Chapter 48: Arranging the Pieces

March 1st 2011 0700 Hours

East Sussex County, United Kingdom, HCLI Training Grounds, "The Kill House"

Getting back into ones comfort zone always relieved stress and God knows I needed it. Even though we carried on with our refresher training as usual, the week and change had been dragging down my private life more and more. Those three words that Sophia said to me were as if all of my worst fears had come to life. How in the fuck can I tell a woman that I love her back when my only true talent is just cleaver ways to kill. I always knew she was better than me. So what in the world can I give her in return?

"Ok guys remember you're using live rounds this time. Make sure of your targets before you pull the trigger."

Lehm was just being formal in what was about to happen next. All of us were loaded for bear in our unilateral kits that hid us from associating with any other type of military unit. Except for differences in size and height we all looked as one with our dark green field uniforms and balaclavas covering our faces. I was a little surprised that we all donned helmets this time, normally I was the only one that did. But it seemed that Koko wanted us to prep for another job like we did with Dr. Baburin. The details so far on what we were going to do next were a little sketchy.

At least our heavy kits kept us somewhat warm as Me, Tojo, Ugo, and Lutz were about to take the first round through the kill house inside of a large hanger that was just as cold as it was outside. The seasons in England tend to be either crap or nice, there's no in between. Our team was Skoll and the other half of the team, Hatti, were waiting for their turn. Another interesting choice of team names from Norse mythology that went along with this "Jormungand" thing Koko was working on. They were the giant wolves that chased the sun and moon. At least until when they catch and eat them and Ragnarok began.

He also deliberately split Sophia up from me as much as he could. So that when we had to run certain exercises as a team the drama would be kept to a minimum. He knew the tension between the two of us was uneasy for the last week and from what was about to happen, everyone needed to be on their game. I quietly thanked him before we first started the kill house with blanks. He's the lazy type, there ain't no question about it, but the old bastard cares more than he lets on.

"Breach in 3...2…1…GO!"

Lutz was the first in the four man team and threw a flashbang into a building with reinforced bulletproof walls with no roof. Being part of GSG-9, this was second nature to him. Then we all went through and took our designated paths checking corners and being sure of targets. We all had our suppressors on our rifles so that we made the situation as real as possible. Not just to be discreet but that also if you fire off a regular gun inside of a confined space you'd be fucking deaf before the day's over. It was a lesson I learned the hard way in my training a long time ago.

As we cleared the first room we each used our own unique hand signals to move on to the next one. As we then stacked up and moved into an upcoming hall a pop up silhouette then came out with the shape of it holding a rifle. Lutz double tapped it in the heart and it fell back into its position. We then approached a closed door in the hallway that would lead to a confined room, it was mine and Tojo's turn. While Lutz and Ugo covered us, I booted the door open and took the right in which the door opened and Tojo took left. Inside were two pop ups but this time only one had a rifle in the silhouette. We both double tapped it even though only one of us was supposed to.

"Clear!" I shouted alerting Lutz and Ugo to begin moving back forward.

The same process of fluid movements was repeated for the next several rooms. The adrenaline flow made us practically unaware of the cold but the sweat we were building up as well. Overlooking all of this from an observation tower was Koko with her fingers on the buttons to control the targets, lights, and any form of sound trap that we might trigger if we were careless. It was normally a standard procedure whenever we did these but it didn't happen once this time. I didn't care, it made it easier. And as we came across the last room where the "hostage" was being held we kept the motions running as smooth as a fancy gold pocket watch.

"Sleipnir this is Skoll 1. Hostage secure and were coming out." Lutz said.

Sleipnir was Odin's war horse. Kind of appropriate for Lehm but I think Koko was giving him shit.

"Copy that."

Ugo then effortlessly lifted the weighted dummy over his shoulder and we went back the way we came as I kept us covered from the rear. As we exited the kill house, the alarm sounded that we were done. Koko then came on the bullhorn.

"Good job guys. Time was ok but speed wasn't a priority here. Tojo take over for the next run. I need to talk to Lehm and Damien."

"Got it Koko!" He shouted up to her. And then got the attention of Team Hatti.

The rest of us then started to take off our kits and made for the cooler filled with water. As I took my helmet and balaclava off I then started to hear rain tapping on the metal roof of the hangar building. Wet and cold was something I always hated even if I wasn't in it. The weather was just as I felt at the moment when I saw Sophia stacking up with the rest of the team that had been with Koko for a lot longer. Her hair had gotten back to its original length and was poking out from under her mask. She then disappeared into the building and began the drill as I saw Koko coming toward us. I motioned to Lehm to meet her halfway.

"So what's up boss?" He said lighting his next stick. The first suppressed shots in the background.

"This next job is going to require the best out of all of us. That's why I need you two to make sure that we have every detail nailed out so that when we execute this mission, it all plays into our favor."

Maybe I should have listened to what Viktor said. She did have somewhat of an apathetic way of speaking with her usual smile. I probably should have noticed it when she was fawning on me all the damn time.

Should have.

"So what do you need this time?" I said if I was bailing her out again.

"If you want to know how real this is Damien I'll tell you. We foul up on this one, even I don't know if I'll be able to protect ANY of you once the dust settles."

She didn't smile that time. Looks like this was one where I had to decide if the action was worth the risk. Lehm was even taking the time to ponder this. His bored look didn't change but I could tell he was thinking this one through. It was just by letting the cigarette burn in his mouth rather than smoke it.

"Well you know I'm in boss. But I would prefer that the both of us agree before we take this on. No sense in going in halfcocked."

Man was reading my thoughts. Not word for word but the feeling was mutual. And I know he was thinking that this had something to do with Koko's project as well.

"So what does this 'Jormungand' thing still need?"

"Just a person. Another employee acquisition you could say."

"So who are we kidnapping now?" There was no other way to spin it. I let her know, but she didn't care.

"Minami and I were going over a list of names and there was one in particular that is rather talented in getting around certain obstacles and not leaving a trace."

It took me a few moments to piece it together but it was obvious in the end.

"What do you need a hacker for?"

Her smile widened slightly. "Glad to see your catching on. Simply put, it's the last part of the machine and then I just need to put it all together. Finally, I will make good on the promise I owe you."

Her New Years Resolution that I had a hard time trying to swallow. I had no idea how she was going to do it but she'd said she do it, no matter what. If I had a chance to finally leave this life behind and start anew, I'd take it. And maybe I could tell Sophia what she needed to hear as well. Only challenge is, what am I going to need to do.

"Ok. Where is this person at?" I asked carefully.

"The Camp No black site at Guantanamo Bay."

"What!?" I said unsure that I heard her correctly. Honestly I prayed that I did.

"I wouldn't ask you of this, either of you, if I didn't have the utmost faith in you two."

It must have fucking bordered on zealous cause I couldn't believe what she was asking us to do. She had to have totally lost her mind. Even though it's one of the US Navy's oldest overseas bases leading back to the Spanish-American War, it only came into public common knowledge when it was decided that it be turned into a prison for terrorists we apprehended in Iraq and Afghanistan since the war started. Along with a number of other places where the US wasn't supposed to be. I had only heard rumors but there was a spot where we placed some very unpleasant people that we didn't want to waste the courts time with. Camp No came up rather frequently. And it's name was my immediate answer.

Lehm was a little taken back by this too but he didn't have my reaction. He just blinked a lot. But before he was about to say something but I cut him off before he could speak.

"You're goddamn right you wouldn't and the answers no! Forget it Koko!"

My shouting caught the attention of the rest of the crew wondering what the outburst was all about. Lutz and Ugo stopped halfway through their water. Tojo didn't even pay attention that Team Hatti was done and had to ask a few times over the radio before he responded.

"Kid…why don't you give Koko a moment to explain." Lehm said.

"Wait. Don't tell me you're going along with this? You realize what hell she's asking us to do?"

"I didn't say that. But at least hear out the details on WHY she needs this person in the first place. Then you can decide if the reward isn't worth the risk."

"I already did. Forget it! I'm not doing this Koko! Not this time!" I said backing away and heading towards the hangar side door.

I then kicked it open and went out into the cold rain making for the rec building to get changed and get a shower. I did not want to deal with this shit. As if my problems with Sophia weren't bad enough, now I think Koko truly had a screw loose. I had long since abandoned my loyalty to my country but that doesn't mean that I will go into a fight knowing I can't win. We already had run ins with two of the worlds major powers and now she wants to tempt fate with people that I've been actively avoiding for the last three years? I had just finally shaken off Hex, permanently, and she wants to do this. She had to be out of her mind. Not to mention the fact that her plan involves breaking into a US Military Prison that keeps the absolute worst people on the planet away from society. Not that the CIA, NSA, DIA and all the letters in the alphabet soup really cared but even with all of the accusations and finger pointing that had come out of our little slice of Cuba, there was a reason why some of those people were there. A lot of moron's tended to forget that the United States was still technically at war. Even if you're on an aircraft carrier with a banner saying "Mission Accomplished" it only ends when one side stops shooting at the other.

"Out of all people I expected that would give the most support for an operation like this I didn't think you'd turn it down and run without hesitation."

Of course you'd follow me out here and scold me.

She met me halfway in the center of the training compound. The rain pattering the concrete ground with considerable noise. I just turned around to face her in her raincoat with a look that I wasn't changing my mind. She just looked back at me getting soaked with her piercing ice blue stare. I didn't want to start building friction with the woman who gave me another chance but I couldn't let her make a fatal decision like this.

"Since we're out of ear shot of everyone else I'll ask you this up front. Are you out of your mind?"

This time I spoke to her in the tone in which she knew I was placing her safety ahead of my own. I still didn't forget what Sophia said though.

"I thought you wanted to go home. Why are you willingly throwing away that chance?"

"I want to do it in a way where it doesn't risk losing everything I've managed to regain. And that includes everyone else." I said pointing back to the hangar. "I'll say it again. Do you have any idea, ANY idea at all, what you're asking us to do!?"

She then shut her eyes, formed her lips into a line, and took a deep breath through her nose. One thing that she does get truly mad at sometimes is when I question her judgment. I must admit though more often than not, I'm wrong. She didn't shout back though, just took the time to come up with a response.

"I'm not flying by the seat of my pants Damien. I know the risks that this involves and I know exactly what that means. I'd be lying if I said anything else. Going up against the CIA and the United States military at the same time to get the final piece I need for Jormungand. So I'll say this again, I wouldn't be coming to you with this if I wasn't 100% sure you could do it. I can't trust anyone else except the eight of you."

Even for me this was asking a lot. The Gestapo that are masquerading as spy's doing their country a service can eat shit and die for all I care but I didn't plan on going up against the rest of the United States. I see no sense in making enemies with people I've never met. But after all the crazy events I've experienced with Koko, her being stupid wasn't one of them.

"Hypothetically speaking. How do you know for sure that we can outsmart them, along with the rather large Marine contingent that's not too far away, and make a clean break for it?"

I probably wouldn't even need a shower considering the cold rain was getting to the skin.

"I've weighed and measured the factors for everyone else too. I know you guys can do this quick, clean, and quiet. I've already begun the necessary preparations to make sure that the outcome of this falls entirely in our favor. The Fruition is going along with us with a few extra surprises."

"What you HAVE is not the problem Koko. Question is still HOW?"

"Actually what I have is something that will keep all of you alive. But it still needs human action to make it work. I'll explain later because that's where you and the old man will come in."

"I still…"

"Now this may seem cliché but we do have the element of surprise right off the bat. It would be the last thing that anyone at Gitmo would expect. And don't say 'Because no one's stupid enough to try it.'" She said cutting me off and reading my thoughts at the same time. "It's not impossible, just extremely difficult. Plus, prisons are designed to keep people in."

"Well what do Lehm and I have to do with any of this?"

"You two are the most informed on the procedures of how black sites work and operate. Lehm did this his whole military career and you have the most up to date knowledge of them. Plus you know from experience that there are huge holes in security. All we need is just to get into the prison, take who we need, and we leave. Simple as that."

I then let out a frustrated growl. She wasn't listening to a damn thing I said. Towering over others, physically and metaphysically, with my presence alone usually got peoples attention. But I never once wanted to use it on her. I felt like shit doing it.

"If it's that fucking easy then why don't you just walk right through the front door and work your usual magic? I've done some risky things but this is clearly out of my league. Even if by some miracle you pull this off, there are consequences to doing dumb shit. Believe me I know." I then left her behind to get changed into dry clothes. "I'm sorry Koko, I won't do it."

Nine steps later I heard wet sounding sprinting from behind and she got in front of me. She wasn't about to give me another one of her embraces. The hood on her head was covering her eyes but her teeth and fists were clenched. If I shoved her out of the way, then it was over. So I had no choice but to take whatever she was going to do.

"You promised me…" She said calmly.

And then she hit me in the chest with considerable force. I felt it through the plate.

"You promised me you wouldn't leave me alone!" She yelled.

She then hit again and didn't really stop. I stood there in shock on how she was abusing the hell out of her hands.

"I don't lie to people I cherish! Furthermore, why are you running away from a chance in where you can LIVE again!? Why did you forget that!? I said to you that I'd let you go home! That you wouldn't have to spend the rest of your life with nowhere to go! How can I do that if you just abandon us!? My sister!? Me!?" she screamed.

I then grabbed her hands or else she would have broken something, her knuckles were already bleeding. But she continued to kick me in the legs. I think that this had to be the first time in my life that being hit hurt so damn much. The drama that I had tried to contain just shifted its way over to Koko. What terrified me though was that it was a complete mirror image to what happened to me and Sophia recently. I don't believe in fate, but this was one of those moments where I believed it was mocking me.

What poured salt into the wound was hearing the heaving sobs coming from her as she began to stop. And she was right, I did promise her. And here I am acting like a fucking idiot in front of the woman who pulled me out of the abyss my life was turning into. I had a chance to make everything right again and I was pussying out. But the problem was that this choice was a double edged blade. It be either my achievement at redemption or my biggest regret yet.

"Stop crying…please." I begged.

I then let her left hand go and pulled back her raincoat hood. No surprise her eyes were bloodshot, at least the rain coming down hid the tears. I placed my gloved hand on her face and rubbed it with my thumb.

"Before I say anything I want you to answer me honestly."

"I always have Damien." She sniffled while placing her left hand on mine. "What is it?"

"Can you do what you say can do?"

"Yes." She said with confidence.

No other way but forward.

"Then let's get your hands looked at. You'll need 'em for what's about to happen." I then squeezed her other one gently. "And please smile. Genuinely. For me?"

She did just that. "Thank you."

We touched our foreheads together and then got out of the rain to look for the first aid box. Our next trip was going to be to Cuba.

March 6th 2011 1930 Hours

Langley, Virginia, CIA Headquarters

Bookman knew that Koko Hekmatyar's recent actions in her round about trip through Asia would start gaining the attention of the other departments in the agency. Operation 'Under Shaft' was still in effect to bring her under his thumb and with what she was beginning to put together he was hoping to get whatever it was along with the Global Grid. With the recent purchases of some rather highly advanced and highly expensive technology he had called in a meeting with one of the tech experts from his staff along with a few investigators who dug into the lives of some rather intelligent people that also skimmed the lines of international law. With some of the people that Koko was associating herself with he asked his deputy, Rueben Narville, to pull up the status on a certain hacker named "Chatty Rabbit's Foot."

"Well what have you managed to find out?" Black asked at the end of the table.

The blonde haired gentleman with green eyes behind glasses then addressed the meeting with the facts he seemed to have memorized by heart.

"Koko Hekmatyar's recent actions indicate she's gathering parts and personnel for something big. She's already partnered with four advanced nano manufacturing firms in Asia. And if you include bringing in a few computer experts and the abduction of Dr. Baburin, all signs point to the direction that she's building a quantum computer."

"That's just science fiction." Bookman didn't buy it.

Quantum computing was supposed to be the next evolutionary step in computer technology but the technical workarounds were still in the theoretical stages. The expert though wasn't as skeptical as his superior was.

"Maybe. But think about it sir. We may not have flying cars or jetpacks yet but some of the technology we have now would have felt like that not more than a decade ago."

"Come on Charlie." Narville butted in. "Quantum computers? Even the top scientific experts in the world say we're still twenty years away from even getting them to be even developed. And that's IF things go our way."

"Those so called 'experts' are nothing but conservative pencil pushers. You forget that Miss Hekmatyar's best friend is Minami Amada. One of the best roboticists in the world, if not THE best. Her unorthodox methods and theories are revolutionizing computer engineering as well. I do have a feeling that her and Koko have been planning this since they were teenagers. I'm actually surprised they've kept a secret like this all these years. But now since there in the building stage there's too much evidence to point that a quantum computer is in their focus."

"Do you believe she knows that we know what she's doing?" Black asked.

"If they've made as much progress as I suspect, it doesn't really matter at this point. Of course all of this is just conjecture."

Bookman knew that Koko had a knack for pulling off the impossible. And with the infamous "Nightmare" at her side, she had not only money but the talent and power to make it happen. Even if those she brought into her fold didn't cooperate willingly.

"What happens if they manage to build the computer?"

"In layman's terms a quantum computer takes only seconds to calculate and formulate a solution to something, anything. Compared to what a normal super computer would take decades to do. Even centuries if we're thinking outside of the box. Encryptions, passwords, firewalls, security algorithms, everything that protect our governments electronic devices, communications, weapons R&D, classified events, even identities of undercover agents around the world would be cracked like an egg."

Looks of concern then covered the entire table, including the secretaries that were just supposed to assist their supervisors. Even with top secret security clearance, this was little much for them considering the threat that possibly loomed in front of them.

"Our missile defense protocols and military decision making though are not fully automated. Men have to be kept in the loop. But in a launch situation or an act of war the capacity for human error can be eliminated."

Black and his deputy Narville then relaxed. There was such a thing as nonsense.

"Now that just sounds like science fiction." Black simply said.

"I'll admit Charlie you had me thinking that she just came up with the plans for making SKYNET."

"Truth is stranger than fiction. Mark Twain has never let me down."

"Well I doubt Mark Twain ever imagined that information can become formless. And speaking of things that are and are not there, Katherine, what did you manage to find out?"

The lady with short hair that chose to stand opened her folder and began reading off of a file. The name she said immediately confirmed Bookman's suspicious that she was about to become Koko's next abductee.

"Ibrahim Faiza aka "Chatty Rabbit's Foot", Egyptian national, age 39 years old. A political dissident, hacker, and internet sensation among those that like the freedom of information no matter the cost. He came from a well off family and graduated from the University of Cambridge with a doctorate in Quantum Physics. During his time in Cambridge he became interested in politics and came up with a thesis called 'Social Revolution Through Information'. After receiving his doctorate he attained a position at the Western University's Theoretical Physics Laboratory. At that same time he launched his 'Information Revolution Network' which threw the internet and certain spots in Arab nations into chaos. Which all of us know as the 'Arab Spring' that's occurring right now. Through his own personal hacking he'd find and post top secret information and then disappearing down the proverbial hole which earned him the name 'Rabbit's Foot' and…"

"It'd be easier to just say Julian Assange only with a different appearance." Black said cutting her off.

He already knew everything about The Rabbit's Foot, including a few things on the file that weren't entirely accurate. Bookman was the one that took her offline by force because she was little more aggressive than the real leader of Anonymous but decided that she could be of some use if the time ever called for it. He hoped though it would be never.

"Also, minor correction, it's Layla Ibrahim Faiza. She's a twenty eight year old woman. Narville?"

He smiled because had already had the live feed for her "Cell" at Camp No brought up before the meeting started.

"This is the Camp No live feed from her place." He said with a remote in his hand turning on the screen behind them all.

"Camp No?" The lady asked shocked that it even existed.

"That place is so highly classified the last three administrations didn't even know it existed." Charlie said.

But what came in on the feed though was something that no one expected. Instead of a dark and gloomy prison that seemed almost medieval, was what one would normally see in a five star condominium with the design of an open floor plan except with no windows. Bookman's way of trying to earn her trust by treating her more of a guest than a prisoner. On the screen that came up was a young and rather beautiful Egyptian woman riding around on a Segway. Wearing glasses and her messy black hair wrapped up in a messy pony tail she looked like she was a college grad merely enjoying her weekend rather than a doctor in physics.

"I'm bored. Maybe I'll play the new batch of video games I got." She said in a mix of a British and Arabic accents.

"As you all can see that's 'Chatty Rabbit's Foot'. She's held under much more different conditions than the rest of the prisoners there. Obviously this is top secret."

The rest of the staff knew that was their orders not to say a word of what they just saw or they'd disappear in a flash. He then turned to Narville.

"You know what since we're checking in on things why don't we check in on Professor Amada?"

The deputy then did what his boss ordered him to and clicked to a live feed of a down looking satellite overlooking the Marchen Facility in South Africa.

"I ordered one of our eye's in the sky to keep surveillance on Koko's new factory. It's late at night in Port Elizabeth right now so I don't think we'll…" The image that came up on screen was vastly different than what he expected.

"Well imagine that." He said undeterred as the image of several women appeared on the screen. Healthy, beautiful, naked women to be more precise, enjoying a hot bath on the roof of Marchen.

Naturally it drew out some blunt comments from the staff.

"She has a hot spring in her building?"

"Is this live?"

"Chief, are you using our equipment to play 'Peeping Tom'!?"

A wolf whistle. "Good Lord."

Bookman let his staff get it out of there systems before he continued. Surveillance and information gathering wasn't always just facts, numbers, and the occasional adrenaline rush. Things of the erotic nature come up more often than usual. It's simply a part of being human. But he couldn't deny the fact if he wasn't a happily married man, he would have stared a little bit longer. He then began with the black haired one scrubbing herself. He got what little information he could about her from Scarecrow. He was glad he got anything at all from the arrogant agent.

"Karen Low; Professor Amada's personal bodyguard. Details on her are a little light but not terribly important. Former PLA Lieutenant that failed to protect her superior and somehow got a broken arm not long after that. Lady in the glasses is Amada herself." He then paused. "Hey, is that blonde who I think it is?"

Narville answered. "Yep. That's Elaina Baburin."

Bookman then noticed his deputy focus and then start to quietly chuckle to himself.

"Something amusing?"

"I just noticed that those three look like animals in human form. A fox, a racoon, and a rabbit. And I'm not talking about Layla, she would fit a squirrel."

Bookman then bursted out in a hearty chuckle. It was little moments like this in his work that kept him sane after so many years.

2020 Hours

With the meeting concluded, along with a few stink eyes given to Bookman from the female members of his staff, everyone went home for the night. But Black and Narville had one last talk before they concluded their business for the day. They saw the risks Koko was making clearer than anyone. The only problem was that Bookman didn't know to classify her as a threat or not. The playing field was still evenly matched.

"After she left Osaka she headed back to Europe and that's where we lost track of her. She's probably still on board her ship or using her father's empire as cover."

No one was left in the building and no one still as they went outside into the cool night of the CIA's parking lot. So they could talk as they pleased.

"How is she doing?" Narville asked.

"Slippery as ever. But your friends 'conjecture' could be more on point than he knows. I got word from Scarecrow of how much money she's liquidated into Marchen. The number is in no way, shape, or form funny. She's making a move and there's only so many directions she can take."

"Do you really think she's gonna take Rabbits Foot and put together that computer?"

Narville didn't know how his Chief was doing but he was shuddering on the inside. A system that could shatter any type of digital defense like a rock being thrown through a window would terrify anyone.

"Let's prepare for the worst case scenario so we don't get blindsided. I have a feeling we'll meet again before she makes the final push. She's not the type to close off options but she does want to make sure the ball is in her court. Especially when she has players that not a lot of people can stop."

Narville knew what Bookman was talking about. Her bodyguards were also her own Spec Ops Unit, picked from some of the best unit's around the world. And one fellow American who he didn't think would go that far.

"So he's real? And she has him working for her?"

"Nightmare's only a man with a reputation. But if that reputation ever went public we'd practically lose world interest and trust in our military to sort out problems some nations can't solve on their own. It'd be just giving the bad guys the proof of what everything they say about us is right."

"So have you met him?"

Bookman didn't answer. He just looked straight ahead as the both of them continued to walk to their cars. Narville knew that he just asked a question he shouldn't know about. So asked a different one.

"Never mind, I don't want or need to know. But how's Patricia? She's going to be a year ahead of Arnold isn't she?"

Bookman then turned from Section Chief to proud dad.

"He's not going to Virginia. He's going to Texas A and M once the summer's over. The boy's having a problem though trying to figure whether he wants to do teaching or do something with finance and accounting."

"Longhorns huh? Good choice."

March 15th 2011 1200 Hours

London, United Kingdom

"So that's what's going to be happening. Until then we'll be going under the radar and pray Koko's little toys and fakes work."

The last week had been another constant stream of drills and scenarios for all types of extraction operations. I also found out that the chopper pilots that helped us in Russia, Rothrine and Gordon, would be our air support and our extractors once we had this hacker girl. Along with Koko and Tojo giving me and Lehm a rundown on how to work a few of her rather fancy hacking gadgets that were disguised as smart phones. Including having a few fake identification cards made for us. Koko was gonna give the formal briefing of what we were planning to do tomorrow but I let Sophia know first before the rest did. Just to let her know what was at stake. Her loyalty to Koko was unquestionable, and that's what made me so concerned. I wanted to make sure that it didn't cloud her judgment.

I also let her know what happened on the training site wasn't anything she needed to be concerned about. The only reason why Koko's hands were bandaged up was that she had to beat some sense into me and that I deserved it. I'd figure making a lunch of some pan fried trout would leave her more open to conversation. The old man and I were staying at one of the hotels near Heathrow before we headed out to Cuba. So I picked a room with a kitchen to try and take my mind off of the stressing fact that I was about to perform espionage against the United States.

"Very well." She simply said.

She did at least listen to me because I wanted to let her know I was serious. The moment I mentioned Camp No her gold eye focused on me entirely. I was glad I wasn't just pissing into the wind. But it was about as far as conversations went with the two of us as of recent. I speak, she acknowledges and barely says anything else. She wanted me to answer her back, and that isn't something I can just do.

"Sophia please. This has got to be the most dangerous thing any of us have ever done. Don't just brush it off like another job."

I wasn't even halfway through my food so I just set my fork down and hoped this didn't lead into another argument.

"I'm not. I've been putting my life on the line almost every damn day since I met Koko. I don't intend to fail her now." She then wiped off her mouth and stood up to leave. "God. You and Lutz have been having problems with your intestinal fortitude as of late. Take a moment and dig deep for a bigger set of balls cause you're gonna need them when the time comes. But I get it, and you have a right to be concerned. But above all else I believe in Koko. So she knows you and the old man can get her what she needs. A lot of this is riding on you both so don't screw up."

She sounded like she just jumped right back into her FRDP days. It was just as if all the memories the two of us had together just faded out or became irrelevant. I did some regrettable things but what the hell would warrant me not mattering that I even existed. I needed to put her mind at rest so it'll at least last until after this was over. Then I would at least try to tell her what she wanted to hear. It's not so easy to do when your own worst enemy is yourself.

"Is that it?"

"Yes." She said as she grabbed her jacket with her knife and sidearm underneath it.

"I meant is that it for us?"

She paused for a moment and then hurried in her leave.

"Well that's painfully obvious isn't it?" She said flipping her hair out of her coat with frustration.

"All because I couldn't say it to you just yet?"

"I wasn't lying. So I'm done waiting."

She went for the door but I got out of my chair and fast walked behind her. I then reached across her head and pushed the door shut as she started to open it. I was already in dangerous waters but I couldn't turn back now. This was the first time I knew for certain that I would actually have a future and the possibility of spending it with someone.

"Damien, move you hand off of the door before I break it."

I ignored the threat I told her a few things I didn't forget.

"You said you would prove me wrong if I thought the worst was going to happen no matter what. Well I want to let you know that you don't need to worry about that anymore. All the negative baggage that I've carried around since God knows when has conditioned me to think like that all the damn time. I am such a dumbass for not realizing that sooner."

I took my hand off the door. She didn't turn around but she stood in place.

"I know it sounds like I'm making excuses. But I'm still gonna hold that promise I made to you that you won't end up like me. I won't fail you on that."

"Mmm." I hoped to get more out of her but she became less tense.

Deciding to take a page out of Koko's book, I then got closer and simply wrapped my arms around her while placing my head on her shoulder. Her blind side. I tried to always do that out of habit so that she would know that I was there, even though she couldn't see me. While cheesy, it had purpose.

"I also told you that you're better than me. It's one of the big reasons that drew me towards you. So let me say this. If we make it through this, I'll tell you what you want to hear. I swear."

When she leaned her head into mine, it was all I needed to know.

"You mean it?"

"Only after this is done. Not before and I'm not jinxing us. I really like the odds this time and losing is not really an option for me."

She then got out of my hug and turned around. Her smile, genuine. Her gold eye, confident. Her hair, darker that night. Her fair skin, flawless. But what was different was that she stood up on her toes to kiss me. That never happened before.

"Then don't fuck this up." She then grabbed and patted my face. "You magnificent idiot." She said as she left.

Her attitude, back to normal.

March 16th 2011 0830 Hours

Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba

It was another beautiful day in the Caribbean. As the morning sun began to take its place in the sky it began to steadily warm, made slightly worse by the humidity. There were several tropical storms that had swung by the bay but they were all out at sea. They were however getting closer to the mainland and the next one would swarm the base as well as the detention centers. While a hazard, it was not on the priority list of alerts for a certain leader of SEALs and his team.

"El-tee we been on this security alert for the last week an a half. I'm telling you it's a fluke."

The bellyaching came from one of his team leads. Sitting as if he was a bored high school student waiting for the bell to ring. He, the Petty Officer, and many of the other sailors had went through the same BUD's training together. So he knew he was just blowing off his frustration. But he could feel his pain since he'd been making these morning meetings mandatory for some possible infiltration threat on the base. They were starting to become repetitive. His team had been on break for long enough. It had been time to go to work again.

"I seem to recall you using those exact same words before we had to go find those guys that were harassing Leatherneck. Suck it up Robertson. If we're not doing anything, then that means somebody somewhere is doing their job right."

"Whatever, D."

"Shit man. Somebody doing their job right? When's the fleet EVER sailed straight?" Another said expressing his conservative opinion.

"When there's free pussy in port. The hells a matter with you Blake?" Said another asking if his common sense was out of tune.

"Hey leave him alone man. It ain't his fault all those radio shows he listens to got him thinking stupid shit." Another said ribbing his teammate.

"Hey! Fuck you man. Listen a little and you may get a better knowledge in the way the world works."

"Alright! Enough! Save the debates for whenever it's time for cervezas!" The Hispanic Naval Lieutenant said getting his teams attention.

Not all bonds were forged through training. A lot of it was also how a unit spent time with each other on and off the battlefield. To the casual viewer it seemed like childish bickering but Dante Mendez's saw that he was in command of a truly fine and responsible team. Going through numerous triumphs and hardships, and still coming out being better than they were before. Even though their security clearance was a lot higher than most, there were always days on the job where you just had to get through it without going crazy.

"Was there anything else new sir?" The quiet member of the team spoke.

"No new updates yet Cannelli. SOCOM says just to wait for any new intel and be on our toes."

He then grabbed his ballcap with his units unique patch on the Velcro and put it on his head. Proclaiming that they operated best at night.

"Night Nine, you're dismissed."