Chapter 22: Victor Strand

If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you'll never get it done.

Bruce Lee

Mikhail's Journal 29.09.2010

Living in peace and harmony with the woman I love and the family I have adopted as my own. I never thought life could be so sweet.

Just when I was truly enjoying my holiday, I had to accept that my superiors have allocated me another mission. It was time to pick up my gun and continue the fight.

Each day that went by and remembering how many days it's been since Alicia and I begun a romance. It was like a fairytale, waking up to a bright lively, sunny day and the song of birds playing in the background. My princess would be resting her gentle head on my chest and if I was lucky, I would wake up first to see her open up her eyes and greet me with a warm loving smile. Her eyes would sparkle into mine and I would receive a morning kiss. This would endow me with the energy I needed to get up and get on with today's chores.

The day was mainly spent working on menial or hard labour tasks around the camp or going out on expeditions in search of food or other supplies. One other thing that these weekly expeditions served the purpose of was for new shelter we could relocate, before winter approaches. Sometimes the expeditions were fruitful and it kept us supplied and furthered the productivity of our small and humble community, but there was no discovery of a new sanctuary. Our community was still vulnerable to both walker and human attacks, so finding a new fortified sanctuary was crucial and the clock was ticking.

Finally that good news would come. Before then there were members of our community that ran out of patience and decided to leave our community and take their chances elsewhere. It seemed our community was shrinking until it became just the Clarks, other smaller families, lone survivors and myself. Those who chose to stay either trusted Madison or relied on me for protection. Of course I could mention the other incidents and issues our community has been facing, but that's too much to tell in one sitting. For now I want to talk about the day help came, but at a price. A price that I thought I had to pay with blood.

„Mikhail, we have a visitor," informed Madison, crashing in on my intimacy with Alicia.

„Really, who?" I asked.

„I don't know, he said he wants to speak to you."

A visitor who wants to speak to me, I wonder who he could be? Someone I know? Whoever this person is I just hope he's a friend.

„Okay, I'll be there shortly."

Madison nodded and closed the door leaving Alicia and I alone to get changed.

Alicia and I were in bed partly clothed, we had just gotten up and have been engaging in kissing and sweet talk, but now it was time to get out of bed and get changed.

„A visitor, someone you know?" asked Alicia inquisitively.

„Nyet not to my knowledge, I don't have any friends back in L.A. or back in Russia."

„Oh Mikhail you sad lonely man," tutted Alicia, crawling behind me and stroking my back. „You really need to start letting more people in your life other than me, we talked about this remember?"

I put on my socks and turned to look at Alicia smiling at me and submitting to my advance.

„Alicia, I'd rather not think about it. That was yesterday and I don't want to fight about it, okay?"

While stroking Alicia's head, she placed her hand on my face and smiled, „Just try to be a little more open okay, don't be cold and so serious like you were last time okay?"

„I promise Alicia," I smiled, looking deep into Alicia's eyes and finding myself magnetizing towards Alicia's lips and kissing her, unable to stop.

„Dumbass, don't keep our guest waiting, go and say hello," ordered Alicia.

„Okay Alicia, sorry Alicia."

I bestowed Alicia a smile and kissed her lips one last time before breaking free, getting changed and walk into the kitchen.

I walked into the kitchen where I was greeted by Madison and our guest sitting at the table with a hot brew. The guest was a man aged around 40, with a shining bald patch and light brown hair that looked like a pair of curtains arched from his ears to the back of his head. He had pale blue eyes, with a white light in his pupils. His nose was hooked and the right side was damaged, showing broken blood vessels, it's possible he might have suffered a burn. His lips were thin, which he often tucked in to make his bottom lip look fuller or just make his lips look like a long black slit. The whole head looked like a skull, a polished skull with skin and eyeballs embedded in his eye sockets.

The while light in his pupils targeted me and his facial expression turned to joy as he got off his seat and greeted in a raspy Russian accent, „Mikhail, Mikhail Romanenko." He then continued to speak, but spoke in my language as he approached me to offer his skeletal hand, „So happy to have finally met you tovarishch."

I took the dry bony hand of his and said in my language, „Happy to meet you too. Listen, Madison and no one here speaks Russian. It's better we speak English."

„Nyet tovarishch, what I'm about to tell you is private, that's why we speak in our native tongue," declined the man.

The man sat back down at the table and requested in English, „Madison, do you think you could give us a moment to talk? What I'm about to tell Mikhail is important and private."

Madison looked at the man disapprovingly, but then concurred, „ Okay."

„Spasibo," rasped the man.

I was left alone with the man who has not yet given me his name, but instead dug into his coat pocket and pulled out a cigarette packet. He pulled out himself one and placed it in between his lips, he looked at me and extended the packet towards me, „Cigarette?"

„Nyet," I declined, „I'm cutting down."

The man just looked at me and froze until he suddenly moved his lips bobbing the cigarette up and down, „You need to live a little tovarishch, life is too short to resist life's many pleasures."

I found his statement kind of ironic that he smokes to shorten his lifespan, but true and reminiscent of what Alicia said to me, I've got to enjoy life a little more.

The man lit his cigarette and gave me his name, „My name is Dimitri Johanovich Vladinov and I'm here to brief you on your new mission."

The word ‚mission' hit me in the stomach like a bullet, it was a bad feeling knowing I was now risking my life in the name of duty.

„Wait a minute, you were the one who sent me those tapes?"

Dimitri took a drag on his cigarette and blew a thick cloud entrapping me in it.

„Da, I'm in charge of supplying you goods, but I'm not the one who orchestrates them."

„Nyet, then who is?"

„Unfortunately that information is classified, but you will meet him soon enough."

„Okay then, why do I experience blackouts whenever I listen to those tapes?"

Dimitri hesitated, took another drag on his cigarette and blew another cloud of intoxicating smoke, which went down into my lungs.

„I don't know, all I know is we wont be sending you tapes from now on. We've decided your time has come and you've earned a place in our humble prosperous community."

„Community?"

„Da community, but before I take you there, you must complete this final mission."

„About the community, can I ask you something before I'm briefed on this final mission?"

Dimitri took another drag on his cigarette and permitted, „Yasno Mikhail, shoot."

„Everyone here is struggling to set up a new life here and winter is approaching, do you think we could take them along?"

Dimitri looked at me with a frown and cold steel eyes, before taking another drag to respond to my question I hoped he would respond with, „Da Mikhail, they can come too. However, they have to go through an initiation process and agree to our integration rules."

„Ochen horosho, okay I'll tell them."

„Horosho, but now I must brief you on your mission if that's okay with you?"

„Da, please proceed."

Dimitri pulled out a large brown envelope underneath the table and slid it on the table towards me. I opened it and saw stapled papers, but what caught my eye was a photo of a black man, probably the age of 40 paper-clipped in the left corner.

„Your mission is to capture this man, his name is Victor Strand. He's a con-man and a former blackmarket weapons dealer. Back in the Cold War he turned to anyone who he could profit from, American or Russian it didn't matter to him, whoever pays he serves. At the end of the Cold War he took his golden opportunity to seize and sell Soviet arms on the black market to anyone who had money. Of course the Russian Federation didn't tolerate such a man selling our property to fill his own pockets, so he became an enemy of the state. We want you to bring him to us." Dimitri gave me time to read the first page, before I turned over and he continued to brief me, „We know his location, he's being detained at a stadium in Baja California called El Bazar. It's basically a trading post, but also a detention center, which is where Strand is being held."

I looked at a picture of El Bazar and I could see it was a place swarming with people coming in and out of the building. There was even a map of the building with the names of each section. Without much scrutinizing, I saw where the detention cells were.

I looked up at Dimitri and question, „So why do you need my help? Can't you just go in and apprehend him?"

„Tovarishch, I wish it was that simple, otherwise we wouldn't approach you and give you this job. The place is well fortified with heavily armed men, this is no job for a meager task force, this is a one man job. Reading your record you were always the best in infiltration and stealth operations, this is why we have assigned you to go in and extract Strand."

I nodded and studied the map carefully, trying to work out how I would sneak around the premises and evade security.

„This has to be done soon tovarishch, because tomorrow, Strand will be executed."

„What's the insertion method?"

„You will go in dressed in civilian clothes. Once you're in, you will be greeted by our contact. You should find his photo on the next page."

I flipped a page to see my contact's face and instructions how I should approach him and a codeword, which should immediately identify me as his contact.

„He will supply you with weapons and equipment."

I looked at the next page and saw what I'll be equipped with for the mission. One was a pistol, but it was unlike any other pistol I've seen in my life. It was a small handgun with a long barrel which was round like a pipe, sort of like a blowpipe. I would read down the page and discover the gun holds gas piston like rounds that are tranquilizers.

I was even introduced to another piece of equipment I would be allocated with. It was a round magnetic disk, which was used to silently open locked doors. Once attached to the lock it would administer a hydraulic acid foam that would spread out and corrode the lock.

„Once you have located and apprehended Strand, you will meet us at the extraction point. You will find it on the last page." briefed Dimitri, as I looked at the last page where the extraction point was pinpointed.

On the last page detailed that once I've found Strand, I was to set a smoke flare to signify that target has been secured and then smoke bombs would be detonated simultaneously, which would secure the escape plan.

Rereading through the pages I did have my doubts and skepticisms of how the mission would go and if it really was going to be as easy as it looked. How was Strand going to react when I first encounter him? Was he going to be cooperative or was he going to resist, either way I had to expect the unexpected.

„What the fuck," sputtered Madison walking in the kitchen and staggering towards the window to open it. „With all do respect Dimitri, we don't allow smoking in the house," reproved Madison, eyeing Dimitri.

„Sorry madam, I will remember next time."

„Madison, you're not going to believe this, but I think our long search for new shelter is over."

Madison's eyes lit up and she was intrigued to listen.

I told Madison about the community I was promised a place in should I carry out this mission, but she was never filled in on the conditions required to be initiated. She and the others who decided to come along will be introduced to the initiation program.

Madison did ask me what the mission was and Dimitri reminded me that it's classified, but was permitted to bring others along as long as they don't interfere.

The next day, before I was prepared to travel with Dimitri and his driver who he gave his name as ‚Igor' to El Bazar. Alicia and Madison would show their support.

„Ready to go into the lion's den Mikhail!" asked Dimitri.

„Always am, I think it's past their feeding time and they wont need feeding for another hour," I quipped, trying to sound cool for Alicia and Madison.

„Mikhail?" asked Madison as I turned to face her.

„Da."

„Be careful, make it back in one piece."

„Come on Madison I always do."

I looked at Alicia who gave me a smile and I requested, „How about wishing me luck?"

„Good luck," smiled Alicia.

„Well I was thinking perhaps I could get…"

„Mikhail not in front of my mum okay."

„Akh Alicia."

„When you make it back in one piece and we are alone okay."

„Ladna," I huffed.

Madison suspiciously frowned at both Alicia and I, knowing what we both meant.

Before I got in, I got superstitious that Alicia not kissing me for good luck would mean this mission would be a failure, but what could I do? Going to have to rely on my skill and pre-planning in order to complete this mission and come out alive.

When we reached El Bazar, I could see what a big place it was, swarming with humans going in and out like ants around an anthill. Never have I ever been inside a stadium, but then again I've never been a sports-buff, so who am I to know what a stadium is like. Nonetheless I studied the map carefully and know where everything is, where to find my contact and obtain my gear and where Strand is. I was ready, ready to walk in casually and find my contact and hope I don't arouse any suspicion.

Getting past security wasn't a problem. I paid my admission, frisked for any concealed weapons and granted entry.

Upon entering the stadium, it was roaring and teeming with people who either were visiting or working there. The whole place reminded me a bit like the Novopodrezkovo flea market or the Danilovsky market in Moscow, went there as part of a school trip. We were always told to stick together and not wander off, otherwise we would get abducted and never seen again.

I always did enjoy my trips to the market, seeing all the goods that were on sale. It was a shame I didn't have any money on me, but I was inclined to steal, despite my grandma always told me stealing was distasteful.

There were people of all ages and ethnicities, obviously seizing the opportunity to either make a quick buck or just seek shelter from the cruel and savage outside world.

Some even tried to approach me and sell me their products, like a real hustler would, but I had to squeeze past them.

Eventually after getting past them I would find my contact sitting at a table alone, who matched the description in the file. He was drinking out of an old plastic cup and riveting his eyes on me. He was a young man, bald with a wide bulbous nose and blue eyes.

I gave him the password, which was to offer a refill and he would respond in my language, „zapolnyat'" meaning ‚fill it up'. The waitress answered our table and got us drinks, my contact got a refill and I ordered something non-alcoholic, not a time to be drinking in the middle of a mission.

Once we had our drinks, he gave me the current status of Strand and told me he hasn't been relocated and is still located in the same holding cell. I was even informed that the smoke grenades have been stashed in the ventilation ducts and were ready to be detonated. Feeling fully briefed about Strand's current condition and the plan to break him out, I received something push against my foot. When I looked down to see what it was a parcel, which I grabbed and took my leave, giving my contact a friendly nod.

I went to the toilet where I would indulge in privacy and open up the parcel. It was as I expected, the equipment I needed to get to Strand. A tranquilizer gun, acid breaching charge and a red smoke flare. Now that I was armed and dangerous, I proceeded with the mission.

I memorized Strand's location and followed the map I had drummed in my head. Locating him wasn't hard, but getting past security was nerve-racking. There were security cameras I had to watch out. Two of them I was able to sneak past, but one I had to disable in order to get further, which meant I had to hurry before security come and investigate.

I was able to avoid detection and having to use my tranq-gun as I was able to take out a couple of guards with my barehands. I didn't kill them, but I choked one out cold and knocked the other one out cold. This was necessary to reach Strand's cell.

Reaching the exact cell number and with no guard in sight, I placed the little breach charge, which magnetized on the door. I pressed the button in the middle and foam squirted out around the edge. The foam started to melt the lock and the exterior started to corrode. Once the foam ceased to burn away the metal and was only bubbling, I tried the door and it pushed open.

To my right I saw a lone man in the corner, surprised to see me. He matched the description in the file, it was Strand, Victor Strand.

„Is it time?" asked Strand suspiciously.

„Victor Strand, I need you to come with me."

„Who are you the Grim Reaper? I never knew the Grim Reaper was a Commie."

Strand calling me a Commie rung a bell and I realized it was a slang term for Russian. He obviously assumes that I'm Russian.

„Nyet Strand, I'm not the Grim Reaper. I'm your rescuer and I'm here to get you out."

„Who sent you, who are you with?"

„No time for questions Strand, we need to get out of here… fast."

„Okay, lead the way whoever you are."

„My name is Mikhail."

„Okay Mikhail, I sure hope you know the way out and a good hotel you can take me to."

Strand proved to be such a character and kind of a charmer, then again it's the traits what an arms dealer and con man needs to succeed in the business. I was wary of how cooperative Strand would be or if he is a loose canon. He wants to get out alive so I'm sure he'll be cooperative. I set the smoke flare on the window and made sure the smoke was flowing out the window. We both exited the cell and were ready to proceed to the exit, hoping no obstacles would be encountered.

„Hey you stop," toned a voice behind Strand and I.

I turned around and saw a guard already aiming his weapon at Strand and I. Impulsively I dropped to one knee and put a tranquilizer round in the guard's neck. First time I used the gun and I'm surprised that the gun had no recoil.

Two other armed guards with machine guns jumped in the corridor with their weapons aimed, but they were caught in a cloud of smoke. Guess the smoke did come in handy after all, which is why they call it a smoke screen.

I ran towards the disorientated guards and rammed my weight into them and quickly incapacitated them. Not killing them, but wounding them. I would dislocate one guard's knee and deliver a knee to his face and the other guard I deflected his machine gun down to his foot. His gun would go off and the rounds shredded his foot. To spare him the agony, I slammed his head to the side of the wall to incapacitate him.

We made it to the rubbish chute, which would be our way out. It opened and the stench hit our nostrils and made us want to heave.

„So Strand this is our way out."

„Jesus Christ it stinks."

„Sure does."

„Well, last one in is a rotten tomato," joked Strand, climbing into the chute and disappearing down it.

Of course I was going to be the last one in, I had to protect Strand while he climbed down the chute. I held back the guards, shooting two more with my tranq-gun, before jumping down myself and holding my breath. The sound of gunfire that hit the interior of the chute echoed and hurt my ears, but I felt safe from the gunfire and we would escape.

I would slide down a dark long chute until I would see daylight below my feet and would fall out and crash land on a heap of garbage. The garbage heap broke my fall, but I knew I needed a wash when I get back.

I saw Strand standing beside me and brushing off garbage that stuck to him. There were mountains of trash that was rearranged into recyclables and we could see there were those in overalls working on the garbage heaps and raking out the recyclables.

There was a worker standing next to the gate looking at us with suspicion and apprehension.

„Open the gate now," I ordered, pointing my tranq gun at him, which immediately intimidated him into opening up the gate.

Once the gate was opened, I placed a tranq-round in the back of his head. Outside the gate, I could see our getaway vehicle where both Strand and I boarded and we were quickly driven away.

„Privyet Strand, long time no see old friend," grinned Dimitri who sat next to Strand while I sat on Strand's other side.

„Dimitri where have you been? Last time we met was in Kiev," smiled Strand, not looking or sounding too surprised.

„And here we meet again in Mexico," retorted Dimitri, widening his smile and gleaming his teeth. Suddenly he whipped out a pistol and pressed it against Strand's temple, „Mikhail… cuff him."

Strand froze and didn't look scared, it was like he was used to having guns pointed at him.

I didn't hesitate and followed Dimitri's orders by cuffing Strand and assisting in abducting a man I only met this morning.

„Victor Strand, you are under arrest for theft and deception of Russian property. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. If you can't afford an attorney, you're out of luck, no attorney will save you," wisecracked Dimitri.

„Do I get to make a phone call?"

„Don't play dumb Strand, just shut up and don't move, otherwise you get a bullet in the kneecap."

Strand didn't say another word, he just sat there and was as good as gold on the way back to the cabin.

We arrived back late afternoon, where we were approached by the campers who surrounded the vehicle. I stepped out and saw Madison and Alicia had come to greet me.

„Mikhail," exclaimed Alicia, throwing her arms around me. After only a short squeeze, Alicia released me and backed away and choked, „Oh Mikhail you stink."

„I know, I've been down a rubbish chute just to escape."

„Strand," frowned Madison, noticing that Strand was being dragged out of the car by Dimitri.

„Hello Madison," greeted Strand.

„What are you doing here?" asked Madison.

„He wont be here for long, he's coming with us."

„I guess I really needed that good luck kiss, in fact I could do with one right now," I smirked at Alicia expressing displeasure.

„No Mikhail, you need a wash," declined Alicia.

„Maybe we can have a wash together," I tried to tempt Alicia into something kinky, but Alicia frowned at me in discontent, „Okay fine I'll go and wash up."

I walked to the cabin to have a wash and I could hear Strand say, „Do I get to have a wash, I've been down in the dumps too."

Strand was then struck behind with soap water from a bucket with Dimitri mocking, „There all clean."

„Do you think I could have a towel, I'm all wet?" Request Strand.

„Oh we'll get you dried up soon," smirked Dimitri.

„Good, because I don't think you want to get the seat wet," relieved Strand.

„Akh you're not getting back in the car, you're being transported by air."

„Oh you mean like a private jet? Been a while since I flew first class," said Strand, not feeling intimidated by Dimitri scornful face.

Out of nowhere Igor attached something to Strand's back, which then shot out an inflated balloon that hoisted Strand into the air. Strand expressed shock and panic as he kicked in the air and struggled as he climbed higher.

Dimitri got out his radio, pressed the button and said, „Tsel' gotova k vzyatiyu." Which means that Strand is ready to be picked up.

We both gawked up in the sky to see an An-124 Ruslan plane fly towards Strand. The balloon was caught on the wing and Strand was dragged along. Hopefully he'll be safely helped into the cargo hold before he catches hypothermia from the windchill.

I had a wash just like Alicia wanted me to do and I walked back outside with wet hair to interact with Dimitri who was happy to see me.

„So Mikhail, are you ready to go to your new home?" asked Dimitri cordially.

„Da I sure am."

„Horosho, step into your chariot tovarishch."

Dimitri opened the door and stepped aside, allowing me access to step in, but I stood still and hesitated.

„Wait is it just me going?"

„Well da of course, who else are we going to take along?"

I looked at everyone looking bewildered about this sudden announcement that I would be breaking away from the group and going to meet my people. Looking at Madison and Alicia also looking maudlin, I just couldn't bring it in myself to leave my new family.

„Nyet, I can't. I'm sorry, I can't leave my family behind."

„Then bring them along, there's room for two more," suggested Dimitri.

Looking at not only Alicia and Madison, but also Travis and Nick who were also part of the family. Knowing that we can't all fit in, I looked at Mina with her mother's hands on her shoulders. I looked back at Dimitri with an idea.

„Can I make a request?"

„Sure Mikhail."

„Could you take Mina and her mother?"

„Shto?" baffled Dimitri.

„Listen, Mina is a little girl and she needs her mother with her. She's the only kid we have (knowing Rico was also a kid), I think she and her mother should go."

Dimitri just looked at me dubiously, slipped his bottom lip under his top lip and responded, „Okay, if you wish."

„Wait," intervened Madison, „Why don't we wait until morning and go together?"

„Out of question, it's 19 hours drive. HQ wants us back and doesn't tolerate lateness."

There was a long moment of silence, until Madison opened her mouth with another alternative.

„Okay fine, but can we at least have directions?"

„Certainly, but before I give them to you I have to ask Mikhail if this is what he really wants."

I looked at Alicia and I saw she was smiling, obviously a sign she wants me to stay and go together the next morning. I turned back to give Dimitri my final answer.

„Very sure."

Dimitri again hesitated and gave me that disappointed look before he shrugged his shoulders and said, „Okay… come along little girl and your mother."

„Her name is Mina," I confirmed with Dimitri.

„Okay come along Mina," beckoned Dimitri.

Mina ran to me to hug my legs and plead, „Mikhail please don't stay, come with us."

I bent down to look at Mina in the eyes and convince, „Mina you have to go, it's best for you and your mother. I'll be with you soon I promise."

„Pinky swear," said Mina, holding out her little finger like a hook.

I locked my little finger with hers and responded, „Pinky swear."

Mina smiled and I reciprocated the smile. I allowed her to kiss me on the cheek before I watched her climb into the escort vehicle with her mother. Her mother turned to smile at me approvingly before she climbed in after her mother.

Before the escort vehicle drove off, Dimitri approached Madison to give her a folded up map.

„We are located in Montana, just follow the directions and you will find us."

Madison smiled as she took the map from Dimitri.

Dimitri went to the back of the vehicle and opened the trunk. He took out three large rectangle crates and set them down below my feet. On one of the crates it read in Russian ‚Warning High-Explosive'. This gave me a vague hint what could be in the crates.

„Well Mikhail, this isn't goodbye, but see you later tovarishch," beamed Dimitri, offering me his hand.

„See you at base, tovarishch," I said, taking Dimitri's hand and shaking it.

I watched Dimitri get into the front at the passenger's seat and then watching the vehicle drive off with Mina waving at me, as I waved back with a comforting smile.

Once the vehicle was out of sight, I turned to look at Alicia who was smiling at me.

„You did a very noble thing Mikhail, I am proud of you."

I blushed as I responded, „Little girl's life is precious and no girl should be without her mother."

„Do you think she'll make it safely?" asked Alicia, expressing concern.

„I'm sure of it," I smiled.

Alicia put her arms around my neck and I put my hands on her hips, we were about to kiss until Madison intervened.

„Alicia… Mikhail what are you two doing? Time to pack your bags. It's moving day tomorrow," exulted Madison. The smile on her face revealed how excited she was, excited like a little a little girl who was going to Disney World tomorrow.

„Guess that kiss is going to have to wait," cooed Alicia.

„I know, better get moving," I responded with an enamored smile.

Alicia gave me a quick kiss on the lips and she went her own separate way. Feeling a little cheeky and daring, I slapped Alicia's behind and she looked at me with a kinky expression on her face. Doing what I thought I'd never do because I wanted to be a gentleman towards her, really kind of gave me the hint that I revived the spark in my relationship. I was giving her a little sexual contact, enough to satisfy her until we would make it to our new home and have intercourse for the first time like I promised her.

Right now, I decided to check what was in the three crates and then assemble the rest of my belongings, because tomorrow was going to be the big day, moving day.

To be continued…