Wednesday Addams was a simple woman.
She had simple needs.
They would send her somewhere, she would investigate and she would get to her most favourite part of any assignment, the moment she would savour, did she enjoy it? Yes. Savouring the feeling of taking life.
The last of the nameless henchmen collapsed onto the floor, three shots having been placed concentrically into his chest, the barrel of her SIG Sauer P320 Compact was smoking, her expression blank, neutral, she would call it being professional. It was what she was, professional. It was always business, never pleasure, unlike certain agents in the same field as her.
She moved forwards, the door her target having retreated through was now still and she examined it closely, she ran her hand up and down the wood, testing it's tensile strength, she nodded to herself before she put her foot through it. The double doors splintered under the pressure and shot forwards, banging against the wall on either side as splinters of wood flew in all directions, her eyes were drawn to the figure in the room where there was no escape.
Wednesday always considered herself to be a monster, but she was a monster that could control where her impulses decided to sate themselves, and for her, exterminating other monsters scratched that itch just fine. In front of her stood Dmitri Paskovka, human trafficker who made the mistake of kidnapping the child of the reigning monarch of Denmark, the thirteen year old princess being held at gunpoint at this very moment.
Wednesday's eyes took in everything, her eyes swivelled in their sockets searching, no more visible exits, no other visible threats were in the room except from the Russian himself, the hostage was struggling in the man's grip even as he held a gun to her head, which would make it harder to take a shot if one, if at all, presented itself.
She wanted to groan in frustration, he was using a small snub-nose revolver, meaning the chances of it jamming if he happened to fire was slim, fire rate would be slower than a semi-automatic, the type she preferred to use.
"Listen we can make a deal" Dmitri said, his thick accent barely understandable.
Wednesday cocked her head slightly, her eyes betrayed nothing of her intentions.
"I'm listening" Wednesday said calmly. The thirteen year old whimpered in despair at the words. Dmitri allowed himself to smile lightly.
"Name your price, miss?" He queried.
"My name is not important, my price, however, is" Wednesday stated calmly, fingers flexed on the handle of her gun.
"And your price? I have gold, cash, cars, women" His Cheshire grin grew that more wider and the gun at the girl's head relaxed slightly, enough for her to notice. "Although I would suppose you're not interested in that sort of thing"
Wednesday wanted to hurl, he was the worst type of scum.
"Oh no, what I want is far more valuable and frankly priceless"
Dmitri raised his eyebrow.
"And that would be?"
She saw her opening "Your corpse" her arm rose faster than he or the princess of Denmark could process, she pulled the trigger and the bullet hit true and hit the disgusting man straight in the head, blood splattered the wall behind him, the princess in the same instant screamed, the man's arm rag-dolled to the side but his finger reflexively pulled the trigger and the snub-rose revolver fired into the air as his corpse fell to the floor, blood oozing out of the man's forehead.
There was silence, save for the sobbing of the thirteen year old girl that she had just saved, Wednesday lowered her weapon, she blinked, her gaze roved over the girl, she was unharmed but mentally? She did not care, her task to save the Princess of Denmark was only half done, now she had to get the girl home, Wednesday fought to release a sigh of boredom.
"Hey, get up" She said coldly to the girl, sobbing on the ground. "We need to leave" her eyes wavered over to the door that led to the only exit, it would be a nightmare if she were to be pinned down here, one grenade and they would both be dead.
"You saved me" The girl uttered, her red eyes peering through her fingers.
Wednesday looked down at the whimpering girl, unimpressed "Of course, they were my orders" Wednesday said, NATO wanted to use joint resources and send in the SAS for such a rescue operation but Wednesday was like a snake, a viper, silent, menacing, able to squeeze and slide through any nook and cranny, until she found the right time to coil and lunge, most would find her knife buried down the front of their throat.
Wednesday stiffened uncomfortably as the young girl threw herself at her saviour, desperate hands found themselves wrapped round her small frame, the girl's tears never ceasing.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" the princess kept reapting into the lapels of Wednesday's overcoat.
Wednesday felt revulsion vibrate and course through her skin, however, she allowed this, the girl was traumatised.
"We must go" Wednesday repeated "more might come soon and we need to be gone before they do" the Princess shakily took a deep breath before nodding vigerously and finally letting go of her saviour.
Wednesday stepped to the side and walked over to the now dead Dmitri and leaned down and began to sift through is pockets, finding his phone, a wallet, which she took and a flash drive. The place was antique however, no computers of any kind, save for the phone on his persons, hopefully this would be enough to know more of his trafficking network and track down girls that had been kidnapped across mainland Europe.
Wednesday had to put down two more of his men as they left, their Uzi's proving useless to Wednesday's more precise aim and proficiency, their bodies joining those among the dead.
The Princess was silent on the trip home. As was Wednesday.
She already sent an encrypted report to her handler, informing them of her success.
She remained silent as mother, father and daughter tearfully reunited, she quietly slipped away as the family watched on, Wednesday leaving behind a trail of dust as she put her car into gear and driving away.
The Princess would remember her forever.
LINE BREAK
Wednesday watched with hawk like precision as the roulette wheel span, the ball going in the opposite direction, her facial expression didn't betray anything.
"14 Red" the man called out.
Wednesday stared as her £500 worth of chips be swept away by the dealer. She replaced it with another £500's worth of chips. The dealer rose an eyebrow as she placed another 500 on the same spot, on black. It mattered not to her, it was only money, something she already had plenty of, what else could she do with it? Her needs were simple, her mind was always set to the task at hand and if there wasn't one? Well she would find herself here, looking for cheap thrills.
A brunette slid up to the table where she sat, her eyes gleaming as they roved up and down Wednesday's figure. A glass of champagne clasped in her hand.
"Hi there" she said, Wednesday gave her a look with the side of her eyes as she placed another 500 on double 00.
"You don't happen to be going my way do you" The woman said, pressing forwards into the other girls personal space, Wednesday shifted uncomfortably by a fraction, unnoticeable to many, including the woman invading her space.
"No" Wednesday said.
The woman's lustful gaze never ceased and Wednesday, having noticed it the moment it happened, itched to reach for the knife concealed up her sleeve. Or the one hidden in her platform boots.
"Hmmm" The woman cooed huskily "Maybe you could be?" the woman's free hand came up to lazily stroke down Wednesday's arm, there was a collective outcry and gasps of shock as Wednesday moved faster than a bolt of lightning.
Wednesday firmly gripped the woman's arm and forced it behind her back "FUCK!" she screamed out as Wednesday applied pressure and struck out with her foot, making her lose her balance instantly, her knife now in her hand, before pressing the edge of the blade to the woman's throat.
"Do. Not. Touch. Me." Wednesday intoned dangerously "I said no, do you understand me" Wednesday whispered in her ear, leaning forwards. The woman nodded vigorously, tears streaming down her cheeks, Wednesday glowered to the left with side eyes as security began to nudge their way through the crowd. Wednesday released the woman who picked up her handbag and made a hasty retreat among the sea of people.
Wednesday made her hasty retreat in the opposite direction as the Security muscled their way through, she slipped down the side of a row of slot machines, her height making it easy to hide amongst them, whilst security searched the opposite direction she marched up to the window and exchanged her chips back into cash, before she made a hasty exit from the casino.
She entered her car before swiftly driving away.
The trip back to the UK where she was, for lack of a better term, on loan to the UK's equivalent of the CIA, MI6. Musing that pop culture had somewhat tarnished the reputation of the real work that both agencies achieved and would continue to achieve, but it also served to blur how both agencies operate, allowing them to operate with greater anonymity and less scrutiny.
Wednesday walked was a measured pace, with purpose but with a guarded expression, regular office workers, the backbone of intelligence organisations, watched as Wednesday swiftly walked past them with no more than a passing glare and glance, she fought the urge to smirk, her reputation was proceeding her.
Her knuckles lightly wrapped on the wooden door that lead to the Chief of SIS. There was a moment before a voice called out for her to enter.
"Ah, Addams, please take a seat" He said, gesturing to a seat in front of his desk. She quickly stalked over to the offered seat and sat down, her gaze unflinching as Robert Young looked her over, Young had a deep admiration for the young woman, she success rate was unparalleled and she uncomplicated. Everything someone could want in an operative.
"You have a new assignment for me, sir?" she almost ground down her teeth as she said the word sir, to address someone in such a manner felt like a transfer of power, something she hated, she liked to remain in control, under her own power.
"Yes, what do you know of SinTechSystems ?" He asked.
"They're an arms company, specifically designing Anti-ICBM and hypersonic missile defence systems"
He nodded "Yes, they supply most of NATO's defence equipment, especially needed in the current climate" He said
Wednesday knew, Russia had been involved with Ukraine now for a year and a half now and didn't seem to be letting up anytime soon. All they had to do was send her to Russia and the war would be over with that man's death but alas she kept such thoughts to herself.
Young paused for a moment.
"SinTech have been compromised" He said simply.
"Meaning?" She asked back.
"Someone is leaking weapon designs, their flaws, schematics, R&D documents, even invoices for what countries have purchased what, it has cost His Majesty's Government nearly a billion pounds in altering this technology to stay ahead of the leaks."
"Do we know if anyone has managed to obtain these leaks?"
"As far as we know No, but those weapons had to be altered as there is almost no way to tell what countries have gained the information."
Wednesday nodded, it made sense, the world was in a constant arms race of offensive and defensive countermeasures, it was a world where Offensive arms usually won.
"I want you to meet the head of the SinTech company, they'll be expecting you, they'll provide you with more details, but I want you to find the person or persons responsible and bring them to justice, capture is preferred but you have full authorization to Kill if necessary.
At that Wednesday smirked, if only a tiny bit.
"Very Well, sir, anything else?"
"Visit the quartermaster before you go, dismissed" He said
Wednesday rose from her seat and swept out of the office like a hurricane, her footfalls thundered down corridor after corridor, making her way to the Quartermaster's.
"Ah Addams, there you are, I already have your equipment ready for you assignment to SinTech"
He brought her over to a table laden with intricate devices, wires lay strewn everywhere, a well used and well loved Soldering Iron lay to the side.
"Ah let's see, let's see" he said mumbling to himself "So standard issue watch, with laser, stun darts and tracker" he handed the watch over without looking, Wednesday slipped it onto her wrist as they moved along the table.
"This I'm particularly proud of" he said, holding up a coin "Slip this onto someone's person and it will intercept any incoming messages, calls, documents, emails that their mobile phone or computer can receive and records their actions of a computer, you only have one so use it wisely" He said, letting the coin drop into her palm "It'll wirelessly transfer the data to your laptop"
"Anything else?" She prompted.
"Yes your new vehicle" He beckoned her to follow him, which she did.
"I know you have been requesting it for weeks now, and they gave me the go ahead to outfit it properly"
Wednesday's eyes gleamed as she laid her eyes on a Kawasaki Ninja 400. Her personal motorbike.
"Modifying bikes are particularity hard but we like a challenge here" He said as he watched her run her hands over the handlebars.
"behind the headlights, two small stinger missiles, just above that there are two machine guns, with about one hundred rounds each, use them wisely, we were limited with space" He moved round to the side.
"On either side you can deploy two custom made light-anti tank mines,, the exhaust can be levelled out and release a burst of flame, there's enough fuel for a three second burst, and finally you see the bottom here?" He gestured, she nodded.
"There are two thrusters on the bottom, enough fuel for about three uses, which propel the bike into the air by about thirty feet"
"Excellent, you outdid yourself"
The Quartermaster merely gave her a lopsided grin before moving off. Thankfully SinTech were based here in the UK despite being an American owned company. There was no time to lose and she grabbed the handles and began to walk the bike out of the garage and onto the street. She mounted it and began to drive off, despite the amount of weapons that were integrated into the bike it handled like a dream.
She stopped off at her flat as Brits would call it. She grabbed her bag that she had already packed, anticipating her new assignment, she strapped it to the back of her bike before driving off again, turning towards northern London and up towards Cambridge where SinTech were based.
She raced down country roads, the occasional car passing by as she raced past them. Her sense of direction was impeccable, only using the map that she carried with her, refusing to use that infernal device and something called "Google Maps" to navigate her, no she trusted and the tried and trued method of navigation of using maps the old fashioned way.
She paused for a toilet break before resuming her journey.
She pulled up to ornate black barred gates, a stone wall surrounded the property giving it a natural, weather-worn look, the SinTech owners were certainly rich. But it seemed to be almost humble, despite its size. Taking off her helmet and strapping to the side of the bike she pushed forwards on the handlebars until she was right next to the intercom.
She pressed down on it and there was a cackle of static.
"Hello?"
"This is Addams, I was told I was expected" She stated
"Yes, Addams from the SIS, i'll open the gate for you" there was a rumble as the gate swung inwards, she grasped the handlebars and began to push the bike forwards, she noted the well kept lawns and shrubs, to her it was superfluous in her eyes, unnecessary but alas most people of the world were much more materialistic than she was.
The sight that greeted her was that of a couple that looked well within their forties, maybe early fifties from a rough guess. But that was not the sight that Wednesday was currently marvelling at.
To their right side, stood a young woman, about the same age as her, with dyed blonde hair, her natural brunette roots barely perceptible, the assault on her retina's with golden waves of blonde was enough to blind her, but she found she could not look away. Bewitched, bothered and bewildered she had found herself.
Bewitched because the girl's ethereal beauty was staggering, otherworldly, her eyes, a shimmering blue, like crystallised water captured her own in a chokehold and she found herself unable to tear her eyes away, not that she wanted to. The girl's flushed cheeks were a deep pink and only served to further highlight her beauty.
Bothered because she felt herself drawn in when no other person on the planet had ever had her unfiltered and unflinching attention. It was unbecoming and unprofessional but she couldn't find it in herself to care.
Bewildered because she had never seen the point in attraction or relationships, even as a means to an end, it completely disinterested her. But right now? She felt unrestrained desire course through her very veins, roaring to life in the most delicious of ways.
"Miss Addams, a pleasure to meet you, I'm Murray Sinclair, this is my wife Esther and our daughter Enid" He said gesturing to each person in turn.
Enid.
She rolled the name across her tongue silently, testing it out.
Her name meaning, life, purity and spirit.
She shook hands with Murray and Esther before turning to face Enid, who skipped up eagerly.
"Howdy!" Enid spread her arms and moved forwards, before Wednesday could protest, eager, warm, comforting arms encircled her and hugged her tightly and Wednesday felt herself wanting to sink further into her embrace.
What in the name of God was happening to her?
"Enid" Esther chided firmly, the woman's eyes glaring coldly at her daughter.
Enid, somewhat shamefully and bashfully, pulled away from Wednesday.
"Sorry" She apologised sheepishly, bowing her head hiding the ever increasing blush on her face.
Wednesday felt a wave of tenderness wash over her.
"It is okay" Wednesday found herself saying. Her skin still tingled.
Esther's icy glare softened as she turned away from her daughter before looking at Wednesday again.
"We are grateful that the SIS have sent you, our latest Hypersonic Missile interception systems or HMIS schematics were leaked onto the deep web yesterday, we've only just been able to take them down" Esther said.
Enid shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other.
"They sent me because it compromise's the entirety of NATO's defence network and with tensions with Russia at an all time high, you can understand the need to wrap this up as quickly as possible"
"Our thoughts exactly, now we'll show you to your room" Esther made to walk but Wednesday interrupted her.
"Not necessary, the SIS provide accommodation, the hotel down the road will suffice.
"Nonsense, you'll have access to the company's private servers here..."
Wednesday, begrudgingly acknowledged the benefits to being lodged on the property.
"...And you'll be close by to protect my daughter" Esther said.
Wednesday halted.
"I was unaware of this" Her eyes flickered between the two.
"Your boss thought it best for the decision to be made on site, there have been multiple death threats levelled at her, with several serious attempts having already been attempted, two of her security detail have already been injured"
Wednesday wanted to mutter angrily under her breath, whether because she uninformed or because of the attempts of Enid's life, she couldn't tell as the lines between the two had become more heavily blurred. She looked at Enid who smiled at her sweetly.
"Very well" she neutrally agreed, she spun on her heel and reached her bag that was strapped to the end of the bike, she unzipped the top flap and withdrew her P320 compact, she released the magazine, checked the rounds inside, satisfied, she slid it back in and pulling the slide, chambering a round before slipping it back into her overcoat and into the holster hidden within, she zipped the bag back up and lifted the bag into her hands.
"Here I got it" Enid called out rushing forwards.
Wednesday let the slightly taller girl take the weight of the bag into her hands, their fingers brushing ever so slightly, causing electrical ripples to race across her skin. Enid gave her a small smile before turning to walk back to her parents, black bag clasped in her hands.
She was led through ornate hallways after ascending a small but lavish staircase, Esther stopped outside a door and opened it, showing a simple, cosy guest room, with a desk, a small double bed, a window overlooking a part of a forest and a lake, it was a beautiful view, but one entirely wasted on her.
"This will do" Wednesday said, Enid walked in behind her and placed the black bag on the desk.
"Enid's room is the one next to yours at the end of the corridor" Esther said pointing down the right-side of the corridor
"If you need anything don't hesitate to holler" Murray said, Wednesday merely nodded to say she understood before the couple moved away, leaving Enid and Wednesday alone.
"What's your name?" Enid asked "I never caught it and my mom wouldn't tell me" She said with a frown.
Wednesday paused, if only briefly "Wednesday" she said, taking out her laptop. Enid nodded brightly.
"Why do you still live at home?" Wednesday suddenly asked.
"My parents want me to take over the business" Enid said grimacing "But I don't want to sell weapons or deal in War" Enid said softly. Wednesday glanced up, Wednesday wondered how soft her cheeks would be if she pressed her lips to them? Wednesday blinked. This was fast becoming untenable. Intrusive thoughts had never been a problem in her life, where was this coming from?
"What do you want to do?" Wednesday asked, turning to regard her fully.
"I want to get away" Enid said softly.
"I understand that, parents are overbearing and frankly not needed in adult life" She said, taking neatly folded clothing and placing it in the chest of drawers, the top drawer.
"Don't get me wrong I love my parents, but I don't want to be like them, I want to teach" Wednesday looked at Enid and imagined her as a teacher, she had known Enid all of ten minutes but she could tell that Enid would make a perfect teacher, she was soft, gentle and caring, everything that is needed to teach the next generation. Not only did she believe that she wanted that for her.
"Better you than me" Wednesday said non-nonchalantly
Enid frowned "Do you not want kids?"
"Never really thought about it" Wednesday said. Closing the top drawer.
"i can understand that" Enid said, shifting from one foot to the other. "Anyway i'll leave you to get settled in, it was lovely to meet you Wednesday" Enid said with a small smile and giggle.
Wednesday's eyes met Enid's.
"Likewise"
Enid gave a little wave as she turned to leave through the door, Wednesday turned away to turn on her laptop. Enid lingered briefly, her eyes never leaving Wednesday's form before walked away
Unbeknownst to Wednesday, Enid Sinclair was already infatuated with her.