Pace was closing what was left of the distance between them.
“Its so strange to call you Ms. Johnson, Teroso, instead of Special Agent Johnson.”
Karaa nodded marginally, “Agent Pace”
Agent paced looked directly into Karaa’s eyes and asked, “Do you miss it?”
Karaa felt her eye twitch, “No.”
Agent Pace continued to stare as if waiting for an explanation.
“Karaa is my name and the only one I will ever need.”
Agent Paced nodded as if thinking about what Karaa had just said.
“Agent Pace, I – “ Karaa was cut short by the sound of her phone going off.
Agent Pace nodded her head indicating Karaa should answer. Karaa grimaced internally and reached into her coat pocket, her hand brushing against the phone Caius had given her and closing around the one that was making a horrible amount of noise.
“Yes?” Karaa answered calmly.
“Karaa, it's me. I've got everything, but Pace is heading your way.”
“I know... She's already here.” Karaa’s eyes locked with Agent Paces’, who had a huge smile on her face.
“Meet me at the helicopter.” Karaa said evenly and disconnected the phone.
“Were you looking for me?” Agent pace asked with an overly sweet smile. It made Karaa’s skin crawl.
“As a matter of fact, I was.”
Agent pace’s eyebrows raised questioningly.
Stay close to the truth. “We found what we were looking and we are departing now, we have urgent business elsewhere.”
Agent pace nodded thoughtfully, “I see. Thank you for informing us we will move our search to the other sites.”
“Thank you, your help is greatly appreciated.” Karaa ground her teeth together on the end of the sentence.
“Anything for peace with Zion.”
“Karaa.” Caius whispered urgently.
Agent pace attention focused on Caius
“You looked distressed before Ms. Johnson. Are you alright?”
“I’m fine. Thank You Agent Pace.”
Agent Pace smiled, “You were always more machine than human. If it wasn’t for Mr. Keating –“
Karaa cut her off, “If it wasn’t for Danny, I wouldn’t be who I am at this moment... a better person. Agent pace, forgive me, I am needed elsewhere.”
Agent pace nodded, “Very well. It’s too bad you can’t stay longer. I know Agent Norris would love to see his protégé again. ”
Karaa made sure not to react to that last comment but her mind was reeling. Norris can’t know.
“I already gave Agent Norris my best.”
“Ah, I see. Good luck with your endeavors, Ms. Johnson.”
Karaa gave a meaningful look at Caius. He didn’t move. She Hesitated. This might be her only chance to get answers. Answers she needed. Valaro and Ceege flashed through her mind. Laughing and smiling. Karaa immediately turned on her heel and ran, not looking behind her, towards field 5. The Tiger came first. Always first
***
“What did you tell that poor girl?” Asked pace as she turned to face Caius.
Caius didn’t answer.
“Was that necessary?” Agent Pace questioned.
Still he acted like she hadn’t spoke.
“Well, I’m sure you did everything to a T, Mr. Messing, you are an excellent Operative. Even if your allegiance is unclear.”
Caius turned then. “I work for me. Always works out better that way…for everyone.”
“Very well, Mr. Messing. Thank you again for your assistance.”
Caius smirked and walked away not bothering to respond.
***
Karaa ran through the airport. People looked at her like she crazy but she didn’t care. She cleared the terminal, fresh cold air surround her. She took a deep breath and ran.
*Beep*
Karaa reached into her pocket without breaking stride and bought her cell phone to her ear.
“Karaa.”
“Karaa, we need to leave now, Ocelet lost contact with Ceege.”
Karaa cursed. “I’m on my way Dee, just cleared the terminal.”
“What did you tell Agent Pace?” she asked coolly
Karaa hesitated. How much did she want to tell EichDee?
“Kar?” EichDee asked again.
“Told her the truth, that we were looking for her to inform the agents of our departure.”
Karaa sighed, she would tell EichDee about Caius later, she would have to omit some things…such as her active status on the roster, the blinding pains, the nightmares …Karaa thought for a moment…maybe its best I don’t say anything. Karaa chastised herself. No, she would have to say something about Danny…she would leave out the rest though. At the thought of Danny, a pain shot through her chest. Danny…
“Karaa….” EichDee’s voiced pulled karaa away from her musings and saved her from a dangerous train of thought.
EichDee paused for what seemed like an eternity. “I’m worried…really worried. I’ve got one of your gut feelings.”
Karaa closed her eyes briefly. EichDee must be really worried; she always just blazed head long into trouble, always optimistic.
“I swear Dee, we’ll get them back. Even if we have to tare that building down…we’ll get them back.”
EichDee took an audible breath, “you got it Kar, tare that whole damn building down. I pray that we don’t have to.”
Caius’ words flashed in her mind.
This is an extraction…Karaa’s chest constricted. “Dee, I can see the Helicopter.”
With that Karaa disconnected the line.
She reached the helicopter; it was already lifting into the air. In one fluid motion Karaa stepped up and grabbed the side of the bird and pulled herself in.
“Kar, your speed never ceases to amaze me.” Angelis yelled over the sound of the machine as he handed her a headset. Karaa fumbled with the headset as she tired to right it on her head. It was the same damned pair she had when they flew in.
Karaa gave Angelis’ shoulder a squeeze signaling that she heard him.
She leaned over and asked, “How far out?”
EichDee didn’t answer but focused all her attention on the machine she was pushing past its limits.
Angelis looked over to EichDee then glanced over his shoulder with a serious expression, “Three minutes.”
***
Karaa threw her headset to the floor of the copter and jumped before it touched down. She started moving towards the fire escape and went down one flight of metal stairs to the third floor. Here was her entry point if Caius could be trusted.
Danny’s words drifted into her mind.
Caius can be trusted…for now. Karaa shook her head. What if it was a trap? Caius couldn’t be trusted, right?
Karaa leaned against the building and peered into the window.
“Shit.” Karaa cursed and cringed internally.
The window karaa was looking through opened up into a warehouse with a large open area and small rooms branching off and the whole working floor was covered with lupines. Too many for three Zion operatives to take on.
She remembered her words to EichDee.
Even if we have to tare the whole building down. Karaa’s steel resolve didn't waiver as she looked inside the window a second time. She heard EichDee and Angelis coming down the fire escape. EichDee crouched next to Karaa as Angelis came up behind her.
“Whats the situation, karaa?”
“Not good, Dee. In the warehouse floor, I count 20 lupines alone.”
The string of curse words that left EichDee’s mouth was more colorful than anything Karaa had ever heard and she worked with cops for most of her bluepill career. Even Angelis looked slightly taken aback.
“Kar, I hope you have a plan.” Angelis voice was even but with an edge to it.
“We can get in without being seen…its getting out, that worries me.”
The two other Zion operatives looked at her, expecting something more. Karaa looked back to the window. She didn’t know what to expect in there.
Anything could happen.
Prepare for everything… and when that doesn’t work…make sure you have a bigger gun than the other guy, Robertson, her old partner’s words came back to her. She hadn’t thought of him in a long time. She smiled remembering the context in which he told her that line.
“Karaa…” Angelis said slowly. “Dee, you see that goofy smile?” Asked Angelis looking over to EichDee.
“yeah.” said EichDee smiling in turn.
“We’re all going to die.” Said Angelis slowly, as if he was already resign his eyes moved to the darkening sky; he had come to fear that goofy smile of Karaa’s.
***
Karaa and EichDee moved swiftly through the hallways. Angelis had begrudgingly agreed to wait at the copter keeping it ready for extraction. Promising retribution in the afterlife if anything happened to them.
Karaa didn’t know what she was going to find as she moved lithely down the corridors of the warehouse. They didn’t have time to disable the security system so they had to be extra careful. They didn’t know why the lupines were keeping Valaro and Ceege alive or how long that particularly inclination was going to last.
Karaa came to a fork in the hallway. She felt EichDee’s tap on her left shoulder and moved that way. EichDee had her cell feed into her ear piece. According to Ocelet Ceege and Valaro were still alive and being kept in one of the back rooms.
Why would the lupines keep them alive? Karaa’s gut twisted. This felt very wrong indeed.
They moved quietly down the hallway avoiding guards where they could, in fact …it was too easy. Immediately, Karaa held up her fist and they both stopped before another divider. She looked around keeping her back to the wall. Where are the guards? The elevator to their right slowly beeped indicting someone was coming to their floor. Karaa waved EichDee over behind the corner. They waited as the elevator made its slow decent. The elevator doors opened up and three lupines walked out.
“About time Boss gave the order. I was getting tired of making sure I didn't kill them.” The taller one spoke first. Apparently continuing a conversation they were having in the elevator.
"Why did he want them alive in the first place?" Questioned the one on the left.
"Something about other crew members but it looks like they're not coming." The tall one answered.
"It wasn't so bad, at least we got to play with them. I love sinking my nails into their flesh.” For the first time during this conversation the lupine of the left spoke. Her voice seemed to wrap around the last word as a reverent caress.
They just made it in time. Karaa nodded to EichDee and pointed to the one on the far right. EichDee nodded and began to slowly move out. Karaa took the one on the far right. She crept slowly behind the female lupine and gently placed her hands on either side of the woman’s face. At first the target was confused and turned into her hands, which was a mistake. Karaa’s hands became like a vice and ripped the lupines head in the other direction effectively snapping her neck. EichDee’s target fell at the same moment Karaa’s did, expect EichDee used a silencer. EichDee raised her weapon and with a silent pop the third exile fell to the floor among the other bodies.
Karaa nodded, the whole assault took less that 30 seconds, she began to move toward the only door at the far end of the hallway, where the lupines were headed. EichDee looked to the body on the far left and stared for a moment.
“Dee?” Karaa whispered quietly.
EichDee shook her head and fell in behind Karaa. They positioned themselves on either side of the door.
Karaa held up her hand.
3 fingers...
2 fingers...
1 finger...
Karaa kicked in the door and was greeted by the distinct smell of burning flesh. Then Ceege’s voice loud and desperate.
“Karaa! Duck!”
Karaa crouched without hesitating as sharp nails collided with the door making it fly apart, just missing EichDee.
EichDee raised her gun and fired once. Twice. Three times.
The exile fell to the floor with a thud. Then three more came from the back room.
Karaa pulled her hands together preparing to strike. She reached the first one before he could close the distance; he fell to the ground next to EichDee’s target. Karaa bought her foot up and connected with the next lupine’s face. The other came up behind her and sank his nails into Karaa’s shoulder throwing her to the floor but EichDee was there pulling out another silencer and finishing off both with deadly precision.
“Silver bullets.” Was all the EichDee said as she made her way to Valaro. Who was staring off into space.
Karaa pulled herself off the floor and started to make her way towards Ceege.
“He’s been like that, the whole time. I don’t know what happened.” Ceege’s voice sounded rough. His clothes were colored red with his own blood. They should have gotten here sooner. Karaa cringed, she should have been quicker.
“I’m sorry, Ceege. We should have left sooner.”
“Karaa.”
Karaa didn’t look up at the sound of her name being called as she finished untying him.
“Kar, no one is faster than you. Did you get the pin?”
“Yeah.”
“Good.”
“Valaro?”
Both Ceege and Karaa turned to EichDee’s worried voice.
Valaro was just sitting on the floor staring at the door.
“Valaro?” EichDee tried again.
EichDee looked at Karaa. “Any suggestions?”
Ceege shook his head, “He hasn’t moved, even when the lupines played scratching post.”
“Slap him.” Karaa stated nonchalantly.
There was a short pause before EichDee shrugged and gave Valaro a hard slap across his left check. His head moved with the movement, showing a red print in the shape of EichDee’s hand.
This time his eyes seemed to refocus, meeting EichDee’s concerned ones.
“Dee?”
EichDee nodded and smiled. Ceege laughed out loud drawing Valaro’s attention across the room. His eyes locked on Karaa.
Everything seemed to hit him then.
“We need to leave now. Right now.” He shot up to a standing position and started moving towards the door. Karaa intercepted him.
“Wait, Dee, should lead; I’ll bring up the rear.”
“Kar’s right.” Said EichDee tapping her earpiece.
Valaro looked at Karaa with a tortured expression. “I’m sorry, Karaa.”
“Valaro what-“
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.”
Jus then sounds started coming from the hallway. EichDee moved to stand next to karaa as both women turned towards the door.
Karaa glanced over to EichDee, the look in her eyes apparent.
Tare it down.(Edit, rewrote the lupine conversation)