NOIR
Chapter One
The Forgotten
By Steve Edward
The characters of Mireille Bouquet, Kirika Yumura and Sister Altena are neither owned by me nor my original creations. These three characters are based on the original anime series by Ryoe Tsukimura.
Other characters presented within are entirely my own and any resemblances to persons living or dead is purely coincidental.
Any events described taking place is purely coincidental.
Any descriptions of buildings, specific locations are from the authors' perspective and any geographical errors are entirely the responsibility of the author.
(For time line references and author notes, please refer to the end of Chapter 6.)
The recent past late April, Airfield at Toussus-le-Noble, France…
Finishing with the flightlog, Randy Baldwin 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 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.
Present day, 1st of July, Friday morning – Knokke-Heist, Belgium…
Henri his portly girth slowed him down as he was not able to run very fast. The blood and brain matter that now marred his suit which had set him back 2000 euro had belonged to one of his two body guards which lay dead along side his partner whose neck had been snapped cleanly.
Slipping on the wet cobble stone sidewalk as he rounded the corner he fell to his feet, struggling to get up; Henri noted a pair of feet coming to a stop before him.
Kirika Yumura looked down at the man she knew as Henri. His chosen occupation was of being an arms dealer. Kirika barely raised an eyebrow as Henri begged for his life, offering her untold wealth. Kirika replied, "I will have none of your blood money Henri," as she fired the silenced Beretta twice. Henri, with his eyes bulging in shock collapsed to the wet cobblestones beneath him dead.
Mireille Bouquet came from the darkened shadows across the street and joined Kirika, "One less arms merchant to pedal his wares to extremists. Lets go home Kirika."
Together Mireille and Kirika walked away into the darkness towards the sea front of the port city.
1st of July, Friday mid-day, Baldwin Farm, Hall County, Georgia, United States
Randy Maynard Baldwin lay sprawled on the exercise matt in the basement of his home with his two step-children, Corey Baldwin and Ashley Baldwin standing over him. Corey glanced at his sister, "Sis, I think you over did that!" as Randy shaking the spots and stars from his eyes raised himself slowly off the matt. Gina Baldwin the former Mrs. Gina Frazier looked on from the sidelines as her husband rose to his feet.
Getting up from her chair, Gina approached her husband Randy and handed him a towel, "Randy I think that is enough for the day for everyone. I believe Ashley and Corey are suitably instructed for now," as Randy accepted the towel and a peck on the cheek from his wife.
Running the towel through his hair, Randy took in Ashley dressed out in her karate workout suit and then Corey who was similarly attired, "Ok you two. Hit the showers," then acknowledging the bows from each of his step-children he watched as both walked up the staircase to the main level of the house.
Gina Baldwin watched her husband of one month finished toweling himself down. It had been nearly two months since Ashley's kidnapping and rescue in which associates of her husband whom she had come to know as Noir and known only to the children as Auntie Mireille Bouquet and Auntie Kirika Yumura had charged into a darkened farm to save her daughter. Ashley's kidnapper, Darrell the half-brother to her late former husband William Frazier was now serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
Following her husband upstairs, Gina recalled being hesitant about both Corey and Ashley being instructed in the martial arts, but Randy had persuaded her and after discussing it with Corey and Ashley; Gina had been pleasantly surprised that both were willing to learn.
Randy mused over the day's lessons as he climbed the stairs to go to the master bedroom. Corey and Ashley were astute pupils and with further experience would benefit from martial arts as it would strengthen both mentally and physically. Ashley had recovered emotionally and physically from the kidnapping thankfully. The newlyweds along with their children had stood in the courtroom as the sentence was handed down to Darrell Frazier who could only acknowledge in writing as his jaw was still wired shut.
Gina Baldwin in the kitchen looked forward to the three weeks ahead as Corey and
Ashley was going to attend summer camps. Corey was leaving in the morning to travel with his fellow teammates to attend a soccer camp in Colorado. Ashley attending a music camp in New York City at The Juilliard School of Music would be leaving with other promising pianists to attend a chaperoned event there as well, which left just her and Randy.
The FedEx Delivery truck tooting its horn as it drove into the farm yard and began backing up to the house interrupted Gina's musings. Looking at the window, Gina not expecting anything wondered what was being delivered.
July 1st, Friday evening, Pas de la Casa, France…
Sister Katrina sat in her sparse but comfortable living quarters of the convent at which she was Head Mother. The oil lamp flickered slightly as Sister Katrina who at age 84, opened her personal diary and set the quill to paper began to write, "What many feared after Sister Altena's death has now come to pass in the five years since her passing. I had hoped that it was not true. But since the reemergence of Noir those many years ago after conducting my own findings with the assistance of Sister's Kanna and Jane; I have concluded that the late Sister Altena had planned for and had already prepared for the next Noir. The letter demanding that I turn over the Lagonel Manuscript so that the ritual to initiate the final candidates could take place had caused grave concern within me."
Setting the quill down on the table, Sister Katrina glanced out of the open window into the darkness falling upon the Pyrenees Mountains. Sighing slightly Sister Katrina resumed, "After conferring with other Soldats, I have decided to intervention is wise at this point to prevent this from occurring again. I have entrusted the Lagonel Manuscript and all historical records pertaining to Noir to an American named Randy Maynard Baldwin who is residing within the United States.
"I have also have written of my concerns to the current Noir, who suffered so much at the hands of Sister Altena. It is my hope that the American and Noir working together can locate the candidates and prevent them from forming another Noir. Too many have suffered as Noir and we need not another. I pray that those who will have to shoulder this burden will be strong in physical, mental and spiritual strengths as they try to prevent what a small few want to surely come to pass."
Friday July 1st, 9 PM local time, Paris, France …
Mireille Bouquet sat rereading the letter that Kirika Yumura had retrieved from the mail box. Kirika sitting next to Mireille heard her sigh, "Then it is likely true that Altena had proceeded to begin the training of our replacements," as Mireille set the letter down she nodded, "Apparently so Kirika. Altena was shrewd and calculating. She had begun the so called weeding process even before our final trial at "The Manor."
Kirika picked up the envelope and fingered the broken wax seal that had bore the imprint of the Soldats, "Sister Katrina was not apparently part of the inner circle of Altena and had originally dissented to the trials themselves. Sister Katrina's admittance of being a Soldat and openly advising another Noir may come into existence is suspicious itself. Do Sister Katrina and the Soldats have another purpose in mind? Perhaps we are to become the final trial for the candidates."
Mireille reflected on a comment made by Randy Baldwin at his home in the United States, "Neither you or Kirika can keep up Noir forever. There will come a time to end it, and make plans for the future; the future of not being Noir to begin a new life a life of peace." Mireille remembered the steel grey eyes of Randy boring into her own hammering home the statement, "Yes Kirika, I do believe we will be their trial. Their path has been already chosen and Mr. Baldwin was correct when it came to the threads that bind may pass in the night but see the light of day. Altena bound us together in the darkness, yet by day the truth will be seen. We have to look for the light to guide us."
Saturday, July 2nd, Baldwin Farm, Hall County, Georgia, United States
Though Corey and Ashley had been intrigued by the shipping cases that were in their step-fathers study, both knew that the consulting work their step-father was involved with would likely require that he would be receiving reference materials.
Gina Baldwin had read the letter enclosed in the FedEx document envelope three times and was still appalled at the request. Her husband carrying the last of the luggage past the kitchen for Corey and Ashley had seriously considered of refusing delivery; but the odd instructions from the driver for them to open the envelope had changed his mind.
The rides for Corey and Ashley arrived and Gina joined Randy in the farm yard to see her two children off on their respective trips. Mrs. Pike, Ashley's instructor a graduate of Juilliard would be accompanying her back to her alma mater. Corey getting into the Suburban with his teammates waved back one last time as he left the farm.
Returning to the house, Gina and Randy walked to the study where Randy following the instructions in the letter began to open the containers one by one.
The largest contained the proverbial bombshell of the Soldats, the Lagonel Manuscript and the late Sister Altena's personal diary.
The remainder contained historical information surrounding Noir and their storied histories.
Gina taking one of the books opened it and read the contents briefly then set it down on Randy's desk, "The Latin language a lost form in itself. Any casual reader picking the book up would see gibberish."
Randy smiled in agreement, "True. But there are some that can obviously still read and write Latin and you my dear are one of them." Gina sighing took a seat across from Randy, "Yes my dear I can read and write Latin. The question is why you? The Soldats could have chosen someone else to do this."
Randy had thought about it as well, "I suspect that Sister Katrina in consulting with other Soldats had learned of my involvement with Noir from Tabitha Alexander. Since I am an outsider but one that can be trusted, Sister Katrina sent the materials to me."
Gina unamused replied, "Why did she just not make contact with whoever has custody of the candidates and tell them that they would not be needed?" Randy leaned back in the chair, "Likely it is because she can not find them. The Soldats apparently do keep secrets close to their breasts and would not reveal that kind of information easily."
Gina about to speak was interrupted by the phone. Picking it up Randy answered and was greeted by the voice of Tabitha Alexander, "Hello Mr. Baldwin. How is your weekend going?" Engaging the speakerphone Randy set the handset down, "Tabitha. It is not going well, are you behind this in anyway officially?"
Tabitha replied, "No Randy I am not. All of this is unofficial. Are you alone?" Randy clenched his teeth, "No I am not. My wife is with me."
Tabitha gazing out the window frowned, "Perhaps Gina might want to leave?" Gina stood up and walked closer to the phone, "Mrs. Alexander. Like hell I will! Now speak up what is on your mind."
Tabitha elicited a soft laugh, "Very well Gina. The committee made the choice of utilizing the services of your husband because it was felt that a neutral outsider would be able to accomplish what needs to be done. The goal is to stop the formation of another Noir that would be controlled or even directed by ones who are likely carrying out the last wishes of the late Sister Altena."
Gina glancing at Randy replied, "Surely the Soldats themselves can prevent this or even you?" Tabitha replied, "Gina unfortunately there appears to be a very small faction within the Soldats who are pushing for the Noir legacy to continue. Exactly who they are is currently unknown. As for Agency involvement, for the time being it is completely out of the question. The current Noir has been informed and will assist in this matter. First and foremost will be to identify and locate the candidates and then the second is to intervene and stop the final ritual if the candidates arrive before they can be located."
Gina looked questionably at Randy then asked, "Arrive where Tabitha?" Randy interrupted, "They will go to "The Manor" the ritual site itself. It is stepped in tradition."
Tabitha replied, "Randy is likely correct. The first inkling that there was another Noir in the process of emerging was a written request received by Sister Katrina demanding that she turn over the Lagonel Manuscript for use in the ritual. She was to have delivered it to "The Manor" so the ritual could take place."
Randy looked at the book resting on his desk, "Well thanks a lot Tabitha. Now I've become bait. Those who want this book will come looking for it." Tabitha replied, "Not necessarily. I believe that they will await its return to European soil. You are after all going to accept the assignment?"
Randy about to reply was interrupted by Gina, "Yes he will on one condition and that is I will be part of the team. He is not gallivanting off alone on this." Tabitha expecting such replied, "Very well Gina if you insist."
Randy musing a moment spoke, "Tabitha, out of curiosity how did Sister Katrina end up with all of these materials in the first place?" Tabitha frowned, "After the ritual failed five years ago, the Soldats gathered what they could at the time and turned them over into the custody of Sister Katrina, who conducted the last Noir ritual before Altena's and that ritual took place in 1965. I might add that Sister Katrina's initiates survived and did retire from Noir in 1985."
Gina replied, "How many former Noirs is still alive Tabitha?" Tabitha replied "Besides Sister Katrina's there is just one. The Noir prior to Sister Katrina's now resides in a nursing home in Sweden; her partner is deceased having been killed during an assignment in 1964. Sister Katrina's are married and grandmothers several times over. Gina I must ask that no contact be made with any former Noirs out of respect for their privacy and of course the awkwardness it might bring upon their families."
Randy replied, "Agreed. I do not believe there will be any need. Tabitha, I expect to be in France Sunday evening as such I will make contact with Noir to arrange a meeting place. Also Tabitha if possible could you do me a favor?" Tabitha turned back to her desk, "What kind of favor Randy?" Randy Baldwin replied, "Working back from the day that Sister Katrina received the demand letter, would you do a discreet inquiry into anything that may have taken place on the European continent relating to assassinations. It is my belief that Altena's final pair has already been active. If anything is uncovered can you forward it to me?"
Tabitha tapped her pen on the desk a moment, "Very well Randy I shall see what I can do for you. If possible can you tell me where you will be landing in France?" Randy thought a moment and replied, "I will be flying into Tarbes-Ossun-Lourdes Airfield south of Tarbes, France since it is the closest airfield that can handle the Gulfstream. If you get anything have someone bring any updates there." Tabitha acknowledged that she would and hung up.
Turning to Gina, Randy looked at his wife standing next to him "Gina this will not be a game in any sense, the stakes will be rather high." Gina Baldwin turned and moved a chair closer to the desk and sat, "Randy, I took the vows for better or for worse. You and Noir can not do this alone." Gina picked up the handset and gave it to Randy, "Time to call Mireille and Kirika."
Saturday evening, Minsk, Belarus …
When each looked at the other they saw themselves as if they were before a mirror. Nina sat next to her identical twin Irena who gazed out the window of the train, her reflection in the window mixing with that of her sister creating three.
She and her sister were 14 years old; neither had known who their true mother and father had been. Raised by a succession of men and woman who had temporarily become their mothers and fathers each had in their young lives been exposed to harsh lessons of learning to kill and to survive in the world around them.
Three weeks earlier both had been sent to a site of a meeting involving militant military leaders. Their assignment had been simple and to the point. Terminate all that were taking part. Except for a low level staff member, all were killed. Russian security forces having received information about the meeting had already planned to conduct their own strike, however when the security forces arrived they found that someone had already paid the meeting site a visit.
Nina and Irena having infiltrated as planned and conducting the terminations as ordered suffered no injuries or wounds. After a week of rest the twins, received their final directives and had slowly made their way to where they were now, on a train headed west towards France.
Their simple goal was to reach "The Manor" where they would receive their final ritual. Nina and Irena had been told that from the moment they boarded the train, they would be on their final trial.
Saturday afternoon, Paris, France
Mireille Bouquet had read the e-mail from Randy Baldwin earlier in the day and as expected the phone rang near the appointed time, "Good afternoon Mireille, this is Randy." Mireille smiling replied, "Randy, it is good to hear your voice. How are you and the family doing?"
Gina replied, "Mireille, I and Randy are doing fine as are the kids. I hope both you and Kirika are doing the same?" Mireille chuckled, "We are both doing well Madam Baldwin. I hope the wedding gift was to your liking?"
Gina glanced at the silver serving set on display within the study, locked inside lighted display case, the gold inlay reflecting the light that lit the Maiden's engraved on the surface of the large silver tray and the words engraved beneath in Latin, "Protected by Thy Hands." Randy wearing a ring which contained a smaller version as did Gina who wore a pendant with a locket, those too had been gifts. Randy unconsciously ran a finger over the ring as he spoke with Mireille.
Gina replied, "It is certainly lovely and will be cherished," as Randy recalled the questions from Corey and Ashley about the engraving itself. Randy interrupted, "Mireille the gift from the both of you is wonderful to say the least. I guess you know what this call is about?"
Kirika returning from the kitchen with two cups of tea sat next to Mireille replied, "Yes Monsieur Baldwin we are." Hearing Kirika's voice Randy smiled, "Well we might as well get to the point. I and Gina are flying to France in the morning. I will be landing at Tarbes-Ossun-Lourdes Airfield south of Tarbes, France. Can you meet us there?"
Mireille briefly looked at a map of France replied, "Yes we can Randy. What do you need?" Randy Baldwin picked up the list of essentials, "First off we will need transportation. Separate vehicles, with off-road capabilities. I am sending another e-mail now to you with the details. Enclosed is a bank account to utilize for any purchases. I prefer outright purchase instead of renting. Get Land Rovers that are fully equipped for off-road operations and a cargo trailer that can go with a Land Rover. The Pyrenees Mountains can be unforgiving as you both know. The convent has no power sources so that generator that I want will come in handy."
Kirika waiting for the printer to finish the last two pages read the initial printout, "Mr. Baldwin, The need for the backpacking supplies and tents? Are you going camping?"
Randy chuckled, "Yes and for a reason. The convent is too far from "The Manor" to be suitable for day to day surveillance. It may boil down to finding a suitable place to make camp there. I believe that the final pair selected by Altena is already on their way to "The Manor" as we speak. Even with what information, I and Gina have been able to glean from her diary there is not enough to identify them so we will have to intercept them within "The Manor" or as close to it as possible hence the camping gear."
Mireille leaning back in her chair replied "Randy is there any indication as to their ages?" as Kirika retrieved the last of the printouts handed them to Mireille; Randy replied, "Given the prior selection methods of Altena, I suspect they are currently 14 years old."
Mireille frowned, "That is preposterous! Surely Altena would not have then decided to unleash the next pair at such an early age?"
Randy picked up Altena's diary, "There are several passages within Altena's diary making reference to the selection. I suspect that Altena made plans in the event that the final trial that you and Kirika participated in failed, her alternate candidates would carry on her legacy at a latter date. Nearly six years have passed since the last ritual and the demand for the Lagonel Manuscript does bear it out. Someone is likely following Altena's will through a written plan that she left behind with someone only she trusted. I am calling it a manifesto."
Mireille sighed, "If you are correct, then the manifesto would contain directives to the candidates which upon the completion of their final ritual; they would begin to carry out. With the directives known only to final pair, they would without consulting or being given further direction would carry the orders out even to the point of their own deaths."
Gina shuddered at that thought, "With little supervision and no list of targets; even the Soldats would be powerless to prevent their activities. If indeed such a young age, the pair would be unnoticed and would be able to carry out what ever Altena's last wishes were?"
Kirika frowned, "For what purpose and reason? Altena is dead." Randy reflected back to a passage in the diary, "Revenge Kirika. Altena was a war orphan. There was an uprising in Eastern Europe in the mid-1950's and Altena was caught in it. It was brutally put down and there was little control over the actions of the soldiers. Altena was taken by a soldier and brutally raped repeatedly. She finally escaped his treatment by killing him with his own gun."
Gina having read the passage as well replied, "Altena's original goal was to use Noir as her hands of revenge. Assassinate the men responsible for the decisions made. Afterward she would then begin to focus on leaders who had failed to intervene. In short she was planning on destabilizing the various governments of the European continent and had plans for emerging as a new leader to rally those disenchanted with what would become chaotic governments who would be too busy leveling charges and counter-charges against each other instead of dealing with their internal problems."
Mireille reflected back to the events prior to ritual and "The Manor", "Altena was preparing me and Kirika for such events. The assignments that were given to us were no more than training." Randy replied, "In all likelihood that was the case. Altena was using the assignments to see how your interactions affected the final outcomes of governments that were already on shaky foundations. Her diary made note of those activities as well. I took the liberty of cross-referencing your prior activities and the final outcomes did bear some surprising outcomes. In the South America intervention, though there was a civil war after the intervention there is now a democratic government in place which is stable and thriving. I might add it did not come cheap. Several thousand on each side did die before peace was finally obtained.
Kirika replied, "What of the Middle-East intervention?" as Mireille pondering the implications was lost in thought, Randy replied "Similar circumstances but not democratic in any sense of the word. The religious leaders stepped in and took control of the government and rule that country with a harsh hand, but the general populace does enjoy a new found prosperity."
Randy had reviewed the interventions closely. Each had been a mini-experiment unto itself. If conducted on a grander scale within the European continent the likelihood of causing a catastrophic war would be likely, hence his personal decision to intervene. It did not matter the ages of the candidates themselves, with their movements virtually undetectable they would be the near perfect assassins.
If the manifesto did exist, Altena would get her revenge from beyond the grave. To prevent it from happening, the ritual itself would have to be stopped or the candidates themselves killed or taken into custody. For the Soldats, those within their ranks following the manifesto would likely try to prevent any outside interference at least up to a point. The candidates would likely consider this a trial to complete before their final ritual, which would make him and Noir their sworn enemies.
Mireille spoke, "Randy if the candidates are in fact now in their final trial that would entail reaching "The Manor"?" Randy replied, "Unfortunately yes. With my involvement, that will likely focus their attentions on me directly. I do have what they want so I am going to make it easier for them to get to me by coming to France. The candidates will likely consider the current Noir as part of the challenge to complete the trial before the ritual. The faction of the Soldats will be providing some sort of intelligence to the candidates so that they can complete the trial."
Gina interrupted, "Making you a target in such a fashion my husband does little to comfort. These candidates will have little remorse in killing. I do not want to loose you."
Randy turned to his wife, "There is little I can do to alter what is now taking place. I want any confrontations that may take place to happen there and not here. It is a risk that I have to take. I want to stop the candidates but do so in a fashion that we all live. Altena's twisted revenge can not take place. If we can alter the outcome then peace will prevail."
Randy picked up the handset, "Mireille, Kirika. Both of you know what is at stake. Noir was not meant to be used in this fashion. Working together I know the candidates can be stopped and the Soldats who are responsible can be punished appropriately. I'll see the both of you tomorrow. Good luck."
Mireille said her goodbye's as well and turned off the speaker phone then turned to Kirika, "If Randy and Gina Baldwin are willing to participate there is little choice for us as well. Those acting on Altena's last wishes will have to be located. We need to start now with obtaining what he needs."
Tabitha Alexander conducting her own discreet inquiry found what had been the result of the candidate's prior activities. Taking place in a province of Eastern Europe the report of militant military commanders being assassinated; with only one survivor.
Retrieving further details, Tabitha Alexander had the information packaged and with an extra gift for Randy Baldwin had the material immediately sent to Paris, France.
Ned Smith, formerly a member of a Central Intelligence Agency Rapid Response Team was the Bureau Chief for the Agency in France. The highly encrypted message that had been delivered by courier directed that Ned Smith was to deliver the material to Tarbes-Ossun-Lourdes airfield outside of Tarbes, France immediately on Sunday afternoon. The person to whom he was to deliver the items to brought a smile to his face, Randy Baldwin.
Saturday evening, Paris, France
Mireille paused at the door looking back at the pool table. Laying on its surface was a letter directed to the candidates. There was little doubt that they would come here first, but as Randy Baldwin had already stated that any confrontation should take place at "The Manor", or more importantly at the convent; that letter would be more than enough to entice them there. Closing the door behind her Mireille descended the stairs to the street below and joined Kirika. Both women climbed into nearly identical Land Rovers and drove off into the night.