Chapter 13 – Best Friend
July 31st, 12:50
Abandoned Farm.
Outskirts of Kaesong, North Korea.
Inside the abandoned farm which once was used to harvest all kinds of produce, now it was in ruins since the famine crisis of the 90's. The two limos were parked with the Chinese agents and the refugees they rescued.
"They destroyed the lab where the Red Lazarus was being stored" said Marcus after the radio transmission was cut off.
Xian was seating on the hood of one of the limousines they used as a decoy "I wouldn't be so sure… I think Dae Hwang has an ace in the hole"
"What do you mean?" Marcus asked.
"Do you remember Dalton saying there wasn't a single scientist inside?" Xian asked. Marcus only nodded. Then Xian continued "That means there could be either a second lab or they're ready to launch"
"I see your point…. And after what Chase Lihn said… these assholes want to start World War Three" Marcus mentioned.
"Why do you think I'm here?" Xian got off the limo's hood.
"Let's say the North Koreans successfully launch and the virus spreads throughout Beijing… will reporting to your superiors what happened here avoid an international incident?" Marcus asked.
"It's not that simple…. Officially China supports North Korea and my government isn't going to just turn a blind eye to it" Xian gave the grim possibility if the mission fails.
As Marcus and Xian were talking, the screen on the GT-R showed an incoming transmission from the command center at the Osan Air Force Base in South Korea.
"Someone's calling" Marcus ran to his car. He looked at the screen and saw it was Dr. Wade Mulligan.
"Marcus, have you heard anything from Dalton or Kira?" Wade asked.
"They found the Red Lazarus" Marcus replied.
"I've found something new…. After I hacked into the computer inside of Chase Lihn's car, I've found some recorded conversations where it was mentioned a second lab close to the silo where they plan to launch the missile" Wade said.
Marcus just shook his head.
"What's wrong?" Wade asked. "Have you noticed anything strange at the base?" Marcus asked.
"Not really?" Wade responded
Marcus remembered Chase's words about a mole working for her, then he thought of Sun Yeung for a moment. After all she has a grudge against Dalton.
"Can all our transmission be traced?" Marcus asked.
"Yeah, in fact it is recorded" Wade replied.
"Also all kinds of phone and e-mails that come from unauthorized sources are blocked. Right?" Marcus added.
"Right" Wade answered.
"Can you trace all communications from command center?" Marcus requested as he felt that no one was to be trusted. After all he's been betrayed before in previous operations.
"That's Sun Yeung's job, if there's anything shady about communications. She's the one to know" Wade explained.
"Actually I don't want her to know… and I need you to keep a close eye on her" Marcus said.
"Do you think she's with the North Koreans?" Wade asked.
"Chase Lihn is a freelance mercenary and spy….. more likely Sun Yeung is with her. Chase said there's a mole inside" Marcus started to draw his own conclusions about what Chase Lihn said.
"Ok… I'll keep you posted" Wade ended the transmission.
Marcus placed a USB stick on the dashboard and copied all the date related to the operation recorded in the car's computer hard drive. After a few minutes the main screen showed the process was completed. Marcus extracted the USB and exited his car. Then he walked towards Xian.
"So World War Three is closing in then" Xian said to Marcus.
"I have a favor to ask" Marcus said.
"What is it?" Xian replied.
"I need to use your radio…. The one you're using to communicate with your superiors" said Marcus.
"Depends what you're planning to do" Xian wasn't sure why Marcus would need to use his radio.
"I need someone on the outside to know what to do in case we fail. Just like you said…. World War Three is closing in" Marcus explained.
"I see…. I'm not supposed to let you look at any of our mission data but I can say you forced your way in" Xian said.
Marcus and Xian walked towards one of the limousines and once inside there were a couple of laptops hooked to small portable devices. These devices allowed Xian and his team to communicate with their own command center in Beijing.
"What you mean someone on the outside you meant someone in your country?" Xian asked.
"I need to make a phone call to someone in Rockport" Marcus replied.
Xian ordered something to his subordinate in Chinese. This subordinate typed on the laptop and changed some of the settings.
"All you need is to dial the number" Xian said.
"Ok… thanks" Marcus sat in front of the lap top.
"You got five minutes before our command center knows about this… and don't say anything about our involvement on this operation" Xian said as he got out of the limo.
Marcus dialed the number…..
Meanwhile in Rockport…
It was late at night in the district of Camden in the city of Rockport… A drug bust happened in a warehouse that was used for the manufacturing of meth. Cops swarmed the place and their suspects were already in custody. A young female detective wearing a pair of white tight jeans, black boots, a blue tank top and a bullet proof vest was walking to her car, a Nissan 375 Z. Her phone started to ring… Mia Townsend looked at the screen and saw it was from an unknown number. She was about to ignore it but she had a feeling it was important.
"Hello?" Mia said as she answered.
"Mia, what's up?" Marcus responded.
"Marcus? Is that you?" Mia was surprised to receive a call from Marcus from a different number.
"Yeah" Marcus said.
"It's nice to hear from you but I've just wrapped up a drug bust. Can I call you later?" said Mia.
"It's very important I talk to you now…. Are you alone?" Marcus asked.
"Let me get in my car" Mia got inside her car and rolled the windows up "What's up?"
"I need you to get this information out just in case I don't make it back?" Marcus said.
"In case you don't make it back? What are you saying?" Mia didn't understand what Marcus was trying to tell her but she had a bad feeling about what she was about to hear.
"Remember that case I worked with the FBI? Long story made short…. Chase Lihn's still alive" Marcus explained.
"Are you sure? Where are you? I can come and help you out" Mia said with extreme concern.
Marcus tried to keep himself collected and paused for a second….
"Marcus, where are you? Are you ok?" Mia insisted.
"I'm in North Korea… in the outskirts of Kaesong" Marcus said.
"North Korea? Is this a joke?" Mia started to get more confused, she didn't know if to believe him or dismiss the story as a joke.
"I wish I could explain more but there's a virus that was stolen by Chase Lihn after faking her death. She sold it to the North Koreans and now they're about to use it against China and frame the U.S. If we don't stop them….. we can expect World War Three" Marcus explained.
Mia couldn't believe what she was listening but coming from Marcus, she knew there was truth in his words.
"Look, Mia. I don't expect you to believe me so I'm sending you all the information by email. But only show it if you hear anything on the news" Marcus said.
"Does Izumi have any idea about this?" Mia asked.
"No…. she doesn't know I'm here. If I had told her, she would've insisted on coming" Marcus explained.
"I see…. And you don't want me to say anything to her about it" Mia pulled her laptop and switched it on.
"If I we fail…. Then tell her and then expose everything and if shit hits the fan… just leave the country and go somewhere safe" Marcus said with a very stern tone.
"Ok… I'm opening the file…." Mia looked at her computer screen and detailed files on the Red Lazarus virus showed amongst detailed files on Chase Lihn. "Oh my God!"
"See… that's why my team and I must stop these nut jobs" Marcus replied.
"Marcus, you've always been like a brother to me and after all these years you seem to have finally found happiness. Please come back alive" Mia's voice was starting to crack, the thought of losing her friend was too much.
"I'll be back…I promise" Marcus ended the transmission.
Back in North Korea…..
Marcus got out of the limo "You can tell your superiors I've punched you"
Xian walked up to Marcus "You need to head out before their recon teams head back to the base"
Marcus nodded.
"By the way… tell Dalton there's an Antonov at the runway… we can use it to get a hell out of here. After you're done we'll rendevouz with you there" Xian said.
"Ok… I'll let you know when it's safe to come out" Marcus replied.
As Marcus was walking towards his car, a young girl in her late teens walked up him. She was one of the refugees they've rescued.
"Good…luck…" The girl said with a thick Korean accent and gave Marcus her prayer beads.
"Thank you…" Marcus accepted the gift, then he got in his car. "Dalton, I'm heading your way" Marcus revved his engine and drove away.
The Junkie's notes: I hope I didn't confuse you... when I wrote the part where Marcus talks to Mia I just wanted to give a different perspective from a different location... Besides that I wish I could give more info on what will happen next, not only in the next upcoming chapters but on another story I'm starting on that will take place after this one. I've been a bit busy but I'll try to post more frequently….. One Love!