Chapter 65 - A Year of Hours: Efficiency

269:55

Location: Mangroves

(MPOV)

I wiped down the boat, slung two duffles across my shoulders and gently shook Will awake.

"We're on foot from here," I said calmly, wiping at where he touched the boat. He took the hint quickly and began wiping the rest of the boat. "I already did that, let's roll."

"Isn't Ironhide..."

"He'll be on the road a mile north from here." I said calmly, "there's a community nearby that goes out into the mangroves here on a regular basis. It'll take months for the police to eliminate them all as suspects of who stole this thing. This is the best place to park."

Will frowned but nodded, following me as we climbed through the mangroves.

"Don't use this branch," I'd say occasionally, but for the most part we moved in silence.

Finally, we reached the road. Will jumped across the flooded ditch and caught the duffles as I tossed them. I climbed higher in one of the trees and tossed him a half dozen oranges as well before going out on one of the limbs and letting it sag me down to the road. I glanced at my watch and began walking east.

Five minutes and a truck roared up behind us.

"Not Ironhide, keep walking," I murmured.

"It looks like Ironhide..." Will murmured, frowning.

"Not Ironhide." I said firmly.

"Hey sweet cheeks, why don't you ditch that loser and ride with us?" a muscle bound teenager, maybe three years younger than me shouted out as his friends leered.

"I shall remain with my husband," I stated coldly.

"Beat it," Will growled.

"I don't think so," the boy grinned, "C'mon baby doll, my new truck needs some breaking in. Just fixed 'er myself," he added smugly.

"Judging by the sound of your engine and the fact that you're still riding your clutch it's already well on it's way to being broken," I retorted haughtily, cocking my head, "your timing is missing a beat and it sounds like your carburettors haven't been tightened properly or in the right order. So before you break down five miles from here why don't you try to get to a proper shop?" I began walking again.

"Well fuck you then!" the boy shouted, revving up his engine and popping the clutch in an attempt at a wheel spin. It stalled. Lennox chuckled as he followed me. Ironhide chose that moment to pull in ahead of us. His holoform got out of the cab and walked toward us. He looked positively massive today. I drank in the sight of his form, his holoform in, knowing it would be my last time seeing him.

"Hide! How've you been?" I asked, reaching up and giving him a hug.

"Sorry I'm late," he rumbled, "wanted to see if any of the stations roun' here had anything remotely close to decent fuel. Hop in."

I climbed into the middle and relaxed in the seat as the two males took driver and passenger.

"Hey Ironhide, rev it up for a second and do a proper wheel spin will you?" I asked with a small smile.

"That's evil," Lennox chuckled, looking at the flabbergasted expression on the kid's face behind us. Ironhide chuckled darkly and pulled out onto the road with a screeching roar.

I closed my eyes with a smile.

"Washington?" Ironhide rumbled curiously.

"Washington," I confirmed quietly, my smile fading.

"Look at me Kae," Ironhide said softly.

"I need to finish this before you kill me, 'Hide," I said softly. "I'll go quietly when the time comes."

"Look at me anyway." he rumbled.

I opened my eyes and looked at his holoform. He nodded with a grunt.

"Still not a murderer," he rumbled firmly.

"I've already taken down one," I said softly.

"It's not murder, it's cleanup," Lennox repeated himself.

I closed my eyes with a heavy sigh.

"Doesn't feel like it," I said softly, "has Liams gone down the rabbit hole?"

"Ratchet brought Wheelie with him, that little bot has been keeping a close eye on our rabbit," Ironhide rumbled with an evil laugh.

"Get some rest Kae, you've been driving all night," Will said gently. I closed my eyes and listened to the idle banter between the two males before drifting off.

08:00

Location: C17

"Okay, let's skip through the conversation, I know I didn't poison Kae." Will stated. Optimus nodded and fast forwarded to the next time she opened her eyes.

235:15

Location: Washington

(MPOV)

"Kae? We're here." Ironhide rumbled softly. Lennox opened the door and quickly picked up Wheelie. The scrap drone quickly changed and looked at me.

"Man, this guy is cocky," Wheelie immediately said, "he walks to the same cafe three blocks away every day without anyone keeping an eye on him. Here he comes!"

"He's setting his alibi up," I said calmly, "he has a lookalike for when he goes to ground or decides he wants to do a hit himself."

I sighed and dug into my duffle, pulling out a tiny syringe and palming it

"Liams is subject to epileptic fits, he takes a suppressant to calm them, but he hasn't switched in five years, he's about to relapse," I said calmly. I looked at Will.

"What do I do?" he asked seriously.

"We get out and walk, I'm going to pretend to be tipsy, 21st birthday. You're going to indulgently guide me toward that hotel over there, when I ask when we started, answer your phone and lose track of me before getting me off of Liams. Ironhide, circle the block quietly and pick us up two blocks down from the Cafe. On my mark."

"On it," they both replied. I watched as he sat and the waitress poured him some water.

"Now," I said quietly, taking a quick sip of whiskey. Will got out of the truck and I followed. Ironhide quietly pulled out into traffic and made a right.

"And oh my god, did you see his face!?" I asked Will in a bright, cheerful, slightly tipsy voice. "He was like, you totally can't out drink me, and I totally whooped his butt!" I giggled.

"Yes you did dear," Will laughed tolerantly, leading me past the cafe, "now let's get you to the hotel and you can sleep off the epic binder."

"It's Noon!" I giggled, "when'd we start again?"

"Ten last night," Will chuckled, "Hold on a second." he stopped and pulled his phone out of his pocket, I continued on as though I hadn't heard him and promptly stumbled over a chair, landing against Liams.

"Whoops!" I said in a bright voice, struggling to get up again. "Sorry buddy, HEY! Were you at the party last night!?" I grinned at him.

"No," Liams said in an irritated voice as Lennox quickly came over and retrieved me, "Please be so kind as to control your girlfriend." he added to Will before looking at the menu again.

"Sorry man, 21st birthday," Will stated apologetically, "come on sweetie," he added, wrapping an arm around my shoulders again.

"Aw Danny you're the bestest," I slurred, leaning against him and walking without a care in the world.

We made it halfway through the second block when screams erupted behind us.

"Is it a party!?" I asked with a bright grin, turning around. A group of people surrounded Liams, blocking him from view.

"No sweetie," Will said soothingly, "come on, bed time."

"Bed!" I exclaimed cheerfully. Ironhide pulled up in front of us.

"There you are man! Thought you abandoned us!" Will called out.

"Nah, but if she hurls I might just," Ironhide bellowed back, his holoform reached over and opened the door. I climbed in and promptly seemed to fall asleep on Hide's shoulder as he drove carefully away.

"Tell me when we're at least ten blocks away," I murmured.

We sat in silence for a few minutes.

"Now we are." Lennox murmured. I sat up and leaned back in the seat, covering my face and forcing myself to breathe deeply.

"Two down four to go." I whispered.

07:30

Location: C17

"Okay, nothing there," Lennox said grimly. "We got to the plane, flew to London, I was with her constantly until we got to the London guy's place."

Optimus still took a couple of minutes to watch everything at high speed before playing the next segment.

220:05

Location: London Airspace

I opened my eyes, stretched and stood up, shaking Will's shoulder.

"C'mon flyboy," I laughed at the half-awake man. "this is our stop."

"We're on a plane, where's the stop?" Will groaned, stretching.

"'Chuting in to the Manske Gardens. I pulled a string, or rather, Barry did, there's a practice drop over the city, they're going in with red chutes, practicing a Christmas thing, maybe Guy Fawkes. Something. Anyway. Barry's got it figured out. You good with wing suits?"

"Wing suites!" Will exclaimed, sitting bolt upright.

"Cool your cannons, I'm kidding." I laughed. "But seriously, grab your chute."

"Where are we dropping in?" Lennox asked calmly.

"I told you, Manske Gardens. And just remember, don't call me Angel or Mikaela. Kae's fine." I strapped on my chute and watched Lennox with his.

"Okay," I said calmly, holding up some papers and pointing, "its a night drop, you're aiming for this dark patch here. The safe house is here, if we get split up meet at the house."

The announcement came over the speakers.

"You good?" I asked him firmly, "if you're still groggy you can land and meet me at the safe house."

"I'm good, shit, I don't usually get this much warning," Will grinned.

"Awesome." I grinned, walking toward the opening doors. Chance had himself hooked up to the safety lines already.

"Alright, remember where you're aiming Lennox!" I shouted, taking a running leap down the barely open hatchway. Arms tight to my sides I sped toward the earth before opening my arms, wing suit.

My speed decreased.

"Lennox," I shouted, "I know you're probably watching this, I'm sorry for ditching you, but Manske is paranoid, I need to go in silent on this one. I would have adored having you as backup, but I don't know how good you are at free running." I spied the Manske Gardens, lit up beautifully amidst it's hundreds of manicured trees. There were a hundred bright red parachutes blooming close by. I pulled my pin and joined them for a minute before throwing myself into a fatal looking spin.

Three hundred, two hundred, one hundred, I corrected fifty feet above the Manske estates and landed on the roof. My chute collapsed quickly around me. Perfect.

In moments I had it stuffed back into the bag and began running along the rooflines. There was a party tonight. Talk about timing. I squinted and found myself surprised that I could zoom in on the individual people, I could hear them.

"Ratchet, if I ever see you again, I am going to give you the best detailing you've ever had," I whispered softly. Two men nodded to each other and wandered toward the trees.

"So she is dead?" Lorenne of all people asked quietly.

"She is, one of my men looked at her grave, there is an urn with ashes and bone fragments inside the casket, but we found an identifying mark." Manske murmured.

"Which is?"

"She still had a capsule, shattered glass with that Irish drunk's signature on it." the Brit whispered gleefully. "She's dead, we can move without fear! I also hope you enjoy the fact that I had my man piss on their graves."

"Here's to Prime Ministers of police states!" Lorenne grinned, raising his glass of champagne. I carefully loaded a shot into my rifle, palming the second.

"You know, I always did love your style, Angel," A man's voice murmured behind me. "I call truce, these bastards are ordering me to kill innocents. I don't do that."

"Sabre?" I whispered in shock.

"Hey Angel, nice to meet you in person for once," the assassin grinned. "Here, I made these for you."

I turned around slowly to see the man crawling toward me with one hand held out.

I reached over cautiously and accepted two bullets.

"You carved angel wings into the bullets?" I asked in amusement.

"Knew you'd shown up the second Mai grew a third eye," Sabre chuckled. "Please tell me you're bugged?"

"Sub dermals, they're awesome," I grinned. "To work?"

"I call Lorenne," Sabre grinned taking one of the bullets and loading it into his own rifle. "Love the work with the 'chute by the way, they're going to be scrambling for days trying to figure out who or what you were. I'm going to borrow that cover from you."

"Go for it, I'll be gone," I murmured, tracking Manske. "How did you know my calibre?"

"You're Cal's daughter aren't you?" he chuckled. "Who do you think taught me to shoot? The man had his favourites. You sang beautifully by the way, I wish I could have told you that at the funeral."

"Shit you're everywhere Sabe," I murmured, "Feeling a little bit of envy, so what would you like to say for the camera?"

"Camera too? Sweet. Welp, my code name is Sabre, I'd like to resubmit my resume to the CIA, I've been trying to feed them information without it getting to Liams, which is bloody hard. I thought of retiring but I didn't make it a month. Boring. Anyway, don't need much in the way of pay. You got a safe house nearby?"

"Nope."

"Good, me neither, we'll hit the cafe?"

"Absolutely. Oh and don't say you don't want to be paid!" I chuckled.

"Oh you gettin' paid?"

"Nah, they buried the boys with honours, I'm making sure it sticks."

"Good girl, whoop! Here we go! Follow me out, I got a good route for us."

"Three."

"Two."

"One."

Sabre and I fired simultaneously, up and running the next second.

"I'm shocked you're trusting me," Sabre grinned over his shoulder.

"Hey, a man who'll let me follow him has got my trust," I replied, jumping to the fire escape just behind him.

We were outside the walls minutes later, running toward The Assassin.

"It never fails to amuse me when everyone turns up," Sabre chuckled, looking around the almost empty pub and holding a knapsack out to me. "Listen, we'd better make this quick, you didn't gain weight did you?"

"You brought me civvies? Oh you darling," I chuckled, quickly changing into the modest blouse and jeans he'd provided me with. I stuffed everything into the bag and slung it over my shoulder, linking my arm with his.

"Sabe, why'd you go rogue?" I asked in a sad tone.

"They had me working for Liams, you know who the fifth target he gave me was?" Sabre growled.

"Who?" I asked quietly.

"Di," Sabre growled softly. "That sweet, gentle woman. Met her, you know? They wanted her messy so that they could build up a decent third world. I don't do messy, and I don't do innocents. Sho taught me better than that. So I sent 'em a warning, but Xiao drugged the driver. They covered it at least. Oh, and I didn't do the Sec Def either, Liams trained this damned guppy to use my signature. Please tell me you got 'Otis safe? I Rogued a second time 'cause they wanted me to go after the family. I never found out if young Shrubby gave him a go-to to hide them from me."

"I did, and no, bloody oil families." I turned to look Sabre in the eye. "Are you true?" I asked in a firm tone.

"Truer than your daddy's bullets, may they rest in peace." Sabre growled.

"Right well personal note then," I made a point of holding my wrist to my mouth, "Barry, give Sabre the run down, check him out, he might be a good go-to for 'Otis."

"Oh shit you got Barry!" Sabre laughed, "Damn girl, awesome. How's he doing?"

"It's Barry, he could be on his death bed with every disease known to man and still whup our asses."

Sabre laughed and pulled out a small case of chips, tucking them into my pocket.

"There's my details," Sabre said calmly. "Semper Fi Angel, I'll let you get back to your handler." Sabre gave me a small salute and wandered off with a jaunty step, disappearing into the crowd.

I walked casually to the safe house, walked through the door and straight into a very upset Chromia.

"Four down, two to go, and a new friend," I smiled at her.

"You. Are in trouble." Chromia glared.

"Okay, but before you ream me out the plan has been upped, we're going straight to Hong Kong. Tell Bee to stop worrying about the fact that he lost Lorenne. I found him."

05:30

Location: C17

"Chromia reamed her out something fierce too," Lennox added. "So did I, actually."

Optimus nodded. His Kae knew a powerful killer, had such an easy rapport with him... He shook himself and quickly flew through the next several hours of tape until Kae was on her own again.

100:00

Location: Hong Kong

(MPOV)

"Welcome to Hong Kong," Sideswipe's holoform greeted us with a bright smile. "My name is Cho and I will be your driver on this," he looked up at the rain. "Beautiful Coastal day," Sides grinned, "I always wanted to do that."

"Sideswipe we're at a friggen Military base," I laughed.

"C'mon, you don't think I'd actually do that in public!?"

"Okay touche," Will grinned, "so did you find him?"

"Yep, man, you wouldn't believe how easy it was."

"They're keeping to the public eye, they disappear and people start to think they're behind something," I chuckled. "The plus of them actually believing I'm dead."

"Yeah well, our dear Commander is at home with his wife and kids," Sideswipe chuckled. I groaned. "What?" he asked curiously. "You have an appointment with him in two hours at his beach house, he adores going out to cheat."

"How the hell?" I asked Sideswipe incredulously.

"Intercepted his call to a masseuse," Sideswipe grinned.

"Shit Sides, this is way too easy," Mikaela chuckled.

"Well, sort of, I didn't actually get the Kimono, those chicks were staring at me weird," Sideswipe grumbled.

"Probably because you're Japanese and speaking with an english accent." I murmured. Will looked at me from the passenger seat and burst out laughing.

"Is that all that was?" Sideswipe asked incredulously. "Damn, I'll come in then." he parked out front of a tailors. We were in and out in minutes, I crawled into the backseat and quickly changed.

"Okay, here we go!" Sideswipe's holoform announced gleefully.

I closed my eyes.

"Kae? We're here," Lennox murmured.

"Geisha time," I groaned, then straightened myself into a demure young lady.

Lennox, dressed in his suit, helped me from the car, I minced my way to the door behind Sideswipe and walked through.

"Early, good." the butler stated calmly, bowing to me. I inclined myself lightly and followed. Shang was already laying on his bed.

Starkers. Old. Wrinkly. Starkers.

I minced over and immediately set to work.

Shang pushed himself up indignantly.

"You are not the same-!" he began. I snapped his neck and delicately righted it, laying him on the table again. I moved away, waited a few seconds, wiping my hands before walking out of the room.

"Problem?" The butler asked calmly.

"Sir wishes a different Geisha," I murmured softly, "We will send another." I bowed slightly and walked out the door.

"That was fast." Will murmured, tucking me into the back seat.

"Happy ending?" I asked as Sideswipe took off. "Ugh, does anyone have a wet wipe?"

"You didn't!" Will asked in shock.

"Pff, no, ew, but I've got grease on my hands. Nice one though Sides, that's a record."

"I am just that good," Sideswipe chuckled.

2:00

Location: C17

"I'll give him a commendation," Optimus murmured, skipping through the recording until he reached the right spot. "Right, Moscow."

11:00

Location: KGB headquarters

(WPOV)

"Why did we drive all this way again?" Will groaned.

"Professional courtesy," Mikaela said quietly.

"He sends hit men after you and you give professional courtesy?" Will grumbled.

"Petrov is different," Mikaela replied. "And why are you complaining? Optimus drove the entire way. On dreadful diesel."

"I wish I could say it was the worst I've had," Optimus rumbled quietly, his holoform turned around to look at them.

"I'll be back in a while," Mikaela stated, her eyes were far away. "We have a lot to discuss." she exited the sleeper cab and walked up the stairs. Will stayed at her shoulder.

Vachenkov met them at the door.

"He has been vaiting, Angel," he said quietly. She nodded, following the man. She turned and looked at Will.

"Stay here, you'll be safe," she murmured. Will nodded. They stepped into an elevator. Vachenkov opened a flap and allowed the retinal scanner to look at his eye. The doors closed.

(MPOV)

"You don't need to take mine eye," he added calmly, standing beside me. "I haff been Petrov's second in command for tventy years. He told me five days ago that you vould come. And the reasons vhy. I ask that you do not kill me, my first loyalty is to Ruska. I vill remain to escort you out."

I looked up at him with sadness in my eyes.

"I'm sorry," I said quietly.

"That you must kill me?" the man looked cooly down at me.

"No, that I must kill Petrov." I sighed, "the rest of them, the rest of them were murderers, Petrov was always loyal, a good man for an assassin." The door opened.

"Ah, but we need new blood," Petrov said quietly, offering me his arm. "I am glad that you did indeed come, Angel."

"I am no Angel," I snorted.

"But you are," Petrov stated gently, a needle jabbed into my side.

"Ow. Ricin?" I asked quietly, allowing him to lead me to the table.

"A new form," Petrov sighed. "You were kind, gave me time to say goodbye to my family. When I am outed Vachenkov would be forced to kill me slowly for my superior's enjoyment. He did not wish to, and I do not wish to suffer." He turned, released my arm and held my chair. "You will die quickly in ten days, if I had found this sooner it would have been my trademark."

"You always were the merciful one," I said gently, sitting across from him.

"Yes, well, your family still put me to shame. So many religions and yet they still worked and killed peacefully. Hell, they barely killed!" he poured two shots of Vodka and slid one toward me. "A drink, I would most regret not sharing a drink with Cal's Angel before she let me go to my hell in peace."

"No," I said softly, "of all of us, I'm pretty sure you'd have the best chance of getting up there. I appreciate the Ricin though, I have a friend who swore to never let me become a murderer - Me! Friends!" I exclaimed, tapping my glass against Petrov's raised one. We drank.

"What is the world coming to? An assassin with friends!" Petrov laughed, pouring another. He looked at me for a long moment.

"You wish to ask why," he stated calmly, pouring me another before setting the bottle down and sitting back in his seat.

"I do," I murmured. "You never struck me as a man who wanted power."

"I never did. Power is a trap, an addiction I never developed the taste for," Victor scowled. "But it was me or Antonin Demitrov, do you remember him at all?" Victor asked curiously.

"Tall, blonde, black eyes, and a look about him that had father sending me off to hide the second he stepped foot in the shop?" I murmured curiously.

"That is a most apt description," Victor laughed.

"So you took Demitrov's place," I stated quietly.

"Indeed," Victor nodded. "He was Lorenne's contact, here. A man who loved torture, who loved power to abuse it, and unfortunately smart. They covered their tracks, so I played the game, Angel. Set myself to stand in this place today. So that if their plan had succeeded I could keep my beloved Ruska safe. It is our way, as we both know. We are the wildcards."

"We stand and watch the world go by," I murmured.

"Eliminate the most dangerous threats with conscience," Victor added.

"And we stand in preparation to take the blame, the necessary evil," we chorused sadly, raising our glasses to each other. We drank.

"Ah, I miss the old days." he sighed.

"When this was a gentleman's game," I agreed softly.

"When I would have been allowed to attend your father's funeral," Petrov shook his head, "They were buried together?" he asked gently.

"Side by side," I nodded. "Heros."

"And the report says an angel sang," Petrov sighed. He raised his glass. "May you fly, dear, beautiful Angel that you are."

"And you, Petrov," I said softly. We drank. "I truly appreciate the ricin, though, somehow I don't think he'll go through with it. Once I kill you I will be a murderer."

"But I am not an innocent," Petrov stated, pouring another glass for each of us.

"No, but neither are you wholly guilty." I sighed, throwing back the shot. "You still have hope and mercy in your eyes."

"I have killed you," Petrov sighed, "and mostly? So that you would not try to renege. Little Angel I hope that I do not see you in Hell."

"Do you have any confessions, or did you want to pray first?" I asked in a choked voice. "I don't want you to leave unresolved."

"I am finished, and you are stalling," Petrov stated firmly. He stood and offered me a hand, drawing me from the table and drawing me into a hug. We stood for a long moment. "Come, we must not talk each other out of death." Victor stated gruffly, pulling back.

"Gonna miss you Vic," I stated, a tear rolled down my cheek.

"Hush," he said gently, wiping my tears away with gentle thumbs. "Sho hid my VFG disc with the others. Let me go with honour."

Victor Petrov stood straight and proud.

"What I did, I did for the love of my country," he stated in a firm voice.

I caught his jaw with a strong punch, wrapped the force around and struck his neck. He sagged into my arms and Vachenkov moved forward, helping me settle him into his massive office chair. He picked up my glass and thoroughly washed all prints or DNA from it, setting it among the beautiful crystal glasses and decanter on Petrov's desk.

Between the two of us, we tidied the office for Petrov to be found in dignity.

"Thank you," Vachenkov said quietly, offering me his arm.

I nodded wordlessly and allowed him to lead me into the elevator and through the foyer. He looked at Will as he came up the steps to collect me.

"If you have the chance, clean her blood," Vachenkov told the man quietly, "The Angel is still pure, but her blood has been poisoned. The micro-granules will stick to her veins in tventy hours. Be at peace, Angel." He looked at me sadly before walking back into his place of business.

"What the fuck?" Will murmured.

"I broke my promise, Will, I'm sorry," I shook my head sadly and walked toward Optimus, climbing into the heated cab.

"It's finished," I said softly, climbing into the heated cab. "My father's spirit can rest in peace, and I will join him soon." I closed my eyes and let unconsciousness enfold me.