Been Busy Working on This New Story. . . But It'll take some time

Just wanted to let you guys and gals know, i'm working on the next story for here.  It might not come out for a while because I plan on doing it all together verses a part by part (although, considering the length, it might be released as a part by part all at the same time)

Story i'm working on is about the Hashashins and follows a modern day interpretation.  Will divulge more when I get it.  

More Than Just A Nightmare

I laid my head down.  It was ten o'clock at night and I needed all the sleep I could get.  I shut my eyes and immediately fell asleep.  My eyes opened back up.  It was two o'clock at night.  I was still wearing my black t-shirt and plaid red/black moose pajamas.  I got up and walked over to my laptop that was sitting on my desk, adjacent to my bed.  I flipped through Google News and immediately focus in on an article.  "British Celebrity Dies in Plane Crash" I read to myself.  The article didn't go into much detail on who it was but it said that the plane went down over the Atlantic Ocean at around nine-thirty p.m.  My body got up out of the chair but I stayed in the chair.  I was having an out of body experience.  I watched myself change into a pair of black cargo pants and my black and grey stripped hoodie.  I watched my body pull the hood over his face, hiding his eyes and only leaving his chin/beard and his nose exposed.  He glanced as his watch and I glanced at an alarm clock.  Both read two o'clock a.m.  I watched my body for a few seconds as his facial expression changed, into one of a someone concentrating.  I quickly grabbed him as we both disappeared.  We appeared in the middle of a plane.  The cabin had only a few seats and a few tables.  The décor and lack of people inside indicated that this was a private jet.  I followed my body as it made its way to a seat, facing away from us, with a person sitting down in it. "Excuse me Miss," my body said it approached the seat and looked over the side.  I had to look over the shoulder of my body.  It was Francoise Boufhal, British glamour magazine model and interviewer for Rio Number Five Magazine.  She was wearing a white blouse and a black skirt.  She had obviously been asleep as she rubbed her eyes.  "Who are you?!" she said in her Gordie accent half asleep.  "Who I am isn't important," my body said to her as it glanced down at it's watch, "In about thirty minutes this plane is going down, you need to come with me.".  She stood there speechless.  "I'll come back for you in a few minutes," my body said as it ran towards to the cockpit.  My body banged it's fist on the door.  "This plane is going to crash, you need to come with me!".  I could hear the door lock as I stood next to my body.  "I can land it! Just give me a chance."  A loud explosion could be heard behind us, then screaming.  My body put his hand over the door and made the same concentrated face I saw my body made earlier.  I couldn't hear anything in the cockpit after that.  My body ran to where Francoise should have been but there entire plane had split into two.  At that point I became one with my body.  I jumped out of the plane and spotted Francoise freefalling, her arms failing.  I quickly dove for her.  The fast moving air hitting my ears blocked out all other noises.  I could only hear my breathing and my heartbeat.  Everything felt like slow-motion.  As I got closer and closer to her, my heartbeat and my breathing sped up.  I was almost there, our hands were only a few inches apart.  I lunged for her and my hand caught hers.  I felt her cold hand clamp onto mine.  I yanked her into my arms and held on tight.  "GET US THE HELL OUT OF HERE!!" I screamed in my head.  The next thing I knew I was sliding across the floor of a room as Francoise landed on a couch.  My back slammed into the drywall, cracking.  I grunted as I reached my stopping point.  "Too Close." I thought to myself.  I got up and noticed Francoise shaking.  I looked around and picked up a blanket sitting on an Ottoman, putting it around her.  "You alright Boufhal?" I asked her in a deep superhero-ish voice.  "Who are you?" she asked me.  "I haven't really come up with a name yet." I said to her.  "How did you. . .?" her voice trailed off.  "I really don't know myself," I said to her.  "How did you know to…take me here, to my apartment?" she asked.  I looked around.  I hadn't realized it, but I had actually taken her to an apartment.  With all the pictures of herself by herself and with other people everywhere, I was sure it was her it place.  "I guess, I'd have to chalk this up to a lucky guess." I said to her.  I walked over to a dual set of doors that lead to a small balcony.  I opened them both up and climbed up to the railing and stood to looked over the city of Newcastle.  "Will I see you again?" she asked as she stood up.  I turned my head to the right and smiled.  "Only when you're in trouble." I said.  I looked back down and jumped.  I felt the breeze flow through my fingers as I thought about landing in my room.  My room whizzed into view under me and I front flipped and landed on my feet.  I looked around and saw that everything was just as I had left it, it was still two a.m.  I walked over to my computer and checked the news again.  This time, the story read a CNN special report about Francoise and the pilot being save by a hooded figure.  When asked for a physical description of her hero, Ms. Boufhal couldn't say much saying that he was quote "a blur".  "Well I guess I figured out my name." I said as I plopped down into my bed.  I shut my eyes.  I opened them again and was surprised to see that I hadn't woken up.  

I stood up, and looked around.  I was in a giant white room.  The room had no form of light but I could see everything so clearly inside.  The room looked like it went on forever in every direction.  "This doesn't make any sense," I said to myself.  I saved the gorgeous girl, I said all the right things, and made the news.  The dream should be over.  I should be waking up and going to work.  I'm aware that this is a dream, so why am I still dreaming?".  I looked around and saw a red door.  Next to it, sat somebody in a big red desk.  I was way too far to figure out who or what was sitting at the desk.  "I guess that's the way out," I said as I walked towards the door.  I took a few steps before dropping through a hole and blacking out.  

I awoke standing in the middle of a party.  I looked around, there was no sign of the red door or the desk.  Instead I was surround by people dressed in Masquerade masks and clothes similar of the late fifteen hundreds, in fact the date 1550 popped into my head.  Women in a big frilly dresses and gentlemen who wore fashionable robes.  The party was very lavish, as I noticed many guests drinking out of crystal drinking glasses and even the chandeliers that hung from the ceiling seemed to be made of a shiny crystal.  I noticed that there sat a man on a chair elevated on a platform to see all of the guests, next to him sat an older gentlemen and a woman who seemed of similar age.  The words Count and Duchess popped into my head.  I glanced down at my own clothes expecting to be wearing the black and grey hoodie and grey cargo pants but I was surprised to see that I was wearing a black overcoat with white trim.  It was slightly open to reveal a white long sleeved shirt and black pants.  I looked back up just in time to see a beautiful woman approach me.  She was fair skinned, and she wore her red hair down over her shoulders.  She wore a green dress and by the style she wore it in, I figured she was a Courtesan.  She put her hand on my shoulder and leaned in close as she whispered in my ear.  "How are you Detective" she asked.  The name Francesca Ferrari popped into my head.  "I'm fine, how are you Francesca?" I asked her as I put my hand over her hand.  "Come, let's dance" she said, "We've got much to discuss.".  She took me by the hand and walked me to the dance floor that was closer to the platform where the Count and his wife sat with their son.  We danced.  "I have finished gathering the information you requested," she said.  Words like Murder Plot, The Count, and tonight burned in my head.  "What have you managed to figure out Francesca?" I asked her.  We swayed back and forth as the orchestra continued to play.  "It's just as you feared Giovanni," she said,  "With the Count's father take military actions against France, it's angered a few people.  According to my girls in the red light district, some private groups want blood.".  "Any leads?" I asked her.  "I. . . gathered. . . some information from a possible conspirator.  He didn't have much but he said that "With God's blessing, the Count will pay".  What do you think that means? An attack from above?" she asked.  "No, I don't believe so," I said to her, "If that were the case, he would have said "With God's Wrath" or something of that nature.  Why would an enemy ask for a blessing from God to kill?".  "Perhaps he meant that God will deal with it, murder isn't always the answer." she replied back.  She reached into her a frill of her dress and pulled out a dagger.  My hand, as if under a spell, took the blade and sheathed it under my belt on my left hip.  "If anything does happen tonight, I want you to be ready.".  We danced until the end of the song and the Count stood up, out of his chair, and spoke aloud.  "ATTENTION EVERYONE," he said loudly.  The chatter of the room ceased and everyone turned to face the Count.  " Thank you all for attending my son's birthday.  Well there is so much to say, so I shall hasten." The Count turned to his son, "You are on your eighteenth life this year and so you are no longer a child, but a man.  I have watched you grow and am proud of the man you have become, but now it's time to put away the toys of your childhood and pick up the tools that will give you a good future.  Son, right now, I am going to take you in as my apprentice.".  The Count's son stood up and waved his hand at the crowd.  Everyone cheered.  He sat back down as his father continued.  "So now, I want to make a toast," the Count said as waiters walked around passing glasses of wine out to everyone.  Francesca and I took one and held it in our hands.  " To Giuliano, may he live a long and vibrant life.".  "To Giuliano." the crowd shouted.  Everyone clinked their glasses and I clinked mine with Francesca's.  "Everyone, enjoy the party" the Count shouted with a grin.  Everyone went back to their conversations and the words "move closer to Giuliano" burned into my head.  "Francesca, I've got to move into position." is said to her as I stopped dancing.  "Wait," Francesca said as she tugged on my sleeve, "We need to talk.".  I stopped and looked back at her.  "Francesca, now isn't the time to be discuss. . ." I didn't get to finish.  "But when is it with you?" she interjected, "I fear if I let you out of my sight, I'll never see you again.  As soon as you protect the Count, you'll be gone.  You always are.  No goodbyes, no nothing.  Then when you have another assignment, you come back into my life.  As if you had never left.".  "We do this for the greater good Francesca, you know that," I said to her, "Years from now people will live better because of the action we took now.".  "How ironic," she said to me coldly, "You spend all this time thinking about the future, but you are blind to your own.".  "What do you mean?" I asked her.  "Giovanni," she said to me, "you can't spend your whole life doing this.  You have to give this up some time or another.".  "So what are you saying." I asked her.  "I'm saying that there is no point of a "Greater Good" or "Future" with someone I care about if they don't feel the same way about me. . . I'm done with this." She walked away with tears in her eyes.  "Francesca, I. . ." I tried to follow her out but I stopped as I heard the church bell ringing.  Gears started to turn in my head.  "The church bell," I thought.  "God's bell. . . god's blessing. . . They are making their move now!" I quickly made my way to the Count's platform.  I saw several men make his way to the platform as well.  The Count stood up to face him.  I hurried to the platform but was blocked by the Count's private guard.  I could only watch as the man unsheathed a dagger and swung at the Count.  Giuliano jumped up and stepped in the way of the blade.  The blade sunk into his chest and Count held his body as the Duchess  screamed with her hand covering her mouth.  The guards ran towards the attackers and they all scattered.  I ran towards the attacker.  Several of his friends stood in my way. The crowd in the ballroom scream and start to run.  I ran towards the three accomplices that accompanied the killer to the Count.  The first one unsheathed their sword and swung at me.  I grabbed his arm and shattered it with my elbow.  The attacker screamed in pain and I wretched the sword out of his hand as he fell over.  Two more attackers come at me.  I deflect with my blade and slice at his throat.  The attacker falls over clutching his neck. The other one swings crazily at me, but I kick his blade away and I skewer his abdomen with my blade.  He grabs by shoulder but kills over and goes limb.  I slide the blade out and drop it.  I look over to see the Count kneeling over his dead son, the killer standing over him about to slay the Count.  I flick by wrist back and a small dagger slid out and into my hand.  I immediately took aim and threw the dagger at the killer.  It explodes into his hand and he drops the dagger.  He falls over, clutching his hand.  He sees me running towards him and bolts.  A spear toting guard flies out a door and looks around wildly.  He see the killer running away and he corners him with his spear aimed at him.  "No don't kill him." I shouted.  It was too late.  The guard slammed his spear into the killers chest, pinning him against the wall.  The killer gasped his last breath as the guard pulls out the spear.  The killer's body slid to the floor and the guard spit on him as he walked away.  I ran to the dying killer.  "Why did you do this!" is demanded.  He only smiled at me.  His eyes rolled into the back of his head and he went limp.  I searched his pockets but failed to find anything.  I ran to the Count and picked him up.  "I'm sorry for what happened, but you must get to safety.".  He pushed me aside and went back to looking at his son.  "I know you are upset, but if you die his death would have been for nothing.  He died protecting you.  Honor that, by staying alive.".  He looked at me and nodded his head.  His eyes were watery.  The spear carrying guard picked him up and nodded to me as he escorted him away.  "Are you alright?" a voice said to me.  I recognized it immediately.  "Yeah Francesca, I'm fine.".  She walked over to me and stood on my right.  "If I had not walked away, you would have. . ." she stuttered.  "Save it, " I said to her, "I tried to search the killer's corpse but failed to find anything, could you try?  Maybe you'll find something I missed." She walked to the lifeless body of the killer and I turned my attention to Giuliano's body.  I pulled the dagger that went into his chest and put it to the side.  His face looked like he had not fear, but his eyes were still wide open.  "Rest young one," I said to his body as I slid my palm downwards on his face, shutting his eyes.  "You died a hero's death.  May you find peace and reward in your death.".  I stood up as Francesca came back to me.  "I didn't find much but I did find this," she said as she handed me a folded up sheet of paper.  "Where did you find this?" I asked her.  "When you work in my profession as long as I have, you learn that men keep their money in their pockets but keep their valuables in places that can't easily be picked." she said back to me.  I unfolded it and read over it.  "This seems to be a letter from. . . the street merchant guild in Venice?" I said to her as I handed her back the letter.  "And the plot thickens." she replied.  She put the letter away and walked closer to me.  "I heard the crowd screaming, and thought the worst." she said as she put her hand on the back of my arm.  "I'm careful, you know that" I said to her.  "But. . . " she leaned in closer.  The words "Kiss Her" burned in my head and I leaned in and closed my eyes.  I got closer and closer and before our lips touched I felt the room change around me. 

I opened my eyes and I was again in the white room.  I looked around and noticed I was closer to the door.  "That dream, wasn't anything like I had ever experienced.  When I enter the dream, it's like i'm forgetting what's in here.  As soon as it ends, I'm back here and remember everything." I said to myself, "I need to get the hell out of here.".  I walked faster to the door but I was knocked down.  It felt like I was struck in the back of the head. 

I woke up standing in line in a Hotel lobby.  I peeked over the shoulder of the woman in front of me.  There was a table set up just a few feet in front of me.  Natasha Beddingfield sat at a desk.  The banner hanging over the desk confirmed that I was at a signing event.  I seemed to be wearing the cargo pants and dark stripped hoodie combo from my first dream.  After the woman in front of me walked up and got her autograph, it was my turn. I took a few steps forward but was pushed out of the way by a guy in a brown trenchcoat.  His behavior was sketchy at best.  "Hey, what the heck?" I said as he continued forward.  I followed him.  He walked right up to the table and pulled out a gun and pointed it at Natasha.  I was behind him and I quickly redirected the pistol away from her with my right hand and used my left arm to shatter his hand.  I took the gun away and held the attacker by the collar.  I asked him why he was doing this.  Next thing I know, I'm driving a sports convertible through mid day traffic.  I get to a building, park, and enter.  I walk up to a stairwell and hug the wall next to it.  I hear a man walking down the stairs.  When he became level with me, that's when I struck.  I slammed my knee into his abdomen and clocked his chin with my fist.  He went walking the other way and I quickly grabbed him, holding him as a human shield.  "Your coming with me." I said in a deep voice.  I pulled out a gun that I saw holstered on the man's side.  I made my way up the stairs and when I reached the top, I was swarmed by two other people.  One was a man holding a gun, who was dressed similar to the one I was holding, and the other was a blonde woman in a towel wielding a pair of numbchucks.  I tried to aim for the woman with the gun I took, but for some reason my vision went blurry and I couldn't line up a shot.  She came at me and started striking with her numbchucks.  My humanshield, although cursing her out, was holding up and I was able to take out the other gunman with the gun.  My humanshield all that it could take and the guy fell unconscious.  She whipped the numbchucks around and I tried to dodge but she clocked me in my ribs.  I grabbed my side.  It felt like she broke a rib.  "Damn, why did that hurt? I thought I was dreaming.".  I stood up and tried to aim my pistol at her but she knocked the gun out of my hand.  She swung again and missed.  I grabbed one end of the numbchuck and kicked her in the abdomen, pushing her away.  She let go of the numbchuck and I threw it to the side.  I picked her up and held as a humanshield.  I walked up a few more flights of stairs and when reaching the last one, I let her go.  She whirled around punched me in the face.  I fell over backwards unconscious.  

I woke up leaning on the red desk in the white room at which, now realizing, a blonde secretary sat at.  She wore one of those red power suits, complete with her blonde hair in a bun.  I held my head.  "That punch, in that last dream, felt like getting smacked in the face by a pile of bricks," I thought to myself, "Why can I feel pain in my dreams?  What's happening?". I looked at the red door, it was only a few feet away.  " Took a few steps forward but I felt something latch onto my hand.  I looked over at the secretary and she looked at me with a twisted smile.  "Your. . . you’re the girl in the towel" I stammered.  She stood up and quickly socked me in the stomach.  Her punch took my breath away.   She then grabbed my hair and slammed it into the desk.  I fell backwards.  I blacked out.  

I woke up in an apartment.  This was still a dream but for some reason, I felt as if I was in control.  I got up and went outside.  I only saw one car parked on the street.  I walked over to it and reach into my pocket.  I pull out keys.  I click the unlock button on the keys and the BMW infront of me beeped.  I opened the door and got in.  As I sat down the door shut behind me, without me touching it.  The car started up, and the doors locked.  I tried to unlock the doors but I couldn't.  The car put itself into gear and drove off.  The speed of the car increased at an alarming rate.  I couldn't stop it and I couldn't steer it.  This thing was possessed.  I looked at the speedometer in fear.  It was dancing at one hundred and fifty miles per hour!  The demon car approached an intersection where the light was turning red.  I couldn't hit the brake, the car didn't want to stop.  It rear ended a Hummer and I went flying out of the windshield.  The tempered glass cutting my skin.  I slammed into the pavement and rolled for a few yards before coming to a bone cracking stop.  Blood was pouring out of my wounds, glass was stuck inside of me nearly an inch deep.  I could feel my bone sticking out of my leg and after looking down my feelings were correct.  

"RRRRRROOOOOAAAAARRRRRRRRR!!!!!" I screamed.  I snapped out of the dream and was back in the white room.  I was on my knees, bleeding profusely.  My hand was reaching for the door.  It was only a few more inches away.  I felt myself fading fast.  "DAMN IT!" I shouted, "COME ONE!!!".  My hand was shaking.  I was so close from waking up from this nightmare.  My body knew it was on the verge of death, if I took anymore bad dreams I'd die.  I felt a tug on my collar.  I was thrown backwards and landed to the side of the desk.  I looked back up.  A figure in a black hoodie and black pants slowly walked towards me.  His outer exterior was glowing black.  The numbchuck girl stood beside him.  "Why are you doing this?" I asked him faintly.  He only laughed as he walked over to me.  The numbchuck girl quickly darted towards me and held me down.  I struggled but she was too strong.  The dark figure walked over to me and put his hand on my forehead.  The pain that ached in my body magnified.  My whole body was shaking.  This. . . beast. . . it was sucking the life out of me.  I could hear a voice in my head that over powered mine own.  "YOU WILL SUBMIT!!" the voice shouted angrily.  I clenched my fists.  Rage filled my body.  "How could I let this thing control me?!  I won't let it win.".  "SUBMIT!!" the voice shouted even harsher.  "NNNNOOOOOO!!!!" I shouted strongly.  I kicked the being in the chest.  It released it's grip on my head and it fell backwards.  I felt my strength come back.  I pushed the numbchuck girl away and rolled backwards.  I tried to get up and run away but my blood loss was extensive and I fell to one knee.  That was false strength.  Rage just spiked my adrenaline.  I was out of options and out of time.  I was going to die in my sleep.  I didn't even get to say goodbye to anyone.  By cousin would find me dead, the autopsy would reveal I died in my sleep.  Nobody would know off the hell I went through.  No one would know of the pain I truly was in.  I couldn't tell if it was blood or tears that was streaming down my cheeks.  I felt a touch on my left shoulder.  I looked up and to my left.  Francesca stood there looking down at me with a smile.  "Looks like you need some help boss." she said to me.  

She was still wearing her green dress from the Masquerade ball.  Her touch, I could feel some of my energy come back.  It felt good.  I felt better and although I wasn't a hundred percent, I was able to stand up.  She handed me a metal glove she was holding in the other hand.  I slid it on my hand and punched my other hand with it.  I felt empowered.  My attitude changed.  I was given an another option other than to die, fight.  I wasn't going quietly.  I pulled my grey and black stripped hoodie over my head and sized up my target.  "Francesca,  I'll take big and scary," I said as I glanced at her, "you've got anything to take on the psycho numbchuck girl?".  Francesca unsheathed a sword from her hip.  "That'll work." I said.  I ran at the dark hooded man swinging my metal gloved fist at his face.  He dodged and drove his elbow into my back.  I fell to the ground but quickly rolled away from him and got back up.  He rose his hand to his face, and with a twisted smile his hand transformed into a blade.  He swang at me and I deflected with my metal glove.  He swung again and I caught it with my glove.  I spun him around by his hand and threw him into the desk that was nearby.  The desk shattered and the hooded man stopped moving.  "Did . . . did I win?" I asked myself.  No sooner then had I asked that, then the being stood up out of the wreckage and his head spun around and looked at me.  Chills ran down my spine.  His body turned around to face the same direction.  He walked up to me and I stood there stunned.  "ATTACK IT!!" Francesca said as she kicked her opponent away from her.  I snapped out of my daze and unleashed multiple strikes.  I took my glove hand and struck the being square in the chin.  I took my other hand and struck it in the chest.  I reared up my gloved hand for a final strike to the throat.  All my blows were ineffective.  They bounced off and the thing didn't look like it didn't take any damage.  I grabbed both my hands and turned it's head sideways.  My heart stopped in terror.  It smiled a twisted smile and yanked both my hands downward.  It brought it's knee into my face and I fell backwards.  Felt like a freight train.  I looked over at Francesca.  "Steven, you mustn't fear it, " she said as she swung her sword, "It's power lies in how much you fear it.  Use the dagger I gave you to kill it.".  I got back up and reached into my left pocket.   I pulled out the dagger Francesca had given me at the Masquerade ball.  I didn't even realize I still had it.  The beast's smile faded and it stood there sternly.  "Oh, you don't like this blade?" I said to it.  I ran towards him and sliced at it's throat.  He dodged but I managed to nick him.  A tear appeared and the beast screamed as it held the spot.  I sliced at him more and managed to expose a purple heart that was beating in his chest.  "THERE!! DRIVE THE BLADE THOUGH THE BEAST, END THIS!!" Francesca shouted.  I drove the blade into it's chest.  It looked down at the blade and back at me.  I kicked the blade deeper into beast.  "HHHHAAAAA!!!" I shouted.  The beast fell over backwards and screamed in agony.  It clawed at the ground as the dagger absorbed it into the handle.  "Good Riddance," I said deeply as the beast was inside the blade.  Francesca finished her opponent and came over to me.  

I pulled my hood down and looked at her.  "This white room. . . everything that happened inside. . . this wasn't a dream, was it?" I asked her.  She picked up the dagger and put it in a holster.  "Yes and no," she said, "We are in your mind, but that thing you killed, it was controlling what you dreamt.".  "What was that thing?" I asked her.  "Your race doesn't have a name for it," she said, "that monster. . . I've chased that beast for thousands of years.  That thing was the cause of many bad things on this planet.  Things ranging all the way back to Brutus killing Julius Caesar  all the way up to now when it tried to harvest your soul.  It feeds on fear and souls, and finds pleasure in the destruction of people.".  "What happens now." I asked her.  She walked closer to me and put her hand on my shoulder.  "I have many people I must restore, my broken lives I must fix," she said, "You will wake up and live life normally.".  She leaned in and kissed me on my cheek.  Her kiss felt hot, like putting your hand up to a bright light.  I could feel my cuts and broken bones heal up and melt away.  I closed my eyes.  It felt like my entire body was in liquid heat.  I could feel her remove her lips from my cheek and move close to my ear.  "Thank you for the dance, it was fun," she whispered.  I could hear someone knocking on the door.  "I think that's for you." she continued.  I opened my eyes and she was gone.  I walked over to the door and pulled it open.  A bright light exploded through and I stepped through.  I woke up back in my room.  "Aye, chief time to go!" I could hear my cousin from the other side of my door.  "Thanks!" I shouted.  I heard him walk away as I got up off my mattress.  I stretched and walked to my closet.  "Strange dream," I said to myself as I through on a shirt.  I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and I quickly looked again.  On my right cheek, there was a lipstick stain.

THE END 

The Russian, Part IV

The Betrayal

I felt the airplane touchdown as it landed.  It was over.  This nightmare would end.  I would have to go into hiding for, perhaps, the rest of my life.  But I'd be with Peter.  I waited thirty minutes and the cargo door opened.  I was surprised to see it wasn't Nikolai, but a normal luggage handler.  "WHAT THE HELL!!" he shouted.  I punched him in the mouth and pulled him into the cargo hold.  I put him in a sleeper hold and dragged him behind a pile of luggage.  I exited the plane and made my way to a parking and tried to call Nikolai.  There was no answer.  I looked around and spotted a motorcycle in the garage.  I quickly hotwired the bike and set off to the warehouse Ivan was at.  

While I was driving, I got a call.  "Hello?" I said.  "Ana, is that you?" the voice said on the other end.  It was Dex.  "Dex, how did you get this number?!" I asked.  "I…I got this coded email just last night." He said, "I noticed something was weird about it and decoded it. I gave me a phone number.  Ana where have you been?".  "Dex, Ivan. . . he." I tried to say.  "Don't worry Ana, I've been looking into Ivan and what he has been doing." Dex said, "I don' t think this line is secure, I want you to go to the place where me and you met that Irish Tourist.".  "Yeah." I said.  I hung up and sped off to the place where Dex suggested.  There was never an Irish Tourist, it was just a code.  Irish, between me and Dex, was a bar we both knew.  Tourist was the time, which would be the time when most tourists would visit that bar, which was around two o'clock.  I parked my bike in an alleyway of the bar and went inside.  I sat down at a booth.  The bar had the smell of spilled beer and peanuts.  The itself was old, the décor was at least 30 years old consisting of green booth seats, brown tables, and cheesy drinking signs and statues.  A guys were in a corner talking about their cheating wives and there were a few younger kids, probably just became old enough to drink, sitting with their friends drinking and playing darts.  Girls were walking around here and there flirting with the guys to get drinks.  I felt movement in the booth behind me.  "Ana, how are you?" Dex said as he sat down.  "I'm fine Dex.  What do you have to tell me?" I said back.  "You were right about Ivan," he said, "he is pretty dirty.  When you left, I went back and did a more thorough back ground check.  Based on the information I could find and what my contacts have said, it would seem Ivan is double dealing for the black market and the SVR.".  "That ублюдок (pronounced ublyudok), he has higher ups that fabricate missions for him, which get him things he can turn around and sell back." I said.  "Exactly.  He sells it, then steals it back.  He's the good guy and the bad guy at the same time.  I do have some good news though."  I sat silent for a few seconds. "What?" I asked him.  "I was able to show this information to the guys on top.  The company isn't hunting you down now." he said now.  "That can't be it, there has to be a catch." I said quietly.  

Two of the teenagers walked past us.  We both went silent.  "The agency can't give you your job back, not yet." he said, "You still blew up that house and, according to intel I got today, you stole valuable information from a US Government military weapons contractor.  If the SVR accepted you back, it'd be like them condoning what you did.  They won't hunt you but they won't help you either.".  He dropped a package over the seat and I picked it up.  "What is this?" I asked.  "It's a wireless mic." he said, "I know you have to meet Ivan, have this on you when you talk to him and we might be able to get enough evidence to nail him." he said.  I pulled out a Bluetooth headset from the package as well.  "I figure you were riding a bike, didn't want you to get into an accident." he said, "Good luck Ana.".  He went silent after that and I turned around.  Nobody was in the booth behind me.  I got up and left the bar.  I put the bluetooth on my ear and got on the motorcycle.  I drove all the way to the warehouse and parked outside.  

I walked in to the site of armed shock troops.  Ivan, who was seated at a table, got up and walked towards me.  " Smirnova you have the drive?" he grunted.  The gunman surrounded me as I reached to pull the USB drive.  I silently turned on the mic.  I pulled out the drive.  "Where's Peter" I said.  Ivan snapped his fingers and Peter stepped out of the shadows with two guards.  He was in better condition and seemed relieved to see me.  "Now Comrade, hand over the drive." he said.  "Not, so fast." I said, "I want to know why you picked me.  Why you picked me to do all of this.  The data from that company, the data from Peter, lying to the SVR.  Why me?".  "I needed someone that vouldn't ask questions, I needed the best." he said.  I threw him the drive.  He caught it.  He looked at the guard and nodded.  The guard pushed Peter towards me.  He started to walk towards me.  "There's just one thing." Ivan said as he pulled out a pistol.  He shot Peter in the back of the head.  Two guards grabbed my arms and held me in place.  Peter's eyes rolled into the back of his head and he fell forwards.  "NOOOOO," I screamed.  I fought with the guards but it was no use.  They had a good grip on me.  It felt like slow motion.  I stood there fighting with the guards, watching Ivan polish his gun while Peter lay on the ground lifeless.  

Rage built up inside of me, my open hands curled up into fists that couldn't stop shaking.  I started seeing red. "Вы сын суки (pronounced Vy synsuki)!!! I WILL KILL YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE!!" I shouted.  He laughed as he walked away.  "Kill the her.".  A guard walked up to me with his assault rifle and pointed it at me.  I looked up at him with rage oozing from my face.  I quickly kicked the gun towards the guard to my right.  The gun discharged into the guard on my right, holding me in place.  It hit him in the leg.  He let go of me and fell over.  I reached for my pistol and fired a round into the shooting guard's hand.  He dropped his rifle.  I then quickly locked onto the guard on my left and fired a round point blank to his right temple.  He fell to the left, dying before he hit the ground.  I quickly grabbed the guard I shot in the hand in front of me, using him as a human shield, and shot out two guards who were standing a few feet away.  Perfect headshots.  I then pushed the gun into my human shield's lower back and fired three rounds.  He double over and died.  More tactical shock troops stormed the place.  Three repelled from the ceiling and I picked up the assault rifle off one of the guys I killed.  I tapped the trigger in their direction and they fell off the rope.  Four more guards walked in and I pulled out my pistol and held it in my right hand as I held the rifle in my left.  I held the rifle sideways and took out two guards.  I then quickly aimed my pistol and took out the next two guards.  I dropped the rifle, it was out of ammo, and kept going.  My walk became a sprint.  I ran towards the exit.  A guard whirled around from behind the door holding an SMG.  I jumped over him, firing into his arm.  As he released the machine gun, I caught it and landed behind him.  I kept running forward but fired blindly behind me with my pistol, hitting the attacker in the leg.  He fell over.  

Just as I got outside,  Ivan entered the driver's seat of a car.  I ran at the car firing both automatic machine gun and my semi-automatic pistol.  I wanted Ivan to die.  He laughed as the windshield took all the bullets.  He floored the vehicle and I moved out of the way as he attempted to run me over.  I kept firing at car driving away but the back seemed to also be bulletproof.  I attempted to chase the car on foot but was stopped short by an attack helicopter that flew into view from nowhere.  I had a giant chaingun on it and it was aimed at me.  I ran behind some shipping crates as the chain gun shredded the pavement near me.  I was getting a call so I tapped the blue tooth in my ear.  "Ana, we got it!" Dex said, but it was drowned out by the helicopter.  "Dex, I'm currently being stared down by an attack helicopter, is it possible I can get any help taking it down?!" I shouted .  "Ivan was a weapons dealer," Dex said quickly, "Look around for something to take it down."  there was a break in gun fire and I quickly peeked around over the side of the container.  The fire came back on and I dove behind cover but I had spotted something.  A container was open, the words "launcher" was written on a box but it was partially covered.  "I found something," I said to Dex.  I waited for break in the helicopter fire then I ran towards a container.  I climbed up it, and jumped through a small container into another one.  The chopper followed as I came out of the container and jumped into another container containing the launchers crate.  I ripped open the box and it contained a Grenade Launcher.  

"Damn it," I said, "I was hoping for the Rocket kind.".  I loaded up the gun with ammunition I found in the box.  I pulled out my pistol.  I ran out of the container, jumped, and landed back on level of the pavement.  The chopper followed me.  I ran a bit and turned around.  I fired the grenade launcher over the helicopter.  Several grenades went flying over the propellers of the plane.  I took aim at one and fired my pistol.  I hit one and they all went off.  The explosion destroyed the propellers and the helicopter fell out of the sky.  I threw the grenade launcher down and holstered my gun.  I turned around and walked away as the helicopter crashed into the ground and blew up.  My name is Anastasiya Smirnova and I will kill everyone responsible for this. . . .

THE END

The Russian, Part III

The Ultimatum 

After a few hours, I was awoken by the plane hitting the tarmac.  I felt the plane slow down and eventually grind to a halt.  Around thirty or forty minutes later the cargo door swung open and the Russian driver stood in the same uniform motioning at me to come forward.  I jumped out and we both quickly walked to the parking garage located a few hundred yards from the plane.  A black sedan was parked to the side and I got into the passenger seat.  The driver quickly slipped out his jumpsuit and threw it into the back seat.  He was wearing a blue t-shirt, and a pair of grey denims.  He kept his work boots on and put on his sunglasses.  He started up the car and drove to a security checkpoint.  "Well, well Mr. Adams" the security guard as the driver handed him a security card.  "Who is this pretty woman you've got here?".  "It's my sister, she just flew in for a visit."  the driver said in a Brooklyn accent.  I was lightly nudged by the driver and I smiled at the security guard.  "Well you drive safe, and nice to meet you young lady." he said with a smile as he handed the driver back a security card.  "I will." the driver replied.  We drove off and it was silent for a while.  

"What's your name?" I asked him.  He didn't say anything.  "We have met each other twice, that's not normal for our line of work.  I know you know mine, now tell me yours." I said to him while leaning back into my seat. "My name… my name is Nikolai." the driver said as he turned a corner in his Russian accent.  "Nikolai, I like it." I said to him.  There was more silence in the car afterwards.  "Did you know Ivan was lying to me?" I asked him.  "No, not at the time." Nikolai said back.  "Did you know what he did to me ?" I asked him.  "Yes, but it's not my problem" he said back.  "It's only a matter of time he does that to you Nikolai." I said to him.  "I know." he said, "I've taken steps to protect myself.".  He turned another corner and stopped the car.  "Here's the school,".  "What's my cover name?" I asked him.  "Anna Summers," Nikolai said, "You go to Mr. Baker's Science class, room 301.  He knows your coming and he will introduce you.  After that, you shouldn't have any trouble.  Student teacher jobs aren't too hard."  He pulled out a paper bag, "I've bought you some clothes, these are in better condition than the ones you are wearing now."  I looked down at my dust and dirt laden black trench coat and black slacks.  I took the bag and opened it up to inspect it.  A white dress shirt, a black skirt, and a sky blue sweater.  There was also a pair of glasses and a few other hair accessories.  "I figured your shoes are fine and the glasses make you look more like a teacher," Nikolai said as he pulled out a cellphone and handed it to me, "Here, a cellphone with my number in it.  Hold on to it, it might help you some day.".  "Where's the place I'm staying at?" I asked him.  "You will have to find one yourself.  The clothes, the cellphone, the thousand dollars, that came from me." Nikolai said as he rubbed his head.  "Ivan, what a slime bag.  Nice to your face but when you are gone, that's when he wants to act all tough.  I'll figure something out, thanks.".  "This will be the last time you see me till extraction," Nikolai said, "Good luck.".  I got out of the car and watched it drive off.  A bell rang and I quickly walked into the school.  I looked for a bathroom and went into a stall.  I quickly changed into the clothes Nikolai gave me and I put my used clothes in to the bag.  I pulled the USB drive and thousand dollars and pocketed it.  I threw away the bad containing my old clothes and made my way to Mr. Baker's room.  

I knocked on the door and entered when the door opened.  Mr. Baker was a stout man.  He was shorter than me but definitely wider than me, if I had to guess he stood at five foot, two hundred pounds.  His horn rimmed glasses and buzz cut were reminded me of the nineteen-seventies.  He wore a brown suit coat and pants with a white dress shirt and a red tie.  He introduced me to the class who somewhat warmly greeted me.  When I said "somewhat", I meant that half the class was asleep.  He smiled embarrassingly at me as he went to go wake up the students.  After he did, he sat me down at a table near a window and handed me some basic info on what I would be doing for the three weeks I was there.  He continued to teach and I read the information and occasionally looked up at the class.  At the end of class, most of the kids rushed out the door.  This must have been the last class of the day.  Mr. Baker walked over to his desk and put some papers in a brown briefcase.  One of the students who had stayed over, Steven, walked over to me and introduced himself.  He smiled at me and I smiled back.  He was an Indian teen.  Wore a black v-neck shirt and dark blue skinny jeans.  After a brief conversation he walked away.  "He's a good kid." Mr. Baker said as he shut the briefcase and locked it.  He gestured to the door, "If you had to get to know someone here, he's your man.".  We both walked into the hallway and he shut the door behind us, locking it. "I'll see ya tomorrow.".  He walked towards the teacher parking lot and I walked for the front door.  I decided the best thing to do now, was find a place to stay.  I noticed a hotel when Nikolai drove me.  I made my way towards it.  A ninety-six Toyota Levin pulled up alongside of me.  I didn't have a gun on me, but I was ready to combat whatever or whoever.  The window rolled down and it was Steven and a male friend.  "Hey, Ms. Summers. . . do you need a ride?" he asked me.  I kindly refused and kept walking.  He kept driving along side me.  He followed me for a block until I finally decided to get in.  He drove me to the hotel and dropped me off.  

The hotel wasn't too far from the school but driving did speed up my arrival time.  I got out and thanked Steven for the ride.  He nodded his head and said goodbye.  He drove away.  I walked into the upscale hotel and got a room on the eighth floor.  The price of the room was almost nine hundred dollars for the total amount of days I intended to stay.  I was escorted to the room and I laid down on the bed.  The first week was difficult.  Having only a hundred dollars didn’t allow me to eat much.  If there was an emergency I needed that money to help me.  Mr. Baker was right about Steven though.  He was a good kid.  His kindness and humor reminded me of Peter.  He often asked me for help on some science work.  According to the information Mr. Baker handed me the first day, I needed to tutor a student to be "successful" in my training.  There were some things he didn't understand, but for the most part, he really didn't need my help.  After I finished tutoring him, he offered me a meal, as my tutoring lessons often ran just before dinner.  I often refused but he could see through my ruse.  He was a pretty good cook.  The next two weeks were better.  The school did compensate me, somewhat, for my time so I could afford to eat.  I also had some money left over to buy some more clothes and build a listening device.  My intention was to plant it on Ivan.  

The day of the field trip came and Mr. Baker was "unable to go".  The day before, I loaded his coffee with a nasty little virus called the Norovirus.  More commonly known as the Stomach Flu.  Nausea, vomiting, headache very bad but he wasn't going to die, just be out for a day.  Never thought my lack of money would ever help me on a mission.  Cheap gas station food does have it's benefits, if they include making someone sick in the name of international espionage.  He wasn't able to go on the trip, allowing me to go.  I received an intel package from Ivan.  It had a detailed map of where the information was at.  The information was obviously very important, because the map detailed this computer to be on a closed network.  I got to the school just as the bus was being loaded up.  I got into the bus and sat down in the front.  An hour later we got to the facility.  A tour guide was there to greet us.  After getting a closer look at her, it appeared to be boss of that facility.  The intel I got didn't mention that the boss was going to be leading the tour, and based on her expression on the number of kids that came off the bus, neither did she.  "Welcome everyone to Edge Industries." the tour guide said.  "My name is Alexis Rose and i'll be leading the tour.".  She started the tour and for the most part it was pretty boring.  Intel suggested that this building is used for the Research and Design of the entire company, but from what Alexis is showing with all these lab equipment manufacturing devices, it obviously looked like a front. 

Half way through the tour I noticed Steven and his friend, Chris, sneaking into a keypad encrypted door.  I considered going after them but my mission, I couldn't risk it going south.  Not for Peter's sake.  After a few minutes I made it clear to the tour guide that Steven and Chris went missing. I offered to go looking for them and before she could say no, I left.  I made my way to the computer.  I plugged in the USB and stood behind the door.  The first two guards rushed in with their stun batons and looked around.  I grabbed the first one's wand and punched him in the throat.  I struck the second guy with the stun baton.  I wasn't going to kill for Ivan.  "Guys, Guys Come in!!" a walkie talkie blasted.  I picked it up.  There was silence for a few seconds.  "That's it, I'm sending in reinforcements.".  As soon as that was said, three guards stormed the room.  One guard pulled out a stun gun and I ducked out of the way.  Slipped around behind him and smacked the back of his knee with the stun baton.  He fell on that knee and I grabbed him by his collar and spun him around just in time to catch another set of taser prongs from the second guard's stun gun.  I quickly released the guard's collar and kicked him onto the other guard.  The third guard came back at me swinging with his fists.  I blocked the first punch but didn't see his other hand smack me in the ribs.  I grunted as stepped back.  He came at me again, I grabbed his hand when he swung it and broke it.  I slammed my knee into his chest and he doubled over.  I finished him off with an elbow strike to the back of the head.  I went back to the computer and the data finished downloading, I unplugged the drive and pocketed it.  An alarm went off.  Guards flooded the room and I saw thick plated doors slowly closing sliding into place.  I ran towards the door.  I flipped over a guard, then threw my stun baton at the next one's face.  He fell backwards and I jumped off of him and tackled the next guard.  I rolled out of the tackle and picked up two stun guns just as I got.  Two guards came at me but I pointed a gun at each of them and fired.  They stopped in their tracks and fell over twitching.  I ran towards the shutting door and slid under just as it shut. 

I made my way down the hallway.  I turned a corner but quickly went backward and hugged the wall.  Several dozen guards ran past in formation.  Carrying assault rifles.  When the coast was clear, I made my way to the exit.  I ran to the bus and got there at the same time as both Steven and Chris did.  "Where were you guys?" the bus driver said as Steven, Chris, and myself.  Before I could say anything, Steven spoke up.  "Chris and I got lost," he said, "Ms. Summers came and found us.".  I nodded my head.  He allowed us onto the bus.  We drove off and that was that.  We got back to school and there was about thirty minutes left in class.  When it was all done, everyone left.  I got back to my hotel, and into my room.  Just as I entered my room, I got a call from Nikolai.  "Hey, Nikolai, I have the drive with the data on it.  I'm ready to be extracted." I said to him.  "That's great news Anastasiya, but unfortunately I can't extract you just yet. . ." he said.  "What do you mean?!," I exclaimed, "I've have Ivan's data doesn't he want it?".  "It's not him, it's just a little more complicated to get an airplane right now. " he said apologetically, "the earliest plane I can get you is in two days.".  "Alright, not much you can do. Thanks." I hung up the phone.  One of the worst things that can happen to you in the field is when your extraction option is delayed.  That means that you are forced to sit on valuable data.  That data usually comes from a group of people that are very "distraught" when they have come to realize you have stolen a copy of it.  It's only a matter of time before they find out where you are.  

The next day I had to return to the class.  It was my last day and I had to maintain cover.  Mr. Baker was better, so the food poisoning wasn't too harsh.  Today was actually the day all the students had to turn in their science projects.  The class was about to start when Steven and Chris busted into the room with their projects.  They both looked different.  Steven wasn't wearing his glasses and he obviously wasn't wearing contacts.  Chris looked more energetic.  He normally comes to class tired but looks like he had slept for an entire day.  They obviously got on the nerves of Mr. Baker immediately.  "Well gentlemen, you got here early, by about a minute." Mr. Baker said, "So how about you guys go first?!".  Steven and Chris turned to each other and played a quick game of rock, paper, scissors.  Chris won which resulted in him raising his hands in the air.  "Yes!" Chris said joyfully.  "Crap!" Steven said.  The class laughed and even I chuckled a bit. It felt good to laugh, just a moment where I could lift the weight off my shoulders.  "Oh, yes, before I forget." Mr. Baker said as he pulled out two envelopes from his pocket, "Ms. Rose wanted me to give you these.".  Steven took both envelopes and handed one to Chris.  "Ms. Rose?" Steven asked.  "Yes, she was the tour guide on yesterday's field trip." I interjected.  "Those are the permission slips for your parents.  They are for your new jobs." Mr. Baker said,  "Apparently, she see's talent in you and wants you to intern there. I think it's a great opportunity.".  My joy ceased abruptly.  I had been monitoring the radio channels for a few hours after we had left the facility with the radio I stole from one of the guards.  There was talk of an explosion in one of the test rooms.  Was Steven and Chris responsible?  Did something happen to them?  It's not normal for a spy to worry about civilians, but it's always disheartening if you are the one responsible for trouble they might face.  The rest of the day was normal.  Some kids said goodbye to me and other still had no idea who I was.  The day concluded and I went back to my hotel room.  I plopped down on my bed and went to sleep.  

I woke up the next morning to the sound of sirens.  I jumped up and looked out the window of the balcony.  There was a row of police cars blocking the entire street.  I could also see a SWAT van pull up.  They were here for me.  I looked further out the window and saw a building to the left of the one I was in.  I saw a fire escape to the left of the building, just about the fourth floor.  I turned on the TV and the shower .  I picked up my suitcase that I had packed two nights before and walked out of my room, locking the door as I left.  As I was leaving I bumped into the cleaning lady with her cart.  I picked her pocket and retrieved a keycard.  "Excuse me, I called earlier," I said to her, "Someone threw up in the hallway, are you the one who's going to clean it up?".  She looked at me surprised.  "No ma'am, I'll get right on that!" She said.  I walked away slowly. She ran towards the end of the hallway and turned a corner.  I ran back and stole the entire cart.  I pushed it to the elevator and pushed the button down to the fourth floor.  The doors shut and I started tying the bed sheets together.  By the time I got to the fourth floor, I had tied several sheets together.  I coiled up the rope I had made over my shoulder and picked up my bag.  As I exited the elevator, I hit the fire alarm button.  It locked up the elevator.  I took a left and ran all the way down the hallway to the last room on the end of the hallway.  I used the keycard to access the room.  Inside a married couple were arguing in the kitchen area of the room.  They stopped and looked at me.  I didn't give them a passing glance.  I could hear strike teams a floor below me, clearing and moving on.  I tied a rope to the balcony and checked to see if it was tight.  I threw my suitcase to the fire escape and it made it.  I jumped over the side of the balcony and began to swing towards to the fire escape.  At the apex of my swing, I jumped.  My hands caught the edge of the fire escape and pulled myself over.  I descended the fire escape and walked through the alleyway.  I opened my suitcase and changed into my red overcoat with the black buttons and my black stockings and black heals.  I walked out of the alleyway into another street and made my way towards a grey sedan.  I looked around as I smashed the window.  I entered the car and quickly quieted the alarm and hotwired the car.  I had to make a stop before going to the airport.  

I drove to Steven's apartment flat.  I parked the car a few feet away and rang the door bell.  I heard movement from upstairs and the front door opened.  .  "Uh, Ms. Summers, how are you doing?".  "Hey Steven, do you mind if I come in? I asked him.  "Sure." he said as he stepped aside.  I walked in and took a seat on Steven's couch.  "Uh, do you want anything?" He asked me.  "Could I have some iced tea?" she asked back.  "Sure." Steven said as he went over to the kitchen.  I pulled out the bug I was saving for Ivan.  I took his TV remote and opened up the battery case.  I slid the bug in under the batteries.  "Do you want some lemon in it?" He asked me.  "Sure, that would be nice." I said back.  I quickly replaced the remote cover and put it back where I found it.  Steven's hiding what he and Chris did yesterday.  I need to make sure he isn't in any trouble.  I won't let what happened to Peter happen to them.  He walked back to me and handed the glass to me.  I took a sip.  "Thanks." I said as I put the glass down on a nearby table.  "So…Ms. Summers why the visit?" Steven asked as he sat down on an adjacent armchair.  "Well, I just wanted to say goodbye." I said, "As you know my Teacher Assisting job is up and my flight is at eleven.". "Oh, I completely forgot." Steven said, "Well, I just want to say that you'd make an awesome teacher.  I sort of wish Mr. Baker was the one leaving!".  "I can see why." I said with a smile, "But there was something else I wanted to ask you.".  She leaned in a bit. "What were you and Chris really doing during the field trip?".  "We, just got lost." he said plainly, "Lucky that you found us right?!".  I  looked at him for a minute then sat back.  I picked up my iced tea and drank some more, then she put the glass down.  "You also seem to be late coming to the bus.  Any reason for that?" Steven asked.  "I was looking for you, right?" I said with a smirk. I finished the rest of my tea.  "Well, I've got to get going. Thank you Steven, this whole "teaching thing" is difficult and you really helped me out and made me feel welcomed. I'd also like to thank you for what you did on the bus yesterday.".  Steven stood and took the glass from me.  "Hey you’re an awesome teacher and I know that you'll go on to do great things."  We walked over to the front door.  "Wait." Steven said as he walked over to the kitchen.  He came back with a slip of paper.  "Here, my number." Steven said, "Call me when ever.".  I took the slip of paper and put it in my front coat pocket.  "Yeah, I will.".  I stood there for a minute looking at him.  This kid, he helped me get this mission done when Ivan wouldn't.  He's helped me get Peter back.  I gave Steven a hug and then I left.  I made my way to the car I stole and got in.  I clutched at the wheel for a few minutes and drove off.  

I headed to the airport and gave Nikolai a call.  The plane was set up.  I would have to be riding in the cargo bay again.  "Here Anastasiya," he said as he handed me a newspaper.  I discreetly opened it up slightly to see my MP-466 pistol.  I looked at him.  "Ivan is acting stranger than usual, I just want you to be prepared.".  "Thank you Nikolai."  I said to him.  "Well sorry, I don't have a sandwich for you.  This time." he said.  He shut the door and it all went dark.

The Russian, Part II

The Setup

The plane landed at around twelve p.m. in Russia and I got to the SVR at around 2:20.  During the ride there, Ivan called me on my phone.  He had told me to meet him in the Industrial District to drop off the package.  It wasn't standard procedure to do that.  We were always to report back to SVR to drop off anything we were supposed to retrieve on a mission.  I told him i'd meet up with him at five.  I made my way to my office.  It was standard procedure to be debriefed in my office after a mission.  I entered the building and was greeted by security.  As I entered the elevator and the doors shut, their expressions changed when they got information through their radios.  

I got to my floor and the doors opened.  I leaned to the left, out of site of the doors.  The elevator looked like it was empty.  A guard walked in with a gun ready to fire.  I took the pistol from him and flipped him forward, breaking his arms.  He yelped in pain as his arms went limp. I grabbed him, and held him as a human shield.  "Let's hope your friends aren't using armor piercing ammo!" I said to him as my arm felt the kevlar armor bulging under his shirt.  There were five guards positioned around the elevator.  The office was empty, things left about.  It was obvious they had evacuated the floor.  One opened fire and I shot his leg out from under him.  He fell over and the others started to fire.  My human shield was taking too many hits.  I managed to kill two with a headshots before diving behind a cubical.  The final two opened fire as the maimed guard struggled to get up.  I fired blindly from a position to draw their attention, and as they slowly moved in, I moved to a different location to flank them.  I got behind one and quickly broke his neck.  The other turned around just in time for me to slap his gun away and to take a punch to the throat.  The final one attempted to point his gun at me but the blood loss from his leg was so great he collapsed and went into shock.  I ran to my office and locked the door behind me.  I punched the redial button on my phone and hit speaker as I fumbled through the papers on my desk.  Dex was the only one I call, he has to know what's happening.  The phone rang and Dex picked up.  "Ana, where have you been?" Dex said as I continued to shuffle through the papers on my desk.  "I was on a mission, but obviously I did something wrong judging by the five security guards I had to take out." I said as I continued to flip through the paper work, "Where's that god damn kill order!!  Dex can you do a background search on Ivan Petrov?".  There was a clattering of keys that could be heard on the other end of the phone.  "That's an old face." Dex said as he took a long pause, "His file is covered in more black ink, more than a tattoo parlor during a two for one special.  His file goes as far back as the Soviet Union.  Guerilla warfare is mentioned as a specialty of his.  He currently is in charge of training of special ops tactical strike squads".  "Any mention of a group called Тень, within the SVR organization?" I asked him as I slammed my fists into the table.  I stood there waiting for an answer and after the storm of key strikes from the other end of the phone, I got it.  "No, no records of that at all Ana." Dex said, "Is this what this is about? Petrov convince you that he's in this group?".  "That's the story." I said to him.  "Oh, Ana….What the hell have you gotten yourself into?" Dex said, "SVR is wholly convinced that you went rogue.  That bomb you set off in California is being looked at as treason.  The US CIA is on our asses about that.  They think were responsible.  Intelligence thinks you did it.".  I open my eyes wide.  "Dex, I was set up. You have to believe me." I said.  "Relax Ana, I do." Dex said calmly, "I left a cell phone in your desk, untraceable.  Also, your favorite pistol.  A silenced MP446.  Whatever Ivan must have given you; gun, passport, phone; you must get rid of it.  SVR units are approaching.  Sixty seconds.  You got the time?".  I glanced over at the clock, it read 2:50.  Just as holstered the new gun and put away the new phone, SVR tactical units stormed the room. 

Their formations were perfect.  They lined up in the office, every single one of them had their gun trained on me not breaking their gun's lock on me.  I guess they couldn't afford a mistake on me.  They lined up shots and held their position.  A man in a black trench coat, slightly opened to show his bulletproof armor, and black pants walked into the room. It was the department head, Romanov.  "Hello Ana," he said as he held a Carbine Rifle upwards on his right arm.  "Hello Mr. Romanov." I said as I glanced at the clock, as 2:52 mirrored back my stare.  "Listen Ana, there are a lot of people after you right now. They want blood for what you did in California." Romanov said as he adjusted the carbine and started holding it with both hands, "The only reason your still alive is because you have been working here for so long.  You deserve to explain yourself.".  "I was set up." I said calmly.  "By who?" Romanov said.  I glanced at the clock again as I answered, it read 2:54. "By Ivan Petrov".  I said.  Romanov paused for a second.  "Smirnova, that man has a squeaky clean record.  Come on, let's get you to a debriefing room.  We need to talk about that.".  I laughed at him.  I could hear the subway car approaching.  "Это Фигня,[read as Eto Fignya]" I said back to him.  "Your right, I've been with this company for a while.  I know what's happening.  I've seen the SVR deal with traitors, they have no real chance.  I can tell when your guys don't lower their weapons." I said.  "You don't want to cooperate, fine" he said.  He looked at the tactical squad.  "Arrest her.".  The clock read 2:58 as I glanced at it for the last time.  I pulled out my gun and fired a few rounds into a nearby gunman.  Gunfire erupted in my general direction as I got behind my steel desk to shield myself.  "Cease fire! Cease fire!!" Romanov shouted.  The gunfire stopped but it had shattered the window behind me.  I ran towards the window and jumped out.  The jump wasn't that big of a deal, I have watched the train pass by near my office hundreds of times; I knew I could land it, but the landing was what got me more concerned.  Two story landings tend to shatter a leg if you don't land them just right.  I landed on the train and rolled off of it.  Just as I was about to fall off the side, I caught the outer edge of the train.  The side facing away from the building.  I looked up to see the Romanov pushing away the gunman's guns.  I figured they couldn't risk any civilian causalities when trying to catch me.  The subway entered a tunnel for a few seconds before exiting.  By the time the car came out of the tunnel I was inside the subway car, nobody noticed a thing.  Except for a little boy.  He looked at me with such amazement.  I smiled and waved at him.  He looked away embarrassed.  I'd hate it if I busted because of some kid.  Ivan had some explaining to do. 

I got to the rendezvous point.  The warehouse was dark, dingy, and the sound of machinery could be heard ringing all throughout. . . this was the perfect place scum like Ivan would hang out at.  Ivan stepped out of the shadows and stood in front of me.  "You have the information, comrade?" Ivan asked with a smile.  I grabbed his collar and pulled out my gun.  "You set me up, you Сукин сын [pronounced Sukin syn]." Ivan cleared his throat.  Several armored SVR gunman walked out of the dark warehouse.  I let go of Ivan.  A gunman came up behind me and took my weapon and took the USB out of my pocket.  "So, you aren't the only corrupt one in the SVR?." I said to him.  "No, Smirnova," he said to me as he paced back and forth, "I've got people all the vay to the top.".  "So that's how you were able to make a fake kill order.  You had hire ups.  You haven't killed me, so obviously you need me." I said.  "You are right, comrade.  I have a job for you." he said to me with his dirty smile.  "Why the hell would I help you?"  He snapped his fingers.  They dragged out a person with a bag over his head.  They put him on his knees and yanked the bag off his head.  It was Peter.  Signs of tortured were evident.  A black eye, cuts, some cigarette burns.  "Peter!" I said as I ran to him. 

I knelt down and put my hand on his face.  "Are you alright?" I said concerned.  "Don't worry," he said faintly with a grin, " You should see what I did with the other guy.".  "Vell, I can guess you found your reason." Ivan said.  "I really don't have any other choice, do I?" I said angrily.  "No, you don't." Ivan said.  He picked me up by my arm and walked me away.  They put the bag back over Peter's head and dragged him away.  I couldn't stop watching.  "Relax comrade, ve only did that because ve thought you didn't have the information.  We know now and we will take care of him." Ivan said with a smile.  "Screw you." I said bluntly.  His smile turned to a frown.  We stopped at a table with two chairs and a laptop.  We both sat down.  He opened the laptop in front of me.  "All ve need you to do is infiltrate Edge Industries and steal some nanite related material." He said as he propped his feet up on the table and lit up a cigarette.  "Just as easy as that, no catch?" I said.   "The building you must infiltrate is loaded with security pentagon level security, guards using automatic assault rifles, and several security checkpoints." He said calmly.  "And there's the catch. . ." I said.  "All you have to do is plug in this device." he said as he handed a USB Drive to me.  "My hackers just need a back door." he said after taking a long drag from the cigarette.  "Then why do you need me?" I asked him.  "The minute you start hacking, guards vill flood the room.  The download should take about five minutes.  Vhen the download is complete, the security doors vill lock down.  You've got maybe 5-10 seconds before the doors close and lock down.  If you don’t get to the doors in time, the room vill flood with knockout gas and your screwed.".  "Anything else?" I asked.  "Yeah," he said with a smile, "the only cover ve could get you vas as a teacher's assistant.  You avoid suspicion, you'll be there for a month."  "When do I start?" I asked him.  "Now." he said.  A large door in the warehouse opened up, and a car stood ready.  I walked to the car and got in.  

I was driven to the airport where the Russian who had transported me during Peter's mission was waiting.  He was dressed like a plane mechanic.  He walked me to a jumbo jet airplane's passenger luggage port.  "Sorry, no first class tickets this time." he opened the door and I walked in and took a seat on a stack of luggage.  He handed me a paperbag.  I peeked inside it and it contained a thousand dollars, the USB Drive Ivan showed me, a sandwich and a drink.  "I added the Sandwich and Drink," the Russian stated, "Trip to New York is about ten hours.  I'll be there when you arrive."  He shut the door and the room went dark.