blade, and held it to Annika's throat. "Have you any wish to see the fortune teller die?" He looked at 007 with a maniacal grin.
"I have no wish to see her die, but if I see her die." He paused a moment; feigning nonchalance. "Let's just say I won't lose sleep over it." Bond kept the gun on Set.
Set grew angry at this comment. "You are a fool; Prosepheney can't be stopped."
"Perhaps, but that won't stop me from trying. How can I lose against cowards like you; hiding behind some one helpless." Bond hoped gadding him like this worked.
Set was furious; he cast Annika aside with the knife in her back. "Who's hiding; Brit?"
Ande took her chance; drawing a knife from her left shirt cuff. She prayed her aim would be true. Before she let the knife go; there was no point. He never even thought of screaming as he fell to the floor. Bond shot Set dead in an instant. Annika may be a pacifist, but he wasn't.
Ande took no time in going to Annika. Jeanette, and James were there in an instant. For all the good it would do. She didn't have a chance; her heart became a sheath. May God bless her soul.
Jeanette laid her sister in a more dignified fashion. Whispering a prayer, and kissing her hands. Jeanette wept with all her heart. Taking only Annika's cards in her hand; she fled the cursed tunnels letting the two agents lead the way.
-----
The trio came to the car. Bond switched off the security system, and Ande helped Jeanette into the back seat. Then as Bond took the wheel; 015 climbed in back by Jeanette. "Fasten your seat-belts; this ride is about to get bumpy." 007 looked out his window; at the goons that were emerging from the warehouse.
Ande looked, and wished she hadn't. "By all means James; get us out of here." Her mind whispering; (Please don't let Jeanette's cracked ribs puncture any thing.).
James did just what Ands suggested; driving like a bat out of.... Lets just say he drove offensively. "Where do we need to go; Jeanette?"
Jeanette looked forward; knowing what he meant. "Three blocks East of the Sab Michael; there is an apartment building. That is where I hid the ciphers."
Bond triggered the anti-pursuit smoke screen; to confuse the Pantheon members on their tail. They didn't need such company fallowing. He was headed away from the Sab Michael; now he could double back to confuse them even more.
Jeanette clutched dear, Annika's Tarot to her chest. She held them there for a while. Then tenderly, reverently, she untied the ribbon the held the black scarf around them. Jeanette looked at her sister's most prized position.
Ande watched; as Jeanette looked at Annika's cards. She was looking for solace. They had been twins; now one was gone. Even Ande wished she could have prevented her death, but there was no way. If Annika had taken the offered gun; she would still be dead. "I'm sorry that we could not save Annika." She whispered softly to Jeanette.
Jeanette blinked back tears. "Don't be; it is not your fault." Jeanette held three cards up; pulling them from the back of the deck. "She knew what was coming; before she led you to me."
Ande took the cards; looking at them perplexed. "Death right side up?" She hoped Jeanette would explain.
"Our mother read the Tarot; she thought us both. Annika was the one with the talent for it though." She paused a moment before going on. "These cards were turned on the back of the deck; they would be her last card of the day reading." She pointed to the first card. "Death dignified; signifies a loss. That can mean a-lot of things; a loss of home, a loss of fortune, a loss of some one close, or in some cases the loss of life. That was her card of the day." She pointed to the next card. "The second card is a representation of what the moment's concern is. The Chariot; always speaks of the struggle between two opposing forces. That would be good, and evil. Though it could also mean a lovers quarrel. For this case it would be good, and evil." Jeanette pointed to the last card. "This is the Alpha card; where it all began. The Emperor ill-dignified; is usually a person with dark intentions."
Bond heard this from the front seat; remembering the first time he met Annika. "One who would deify gods."
Jeanette looked at him; a bit startled. "Yes; that is how Annika would put it."
"The same card appeared in a reading she did for me." He looked in the rear-view mirror; to see her relax more.
"Of that I am not surprised." Jeanette held her hand out for the cards. Once in hand she returned them; as she found them. "Annika would not usually leave cards turned like this. She knew that her death was coming; whether she helped you or not. She left the cards turned to speak for her." Jeanette replaced the wrappings.
"You really believe in those cards; don't you?" Ande half asked; already knowing the answer.
Jeanette looked at her offended. "I have Gypsy ancestry; my mother was of a long line of card readers. I may not be the best at reading them, and don't read them often. I do believe in them; that is the way I was raised."
Ande looked at her turning red. "I meant no insult. It is just hard to understand; when one has been raised to condemn such things. I don't agree with my father on a-lot of things. If I wanted to please him; I'd never have joined Her Majesty's Secret Service. I'm sorry If you thought I was looking down on Tarot, or Tarot readers."
Jeanette turned red; this woman didn't deserve to be lashed at. "I to am sorry; normally I would not take such quick offense." Jeanette placed the cards in her pocket.
-----
Chapter Ten: Jeanette's Rescue
-----
Bond had parked the car behind the warehouse; setting the security system. It was mid-afternoon, and the outskirts of the industrial district were deserted. The three of them made there way through the alleys with caution at every move. Ande, and Bond carried light machine guns as well as their own smaller arms. Bond had a small bag of tools to get past any locks they might encounter. Ande had the first-aid kit. Leaving the demolitions equipment in the trunk for later; they headed down below the old Palace of Justice.
Ande pulled a Walther TPH from within her vest; offering the gun to Annika. "You may need this."
Annika shook her head; refusing the gun. "I use no weapons; I am a pacifist. This fight must be because Ulysses forces it. If anything befalls me; it begins and ends with him. For what ever happens is on his head alone." She continued to lead on.
Bond took her shoulder, and turned her to face him. "This is very dangerous Annika. If things get rough we may not be able to protect you."
"Protecting me is not your job Missure Bond. Stopping Ulysses is. You cannot protect everyone, but you can keep madmen from concurring the world." She turned to enter a passage; hidden behind shelves. "The good of the many; that is the goal." They remained silent; fallowing Annika carefully.
There were many twists, and turns in the tunnels. Annika only knew these tunnels from years of exploration; her curiosity, and wish for solitude had led her down here. When she had first moved from Domremy with Jeanette; she had felt out of place. That is until she found Mouse, and her hidden retreat. Now thanks to Hobear there was no solitude, no Mouse, and if he wasn't stopped no life worth living.
Ande tugged at her sleeve; then whispered in her ear. "Is it much further?"
She stopped and whispered back to them both. "Not far; we are on the other side of the chambers I showed you last night Missure Bond." Annika motioned for them to keep fallowing. They came to a passage that ran across, and above the side of a large chamber. Through the cracks they could see people bustling about; packing things onto pallets for transport.
When they reached the end of the side tunnel; Annika directed toward a twisting staircase. Bond took the point; gesturing for Ande to take the rear. Ande, and Bond had hand guns with silencers drawn. All three moved with near silence.
-----
Jeanette sat nursing her wounds. Hobear had been more brutal than usual; her face was darkly bruised. He was in a frenzy; she didn't know why. Her cloths were torn, and she felt more dirty than usual. He had not forced himself on her in some time. Today in his fury; he had nearly strangled her. Muffling her screams as he abused her body, and wounded her soul.
She thought she heard something. (Could it be Hobear coming back?) Jeanette grabbed up a board from the smashed cot; bracing herself to start swinging.
There was a noise; someone fiddling with the lock. She lifted the board high; for all the good it would do. The door gave way with a creak.
-----
Bond stepped into the small, dark, room cautiously. Something whizzed through the air; he ducked just in time. Grabbing a board in mid-air; he turned to look at the wielder.
Jeanette had swung; missing. Then to find her make-shift weapon trapped in the person's hand. She looked at his face in the dim light. Letting go the board; she fell on Bond's shoulder crying. "They told me you were dead." Came out through her wracked sobs.
He dropped the board, and lifted her face up to look at it. "Exaggeration." He looked tenderly at her in the dim light. "He beat you; didn't he?"
Ande, and Annika entered. Ande on overhearing that she had been beaten; pulled out the first-aid kit. Then 015 gesturing for Annika to fallow; took Jeanette by the hand to a corner of the room. "Stand guard James; I'll make sure she can travel." Making sure to keep quiet; she began to tend to Jeanette. Pulling out a small torch to work by, and handing it to Annika.
Jeanette was bewildered; here was James though not alone. He brought with him Annika, and this stranger. "Who are you?"
"Dr. Andraea Lamont; don't worry I work for the same people James does." She cleaned, and bandaged a bad cut above her eye. "Where else are you hurt?" She couldn't help looking at Jeanette with concern. From the state of the woman's cloths Ande could guess what had happened. She had seen this before; right out of school. That bastard, who called himself Ulysses, would pay.
Jeanette sat quietly; not wanting to speak. She put her hand on her left side. "Here."
Ande pulled up Jeanette's rag of a shirt; just enough to see a humongous bruise across her stomach and rib-cage. It was dark, and nasty, enveloping Jeanette's left side. Ande winced at the sight. "What in the world did he do to give you that?" She thought a moment. "On second thought I don't want to know." Ande prodded at the bruise; trying to asses the damage. "Tell me where it is the most tender." Damn! This was not her specialty. "What I wouldn't give for an x-ray machine."
Jeanette looked at her with agony at every touch. "It is hard to tell; it hurts so much."
"I think your ribs are broken, but they haven't punctured anything. If they had chances are you would be dead." She paused a moment; gathering the items to tape Jeanette's ribs. "Don't hold me to my word though; I'm a Psychiatrist. This would be a thing for a general practitioner, or a trauma sergeant."
Jeanette looked at her strangely. "What is a Psychiatrist?"
Ande had never been asked that one before. "I deal with chemical imbalances, and mental dysfunction; not broken bones. I treat the mind; though I understand the body." She finished taping Jeanette's ribs. "Are you hurt anywhere else?"
"No, but I still do not understand." Jeanette waited as Ande put the supplies back in their bag.
Bond whispered to them from the door. 'What she means Jeanette; is that ribs are out of her field of expertise. Though she knows enough; since they are part of basic medicine."
"Thank you James." Ande said, fastened the bag to her belt. Then she and Annika helped Jeanette to her feet. "I can't give you anything for pain; not until after we leave Paris. You need to be alert, and even acetaminophen can dull senses."
Jeanette nodded her head; understanding. "I will survive."
Bond whispered again from the door. "Are you finished yet?"
Ande helped Jeanette to the door. "She's as ready to travel as I can make her."
They entered the passage slowly. Bond again taking point; Ande helped Jeanette along. Annika stayed close moving with cation.
Part way through the tunnel by the grand chamber; Annika was pulled to a side passage. She would not scream; she knew this was coming.
Ande was surprised; where had Annika gone? She didn't wait long to find out. She looked ahead; to see James had stopped turning to see the commotion.
Set stepped out of the passage; Annika was limp in his arms. Ande looked; hoping for a sign of life. Her chest moved; drawing air.
"What have we here?" The goon smiled, smugly. "Ulysses will be happy to see the four of you."
Bond had his gun leveled at Set. "Who says he's going to?"
"I do; Commander." He pulled a switch blade, and held it to Annika's throat. "Have you any wish to see the fortune teller die?" He looked at 007 with a maniacal grin.
"I have no wish to see her die, but if I see her die." He paused a moment; feigning nonchalance. "Let's just say I won't lose sleep over it." Bond kept the gun on Set.
Set grew angry at this comment. "You are a fool; Prosepheney can't be stopped."
"Perhaps, but that won't stop me from trying. How can I lose against cowards like you; hiding behind some one helpless." Bond hoped gadding him like this worked.
Set was furious; he cast Annika aside with the knife in her back. "Who's hiding; Brit?"
Ande took her chance; drawing a knife from her left shirt cuff. She prayed her aim would be true. Before she let the knife go; there was no point. He never even thought of screaming as he fell to the floor. Bond shot Set dead in an instant. Annika may be a pacifist, but he wasn't.
Ande took no time in going to Annika. Jeanette, and James were there in an instant. For all the good it would do. She didn't have a chance; her heart became a sheath. May God bless her soul.
Jeanette laid her sister in a more dignified fashion. Whispering a prayer, and kissing her hands. Jeanette wept with all her heart. Taking only Annika's cards in her hand; she fled the cursed tunnels letting the two agents lead the way.
-----
The trio came to the car. Bond switched off the security system, and Ande helped Jeanette into the back seat. Then as Bond took the wheel; 015 climbed in back by Jeanette. "Fasten your seat-belts; this ride is about to get bumpy." 007 looked out his window; at the goons that were emerging from the warehouse.
Ande looked, and wished she hadn't. "By all means James; get us out of here." Her mind whispering; (Please don't let Jeanette's cracked ribs puncture any thing.).
James did just what Ands suggested; driving like a bat out of.... Lets just say he drove offensively. "Where do we need to go; Jeanette?"
Jeanette looked forward; knowing what he meant. "Three blocks East of the Sab Michael; there is an apartment building. That is where I hid the ciphers."
Bond triggered the anti-pursuit smoke screen; to confuse the Pantheon members on their tail. They didn't need such company fallowing. He was headed away from the Sab Michael; now he could double back to confuse them even more.
Jeanette clutched dear, Annika's Tarot to her chest. She held them there for a while. Then tenderly, reverently, she untied the ribbon the held the black scarf around them. Jeanette looked at her sister's most prized position.
Ande watched; as Jeanette looked at Annika's cards. She was looking for solace. They had been twins; now one was gone. Even Ande wished she could have prevented her death, but there was no way. If Annika had taken the offered gun; she would still be dead. "I'm sorry that we could not save Annika." She whispered softly to Jeanette.
Jeanette blinked back tears. "Don't be; it is not your fault." Jeanette held three cards up; pulling them from the back of the deck. "She knew what was coming; before she led you to me."
Ande took the cards; looking at them perplexed. "Death right side up?" She hoped Jeanette would explain.
"Our mother read the Tarot; she thought us both. Annika was the one with the talent for it though." She paused a moment before going on. "These cards were turned on the back of the deck; they would be her last card of the day reading." She pointed to the first card. "Death dignified; signifies a loss. That can mean a-lot of things; a loss of home, a loss of fortune, a loss of some one close, or in some cases the loss of life. That was her card of the day." She pointed to the next card. "The second card is a representation of what the moment's concern is. The Chariot; always speaks of the struggle between two opposing forces. That would be good, and evil. Though it could also mean a lovers quarrel. For this case it would be good, and evil." Jeanette pointed to the last card. "This is the Alpha card; where it all began. The Emperor ill-dignified; is usually a person with dark intentions."
Bond heard this from the front seat; remembering the first time he met Annika. "One who would deify gods."
Jeanette looked at him; a bit startled. "Yes; that is how Annika would put it."
"The same card appeared in a reading she did for me." He looked in the rear-view mirror; to see her relax more.
"Of that I am not surprised." Jeanette held her hand out for the cards. Once in hand she returned them; as she found them. "Annika would not usually leave cards turned like this. She knew that her death was coming; whether she helped you or not. She left the cards turned to speak for her." Jeanette replaced the wrappings.
"You really believe in those cards; don't you?" Ande half asked; already knowing the answer.
Jeanette looked at her offended. "I have Gypsy ancestry; my mother was of a long line of card readers. I may not be the best at reading them, and don't read them often. I do believe in them; that is the way I was raised."
Ande looked at her turning red. "I meant no insult. It is just hard to understand; when one has been raised to condemn such things. I don't agree with my father on a-lot of things. If I wanted to please him; I'd never have joined Her Majesty's Secret Service. I'm sorry If you thought I was looking down on Tarot, or Tarot readers."
Jeanette turned red; this woman didn't deserve to be lashed at. "I to am sorry; normally I would not take such quick offense." Jeanette placed the cards in her pocket.
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