NOIR

Chapter Seven

Secrets

By Steve Edward

Randy had advised Roberto of the day trip so that Toby and Cumquat would be taken care of. Mireille and Kirika recovered from their over indulgence in strawberries sat with Gina along with Corey and Ashley at the kitchen table having an early breakfast.

The embarrassing comment of the day for Randy, was when he heard Ashley call Mireille and Kirika not by their first names but calling them each Aunt Mireille and Aunt Kirika.

Mireille though not trying to show the surprise of being addressed as an Aunt took it in stride by addressing both Corey and Ashley, "Well when Randy does marry your mother we will in a way will be cousins." Kirika chimed in, "I will be happy to be your Aunt."

Gina staring hard at Randy who in turn continued to chew hurriedly on a piece of toast sighed, "Well the title is most appropriate for both of them Randy. After all Mireille and Kirika are rather closely associated with your side of the family?"

Randy looking at Mireille and Kirika then to Gina, who eyes were shooting out proverbial sparks, "Yes Gina that would indeed make them cousins to Corey and Ashley." Corey taking a bite of scrambled eggs replied, "Oh cool kissing cousins!"

Gina about to utter an admonishment was saved the trouble by Ashley who had been shocked at hearing the comment, turned and let fly with what passed for a left hook.

Though just a glancing blow, it got Corey's attention. Randy the closest stopped any further fighting.

"Enough. No fighting at the table. Consider that a very important ground rule. Corey, apologize to Aunt Mireille and Aunt Kirika. That was very inappropriate. Ashley that was unlady like as well, apologize to your brother."

Mireille watching the exchange between Randy Baldwin and the two children smiled, "Randy, Corey had no intention of offending either I or Kirika." Randy shook his head no, "Corey, Ashley? You heard what I said."

Corey looked at Mireille and Kirika, "Aunt Mireille and Aunt Kirika I am sorry for calling you kissing cousins." Gina nudged Ashley with her foot and Ashley turned to her brother and apologized for hitting him.

After cleaning up from breakfast, the group climbed into the van and headed for Six Flags. The excited chatter between Corey and Ashley filtered over to Mireille and Kirika. Randy had pondered the trip in the first place. Neither Mireille nor Kirika had what one would term a normal upbringing and even a normal childhood.

Gina had pivoted the chair she was sitting in and watched as Corey and Ashley pointed out the various attractions that they would be seeing to Kirika and Mireille as Randy drove. Kirika's lack of emotion had been noticeable to Gina, but there was none of that now. Kirika occasionally laughing along with Mireille as Corey tried to explain what the roller coaster called the "Ninja" did. Gina turning back around caught Randy's eye and smiled. Someone was going to be ridding a lot of roller coasters and it was not going to be her.

Mireille could see Randy looking at her in the rearview mirror smiled, "Perhaps you would like to ride the Superman coaster Randy?" Randy thought a moment, "Mireille is that the one that mimics flight?" Corey replied, "Yes Dad it does!" Randy replied, "I'll consider it when we get there."

Randy was just 12 years old when he visited the Six Flags amusement park for the first time and it was the last time he had ever ridden a roller coaster, the all wood roller coaster still in existence named "The Great American Scream Machine." That ridding experience had been anything but pleasant thanks to Phil Nagel who had gotten sick mid-way through the ride.

Leaving Interstate 85 for Interstate 285, Randy drove along the top end perimeter of the Atlanta by-pass. Corey and Ashley who rarely ever got the chance to go near Atlanta were fascinated with some of the more strange designs of the office buildings that they drove past.

Arriving at the amusement park as it was opening, Randy passed out the tickets and boarding a tram, the group headed for the main entrance. Setting up a meeting point for later in the day, Randy and Gina headed one way with Mireille and Kirika playing the Auntie part to the max left with Corey and Ashley.

Mireille, Kirika with Corey and Ashley started with the smaller coasters first. Boarding the Dahlonega Mine Coaster first, Mireille found it rather exciting as the small coaster whipped in and out of simulated mine shafts. Mireille found out that she was too tall for the "Mind Bender" so she watched Kirika with Corey and Ashley as they wound through the line. The triple loop roller coaster going through its maneuvers, Kirika yelling out loud with the rest of the passengers her eyes wide open taking in the sensations and the dizzy appearance of the world flashing by.

Randy and Gina having been to the Crystal Pistol Music Hall were walking by as the Mind Bender returning from its run passed nearby. Ashley and Corey spotting Randy and their mother yelled as they passed. Randy walking up to Mireille sat beside her, "Were you a bit too tall?" as Corey and Ashley followed by Kirika came out of the exit.

Mireille frowning, "Yes I was too tall, by three inches! And I even took my shoes off."

Swapping with Randy and Gina who left with Corey and Ashley, Mireille with Kirika read about the show taking place at the Lickskillet stage headed there. The play about a bumbling western sheriff and his sidekick left both laughing hard, as Mireille not exactly getting the part where the sheriff forgot the key to his horse looked at Kirika; "Needing a key for a horse? Perhaps it is for the lock on the barn Kirika?"

Kirika turning to look at Mireille replied, "Or perhaps it is to unlock the reigns from the post?"

Corey and Ashley rode Batman and dragged Randy with them. His stomach still doing flip-flops from that ride he begged off from ridding Superman. Meeting Kirika and Mireille afterward near the Shooting Gallery, the group took turns at the targets. Randy deliberately held back. Kirika on the other hand did not. The massive stuffed animal now riding in the rental stroller proved Kirika's prowess as did the other stuffed animal belonging to Mireille. Corey's and Ashley's own winnings joined those ridding in the stroller much to the amusement of Gina, who took a photograph of Randy maneuvering the winnings through the crowds.

Randy musing the odds of both Kirika and Mireille winning the top prizes back to back wondered if the employee manning the attraction was herself trying to figure out how they had pulled it off. Randy also wondered if he could even get the stuffed animals into the van, much less through the Gulfstream's entry hatch.

Realizing that pushing the stroller with filled with the stuffed animals for the rest of the day would be such a pain in the butt, Randy getting his hand stamped briefly left the amusement park and returned to the van to store the winnings. The bemused looks of the tram driver and his observer taking in Randy Baldwin with the stuffed toys was enough to convince Randy that he had to keep Kirika and Mireille from any other target shooting challenges.

Randy should have asked Gina to steer clear of any of those, but with the kids in tow followed by Mireille and Kirika they found a non-electronic shooting gallery and utilizing pellet gun rifles they did a repeat performance. Gina even surprised herself and won a stuffed animal as a prize. Randy minus the stroller, returned to join the group at a nearby southern themed restaurant to find another stroller filled with more winnings.

Eyeing the stroller which Kirika had under her watchful eye, Randy sitting down looked at Gina, "No more shooting galleries please. Otherwise someone will be ridding on the roof."

After agreeing to meet the group at Mariners Cover to take in a show there, Randy made what he hoped would be the last trip to the van. The same tram driver and observer taking in Randy accompanied the massive prizes chuckled as it took two rows to transport for the second trip.

After meeting up at Mariners Cover, and taking in the show; Randy and Gina split again but took Ashley while Corey went with Kirika and Mireille. Taking a ride on the "Free Fall", Gina would decline getting on any more rides, Randy agreed as well. He may enjoy flying high performance jet aircraft but mimicking what it felt like to jump off a 10 story building left his stomach doing flip flops again.

Corey, Kirika and Mireille found "Joker's Game Land." By the time the group rejoined each other; Randy eyed the additional winnings and looked at Mireille, "Mireille, I don't have a 747 at my disposal. I don't even know if I can get some of those stuffed toys through the door of the Gulfstream!"

Waiting for the fireworks to start, Randy sat and observed both Kirika and Mireille. Though both were adults, tapping the inner child of both brought forth surprising results. Had the lack of a childhood that should have been filled with joy and entertainment but instead had been occupied by being trained to kill with little remorse or compassion altered their lives in anyway?

Yes it had to a point. Mireille raised by her uncle had enjoyed some of those childish pleasures but not all of them. Kirika for all purposes had not. Isolation from general society and from children of their own ages had indeed created the nearly perfect killing team. Was he doing the right thing now? Randy mused over having his own dark memories dredged up by Kirika and Mireille. The interaction between them had been at times rocky. Kirika's own emotional display had shown Randy that though she could willingly kill without batting an eye yet there was an emotional side to her that Randy had yet to fully explore.

Gina sitting next to Randy had been apprehensive when she had learned the true occupations of Mireille and Kirika. Would both suddenly turn against her and kill her and her children without giving a hint? Mireille and Kirika's display of friendship and willingness to put their own lives in danger in exchange for that of Ashley had demonstrated to her the bond that they had forged with Randy was closer than she had even imagined.

Corey and Ashley sitting between them only thought that Aunt Mireille and Aunt Kirika were the coolest adults to hang out with. Riding the Superman ride with Kirika had been a wild experience for Corey. Corey had witnessed Kirika not screaming out in terror but in happiness. Watching Kirika react like that as an adult made him realize that adults could have fun too. Ashley had played with Mireille at the Joker's arcade. Methodical and precise, as if Mireille was playing a musical instrument, yet she and Mireille had fun competing and winning. Ashley did after all get the bigger prize.

After the fireworks, the group headed back to the van for the trip home. Gina, Corey and Ashley would stay overnight. Randy could barely make out Kirika with all the stuffed animal toys that included a life sized Batman that was sitting in her lap. Randy mused that someone who kept track of the prize winnings would likely be befuddled by the large number of prizes awarded that day.

Arriving at the Baldwin farm just before 1 AM, Randy with Gina took Corey and Ashley to their respective beds. Ashley who had a Boy Robin stuffed toy and Corey with a Bugs Bunny toy went quickly to sleep, leaving the adults to chat quietly below in the kitchen.

Rising late in the morning, Randy beat everyone else up and headed for the stable to take care of Toby and Cumquat. Corey and Ashley joined him as he was finishing and then helped him unload the remainder of the prizes from the van and carry them into the house where the sitting room became the temporary storage area. Randy eyed Kirika's prize which was supposed to be a very large Teddy Bear as he stood wedged in the front door, musing to himself; "This is not Yogi Bear. It is a Grizzly on steroids."

With Corey and Ashley tugging, prodding and finally pushing, it joined the rest of the prizes in the sitting room. Gina having heard the commotion came down stairs began to prepare breakfast. The last to rise were Mireille and Kirika.

Mireille followed by Kirika entered the kitchen and joined Randy and Gina. Mireille accepting a cup of coffee from Gina sat next to her, "Mrs. Frazier it was certainly an enjoyable experience. It did help a lot for the both of us."

Gina nodded, "I think it did benefit everyone. You can't go through life without fun of some sorts. There is what is inside of all of us that eventually craves for us to amuse and entertain ourselves. I know Corey and Ashley certainly had fun with both of you."

Standing and walking to the stove, Gina turned "Ok who wants eggs?"

After having the late brunch, Randy helped Gina pack the Explorer with Corey and Ashley's prizes from Six Flags. Walking with Gina to see her off, Randy paused to look at the back end of the Explorer crammed with stuffed toys, "It will certainly be a change of pace for you Mrs. Gina Baldwin."

Gina looking up at her fiancé smiled back, "Don't start spoiling them so early. There will be plenty of time for that later." Briefly embracing each other, Randy opened the door for Gina and then helped Corey and Ashley into the vehicle. Waving goodbye as they departed Randy returned to the house where Kirika had taken a seat on the front porch to finish reading the John Gresham novel.

Randy sat down across from Kirika and looked at the book, "Do you find those particular type of stories interesting?" as Kirika briefly put the book in her lap she replied "It is an interesting premise, of a man who tampers with a jury to successful reach a verdict. It is intriguing."

Randy pondered Kirika's answer, "Interfering in a decision that should be reached through normal means without influence from an outside source is what a jury in all about. They are to take the facts, weigh the evidence and come to a conclusion. The influence of one acting from an outside source takes away the twelve minds and in reality makes them thirteen."

Standing, Randy turned to enter the house "In truth Kirika we are no different from that fictional story. We act on the influences of others, to carry out our respective goals. We may not like the final outcome but we have to live with it."

Kirika resumed her reading and as the story progressed she realized that there was some truth in Randy's statement. She and Mireille acted upon the decisions of others, they were the executioners rendering the final judgment. Had someone else influenced the decisions of others to bring forth the outcomes?

Monday morning came with Randy tending to business in Gainesville with Sheriff Phil Nagel. Kirika and Mireille decided to visit Stone Mountain where there was a smaller theme park but numerous attractions. Kirika had viewed the massive carving on the face of the granite mountain, displaying the likenesses of Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis and "Stonewall" Jackson. Each man had played a distinct role in both United States History and even local history as well. The men had made troubled decisions, which had affected the lives of many. Kirika turning to walk back to the car with Mireille took one last look as the sun fell and the shadows began to grow across the face of the memorial; she wondered what some future historian would think of her and Mireille's actions if they were ever to become public knowledge.

Mireille and Kirika sat with Randy in his study on Tuesday; Mireille had reviewed her and Kirika's activities. Noir would from this point forward take on assignments only if there was a clear and decisive reason for someone to pay the ultimate price. The decision to do so would likely not sit well with some, but those who by making the choice had to live with the fact they did not have to bloody their hands leaving the final act to that of Noir.

The future Gina Baldwin sat with her fiancé, Randy at the dinner table across from Mireille and Kirika on Wednesday; the farewell dinner having just been completed. Mireille had given Gina an early wedding gift; now being worn around Gina's neck the pendant bore the symbol of Noir in Sterling Silver and Gold.

The pendant when opened contained the photographs of both Mireille and Kirika with an inscription, "With open hearts we accept thee, protected through friendship. God Bless."

Randy wore a ring as well, bearing the symbol of two maidens wielding swords toward the heavens. Randy reflected back to the rocky encounters with both Mireille and Kirika, none of which had been planned. Was it indeed fate or was it something else?

Friday morning came with sadness but joy as well. Gina stood on the tarmac next to the Gulfstream V, as Randy conducted the final pre-flight checks. Gina had helped load the aircraft with the bounty that Mireille and Kirika had won at Six Flags. The giant bear had managed to fit through the door after being turned sideways though Gina had to admit it must have looked odd to a lot of people driving past as two grown adults were pushing the stuffed character while two more grown adults inside were trying to maneuver it down the aisle.

Hugging both Mireille and Kirika one last time, Gina stood back as the Randy started the twin Rolls Royce engines and moved off towards the taxiway and Runway 20 Right.

9 AM local on the dot, Randy lined the Gulfstream onto the center of Runway 20 Right at Peachtree-Dekalb Airport, and applied take off power to the Rolls Royce power plants.

Gina followed the progress of the aircraft while clutching the pendant with both her hands Mireille having spoken to her one final time before boarding her words coming back to Gina "You have offered to us what others have not. I will remember as will Kirika for what you have sacrificed. Noir will be your protector's."

Randy briefly dipped the left wing as he turned and headed northeast. Though unable to directly see Gina he somehow felt her comforting presence with him. Advising that it was safe to move about the cabin Kirika came to the cockpit to sit in the unoccupied co-pilot seat and stayed with Randy during the flight to France. Mireille was playing catch up, the satellite internet system fully functional during the flight allowed Mireille to contemplate the next assignment.

Landing outside of Paris later that afternoon, Randy Baldwin said his goodbyes to Mireille Bouquet and Kirika Yumura. As the two drove away in a taxi followed by a truck that bore their memento's Randy Baldwin sat on the boarding steps of the hatch filling out the flightlog.

Had a break in their routine been to their benefit? Randy had noted the sparkle of life had returned to both. Mireille had told Randy that she and Kirika would resume their activities within a very short period of time. He had been tempted to offer flying them both to their destination; but knew Mireille would refuse to even state where she and Kirika would be going.

Finishing with the flightlog, Randy walked to the Fixed Base Operations Building to make arraignments for his return flight in the morning. Satisfied that the Gulfstream would be serviced as requested Randy too left the small airport and went to a nearby motel, where he placed two phone calls. The first was to Gina then the second was to Tabitha Alexander who briefly answered and waited for Randy's reply, "Tabitha, both Mireille and Kirika have returned to France. I will be headed home tomorrow."

Tabitha Alexander giving her thanks hung up and turned to the computer screen and read the message acknowledging that Noir would accept the assignment. Getting up from her desk, Tabitha walked to the window and looked out onto the Virginia countryside and issued a silent prayer for all three.

Fini.

Author's Notes:

Time Line –

The first encounter between Randy Maynard Baldwin and Noir takes place approximately six months after the Noir episode titled "Birth." The meeting chronicled in the author's story titled "Associations" also describes the second meeting that took place as well which was approximately four years after the initial encounter.

What is considered the third meeting of Noir and Randy Baldwin takes place about six months later in Paris in mid-April.

A question of ages –

Randy Baldwin at the initial encounter is 45 years old and for a field agent that could likely be considered rather old to be in the field as an active field agent. Kirika Yumura when we are first introduced to her in the Noir episode titled "Maidens with Black Hands" we see her in a Japanese High School setting which with her style of uniform places Kirika in what should be her final and senior year at about 18 years of age.

Mireille Bouquet has the mature look of a young but well educated woman, who is running her own private business. I estimated her age to be 19 or 20 years of age during the "Maidens with Black Hands."

During the flashbacks in Noir we see a very small Kirika wielding a Beretta Model 92SBF 9MM during the assignation of Mireille's family. Could a 5 year old girl fire a weapon of that size? Yes a child could if shown the proper way.

In my story "Associations" Kirika is about 24 years old and Mireille is 25 years old. In "Secrets", Randy Baldwin is 49 years old and very soon to be 50 years old in June. Gina Frazier who will become Randy Baldwin's wife is just 44 years old and will be 45 years old in July. Randy Baldwin concern over Kirika and Mireille relates to their ages. If you have not skipped over the story to read this, you will gather that Kirika will be turning 25 and Mireille will be 26 years old later in the year.

Corey Frazier who will become Corey Baldwin, turns 13 years old and his older sister Ashley Frazier who will become Ashley Baldwin turns 14 years old.

Some have considered my toning down of Kirika to be a bit much but I took into consideration her age and further injuries she has suffered over the intervening years as well as that of Mireille. Kirika has become wiser and continues to learn from mistakes she has made over the years and had become more cautious and coldly calculating in her actions. Mireille has the preference of utilizing her Walther P-99 but will mix it up when she has to.

Characters of author –

Randy Maynard Baldwin is a retired Central Intelligence Agency field operative. He is about 6 foot 2 inches and a trim 180 pounds. His parents died when he was young at about 9 years of age and he was raised by his grandfather Maynard Baldwin. Randy did not receive money on the silver platter but instead worked hard and became successful at managing his money as well as that of the inheritance received after his grandfather died.

I deliberately left the odd ending at the end of the story. Is Randy Baldwin involved again with the CIA or was it perhaps to comfort his former boss who is involved with the Soldots in some fashion? Of course Tabitha did find out that Noir was staying with Randy Baldwin and had sent a congratulatory e-mail to Baldwin with the Noir question tacked on at the end after somehow learning of his engagement to Gina Frazier.

Tabitha Alexander –

Female head of the United States Central Intelligence Agency, she is in her mid-50s. I pondered the implications of having a female director of such a government agency. I believe that with a woman's touch the real Central Intelligence Agency could conceivably become better organized and managed much better. Hence the fictional character of Tabitha Alexander who you have learned is a member of the mythical Soldots.

Writing presentation –

My writing from the different perspectives though it may at times appear confusing is to bring the view of the ongoing story line into focus if you will as if in the shoes of the characters.

Doing a fight scene in written form can be difficult or even simple to describe i.e. "Randy brought his knee upward as he slammed the arm of his attacker downward breaking the arm", to a complex sequence involving Kirika who we all saw in the Noir storyline doing hand to hand combat within a building construction site very difficult to write i.e.; "Kirika somersaulted backward over the head of her attacker while snatching his necktie dragging him backward till he fell and holding the necktie tightly, Kirika swung with her eyes closed waiting for death to befall her latest victim."

Locales –

Initial encounter between Randy and Noir takes place somewhere in the Middle-East very near the Arabian Sea. His later encounters will take place within the confines of Georgia in the United States and in Paris, France.

Why Georgia? Well I live in Georgia. I gave the setting some great thought and wondered how these two women would react to their surroundings. The counties of Hall, Habersham, Dekalb and Gwinnett do in fact exist as does the small town of Lula which was once in its heyday a passenger stop for a railroad that provided passenger service. Peachtree-Dekalb Airport also exists and is the second busiest airport in the State of Georgia behind that of the massive Hartsfield-Jackson which is south of Atlanta.

Lula, Georgia was the site of an intriguing "secret" operation involving two Georgia Universities with strong football rivalries. The deception allowed one of the football teams to win a game that they would have otherwise lost.

Putting Kirika and Mireille on the back country roads of Georgia lead them to find some interesting things along the way. I gave considerable thought to what we know of Mireille's and Kirika's upbringing. The simple pleasure's of enjoying one's youth had been taken away from both. Kirika's upbringing is difficult to ascertain but one can gather from her skills displayed in the original Noir storyline that she did not spend much time in amusement parks. Altena's methods of training were harsh and there was no compromise.

Mireille though raised by her uncle whom she would later kill, may have enjoyed some of those things that we have experienced in our youth but as with Kirika, Mireille would soon learn the skills that she would need to become Noir and it would likely mean she had little exposure as well.

Final –

I hope that one enjoyed the story and will take into account that though there are errors they are not intentional. I look forward to criticism from the readers of this story as it helps develop more stories in the future.

Steve Edward

Atlanta, Georgia

November 2004