MASK: Legacy Saga 3: The Fallen
Chapter 8
The story so far:
During a conversation with Matt Trakker, Duane Kennedy reveals that the PNA has been updating a state of the art missile guidance system that Andy Trakker had been working on many years ago. Despite Matt's reservations, Duane assures him that the system can only be activated using two control keys, his and the UN President's. After disconnecting the call with Matt, Duane and his wife are murdered by two mysterious assailants that also steal his control key. In the meantime, Scott Trakker has been released from the hospital, and he and Annie are on their way home for some much needed relaxation. A disturbing message from Roxanne disrupts their happy reunion, as does Annie's call to report to Boulderhill. Annie leaves heatedly to find out the news of Duane's death, and she, Jessenia Hayes, and Matt head to New York to meet with Inaya Vendun and assist in the investigation. Scott, against doctor's orders and Annie's better judgment, leaves for Roxanne's apartment, finding only shambles and the signs that something deadly has happened to his sister. The New York investigation turns up little evidence other than hair samples and a mysteriously broken tree branch on the security tapes. The MASK agents return to Roxanne's apartment after a frantic phone call from Scott. Joined by Buddy, they find grisly evidence of Roxanne's hatred of Annie in the form of a homemade dartboard and the murder weapon, a Phoenix handled knife Annie had been missing for some time. After a small nervous breakdown and heated argument with Scott, Annie and the others join with the older members of the team to find Roxanne and keep the other key to the missile guidance system out of VENOM's hands. Against the PNA's direct orders, the team travels to South Africa, lead by a strained Annie and Matt. Roxanne resurfaces in VENOM's headquarters, and arrests Miles Mayhem for treason, apparently under the orders of his son Jon. She then proceeds to take control of VENOM, much to the annoyance of the other agents. Vanessa is nominated by the other VENOM agents to find out exactly what is going on.
Author's Notes: We thought a story recap might help everyone keep the cast of characters and ongoing details fresh in everyone's mind. We want to keep you guessing, but not to the point of total confusion. So, does everybody have that all straight? Good…now we can shake things up again. Enjoy the next chapter!
Special thanks to: AnubisSoundwave (Hi Jay:) ) for the ability to write a good recap, and the implied use of her "Star Trek Phaser Rifle Rule" ™.
It didn't take Vanessa long to catch up to her. Roxanne was the only other woman on the base; it was only natural for every man in the vicinity to flock towards her. Sure enough once Vanessa reached the garage area, Roxanne was surrounded with men trying to impress her. Or in other words, get into the bed of the most powerful woman on the world's most wanted list. Vanessa huffed disgusted at the thought, as she stood back and watched from her vantage point behind Jackhammer's tinted windows. It was almost like looking at a younger version of herself. When she first started VENOM she knew every man in Contra World desired her, which made her vulnerable to attacks. Yet the moment she left one man in the nude dangling in the hanger with no pride left, nobody dared to approach her ever again. Only one man was still a fool to chase after her, Sly Rax. To this day, she still doesn't understand why that man is persistent to have somebody who could never love them back.
What she was watching unfold before her eyes was different from her own experiences. None of the men could even touch her; in fact, they were well behaved. Vanessa started to realize she wouldn't have any chance to have a one on one with her new superior. The two men at Roxanne's side were obviously personal bodyguards. Their eyes drifted through the crowed for trouble makers, and they kept her at arms length to pull away at a sign of danger.
Odd that she would need protection? The way she incapacitated Lester made it appear she was able to handle herself. I find it a bit troublesome that she's manage to earn the respect of every Contra World solider over night, when it took me years to get where I was at.
The crowed around Roxanne started to dissipate the moment a black SUV pulled into the garage. The man who hopped out of the SUV was just who Vanessa had been waiting to show up. That's what I thought. Only Jon would have the daughter of his father's most hated enemy knock his own father out of power for pure amusement. She couldn't hear anything, but the way Jon put his arm around Roxanne's shoulder gave her some idea of how strong of a bond they had. It puzzled her. How did Jon manage to snag Roxanne so easy? The last time she saw them together, she was reluctantly became a virus victim to save a friend. She knew Jon was a very cunning man, who could get anything or anyone he wanted, but what made her so special? There was a long list that started to develop in her mind, and it was clear Jon's plans were on a bigger scale. He didn't just want Contra World…he wanted the world.
She continued to observe the competition with narrow eyes of suspicion, and choose to follow the two lovebirds as they retired back to Jon's private guest quarters. It was her luck that the door hadn't been closed all away; therefore, she stealthy approached the door getting a view of Roxanne sitting on the side of the bed. It wasn't her thing to be a peeping tom, but any information she could get could prove valuable in the long run.
"I thought you said you were leaving everything in my capable hands. Do you not trust me?" Roxanne asked slightly infuriated.
"My dear…I've learn to trust no one. Tomorrow will be a major victory for us both, if all runs smoothly. It's important that you hold it together out there." He replied in a serious voice.
"I don't know what lies your spies are feeding you, but I'm ready to face my father and that stupid joke he calls a team."
He moved over to the bed holding two wine glasses and dazed into her eyes, "I believe you. Besides," Jon handed her a glass, then ran his freed hand over her cheek gently, " I couldn't stand to be apart from you another night."
"I don't have time to fool around, there is work to do."
He forcefully moved in and kissed her passionately. "My dear then all I ask is one drink to celebrate, before we embark on our new journey," Jon whispers inches from her lips. "Shall we drink to our revenge?" He asked as the two glasses clang softly.
Roxanne sat there flushed in the face and her heart still pounded from Jon's kiss. "To our revenge. And may they never see it coming." She added as she brought the glass to her lips.
"I think you should rest up before the mission. I'll handle any preparations." Jon suggested. "You look tired my demonic angle."
"I'm…. I'm not,"Roxanne suddenly felt her eyelids droop, "…tired." The moment she started to fall back on the bed, Jon rush in and grabbed the wine glass. He set the glass on a nearby table, then pulled her entire body upon the bed.
Vanessa intensely watched from the crack. She thought she'd be force to watch the couple smooching each other to death, but she didn't expect Jon to drug her. What is he up to?
After making sure she was fast asleep, Jon rolled up her long sleeves to reveal old bandages around both her wrist and bruises from puncture wounds up and down her arms. He then pulled out a medical box hidden in a nearby drawer, "I'm sorry darling, but we'll have to celebrate another night. I need you to be in peak condition tomorrow. I won't have you second guessing yourself like last time." He then suddenly stopped feeling, as thought, a pair of eyes were watching him. Jon turned his attention towards the door and noticed it wasn't closed all the way. Once he reached the door, nobody was there. He even glanced down the hallway both ways, expecting to see somebody making a fast getaway. Satisfied that nobody had disturbed them, he shut the door locking it behind him.
Vanessa felt like her heart was skipping, as she almost got caught. Hadn't it been for an adjacent room being left open, she would of probably been shot on the spot. She's nothing more then a puppet to him. It's pointless to even try to get to her. He's filled her head and body with so much crap she probably doesn't remember who she is. I warned her ahead time, but she doesn't listen. She closed her eyes for a brief moment thinking of the young girl she thought reminded her of her daughter Annie. That was part of the reason she so eagerly took her under her wing in the first place. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she figured if she could raise Roxanne it would ease the guilt of the child she gave up all those years ago. She foolishly told herself she could of raise her in these conditions, but it's too late to save Roxanne now. To think Annie could have grown up to be in her position. I guess I did make the right choice, even if she doesn't understand. Remembering the looks of utter hatred that her daughter had thrown her during both sets of her captivity with Contra World allowed Vanessa to put her mantle of cold uncaring back on. Forget it, it's not worth reliving when there's more important things to worry about right now. Vanessa glanced through the open doorway and looked down both directions of the hallway before heading back to the mess hall without another thought for Roxanne or Annie.
The male VENOM agents were still huddled around a table in the mess hall, eagerly awaiting news from Vanessa. "What's taking her so long?" Lester tapped his fingers against the table desperately needing a fix to calm his nerves.
"Maybe they're bonding and having a good cry?" Nash suggested.
"We'll thank you Dr. Phil," Rax snapped. Nash just sneered back at Rax's comment and chose not to bother with a man with an IQ of 2.
"I don't think that women even capable of it," Bruno added.
"Don't think she maybe killed her?" Floyd threw the question out onto the table slightly sweating at the thought.
"Wait you saying Vanessa killed Roxy…or Roxy kill Vanessa?" Dagger asked.
"Are we wagering any bets?" Sly Rax smirked wickedly.
Before any further discussion could go on, Vanessa burst into the mess hall angry, "What the hell are you still sitting on your asses for? We have vehicles to prep."
"Now look whose shouting out orders, we were hoping you calm the ice princess down and we could take it easy another night." Rax slyly replied.
"If you want to breath in the morning, I suggest you get to work. That isn't Roxy anymore. If she doesn't kill ya, Jon will."
All the wise cracks were replaced with seriousness the moment Jon name was mention. This was what they were all dreading from the start a take over. With Jon in charge it was do or die. Each VENOM agent walked out of the room determine to get to work, because their very lives depended on it.
Matt Trakker quickly flew Thunderhawk back to MASK's makeshift base in Africa, sighing deeply and wondering where it all went wrong. Negotiations with the UN President had gone badly to say the least: the man wanted nothing to do with an organization whose leader had a daughter and former member on the world's most wanted list. Matt was told in no uncertain terms that MASK was to leave the area immediately or face severe criminal charges. HE had implored them to reconsider, and so had Annie for that matter, although her methods were slightly more drastic. She had been so out of control that Matt had to ask her to leave the conference session before it deteriorated to the point where not even his diplomacy could save it. And that, he decided suddenly, was partially the problem. He was looking for someone to blame for this entire mess, and Annie Turner was moving ever closer to the top of his list. Her hatred of Roxanne definitely was no secret, nor was the fact that she had her own little set of personal underground contacts. And the way she'd been acting lately, he could almost begin to believe that Annie was deliberately trying to undermine any progress he was trying to make during this mission. She was her father all over again: stubborn, headstrong, willful, argumentative, caustic, and overall, completely out of line. The realization dawned on Matt that he was trying to blame Annie for what happened to Roxanne, just like he had wanted to blame Brad for what had happened to his brother Andy. The fact that Annie and Brad both had connections to Vanessa Warfield didn't help dissipate the seeds of the conspiracy theory forming in his mind.
He pushed those thoughts out of his mind temporarily and landed Thunderhawk next to Rhino, and he could clearly see Phoenix parked alongside the rest of the vehicles. He walked up the steps to Rhino's temporary command post; stopping in the doorway when he saw Annie's back was toward him. He observed her for a moment unannounced, wishing fervently that she didn't look so much like her mother. Right now it wasn't making his job any easier.
"How did the negotiations go?" When Matt didn't reply right away, Annie turned toward him and flashed a self-depreciating smile. "I knew the reflection in the back lighting was yours. I think I scared everyone else off."
"Not good," Matt said calmly, ignoring her latter commentary. "The whole team was basically threatened with court martial if we intervene."
Annie took the news solemnly, but he saw guilt flash through her green eyes. "I'm sorry, Matt. If I hadn't…"
"It wouldn't have mattered either way, Annie," Matt said matter of factly. "The PNA and UN have their minds made up, and they won't listen to arguments from anyone, especially us." His voice hardened with resolve as he finished, "But they aren't the only ones who aren't going to listen. They're getting our help whether they want it or not."
Annie smiled a particularly vicious smile. "I thought you might feel that way, so I formulated a plan while you were gone."
Matt arched a questioning eyebrow at her, "You've been taking liberties in my absence."
"I haven't finalized anything yet. I wanted your approval, so that I might have a chance at redeeming myself."
Matt felt the irritation he felt fading away with a genuine smile as Annie grinned lopsidedly at him. "If you don't mind, I'd like to have the team present…" For a moment she thought Matt mistrust her judgment, but doubt slipped from her face as he continued, "Sometimes it's better when more heads are involved in the planning, especially when the stakes are high."
"Of course Matt that won't be a problem, but before I face the team. Can I ask you a personal question? Why'd you ask Buddy to stay behind? We of could use him here."
"Buddy is gathering more intelligence. He suggested the idea, and I granted his request."
"Without discussing it with me." Annie boldly remark.
"The decision was already made final before you came in to lead this team. Now…" Matt opened the outside door of Rhino's computer room and indicated Annie to walk outside with a friendly swooping hand motion, "Let's get down to business."
Once outside Annie put her fingers in her mouth and whistled. "Gather around team! Time for a briefing!"
"Annie your gonna make some of us deaf, if you continue to whistle at that frequency," Jess sarcastically grinned back.
"Last time I check Jess, I thought the only time you turned deaf was when your father gave ya orders." Annie sharply replied back, which caused a few chuckles among the agents, except for Dusty.
"Pot, Kettle, Black," Jess replied good-naturedly until a rather pointed look from Matt silenced the girl's banter.
Annie settled down and began to debrief the rest of the agents. "Alright team, we'll have a better chance of discovering and taking out VENOM when they arrive with a little advance notice, so I'd like to have the team split into three groups. I know everybody wants to be a part of the action, but this increases our chance of blowing our cover. The president doesn't want our help; therefore we can't let him even know were on the premises. This is a perfect opportunity to use Dad I mean Brad's Hocus Pocus & Jacque's Mirage masks."
"There is only so much time…. we are able to maintain the power of our mask." Jacque reminded.
"The president has rather large palm trees & other vegetation outside the estate for added privacy. That should offer enough cover for the both of you. The only time you'll need to use your mask is when security makes its rounds every hour."
"Then it sounds like a do able plan," Brad remarked with a smile, "with a pot of coffee."
I'd also like to lead a scouting party and scan the grounds within a few miles of the President's Mansion." Annie pulled out a sheaf of notes she had been working on, along with some maps generated from Rhino's computer system. Matt leaned over for a closer look as Annie winked at him. "I've worked out all the details, of course…that is, with your consent…"
"Who do you want for your first scouting team?"
"Hurricane, Firefly, and Rhino. Bruce I would like you to do some modifications to Rhino's smoke screen."
"That is very wise thinking Annie," Bruce put his hand on his chin, " It's like hiding a elephant in front of a gray wall."
"We're not running a circus Bruce, we're going into battle," Dusty replied scratching his head.
"No kidding, how can you always relate our situations to some sort of animal?" Hondo asked.
Oddly enough Matt fully understood the plan and disclosed the information to his confused teammates. "What Annie & Bruce are thinking involves turning Rhino in a sand vacuum. Then by using smoke screen, the sand will expel giving the cover of a sand storm. The huge rig will just blend in with the surrounding sand."
"That is brilliant thinking. Shouldn't take too long to make the adjustments!" Alex added.
"I'd like you to do the same for Phoenix, Alex, just in case I need her smoke screen as well." Alex nodded agreement while Annie continued with her discussion. "The final team consist of Thunderhawk, Gator, Raven, and Shark will remain here at the command post, until VENOM attacks. You'll be our backup incase this turns out to be an ambush. We don't know when VENOM will strike, and we need to be ready at a moments notice. Also it's very important that VENOM makes the first move, else we have no jurisdiction to interfere," Annie turned to Matt eagerly waiting for an answer, "Of course the plan isn't official until you approve it sir."
Matt glanced at the faces of each teammate, checking to see if anyone doubted the plan. Once he was certain, he made his response loud and clear. "Sounds like you have everything under control. Remember team, today could very well be our last."
"Did you really have to end that on a sour note Matt?" Dusty asked
Hondo crossed his arms and smirked at the cowboy, "Depending on how this goes we'll either be praised or thrown in jail by the end of this battle."
"I'm still trying to be optimistic," Gloria reminded in a positive note.
"Let's get going people," Annie's voice rose over all the small talk, "Every minute counts."