Chapter 3 : Parity
24 hours later, Atlanta airport
The FBI had received the intel a little late the evening before, but the agents were at their post, and all the dealers have been apprehended. It's a great catch: 32 million dollars worth of diamonds, precious stones and metals.
Yet how many loads slipped through the net?
At the same location, three men get ready to take off towards South Africa.
Los Angeles, CIA room
The meeting ends: The missions have been planed, the covers studied and are known by every agent. Sydney will be a young teacher of English and American literature at the University of South Africa, Pretoria (UINSA), who is married to Michael Jones, a brilliant photographer.
"… the FoPeSA2H is searching for a 400 years old Bantu statue. You are responsible for keeping a close watch of the UNISA staff. The electronic surveillance means are standard: bugs, cameras and the other usual equipment," says Jack Bristow.
The new CIA agent has his head in the clouds. "Jack Bristow will be appointed Director of Aerial Navigation Security of the South Africa Zone instead of the current director who will be fired very shortly. Weiss will be his driver: Eric Wisem. And I, Roger Van Der Meer, will be his personal assistant and private secretary. It's a dream! It's my first significant mission and I'm a member of the team of the CIA Legend!"
"… We especially have to break up the transportation and rare art trade networks. Agents Weiss and Van Der Meer will take care of the electronic surveillance. Our apartments will connect with a hidden door. A small room in yours will be fitted out with the usual monitoring equipment: monitors, bugs, recorders… well, you've heard it all before. The command center." Jack continues.
"A real infiltration mission, not just a short stroll, but the real thing; the CIA is pulling out all the stops. There'll be danger, action, hideouts, parties… and all that with Jack Bristow. The Jack Bristow! And when it's all over, I'll give all the details to my buddies. They'll be green with envy." Van Der Meer's inward exultation verges on ecstasy.
"… If there are no questions left, you may dismiss. I'll see all of you again in Pretoria."
All the agents leave the room but one, who can't prevent himself from approaching his idol. He says, "Sir, it's an honour for me to work with you. It's the dream of many of us…"
"We'll see in a couple of weeks if you'll still feel the same." With that, Jack turns on his heel and walks away.
"He's really impressive. He's so calm, cool, and collected... a real professional! He's our James Bond!" thinks the new agent, not in the least put off by the dry retort.
Weiss and Vaughn are sitting at their respective desks. They are going over the last documents for the operations. Michael and Sydney will take off for South Africa in the coming week. Vaughn seems to have become again the Vaughn who Weiss knew three years ago. Relaxed, cheerful and in love.
"So things are worked out between Sydney and you?"
Vaughn grins frankly and finally answers back, "They're coming along slowly between us. I think Sydney trusts me again little by little. She isn't inhibited anymore since Lauren's death and she relies on me."
"What about love?"
Vaughn doesn't answer immediately. "She's learning slowly to trust again, Weiss, so I don't intend to push her. When she's ready for a new relationship … it'll take the time required... I'll be patient… and this time I'll wait for her and I'll be there for her. I don't want let her down. But I hope… I hope we can be together again forever. The love between us is strong."
"I'm happy for you, buddy!"
"Thank you. And you?"
"Nothing. All is quiet on that front!"
They continue talking for several minutes and during this time Vaughn doesn't forget to tease his friend. Then, after a long silence between them, Eric asks him a question which has been bugging him since the famous first meeting, "What happened between Jack and Syd?"
Katya looks at her watch for the umpteenth time: 22:01. Jack is late. The waiting becomes unbearable; her stomach starts to ache. She is feeling the excitement, and it's as if her lungs are pressing against her ribcage. She cannot manage to focus anymore her attention on the files scattered before her.
Her bedroom, with orange blossom-flavoured candlelight, is bathed in a soft filter light which is favourable to beautiful dreams.
Jack… She begins to be doubtful of his arrival. When she thinks about him, she understands and savours the delicious feeling that Eve felt when she had eaten the forbidden fruit. She recalls his hands on her body, his mouth on hers, his halted breath…
The muffled noise at her door brings her out of her daydream. She prevents herself from rushing to open the door.
"Good evening, Jack."
"Katya."
Images of their last encounter cross her mind.
"What brings the CIA to South Africa?" asks Katya with an enchanting smile for which she alone has the secret.
"Covenant business."
Accustomed to his terse and professional replies, she tells him immediately, "The Covenant is searching for a Rambaldi device, but I don't know any more than that. My interests are in Asia." She takes a moment before continuing, "South Africa is far away from my zone of influence."
She gives him a brown envelope. "You'll find in it all the intel I could gather about the searches."
"Does the name Sherrinford mean anything to you?" Asks Jack, his gaze staying on her.
She takes a little step toward him.
She looks at him straight in the eyes, liking his dark and brooding side. She moistens her blood red lips with the tip of her tongue. Jack's gaze switches from her eyes to her mouth, and it remains fixed there. Shivers of anticipation run through Katya's body. She thinks about his question while she moves closer like a panther. Both are at arms length of each other.
"Mmm… vaguely."
She moves nearer to him, catlike and sensual; her companion's face clouds over, desire blazes in his eyes. Suddenly, time seems to go into suspension…seconds fall slowly one by one. Standing still, they look at each over.
The waiting and the adrenaline stir the fire burning in her. She thirsts for his lips, his caresses, his moans…
At last, Jack draws her against him, bends slowly his head and their mouths merge with quick kisses. Katya savours the shivers which are brought by the touch of his soft and eager lips. Her hands slide in his hair, Jack's travel on her body, exploring her delicate curves.
Their kisses deepen, and they only stop to catch their breath.
Katya grabs her lover's jacket lapel and pushes it down to let it fall. Jack's mouth sensually travels up and down her collarbone and throat, it spreads a warmth which sweeps through her body. She groans and lets her heated desire carry her away. She wants to taste him, bite him, feel him inside her. She undoes his tie and the buttons of his shirt.
Unaware of his actions, Jack ends up pressing her against the wall, removes her t-shirt, grabs her hand and slowly guides her caresses. Their kisses become more and more demanding and passionate. Katya ends up tearing his shirt from his broad shoulders and pushing it down over his arms, thus limiting his movements. She deposits small kisses over his chest, bites his nipples and encircles them with the tip of her tongue. He tilts his head back, savouring the delicious feelings she gives him.
Under her assaults, Jack surrenders his last bit of control and willpower. Unable to contain himself any longer, he tears off her last garments, takes Katya in his arms and carries her to her bed.
Katya sighs with excitement and shuts her eyes. At last, his hands fondles her body, awakening along the way other sources of desire. The touch of Jack's lips alternates between the sensual and intoxicating as they trace the route between her breasts and her mouth, so that they may exchange feverish kisses.
When he is naked, he falls on the top of Katya and without waiting, he quickly penetrates her, their groans and cries muffled by his tender kisses. They rush into a long night of passionate and fierce love-making...