CHAPTER 8

A stretch should do the trick…

A distinct sensation of knifes running down his back proved his theory wrong.

Or not, damn it.

Still in the infirmary of the Head Quarters, Leon basically had been wrapped looking like a mummy. His arms and legs were covered in patches and bandages, making it difficult for the veteran to find a good resting position. His head and face alike had open wounds that were finely treated. His entire back though was the major problem. Whether laying down or sitting up, it would hurt like a bitch.

"Looks bad…"

"Feels worse."

Lifting his heavy head up, a mirror image of himself of a mummy was Helena Harper. They didn't even realize that Helena had multiple burn wounds and open gashes, and also a piece of debris lodged on her leg until checkup. And she was living and breathing, still in one piece. How? It was a miracle pulled by sheer determination fueled by vengeance. By the time they had landed safely on the HQ's helipad, they found Helena semi-conscious as the adrenaline wore off. That gave the HQ more of a reason to put them on a one week confinement and treatment process, running through tests and making sure that they weren't infected in any known way. Or unknown ways as well. Already on the fourth day, Leon wanted to break out of his daily 'naps' via sheer force.

"I think it would make you feel better knowing your insides weren't inches away from spilling out."

"Hey you're still up and running aren't you?"

"And that indeed is a plus."

"But shouldn't the guards be here arresting your ass back to bed?"

"I have my ways…"

"Woman."

That had Helena roll her eyes hard, it wasn't hard to convince the muscle man at her door to visit the great veteran next door. The walk from her room to his was less than five meters, no harm done…yet. Though, it was rare for her to use such 'skills' but factor in the boredom and dying curiosity. Why not.

She cocked her head sideways, shifting her view down and up again after a moment of silence.

"Spill it." Leon's voice boomed a little lower than usual.

"What?"

"You have something to say, do it before you regret."

Her eyes widened a little, but she knew she wasn't even hiding her intentions anymore. Staying silent for a few good seconds, before she took a breath in and decided to say what's on her mind.

"She's an international spy with an international warrant. A highly dangerous threat that could easily persuade our government to poison our waters for the greater good. She's the very being that every government would want to get rid of...Why?"

"Is that all?"

"…Well, yes I suppose…"

"Really? I thought you had some sort of super dark secret to share."

"If I had any I wouldn't be in the D.S.O. alive with my freedom card."

"True…"

A moment of silence was witnessed, that gave Helena nerves that originally weren't there. Maybe I shouldn't had said it. Leon's down casted eyes were intense, that made the poor girl even more nervous than she was. Fidgeting slightly on her convenient spot to bail from the room, she had to say something.

"It's fine if you don't wanna delve deeper into-"

"It was…it's complicated."

"A complex dynamics you two have?"

"You could put it that way. Funny, I never really understood her, but yet I know her well enough to trust her in critical moments. I guess that kind of grew on me."

His eyes reflected the heaviness in his demeanor, slate blue that were cloudy and unsure. But they glimmered with hope and gentleness. But Helena was contented that he actually answered. Having a sense that he would surely doubt this one into a narrow path, it was a good chance to re-evaluate his take on this peculiar relationship. Heck, why do I even bother so much…because I'm a little jealous and worried. With an internal sigh, the young agent gave a nod and wave of goodbye as she excused herself from the room. The infirmary really need doors.

"Ada…"

Hunnigan had scheduled Leon for weekly checkups with the HQ's doctor, since he did go through…well, a shithole of hell that it was decided his well-being needed to be taken with more seriously. The sores on his back was true to the doctor's words, it would last for quite a bit even with a super fit veteran like Kennedy-boy himself. Those nasty gashes had opened up again due to his rebellious nature against doctor's orders. The wounds had to be drained and cleaned again, he was almost a walking 'bloodfall' at one point. It was a sight to see her partner-in-crime cringing and whining like a four-year-old boy, how he verbally wrestled with the doctor was a miracle. No one could last ten seconds under the scrutiny of Dr. Smith, and there she could see the metaphorical swords grazing metal in a heated fight.

"How's he doing this week?"

"I'm not sure if he seeing Dr. Smith is supposed to aid in his recovery?"

"How so, he seems to be doing fine?"

Both ladies had their heads turned towards the infirmary to watch an ongoing bicker between an aged man and a child.

"…They get along well."

A crease line forms on her head. No one could fool Hunnigan though, it was nothing but a show. His grand performance of lies that was the unfortunate truth. That face of disdain every time he had to take a step into HQ or anywhere related, was telltale after what Leon had raged on a drunken night. The Leon in her eyes was a totally different version of their known hero.

"I can't imagine the amount of times he got hurt."

"Too much to count…and they weren't bullet wounds."

Leaving behind Helena in her wake of a cryptic message, she heads out to make it up to her old pal, and she swore it would be much better than that dinner she owed.

"Miss Wong, it's been a while."

No rest for the weary?

"Well, not long enough I see."

"The organization has been very satisfied with your excellence in the last mission, as such, the rest of your pay has been transferred."

"Oh? Not a penny less?"

"Miss Wong."

"My apologies."

"However we will no longer require your services. And will terminate all contacts here on out."

"Terminate? Why-"

"We have sent you an email with further clarification, I wish you all the best."

*Beep*

"Guess I'll need another phone…again."

The pleasant sound of rhythmic knocks between her heels and the wooden floor trailed up the stairs and into her room, she flipped her laptop open and waited it to boot up. Knowing that the Organization would never leave her half hanging. Even though she had worked with them for a year or so now, their relationship was based solely on trust. Which was an interesting component to the dynamics, never had she met such a bold way of working in a shady industry like this. However, Ada had never once heard anything else but that mimic of Stephen Hawking's voice. Credit to the measures taken. Booting up her slightly older electrical wonder was taking too long for the black haired lady to stay still, opting for a hearty stretch to loosen those muscles. Even age has caught up to me.

She had just gotten back from her most recent mission, thank lord it was pure spy work, but the way home was always draining but the most relieving. Having the luxury to build a small cabin to house her nomadic self in an off-the-grid location was by far the best decisions she had made in her lifetime. Not that the prestigious mansion before and seductively sleek apartments were distasteful, but they never really had appealed as a home. Home is what I need, and a shower at that too.

The sudden beep and bright screen on her monitor had done well bringing her mind back to Earth. Even she had moments like this, but muscle memory saved her most of the time. After typing in her super-secret password that was a joke itself to the spy, she opened her email knowing that it has the answer she was looking for. One new mail signing from the organization, an audio message in it. They better not blow up my cabin if I played this. She scrolled through the mail as the audio started up, finding a file that flipped an imaginary red flag in her mind.

Her profile was altered.

"It has been an honor to have you working with us. As an act of appreciation, this will be the gift from the Organization to you. I'll keep this short and simple, your profile is now clean. Any past ties in this industry has been terminated cleanly and erased. I've pulled many strings from places that can only be reached by your previous endeavors Miss Wong, I hope you'll use it well my little butterfly?"

The audio had stopped a little while ago, but the last two words lingered a little longer than they should in Ada's head. She sat there, shocked, her body would not respond to the massive explosions of confusing emotions that were none too pleasant. The perfect stoic image of Ada Wong was never so wrong now. As her brown eyes spoke too many emotions to be called lifeless. After a good thirty seconds of letting what was said in the message to solidify. Her muscles twitch to life as her fingers start tapping furiously on her keyboard. Her system may be of an old era but the upgrades did not fail her to make a simple hack for a set of numbers.

With that last missing information, her legs glided down the steps for her hands to reach for her phone in the living room. An ugly mixture of panic and excitement bubbled dangerously at her throat. The urgency of this call was comparable to the amount of fear threatening to suffocate her breathing. Paralyzed by this, she debated in her head if it was needed for her to make this call. It would bring her back to places she didn't want to remember. But I have to know! Eyes shut, her chest raised and fell softly letting the oxygen soothe her logic center. A wave of calmness enveloped her.

*Ring Ring*

"…Uncle Fa?"

"Ya Ying, it's been too long…"

So...I've been dead for a while, and now revived to the land of living !

Bless us all, I really want to finish this story, but no guarantees :/