April 1, 1981
Wounds and bruises were healed over the course of the next few days, that doesn't mean bodies still didn't ache.
"There is no doubt the CIA doesn't suspect our involvment." Benedikt said at the table they all sat at once again.
"Comrade Romanov is right. Those Americans you two worked close with..." Perseus tried to find their names.
"He knows I'm alive..." Benedikt said.
"What makes you think so?" Perseus asked him.
"A feeling, and a very strong one." Benedikt stared at the table.
"Adler has made quite the popular reputation within the CIA, once word gets around about Benedikt's existence, which likely already has, he'll be waiting for us to make a move." Park spoke up.
"Who all has been confirmed to be dead?" Beck asked Perseus.
"Italy, Norway, the United States and Kingdom, and a few others."
"The might of Perseus and the USSR is strong but we can be even stronger, pull the rug out from underneath the Americans." Beck perked up.
"What are saying?" Portnova asked.
"I'm saying we send men in as political figures, if they can gain the people's trust then they will be easier to influence."
"So we start small, and eventually work our way up to the even bigger powers?" Park asked.
"In some cases that may work but we cannot give them time to get back up, no matter the advantage we have over them. We must not underestimate them."
"You mean you want to start with the United Kingdom first?" Benedikt was confused.
"No comrade, I'm saying we start with the U.S... we kill their President. And his replacement will be one of our own."
"Who?" The younger man asked.
"We will discuss that another time. I'm tasking you all with eleminating President Regan. We'll be making this look like an act of their own people. And to top it off, you will be using weapons supplied by one of America's ally, the UK."
"So we're basically playing the part of American patriotics, with motives to "better" the country by ridding it of their public figure. And it just so happens that the UK have supplied us with weapons and conpensation for our work." Beck summarized.
"Yes." Perseus said. "We'll discuss the next step in our next brefing. This may be the biggest mission you may have run yet, we can't afford any inconveinces, no matter what advantage we may have over the enemy. They must not be underestimated."
"We'll give you our best." Benedikt soluted.
"I don't want your best Romanov. I want results." He stepped close to look the man in the eyes. "Your on the clock, I'll have a ride waiting for you all outside within the hour. There will be passports, clearence cards and other nessecities waiting for you outside. Good luck soldiers." Perseus turned to face everyone else.
"Yes sir." They all nodded.
They all watched as Perseus left the room, the shutting of the door filled the room. Benedikt stood there, watching the door for a moment, before turning back around. They were all watching him, waiting.
"Let's... gear up." His mind weighed down on him.
They all went back to their bunks and began packing their belongings.
"Don't forget this." Park came walked over to his bunk, handing him his Redeemer pistol, almost leaving it behind.
"Thanks." He said plainly, taking it and concealing it under his shirt and against his back.
"Your nervous about seeing him again." She said as more of a statement than a question.
"I don't what you mean." He continued to pack his things, not looking her in the eyes.
"Adler."
Benedikt shrugged his shoulders.
"Don't do this." She said, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Do what?"
"Shut me out."
"I'm not."
"Then talk to me."
"I am."
"Ben."
"Park." He said, aknowledging her, doging everything that came his way.
She sighed. "You don't have to tell me, right now. I'm here when your ready." She said, leaving the room with her bag.
He felt bad for not saying anything but hust talking about that monster Adler, it made him... vulnerable? Is that the word for it? He didn't know. There was a nagging feeling, telling him to keep all these reasons and concerns to himself, and he had no idea why. Plus in his eyes, this was not about him, this was about their mission, their people. Millions of people were depending on him. Even those in America, people shouting for a helping hand. And that is exactly what they were going to get.
"How's your American accent Beck?" Benedikt asked his friend who was seated next to him on the plane.
"Good enough." The man replied, showing him.
"Could be worse." Ben said with a small laugh.
It took a while to land in D.C. The sky was grey and cloudy, gloomy. They all had their own hotel rooms, each on different floors. Perseus had mentioned to them in a small after note that they were to meet a contact at a nearby alley for their weapons. Being the leader of the squad, he had told the three to stay put and wait for his return at the hotel. However Park insisted that she tag along, leaving Beck and Portnova behind.
They were dressed in normal street clothes. He wore a hat and coat in case it rained.
"Who's our contact?" She asked, walking along side him.
"Richard Springfield, British. Quite rebellious I hear. I think you might like him. From the profile
I was given, he doesn't agree with whats brewing between the two countries. In fact he thinks any association with the U.S is bad especially with our recent news segement. Regardless of who did it or not, he wants America done away with. With all our new benefits we are dealing out, I hear many countries are starting to give second glances towards the Mother Land."
"I assume he doesn't actually know us does he?" She asked.
"No, of course not. As far as his knowledge goes, we are as we say, American "rebels", eager for change and reforms in this country. And we'll be needing these weapons for a "great cause". He explained as they crossed the street. Doing the exchange at night would allow them to be more descrete, rather than in the day. It was settings like this that just screamed that something was going to happen. "Come on." He lowered his voice as they slipped into an alley way. He felt rain drops begining to trickle down.
They walked, seeing a man standing under a single lanp post. "Excuse me, can you point us to the nearest resturant, everything seems to be closed." Benedikt alerted the man of who he was.
"Nonsense, I beleive your right where you need to be." He confirmed his identity with the simple phrase. "I was not aware there would be two, I was informed it was going to be just you." The man took a puff from his cigarette.
"I made a last minute decision." Benedikt replied. The two of them stood in the shadows, their faces somewhat hidden.
"Doesn't matter. Anyways, let's get to bussiness shall we?" Richard grabbed the backpack from off the ground.
Park went to reach for it when the man drew it back.
"Wait wait, I'm to be compensated first." He waved his finger.
"You have the cash right?" Benedikt asked Park.
"I thought you grabbed it." She turned to look at him with a glance.
"The envelope must still be back at the hotel." He sighed. "Look, if you will just let us go back and get it-"
"Unfotunatly thats not how this works. Come prepared next time." Richard took another puff, looking as if he were to walk away.
"Hold on now, we need that backpack." Benedikt said firmly.
"And I need that money, but it looks like we're both out of luck." The man said coldly. Rain began to poor down on them.
"We don't have time for this." Park snatched the bag from the man.
Richard immidiatly drew his pistol aiming it at her. Benedikt drew his Redeemer the same second, both of them aiming their weapons at the single man.
"Put the gun down Springfield." He threatened.
The man smiled. "Fire." Benedikt said as she fired her shot. They were taken by suprise when her bullet missed, skimming Richard's shoulder. At the same moment an enemy had shot a bullet into the back of her leg. He looked behind them to spot four men, most likely hired by Richard just im case this would happen.
Benedikt shoved Park behind a dunpster for cover, crouching beside her, seeing Richard sprint away. Just before he turned the corner Benedikt fired a bullet directly into his skull. The bag of weapons collapsed to the ground next to corpse. Locals were sure to hear all this gun fire, he had to be quick with these four if they wanted to evade the police.
"How bad?" He crouched in front of her, panicked about the wound.
"Don't worry about me right now, shoot them!" She pointed towards the four enemies.
He grabbed her pistol and fired both weapons at the same time. A few more shots and the four of them were collpased onto the conrete, soaking in their own pools of blood.
He rushed back to his teammate. "You think you can walk?" He tried helping her up.
She winced in pain, standing, somewhat able to walk. "For now."
He helped her walk, picking up the bag and putting it on his back as they left the alley way. Thankfully it was late at night so not many of your average people would be walking around at this hour but that doesn't mean that people wouldn't see them.
With no time to cover up the bodies, he rushed them as quickly as possible back to their hotel. "Come on love, just a few more steps." He said, the building just in the distance.
"Damn Americans..." she spat, her leg failing her as she fell to the ground.
"Hold this." He handed her the bag before he placed her on his shoulders. "Your a lot heavier than you look." He chuckled.
"Hey!" They heard a voice calling after them. "I see them, in pursuit!" The police officer said into his radio.
"Atoms technically never touch, so no officer I did not just shoot and kill those men!" He shouted behind him, dealing with the situation in a way most people would find quite... odd.