Cesar Kadget lit a cigarette and stood by his desk, waiting for the phone to ring. He was waiting for Superior Mattews to call him and tell him that they had a way to find the deserter bitch. He sighed. As a Superior Agent himself, he had known that the girl had been a pain since she entered. She just wouldn't follow the rules, but she was too good for anyone to try and put her on the line by physical ways.
He let out a puff of smoke from his cigarette. Getting physical with her was something he had wanted for a long time... But everyone had driven the efforts back when she had shot Spikey. The fat middle aged man let out a small laugh. The ever so though Spikey...
He was always an asshole, posing like he was actually good.
Even as Cesar thought that he knew that it was a lie. Spikey *was* good, but she had got to him. And him, Cesar, admired her for that much. But he also hated her for that, because she could be a real bitch. She knew that she was one of the best, and she had her superior wrapped around her finger.
Old drooling Mattews was never able to handle that chick.
And now she had ran away, and took a boy with her. He didn't care about the rookie, but he did want her back in. So that he could torture and viciously kill her himself.
The fact that the phone never rang awoke the council member from his daydreaming, and he smiled. He knew that it would happen, and that had been why he had tapped Mattews' line. Something interesting was going to happen... Cesar smiled. He'd have to wait until nine in the next morning. Then something else occurred to him, and he dialed a now familiar number.
--*--
Mirsh heard her partner's cell-phone ringing and extended a hand to answer it as he was far asleep. They were inside a volvo in stakeout, but had moved to the backseat of the car after the first three ours of waiting and nothing happening.
The droid smiled to herself. It was just so much fun around Harlock. He had been cold at first, and now he continued to do it, but in his coldness there was now a bit of humor. And of course they slept together. She smiled maliciously and then put those thoughts aside while the caught the phone.
"Mirsh." She answered curtly.
"Isn't that Harlock's number?"
She heard superior Cesar's voice and sighed. God knew how she hated that man. He was just so stupidly formal, and had no brains at all. Some internal Consortium gossip said that he had been Mattews' companion at the academy, and that they were rivals.
"Yes, but he's out getting some food."
She lied as she prayed that the sound of Harlock snoring loudly besides her wouldn't be loud enough for the other man to hear.
"I've got something interesting for him. Make him call me when he gets back."
And without waiting for the reply the man hung up. Mirsh moved into a seating position, and silently wondered what could be possibly interesting for Harlock. For all she knew, the man was the most trigger-happy bubble-head she had ever known, though he was very funny. The only things she had seen him enjoy doing were torturing people, which was not a good hobby, and having sex. Well, he was good at that, she thought. So she touched his shoulder lightly, tenderly shaking him.
"Harlock... Harlock... wake up sleeping beauty. The boss wants to speak to you."
"Huh?" He groaned and rubbed his eyes.
"For Christ sake, wake up or you're a dead man!"
She slapped his chest, and he then opened his eyes wide.
"What the fuck?" He asked in a yawn.
She sighed. Some day she'd have to work on his language.
"Call Sup. Kadget, he said that he has something that might be interesting to you."
As she said that she passed the phone to her partner. He dialed the number.
"Kadget." Came the reply.
"Harlock here. Mirsh told me to call you sir."
Patrick said as he stretched a hand out, finally waking up.
"Remember that Kirshten bitch?"
The eyes of the lower agent widened.
"Yeah, the deserter. What about..."
"Her partner called up here this morning. She ran from him and he wants to join back here and help us find her."
"Stupid kid, never knew how to control her. Surprised she didn't kill him."
Patrick said, as his mind raced. He had always known that the red haired boy wouldn't be able to handle her. She was too good for him, and Harlock knew it. He also knew that she had spit in his face, and wanted a chance to get her back for that one.
"Me too. But listen, what would you say if I managed to put you in after her?"
"That'd be just great, sir." He looked to the side to see if Mirsh was listening, and noticing that she was already on the front seat he added. "Except that her best friend is my partner."
"That is ok, it will make things easier for us to find her. She'll return to her best friend and to her partner, but you listen to me, when you guys find her I'll have a specific chore for you."
"That's great sir. When do I get started?"
"Wait until tomorrow morning, and then I'll give you a ring." And with that the superior hung up.
Harlock smiled. He yes he'd have a specific chore, but that'd have to wait... when he caught her he'd...
"What was all about, Harlock?" Came Mirsh's voice from the passenger seat.
"Nothing. A chance to get a cool mission for once." He lied, and she could see right through it.
Mirsh smiled. She had heard a bit of the conversation, and she knew that it had something to do with Stella. Of course, she thought, that had been the third thing ever to interest Harlock. And she happened to be her best fried also. She wondered how was the blond haired deserter doing...
--*--
Stella knocked on the door, looking cool even when one gorilla-like man came answer it and gave her a look that told her she was fresh meat. She didn't really care.
"You got it?" The man asked, and she just nodded.
As she stepped in and he closed the door he patted her butt. In one quick movement of hers he had a cut on his hand, and she was holding her knife close to his neck.
"Don' mess wit' me. Where's him?"
"I'm here honey. Let the guy go, don't go all trigger-happy on him."
She lowered her weapon as she turned around to face her partner. The man was on his late forties, and was the owner of one of the most important smuggling gangs in Japan. And he had hired her services as a thief. Stella got the jewel from the bag she was holding and showed it to him.
"Excellent, my dear. It's hard to believe that I'd never heard from you before."
He said, obviously happy.
"I'm not from here. Jus' needed somethin' t'do while in Japan."
"I can't believe an exquisite girl like you has nothing to do in here." The man smiled.
"I'm late. I jus' wan' t'grab the cash, you have any other services?" She sounded though, and he smiled.
"I do. And if you allow me, you're so dangerous as you are beautiful. That's a good combination, believe me." He said as he handled her the bag with the money.
She gave it q quick glance in order to see if it was all there and then looked at him.
"We'll talk tomorrow." She said as she turned around and left.
While fastening her seat belt the blond haired girl sighed. She didn't like to steal... but she surely had the abilities to do it. Her years as an assassin had made her practically an expert on alarm systems, plus she was agile.
She rubbed her belly. She had gone to a doctor and he had told her that she was only one month and a half pregnant. She wondered if the baby's hair would be red... and wiped a tear as she remembered its father.
Do not think about him. He'll be fine... you'll be fine. She thought over and over to herself.
--*--
At nine am on the following day Hwoarang was near the pay phone, preparing himself to dial Superior Mattew's number. The red haired boy had already formed a plan. After going in, he'd ask for Mirsh's help. She'd know where to look for Stella... The youth sighed as he heard the sound that indicated that Mattews had picked up the phone.
"Sir?" He asked.
"Hwoarang. I was expecting your call."
"Have you talked to someone? When do I get in?" The boy asked, feeling a bit nervous.
"You little bastard, you are... are getting in today."
--*--
Mattews reformulated his phrase as he felt Cesar's cold gun on his head. And besides Cesar there was a Top Agent in there. Top Agents were Superior's bosses.
"Tell the rookie to go to the airport. There we'll send someone to pick him up." The Top Agent said in a low voice.
"Go to the airport at 6 p.m. We'll have someone there to pick you up."
"Now you hang the phone."
Mattews did as he was told and then turned around to face the other two agents.
"Trying to cover some deserter's tale, Mattews?"
Cesar's voice was filled with satisfaction. John felt disgusted.
"The girl *is* coming back. And there's nothing you can do to protect her. We'll have someone special after her..." Cesar continued, and then the Top Agent, whose surname was Michels, added.
"We'll have the rookie, Mirsh and Harlock working on her. Both the boy and the droid will serve as bait to her. She'll return to them, as Cesar here thought. Very good, Superior Kadget." Michels said, causing the other man to smile.
"And you know what? She'll die when she comes in, as an example for anyone that ever dares to think about running away. We are in need of examples around here." Cesar said, his wolf-like smile growing even larger. "Right, Mr. Michels? We could use an example for traitors..." The other man just nodded and Cesar pulled the trigger, ending Mattews' life.
--*--
"You mean, Cesar has done this for us? I can't believe it!"
Mirsh was astonished. It just didn't seem right that the Consortium had put her, Stella's best fried, to track the fugitive down and bring her back. It didn't make any sense at all.
"Yup babe. The big guy said that you're the one who knows her better around, you and the rookie. And as I'm your partner..." He put his arm over her shoulder as he looked to the terminal.
They were expecting Hwoarang to show up, for they had been the ones chosen to pick him up at the airport and start looking for Stella already.
"I think he'll help."
Mirsh said absently while scanning the crowd in hopes to spot the kid's red hair.
"Maybe. But I hate the idea of being with that boy. He's so damn stuck up, like what he thinks actually meant some shit."
Harlock said, pulling the droid up. He had found Hwoarang.
The redheaded youth was lying against a pillar, looking around for some known agent. That was when he saw Harlock heading towards him.
God, please no. He thought, disgusted, as he saw the other man dragging Mirsh. Not him... His thoughts vanished when both agents stopped in front of him.
"Hi there Hwoarang." Mirsh was smiling at him, and he forced a smile back.
"Hey kid."
He turned around to see Patrick Harlock's smiling face. The man extended his hand and Hwoarang smiled back as he crushed the man's bones while shaking his hand.
"Don't call me kid." The redhead said, then added. "You are the ones I'm gonna work with?"
Mirsh nodded.
"As her best friend and her, uh, protegee, I think you and I have been chosen to do it. And Harlock here knows her very well too, don't you?"
"Let's get our asses outta here." Harlock motioned for some cops that were walking on the group's general direction.
The other two agreed and few minutes later they were inside a small jet, that'd take them to the Consortium's HQ.
--*--
Hwoarang hated that. He hated it so-so much to go back on that disgusting agency again. But he had to find Stella... He looked over to Mirsh again. The droid was absently looking outside the window as the jet started to go down. Hwoarang sighed as he, Harlock and Mirsh walked through the corridors and he received weird looks from the other agents. Those thoughts vanished when Mirsh touched his arm, and he looked forward to see a door opening. Behind it there was a fat man more or less the same age as Sup Mattews. He was smoking a cigarette and smiling at them.
"Come in."
The redhead sat on a chair and so did the other two agents. The Sup cleaned his throat and started.
"Well, you've been the ones chosen to search for the deserter... I believe Stella Kirshten is her name. I've been given explicit orders to tell you not to hurt the girl."
Harlock nodded at that, and the man proceeded.
"You, rookie, would you get the folder that's on the table?"
Hwoarang did as he was asked, and returned with a yellow folder on his hands, which he handed to Cesar.
"Ok. Here is the initial info we have. You have two weeks. Dismissed."
Mirsh caught the folder and they went down on the HQ to her dorm. When agents were not on missions they stayed at the HQ, which was a huge building containing from dorms and cafeterias to gun power enough to put many armies to shame. And, of course, high technology. Mirsh entered her fingerprints on a small panel near the iron door and it opened to reveal a small suite with a bed and a desk. Hwoarang sat on the desk's chair, and Mirsh and Harlock sat on the bed.
"Where do we start?" Harlock's voice could be heard.
The droid just opened the folder and started to examine its contents.
"Here is a newspaper page that talks about a jewel that's been robbed two days ago."
"Hum. No deaths, the person caught one of the guard's security card and used it. Got in and out without anyone noticing. Whose job does this looks like to you?"
Patrick smiled.
"She's done it. But why?"
Hwoarang was curious.
"She needed money. But she can't work, at least not around in Japan... she would never get decently paid."
"So, she took the cash from the jewel and ran to some other country." Harlock finished Mirsh's thought then added.
"Now, where would she go?"
Both the older agents turned to Hwoarang.
"Some place where she has any trustworthy contacts?" The kid shot.
"Or you may call that home. She's from..."
"Montreal, moved to New Orleans when she was four." Mirsh answered Harlock's question, then turned to Hwoarang. "Go pack, kid. And I hope you've learned some French while with her."
--*--
He let out a puff of smoke from his cigarette. Getting physical with her was something he had wanted for a long time... But everyone had driven the efforts back when she had shot Spikey. The fat middle aged man let out a small laugh. The ever so though Spikey...
He was always an asshole, posing like he was actually good.
Even as Cesar thought that he knew that it was a lie. Spikey *was* good, but she had got to him. And him, Cesar, admired her for that much. But he also hated her for that, because she could be a real bitch. She knew that she was one of the best, and she had her superior wrapped around her finger.
Old drooling Mattews was never able to handle that chick.
And now she had ran away, and took a boy with her. He didn't care about the rookie, but he did want her back in. So that he could torture and viciously kill her himself.
The fact that the phone never rang awoke the council member from his daydreaming, and he smiled. He knew that it would happen, and that had been why he had tapped Mattews' line. Something interesting was going to happen... Cesar smiled. He'd have to wait until nine in the next morning. Then something else occurred to him, and he dialed a now familiar number.
--*--
Mirsh heard her partner's cell-phone ringing and extended a hand to answer it as he was far asleep. They were inside a volvo in stakeout, but had moved to the backseat of the car after the first three ours of waiting and nothing happening.
The droid smiled to herself. It was just so much fun around Harlock. He had been cold at first, and now he continued to do it, but in his coldness there was now a bit of humor. And of course they slept together. She smiled maliciously and then put those thoughts aside while the caught the phone.
"Mirsh." She answered curtly.
"Isn't that Harlock's number?"
She heard superior Cesar's voice and sighed. God knew how she hated that man. He was just so stupidly formal, and had no brains at all. Some internal Consortium gossip said that he had been Mattews' companion at the academy, and that they were rivals.
"Yes, but he's out getting some food."
She lied as she prayed that the sound of Harlock snoring loudly besides her wouldn't be loud enough for the other man to hear.
"I've got something interesting for him. Make him call me when he gets back."
And without waiting for the reply the man hung up. Mirsh moved into a seating position, and silently wondered what could be possibly interesting for Harlock. For all she knew, the man was the most trigger-happy bubble-head she had ever known, though he was very funny. The only things she had seen him enjoy doing were torturing people, which was not a good hobby, and having sex. Well, he was good at that, she thought. So she touched his shoulder lightly, tenderly shaking him.
"Harlock... Harlock... wake up sleeping beauty. The boss wants to speak to you."
"Huh?" He groaned and rubbed his eyes.
"For Christ sake, wake up or you're a dead man!"
She slapped his chest, and he then opened his eyes wide.
"What the fuck?" He asked in a yawn.
She sighed. Some day she'd have to work on his language.
"Call Sup. Kadget, he said that he has something that might be interesting to you."
As she said that she passed the phone to her partner. He dialed the number.
"Kadget." Came the reply.
"Harlock here. Mirsh told me to call you sir."
Patrick said as he stretched a hand out, finally waking up.
"Remember that Kirshten bitch?"
The eyes of the lower agent widened.
"Yeah, the deserter. What about..."
"Her partner called up here this morning. She ran from him and he wants to join back here and help us find her."
"Stupid kid, never knew how to control her. Surprised she didn't kill him."
Patrick said, as his mind raced. He had always known that the red haired boy wouldn't be able to handle her. She was too good for him, and Harlock knew it. He also knew that she had spit in his face, and wanted a chance to get her back for that one.
"Me too. But listen, what would you say if I managed to put you in after her?"
"That'd be just great, sir." He looked to the side to see if Mirsh was listening, and noticing that she was already on the front seat he added. "Except that her best friend is my partner."
"That is ok, it will make things easier for us to find her. She'll return to her best friend and to her partner, but you listen to me, when you guys find her I'll have a specific chore for you."
"That's great sir. When do I get started?"
"Wait until tomorrow morning, and then I'll give you a ring." And with that the superior hung up.
Harlock smiled. He yes he'd have a specific chore, but that'd have to wait... when he caught her he'd...
"What was all about, Harlock?" Came Mirsh's voice from the passenger seat.
"Nothing. A chance to get a cool mission for once." He lied, and she could see right through it.
Mirsh smiled. She had heard a bit of the conversation, and she knew that it had something to do with Stella. Of course, she thought, that had been the third thing ever to interest Harlock. And she happened to be her best fried also. She wondered how was the blond haired deserter doing...
--*--
Stella knocked on the door, looking cool even when one gorilla-like man came answer it and gave her a look that told her she was fresh meat. She didn't really care.
"You got it?" The man asked, and she just nodded.
As she stepped in and he closed the door he patted her butt. In one quick movement of hers he had a cut on his hand, and she was holding her knife close to his neck.
"Don' mess wit' me. Where's him?"
"I'm here honey. Let the guy go, don't go all trigger-happy on him."
She lowered her weapon as she turned around to face her partner. The man was on his late forties, and was the owner of one of the most important smuggling gangs in Japan. And he had hired her services as a thief. Stella got the jewel from the bag she was holding and showed it to him.
"Excellent, my dear. It's hard to believe that I'd never heard from you before."
He said, obviously happy.
"I'm not from here. Jus' needed somethin' t'do while in Japan."
"I can't believe an exquisite girl like you has nothing to do in here." The man smiled.
"I'm late. I jus' wan' t'grab the cash, you have any other services?" She sounded though, and he smiled.
"I do. And if you allow me, you're so dangerous as you are beautiful. That's a good combination, believe me." He said as he handled her the bag with the money.
She gave it q quick glance in order to see if it was all there and then looked at him.
"We'll talk tomorrow." She said as she turned around and left.
While fastening her seat belt the blond haired girl sighed. She didn't like to steal... but she surely had the abilities to do it. Her years as an assassin had made her practically an expert on alarm systems, plus she was agile.
She rubbed her belly. She had gone to a doctor and he had told her that she was only one month and a half pregnant. She wondered if the baby's hair would be red... and wiped a tear as she remembered its father.
Do not think about him. He'll be fine... you'll be fine. She thought over and over to herself.
--*--
At nine am on the following day Hwoarang was near the pay phone, preparing himself to dial Superior Mattew's number. The red haired boy had already formed a plan. After going in, he'd ask for Mirsh's help. She'd know where to look for Stella... The youth sighed as he heard the sound that indicated that Mattews had picked up the phone.
"Sir?" He asked.
"Hwoarang. I was expecting your call."
"Have you talked to someone? When do I get in?" The boy asked, feeling a bit nervous.
"You little bastard, you are... are getting in today."
--*--
Mattews reformulated his phrase as he felt Cesar's cold gun on his head. And besides Cesar there was a Top Agent in there. Top Agents were Superior's bosses.
"Tell the rookie to go to the airport. There we'll send someone to pick him up." The Top Agent said in a low voice.
"Go to the airport at 6 p.m. We'll have someone there to pick you up."
"Now you hang the phone."
Mattews did as he was told and then turned around to face the other two agents.
"Trying to cover some deserter's tale, Mattews?"
Cesar's voice was filled with satisfaction. John felt disgusted.
"The girl *is* coming back. And there's nothing you can do to protect her. We'll have someone special after her..." Cesar continued, and then the Top Agent, whose surname was Michels, added.
"We'll have the rookie, Mirsh and Harlock working on her. Both the boy and the droid will serve as bait to her. She'll return to them, as Cesar here thought. Very good, Superior Kadget." Michels said, causing the other man to smile.
"And you know what? She'll die when she comes in, as an example for anyone that ever dares to think about running away. We are in need of examples around here." Cesar said, his wolf-like smile growing even larger. "Right, Mr. Michels? We could use an example for traitors..." The other man just nodded and Cesar pulled the trigger, ending Mattews' life.
--*--
"You mean, Cesar has done this for us? I can't believe it!"
Mirsh was astonished. It just didn't seem right that the Consortium had put her, Stella's best fried, to track the fugitive down and bring her back. It didn't make any sense at all.
"Yup babe. The big guy said that you're the one who knows her better around, you and the rookie. And as I'm your partner..." He put his arm over her shoulder as he looked to the terminal.
They were expecting Hwoarang to show up, for they had been the ones chosen to pick him up at the airport and start looking for Stella already.
"I think he'll help."
Mirsh said absently while scanning the crowd in hopes to spot the kid's red hair.
"Maybe. But I hate the idea of being with that boy. He's so damn stuck up, like what he thinks actually meant some shit."
Harlock said, pulling the droid up. He had found Hwoarang.
The redheaded youth was lying against a pillar, looking around for some known agent. That was when he saw Harlock heading towards him.
God, please no. He thought, disgusted, as he saw the other man dragging Mirsh. Not him... His thoughts vanished when both agents stopped in front of him.
"Hi there Hwoarang." Mirsh was smiling at him, and he forced a smile back.
"Hey kid."
He turned around to see Patrick Harlock's smiling face. The man extended his hand and Hwoarang smiled back as he crushed the man's bones while shaking his hand.
"Don't call me kid." The redhead said, then added. "You are the ones I'm gonna work with?"
Mirsh nodded.
"As her best friend and her, uh, protegee, I think you and I have been chosen to do it. And Harlock here knows her very well too, don't you?"
"Let's get our asses outta here." Harlock motioned for some cops that were walking on the group's general direction.
The other two agreed and few minutes later they were inside a small jet, that'd take them to the Consortium's HQ.
--*--
Hwoarang hated that. He hated it so-so much to go back on that disgusting agency again. But he had to find Stella... He looked over to Mirsh again. The droid was absently looking outside the window as the jet started to go down. Hwoarang sighed as he, Harlock and Mirsh walked through the corridors and he received weird looks from the other agents. Those thoughts vanished when Mirsh touched his arm, and he looked forward to see a door opening. Behind it there was a fat man more or less the same age as Sup Mattews. He was smoking a cigarette and smiling at them.
"Come in."
The redhead sat on a chair and so did the other two agents. The Sup cleaned his throat and started.
"Well, you've been the ones chosen to search for the deserter... I believe Stella Kirshten is her name. I've been given explicit orders to tell you not to hurt the girl."
Harlock nodded at that, and the man proceeded.
"You, rookie, would you get the folder that's on the table?"
Hwoarang did as he was asked, and returned with a yellow folder on his hands, which he handed to Cesar.
"Ok. Here is the initial info we have. You have two weeks. Dismissed."
Mirsh caught the folder and they went down on the HQ to her dorm. When agents were not on missions they stayed at the HQ, which was a huge building containing from dorms and cafeterias to gun power enough to put many armies to shame. And, of course, high technology. Mirsh entered her fingerprints on a small panel near the iron door and it opened to reveal a small suite with a bed and a desk. Hwoarang sat on the desk's chair, and Mirsh and Harlock sat on the bed.
"Where do we start?" Harlock's voice could be heard.
The droid just opened the folder and started to examine its contents.
"Here is a newspaper page that talks about a jewel that's been robbed two days ago."
"Hum. No deaths, the person caught one of the guard's security card and used it. Got in and out without anyone noticing. Whose job does this looks like to you?"
Patrick smiled.
"She's done it. But why?"
Hwoarang was curious.
"She needed money. But she can't work, at least not around in Japan... she would never get decently paid."
"So, she took the cash from the jewel and ran to some other country." Harlock finished Mirsh's thought then added.
"Now, where would she go?"
Both the older agents turned to Hwoarang.
"Some place where she has any trustworthy contacts?" The kid shot.
"Or you may call that home. She's from..."
"Montreal, moved to New Orleans when she was four." Mirsh answered Harlock's question, then turned to Hwoarang. "Go pack, kid. And I hope you've learned some French while with her."
--*--