Ever thought how it would be to bring together two so similar yet so different action/drama heroes who serve the same purpose? How would it be to combine a Tom Clancy-style techno thriller scenario with the non-stop time-pressing 24 hour clock?
Within twenty four hours, a nightmare will be unleashed that could cause the death of hundreds, devastate a city, and this would only be the beginning of a chain of events that may change a whole nation. Terrorists operate within the U.S. borders and a new threat is coming from a conspiracy within the highest levels of the government...
Two men stand between the destroyers and the death tide. Anti-terrorist agent Jack Bauer wakes up to a morning call from Los Angeles Counter Terrorist Unit. Sam Fisher, former lone wolf ultra-secret operative for one of America's most top secret infiltration organizations, takes up an assignment by a former supervisor and old friend. But will they be able to stop the terror in such a short notice? Time is almost up...
The following takes place after season 5 and after Splinter Cell: Double Agent
At the time of this writing, Splinter Cell: Double Agent will take a few months until it's released. I will have to make certain assumptions in order to place the story after Double Agent.
This is an alternate universe where Jack Bauer has returned to and works again for CTU Los Angeles.
This work may contain some material that may seem offensive to the beliefs, affiliations or opinions of some individuals. This is merely a work of fiction. The author does not share the opinions, beliefs and affiliations of the characters.
I do not own any of the 24 and Splinter Cell characters and am not affiliated in any way with Ubisoft, Fox etc etc. I'm not making a single penny out of this work but do it simply for the enjoyment of 24 and Splinter Cell fans and myself.
Prologue
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
The meeting was very important and it seemed that the other party was as interested.
For Yang Kim Lin, the middleman of the two sides, it couldn't be any better. He was one of those who started it, today. The result remained to be seen. There was nothing else on his end that could be done.
Now, sitting in the back of his black limousine, watching the buildings and pedestrians swing by, he was thinking that he would call it a day early today and then he would probably spend some time with his beloved wife. It was still midday.
He took and opened the briefcase that was sitting next to him. In it, there were the notes his aides had taken during this course of events. He would study them later. What was now important was to make a phone call to his superiors and inform them of the day's developments.
He left the briefcase down and looked outside the car's window. He would be home in a couple of minutes.
The last thing Yang Kim Lin ever heard was a large, very large noise. He felt himself going up along with the car, as unbearable heat pierced his body at the same time.
---
FIVE
DAYS LATER
Joy.
That's what was running in the veins of the five men gathered at the small table. The hanging light was dangling over them in the kitchen. The house was small, slightly dilapidated on the inside, the wooden doors and stairwells wet and rotten, but the men around the table didn't seem to mind. Nobody lived in that place permanently anymore.
Today wasn't a normal day, though. They were all there only for tonight, as they had gathered to talk about business. The five men were talking at the same time as if each wanted only his own voice to be heard on the table. A proper conversation didn't seem to be the option tonight. Everyone looked excited.
A fat man slammed his hand on the wooden table. The piece of furniture wasn't so stable as to remain in position and it took a good shake. The voices stopped.
"This is the last time this conversation is being held. We are out of time for yelling and chatting" said the man in his native Urdu. "I know you have all put a lot of effort in this and you all have something to say on it. Rest is assured, the plan will be carried out, as we have planned it to the last detail."
Nobody said anything.
"In a few hours from now, America will live a nightmare it has never known before." the man continued. "You will see what Los Angeles will look like tomorrow, ins'Allah".
"Ins'Allah" all agreed immediately.
Seven thousand kilometres away, sleepless electronic ears were constantly receiving signals coming from sources around the world. The signal from Rawalpindi, Pakistan, was being rerouted via two satellites to Fort Meade, where the National Security Agency headquarters reside.
"If God wills it" repeated a young female voice. In her monitor, she saw the six men stand up from their seats. The images were night vision live feed, apparently captured by a source outside the kitchen.
Anna Grimsdottir didn't take her eyes off the screen. "It looks like the meeting is over. We only have a few hours to act but we don't know how many."
In the hallway adjacent to the kitchen in the old house, a shadow had remained still. The unseen man was wearing a black clad and balaclava hood. His eyes were covered by a set of three green glowing goggles in a triangular lineup. The fact that he hadn't moved at all had saved him from detection while he could still be spotted in the twilight.
"I'll get one of them and see if he can tell me anything useful" the man replied through his headwear.
A male voice spoke back to him. "Jeffers, interrogate as many as you have to, but don't leave any witnesses behind," the sharp voice directed the operative.
"Copy that, Lambert." the agent confirmed.
One of the men who walked off the kitchen went to some stairs that led to the upper floor. Agent Jeffers curbed into a ball to be as less visible as possible. So far, nobody seemed to have noticed him in the dark as a couple of men walked by and away from him. His training seemed to have paid off today, he thought. This was Nick Jeffers's first real assignment in the field and, to his surprise, he managed quite well so far. As the sun came down, he had dressed up in full gear and got ready for insertion to the house where suspected terrorist planners were going to gather. He had hoped for them to mention the exact time and location of the place the terrorist attack was intended to be carried out so he would not put himself at a greater risk, but it was now a job he had to do.
As Abdjheet Ahmadi walked up the stairs, he bumped into the last staircase and almost fell down. He cursed for their leader not being able to find a house with more than half of its lights working but that was not important right now. He was very happy about how things turned out and would feel even more delighted when the evening news would play in a few hours. Everything was falling into place at last.
Ahmadi was a bit disappointed for someone else had been selected to sacrifice his life for the cause, but he was certain his chance would come soon. Then he would serve the cause properly.
As he stood in front of the toilet and started unbuttoning his zipper, he could swear there was somebody very near him although he didn't hear any footsteps.
Before he had the time to make another thought, he felt a sharp blade slightly touching his throat.
"Don't move a muscle," a voice spoke in English with American accent. "I only want to ask you one question: where and when will your 'plan' be executed? Whisper. If your friends hear you, I'll simply slit your throat and sneak out before anyone figures what's going on.
"Fuck yourself, American. You will not get anything from me. You will get nothing!"
"I know you are willing to die. I don't intend to kill you, but I can still hurt you pretty bad so that you won't be able to serve your cause. Mark my words, you will tell me what I need to know," the voice whispered.
Ahmadi was clearly disturbed by that thought, but he still couldn't reveal to this American the plan they had worked so hard for. He now felt the blade being pressed on his skin and had to do something, and fast.
"New York City, 11am Eastern Standard Time", Ahmadi replied quickly.
"How do I know you're not shitting me?"
"I don't know. How do you intend to find out?" Ahmadi managed to say.
"It's not New York City. It's L.A. Now then all I need from you is the correct time."
"Intruder!" yelled a voice from the doorway as another man was walking into the toilet and saw the dark figure. Instinctively he went for his gun but the man in black hid behind Ahmadi, placing the latter between himself and the man at the doorway.
"Don't mind me!" Ahmadi cried. "Shoot him! Kill him!"
Three more men replied to the alert and arrived outside the toilets. They immediately drew out their pistols. The man who got there first pressed the trigger three times and an equal number of bullets found the chest of Abdjheet Ahmadi. The weight of the intruder's leverage suddenly increased and he could no longer hold the body which had just played off the role of the human shield.
"Our brother served his cause. He was sacrificed so we can get you," said the man who shot Ahmadi.
Four pistols were now aimed at agent Jeffers, who raised his hands high.
"Black hell!" colonel Irving Lambert exclaimed. "I'll let the director know. We must inform all domestic agencies of an imminent terrorist strike."
