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Zofia "Zo" Bosak
...
A woman, a man, and a toddler in the latter's arms. The cab dropped them off near the sidewalk, just outside of the perimeter fence, no doubt following some unspoken military protocol. The entrance to the base itself was only a short walk away; presumably civilians were not allowed even a hair's breadth. Good thing that the term no longer applied to the family of three. Or more specifically, to the mother with the short brown hair, wearing a camouflaged uniform, bearing the patch of an eagle clutching a lightning bolt. A bright green ID was pinned to her left chest pocket, telling any British soldier who she was.
Zofia took a second to absorb the fresh air, the warm scent of beech and oak, all matched by the warmth of the morning sun. She felt the old pocketwatch tucked into her shirt, feeling it tick, as a way to calm herself. Barely three months had passed since she last saw action, and she was about jump into an even bigger fire. It was way past the point of no return, but she did not mind. New country, new life.
"Pamietaj (Don't forget)...", she spoke to her husband. "…Jestes w Anglii, mówisz po angielsku (You're in England now, so speak English)."
"You got it, mum."
"Do you mean 'mom' or 'ma'am'?"
"With you, what's the difference?", he smiled at her.
Such a smart aleck remark, worthy of a light jab to the shoulder. Then again, speaking a familiar language wouldn't hide that they're foreigners, no thanks to their Slavic accents. Her man looked rather rugged in his collared polo and jeans, hiding his own military background. She bid him to keep their baby girl firmly in his hands, while she gripped two gym bags in either hand. And thus, they started the brief trek to the gates of RAF Credenhill, Herefordshire. 'Hereford Base', as it was known colloquially. Per the briefing with the Interior Minister, this place was also the headquarters of the UN/NATO Rainbow Program, unknown to all save for the highest levels of government.
Somewhere inside the complex was a woman she wanted to meet. They had a lot of catching up to do.
Everything went by the manual. The woman walked to a couple of armed guards and showed them her ID, to which they called the base commander for authentication and clearance. It was registered as 'Zofia Bosak'; insisting on her maiden name was a security measure to protect both her husband and their child's identities. After a few seconds, the guards let the trio go through the reinforced gates, opening with a metallic creak. The first thing that caught their eyes was the magnificent courtyard, built from English-style mortar and red bricks. It was flanked by two vintage airplanes: they looked like genuine RAF Spitfires. The little girl in the husband's arms cooed at the sight.
"Looks like she wants one, Zo.", he smirked.
"*giggles* I'll keep that in mind when she turns eighteen."
The skyline was dominated by the famous SAS clock tower, not at all different from the Land Forces Academy in Wroclaw where she studied. The family of three were definitely far from home now, what with the bizarre architecture and the musk in the air. The base might look like a heritage site, but the mother knew better. This was her new posting, not another vacation home. She was to be her government's contribution to a clandestine group of soldiers, no doubt delving in all manner of wet work that she was more than familiar with. Double the risks, and hopefully double the reward. Something that would honor her Father...
She shook her head. That wasn't the reason she was here. She pushed for this job because of one individual- blood being thicker than water. Truth be told, Zofia did not really care much about the benefits that the Rainbow Program offered- her family was more important. Part of the deal she made with the Director was for her husband to be reassigned at the UN liaison post here, as his soldiering days were already well behind him. Their baby girl, meanwhile, would be at the daycare in town; schooling could be discussed at a later time. Both of them would be outside of the Base's perimeter though, a sign of concern for any mother, but Hereford was one of the safest places in England. At least, that's what that black woman claimed when they met in Geneva. As such, Zofia could focus on more important matters.
One of which was about to come to light, sooner than she thought.
"Uh oh…"
"Something wrong?", she asked her husband.
His eyes were trained at the far end of the courtyard, prompting her to follow suit. The door had been swung ajar.
"Is that…?"
Two people were headed their way, both wearing black shirts and patterned camos. One was a short-haired blonde woman whose broad arms were covered in all manner of inky art. The other was wearing a baseball cap, with brown tresses of her hair dangling on either side of her face. Brown, and not the bright green dye she was fond of. It's definitely her.
"…Ela!", waved the man.
She didn't bother to respond. Her companion looked at her incredulously, as if nudging her to repay the courtesy. That didn't work either, and she simply pressed on. Her dull eyes only brightened on the sight of the toddler. Albeit for a moment.
"Przywitaj się z ciotką!" ("Say hi to your auntie!")
He bid the little girl to greet Ela, but she only stared at her, silently. Then, she turned away and hugged her dad instead, after a slight whimper. Ciocia Elżbieta was still a stranger as far as she was concerned. Zofia tried to make eye contact as well, but she too was turned down by the cap-wearing woman.
"Ma'am.", the blonde soldier spoke.
"Lieutenant."
"I'm afraid ranks don't mean squat in these parts. We're here to take you to the Director's Office; Six's already waitin' for you."
So that was her name: Six; a quick mental note was pinned to her head. So far, this little meet-and-greet was right on schedule. Zofia shook hands with the other woman, as old acquaintances should. Clearly it shouldn't be a surprise to see Meghan Castellano here, the SEAL Team Six's liaison during Operation Orange Sky, which GROM Squadron C was proud to be part of. Ela was the point woman in that undercover mission, the American ran intel and comms. Seeing the latter to be part of Rainbow, it suddenly made more sense why the Bosak Tempest herself signed her discharge papers all those months ago. The older sister supposed that she should've seen the writing on the wall.
This impromptu reunion was a cue for the husband to excuse himself and head to the reception area, his toddler wrapped around his arms. Almost immediately, the little girl came on the verge of tears, as she was about to be separated from her mom. Thinking on his feet, her dad quickly distracted her by showing her again the Spitfires in the courtyard. She cooed all the same for the second time, enough to occupy her while her mother's friends disappeared from view. Even the brawny Castellano couldn't help but smirk at the family.
"Cute kid. Hubby seems like a great guy too."
"I know.", Zofia gave one of her rare, genuine smiles. "I'm proud of him."
"Let's not waste any more time. Shall we?"
…
New digs. The trip to the Director's Office was also a chance for a quick tour of the place that Zofia would be calling home for the next few years. She was impressed; to say that Hereford Base was an 'expansive' military installation would be an understatement. It consisted of multiple buildings and hangars, each with their own designations, certainly much larger than how the older GROM guys described it in their time. The British Royal Air Force was still here, plus a handful of Special Air Service troops. Two hundred men give or take, at the most, to say nothing of the special 'Operators' who've also taken up residence. They were the real attraction; as they had their very own Complex near one of the runways: a multi-story twin building with its own barracks, cantina, and armory. It also came with a refurbished Kill House just across the courtyard, which Castellano said was the most recent addition. And as incredulous as it sounded, the unit was still on a recruitment drive, so a few more improvements were bound to come in the future.
Strangely enough, Ela barely spoke a word throughout the entire walk. The urge to break the ice with her was strong, but Zofia couldn't bring herself to it. Like she sensed a barrier suddenly appearing between her and her little sister. The former was starting to get anxious. Was it wrong not to tell her that she was coming? Their last fieldwork ended on a relatively positive note, disregarding the brushes with death they both faced. This concern would have to be shelved for later.
The little entourage was now on the ground floor of Rainbow's own private pad, walls and floors colored in a drab olive and beige. Standard procedures still applied: Zofia approached the front desk, registered on the clerk's logbook, then stowed away the two bags she had been clutching. Just past the automated security doors, which also recognized her ID, was the indoor gym and training area, separated from the hall with thick reinforced glass. It looked well-stocked with the right workout gear and equipment; it looked like a good place to chill out and make new friends with her coworkers. And speaking of which, a lot of them were quite into fitness as well, judging from their numbers.
Peering across the large panes of glass, Zofia saw her teammates in action. A bunch of people were huddled around a large set of fighting mats, where a red-haired girl and a hulking, mean-looking fellow were squaring off with each other using knives. Dangerous stuff. Their spectators mostly consisted of brawny men and athletic-looking women, all wearing the same black uniforms and fatigues. Women. This came as a mild surprise to the ex-GROM commando, who had scarcely seen such a high proportion of females in a military unit. Excluding her own squadron, of course.
"You have this many girls mingling with the boys?", she asked the American.
"We started out with three, believe it or not. The Director kept recruiting; turns out some of the best folks in the CT business have boobs."
"But a mixed roster... I'm surprised nobody's gotten pregnant yet."
The blonde woman turned around with a sheepish grin.
"Why? Speaking from personal experience, ma'am?"
Zofia fell silent, barely holding back a stifled giggle. To her chagrin, her head was soon flooded with awkward, yet happy memories that made her relate to Castellano's remark. A war-torn village in the dead of night, a handsome soldier she nearly killed, a few beers with him back at base, the start of a budding friendship, a bed and a heartfelt kiss, a baby-bump many months later…
"None of your business.", she turned her down.
Castellano laughed at her while they pressed on. This was Ela's chance to join in their little brand of girl talk. The older sister anticipated it- a condescending remark or a crude in-joke would do. Anything just that would resemble a reaction from her. Alas, it didn't come. From the corner of her eyes, Zo could see her sibling stubbornly refusing to budge, not granting her neither a peep nor a glance. Her back was turned and her arms were crossed while her legs moved forwards, as if she was stating that she didn't want to be in the same distance as hers.
Such a drastic demeanor. Just like back home. Just like with Father. Just like in the Academy. Quaint little memories came to mind- first was winter in Wroclaw, Ela was an art student in Berlin back then. But from the way she carried herself during her scarce visits, she would fit right in with the boys. Zofia hoped that she would join him in the Army when she got older, maybe ditch her bachelor's degree for a chance to rebuild the Bosak legacy together. And in Korea, almost three months ago, Ela tried her damnedest to rescue her and her team from impending death, fighting like a devil against scores of bad guys. Stoic and sturdy, with a strong desire to keep her sister safe no matter what. Today, it seemed like the other woman couldn't be asked to even stay in her presence.
*Ring! Ring!*
Castellano reached on her back pocket and pulled out her cell. A quick glance at the screen, the sunny disposition of her face quickly turned into a frown.
"Ah crap, I'm needed back at the Ops Center… Ela, can you take over?"
She was surprised to hear that, judging from her widened eyes. But before she could protest the decision, her friend had already made her way towards a different hallway, slowly disappearing from view.
This was Zofia's chance. She stood there, staring at her own flesh and blood, forming a quaint little smile on her lips and try to strike up a conversation for the umpteenth time. And similar to before, Ela ignored her latest attempt to bond. She took Castellano's order to heart, and continued the trek across the hallway and reach the elevator down the hall, their destination was only a couple of floors above them. The sooner it was done the better- no doubt the message being told by her brain.
"Ela…"
"…"
No response, as always. The older sister had just about enough of her stubbornness. Time to switch back to her mother tongue, show to her that she wasn't going to let up.
"Ela. Możemy pogadać (Can we talk)?"
Zofia she reached out to grab her by the shoulder. It was a mistake. Her fingers were just a hair's breadth to the Ela's sleeve, when the latter suddenly spun around and deflected the outstretched arm, as she would with a punch. Fast, forceful, and physical. Like a counter-attack to a perceived attempt on her life. It was a reflex, no doubt the result of her GROM training.
"Hey! What's wrong with you!?"
She looked into Ela's eyes. They were lively and fierce. Rage. Her disposition matched her body language, which had already changed into a fighting stance, catching Zofia by surprise. Before she could tell her to stop, the younger sibling lunged to manhandle her. There was no escaping this woman's speed and tenacity, embodying the symbol of their mother unit. She pushed her into a wall and brought a forearm up to her neck, locking her in place. Just like that, the older Bosak was subdued. Or at least, that's where she wanted her to be.
Face-to-face with a former comrade. 'Former' might be a strong word, but that was how Ela showed herself. Zofia gritted her teeth, all the while triying to make sense of her sister's hostile behavior. But she didn't waver. She saw this as her chance. To make up for lost time. To explain themselves to each other. There was a time when their bond was indestructible. She thought she'd seen it on their last time in the field together, fighting side-by-side. That seemed like a distant, idealized memory in hindsight, seeing how they're literally at each other's throats all over again.
…
"Why are you here!?", Ela hissed.
"Someone has to keep an eye on you."
The response soured the mood even more. Of course it would, considering that she never told her little sister that she was joining Team Rainbow as well. If the guys on the gym could turn around to look, they would be horrified at the altercation taking place just a few feet behind them. Zofia realized that she needed to end this as soon as possible. Nobody should see the two scions of a once-great solider at their worst. Nobody, let alone the husband and the little girl who were just in the adjacent building.
"I don't take orders from you anymore, Zo!"
"I'm not here to boss you around, Ela. Can we just ta-"
"Then leave!", she cut her off. "...I don't need anyone watching my back!"
"Hmph, you sure about that? Your guard is down."
For a split-second, Ela glanced to her feet. The distraction worked. Zofia seized the chance to wring herself free from her sister's grasp, clutching the latter's arm in the process and turning as leverage. With her superior commando training, she forced the other woman into the ground, clutching her into an armbar, showcasing the same strength and swiftness used a few seconds ago. The younger woman grunted and struggled, but she didn't waver either. It was an impressive feat on her part, despite the futility of her defiance.
"Let's stop this, Ela! If Father can see us now, he will-"
"Don't you DARE bring Him up!"
She forced herself from her sister's grasp, who in turn held her hands up to signal the end for all this nonsense. Ela brushed off the dirt from her sleeves and fixed her cap, right before giving Zofia a discontented glare. The latter, in turn, looked on with a mix of frustration and confusion. In just a few seconds, they were both back to their old selves. Like children. Unprofessional behavior on both counts, but blood's thicker than water.
This wasn't the kind of meeting that Zofia had in mind. She thought their distance from each other for months would cause her little sis to mellow. Clearly, that didn't happen. If anything, she still held her former commanding officer in disdain. Contempt for all those things that happened in the family. With their Father. Such a bitter memory to both women to recollect, and they consciously steered their minds away from it.
"Zrób mi przysługę (Do me a favor)…", Ela spoke.
"Huh?"
She turned her back once again, then started to walk.
"…nie mów do mnie (Don't talk to me)."
Her words were as rude and harsh like the scuffle they both detached themselves from. Only this time, just one of them opted to end it with words rather than force. Looking on as her sister receded from view, Zofia took a deep breath, realizing that she had her work cut out for her. Not only would she have to worry about her own family in Hereford, she also had her beef with Ela to contend with. A familial friction she thought they both had grown out long ago. Needless to say, Team Rainbow was her little sister's chance to start fresh and set out on her own, only for Zo to ruin everything. To say this wasn't the latter's intention from the get-go, at least in part, would be a great disservice.
She let out a heavy sigh as she cleaned herself up, then checked if her pocketwatch was still in order. It would be no good for Director Six to see her slightly-disheveled. With her escorts gone and with no other soul in sight, She resolved to finish the trek to the Director's Office on her own. There was a lot of things to discuss with that woman, more so now that she knew 'family life' had just gotten a lot more complicated. More parameters, more stipulations occupied her head as she walked towards the elevator down the hall. New country, new life. The phrase rang hollow the more she repeated it on her head...
...
"Oh my God!", someone yelled. "Medic!"
Zofia looked behind her and darted to the direction of the noise. It sounded like it came from the gym, which she passed by earlier. There was a commotion coming from the other side of the glass.
"Lera, you alright?"
"Someone get Doc down here!"
She saw the spectators huddled around the fighting mat. One could barely the source of the ruckus, but a glimpse could be made by squinting a bit. There was a red-haired woman, lithe yet strong-looking, who was down on the floor, wincing in pain. Her face had a nasty gash, a stream of bright red trickled down to her chin like a river. Her opponent was standing nearby, stunned and slack-jawed, with a bloody knife firmly held by his right hand…
…
Author's Comments/Notes: I decided to add a few details from the original Tom Clancy novel here. In it, the families of Team Rainbow are all sent to Hereford to work/study there, both for security purposes and to make quality time with the Operators that much easier (this came back to bite them, but I digress). I'm under the impression that the husband is also a Polish soldier, hence I made up his new posting as a liaison officer, though I don't really know why Zofia hasn't taken up his surname as her own. I touched her rivalry with Ela only briefly, though, because I think that bit is worthy of its own story or chapter.
Up next, Kapkan!