Protector of Men Ch 49

"Lets go then," Shade told her softly. He lingered a moment, but then looked away and moved for the door.

"Where's the meeting?" she asked him.

"Out the door and in the next building," he answered. He opened the door for her and gestured for her to go first. She did so reluctantly.

"So what are they meeting for?" she pondered as they walked to the run-down hotel that the meeting would be located in. They were in a morally deserted part of the city: dark, damp, and dirty. There wouldn't be many people around, and those who happened to be wouldn't be alarmed by their presence.

"I think they're devising a strategy for recruits," he answered frankly. He didn't look at her while he answered, but rather watched their surroundings in case of danger. The hotel was looming in the distance.

"A strategy?"

"Yeah," he sighed, "I don't know much, but I think they're trying to figure out a way to inform recruits without getting them tagged by the new agents."

"Hm," Zandra answered, and was then silent. They entered the old hotel without exchanging further words; Zandra noted the hotel's name, faded with time: "CrossRoads Motel". She wondered if it meant anything, but it was a transient thought. There were many people inside the building, and all eyes were on them. One man stood up and moved forward to greet the two newcomers.

"Zandra, Shade," he acknowledged, shaking each of their hands in turn. "I'm Clarity, captain of the Infantile. My crew is with me, as is Dying Sun's. Their captain is Helaku." A man stood up and waved at the two, then sat down again. Clarity continued.

"We're honored you could visit us," he told them, "My operator mentioned that you are in search of something?" He looked at Zandra for an answer.

"Well," she started, unsure of herself, "We were planning on researching on a Merovingian."

He pondered a moment before going back to his seat. "I don't think any of us have heard of a Merovingian," he responded slowly, apologizing.

"What exactly is it you're wanting?" he asked. Zandra waited a second before choosing her answer, remembering a time so long ago when she had been told not to reveal the truth…

"We heard that a man named Merovingian would have information about an informant we've been looking for," she answered, keeping it as mysterious as possible. Clarity nodded a few times, masking his incomprehension. It was quiet after that.

Shade suddenly spoke up, not wanting the situation to leave them totally silent.

"I hear you're trying to find a new way to recruit?" he asked, moving forward into the circle of people. A few nods were elicited.

"Agents have been tracking everyone that's of interest," Helaku said to them. "We can't even get in contact unless we have a death wish."

"Any ideas?" came Clarity's voice. Everyone looked at Zandra again.

"How many go in at a time?" asked Shade, ignoring their imploring glances.

"Three or four," answered Helaku.

"That's probably your problem there," he answered, "Maybe only one should go in, so it doesn't attract agents as easily." They still looked at Zandra for confirmation.

"Zandra?" Helaku asked. It took her a second to realize what they were asking.

"Oh," she mumbled, looking about the room nervously, "Yeah, I agree with Shade."

They all looked at each other and nodded.

"You think that maybe if we go in alone we can get better results?"

Shade nodded. "I think the agents are tripped by the amount of jack-ins." His comment created a flurry of conversations between the two crews, all of which didn't include Zandra or Shade. They stood silent as the crews went through plans for recruitment.

Zandra began to daydream as they argued amongst themselves.

"Numerous targets?" One asked. Another man nodded quickly and motioned for the group to follow.

"What's the primary?"

"The girl," he answered factually, "It should be obvious when we see her. Highly dangerous terrorist." He suddenly raised his voice so that he could be heard by everyone. "Keep all eyes out, ladies!" he shouted, "Shoot on sight, don't hesitate!"

"Zandra?"

It was Shade, and his face was full of concern.

"Are you okay?" he asked, taking her shoulder in his hand. She nodded slowly, unsure. It was another dream, this time more amorphous than the last. But it sounded more ominous than the others, and it worried her. Zandra was beginning to think that she was either a good candidate for the Psychic Friends, or going insane. Whatever it was, it gave her a bad feeling.

"Yeah," she responded quickly, shaking her head a few times, "Fine. Fine."

Both crews suddenly stopped talking, and Clarity stood up again.

"Certainly Zandra, you know how to get around these agents," he implored, shoulders high in incomprehension, "There must be a way we can evade them."

Zandra was suddenly very uncomfortable. They're asking me for information? Hell, she thought, I don't even know what I'm doing… Everyone looked at her expectantly.

"I just try and run," she offered, ending it like a question. They were still watching her, wanting more… damnit

"The agents," she started, "The agents are fast, but clumsy. I think if we can run, then we can escape."

They all nodded at each other, and went back to talking amongst themselves. Zandra sighed in relief, gave Shade a knowing glance; he was understanding. Zandra zoned out again, hoping that the crews wouldn't look to her again for any more information; she didn't have much to give.

"Are we ready to go in?"

"Ready, sir."

"Ready, sir!"

"Sir, we're ready."

"Then keep your bootstraps on, and don't pansy out on me. These people are trained, and they know what they're doing! Don't maim, aim to kill! Let's go in."

Zandra snapped awake and almost swooned. Shade quickly grabbed her elbows and held her up, while the two crews simply watched in dismay.

"Zandra," Shade whispered as she slowly came back, "What's going on?"

"I think the meeting needs to end," she told him quietly. Only when she looked around did she notice that everyone was watching her again.

"Is there something wrong?" Clarity asked quickly, almost jumping from his seat. He motioned for his crew to get up as well, and they obeyed.

"Is someone coming?" asked Helaku, who quickly followed suit in getting ready to leave. Shade nicely spoke up for Zandra.

"I think the meeting's over," he said politely, as calmly as he could. "Maybe we can get together another time, but for now I'd head out."

They took their cues and left through the roof as quickly as they could, leaving Shade and Zandra alone in the building. They stood next to each other on the top floor after everyone else had left. Zandra was inspecting her ammunition thoroughly – her two P228's were polished clean, and fit nicely into her new harness holster. She was already attached to it.

"What was that?" Shade asked her imploringly.

"A daydream," she told him, "Just a really creepy daydream."

"What was it about?"

They both registered the noise downstairs at the same time. It was the sound of something breaking, something falling, and heavy footsteps approaching the stairs below them. They were three floors up, but it wouldn't be much in a few seconds.

"Agents," Shade whispered under his breath, making for the roof-hole above them. Zandra stopped him.

"No, they're not."

And she began to walk down the stairs, her guns drawn.