Chapter Ten
"So… Why aren't we using the car these days?" Train asked. Sven sighed.
"The car died over a year ago and we haven't had the money to buy a new one yet. Well, we have plenty now. But I'm going to hold off on buying a car until we're sure that the money is there to stay. After all, who knows what damages we might do in any given sweep, right?" Sven asked
As they said this, we arrived in Cincinnati, getting off the train and catching a taxi to their base, where Train immediately settled in the room that he still remembered perfectly, sighing and breathing in the energy of the base. I sat down and continued reading the data that Sven had provided for this particular target. He was a particularly cruel and vicious individual. He rose to a position of prominence in his organization though because of his willingness to use brutality to enforce his will.
He had begun as an enforcer in the organization that he was currently in and his cunning and tactical intelligence had allowed him to rise through the ranks. He was willing to kill anyone. However, he seemed to take incredible pleasure in breaking them emotionally. He had strange powers that seemed to instill a sense of discomfort and anxiety in those he chose to hurt or kill. I went on my computer and looked up anything I could in the Dark Web and Deep Web, using my abilities with nanomachines to hack the deeper levels of the internet.
I was deeply engrossed in documents on his fighting style, downloading the information to nanomachines in my brain. I exited out of the Dark Web and ran a diagnostic scan, dealing with any viruses or other malware that may have gotten on my computer from using the deeper levels of the internet. I finished and closed the computer, smiling as Train played his violin. It was obvious he was a little bit rusty, but he was still pretty good, and as the train ride went by, he cleaned up his playing. The music he was playing was still beautiful, and I sighed, sitting and listening to him play.
I gasped as I realized he was playing the Princess' Sonata in B Minor. It was a famously complex piece written in the late 1600s by Alastor Malbel DePalacci. And Train was playing it so beautifully. I found myself walking up to his room and peeking in, seeing Train engrossed in the piece. He actually had tears in his eyes. He wasn't playing though. He had been playing and it was obvious it was just a little while ago, but now he was listening to a record. And he was crying.
I was shocked. I was learning new things about Train that I never would have suspected. He listened to and played Classical Music. He cried when listening to it. He really found that much beauty in the music that he cried. I found myself breathless as I watched him close his eyes and lie back, just listening to the music, taking deep breaths and letting the sound wash over him. I wondered if he listened to opera as well. I had found a locked trunk in his room. I didn't open it. He must have had it locked for a reason. He smiled. I had never seen him look so relieved.
"Oh! Hey, Princess!" Train said, shocked when he saw me.
"Hi, Train. I didn't know you could play the violin." I said. Train nodded, gesturing for me to come in.
"Yeah. I took up playing violin when I worked for Chronos. It helped me unwind after I had finished a job. I taught myself a bit. But I also had teachers that Chronos hired." He said.
"Wow. I never would have guessed. You always seemed like you would prefer physical pursuits." I said.
"Well… I do a lot of the time. But I always was captivated by the violin when my parents brought me to see concerts and I guess even after Zagiene took me in, I was interested in it. I was just so focused on killing Zagiene at the time that I put my interest in the violin aside." Train said, heading out of his room and going up to the attic, looking for his Pulp Fiction Magazines.
"Aha!" He said excitedly. Train was still easily distracted sometimes. This was one of those times. He looked through the magazines, sniffing them lightly. I watched as he did this.
It seemed like much like me, Train loved the smell of old books or in this case, magazines.
"Don't forget to come down and study our target. It's likely that he has other Sweepers and potentially professional assassins after him." I said. Train nodded.
"Yeah… I will." He said.
"I printed out a bunch of data on him, from the places that he'd most likely be to his favorite foods to his fighting styles and tactics that he uses when he's backed into a corner." I said.
I knew this man was likely to have at least a few bodyguards on him from his organization. It was highly likely that he wouldn't be alone wherever he went. And it was stated on his wanted poster that shooting to kill was allowed, though I knew that no matter how much danger he was in, Train would never aim to kill anyone. But what if Sven or I were in danger? If we were in danger, would he try to kill? On the one hand, it would be a genuinely powerful statement of how much he cared about us. But on the other hand, I don't think I would ever want to see Train like that. Partially because I know how guilty he would feel.
But also partially because I knew that wasn't him. He was not a monster. He had sworn never to kill again. I admired that about him. I admired that he, as a former assassin refused to kill. Train hugged me, kissing me on the lips. I'm sure, even though I couldn't see myself in the mirror that I was blushing heavily. He nodded and said he would check out the documents. He read through a few of the Pulp Fiction Magazines and then went downstairs.
I went down after him and saw him sit down on the couch, picking up a large sheaf of paper that I had printed. I had done more than just print out our target's statistics and things like that. I had done some statistical analyses and determined strong moves that we could make to counter his, how to minimize the effectiveness of bodyguards that he probably would have, how to prevent him from taking civilian hostages. And while I knew that there was no way to plan for every eventuality, I planned for as many as I could. I knew that unlike many of our targets in the past, this man was dangerous on another level.
Apollyon. That was all anyone had of his names. He went by many noms du guerre. But the only 'real' name that anyone knew him by was Apollyon. I surmised that they called him that because he was effectively a bringer of death and destruction. It was a show of his sheer arrogance that he would equate himself with the Angel of the Abyss. Worse, nobody would dare testify against him for fear of reprisal, either by him or by his organization. And especially after the torture that he inflicted on others who said they would testify, nobody ever stepped up again. So he was effectively above the law.
Fortunately, now there was less need for people to testify. Apollyon didn't know it, but one family had extensive cameras in their home. Unfortunately, their lives had been destroyed by him. The mother and daughter had both been tortured physically and psychologically while the father and brothers were forced to watch. The father had felt so guilty that he wasn't able to protect his own family that he took his own life and both sons were in psychiatric hospitals still from the psychological scars that Apollyon had left on them. They still woke up screaming at night sometimes, thinking they were back in that house.
But Apollyon had gotten arrogant and didn't bother to burn down the house and kill the men. If he had, there may have been no evidence of his passing. But they had video now of his crimes, at least against this family. They had recorded enough evidence to have him executed. Unfortunately, it was very difficult to catch him. He was an extremely skilled runner, gunman, skilled in combat and a brilliant tactician who fought dirty. He utilized any tactics he needed to in order to win. Train was entirely engrossed in the documents, going through all of them, nodding as he did.
I was glad that Train was taking this seriously. I was seeing every day that he had really changed a lot. And in a way, I missed the carefree Train of the past. But in another way, I was glad that he was willing to take some things seriously, even though he knew that some things didn't need to be taken too seriously. For instance, when I first ran into him again, he shouted out that he was taking the target in and seemed to enjoy the chase.
"Don't forget to get some rest." I said to Train.
"I won't." Train said, shaking his head in disgust at some of the crimes that Apollyon had committed, some of the atrocities. He sighed, kissing Eve lovingly, heading upstairs, brushing his teeth and getting in bed. He couldn't risk being tired for the next day's hunt.
-0-
The threesome looked around. Their best information told them that Apollyon would be in Cincinnati for at least a week. They went to various restaurants and pool halls to look for him. Eve felt like they were being watched though. They asked around, showing around a picture of a heavily tattooed man. He had a main tattoo of the Norse God, Ullr, god of Hunting, Archery, Mountains and Skiing and Fenrir, god of Wolves. He had organized the tattoos very well. His right side was dedicated to hunting and his left side was dedicated to Wolves and the Moon
He must have spent thousands of dollars on his tattoos. Most people refused to say anything about him. Many must have recognized him and known that if they talked, they might be targeted next. Most people knew his reputation and thus, would not risk crossing him by being a snitch. However, one boy, who didn't know of his reputation finally spoke up.
"Yeah! He looked weird! He had tattoos all over his body and he had rings in his ears and eyebrows. I saw him at the weapons shop with two muscley guys that were following him everywhere."
I smiled.
"Thank you." I said, heading off with Train and Sven, heading to the weapons shop, seeing that Apollyon wasn't there, and nor were his two men.
"Excuse me. Did this man come in earlier today?" I asked politely. The person at the counter stiffened slightly.
"What if he did? I don't give out my customers' info." He said.
"Oh?" Train asked calmly, raising an eyebrow. The man flinched slightly. Most people could tell that Train was on a level beyond what most could hope to match.
"Fine! He went left… He didn't tell me where he was going though. They never do." He said.
"Thank you." Train said politely, heading out with Sven and me in tow. We headed left, looking around, trying to pick up Apollyon's trail. It was likely we wouldn't find him today. But we had to do some research.
"Scusee? I hears you guys is lookin fer someat…" A homeless woman said.
"Yes, we are… This man. Have you seen him?" Train asked politely.
"I might've. What do you have for me if I tell you?" She asked with a cunning smirk. Train took out a fifty-dollar bill.
"You can have this if you tell us where you saw him go." Train said. I was sure that Train knew that the woman would have told for a ten. But Train was deliberately being generous.
"Now I remember! He went into that restaurant next ter uth… I don' read so good. But it gots good pasta. They lemme have somea the leftovahs sometimes." She said.
"Thank you." Train said with a smile, handing her the fifty, heading to the restaurant.
"Excuse me." Train smiled at the hostess.
"Has this man come in the restaurant?" Train asked. She gasped, looking around.
"No…" She said a little too quickly to be believable.
Train sighed.
"Well… Can we get a table then?" He asked. He had learned a lot about interrogation when he was a member of Chronos. She brought them over to a table, handing them menus.
"Can I get you anything to drink?" She asked.
"Just milk please." Train said.
"Apple juice.' I asked.
"I'll take a Bar Light Beer please." Sven said. The hostess nodded and went back to the kitchen. Bringing out their drinks. The restaurant was pretty quiet at the moment. So Train knew that he could ask questions and get information without seeming like he was getting information or ask questions that seemed innocuous that she might answer. Sylphie had helped him get back in touch with the cunning man that he was as a member of Chronos.
The hostess brought their drinks.
"Can I get your orders?" She asked.
"Chicken parm please." Train said.
"I'll take the ravioli, please," I said.
"I'll get the beef stew." Sven said.
"Very good. I'll put in your orders." She said.
"Wait. Did you see what direction he came in from?" Train asked. The woman looked around the restaurant.
"From the right." She said, heading to the kitchen.
"Train… Don't force her to talk if she doesn't want to." Sven said.
"Don't worry. I know how to reach people. I'll get her to want to give us the information." Train said calmly. Sven shrugged. He admired Train's passion and his confidence. Soon, the woman passed by the table again.
"Excuse me. Did you see the direction he went when he left?" Train asked.
"Left." The hostess said, going to the front and bringing another family to a table.
I smiled. So this was his plan. To ask her questions that she could give one or two word answers to. She probably wasn't even thinking about it as she answered the questions. It was just passive conversations. She answered to the best of her ability. And she was taught to do what the customer wanted. So she would answer any question that she was able to. And how could telling Train the direction Apollyon came in from and left from be dangerous?
Soon a waiter came out with their meals.
"Excuse me, Ma'am. Did you see this man in the restaurant?" Train asked. The woman rubbed her arm uncertainly.
"Yes." She said.
"Did you hear anything that he said at his table?" Train asked politely, smiling at the woman.
"Well… We're not exactly trained to spy on our customers." She said.
"But I'm sure you hear things they say when you pass by." Train said, winking at her. I sighed. He was flirting with her now. She blushed slightly.
"Well… A few things. They talked about a business that owed them money. I think Andric's?" She said.
"Thank you very much. We won't impose on you anymore." Train said. She hurried away, glad to be done with this table, hoping that they didn't ask her any more questions.
"Wow! Train, how did you do all that?"
"It's not that hard." Train shrugged. "You just need to know how to ask the right questions." He shrugged. He dug into his chicken parm, smiling. They really did have delicious food. Sven and I started eating as well.
The waitress came back and gave us some water.
"Can I get anything else for you?" She asked.
"Oh, no thank you." I said politely. We needed to get going pretty quickly.
"Can we have our check?" Sven asked. She nodded and hurried to the front desk, getting our check and bringing it back to the table. Train pulled out three twenties and put them on top of the bill, finishing off his meal.
I couldn't eat everything. It was delicious, but quite filling. Sven finished his steak, broccoli and potatoes and we left.
"Thank you. Have a great day." Train said, putting Andric's into his phone's map quest, heading over to it. As they got in, they heard a scream and a gunshot.
"SHUT UP! ALL OF YOU SHUT UP!" A rough voice roared.
Train's hand immediately went for his gun. I could tell that any tactical ideas he may have had went out the window when he heard someone in danger.
"Okay, Princess, Sven. Go around to the back. I'm going to do what I can going in the front." Train said, opening the front door.