Jormungand: Lost Redemption

by TheTrueWrath

Lost in the world with haunting memories of past sins, Damien Hannibal Andrushko a young fallen Green Beret now turned mercenary, becomes a bodyguard for a woman named Koko Hekmatyar. He will try to become the opposite of what he once was and choose to be a free man with a better heart. Will he find the peace he yearns for? Or will his soul be forever stained in blood and misery?

63. Chapter 62

Author's Note: I'm finally back. No need to explain twice since I already put out the reason why. Now that the year's winding down I'll have more time to do this.

Chapter 62: Within Reach

July 8th 2011 0007 Hours

Zurich, Switzerland

His insides were a total mess. Not to mention that we had no other way to stop the bleeding. It would only be a matter of time now.

"That's the last of the hemostatic and the bandages. Even if we knew his blood type, we have nothing to make a transfusion. And he'd never make the trip to the hospital."

He pulled me aside after we managed to stabilize him. That time Scarecrow wasn't acting like a jackass. He was stating matter of fact and the inevitable. Which also meant when the time came, we had another problem on our hands once we had to leave the country. His look to my eyes also had a second meaning behind it. That no matter what I had one last chance to get a direct answer from Hekmatyar on his daughter's whereabouts.

Schokolade was already at work with his computer going over whatever. I hadn't seen it yet. She must have went straight to it to keep her eyes off of the bloody stuff. But she did calm down from earlier. She told me that she had been in a few tense scrapes before but I know for a fact she's not ready for the shit on my level yet. The very disturbed look of shock in her eyes were a dead giveaway.

"You think it's really that bad that he won't make the trip?" I whispered to him. Hoping for the best.

"This is your last chance. Convince him that letting us know where Koko is will be the right thing."

He dashed that hope as quickly as I brought it up.

I then looked back to the table that we laid him on next to the window once we hauled him up to our moderately sparse safehouse. His body covered to his chest in a thermal blanket, his eyes shut, and feeling pain from each breath, the only thing keeping him from crossing over to the other side was his will.

Now I had to convince a father in his final hour that the world would be better off without one of his children in it.

Well at least this won't be the worst thing I've done.

I figured I'd get this over with since hesitating would cost me. So I grabbed a chair, walked to him, and sat next to him.

"Can you hear me?"

"I hear you, young man." He said quietly without sounding in pain. "It'll take more to rip me from this life to the next with one clean cut. So don't try to pour words of comfort in my ear."

He spoke like he didn't have anything left to lose.

"I don't intend to. All I want is to find your daughter."

"Of course you do. -COUGH- Everyone wants to see her. She's become so strong hasn't she? She can stare whole world right in the eye and not even flinch."

"That's why I need to find her and stop her. She's steering the world and herself into destruction. After everything that's happened to you, including tonight, why can't you see that?"

"Well why can't you see that she's not beyond redemption? Your friends as well. She hasn't done anything yet."

Keyword being yet.

"I can't take that risk and neither should you. I told you, do you think those guys were there for only me? She's determined to see her plan through to the end no matter what. Even if it costs her life. I know this because she told me. It's one of the reasons I ran from her."

He then mustered enough strength to open his eyes and turn his head towards me.

"Even if she did. How do I know you're not lying?"

"Look me straight in the eye and see if I'm bullshiting you. I said I'd stop her, that doesn't mean I'll kill her."

My words were starting to reach him. I just hoped he believed them from here.

"Well why are you pretending like you don't know her at all? Why treat all the memories you two had as if they never happened?"

I had to respond properly with this. This can't be solved with notions of anger behind my words. And in a way it was creepy that I was kind of the same mind set as hers. Denying certain portions of reality and substituting it for our own. But he was also right, I was doing my damnedest to forget the truly happy times I had with all of them.

I hated that they were real, so I tried to put a mental wall in front of them to cut off the pain so I can focus on what's about to befall the world.

"Because I wish what was happening right now wasn't real. I thought she gave me a second chance at life and for the longest time I believed that." I was getting tired of telling this again. "Until I found out what the price for that meant. So now I don't have a choice. You know you don't have one either."

Even in death, he wore that mask of confidence strongly and his heart was as iron armored as ever. Most likely it was what he forged to build up his strength, spirit, and determination from being the only surviving member of his family from an earthquake in what was then Persia. But like his daughter, that's all they were. Shells to mask and protect what was underneath. I could see the sadness in his eyes that he might lose one of his children. Only now he started to act like a real parent.

"Why would she do all of this in the first place? All I wanted was for her to make the right path in life. By showing her the true meaning of things."

"The only thing you did was take away every possibility of her making her own choices in life. To let her have innocent dreams of what she wanted to do with her life. Even if they weren't possible. Instead, she never had a life at all. Now she's planning on having the whole world experience the same feelings of needless suffering she went through only infinitely worse. I might go down in this myself. But it won't happen on her terms. What she's doing, is anything but right."

He then laid his head back on the backpack that was acting as a pillow as his ice blue eyes stared at the ceiling.

Nine seconds passed.

Then an enrage look came upon his face as he bared his teeth and slammed his left fist on the table. He finally realized that he planted the seeds for a monster to grow. I sat firm but I could tell that Schokolade and Scarecrow were looking in my direction after they heard the slam. I held up my hand as I heard one of them walk toward us as he began a few violent coughs. But he calmed down.

"Feel a little better?"

I saw in his eyes that the Hekmatyar family had a stare that was uniquely to them when they were angry. But they all shared a type of supernatural image that could pierce through anything. It was if it was they were born to project fear on their enemies.

"No matter how much of an uneasy relationship Koko and I had, I always saw her as my little girl. But I can't deny her actions any longer. Nothing justifies her in what she's doing. Whether she'd succeed or failed, -COUGH!- she would have never seen me again. She would just let me waste away. -COUGH!-COUGH!-"

He was on the edge now. I was out of time.

"Newsflash; your daughter is crazy." I said bluntly. "Now how can I find her?"

A tear ran down his eye. I managed to pull off the mask and armor.

"Istanbul."

I then nodded to Scarecrow he knew the drill of getting in touch with the CIA's contacts there.

"Why is she there?"

"I'm afraid that's all I know. -COUGH!- But I do know that she's acquired an old Soviet rocket base in the middle of Kazakhstan. But that makes no sense since she's already launched all of satellites for the Global Grid."

He was right, something wasn't adding up. She had her own rocket launch platform in the Solomon's. Why she would need another one was a question I'd have to figure out later.

"Ok then. What's on your computer that was so important?"

"It's a few things I had prepared a very long time ago. Not even my children know of it. Being a merchant of war means you deal with all types of people, including some of the worst. So I had to prepare myself with a plan if someone wanted to take me down by force or if a war between world powers ever happened again I would remain blameless and neutral. But I had to write it all down, it was too big to keep in my head."

"What is it?"

"A network of contacts that I've made over the years that would give me what I needed in a completely secure method of communication. I would have to meet them in person. Which back then seemed like a hassle but now it seems safer since her computer can't track human thought. Along with a secret stash of funds I kept in the Caiman Islands that only I know about. But it's not like I'm worried about money anymore-COUGH!-COUGH!-COUGH!-"

That time he started to cough up blood. His time was almost up.

"Easy old man. Don't-"

"What did I tell you Damien? Don't try to make me think the inevitable won't happen." He said holding his hand up to keep me in my seat.

"Sorry. It's become my force of habit as of recent to try and make shit better."

"Heh. As you American's say, 'You can't polish a turd.'."

I smiled at his cleaver use of word play. But then he looked right at me. His breathing was getting weaker.

"I know the answer but I want to hear it directly. Damien Andrushko, will you save my daughter?"

The smile vanished as he brought her up again. Outside he saw a neutral stare. Inside was visions of the realization that the foundation of everything that the two of us, the gang, and even Velmer was nothing but a lie. I was expected to perform the textbook definition of genocide so that I could have my freedom.

I hated it.

I had what I wanted. I might as well let him hear what he wanted.

"Yes."

He seemed to be at peace now. He turned his head towards the window to look at the clearing night sky. A crescent moon was out tonight.

"Oh Katrina…I'm so sorry. I managed to give our children the world, but I didn't know that they wanted to needlessly break it."

The self-made multi-billionaire shipping tycoon finally realized the error of his ways. I had a slight feeling that he had entrusted me to correct them. After that, the room got very quiet. I put two fingers to the artery on his neck.

He was gone.

"Prue." I asked.

There was no answer. I turned around to see that she was a little closer to me with her hand covering her mouth and a saddened expression. Scarecrow just looking my direction with slanted eyes.

"Prudence." I said a bit more firmly.

"Yes?" She said as I started to pack up to leave.

"You can go over his stuff on the plane ride back to Langley, it'll be safer there."

Scarecrow interjected immediately "Back home? I don't know if you heard him but we gotta go to Turkey now!"

"Not yet. I'm tired of playing catch up and constantly on the defensive. This time I'm gonna make sure that whatever she throws at us, I'll throw it back ten times harder."

There was someone that owed me a favor. Part of a rather ruthless group for which I didn't burn the bridge to but wished I did. They could control what I needed because if I went there myself I would have scared her off the moment the first bullet went flying.

"Well how are you gonna manage that? Your pops can't work miracles with a snap of his fingers."

I ignored his snide remark. There was something else we needed to do before we left.

"Hey!" The fool grabbed my wrist. "Are you lis-AAGHH!"

He didn't see the wristlock coming until it was too late. And I had been waiting for this moment because he was acting a little insensitive.

"Neither can I. But I can snap your fingers, wrist, and the rest of your fuckin arm if you touch me again!"

"Damien! Stop it! This isn't doing anyone any good!" The tech girl said with both hands on my arm.

I just pushed him off, realizing my temper got the better of me again without explaining what's what. He stared back at me in a rage gripping his wrist but wasn't going to try anything stupid.

"Just help me get rid of Hekmatyar's body, we'll toss it in the dumpster outside."

He scoffed. "Fine. Just as long as I don't get blood on me."

Dietrich immediately got in front of me with her hands out as we approached the corpse.

"Wait! Damien! Have a little respect for him at least! He just died and you're going to throw him in garbage!?"

"It won't matter where we put him. Eventually Hekmatyar will find out what happened to her father. But maybe I can play the odds of expectation in my favor of putting it somewhere when it's found, it will be in the least likely place."

After gathering all our things, Schokolade led the way out of the safehouse to make sure the coast was clear outside. Scarecrow and I followed carrying Hekmatyar's body. It was still plenty dark and there weren't any people or cars on the street. The dumpster in question was only a block away. Once we were there, we simply tossed him in like an old rug. The girl was right, it did feel a little morose.

"Well are you going to tell us your plan now?" Scarecrow said as we left to find some method of transportation to get to the airport.

"I'll meet you guys in Istanbul in three days. Call me on the sat phone when your stateside. I have to go to Jerusalem."

Both looked to me confused. "What for? Koko's not there."

"She's not who I'm looking for. I'm gonna see if I can convince someone to act as a screen for us. They'll flush Hekmatyar out of her hiding spot. Then we'll use them as cover to get her and her damn computer while her crew is focused on them."

"What makes you think they'll agree? Whoever the hell they are."

The textbook definition of a false flag operation. Lucky for me they still think I'm working on behalf of myself. No one in the CIA would even remotely consider pairing with these guys or it would have led to complete political suicide with relations between the United States and Israel. It was absolutely insane.

That's why it was going to work.

"Trust me." I said without looking at him.

"Oh dear God." He said with deep regret.

July 9th 2011 1000 Hours

Jerusalem, Israel

It had been over two years since I had been to the four-millennium old city and it was still just as hot and sunny. Walking along the narrow streets to my destination was full of people. Once again giving me the occasional odd glare. It never stopped being annoying.

Every citizen of Israel was expected to perform their service in the IDF as they became an adult. Simple studying looks to see if I was a threat or not because they knew I wasn't from around here. Despite the great many religious sites that wanted to practice peace as best they could, this was a city that had constant violence.

As the trinity of holy grounds for Christian, Jewish, and Muslim faiths, this city needed no introduction. Despite people going about their daily lives, this city was constantly on the alert from terrorist attacks with the West Bank right next to the city. Nothing new to this old city which was practically built on war and conquest. Being totally destroyed twice and the battle ground for dozens of wars. The Persians, The Romans, The Byzantines, The Caliphates, The Ottomans, were just the few of dozens that wanted to control the Jewish state and this city was the epicenter of its control. Faith was a strong emotion that fueled some of the wars Israel fought. And they've proven time and time again that no matter the numbers and no matter the cause they were determined to make sure that Israel continued to exist.

But there were some who's hate ran so strong they would fight and die till the very last man. While not near the Gaza Strip their eyes and ears were everywhere, especially in Jerusalem. They claimed to be defending their homes but when you start blowing up markets full of innocent people and preach antisemitism that's on par with WWII Nazi propaganda you can see that their arguments have more holes in them than a pair of old socks. They were one of Israel's longest standing enemies.

They were Hamas.

And the man I was going to use as my false flag was a commander in charge of one of their units in the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam. The Hamas paramilitary branch.

"Jamal Taha, 'ayn hu?"

(Jamal Taha, where is he?)

Their café front was still where it was and still nobody suspected anything was off about this place. But the crowd was somewhat different last time, these guys were more on guard. No surprise that I just wandered into their territory unannounced and asked for a name that's not really supposed to be said so blatantly in public. Three saw me immediately as a threat and slowly got out of their chairs while the rest just looked on cautiously. They surrounded me but didn't get too close.

"Min 'anata? Wakayf taerif ean hdha almakana?" The ringleader of the three said.

(Who are you? And how do you know about this place?)

"Khadhani 'iilayh alan."

(Take me to him, now.)

I kept my face directed at him but behind my sunglasses my eyes were focusing on the others making subtle moves towards where they were most likely keeping their sidearms. As long as I didn't do anything stupid, I knew they would take me to him anyway.

But they didn't expect someone to act so brazen.

"La 'aetaqid 'anak tafahum ma 'ant ealaa washk alqiam bih." He threatened.

(I don't think you understand what you are about to do.)

"Walan 'ukarir nafsi." I said as I crossed my arms.

(And I'm not going to repeat myself.)

His eyes twitched but someone else broke the silence.

"Hadha yakfi. Sawf 'akmal min huna." Said a woman's voice.

(That's enough. I'll take it from here.)

Thank God that ended, I didn't think Taha was this suspicious of things when his job was to be the relay from here to Gaza. But what was strange was who was had gotten his men's attention and told them to stand down.

It was his wife Esmeray.

That's if you could call her that despite the twenty five year age difference. It doesn't matter for either culture or religion. Men of great power tend to take younger women as their significant other. They see them as a prize with some kind of accomplishment of male superiority. But in this part of the world, there are those that still think that this is the fucking dark ages.

But Esmeray was different, despite being a teenager and getting married to a man in his early forties she was kind of a defacto number two. She had a commanding ruthlessness about her the way she barked orders at the men around the café to leave me alone. A woman in an organization that was mostly male dominated had gained her power in only one way. Through absolute fear of what would happen if you disobeyed her. In a private conversation I had with her, she said she would use her husband's name at first as an intimidation factor. But gradually as she got older she managed to claim some solid authority within Hamas. But I couldn't shake the fact that she used every resource she had to obtain that. Physical or otherwise.

I knew from firsthand because while she dressed in the usual garb of an Arab woman, underneath was something that would make men drool. It was part of the said private conversation I had with her when her husband wasn't around. It was during the times when I had to protect Taha's son. This led to some rather awkward moments.

"Lkn sayidati…"

(But ma'am he…)

"La yahmini. Tawaquf ean edm aihtiram dayfana." She said to her flunky and then looked to me. "Saraa ma yahtajuh."

(I don't care. Stop disrespecting our guest. I'll see what he needs.)

That was her letting me know everything was cool. I followed her into the building to the third floor away from the rest of her men to Jamal's office. As I shut the door behind me, she transformed into her more carefree self.

"Oh Allah, I hate going out wearing this damn thing." She said switching to perfect English and stretching her arms. "I feel like a dried date."

This was another part of her that she didn't show often to anyone. She took off her burka and garb she was wearing cargo pants with a white dress shirt that seemed to make her skin reflect. She wasn't as tall as Layla Faiza but shared the same deep bronze skin and long black hair. Her body was only a bit more slender but was in amazing shape considering she was now the same age as her husband was when they first married. She wore her hair down and often pushed her bangs away from her brown eyes and still smiled whenever she was around only me.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't mesmerized by how lovely she was but I remembered why I wanted to get the hell away from here as fast as possible last time.

If I placed her right next to Hex, I couldn't tell the difference between the two.

Why are the gorgeous ones always the worst?

"I'm sorry for that display Damien. But I never expected that you would appear like this again. Welcome back to Jerusalem. Please sit."

"I'll stand thank you." I said as I put my shades in my pocket.

"Oh…come on now. Don't insist on being so business like." She said as she approached me. "After all it has been over two years."

She then put one hand on my chest and the other on my thigh. Having the height advantage on her, I could see down her shirt.

Damn it.

"Can't you tell me what you've been up to? You wouldn't even let me keep in touch with you when you left. Was what we had really that bad? All I wanted was to experience what it was like to truly have a significant other. Did you really hate it?"

I didn't want to get caught in this spider's web, again. So I took both of her hands off me, carefully.

"I'm still human. So of course I didn't. But I have no time for distraction. I wouldn't be here if it weren't serious."

She just smiled and looked at me knowing I wasn't here for a quick fling. "So why are you here?"

The reason why she was so kind to me wasn't just because I saved her son's life. It was also because of my time as a bodyguard here that I interacted with Taha's family on a level that showed kind concern and compassion. I acted that way because it was around that time that I started to truly miss home and what it was like to be part of a family. The man had more dedication with his cause to Hamas than his own flesh and blood. That's what caused his wife to get a little too close to me and then some. Instead of someone that was just a dangerous as he was, was a woman that was glad to feel kindness again and the warmth of another human being after being denied it for so long.

But still just as crazy, dangerous, and merciless in regarding human life. I once saw her stab a subordinate's hand just because he sneezed too much during afternoon prayer.

"I'll cut right to the chase, I need to talk to your husband. I'd like him to do me a favor."

She frowned instantly and leaned back on the desk. "Well that might be a problem."

Oh God. Please don't do the cheating wife thing right out the bat.

"Is he back in Gaza on one of his trips?"

"Nope, he's dead." She said straight forward without an ounce of sympathy or grief.

"Uhh…" Once again another stoppage of the brain.

"His methods were becoming rather reckless and predictable. Plus he was a terrible father, husband, and lover." She said cutting me off. "So I sold him out to Hezbollah and they honestly did me a favor."

Ignoring the unpleasant history between the Sunni's and Shia's. I decided to get back on topic. Believe it or not, events like this tend to be normal around here. But I had a job to do and I couldn't waste time on ancient tribal feuds on who was the proper successor of Islam when something a hell of a lot worse was going on.

"Okay…? Well I need to acquire someone and fast. I know where they are but they're so well protected that stealth isn't an option. Above all else, I can't afford to let them get away."

She narrowed her eyes at me. "You're being a little vague Damien. Is it a group or an individual?"

At least she didn't shutter at a kidnapping. But I couldn't just tell her the whole story.

"It's a woman. A weapons dealer to be more specific. I need her alive as well."

She shrugged. "There are many weapons dealers all over the Middle East. Why just this one?"

"This one doesn't deal in just old Soviet AK's and RPG's. I'm talking state of the art weapons and equipment. Things that around here, seem like magic. My affairs with her are somewhat personal. After they are concluded, she can give you whatever you wish for. It's up to you on how she does it."

I managed to catch her interest almost immediately. Anyone in her way of life always wants more firepower. But she won't get it no matter how hard she'd try. Tenacity often just delays the inevitable. And going up against Hekmatyar with the amount of power she has now, she and her goons won't last a minute.

Esmeray was surprised at the offer though. But she wasn't the type to take deals without knowing the risks. It seemed to play too well into her favor. Regardless of the fact that I saved her son, I was still a part of her world. Trust is easily lost.

"You coming to me just to abduct one arms dealer sounds a little overzealous. But it appears that you don't want to take any risk in her getting away. What's in this for you? You said personal so why is she worth all this trouble?"

The world doesn't end.

"It's a chance to get even. I'll just leave it at that. But like I said, there's no subtle approach to get to her. She's too well defended. The only way is force. All we have to do is take her by surprise."

She then looked away, most likely thinking about it. But I had to sweeten the deal. Luckily for me she was a little predictable.

"Plus once this is all over I'll buy you dinner." I said smiling as she looked back to me.

Maybe it's just because I sound and act older than I look make sociopathic women seem drawn to me. I've still yet to figure that out. She smiled, walked toward me, and made a circle on my chest with her finger.

"Where is she at?"

My false flag had been hoisted up the mast. Once this was over and I was back in my hotel room. I'd have to make a call to Scarecrow stateside and explain the plan. The only thing that worried me was how dad was gonna react. He'd either call me exceptionally cunning or brazenly stupid.

"You'll have to get your men a few plane tickets."

July 12th 2011 1200 Hours

Istanbul, Turkey

Jerrald Shattzberg was undoubtably doing his best not to lose it considering what was going to happen within the next thirty minutes. I had already had an earful from him the other day screaming over the phone about what the hell I was thinking making a deal with one of the top ten terrorist organizations that posed a threat against the United States. Granted he didn't know the full layout of the plan even now. All Esmeray needed to do was keep them distracted and then once I separate Hekmatyar from the rest of them, we just leave while the rest of them kill each other.

"Of all the ideas you've had so far Andrushko, this is the worst!"

"Any sign of the target leaving the hotel?" I said sarcastically as I ignored him.

"Tch…Negative. After our contact said he spotted her leaving the business district, he tailed her here and she hasn't left since."

I was on one of the rooftops a sizable distance from the hotel she was supposedly staying at. Eyeballing it through binoculars. A rather mediocre one compared to her usual choices. But I knew why.

She wasn't there. She had to have known Esmeray's men were observing her.

The best part about this plan was that I knew how each one of them think. Specifically one particular individual that had a knack for getting a little too eager for when something that went 'BOOM!' came along his way.

"Alright, it looks like it's time to flush her out. Taha sent her man in before dawn so I'll get them to set it off. Schokolade? The sensors online?"

I had two separate radios with me. One for my 'partners' and the other for Esmeray's men. While they managed to pull together enough men and material in such a short period of time to perform this operation, they had no idea what they were about to step into. At least the one good thing Hekmatyar's crew could do for me was tie up some loose ends to some rather unpleasant people.

"The radio wave detectors are green across the board Damien. Are you sure he's going to be that close?"

"I told their delivery man to use something with an isolated frequency as a detonator. Plus the damn fool does like to observe his work." I then checked my watch. "Speaking of which I'm going offline for now. Call me only if necessary but stand by."

"Copy that. Over and out."

I then looked in the direction of the hotel as I got their bomber man on the horn.

"Aleasifat lirajul albarid. Hal kanat alwiladat amn?" The code names Esmeray picked were still a little weird.

(Tempest to Mail Man. Was your delivery safe?)

"Athbatan. la 'aelam madha yuhduth."

(Affirmative. I don't know what's happening.)

I faked some sounds of frustration.

"Husna. khutatan bidilata. arjie waidbit alshahn almuquta."

(Alright. Backup plan. Go back and set the timed charge.)

"Madha!? hal turiduh 'an yaeud hunak!?"

(What!? You want him to go back there!?)

The one on the net wasn't 'Mail Man' it was that balding asshat that tried to start a dick measuring contest with me a few days ago outside of Esmery's café. He didn't trust me in the least. All he saw was 'American'.

"Tadur alkhutat hawl 'iikhrajiha min alfundiqa. Afealha."

(The plan revolves on flushing her out of the hotel. Do it.)

"Hasananaan madha yahduth 'iidha kan…"

(Well what happens if it…)

But before he could start bitching at me again.

"'arsilh maratan 'ukhraa liltahaquq min alhizmati. qabl 'an 'ukhraj hunak wa'amzaq halaqak."

(Send him back to check on the package. Before I come out there and rip your throat out.)

The net went silent and then went scrambling for the bomber to go back and check on his work. The lady can motivate her workforce when the situation called for it.

"Thank you."

"My pleasure, habibi."

About fifteen minutes had passed. So soon would come the part where I had to convince them that I found out who was responsible for what was about to happen. It was why I placed myself not only a significant distance from the hotel but also the location. The rooftop I was on overlooked a rather open section of the city where I could observe a lot of people. But I was already out of the building and on my other radio to Dietrich by the time it happened. My transportation was parked right outside and would be perfect for the narrow and tight streets of Istanbul.

BOOM!

Like fucking clockwork, I got back to Schokolade as the people around me were wondering what in the world they just heard.

"Distance and direction. Now."

"Tracking the signal…got it! Three blocks north of your current position, heading towards General Ali Raza Street."

It had actually been a very long time since I had been on a proper ride. I tried to make time for lessons years ago but work always popped up. As a matter of fact the last real ride I had was when I stole that one dirt bike in Ethiopia. Now I had something a little more stylized and faster, a red Honda CBR600RR.

"Alright. I'll call you back when the real fireworks start."

I then switched to my other radio again, put on my helmet, hopped on the bike, and sped off. Confusion was clogging the net so I patched through to Esmerey's channel.

"What happened?" I said feigning ignorance as I moved toward Wiley's location. There was only one main road out of there for easy getaways.

"Your arms dealer wasn't in the building. The bomb went off as my man returned to it. Care to explain?"

She did sound a little mad so I'd be 'honest.'

"That's gotta be her explosives expert. Remember those two Delta Force I told you about?"

"Yes?"

"It appears that his nose is still just as good. But he takes a little too much pride in his work. He was sure to stick around to observe it. But I can find him. Track my radio signal because it's a little hard to talk and ride on a bike at the same time."

"I told you Damien. This had better be worth my time."

Far cry from 'desperate housewife' a few days ago.

"He can't hide in this crowd. I'll find him. Remember when it seemed like no way out when those dipshits decided to try and kidnap your son?"

There was a pause. "It was the most terrifying moment in my life. But you saved him."

"Then trust in me to hunt these guys down. I'll get their attention and force them to you. Then you can hit them with everything you got while I collect their boss."

There was chatter on the other end behind Esmeray. Probably telling her men to shut up and prepare to move out.

"Alright. I'll be waiting for you."

Ignoring the somewhat flirtatious response, I just had to delay my response enough so that she wouldn't suspect anything since I already knew where he was. Which means I had to time this right. Because he was heading to her. My helmet only kept my face covered so I had to keep them thinking it was someone else until the last possible second. If they knew I was here that soon they would have steamrolled right through Istanbul to get away.

Tracking them was a bit of a challenge this time. They decided to pick a vehicle that blended in with the civilian population. But they still wanted to place an emphasis on protection given the situation their boss was in right now. That didn't mean that I should have just followed them and hoped for the best. I needed confirmation but I had to be fast.

I got into the passing lane and speeded up to the specific sedan for a glance.

Its driver was a Southeast Asian man with messy black hair and a thin face. Its passenger was an African American man with a very odd haircut, glasses, and five earrings.

Wiley and Mao.

Hopefully they didn't know it was me behind the helmet. I can't hide my large size but I couldn't lose track of them so I did my best to keep them in the mirror. Probably wasn't my best idea because they would eventually have to turn and I couldn't lose them. But after passing a few overhead signs I caught a glimpse of what was coming up. It was written in English and Turkish that marked the exit to the largest university campus in the city, Yildiz Technical University.

Then a revelation hit me like a wall. She still had her machine and while powerful it wasn't something that she could just hide. She needed a place to put it where it wouldn't cause any suspicion while having adequate sources of power and security. Not to mention have resources so that Amada and Baburin would continue to work on it. An institute for technology would be like hiding in plain sight.

Taking a gamble, I decided to get off at the exit. It paid off as Mao and Wiley began to follow. After a few minutes, they arrived at the campus gate. I had already driven ahead to not arouse suspicion as I got on my other radio.

"Schokolade? Come in. Now." I said calm and fast.

"What's going on Damien? You don't have her already do you?"

"I might have found a bigger prize. I think I know where 'Jormungand' is."

"Are you serious!? Where!?" It was Scarecrow that time.

"The Yildiz Technical University. I'm idling just outside the campus now. Do I need to explain?"

"Well it makes sense and it's better than no leads at all but it seems a little obvious. I mean you said it yourself. She could have taken it anywhere."

"It would be the last spot she'd think I'd look. She's just as…"

There were two other vehicles that had joined Mao and Wiley when I focused my sight on them again. An old tired Delta Force Major with a cigarette in his mouth was keeping an eye out next to an open car door. For a very brief moment, as I flipped the visor up from my helmet, I saw a flash of long snow white hair entering the center sedan.

I had found her.

I more than likely had found her machine too.

This ended now. She wasn't getting away this time.

I opened my bikes side container to ready my weapons. My sidearms were under my jacket, my MP7 was already locked and loaded, but I needed something to punch through their reinforced cars to get them to flee. A portable M320 grenade launcher would do the job right. I continued my conversation with Dietrich as I looked up the map on my smart phone to see where I could tell Esmeray to set up her men for an ambush.

"Schokolade, place a call to Bookman. Ask him to look into the science or technology departments at Yildiz. See if they got anything extra fancy delivered in the last five months. Try to get the info from people. Any paper or electronic records are more than likely bullshit. Scarecrow, get ready to head my way. I have confirmation of the target."

"I don't have time for coincidences Andrushko. Are you sure you saw her?"

His skepticism was justified. My luck either tends to suck or be extraordinary. But I'd recognize her anywhere.

"You think I'd make some shit like that up? Start the car and get the sedative ready."

By the time she woke up, the nightmare would only just begin for her.

"Damien wait." It was Dietrich. "I mean what about 'Jormungand'? That's all we really need. If I can get to her machine then she's got nothing to defend herself with anymore!"

She was right about going after one or the other. But I said her machine might be there. If I knew it was there I wouldn't have bothered with her. As much as I'd like to believe that.

"I get her. I get her machine."

I then grabbed the launcher and slinged it around me. I was gonna have to be a little dramatic in making my appearance but it was needed to force her towards Esmeray. Once I separated her in the confusion, it'll be over.

"Esmeray it's me." I got on the other radio. "Have your men set up an ambush in the 'Y' intersection about eight blocks from Yildiz. I'll force them that way. Your target is a woman in white with white hair. She's in the beige colored sedan. That's the only one you need alive. Copy?"

"I hear you. We're not too far from where your suggesting. We'll be waiting. Don't get caught by a ricochet."

"Don't worry about me." I said as I switched off.

Above all else I had to remain calm. My hatred of her still burned strong. She expected me to make the world descend into full scale anarchy. This woman ruined my life and I wanted her dead. But like I said to her father, I will not go out on her terms. Even if it meant her death, she would still find a way to win.

"Hekmatyar…" I closed the visor so they didn't know it was me yet. "…now is the time where you get to experience what it truly feels like to lose everything."

Three Days Earlier:

July 9th 2011, 0800 Hours

Uskudar, Turkey

"How can you drink that stuff Lehm? I mean I binge coffee as much as the next girl but that stuff is like road tar."

She said referring to the heavily dark Turkish coffee.

"Balances out the stress of you wringing me dry of my wallet every time we pass by a restaurant or a food stand. And don't say because you're feeding two people. That excuse is getting old."

The night before, Koko had talked to him that she wanted to have breakfast in Asia. At first he looked at her confused but then realized it when they were on their way to a spot she wanted to eat. They were technically still in Europe but once they crossed the Bosporus, they would now be in Asia. Eventually she would be on her third breakfast by now but Koko wanted to dive back into work a little more since she was handling three major tasks each day.

Keeping her health up and staying active to promote the healthy growth of the one inside her womb.

Helping Professors Amada and Baburin miniaturize the 'Jormungand' system core.

Doing all within her power to make sure that her dream came true. No matter who tried to stop it.

Halfway through her Turkish delight her phone rang, the ID said it was Tojo. She immediately put her fork down and grafted into her all business mode.

"Yes Tojo? Is it done?"

"We just landed at the airport. You were right about Floyd trying to pry his way your affairs. And…he was there too. He took the bait."

"Don't keep me in suspense Tojo. Out with it. Do you have him or not?"

There was hesitation anyway. Tojo didn't want to tell Koko bad news on top of more bad news.

"No. He got away again."

"Damn." She said as she rubbed her forehead. She then nodded to Lehm and he knew the drill that it was time to leave. "What happened?"

"That crazy bastard Quinn is what happened!" Lutz shouted in the background.

"Hey calm down! I was trying to say…!"

"You already said he got away. Just tell me what happened." Koko asked calmly before the two of them started to argue.

"Ugh. Yes Koko. Quinn was a little too insistent that he'd 'verify' that Jones was trying to get information out about arranging your father to escape. By the time we got to his estate, Damien was already there. We tried to outmaneuver him and get him ourselves after Quinn and his men were tripping and falling over each other just to get him. We almost had him, but you won't believe where he got help from."

"Try me." She said as she let Lehm know that they had to get back to Dr. Miami immediately.

"That wannabe Eliot Ness, Scarecrow."

Koko instantly stifled a laugh as they got to her car to leave.

"That stupid asshole? Wow, now he's REALLY desperate." She then recomposed herself. "Very well then. And Lutz don't worry about Quinn, he's just a means to an end."

"Koko…" Tojo's voiced shifted to concern. "What about Damien? He's still out there. You know he won't fall for the same trick twice."

"Don't worry. There'll be other times. He'd have better luck trying to evaporate every rain drop in a storm with a single candle. His so called noble quest is fruitless. He won't last much longer if he keeps up these annoying encounters."

Lehm then got her attention of what was coming up. She had to finish her call.

"The underwater tunnel's coming up. Anything else?"

"Umm…I…Oh God. Koko I suggest you brace yourself for this."

"Out with it." She insisted.

"Zurich Police found your father dead in a dumpster this morning. I think…Damien shot him."

There was a pause, and nothing else.

"Hmph. Appropriate place for his grave. I'll see you at the hotel."

"Huh!? Koko…" She hung up immediately as she more than likely would have heard some type of moral questioning that she wouldn't have cared about.

But it looked like she couldn't escape the stare of judgement as she knew Lehm was looking at her in the rear view mirror. She figured she'd address the elephant in the room since it was unavoidable.

"He honestly did me a favor. 'Father' was all that he was to me. Just DNA and a resemblance to me was all we had in common." She then placed a hand on her growing stomach. "It's a pity that the same thing had to happen to this one."

"Koko…"

"Save your breath Lehm. With what you've done in your life you don't have any moral ground to stand on. At least when the baby is born I'll have something pure and will keep it that way."

Lehm wasn't even going to address her callous, cold, and somewhat heartless response to her father's death. But he was a little surprised on how she would call him out on some of his own past deeds. He accepted the fact a long time ago that he had a black heart. There were times in his career in Delta Force where there was only the mission. The rest was insignificant. Innocence did not matter. She herself tried her best not to be a hypocrite but he saw more often than not that she would act a little crazy. He wouldn't allow her to be like that now. So with little else to go on, he focused on the tactical scenario.

"I was going to say, that I have a feeling we will see him again soon. What are you going to do when he sees you the way you are now?"

She looked at him, realizing that she hadn't thought about that yet. But it wouldn't be complicated.

"Simple, he left me with his child and now I'll have to raise it myself. Seeing as he can't do anything else except kill and make those close to him miserable. I'd say the child is better off without his father." Her eyes widened for a moment as she recognized the irony and held her stomach. "Another thing we have in common."

Lehm really wanted a cigarette right now. But he made a rule to himself not to smoke around Koko as she was right now.

Two Days Earlier:

July 10th 2011 1500 Hours

Grand Crown Hotel, Istanbul, Turkey

"Any idea who they are?"

"Definitely not one of our usual threats. But with you being focused on your project we haven't really paid attention that there are others still out there that want to settle a score."

Koko had decided to call it a day earlier than normal. She and Valmet decided to catch up on some of the more legitimate portions of her company that she now owned in their hotel room. Including any possible threats. Just because Damien was number one on her list didn't mean that there was no one else.

"We'll follow the heighted protocol this time. I doubt they're a real threat to us, but we'll change our patterns of movement starting tonight."

"Understood, Koko. I also sent that photo Lutz took of one of those observers when he was doing counter surveillance to HQ. They should have an ID by tomorrow."

"Glad to know I can still branch out with my original methods. Although I will be glad for when 'Jormungand's' upgrade finally comes into play. But I do have to build it and get it up into orbit first."

Earlier they were discussing the construction and set up of the new rocket launch site she recently purchased and the design and development of 'Jormungands' second brain. Slowly but surely her closest friend, Dr. Miami, and her only other competent physicist Dr. Baburin had managed to put Dr. Faiza's notes and theories into practice. But this was after quite a few all-nighter's and Valmet was wondering if Minami's theories were solid. More than once she fell asleep with the video calls to Koko.

"Koko I'm starting to get a little concerned with Dr. Miami's progress. I mean I'm the farthest thing from a computer geek but are you sure she hasn't overlooked anything? She's moving awfully fast with this thing."

"Don't worry. I already scolded her for working herself into a stupor. But I think she might be substituting it for not being able to do any type of butterfly catching. Not many nature preserves in Istanbul and she can't just travel across the country to the more isolated areas." She then noticed that some certain spots on her body was starting to feel sore again. "I'll have to make it up to her eventually."

Valmet was about to return to the conversation of the possible threat that was around but was quickly taken back by Koko undoing her blouse and taking off her shirt.

"Koko! What are you doing?" She said looking rather flushed.

"Come on, it's nothing you haven't seen before. Plus you dealt with what's been happening with me for a while now." She said as she was massaging her tender breasts. "My back is in a knot, I'm pissing more times a day than an old man, and now my boobs feel like they're about to burst out of my shirt!"

Valmet glanced a little too long and where Koko was rubbing under her bra. She wasn't lying due the side effects of pregnancy. They had swelled considerably on her glowing skin and she was sweating a lot. Long before Damien came into their lives and ruined them, Valmet adored looking at Koko when she was dressed more 'comfortably'. Now it was surreal to see that she was going to become a mother.

"You know I have to take back all the times I said that I wanted breasts as big as yours." She said apologetically. "God, I feel like I'm being pulled to the earth and with my back the way it is I feel like I've went through a lifetime of this!"

Valmet then stared away blushing. It had been quite a while since the both of them had just some simple girl's time. It felt rather nostalgic.

"You get used to it eventually. But in your case it won't be permanent."

It got a chuckle out of Koko. It pleased her that her sister was smiling again. The weight of sin and guilt she took off of her and place it on herself had been worth it. But it wasn't over yet. Damien was still out there. And the moment that she made sure that he was no longer a threat, then she would be free of his infectious shadow.

"Ugh…I just wish it could go by faster." She then heard an urgent knock on the door. "One second!"

She took the time to put her shirt back on properly before she opened the door, it was Lutz. The look on his face said that he didn't care what the two of them were doing.

"Koko, we got a problem. There's been a guy doing a few too many rounds throughout the hotel. I talked to Wiley, and I think he might be looking for a place to set something nasty."

"What makes you so sure?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Gut feeling."

She then looked back to Valmet and she nodded in agreement. They had been through this type of scenario all too often.

"Ok, wait one second." She then reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone. "Hello? Professor? Yes, this is Koko Hekmatyar. I have a favor I need to ask and it's something that doesn't have the luxury of time."

Her initial plan for what she needed from this school, had to be cut a little short.

Present Time:

1249 Hours

Yildiz Technical University

Not long after Wiley set off the bombers own bomb on him, Koko and the rest of her team were already compiling the last of the theories put together by some of the more brighter faculty and students. Once Wiley and Mao rendezvoused with them at the school's main entrance they would be on the first available flight to Munich for the next set of theories.

Knowing that Minami and Baburin had an overabundance of work and theories in order to increase 'Jormungand's' performance, she had to do something to lighten their load. So Koko had put together a cleverly disguised plan that would give them some help and the ones providing it didn't even know that they were unintentionally providing upgraded specs for 'Jormungand'. It was a set of simple questions and theories that explained technological issues and how one would fix them. She didn't care what they were about so Minami and Koko decided to just pick random subjects out of a hat. But beneath the questions were the certain technical problems that Minami and Dr. Baburin were trying to figure out without the help of Dr. Faiza. Specifically how to miniaturize it so that it could be launched into orbit as a satellite. Depending on how the theory or problem was explained or solved would give her the next step in unlocking 'Jormungand's' full potential. Professor Amada and Dr. Baburin would read the underlying message and see if that was the answer that they were looking for. If not, they'd try another one.

"You sure that you have what you 'asked' them for?" Tojo said as he and Ugo were escorting Koko from the school's research wing with a briefcase in hand.

"If Minami can't get a straight answer from them, I'll just get them from somewhere else."

Her plan didn't include just this one particular school in Turkey. She had sent out the disguised theories to the best technical and engineering schools through all of Europe. Munich, Delft, KTH Royal Institute, and even Dr. Miami's old Alma Matter at the Imperial College Facility of Engineering. She didn't have the option of being picky, plus if something did happen she could use 'Jormungand' in short intervals to wipe out traces of her even being remotely near or even associated with any of theses places. She didn't want to admit to the rest of the team but she was racing against the clock now. Even if she took care of Damien, he had already revealed the threat she posed to his father. Not just to the United State's but the rest of the world. They wouldn't stop hunting her, until she could take away their means to do just that.

"Feels like were hoping around Europe in the same way we did in Asia only twice as fast."

Ugo sounded and looked just as tired from the constant momentum he, Tojo, and Lutz had been through in the last few days. He needed a break, but he knew what was at stake. Koko looked at him with some reassurance.

"Don't worry we'll get a chance to rest before we have to get the last of the plan rolling."

She then saw Lehm waving to them at the main entrance. That meant Mao and Wiley were there and they were all together. Cigarette in his mouth as usual. He probably wanted to get it out of the way since he wouldn't be doing it for a while once he was around Koko.

She made a motion for him to get rid of it. "The end is in sight guys. I promised I share the new world with you. I won't break that."

After trading driving spots with him, Lutz and Ugo took the lead car. In the center was Lehm, Valmet, and Tojo guarding Koko. Lastly was Wiley and Mao picking up the rear. Their next stop was the airport.

But before they could even get a block from the campus gate a figure on a red sport bike came from the passing lane and stopped a sizable distance from them. While Koko was wondering why they stopped, Ugo's eyes widened in fear at what was about to happen next as he got on the squad radio.

"Ambush! Split!"

Reacting on instinct from the constant protection exercises they did, he center and rear cars then reversed in opposite directions making an opening. Just as the figure on the bike opened fire with what appeared to be a grenade launcher.

The 'thwump' was followed by an explosion that didn't hit anything but caused the crowd of people and students to scream and yell in a panic. Anyone would if a literal bomb had just gone off.

"Lehm! Wiley! Scenario 8! Now!"

The protection convoy had reversed it's order of travel as it peeled out to get away from the new assassin. Who then slung the launcher on his back, revved the bikes engine and gave chase. He had a bead on them but didn't fire until the last second. Now he had to make them go where he wanted.

"Who the hell is that!?" Tojo yelled loading up his ACR.

"Probably the same group from the hotel set up. Bastards are persistent this time." Lehm said calmly.

As the group then speeded through the streets of Istanbul, the red Honda motorcycle was right behind them. He prepared to attack again.

"Oh shit! Incoming!"

That was Mao that time. Koko then tried to get a look behind the car to see what the rider was trying to do. He fired again, but his target was the front car. Ugo then turned right to avoid the blast but ended up on another street. As the convoy then continued to make an escape, she caught a glimpse of the assassin on the bike as it slid into the turn.

They had spent so much time together that she'd recognize him anywhere.

He had improved since the last time they saw each other. But he couldn't fool her.

They were enemies now and she would not show any mercy. Even to him.

"What took you so long Damien?" Koko said to herself.