Part 3: Defense
The next morning, around 6:30 A.M., Sasuke stepped off the elevator onto his floor with a box full of things, and saw Sakura sitting at her desk.
"Hello," Sasuke said as he walked up to her.
"Hey," Sakura said, "I'm here."
"How long have you been waiting?" Sasuke asked.
"Since six," Sakura said, "You said to come in early, so I came in early."
"Alright," Sasuke said, "I'll be in my office."
Sasuke entered his office, pulled out his High-School degrees in Criminal Justice: put several nails in the wall, and hung up his degrees.
High-School degrees are like a college degree, but because thanks to industrialism, big business needed more labor and they turned to teenagers.
With this now practiced, teenagers can either choose to go to college or take a small, but challenging course, and go straight to work.
Sasuke chose to get his degree in Criminal Justice out of High-School, and go into work: which is how he ended up an agent for the Federal Reserve.
As Nick hung his degrees, he placed the notes he had taken on the case so far on his desk, and placed his Swiss-Army knife on top as a paper-weight.
Nick then pulled out the I-pad Arthur gave him, and began organizing the security for Duncan, first checking train schedules for the trains to Montenegro.
The first part of the journey would be from St. Pancreas railway station in London to Lille, then to Paris, after that Stuttgart in Germany, through Munich to Salzburg, followed by a train to Ljubljana, then a train to Zagreb, after that Belgrade, and the final train to Podgorica.
Sasuke double checked the tickets, and began formulating a plan.
Half an hour later, Sakura walked into Sasuke's office to see him on a Skype-conference with Arthur, "Yes," Sasuke said, "That's how we're going to do it: five thousand each, with a two hundred dollar bonus if we're attacked, and they shoot back."
"Three agents at each station," Arthur asked, "Each armed?"
"Each one carrying concealable weapons," Sasuke said, "The guards change at every station."
"What guns?" Arthur asked.
"Concealable submachine guns," Sasuke said, "Me and Sakura will be armed with pistols."
"I'll see to it," Arthur said, "Very brilliant precautions Sasuke."
"Keep it between us," Sasuke said, "We don't need to share this with anyone."
"Alright," Arthur said, "I'll get you the best weapons in the arsenal."
"Good," Sasuke said, "When do we move out?"
"Tomorrow," Arthur said, "You and Sakura will be undercover as Duncan's children coming with him on a business trip."
"And in secret, we'll have guns concealed inside out jackets?" Sasuke asked.
"Yes," Arthur said, "Good luck."
Sasuke turned off his I-pad, and looked up at Sakura who was standing in the door, "I gather that security has been taken care of?" Sakura asked.
"Yes," Sasuke said, "We'll be getting up early tomorrow night. I'll pick you up, we'll go to the train-station, and receive our weapons on the train."
Once Sakura left, Sasuke's phone rang, "Talk to me." Sasuke answered.
"Sasuke," Tsunade said, "Good to hear from you."
"Aunt Jessica," Sasuke said, "I thought we agreed on not talking to keep you safe."
"I decided against that," Tsunade said, "I heard you'll be on a train tomorrow for Montenegro."
"Yes," Sasuke said, "What about it?"
"Because we have one more thing you need for your cover," Tsunade said, "It'll be waiting at your apartment."
When Sasuke arrived back at his apartment, he saw a long, rectangular package on his front door, the box was fifty inches tall, and fourteen inches wide, and was addressed to him.
Sasuke picked up the package, walked inside his apartment, cut the package's tape with his Swiss-Army Knife, and opened the box to reveal a Munich one-handed Renaissance sword and an Ontario Ranger Series Shank Knife with a 6.5 inch blade with black micarta handles.
As Sasuke pulled it from the sheath, the layers of black-powder-coated-steel was perfectly dark in the light.
The grip was covered in carvings of dragons, and there was the J.P. Morgan Delta Force symbol was highlighted into the left side of the grip in silver.
The grip was had the J.P. Morgan Delta Force symbol impressed into the bottom of the grip which was highlighted in silver.
Sasuke reached back into the box, and pulled out what appeared to be a display case for the large fixed-blade knife.
He reached back into the box, and pulled out an Israeli Civilian Gas Mask with mirrored lenses.
The final thing Sasuke pulled out of the box was a small note, "Dear Sasuke," he read, "This is the last of your gear that you left behind. The picture inside the box is one of our agents that'll be looking out for you," Sasuke reached inside the box, and pulled out a picture of a man about twenty eight years of age, bald, American, and a crescent-shaped scar marred the left side of his face, "Before you get on the train: he plans on ambushing you with his partner at the train station in Paris. Do your best to resist."
The next morning, Sasuke packed up his Rapier, hid it underneath his clothes, and walked out to his Stingray where he placed his suitcase behind the seats.
When he went to pick up Sakura, he found her waiting for him in front of her apartment, once she got inside: Sasuke put his Stingray in drive, and drove toward the train station.
Once they arrived at the train station, Duncan was waiting for them at the gate.
"You two are my protection?" Duncan asked.
"Yes," Sasuke said, "I'm Sasuke," he then pointed at Sakura, "This is Sakura."
"Pleasure to meet you two," Duncan said, "You'll get your guns on the train."
Once they walked up to the train, Sasuke took a look around as Sakura and Duncan walked through the doors into the car.
Sasuke entered the train behind them, and took his seat next to Sakura.
Once the train took off, Duncan handed Sasuke and Sakura two boxes underneath the table, Sasuke opened it under the table, and found a .357 magnum Colt Python with a six-inch barrel.
Sasuke pulled out the Colt, opened the chambers, loaded each quietly, slid it back into the gun, and activated the safety.
Once the safety was on, Sasuke slid the revolver inside his jacket, "How long do we stay on the tracks?" Sakura asked.
"A day and a half," Sasuke said, "We'll transfer to a sleeper car in Salzburg, and continue onto Montenegro from there.
When the train was inside the channel-tunnel, the lights inside the train flickered for a quick second, but came back on, and when they did, Sasuke took a look around, and nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
Getting to Paris was no trouble, but getting to the other train was.
Once they got off the train, Sasuke noticed several men dressed in black-leather shoes, black suit pants, black long-sleeve button-up formal shirts, and black suit jackets were following them.
Sasuke put on his sunglasses, which had a small mirror built into the top of the lenses, he then saw one of them reach up, and touch to his ear.
Sasuke looked up, and there was a man standing on a balcony on a building across the street from the station watching them through a pair of binoculars.
Sasuke looked forward, and saw the man touching his ear lower his hand.
"You know there are men are following us?" Sakura asked.
"I see them," Sasuke said as he moved closer to Sakura, "Move closer to me, keep Duncan covered."
Sakura stepped closer to Sasuke, creating a human-shield for Duncan, "Should we shoot them?" Sakura asked.
"Too many civilians," Sasuke said, "They'd just dive into the crowd. Stay close and follow my lead."
Sasuke led Sakura and Duncan to a small restaurant, when they did, the men inside walked over, "Sasuke Uchiha?" the leader asked.
"Who?" Sasuke asked.
"This guy," the man said as he pulled out his I-phone, and revealed pictures of Sasuke breaking free of Army Base, "You're coming with us."
"What is the meaning of this," Duncan asked as he stood up, drawing the attention of two French police officers who walked over to the table, and stood behind Duncan, "You will not arrest my son."
"We have orders to take him back to the United States," the man said, "This man is either coming with us or…" Sasuke stood up, kicked the man between the legs, brought his knee to the man's gut and delivered a swift punch to the skull.
The other two pulled out their pistols, and when they did, Sasuke swatted the guns away, and shoved them both backwards.
"Run," Sasuke exclaimed as he grabbed Sakura by the wrist, and pulled her away from the restaurant.
Duncan followed behind them as the two J.P. Morgan agents knocked the French officers unconscious, and pulled their leader to his feet.
As Sasuke, Sakura, and Duncan ran toward their train, the J.P. Morgan agents fired at them, and the entire station broke out into complete chaos.
Sasuke and Sakura kept running, holding Duncan's arms in their hands as they jogged down the stairs to get to the platform to catch their train.
They dashed onto the platform, just in time to jump on the train.
The three agents ran onto the platform, pulled out their guns, and fired at Sasuke who was waving at the officers from behind the train door.
And as the train disappeared behind the tunnel, the agents were arrested by French police.
Once Sasuke and Sakura arrived in the first-class section of the train with Duncan, Sakura pushed Duncan into the cabin, Sasuke covered the hallway, and then slowly closed the door.
After that, he leaned back against the door, and exhaled slowly, "We're safe," Sasuke said as he walked over to the table Duncan and Sakura were sitting in, and sat next to Sakura.
"That information you have," Duncan said, "It really is worth a fortune to the Federal Reserve."
"It's every single Delta Force operator working under the J.P. Morgan bank," Sasuke said, "Should an enemy of the Federal Reserve get a hold of it, it could bring down their entire infrastructure. Which is why I carry it with me at all times."
"Why is that?" Duncan said.
"There is another function to the app that has all the information on it," Sasuke said, "Call it an insurance policy. Once activated I can send the entire list to anyone in the world I want."
"That's not important right now Sasuke," Duncan said, "Right now we should focus on getting to Montenegro."
"I agree," Sasuke said, "I'm going to get a drink."
"I'm with you on that," Sakura said, "I could use a little something."
Once at the bar, the bartender walked up to them immediately, "What'll you have?" He asked.
"A Bloody-Good-Time for me," Sasuke said, "And a Beautiful Lady for her."
"Coming right up." The bartender said.
The bartender started on Sasuke's drink, after muddling the contents in a small glass, he Add simple syrup, blood orange juice, Disaronno, Cazadores Anejo tequila, and ice, shook it and strained it into a highball glass over a ball of ice, he then topped it off with soda, folded it, stirred it into a cocktail glass, and garnished it with a lemon wedge.
He then started on Sakura's drink, he poured three shots of Malibu coconut rum into a highball glass, added two shots orange and pineapple juice, then a splash of half and half for color, dripped a little grenadine into the mix, and stirred it.
He placed both drinks on the bar, and as Sasuke picked up his, Sakura held out hers, "To your future." She said.
"You mean ours," Sasuke said as he tapped his glass against hers.
"Ok," Sakura said as she downed the whole drink in one gulp.
"Damn this girl can hold her alcohol," Sasuke thought after Sakura downed five more Beautiful Lady cocktails.
"This bartender is possibly the best one I've ever met," Sakura said, completely drunk.
"I think you've had enough," Sasuke said, "Check please."
"No, no, no," Sakura said, "I'm fine," she then passed out, and collapsed on the floor as the train hit a bump.
"Oh good lord," Sasuke thought after kneeling down, and picking Sakura up in his arms, "Thank you," Sasuke said to the bartender as he carried Sakura toward her room in the First-Class car.
As Sasuke was walking through the train, it was becoming more and more difficult to walk because of the way the train was rocking.
Once Sasuke arrived at Sakura's room, he opened the door to find it was a room with a double-bed, and he found out because after he closed the door, the train rocked again, and he landed on the bed, with Sakura on top of him.
As he tried to move, he realized the sleeve of his tuxedo had gotten stuck in the headboard, and Sakura was dead-asleep.
Sasuke silently pulled the Python out of the shoulder-holster, placed it on the bed-side table, and fell asleep.
The next morning, after a night of tossing, and turning, Sakura awoke to find herself in her own rom lying on her bed, and fully clothed in the black cocktail dress she wore when she, Sasuke, and Duncan set off for Montenegro.
She was touching something quite soft, she looked to her side, and she found out she was lying beside Sasuke whose arm was attached to the headboard.
Sakura immediately lurched back against the wall, what the hell was Sasuke doing in her bed, and with one arm stuck to the headboard? And why did she have such a bad splitting headache?
Sakura pondered what she should do, but just before she could ponder what to do, Sasuke awoke, "Morning," Sasuke said, "You sleep well?"
"Sasuke," Sakura exclaimed, "What the hell happened last night?"
"You downed one-too-many Beautiful Lady cocktails," Sasuke said, "I carried you in here, and you collapsed on top of me."
"You didn't leave?" Sakura asked.
"I can't actually move right now," Sasuke said as he turned his attention to his sleeve which was stuck to the headboard, "Give us a hand please?"
Sakura got off the bed, walked over to the headboard, and helped get Sasuke free of the headboard which was holding him still.
"You're welcome," Sakura said, "So the one-too-many drinks would explain the headache. But why didn't you slip out of the jacket?"
"I don't know," Sasuke said, "I never thought of that."
"Sasuke are you attracted to me?" Sakura asked.
Sasuke looked at her in shock, "Well I…" Sasuke began, "I definitely think you're beautiful."
"Sasuke," Sakura said, "You're smitten."
"I am not." Sasuke said.
"Yes you are," Sakura said as she backed Sasuke against the door, "You're attracted to me. Admit it!"
"Ok," Sasuke said, "Ok! I admit it! I like you."
"Then how about dinner when we get to Podgorica?" Sakura asked.
"Sakura," Sasuke said, "Are you asking me out?"
"I was under the impression you were." Sakura said.
"Did I say, will you go out with me?" Sasuke asked.
"You just did, and I'd be happy to oblige." Sakura said.
"You sneaky little woodland sprite." Sasuke said.
"Did you call me a wood-fairy?" Sakura asked.
"Maybe," Sasuke said, "You want to see how Duncan's doing?"
After Sasuke put his revolver back in his shoulder-holster, him and Sakura walked to Duncan's room, and found Duncan fast asleep.
Half an hour later, Duncan awoke, and saw Sasuke and Sakura standing there.
"You're back," Duncan said, "Where were you?"
"She was asleep," Sasuke said, "I was a little hung up."
"What's going to happen when we get to Podgorica in Montenegro?" Duncan asked.
"We're going straight to the hotel," Sasuke said, "Everything you do will be with round-the-clock-bodyguard-protection."
"And you?" Duncan asked.
"I'll be watching," Sasuke said, "I might only protect you a few times, but I'll know your every move."
"And what if I need help, and you're not around?" Duncan asked.
Sasuke reached into his pocket, pulled out a small device that looked like a black-polymer cigar-holder, and handed it to Duncan, "If I'm not around, and you need help use this," Sasuke said, "In the Delta Force we used devices exactly like this to know if another member of the team needed help. Give it a ninety degree counter-clock wise twist, and I'll know you're in trouble."
"What about weapons?" Duncan asked.
"We have our guns." Sasuke said.
"What else?" Duncan asked.
"I didn't want to show anyone else," Sasuke said as he reached underneath his jacket, pulled out his Ranger knife which was sheathed, and handed it to Duncan, "Standard issue to all J.P. Morgan Delta Force."
Duncan unsheathed the knife, "Wow," he said as he saw the six and a half inch blade, "What kind of missions did they send you on?"
"You don't want to know." Sasuke said.
"We got time," Duncan said as he sheathed the knife, and held it out to Sasuke, "Regale us with a story of one of your many adventures as a Delta."
"Thanks," Sasuke said as he took his knife back, and slid it into his jacket, "Ok. You might want to get comfortable, this could take a while."
As Sakura took her seat in front of the bed, Duncan sat right next to her, Sasuke took his seat in front of the bed, pulled off his jacket, pulled off the shoulder-holster, and placed it on the coat-rack next to the door, "Ok, a story about me…" Sasuke said, "I got one."
Flashback Time…