Author's note- I apologize for taking so long to get this out to everyone. Real life has been a bit crazy right now.
Chapter 10
"Not that I mind, but why are we going shopping Claes?" Angelica asked as Claes drug her into small clothing boutique.
"Look, you spent the last several weeks trekking around Asia. I really don't think our internship supervisors are going to like it when you walk in on the first day dressed in workout clothing," Claes explained.
"Oh," Angelica replied with a gasp of understanding. "So what's the plan?" Angelica asked in Italian.
"We have internships at Anaheim electronics starting tomorrow. I'll be in the computer science division, while you will be in the PR department." Claes replied as they started pulling clothes from the racks.
"Not the most ideal, but the best under the circumstances. So is this your mother's doing?" Angelica asked.
"No, it was Chiyo. She is the heir to Ayama industries the last privately manufacturing conglomerate in Japan and called in a few favors for two of her friends," Claes said. "What do you think of this one?" Claes asked holding up sweater dress with a scooping neckline.
"A bit daring don't you think," Angelica replied picking out a nice skirt and blouse combo.
"Yeah, but sometimes it's needed," Claes replied holding it up against her body as she looked in a mirror.
"I never took you for that type of girl," Angelica chided.
Claes's head spun shooting Angelica a withering glare. "I'm not but sometimes there are other ways to obtain what we need besides violence," Claes said giving her sizable assets a little bounce.
Lucky SOB, you think you know someone. "You do have a point, but I'd rather only Alfred saw me in some of these," Angelica said reaching for several more daring skirts.
"It can't be helped, and didn't Hilda, Urd and Mara say if you've got it, flaunt it," Claes said with a wry smile. "Besides it's not like we have anything to worry about."
"Yeah, yeah, here you need some extra support for your milk jugs," Angelica retorted tossing a large bra to Claes. "Anyway what's your equipment situation," Angelica asked.
"A, mine aren't that big," Claes scowled returning the DD size bra to the rack.
"Not by much," Angelica muttered.
"B, I could only get my stun gun and knife through customs, you," Claes said.
"I'm down to just a knife as well," Angelica replied. "Taking this place out is going to be difficult.
"We may not have to," Claes said as she slipped the sweater dress over her head.
That's going catch a few eyes and raise more than few blood pressures. "How are we going to pull that off? You haven't been taking lessons from Chiyo have you?" Angelica asked.
"No," Claes said straightening the dress as she examined herself in the mirror. Nice but it needs a little something extra….. maybe a belt. "I do not want to damage anything more than necessary. My romp through Russia did not help things." Claes replied as a look of sadness came over her.
"Claes that wasn't your fault," Angelica said placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Thanks, but it was and you dam well know it," Claes replied turning to face her sister in the small dressing room. "This time I plan on stopping them without blowing the place to hell and back. Once I determine the exact operating system used by the facility mom will create a virus that will shut the place down." Claes said. "That looks good on you," Claes added as Angelica tried on a dark blue suit with a daring skirt.
"It's alright," Angelica commented. "It could use a bit more color," Angelica added with a shrug. "How long will the virus shut the place down for?"
"We are working on a metaphorphic virus that will cascade down through their systems and if we are lucky will be able to upload into the Nergal servers. If all goes well it should knock them out permanently requiring a complete replacement of all the computers in the facility," Claes replied. "And I think I saw a pink dress shirt that will go great with that skirt," Claes said heading back out of the dressing room.
"Hey this is pretty good when did you become a fashionista?" Angelica said trying on the shirt.
"Let's just say that I had an interesting time in South Korea," Claes replied.
"Oh, now this I have to hear," Angelica said gathering up her purchases.
"Since when did you become a gossip," Claes retorted gathering her own pile of clothing.
"I'm a gossip, says the girl who held weekly tea parties," Angelica chuckled.
"You're not going to let this go are you," Claes said handing her credit card to the sales clerk.
"Not a chance," Angelica said. "Did we just max out a credit card," Angelica added letting out a low whistle.
"No, but I should pay off the bill soon," Claes said as the clerk rang up over 10 thousand dollars for their new wardrobes.
"I didn't think clothing could cost this much or that we had so much money," Angelica said leaving the store with a spring her step, and her dress fluttering in the breeze.
"Well we did liberate a large sum when we left our previous employer and the stock market has been kind to us," Claes said.
"Ok so we have money, and stop dodging the question. Who taught you to shop like this? It sure as hell wasn't your mother or Raballo." Angelica shot back.
"Um, yeah about that, Raballo wasn't a big spender but he wasn't a cheap skate either," Claes said holding her hand out palm down.
"Really," Angelica said as a taxi pulled up.
"Yes, he said as long as the agency was paying for it I might as well have some nice clothing," Claes chuckled as they entered the taxi. A few quick words in broken Chinese and the girls were off to their new apartment.
"Ok, but still …." Angelica said.
"So what is the Green Party's position on the recent investments by the Chinese Mainland?" Claes asked the driver in English only to receive a hail of Chinese swear words in response.
"Those lousy businessmen will do anything to make a quick buck. They would sell the country to the highest bidder if they could," the driver ranted.
"I had no idea," Claes replied.
"No I suppose foreigners would not," the driver replied.
"What have the businesses done?" Angelica asked.
"Nothing that can be proven, but my brother who works at the docks tells me that he's loaded numerous containers from Anaheim Electronics onto freighters bound for China," the driver explained.
"Is that bad?" Angelica asked.
"Considering its illegal, but the politicians can't or won't do anything about it. It seems everyone is bought and paid for, even the local officials. Anything for a buck these days," the driver lamented.
"No offense, but you seem remarkably well informed for a taxi driver," Claes stated.
"One can hear much simply by keeping their head up, and having an open mind. Right now the scuttlebutt is that Anaheim electronics is thinking of opening up a pottery division. Crazy I know a premiere electronics firm getting into pottery with clandestine imports of Chinese clay. That's almost as good as the story about killer cyborg girls," the man exclaimed.
Claes paled as their taxi arrived at the destination. Shit they couldn't have completed, this isn't good. Destroying the computers may not be enough.
"Is your friend alright," the driver asked.
"She'll be fine. She just gets car sick every once and a while," Angelica replied helping Claes out of the car.
"You know, if you want I know someone that will tell your story regardless of what politicians or businessmen want," Angelica said handing the man a card with their fair.
"Why should I trust you," the man replied.
"No reason I guess, it is up to you whether you want to contact them or not. I simply wish to help, if you choose to contact them, they will help you get your story out, if not nothing changes," Angelica said.
"Hahaha, westerners who actually want to do something for once, will wonder never cease," the man laughed driving away.
"Claes what's wrong?" Angelica asked hoisting her bags.
"Not here," Claes replied leading her into the building. The high rise apartment complex was located at the edge of the industrial park specifically catering to the scientists, engineers and other well paid employees located in the nearby facilities. Like the gleaming factories and research labs the building was a triumph of modern architecture the gleaming metal and glass structure jutting several stories into the sky.
"So was this Chiyo's doing as well, and how much is this going to set us back," Angelica asked as the doorman held open the door for the pair.
"No, and it costs us nothing," Claes replied inserting a key for the elevator to take them to the top floor.
"The penthouse," Angelica whistled. "Now I really need to find out what happened in South Korea."
"You're not going to drop it are you," Claes said as they entered their latest abode.
"Nope, and what set you off down there," Angelica said gasping as she stepped into the posh apartment. "Wow, this is amazing."
"Kara said it was a nice place but I wasn't expecting this," Claes said gazing over the skyline below them as the sun slowly set.
"So who is this Kara, and I didn't know you hit for the same team," Angelica said coming up from behind.
"I don't," Claes huffed. "Seriously what the hell is wrong with you," Claes groaned.
"Nothing, I've just had the chance to experience the joy of being a woman. So Kara, who is she," Angelica asked again.
Claes rolled her eyes, "Fine, if it will shut you up, and I'm not running interference with Marco for you. Kara is one of Evangeline's acquaintances and as the American's say, my sister from another mother. Kara Deleroux Pagani is a Japanese and French super model who took me under her wing so to speak." Claes explained.
"Why," Angelica asked.
"She said that in another life we might have been sisters," Claes explained.
"Really," Angelica said.
"Yes, a bombing in Spain put her into a coma for a short time and she was scheduled to be transferred to a hospital in Italy shortly before she woke up," Claes explained.
"You don't think," Angelica asked.
"Who knows, but I do know that she is someone that I can consider a friend, along with her partner Michele" Claes explained with a faraway look in her eyes
"So this Michele could he be a special friend," Angelica said with a giggle.
Claes threw her hand out forcing Angelica back. "No, I could never get in the way of what he shares with Kara, but he is still a friend."
"Alright," Angelica said backing off. "Anyway what was the deal down stairs?"
"The rare minerals needed to make super conducting magnets can be found in clay deposits in China," Claes replied.
"Ok, but the cyborization process doesn't require magnets," Angelica said.
"No, but they are needed for rail guns," Claes said.
"But I thought those were still basically fictional except for a couple of large naval artillery prototypes?" Angelica asked.
"They are, or at least they are supposed to be, but so are cyborgs, and stealth submarines capable of penetrating the American sonar network," Claes explained.
"Shit," Angelica cursed.
Section Break
Life inside the maximum security prison was surprisingly easy on the men of the Social Welfare agency, now that they were set to be tried at some point in the future, which had yet to be determined. It also didn't help them that the Padania were frankly scared of them, while the Camora were rather friendly, in a we need to be nice to you so we don't get killed sort of way. I guess it helps when your friend is a buddy of one of the reigning bosses. Personally he would have rather been lounging on a beach with Patricia on a beach in Malta, while Angelica played in the surf. I did get to make good on my promise so it's not all bad. I know Angelica is alright, but I wish I knew how she was doing.
"Marco, you've got a visitor," the guard called out.
"Alright," Marco said heading towards the guard.
"So who might you be," Marco asked eying the imposing figure sitting across the glass from him.
Despite the imposing figure the young man looked rather nervous. "Well, um you see," the man stammered.
"If you think I'm apologizing for what I did to that bastard, then you've got another thing coming," Marco groaned.
"I'm not here about that," the man blurted out.
"Then what are you here for," Marco asked.
"Well um I'm Alfred Nobel, and I'm dating your daughter," Alfred blurted out.
Angelica is dating … Angelica has a boyfriend …. Marco's brain officially fried at the thought of his sweet little Angelica dating. Must kill boyfriend …
"Please don't kill me," the man said cowering on the other side of the hardened Plexiglas.
"Who are you and how do you know Angelica," Marco growled.
"Alfred Nobel and we met while she attended university in Sweden," Alfred replied.
"Lovely and you started dating how," Marco asked more than a little surprised.
"Um, I think she was using me to analyze some chemical samples at first but we kind of fell in love after that," Alfred replied.
"You do realize how old she is," Marco said raising an eyebrow at him.
"She just turned 18 and if your referring to what I think you are have a look at this," Alfred said holding up a picture of the happy couple standing by the Tajmahal in India. A smiling Angelica had one arm wrapped around Alfred's waist her lithe and very adult figure on display in her bicycle shorts and snug fitting jersey.
I knew she would grow older but not like this. Its freaking puberty on steroids, Victor will be glad he is in here while Triela is going through this. But still this is crazy I mean my little girl is now a woman …. Oh hell no he better not have….. "What did you do," Marco asked his laser like vision glaring straight through Alfred.
"We didn't do anything serious, I swear, please don't kill me," Alfred cried out.
"I won't have to, if you hurt Angelica her sisters will make sure I never find the body," Marco replied knowing what Triela would do if any of her little sisters were ever hurt.
"Claes told me the same thing," Alfred replied.
"Good, now is there a reason why you would risk coming here?" Marco asked.
"Angelica was worried about you," Alfred replied. "And I figured I should meet her father."
"And you took it upon yourself to check up on me for her." Marco replied as Alfred cracked a smile.
"Yes," Alfred replied.
"You moron," Marco shot back. "You need to leave now, and go to ground. You took a huge risk coming here and now you've just made yourself a huge target. Now get going before the monitors figure it out."
"Shit I didn't think of that," Alfred said bolting from the seat.
"The kid better appreciate this," Marco muttered rising from his seat. Who am I kidding it's for Angelica. "Hey these Sicilian goons are telling me the only thing you Northerner's are good for is sucking off your cooperate masters." Marco called out to several of the more militant Padania members sitting behind the visitors screen with him.
"They what," the excitable Northern Italian men exclaimed.
"Yeah, the Sicilians seem to think that you're nothing more than a bunch of German lap dogs," Marco added before ducking out of the growing prison riot.
Section Break
"Can I help you?" the counter attendant asked.
"Yes, I'd like the first ticket out of here," a tired looking Alfred asked.
"Where to?" the attendant asked.
"Doesn't matter," Alfred replied.
"Ok," the woman said giving him an odd look. "Let's see I have a 7pm flight to Nuuk, Greenland with a stopover in Iceland."
"Works for me," Alfred said handing over his passport and credit card.
"The flight leaves from gate 16A," the woman said handing him back his documents.
"Thanks," Alfred replied rushing off to the gate.
Finally… Alfred let out a sigh of relief as the Airbus 320 lifted off the tarmac. It was a long couple of days as he raced around Europe trying to muddle his tracks while figuring out just what the hell he was supposed to do. It always looked so much easier in the movies.
"So what takes you to Iceland," a sharply dressed red haired woman in a business suit took the seat next to him.
"Work," Alfred replied. "You,"
"The Icelandic conference on Renewable energy," the woman replied.
"It's a great conference and the people are wonderful," Alfred replied.
"You've been," the woman asked.
"Yes, I went with my professor and assisted in a presentation on generating biofuels from algae," Alfred replied.
"Interesting," a grinning red head beamed. "The name is Petra by the way."
"Alfred, and what will you be presenting," Alfred asked.
Petra threw up her hands waving them frantically. "Oh I won't be presenting," Petra said her face breaking out in a luminescent blush. "I'm just a low level manager in the Italian department of energy. I'm hoping to determine the viability enhanced geothermal power plants in the Lombard region. Realistically I'm only being sent to satisfy the environmental groups," Petra replied.
"Hey at the very least you get a couple of days away from work and get to see Iceland for free," Alfred replied.
"I'll drink to that," Petra said flagging down a stewardess. I'll take a beer,"
"Just water for me," Alfred said.
Petra took her own drink before passing over Alfred's glass of water her ring positioned over the top of the cup. Sleepy time….. The colorless, odorless, and tasteless sedative dissolved into the glass.
"To Iceland," Petra cheered before downing her beer.
"To Iceland," Alfred said taking a much more sedate sip of his drink.
"What kind of work is it that you do exactly?" Petra asked crossing her legs and showing a quite a bit of her smooth thighs while remaining decent.
"I'm in the petrochemical industry," Alfred replied.
"I didn't take you for a roughneck," Petra stated.
"While I've been on an oil rig or two, I'm actually involved in searching out new oil and gas fields, and testing the oil on exploratory wells," Alfred replied letting out a tired yawn.
"Sounds like its hard work," Petra replied.
"It is but I don't mind," Alfred replied letting out another yawn.
"Well I'll let you get your sleep then, who knows what you'll run into out there Mr. Alfred Nobel," Petra said as Alfred lost consciousness.
"But I never told you my last name….." Alfred mumbled. Shit… Angelica I'm sorry….
"Sandro, the target is secure," Petra whispered into a hidden mic.
"Good, and have another one on me, just don't lose focus," Sandro replied.
"Yes, sir," Petra replied as Alfred toppled over into her lap. So you're the big lug, my so called older sister fell in love with.
Section Break
"Are you sure you don't want to join us Fleda," one of her fellow interns asked.
"No, sorry I have other plans," Claes replied.
"Oh come on," the girl pleaded. "We told Pablo and his friends that you and Angelica were coming."
"Pablo is a letch obsessed with ogling my breasts, and his friends are no better than a bunch of drunken over sexed fraternity brothers," Claes replied.
"Their not that bad," her fellow intern replied.
Well it's not like you have anything they are interested in. Her fellow interns were nice, if not a little naïve and despite their best interests were unable to attract the attention of several western men also working at the company. The girls were all cute but lacked a certain something guaranteed to attract the male gaze. Something Claes used to great effect to gain access to the inner workings of the facilities computer system.
"But I thought you liked the guy?" another intern asked.
"Yeah you were all over him the other day," another girl added.
Ugh, I knew this was going to bite me in the ass. "Sure he is good looking but I prefer someone with half a brain, and a brain that isn't focused on satiating his carnal desires," Claes replied as a loud bang reverberated through the room.
"What the hell was that….. I think it came from the locker room," the girls said rushing towards the sound.
"Holy shit," the girls exclaimed surveying the remains of what was once the company locker room. The once pristine metal lockers were a twisted mass of metal and wood as Angelica launched a row of lockers across the remains of the room.
"Um, Skuld are you ok?" one of the girls asked.
A mix of rage, sadness, and surprise, ran across Angelica's face like the news on the Jumbotron in Times Square. "Stupid, cheap ass chinks can't even build a building properly even when following the blue prints. Why haven't people figured out made in China means the product is a piece of shit…" Angelica ranted breathing heavy, struggling to keep her rage in check.
"Angelica what happened?" another girl asked.
"The stupid thing fell on me. You know for all the great electronics they make in Taiwan, you would think they wouldn't have any trouble with buildings. I guess they need to brush up on their building codes.
"You girls go on ahead and if we are feeling up to it we will catch up with you later," Claes said.
"Are you going to be alright Skuld?" the pair asked.
"I'll be fine, you two go on ahead and we will catch up with you later," Angelica said.
"Ok, but call us if you need anything," the girls said as they left.
Claes turned towards her sister a worried look etched on her face, "Angelica what the hell happened?"
"Alfred's been kidnapped," Angelica replied.
"What!" Claes exclaimed.
"He went to check up on Marco for me and vanished not long afterward," Angelica replied fighting back the tears.
"Could be just be in hiding?" Claes asked.
"No mom has video footage of him getting on a plane bound for Reykjavik fine, but he was carried off the plane unconscious by a red headed woman. Mom found no records of him being admitted to the local hospitals or even that the airports health services ever being alerted. She also can find no trace of the red headed woman anywhere and the man that was with her used to work in the investigative branch of the Caberini." Angelica replied.
"He is alive and we will find him," Claes said.
"And when I do that red headed skank is going to pay. Cyborg or not she is going to need reconstructive surgery when I am done with her," Angelica growled. "So how badly have I ruined our plans?"
"We are scheduled to pick up the virus tonight and I planned to upload it later on once we discovered more about what was going on here. However our plans will have to be moved up since this will lead to questions we don't want or need." Claes explained waving her hand over the carnage.
"Sorry," Angelica replied.
"Don't worry about it, I probably would have razed the place to the ground if they took mom away from me," Claes remarked.
"Still this is going to put a kink in our plans," Angelica said trying to straighten out her clothes.
"Not really, besides it gives us a good excuse not to hit the bars with everyone tonight," Claes replied.
"So where do we have to go to pick up the package?" Angelica asked.
"The Taipei auto parts and accessories show," Claes replied flashing a pair of tickets.
Section Break
Jay looked out over the packed house at the Tapei Auto show looking for any women who stood out from the crowd. "Hey, Allison why did we agree to do this again, it's not exactly our modus operandi?" Jay asked his long time partner and girlfriend.
"A the pay is excellent, and besides didn't you feel some sort of connection to them," Allison replied between helping another customer. "Not to mention we were going to come here anyway."
"I know, it makes me wonder what would have happened if that woman hadn't pulled me back from being hit by that car in Rome," Jay added.
"Or if I hadn't recovered before being transferred to Italy," Allison said as the crowd thinned.
"Excuse me," Claes asked in English stepping up to the small display booth.
"Can I help you," Jay asked the busty brunette struggling to look her in the eye with the low cut dress she was currently wearing.
"Fleda Johansen, and I believe you have a package for me," Claes asked.
"Oh, Claes why didn't you say so," Allison said moving behind Jay.
"What…" a flustered Claes blurted out.
"See, I told you they would recognize us," Angelica said joining them.
"I'd never forget the girls we ran into in Switzerland and wow, how much did you tip the puberty fairy," Alison cracked.
"You have no idea," Claes deadpanned.
"I'll say," Jay remarked.
"Jay, behave or you'll be sleeping on the sofa again," Alison said.
"The package?" Claes asked.
"Yes," Allison said pulled the small flash drive from her pocket.
"Easiest job we ever did," Jay added as Claes took the small piece of plastic and metal.
"Are you up for another one then,' Angelica asked.
"What do you need," Allison asked.
"Transport out of the country and we have a package that needs to be delivered to our relatives back in Europe," Angelica explained.
Allison let out a low whistle. "You don't do anything easy do you? We can take you to the airport or the sea port but getting you out of the country is a bit beyond us at the moment. As for your package that shouldn't be a problem, where will be picking it up?"
"Tonight midnight, meet us at the new luxury apartments down the street from the Anaheim Electronics," Angelica explained handing over the address.
"And our payment," Jay asked earning his a sharp elbow to the ribs, "Alison what the hell?"
"That's not important," Allison hissed.
"This should be more than enough for your troubles," Claes said handing over a small cloth bag.
"Well cya later," Angelica said with a wave and a smile.
"Sure," Allison replied turning back towards her booth.
"Um, Allison," Jay stammered glancing inside the small cloth bag.
"Yeah," Allison replied as Angelica and Claes disappeared back into the crowd.
"What do you know about diamonds," Jay asked.
"What the hell did we get into," Alison muttered.
Section Break
"Will you be alright for a minute?" Angelica asked as Claes fired away on a key, her eyes locked on dimly lit monitor.
"The virus is almost loaded, and I'm almost done with a little surprise of my own. As much as you may want to burn this place to the ground it's not going to help anything," Claes replied never once turning away from the screen.
"Don't worry I'm not going to destroy anything. I'm just going to borrow a few things. I'll be back in 5 minutes." Angelica stated.
"You've got three," Claes replied as Angelica ran off.
Section Break
Easily slipping by the security cameras Angelica moved swiftly down the hallway. While Claes was crashing the electronic system's Angelica wanted to leave a more physical impact on the facility. Oh, hell no…. Angelica let out a breath as she slipped into the high security section of the compounds production facilities. While by no means an engineer, but even she could tell the complex machinery on the floor below her were meant for the construction of high spec firearms. I hope to hell they haven't made it to beta testing yet. A large plasma arc furnace dominated the far wall with several small dumpsters holding what looked like clay, while a series of plastic shelves on the opposite side of the room were stacked with small metal blocks. Alright time to disrupt production. Working quickly nearly all of the small components and sub units were stuffed into a small suitcase.
"I hope Grandma can figure what the hell this stuff is," Angelica muttered as she scooped as much of the clay like substance in her large hiking pack as possible.
"Who are you and what are you doing here? This is a restricted area," a security guard said as a beam of light flashed in Angelica's direction as she lunged for cover.
"Shit," Angelica cursed. "Sorry about this but we've come too far to be caught now,"
"Hold, it… urk….." the guard said before a four inch ceramic knife embedded itself into his stomach as Angelica raced past him. The alarms began to blare as Angelica caught back up with Claes.
"What the hell did you do," Claes called out as Angelica tossed the small suitcase at her.
"Ran into some trouble while raiding the restricted area," Angelica said as they quickly exited the building a stealthy exit long forgotten.
"Stop," another security guard yelled as a glint of steel flew through the darkness, only for the steel blade to be caught by an expert hand. "Nice try cyborg," the guard said cutting off their path towards the lobby.
"How," Angelica gasped as the man expertly spun the knife around ready for combat.
"Training," the man replied before charging the pair.
"Go, I'll catch up," Angelica said quickly tossing Claes her pack.
"You'd better,' Claes said before rushing down the hallway.
The man's shoulder slammed into Angelica before she could recover from tossing the heavy bag sending her slamming into the wall cracking plasterboard. Shit they couldn't have managed to make male cyborgs.
"Dam, these drugs really are something else and I guess, you really are as tough as they say," the guard chuckled rolling his shoulder, before rushing in to finish the fight. Despite her extensive training in modern military close combat techniques Angelica was no match for the near perfection of Chinese martial arts exhibited by the guard. Only her enhanced constitution and stamina allowed her to match her opponent.
So that's what they did, this is going make things more difficult in the future. They can't match us directly, but it's still more than enough to cause problems for us. The fight continued as they continued to trade blow for blow but neither one able to land a knockout blow. Hhhmm he is a cocky bastard, that might just work.
"Not so tough now are you, cyborg. You won't even be a footnote in the history books of failed medical experiments when I'm through with you," the man said sending Angelica to the ground with a powerful roundhouse kick.
Using her hands Angelica sprang into the air her feet aimed at her opponents head. Reacting quickly the guard tried to duck as Angelica's hands grasped the back of his shirt. Using a combination of her bodies' momentum and enhanced strength Angelica lifted the man off the ground over her body slamming him face first into the ground with a sickening crunch.
"How, that kind of stupid move should have only worked in the movie," the man groaned blood leaking from his mouth and ears.
"Cyborg," Angelica said before calmly snapping the man's neck.
Section Break
Claes's only warning was the quiet pift of a silenced pistol before the bullets cut through the darkness shattering the glass lined lobby. Several bullets grazed her arm as she dove for cover as the silenced gunfire gave way to full automatic fire. Son of a bitch! Bullets continued to ping off the heavy metal receptionist desk turning the once high tech and futuristic lobby into a warzone. Crap, the one time I could actually use a gun and don't have one. Claes slowly pushing a chair out from the behind the counter only to see it shot to pieces, her carbon fiber skin saving her from being cut to pieces by splinters of wood and plastic. "Night vision goggles so much for that advantage," Claes muttered her brain racing for a solution.
"You might as well come out cyborg, or I'll have to get out the big guns," her attacker called out in between blasts of automatic fire. Several bullets ricocheted shattering the glass of the large aquarium gracing the lobby spilling both water and fish across the floor.
"You'd better hope that it's a tank," Claes shot back as she tore into the mass of wires running down the back of the desk.
"Why do I need a tank when a shot through the eye will do," the man said moving closer.
"True, but do you really think I'm going to let you do that," Claes replied while she stripped the copper out of the torn cables. Man this idiot talks more than the Padania ever did.
"Enough," the man yelled unleashing another burst from his machine pistol.
I hope this works. Claes threw her improvised device over the counter rolling to a stop by the man's foot.
"Did you really expect this to work," the man said picking up Claes's stun gun.
Wait for it. Her opponent let out a scream before collapsing on the ground convulsion as Angelica entered the lobby. Claes's stun gun wrapped in copper wire conducting the electricity over the entire device still clutched tightly in his hand.
"Let's go," Angelica said as the pair shared a glance leaving another link to their creation behind.
Section Break
"What's taking them so long," Allison gripped drumming her fingers on the steering wheel.
"You did take the job," Jay commented.
"Quiet or it's the couch again," Alison shot back.
"He can't help it, he's male," Claes said suddenly appearing next to the car.
"Gah, Don't do that!" Alison and Jay shouted in unison.
"How the hell did you sneak up on us like that," Jay asked.
"Trade secret, and pop the trunk," Angelica said with a grin.
"What the hell happened to you," Allison said eying their battered outfits.
"Today was the last day of our internship and the party our friends threw for us got a little out of hand," Claes replied.
"That must have been one hell of a party," Jay cracked as they pulled away from the industrial park.
"Jay.." Alison growled.
"Right, couch, sorry," Jay replied.
"Where to ladies?" Alison asked.
"The ferry terminal, and deliver the two bags to Hilda Hartman," Claes replied.
"You got it but you'll raise a few eyebrows dressed like that," Alison said.
"We'll manage," Angelica added.
"I'm sure but some clean non torn up clothes would help. My bag is in the back take whatever you need, and Jay no peeking," Alison said.
"It's a little tight but it will work," Claes said shimming into Alison's suit.
"Lucky bitch," Alison muttered as Claes filled out her suit in a way she never could without a Hollywood special.
"There a little long but they fit pretty well," Angelica added commenting on her own borrowed jeans and T-shirt.
"Thanks for the help," Claes said as they pulled up to the ferry terminal.
"You're welcome," Alison replied as her passengers left leaving the last of their Swiss gold francs as a tip.
"So now what," Angelica said as Allison left to deliver their package.
"Well I've always wanted to see Okinawa and I hear the fishing is great," Claes said.
"It won't be the same without Alfred, but how is the snorkeling," Angelica asked.
"Not sure but it does have coral reefs so it must have a few nice spots," Claes replied.
"Lovely," Angelica said as they continued to wait.
Author's note- And so ends the travels of Claes and Angelica. Now it's time for Rico and Henrietta.