Chapter 52: The Goddess of War
April 17th 2011 0800 Hours
CIA Headquarters, Langley, Virginia
So far the raid on Camp No had been the second most prevalent issue on the CIA's list of priorities. But it had prevented the primary objective that had been taken place above all other operations to be executed. Only known to certain senior officers, directors, and Presidential Staff. Director Panetta had insisted that 'Operation Neptune Spear' could not go forward until the security leak had been either contained or eliminated. His orders were clear to the other Section Chiefs.
"Find out who did this by any means necessary."
That meant that George Black was officially running out of time. He had managed to cover his own tracks about knowing that the raid was going to happen but unless he had solid evidence that it was Koko Hekmatyar, he couldn't risk telling Director Panetta the full details about 'Undershaft'. He'd always let Bookman carry on with his work, knowing that there were questions he couldn't ask and Bookman couldn't answer. It was the nature of espionage to not ask too many questions, but there was a balance for when catastrophic events happened and there wasn't an explanation for why. Bookman had always hoped for the best possible outcome but that went up in smoke whenever Night Nine was wiped out. He could always shift and place the blame on someone else though. It wasn't his first time doing this. But what actually made him upset was that he was truly trying to protect Koko. Now it seemed he couldn't anymore.
As he prepared to continue on with the morning, his cell phone rang. On the other end though, was someone he didn't expect.
"Bookman. Long time no speak." It was Koko. He was at a loss for words. "I know, I know. You're shocked that I found out your number. I have some work that I have to get to in a few minutes so don't give me any bullshit or I'll hang up."
The CIA Section Chief looked out his open office door to see his staff going about their duties like normal. He had to maintain the craft he had perfected over the last thirty years. He wouldn't be intimidated by a mere phone call.
"No need for foul language Koko. What's on your mind?"
"I'll cut to the chase. You're running out of time faster than you might think. I know that certain individuals in the other intelligence branches are starting to connect the dots between your 'Undershaft', myself, and a certain monumental failure in Cuba involving the very best of the United States Navy."
Bookman couldn't believe what he just heard. He did his best not to laugh hard, but he did it quietly. It was if Koko just deliberately placed herself on the United States' most wanted list.
"You realize you just implied that you were involved in an attack on my nation?"
"Listen or don't. It's up to you." The arms dealer wasn't even fazed. "At the rate in which this is going you'll be placed in a federal witness stand or a Congressional hearing within a week. But I think I have a solution for you. If you want to discuss this in person, get on the flight I've arranged for you. You should arrive in Algeria by tonight." She giggled. "Good luck."
As she hung up, Bookman then weighed the options in his head. Quickly coming to the conclusion that he didn't have any, but a one thought came through that he hoped wasn't real. That she managed to actually construct a fully functional quantum computer. That she used it to take Chatty Rabbits Foot from Camp No. But she just stepped out from the shadows giving him a clear shot to take her out if he deemed it necessary. Something didn't add up.
"What's her angle in all of this?"
He then checked his computer. There was a single ticket available for travel with transportation scheduled for him when he landed. He had only a few hours to get ready.
"Not like I have much of a choice." He then directed his voice to outside his office. "Hey Peterson!?"
"Yes sir?" He said after he hurried to his office doorway.
"Get a car ready. I have an emergency flight I need to catch. Tell Narville he's in charge till I get back."
As he nodded to get his deputy and mode of transport, he had one more call to make. He'd be a fool if he didn't let her know until after it was too late.
"Hello?"
"Hi Melonie."
"You forget something at the house again George? You'll have to get it yourself, I'm about to head for the office." She said with the sounds of shuffling in the background.
"No sweetheart it's not that. I'm not gonna be coming home tonight. Something's come up."
She knew what the deal was when her husband made these types of calls to her. While inconvenient there was nothing she could really do about it. It was part of the commitment of being married to a spy. She knew what her husband did for a living, he couldn't really tell her everything.
"How long will it be this time?"
Bookman preferred annoyed as opposed to upset when this first started happening early in their marriage.
"A few days at most. Nothing like last time."
"Alright. You call me the moment you're home."
"I always do. Love you."
"Love you too."
1412 Hours
Casablanca, Morocco
Several days ago Koko had decided that they had spent enough time out at sea and had to resupply and refuel the Fruition. Damien was the one choosing where to go, and he said he'd never been to Morocco before. They had already bounced around all of the other beautiful spots around the Mediterranean but that was just in Europe. There were still a few places in Africa to go, the ones at least not consumed by civil uprising.
"Hey boss! You said you wanted me to let you know when were almost ready. Just have to get my car on board."
Koko was relaxing on the docks while the Fruition was getting ready to depart, taking an initiative as a leader as being the last to go but still working with her laptop. The US intelligence branches were running around in circles but eventually they would straighten their direction of where to look. Not that by this point in her plan, it wouldn't really matter. Bookman would find that out by tonight.
"Thanks Ugo. I don't suppose you brought along another tuna?"
"Nah. We were luckier the other day. Yesterday we just sat on a boat for six hours."
Koko did have some other business besides taking in the sights of a setting for a Hollywood classic. While meeting with some of her military contacts in the Moroccan Army, some valuable intel was traded into what she could use to her advantage. Something that would help clear any blame of a certain Special Forces General and give a rather stern warning to whoever in the NSA was still hounding her. It had to be a special case since Scarecrow couldn't have been that bold enough, or stupid enough, in hunting her down. She had to properly time this controlled leak so that she wouldn't spill more than what was necessary.
"Bummer. Well we won't have to worry about fish for a while."
The driver then looked to his employer, still typing away, rather innocently.
"They're right behind me too."
She stopped and looked at him. "Thank you."
As the driver walked off to the ships brow, she saw the two of them in the distance approaching the ship. Acting like nothing was wrong. But in the last few days he was acting extra careful around her. Koko knew that he was eating himself up on the inside after he figured out what they both did that night on the bow of the ship. It was an hour before he even said anything to her after they finished making love. They just sat at the bow in an embrace and barely dressed. She saw in the eyes of the color they shared that he didn't know what to do.
"I think I finally pushed my luck too far." He said defeated.
"What do you mean? How so?" She said looking to him with one of his large arms wrapped around her. Twisting a strand of his long brown hair between her fingers.
He shut his eyes as if he was in pain. "Christ. Do I really need to spell it out to you Koko?"
"You mean what we just did? Come on Damien, you didn't do anything wrong. Both of us just acted on impulse. A rash decision, nothing more."
"I'm not sure Sophia is gonna look at it that way." He said without looking at her.
She had already made a similar decision like this. So she shifted herself around to face him, guiding her hands up his arms to his shoulders. Putting on her classic smile of reassurance.
"Only if she needs to know."
"Koko…" She put her finger to his lips again.
"I won't tell if you won't. All you have to do is keep making sure that she's happy. Just think of this as is if you had a cavity or a chipped tooth, either way you have to go to the dentist and it's going to suck."
He looked at her annoyed as if she thought he was a grown man that still didn't learn to look both ways before he crossed the street. But as long as Sophia didn't figure anything out, he'd agree to the little white lie. She could tell by the look on his face that he had made his decision and he had to say it to her, and soon.
"I still feel like hammered shit."
"You'll get over it." She said as she kissed him on the forehead.
She was glad that it appeared that he had fully adjusted to how their peculiar way of life unfolded. It had been a few days, so she'd figured she'd get the answer from him now. She shut off her laptop, put it in her bag, hopped off the crate she was sitting on, and made to the two of them.
"You two ready to go?"
"Ahh…this place wasn't as glamourous as I thought it would be. Good food, but that's really it."
He couldn't fool her, he was still stressing out.
"That's because you kept picking out the most expensive places to eat." Valmet said to him.
"Hey, there are a lot of places where you're NOT supposed to eat the local grub. I learned that the hard way."
"Ok you two get on board. The ship departs the moment the last container is on board."
As they made their way up the brow, Damien in the lead looked behind to the girls.
"Hey Koko, I got a favor to ask."
"Forget it Damien, she's not going to do it."
"Hold on Valmet, I haven't even heard him yet." She said holding her hand out. "What's up Damien?"
As they reached the ship deck, the Green Beret straightened his form and put his hands in his pockets.
"Can we make port in Cape Town?"
Koko looked at him confused while Valmet rolled her eye.
"I'm not running a cruise liner here Damien. I need to get Dr. Faiza to Port Elizabeth. Why…"
"The big idiot says he has a surprise and I told him that you wouldn't do it." Valmet said answering her.
She then looked back to him for an explanation.
"I saved up enough money for…something special. All you have to do just make a quick detour and we continue on to Port Elizabeth within a week or two."
"A week or two!?" She said unbelieving.
"I finally made my decision." He said firmly and looking directly into Koko's eyes. She knew what he was implying.
There was a brief pause. "Valmet, tell the bridge that I'll be up there as soon as I can."
"Koko?"
"Do as I say."
As she headed for the bridge with an annoyed look on her face, Damien kept his gaze on her until she disappeared behind a cargo container.
"Well?" She said getting his attention.
"I did some thinking a while before what happened last week. I…uhh…after your science project is done, so am I."
He couldn't look at Koko while saying that final part. So he rested himself of the side of the ship, looking down at the docks. Both were quiet for a brief moment until the ships horn sounded that it was departing.
"Why?" She asked plainly.
"My life is not a war. I'm gonna live it as full as I can. I'm gonna do it without looking over my shoulder because I know I'm not alone anymore." He shut his eyes and took a deep breath. "And I'm taking her with me."
Koko saw a kindred spirit inside Damien the moment they first met. Their lives being one of war was part of it. But she saw willpower and determination that she had never seen in anyone else. And anyone else would have cracked under the pressure but he never did. Like her, he kept going forward no matter what tragedy happened or challenge they faced. But now she knew that he couldn't do it with her. She finally understood what he said to her before they lost R.
What she did for him, he can never repay.
She put herself next to him, staring down to the docks as the ship began to move. But she did not lean on him this time.
"Do you love her?"
…
"Yes."
…
"More than me?"
…
"Yes."
…
"Well…all the time we spent together. Was it fun?"
"Yes."
She then began to snicker. "Is that all you're going to say?"
He smiled. "Yes."
"Fine. Then I want you to promise me something."
"Yes?"
She rolled her eyes at the different tone of his repeated laconic answer.
"Make sure my sister is happy." She then pointed to him. "Or your ass is going to be the figurehead on the bow of my ship."
He decided not to say anything smart. Koko did have a habit of being literal.
"That's a promise."
"Good."
Now she could give him a proper hug. A genuine one and not one of her silly ones.
"Why don't you tell us what's been going on when we get there anyway? I don't want to one up you."
"Fine with me. Now shoo." She said trying to push him. "I got work to do."
As he got of sight, while following his lovers footsteps, she pulled out her sat phone.
"Ok Minami. Give the wolves the bait and the hunters a trail."
1045 Hours
The Pentagon, Washington DC
For a while, it had just been another day on the job for the soon to be ex-General Andrushko. The Cuba incident had still been a discreet hot topic around the Pentagon. Even though the other agencies had taken over a majority of it, SOCOM still had an active part to play. But Andrushko had to prepare for the inevitable. He confronted the Army Chief of Staff, General Casey, face to face that he was prepared to accept the blame of failing to ensure the survival of a Spec Ops team. But if anyone accused him of conceiving a plot of something heinous he'd beat the common sense into them and he wouldn't care about the consequences.
"Sir?"
Clint Bishop, one of his DOD staff, got his attention in his office door.
"Yes?"
"Agent Carlyle on line one. Says it's urgent."
The General was smart in branching out to as many people as he could when he was first appointed to the position he was in. Having a friend in the NSA that helped get him more info than he should have was just another line in the network. Carlyle was a bit of a leech sometimes, but he gave a damn about his work. The NSA wanted to find out what really happened just as bad as he did.
"Yeah Peter?"
"Jesus Marcus! Took you long enough!" He screamed.
"OW! The hell is a matter with you?" He said after pulling the phone from his ear.
Carlyle was jumping through a lot of hoops to get a lead on who the major leak was but he had come across something else. Something far worse and could put the entire US intelligence network to a screeching halt.
"Sorry I've been running around HQ at Meade like crazy. Is this line secure?"
He waved Bishop off as he shut his office door.
"Yeah it is what's going on?"
"I got some information from a very reliable source. Turns out a CIA officer went missing in North Africa."
Things were already bad enough. Now they just got worse. Andrushko thought to himself if there was some higher form at work just wanting to screw with him. After he calmed himself, he knew he had work to do. Despite the pressure from the Joint Chiefs, no one was going to tell him to not do his job while he still could.
"Is he a local asset or an agent who's cover was blown?"
"Neither. Apparently the arrogant pricks were a little too proud when they abducted him. It's one of the senior staff from Langley. They haven't given his name yet."
"Why the hell doesn't the CIA know about this?" Andrushko did his best to remain calm.
"After I got this tip they were the first ones I called. Seems they want to call in a favor. Little concept of need to know tends to backfire sometimes." He said annoyed before continuing. "An Al-Qaeda splinter group took him and we don't know where. We need to requisition a unit that's already in the Mediterranean so we can get him back without raising hell in the Sahara. I managed to find a digital trail in their communications network. I'll find them, I just need someone to get him."
The General then heard a ping from his computer. Normally it was the emergency sound when an urgent communique came in from Admiral Olsen.
"That's no problem I just…" He read the short message and his eye's widened. "What?"
"You just what Marcus?"
"Umm…nothing. Yeah, Major Bellamy's Marine Raider Unit is on board the USS Mount Whitney and is already on patrol with Sixth Fleet. I'll get in touch with his boss, forward the info to him, plan out an attack strategy, but I don't know if I can trust the lines."
The fear of another breach in security was still fresh in the General's mind.
"Marcus I understand your hesitant about lightning striking in the same place twice, but you know what is going to happen if they manage to squeeze this guy."
"Can you find him?"
"Already on the trail. I'll call you back the moment I get anything solid."
As Carlyle hung up he looked back to the message on his computer. The methods of authentication were in order and he recognized today's confirmation number. Olsen had received the news first and allowed Andrushko to carry on with his role as the Tactical Operations Officer for SOCOM, along with the name for the rescue operation. He then got on his secure line again.
"Get me The Sixth Fleet's Marine Commander."
After a minute, the Marine Officer on the other side of the world answered. Andrushko then began to explain the details of a rescue mission he would give to Major Bellamy.
It was called 'Operation Undershaft.'
2230 Hours
US Sixth Fleet, The Mediterranean Sea
The United States Marine Corps were considered to be the first responders in conflict happening on behalf of the US in any part of the world. They would continue to build that legacy tonight with rescuing and safeguarding an high value CIA operative. When Major Shane Bellamy received orders from his superiors at SOCOM, both from his own CO and SOCOM's unofficial number two, he needed little motivation to act. A severe breach in US intelligence was at risk and his Marines would answer the call of duty to save it.
There was only time for a quick briefing and direction of where to go. Major Bellamy then gave the brief as the Marines passed along the photo and identification of the agent captured.
George Black. Chief of the CIA's European Branch.
"Alright Marines, this is the skinny. A top value CIA asset has been kidnapped in Algeria. Our friends in Intelligence have managed to pinpoint his captors headquarters. We go in, find him, and get the hell out before anyone knows we're there. Packages codename is 'Bookman'. Questions?"
His Marines silently let him know they were ready.
"Mount up Marines!"
2256 Hours
Zemmouri, Algeria
Not too long after Bookman had landed in Oued Smar, he got on board a bus that was supposed to lead to Koko's meeting spot. But after the bus had begun to get into more and more rural places, he realized that something was wrong. After being told it was his stop and seeing that he was alone in a village that was quieter than it should have been. He felt like a fool.
"Damnit to hell she set me up."
The situation only got worse as several makeshift gun trucks came around a corner. Men dressed like militia armed with AK47's and RPD's approached him fast. He honestly didn't believe that Koko would go that far but he didn't expect her to sell him out to terrorists. Laxing his form, Bookman surrendered to his fate.
But as one of the militia jumped out of the back of a pickup, a high powered rifle shot pierced through the night and through the man before he even hit the ground.
After Bookman received some splatter of blood on his face and suit, he hit the dirt as more sniper fire echoed through the night. Along with the shouting of Arabic and Kalashnikov fire. That was soon replaced by M4 carbine shots but Bookman wasn't paying attention to that until he heard a Midwestern American accent.
"Hey! You George Black? CIA?"
Bookman took a while to formulate a response. "Uhh…yeah that's me."
"United States Marines. We're getting you out of here."
2314 Hours
Over the Mediterranean Sea
After letting the adrenaline get out of his system, and the blood off of him, Bookman couldn't make heads or tails of the situation at hand. It seemed too well put together and too well timed. As he looked out the Seahawk's window to see Algeria getting further behind him, the Marine officer in charge got on his radio. He tried to listen in over the noise.
"Yes sir we're on our way home. No casualties and the package is secure. Tell SOCOM that 'Operation Undershaft' is a success."
Bookman's eyes fell immediately upon the Marine. That one word gave it all away. Koko Hekmatyar had been responsible for all of this. The quantum computer that she was supposedly building was real. She had already manipulated the US Military's Tactical Data Link and GPS transponders. Forging Marine orders and communications with a terrorist cell would have been a cake walk.
"She probably knows exactly what I'm doing right now."
"Excuse me sir?" The Major asked.
"It's nothing. I'm just thinking about who might have duped me."
The Marine knew that the agent wouldn't blab about a security matter to him that was below his pay grade. Bookman then got back to thinking about the little lady in question.
She's totally jumped past the monster stage now. With that computer she could control any piece of information on the planet on her own will. But why hasn't she taken full advantage of it? Better question, why didn't she just have me killed back there?
…
Of course. The new world she was yammering about for the longest time. She actually plans to create it. God knows I'd like to see it and she expected me to react this way. She knew that I'd be on her side despite that I was working for the CIA. She had me figured out a long time ago.
…
Well little lady. That's checkmate.
Bookman knew it was over for him, but not for whoever she decided to set up to take the fall for this. It wasn't going to be pretty for whoever it would be. As long as it wasn't him, he didn't care.
1909 Hours
The Pentagon
"I take it you heard the news?"
"Just did. No way those assholes could lose me once I picked up their trail."
"Black could have at least tried not to escape so that Bellamy's boys didn't have to improvise. At least we put out a fire before it got too out of control. Good job Peter."
It was another late night at the Pentagon and at Ft Meade. Andrushko and Carlyle were discussing their recent success along with a lucky break from things getting any worse off than they already were. But Carlyle had a different story to tell the General, his extra snooping had uncovered something rather heinous. And it would clear his friend of any type of blame for the decimation of Night Nine.
"Well don't pop the cork just yet. You're gonna wanna hear this. I think I just found our leak."
The General sat up. "What do you mean? How?"
"Somebody set up Black so that he'd be caught no matter what. Now here comes the scary part. I only have a few bits and pieces right now but I found some rather interesting messages that are connected to a recurring source. They're pretty well encrypted but…I think it's inside the fucking building."
"You're kidding me." The General greyed.
"I'm going to have to pull an all-nighter on this but if I can break their code, I'll find out who our leak is."
"What can I do?"
"This one's on me buddy. It'd be a little suspicious if you started poking around. I can't really trust anyone over here right now but the moment I get something. You'll be the first to know."
As he heard the click on the other end, Andrushko put his head down on his desk and let out a deep sigh of relief. He had already prepared himself for the end of his military career. But at least he could step down humbly. All he really had to do was just ride it out.
His only regret, was that he would do it alone.
The Andrushko family had service members in almost every branch of the US military spanning back a century. Each one knew that it was not a life for anyone. The physical and emotional toll it takes on a human being can be heavy. It wasn't that they wouldn't understand. It was that no one would be able to replace his wife and child.
April 18th 2011 0845 Hours
North Laurel, Maryland
Carlyle had seen plenty of fools come and go in both his time as a Marine and working for the National Security Agency. When he first met Torrey Plame, he didn't think much of him. Just another military connection in the NSA that didn't have to wear the uniform all day. Some want to make a name for themselves, some let a fantastic achievement go to their head, and some are rather selfish. But rarely, if at all, do they fall upon treason.
"Suspect is exiting his residence now."
One of the two NCIS agents that had accompanied him to the arrest of a Navy Commander in NAVSPECWAR brought him back to his senses. The hours he had spent awake in front of a computer and making phone calls to the Naval Criminal Investigative Service had left the NSA agent only somewhat coherent. He kept his promise to General Andrushko but warned him not to let Admiral Olsen know until the suspect was in custody. He was frustrated that it took him as long as it did to get the arrest warrant for Torrey Plame. But one of the two agents that were with him had a look of intense anger. One that he'd seen so many times. He didn't ask him why. The military world is both big and small at the same time.
"Alright, let me make the introductions."
As the three men exited the unmarked sedan and walked to the house in a somewhat nice neighborhood, Carlyle was baffled on how this guy could pull off what he did, as well as disgusted. He didn't care why Plame did what he did, but he'd pay for it. Good men had died, and their blood was on his hands. Carlyle didn't care that his inner Marine was about to ruin a tender family moment.
"Have a good day Torrey." Mrs. Plame said with their baby girl in her arms.
"Thanks honey."
"Are you going to be home late again?"
Plame then reached to his daughters nose as she cooed.
"No. I don't have any meetings tonight."
Neither of them noticed the three men in suits at the bottom of the stairs of their porch. Each one with a serious look on their face.
"He'll be too preoccupied in deciding whether he wants to be executed by the rope or a firing squad."
The Plame's looked immediately to the outburst in shock.
"Carlyle? What's the meaning of this!?"
He didn't answer, he just nodded to the NCIS agents and let them do their duty.
"Torrey Plame, you're under arrest for unauthorized release of classified information, aiding and abetting a terrorist cell, attempted murder, and the wrongful deaths of twelve United States Sailors."
"What!?" Plame said baffled at what he was being accused of.
"Torrey! What is he talking about!?" Mrs. Plame said horrified.
"Chelsea I have no idea! What are-ARGH!"
The angry one of the two NCIS agents took the Commander by the arm, pinned him to the wall of his house, and began to put him in handcuffs. He had every right to be furious, but he still had to uphold his duty to the law. He didn't care that the baby then began to cry not knowing what these men were doing to her father. It was believed that he caused several other children to lose theirs.
"Darryl Robertson was a friend of mine." He said as he was cuffing him. "I hope you burn you rat fuck son of a bitch."
As the two men led the SEAL away in cuffs reading him his rights, Carlyle looked back to Mrs. Plame with a horrified look and tears in her eyes. No surprise she didn't know. The crying baby didn't help much either.
"Your loving husband sold out his comrades and tried to have a man killed. That's why this is happening."
"What!? Torrey would never…!"
"The evidence we have against him says otherwise and I will gladly share it with you Mrs. Plame." He said cutting her off. "But for now, get your husband a good lawyer."
The NSA agent then left the terrified housewife and crying baby behind. The hard part of this was over. As he walked back to the sedan with Plame in the back, he pulled out his phone.
"Director Alexander. I have something that you're going to need to discuss with Director Panetta and the President."
With the leak located and dealt with, operations could resume as normal. While the US intelligence agencies still needed solid evidence that Koko Hekmatyar was the one who abducted Chatty Rabbit's Foot, the reason she may or may not have gotten in and out of Camp No so easily had been taken care of. As well as Carlyle managing to thwart Plame's efforts to cover his tracks by trying to eliminate a loose end.
At least that is what someone wanted them to think.
April 21st 2011 1124 Hours
Aboard the Fruition, The Atlantic Ocean
Another lazy day in the cabin cruising along Africa. It was times like this that I was glad I never became a sailor. Living in a place that was not much bigger than four or more city blocks wasn't really a place to 'live'. Plus I had fallen into becoming repetitive in complaining about the same thing again. While I'm more than pleased that I hadn't been on the receiving end of bullets for the last month, I had to do SOMETHING different. Lifting had numbed me out. New meals to cook were starting to bore me. There wasn't anything on our satellite TV. And I was starting to run out of books to read in the library.
"I'm bored."
I felt like diving into something with current affairs, so I picked out one of the history books that had a decent chapter about after the end of the First World War. It had to do with Britain and France carving up the Ottoman Empire, which contained a lot of hot spots nowadays. Especially with the Israelis and Palestinians constantly butting heads.
"Hey, I said I'm bored."
All the Europeans gave a damn about were the trade routes and they used the Arabs to combat the Turks who were controlling them. T. E. Lawrence was probably rolling in his grave when his countrymen showed their true colors. Only reason the Arabs accepted the lines drawn in the sand was because they didn't really have a choice. And the British and French made sure that there was no Arab nation that could challenge them. Unfortunately thought that doesn't stop the extremists from extracting their retaliation or going after someone else by force just to get what they want, namely the Jews. But they beat them back every time for the last sixty years.
I then internally laughed that soon I wouldn't have to deal with this crap anymore. Greed, selfishness, and petty anger start way too much unnecessary shit between countries now. No need for me to get involved in anyone else's pissing contest.
"I'm talking to you!" She said with her hand covering the pages.
We switched places this time. Her head was in my lap laying on the bed, while I was reading with my back to the wall. I thought she fell asleep
"Can it wait till I finish the page?"
I do love to tease her. But I have to tread carefully from here on out. Making this big a leap for my little surprise for her requires making her know that I give a damn. Koko said I'd get over it, but it ain't gonna happen anytime soon.
"Hmpf! Forget it."
I closed the book and set it to the side. "Ok what's up?"
She just gave me a look of disinterest and shut her eye.
"You said you were bored so what's eating you?" I said resting my hand on her and rubbing her forehead with my thumb.
But she just turned her head and body away from me. This gave me several options. First was just to continue reading. Second, was that her butt looked very squeezable. But I'd probably lose my hand. Third, was the follow up to my question. That would be my choice.
I leaned over her head, dangled some of my long hair on her face until she looked at me, and leaned in closer to her.
"I know what it is. I'm not eating you." I whispered as I gently bit her ear.
The quiet chirp she gave meant that I had her, but her response was something I didn't expect. When I pulled back, she gave me a sad look.
I just tilted my head for why.
"You promised me. There's nothing that can get us out here."
Ohh…damn it.
It honestly had slipped my mind. I didn't think it would really matter at this point. But when I slept with Koko, I felt like I didn't deserve to. I'm responsible for my own actions and choices. And since my moral compass has been fucked up for the longest time I didn't really care anymore. The only thing I can do, is to be better. It starts with Sophia.
I did memorize a few phrases.
"Tahdon." I smiled. "Kun olen valmis."
(I will. When I'm ready.)
As her eye widened in surprise, it looked like my practicing of correct pronunciation had paid off. She sighed comfortably and sat up on her knees.
"You're never going to change will you?"
I then crossed my legs. "That ain't true and you know it. Besides isn't that why I have you? To make sure my head's on straight?"
After a deadpanned smile, she leaned forward for a kiss. We both shut our eyes and let the moment last. She will always be better than me. Better than what a man like me deserves. So the only thing I can do from now on is what Koko said, make sure she's happy. It does not matter that she can kill a man over two dozen different ways with a knife, a lady should know that's she feels special.
Taking the initiative I pushed her down on the bed and looked directly into her gold eye.
"I don't want or need anything else."
She then put both her hands on my face and gave me that passionate look that she would never share with anyone else.
"Stop saying things that I already know. Now come here you."
We never left the cabin for the rest of the day.
April 30th 2011 0100 Hours
Cape Town, South Africa
The week had come and gone. But all of us were itching for a nice comfortable hotel to sleep in and walk around on solid ground. Faiza especially since the girl doesn't really know how to live outside of a small room. She was the first one off of the boat and Sophia had to rush after her and let her know not to go anywhere without us. As the cars were unloaded from the ship we waited on Koko, I'd let her go first cause technically we were back.
In all reality I didn't care what she had planned anymore. I'm done with all of this and I'm leaving with Sophia. As she was waiting with Faiza at the bottom of the brow, she glanced over to me. We both smiled and I winked to her. It was nice out tonight, come dawn I'd look forward to a new future.
As Koko got off the brow she made her way toward us, dressed in her favorite white suit. I was leaning back on the rear car as everyone else was packing their stuff. She looked at me and I looked right back.
"Well?" I asked.
"First; I will take the sky's from the human race!" She shouted with hand in the air acting dramatically.
It got everyone's attention quick. As everyone had the same confused look on her face. But if she wanted to start with a lot of bravado then that's fine.
"Military aircraft, civilian planes, space capsules, rockets, and ICBM's. On my order, every one of them in the world will be nailed to the ground."
What in the hell is she babbling about?
"Humanity will lose it's best form of transportation and the sky's will be thrust a hundred years into the past."
This wasn't really something I expected, not to mention I don't even know what the hell she meant with all of this. Gordon and Rothrine just looked at each other baffled with Koko taking jabs at their profession. But I glanced over to Dr. Faiza, the shocked look on her face told me she knew something I didn't.
"As you all know HCLI has launched one hundred and twenty six satellites. The Global Grid will be the perfect catalyst to expand the reach of the quantum computer Minami and I developed. It will limit the mobility of every transportation system on Earth."
I kept thinking of three questions for every one statement she was making. All of them were dangerous. But when she mentioned quantum computer, that's probably what Faiza was thinking. But what in the world was it?
"Wait Koko hold up. Did you just say a quantum computer?" Tojo asked before anyone else.
"The very same." She answered.
"Uhh boss." Ugo raised his hand. "For all of us that don't read 'Popular Science'?"
She chuckled. "My mistake I was going a little fast. It's what Minami and I have been working on for the last few years. It layman's terms, quantum computing is the next generation of computational power. They are millions of times faster in analyzing and formulating a solution to pretty much anything. How they do this is containing information on a subatomic level and run millions of different calculations all at once."
That's when it all made fucking sense. THAT'S how she managed to steer those SEAL's off course. THAT'S how she managed to crash that Cobra into them. She hacked their systems and made them go where she needed. And what would you like to bet that that was how she managed get Bookman to stay away from her. I couldn't question it because she had the technology, money, people, and tenacity to pull it all off. But what was her goal in all of this?
"First in the sky, then the sea, and finally on land. Using my fathers precious project it will give us full control over the distribution networks. With this power, the world will know peace. And it will be all thanks to me."
Koko was starting to scare me. This sounded more and more like she was planning on turning the whole world into her enemy. There were looks of concern on some of the other members too.
"People clamor for world peace all the time. But it a took a war profiteer like me to truly achieve a lasting solution. God, can you see the irony in that?" Her once beautiful blue eyes then turned angry. "Separating military from logistics, permanently tearing people away from military affairs. My friends, that is my ultimate goal."
Her 'goal' was just plain lunacy. People make up any military. Even if you strip that away there will still be people that want to protect their homes. I wanted to say something but I was so blindsided what she wanted to do that I couldn't speak.
"And each one of you will still hold onto your guns to the last moment." She went to Lehm and tapped him on the chest. "All I ask is for you all to keep protecting me."
Lehm seemed to be a little too calm with all of this. But Faiza wanted to be the brave one.
"Hold on Koko. It sounds like your trying to play God."
She just turned to her. "In the Bible, it was said that God sent an angel to smite 185,000 Assyrians to save Jerusalem. But whether by God or an enemy, soldiers are expected to die in war. If a battlefield slaughter is the best that God can do. I think that me preventing all of those from becoming soldiers in the first place…makes me greater than God."
Koko always did have a habit of being vicious, but that was just to her enemies. This was starting to border on megalomania. Is this woman the same one that pulled me out of the darkness? I didn't protect her just so she could raise hell and not give a fuck about the consequences. Governments are one thing but people are different.
This was not happening. It had gone on long enough and she still didn't explain what would actually happen when she puts that computer to full use. I managed to contain myself without freaking out but I couldn't just stay silent.
"Jormungand. When it goes online, what is going to happen? And what do mean by 'limiting mobility'?"
She then looked to me and spoke normally, as if we still shared the same memories of the last year and that I was her favorite.
It horrified me.
"Glad you asked Damien. I got in touch with Minami just before midnight. It's essentially shutting down and disabling ALL aircrafts navigational and flight capabilities. And your hunch is correct, people will die. But that number will be insignificant to the amount saved in the wars that will be prevented."
Hold up. What does she mean by 'all'!?
I didn't agree to associate with which would be the single worst aerial disaster in history. Not to mention that she's planning on STARTING a war that will end only when every person on the planet is fucking dead!
"How many?" I said with my heart about to beat out of my chest.
"Approximately 683,822 people, give or take for flight delays and cancelations."
…
The whole time I had spent with her had been based on a lie. Everything she did, was just so that she could force her own self righteousness on the world. Her so called "New World" would be utter chaos. But it didn't have to end here, I could still get her to not make an enemy out of everyone on Earth. But I don't think words will get to her.
"Oh I'm sorry Damien, I stood on the soap box for a little too long. You said you had a surprise here for us so what is it?"
…
It was all a fucking show. And I had a hand in making it happen. The monster could reach behind its seal.
"Well don't keep us in suspense. Tell us." She said with that sweet smile with madness behind it.
"I do have something to say."
I reached under my leather jacket for my .45. My target was the other monster in white.
"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR FUCKING MIND!?"
My scream carried through the night on the docks. Lehm was the only one that drew his pistol at me, probably just by instinct. Because everyone else was in shock. Sophia was frozen in place. But Koko just looked at me.
"Damien? What are you doing?" She asked like nothing had happened.
"Koko what you're planning on doing ISN'T peace! It full scale anarchy!"
She wasn't even shaking at me but my aim was starting to.
"Damien just so you know, ending my life won't stop Jormungand. You've seen that it works first-hand so you know of what it can do. I know that you now figured out how I saved your life and Sophia's life."
"Goddamnit. NOBODY is going to believe that close to 700,000 people falling out of the sky all at once was an accident! People will cry for answers! And if they don't like them then they'll call for blood until they get what they wanna hear."
She then tightened her form. "Do you really think I would dangle my plan in such a vulnerable position? That it can be brought crashing down with the mere pull of a trigger? The fact of the matter is that no matter what happens to me from this moment on, 'Jormungand' will be executed and the 'New World' will dawn. One that I promised to you!"
She wasn't listening to me. I had never been in such a rage in my life. It eclipsed what I did in Afghanistan.
"I didn't say that the first thing I wanted to see was a mountain of fucking corpses!"
"Is that what you're upset about? Please they're collateral damage in the long run. And you're right about another thing that the way this is carried out is somewhat ruthless but it is necessary."
"How the fuck is mass murder necessary!?"
She then let out a bored sigh. I couldn't tell if she was in a rage, scared, confused or anything. She simply didn't register that her life as well as mine, was one wrong move away from ending. She made it worse by walking towards me.
"Koko!" Lehm shouted.
"Put the gun away Lehm." She said without looking back. Her only focus was on me.
"But-!"
"If you shoot him I will kill you the moment you do. Put the gun away." She said with a snap.
Lehm did what she said, but regret was written all over his face. Now it was just down to her life.
"Damien. I know your smarter than this so don't start making a final decision based on a whim. The First World War was a colossal meat grinder and over 15 million people died. The Second World War spanned across three continents and ended with 66 million people dead. How many will die as a result of a third? I've walked through so many battlefields that it is inevitable. It won't be over material. It will be only survival."
"Either way your judging innocent people on what might happen!"
"And you think you know better!? Spare me this crisis of conscience Damien. Just because I'm an arms dealer doesn't mean I've never once gotten my hands dirty. I remember everyone I've pointed a gun at and pulled the trigger. But you have killed so many people that your hands practically drip with blood. You've never counted because you don't care. Why do you think that is?"
She wasn't going to use the hypocrite card on me. I expected that remark.
"I'd rather kill men than let them kill me. Don't use that card with me, you're going to start something that you won't be able to control!"
"Ugh. You still don't get it do you? Remember that you told me that the world can hate you but you could care less? You can sum that up in a much simpler word, complacency. This world hates people like us Damien, and I hate it right back." She said gritting her teeth.
I was right. This wasn't the woman who pulled me out of my misery.
"Ever since I could stand, my life has been nothing but war. Everywhere I go it's the same fucking thing. I hate the sight of bodies piled up just to take a few miserable meters of dirt or a street. I hate guns. Every time one was pointed at me I literally got a migraine. It's happening right now with your favorite pistol aimed at my head."
She then slowly reached up and grabbed the slide. I was holding her life in my hands. So why was I so terrified?
"I hate soldiers. Especially the fools who shut their brains off and blindly follow orders or are filled with a sense of manufactured patriotism. They reek worse than the dead they leave in their wake. Parents grieve for their children who die in war but they could care less about the children of parents on the opposing side. I hate people. I find the thought that we're the same species just plain depressing. They drift through life as cattle while at the same time thinking of only themselves. Only the people that have died by my weapons have earned my pity and remorse. And speaking of that I hate the fact that I'm an arms dealer! Thanks to my bastard father I couldn't escape that fate! But it seemed that I had a knack for it and the cash just poured in. That's when it hit me. I could use all of this blood money to foster peace! Each soul that has been hopelessly lost to meaningless violence can finally rest easy. Do you have any idea how lucky this God forsaken planet is? Despite how much I hate it, I'm going to save it!"
She was getting crazier with every word coming out of her mouth. This had to end. And she gave me the leverage I needed.
"If any of what you said is true. Then that means you hate every person behind you." I said raising my voice so that they heard me loud and clear. "Guys you can't think that this is right. Tell me that ya'll aren't going along with this?"
The response that I got though was silence and confusion.
"Seriously this isn't a game she's playing!" I said with my voice breaking.
"Damien!"
It was my best friend Karl. His kills were personal whether he wanted them to or not.
"Don't do something you're going to regret. I want this to end just as bad as you do. If Koko says she can stop war, I believe in her."
To Mao. The man who still had a family. An innocent family.
"I was literally lost in the world until Koko picked me up. Now my kids don't have to go through the same thing I went through. They deserve that chance."
To Mike. A gangster turned warrior. He just shook his head begging me not be brash. Drama like this wasn't something he was used to.
To Akihito. A man who knew lines shouldn't be blurred.
"It's not just about her or you or me or anyone else. This is about making sure that we don't make any more mistakes."
To William. He should know that the damage that would be caused would be out of her control.
He gulped. "Damien I owe you for knocking sense into me. Don't take it this far!"
To John. The one who was with her for the longest time and truly was her surrogate father. But then that's all he really was. His paternal instinct to protect her was strong, but it clouded his judgement. He just stared right back, hoping I would stop.
That left only one.
"Sophia…please." I begged.
Even with only a few spotlights highlighting the dock I saw a tear in her eye. Her face contorted in fear. Fear of me. I had hurt her more than anyone else right now. I was pointing a gun at her sister. Now I had lost the woman I loved.
I was all alone.
Again.
"Please listen to me Damien." She took her hand off my gun and reached up to my face. "With this I can end all of the unnecessary suffering around the world in one shot. Then you can go wherever you want, do whatever you please as a free man and no one can stop. I know you love Sophia, but that doesn't matter to me. Because I will never stop loving you. You're the only one I ever have."
This CAN'T be happening!
"You already know the reason why I've wanted you with me. We talk about such things all the time. It's because we see eye to eye on everything and you know that's true. When my brother first told me he came across you and you'd work for me, my heart skipped a beat. I knew all about you since you first made a name for yourself when you emerged out of the sands of Asia. You see war as pointless but you are a deadly and skilled warrior. You hate weakness of all types so you're determined to be stronger in mind, body, and soul more than anyone else. You wanted a chance at redemption to better yourself, so you now have that chance. You're my strength, my spirit, and my will."
I never felt this helpless in my life. She just pushed the gun out of her way and got body to body with me. Her smile was still genuine, I could tell. This was her true nature, the one I couldn't see.
"I will hold my promise to you and set you free. I will give you a front row seat so that you can see the system that ruined your life burn away into nothing. Just stop this nonsense, please?"
Ever since I was a boy, I dreamed about living the life of a warrior. But as I grew older and expanded my knowledge, I saw how ugly war can really be. I thought I could handle it if I hardened myself so that I could resist the physical and emotional pain. But all it really did was turn me into a cold and violent son of a bitch and I cracked under the pressure. I had deserved everything that had happened to me. And for my ultimate sin, I had a hand in the destruction of the entire human race. No sane man can wrap his head around that fact. She will do it and there will be no one able to stop her.
Except for me.
I won't let my freedom come at the price of my soul. Or the souls of everyone else in the world. She said that computer works but it doesn't sound like it's finished. It dawned on me that she was right, killing her won't stop anything. I had one chance, since I still had the keys to the rear car in my pocket, that's how I could make a quick escape. Since now everything has been taken from me, that's when I knew that I had nothing to lose.
I took my free arm and wrapped it around her gently, she relaxed. That meant she fell for it.
I then looked down at her.
"There was one thing I should have known was wrong, Koko. You know what it is?" I whispered.
It was the last smile I'd ever see on her. "What is it?"
"I didn't ruin my life…"
I felt a tear running down my cheek. Even now I wished this wasn't real.
"…YOU did." I snarled.
Casting aside every emotion but hatred, I forced her around so that I could get a grip on her chin. Lifting her up as if she was weightless, I used her as a shield. As the adrenaline kicked into overdrive, time slowed significantly, as well as any shouts I may or may not have heard. More than enough to get me a proper sight alignment on Dr. Layla Ibrahim Faiza.
Bang!
The physicist's head whiplashed back, my bullet made it's mark. Not taking the time to register that I had narrowly missed Valmet I ran for cover with Hekmatyar as my shield and the crew diving to the ground to avoid pistol fire.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Quickly fumbling the passenger door open, the mad arms dealer then took advantage of me doing too many things at once and bent my thumb to make me lose my grip. After she fell from my grasp, I thought I could hear her screams. But I just dived into the seat, turned the car over, put it in drive and put my hand on the gas.
Bang! Bang!
My left arm was steering the car blindly, because by then my so called friends started to shoot at me. After sideswiping the rear of the front car I kept going but then I felt a thump in my left arm. I ignored it and then got into the proper driving position once I was out of their range.
I hauled ass all the way down the docks and drove through the docks entrance/exit swing arm and into the city of Cape Town. I had to disappear and fast. But I couldn't figure out what to do next, instead I started to panic. Because now I just started a war with the most powerful woman on the planet.
Oh God in Heaven help me.
Author's Note: This officially ends Act Two. It was not easy to write the final part, both in the literal sense and emotionally. No one would be the same after they betrayed the ones they would call family. The third and final act of the story of Damien and Koko will showcase them at their best and their worst. They will bring out the true terrors of war, the things no one wants to talk about. The stakes couldn't be higher on both sides. Two monsters will do battle and only one will determine the future of the world.