Chapter 38

The first five days passed in a blur for Kestrel. He trained with Briggs under Sam's supervision, and even if he was a former Voron ops, the old Splinter Cell had some nasty tricks up his sleeve. Sam taught them Krav Maga, the Israeli combat discipline, and even with an arm in a sling, he put Kestrel and Briggs on the mat a dozen times each. But Kestrel was sparring Briggs most of the time, and even though he was physically stronger and faster, the CIA ops was not intimidated at all and managed to get him a couple of times.

They also worked with Grim on the setting of the missions, studying building maps and security systems. Kestrel could see Alpha then, working with Charlie on three computers like she used to, teaching him how to be the best hacker in the world. Soon they finished the hacking programs, and in the next day Alpha showed Charlie how to make them disappear until activated from the SMI on the Paladin, some brilliant ghost evidence. Charlie was head-over-heels with delight, but he had to concentrate. Alpha was not the ideal teacher, she was quick to anger, but she took her time with her pupil. She even showed him how to hack the official agencies, and when Grim heard that Charlie had infiltrated the Interpol without being caught, she was impressed.

A week later, Fourth Echelon was ready to launch the first missions against Meggido. There was still twelve members on the list, and it would take time to put the ghost files in their computers. But the matter of Timochenko was still debated, and it was basically Alpha and Kestrel against Grim and Briggs.

_ We cannot let him live, said Alpha, who had completely recovered her voice but not her hearing. Right now he's still experimenting on living human beings, torturing them like he did to Misha and me.

_ We'll make him fall, Grim said. He'll be arrested and sued. And I heard the Russian prisons are not quite safe.

_ You're right on this matter, said Kestrel, but there's another problem. He knows how to succeed in creating super-soldiers: he has succeeded with me. His research must be completely destroyed, otherwise all the nations will want to bargain with him to have a super-army. For that, he has to die.

_ But this strength and speed of yours, it serves you well, doesn't it? asked Briggs. Is it such a bad thing?

Kestrel clenched his fists to control his fury. Briggs couldn't imagine what he had to endure to acquire his new talents. And Alpha was dying because of these things. But Briggs saw immediately that he had made a huge mistake, and begged for forgiveness.

_ Sorry, I shouldn't have said that. Please forgive me.

Kestrel nodded, jaws tightened. At long last, Sam spoke, and everybody listened to him intently.

_ We'll set an operation to infiltrate his computer, like the others, but he must be terminated. We cannot risk a bargain between him and some hostile government. For that mission, Kestrel and Briggs will go together.

Kestrel nodded, relieved. Even if he was a true member of Fourth Echelon and obeyed the orders, he would have taken upon him to kill Timochenko even if Sam had ordered him not to do so. But he'd rather follow the rules. That was what made him balanced.

In the afternoon, the team met in the training room to watch a match: Kestrel versus Sam Fisher. Sam's shoulder was mended at last, and he no longer had the sling on. Sam had insisted to defy the ex-Russian ops in a friendly match, Russian training against American one. The team was happily betting on the outcome.

_ Fifty bucks on Sam pinning Kestrel in less than five minutes, announced Briggs, looking maliciously at Alpha.

_ Same money, but with Misha pinning down Sam, said Alpha with a huge smile.

_ No way! Charlie intervened. Sam's way too experienced. A hundred dollars on Sam!

_ Grim? Said Briggs. Wanna bet on your man?

_ I trust him, but Kestrel's got some moves. I won't bet.

_ Very wise, Grim, said Alpha. Misha's gonna win.

_ No way! grinned Charlie, as the two men saluted each other and started to fight.

Sam had years and years of combat behind him, and his grip was often lethal for his opponents. But facing him Kestrel was one of the best and most skilled operatives Voron had ever had, so the fight was a long and tough one. They used every technique available, not hitting too hard but with no mercy. Sam used his favourite Krav Maga, and Kestrel had learned it quickly, adding these moves to his already deadly ones. They punched and dodged, turned and launched, kicked and parried for a good ten minutes, and still no one was gaining the upper hand on the other.

Finally, as Kestrel tried to dodge an attack aimed at his head, Sam quickly turned to the side and rolled forward, getting up behind the ops and, before he could react, Sam had caught his throat in a tight grip and pressed his carotid. Kestrel was strong, he put his hands on Sam's arms and had started to break the ferocious grip, but it was too late. A black veil was falling before his eyes, and he was satisfied to lose. It had been very difficult for him not to knock out Sam during the first minutes, because he didn't want to humiliate him. Now, about fifteen minutes after the start, he could lose with honor. He let his arms falling and, before losing consciousness, felt Sam's grip loosening, grabbing him under his arms and gently accompanying him to the floor.

_ Yes! grinned Charlie. Sam wins!

Alpha got up and ran towards Kestrel, who had really passed out cold. Sam watched her checking his pulse, then lifting him on her shoulders and laying him down next to Briggs and Grim, on a few piled-up mats.

_ Is he all right? he asked to Alpha when she turned her gaze towards him.

_ Yes, she said. But when he wakes up, I'll slap him across his face.

_ Why? Because he lost?

_ No. Because he let you win.

_ What?

Sam was bewildered. Kestrel had fought like a lion, what was she talking about? He himself was slowly recovering, but the fight had been hard. Kestrel was a very dangerous operative, and he was glad to be on his side.

_ Don't be ridiculous! Briggs said, catching Alpha's stare. It was just a friendly match.

_ Possibly, she said angrily, but he can do better. When he's sparring me, that's another matter, I can tell you.

_ Okay, said Sam, losing patience. Prove it, then. Come and fight!

_ Sam, no! said Grim, but Alpha couldn't see her.

She launched her right foot at Sam, and he dodged her vicious attack, but by an inch. She then sent her fist in his chin, and he backed a few steps, counting the stars before his eyes. She was truly strong and fast, and he wondered if she was right about Kestrel letting him win. That thought made him very angry. So he attacked her, forgetting she was a woman, that she was smaller and had suffered severe injuries the week before. He attacked her and she dodged, kicking him behind his knee and wanting to make him fall, but he rolled on his side and got up.

They fought like angry bees, turning around each other and hitting with no mercy, oblivious to Grim's supplications. After a series of uppercuts and swings he sent his fist in her left eyebrow, making it explode and sending blood everywhere, but she was unfazed and, fast as lightning, caught his neck and started to throttle him with her arms, just like he did to Kestrel. But Sam was furious now, and the lack of oxygen made him a little disoriented. So he tried to free himself by throwing his left elbow behind him. He made contact with her head, and suddenly he was free. Gasping for air, he turned to see her staggering, a hand on her left temple, blood pouring from her right ear.

_ Alpha!

Kestrel had awoken, and he was rushing to her side, worry on his face, but she pushed him away, wincing in pain, and ran to the nearest wall, where no mat covered it. And to Sam's horror, she started to bang the right side of her head against the wall.

_ No! he yelled. What are you doing?

But of course she couldn't hear him. She was screaming in pain now, but still banged her head on the wall. Briggs, Grim and Charlie were too stunned to react, but Kestrel and Sam did. They both tried to grab her and take her away from the wall, but, like a rodeo bull, she sent them flying away from her. She resumed her banging, her head gushing blood that painted the wall behind her in a gruesome way. And finally, with a last cry of pain, she stopped, kneeling and putting her right hand to her ear. Sam, who had come next to her again, saw that she was removing a small chip, the very one that had caused her deafness.

Kestrel knelt next to her and caught her just as she fell face-forward to the floor. Her head was a mess, and she was unconscious. Kestrel took her in his arms and stood up, then exited the room with Briggs, heading for the infirmary. Sam knelt and picked up the microchip that had fallen on the mat and saw that it was damaged beyond repair.

_ Sam? Grim went next to him. What happened? Why did she do that?

_ The microchip, he said, showing it to her. She made it go out. I suppose the blow I gave her made it loose in her ear, and she had no choice but to remove it.

_ That's horrible, Grim murmured. She has already suffered so much!

Sam put his arms around her and felt her tears on his T-shirt. He was not feeling too good either, but at least Alpha was free of the pain in her ear now. But he hoped that what she had to inflict upon herself to get rid of this horrible chip was not going to make her die.