Operation Invisible Justice
part three
by mardel

Rated PG


Darien nodded, he was ready. If it meant helping to kill one of the
leaders of the terrorist organization then he would. These monsters
had attacked his home, his country he was ready.

Alex escorted him to the airfield where they were loading up.
"You be careful Fawkes, I wish I could be there to watch your back."

"Thanks Alex, I won't be alone. I just wish it was Bobby that was
going to be my partner on this one."

"He would be my first choice." she half smiled.

"I told you he'd grown on you. I'll see you in a few weeks."
Darien nodded and turned to climb on board the C-140. He hoped
he could sleep during the flight.

::::::::::::::::::

Abdul aka Bobby was still feeding information about the Taliban
group he was with and any others they encountered.
He knew another bombing raid was targeting the tank corp he was
serving with. It was time for him to set the tiny location device
and pull out. Slipping away in the night would be tricky. There
were guards posted.

Bobby waited until mid-night to make his move if he was caught
he would be killed. He slipped out of the tunnel that lead towards
the north. It was the one most of the men used when they
were going to relieve themselves. He was carrying his battered but
still usable AK-47, not unusual as most of the men rarely if ever
put down their weapons. He'd placed the signal device just above
the opening to the tank storage area. It would take a direct hit
to collapse the shelf of rock that protected the tanks.

Bobby walked into the brush, nodding to the man on watch.
It wouldn't be until he realized Abdul had not returned that he
would sound an alarm. But there was always the chance that
he would forget or become distracted.

Bobby moved quickly and as quietly as he could in the semi darkness.
It was almost a full moon, so he could see enough not to trip over
rocks and roots. But if they did come after him it would make
finding him easier. He kept moving, stopping to rest after he'd
put at least three clicks between him and the camp. He needed to
make the nearest town by day break and hitch a ride with a supply
truck or donkey cart headed west towards Pakistan. His most recent
message had told him to report in person to Franklin at the arranged
location.

Bobby jog trotted once he was away from the camp enough not to
be heard. The moon light guided him on a path used for ages by
both man and pack animal. He was glad he was being pulled in,
it was about to be winter soon. He could see his breath in
puffs, as he exhaled in the cool mountain air.

It was just before dawn when he came upon a old man and a donkey
cart headed towards the border. He struck up a conversation with
the old man, walking along his cart at first then after a few minutes
being invited to join him on the cart. The old man said he didn't
like the Taliban. They didn't feed his family, or help him in any way.
The Alliance was offering food and blankets to people that moved
into their areas. He was going to the border to see if this rumor was
true.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::;

Darien was glad when the slow moving plane finally arrived in Pakistan.
He had been two days and he was weary of the dull hum in his ears.
He squinted then put on his sunglasses as the huge back door of the
plane was lowered to the tarmac runway. He grabbed his gear, trying
to remember he was supposed to be a journalist. He was looking over
the layout of the airport. The control tower was the only building
over three stories that he could see.

"Dan Greyson you're with the Daily News right?" A man with a very
British accent tapped Darien on the shoulder.

"Yeah, that's me." Darien turned to look into two very bright blue eyes.

"I'm Marshall with the British embassy. If you'll come with me I'll
take you to the room that has been arranged for your stay."

Darien followed the tall Brit. They loaded his stuff into a beat up vintage
Land Rover and drove into the city.

"You'll be contacted soon by the leader of your team. If things should
go badly and you make it back here I can get you out safe."

"Thanks. I'll keep that in mind." Darien nodded, he was beginning to
wish someone he knew was along for this mission. He was realizing
now how much he relied on Bobby and Alex when things got scary.

::::::::::::::::::::

Bobby was dozing on the slow ride to the border. He was dreaming,
his mind drifting back to the last contact he'd had with Claire.
He'd promised her he'd call her before he was shipped out.
He'd almost skipped making the call. He'd already told Darien he
was going soon and it had been tough, telling him goodbye.

He'd paced in his room for five minutes planning on things to
say, keeping it casual. Not making it a big deal that he might
never see her again.

"Hello?" Claire picked up her phone at home. She didn't get many
calls at home, especially this late at night.

"Claire. Hi, sorry to call so late but I did promise." Bobby started
his voice sounded forced, like he was trying to hard to be up beat.

"Bobby it's nice to hear from you. Don't worry about the time.
How have you been?" She sounded happy, pleased he'd called.

"Fine, good. How are you? Is the Official keeping you busy?"

"Yes, I've still got my research and there is a new project getting
started that is quite interesting."

"That's good." Bobby hesitated trying to think what he should
say next.

"Bobby this is your last call for awhile isn't it? Your going over
there very soon?" Claire's voice dropped, to a whisper.

"Yeah, I promised to call you before, .... before, you know
I went under. I ah, wanted to hear your voice, ...I mean say
goodbye."

Claire could hear the emotion in his voice. He'd tried to keep it
casual, a phone call from a friend. But she knew it was more.
" You'll be back soon, this isn't a goodbye call. I know I'll see
you when this is all over. I miss seeing your smiling face, hearing
you tease Darien."

"Yeah Alex has been working with him since they've been here.
But I think he misses his partner." Bobby paused, " Claire you know
I care about you. When I get back I want to ah... talk to you.
You know in person."

"I care about you too Bobby. I wish I could hug you right now."
What she needed was to be hugged, to feel his strong arms
around her, to press her face into the crock of his neck and shoulder.

Bobby was thrilled to hear this from her, he would tell her his feelings
once he was back. He would be back, now he did have a reason to
fight that much harder for his country. "I do to. I will be back Claire.
You take care now."

"I will, you stay safe and come back to me."

Bobby was jolted out of his dream by a big rut in the road. But he
was smiling when he opened his eyes to see where they were.

::::::::::::::::::::::

Darien was waiting inpaticently for his contact to make contact.
He was nervous he hated waiting. He wished he wasn't so defenceles
but they hadn't wanted to risk letting him have a weapon that
could be found on him. Finally there was a knock at the door.

"Hey it's about time." Darien opened his door.

"Sorry mate but had to take the long way round to get here. So are
you ready? I'm to escort you to Maruf a border town up a ways from
here."
"Yeah sure, are you part of the team?"

"I'm your guide. Jake O'brien at your service." The young Aussie
nodded to Darien. "You'll meet the rest of the group soon. Come
on then bring your pack but not the rest."

Darien grabbed his backpack and followed Jake down the back stairs
of the hotel. They climbed into a jeep and headed out of the city.

"Are you really an Aussie?"

"Of course don't I sound like one." Jake laughed.
"How long have you been in country?"

"Off and on for ten months. I was with the group that recon'd the area
when an attempt was made in '93 to get Bin-Laden. We missed by only
forty mintues. He moves his base more often than a baby dirtys it's
nappy."

"Then you are with Special Forces?"

"Yeah, I'm from Brooklyn." Jake dropped the accent for a second.
"But the locals don't hate the Aussie's half as much as the Americans
so it's easier this way." He switched back to the accent.

Darien shook his head. It was like working with a young blond verison
of Bobby. He didn't know what to expect, but the attitude was there.

Once the jeep reached the city limits Jake floored it, and Darien
held on for dear life. It was like speeding down the street back
home with Bobby in the van.
"I know a guy that drives just like this. He's from New York too."

"Yeah, which part maybe I know him?"

"Long Island I think he was a Marine when the barricks in Beirut
was bombed."

"Man that was a bad scene. It was before my time but I've
talked to guys that where there. Is he still in?"

"He's still serving his country just not as a Marine." Darien half
grinned thinking he'd really like to see Bobby when they arrived
in Maruf.

Jake joined up with a group of trucks headed in the same direction.
They slowed to a more reasonable speed for a period of time then
he turned off on a side road that was little more than a foot path
in the dirt.

When the finally arrived at their destenation Darien was relieved to
see one person he knew. Agent Franklin was standing near the door
of the ramshackel building.

"Fawkes, good to see you."

"Yeah, you weren't kidding when you said it was rough." Darien unfolded
himself from the jeep.

"Come in an meet the rest of the team."

Darien had to duck to get through the doorway. Once his eyes adjusted to
the dim light in the room, Darien saw four men gathered around a small
table looking over a large map. They all looked like locals to him but
he was willing to bet at least two of them were Special Forces like Jake.

"Fawkes the mission leader Sgt. Watson, weapons specialist Evans.
Language specialist Mustafa and the man you will be taking in with
you, using your special talents, specialist Davi."

Darien nodded to each man in turn. They looked like a group of guys
he would be glad to have backing him up. Davi looked big, mean and
scary.

Sgt Watson offered to shake hands with Darien. "Welcome to Maruf
Mr. Fawkes, let me show you the lay out of the area."

Darien listened to the Sgt. explain the plan. But he wasn't able to
interupt the map very well.

"Jake is our driver, he knows every back road in the area and can
get us to a safe area once we capture the target."

"I believe it, he's one hell of a driver." Darien commented.

"We move into position tomorrow. Get some sleep if you can."
Sgt Watson ended the briefing.

Darien exhaled, he needed to try and sleep.

"Come sit down and relax mate. We fumagated this place before
we moved the stuff in. It's safe, at least from crawlies."
Jake waved Darien over to where he was sitting on a low wood
bunk, with a tarp and a blanket draped over it.

"Thanks," Darien accepted a bottle of water from him and sat on the
edge of the bunk.

"So how are you going to be able to get me inside?" Specialist Davi
asked Darien as he came to join them.

"What's you clearance?" Darien was just joking with him.

"I'm cleared for Top Secret." he answered almost throwing in a sir,
at the end but caught himself.

"No man relax, let me check on something first." Darien stepped over
to where Franklin and Watson were talking.

"Is it OK for me to show them? Did the counteragent make the trip?"

"Yes, it's here safe I've given the vial to Sgt. Watson and there will
be a back up one with Jake on the truck if it's needed. All the men
have been trained to inject medication, so any of them can give you
the shot. It's standard training."

"Great, thanks."

"What's the big secret mate? Do you have super powers or something?"
Jake laughed and slapped Davi on the back.

"You might say that." Darien said and quick silvered himself.

"Wow! Did you see that?" Jake jumped to his feet and reached out
to touch Darien. His hand touched Darien's cold chest, and he pulled
it back.
"He's still there, you just can't see him." Jake said, looking at his
fingers then back at Darien as he shook the quick silver off him.

"You can make me disappear like that?"

"Yeah, for a short period of time. See that's part of the problem with
this, I do have a time limit. So we have to keep to the schedule."
Darien warned them.

"No, problem they drill us so much in doing things by the book,
in record time, it will be a piece of cake." Jake told him.

"I guess you can call me Vic, could you do that to me once so I
know what to expect later?"

"Yeah, I guess."

Vic stood up facing Darien and braced himself for what was about to
happen. Darien touched his chest, "It doesn't hurt it's just kind of
cold. And your vision will be all grey."

Jake watched facinated, as his buddy disappeared.

"That is amazing. What does it feel like Vic?"

"It's cold, it feels weird."

Darien broke contact with him and the quicksilver fell off, after a few
seconds.

"That was wild man." Vic told his new partner.

"Yeah I use to think so. But it's getting to be old hat now."
Darien picked up his bottle of water and drained half of it.

:::::::::::::::::::

"You wanted to talk with me sir?" Claire joined The Official and
Eberts in his office.

"Yes, we have received a message that you are needed in case Darien
is injuried during his mission. Take any medical supplies you think might
be useful. You'll be stationed on a hospital ship."

"It sounds like they are expecting Darien to be wounded?"

"No, it is a high risk mission. They just want to be prepaired to help
him if something happens. I offered your services to keep the
leak of information down as much as possible."

"I see, how much time do I have to pack things up?"

"Thirty minutes, Eberts will take you to Air Force base."

"Thank you. I'll be ready." Claire nodded and rushed back
to her lab to pack counter agent and her medical bag.

end part three