Chapter 38: Pen and Sword
November 20th 2010 0720 Hours
Aboard the Fruition, The Indian Ocean
Our current heading was south, probably back to Port Elizabeth again, by tomorrow we'd be passing in between Madagascar and the continent. The open sea was starting to get colder, it only got warmer when we got closer to shore so it looked like I wasn't going to be running on the deck for a while. It was actually still dark when I decided to set up three targets at the bow of the ship. As I was looking up from the deck, with my Toy Box and a small folding table in tow, I saw that there was a heavy gray overcast but it didn't look like it was gonna rain. I was in the clear for about an hour or so until I had to make breakfast.
It was always good to keep the practice up but I don't think my shooting skills were going to be perishable anytime soon. As I finished laying out the clips of 5.56 and .45 caliber I took out my HK416, it hadn't really seen much use since I switched over to my ACR. That didn't mean it had seen use, period. It, along with a few other of my weapons, had seen their fair share of use and abuse with scratches, dings, chipped paint, and worn plastic. It was down to its basic shell though since I put all my accessories on my ACR. I just put a fore grip on it and decided to go for iron sights today. Each weapon I had, had been in a fight and had taken a life. But at least no violence would be here today. I wrapped my hair in a ponytail, put on my ear muffs, and loaded my first mag. I was only firing in single shot for now and each mag had only three shots, just to make sure I didn't need to adjust the sights and that my grouping was tight. Then I would put one of my holo sights on it and practice with a full mag.
After marking my first grouping with a marker I decided to see how fast I could get a double tap on each of the three targets. But as I was loading the mag, I got two pulls on my hair.
"Ding, ding!"
Koko was behind me. Dressed in casual fall ware that was appropriate for this time of year.
"What are you doing up so early?"
"You blasting that metal in the gym this morning woke me up."
Total lie. It wasn't on THAT loud. But since we all had to do something to occupy our time on here I handed here my rifle and motioned with my head down range if she wanted to give it a shot. After putting on my extra set of ear muffs she took it like it was instinct. Checking to see if the chamber was clear, loading the mag, slapping the bolt forward and using the proper stance all in a continuously fluid motion.
It didn't really surprise me when she loaded one of my three shot mags and put two in the heart and one in the head on the paper targets down range making it look absurdly easy.
"I was gonna see how good your grouping was but that works too."
"The frame has a bit of a rattle, I suggest you get it tightened up." She said handing it back to me. Her observation very much correct.
"Huh. I'll put it on my to do list."
"What else do you have in here?" She said sticking her head in my weapons crate.
"Hey. No touching my junk."
"Wow, you're not much for subtlety Damien. I've never touched you there." She said with her fingers to her lips.
I immediately regretted my choice of words. I should have known better that if I came up with opportunities to screw with everyone, she would too. I just rolled my eyes and did my best to not look like an idiot.
"Hey this isn't what I think it is, is it?" She said holding up a black plastic case, it wasn't my .44 Magnum.
"Something wrong Koko?"
"I gave you these Sig Sauer's for a reason Damien." She opened it up, confused on what she was looking at. "The damn thing's still wrapped in its plastic."
"Never really was a big fan of 9mm. Just too…standard." I said playing it off.
"Ugh. How does Valmet put up with you?"
"I'm just that adorable." I said to her with probably a look that was a bit too smug.
"Huggability level of a box of kittens aside, I told you why I wanted everyone to use the same type of round."
Putting aside the fact of trying to figure out guy my intimidating size with scars, tattoos, and having a voice that more often or not sounded like a rabid dog was classified as huggable, I couldn't just cast aside the two most reliable tools I had used in the last two and a half years. I had asked the dealer that I bought them from to specifically be ordered from Colt Manufacturing. He managed to come up with a pair of them, modified so that they would ensure maximum comfort for the shooter. Such as a lighter trigger pull, ring hammer, extended thumb safety, deep checkered grip, and a three dot glow sight. The fact that both of them were all black just added a bit of style.
"Everyone has something that distinguishes them from the rest of the squad. Lutz has his rifle, Sophia has her knife, Ugo has his Desert Eagle, and I got these." I said holding both of them.
"You think you're Chow Yun Fat?" She asked.
I chuckled. "I'm not THAT awesome."
"Wow. You finally admit that you're not the best of the best."
"Hey now, I'm not full of hot air like Lehm. I know I have limits."
"Really? Cause your jackass meter doesn't seem to have one."
This was one of those moments to see if one of us could out wit the other. But more often than not it continued on a never ending loop of the two of us just acting silly. It was also too early for this shit. I also knew that this was one of those moments she wanted to be alone with me. Some say that she keeps to herself more than I do, but there's a reason why I was trained to read people.
"Y'all need anything from me little lady?" I said with a bit of a dip into my southern roots.
"Since you asked, the holidays are right around the corner. At the end of the year I like to treat my team to something rather special. A congratulations on a successful year and not just another way to celebrate HCLI's economics report. Is there anything that you haven't done yet or anyplace you haven't gone?"
The answer was obvious, but I knew that that wasn't what she was asking. It did surprise me that the end of the year was coming up. Time does pass rather quickly when you blow shit up and bullets fly up your ass. But this was a hard question she was asking. I didn't have anything I wanted to do, it was more along the lines of need.
"Eh. Whatever you guys have planned I'll just tag along." I said as I loaded my first pistol.
"Oh come on!" She then lunged at me. "You're not gonna be just another face in the crowd. Especially now that I know how good you can dance."
"You know the safety on this thing was off!?"
"Don't change the subject! I'm not letting go until you tell me what you wanna do!"
Very relived that my gun didn't go off, I cleared my head and thought for a few seconds. I already had been all around the planet and spending the New Year and Christmas in someplace tropical sounded a little too easy and predictable. But there was one thing I need to get done though, I just didn't know how to do it.
"How bout this? Let me get back to you on something to do. But there is something I'd like you to get for me. Or if it's too hard to find, make."
"Make? Something special you want to modify one of your guns with?"
"No. Something for people with disabilities." I said smiling to her and she then let me go.
"Ok. But that will be for later. But there is something I need to talk to you about, well prepare for anyway."
It was where we were heading and who would be there. I knew what she wanted to remind me about, I'd just have to listen. And pray that she didn't hold a grudge as bad as I did.
November 24th 2010 0900 Hours
The Hillsides North of Kirkwood, South Africa
After our arrival in Port Elizabeth yesterday we made a lengthy trip outside of the city of Kirkwood where Professor Amada's toy company, Marchen, had a new factory set up. Before we had arrived Koko had briefed us on board the Fruition that we were to see the end result of hard work and investment and that this was one of the things that were the fruits of their labors. We didn't really celebrate Thanksgiving Day on the ship since not all of us were American and quite frankly, me, Ugo, Lehm, and Wiley didn't really care. I'm not what you would call a businessman, but it's a simple understanding when that there's a demand for something you have to supply it. You also have to have the means to construct said supply and this was another piece in the business empire that was HCLI. The name Marchen though was somewhat familiar to me. In the boring moments on the job when I had to do paperwork, it came up kind of frequently. Koko had put a lot of time and investments into this new building and it brought me back to something I was trying to figure out earlier in the year. What her fancy project was, the so called "New World".
If this place was a 100% toy factory then I'm a fucking astronaut. From first glance it looked like your average run of the mill office building. But what was a dead giveaway that it was something more was that the place was surrounded by high concrete walls with barbed wire on top and security camera's all over the place. What kind of put me on edge a bit was that when we walked past the security checkpoint I got a brief glance of an M4 that looked like it was deliberately hidden. The guards did wear security uniforms and looked like average guys that were at their regular day job. But being a Green Beret, I could tell by the looks in their eye's that they were trained professionals. Real ones, not the wannabe vets like I had seen an infinite time over in my travels around the world. Whatever was really in there, only Koko and Dr. Miami knew about it. As they both introduced it to the audience of the crew and Amada's staff.
"Ladies and Gentlemen! Let's hear it for the successful completion of Marchen's newly completed factory!"
Their audience let out a polite applause while Lehm and I just stood there looking indifferent. While everyone else was clapping he lit his next cigarette and I just pulled the zipper up a bit more on my black leather jacket. It was much colder out today than it was earlier in the year when we first came here to get Amada. The bizarre part though was the amount of nonchalant aura that was circulating around us. Considering the fact that someone from the now defunct Tashinhai Trading Company, aka PLA front company, was with us and was trying to move in on whatever Koko was building out here. I remember about what Hinoki said about Koko being practical and seeing the bottom line but it was still very hard for me to understand that. But I was only in this particular life for little more than two years now, it looked like I still had a lot to learn.
"This new facility would have never had existed without the generous contributions from me, Koko Hekmatyar. Or the technical genius of Marchen's head of research and development as well as my best friend Minami."
Minami then stepped forward to be on the metaphorical pedestal. But her praise was a little more indifferent.
"It also has a hot spring for those long days at the office."
"What!? You changed the blueprints without telling me again?" Koko said surprised.
"I can't focus or come up with idea's if I don't get a good soak first."
"MINAMI!"
As Koko then started to chew her friend out, I caught something out of the corner of my eye as I was looking over the building. It was brief, but it looked like that there was some kind of shine out in the hills.
"Hmm."
"Everything alright?" Lehm asked.
"Ever get the feeling you're being watched?" I said ignoring Koko and Minami bicker in the background.
0820 Hours
London, United Kingdom
"Fuck. I feel exactly just like the weather out here."
Rain and cold notwithstanding, the year so far had panned out to be a little more stressful than Scarecrow wanted it to be. In his quest to try and take down Koko Hekmatyar he had let his other cases slack. He had been up all night on his computer trying to find any anomalies in the financial transactions of a supposed drug dealer out of Amsterdam that didn't work within his countries already lax laws on drugs and sex. As he then finished up his fifth cup of coffee his satellite phone then began to ring, he recognized the number.
"What Schokolade?" He said annoyed from the fact it was her as well as lack of sleep.
"Jeez I'm just calling in like you wanted me to. I thought you wanted to know everything about what's going on with Dr. Miami?"
"I do have other cases to worry about. I can't spend all my time on her."
"Well this might jolt you awake. Koko and Professor Amada are opening their new Marchen facility."
It did jolt him awake. So much so that he spat his coffee out and dropped his cup while jumping up from his chair.
"WHEN THE HELL DID THIS HAPPEN!?" He shouted.
"Ouch! You don't need to yell. But yeah, she and her whole crew of badasses are here."
"Well get a recording of SOMETHING from them! This could be our big break."
"How the hell am I supposed to do that? Planting bug's takes time. And I only found out about this just yesterday evening."
Scarecrow then groaned in frustration while rubbing his already bloodshot eyes.
"Oh for Christ's sakes. Just work your charms on that big guy, you know that one Koko likes to latch herself onto? A stupid pretty boy like him will fall head over heels for a bimbo like you. Then he'll tell you anything. You won't even need to put a bug on him."
"…"
There was a bit of lengthy period of silence on the other side. Scarecrow never once cared about if other's saw him as cocky or not. But he did have a job to do.
"Hey! You hear me!?" He shouted.
"His name is Damien." She said with some respect for him. "While he IS a bit of a stud, he's anything but stupid. Koko told me all about him. I'll call you back if I get anything. You idiot."
She then hung up on him before he could say anything leaving him baffled. It was like she transformed from bimbo to seasoned agent in a heartbeat. But putting that aside, Koko had jumped ahead of him a few steps. So much so that there was another person of interest would definitely call him asking for a favor on some information.
It didn't take long as his phone rang again.
"Aw fuck me." He said before he pressed the answer button.
"Hello Scarecrow, you're on that side of the world. Mind telling me what Koko Hekmatyar's doing in South Africa so soon?"
Scarecrow could tell from the sound of his voice that he expected to get a call from him and that he wanted answers. Hopefully he could just blow him off but that wouldn't cut it with Bookman.
"Sorry Chief Black. That's not my department and I don't work for you."
"Just answer the damn question you arrogant moron." Bookman said without changing his tone.
He sighed heavily. "Ok fine. I don't know. All I know is that Hekmatyar and her squad are at this new toy factory. Normally there's a group of PMC thugs guarding the place. And you'd be right in assuming that the place is more than a toy factory but the only one that's been going in or out so far is Professor Amada. Now since I'm a nice guy, I'll keep investigating and let you know if I get a break. Okay?"
"I appreciate that. Looking forward to hearing from you soon." He then hung up.
Scarecrow then fell back into his chair looking up at the ceiling.
"Oh God. Sometimes I hate this job. Now I got caught up in Bookman's 'Under Shaft'."
0955 Hours
Marchen's New Factory, South Africa
Dr. Miami's "inspection" was taking a little longer than the few minutes that she was supposed to be gone. Koko was just waiting outside the entrance with Lehm and Sophia while the other's were busy just chatting. There was one more thing I had to do while I was out here or Koko would have chewed me out later, so I had to do it. I couldn't believe I had to make up with someone who had pissed me off more than her brother did. But like before, she did have a way with words and she had reason and encouragement behind them.
"Be better than what you were." We her exact words.
Karen Low was just staring off into the hills by herself away from everyone else. I don't think she even looked at anyone else since we had arrived. Physical attractiveness and posture aside, she had steel gaze in her eyes that signified that she had grit. Either it was new or she always had it. I didn't really pay much attention to it when I fired seven shot's into her chest or dominated her on board the Fruition.
"How's the arm?" I asked as normally as I could.
Her dark grey eyes slightly widened in surprise as she recognized my voice. As she turned her head to me, she had the same stare she had with me a few months ago. Along with a scar just above the nose from when I broke it. I was almost expecting her to snarl, but I held my posture with my hands in my pockets doing my best to not come off as a threat.
"Thanks to you I can't fully extend it anymore. You ripped several tendon's and I had to have it cut open to have it completely repaired."
The way she said it was agitated but not furious. It looked like it was still hurting considering the fact every now and then since we got here she was gripping it and had a slight wince whenever she must have hit something tender.
Good.
I had to keep the conversation going since I couldn't just leave it at that. As well as keep my personal thoughts to myself.
"How and why did Professor Amada make you a member of her team?"
There was hesitation before she answered, naturally she would be on her guard considering our last encounter didn't pan out too well for her.
"She picked me up on the street in Port Elizabeth one day not too long after your little rampage. As for why, I'm still trying to figure that out."
"Hmm. Not really that surprising to me. Koko once told me that Amada and her share pretty much the same thought process. So I expect weird shit to pop outta nowhere or just happen to our convenience. Despite it being difficult to comprehend."
"I agree. Working for her has become a bit of an eye-opening experience. But what was weird though was that she said to me that incidents like the one that happened between Tashinhai and HCLI wouldn't matter in the long run after the Doctor's and Miss Hekmatyar's plan is completed."
"The new world?"
"Yes." She said with a straight face. She had to have known that I knew since Koko and Amada were so obsessed with it.
"Well now, isn't this a pleasant change of pace?"
We both turned to see Dr. Miami approaching us both, with bug nets and an insect cage in tow.
"Karen why don't you get a car started and we'll go out for a little butterfly hunt?"
"Doctor? What about the factory tour?" Low asked.
"It's alright Koko won't mind. Plus he'll get bored stiff and I want to get to know him."
Wondering why she was interested in me, Low walked away I then looked down at the Professor. Lit cigarette in her mouth like Lehm but had a chipper smile.
"I know we've met before but Koko has told me so much about you already Damien. So let me make a formal introduction, Minami Amada." She said extending her hand.
"Konichiwa." I said while taking it.
"Oh please, no need to be THAT polite Damien. I speak perfect English." She said unfazed by the fact her own hand was almost lost in mine.
1020 Hours
Inthaba Lodge Game Farm
After a short drive we were walking along a path that oversaw the rolling hills of the several game reserves that were dotted sporadically around all of Africa. If Amada was as obsessed over bugs as I thought she was, she knew that there was no way there was anything flying around out here this late in the year. It would have been easier for her to say 'Hey I want to talk you alone' rather than drag us out to the middle of nowhere. The scenery was rather nice out though considering the fact that Fall was ending and Winter was coming. A bit of a balanced mix of green and tan, along with blue of the river that laid at the bottom of the opposing valley.
"Koko told me that you're quite the conversationalist Damien but you've been awfully quiet. Something on your mind?"
"Just wondering why your doing your bug hunt in cold weather."
"Hmm. Well what were you and Karen discussing?"
"Discussing on how she ended up working for you." I said as I tucked my own net under my arm and put my hand back in my pocket.
"As well as what happened after he partially crippled my right arm." Low said with contempt while looking directly ahead.
Trust me bitch I'm trying real fucking hard not to throw you off the next cliff we pass as well.
Dr. Miami though just turned her head to her front again as if nothing happened. Walking along without a care in the world.
"Well don't worry about it too much Damien, the past is the past. Besides Karen's one tough cookie."
I heard rumors from the guys that Minami was a bit of a nut and it was proving to be more and more true. I wondered if she would really say that after someone put a round in her chest or try to kill a friend. She then stretched her arms above her head.
"But you're right, I don't see a single bug out here. There's a rather nice scenic view just up ahead, lets take a break. Did you bring that camera of yours? Koko said you've taken up photography."
"No I didn't. Besides it's more along the lines of collecting memories."
"Shame. You would have had a nice shot."
Upon reaching a cliff the two of them sat down and I just stood. I didn't really wanna get my jeans dirty, they were brand new. Her analysis was on point, it was a nice view. The same though could not be said for who I was enjoying the view with but the situation was starting to become more like a mild annoyance like the sun being in my eyes if I was driving. I didn't really catch it on the nose but I think I figured out why Minami was out here with just me and Karen. Koko had to have asked her to see if I would really hold true to my word about not seeing the world as black and white. To put what happened between Low and myself behind me and not finish what I started when I met her again on the Fruition. It wasn't easy dealing with it, but this was also the same type of situation with Kasper. The big difference thought was that I wasn't appealing to anybody's wallet. The best way I could describe it was appealing to either dignity or pride.
I don't think that was something that I would ever be able to get used to. But Koko seems to do it all the time and the scary part was that she was doing this when I was just living my life as a normal teenage army brat. Koko may like to keep parts of her past secret, but I managed to get a little more from her father see as how someone like me came into HCLI's employment it raised a big flag. But I had a feeling Amada knew her on a more intimate level, probably even more than Sophia.
"Professor Amada..."
"Damien please, it's Minami. Anyone that's THAT close to Koko is a friend of mine." She said cutting me off.
I rolled my eyes and looked to the robotics expert. Flicking her cigarette away as she adjusted her glasses.
"I need to ask you a question."
"Sure! I'll answer anything you want. With one exception of course."
I knew what she meant but I wasn't gonna ask that anyway.
"Don't worry it's not about your science project. It's about Koko."
"Ok. What about her?"
"How has someone like her managed to achieve what she has done?"
"You mean her genius talent in arms dealing?" The butterfly expert said.
"Not just that. But the time in which she has done it as well as her influence on, dare I say it, a world scale. Valmet told me that she's known her for about seven years. I know for a fact that she's younger than me but not by more than a few years. Christ, if I'm doing the math right then by the time I was just starting to go to West Point with a few hundred bucks in my pocket she was already making multi-million dollar arms deals in everything from bullets to cruise missiles. I get it that it's her family's business but in as far as levels of authority go, I don't see any difference between her and her father, Floyd."
She let out a light chuckle. "Koko does give off surprises like that whenever people first come across her. But how she does it is not as complicated as you might think. Sure she's a brilliant businesswoman, but do you really think that people that range from heads of criminal organizations to high ranking government officials buy from her just because she's the daughter of a notorious shipping tycoon?"
"Names and blood still hold their weight in gold nowadays, regardless of what the average logical person thinks."
"Well that's not true as far a Koko's concerned. She succeeds in what she does, because she excels at earning peoples trust."
Granted child geniuses are nothing new but from witnessing what Koko was capable of since I started working for her it made sense. And Minami was right, it wasn't as complicated as I thought it would be. Any more and I would be really overthinking it. The same though could not be said for certain world power's that see her as a threat. History had shown that those that had gathered more power than they should have, get a lot of unwanted attention and think that they are beyond the law.
"You know that what the both of you are doing is making a lot of people curious. Some even nervous."
"Oh, we've been dealing with that for quite a while now. You know the old saying, if you want to keep a secret then don't tell anybody. But you know what, it's funny you would mention that, cause I have a question for you."
"Shoot."
"What do you want for dinner tonight?"
It took me a moment to contemplate why she was asking that.
"Excuse me?"
1730 Hours
Pot D'Argile Restaurant, Port Elizabeth
Turns out that there was another group in South Africa that had gotten wind of Marchen's new factory opening ahead of everyone else and had wanted to see what the real deal was. They had called Minami the day before we had arrived and wanted to discuss business after the factory was opened. They had to have known that Koko was here but she was going to give the same answer Minami was going to give. This had to be another part of her little test to make sure I was behaving properly. She didn't really mind that much when we got back to the factory that Minami asked her if she could let me come to dinner with her. But it also appeared that she wanted me to be a liaison for her whenever we had our meeting tonight.
Rival companies tend to monitor everything their competitor does. Transactions, profit margins, and especially employees. They knew that if I was there, then they might as well had to have been speaking to Koko herself. Edward Currie of CCAT didn't bother questioning on why I was there along Dr. Miami and Low. He and his bodyguards had sat opposite of us. Well for now it was just Lou, Mildo squealed in excitement when she saw that I was there, wrapping her arms around me and rubbing her head against me like a dog. She didn't even let go when the appetizers came in or when Minami and Currie were just talking shop. But when my filet came in, it had to stop.
"Can you please sit in your own seat? I'd like to eat my steak in peace."
"Aww! Can't I feed you?"
"Mildo, leave the poor man alone. You're starting to act like a leech." Currie said with a tone that the real part of this meeting was going to start.
God I really got to find some way to stop being a magnet for bad women.
She then went back to her seat with a frown as the waiters brought out our food. Minami let out a soft laugh.
"I take it you've seen this happen to him before Dr. Amada?"
"Not directly. Koko told me that this happens to him rather frequently. Anyway, I appreciate the meal and being able to have a night on the town but I don't think I will be able to give you anything in return. Don't ask if I can design a weapon for you because I won't do it. But I know that you're not stupid enough to ask that."
"I wouldn't dream of it."
"Alright, let's cut to the chase Mr. Currie wants to know why you and Koko opened that new toy factory you opened."
"Mildo for God sake will you please shut your mouth." Currie said with his hand on his forehead. "I'm sorry doctor that's not what we wanted to talk to you about in the least. But granted I'd be lying if I wasn't curious."
"Then why the fuck did we just make a ten hour flight for?" Mildo demanded.
Being blunt got me direct results. Maybe being my old self would get her to back off.
"Wow you have the perfect combination of not having a filter and be as dense as a block of iron. No wonder when Valmet kicks your ass, she makes it look easy."
She looked away frustrated and defeated, that shut her up for now.
"Thank you Mr. Andrushko." Currie said.
"Don't sweat it."
"There is one thing that concerns me though. The markets ability to support mid-sized dealers like myself."
Minami paused as she was about to light up her next cigarette. I wasn't focusing on it but that was my next clue to whatever the hell Minami and Koko were putting together. I had called it earlier today, it was gathering a lot of attention and worrying certain people and I doubt that it was just Currie.
"Well let's start with this, how did you start CCAT?"
"Bought a freighter when I retired from the RAF. Not too long after the Cold War ended and struck while the iron was hot in small arms dealings."
"You were a pilot?" I asked.
"Tornado flyer, boy. Flew during the Falklands and Desert Storm with eight confirmed kills." He said a little too proud.
"And because of your record and charisma other military officers, not all of them British, lent you their planes and runways because they knew what you was really doing and wanted to start making investments, hoping for a solid return."
"I'm flattered by the comments but your making what I do seem somewhat nefarious. Mind if I ask how you know that?"
"Koko told me." She said blowing smoke to the ceiling, being polite. "I take it from your first question is that your struggling a bit and I don't blame you. Fuel costs in EVERYTHING have been on the rise in recent years. What do I want to bet that your spending more in shipping your weapons then you are making a profit from them? And since you mentioned Cold War era weapons, there's been a shift in demand. Weapons like that are going to guerrilla groups and terrorists rather than state armies and with the advancements in technology governments are investing in ways to kill their enemies without putting their own soldiers at risk."
Putting it simply, asymmetrical warfare was putting guys like Currie out of business.
"Mr. Currie! I won't stand for her trying to get to you!" Mildo shouted while standing from her seat.
"Mildo! I told you enough!"
It was good that we were in a private room or else she would have made a scene. I was kinda enjoying my filet mignon and I didn't want to get booted out of the restaurant. I wondered why Currie kept her around, it's like she's stuck in fucking puberty. But Minami held firm in her statements.
"I don't know. This could get pretty rough for him, I'm just letting him know so that he doesn't get sideswiped."
"Listen Doc," Mildo said gritting through her teeth. "keep talking and you'll get your skull bashed in."
"MILDO!"
As the former fighter pilot was continuing to fail to get her to calm down I saw that Low was slowing reaching for her sidearm. This shit was not gonna get bloody on my watch, so it looked like it was time to go to work again. I set my fork down and stood up calmly while taking off my leather jacket.
"Karen, don't even think about it." I then addressed both sides of the table. "Mr. Currie, Professor Amada, please continue your discussion. I will make sure that the lady no longer causes any more outbursts."
I walked to the other side of the table and stood, or should say towered, over Mildo. Her next move would either benefit her or cost her.
"Listen love, just because I think you're hot doesn't mean I won't stomp you into the ground while the doctor continues her little soapbox rant. Your height and all that muscle mean sweet fuck all to me, I've dealt with brutes like yourself more than once."
Clear and classic case of underestimating your opponent.
"If you were struggling against Sophia when she wasn't even trying, you stand no chance against me. Sit down and calm down."
She didn't believe that I had called her out like that but she also had a puzzled look on her face. Granted she didn't know about me and her, looks like I let that one slip.
"Hold up, how can you say Valmet's real name so casually?"
"I'm not gonna ask again. Sit down before you get spanked."
The gears were turning in her head. So much so that I could hear them creak. But what came next meant I had to make my point stand. You raise your voice, and if it doesn't do you any good then it's time to raise your hand.
"Oh my God!" She then bursted into a laughing fit. "You and her!? I never imagined she'd get her own real life fuck stick! I'll bet…"
I didn't even let her finish as I reached for her head. It was a shame though, they were rather really nice aviators. I noticed that the maker was Ray-Ban just before I crushed them with my bare hand and dropped the twisted frames and pieces of the lens' on the floor. It finally clicked on her that I was serious.
"You've done it now." She said looking at me with anger in her eyes.
She then lashed out with a big swing but I quickly stepped to the side while catching her arm. I then looped it around her back and kicked her leg out so that she was only on one knee. Using my weight to my advantage I let myself fall on top of her, pinning her to the floor.
"Go on Minami." I said as I adjusted myself to where I could begin my literal punishment on Mildo.
SMACK! "OW!"
SMACK! "HEY!"
SMACK! "STOP IT!"
"Koko realized that war officially became privatized when the new millennium rolled around. That governments saw the explosive cost of it across all categories. But if war becomes a business then it's subjected to market forces."
SMACK! "CUT IT OUT!"
"The problem with that is that the market is starting to dry up. Less napalm in the jungles, less oil in the desert, fewer battlefields reeking of gunpowder. War breeding an endless cycle of poverty and debt. Soldiers marching into the field wondering why and what in the hell they're actually there for. Then whatever official war is left is done by button pushers in air conditioned offices flying unmanned drones. War's nothing like it once was."
Currie was hitting every nail on the head with a perfect strike. My experiences in Afghanistan not included, while less war was good a lot of it had devolved into a gigantic mess. Hell even during the Cold War when much smaller and sometimes poorly trained state armies fought against each other they fought in the way wars were supposed to be fought. You fight, and you either win or lose. Sometimes they dragged on into fighting that ruined both sides but they did as Clausewitz said, 'A continuation of politics by other means.' More often than not those types of politics bordered on either greed or lies. But I couldn't shake the feeling that he might be singling me out in some way, being the only American there. We were the only nation that dropped a nuclear weapon on anyone and after that, pretty much all catastrophic war between major world powers ended.
"Well for better or worse, the wars you've survived and profited from aren't coming back. Can you afford that?"
SMACK! "OWW!"
"The Doctor's right Currie. Take it from me, I've seen what it's becoming and I don't wanna steal a quote from a movie but it's just those that are left alive and those that are left dead. Nothing else."
"Let me be blunt Mr. Currie. You should have made a decision like this long before you even decided to meet with me. The clearest choice is to leave the gun trade to the major dealers like Koko."
SMACK! "STOP IT!" She said starting to sob.
Currie then let out a pleased laugh. "I really don't know how to respond to that. I do know my time has passed but I can't just throw in the towel just yet. Not to her face at least. Mr. Andrushko?"
"Yes?" I then turned to look at him while Mildo's struggle was becoming weaker.
"I do know that you dabble in a lot of different arts. Some though in which I'm too old for, but what would you recommend?"
I kept the answer simple. "Why don't you open a restaurant? If you want I can exchange some good recipes I've picked up over the years."
"I do like to cook sir. I like his idea." Lou said jumping on board eagerly.
"You'd want to jump from Royal Marine to chef just like that?"
"Of course sir. Besides you know I haven't been a Marine in six years. I'd like the change of pace."
It caught me by surprise that Currie had someone with that type of training in his employment, Lou didn't really show it. I could guess what Mildo was, considering her stubbornness, but I'd rather hear her say it. Or hear her say she'd give up because this was getting tiring.
SMACK! "IT HURTS DAMIEN! PLEASE!" She was starting to cry, I couldn't do this anymore.
"You give up?" I asked void of emotion.
"You win! Just stop!" She begged.
I then got up off of her and she immediately started rubbing her probably now bruised ass.
"Well Mildo it now falls to you. Would you like to help?" Currie asked while winking at me with a form of thanks.
"Sure Mr. Currie, I wouldn't mind." She winced. "Ow."
1843 Hours
The rest of dinner was uneventful except for a few warnings I gave Currie on how to keep track of his expenses and customer base because lot's of self-owned restaurants fail within the first few years after they open. He gave me his card and I would have to email him a few recipes later in the week. But before our groups made our separate ways into the cold night I had to make sure that I didn't leave behind a burning bridge. I motioned his to wait before he left and walked towards her.
"What?" She asked annoyed.
I just ignored her and pulled out my wallet. Handing her two $100 bills, it would have been enough.
"The hell's this for?" She asked confused.
"Get yourself another pair of sunglasses."
She looked at me as if I was an idiot but I ignored her still.
"You think just buying me off will make up for what you did!?"
"Your ass and your ego aren't the only thing I can bruise. I'm trying to be nice." I threatened.
She then scowled at me but walked away putting the bills in her pocket. She then turned around a pointed at me a bit dramatically.
"Listen to me Damien! I'm not interested in settling my score with Valmet anymore! Next time we meet I'm coming for you! Next time I'll be prepared!" She then ran off.
Currie then smiled as he looked to me. "I think she likes you, Mr. Andrushko."
"No thanks. Masochists are just plain creepy."
Looked like the idea I had to get her to not like me backfired.
"Well I can't thank you enough for putting her in her place. I'm amazed she actually listened to you. She almost never listens to anyone."
"Mmm. Pilots in my opinion tend to all be the same, just a varying level of rock star."
"How did you guess that she was one?" Lou asked with his eyebrow raised.
"Gut feeling. That and her ego."
Currie then smirked at me. Breathing out through his nose, the air in his lungs freezing in the coming winter night.
"Intelligent, dominant, merciful, and practical. I can see why Koko has taken such an interest in you, young man. But I am curious, how did you manage to win over someone like Major Velmer?"
"I didn't." I answered honestly. "She saved my life."
"Hmm. Give Koko my regards."
And with that they left.
It was rather quiet out in Port Elizabeth tonight the streets were almost empty as me, Minami, and Low were walking back to our car. Low broke the rather lengthy silence first as Minami lit up her next cigarette. Maybe I was wrong about her not being a chain smoker like Lehm, she did have a little bit of a scratch in her voice.
"I could have handled her you know. As well as not look like a sexist pig in the process."
"And you would have gotten your arm broken again. Trust me I just did you a favor."
"Probably should listen to him Karen. It sounds like he means it." She then stretched her arms out to the side. "But how's your hand Damien? It sounded like you were hitting her rump rather hard."
"I didn't really want to go so far as thrashing her, but I had to get her to stop talking shit."
Minami then let out a laugh. "You know I find it kind of funny. Currie's way of giving up was letting you embarrass one of his own people. For as long as I've known Koko, arms dealers truly are a weird bunch. I guess that when you make a fortune selling things that kill people, you start going coocoo in the coconuts."
I smiled as I pulled out our car keys. Minami's SUV in sight.
"The actual term is 'Coocoo for Cocoa Puffs' but you could be more right than you know doc. Weapons makers and especially military types in general have a very different outlook on life than your average person does. You have to be one, to truly understand it. It's not something that you can put into words."
The Professor then sat in the back seat while Low rode shotgun.
"AHH! I ate so much!" She then leaned up in between the front seats. "The night's still young though, wanna get some after dinner drinks?"
"Sorry Doctor I'm not in the mood." Karen said in her dry professionalism.
"Come on Damien, we'll drink, she can drive." She said nudging me with her elbow.
"Sorry Minami, I got a text from Koko earlier, said we got to go to Germany in two days. I'm not leaving all my stuff on board her ship this time so I'm gonna take my time to pack."
"Come on! Pretty please!?" She said begging.
Fuck it.
"One beer." I said as I turned the car over.
November 26th 2010 1130 Hours
Port Elizabeth International Airport
The days came and went and I managed to get what I wanted to take with me properly packed. As well as the rest of the crew since it looked like we weren't gonna be on the ship again for a while. Seems like every time we came down here it would be rather short and we fly out instead of sail away. While it would be nice to see Germany this time of year, I doubted that it would just be for the landscape and architecture. Koko had mentioned to me that she would need my more updated tactical expertise on a few things but she would give me further details once we landed there.
After we got our cargo moved through, Minami and her staff went to see us off.
"Damien be sure to come back soon!" She said as I gently waved her off.
While also feeling the burning aura of hatred coming from the guys as I now managed to somehow win over the affection of another crazy woman. Like I told R before that unfortunate moment, I have no fucking clue on what women see in me. Muscle and height not included, I often wear a scowl, my posture is normally aggressive, and my sarcasm can keep people at a distance. Maybe some women don't see that and do see as handsome. Granted I know I'm not Elvis, or George Clooney, or even Rock Hudson but I never once saw myself as THAT attractive.
"Ohhh! Come on Koko! Can't I keep him for just a few more days?"
"HELL NO!" Koko and Sophia both said leaning towards her.
"Hey now don't get mad you two. I'd think it would be a much better idea if he did stick around with me for a while longer."
"Why is that?" Koko demanded as she pushed Sophia back with the rest of us.
"I'm worried all that cuteness is gonna ruin your image and turn you into a big softie."
"What?" She said perplexed.
Are they really doing this in front of everyone?
"Hey don't give me that look. You know I'm right."
"Well I'm surprised you entertain yourself with those kinds of thoughts. Someone being so disconnected would notice something about someone else is a rather nice touch. Plus it tells me you're taking the plan seriously as it gets further to it's completion, along with how our actions affect others."
"Not to interrupt you spiel Koko, but you guy's actions are affecting others feel like they want to murder me out of jealousy. One in particular more than others." I said slightly motioning my head to where Sophia was standing.
Koko at least got the point and signaled to the crew to go and we'd catch up. But Sophia stood her ground.
"Now I understand you're scared but there's nothing to worry about. The parts that we need to complete it are almost done. All we really need is the people to put it together. Now granted there's a chance that some with even the keenest intuition might figure out what we're up to. Some might want it for themselves and others would want it destroyed. But as long as we keep them guessing, no one is going to make a move against us."
Her tone at the end of that sounded a little vicious. Granted that's part of her character and I'm the last person in the world to even lecture her on it. But that also had to be another reason why she kept me with Amada when Currie had arrived, to see if he knew anything that he shouldn't have. But she sounded rather confident in no one making a move against her. I then started to think about what Hex said, that the US wanted to piggyback off of whatever the hell Koko was making. But now I knew for sure that whatever it was, was physical.
Minami then adjusted her glasses. "This had better work."
"Professor Amada, I guarantee it."
I then leaned over to whisper to Sophia. "You catch the way she's describing whatever the hell they've been working on? Doesn't sound too positive. How long have they been working on this thing?"
She gave me an annoyed look instead.
"What?"
"Don't be so nosy Damien. It's her project and she's probably keeping it a secret for a reason. And has she ever given you any reason to doubt her? Huh?"
She was right. The year so far was proof enough, I really need to find some way to not butt myself into everyone's business.
"No. She has not"
She then smiled with approval but then we both felt a force in which pushed us towards each other. But before we connected I felt something stop us both from touching each other. We both looked down and saw Koko's white hair separating our chests. She had pulled us both together.
"No slacking on the job Minami!"
"Aww no fair! Why should you get the best of both worlds at the same time?" Minami whined.
Koko then directed us to our gate, still nestled in between me and Sophia.
"Koko, you're nuts." I said bluntly.
"You're walking with two beautiful women clinging to you and you just brush it off. If anyone's nuts around here it's you!"
"Meh. Adequate." I said shrugging while looking at them both.
"Now you're just being difficult!" She said pushing me off and kicking me in the ass.
But before we walked any further Minami shouted to us.
"Koko! One more thing, can we finally give a name to this project of ours? I'm getting a little tired of calling it 'the plan'."
She then turned around to look at her.
"It's 'Jormungand'. The plan is 'Jormungand'."