9
Warning on behalf of Team America, please excuse their crass, if you've seen the film you'll be fine, if not well hopefully their reputation precedes them!
The bar was a hive of activity. The building had no windows or doors but the roof overlapped the seating area by a considerable distance with multiple bamboo support beams located around the outside. The roof was of a water reed construction, the whole building was raised several feet off the ground. The design of the building ensured it was as cool as possible. The tables were evenly spread out, several groups of locals and a few tourists clustered together, the hub of voices creating a lively atmosphere. It was nearing lunchtime; the smell of dishes being prepared creating a heavenly aroma mixed with the chinking of glasses and laughter. No one paid them any mind as they entered the bar. Lisa was finding the humidity was unbearable; her silk dress sticking to her uncomfortably, there was no breeze but the draft coming up from the floor was welcome. She weaved her way to the bar with Gary in tow where they ordered a drink. At the end of the bar, they saw an elderly man drinking alone. Lisa tipped her head towards him, Gary took her cue and pulled up a stool next to the man.
"Hello, how's your day going?"
The man grunted. Gary decided to plunge straight in.
"We're looking for an associate of our friends and were told we may be able to find him here. He's around six-foot tall, dark eyes, large eyebrows. He may be bald or he may have brown hair -he likes to change his appearance." The old man continued to stare absently into his drink. "He's known as 671 or sometimes Agent Seven Nine." There was a smash as the grey-haired man's glass hit the bar, the glass dashed into smithereens. He almost fell off his stool. He slipped down and backed into the corner. "I can't understand you. I speak little English." He stammered; his eyes wild.
Lisa tried to block his path but found she was surrounded, a group of several men pressing in on her. The few women that had been enjoying the lead up to lunch had fled outside. The bar was no longer full of chatter, you could hear a dime drop. Gary spread his hands in a peaceful gesture. "I take it you know the man we speak of. We're computer technician's, come to offer our services to his cause. Take us to him and we will pay you well."
The men parted to reveal a lone figure sat at a table in the shadows. The man had long brown hair tied back with a bushy mustache that tweaked upwards at the end. He had a prominent chin and hooded eyes that were dark in appearance. He raised a hand at the gang who immediately sat back down at their respective tables. The noise in the bar picked up again. Two men remained, flanking Lisa and Gary. They indicated they should sit at the table. Drinks were brought over. The bartender's hands shook as he placed the drinks in front of them before beating a hasty retreat.
"Computer technician's you say?"
Gary pushed his fake glasses back up his nose. "Yes, our specialism is in broken or outdated technology, upgrading it to suit the modern age. The industry for vintage technology is very on trend right now and we seek to capitalize on it."
The man appraised them silently, his stare making Lisa uncomfortable but she returned his gaze dead on, her piercing light blue eyes projecting confidence. "You say this man you're looking for has need for your expertise?"
"Yes; we have heard of his cause and the legendary technology he currently processes. This is like the holy grail of computers to us; as one of the first AI's and we're desperate for an opportunity to study it! We would pay handsomely for the opportunity."
"What makes you think this man needs your assistance? Surely he must know what he processes?" His voice was so low Gary had to strain to make it out.
"Oh, he does know what he processes and he knows its true worth but we believe it was damaged some time ago and because the technology is so…ah unusual, he may not have found the right person to repair it yet. We gained our degrees in computer science and engineering at Cornell university."
"Why should I trust you?"
"Well, there are three kinds of people in this world: Dicks, Pussies and Assholes." Gary jerked a thumb over his shoulder at Lisa. "Pussies, they think everyone can just get along and dicks; well, they just want to fuck things – anything! All the time without thinking it though." Gary pointed to himself and smirked. "And assholes just want to shit over everything!" He gestured at the stranger. "Together; we are an unstoppable force! She will ensure that people are on board with your cause through digital propaganda, I will find ways to fuck things up for your enemies with my hacking abilities and you? Well, you just get to sit back and watch everything go to shit as you rise to power faster than an overflowing shit pipe in spoons on a Saturday night." Gary ended on a flourish.
The stranger appraised them for a moment longer before seemly making up his mind. "Very well, come with me I will take you to see this computer. If you can fix it you will be rewarded beyond your wildest dreams." The man's eyes glinted malevolently.
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Penelope was trying to recall the last time she had felt this miserable. She swatted yet another mosquito out of her path. She was soaked to the skin from a recent deluge, her hair plastered to her face, silk scarf so drenched she had to wring it out and retie it. The mud was now up to her knees, she could feel the wet mud soaking into her calves. She glared at Gordon's lithe form cutting through the trail like a knife does through warm butter; effortless. He hadn't looked behind him for the last twenty minutes, he hadn't even appeared inconvenienced by the weather. He was some distance ahead of her now, she liked to think she was in good shape but apparently she was no match for Gordon Tracy's International rescue, Olympic, Ex-forces level of fitness. Penelope had resigned to the fact she couldn't keep up but as long as she still had him in her sight then that would be acceptable.
She focused on the view ahead, they must be nearly there? Surely! Her feet sunk further into the mud, her legs starting to burn with the effort of releasing them from the quagmire all the time. Penelope had just pushed through an especially dense section of vegetation when her foot wrapped in a root and before she realised what had happened, her foot became wedged - she pitched forwards. Penelope yelped as she face palmed into the mud. She lay there for a moment before pushing herself upwards, elbows bent. She stared at the back of Gordon's head throwing daggers with her eyes as she huffed her hair out of her face. Parker would have already been at her side assisting her by now. Perhaps she should have just left FAB 1 she reflected, then he could have come with them. By now Gordon had all but disappeared. She was doing to have to shout for him, how undignified.
"Gordon!" She pushed herself onto her knees but her foot was well and truly stuck. She still couldn't see him, she gazed at the forest trying not to betray her increasing uneasiness. She jumped when she felt a hand on her elbow guiding her up, her hand made to strike the assailant's face but he grabbed her tightly at the wrist. "Easy tiger! Its only me!"
"Gordon! How, where? You were in front, miles in front!" He gently let go of her wrist but remained holding her elbow. How could he have sneaked up on her like that? She hadn't heard a snap of a branch or seen a twitch in the leaves, he was like a ghost.
"Was I?" He shrugged and preceded to free her foot. He had to untie her boot then yank it out, which was good because he didn't think he could trust himself to look the lady of the manor in the face at the moment. His shoulders were shaking with mirth at the state of her, he knew he shouldn't but he couldn't help it.
She shoved his shoulder forcibly trying not to overbalance herself. "Gordon Tracy you better not be laughing at me!" She glowered down angrily at him. He straightened up from putting her boot back on. He kept his eyes firmly on her face which was his downfall when he noticed the tip of her button nose was caked in mud. "Erm you've got a bit of mud on you."
"Gordon, if your taking the….. that is to say, pointing out the obvious does not help one's situation." She almost lost composure before patting herself down and thrusting her chin in the air with all the grace of a highborn lady. "Maybe we could slow down a bit so that I may make it in one piece?"
"Sorry Penelope, I will adapt my pace."
"Thank you that would be most gracious of you." With one last smoothing down and hoisting her small backpack up (Gordon thought it looked like a child's pack, it was the most impractical thing he'd seen in his life) She marched off in front with Gordon trailing like a dog that had just been put back on lead after failing to come when called.
They walked for a bit further in silence before he couldn't handle it anymore. "Penelope, you have got mud."
She rounded on him. "On your nose!" He winced under her wrath and held out a handkerchief.
"Oh! Well, why didn't you say so?" She carried on cleaning her nose as Gordon rolled his eyes behind her. Oh Boy; This was going to take longer than an hour and a half.
Eventually sometime later the rain forest began to thin with Gordon winding back to seek alternate trails with denser vegetation to provide them with a bit of cover. He moved with the grace of a jaguar, not a sound uttered from his feet as he stepped across the littered forest floor. He knew he was probably being over cautious but Penny' movements were so clumsy and loud he didn't hold much hope for a stealthy entrance when they did reach this temple. He scanned the trees and vegetation suspiciously; who knew if there were armed patrols in this forest? They would take you out before you ever saw them. He hoped to use this to his own advantage. Then he saw the temple ahead. It was a strange temple - out of place for the region in terms of architecture. It didn't resemble a cave at all but Gordon could see why the villager had described it as one. It was a large stone structure that looked to be sculpted directly from a rock face. It had an elaborate rectangular facade with pyramid steps up the side. The roof was topped with Three cylindrical turrets. A wide set of stone steps led up to a formidable looking stone door with a large scallop shell decoration above the door. It looked like Fort Knox and that concerned him. He placed an arm across Penelope's path to stop her. He quietly indicated they should skirt around and head up the side to left on higher ground. Penny withdrew her pistol and nodded.
They crouched down in the dense green foliage. Penelope kept watch as Gordon pulled out some binoculars. He scanned the outside perimeter of the temple. He continued scoping the place as he talked in low tone. "I don't see any obvious signs of activity but there has been recently – see those tracks over to the right of the temple?" He handed her the binoculars the strap swinging between them. it took her a few seconds to register but then she nodded.
"It looks like's there's an entrance to the right of the temple; perhaps judging by the tracks." She surmised.
"Exactly."
"So, what's the plan of action?"
"We wait here for an hour and continue to scope the place. If there are still no signs of activity or inhabitants, then I say we can go and investigate the other side and try to find a way in."
"Very well, you keep watch I'm going to go and powder my nose." Gordon nodded not taking his eyes off the target.
A short time later Penelope resettled herself beside him shoulder to shoulder in their little huddle. He had set up a sniper position and was viewing the temple through the scope, his other eye squinted almost shut.
"My, my; you mean business."
"Just like to be prepared. This man is dangerous." He moved away from the scope but scanned the area anew.
"Your brothers tell me you're an extraordinary marksman."
"My brothers need to learn not to blabber." He muttered. He knew which one had been talking.
"Before international rescue started you were in the World Aquanaut Security Patrol were you not?"
"Yep, signed on when I was in my late teens after I finished with the submarine service."
"Jeff told me that you studied marine life." She watched his face carefully.
"I did for twelve months, traveled all over the world. There are some amazing marine habitats, the ocean covers over seventy percent of the Earth's surface so there is a lot to discover in the deep."
"I take it you also saw some action?"
"Yep. Not much though." Technically that was true he hadn't served for long before his accident. He faces clouded darkly at the thought as he trained his sight again. referring to it as an accident was an injustice he'd had to live with for nearly two years now.
Penny was close enough he could feel her breath on his neck. He certainly wasn't use to this kind of distraction, he knew what she was trying to do. He didn't rise to the bait.
"You know, there used to be a rumour at the bureau that W.A.S.P trained an elite unit of special force ops. They were unrivaled compared to other forces of their kind. Accomplished in the art of stealth attack and tactical combat. Some of the finest weapons experts you could meet and trained under the toughest of conditions to become forged into weapons themselves."
Gordon gave her his full attention amber eyes piercing her gaze. She didn't back down. "Did you know Barracudas can attack at speeds of up to thirty-six miles an hour? They're usually lone predators that lie in wait... then boom!" Gordon slapped his hands together "Before you know it, they've ambushed their prey and tore whole shoals apart in the water. It's like they've come out of nowhere. They are considered one of the oceans deadliest fish." He turned back to his post and adjusted his position.
"Really? How fascinating I had no idea. I certainly wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of one." Penelope was not surprised he had deflected her line of questioning.
"Thankfully human attacks are rare, unless they are provoked or feel threatened." Gordon's words were light but his body was tense lying prone on the floor.
"hmm; I can quite imagine and it's only fair if we are the one's provoking them… or if we seek to hurt them."
Gordon was silent apparently lost in his own inner thoughts. Penelope settled back against a tree knowing she would get no further but confident she now knew more about Gordon Tracy than most people; perhaps even within his own family.