Authors Note: I'm back! But only for a short while. Vacation's almost over and even though I had plenty of time, I kind of rushed this. If need be I'll do another proofread but late. It'll be another while before I put anything back up. If you're curious, here's where you'll get a few answers you've been wondering about.
Great news though, Army life is picking back up again. It really feels good to be back in the saddle after so long.
Chapter 57: The Old Lost Ways
May 19th 2011 1045 Hours
Stony Man Summit, Shenandoah Valley National Park, Virginia
Years ago, before the current crisis he was in and when his son was just starting out at West Point, Marcus Andrushko and his son would go fly fishing for trout in the many streams around the beautiful park. Standing at the top of Stony Man Summit, he overlooked the vast sea of green with the partly cloudy sky breathing in clean air. While dressed for a hike it was neither hot nor cold, the spring temperature was just right. Too bad that his superior officer was about to ruin the moment and he wasn't really out in the middle of rural Virginia for the scenery. Secrecy was a part of this little meeting though and he wanted to make it as isolated as possible. The capital was not a secure spot as he thought it was anymore. He owed Olson an explanation of the events that had occurred in the last three weeks, but he hoped that this wouldn't go beyond him. Events that can change the world on a global scale are not something you just talk about. Especially if the capabilities of one woman alone can dictate the course of history.
As he saw the SEAL Admiral in plain clothes walk up the rocks to him on the summit, he looked like he just came off the flight from MacDill and drove straight here. His face saying he wanted answers, but Andrushko knew that regardless of the outcome he would help his son stop Koko Hekmatyar no matter what. All Olson knew of her was just on the surface, Andrushko had seen the beast under it.
"Hell of a view isn't it?" He said looking back out to the valley.
"You want to explain to me why you've been in and out of Langley, that 'mission' to Africa, and then disappearing for a week?"
Andrushko expected the stern response but not that quick. And the fact that he knew Olson wouldn't come out here on his own. Standing on the summit looking out to the valley, there were a million places they could hide.
"Who else did you bring out here?"
"Answer the damn question General! While you can still call yourself that!"
Andrushko figured he get this over with. An angry boss who didn't trust him was the least of his concerns when he knew a woman who could manipulate or even crush his military's fighting capability was on the loose.
"Nightmare. You know who he is don't you?"
The General went straight into it. Still uneasy about just the confirmed acts his son had done. But the Admiral stared back confused.
"Yeah he's a myth. Some kind of crap the CIA came up with because they bored one day."
His skepticism was warranted but Andrushko found no need to respond with sarcasm. It seemed that he really didn't know so he would share the truth with him.
"He's no myth. He's real and he's in my custody."
Sort of.
The SEAL just stared back at the Green Beret as if he was making the flimsiest excuse imaginable. He then thought that the stress had finally gotten to Marcus and he had no choice but to make him resign his commission.
"That's the reason for all of this? You have someone that isn't real? Goddamnit Marcus…!"
"He's my son and he's alive, Eric." He said cutting him off. "He's been alive for the last three years and for the last one he has been intimately involved in Koko Hekmatyar's plans. He escaped from her and came to me because what she really has planned is far more dangerous than anyone realized. That quantum computer exists and she's planning on using it to send the planet back to the stone age. But now I have a complete layout of her entire network thanks to Damien. That's the truth, all of it."
The bizarre bombshell of hard to believe facts hit the Admiral dead center on target. The General had been busy. His seasoned professional composure of an Admiral in the US Navy had crumbled into a stuttering mess. He tried to formulate a response but his mouth was just hanging open. Andrushko decided he would say what he needed to and leave. He wouldn't care what Olson would do to him because if Hekmatyar used that computer to its full capabilities, the whole world would be up in arms. And instead of a country, he would only have chaos, nothing really left to defend or protect.
"The reason why I called you out here is because this thing needs to be kept as secret as possible. Hekmatyar has more eyes and ears than you think, and not all of them are human. She's already breached our digital defenses and made fools out of the CIA and us. Next thing you know she could have us on the war footing with the entire planet!"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa…wait a minute!" Olson said with his hands while Andrushko was catching his breath. "First off; if ANY of what your saying is remotely true then why the hell didn't you tell me!? Second; do you even have any proof to back up this crazy shit!?"
"My son just came back from the dead that's all the proof I need." He responded instantly.
The Admiral didn't fault the General on that fact but all of this seemed rather nefarious. Olson took a moment to consider all of the possibilities.
"So you don't find it coincidental that someone, regardless of the fact that it is your son, from Hekmatyar's organization just falls into your lap like that? That doesn't make any sense."
"Eric, I stopped making sense out of all of this crap when she hacked the 'Wolves Den' like it was nothing and caused me to lose a whole SEAL team. I thought that this would be over and done with when I was told about her base of operations in South Africa, which also housed her computer. But she knew we were coming and because of that, I'm now down a team of Green Beret's and three SAD operatives. Now I don't have any clue as to where she's taken her computer."
Olson saw that Andrushko's rouge operations had gone on long enough. He expected better from him, there was a reason he was selected as SOCOM's head tactician and strategist. But Olson saw that Andrushko's judgement was no longer considered sound. He'd deal with the issue of his son later.
"So now you've lost even more men and are back at square one?" He crossed his arms and delivered the final verdict. "We're heading back to Washington now and you're going to tell me everything about the last month in detail. After that…"
"Sorry Admiral but when the whole human race is at stake you don't have time to follow protocol." The Green Beret interrupted and began walking down the summit. "I promised my son I'd help him and I would. Direct attacks on Hekmatyar won't work. So right now he's taking a different approach, and as a matter of fact he should be about…"
The SEAL grabbed the Green Beret by the bicep hard. Olson meant business as two piercing stares of trained killers connected.
"This isn't a debate General." He said with teeth gritting. "There have been too many out of control events going on and you're acting on impulse! This shit stops now!"
Marcus shrugged his hand off his arm and faced him as if he was gearing for a fight. But he took the same approach with Bookman but with a calmer manner. This wouldn't be solved with anger.
"I didn't call you out here to challenge your authority Admiral. I called you out here because this can't go any further than you, I need your help to make what's going on appear legit and make sure no one asks too many questions. It's up to you if you want to do that, but if the Joint Chiefs, Panetta, or hell even the White House know what's going on then we got a panic on our hands. It will give Hekmatyar all the leverage she needs."
Olson's patience was on his last string. He was about to call in his backup and take the General back by force.
"You're in no place to demand anything General. If you know what's really going on…!"
"Then that would make him one of the few that can truly stop her."
The Admiral turned around to see the sound of a voice come from a portly man in glasses, and a suit of all things, emerge from the wood line.
"As well as someone who truly understands the gravity of the situation." He followed up with adjusting his glasses.
"Who the hell are you?" Olson demanded.
"George Black, CIA. Quite honored to be in the presence of the 'Bull Frog' himself."
Bull Frog was the title given to the oldest serving Navy SEAL. Olson earned it last year and was to become the first SEAL to ever reach a four star rank. Now he was personally offended right off the bat from this stranger who addressed him so casually.
"Good. I'll dump you off at Langley and deal with you once I'm done with him."
Bookman ignored him and continued to support Andrushko's facts. He'd tell him is official title and credentials later.
"Admiral I think you need to understand how much of a threat we are under right now. Everything of what the General is saying is true, while hard to fathom. But if you're looking for someone to blame for why this spiraled out of control, it's me." He said looking to the ground in shame.
"What?" He said looking back to Marcus and then him.
"He only knew the bare minimum of what was going on. When his son contacted him, he came to me and I had no choice but to admit the rest of what Koko Hekmatyar was planning. Truth be told, you should be thanking him for at least trying to combat the little lady. But her computer, 'Jormungand', is now operational and she's responsible for crippling not only our defense network but our ability to do anything about it. She jumped right past the monster stage and went straight towards divine judgement."
Olson figured he'd roll with the facts now that both were insisting that Hekmatyar was a serious threat. It still didn't change the fact that he was kept in the dark about the things he needed to know. He still had an obligation to protect his country.
"Why in God's name didn't you warn anyone about this Black?"
"Fatso here had the brilliant idea of trying to bring a bat shit crazy gun runner under his thumb. He found out too late that he'd have better luck trying to get rid of a wasps nest with a broom and a mighty swing."
While put a little sarcastically and childish, Andrushko wasn't wrong. Bookman did wish that he would ease up a bit on the blame for they were now actively engaged in conflict against said arms dealer.
Andrushko then saw the mirror image of what he looked like and felt after his son had called him begging for help. The information dump on the Admiral was heavy, but Marcus didn't care if he believed him or not.
"Admiral, I know that this is a lot to take in but we are out of time. She doesn't have a price for NOT using that thing. She wants to throw the whole world into chaos just to try to abolish war. So you can either help my son stop her or stay out of our way. Either way I'm not going to sit by and let the world come to an end. You think I care about my command when the whole human race is at stake?"
As he walked away from him to march down the mountain with Bookman, Olson had seen that particular look in the cold blue eyes of Marcus Andrushko. He'd seen it many men over the course of three decades in uniform. Commitment and determination of going against odds that were not in their favor. The reasons vary, but the common one among warriors like him was the knowledge of what was at stake. He held the same feelings before and proved through action during Operation Gothic Serpent. His disregard for his own safety during that chaotic raid earned him the Silver Star but he and his fellow DEVGRU members were more concerned about saving the lives of their fellow Tier One Operatives after Super Six Four went down.
"Hell I keep imagining that I'm gonna wake up from all this crap." The General grumbled to himself.
For Andrushko though, it had unintentionally boiled down to personal. He wasn't doing this just out of duty, he was doing it as a parent. His son had come back to him, and he would help him no matter what. Any good father would. And there was no way Olson could stop him, legally or otherwise. He never once lied to him and it seemed that Koko Hekmatyar was far more dangerous than he could possibly realize. All he hoped was that he didn't regret this decision.
"Marcus…" He said getting his attention. While gesturing to his observation teams in the forest below to stand down.
"Yes?" He said pausing without turning around.
"What does Damien have to do with all of this? Why's he so important?"
While Bookman was relieved that the two had managed to get the Admiral on their side, he saw the elder Andrushko's expression sadden somewhat. It wasn't something he wanted to say so soon. So he answered without looking back.
"In his words, she saved his life. She let him get closer to her than anyone else. So it seemed like he was the one person she could trust with her true intentions. It is a mistake that she will regret."
1720 Hours
Brest, France
"First round goes to you Hekmatyar. Now it's my turn."
It wasn't easy getting that much C4 through to the docks but the hard part was making sure all of it was wired the right way on the right containers in the daylight of early evening. As well as avoiding looking suspicious of the wandering eyes of dock workers and security patrols. But the benefit of having a license to shop under the CIA had a few benefits. Especially for pick-ups, deliveries, and transportation of what I needed. An advanced long range remote controlled detonator allowed me to set off the explosives from a rooftop blocks away from the docks. As I oversaw the spot where the blast would be I realized that no doubt some other companies would take a financial hit from this when their own containers of product were destroyed.
But I tend not to care about things that are of no interest to me.
Boom!
In the distance the muffled chain of blasts on the containers that belonged to HCLI caused the other containers to collapse in on each other creating a mess with a constant barrage of noise of creaking metal after. The people on the streets below started looking around wondering what that noise was. Soon they will get their answers once the media picks up on this. With the deed done I made my way off the roof and downstairs. My flight wouldn't leave for another four hours but I saw no need to stick around to observe my work.
On the surface, HCLI will take some repetitive hard financial blows but they would recover and they weren't my target anyway. Old man Floyd would obviously have insurance on his deliveries no matter how small or large. But money wasn't an issue as far as she was concerned. The containers there were hers, and it would be a message from me that I wasn't done yet. Since going after her in her current status wasn't a good idea, then I'd take away her ability wage war. A good way to start was so that she couldn't make any money to fund 'Jormungand'. Or any of her other shit for that matter. No matter the reasons, big technological leaps forward can't happen without capital.
As I got outside to the streets, I heard sirens in the distance. I then took out a cigar, it was my third in two days. I should start cutting back cause it wasn't very healthy for my throat. Plus my fingers were starting to smell like tobacco leaves.
"Hopefully this will stir up trouble and get her old man to investigate that she's planning something ." I whispered as I lit a match.
"Excusez-moi monsieur? Saviez-vous qu'il s'agit d'un espace non-fumeur?" Some random shmuck with nothing better to do said as I made my way back to my car.
(Excuse me sir? Did you know this is a no smoking area?)
He didn't realize until the last moment that I was looking down at him. I took a deep inhale and blew the robust smoke in his face. He let out a slight cough.
"Est-ce que ça répond à votre question? Vas t'en de mon chemin." I said as I shoved him to the sidewalk.
(Does that answer your question? Get out of my way.)
May 21st 2011 2212 Hours
Rotterdam, Netherlands
"God I wish this tub would go faster."
There was a stowaway dressed in black on a certain cargo ship that had loaded a few containers that weren't supposed to leave the docks. Thanks to some rearranging of a few shipping manifests and threatening to break the legs of a harbor master if he blabbed, because I knew where he lived. It worked out better than I thought.
As I peeked my covered head up from my hiding place in the cargo containers, we had just passed the mouth of the canal. Once the ship reached open water, the ships cranes would dump the containers of weapons into the ocean. How fast it happened though, depended on how cooperative the Captain and crew would be. Checking my watch I decided that it was time. I needed to get some distance between the ship and the coast but not too far so that my extraction boat could make the trip without running out of gas.
Tightening the suppressor on my UMP9, the bridge was the target. This was not a ship designed for war so the crew contingent wouldn't be more than two dozen or so unarmed men. That didn't mean though that if a someone put out a distress signal then I would be in for a bad day. Using cover and avoiding light, I made my way to the bridge.
Overhearing the conversations of English, some not native, I would have some ease of getting them to understand what was about to happen to them. Opening the door to the bridge calmly I kept my gun pointed at them, but no one in particular. Their conversation halted drastically as each one of their faces turned to horror as a lone masked man dressed in black and outfitted for combat just appeared in bridge out of nowhere.
"One of you so much even looks at the radio or screams I'll blow your fucking heads off. Move! Against the wall! Hands where I can see them!"
As I directed the crew members away at gunpoint from the panels I went for where the radio. With one hand on my SMG aimed at the four crew members and the other unzipping my cargo pouch I took out a signal jammer and plugged it into the panel. It then transferred a signal to let the ship receive signals but not to broadcast them. I then looked to the one in the fancy hat.
"Have all of your hands report to the bridge immediately. Then get the crane crews ready to dump some unnecessary cargo into the sea."
He looked at me confused.
"You…isn't this a hijacking?" He said unsure.
"I didn't say you could ask questions. Do what I tell you." I said insisting.
During the conversation I heard the door to the bridge open, one of the crew members stepped in casually unaware of the situation and froze after three steps. His face contorted into horror and I knew he was about to run. He spun around in a fast panic.
But my reaction time to aim and fire was faster.
The suppressed shot to his brain stem dropped him instantly. After he fell the gun was trained back on the members of the terrified crew. If they didn't get my point, then they sure as hell did now.
"If you wish to prevent that from happening again, you'll get every damn person on this ship up here now. You dispose of which container I name and I leave. Real simple. And don't try to lie about your crew count. You're down one, don't make it two."
"You sick son of a…AAGGHH!"
One decided to act a little too tough. So I kicked him the face so hard he flew into the wall with blood coming from his nose and mouth. I really didn't want to work up a sweat but if they didn't do what I said then this was gonna get very physical.
Two tended to their semiconscious shipmate while their captain looked to his dead crewman in sorrow and anger. But finally did what I said as he got on the ships bullhorn to give his crew instructions. After that he looked to me.
"Which ones do you want to throw overboard? So as not to cause any delay or confusion."
Smart man.
"They're not on your manifests. I'll point out which ones."
2353 Hours
It was almost midnight by the time the ship was just a drift with the engines shut down and the last container was dropped overboard in a heavy splash. Once that was over with, I directed the crew members towards the galley and locked them in, save for their captain. Then we headed back to the bridge, took back my jammer, and then made for the deck. Once the two of us were out on deck I latched a rope to the side and let it slide down the hull. I then strapped my, rather heavy, auto inflatable escape craft to my back. The engine inside it took up most of the weight and once I threw it into the water and pulled the cord, it'd do the rest.
"This concludes our business for tonight." I said as I held up his keys and tossed them to him. "Once I'm over the side, you can get your crew and continue on your voyage."
All I got in response was a look of disgust. I really didn't care anymore. I had seen it so fucking much that it was starting to become monotonous. So that crewman had a family, this kind of thing happened all the time. Wrong people, in the wrong place, at the wrong time.
"And if I'm followed by a helicopter or spotted by a ship, I'll find you all and gut each and every one of you."
I went over the side and slid down, pausing as I was about to reach the water. Using my only available hand, I unslung my craft, pulled the cord and threw it in the water. After letting it inflate, I got of the rope and landed inside. It would float and get me back to shore, but it wasn't a hundred percent water resistant. It was designed for quick escapes after all.
The engine started immediately and as I sped towards land, I took out my phone wrapped in plastic. It seems that a few individuals I contacted decided to take me up on my offer. But they were skeptical on how I would deliver such an exceptional deal for them. I'd answer them in a few days.
May 25th 2011 1445 Hours
Tunis, Tunisa
"'Ana 'aetabir 'anak tusadiqni alan?" I said as the buyer held up a brand new M4 from the weapons case. Grease still in the bolt.
(I take it that you believe me now?)
"Wahunak majmueat kamilat min al'aslihat mithl hdha?"
(And there is a whole trove of arms just like this?)
The buyer, his guards, and myself stood on the roof of one of the more modern buildings that oversaw much of the old city. I could care less which group he worked for, they all pretty much wanted the same thing. They hate the West, they want Israel gone, they kill whoever doesn't support them, they think they're acting on the behalf of God.
It truly does bore me that Islamic extremism has been on nothing but a repetitive annoyance for the last fifty years. Only now did the idiots in Washington and most of the world take a proactive measure to combat it after so many innocent people prior to 9/11 died. Except their measure was half assed. They drained themselves into a tunnel vision that that area was where all the trouble was. Then Hekmatyar comes out of the blue.
Only difference between any of these assholes is either a spot on the map or how they name themselves. Odds are more than likely he'll make a hell of a lot of money off of this deal that I'm offering for free. But even better odds that what he's about to distribute will go to poorly trained hands and they'll just piss metal or trade them for cheaper shit.
"Sa'uetayk almakan almuhadad liailtiqat ma tabaqaa minha. faqat kun mustaeiddaan li'anani la 'aerif ma hu klu shay'in."
(I'll give you the exact spot to pick up the rest of them. Just be prepared that I don't know what all of it is.)
He then looked to me surprised. I didn't look him in the eye behind my sunglasses. Instead I just kept staring at the case full of assault rifles that belonged to a woman that was infinitely worse than he was.
"Madha taeni? 'alaa yjb 'an tuearif ma tuqadimuh qabl 'an 'adfe?"
(What do you mean? Shouldn't you know what you're offering before I pay?)
I had a metal briefcase with me when we first made introductions earlier. Not pleasant or trustworthy ones since he knew I was an American right off the bat. It didn't matter to him how good my Arabic was or the fact I overshadowed them physically. I slid the case to one of his men with my foot. With my hands in my pockets I walked to the side of the roof and observed the old city as the henchman opened the case. I used to take pictures of places like this all the time and dive into the local culture because it often peaked my interest.
No more though.
"Lays ladaya 'ay fayidat li'ayi min hadhih al'ashya'. sawf tahsul ealaa hadhih al'iisalat ma tahtajuh dun taeqid."
(I have no use for any of these things. Those receipts will get you what you need without complication.)
They were forged forms stating that the buyer was responsible for the shipments of weapons. Naturally he was about to steal HCLI merchandise and it would be up to him for how long he would get away with it. Hopefully not till he, his thugs, and the guns were far away from Tunis.
"Lm 'usadif tajrana mhbana hqyqyana. hal taerif madha sayahduth lak 'iidha aiktashaf shurakawuna 'anana qad tajawazna alhdud?" He said with narrowed eyes.
(I've never come across a dealer that was a true philanthropist. Do you know what will happen to you if my associates find out we've been double crossed?)
"Hal turiduhum 'am la?" I said ignoring his threat and not looking at him but back at the shield on my wrist.
(Do you want them or not?)
He hesitated but I knew this guy couldn't turn away such a juicy deal. So I'd figure I'd use myself as bait.
"Aikhburk bimadha. 'adhhab maeak 'iilaa alshshahinat alsaghirat wa'iidha shaeart bishay' khati , yumkinuk 'iitlaq alnnar eali." I said holding out my hands letting him know I wasn't armed.
And if you do anything stupid I'll kill you before you can even reach your gun.
(Tell you what. I go with you to the pickup and if you sense something wrong, you can shoot me.)
Playing off this guy's desire to harm others worked. Plus I knew that was holding all the cards to win. He put the carbine back in the case and motioned to his men to take it. After a studying look, he motioned me to follow him. I just hoped I didn't have to figure out my own ride back to my hotel.
May 26th 2011 1230 Hours
Zurich, Switzerland, HCLI Headquarters
After lunch had been concluded, Floyd Hekmatyar had his board members called for a meeting. It was obvious what he wanted to find out, who was targeting HCLI. But the owner wanted to know a more pressing matter than that. Who was targeting his daughter. The places that were raided weren't a coincidence. As he sat at his place at the board table, his secretary and head of security flanking him, he looked to his other executives for intelligence of the events of the last seven days and let them speak first.
"Total losses of merchandise by itself total in excess of $140 million. But we also had to make returns to the buyers that did not receive their products after they had already paid. Final total comes to $256 million."
"There haven't been any threats from our rivals. And none of them would warrant something as extreme as this."
"It's obvious some group is trying to extort us. We must go to the proper authorities before this escalates into loss of life."
"What is the matter with you? If their plan is to extort us, why would they destroy what we could give them?"
"Well haven't they tried to contact us?"
He had let the men and women at the table debate long enough.
"All of you are missing the point entirely." He said boldly as they focused on him.
"Sir?" One of them asked.
"My company is responsible for the shipment and distribution of arms. Naturally it is not a profession that doesn't come without making enemies and I'm not talking about rival businesses. It's also not something we just advertise or keep posted on a sign. The short amount of time in between attacks, them knowing where our products were, and that they were deliberately targeted. Someone in my company is setting me up to collapse from the inside out."
The board members then looked to each other considering that might be a possibility. But those that knew that they weren't guilty of such a thing, still held a firm belief that the threat was outside them. Their recent crowning achievement did not receive a warm reception from major world powers.
"Sir, this has to be a response from either NATO, Russia, China, or even the United States on the HGG. We've drawn almost unanimous support from both governmental and private entities but military support has been met with either harsh criticism or upright refusal."
Hekmatyar knew the real reason in his gut but he didn't rule out that possibility. He looked to his secretary to see if this was still true. It had been months since his son made its debut in the Philippines. He figured HCLI's PR campaign to persuade them otherwise would have taken affect by now.
"It's true sir." She said holding her stance and looking only at him. "The US and UK's defense departments have been arguing back and forth with their civilian counterparts and the Russians didn't even speak with us when we presented our proposals."
The board members continued their debates of the topic at hand.
"They're merely trying to delay the inevitable."
"Yes. Once it's put it writing from their heads of state, they have no choice but to obey."
Floyd Hekmatyar let his subordinates continue until it called upon him to speak again. He motioned to his bodyguard, and he leaned his head towards him so he could hear his whisper.
"It appears that they still haven't figured it out yet. Once this is over let me know in private."
"Yes sir."
1314 Hours
The meeting took longer than expected. But Hekmatyar had a well renowned sense of patience. In the business world it was a necessity for being successful. Too many newcomers just want to achieve their financial gain as quick as possible and they tend to lose it just as fast. A true businessman builds and maintains the success he accumulates.
"Will that be all for now sir?"
"It is Gretchen, I'll call if I need anything."
"Danken." She said as she nodded and closed his office double doors.
That left the two older men in suits to stare out his window to the city of Zurich. Hekmatyar and Chevalier Logistics Incorporated's headquarters was one of the very few modern buildings within the old city. It didn't rise over others, but no one could miss it.
"Has Koko made any effort to find out what's been happening to the shipments that were her responsibility?"
"She has but she's taken a rather passive approach to it. Needless to say it's bizarre and rather reckless. She's been shipping some unknown cargo by air to Kazakhstan and Turkey. Her most recent visits to Professor Amada have been in Madagascar. It seems as though she's cut all ties with Port Elizabeth and moved her operations elsewhere."
His head of security was also the head of Clandestine, HCLI's private security force, Abraham Jones. As a former member of Delta Force like John Lehmbrick, this type of task was simplistic. Using his connections in the US Army, he formed Clandestine after the end of the Cold War when the US started to greatly cut back on its own military budget. He was actually the one who made the first suggestion for Lehm to come work with him. The biggest difference between the two, other than their demeanors, was that Jones had long since accepted that he was past his prime and would never again be the swift and deadly killer he once was. He left that to his subordinates.
"But what I don't understand is what would scare her enough that she would destroy her friends own factory?"
Floyd warned his daughter not to put all her eggs in one basket. For a while she seemed to be hemorrhaging her own funds but now it was under control and almost at a trickle. He already knew that she never called the office just to speak to him, but it had seemed like she was deliberately cutting herself off from HCLI.
He didn't need to figure out that she had upset the wrong people and she's trying to handle this herself. His daughter had a lot of enemies so it wasn't a surprise. Either she was doing a poor attempt at it or she didn't care. But only she could answer those questions for him. He couldn't rely on Kasper this time, since the habit of them keeping secrets with each other was the one childish thing he could never break them out of.
"Tracking her movements have always been a challenge. But she's doing everything in her power to hide now and come out when only necessary. Why was she in England of all places?"
"No idea. She was making some cash transactions to a medical facility in Birmingham. But what got my attention was that she never goes anywhere without her entire protective detail unless they are on leave."
That meant to Floyd that she was even keeping secrets from those close to her. She also seemed like she wasn't any type of poor health. So what would warrant a cash transaction at a hospital?
"Who else was with her?"
"Only John, and Sophia Velmer." He said curiously of his old colleague and his former trainee.
Just them? What about Damien?
"No one else?"
"No sir."
Hekmatyar decided not to ask anything else. He needed evidence before he could come up with an idea or even a plan to get his daughter to come back to him and explain what had been transpiring. But the first clue was that his daughter had a man that she made sure never left her side, and he wasn't there.
"Keep on it. And as discreetly as possible, get Koko to come back here. If she puts out her stubbornness then tell her I just have to talk to her. It is not up for debate. I need to know if she's alright."
"As you wish sir."
May 27th 2011 0800 Hours
Aboard the Fruition, The Arabian Sea
For the last two hours after her morning exercise she was gradually building up the force and speed in her strikes. Her shirt and shorts were drenched in sweat, as well as her hair that looked like a wild dog. Her taped hands and feet likely had bruises and broken skin from all the frustration she was taking out on the strike bag. It had been a while since she took her training seriously but her skills in Sambo and Tae Kwan Do were starting to improve back to where they were before. She just wished she had a decent training partner as good as he was, but that thought caused her to strike even harder.
Kuule minut Tyr ennen tätä taistelua
Tuon vihollisen minä lyön sinun nimessäsi.
In her mind, Koko had taken a great burden away from her. But she was wondering if she would carry it all the way. This type of thing was something she never encountered before. But if she could muster that kind of strength, mentally and emotionally, then Valmet could as well. She would return to her old ways of putting Koko's best interests instead of hers first. She would continue to be the sister she never had and be the one to lean on.
Yhden käden taitava murtaja
Ja edunvalvoja Fenris-suden hyväksi
Anna minulle hyöty menneistä sodoistasi
Joten kärsin, etten edes naarmuja
The song playing on the MP3 player in the training room background then began to pick up the rhythm, and so did Valmet. The beating of drums, blowing of horns, scratching of fiddles, and high pitches of the flute. The low growling drone was more along the lines of a chant rather than singing. A better part of over a thousand years ago, her Scandinavian ancestors performed similar rituals, events, and prayer's before heading off to war. They were known as the Vikings, one of the deadliest warrior classes of medieval Europe.
Lyömättömät ovat taitosi sodassa
Se minulle, pyydän, että myöntätte
Lahjakorttisi kanssa, vertaansa vailla, olen läpi taistelun
Haavoilla, nary; Korkeintaan vähän.
Originally, back in her days as an Major in the FRDP, she took a little more professional take on her career as opposed to her brother. He relished his Viking heritage, but she saw it as him acting foolish. Calling him out as a stereotype quite often and questioning him on it. She doubted that he even researched their family tree to see if any of it was even remotely true. But he didn't care, he thought of it as his own personal badass credential. And as often as they fought each other like siblings do, she couldn't really tell him no. Every so often she would catch him either training or somewhat meditating to the music of old Norse prayers. He said it helped him relax and focus. The one playing was the prayer for Tyr, the god of war.
Tyr, kuule rukoukseni ennen sotaa
Aseta minut kohtalokkaalla viisaudella
Koska kaikki tekevät voimaa miekkanne edessä
Se pilkkoo sekä ihmisen että valtakunnan
The prayer repeated three more times while Valmet's punches and kicks just kept going with no signs of slowing down. The more frustrated blows were followed by shouts and profanity. The final blow, her standing round house, hit the bag with enough force that the screws that held the bag up on the ceiling gave way and the bag dropped to the ground with the final momentum of the swing.
Terve Tyr!
Unfazed by what she just did, all she did was try to catch her breath. The same could not be said for the sniper observing her with a bottle of water in his hand. It was like he fell into the earlier memories of when they first met. Bewilderment that such a woman existed. It appeared that she was finally starting to act normal again. That confirmed to Lutz that she had truly cut all ties with Damien.
"I'll scavenge around the ship to see if I can find something that can put that chain back on the ceiling with a little more support." He said as he stepped through the doorway.
"Thanks." She said as she turned off the music player and started to chug the water.
"Since you weren't at breakfast…uhh…Koko briefed us on some pretty important stuff."
"Just tell me what it is." She said wiping her face off with a towel.
"Damien is hunting us."
Valmet just stared back at Lutz. It was an obvious fact but she didn't know that Damien was using a bit of a scorched earth approach. It wasn't like their encounter with the US's 'official' response against Koko at Marchen in South Africa. Damien knew the ins and outs of her organization, all eight of the team did. How he did it though, was with either the help or extortion of certain high level members of the US military and intelligence.
"He's been making so much of Koko's weapons that she had in storage disappear that HCLI has been demanding answers and her to come in for the last two days. Now that her father trying to figure out what she's planning he's threatening to put a hold on all of her assets until she comes forward."
"Has he carried out that threat?" She said uninterested.
"No."
"Well then there's nothing to worry about. She'll figure something out like always. Besides that, Floyd has never shown any type of concern for Koko unless it had to do with the job. This is no different and if he hasn't figured out what she's been doing until now, it's already too late."
Lutz had always know her to act calm under pressure, it didn't matter if it was during a fire fight or tense negotiations. But when people spend enough time together without a break they know how their feeling on the inside without hearing them say it. She was just waiting to get back at Damien, her interest in the plan or what had been happening in the last month was starting to become irrelevant. She would protect Koko but she was begging for the chance to get her revenge.
There was something else that Koko mentioned at the morning meeting. Something that shocked everyone to the core and was what a few feared. He saw that Mao was the first to pick up on it and he wasn't surprised. He had seen something different about Koko but lo and behold, Lehm had no reaction at all. He was always the first to know everything, but someone had to tell Valmet. She had become more detached from everyone as of recent.
Ok. Time for the hard part. Why is it always me that has to brave the storm?
"I can save you the hesitation to tell me why you're really here I already know she's pregnant."
Lutz's eyes widened in shock as she was putting on her shoes and getting ready to go about her day. The tension eased but he then treaded carefully on what to say next.
"Can I ask when she told you?"
"A while ago." She wanted to get away from this conversation and walked past him. "Now leave me alone."
As she turned left, Lutz just stood in the room both relieved and frustrated, no wonder she had become so detached as she did.
"You need to come up with a better way that you have her back Lutz."
He then looked to Koko standing in the doorway. Valmet either saw her or didn't care she was eavesdropping. At a distance she looked normal but as she got closer he could see that her clothes were starting to get a little tight around her belly. When she was out and about she dressed in her normal business skirt and blouse. But in private she made herself as comfortable as possible.
"Was this the final nail in the coffin for her?"
He was glad she still had her comforting smile. But more than likely it was just a façade now. He wondered how long she could keep it up as well as hiding the signs of pregnancy. Damien leaving behind a part of him with her had to be eating away at her just as much.
It was the only good part of him she had left.
"That happened when he betrayed us. Maybe she sees this as a way where she doesn't have to hold back."
"Well how are you holding up? And don't lie to me Koko I know that this ANYTHING but normal."
She just held her stomach and smiled.
"I at least now have someone I can bring into my new world that is one hundred percent innocent. I'll give him or her the chance he threw away. I'll make sure he or she will never see a world with conflict. With blind hate. With petty jealousy. With endless greed."
Lutz saw Koko's face then turn to anger. The cold and unnatural blue eyes of hers were at their most terrifying when she was in a true rage. A look that was sometimes common with his former friend. He then saw her starting to shake, more than likely thinking about him again. He was afraid of her acting this way but he was more afraid if she would get lost in her anger. The sniper and his crew would ensure that didn't happen.
Because she was the bravest out of all of them.
"And he…will not stop me."