REMEMBER ULYSSES
by Lyda Mae (RavenDove) Huff
Chapter Twelve: Pomegranate Seeds
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Just over an hour later; the blue-green Beamer came to a halt in a grove of trees about a kilometer from the Main gate of Pomegranate Seeds base. Ande had placed a sort of black hair net over her tightly secured blond tresses. She had also helped Jeanette braid her hair in the back seat; securing it as best she could inside the vest that Jeanette wore. The three of the got out of the car as quickly as possible; taking packs and guns as they scurried away. Bond paused only long enough to arm the remote destruct system.
Once the three of them were under cover of the trees; Bond put Ande's plan into action. Rolling up the blast shields, and typing in the destruct code; he used the remote too tare off along the narrow road. The car sped off covering the last Kilometer at top speed.
-----
A kilometer ahead the guards at the gate heard the engine of the Beamer raring toward them. They looked down the road, and though they saw it they did not know it was their death coming. They took aim with uzis, and various other guns. Focusing on the headlights of the oncoming car; with the lights of the complex behind them giving the silhouette form.
Some on the ground, and others in turrets. They let fly with a hail of lead. The car sped forward undaunted. The bullets making only dents.
The Beamer crashed into the gate, and instantly exploded in an all consuming ball of flame. The half-dozen men that had stood so eager to defend; now only charred shells. Writhing in their last painful breaths of life.
------
The trio crouched in the woods could hear the explosion quite vividly. After hearing the Earth rattling sound; Bond closed the pocket computer. He motioned his companions onward; through the little used trail. With any luck; it would be assumed they were in the car. Thus little precaution would be taken in guarding the entrances that remained.
Ande was glad that Jeanette took the offered Walther TPH when she had changed in Louviers. Ande could not bare the thought of having both of these sisters who had already suffered much from Pantheon; dead at the hands of the same. What ever powers that be; permitted much cruelty. She was never sure why; though she had seen much. The best she had come to understanding was a quote she once heard. She never did learn who hand said it first, but the quote had become in a way her motto. 'The wicked must be aloud to do their wickedness; as the pious must be aloud to do good. For it is not by our hearts alone we are Judge but how we act upon our heart's inclinations.' She was not sure where she fit in the equation; though it would seem that too protect the innocent from wickedness is a good think. She had learned long ago that things are not always black and white. This night was a shade of gray.
They walked softly as possible through the trees. Jeanette lead the way, slowly and cautious as a hunter stalking prey. They came to a clearing that began five meters from the fence. Through the lights, equipment, and buildings they could see the blaze of what had until shortly before been their car. There were people scrambling with rather limited fire-fighting equipment; trying in vain to smother the flames.
Bond pulled a key ring from his pocket; full of what were basically all lock-picks. Making his way easily through the clearing since the guard were busy elsewhere; he found the pick that fit the simple pad-lock. Careful not to make sound as he opened the little used gate; he motioned for the two figures in the trees to fallow him.
Twenty-five meters from the fence stood several stacks of wooden crates, and two equipment sheds. Dashing quickly behind a stack of crates; they then crouched to if the guards were still busy with their little distraction. Sure enough they were still hopelessly beating at the fire pitifully attacking the blaze with fire-extinguishers.
Bond surveyed the scene for the best possible advantage. He could now see a large gas powered generator just off the Main building. He turned to Jeanette, and whispered. "Is the whole complex powered by the one generator?"
She thought a moment; then whispered back. "It is, but the computers have a battery back-up so they can run if the generator goes off-line."
Ande overhearing this chuckled. "Are you thinking what I think you're thinking?"
Bond smiled at her, and whispered. "It's harder to shoot at what you can't see." He looked back at his target. "You two stay here. I'll take care of the generator, and you run for that back entrance when the lights go out. I'll meet you there." After pointing out an open garage type door; he made sure the coast was clear. He dashed off across the concrete to the generator; cautious to duck behind things, and be certain he wasn't seen.
Through the shadows 007 crept unseen to the generator. Once there he pulled out a small utility knife. Finding the Main junction; he cut the lead-wires. Then as the lights began too die; he cut the fuel line from the gas-tank. Doing what he could to wrench things out of place before he was caught; he smashed a bunch of parts he couldn't name in one kick. Then before anyone stopped fighting the fire; he made his way to the back entrance.
Ande and Jeanette waited for the power to die. As soon as the lights faded; they ran for the door. The three arrived simultaneously at the open door. From what they could see in the dim light of the fire on the other side of the building; this was some form of loading-bay.
Jeanette motioned the agents to fallow her along a side wall of the room. They dodged around stacks of boxes, and equipment. Not wanting to draw the attention of anyone who might lurk in the darkness of the room. As they neared a door; there came a faint clattering noise. As if someone had dropped a wrench on the cement floor. They froze; listening.
-----
Ulysses stood in the control-room; his cruel features illuminated by only the screens of computers. He turned to Kali-Shiva; who stood with a sour look on her face. "Somehow I get the feeling that your escaped quarry was not in the car."
She eyed him with anger like needles. "What pray tell gave you that idea?" she spat with venomous sarcasm. "I told you they were tricky. Two of them are spies after all. You should have listened to Anancie, and killed Bond when you had the chance." She stared at Ulysses with a defiance that few dared.
"You had best shut up Oh bringer of destruction, or it will be your own that you bring." He began to walk away; making sure the launch calculations had not been effected by the temporary loss of power.
-----
Anancie came from the shadows; holding up a Browning 9mm automatic. "This time I not leave the chance." He fired grazing Bond's left shoulder; just a scratch.
They had all drawn on him when they first his figure clearly. Ande had a knife at ready; while Bond had the henchman's attention. Once she had her aim; she let fly. Before the knife could hit Anancie had fired his gun, and shifted. The knife embedded itself in the man's left pectoral; between rib-cage and the shoulder. Not what Ande had in mind; she had been aiming for his heart.
Bond let a short burst of fire from his machine-gun into the prone Pantheon member. Anancie dropped his gun slumping to the floor. Neither Bond or his companions waited around to see who was drawn by the racket of the exchange.
Going threw the maze of a complex; Jeanette telling Bond where to turn. He had point, and Ande guarded the rear. They came upon a series of doors, and Jeanette directed them inside one. Once inside she went strait to a specific computer in a room that was packed with all sorts of equipment.
She sat down in the rooms only chair, and got to work. "This is the secondary control room; I used this computer to make the data tape, and to burn the ciphers onto the disk."
Ande didn't see the point in waiting around hear. "So what are we doing hear now?" she questioned.
"Putting another cog in the wheel. If I can access the active memory file; I may be able to shut down the computers in the entire network." She paused a moment, "This would be easier if I had a negotiator to hack in, I had a laptop last time." She busied herself at the keyboard.
Bond pulled the pocket computer from his vest. "I may be able to help you." He held it up for her to see.
"The remote for the car?" she was puzzled.
He smiled, "Not just a remote; a pocket computer." He began setting up the com-port interface. "It is an intelligence gathering device."
She took it as he handed it to her. She saw the small screen fill with an auto-hack program. Thanks to the encryptions, and ciphers being in active memory; the little computer pulled up what she was looking for in seconds. "Nice!" she muttered as she set to work on her plan.
Ande guarding the door; nervously looked at her companions. "Can you please hurry? I want to get this over with."
Jeanette spoke her hands dancing across both the keyboard, and the pocket computer. "Just give me a few more minutes."
"Okay, but they better be a quick few minutes." Ande poked her head out the door looking cautiously. Several minutes passed, and heart beat louder in her ears.
Jeanette finely stood up from the computer. "I believe we had better leave quickly." She ushered Bond to the door.
He looked at her wondering, "What about the pocket computer?" He questioned knowing Q would already rail him about the car.
She looked him in the eyes through the dim light of computer monitors. "Trust me you don't want it back." She smiled mischievously. "It's busy corrupting the Main frame with a self-propitiating virus."
Bond, and Ande looked at her impressed. Ande spoke as they re- entered the hallway. "I thought it took a long time to design a virus."
Jeanette looked at her seriously. "It does. I was designing that virus while I was Hobear's prisoner. That was how I kept my head; I thought of revenge."
Ande could see that, and smiled. This woman was tougher than she seemed. It was good too; she needed to be. Ande had a similar inner strength; she had to be tough. Ande was very much her father's daughter. Sean Lamont would have proffered she hadn't been, but we don't always get what we want. She missed him at times like this, but now was not a time to think of the dead.
-----
Chapter Twelve: Pomegranate Seeds
-----
Just over an hour later; the blue-green Beamer came to a halt in a grove of trees about a kilometer from the Main gate of Pomegranate Seeds base. Ande had placed a sort of black hair net over her tightly secured blond tresses. She had also helped Jeanette braid her hair in the back seat; securing it as best she could inside the vest that Jeanette wore. The three of the got out of the car as quickly as possible; taking packs and guns as they scurried away. Bond paused only long enough to arm the remote destruct system.
Once the three of them were under cover of the trees; Bond put Ande's plan into action. Rolling up the blast shields, and typing in the destruct code; he used the remote too tare off along the narrow road. The car sped off covering the last Kilometer at top speed.
-----
A kilometer ahead the guards at the gate heard the engine of the Beamer raring toward them. They looked down the road, and though they saw it they did not know it was their death coming. They took aim with uzis, and various other guns. Focusing on the headlights of the oncoming car; with the lights of the complex behind them giving the silhouette form.
Some on the ground, and others in turrets. They let fly with a hail of lead. The car sped forward undaunted. The bullets making only dents.
The Beamer crashed into the gate, and instantly exploded in an all consuming ball of flame. The half-dozen men that had stood so eager to defend; now only charred shells. Writhing in their last painful breaths of life.
------
The trio crouched in the woods could hear the explosion quite vividly. After hearing the Earth rattling sound; Bond closed the pocket computer. He motioned his companions onward; through the little used trail. With any luck; it would be assumed they were in the car. Thus little precaution would be taken in guarding the entrances that remained.
Ande was glad that Jeanette took the offered Walther TPH when she had changed in Louviers. Ande could not bare the thought of having both of these sisters who had already suffered much from Pantheon; dead at the hands of the same. What ever powers that be; permitted much cruelty. She was never sure why; though she had seen much. The best she had come to understanding was a quote she once heard. She never did learn who hand said it first, but the quote had become in a way her motto. 'The wicked must be aloud to do their wickedness; as the pious must be aloud to do good. For it is not by our hearts alone we are Judge but how we act upon our heart's inclinations.' She was not sure where she fit in the equation; though it would seem that too protect the innocent from wickedness is a good think. She had learned long ago that things are not always black and white. This night was a shade of gray.
They walked softly as possible through the trees. Jeanette lead the way, slowly and cautious as a hunter stalking prey. They came to a clearing that began five meters from the fence. Through the lights, equipment, and buildings they could see the blaze of what had until shortly before been their car. There were people scrambling with rather limited fire-fighting equipment; trying in vain to smother the flames.
Bond pulled a key ring from his pocket; full of what were basically all lock-picks. Making his way easily through the clearing since the guard were busy elsewhere; he found the pick that fit the simple pad-lock. Careful not to make sound as he opened the little used gate; he motioned for the two figures in the trees to fallow him.
Twenty-five meters from the fence stood several stacks of wooden crates, and two equipment sheds. Dashing quickly behind a stack of crates; they then crouched to if the guards were still busy with their little distraction. Sure enough they were still hopelessly beating at the fire pitifully attacking the blaze with fire-extinguishers.
Bond surveyed the scene for the best possible advantage. He could now see a large gas powered generator just off the Main building. He turned to Jeanette, and whispered. "Is the whole complex powered by the one generator?"
She thought a moment; then whispered back. "It is, but the computers have a battery back-up so they can run if the generator goes off-line."
Ande overhearing this chuckled. "Are you thinking what I think you're thinking?"
Bond smiled at her, and whispered. "It's harder to shoot at what you can't see." He looked back at his target. "You two stay here. I'll take care of the generator, and you run for that back entrance when the lights go out. I'll meet you there." After pointing out an open garage type door; he made sure the coast was clear. He dashed off across the concrete to the generator; cautious to duck behind things, and be certain he wasn't seen.
Through the shadows 007 crept unseen to the generator. Once there he pulled out a small utility knife. Finding the Main junction; he cut the lead-wires. Then as the lights began too die; he cut the fuel line from the gas-tank. Doing what he could to wrench things out of place before he was caught; he smashed a bunch of parts he couldn't name in one kick. Then before anyone stopped fighting the fire; he made his way to the back entrance.
Ande and Jeanette waited for the power to die. As soon as the lights faded; they ran for the door. The three arrived simultaneously at the open door. From what they could see in the dim light of the fire on the other side of the building; this was some form of loading-bay.
Jeanette motioned the agents to fallow her along a side wall of the room. They dodged around stacks of boxes, and equipment. Not wanting to draw the attention of anyone who might lurk in the darkness of the room. As they neared a door; there came a faint clattering noise. As if someone had dropped a wrench on the cement floor. They froze; listening.
-----
Ulysses stood in the control-room; his cruel features illuminated by only the screens of computers. He turned to Kali-Shiva; who stood with a sour look on her face. "Somehow I get the feeling that your escaped quarry was not in the car."
She eyed him with anger like needles. "What pray tell gave you that idea?" she spat with venomous sarcasm. "I told you they were tricky. Two of them are spies after all. You should have listened to Anancie, and killed Bond when you had the chance." She stared at Ulysses with a defiance that few dared.
"You had best shut up Oh bringer of destruction, or it will be your own that you bring." He began to walk away; making sure the launch calculations had not been effected by the temporary loss of power.
-----
Anancie came from the shadows; holding up a Browning 9mm automatic. "This time I not leave the chance." He fired grazing Bond's left shoulder; just a scratch.
They had all drawn on him when they first his figure clearly. Ande had a knife at ready; while Bond had the henchman's attention. Once she had her aim; she let fly. Before the knife could hit Anancie had fired his gun, and shifted. The knife embedded itself in the man's left pectoral; between rib-cage and the shoulder. Not what Ande had in mind; she had been aiming for his heart.
Bond let a short burst of fire from his machine-gun into the prone Pantheon member. Anancie dropped his gun slumping to the floor. Neither Bond or his companions waited around to see who was drawn by the racket of the exchange.
Going threw the maze of a complex; Jeanette telling Bond where to turn. He had point, and Ande guarded the rear. They came upon a series of doors, and Jeanette directed them inside one. Once inside she went strait to a specific computer in a room that was packed with all sorts of equipment.
She sat down in the rooms only chair, and got to work. "This is the secondary control room; I used this computer to make the data tape, and to burn the ciphers onto the disk."
Ande didn't see the point in waiting around hear. "So what are we doing hear now?" she questioned.
"Putting another cog in the wheel. If I can access the active memory file; I may be able to shut down the computers in the entire network." She paused a moment, "This would be easier if I had a negotiator to hack in, I had a laptop last time." She busied herself at the keyboard.
Bond pulled the pocket computer from his vest. "I may be able to help you." He held it up for her to see.
"The remote for the car?" she was puzzled.
He smiled, "Not just a remote; a pocket computer." He began setting up the com-port interface. "It is an intelligence gathering device."
She took it as he handed it to her. She saw the small screen fill with an auto-hack program. Thanks to the encryptions, and ciphers being in active memory; the little computer pulled up what she was looking for in seconds. "Nice!" she muttered as she set to work on her plan.
Ande guarding the door; nervously looked at her companions. "Can you please hurry? I want to get this over with."
Jeanette spoke her hands dancing across both the keyboard, and the pocket computer. "Just give me a few more minutes."
"Okay, but they better be a quick few minutes." Ande poked her head out the door looking cautiously. Several minutes passed, and heart beat louder in her ears.
Jeanette finely stood up from the computer. "I believe we had better leave quickly." She ushered Bond to the door.
He looked at her wondering, "What about the pocket computer?" He questioned knowing Q would already rail him about the car.
She looked him in the eyes through the dim light of computer monitors. "Trust me you don't want it back." She smiled mischievously. "It's busy corrupting the Main frame with a self-propitiating virus."
Bond, and Ande looked at her impressed. Ande spoke as they re- entered the hallway. "I thought it took a long time to design a virus."
Jeanette looked at her seriously. "It does. I was designing that virus while I was Hobear's prisoner. That was how I kept my head; I thought of revenge."
Ande could see that, and smiled. This woman was tougher than she seemed. It was good too; she needed to be. Ande had a similar inner strength; she had to be tough. Ande was very much her father's daughter. Sean Lamont would have proffered she hadn't been, but we don't always get what we want. She missed him at times like this, but now was not a time to think of the dead.
-----