《Luna》 Operation Bloodhound, case 1 08:00 a.m, UTC+3 MSK, November 20, 2033 St Mary''s Hospital, Minsk Target: Colonel Molotov Agents: Classified Three Warlord military trucks, ten off-road jeeps. Amotorcade was driving forward in the ruins. Three trucks were kept in front, center, and rear formation. Amid the heavy smoke and snow from the wheels, several light pickups, with mounted RPK light machine gun, patrolling the convoy back and forth. Minsk, Belarus. The Armageddon of Russian Civil War. Buildings, bodies, factories, all burning in the hell.The Russian governmentleft here three weeks ago, and so the separatists, the "Day of Victory", and so the Chechnya, and so on, only rats rattling among the remains and tunnels, makes Minsk the perfect shelterof crime. 5: 00 a.m. GMT, which is, 8: 00 a.m. Moscow time, theconvoy was then nearSt Mary''shospital. Slanting through the cracks in the building, the golden sunlight hurts people''s eyes. It''s time for the trade. The team leader put down his phone and made a gesture to the driver. An order was spread through the convoy. Three trucks were methodically dispersed as planned, parked in the east, south-west, and north-west corner of the hospital, waiting for further instructions. A black Porsche pulled up from the back of the building, stopped in front of a marble statue in front of the hospital square. A middle-aged man got out of the car. He had thin hair and wore in smart suit. Accompanied by a number of armed bodyguards, the man walked towards the convoy. "You''re late." said the captain of the armed men. He was a tall guy, his voice was like a demon whispering. "There are always accidents unexpected on the road," the man bowed. "In a war zone, anything can happen. Imean...... you''ll forgive me for this, right? " Although he was wearing a mask, the captain''s eyes showed that he didn''t want to understand. "Cash! He uttered the word, stressing on every syllable. Without making response at once, the middle-aged man looked around frowning his eyebrows. "Where are the goods? I don''t see them. "Pay the money first. the captain said, That''s the rule here. "It''s a lot of money," the middle-aged man insisted, his eyebrows tightened. "I have tomake sure......" "Fucking enough," thecaptain raised his voice, with his chin almost hitting the man''s head. "Pay up. Be quick!No cheating, or it will be a burial place for you! "This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. The man flushed, and white steam was rising from his shivering nostrils. The bodyguards held up their weapons. "OK, OK." The man waved his hand with the forced smile. "Don''t ruin the business. He turned back speaking to a bodyguard, "Bring the money here. Meanwhile, there came a voice on the mans earphone. "What are you doing?" The man looked back . "They want the money now," he said in a steady voice, not to be loud enough and arouse suspicion from the aremed men. "I think they must be angry now." "Check the good, then cash, that''s our deal," the voice continued. "Where is Molotov? We can''t see him from here." "I don''t know. He is cautious. We havent found where he is yet." "We must see Molotov in person. Go tell them, then we will pay." "Roger that. The man took a black suitcase from the bodyguard, and walked towards the militants. "We discussed it with our boss just now," the man said. "We agreed to pay partially first, then finish paying for the rest after checking the goods. On one condition, however, our boss wishes, in equal respect, to meet directly with Colonel Molotov. We only trust the colonel''s reputation. " "The colonel will not come out," thecaptain replied. "No discussion." "If so, we regret to have to doubt your sincerity. As you can see, there is a special button on this safe. In five seconds, all the bills will be burnt to ashes. Nobody, gets paid. "The man said in a calm voice, " We don''t expect a lose-lose result." Thecaptain glanced back into the jeep. "Follow me." He spat hard taking the man to go towards the jeep. Molotov tightened his fur coat a little and opened the window. "I beg your pardon, I can''t get out of the car," he said, shaking his hand with the man. "I don''t mean to be rude, but there are so many enemies here. I have to be cautious." "Of course, we fully understand your worries, because you are a......celebrity, known to a number of people." "To many people want my head, so......I''m afraid, that Ilich did not make it clear Indeed, according to our prior agreement, we should provide you with the goods for inspection first. It''s just......you see, our military has been in a really bad financial situation lately. We need money. The cash would be turned into supplies soon. It was against my will of making such a request. " "In that case, I don''t think there''s any misunderstanding between us," said the man with eyebrows cleared, "especially with the guarantee of a man like you. Please check it, Colonel. "He glanced across each other''s cheeks and handed the suitcase to Ilich,"2 million euros, all in new, unmarked cash. If all goes well after we have inspected the goods, we will continue to pay the rest. " Molotov made a gesture to Ilich, who then walked backwards with the box in hand. "Bring it here!" Ilich shouted over the radio in Russian. "Would you like to check it yourself?" "When the goods are delivered to you for inspection, it will not be too late to make an inventory." Molotov grinned, seems unaturally, with his rotten black teeth. "Looks like we''ve done the deal, sir.Within ten minutes, you will receive what you want, and I, too, can serve my soldiers with the money. The man nodded politely and retreated. "Have you seen Molotov?" Continued the voice on the radio. "Yes." "Is it him?" "Sure, I know very well the scar that passed through his right eye." After making sure no one paid attention to him, the man whispered, "Even if he covered his whole face, I will still find that scar." " "Well done." "Any further instructions, Major?" "Continue to stand by. If possible, try to hold them off and buy us some time." Theso-called Major replied, "We''re gonna make a big noise." Operation Bloodhound, case 2 In an air-raid shelter ten kilometers away from St Mary''s Hospital, the armed men received orders. The real cargo truck started the engine. "Bring the things here," Ilich''s voice came over the intercom. "Watch out for your surroundings." "OK," the armed man looked back, "Our chemical experts have arrived, and they will carry out the final inspection of the goods immediately." While they were talking, two chemical experts arrived at the scene. They wore airtight hood and heavy boot soles on the cement floor, with a "creak" sound of metallic materials. Their faces were cloaked in helmets that no one could not read their faces. None of the armed men around them dared to raise their heads and look straight into their dark eyes under the goggles. Compared with the goods these two madmen possessed, the assault rifles and howitzers in their hands were like toy guns in kindergarten. "Is it in there?" asked one of the chemical experts. From the thick mask, his voice together with the heavy breath, sounded drifting and flickering. "Yes, it''s all in there." stammered the armed man, as if he had been threatened with a gun. "Please wait for five minutes," said another expert, who appeared to be a foreigner, in a deliberate Russian accent with a lot of retroflex. "After checking, we''ll knock on the door for three times as a signal." "All right. But Colonel "The leader hesitated." Youd better hurry up. Colonel.. He has no interests of waiting. " "Nor do we like to be urged by others," said the ruthless chemical expert with indifferent sound, "Tell the colonel to mind his own business if he really has correct knowledge of it. Five minutes of inspection, not a minute less, not a second less. I warn you, there won''t be a single living mosquito left in a square mile if the spillage happened from this thing. " He slammed the door closed, leaving the armed man stunned on the scene. "Crazy guy.." he muttered and picked up the intercom. "All units attention! Keep on alert. We''ll......leave about five minutes later. " At the same time, inside the shelter, two chemical experts looked at each other and walked towards the goods that scared everyone-a cone-shaped warhead attached to a bracket. "Let''s begin, shall we?" asked the expert with a foreign accent. . Answered the other side. The two men approached the vessel cautiously. One of them held the bracket in both hands, the other groped for the code tray. Turning it for several times, he took out a glass jar filled with yellowish-brown oily liquid. A puff of white smoke emanated from the mouth of the jar, and the expert with a foreign accent shivered his hand unconsciously. "Steady, steady." said the other man. "It won''t explode. "Sorry, I shouldn''t be so excited," said the foreign expert, shaking his head and relieving with a long sigh. "It''s only the first time I''ve seen something like this outside the lab."Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. "It is normal to be afraid of," said the expert standing on the opposite. "Only an ignorant fool would pay no attention to the devil." "I am a little surprised," puzzled the foreign expert, "The liquid Can it really kill 70,000 people in a second? " "You''ve been in the Garden of Eden in the laboratory for a long time, Andrei Dzagoev. You know nothing about this fallen Babylon," snorted the expert on the opposite, examining the jar''s cooling system. "Novichok, The most evil thing man has ever invented. It could only be worse than that. Think it over. "He smiled coldly." A warhead with poisonous substances. If possible, in London, Rome, Paris, or Berlin Considering the seasons and the wind, you can detonate it anywhere in Europe and create a depopulated zone as large as Luxembourg. The condensing system is OK and as for the temperature "He said, looking at the small meter on the jar." Itll keep stable at minus 25 degrees Celsius. " "Airtight is perfectly intact," the foreign expert nodded and gestured, "There was no leak." He put the jar back slowly. ". The expert turned his head and said, "Tell them ready to go." They stepped to the container, knocked the door thrice, right behind the truck. "See, finished, 5 minutes, no more, no less," the expert said with ease, "Hey, he''s not gonna trouble you, right?" "I''m afraid, " the armed man opened the gate, urged, "because he''s mad now. You''d better be hurry, he''s quarreling with his guest." The expert assured he would give explanations to the colonel. As the door shut, the container darkened, his partner seized his thraot, faster than a cobra. The chemical expert was too shocked and he havent made any sound for the sudden attack. A sharp dagger thrust into the back of his head. The foreign expert lay down the body, took of his chemical mask, and unpacking his gear box, took out a SCAR L PDW. "Lieutenant Fox, this is Major," he said, lowering his voice and speaking to the radio. "I''ve sneaked into the car. Molotov''s big toy has been confirmed. Report your situation. " "Roger that, Major, this is Fox," replied a younger woman. "I have arrived at the sniper site, waiting for the next command. Over. " "Any suspicious movements?" "The enemy is following the course," replied Helen, "No extra vehicles, no sudden change of direction. And......Major, two other convoys are driving towards the meeting place from the eastern and south-western corners of the hospital. Over. " Major moved a little closer to the cab, tried to listen to the communication between the driver and his accomplice. "Nothing unusual." Major sighed lightly, "Where is our asset?" "Major, it seems that Well, he was talking to a guy in a brown jeep. And, he seems.excited. " "Don''t worry, he won''t be in danger until the goods arrive," Major said, trying harder to get to the edge of the operator cab. "Now Molotov pays all his attention to him, he won''t even be aware of the next move. His time is at hand. " "Hope so, Major." "Lieutenant, your voice doesn''t sound right," Major said in stern, "I can here your intense breath. What happened?" "Major, I, I''m a little worried, "Helen said honestly. I know I shouldn''t, but that weapon Novichok. Can itreally kill 70,000 people, right? " "Don''t think about that," Song Yinuo interrupted her. "All you have to do is keep an eye on Molotov and kill him on command. I''ll take care of the rest." The voice on the other side was silent. "Yinuo, I''m sorry." "Call me Major, Lieutenant Fox." Major said, "And, no apologize." The car bumped and made a slight turn. Major held the jar full of poison in his hand as he examined his personal weapon. "No, I mean Major, if" Lieutenant Helen Fox sighed slightly, "what if Ifail, like the last time? Can you deal with them alone? " "Lieutenant," Major said firmly. "Get yourself in good shape. Don''t think about losing it. That was just maneuver. " He slowly moved toward the door with the right hand extended to the door plug and the left hand to fill the box magazine into the submachine gun, and then refolded the gun. "Helen, you''re the best sniper I''ve ever trained," he thought, softening his tone. "No one in the world can shoot better than you. Remember what you told me------" A wry smile came from the other side of the radio. "Yes," Helen smiled. "------hold your back.'' " "And you will. "Major said. "It''ll be okay. He put on his helmet and left the last message in a muffled voice. Operation Bloodhound, case 3 The truck loaded with the deadly Novichok slowly pulled in. Time for the action Major stands in the carriage. White vapor wraps up his body. He checked the equipment for the last time: a dagger, a submachine gun, a radio transmitter, and a C4 detonator. He closed his eyes, his muscles trembled with excitement. So here goes the plan: Molotov will stay inside the jeep, covered by bulletproof glass, cuz he''s a cautious coward. No normal weapon could make the penetration, except for the TAC-50. When Lieutenant Fox takes the shot and she will shot to kill, he will take the warhead out with the asset''s vehicles. He had faith in her, resemble the same faith in himself. "Colonel, the goods has arrived." Ilich Subokov beckoned to his men when seeing the truck parked nearby. "Keep on alert, and anything suspicious must be reported immediately." Still at the hospital square, the quarell continued. It seems the relationship between Molotov and his new friend had vanished. "Colonel, we are so disappointed about your attitude! With a reputated man like you as a guarantor, we should have thought. " "On our previous contract was clearly written," Molotov loudly interrupted the asset''s argument, "Euro, all Euro! The valid cash, which immediately transformed into arms, personnel, and supplies! But what are these on earth? "He slammed the suitcase, and the cash was crudely spilled on the floor." Who''s going to take the ruble now? " "Listen to me. Please listen to me." The little man explained with dry lips, "Our company has recently been involved in a financial dispute from abroad. You know it. The Federal Taxation Office has been monitoring our money flow for a long time. We can''t afford to put out too many euros, the only $2 million, which we took out from more than two hundred accounts. I vouch for the credit of the company------" "With all respect, sir," Molotov interrupted the man. "Our cooperation has always been perfect. We have changed the address according to your requirements. In consideration of your trouble, we agree to reduce the price. But I must think for myself and my soldiers. Sir, when your government destroyed my homeland, you destroyed her credit, too. We need money of value, euro, dollar, Chinese yuan, gold and silver, anything, but DON''T, TRICK ME, WITH THAT." He stopped suddenly. "What is up, Ilich? Molotov asked, with a sudden alert voice. "The goods are arrive," Ilich said, "Should we......" "No," Molotov said, "The business is over. Take the euro, and kill them." The asset blanched. "Wait......wait! Things don''t have to be like this!" he looked to Molotov, then turned to the arriving truck, as if it could plead for him, "I will call my boss......please, I''m not the one who made the decision, I''m just a messenger!" "Your boss?" Molotov laughed, "I suggest, why don''t you could talk with him, face to face, then we know exactly how you make the agreement. Ilich, open the cargo. We have a new aquaintance here."Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. He closed the door. Before the asset and his bodyguard figured out, Ilich, with 5 armed men, targeted at the cargo. "Put your weapon, down to the ground! Now!" 1 mile away, Lieutenant Fox took a sudden tremble. "Do you see that? They captured Major!" Through scope, Major throw the weapon, took off his helmet. He was forced to kneel down. "Should I take the shot?" "Hold......hold," it is her observer, "We don''t know if they gonna attack yet." "I can''t leave him in danger!" "Calm down. Major don''t give signal, that means he''s not ready yet......he might, want to have a talk with Molotov." Molotov turned to Major. "Well, then, Major, the legendary Agent Bloodhound, or Mr. Song? Doesn''t matter. You have plenty of avatars."he said, But, it''s an honor to have met you, in person. I think you''re not lucky this time. "You''d better save your energy, Major said, pursing his lips. "It is a waste of time to catch me alive. Kill you? Molotov smiled, contemptuously, revealing his blackened teeth again, "Many people in the world are waiting in line to take your head. I''d rather leave you with the CIA and AGI for a better price. But, Major, let''s be frankly. You have a really special skill, something I used to aquire. I want you to do a job for me, job that I can handle if I am 20 years younger." "You are looking for the wrong one," Major said, "as I said, you are wasting your time." "Don''t you have family, son? Don''t you care about someone around you? If I leave you die here, what will she do? He paused for a while "Your daughter. Do you still remember? How old was she, when you abandon her? Major glared at Molotov, his eyes nearly popping out. "What''s that for?" "We know where she is," Molotov said with a strange smile. I think, she might persuade you to make a decision, which is good for both of us. " "Go to hell." Major rose abruptly, slammed his forehead against the window. Ilich knocked him down with the buttstock. "Try it again, bastard." Ilich trampled against Major''s chest, pointed the rifle at his face, "I''m gonna blow up your chins." "Well, "Major sneered, "Why don''t you take the shot, then?" That''s what he called "signal"! Countdown has been set, he could almost feel the recoil of TAC-50 1 mile away. 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Hit. A bullet screamed with a sharpwhistle through torn air, with hot trajectory hit straight into the asset''s head, and hit the jeep on the side of the iron sheet, making the click" of the crisp sound. With a splash, the body of informant fell upright, spilling over with blood. God damn it! Wrong shot--- "Helen!" Two more pistol fire, then the clamor of electic current. Helen''s signal was lost. "Hide! Ilich exclaimed. Sniper! Major made a prompt reaction, twisted Ilich''s hand, pulled out the dagger and slashed it at his wrist. The blade cut the tendon. Ilich let out a wail of pain and loosened the grip of gun. Some of armed men raised their guns, but their necks were cut off. Major''s movement was like lightning, nobody gave a resistance. The gunfire soon died away. Molotov! Major drew the dagger, saw Molotov and his trusted followers bowing his head and hidding in the jeep. He ducked crouching behind the cargo, picked the SCAR L PDW, and slammed bullets into the jeep''s wheels, body and window. However, 5.56 NATO bullets cannot actually penetrate the bulletproof glass at the distance. The 30-round cartridge emptied, and the jeep, with bullet holes all over its body, was still trying to escape. " Lieutenant!"Major shouted at the radio," he''s still alive! Take the shot!" Too late. The car turned a corner and disappeared. Molotov escaped. The anger rose inside Major''s chest, almost exploding his body. Molotov ran away. All the sacrifices are in vain. Major picked up the radio. "Major? Major!" The voice came out from the Command site." Mission abort! You must evacuate immediately! I repeat, you must evacuate immediately! " Major sighed silently. "Command, this is Bloodhound. We''re on our way to the extraction point. Over. " "Be careful! The voice from the command office was very anxious. UAVs shows a large group of armed men gathering nearby. They are closing in! Helicopter can''t stay here long, you have ten minutes only! Good luck, Major! АКУЛА, case closed Helen, what happen to you...... His hand trembled, as he picked the radio, with his heavy breath on the microphone. Silly child. Major raised the heartbeat sensor. A mass of red dots were gathering behind the hospital, spreading out in all directions. Gunshots everywhere. They were approaching. Major did the last check. Three magazines, not many, but enough for ten minutes. A grenade and a smoke bomb, the last straw, never use them until necessary. He adjusted his breathing, switched the weapon to semi-auto mode. Then he cleaned the blood, and took back the dagger to his scabbard. It was his last weapon, his art craft. He wont be captured. Major stood up, looked outside, and shot two rounds. The enemy immediately located him. A storm of bullet poured down at his side . Major hid himself in the back of the cargo, with random bullet flitted across his shoulder. Major waited patiently, fired a few rounds. Two enemies got instantly killed. The armed men were were not matched, he has confidence about that. After 5 more men got shot from distance, the Major still alived. They had to change tactic. With overwhelming covering fire from mounted machinegun, the armed men advanced gradually towards Major, hid themselves behind the armored vehicles. And that''s the moment he''s waiting for. Major watched their steps, pressed the detonating button. BOOM!!! C4 exploded a huge gap in the base of the statue. The angel statue, which lies at the center of the square, lost its support, cracked and fallen down to the vehicles. Flying stones and smoke spread all over the square. The armed men lost their sight, half of the infantries got buried in ashes. "Major, this is Recon 1. The helicopter is approaching. We can see smoke and fire coming up ahead. Where are you now? " "Recon 1, this is Bloodhound. I''m in the hospital square, heading for the evacuation point. Over. " "Roger that, Major. The flares near the evacuation point will activate automatically when you arrive. We''ll be hovering all the time. Recon 1 replied, Until we found the red smoke. Thanks, Recon 1. How long can you stay? Not longer than 1 minute, sir. Russian told us they will launch an air strike on the area soon. "An air strike?" "Yes, sir." Major froze. He quickly calmed down and, instead of moving forward, he returned back. If they wanted an air strike... Covered by the chaos, Major moved into the truck, took out his dagger, pried open the gas warhead, and carefully took the deadly glass of liquid out.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. If the trucks were destroyed in the air strike, according to that chemical expert, the entire population of Minsk, the army, would all be killed by the gas. He took the last glimpse at the warhead, and throw the grenade inside it. He must get rid of this demon. The smoke was faded. In the early morning air, even without the aid of binoculars, the armed men could easily spot the black spot moving quickly through the weeds. Major heard the sharp sound of bullets, whistling around him. He stooped calmly, moving forward with a Z-route, repeating acceleration, deceleration, acceleration, deceleration. Every turn he paused and fired a round or two, and then he heard a injured scream, mingled with the sound of body falling to the ground. But in the open area, with dozens enemies chasing behind, Major has been at his wits'' end. Nothing to do but pray for the helicopter. After a round of burst-fire, Major had ran out of his third magazine, with only 1 last. Is it the end of me? Not. Not gonna happen. I''ve seen worse. I''m not ready to die yet! WIth the tiny interrupt, Major felt something warm came out of his body . Gunshot! On the shoulder! Without heisitate, he turned and shielded the canisters behind him, slided to the side, dodged the flares of the light machine guns, with one hand holding the weapon and fighting back. In a flash, a mass of blood came out of the pickup truck. Three armed men inside were labled as a hornet''s nest. Major heaved his body up, looked at the pickup turning upside down, with a fireball rising up to the sky. Good for now.....the glass was safe. Major checked at the wound. Deep, penetrated by 7.62 bullet. His arm was disable for now. Fortunately, he still have the right one. The armed men were getting more closer. Major looked at the weapons in hand, only half of magazine left. No grenade anymore. The flare was on the place less than 50 meters away, smoking red. Major pulled out the smoke bomb, let the fog surround him. He gripped the dagger, his face was emotionlessly tight. Suddenly, a huge shadow came out of the red smoke. A Chinook helicopter. They hovered in the aire. The hatch opened, with a M134 mini-gun strecthed out. "Command this is Recon 1. We have found Major. ready to evacuate" Well done, Recon 1. Get your ass out of here before the Russian clear the hot." Recon 1! Recon 1! Regardless his wound , Major tied the cable to his waist, and hugged the glass with his uninjured right hand, "All units, free fire on my mark!" "Roger, free fire." The gunner operated the mini-gun. A ray of bullet fire splashing over the area. The armed men, their flesh and vehicles were all annihilated to dust. Major, that''s damn close!" one team member turned to Major. We can''t stay here longer. Russian bombers have already taken off. We need return to the base as soon as possible! Major sat exhausted on the floor. Where''s Lieutenant Fox?" He asked.Did you evacuate her? No, Major. We didn''t see Lieutenant Fox. Like a wet, cold hand tugging at his organs, as if his blood were drained from the body. She didn''t make it....... She didn''t get out........ Major? Back! Back now! "What are you talking about, Major?" Lieutenant Fox. She''s not out yet. I know she''s there. She''s still waiting for our help! Back now! I will never abandon my companion! Major, are you crazy? There is no way back! That''s an order! FUCKING ORDER!" Major drew out the dagger against his thraot, "Go back and get Helen out! But Major! Lieutenant Fox is a traitor! What? Our actions have been leaked from the beginning, Major! Lieutenant Fox, she sold out all of us to Molotov! The cabin suffered a heavy blow. Crews in the cabin were knocked off by a sudden shock. We are under attack! the driver''s voice came over the radio. Evade! Evade! Outside the hatch, a gunship, painted with a black shark head hunted behind them. May day! May day! the pilot shouted in despair, We lost the lift! Chopper''s falling! Chopper''s falling down------ Another explosion. Major felt a strong whirlwind, turned him upside down, and throw out of the cabin. ...... ...... His eyes opened, hardly, with extreme pain. The terrifying Sharkhead gunship landed. He saw shadow with a pilot helmet came towards him, slow and steady. He looked around. Under the wreckage of the Chinook, the bodies were scattered. He struggled to his feet and crept towards a pistol. No sooner had his hand touched it, the shadow trampled against his wrist, and kicked the pistol away. "Not a chance, Major." A raspy, but rather young voice. A little familiar, gir-like voice, but failed to recognize. If only, her mocking eyes throughgoggles could tell. Next second, Major felt his head was fiercely kneed by her. As his body tumbled, his last counsiousness dispersed in the cold winter of Minsk. The Girl With a Crescent Pendant, case 1 D37 Special Zone, Berlin, Germany, a place of dirt, chaos, and illegal buildings as people believe, where evils breed like rats and ants under the sun. A variety of such immigrant special zones stand in Europe, among which D37 is of the largest scale which houses whole Lichtenberg and about one fourth ofthe entire immigrants. It is the ruthless gate of the Confederation of European States, only few lucky dogs can pass it by chance and leave for Britain and maybe Sweden, their dream places. At 5 p.m, December 4, riot police drive cruisers with P.K on the car bodies across the center of the street and go on patrol. Every time when the police discover foreigners C Russians especially, they will stop the cars in front of these wanderers and warn them of the latest curfew: From December 1 to 13, D37 Special Zone will be placed under curfew from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. the next day. No egress or assembly is permitted. The annoying notice is broadcast three times at 5 p.m., in English, German, and Russian respectively. The riot police often complain about this arduous but fruitless assignment in private gatherings. After the curfew was imposed, the office in three days received dozens of cases that the police were attacked by fire bombs and two patrol wagons were burnt to scrap iron. On hearing the incident, the Berlin Council with great determination and in a quick manner issued a tit-for-tat decree with an overwhelming majority vote, which is rarely seen in democratic states. With this decree, riot police at any time and in any place have the equal right of self-defense when they feel they are threatened in any form. Since the issuance of the decree, the once all-pervading foreigners disappear, which greatly satisfies the office. To precaution against undiscovered wanders, if any, the office increases the patrols so that this notorious slumdog will be kept as peaceful and tranquil as a library during the Berlin Summit. However, complaints linger on. Bang! A glass bottle thrown to the windshield. The police have to stop the car. In the distance, several youngsters quickly run to the alley at the corner. Bastard! The policeman holds the spontoon tight and tries to calm himself down: People there are especially hostile to the government. He could not cope with every troublemaker. Why? Why dont you arrest him? Someone at the back of the carriage grumbles in a vague voice C a drunken man, I did nothing. Why me? Your rules are bullshit! His body incessantly shakes and the handcuffs clank. Shut up, the policeman beats the back plate, You deserve it. Why did you pee beside our car? You should count yourself lucky that we didnt seize your tool. What the fuck? He pees on the car? The driver frowns and then shuts the plate with loathing, your filthy swine! He honks the horn so hard that the Eastern European youngsters are scared and break up in a hubbub, and then disappear in the alley. What on earth are we doing? The driver sighs. Russians take us as dogs of the government. Medias accuse us for being oppressors. Why does everyone hate us? We are on our own country! Hold it. The riot policeman looks to his colleague, After the Summit, I will request to transfer out. We should have quitted early. The driver takes a turn: And they shouldnt have been there, the foreign guys. Hold, hold, the policeman is worn out and looks out of the window, Arent you fed up with these clichs! The superior put us in such an awful mess and stand aloof, the driver continues to complain and spits: They just sit in the office and drink coffee, leaving us in the mess! Oh, come onJust keep your eyes wide open and check the block one last time. Wanna go home earlier? Lets clear away the threatsFor Gods sake, this is our own safety. The policeman speaks and casts a look at a shabby old block full of graffiti. By coincidence, he notices a shadow of light purple curling up at the corner under the dim street lamp. Something happens. He pats the driver on the shoulder and asks him to stop the car, Stay alert. Im gonna check it. Cant you just mind your own business? The driver has no choice but unlock the car. The policeman opens the door, looks around, and walks opposite. The guy in light purple is startled and stands up. The policeman then can have a closer look at him: The small fellow is in a purple sweater and carries a bag. He puts his hood up and hides his face. Hey, what are you doing here? Its only 30 minutes left before the curfew. The policeman asks, Dont you hear the broadcast? The man stays silent, tilts his head, and looks at the cruiser behind him, confused. The policeman holds his spontoon up and pokes his shoulder, Hey man. Take off your hood. He then puts his hood off. A girl with straggled hair meets his eye. She keeps her eyes wide open and glares at the policeman with uncertainty, her hand continuously fiddling with a silver crescent pendant around her neck. It seems she is confused by what is happening. Suddenly she awakes to the situation and cries out. P.eace Keeper? She swallows and covers her mouth. Stay calm girl, calm down please. The policeman suddenly loses his head, We are not coming to arrest you. We are just on our beat No DeutschNo Deutsch She sobs, Bittekein Gefangnis! Oh, come on, the driver rolls down the winder, I guess she doesnt know German. All right Dont worry, girl He pacifies her, EnglischSie? He lifts one finger up and tries to gesture, Sprechen SieEnglisch? He speaks as slowly as he can, for fear that she misunderstands his words. She doesnt look like an European, the driver reminds him, Can you speak Arabic? On hearing the word Arabic, the girl raises her head. Ja, Arab! She keeps nodding and looks to the driver, Bitte, kein gute Deutsch! She looks very pale under the dim light. Just then, the policeman manages to see her clearly: cerulean pupils and medium-length hair of coffe-brown, with a redundancy of hair falling in curls to her shoulders. Her baby face is dainty and round. She might from Middle-East, the police believed, based on his experience, and her long and curly eyelashes are the best testimony. His idea originates from the theory of evolution: Long eyelashes can help the desert dwellers resist the sand and dust. Bingo, says the driver.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. Can you speak English? The policeman asks. Yes, I can. The girl calms down, Sorry, I shouldn''t wander. It doesnt matter. Whats your name? Rawi. Show me your passport, the policeman gesticulates, Passportemlike a small handbook. The girl draws a wrinkled passport from her pack and passes it to him. Rawi Ayda. So, are you from Syria? He sees it over, Beautiful litle thing. Thank you, sir. The girl answers, Yes, Im from SyriaActually my English is poor, but better than my German. Did you hear the broadcast, in English? Yes. So you know that you are not allowed to go out at this point. Sure, sir. But there is still half an hour. Yes, youre right, in principle. The policeman explains patiently, but he finds that Rawi seems not to understand whats in principle. But all building there are curfewed at six, all apartments and supermarkets. (The girl tilts her head The man supposes she doesnt understand the word curfew.) Well curfew literally means you are not allowed to enter. The doors are controlled by the computer Nono, you will not open it even with a key. (He notices that the girl takes out a key.) If you do not come back to your apartment before 6, you will be......out. Do you understand? He returns her passport back. Wheres your home? Home? Well, go there......down the street twice.....then left Sorry, I dont know how to say. But I know the way. Not far from here, ha? Can you arrive at home before 6? Sure. She shakes her head, But Im waiting for my my brother. Your brother? He told you to wait for him here? Yes, sir The policeman looks around. Are you sure? He asks: We did not see anybody. Sir, the girl lowers her head and again fiddles with her pendant, He will come He promised me He will. But Im afraid that you dont have enough time to go home when your brother come. He offers his hand and tries to catch her shoulders, We can take you around and lets go to your brother together, OK? The girl quivers as if electric current has passed. Feeling embarrassed, the man holds his hand back. Thank you, but Im going to stay here, she puts on a forced smile, My brother would go insane if he loses contact with me, and She steps back: I dont want to stay with him. The policeman looks back: The drunken man leans against the window, drooling and fixing his eyes on Rawi. Alright. Take this. He takes an interphone from the car, Do you have a cell phone? No? OK, take it. He puts the interphone in Rawis hand. If you brother doesnt come or if you are in trouble, contact the riot police with the phone. There are several cruisers around here. You can ask for help at any time. Danke, the girl feels grateful, Thats very nice of you. We will go on our beat for the last time half an hour later, the police feels relieved, if you still dont meet your brother, contact us. Well drive you home. He looks over the man in the compartment, But now we have to take him to the Riot Center first. He opens the car door. Anything wrong? The driver starts the engine. Nothing, just a little girl in a daze. The policeman fastens his seat belt and looks back to where the girl is standing. Out of the window, the girl smiles and waves her hand. Lets go. The dusk fells on the street. This so-called "Rawi" girl, is still standing there, glaring at the front. She keeps rubbing her hands together and breathing onto them. Her "brother" still doesnt show up, and the frozen boreal roars at her ears, making her muscle trembling. Her patience is vanishing, as she keeps kicking the telegraph pole behind her, shakes it with crack sound. As her mind wandering, a cold hand pats on her shoulder. Looking back, she sees a skinny young man, whose body in all black. His stinky breath envelops the girl''s face, sicks her stomach. "Nikolai, why took you so long?" the girl curbs her temper, "We''re almost running out of time." "Tut mir leid, Natasha," Nikolai smirks, "Just encountered some damn patrol......" "No excuse," the girl says, "I can smell it from your gut. Look how much did you drink!" "Natasha, please, just along with some friends, you know, you gonna keep such bond-----" "Just because they stay in a same gang with you doesn''t mean they are friendly, especially when I tell you, NOT TO HANG OUT WITH THEM! You are wasting our deposit on trash." She almost bursts her anger out.Nikolai looks so upset. He lower his sight on his toe, with a slight, apologetic sigh.The girlslaps her forehead. Willing or not, she yield to his pathetic appearance, or should she say, to his boyhood trick, again.Whenshe realizes thatshe is the only person he can rely on, it''s hard to push him too much. "Forget that. Come with me." the girl gives her hand to Nikolai. "Eh......do what?" "Something makes you happier," the girl smiles, "Nikolai, we''re gonna make a fortune." Nikolai stares at her, withwide eyes inamazement, but thendoubt in curiosity. "Natasha, you''re......not involved in some drug dealing, right?" "What? Hell no. It''s a wealthy family lives here," she points back at an apartment, "new comer, in want of eight ID cards. Think of it, eight! A bunch, and one-time pay! Maybe we canexpect more on his other relatives who are still out of the country. I decide to sell 2,000or more for each, and I tell him: five hundred more, I canget hima ticket to Denmarkfor guarantee." "Sounds nice, Natasha. But......what do you want me to do?" "It''s so simple. I''m walking on the block controled by your gang, and you gonna scout for me, in case your ''friends'' come and ruin my deal. Just stay by the corner, and don''t feel stressed, OK?" "OK......Natasha, if you need me." The girl winks atNikolai as an encouragement, tells him whistle her if he find anyone closing in. Then she walks inside the building, takes a phone call. "Hello? Hello?" The signal is bad. She has to repeat her words several times, "Mr? Mr. Uzmanov?, the one who talked with you three days ago. I''m here. You can come downstairs and get your cards." One minutes later, the storage near the lift opens up. The girl stuns, watches a furry middle man walks out, dresses in a shabby full of patches. "Servus, Frau. Entshuldigung. Ich habe Deutsch lernen fuer wenige Zeit nur. Sorry I didn''t shave myself.It was a hard time for me." "I see. In English then." The girl says. She feels her blood is cooling, "I guess you bring the cash." Mr. Uzmanov heisitates, "Well......yeah." "Driver license," the girl opens her pack, "the first thing for youto get quick money. In fact, you can almost start to get a job tomorrow, so the the fair cost will be2,500." Mr. Uzmanov shocks. "What?500 more? But we......have made it clear before, right?" "As you mention, that was ''before''," the girl raises her eybrow, "Need I inform you, new comer? I''ve come acrosstenblocks to get here, ten, it''s like walkingthrough the borders of ten lion territories. Since there''s only," She checks the clock, "20 minutes left, and I will late for home for sure, it''s also fair for me to get an extra pay to bribe the police, cuz every minute you waste here would eventually countribute to my future prison life in riot-center. So, are you gonna pay now, or keep vexing me?" "I''m sorry, girl. I do''t know that I put you in such risk," Uzmanov begs, with hands hold on his chest, "Forgive me, but I can hear your accent. You''re not local, right? Where are you from, Belarus? Romania?" "Ukraine, and stop relating......" "I''m Ukrainian too, girl. You see, I used to teach in Kiev University, with decent salary!I''m so familiar with you Ukrainian accent It''s it''s like meeting my family in person. Absolutely! Please, listen to me."Seeing the girl tilting her hand, he adds at once, "Dear girl, my friend, my sibling! I cannot afford this extra.They''ve stolen my everything: money, passport, bankcard.I''m a mathematics, and I''m weak in health. I need this license. I have to sale my laptop to make up for the2,000, nothing valuable left!" "Why don''t youturn to your family members?" the girl humphs, "Now I get it. No wealthy family will rent a storage. You cheat me, professor. You don''t even have family members, don''t you?" "You wouldn''t come if I didn''t say so!" The girl scorns, turns back and ready to leave. "Please! Dear girl, show some mercy!" Mr. Uzmanov seizes her arm, "Please.....have a look." He takes her to the storge, and uncover the towel on the ground. "My daughter......isn''t she beautiful, beautiful like you?" Mr. Uzmanov toucheshissick girl''s face, "But she''s dying now, and will not beautiful any longer! I do lie to you, dear girl. She''s the only family I have. They burned my home, killed my wife, my brothers and sisters,I can''t losther again!" His daughter, about same age as the girl, coughs, trembles in the cold air. She grabs the towel little tighter. "Seems like flu, or infection." The girl covers her nose, "OK, that works for me, in a slight degree.2,300. No less again." "All I have is 2,000, dear girl. If you worry about police and in need of me, I can explain to the police......I will tell them that you are helping my daughter." "Tell a word to the cop, and you die!" The girl curses. But the whistle suddenly comes from distance, she realizes that she must leave right now, "Fine! Fine!2,000, you glib counterman! Get your damn license and disappear!" She snatches his money, throw his license to the ground, and walking out without looking back. "With all my heart, dear girl!" Mr. Uzmanov bows to pick up his license."God bless you, my dearest sibling!" The girl rushes out of the building. As she steps down the stairs, she looks at the corner of street: Three men, apparently gangsters, grip Nikolai''s collar. Nikolai shakes his head, and glances at the girl. "Run, Natasha......" He struggles with murmur. "Let him go." The girl says. She''s not running away. The gangsters push him against the ground, andchange their target to the girl. "So, your chick thinkshe can fool us like that?" A man with scar on the face squints at her, speaking in Russian, "Right before curfew, think we are at home, and steal our money?" "I''m not steal your money." the girl responds, also in Russian, "I earn it." "All the money belongs to us, bitch!" His partner, abig tatooed guy shouted, "Yeah, yeah! All the buildings, all the residents, the water, the electric!" another guy says, with a backwards ballcup on head, "You ARE IN DEED stealing from us!" "I don''t belong to any gang, no need to obey your rules,," the girl ignorestheir warning, "Let''s go Nikolai, I told you they''re not your friend......" Before she finishes her words, thebig guy chokes her throat, lifting her on the wall. "Open her pack." Theother two drag her pack. Money, an interphone, fake ID cards, cigarret, and a dagger......They gather all the money, and take several cigarrets, let the rest fall out on the ground. "Listen, the cop......on your back," the girl says, "Let go of me......" "Oh, you think that works, honey?" the big guy still seizes her, "By your fucking child trick?" "I......mean......serious!" the girl''s face turns flush, "You don''t wanna be sent to the center together, right? I''m doomed anyway," she shows him the watch, "but......but you can still get home......on time......" The big guy seems heisitated a little. He slightly takes a short glimpse. AHHHHHHH------- The girl knees his crotch in a flash, and hit his nose with her forehead. He can''t help loose his hand. The girl fells on the ground. "What the......" The scar-face, witness the attack, picks the dagger up and sticks to the girl. "Watch out!" Nikolai screams. The girl dodges aside, catches his hand, thenelbows his unprotected chest. He kneels to the ground, retching and coughing. "You out of your damn mind, dick-face?" the girl presses the dagger against his throat, and shows up her pendant, "Don''t you fucking hearabout Natasha, the girl wearing this?Who send you to follow us, your boss? Dare you?" The third guy is scared to run, leaving the scar-face breathes in short,with sputum coughing out of his mouth. "The......cop, behind you......" "You think thatworks twice, idiot?" the girl laughs aloud, pushes the blade even harder "WHO, SEND YOU, TO US?" Suddenly,sharpsiren rings through the air. Nikolai runs to the corner and watches. "The police!" He confirms, "You gotta go, Natasha!" The girl surprises for a while, then she calms herself down, hold the dagger,knocks the scar-face down with the hilt. "Move them to the trash-bin, " she says, "Come! Give me a hand." "Hello, Rawi? Are you still there? Its 6:00, curfew begins, and the police come just in time. "Ah, we thought you are lost," theofficer puts down the interphone, watches the girl walks from the corner, "Just about to search you." "Thank you, sir. I''mso fine." "Have you met your brother? The officer looks about and sees Nikolai staggering to an apartment nearby. Is that him? "Yes, sir. "Such a rude man. You dont live together? "No, sir. He likes to sleep in his friends'' house for a night "Im beginning to dislike him. The man adjusted his hat. I think we will keep an eye on him. He looks like a danger. "No, sir. He treats me well. The officer says no more, and opens the car. The girl sits on the front passenger seat, with her head lowered, and mouth shut. On the way home, she directs the way in a soft voice and never talksanymoreThe street is tranquil and the bright moonlight floods into the compartment, illuminating the crescent pendant around her neck. "From today, you will probably have to carry on different work with different identities to earn a living. But remember, this pendant will always protect you. Hold this, and I''ll by your side. She meditates, holds the pendant tight in her hand. "But where are you...then?" The Girl With a Crescent Pendant, case 2 Floor three, going down. With a crack, the old elevator creaks open. Possibly being for long years out of repair, its door goes half-opened but stuck in the middle. The girl has to hold the frame with both hands, and pulls the door open with all her strength. All of a sudden, a mixture of alcohol, marijuana and inferior perfume drifts into the air out of the passage. What a hell hole... the girl whispers, I won''t live here any longer, ever! Surviving is one thing, but everybody has the right to keep the blossom among bread. Nevertheless, after searching around her wallet, she drops her head in dismay: anyway, this building boasts a very romantic name, Das Rosenmeer, is proved to be the cheapest apartment here. Rumors said it houses some of the most dangerous desperadoes, who murders people for appetizer. Well......she supposes, that she must be in list, because she not only eats them, she drinks their blood up for thirst. Others said several people get killed, right in the room she settles in, the blood is still covered by threelayers of carpet. Well......that''s why the 100 per week comes from, right? Anyway, who gives a shit. Danger won''t come if you showing no fear, and act worse. The girl, in a wry smile, gropes the fungi wall and walks along the passage. The dim lamp over her head flickers on rapidly and gets her dizzy with tearful eyes. 306...307... She mutters, squints her eys, identifying the number on the plank. "308... is here! The girl let out a smile, visibly relieved, and takes a stretch willfully. She takes out the room card from her wallet, and swipes it freely beside the sensor. "Click The sensor sounds an alarm and flashed red. The girl puzzles. She picks up the card and checks it again No trace of damage, unlikey being demagnetized either. She tosses it and swipes again. Click, another annoying alarm. The girl scratches her head, sneaking a peek at her side. Under the dim light, there is no slightest sound in the passage, as quiet as a graveyard. Her suspicious nerves tenses instantly: a trap. If the card had no problem, it may indicate: The door of her house has been hacked. The girl takes a deep breath. She looks down at the doorknob, pretending to be very much bewildered. Her right hand flaps down quietly in an imperceptible gesture, leaving the carbon-alloy dagger out of the cuff. She catches her breath, waiting for a dangerous signal. If only she hears any unfriendly footsteps. No, even a shadow breath! She would strike the first blow without hesitation. After all, life is your own. "Ding" The girl turns her head. The elevator stops at the third floor again. That''s right! She pinches the dagger tightly, moving step by step towards the opening. More than ten minutes, since the curfew at six o''clock, no one would come up right now!Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. She murmurs, growing more certain. The best way to deal with danger is to wipe it out in the bud. A glimmer of light flashes through the crack of the half-opened elevator door. A long shadow is dragged on floor tiles of the passage. Hello, is anyone there? The girl''s arm trembles slightly, and her fingers on the handle unconsciously loosened. The dagger drops with a clatter onto the floor. The one in the elevator seemed to notice that. Excuse me, is anyone nearby? a squeaky voice threads its way through, I''m sorry... this elevator seems to be stuck... Could you open it for me? Is this also a trap? The person may distract her attention and drop her guard, and then let a partner attack her swiftly from behind. Perhaps, put the rope around her neck upon her unawareness, or cover her nose and mouth with an anesthetic-stained towel, or straightforwardly cut through her throat? The third call come from the elevator, interrupts the girls meditation. She fixes her mind, bends over and picks up the dagger on the ground, then wipes the sweat from forehead with cuffs, and creeps to the elevator. Ach, vielen danke, that person sighed after the girl pulled the elevator door open. I don''t know whats wrong with this old elevator. And no one is going to fix it. I just thought I had to sleep all night in itThank you so much. The girl shot a glance at the speaker. This is a young woman, around 25 years old, with a blonde hair flowing to her waist, a spotless beige coat, and a scarf imprinted with Germany flag firmly around her neck. She''s surprised that the womans appearance seems completely incompatible with D37: an elegant white-rimmed glasses lightly placed on her dainty nose, if coupled with the small handbag in her handalthough she stays vigilant of what was in the bag, in her eyes, the outline was very much like a pistolshe would even regards her as a lawyer, might from the Immigration Bureau, who had cast an eye over her for some time. What''s going on? Are you okay? The girl looks up and sees that woman smiling at her, with childish roundness and two shallow dimples on her face. No, nothing... The girl begin to hem and haw, hiding the entire face in the shadow of her hood, preventing the woman from seeing her face. She is definitely not someone who should appear in this zone. Her accent, dressing as well as outer appearance all reveal that she must come from a well-off middle class family. A fair-skinned hand gently extends out to the girl, and interrupts her cranky thoughts. Hello, says the young woman graciously, My name is Weiss, Weiss Valentine. The girl hesitates for a moment, and barely reaches out a hand to shake hers. Natasha... Well, call me Natasha. Nice to meet you, Natasha. Are you Russian? Well, closely...... So you can speak Russian! I started learning Russian six months ago, but until now, I can only say hello, something like ڧӧ֧, ѧ ӧѧ ӧڧէ֧." She keeps talking Russian in a stumble voice, for a minute, " Well, these are all I can speak... How does it sounds? Good... I mean, um, like a real Russian." You are so courteous, quite different from others here," Weiss giggles, "May I ask, do you live here? I wonder maybe we can contact more often, or drop around in the future. You know, Im totally new here. I was heavily dizzied by these winding streets in the zone, and the cash in my pocket was unknowingly stolen by someone elseI think it may take a few more months for me to adapt to this place. If necessary, I might give you a hint, about this place, the girl fudges, But I suggest you better leave first, before you know. It''s not places for excitement. Doesn''t matter, it will be a short term. Weiss takes out a door card from her handbag, Look at this passage, so dark and creepyWhere should I go? This is true, the girl holds the door frame of elevator, ready to leave, UmWatch out that floor clock in the middle. You may easily be tripped up. Thank you, Natasha! You are so nice, Weiss sends her a grateful smiling, Tomorrow is exactly weekend, and I will be available most of the time. If you dont mind, would you love to come to my house and try some snacks I made? AhWhatever, I mean Of course, sure, the girl has never been treated so passionately by strangers, she is somewhat at a loss, SoWhere do you live? Weiss points with a finger. 308. The girls finger stops. She is just about to touch the floor button. 308? she feels a chill crawling over her at every pore, Do you live in Room 308? Yeah, though Im not clear where they arranged my roomIt seems to be located at the end of the passage. Is it here? Weiss scratches her chin, pointing here and there in uncertainty, Or over there? Miss Strange, case closed Its her indeed! Hiding herself behind the semi-open elevator door, the girl gives ear to the passage nervously. She doesn''t press a single button, she lives here. Does this woman know indeed what she was talking about? The landlord knows that, this room is already inhabited. She is the true resident of 308, the access card is still in her pocket. Could she be wrong? Or both of them? Faint grows the footsteps of that woman. The girl tilts her head, endeavoring to identify the direction of footfalls. 27 steps...10 to 15 yards away or so, she counts dumbly in her heart. This is a straight passage, turns left until Room 315 at the end. Therefore, this distance, plus the adjacent odd room number, shouldfall between 307 and 310. The girl glimpse out from the crack. The woman swipes the room card. Clink- A pleasant click of unlocking, and a green light lit up. Later, she walks in, switches on the ceiling lamp in the room. The moment she closes the door, the light therein leaks out, and projected onto an old-fashioned floor clock down the front. 100% sure! This clock stood right in the middle section of the passage, the doorway of Room 308! The girls heart pumps fiercely. She slowly paces to the door, with her ear against the plank while the right hand placed behind her back, griping the dragger tightly. Who is that woman? Weiss Valentine, is that her real name? Or just like hers, it is solely one of the countless avatars? Why did she bend eyes on her? Perhaps she had offended her? Is she a cop, a thief, or a killer for taking her life? The girl frowns in stress, adjusts her breath, and eavesdrop inside. A scratching noise of running zipper, follows by crunches of a chair. She''s taking off the coat, probably has a seat. The girl keeps listening. If sounds are made, like the loading of pistol, the sheathing of dagger, or the tightening of hemp ropeshe will breach the door and kill her at once. However, nothing happened. There''s nothing but a soft moan from inside. What the heck? The girl changes her direction and tries again with her right ear. Yep, still moans, accompanies by intermittent sobs. The girl straightens up, hesitates, raises her left hand, and gently knocks on the door. The sobs pauses immediately. "Who... who is outside? "Natasha, it''s Natasha, the girl lowers her voice, You have just seen me. The door opens, and Weiss leans against the door. "Ah, you, please... come in," a reluctant smile on Weiss'' face. The girl notices her red eyes, and a bit of tears wells up on the eye corner and fell. Sorry..., Weiss rubs her eyes, and sniffed , "My house hasn''t been cleaned up yet. Would you... would you please take a seat for a while? The girl leaves her aside, walks straight into the house, scrutinizing the surrounding. Closet..... desk... no problem, remains the same. A bulky suitcase lies on the floor, with its key still attached to the lock. She examines the table, which is piled up with stuff: a digital camera placed amid a lamp and a pink hello-kitty laptop. Wet handkerchief, which get crumpled up, thrown to a corner. Sense of absurdity pours into her mind: Really? She is indeed crying.... Is there any problem? Weiss asks cautiously, "Looking for something?" The girl turns her head back, and stares straight at the woman in sight. Listen, I don''t know why you came here, and from whom you rented this house. But Im sure that no landlord in this zone would rent an inhabited house to others. So listen, The girl takes a step closer to Weiss, and shakes the room card in hand, How did you find Room 308? How did you find me?" "What?" Weiss stares at her. Her hand slowly moves to the back pocket. "You can spare your pepper-spray,"the girl takes off her hood, shows her aggresive glare at her, "Don''t try anything stupid. Answer me, and I won''t hurt you."Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. Weiss stops. Her face turns pale in an instant. She muffles her mouth tightly, with pupils sharply contracts. "YOU? live here? Her voice is fraught with confusion, as if she was talking to herself, "So you...who are you?" "Say again?" Nothing, Weiss bows her head, "Yeah, you just menstioned..." No use muddling through, the girl asks, You haven''t answered me yet. Who rented this house to you? Weiss points to the floor. The second floor. Second floor, the landlord, Mr. Chekov''s parlour. The girl ponders for a moment, then reaches out her hand and grabs the arms of Weiss. What are you doing? Weiss gets shocked. Chekov, right? The girl drags Weiss, and heads toward the door straightway, I must check it out. Come with me. "Natasha, what a surprise. Mr. Chekov leans against the seat, putting down the phone when she enters. This is a very narrow, messy room. Empty beer cans, left-over Lay''s chips scattered on the dirty carpet. For such a heavy guy like Mr. Chekov, this house has become his snail-shell. He just needs to sit in a chair, waiting for tenants walking into this shell, then move his beefy fingers, draw a greasy list from the desk, sign up and hand it to the other side. Then he can skim dozens of euro from each person in a week. As for income, he is among the few in the entire zone, who can truly make money. She waves her hands in disgust, disperse the smell of smoke. What do you want from me? Chekov says. Simple question, The girl says bluntly, Why? "Reason 1, they said you left, since you didn''t show up at six and you know, based on your past credit, there''s 70% chance that you will default the rent. Reason 2, as you see, the lady behind you, who serves as the 30%," he points at Weiss with his carrot-like finger, "She is a better resident, highly-educated, easy to get along, and vital thing is, she would not trouble with someone who''s fucking 10 blocks far." Weiss purses her lips, let out a awkward smile. The girl flares up. "So you just......buy their bullshit? Did they tell you more details, like beat my friend on the ground, and choke me almost to death?" "Details make no difference to me!" A fat fist thumps the table, causing documents and pieces of paper flying all over the place. "You shouldn''t even be there, that was over agitated, youngling! Leave and bring no more conflict to my doors, you little plague!" Weiss let out a scream. The girl turns her head, sees her ghastly pale face, and involuntarily steps back. Doesn''t matter, the girl whispers, That''s.....how we start a conversation daily. Do not interrupt. She fixes her mind and turns to Chekov again. Well, let''s calm down, the girl raises her hands, picks some cigarret on the table, "Calm down., and have some taste, your favorite one. Look......I''ll handle this on my on, OK? I dread them not, always. Remember when your nephew Alex being rubbed by some local punks? He came at your seat, sobbed for help, and I said ''OK, that''s all on my hand. ShowNatasha who''s the bad guy, boy''. Did he tell you after? No? Well......probably those scenes frightened him I guess. He didn''t even look at me when I took him your home." "You sound like I owe you much. But business is business, Natasha." Chekov lights the cigarret, blows the smoke to the girl, "I know you play plenty of tricks. Rent a house, owe the money, leave without a message when the landlord out of their tolerance, and bring the money away with a new identity------come on, it''s your drunkard friend who boasted your affairs in the bar. He''s really proud of you, just in a stupid way. But I can''t keep you like this.......No, don''t say I''m ungrateful. You helped Alex, and I haven''t count your bill for half a year: house rent, water, electric, internet, laundry......3,278 in total, let''s say, 3,000......." "I have no more money," the girl still tries her best, "They''ve stolen most of my cash. Please, spare me some time......don''t throw me out." "Eh, excuse me, sir......" Weiss breaks in, "But it''s curfew outside. Wherecould she go?" "No one will refuse to do good deeds, but I don''t want to be fooled again," Chekov closes his eyes, denies the dirrect eye-contact, "All I can do is to spare a storage for her, tonight, if she pays the bill. Otherwise, I have to call the patrol to take her away, because her residency has already been cancelled......" A sudden "slap" sound, hit on the table. "What''s that?" Chekov utters with tremor. "The pledge," The girl takes off the crescent pendant, hands to him, "For tonight." Chekov frowns, scrutinizes the texture and material. "3,000, kidding me?" He says, "How should Ibelieve it worth?" "You must believe, because it worths my life!" The girl clenches inferocity, "I''ll pay your bill within a week, and you''re gonna keep this like your baby. Throwing me out, and I''ll burn your cave to ashes; lost or damage my pendant, and I''ll crack your bones in pieces! Choose whatever you want!" She glares flame at Chekov, same as the way she glares Weiss in the room. Chekov''s face turns to deep red. He lowers his head, fully operating hisgiant oily head. The girl could see the gears inside his brain running with steam. "Easy,Natasha......Fine, That''s the deal." The girl looks into his eyes in proud, seizes the cigarret from his mouth and throws into trash can. She kicks off the door, without a word to anyone. Tears blur hersight. She has no direction where she need to go. The path to thestorage is so long, so cold, as if all her organs are slowly frozen by the chilling air running through her body. The clouds outside the window tears into pieces by the cold air. This city would usher in the strongest snowfall in a decade in the next three days, as weather forecast said. Hold this pendant on, girl a vague voice reverberates through her mind like hallucination, It will protect you, always... The girl looks up, trying to drive her tears. Okay, okay... she mutters, It won''t be long. Just wait and see. The girl puts the pendant away, and turns around slowly. At this time, she finds Weiss is standing behind her, hands backwards. She seems anxious. What? The girl replies. Not friendly anymore. Without this woman, she would not end up like this. HeyI am sorry, Weiss pulls up her hands, "That pendant......must be really important to you, right? Does it matter to you? the girl almost breaks out is this woman laughing at her? Weiss shakes her head, looks at the girl. Then she raises her hands, across the girl''s neck, as if she''s going to hug her. You can keep this," Weiss whispers, Look......I have it back for you. She releases her hands,let the pendanthangs on the girl''s neck. No Traitors Tomorrow, case 1 Potsdamer Platz, Berlin, Germany, when the whole city fells in asleep, the office building of the United Secret Service Agency is ablaze with lights. The staffs are still working, Like a machine in overload operation, every spare part gives out the wheezing sound. Only three days leftbefore the Berlin Summit. The U.S.S.A undertakes most of the logistic work. Every corner fills with the sense of repression. Staffs go back and forth among the printing machines, carrying thick piles of papers and documents. Nearly 2:00 a.m, an agent walks out of the gate. Others in the office are still working, none of them pays any attention to this colleague. A few other lower their heads, and walk past him in a hurry, as if he was a transparent ghost. If the U.S.S.A is a pressure cooker with rapidly rising temperature, this agent is simply a plug blocking the vent. This guy is accurately designed for intelligence. From head to foot, he is just like an image of the black and white film: white short hair, jagged and black moustache and sculpture-like face. No facial flunctuation. Agent Wedenheim! Someone calls him in the corridor ,Hey, Nemo! That agent keeps walking. He merely casts a glance at the person who speaks to him. Hello, Auga. Nemo Wedenheim says, Whats the matter? I am just going to tell you. Auga is somehow exited, About the smugglers who came to Poland last week, I find something--- Any clues? Nemo stopped a little bit, with her? Auga looks around, bite her lips and slightly nods her head. Keep it low,Nemo says, I believe you. Auga sees Nemo stop at the corner, takes out his secret service card, and swipes it in front of the lift. She stands there in a loss Like other agents, prior to working here, she has been told one thing: No one is allowed to enter one elevator right down the corner. It lead to the heart of the U.S.S.A, protecting the secrets from the entire world. * Then, you screwed up. Robert Eisenstein, the director of Central Intelligence Agency. He sits at one side of conference table, and constantly knocks at the table top with his fingers. You tried to kill Molotov, but he still got away. He will revenge, wont he? According to the information we currently have, this possibility is increasing. says Noah Bauer, who was the director of the U.S.S.A, Especially when Molotov has a unknown quantity of chemical weapons, and we just offended him. Any underworld rumors?" says Simon Morison, on behalf of the Federal Guardian. Quiet, as if nothing happened, Noah shakes head, Quiet as hell. ----- Misha takes every chance to defame the Federal Guardian. But he chose to keep it low. For two weeks, none of the mainstream media mentioned anything about the assassination. Everyone focused on the air strike by Russian. says Robert.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. What does it mean? Means, he doesnt want to get noticed, which is not his style. We all know Misha has been the focus of media, especially that brother and sister..." "Ilich," says Noah, "and Bagira." "...two terror idol, that''s how you calling them, quite fit. says Robert, They are the Favorite of some damn media. But in the last three months, Molotov has restrained himself and disappeared from the news. But we know. Misha never truly disappears Noah stands up, and turns on the projector behind the conference table, This is an aerial photo of a factory in Volgograd eight months ago. It indicated Mishas motorcades in frequent actions--- We wonder if they paid special attention to the chemical weapon arsenals of former Soviet Union. Since Vladimir Komov died two years ago, some armed forces have showed up in this region for the first time. Neither Komov nor the goverment. And these.. He adjusts the projector. These pictures were taken byour friends at AGI. Chinese Spark Squad launched attacks on a supply center at Ural Mountains, they found some dozens of empty warheads. Look at the hive structure,, Noah looks around, What do you think they might put in them? Toxic arrows, Simon shrugs, They only need a bow to launch them. Correct. If they get their hands on a ballistic missile, it would be a disaster., Noah pushes his glass, In fact, they are quite close to that...This is provided by the FSB--copies of orders for purchasing spare parts of liquid rocket boosters. Yuri Suslov, one of the common alias for Molotov Embarrassing silence fills the whole conference room. I just want to know, Robert breaks the silence, What the hell are we waiting for? How can you let it keep deteriorating like this? If you had already known a lot about it, he should have been dead! While they are talking, the backdoor of conference room opens silently. Nemo walks in and sits down in a dark corner without saying a word. Thank you so much, director. Most people in the conference room are quarreling intensely, defending for themselves. No one notices Nemo. Nemo grabs portfolio with four stars on the cover. He takes out a few documents and reviews them carefully. The conference room is quite dim, where the projector was the only light source. But Nemos eyesight is not affected at all. Colonel Vega Molotov, Spetsnaz, Level III secret, he reads silently, abduction,rocket base on Mount Tianshan, Level III secret. And there is a picture, Molotov, Republic of Belarus, Minsk, Novichok warhead, Level IV secret.... Just platitude. Something touches his finger. A pile of photos, seals in a plastic bag of the portfolio. Level IV secret. Nemo looks around, makes sure that everyone else is quarreling without paying attention to him. He opens the plastic bag and takes out the photos. About ten different photos, but all shows the face of the same man. In the dim light, Nemo could hardly tell what the man looks like. But one thing is certain. According to his cheekbone and brow ridge, he should be an Asian, tall and bronze skin with buzz and untrimmed stubble. Nemo checks the photos one by one. The man on the photos wears plain clothes and leans against the wall with a dagger his hand. In one of the photos, he sits with three European soldiers on the edge of a helicopter, with a AUGA3 rifle in his hand. Another photo shows a badge with a pattern on it: two right triangles, with symmetric centers. Two sharp edges stand for a motto, "Higher than the sky, deeper than the ocean" The badge of 14th Zenith Legion. The European elite force. Nemo arranges the photos and put them away. At this moment, Nemo feels something drops onto the ground in the shade. He checks it on the floor. Another photo, smaller than the rest of them. He didn''t even find out. This photo shows quite different contents from the others. Nemo sees three people: a man, a woman and a baby in her arms. That man sits in the dark, seems be collecting his clothes, should be the same person in the previous photos. but with fewer beard. The woman stands by the window, her face has been pixilated, as well as the baby. It''s like a terminator divides day and night in between them. Wait a second Nemo could not help say, "Wait a second. This woman... He turns down the photo. A line of small note with a big red cross covers on, says, "So the honeymoon?" No Traitors Tomorrow, case 2 In fact, we still gain something, Noah supports his head with one hands, sips the cold coffee and wet his dry lips, "One year ago, when we were about to give up, a Russian medicine oligarch came to us, hoping that we could allow him to register a company in Zurich for purchasing medicines based with high prices. In return, he offered to serve as the intermediary between us and Molotov. Do Russians know about it? asks Simon. Considering his request for the confidentiality, we concealed it from the Russians. The bottom line is: Never disclose the details of informants. In other words, we need to detect whether he is reliable without he knowing about it. What did you find out ? Initially, we highly doubted if he had offended certain important government officials in Russia, and sought for shelter from Europe. Generally, for businessmen like him, especially in the line of medical industry, if they didnt have special connection with politicians, many people would trouble with him. But despite the risk of being charged with money laundering, he still directly contacted us...... So, what you mean is--- A reasonable assumption goes like this: His immediate superior, probably a high official, no longer protects him. Based on our contacts with him and the data of the special investigation team, this oligarch doesnt have a clean past. He has made the current achievements through huge sums of illegal donations, and reselling medicine around the world. His name has been included in the blacklist of anti-money laundering by the World Bank. Since the outbreak of civil war, rouble has depreciated significantly, causing unrecoverable shocks to his industry. Moreover, these oligarchs have doubts about the government. The government officers, who have been bribed with large sum of money, are not even able to protect themselves. They are being impeached retired from the political arena more frequently than babies changing diapers. Most importantly, these businessmen lost their political stance. They can only witness the growth of the separatists while senators in Duma still quarrel with each other. The government cant protect their wealth. Some people, like this man, secretly connect with some powerful separatist. Here is the background we find out: The oligarch is one of the first speculators who contacted separatist. Go on, Robert narrows his eyes, What does it have to do with the chemical weapons? It was not discovered until January of this year. At that time, Molotov and his Misha group were only small roles, hoping to gain profits from the turbulent days. Neither the government nor separatist takes them seriously. Molotov is no small roles. Robert retorted, He is the bloodthirsty third generation of the Soviet army. His grandfather fought in Afghanistan. His father worked for KGB. We have had a really tough time dealing with them. The problem is: He has losing his fighters in the war, and he is insufficient now. Noah emphasizes to prevent the interruption, Misha focuses its front on social networking, the terror idol, the young people. As for the truly wealthy people, he is a clown, seeks popularity by shocking statements. An energetic catfish stirs up turbulence in the battlefield. Molotov has no money, no fighters, can''t afford a war, that''s it. But now, things changed. The oligarch reported that Molotov got some cargo, and he was ready to sell. We were alarmed and assigned three agents to keep track.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. What were the results? A little disappointed. The jars only contained toxic chloride gas, nothing rare or unique. Any factory is able to produce this gas. Molotov gained about 50,000 Euros of cash income from this transaction. So he began to constantly contact our informants. In the beginning, he acquired large quantity of cheap materials. In March of this year, the oligarch came to us, saying that Molotov got his hands on some illegal but powerful stuff. We questioned him closely. He simply kept repeating that the cargoes were quite rare and powerful enough to destroy a medium-sized city in Europe. But Molotov was afraid the cargoes might induce unnecessary hostility, so he was eager to sell them. He hoped the oligarch can prepare 5 million euros in cash. Noah laughed, Think about it. 5 million euros, twice as his assets. Is he going to return to Moscow? Are those the Novichok warheads? Simon asked. The stock that wasnt promptly destroyed by the Soviets, an advanced model of Novichok agent. One milligram exposed in aire can cause respiratory spasm and organ failure. The victim will die in a very...very painful way. God damn,, Simon murmurs to himself, He really has the gut? If he cant earn this money, he dares. Besides, with the 5 million euros, he will become the most notorious local villain. Even Chechnya cant take him down. No overwhelming force is allowed in this region. Everyone here will agree with that. Under any sircumstances, we shall get rid of Molotov, just like we took down Komov" I really had enough of it,. Robert yells out, Since it was so important, why didnt you tell us sooner? I feel as if I''m a stupid seal, playing a fucking ball in a circuit! If you''ve paid more attention to Intelligence Communion System, things wouldnt have become worse. We could have got the head of Molotov! At this point, a middle-aged man in the corner of the conference room started talking. He''s one of the several people who never spoke. Please, Robert, be reasonable. he leans his back against the chair, Operation Bloodhound should have been perfectly completed. We made all the preparations, thought of all the information and avoided all the staff unrelated to this operation, even to the Federal Council. Robert turned to the person who was talking. With all respect, Premier Grant, he nods his head, Do you fully investigate the background of your operators? Like I just said, the council didnt know about the operation. Premier takes a sip of coffee, If the U.S.S.A considered them reliable, so did I. Correct. Everyone turns around to find the voice. It''s Nemo Wedenheim. He gets up from the seat, walks to the projector. Who are you? Robert asks. Agent Wedenheim, Noah introduces, "He isin the assassination squad, to kill Molotov Only one squad? Robert wides his eyes with shock, Why didnt you inform the Navy Seals first? One squad? Who do you think you are? Fucking Jason Bourne? Only two of them were truly involved in assassination, frankly. Nemo answers in calm, putting a photo into the projector, Butthey both are the most lethal machine you can find in the world. Two years ago, they were also in the squad of killing Komov. He put on a slide show, Sir, I think you may hear about her. On the picture, a soldier dresses in Ghillie, bents her knees. Her face is pale with lachrymal mole beside her right eye. I know her. I would be quite surprised if you didnt know her. Nemo pauses, Lieutenant Helen Fox, the living Lyudmila. Each one of her bullet is worth one million Euros. Navy Seals knows her better than me. Robert nodded, Two kilos away, during sandstorm...she shot Komov right on his head. I heard they call her ''skull collector. A 25 year-old legend. He swallows in a hard way. And the man on the right? Why did you blur his face? We had a agreement with him, Noah explained, When he surrendered, we promised to keep his identity a secret..... For Gods sake!" Robert said in a rage, Berlin summit will be held in three days! While outside, there is a lunatic carries a chemical weapon and ready to destroy the whole city. You actually think about keeping secret at this point! Tell me, who is the man anyway? He''s name is Song Yinuo.A military officer in the front of conference turns around, talks in Chinese accent, "A killer, an apostate, but also our soldier once before. Then he vanished, and never showed up again. No Mercy Tomorrow, case closed Song Yinuo. Robert repeats for himself, General Gu Weining. I heard of that name before....That assassin. ......his victims includes Russian ambassador Bering, your Diplomatic Corps, many celebrities, many unknow bodies, Chinese general says coldly, When he stood over there, I knew it was him...that rude idle guy distinguished among PLA, behaved like a street punks, just as him on the photo. General, he is the man with extraordinary skills. Consider that as a compliment if you like, Noah explains, If we can use him, it will be a good for both of us. Many of us have died for arresting him. This chasing game should end by now. Song Yinuo is a lonely wolf, not your hound, says Gu Weining, I dont believe people like him would repay your loyalty. You are not worth his bribing, and he doesnt dread any threat Did he betray us?Simon shake his head, Maybe you shouldnt use him at all. Not clear about it at present. Nemo says, We are still investigating. It is too early to reach an conclusion. Noah looks at Nemo, and his brows knits What about Lieutenant Fox? What? Nemo is in a daze. She missed the target, right? Noah says, This is the report from the operation team. She is too nervous, Sir. Nemo calms himself down, Shes been bearing a huge psychological burden, because she once failed in previous training. She doesnt think shes worth her companions entrusting their lives----- Are you defending her? Sir, I know her. She has the most sense of honor I have ever seen. Really? Noah asks, Maybe you dont know her very well. Simons eyesight switches between them. Oh, he suddenly enlightened and sighed Now I get it. the military guy knocks on the table. Noah, you bastard...you are accusing Helen. Its quite a normal judgement. Noah picks up the coffee cup, but he didnt drink it ,Otherwise, how should we explain it? She shot Komov amidst sand storm in Volgograd. She had no reason to let Molotov go under the clear sky in Minsk. Komov didnt swagger through the street with Novichok! Simon says with a severe countenance, Right. She shouldnt be nervous. She made the most stupid mistake, but she would never betray us. General Fox has been my old friend for over forty years. I watched his daughter growing up, and I awarded Helen with the elite badge. I know this noble family. And I can repeat again and again: Helen would never, ever, betray us!If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. They are both suspicious even if from the most prudent perspective. Gu Weining made a gesture of pause, There is no point in arguing. As we can see, they''re the only two members missed. He cast a glance at Simon, We need evidence, Chief, not emotion. Really? Whatever. Simon says in a rage, Go ahead, take your magnifier, and keep searching for the stains about my girl. But be careful. Dont let the strong light of justice hurt your eyes. And I swear to you: Leave that bastard killer to me. Whatever the secret between you and Song Yinuo, if I get my hands it, I will dig into the bottom of him! The conference room fills with embarrassing silence. After a while, Chancellor Adler of Germany, who''s not involved, asks a question: Simon is right about one thing. He gave an eye contact with the Prime Minister of Britain, Noah, You shouldnt try to ride the strong horse. Unreliable people should not be involved in the operation. Es ist wigdig, you put national security at risk. I did so in the past. Noah says, But the strong horse left the rein to our hands, and I had no reason to refuse. Hard to believe, Robert lifts his eyebrows, What conditions can attract Song Yinuo? Thats simple. Noah answers, Everyone has his weak point. He...actually has a daughter, which is his only blood-relative alive. Robert could not help sneering. A daughter? Impossible. the tobacco ash slips from his hands, Someone like him wont have a family. He is clearly aware of it. In that case, taking vengeance on him would be too easy. He will become absent-minded sometime. The consequence is: He can no longer continue his murder business. One can never kill people on the street, and let his daughter eating ice cream in the supermarket. That girl is real, Robert. Noah says seriously. Only she can tame this beast. As long as we still have that girl, Song Yinuo will do our dirty jobs. Where is she then? Maybe...at anywhere. Noah hesitates, But one thing is for sure. She is quite safe. Robert shows the expression asAre you kidding? How could she be anywhere? He asks, If she''s there and so important, why letting her roam on the street? Is that what you mean ''protection''? I need to clarify about it, Noah can not help saying, You dont know what her father taught her....I think Song Yinuo might have prepared for the day, when the girl can still survive with his lethal skill, during her father''s absence, temporarily or permanently... ...27 fake credentials. Passport, driving license. social security card...each face has different features, Nemo says, All naive and childish tricks. Couldnt fool us, but for a 17 year old girl, she''s sneaky enough to hide from the police. Problem is her allergic nerve. We tried to detain her, by persuasion, by force, we basically run out of method, and still can''t get her trust. One day, she resisted so hard, and our agents severely injured her by accident. Since then, any direct contact with her has been forbidden. Our principle now shift to isolation, supervision and protection. That sparks my curiosity. Simon casts a sidelong glance at Nemo, What did I say? Listen. this guy, Song Yinuo, he''s mine now. I want this girl immediately, and you''d better tell me she knows something. Nemo didnt answer. He looks at Noah, and shook his head. Director? She wont believe us. Noah sighs, We will figure out a way to communicate, and see if she is willing---- I dont fucking care about her thought. Simon suddenly raises his voice, I''m the Chief of the Army Staff, god damn it! No need to play hide and seek, tell her in person that the Chief of the Army Staff demands to inquire of her immediately. For Gods sake...your men spends 50 billion Euros a year, cant you even handle a teenage girl? Midnight Watcher, case 1 "Wake up......" "Wake up, child! Can you hear me?" "Can you hear me?" ...... Buzzing, sizzling, something was rumbling in her brain. She wanted to stand up, but failed to even think. The only thing she can feel was pain, pain from the head to the feet, her bones were burning like firewoods. "Hold on, hold on! Keep your eyes open, don''t fall asleep!" Cool liquid poured on her head, choked her nose. "Good girl......you''ll be fine! Trust me!" She felt his kiss, right on her forehead, leaving a scalding trail. ...... It''s hurt, dad......so hurt. I''m dying...... Blood coughed through throat, like a volcano hidden in her body bursting out larva. I''m dying, dad.......I, I, I...... "Don''t give up, child!" He let out a raspy roar like an injured beast, "Come on, it won''t be hard......just hold my arm and I''m bring you out!" She could not help blinking, with tears vapored in the heat. Through thick smoke, she saw him surrounded by flame, with his nude muscle scorched to red like an iron. She raised her hand, with all her strength, and embraced his waist. Watch out! Your back! A glimpse of shadow, came across the wall of fire. She pushed her father away, fast than a knee jerk. An extinguisher smashed right at her arm. "NO!!!!!" She saw him rushed to the shadow. "Run!" He shouted, with heavy fist punching at his rival and pushed him back and back. She held herself up, covered her broken arm and stepped back. "JUST RUN!" The shadow kept the body firm again, drew out the dagger. The blade slited his face, with a long trace of blood flying in the air. The fire land was invading, inch by inch, circling them in. I''m sorry, dad...... She turned back. I can''t help......can''t do anything...... His voice echoing in her mind. With nose and mouth covered, shestaggered through the heavy smoke and burning fire. Help! Help! Anybody there? Then, she a siren alarmed out through the heat. Help! Help! Here''s civilian inside! Can anyone hear me? Help! Then, a blast of burning wave pushed her back. She felt her body was thrown out upon the air, lighter than a feather fallen on snow. Her mind floated in the vacuum, then all pain had gone, all consciousness had faded, only the siren still alarmed far away, hurting her nerves...... ...... Help......Please...... "Are you all right?" Save me...... "It''s OK, Natasha!I''m here, right here." A cold hand touches her face, shocks her to wake up. Only Weiss stays close to her, with her one knee down, looks at her in sorrow. "What......no siren," the girl mumbles, feelsherself damp with sweat, "Just......fire alarm?" "Electric short, I guess," Weiss looks back at the kitchen, "It seems the carpet is burnt to fire. I tried to get the extinguisher but then......yeah, hear you screaming out." She shakes her head, stands up to bring the extinguisher on hand. The girl rises up, wipes her wetbangs that cover her eyes, sees Weiss holding the switcher, fails to open it up by several try. "Mind me give a hand?" she asks, "Why don''t you open the window there. It won''t stop if the smoke is around." Embarrassed flush emerges on face, Weiss put the thing down and walks to the window. Chilling December wind floods in door, makesthe girl''s nerves awake a bit. She yawns, targets at the corner, and releases the carbon-dioxide out through the burning wire, the carpet, and the inside ofoven. Smells good......The girl gets closer, snuffs around. She opens the oven and checks the plate. Cookies, several has been charred, but still half survived. She tears one piece, cautiously tastes it by her tongue.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. Yum......Yummy! Best food she ever tried! Feels like someone''s sight stings at her back, the girl turns around. Weiss gets in the kitchen, can''t help herself giggling. "Hey......How do you like my cookies?" She asks, "Feel free to take, Natasha. It''s for you after all." "Smells good," the girl wipes her lips, but still licks the remaining crumbs as much as she can, "I mean......wonderful." Weiss heads down a while, takes the plate out of the oven. "My little sister''s favorite type. God knows how much she likes it." Her voice straightly turns to a melancholy tone, "Everytime taking her to theMarie & Jane''s Backeryis a festival. She just loves those cute, sweet little thing, even they often caused her toothache. When theMarie & Jane''s was going toshut down three years ago, I begged the owner, Ms. Marie, if she would teach me the cookie. Unfortunately," she silences a bit, "My little sister never had a chance to taste, thus......no way to test if my cooking reachesMarie & Janes''.I''m afraid she will be disappointed, because she has the most hypercritical stomach in the world." Weiss stops by here, ends with a heavily sigh. "So.....she''s not with you?" the girl warily asks. "We separated." Seems likeWeiss would not continue, the girl ceases her question. "Well......I think she would like it." she says, "I haven''t eaten too much tasty food but......it''s the best thing I''ve ever had." Weiss stares at the girl. Her green eyes shimmer light, but soon the light fade out. "Thank you, Natasha." She sits down, turns her sight on the desk, as if she lost her mind, "Formy first customer." "I''m the one who should say ''danke'', Miss. You might not understand, but indeed, you''ve saved my life." "I thought it going to be a complaint, for I taking your house." "Well, Chekov want me out for long time so, I can imagine that, it''s not your fault," the girl sits by her, she can finally feel free to have some cookies now, "I just don''texpect he will throw me out tonight. He knows it. That''s killing me." "Sounds terrible! It must be hard to live beside the man like him, who always keep distressing you." "We distress each other, it''s fine. He just takes the advantages tonight, and I''ll pay it back.Someone would piss me off too if he owes me 3,000, same effect. The rule of jungle is here, Miss, no light of civilization or morality survives in the midnight of D37. We all have to fight for our benefit." "Why, does everybody has to treat you like that?" "Miss, luckily you meet me," the girl is a bit displeased about her sympathetic tone, "You should celebrate yourself, cuz you''re a lottery winner tonight. You know, you could have been beaten, been raped on one of the dark corner, or been murdered inside the house which does not belong to you, who knows? They said there''s blood under the carpet, maybe from someone like you, probably here was some drug workshop, and they will kill any witness and intruder......" Weiss pouts her lips, in a mixture expression of fear and anger. Feels ther words are too hard for her, the girl shuts up, a little regret for treating someone harsh who is so friendly to her so far. "So......how long do you plan to stay here?" "Not sure yet." "Weeks, or months?" No response from Weiss, the girl utters, "It''s not some vacation paradise. I mean seriously, you need a guide like me. Since you''ve made my life easier, I''ll to do the same to you. Where do you intend to go? Who do you wanna have a meet, or just stay inside the apartment? I can show you some safer place here, relatively of course, and the route of daily patrol. Here," she turns on her cellphone and open the GPS map, "Some routes show on the map are inaccurate......" "Natasha," Weiss heads up, interrupts the girl''s lecture, "I have a question." "What?" the girlis held still, "Oh, sure. I''m a know-it-all in this place." "Not about the place. It''s about you." Weiss says, "Natasha, who are you?" "Who am I?" "I know it is not your real name, Natasha. You are a native speaker, in at least three different languages, even you tried to speak in a slow and blur tone, German, English, and Ukrainian, but you can''t hide the accent. You know why Ukrainian? Natasha, you are not a Russian. My Russian friends always criticize me for my wrong pronounciation, because my Russian teacher online, was actually a Ukrainian." Weiss moves her seat, closer to the girl''s. She can''t tell how much sorrow hidden inside Weiss'' green eyes. "So, what is your real one, Natasha?" "Miss.....name is simply a code here." the girl says, with every word cautiously considered, "Like 1,2,3, or x, y, z. Natasha sounds beautiful, so I picked it." "Name is far more than just a code," Weiss shakes head, "It''s about identity, and the past. It''s part of your life." "That''s true, though. Different names brought me different life styles. Natasha is a common one, and I have plenty of names set for plenty of people." "What about your original one? The one your family calls you? What kind of life does it bring to you?" "Miss. Miss," the girl says, "I think the topic should end by now." "Why? Is that name really hurts you?" "When I say stop and you should stop," the girl says in louder, "Miss, you''re too excited. You''d better hit the sack and get some rest." "I''m not excited, you are," Weiss mutters in peace, "Look at your hand." Afaint pain hit her nerve. The girl lowers dow her sight, finds her fist clenched involuntarily. The sharp edge of the crescent pendant, pricks herpalm. She hides her wound back, puts the bloodied pendant aside, and stands up. "I''ll repay the 3,000 to you, within a week I guess," She holds the extinguisher up, "Since you don''t need my labor.Earning money often takes more time, but as soon as I collect the amount, I''ll make up for you." "Natasha, I don''t say anything yet," Weiss says, "You were in trouble that time, and I was the only one possible who could help you out. That''s all. I don''t want you to be in debt with that." "But for what? I gotta have a reason." "How about the sacred and inviolable freedom? I have the right to handle my salary whatever I want." "That''s not quite convincing." "To me it is. What about you? How could you gather those amount? Won''t be easy for you I suppose, otherwise you would not have to beg the landlord." "Does it matter? Do I have to tell you everything I''m about to do?" "See," Weiss smiles slightly, "Quite convincing, isn''t it?" The girl chokes to wordless, leaves Weissthe shadow of herback and walks out. "Strange Miss......spending 3,000 to help a first met," She murmurs, "What does she want?" We''ve never met before, that''s for sure, and I have no sense what she gonna do here. What if she''s dangerous? But the cookies, the smiles on her face......I see no killing in her eyes. My sense never betrays me. Ahh......maybe I have to leave for a while, at Nikolai''s place. But he has to drive his damn "friends" away first. OK, done. Shereturns the extinguisherin box, picks her cellphone and calls Nikolai. Suddenly, a tiny crack sound catches her attention. The girl shut the phone call immediately, hold her breath and listen. The elevator, someone is coming up. But who would come at midnight? It''s like a dark whisper, a ghost talk. A ghost always warns her before danger, and this time she hears the same whisper. The elevator stops at three. Before the girl could react, a shadow rushes in. She feels a sharp blade is put right before her throat. "Move a finger, and I''ll cut your neck." Theshadow behind her speak in low voice. Midnight Watcher, case 2 Like an electric current running through her body, causes her severe muscle tension from the top to the bottom. Who? Who could be these guys? Police? Police doesn''t put dagger at someone''s throat. Could be some foreign gangsters? Not likely, there''s no way for them to get active-duty weapon.......All those faces, everyone she had encountered, every acquaintance, everybody she had met on the street, are filming like a merry-go-round in front of her, floating in the dim twinkle light. No......I don''t...... I don''t remember...... No respond, only the sound of her heart-beat punches the rib, like a prisoner punches the wall, trying to get escaped. OK, calm down......let''s just, not to irritate them first. "Bitte, Herrn......" the girl says in whisper, "Ich bin nur......" She almost gasps to choke, bites her lips to bleed. Before she could speaks the whole words out, the blade incises her neck skin, right at the place where her artery lies beneath. "Do I allow you to talk?" The man behind her approaches her right ear, "Am I not telling you, not to move a finger? One more time, and you die. Clear enough?" The girl closes her eyes, feeling the unprecedented dread.It''s a dirty move, which argot calls "blood-letting" among the underworld. A little skin-cut, medium deep, let the blood constantly pouring through the groove, but keep a safe distance away the deadly artery, that''s how professions do, to create extreme pressure on their victim. Fighting back would be a suicide move, she decides not to taking the risk. "Blinks if you understand." The girl follows the order. "Good. Now take the lead," Some thing pushes her in the back, "When I say stop, you stop, otherwise keep moving. Is that clear?" Blinks. "OK, go." Could be a gun muzzle, likely with a silencer attached......the girl sighs slightly, tries to pacify her nerve as quick as possible, and keeps her step steady, amenable, like a real civilian would react. "Stop." The man behind her orders. They stand by the middle of the corridor, right aside by the big clock. The room 308.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. "Floor clear." "Roger that. All units attention, tango might carry lethal weapon." The man gestures the girl, "Knock the door." With heisitate, the girl touches the door and clicks it. "Harder." The girl blinks as an affirmative. Three knocks later, a vague voice comes through the wall. "Who''s there?" The girl looks at the man. "Makes her out." The man whispers by her ear. Blinks. "Who''s there?" Weiss asks again, "Natasha, is that you?" The girl coughs a little, "Yeah......" she mumbles, "It''s me." "What happens? You''re sounds not good." "Nothing......" the girl has no idea why she keeps licking her lips, "I......I''m sorry." She clenches tightly, for the man turns the safty off. "Natasha, are you in trouble now?" Weiss'' voice sounds worried, "Is......the landlord presses on you again?" "Would you help me out, Weiss?" A few moment silence, Weiss speaks. "Sure, but I may not have too much money left." "He just wanna see you, talk to face." "He''s still there?" Her step is closing in. NO! NO BODY IS THERE, JUST ME AND THREE GOD DAMN GUNNERS. DON''T TRUST ME! DON''T OPEN THE DOOR! HIDE! HIDE WHEREVER POSSIBLE! "Yes." the girl pauses in a huge gap, "Yes." Then the door is open. A narrow line of light slices into the darkness of the corridor. Central on the girl, the light abruptly expands. Beside Weiss'' blanch face, the three gunners no longer conceals themselves: face full-covered in tactical mask, with G36-C carbine on hand and a Glock in holster, all exposed on the light. The man grabs the girl''s shoulder and pulls her back. She could not help but falling down, her arms hit the clock, her skin is cut by the fragment of glass and start to bleed. Almost simultaneously---- "Polizei!" The man blows the door, chokes Weiss at her throat against the wall. "Klar!" "Klar!" The other two members storms in, searches for the room in a flash. The girl leans her beside the broken clock, watches that man covers Weiss'' mouth, almost makes her suffocated. "Sir, we''ve found this," One team member reports, with the crescent pendant hold in hand, "Seems like she''s the tenant here." The lead man takes off the mask and gets closer. "No, far from it," he says, "She shouldn''t be taken down so easily." "What''s wrong with you!" Weiss says in a guttural voice. "Woman, I only ask you once," The lead man takes on the mask again, shakes the pendant on her face, "Do you own this thing?" "What?" "DO YOU OWN THIS THING!" Weiss looks at the girl in the shade. Their eyes contact with each other. "No, " she says, "Never seen it before." "Never?" "Never. Mine is a Libra, not crescent." "You live here alone?" Second eye contact with the girl, Weiss nods her head. "Does she live with you?" The lead man points at the girl. "Ehh......I have nothing to do with this, right?" Before Weiss could speak, the girl holds her hands up, with trembling sobber, "I live by the corner. We''re just some......first-met, I don''t know anything she had done or participated, sir. I swear......" As she defending herself, she glances at Weiss'' face. What kind of expression is that? Surprise? Puzzle? Or hatred? She lowers her head, away from the sting sight, also protects her face from exposure. "Good, take her up," The lead man gestures his companions, "Let them deal with her." "Where do you take me for?" Weiss struggles, "Stop! I''m a citizen of the Confederation of European States! You have no right to......" With her head covered by a black hood by them, her strong accusation softens into a bedtime story. They shackles her hand back, and pushes her along into the elevator. "What about her, sir?" one team member looks at the girl. "Please, bitte!" the girl struggles to move back, "I won''t speak out, won''t tell anyone!" The leader man stares at her. A cruel sneer comes from his mask. "5 minutes, Igor. Make it quiet." He makes a throat-slitting gesture, then turns around and steps in the elevator. Midnight Watcher, case 3 That gesture! They''re gonna silence her! "Igor?" the girl cries out, "A Russian?" Before she figures it out, a powerful straight punch hits her at her temple, almost knocks her unconscious. She can feel pain comes from her head while Igor is tearing her hair, drags her into the room. The world is like a endless spinning top lost its weight, rises waves of disgust in her stomach. "You are gonna kill me......right" the girl continues to beg him, "Please, I''m just a byCstander, you don''t have to......" she adds in Russian. Igor responses no word, pushes her on the floor even harder. Then he enters inside and kicks the door off. Only two of them now. Nobody will check, nobody will call the police. Murder is just so common here. Someone already died here, and she will be the next victim, with her blood infuse the carpet, day and night, getting darker, starts to stink the neighbor. Should they finally find her body, what would she looks like then? She raises her body, tries to takes a glance at Igor. He walks to her, with a thin metal wire in hand. Within a blink, she feels her throat is choked, like a burning snake winds around her neck. "Make it easier, or it''ll be much painful." Igor whispers, holds the wire tighter. But she keeps wriggling her body under the surviving instinct. The wire pierces into her skin, the blood reds her shirt, the extreme pain suffocates her. She drags the wire, tries her every strength to keep it back. But Igor is much stronger than her. He fast knots the wire, and every attempt to loose the garrotte will in turn enhance the force. She feels her senses are being ripped off from her: eye-blur comes first, the the tinnitus, like sinking her into the water, soft and cold, and boundless darkness is heaving her down, down to the eternal rest...... But the pain! She can still sense it, her nociceptive fibers are echoing around her brain. There''s no eternal rest, she is under attack right now! Her teeth clenches, as she firmly keeps herself awake. Her eyes begin to scan her surroundings: the dagger? the stick? A chair? Anything with sharp edge? She must make it one shot, cuz he still has a carbine.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. Think of it, think...... Her eyes is wide open. The pepper-spray! Under the corner of the bed, probably left there when Weiss was knocked down. She hands to the pepper-spray, inch by inch, she can touch it by her forefinger. But damn! A little bit closer, please! She tries one more time, but her finger pushes it even little farther. Dead or alive, all on her hand now! She releases her hand, letting Igor tightens the garrotte. Less than 10 seconds, she knows, there''ll be no surviving chance left whatever, if she fails to let that thing free. With all her will and strength, she leaps to the pepper-spray, makes the wire almost incises her trachea. But she gets the spray. Spare Igor no chance to react, she turns around, hold the spray at his face. AHHH! Igor let go of her, covers his eyes and screams in pain. The girl elbows at his chest, be thrown down forwardly by the counterforce. She rushes to her bag, and cut the wire immediatly. Fresh air pours into her lung again, she coughs, with tiny blood spitting out. But it''s not over yet! As she brings the dagger out and looks back, Igor raises the carbine with one hand. No use of running away. The room is too small to hide, and she can''t run faster than bullet. No other options! Before he sets the fire, the girl throws the dagger, hit him right on his arm, makes him drop the carbine. She totters, but still sprints to Igor, pushes him against the door. Regardless of his struggling, she chokes his throat and press all her weight on the breastbone. Mumbles with blur liquidus sound, blood pours out of Igor''s mouth, like a plug put in his trachea. He constantly punches the girl''s body, but his consciousness is fading out. The girl moves even closer, rises herself up a little bit, and concentrates all her strength on her hand. Crack-- Igor''s breast chest is broken. Bones stabs in his lung and liver. His head tilts aside, and his pupils dilate by degrees. Igor is dead. The girl''s heart fiercely beats. She still presses on him, until she touches his nose, makes sure his life has totally gone. Then she let go a deep breathe, sits on the floor as if she lost the support. One down, two or more left. The girl catches the door handle, drags herself up. She slices several pieces of bed sheet, covers her wound on shoulder and neck as bondage, and hauls the body into the washroom. She should run away. The logic tells her. They have guns, they''re profession, stronger in physical and much more in numeric. She''s putting herself at risk. But the instinct eagers to know more. They''re coming for her. That pendant sales out their motive. But why is her? They should''ve feared about this tottem. This thing should''ve protected her. Why is her? For seven years, those memories have beeninvadingher sub-consciousness, consisted the most elements of her nightmares: that flame, that explosion......that man in shadow. The truth is staring at her eyes. The girl takes the radio from the body, tramples it to shatters. No matter who they are, where they come from, what they want. I''m gonna take them down. ALL. Midnight Watcher, case 4 Inside the Internet Bureau of U.S.S.A, Agent Auga Grinta is walking towards the common room. She brews a cup of espresso by the table, gives herself a full stretch while waiting for the drink, and looks at herself into the glass. She stares at her own image: pale and bloodless lips; black eyes are half-opened, surrounded by deep dark circle, like two blackholes penetrating her face; due to the exaggerating dread of cold, she keeps wearing coat and scarf, even inside the room with heater on 24/7. Auga let out a laugh in self-mockery, cumbs her short black hair which is a bit knoted with oil and dust. The short break will last for half an hour, no need to hurry, enough for her to fully enjoy the drink without interruption, or finish one episode of her favorite anime. Auga picks the coffee, lies herself down on the giant sofa.Youtube, Blink, or several games? She doesn''t decide yet, just randomly surfing around. When she clicks her contact list, an avatar marked as "special concern", which shows a crescent image with a handcuff bonding its two edges, now jumps out of the screen. It''s an emergency call. Auga picks the call imediately. "Don''t speak out, Auga," a light voice utters in extreme tension, "Is there anyone near you by now?" "It''s OK, just me in the common room, "Auga looks around, "What happens? I''m about call you......" "Just listen. I''m not sure what''s going on here, but......I killed someone." Raises her body while hearing it, Auga touches the cup and stuns. "Before informing the agency , I decide to let you know first. Those guys are coming after me. They dress in police uniform, at least one of them is Russian. I don''t get it......" pauses a little bit, the girl continues, "Do me a favor, Auga. Check the record of Berlin Police Department tonight, by when, by whom, for what reason. By the way, where''s my supervisor?" "Nemo? He''s on the HQ....." "Then tell him later. He might have more vital things than me there. Anyway, you know what I''m gonna do, right?" "Yeah.....I know." "And you know the procedure?" "I''ll contact our team to back you up imediately." "Good. Meet at old place then, hope I won''t be too badly this time," the girl says her farewell, "This will be a lunatic night, Auga." "Be careful, Lu......" Before she speaks the word, the girl hangs off the call. In the mean time, Rosenmeer apartment. The other "police" sit in the car, try to contact Igor several times, but still get no respond. Team leader decides to check it out.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. "Sergei, you go with me," He brings up the gear, "and Anton, keeps her tight and wait for us, unless the patrol spot you." They opens the apartment gate, moves to the third floor by stairs in case get surprise attack by the elevator. Nothing seems happened. The floor, the lamp, the cracked big clock with glass fragments spread all over the place like before, shows nobody has come here yet. The only problem is, where the heck is Igor? "Igor, what''s wrong with you?" Sergei knocks the door with the buttstock, "Have you done?" No response. Only the sound of flowing water comes from inside. "Fucking idiot," team leader murmurs in anger, hands to the door handle, "Didn''t I tell you to make it quiet......" Bang!!! Just as he touches the handle, the girl suddenly leaps out, seizes his collar and shoot three rounds at his vest. "Watch it!" The bullets fail to penetrate the vest, but still knocks him down with the kinetic power. The girl turns to Sergei in swift, holds his hand and raises the muzzle up. Bullets are spreading on the wall, the floor and the ceiling as their fighting about the control of weapon. Sergei roars in rage, pushes the girl several steps against the window. With overwhelming strength against her, the girl has no options but to bite his wrist as hard as she could until its flesh separats. "ݧէ!" When Sergei looses his hands, the girl pulls her dagger out, stabs in his side body, right between the gap of the vest. Sergei covers his wound, staggers back, then falls on the ground. He is losing strength and can''t support his body anymore. The girl holds the dagger. Her mind focuses on executing Sergei, but almost ignores that someone else is still alive. As his partner falls down, the team leader rushes from darkness, ferociously kicks at her stomach. This kick is so powerful, that she could almost feel she''s getholed by his boot. Her whole body is thrown in the air and hits into the bathtub. She coughs as if her guts are spewing out. A glance of sharp light, she senses her left hand gets trampled on. The team leader raises the carbine at her face. The girl tilts her head right away, turns on the shower by her forehead. GHHHHAAAAAAOOOOOUUUUUCH! A large amount of heat steam surrounds his face. The team leader screams in a frenzy, his skin is blistered and ripped off from the face like dead tree barks. He drops the weapon involuntarily and turns back. But the girl grabs his sleeve, keeps pressing the shower against his head until he falls in faint, with occasional body spasm on the floor. The girl struggles to get up. She picks the carbine and strides at Sergei. Then she heard a siren, comes from distance, with red and blue alarm shimmering into the corridor. The patrol will lock all the entrances and exits! Shit, there''s no way out! The girl hears the elevator sounds, getting closer to her. 10 seconds......about 10 seconds and she''ll be caught! She heads down to Sergei. He half kneels on the floor, still tries to stand up. "You''re not gonna leave here......" he whispers, "Both you, and me......" Before he finishes, the girl clinches him, thrusts him to break the window. She drags the curtain to wind his neck. Both of them fall from the floor three. A tremendous chaos burst out. Start from floor three, all the windows of Rosenmeer are lighting up in a wave, like a stone hits the water pool. The girl lifts herself up from ground. Aching fire burning inside her bones and guts, but she''s still alive. She slowly looks above. Sergei is hanged by the middle of the second floor, with his neck strangled by the curtain. Two more down, at least one left. She supports herself with full will, and walks to a car stops by the side of the road. With several hacks, the engine starts roaring, as she drives the car into the endless midnight. Nightmare Persuit, case closed "Riot center, riot center, this is patrol G-22. We are locating the vehicle at block 152. It''s a white VW, license number covered, now turning right to the Heringer Strasse." "Copy G-22. Support is on the way." The girl rolls down the window and looks up to the sky. A chopper flies by her left, and some one is casting on it. She puts her cellphone on the holder and turns on the video stream on Blink, channel Der Spiegel Breaking news, with "gunfire", "patrol pursuit" tags on it, 26,000 viewers are watching right now and the number is rapidly increasing. She can see at least 5 patrol cars on her tail, chasing her at the broad empty street from the video. The patrol matters not. They won''t catch her for quick, just keep this pursuit game inside the D37 away from the border and she will be fine. As long as she get fuels in tank, she can play it all day. Hard part is the last fake police. She didn''t catch him at the first place. Now he is gone in the gloom on a German Police vehicle, which makes him possible to leave the D37 without being noticed and accused. By the time she is thinking of the proper route, a phone call from Auga shows on the screen. "I''ve found something, Lu....." "Keep it short. I''m driving now." "OK. I''ve asked the staffs of BerlinPolice Department and get the record. There.....actually is a gunshot report tonight, about 11:37 pm." "Almost at same time, I see." "Report says some locals found a woman dressed in hood was inside their room, probably stealing something. Ehhh......They tried to catch her, fought with her, but soon got shot and knocked down and the woman was escaped soon." "Well, woman dressed in hood......could it be me?" "Not sure yet. But the alarm doesn''t happen at your place. It''s another street, about 5 blockseast." "Bullshit. They need whatever a reason to catch me. Keep searching their identities, Auga. I''ll get you a golden edition of your loved manga." Noticing the patrol is getting closer, she makes a sharp U-turn. But soon she stuns, checks the screen again. "No way......" As the video zooms out, the girl can see that all 5 patrol cars make the U-turn with her, but in another place, about two blocks in right, one police car shut the alarm, still keeps its original direction and turns to a different street. "Talk later, Auga!" she puts both hands on steer wheel, and steps on the gas with full engine. "Catcha, bastard." Inside the HQ of U.S.S.A, highly-ranked and powerfully-placed individuals recieves a police alarm, just as they are about to leave the conference room. "Well, seems like bad things happen at your backyard," Director Essenstein says, "One by one by one." Usually, people like CIA director or Chief of the Army Staff don''t pay too much attention on such issue, unless it happens right before a global summit among three most powerful states, right at the most secured city, and right under their noses. "Agent Wedenheim, go deal with it," Noah''s face is quite embarrasing, "Tell Der Spiegel stop casting right now."If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. Nemo stands there still. He doesn''t leave, but get even closer at Noah''s ear, whisper for seconds. Noah frowns slightly, but soon backs to peace. "Do you think......she comes here for the loose end?" "I believe she brings no danger, but irritating her is another story." "Nemo," Noah says, "Don''t get decluded by your emotion. You''ve done a great job always, now keep it away." "I just need an evidence, director. We all need one." "What about the other girl, your little princess? She is under pursuit right now." "She doesn''t need my help," Nemo shrugs his shoulder, "I told Auga to contact with the Riot Center, not to engage, let her deal with it. Because we may get in her way." Now at the D37, checkpoint foxtrote 14 at west border. A police car arrives. "Anton Marchenko, from B.P.D, "he gives his ID card to the guard, looks back at his hostage, "We have the suspect, now back to the department." The guard returns the card to him. The gate starts lifing up. Weiss murmurs her lips, as if she tries to say something. "One word, and I''ll blow your head." Anton warns her. He rolls up the window and ready to leave. Suddenly, a dazzling high beam comes from his back. Anton looks up to the back-mirror. Before he figurs out who''s on his tail, a bullet pierced through the glass and breaks the back-mirror. Regardless of stunned guard, Anton shifts the car to the fifth gear, while picking his weapon and shoot to the back. "Oh my......now we''re witnessing a gunfire beneath us! Just at the border, F14 gate, and we can see now theye''re breaking the gate, and heading......to the main city-----" The girl picks up her cellphone. She need full concentration now. That fake police has auto weapon, with Weiss as his hostage. But she has confidence in her skill. On the way of pursuit, she keeps her head lower in order to dodge the bullet, holds the cellphone and use the video as guide. The strategy works. That fake police can''t shoot her, he is just wasting ammo and breaking her front window in random. Their distance is getting shorten, meters by meters. He won''t escape from her if he can''t focus on driving! Out of her expectation, the stream is suddenly cut off. Now she has to raises her head, with eyes squinted to resist the cold dry air. The random bullets are still coming ahead, makes her route crooked like a snake. Anton reloads a magazine, slowers the speed in order to have a steady aim at his back Ends by now, bitch! He''s so focused on the girl, regardless of another personel on his car. Weiss kicks his wrist by surprise. Even with hands tied up at back, Weiss tries with her feet, head, shoulder, her every body parts to disturb his aimin and driving. Anton turns back and punches her hardly on face, beats her down on the seat, altering the muzzle at Weiss...... A powerful crash at his car, almost throws him out of the window. The girl steers her car to hit the rear of the police car, almost lifting its back wheel up. With her eyes blooded in rage, the girl steps on gas, turns the gear to the highest, until the police car hits the the bus station by side and falls upside down on the ground. Petrol spread over the road. The girl stops the car, takes the pistol on hand and walks off. Weiss curls beside the crashed car, half leans by the door. Seems like she has been thrown out when crash happens. "Natasha......save me, please......" The girl crouches at her, smashes the handcuff with carbine hilt. "Keep yourself in a safe distance, "She says, "Cuz this thing is gonna explode soon, and I need a quick talk with him." Then she ignores Weiss, instead dragging the fake police out of the broken door, and let him lean on the edge of engine. "Fucking ܧ!" Anton sets his jaw firmly, "Who the fuck hires you, huh? You know whom you are messed up with?" "I see you have the answer, " the girl tramples on his chest, asks, "I want to know who''s this ardent friend?" Then a mixture of blood and spit sprays on her face. "You know what, you are dead, bitch!" Anton howls, "You''re fucking doomed! Buy youself a good graveyard with your commission, cuz he will hunt you to the end of the world, and all your friends, and all your family!" The girl frowns with sickness. She wipes the blood from her face with sleeve. "OK, then. ''Someone who will hunt me to the end of the world'', I''ll keep in mind." She detaches the magazine, "Pathetic Idiot, the girl your boss is intended to find, is here." The girl moves herself closer to Anton, until her nose touches his. "Meet Kevi Song in person, jerk," She says in whisper, "And what matter looks for me?" Anton''s eye pupil enlarges in sharp, half shock, half the sudden death. Kevi pierces his throat with the edge of the magazine. With his blood draws a curve in the air, Kevi sticks the magazine in his trachea, lays him down, and watches him being swallows by the rising fire. She turns around, walks to Weiss. Weiss looks into her eys in fear, crawls a little bit back. But Kevi bends to Weiss and gives her a hand. "It''s fine, let''s leave this place," Kevi says in calm, "Come and hold my waist." The Wandering Spook, case 1 On the way towards Charit, the best Klinik of Germany, Weiss is getting worse by time. At first she seems still energetic, over alerted, she keeps questioning Kevi, about the attack, the four fake police, why do they come after her, and what does the crescent pendant stands for. Is it a tottem of a secret organization? Or some smuggled artifact? "Please, Miss, it''s not the time," Kevi keeps focus on her driving, and drags her distracted mind back, "Let''s......talk about it later, all right? Honesty I don''t quite know what''s going on myself, but......" Weiss shuts up. Her voice becomes like self-murmuring. "Where are we going?" she asks. "Charit, "Kevi says. Now she sees two police cars pass by on the opposite, "About2 kilosaway left." "I''m not injured. I want to go home." "Yes you are, Miss. You are just survived from a severe car crash. The wounds doesn''t have to be on the surface. You gotta need a check." "I feel OK, thanks......I''m only a bit tired, a bit......sleepy," Weiss leans her head by the door window, her eyelids are casting down, "Tell me when we are arrived." "No, NO! Don''t fall asleep!" Kevi turns to her, "Listen to me, Weiss! Keep awake! Damn it!" As she touches Weiss, she feels the seat under her body is wet, with thick blood wiped on her finger. Weiss'' breathe is fading. She must be in a deep coma caused by blood losing of internal organ. She will die in 10 minutes without help. "Stay with me, Weiss! We are arrived now!" Kevi drives the car at the highest speed, much higher than the main street limit. More and more police appears on the street, come and go, no one pays any attention on this speeding car. Kevi feels frustrated, she''d rather being captured now and get Weiss a quick first-aid, but seems like the police ignores them deliberately. Or......the police has an even worse situation. Kevi''s thought has been confirmed by the time she approaches the Charit Klinik. She never has a moment to see so many police cars gathering together. Beside the gate of the Klinik, ambulances continues arriving, and casualties are raised at stretcher by the medical staffs.Stolen novel; please report. Kevi stops the car, supports Weiss on her arms and walks to the police. "Help......help me, sir!" she cries out, "My sister.....has a car accident! She''d badly wounded and lost her consciousness! Please help her!" One police comes at her aid, calls the rest of his colleges and medical staffs to give hands. They put Weiss on a stretcher, moves to the Klinik. "No, Miss, stop by the elevator," the police gives Kevi a "stop" gesture, "Wait at lobby please." "Why? I''m her sister. Don''t I have the right to stay with her?" "Miss, Miss," the police says, "I promise she will get good cared. This is Charit after all, right?" Kevi takes a quick glance at the lobby. Dozens of people stays there. Medical staffs walking around, taking care of those police who are injured in a lighter degree. Out side the gate, Klinik guards and police officers are holding a defence line against medias, pushing journalists, photographers and some Blink or Youtube bloggers back. "What happens there, sir?" Kevi asks, "Why did so many police get injured?" "I''m not allowed to tell, Miss." the police shakes head, "Tomorrow you will get the news." "Sir, people around me are very scared......" "Things are under our control, Miss, that''s all I can tell. Go and have rest at the lobby, and waiting for your sister. Otherwise I have to let you out. DO you understand?" He looks so grave and serious, hardly believed to be joking. Thus Kevi has to shut her mouth and leave to the lobby. "I''m not the one doing this......" she whispers inwardly, looking around the casualties, "I don''t causesuch amount of damages." She must have the answer, with or without permission. Since ordinary police staffs are forbidden to talk, she need to find someone in charge. She releases a long breathe, stands up and walks through the casualties to the gate. "Officer?" she reaches out to a sheriff-like man, who stands by the door, and orders medias to back up, "May I have a talk with you?" The sheriff glimpses at her and ignores. "My name is Auga Grinta, U.S.S.A agent." Kevi hands in her pack and shows him theagent card---fake of course, "I need to talk." "What.....they send a trainee here?" sheriff checks the card, yells out, "No wonder why they sucks at intelligence!" "I''m on behalf of Agent Nemo Wedenheim, do you know him?" Kevi says, "He''s in the HQ now, need time to reach here. I''m his secretary, and I''m here to get some first-hand, if you know something." Hearing Nemo''s name, the sheriff looks around, drags her to a corner away from medias. He lowers his sound. "OK, listen up, secretary of Wedenheim. You go and tell him, call the SWAT here, immediately! That''s all, cuz we here cannot suffer the lost anymore!" "Who did this?" Kevi asks, "Is that gunshot? In an apartment called Rosenmeer?" "What are you talking about? No! Its'' the D37 relief station! My men are just......slaughtered like animals!'' "Easy, easy. Is it a terrorist group?" The sheriff let off a strange laugh. "A group? No no no, it''s a fucking person! Can you believe that? A single person, killed 7 of our best crews, beat all of our men in three vehicles into hospital!" "One? Are you sure? It''s gonna be......really shocking." "Believed it or not," the sheriff leaves his last words, "This sucker is the worst one I''ve ever seen in my 20 years career, I''m telling no joke. Acknowledge Wedenheim the details, and tell him to bring his best men here, best of the best! Now you can tell him like that!" The Wandering Spook, case 2 Working for U.S.S.A means a lot of privileges, even for a trainee. You can walk across the police cordon, talk with the officers who seems much higher in rank, be allowed to interrogate others while be exempted from being interrogated. The U.S.S.A director must live like an emperor. Now with the avatar of her friend in agent, Kevi is free to stroll around the Klinik. Occasionally, she can witness several bodies are being sent out from the surgery. Three more severely injured have died on the table. Make a rough lie to the medical staffs, Kevi gets a chance to uncover one men''s body bag and see his face: dense holes on the body, then with three deeper and larger holes, one on the right eye, one the the throat, one on the left chest. Seems like the attacker re-shot him with a pistol after ran out of shotgun ammo. After the medical staffs covers the victim''s face, Kevi lost herself in deep meditation. This attacker is an elite, far more than the alleged "profession". She only saw her father used such shooting skill before, and he was the only person she knew, who could kill dozens of enemies and escape under a massive siege. Kevi looks at the surgery, sighs in deep breath. Usually she puts no personal attention on others, especially strangers, and outsiders. There are very few members stay inside her safehouse, and she feels Weiss is knocking the door. That''s so weird. She has known her trust members for years, but Weiss is only a first-met for a night. She doesn''t even know her background, her job, her family yet. "Well......not a bad thing if she survives," Kevi scratches her hair, due to a sudden heat and itch rising on her head, "Here is respectable Charit after all." Now she walks at a corner. A medical staff comes out from a storeroom, passes by with medicines and gauzes on a tray. Kevi wait here until he enters the surgery room, she pulls the door and walks in. It''s her secret base now, she could have a quick treatment of her tiny wounds, and have a talk with Auga. "Did you use my ID again, Luna? They told me just before! " just at she pick the phone call, Auga yells out, almost scares Kevi to drop the phone, "My dear, really? I can''t count how many times!" "Ehhh......Auga? Why so angry about me this time?" "Angry? No no no, it''s just.......can you feel it? When the last time you smuggled across the border, and use my ID in disguise, I was the one who was accused by local police, and got my hands tied and sent to the interrogation room! When I first heard their accusation, I knew it: you, my dear Luna! But I......I just cannot speak out, because everything about your existence is classified. There are thousands of people in want of your head outside!" "I''m sorry, Auga......you didn''t tell me that." "That''s because Nemo solved this, and warned me not to tell you! Well, I wouldn''t myself even without his words. I don''t want to make you feel stressed, as if you owe me some. But Luna, you can''t always mess up with us like that. We are the people who want you living good after all!" "I''m sorry, again, Auga." Kevi taps her head, puts a band-aid on her hand, "I never thought of hurting you. When I searched my mind, which identities could make me access to the news, you are the first on list......" "First, or the only pushover?" Auga says, "By the way, I''m not his secretary. I work for the U.S.S.A Internet Center and I am a programmer!" "Forgive me this time, please~~~Want a golden edition of your love one?" On the other side of the call, Auga bursts into a slight laughter. "Forgive me first." "Forgive you right now, Luna," Auga''s voice gets tender, "I checked the their identities, sourced fromBundespolizei network. Those police who got your doors are temporary crews, being inlist by a secret project......secret that even I don''t have the authority to visit."This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. "Nemo must have it then. Is he still in the HQ?" "After he sent agent to your house yes. Luna, you did a really messy job there." "Forget that. Auga, I heard from the police officer. Hard to believe but......is there an additionalshooting happened in D37, right? I thought that was their smoke-grenade." Auga responses no words. At first, Kevi thought it''s a signal jam. She asks several times. "Luna, I......I''m going to the old place right now. We''ll talk when I arrive." "Come on, you''ve never kept a secret from me." "Theshooting you are refering to is......discussed in the HQ right now," Auga says in heisitation, "I don''t have details about it before they reach any conclusion. Even I have a instinct." "Tell me about it." "Someone......in strong bond with Nemo." "In a good way, or bad way?" "Both, I would say. Luna, you are still in Charit, right?" "I am." "Listen, it''s really important......"Auga takes a deep breath, "Find a room, lock yourself in, and do not come out whatever happens outside. Promise me." "OK......but why?" "Because they don''t reach a conclusion yet, and Nemo was afraid......well, you may not capable in dealing with it. Sorry Luna, but it''s his words." Kevi holds the cellphone in silence. Auga''s words recall her the description which the police officer gives to the attacker: single person, killed 7 in a siege, all 3 vehicles about 20 members are sent to hospital; she saw the body just before, and knows the attacker shot three rounds on eye, throat and heart in an amazing accuracy. "The woman in hood....." she murmurs, "Do you think she would be the attacker?" "I''ll call you back," Auga says in haste, "I''m on the way to your side. Remember what I''ve told you!" "Wait Auga...... Hello? Hello?" By the time when Auga hangs off, the door is opened with no sound. Kevi turns her head back right away. A woman in police uniform stares at her. The room is now in a grave-like silence. "You''re a doctor here?" the woman asks; her uniform is blood-wet, "Or one of them?" "Neither." Kevi says, with same stare back at her, "Just a patient''s relative." "Then what are you looking at?" The woman then leaves Kevi alone, steps to the medicine shelf. Kevi watches her picks several on a tray: the bandage, one dose of antibiotic, a scissor with needles and thread, and a bag of QuickClot. She leans by the table, lifts her uniform up until a bullet hole exposes on her left abs. Then, she opens the bag, pours the Quickclot powder on it. Must be extremely pain of burning, Kevi thinks. Kidding me, she didn''t use painkiller, didn''t even scream out. "I thought they want you to stay at lobby," after the woman recovers from the pain, Kevi asks, "On the first floor." The woman raises her head to Kevi, now Kevi can see her face closely: medium brown hair be formulated cut; she would definitely call her appearance "elegant" if she met her on the street, especially with a small lachrymal hole under her green eye. But she feels something strange inside her eyesight, something......frenzy that intimidates her. "I''m waiting for my surgery here, " she says, wipes her sweat from face, "But it takes too long, so i have to find a way myself." British accent, interesting......in the German police. Kevi keeps observing the woman. She sees her sewing her wound up, wraping her waist around with the bandage. All steps move in an adept order. "I like your shoes." when the woman doses herself the anti-biotic, Kevi utters again. "But you said you''re a patient''s relative." the woman says in cold tone. "My uncle serves in military, so I recognize it." Kevi says. The woman scrutinizes her in few seconds. "Whatever." She dresses up her uniform again, and raises her body up. "What do you know about the woman in hood?" Kevi keeps asking, "Did you met her?" The woman stops, turns her head and glimpses at Kevi. "Why?" "People are scared. Someone doubt that maybe there were terorrists sneaking in." "Terrorist?" the woman sneers, "Is that what official tells you?" "I don''t believe it, do you?" Kevi says, "Here is the safest city around world, right?" She leans sideway, hides her right hand while moving her finger to the pistol. "Believe whatever you like." the woman turns her eyesight back, steps toward the door. Achtung! Achtung!------ Suddenly, a radio alarm echoes around the Klinik. All Units leave the building immediately! Repeat, all units leave the building immediately! This is not a drill! Chaos burst in the air of the Klinik. Kevi takes a quick glance out of the window. One vehicle colored in black, with "POLIZEI S.W.A.T" spangled on the side, storms into the gate, and drops commando teams off. With sudden electric current spreading over her nerves, Kevi draws the pistol without heisitate. As she aims at the woman, a scissor is piercing through the air and targeting right at her eyes. The Wandering Spook, case 3 Within an eyewink, Kevi almost has the chance to kill her, but the scissor is directly flying to her face and she has no options but to duck its trace, makes hermissing the first shot. She tries to fire again. The woman strides to Kevi and twists her wrist, with the other hand holding on the pistol slide makes it incapable to shoot again. Kevi is slamed into the shelf, the stinky potion are exploded on her head, prods her airway. She drags the woman inches closer, hits her nose with her forehead, but only pushes her one step farther. As her wrist being sprained by violence and her finger is unable to pull the trigger under the pain, Kevi changes the pistol on the other hand----- But there''s no bullet fired out, only "click" sound of the fire pin! By the time they are grappling with each other, the woman takes the magazine out. Just as she finds out it, Kevi throws the pistol at the woman and rushes to her front. The woman blocks the attack, but doesn''t notice the coming kick, right at the wound on her belly. She let out the first scream, or more like an animal''s roar. She has a weak point. She''s not some invulnerable killing machine...... Confidence of winning this fight rises in her mind, Kevi advances her attack at the woman''s wound, with kicks, knuckles and knees. The woman covers the wound and falls back a step, sweat with muscle trembling are spread all over her body, but the strong will still keeps her remain standing. Being mad at the woman''s tenacity, Kevi roars out in rage, and pushes her over the wall----- She''s so concentrating her attention on her wound, regardless of a sudden strike by sneak: The woman takes a vessel of alcohol and shatters it on Kevi''s face. Strong causalgia intrudes her eyes, Kevi let go of her hand by reflex. She reels back and half-kneels at the floor. Before Kevi could hold still, another powerfully knee stamps on her forehead, right at the bone between her eyebrows, almost kicks her for two meters away. Faint consciousness with weight-loss invade her brain like an ocean wave. Through dim sight, Kevi sees the woman bending to pick the pistol up, reload it and walks to her. "Why chasing me? All these days?" she says in quave, "WHY?" "What you are talking about......" Kevi weakly murmurs, "I don''t know------" Before she finishes, the woman stomps at her chest, makes her almost lost her breath. "Liar, all of you!" she inches closer, "I know your men set me up, in Minsk......I didn''t say anything, didn''t do it! But WHY ME?" She puts the gun at Kevi''s head. As her eyes on her colar, the woman''s face turns to a chalk-white pale. She drags the agent-card out. "Auga?" she reads it in a trance. In the meantime, footsteps are closing in outside the door. The woman stands up, with one hand presses on the bleeding wound and another holds the pistol, kicks the door off and escaping out.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Legen Sie die Waffen! Legen Sie die Waffen! Jetzte! Order shiessen wir werden! The woman shoot back, as if she defies the order without a second''s calculation. Crossfire is now burst out in the narrow corridor. Kevi heaves herself up, tries to walk to the door but then falls down leaning the wall as her strength is insufficient to support her body. Smoke of gun powder all over the place. The woman retreats to the exit door and disappears. "Hey! Here!" Kevi shouts with all her effort, "European agent here, please help!" One SWAT police comes to her side, lifts her up to the lavatory cleaning up the remain alcohol inside her eyes. "Thanks, sir," Kevi let out a breath in relief, "I''m Agent Auga Grinta......" "I know, Luna," the police takes off his helmet, "It''s me." Inside the U.S.S.A HQ, officials are watching the updating videos from the police helmet recorder, updated just 10 minutes ago. The video is shaking in a dim and blur light, seems like they are in a rapid moving, with only a few images of police sheltered behind the car----- "Riot center, riot center, this is patrol K-21, in warschauer strasse......we are having heavy fire! where''s the support?" "Copy that, K-21, the support will be in 5 minutes......" "Scheisse! We can''t hold on for that long!" "Calm down, K-21, I repeat, the SWAT team is on the way and will be there in 5 minutes......" "Fuck you! Don''t you get what''s happening here? This guy, using our own weapon......is butchering us like dogs!" Then the chaos is end by a "click" sound, the sound of bullet piercing through helmet. The picture is turned upside down, with blood and dust smudges the screen. People inside the conference can clearly see now: the attacker, with a Mossberg shotgun on one hand, staggers towards the camera. She targets at the screen. Bang--- Video is cut by here, the screen is replaced by thick snow-flake now. "It''s Helen......" Noah echoes within lips, "For sure. " He looks around the room. Everyone is shocked to silence, as if the grave gloom around the place is covering them in the ocean of ink. "Not need to mention me twice, I see it," Simon says, "Don''t act like I''m a kindergarten boy." "We must take action," Director Essenstein calls around, "Image how much damage could she bring." "She''s an elite sniper in your top tier military forces," General Gu says to Simon, "I''m afraid your local police are not matched." "GSG9 is taking charge now," Noah responds, "They''ve located her at Charit." "Nearly 1 mile from here?" Essenstein sneers, "A skilled war machine is having her killing spree 1 mile away, under some most powerful people around the world. Poetic huh?" Simon stands up, his eyes are flaming at Noah. "Well, looks like your wish comes true, director." "My wish?" Noah says in surprise, "God knows I''ve never aimed at Helen in person. I must judge things based on my professions!" "And my profession, is to eliminate," Simon''s voice becomes cold and grave, "To clear the threat. And now she became the threat." "But why?" General Gu asks, "Why would she do this? Don''t you think we should talk to her first, Simon? It may connect to Molotov somehow." "That''s your work to do," Simon picks her coat up, "My job, is to keep the summit safe," he glances at Premier Minister Grant, "Thus you can sit and drink tea inside our Bundestag and decide our world''s fate. But keep your dirty hand away, from my girl! She can only die like a soldier. General Fox will understand. He''s a patriot for his life." He pushes the door harshly and leaves without looking back. "Well, he has his principles," General Gu shrugs his shoulder, "I can have the empathy with him. After all, I''ve served in PLA for forty years and I''ve seen too much ladies and gentleman like Simon there." "He''s right," Noah sighs in a lost, "Berlin summit is much more important than her. I wish I could have a conversation with her but......we have no choice." "I agree. She already has too many chances to contact your agent," Essenstein says, "About 2 weeks, she could have contacted. It is her who keeps the distance. Maybe she''s not so innocent under such circumstances." General Gu stands up too, and shakes hand with Noah. "Director Bauer, I just want you know that we are on your side. You are not fighting this war alone," he nods to Noah, "Chinese government, never surrender to terrorism and its threat. If there''s anything need our assistance, the AGI is ready to help." "And so the CIA," Essenstein also says to Noah, "I guess one of our Seals Team are on board of USS Ford, ready to set off at anytime." "Appreciate with all my heart, gentleman." Noah watches them leave together, "Hope that day won''t come." The Rebellious Spook, volume demised Kevi opens her eyes. That man, with familiar grey hair and beard, gives her a warm wink from his silver pupils covered by a protective goggle. For the first time of the night, Kevi feels herself safe and relief eventually now. "Nemo......" A drop of tears flows along her face, Kevi wipes her eyes with sleeve. "Ahh---it''s still hurt." she whispers Nemo looks back around, makes a gesture to other SWAT members. "Give me some time here, "he takes off the protective goggle and hands to Kevi, "Here, you might want to use it. You guys," he says to them, "block all the entrance and exit, including elevator and the stairway. Do not engage until I arrive." Wait for the rest of team leave the place, Nemo turns to Kevi again. "Must be a really hard night for you, Luna." "One of the craziest, I guess," Kevi takes the goggle and grins, "I thought you have some confidence in me." "Before the other gunshot takes place, I do. I didn''t expect that you two would have a skirmish before our arrival, which is the worst thing I could now imagine. You should''ve left her alone." "Agree......now I''ve learnt that," Kevi sighs, "How do you know that she would she would show up here?" "There''s always darkness exist under a lighthouse," Nemo lifts her up in a tender move, "Also, she probably in urgent need of some first-aid." They walk toward the exit door. Kevi lays her head on his shoulder, feeling his bread stings her face. "They''ll bring you to my office tonight," Nemo slightly clears his throat, "Have a good rest there. I think tomorrow a VIP is going to visit you." "Whatever you ask," Kevi says, holds his arm tighter, "But you......are not staying with me, right?" "If things go well, only for tonight. I need to deal with it on my own." "But I can''t trust them." "Well," Now they reach the door gate, Nemo says, "I guess Auga would stay there. You two haven''t seen each other for long, do you?" Auga...... Kevi looks at Nemo wide-eyed. "What the heck......" she taps her pocket, "Where''s my cellphone? Shit, I forget......" "What?" Before Nemo realizes, Kevi turns back and runs to the storage. Her cellphone lies under a desk with vibrating. "Auga?" she shouts at the opposite side, "Auga?" "Where are you, Luna?" Auga''s voice is unclear, seems like strong wind is blowing over herside, "Dear god! I keep calling you......" "I''m fine, totally! Are you still on the way here?" "On the helicopter, about landing right now! Don''t worry Luna, just stay where you are and-----" "Go back! Back!" Kevi yells almost hysterically, "That attacker is inside the building!" "What?" On the 10th floor of landing zone, Auga takes one step out the helicopter, "You saw her?"Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. Soon she watches a woman in shadow shoulders the gate open and totters out. "Help, help......" she puffs hardly, with one hand covering belly, "They''re chasing me......" "Stop by there!" two agents with Auga raise the pistol, "Kneel down the ground! Now!" "Please, I was set up......" the woman can''t help kneeling as they ordered, still press on her wound. "Put your hands up! Both hands!" agents step closer, "Up in the air!" "Save me, please......I''m wounded......" "I said put your hands up!" One agent reaches out his hand, tries to lock her hands up. But the woman catches his arm and grabs the weapon. In a flash of time, she shields her body with that agent. The other agent fires front, but all bullets hit his partner. Then he himself is shot thrice: one right eye, one throat, one chest. Witness two of her colleages die in a second, Auga shocks to blanch, leans beside the helicopter, drop the cellphone without notice. She opens the helicopter gate and ready to leave----- "One more step and I''ll kill you," the woman supports her body up, staggers closer to Auga, "I''ve seen your face before, Miss. You were with him......" Meanwhile, at surgery floor. Kevi rushes to the stairway as she hear the gunshot. "Auga is in danger!" she pulls Nemo''s coat, "On the landing floor! That attacker is with her right now, I should''ve known it!" "Calm down, Luna!" Nemo says in serious, "Forget what I told you right before? You leave here, and stay in my office tonight." "I can''t leave her like that! Shit, let go of me!" To her surprise, Nemo blocks the stairway in front of her without any explanation. "You are not capable yet." he turns to a SWAT police, "Take care of her and leave. Remember, keep it low." "No! Nemo! You can''t-----" Kevi burst out fierce cursing, but as her arms locked by the SWAT police, she can''t move even a finger. That attacker, has a special bond with Nemo...... In a good way, or bad way? I would say......both. Suddenly, a terrified thought comes into her mind. She tries to suppress the idea, but that possible result keeps haunting her: whatever that bond is, Nemo cares the attacker more than Auga. I cannot let Auga be the deal! Never gonna happen! Catches a blink of chance, Kevi grabs the pistol from the holster, pushes the SWAT police to an empty room. When he realizes what''s going on, Kevi carries a long chair and sticks it against the door handle thus it cannot be opened from inside. "Nemo......what the hell are you planning for?" Kevi flashes into the stairway and moves her every muscle stepping up. "Don''t hurt me, please......" pleads Auga in fear, "Helen, I know you didn''t do that......" "No, you have no idea what''s happened to me, because you are a ignorant crew member to them," says Helen in low voice, "The only reason you live, is your connection with Nemo. Call him! Maybe I''ll let you go if luckily, he responds! Do it as I say!" "OK, OK......" Auga seems lost her idea entirely, only mechanically obeying Helen''s order, "I''m calling him......" Three short ticking sound, then the music of Bach''s G String Aria flows from distance. Helen turns her head, abruptly to the source. "No need phone call," Nemo stands by the gate, holding the cellphone up, and click the "ring off" button, "Helen......it''s me." He walks to Helen. Helen still holds the pistol, but takes a little step back. "You trust me, don''t you?" her hand with the pistol is trembling, "Nemo, I......I''ve never......" Nemo shakes his head, which indicates her to stop. "Cameras here?" he says. Helen blinks in suspicion, but soon realizes his meaning. She raises her hand with pistol, target at all three cameras around the landing zone and blind them. "Nice shot," Nemo looks around the broken machine, "You are as good as usual, Helen. How could you ever possibly miss any target like they said?" Helen drops the weapon, almost runs to Nemo''s embrace. "I''m sorry, Nemo......" she sobers with tears wetting his chest, "All these things, all these days......" Nemo taps her head, puts his fingers insie her hair. "As long as I am here, I won''t let them hurt you," he whispers, "Now you must leave. Remember the safehouse of U.S.S.A here?" "Yes." "I can''t bring you out like a swagger. Hide yourself there, I will block anyone else to enter. It may take times, but I promise you, I will find out the one behind all these incidents, and I''llprove your innocence." "As long as you need, Nemo! I wish you weren''t involved in my trouble!" "That''s the least thing I''d consider," Nemo turns his head back, "Go, they are chasing upstairs." Just as his voice ends, Kevi breaks the gate out behind them. "Auga!" she shouts in breathless, "Auga!" "Be quick," Nemo releases Helen''s hand, faces against Kevi, "I''ll deal with her. Go." "What?" Watches Helen grabs Auga''s arm and enters the helicopter, Kevi feels her blood is rising up to his brain, and get choked halfway in the neck. "YOU BASTARD!" She runs in big stride toward the helicopter, pushes Nemo aside with all her rage. She aims at the cockpit, but dares not to shoot, as Auga sits with Helen and her eyesight still blurs with the effect of alcohol. "What did you do!" Witness the helicopter disappears in the dark night, Kevi kneel on the landing zone, as if she lost her support. What did you do...... Her Remnant, case 1 It''s the second time she has ever felt that somebody was lost. Her world has only few places consist of very few people. Each lose is a big lose. Kevi Song, after being dragged from the landing zone, is now sitting on the front step of the Klinik, watching towards the sky and gives no words for hours. Surviving from the frenzy night has run out of her strength, with only some mental things kept her awaken, no other energy left for coherence, only images of past events flowing through her stream of consciousness to nowhere. At first, everything goes normally. Then a strange lady came in, occupied her room; then four police attacked them, coming for the girl with a crescent pendant; then a woman served in military, took down three vehicles of police, almost beat her to death......Shit, any explanation? And she lost Auga. Yes, she lost her. She has fewer than 10 steps from her by the time. And he let it happened...... She feels someone taps her shoulder from back. She decides not to respond. "Still temper on me?" says that voice, "Come on, let''s get on the car." As she senses him pinches her a bit with his thumb, she stands up and staring back at him. The idea sicks her, that she would ever lay her head by his shoulder, and let his beard sting her face. "Yeah, I see," Nemo withdraws his hand, "You won''t forgive me for that, right?" "Forgive what?" Kevi growls inside her throat, "Begging pitiness from me about what you''ve done to Auga? She thought you were coming to save her!" "Auga will be fine, Luna. I can promise you that if that''s your concern," Nemo says, "Helen has met her before. She might not recollect her too much details, but she knew Auga works with me." Noticing Kevi gives no sign of postive, he adds, "Luna, I won''t put Auga in danger, just as I won''t let you. This is a gurantee for sure." Hearing the words "for sure", Kevi lifts her head up, evades eye-contact with him. He always persuades her starts from the words "for sure'', but this time is the most ridiculous case. It''s like gambling. She is expectating the 100th head after 99 heads in the past, but it''s still a toss-up. "No wonder," finally, she breaks the ice, "What a strong bond." "Auga told you like that?" "In a good way, and bad way both, that''s her words. I guess now I''m hearing the good way." "So you accept my request, Luna? Would you allow me to explain?" "Don''t speak lika a trainee, supervisor. Do I look like have better choice?" Nemo reaches out to Kevi, tentatively, one finger touches her arm first, then with whole hand. She behaves like a doll, no resistance, neither welcoming. "Luna, come," says he, "Too many ears around here." He takes her to his car and opens the door. Regardless of his invitation, Kevi passes the front seat and walks into the back one. "Luna, listen......" heisitates Nemo, "What I''m telling you right now is the level IV classified information. If Noah knows I did it to you I''ll probably be fired and sent to jail. I hope you keep the secret for me, OK?" He starts the engine. The car is now turning right to the main street. Kevi leans against the window, watches the crossing police cars. The flashing light with red and blue stings her eyes to tear. "So many people, come after that woman......" she mururs, "But they didn''t know you let go of her."Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. "They didn''t know anything," says Nemo, "They are following orders, to deal with someone far beyond their ability." "Seems like you deserve a compliment, huh? Saving them from suffering more damage." says Kevi, "That woman serves in military, right?" "It''s Lieutenant Helen Fox, Luna. One of our best shooter in 14th Legion ''Zenith''." Kevi looks at Nemo in a daze. "A Special Force?" says Kevi to herself. Someone else''s face emerges from the deep part of her mind, "What did she came here for?" Nemo gives out a heavily sign. His eyes are covered with a slice of fog reflected on the back mirror. "Two weeks ago, Lieutenant Fox joined a classified operation, top secret, which result to be a great failure, probably the greatest among U.S.S.A history. The Army accuses lieutenant for treachery, selling our information about the operation to a dangerous terrorist leader." "Is it true? Definitely you will not agree, right?" "A dilemma, I would say. Logic tells me that lieutenant is the direct suspect, maybe even the only eligible suspect. But emotion gives another answer." "Wow, you have emotion," sneers Kevi, "The most heartless criminal terminator didn''t yield to his logic this time." "More like a sixth-sense," Nemo shifts the steering wheel to left, evades a police block, "Luna, if you want to prove her guilty, you need the evidence: undercovered contact list, strange meeting record, money transfering, or some personal motivation, like dissatisfactory, hatred or revenge hiden in her past. How could you just use the word ''treachery'' without anything above? But that was what military did, and I must stand up and doubt that." Kevi looks at him. She feels something is shaking inside her heart. "Then......why did they let her involve? I mean, at least do some......like background investigation before the operation?" "Helen borns in a military family. Her father is the Major General of Federal Guardian, her brother won a Guardian Medal 5 years ago in navy, when he saved all his crews on a fired sinking destroyer and died onboard." slightly smiles Nemo, "Helen herself? The best shooter on duty, who killed her target 2 kilos away in a sandstorm. From every aspects, she''s perfectly matched." "But you might have ignored some details, don''t you? As you thought you''ve known her perfectly well, no additional necessity to dig more her mental thing." Nemo stops the car by the traffic light. "Mental thing......" repeats him, "Guess what, Luna? Before the operation starts, there is one person actually held the same idea. They told me that about six months ago, Major Song gave a negative respond about Helen ''s inlist to the U.S.S.A HQ, which is a total surprise. They''ve been in tacit partnership for years......" "Wait?" Kevi stuns with mouth wide-opened, "My father knows her?" "No one mentioned that to you before, right?" says Nemo, "He himself doesn''t want you know too much about his doing either. Major Song used to be a training instructor of Zenith, it is he who trained Helen to a military elite." Like all her guts are knotted, Kevi puts her hand on stomach, feels her body is stretching by a strong vacuum inside. "I thought he is abroad, a secret agent doing some......dirty work for you. For seven years he had never come to my side......no, no," she talks in sharp breath, "I shouldn''t have mentioned......" "Don''t blame too much on him, Luna. He wanted to protect you." "NO! Not him anymore!" Kevi outcries, "Continue on Helen......OK?" As the traffic light turns green, Nemo glances back at her for a while. "Major Song''s worry didn''t come from nowhere, Luna. Only few people were informed Helen''s mental-test result. She was......" hesitates he in a grave sigh, "......diagnosed as PTSD, triggered by her past tragic moments. She was supposed to be in 24-hours supervision and treatment, even......supposed to terminate her military career right away." Impossible...... Kevi is shocked to silence, couldn''t awake her mind until they''re about to cross the River Spree. "Impossible," she repeats, "But you still let her in?" "I don''t know how did they make such decision, " says Nemo in short, "We all see the result. She missed the target." "And......" asks Kevi in tentative, "Him?'' "Missed in action," answers Nemo, "No body has been found, no message from the terrorists yet. We still keep the hope, Luna." Sounds like a consolation......but the worst sort of. Her sight is blurring by tears, as she watches the dim light radiated by the billborad of Sony Center. They are arrived in Potzdam Platze now, the site of U.S.S.A Berlin HQ. Nemo stops by a grey building, and opens the door for Kevi. She can see the Knight Statue in front of the gate, with an image of eye shows on its shield. "There''s one thing," she doesn''t come out as she stares at Nemo, "I remember......when she knocked me down and pointed the gun at my head, she said that she was set up. Do you think she was affected by her mental problem by that time?" "I think she must have some hyposises." "But she killed people. She''ve killed dozens of them already. Will she harm Auga as well, supervisor?" "She was defending herself, over alerted sometimes, but Auga is not a threat. She can see through her eyes." He reaches out his hand again. This time Kevi doesn''t refuse. "Luna, promise me two things, then I could bring you in," says he, "First, you don''t tell a word to anyone, even Noah or other high-ranked officials." "I agree you this, what about the other one?" "Don''t go to find Helen. If you notice her, never, ever have any kind of conflict with her, not a single thought about that. OK?" Feels her eyes are on him, Nemo turns his face away, as if he tries to evade her sight. "I can promise you that," Kevi says, "But you need to tell me first: what kind of bond do you have with her?" Nemo''s eyes are in a lax now. "Someone important." says him, like a self-whispering. Her Remnant, case 2 Kevi never has a chance to enter the HQ gate, only watched it several times before. When she wandered on the street of D37, she used to get on the top floor of an abandoned mansion with Nikolai. They sit on the edge of the roof, drinking beer, watching the sunset shadowing the Berlin Fernsehen Tower on the living people walking by under the city. Nikolai said one day he will go out and see the world outside, not from here, or D14 in Paris, or D57 in Milan, but really go and living with them, those normal people with normal life. That Fernsehen Tower which could be seen anywhere in D37 has become his compass, constantly summoning people like him who banished from their homeland and searching for better life, she knew that. But Kevi''s eyes were always attracted by another spot: U.S.S.A Berlin HQ, approx 3 kilos far, like a grey gravestone plugged in the Potzdam Platze. Such impression doesn''t change much when she''s finally able to step in. Same grave-grey inside, with eveything be designed in cubic and round style, perfectly fit her supervisor standing by her side: simple, symmetric, and colorless. You know this place, the people in this place are professional and reliable, but they just make you suffocated. "I suppose," Kevi mutters, "You must be the designer of the building, supervisor. This is your sweet home." "This place designed me," Nemo says in self-mocking, "Like how street has shaped you." Staffs dress in grey and black here have noticed Kevi. Some of them stare at her on the floor, some of them pass by with a curious glance left on her. None of them speak a word. Probably it''s their way to show welcome to a guest, or maybe, to show hostility. She''s not one of them. "Perhaps I should change a dress like you," Kevi holds arms at her chest, "I think, I''m now kind of......" Pauses her with a sigh. "......understanding Auga." "Auga?" Nemo laughs in light voice, "See the desk over the corner? That''s her stuffs, she never told you about her daily work, right?" Through the position where Nemo points at, Kevi finds some color first time in the building, like a blooming flower surrounded by grey desperate land. Dozens of anime figure, picture and graffiti on paper; a peashooter model from her favorite video game, with a Mothra model on it; a guitar signatured by her beloved rock band lies under her seat; and.-----Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. "A......teddy bear pillow?" "It''s called Misha, from 1980 Moscow Olympic," Nemo says, "Sounds like centuries ago." Kevi closes her eyes, crosses her finger in her sleeve. "Can''t imagine how did she come through these to become an agent." "Well, sometimes you need people like Auga in your group, otherwise the string will be too tight," Nemo says, "Did she tell you about the biggest smuggling we had ever dealt with?" "What?" Kevi murmurs inwardly, "Me?" "The anime smuggling," Nemo says, "Three months ago, unknow source of anime dens, which took us a lot of efforts to dig out. Agent Grinta was like sailing close to the wind. She pierced the anime books, page by page, and spread them across all over our departments. We won''t find out the source, until one day, our Director Noah had found three pages of Detective Joker inside a Level III document......" Burst into a chuckle, Kevi lowers her head down. A sense of relief comes and fades away, like a wind blowing a flickering flame. "She never told me that." "Auga is one of our best programmer," Nemo shows his card to the door sensor, "You need to set a genius like her free. She can take many special projects on her own that normal people must work as a group, if she is happy and with full operation. Look at her desk," he gestures the locked drawer, "all her treasuries are collected there. I promise, everything is safe and untouched by any of us." Under the computer screen, there is a small photo labels by paper clip. Auga on the photo is making face to the camera. She sit on the beach, squinted her eyes due to the sunshine. She didn''t have dark circles by that time. "Luna, don''t worry about that," Nemo''s voice drags her wandering mind back, "Take some R&R. You''ve been through a hard night." Seeing Kevi still lowers head, Nemo taps her back in slight move. As he trying to search for more words as comfort, someone else walks to him and interrupts. "Bonjour, Wedenheim," that one nods at Nemo. He dresses in white medical uniform, with a surgical mask on. "Morgen, Doctor Lance," Nemo says, "You haven''t met our girl yet, right?" "La princesse lune?" Doctor points at Kevi, but his eyes are still on Nemo, "I thought she would be older." "That''s how your code name came from, Luna," Nemo says to Kevi, then turns to doctor, "How''s the back up?" "It was totally a mess, look at how your girl had done," Doctor says with unhappiness, "Two bodies, a severely scalded victim, blood are just all over the place. We brought that unlucky fellow to the ''cemetery gate''......." "What?" surprises Kevi. "It''s what we called our interrogation room," Nemo says, "Go on, doctor. Did you dose him the medicine again?" "What do you mean by ''again''," doctor says, "That''s what they paid me for!" "Did he say something?" "Say," doctor teases, "He''s like mumbling things. I''ve told you many times, do not use the SP-171 unless emergency. It''s not something breaches the lock of your brain, it just blows it up, like a bomb! He''s destroyed now, Wedenheim, maybe asylum is his last home to return." "As long as those fragment of his memories are recorded it''s fine," Nemo says, "Send me a copy." "Tape is on your desk." doctor replies, "By the way, seems like someone''s already there in wait for you, in your office." Their Remnants, case closed The guests whom Doctor Lance refers to sit in Nemo''s office, one is talking to another while the other is checking a photograph held on his hand. One is U.S.S.A Director Noah Bauer, which Kevi recognizes. And the other half-bald old gentleman...... "Morgen, Agent Wedenheim," Noah says, "Ahh, you brought her in. I think Luna haven''t met Chief Staff of Army, Mr. Simon Morrison yet?" Simon puts the photograph down a bit, glances at Nemo and Kevi above its edge. "We are about to talk the things happened last night," Noah stands up, gestures them to take the sit, "As you might be aware, U.S president will arrives at noon, then arrives the Chinese premier at 3 pm. We hope you bring us some confidence here, that the chaos happened in D37 has been solved." He turns to Kevi, "Are you fine now, girl?" "Me?" Kevi points at herself with a thumb, "Alive, as you see." "Well, that''s the best news we''ve heard till now," Noah nods at Simon, "You have questions for her, Simon?" "It''s about your father," Simon says. His eyesight is re-attached to the photo, "Answer yes or no in short, explain when I tell you to." Flush with anger runs above her face. Kevi suppresses her emotion as Nemo and Noah are still in room. "Yes." she replies in cold manner. "I''ve read his document. Your father has been recruited since 2026, right before the war between China and United States." says Simon without looking at her, "He stays in Europe since then for 7 years. Has he ever told you about his work?" "No. If I ever knew he''s here I......." "Not even contact you?" "No." "Do you know that he worked for Chinese official before?" "No. He never mentioned. We''ve never been to China." "Interesting," Simon humphs, "Aren''t you a Chinese national?" "I''m a person with no homeland, sir." "But you must inherit one nationality from your parents. What about your mother?" "My what......" Kevi doesn''t react when Simon raises the question, "I don''t know." "You don''t know?" "She died when I was born," Kevi says, "No enough time for me to get to know her well." A slight tremble is running through her body when Kevi speaks. Nemo puts his hand on her knee, takes a worried glance. "So......we have a girl here, who have no idea where her parents come from," Simon turns to Noah, "Her father kept all the secret to her, her mother died when she was born. They lived together in an unknown area until in 2026, when Song Yinuo appeared at the Trafalgar Square, London, and assassinated 20 members of US delegation with a bomb underground......" "He''s not the assassin!" Kevi raises her voice. "Sir, I can prove that," Nemo breaks in, "I saved a Chinese agent by that time when the explosion occured, and he said there was someone else......" "That remains to be seen," Simon stares at him, "Maybe Chinese want us to believe so, like a Chinese spy betrayed his country and turned to us for shelter, and infiltrated our system." "What happened to him?" Kevi looks around, she feels her nerves get tensed, "Did he-----" Recollects about Nemo''s warning, she shuts up immediately.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. "That''s it, Miss Song," Simon says, "Your session is over." Kevi turns to him. Simon''s attitude irritates her. All the night she was trying to find a gate of abreaction, and now the Chief Staff of Army opens the gate. "Yeah, and you''re useless to me too, sir!" she clenches her fist and ready to stand up------ "Ehh, Luna?" Noah steps up and drags her sleeve, "Come with me, here! I''m just about to tell you......come!" He takes her hand to the door. Kevi could not help but leaving a ferocious gaze at Simon. They move out as Kevi being dragged to a corridor near window. "What?" asks her in dissatisfaction. "As you know just before," Noah puts his hands on Kevi''s shoulder, says in seriousness, "Berlin Summit is going to be held for the next three days, and most of our crew members will serve for the summit by then, which means we don''t have enough hands left for your protection......" "That''s fine. I can take care of myself." "Like what you''ve been though last night? Look, Luna......actually," he pinches her shoulder even harder, "We are planning to send you out the city. Again, we don''t have enough hands here. What would you do if more kidnappers or killers come to you? You have some good skills, I know. You can knock 4 of them down with only slightly injured, but what about 8, or 16 or more? They''re a group and you are an individual!" Sees Kevi gives no respond, Noah adds, "We won''t do harm to you, Luna. If we are hostile we could have done that 7 years ago. You can keep your distance from us that''s fine, you want personal life with your boyfriend, its'' all up to you. But you must listen to us at this time, just for once, OK?" Kevi turns to the window, sighs. Looks like the snow storm is gathering at the edge of sky. "Well......may I get back to D37 before moving?" she requests. "Why?" "I want to bring someone with me." "Your boyfriend?" "He''s not my boyfriend. I just......think he will be in danger without me." "Luna, you don''t want to get him involved, right? They will come after him if they saw you with him. We don''t protect valueless individual like him for long time." Noah says, "But you could send him a message, tell him to stay indoor for these days. That''s the best advice I can give." "Right......but I still have some personal stuffs there," Kevi still insists, "In my apartment." "We can send people to take them for you." "I''ll go myself, thanks......I don''t want others touch my thing." "Go discuss with Nemo, that''s not important," Noah says in inpatience, "When get to the safehouse, Luna, I don''t want to hear any report that you disobey the rules or walks away without permission. Don''t quarrel with them, because this time is for real. Are we getting clear?" As Kevi shrugs her shoulder as an agreement, Noah takes his cellphone out and watches. "I''m going to the Bundeskanzlerarmt now, Luna. Get along well with your supervisor." By the time, Nemo is still in his office, as well as Simon Morrison. Both of them don''t looks like in want of leaving the room. The Chief Staff of Army puts that photograph down on the desk, stands up and walks to Nemo. "I''m glad you stay," Simon looks into Nemo''s eyes, "You care about her. I appreciate that." A slight move expresses on Nemo''s throat, but he keeps the silence. "You know......what conclusion did they made?" Simon pauses a while, "Her life, son. With an hour, we''ve decided her life." "They want to kill her anyway, isn''t it?" Nemo says, no expression on face. "Neutralize the threat, that''s what they called. Whether the accuse comes true or not, she cannot be the threat to the summit. Important thing is to keep it secretly." Simmon lifts his head, stares at the ceiling, "What else could I do? I voted yes, as well as General Fox. But don''t blame on him, son. We''ve done a lot of dirty works for our country, we just don''t expect it would happen to us somehow. General Fox knows that. He''s a patriot for life. Vetoes only make heisitation and weakness." He touches the face of the photo, with fingers moving from above to the bottom. It''s Helen''s photo, which pictures her in a younger age. She held the sword up in front of her face, dressed in uniform in pure white, with black gloves, black hat and black boots, leading the honor-guard walking across the wide street at Buckingham Palace. "I almost forget this photo you kept. I remember it''s from a military advertising," Simon self-whispers, "Look at her......our pride, our flag, our Valkyrie of the Army, now probably hidden in the ghetto, lived by those rats, with scars and wounds and dirts around her body, and the horrific accusation haunting her soul. What will they think, if they ever have a chance to see her now......I mean, those young people, young recruits, especially girls who regard Helen as their superstar?" "Sir, I will not let them harm her. I swear." "I don''t want your swear, I want your evidence, "Simon says, "You know what you''re talking about, son?" "Against the decision of the official," Nemo responds, "Even the world." "Then your best chance is to prove her innocence," Simon says, "There''s no much time left." He steps to the door, stands there still as he hold the handle. "Nemo, have you ever imagined the possibility," He doesn''t look back, "Of course we dread that but......what if our judge turns wrong?" Nemo''s eyes are slightly wided, but soon he calms down. "Never, sir. Don''t you have faith in her?" "Faith is such a fragile thing you can rely on, son." Simon shuts the door, with his last word left, "If that moment comes, I wish......at least she could die on your hand. Don''t take it to heart, it''s just in case." Identity No.28, case 1 The amount of riot police in D37 is increasing in an observable speed. The checkpoint Kevi broke through last night has been repaired with three more obstacles and doubled security guard added. Along the way to the apartment Rosenmeer, Kevi can see armored vehicles passing by the street, rolling the dust and snow to the air, and drones buzzling around and scanning the building nearby. Hard to believe this area is not some warzone thousand kilos east, but part of Berlin, the heart of CES, one of the remained superpower of the world. "Everybody in the city is getting weaker and allergic," Nemo says to her, "Not only them, but also us, and our visitor arriving today." "Yeah, same as you." Kevi glimpses at her two side-----surrounded by two armed agents in-guard. "Is the bag so important," Nemo asks, "That you must come back yourself to get it?" "I wouldn''t say that important as Level III," Kevi replies, "But those are my stuffs." 5 minutes later they arrive at the apartment, in front of the cordon line. Nemo gets off the car and walks to an officer. The officer nods and gestures his colleagues to make way. "Sometimes the priviledge is useful," Nemo puts back his ID card, opens the door for Kevi, "Usually they would block the entire building, but they could spare you 10 minutes by accompanied." "Thanks, nomenklatura," Kevi shows a sly grin to him, "10 minuets will be too overused." She enters the gate, steps on the stair with a riot police tailing her behind. Things are changed a lot after last night gunshot, especially the stink around the floor disappeared. Seems like the riot police cleared out some marijuanas by the way they came. She appreciates lot. As they reach to the floor 3, the bad memory of last night reveals again, makes Kevi chill a bit. She excuses herself to the riot police, that she has to do something personal inside the wash-room, requests him stand by the door and wait for her. As the riot police walks away, Kevi locks the door, and picks a Type-54 "Black Star" pistol inside the toilet tank. She checks the bullet and the barrel, sighs with a slight smile. Then she opens the door, drags her bag under the bed. So far so good, she thinks, about 300 euros, her 27 fake credentials, a carbon alloy dagger, a small lockpick and aUSB disk that Auga sent to her. No more no less, and nobody has touched before. As Kevi stands up and ready to leave, her foot is stumbled by something stick-like. It is the luggage from Weiss Valentine, which she recognizes. A flash of idea runs into Kevi''s mind. She looks back, makes sure that riot police is still ouside and she has plenty of time left. She kneels down the ground and opens the thing with lockpick, and fingers inside those plenty of colorful clothes. Then she finds that pink hello-kitty laptop under the cover. Watches the password when turning on, Kevi smiles in complacent. She plugs Auga''s gift in the laptop and operating the hacker program, then types 123xyz and unlock it.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. The wallpaper is a very depressed photo portrays a lighthouse amidst the heavy storm, which surprises Kevi somewhat. She thought it would be a cuter image resembles the hello-kitty style on the shell. She opens the photo folder and searching around by chance. To her disappointment, none of those are personal related. Most of them are just city scale or village view, some are animals like cats, dogs and hummingbird hawk-moth. Then comes her an idea. She clicks the "Show hidden folder" button. Now it''s time for her eyes wide-opened: Lots of new folders, nearly double the amount. She checks them one by one, in expect of finding some background about that Miss Strange. "''Sample from Chechenya, Jun 15, 2030'', ''Sample from Kiev, Jun 27, 2030'', ''Sample from Prague, Jul 3, 2030''," Kevi murmurs, "What''s she doing......" Follows by the time back, she finds a fold named with "Die Familiaer Reise nach Paris". About 17 photos inside. Weiss herself of course, dressed in a schoolyard-ish plaid skirt and white T-Shirt, with a big nerdy glass; A tall and strong male with a buzzcut, embraces a black-haired girl from behind; another young blonde in overalls, chewing gum and blowing bubbles. She had a rose tatooedon her arm. To whom Kevi has absolutely no idea. "Could be her alleged ''sister''?" Kevi frowns as she looks at the girl being hugged, "Wait......" She''s too shocked to make a sound. "Me?" No, such ridiculous. She never had met them before. That girl......with black hair and green eyes though, but such similar with Kevi in features, especially the wink while her grinning to the camera. Suddenly all the issues seems connected now: Weiss'' moving in last night which almost throws her out of the street, then the attacking police who were not supposed to know her location...... Kevi puts the laptop in her bag, opens the door without mentioning the riot police. "Where are you going?" Regardless of his question and following behind, Kevi runs to the second floor, at the landlord------Mr. Chekov''s room. Bang--- Chekov stares at her in rounded eyes, as Kevi rushes inside. "What, Natasha......" "Get out, Alex," Kevi speaks to a boy lying on the floor playing toy, who''s almost freaking out, "I''m talking to your uncle." Alex stands up, with tears filled in his eyes. He might think that his "Sister Nat" is gonna kill Uncle Chekov. "Whatever you might thought about me, Natasha......" Chekov says in fear, "I don''t know who they are......" Before he finishes, Kevi tramples on his chest, with the pistol point at his forehead. "Hard to understand," Kevi utters in cruel manner, "You selling me out." She unloads the magazine, make the sharp edge close to Chekov''s face. "No! It''s a mistake......I''m renting rooms for those who paid, that''s all!" "What are you talking about?" "That woman! Miss Valentine! She ordered the room 308 one week ago. I''ve told her that room 308 is not available because you lived there, but she insisted the room, 308, no other option, and paid me half-years rent one-time! Since you owed the bill for so many times, I have no reason to deny her!" "Weiss?" Kevi self-whispers, "Who is she?" The door opens. Nemo comes in and stands between her and the riot police. "It''s fine, I''ll handle this," he turns to Kevi, "Let go of him, Luna......come on, let''s go." He takes her pistol away, hides inside his pocket, and drags her out of the room, directly downstairs to the car. "What are you doing?" Nemo shuts the door and starsts the engine, leaves the apartment immediately, "Jesus we don''t want to conflict with riot police, that may leak your real identity! Why did you draw out the weapon?" He sends the pistol back to Kevi. "I''m sending you to the airport right now," Nemo says, "The later we arrive, the messier the airport will be. We have two foreign leaders arrive at same place today." "Supervisor, can you stop by the Charit for a second?" Kevi speaks like she never hear Nemo''s words, "I need a quick meeting there." "Why?" "Important," she watches the front, "I think I''ve found some clues......about last night. I must figure it out." Identity No.28, case 2 "Hier ist Weiss Valentine, in der Charit Klinik spricht......" Weiss takes a deep breath, supports her body up and puts a voice recorder close to her lips. "OK, let''s do it again." she murmurs, "Here is Weiss Valentine, message from Charit. So, what date is today......" She pauses a while, her voice sounds hesitated. "Basically, I''m good, I mean......not in that general way but still alive, not be arrested, not get murdered. For those still follow my channel Die Aussenwelt and my blog page, I want to say thanks to all of you. Sorry....." she rubs her eyes, "I guess I might get injured last night, not sure what''s going on yet, not even sure the date today. Maybe I''ll make it more coherent on the next update, since there''s......extreme pain at my head and ribcage. By the way, staffs from government came here this morning, some of them are agents from U.S.S.A I pretty sure. They stands outside my door right now and I guess......" she glimpses towards the door, "They are sent to watch me. But as usual, they never had found my recorder." Sweat effuses through her skin, wets her hair like it glues on her skin. Weiss grabs one corner of the sheet, with the other hand press on her wound. "The nurse has changed my bandage half-hour ago, and disappeared till now.......I think I have to call them back after finish recording, because it hurts so much and almost beyond my burden, and I can''t stop my body quivering. The effect of anesthetic is gone faster than usual, and I''m afraid I have had too much tranquilizer doses before which caused my body resistence to it......These are all I''ve known and thought right now, and yeah......keep in touch. I''m not losing hope yet, promise me you won''t lose hope either." As Weiss speaks her last word, sound of movement comes from outside, makes her alerted. She hides the recorder fast back to her sleeve. "What''s the sitch now?" a deep voice calls. "Not in danger," the nurse says, "But she''s still weak now, better not to impulse her yet." "Thanks, we just want to met her for a second. Her sister worries about her." The door opens. Weiss lies on the bed, with the breath hold tight. The only sound she could hear is her heartbeat and the air flowing.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. "You just don''t give up, do you?" Silent. "No need to pretent, Miss Valentine. You won''t press your wound under the body if you are really awake." he says in firm, "I just want to have a talk." Weiss can''t help but opens her eyes. "Have we......ever met before, sir?" she mubmles, "You looks familiar." "U.S.S.A agent Nemo Wedenheim," Nemo says, "I remember your sister was missing 3 years ago. " "Have you got her news?" Weiss leans herself up, but falls to the pillow again due to the pain. "I wish I have," Nemo says in calm, "But that''s not my purpose today. I have questions for you about last night." He can read through Weiss'' eyes, that flame of hope fades away. "Do you think it''s the proper time?" Weiss utters in cold manner, "I''m not in good shape right now as you can see. I need rest. Leave the room please." "I''m afraid that''s not up to you." "Don''t I have my human right as an European citizen? I am a decent person and I have no criminal record. You don''t have the right to order me......" "Yes Miss Valentine, surely we have the right. Our principle is to clear any security threat in any place, any time and any case, not need to mention that we are facing the Berlin Summit now." "Security threat?" Weiss coughs as she tries to defend herself, "What did I do to threat your security, may I ask? Of course you will mention those articles and blogs, I suppose? I won''t speak a word, and that''s my attitude. Your inquiry is illegal and I will never answer your question without my lawyer......" She coughs even harder. Nemo stares at her without sympathy. "Call the doctor......" "Before you cooperate, Miss Valentine," he speaks in cruelty, "Try to be awake. The pain will help." "No!" Weiss moans as her hand covers the wound harder, "Please......at least bring some drugs!" "Why did you move to the apartment Rosenmeer?" Nemo asks with disregard. "It''s just an interview session, why?" "Your boss told me that they never set this session for Der Spiegel." "I did it myself......on my Blink Channel. For god sake......bring me the drug!" "We''re not finished yet. Do you know who lived in your room last night?" "There is a girl, from Ukraine I thought......she calls herself Natasha and nothing more." "But why did you direct at her?" "What are you talking about..." "The girl, Natasha," Nemo emphasizes harder, "Why did you insist on renting room 308, even it was occupied? The landlord must tell you before." "Is that so important? I don''t know who she is. I just like the number 308. I rent it everytime when I get to D37. Ask the landlord if he told you like this! " Nemo says no more. He turns back to the door and calls outside. "Luna, are you satisfied with the answer?" "Not a single puntuation." Kevi says straightforward. She pushes the door open. Weiss watches her holds the laptop on hand. "Natasha?" she says in slight fear, "What''s that for?" "Explain those photos, Miss Spy," Kevi shows her the screen, "And the terrorists with you in Paris." Good Old Days, case closed Kevi turns the laptop on, clicks the "Paris" folder and exhibits the photos one by one. "Seems like they''re really close to you," she says, "This man, and his sister......what did you call them, supervisor?" "Members of a Russian terrorist group, ''Misha''," Nemo continues, "Which the official will make a serious charge about you, Miss Valentine, if they get these photos." "Russian, right?" Kevi turns to Weiss, "Guess what? Those police who attacked me last night came from Russia too. What would you say, Miss? A coincidence?" Weiss doesn''t lift her head, not even a glance at them. She just stares at those photos, pokes her forefinger to the screen, right at the face of the black-haired girl. "God......" she bursts out a sober as the first word coming out, with tears are falling down her cheeks, "Why makes me suffer like that......" Kevi and Nemo look at each other simultaneously. "A coincidence?" Weiss says, "Huh! I wish it was, Natasha. Otherwise why would Him set my sister''s face on you, and put you in the room she used to live?" "What?" Kevi glances at the photo and squints a bit, "Your sister......" "It''s Antje Valentine, or Antje Martina Mller in the past, or Antje Subokova in the future," Weiss shakes her head slowly, "When I saw you in the room, Natasha, I......really thought, that you are Antje''s ghost: similar in feature, but without her breath around; so close in distance, but so far away in heart......At first I comforted myself, that you might------sorry, I should use ''her''------angry about me for not helping her out, deliberately kept the distance and pretended not to recognize me, until......you told the police like that, which made me finally realized......that the girl staying with me, was absolutely a random stranger, probably some avenging angel came to punish me, but......who knows? I''m not a Christian anymore." She heads up and looks at Kevi''s eyes. Kevi steps back somehow, she feels some dangerous emotion striking her heart, right at the soft irrational part. "The other two?" she straightens her face, acts more intimidating, "How did you connect with the Russians?" "Antje fell in love with the man," Weiss says in calm-----since she never treat Kevi as her real sister anymore, the business is simply the business, "Ilich Subokov, a student from the Free University Berlin. I don''t feel surprised about my sister, she behaved like a guerrila fighter since I knew her: always on the road, rebellious and unsound, with no constant residence. She was the result of an affair of my reverend father many years ago. I guess she might have inherited the depraved part from him with the nerdy-half left to me. I just didn''t expect they were about to get married, only for three months relationship."If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Weiss sighs in slightly whisper, "My mom won''t avow this illegitimacy. As for my father? He acted even worse before. So I stood out, tried to persuade Antje. That was the purpose I started the travel with them to Paris, to know more about her fiance, maybe......more about herself. "At first, I was totally being isolated. The couple were sticking with each other with no space left for me. His sister------named Bagira as I remembered------was too young and vicious to everyone. When we visited to the Arc de Triomphe, I thought it was perhaps the last chance to drag her out from this unreliable relation. As I emboldened myself and walked to Antje, I found she was crying on his shoulder, regardless of a thousand tourists around. Then like a bullet hit my forehead, I realized one thing in a flash: she never cried on my shoulder or each of my parents'' shoulder. She shielded herself with the stings of indifference like a hedgehog, but I knew there was a soft heart beneath the shell. We must have failed her so many times when she in need of our shoulder. By the end of the tour, I told Antje that I will be her best sister, I wish her all the best with Ilich and look forward to celebrate their wedding soon. I''ve never seen so much happiness on her face ever. That was the first time she hugged me and kissed me in the cheek, and also the last time." Weiss'' eyes turn red, but with no tears dropping. "3 weeks later I heard terrible thing happened to them.....rumors in D37 said that they have been arrested by the riot police. I rushed to the Riot Center but none of the staffs gave any respond. Luckily as a journalist in Der Spiegel I did have some privilege. The officer told me that they were arrested for violating the Blackout Law and violent offence against the riot police. But he never provided any document or record about it, they didn''t even allow me to visit my sister! I kept waiting, kept praying-----I hadn''t been to church for almost 5 years, until one night I got a phone call from Ilich. He told me that he and Bagira were deported and they were on the flight back to Moscow. ''Where is Antje? ''I asked him. He said they released her yesterday, but not telling him where she went. ''What happened that night? What did you do?'' I kept asking, but he gave no respond. ''Weiss, don''t get yourself involved.'' That''s his last word. And I''ve never heard any news from them, never seen my sister since then. After finishing her words, Weiss lowers her head in a daze, she grabs the sheet even tighter. "Terrorist......" she mocks, "You call the only one who stands with my sister during her worst period of time, and guarantee her marriage and happiness, a terrorist? What are you then?" Weiss turns to Kevi, with the fearless gaze at her. "I don''t know who you are, Natasha, not sure whether you are a gift to me, or das Gift." she says, "I''m sorry that''s everything about them as far as I know, can''t help you further. Arrest me if you want, charge me anything whatever, but would you return my laptop to me, and get out of the room first?" Slow and Steady, case 1 After three rounds of phone call with the U.S.S.A Internet Department, Nemo decides to let go of Weiss as a compromise. "Yep, I know she has a bond with that sibling," he explains to Kevi, "But I don''t think she really engaged in. The landlord said she paid the bill for half-year one week ago, she could have avoid the process if she really wanted to get you, just call the attacker and things were done as well." "How much possibility," Kevi still doubts, "Do they both make a collusion?" "Perhaps," Nemo says, "But that means you need to detain two person without official accusation, one of which is a European citizen and journalist in Der Spiegel, who has nearly 3 million subscribers at her Blink channel. It''s gonna be a big mess if you keep her fans waiting too long and getting no news from her." "WoW," Kevi surprised, "I haven''t heard this celebrity." "Weiss Valentine started her career by politic critic. Typical white-liberal who support poor people, colored people, immigrants and refugees from our eastern friends. Generous, isn''t she? But we all believe that she just want her personal interest: a revenge for her sister. She even ran a Blink page called ''Lighthouse'' for Antje-----now becomes the biggest forum of those alleged minorities. Weiss Valentine is one of the worst journalist in our black-list. She used to keep questioning a stateman from Immigrant Bureau, treated him like a prisoner and caused him faint with hypertension." "I hardly use Blink," Kevi shrugs the shoulder, "Call me a dinosau. I''d prefer to behave like an anonymous." "No wonder they doubt your eastern identity," Nemo smiles, "How could anyone come from eastern Europe be ignorant about ''Lighthouse'', or ''Mishabear Official''?" "Tell me about it." As they go down the floor to the parking lot, Nemo sends two website to Kevi. "You can smell their taste in a second as you read these posts," he says, "First is ''Lighthouse''." Kevi clicks the link and reads through. Indeed, she thinks, the same wallpaper on Weiss'' laptop. A clock under the title shows "1172 days, 16 hours, 44 minutes and 12 seconds" on the surface of the water, with one finger from above and the other finger underwater touches each other. She checks the posts under it. Hottest one which has got 330k views was posted by "White Day"------supposed to be Weiss herself----recorded her journey to find Antje, mostly are matched with her statements. So she walked through 17 countries, 122 cities, half of the European ghettos. She slept in the cheapest inn, some times rested under the bridge, ate the expired bread, got rubbed by local gangsters but helped by another gang, been cheated by human traffickers and almost got kidnapped during the 3 years......those are things she didn''t tell.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. The second hottest post is about a Polish young factory worker earning his life with his wife and three kids in Vienna. The last update was 10 days ago, which shows that he got injured and lost the job. Most of the posts share a similar theme: make a living, and that''s how Kevi could make relate. Only one good result among them. An automobile engineer who got the blue card last month was guiding other users how the process works. Besides them, new updated posts are mainly about Weiss'' missing. "No, you''re not allowed to enter," seeing Kevi fails to log in the page, Nemo says, "It''s a secured community. Here! I''ve got a hacked account for you." Now Kevi gets what "taste" that Nemo refers to. "Gopnik" is the first word comes to her mind to describe the webpage. Many photos are about military training and their daily life. A commonly-shot image is the figure of an officer. Must be Ilich because he seldomly changed for 3 years. But Bagira is absolutely reborn-like. She shaved a short blonde mohawk hair, remade her tatoo with a black serpent winding the rose around. Sometimes she wore like her brother in breton top with fake adidas coat, sometimes she dressed in a sexy, even a little erotic way with weapons surrounding by. Maybe the only thing recalls Kevi is the same vicious smile on her face. "Their last account was subscribed by 2 million followers, now divided into 10 small communities," Nemo humphs in contempt, "One of the most stupid decision we''ve made. I''d rather gather them together in a lake instead of pouring them into 10 separated swimming pools. You can''t clear out the hatred simply by banning their accounts." "Yeah, I see," Kevi watches the discussions under the photos, "The hatred almost effuses out of the screen." Killing Europeans. Killing Russian Government. Killing Bad Employers. Killing This. Killing That. Killing Him. Killing Her...... Horrible. Kevi leans by the car as they are ready to go. "I still can''t get the connection," she scatches the little curl at the end of hair, "My father, Fox, Valentine, and the Sibling......and I''m the poor spider stuck by the center of the net." Houndreds miles away, the flight of Chinese Premier Chen Zhen is approaching, ready to land within an hour. "׳DZߴϢ," an agent with dark glasses reports, "Situation is getting worse since last night." Premier Chen raises his head to the agent from a newspaper. He has a well-shaved grey hair and persisted in traditional media. "They said," hesitates the agent, "they have encountered unexpected factors in the largest city ghetto D37." "Was the protesters?" Premier Chen asks. "Worse than that," the agent replies, "Some......foreign terrorist group might plan an attack against the summit. In that case......we suggest that to re-arrange our schedule." Premier watches the view outside the window. His breath is still in calm pace, like not be affected even being told about a nuclear war. Сţ" says he, "Zhang, I heard that you once were a SPARC member?" "Yes, sir. With 4 years duty." Zhang says, with body stands at attention. "Good," Premier says at ease, "I''m assured of your skill. Tell Berlin that Chinese Delegation follows the schedule as we discussed before; we respect the summit and we trust their arrangement. Send my personal concern to Chancellor Adler. Our European friends need to know that we are their support as well as the Americans." Slow and Steady, case 2 Guten Tag, Berlin. This is 2:00 pm, Dec 5th. The temperature now is -7 degree celcius, going to be rapidly decreased during the next 12 hours to -10 degree celcius, as the heavy snow approaching within 6 hours. Since the strong wind comes from northern east radioactive area, we recommend you stay in door and wearing masks if going out...... As Nemo and Kevi reach the Flughafen Brandenburg, they realize that weather cast is in somehow underestimated. Snow flakes are already fallen at their shoulder, probably carrying the ancient remains of that nuclear attack. They tap them away from their cloths and rush into the airport gate as quickly as possible. "Unlucky the Chinese," Nemo watches the board, "Even the weather wants them out." Through the direction of his sight, Kevi sees a large sheet of "delay" with red letters on it. The airport is nearly shutdown, with thousands of passengers being crowded inside worrying and complaining. "Luna, do you see anything strange here?" Nemo randomly points his finger at the boarding gate, "The passengers seldomly leave from the exit, they are just pouring in." "They must have found something weird last night," Kevi replies, "Something......threaten. But nobody tells." "Our Internet Department blocked all tags and informations about it," Nemo puts his hand back to pockets, "Block is one thing, another progress is to replace the fear by official statements. You know what, Luna? If you can''t come out a statement fast, the rumor will spread, and that''s what I fear the most: they don''t care about the truth, they just veto by their feet." "Which means......" "They don''t trust the government anymore," Nemo says, "Such impression will be enhenced everytime when we fail them." So they keep walking. As they are closing in the check, two passengers-----seems like a couple, are walking out from a police station, greeting Nemo as they see him. "WOW," Kevi hears Nemo sighs in slight voice, "CIA. They didn''t leave yet." "Howdy there, Nemo!" the American woman says in enthusiasm, dresses as if she''s going to join the Miss USA show, "Didn''t expect you will be here!" "Tracy, it''s not the time," the man with her dresses in suit, turns to Nemo, "Sorry, we just don''t hear from your director, that U.S.S.A has a mission here." "It''s fine, Matt." Nemo says, "So you are still in charge, until the Chinese arrive?" "Waiting to transfer the place to them," Matt says, "Is the plan changed?"Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! "I come here only on behalf of myself," Nemo says, "You did good job though. Anything happened at the airport?" "As the process," Tracy answers, "Our president left half and hour ago after his long formulated speech. We are disguised among the passengers in case of some occasional attackers, as we''ve warned from your HQ......" She pauses as Matt stares at her, "Everything is okay, then?" "You guys are really endured during the long delay," Tracy finally comes out, "We Americans must have been in madness." "We''re meeting soon old friend, I suppose," Matt leaves his last words, "We are allies for centuries after all. But now let''s return the stage back to the Chinese." He drags the sleeve of Tracy and gestures her. "Act like that again and I''ll send you back to the Academy." he whispers. Tracy throws up her hands in depression. "So long then, Nemo." she takes a short sight to Kevi, "Send my concern to your lovely niece!" Kevi watches back at Nemo. "Lovely......" she asks, "Your niece?" "It''s a common saying," Nemo taps her shoulder in slightly awkward, "You can change that if you want." "Well," Kevi pouts her lips, "Just say colleague." At the security check Nemo turns to Kevi, whispering at her ears. "Now comes the process, Luna. The ticket you''re holding," he shows it to her, "Is never shown on the board, hear me? It''s a fake one, in case someone would track you. But you need to act like nothing happens, walk directly towards the gate on the ticket, and the staffs there would send you to our agents." "Your agents?" Kevi is a little confused, "You are not with me?" "I''ll contact you everyday when you get there." "I see," Kevi murmurs, "Helen." "Just keep in your mind," Nemo says, "Don''t tell it to them. We''ve made the promise, haven''t we?" "The promise is a two-way," Kevi reminds, "Which means you need to keep yours to Auga too." "Definitely," Nemo smiles, "Shake hands like colleagues?" Now they''re ready to take on-board like normal passengers after a short hand-shake. As Kevi puts her pack on the box she realizes something. "My pis-----" she watches around and lowering her voice, "My pistol! Still inside the pack!" "It''s fine," Nemo points at the front, "I''ll explain to them. Just follow the queue." He goes towards them. Kevi sees him talks to the securitiy guards, with his agent ID showing up. The security guards look at each other, one tries to make a phone call but suddenly be stopped by Nemo. She feels a bit nervous, as if his identity doesn''t work that well. But soon it proved to be her over-anxious. Nemo brings a black box to her. "How many things do you bring with?" he asks, "Those illegal stuffs?" "A carbon-alloy dagger besides," she opens the pack, "Ehh......and a sleeve crossbow with six arrows." "Take them off," Nemo says, "And put them in this box." "And my shoes," she adds, "There''re two blades hidden inside." "You bring an arsenal with you?" Nemo sighs, "Fine, fine. Usually it won''t even need my words, just show them the agent ID and they will let go, but today is different, with two foreign leaders'' arrival and there are more process for the exceptional." Witness the box transferring to the sensor, Kevi feels her heart is about to jump from her throat. The security guards looks at the screen with mouth opened widely. She stands at the X-Ray room like a big X, walks out with a black-female guard checking her body all around. "OK, " after 2 minutes check, the guard finally says, "You''re free to go." Kevi releases a heavy breath, watches at Nemo with a smile at ease. Suddenly, the alarm of the sensor rings with red light. "What the heck......" As the crowd bursts into chaos, two police in uniform come from the station. Both of them hold a sub-machinegun on hand, targetting at her. "Down on your knees! Down! On the ground!" Slow and Steady, case 3 Out of instinct, Kevi turns to Nemo, with hands held up to the sky. "What''s happening?" she shows him the words by lips. "I said down! On your knees!" One police gets closer to seize her shoulder, then kicks at her knees to force her kneel down. The crowd begin to back away with several scream around the people. "Go check the box." the police calls his partner. He ties Kevi''s hands with a handcuff on her back. "You don''t wanna to do that," Nemo steps up, "Hey, we are following the procedure." He shows the police his agent ID. "Sir, please stand by side," the police makes no compromise, "As the book says we must check anything causes the red alarm." "U.S.S.A has the exceptional, " Nemo insists, "Your book must told you to cooperate with the higher rank institution. Don''t mess up with my person, and don''t mess up with yourself." "I''m doing my job, sir. Accuse me if you want," the police says with no place for discuss, "Stand by side, sir. I''m not gonna ask again." "Right, right," Nemo sneers, stops arguing "Call your supervisor here to see me." "No, sir. I don''t think you need that thing." Kevi can''t help opening her mouth wide: as Nemo picks cellphone, the police grabs his wrist and throws it on the ground. Extreme rage and humiliation strikes his nerves, Nemo clenches the fists and almost gives out the punch. But within a second he pacifies himself, as if he realizes something. Nemo moves back a step, watches the police checking the box inside, and picking everything out one by one. "Call the security member," the police says to the radio, "Block all the entrance and exits. She could have partners inside." "Miss, you are under arrest," the other police claims, "Based on the Airport Security Discipline we are gonna detain you until you prove anything that may contribute to your innocence; based on the Confederal Anti-terrorism Act we have the right to take any proper procedures to respond the threat you cause, and that could be lethal." He hauls Kevi up and move across the crowd. Kevi turns her head back, but only sees nemo being guarded by a group of security member. As their distance drifts away, Kevi feels a wave of sickness rolling inside her stomach. They are separated......she''s alone again. "Where do you take me to?" Nobody answers. The police just drags her body ahead. Along the way Kevi could see more and more police in uniform like them passing by, with auto-weapon on guard. "We have suspect gunner inside the airport," the police besides her says to the radio, with a glance at her, "Asian female, brown hair, purpul hoodie, approx 1.67 meters height." "It''s not me......" Kevi shouts as she watches around, "Hey! I didn''t do this! You know it!" People around her are staring at her. What are those sight stand for? Pity, fear, or anger? Will they gain any confidence about the official, for capturing the terrorist under their nose? Or be more disappointed, because the official can''t even check the terrorists before she enters inside? No......don''t think about that! Stop thinking about others! It''s not over yet, Kevi......Focus your mind, focus on the situation right now......This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. Where am I? Gate K7, Gate K8......The opposite way from the gate she was about to move. Kevi glimpse at the windows. The giant control tower twinkles amidst the heavy snow, and the workers on path are clearing the snow for landing. She takes another eye shot on the guiding map at her right hand wall. So they''re walkng towards east, where the warehouse and luggage transfer station lies over there....... "We''re going to the police station......right?" Kevi asks in whisper, "I guess we should move......north?" "Just shut up and follow." the police replies. They''re lying! She must figure out a way to break away from their control! But her hands are tied on her back, and they have freaking sub-machineguns....... "Would you......would you spare me one minute?" Kevi trie to request, "Please, may I go pee for a second?" She watches the wash-room aside. "You can guard me there if you need......" she says again, act in a pitiful appearance, "Please~I can''t hold it." The two police peeps at her in comtempt. "Save your energy," one police says, "You are gonna pee on your pant when you see my unique means against some cunning terrorists like you." They keep dragging her forward until reach an elevator by the corner of the waiting room. To Kevi''s horror, the place they are standing is a blind spot. No cameras around, no employees pass by. "Get in." Before Kevi could react, she feels a strong punch right on her head, knocks her down inside elevator. ...... ...... Where am i...... ...... I can''t move......can''t move a finger...... ...... Warm liquid flows along her forehead, like a worm crawling beneath her skin, makes her itch. Kevi lifts her heavy eyelids up, searching around with her pointless sight. ...... Dim light here. Can''t see through the details...... She tries to make noises, but then realizes her mouth has been sticked with a tape, and only mumble sound comes out. The heat effuses from her skin, with her every layer of cloth immersed in her sweat. She struggles to head up and raise her body, but a solid shell blocks her. What the heck......she''s thrown into a suitcase! ...... ...... "Put all the luggage on board," the voice from the police says, "Then our job is done." "What about the agent there?" another police asks, "You know.....the U.S.S.A agent with her? Are you gonna deal with him, right?" A moment silence. "I have more powerful allies in the agency," a female-like, but rather hoarse and raspy voice comes from outside, "You will be harbored as I promised. She will be disappeared in the air and no one is gonna track your tails." ...... ...... Take a deep breath, Kevi curls her body up, let her tied hands slide slowly across her feet, then taps the secret device under her shoes twice to release the blade. She targets at the connected zipper around the suitcase, use the blade to pierce it, inches by inches...... ...... Damn it! One more step...... She feels her body being lifted up, throwing to a moving vehicle. ..... Try harder, Kevi! Try harder! Don''t give it up! She manipulates all her muscles, stabs the blade through the zipper, and incise it up from the right to the left...... ...... ...... Bang. The trailer driver stops the vehicle, watches Kevi pushes the shell up and drills from the suitcase in shock. "Where is the police?" Kevi stares at him, asks in breathless, "Where are the people talking to you just before?" By the gate of the elevator, the two police stands by, waiting for their turn to going up. "What statement should we make?" one says in tension, "I mean......they are gonna find it sooner or later." "Just say she''s missing," the other one comforts him, also to himself, "Perhaps broke the handcuff, hiddes in the air pipe......doesn''t matter, the Comrade will cover us." As they''re talking, the elevator moves downstairs and opens the gate. "Let''s go then." one police says. Just as he turns around by accident, he saw a shadow from the corner is moving fast against them. What the fuck? It''s Kevi, with blood on her face and rage in her eyes, she jumps in the air and kicks at his rib with the blade under her shoes, stamps him back to the elevator. The other police raises his weapon in a haste, but he''s too slow. Kevi drags the pistol from the holster, shields herself with her victim''s body, and shoot at him without aimming. Bang! Bang! Two bullets penetrate his nose and heart, the police backs a step and slumps on the floor. Kevi stands up again, clicks the device to hide the blade. She walks by their bodies, tears their uniform away. "Boris Romanski," she talks inwardly, "And Victor Rezov......" What......Russian again. This time with no accent too. She picks the key and unlock the handcuff off. But that woman......that one talks to them, with alleged "powerful allies" in the agency, who''s she? Could it be her bluff? Could it be......even worse? Kevi adjusts her breath a while, puts the pistol in pocket and hides the bodies inside a small storage. Slow and Steady, case 4 Back to the waiting-room. After replacing her cloth with a cleaner suit, Kevi cleans up the blood on her face, covers her scars with gloves on the wrist which tied by a handcuff, and takes a protective goggles on. Now she is able to show herself in the public. The first problem is that gunshot. Nearly one third of the entire aiport must have heard that, as she estimates. They might find those bodies soon as they see the blood there, and quickly relate it to the "suspect gunner". Luckily they may search the warehouse first, inquire the trailer driver since he was the only one witness there. The process will take no longer than 10 minutes. On the othrside of the airport, the rest of the police must evacuate the remain passengers because the gunshot has stired a fierce turbulance among the people. Within 10 minutes if it goes well, she must get there and blend herself in the crowd and leave the airport. Achtung, achtung. This is airport emergency cast. We have found highly-suspected firearm attack. All personnel must leave the building through the nearest path immediately. This is not a drill. I repeat, all personnel must leave the building...... "Did you hear that, bro?" a black teenager tells his friend, "Some terrorists sneak in the airport!" "What the hell?" his friend replies in extreme tension, "But they just captured someone before......isn''t it? Is there more?" Lots of questions and complaints like that are surrounding Kevi, as she walks forward to the crowded passengers. Such a weird feeling to hear others talking about a criminal which actually refers to her, the girl walking with them, Kevi gives out a wry smile. A thought flashes in her mind like: what if she is the terrorist? What if she really want to create huge damage among the innocent people? No wonder the civilians here trust the governent no more. What if they know, we have a double agent inside our U.S.S.A? Feeling a bit itchy on head, Kevi stands there by shock. She puts her hand in her hat, and find her wound is still bleeding, with few blood dropping down through her fingers. She lowers head, wipes the blood away, and walks to a kiosk, gets several tissues to cover the wound. Suddenly, some phone ring calls near by. Kevi stuns, but soon spots the source: it''s a public phone, right beside the kiosk. "Luna, is that you?" as Kevi picks the phone comes a familiar voice, "God......I thought I lost you, girl." "Nemo......" no other voice could serve as an adrenalin dose to her now, "Supervisor? Where are you?" "Watching you right now," Nemo says, "Precisely, through the camera." Kevi sharply turns her head. "You''re in the control room?" "They won''t make things too difficult for me. I found an excuse to get to the control room, tell them I need to know the situation happens right now, in the name of Level VI authority. Talk about that later, but tell me what happened to you? What did they just do to you?" "I might be sent to like Siberia just before......They knocked me down, put me inside a suitcase, like they''re gonna package me to somewhere." "Can you identify them?" "Guess what," Kevi sneers, "Russian, again. This time with a bonus." "Bonus?" "A woman, could be their boss, said the U.S.S.A will harbor them, because she knows some high ranked bastard......"This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. "Are you sure about that?" "I was faint at that moment, but not lost my conscious yet." "Did you see her?" Nemo asks, "Or see any feature noticeable?" "I was in the suitcase......" it''s the first time to sense the tension from him, which makes Kevi nervous too, "Ehhh......I guess she has some ache in the throat, her voice was like rubbing the sand papers......." A long silence from the opposite. "Bagira," he whispers, "Must be her." "The one on the photo......" "That''s her voice. Her vocal cord was severely destroyed by torture." Nemo speaks in fast, "Luna, we must rendezvous together. Can you get to the airport metro, about 300 meters close to the exit?" "Yeah......" "You must get there. Bagira is a highly respected person among many people with eastern background, some zealots will do everything she orders like a fucking cult. Do not underestimate the danger you are facing now!" "OK, OK......" Last time Kevi heard the warning in such level is about Helen Fox, she mocked that and got beaten down and almost killed. She dares not to risk the second time. "Get a cellphone," Nemo says, "And do not dress like a cleaner. You know how I locate you in the camera? Find other disguise commonly." Kevi puts down the phone, watches back around. Exactly, she is the only cleaner, even the only staff along the way. She comes into a wash-room by chance, takes off the cleaner suit and dresses her original cloth on. The purple hoodie is suspecious, but wearing a single shirt outside seems fishy too. She could only expect the police would not disdinguish her fast from the crowd. "Entshuldigung! Bitte!" Kevi drills through the crowd, with request in German, English and Russian, "Sorry, excuse me!" "Hey, just watch the queue!" Someone pushes her on the back, makes Kevi staggers a bit. She can''t help holding a gentleman''s waist to keep balance. ''What''s wrong with you?" the gentleman compliants, without realizing his cellphone being stolen away. "Do not rush! Follow the queue!" the police doesn''t catch the small argument. "Come on! Keep in order!" Kevi leaves away from the gentleman, picks his phone and calls Nemo. "So you get it," Nemo says in laughter, "Just catch you in the crowd." "Yeah, I think......" Kevi stands a tiptoe, but the crowd barricades her eyesight, "I can''t see the way." "Just follow them," Nemo says, "When you get downstairs, there is a cafe called Enkel Wilhelm, get there and you''ll find a safe passage behind it. We''ll connect then." One second, he adds, "And, change a cloth. I''m afraid they''ve noticed you." He''s right. Three police with scope are standing on the third floor, at her upper left. Kevi heads down immediately. Dozens of shoes are walking across her sight, high-heeled, leathered, sports......and police boots. They are following her steps. "Where should I go?" Kevi looks around, "They''re everywhere!" "Calm down, do as I said," Nemo instructs, "I have an idea, but you have to protect yourself because it''s out of my control." "What is it?" "I''m creating a chaos. The crowd will be in panic, but you probably get hurt among them." "You can''t be serious!" "I am exactly," Nemo says, "Listen carefully. On my one I''ll set the signal. 3, 2....." With in a flash, the air seems frozen around the hall. Suddenly a gunshot burst out and spread all over the airport through radio. What was that! Someone set the fire! As Kevi being distracted in mind, someone occasionally trips her foot. Fails to stand still, she fells on the ground. "Stop! Hey, hey! You trample someone!" But nobody hears the warning. They just keep running and bend their body over to dodge the possible "gunfire", even the police around them are holding the line and maintain the order with all the strength. Those shoes under her sight before, are steps on her body now. Kevi tries to protect her core part, but her body is squeezed like a sardine in can, the weight pressed on her won''t allow her to stand up...... Damn it......do something! As another foot comes to stamp on her face, Kevi catches the ankle, twist it and drags that heavy guy to fall down by another one''s back, and then hit the third one''s......within a second all the people around her are fallen by chain. "Emergency! Emergency! Trample Accident! Need first aid now!" Kevi struggles to open her eyes. The world is bright again. She''s alive, just with some tiny scratches on her skin. Anyway, she doesn''t have to hide her wound anymore. Kevi watches around, sees a woman with similar size with her lying by side, nearly falls into a coma. She takes off her cloth soon, relace by the cloth from that woman, and grabs her beanie on head. On the left side, the billboard of Enkel Wilheim is shinning with Christmas theme. That''s the place she need to go. Come on, Kevi...... Gotta move on......Gotta keep moving. ...... ...... "Where is the girl! Who gives you the cloth!" With police secures around, aimming guns at her, the woman------dresses in purple lifts her hands on air, watches them in confusion and terror. Rose & Serpent, volume demised Bagira sits in the pilot cabin of a C-130 transport in silence, hearing the news from the cellphone. Something must went wrong as she hadn''t find the package in the final check. The airport is hers for this afternoon, she controlled the Russian employees here, divided the girl and her protector, and almost successfully moved the package onboard. Exactly......The only part ruined the whole plan lies on that girl, daughter of the Major. She is indeed underestimate her will and skills. Really......she only regarded her as a spoiled princess who put all her safety on the wings of U.S.S.A. "We''ve lost her......again! She''s escaped from the crowd, we''re now checking every corner and room where she could possibily hide------" "All units," Bagira stops her zealots in firm, "Now listen to me: find her, but do not push her. I want her in whole. Block her up in a restricted area and report it to me." She hangs off and stands up. Ilich watches her taking off the pilot helmet and ready to leave. "Leave this shit to them, Bagira," he says, "No need to show yourself in public." "They either kill her, or let go off her," Bagira shakes head, "Don''t worry, brother. No loose end this time." At the other side of the airport, as the police run to Kevi and almost catch her, she shuts the gate and locks it. See them smashing the gate with a crowbar, Kevi moves a chair to press against the handle, brings everything she could get from the room to the door. About 1 minute later, the smash ends with several curses. Kevi leans her back at the gate, puts her ear close to it to make sure they''ve left. "Damn......they''re not giving up," she tells herself inwardly, "I''m stuck here......" No time for caution. She must get to the metro and find Nemo fast. Every minute she spend on dealing with them would turn to risk. They have advantages in number. It''s only a matter of time for them to block the place. She can''t fight dozens of people surrounding. Kevi walks through the passage in a haste. With an occasional glance at the wall, Kevi pauses by there. It''s a map, scattered in pieces and faded in color, with details lost but still distinguishable overall. The structure has 3 layers, and the metro lies on the buttom, which is groundfloor 1. There are still other 4 entrances on the top 2 layers, which the police might have reached. The only way to get to the metro is the stairway, about 50 meters northeast. Kevi takes a rough picture of the map, and runs to the stairway by the guidance. As she opens the door, she sees flashlight coming from below, and an obvious jut with a pistol outline exhibits on the shadow...... Kevi shuts the door without thinking. She steps backforwrd, heisitates the next move. Run, or fight? There''s no way to run! She must beat the gunner down before she can move to the metro. But how? She has no firearm......fighting will be too risky. "OK......" Kevi comes up with an idea. She leans by the door, makes a little noise by taping the wall and wait. The steps are closing in. Good! They must find her here, but they don''t know exactly her position------ Crack! Two men stamps the door open, hold the pistols and searching around. "Where is she?" a beard man asks in Russian, "Should be there......" Then he let out a painful scream, as Kevi under the table kicks him at knee with the blade. The second bald man raises the pistol, but Kevi rushes to him, seizes the flashlight and press it against his eyes. "Fucking bitch!" As Kevi grabs the pistol and about to shoot, she feels an extreme pain from her back, almost cracks her ribcage. She can''t help coughing with breathless and turning back. The beard man lifts the table up, and smashes it on Kevi again. That powerful strike beat her on the ground, she feels her hot blood is flowing out from her nose, she can see stars on her eyes and almost falls to coma. The rest of her consciousness forces her to hold her body by one knee, jumps and kicks at the beard man''s chest. She rolls down to the stair by the reaction force. "I''m gonna kill her! Cyka! I''ll shoot the shit out of her!" Hearing the furious scream from above, Kevi supports her body up with one hand, crawls downstairs with every muscles. Bullets are pouring above her head, leave dozens of holes at the wall behind her......Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! "Stop! Stop!" the bald man drags the pistol from his partner, "Don''t shoot! You are not hearing the boss said? Don''t shoot!" After wasting the whole magazine of his pistol, the beard man stops the fire in unbearable rage. "She''s fucked up!" he holds the wound at her knees, still cursing, "Not gonna run away from me......" "Luna, what''s going on your side?" as Nemo calls her, Kevi picks the cellphone, "I hear gunshot from your direction." "Damn it!" Kevi complaints, "Where are you?" "On the way to the metro. I can see police are gathering at the gate. Move fast underground or they''ll outflank your position!" ''I got two damn gunners on my tail!" "Gunners? They''re not police?" "Who theheck knows?" On the otherside of the cellphone, Nemo snuffs in surprise. "Luna, I have a solution------" "Again?'' "You move to the floor one, find a way to let the police chasing you, and lead them to the gunners side." "What? Not joking me this time------'' ''That''s the only way to get away from them both. Trust me Luna, the police will regard them as your companions." "But I------" Kevi is still in dilemma, but the gunners are chasing from upperstair and leaves her no choice. She pushes the gate open and runs out. Left, then move about 5 cubicles along the passage...... Kevi watches the map on the cellphone as she continues running. Left again, to the corner......move into the big shelter chamber from the front foor, then walk to the backdoor and lock the gunners inside, then escape to the right passage until reach the entrance......get the attention from the police and return back, induce them follows her step to clash with the gunners who locked inside the shelter room, and finally...... Finally is not up to her. "Have fun you guys." Watches the police breach the door and move in to the shelter chamber, then coming out several gun shot from inside, Kevi sneers at them in self-proud. Without anyone''s attention, she moves back to the stairway and walks down to the metro. ...... ...... Report from the front, report from the front. Two armed men have been shot down. No sign of that girl. Keep searching around. I repeat. Keep searching around...... ...... ...... "Huh......" After opening the last door of the groundfloor 1, Kevi signs with relief. She wipes the blood of her nose with sleeve, with other hand still holds the cellphone. "I''m arrived, supervisor......" she looks around, "Gee.....shit signal." No respond, only signal jamming buzzling. Kevi puts the cellphone back to the pocket, opens her eyes as wide as she could. No sign of any human being around. The only source of light is the safety lamp by the wall and on the railway. Kevi keeps walking to the stage, with the pistol she disarmed from that gunner. "Supervisor?" she asks intentatively, "Nemo?" The only sound answers her is her voice echoes around the broad area. Kevi holds the pistol by two hands, checking the dark railway with aimming. Still no sign of people. Kevi frowns in puzzle. Nemo won''t cheat her. He might be assertive and stumble in his annoyed style, but he is the one by her side...... Catching a glimpse by chance, a fast-moving shadow is striking at Kevi''s direction, as she raises the pistol and targeting back------ Something hard and sharp hits Kevi''s hand, makes her drops the pistol down to the railway. She let go of a short scream, covers her hand and steps a bit back. Suddenly she feels her waist being hugged, and her whole body is dragging down on the railway tunnel. The attacker won''t give her a rest. Another powerful punch comes directly at her face. Kevi blocks it by arms, but the same pain strikes again, as if something pierces her skin. It''s a brass knuckle, twinkling under the dim light, with iron fangs on each finger. Driven by a gust of hatred, Kevi fights back without hesitate. She stamps the ground to release the blade, and kicks to the shadow. The attacker jumps back, leaves a big gap between them. All the kicks from Kevi are dodged. The attacker blocks her side kick, grabs her ankle and twisted it to force Kevi kneel down. Kevi struggles to stand up, but her knee is trampled by the attacker and impossible to move. Suddenly, the brass knuckle punches her zygoma, almost incises her face to half. The body seems not belonging to her anymore. Kevi falls on the ground. Tears and blood blurs her sight. The whole world is spinning and spinning around centered by the security lamp..... ...... ...... "Kevi Song," that familiar raspy voice says, "For so many years, I''ve been waiting to see you in person." Kevi lifts her eyes, stares at the attacker. It''s the first time she ever heard someone call her in real name. She tries to say something, but the only sound is mumble in throat. Bagira bends to Kevi, drags her pendant away from her neck. She feels something around her neck is emptied, with cold wind effuses through her collar. "I''ll keep this for you......" Bagira whispers, "......as a souvenir." ...... Is it over? Is she gonna kill her? Such a bad ending...... Not reconciled......not expected the death at here...... ...... Bang! "Drop the weapon!" someone far from the otherside shouts, "Drop the weapon! Now!" Bagira''s body shakes by the shot. Blood is splashed to the ground, she press the wound on shoulder and stands up, with another hand moving toward the pocket------ "Not move a finger! Or I''ll shoot you right now!" It''s Nemo, holding the pistol aimming at Bagira, and moving one step closer. Bagira''s lip trembles, with the mixture of shock and anger express on her face. She lifts her unwounded hand up to the air and steps back------ Like a thunder rumbling near by. Something breaches the tunnel, with fire and dusts created by the exposion. Both Nemo and Bagira are pushed down on the ground by the shock wave. Against the car light Kevi could see a truck moving through the tunnel, and a man with beanie leans by the car door shouts------ "Time to go, Bagira!" Ilich says, "Get on!" Kevi senses a slightly flowing wind......Bagira stands up fast, runs back to the truck as if she''s not getting any injury. On the otherside, Nemo wipes the dust on him and gropes the pistol with her fingers...... Bang! Bang Bang! Bagira steps up the truck and catches her brother''s hand. Nemo seizes the pistol and chasing the truck, aimming at the wheel and shooting it until running out of magazine. Sparks are flying all over the target, but the wheel is still on working. The truck falls back and changes direction, running away from the hole with high gear. Its shadow is soon faded out in the vast expanse of snow flakes. Ghost Protocol, case 1 Berlin, das Bundeskanzleramt. U.S.S.A director Noah Bauer stands by the window of the conference room on third floor, watching the honor guard marching to the flagpole in the heavy snow. Holding the cellphone on, Noah blows a hot hreath to the window with vapor condensed on. "Luna is attacked by the Russians," reports Nemo from the airport, "We have assets working for Bagira in our agancy. They knew our plans." "Is Luna alive?" Noah asks. "She''s in bad condition. Really bad, that......we probably would lose her. She was in coma and internal damage when we saved her out. I''m sending her to the Charit now." "Keep updating, I need......" says Noah, with 5 seconds hesitate, "......I need her status precisely accurate." "Of course, sir." "Which means dead, or alive, no other options... It must be confirmed." As Noah hangs off utters director Essenstein. "So, you gather us here," he utters, "I suppose it is about the airport? Is your flight landed safely, General?" he turns to the AGI director, General Gu. "Yep, half-hour ago," Gu says, "The Premier seems notbe disturbed. He said he''s sorry to hear about the bad news." "I''m thinking about the details on my way here," Essenstein shakes his head, "And the answer is: how the fuck could these things happened? How could that dude controls everything a thousand miles away?" "Vega Molotov," Gu responses, "I doubt that too, Robert. He shouldn''t have such power. He should''ve dead two weeks ago without consciousness." "Right, in Minsk......you can say that again, Gu," Essenstein speaks fast, "Think it twice. Is that everything became chaotic since Minsk? Molotov escaped, your team defected; then we heard two shootings in D37, and some Russians kidnapped Major''s daughter; we even found them sneaked in the airport, and exploded the tunnel just before the Chinese arrival! Jesus! Within 24 hours we have encountered three terrible cases and our summit is not even start yet!" "Gentleman, I know what you mean," Noah raises his voice, tired though but still firm, "As the director I feel hardly to admit it but......the U.S.S.A takes full responsibility, about the incidents for these days. Can''t imagine same stuffs happening in Washington or Beijing, but an attack is exactly happening in Berlin now, targeting all of us three." Gu and Essenstein stares at each other in serious. "We don''t mean to criticize you, Director Bauer," Gu shakes his head, "If our invulnerable castle------at least we thought------has been breached three times within a day, the most urgent check we should take is probably not from outside, but from inside." Noah frowns as he looks at Gu in his eyes. "The mole." he whispers. "The lock, and the door keeper," Essenstein adds, "Imagine someone knows your operation details, your settlement about Luna.....That person is able to contact high level intellegence, which means he or she is in high rank authority. That mole knows he or she is not on the top of your suspected list." "Nor on the bottom," Gu continues, "Probably someone sets in the middle." Noah doesn''t respond instantly. He''s still in grave doubt. "We can help if possible, Noah," Essenstein says, "Or you may call it ''cooperation'' if that sounds less offended. That dude couldn''t buy over three of us in all."The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. "It''s not the case. I''m just thinking......no, still can''t explain it," Noah says, "No......after Nemo''s report I cease that idea about ''mole''. If he knows that......if he really mean to use that, the only possible suspect-----should be me." Like hit by a lightning, Gu and Essenstein shock there with wided-mouth opened. "We have usually 5 levels of classification, as you''re both aware," Noah states, "The 5th level, the top secret......only those may turn the world upside down will be classified in. I kept one item myself......document coded ''Ghost'', which is the protocol between me and Major Song Yinuo, recorded as audio file in a tape. Well......how should I start with? Right, the Ghost Protocol. You need his most valuable treasure to tie a rope on his neck, which is his accidental daughter. Things started with the Square Trafalgar 7 years ago. He contacted with the U.S.S.A, said he wanted negotiation......" "About the explosion?" "About his daughter. We''ve made a plan to arrest him at first, but then abort it after serious discussion. Song choosed a seat at Star Bucks righ in thebusinesscenter in London, too many civilians around, and they were all his hostages if he found our SWAT near by. To earn his trust, I came to meet him alone, with only an old recorder and a radio interphone, no smart-devices. So yeah......I saw him, he let me in without check. You can''t imagine what I felt about him for the first met. God......he was like a roaming beggar on the street, with hair curled with dirt and beard unshaved, and a patched shabby coat with gory shirt inside. The conversation lasted for 2 hours, and it was not a memorable conversation. Song has an accent, he repeated his words many times to make sure that I fully understood his requirement. Luckily we finally reached an agreement, and since he had no trust in paperwork, we decided to record it on the tape. It''s about 41 seconds long." "So you two keep the record each?" "''No, you keep it.'' I remembered Song said in firm, ''It''s your resiponsibility to command your agents. They won''t hear my explanation even I show the record to them.''" Noah let out a heavy sigh, wipes his eyes as he mentions this part, "''Ghost Protocol''......all clauses are about his daughter, code name ''Luna'' for that little thing she always wears, as Song never told me her real name. First and for most, since he sent his daughter under our protection, the U.S.S.A will guarantee her absolute safety, as long as he works for us." "Do you think he''s really loyalty?" Gu asks in doubt. "Doesn''t matter. It''s just a deal. He puts Luna as a hostage, we take and protect her. That''s it. After the explosion at the Square Trafalgar he lost his faith in protecting Luna, he realized that no matter how strong he is, he can''t be with her 7/24 without distraction." "But CIA also has that ability in protection," Essenstein raises his eyebrow one side, "I feel like being despised by him." "We wereat war by that time, remember?" Gu curls his lips, "Ignore that, Noah. I suppose there are more clauses?" "Second one would be his existence. The U.S.S.A should keep his secret to everyone, especially to Luna. She will never get any information from us about her father. I remember he stressed his words by ''Tell her I''m vapored in the air". I don''t understand but still accept it. I guess......he might have his reason. ''You know you could have a chance to meet her in secret, if you want.'' I said to him. ''Won''t be necessary.'' he said in a tone remixed by cruel and sorrow, "She''s not your average neighborhood girl, and she''ll never be like that anymore.''" Noah holds up a cup of coffee, leaves the room in silent. "Well......that''s quite," Gu utters in confuse, "Normal." "Yes, those are commonly clauses so far," Essenstein says, "But it''s in top secret list and coded ''Ghost''." Noah stops the cup by lips as he hears their words. "It''s all my fault, my idea......" he puts down the cup, "Because the last 6 seconds.....is added by me, without informing Song Yinuo, and that 6 seconds clause, is the real ''Ghost Protocol'', or should I say, execution order." "What did you do?" Essenstein snuffs the cigar as if he realizes something, "Shit! Are you------" "''Out of human or force majeure factors, if Luna dies, the protocol is demised automatically.'' Which means......if we failed to protect Luna, Song Yinuo will be put into our black-list again. We have to kill him before he knows Luna''s death." ...... ...... He stucks himself inside the sofa by the window, as he lost all hs strength. "Luna is the real deal, gentleman. She is the deal and the duty. The protocol is meaningless anymore without her. Song Yinuo will still be our threat and rival by that time. But......I didn''t expect that far. I might have......harmed the Songs somehow when I record that 6 seconds. If Luna have suffered in any kind, I am the one to be blame. I''m the real sinner pretended to be saint......" Noah lowers his head. Essenstein stares as he does a double take. "So that''s why-----" "A plot with simple logic," Gu says, "If people wants to kill Song Yinuo but dread his skills, they could just simply kill Luna, a much easier target." With his head lifts up again, Noah covers his wrinkled face. "Pray for Luna......pray that she could make through the dark time," he whispers to himself, "Otherwise ......the execution will be activated, directly sent to the Legion Zenith." Ghost Protocol, case 2 "Luna! Luna!...... Stay awake, girl! Stay with us......" ...... ...... "Hold her wound! Hold tight!-----" ...... The itch, the tiny itch.....crawling through her skin, effused from the blood. From the wound, the deep into the flesh and bones, all gather to the heart in the end...... ...... ...... "Look at me, Luna!" I heard the voice......I know it, but I just can''t...... Help......Help! I''m loosing control...... ...... "Another dose of adrenalin!" "Her heart cannot take it anymore, sir! She will be killed by that!" ...... ...... Death? Is that......the feeling of death? Nemo, I can hear your voice......I can feel you around. But why can''t I touch you? Why can''t I speak a word? Shit......say something! She aroused every part of her muscle, but all the gear running at her body only made a mumbling sob sank in her throat. ...... ...... "Sir, her blood pressure falls increasingly......we''re loosing her!" Damn you! I''m not dying...... Look at me, I can breath, I can feel, I even know what happens to me right now......hey, I''m Kevi Song, I was in the airport just before, 3+7=10, the capital of the CES is Zurich......I, I...... Give me a punch......cut my skin, I can show that to you......I''m not dying! I can prove it to you......I can feel the pain, I can bleed...... ...... ...... I''m just.....leaving? You know, like hearing someone talking on the boat, and you''re sinking in the water......their voice are like from everywhere, but fading away, as you shakes hands to catch the narrowing halo on the surface...... If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ...... The dead silence are tiding by waves, she can count how many snow flakes kissed on her face...... ...... ...... "Sir, her heartbeat.....is stopped. Almost." ...... "But she''s not dead yet?" "She''s tough, but the bleeding is real." "Then leave her like this." A short laughter. "Luckily the bad injury, we don''t even need to touch a finger to kill her......she''ll be a corpse when we arrive." ...... ...... Me? A corpse? ...... I''m...... not, a! corpse!!!!!! ...... Never!!!!!! Like the shrank heart being diastoled like a blooming blossom. The boiling blood brings back the breath through the heartbeat, igniting every corner of her body, ...... ...... "Sir? Sir! Look at it, the heart beat------" As Kevi bursts out the first cry, the ECG is up-curving from nearly straight line to 70......110...... 150..... 220! Her eyes are wide-opened in hollow, sweat comes out from her pale skin, wipes her cloth and hair. "Help-----" That''s the only word utters from her lips, then cut off with a violent cough, like her throat being plugged a wet towel. She watches around, eyeballs are rolling in frenzy. Everybody around her are evading the eye-contact, hiding themselves in the shadow. Her breath pauses by a second, with dark blood spitted out from her mouth, filling the ventilator. "Blood-----please!" Kevi whines like a drowner, "Can''t......breath......" "Do not engage." she sees a gesture for "forbid" by the light, "Within a minute, she''ll be choked to death in her own blood." Panic controls her soul, Kevi grabs the sheet, tries to touch the first person close to her. "Doctor? Doctor Lance?" she turns her head, "I know you, Doctor......please......" As Doctor Lance removes the mask from her, blood is sprayed on his white uniform. He steps back, takes a gauze and wipes the blood with slightly disgusted scowl. "Relax, Luna," Doctor Lance press his hand on Kevi''s forehead, "You''re not suffering this for long." Few second he adds. "Never, ever feel it anymore." He comforts in whisper, but more like lament. He can feel the strength is leaving away from Kevi, as her pupils are widening, her head leans by side, and her breath is growling in blood. "Good," Doctor Lance turns to his colleagues, "Good. Prepare a report then." "Will they really accept her death?" someone still concerns. "By that time we''ll be abroad, nothing to do with us anymore," Doctor says, "Get those things off her, make it natural." The rest medical staff nods at him, comes to Kevi and takes the sensors away. By the time he touches her body, Kevi''s pupil shrinks in a sudden. No time for anyone''s reaction she rises up to seizes his collar, picks a lancet from the tray and slices his throat. What the damn fuck??? Doctor Lance rushes to Kevi, locks her shoulder and presses a pillow on her face, but Kevi is still writhing her body, trying to rise again------ "Cover her limbs!" he yells, "You! On her feet! Get the damn adrenalin!" Doctor Lance grabs the syringe, hold it up on the air, aimming at Kevi''s wildly-beating heart----- With it doses at once, her heart will explode! Not gonna recover again, you little Medusa! But then a heated shock wave burst out from their back------ What the------ Smoke rises in the explosion, licks the door and whirls it away. Strong light shoots inside the cabin and blinds them----- Three rounds of pistol shot with silencer. All his colleagues are shot at head, leaves a red mist erupted from the blood hole. Seeing their bodies fallen down, Doctor Lance grabs Kevi from behind, drags her up as a shield. "Stop! Stop it!" He screams at the front, "Drop the weapon, or I''ll kill her!" Through back light, Doctor Lance finds a black shadow holding a pistol with laser pointer, blocks the way out. "You''re man from the agency?" he asks, still seizes Kevi''s neck, "Put the gun down!" As he expected, the shooter lowers the aimming a little, but still on guard. "Good, good......what do you want from me?" he asks in hurry, "We could talk, OK? Listen friend, I have to do this-----to earn my life. How much money do you want? 50 to 50 after it''s done? More than your 5 years salary------" He takes a short glimpse backward during speaking, which turns to be deadly. Before he could finish his defense speech, Kevi hit his nose with her head, stamps heavily on his feet to get away from his control. As she falls on the ground, the last scene she peeks is a slow motion, the death of Doctor Lance, who got shot at eye and throat. ...... ...... "I''ve found her, Nemo......that was so close......" Kevi recognizes that voice, and she swears that voice is the second abhorrent sound she could imagine now. Pacifier Protocol, case closed Helen Fox! As Kevi finally recollects the owner of that voice, she wakes up in cold sweat, finds herself lying on a bed, with towels on her body. She raises herself up reflexively----- Ouch! Slightly sting comes from her arm. Feeling thick liquid are flowing from the wound, Kevi taps her arm, figuring out a perfusion tube, which seems to be dragged away from her, is pouring blood from the needle. "Luna?" Someone with furry hair moves by her side, let out a heavy yawn. It''s Auga''s face, seems more fatigued and deeper at her dark circle. "Luna!" she screams out, "What are you doing? DON''T MOVE and lay down! Dear god how did I fall aleep-----" "Auga?" stuns Kevi for a while, "I......I-----" "I know you got a lotof questions," Auga puts a finger at her lips, "But you have to lay down, take a rest first." She holds Kevi''s arm, stings the needle back. By the time Kevi sees it connected with a blood bag, which is held in Auga''s bosom. "Auga......" Kevi insists on standing up, "What happened to you? Did they harm you------" "No! No-----Don''t worry about me, Luna," Auga explains in hurry, "I''m OK, really......I knowyour thought, but things are not what you took for." "Is she with you?" Kevi asks, "With us around now?" Auga''s lips twist, hesitate to utter. Kevi then grabs the blood bag from her and walks to the door------ "Luna! Luna! Please-----" Auga chases at her back, "You''re wounded! Don''t-----" The doors is open. That menacing shooter from Legion Zenith stands by the door, holds her knuckle up in a daze. "-----fight with her." Finishes her last words, Auga steps forward, tries to separate them. But Kevi puts her arms in front of her, gestures her to stand away. "You......" Kevi gazes at her, whispers with teeth clenched. She has a thousand words choked in her throat, but hard to speak out somehow. "Ehhh, hey-----" Helen forces a reluctant smile, "I was about to knock the door-----" "Where did you take me to?" Kevi asks with body tremble, "What do you want?" "I heard you are in danger,someone from the U.S.S.A wanted to murder you on the way. Miss-----"falters she, "-----Song, if you don''t mind. It''s your safehouse, they won''t find you here." Scanning around, Kevi walks by Helen''s side. This place......more like an ''arsenal'' rather than ''safehouse''. A sofa, a billiards table sets in middle, a small bar by the corner. Rest of the spaces are full with weapons from all over the world: HKs, ARs, Kalashnikov series, even a Type-97 assault rifle with NATO standard, exhibits on the equipment wall. Kevi gets one step closer to the table, grabs a SIG SAUER pistol on hand. As if making up her mind, she loads the magazine fast and turns the muzzle at Helen.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. "Call Nemo back," she breathsin rapid rate, "I''m not talking to you......" WIth pistol on hand, she feels much confident to face Helen. "Listen, Miss Song......"hands opens Helen, "We might have some misunderstood here......" "No, you listen to me," Kevi still holds the pistol, "I know what you''ve done. You''re a psychopath, you messed up a mission, you failed my father and left him behind......" GlimpsesAuga standing by the middle in badly scare, Kevi holds her wrist and drags Auga to her side. "Dare you touch one finger at my friend and I''ll blow your head right now!" Twinkling liquid filling in Helen''s eyes, as she hears Kevi. "Yes......I won''t deny that," she lowers her heads, "That was my fault, no excuse......" Snuffs her nose hardly, Helen says, "Major------he is such a------" "I know him much better than you, don''t refers to him. I''m not hearing his name comes from your mouth......" Kevi roars gutterly, "Go and call Nemo, if he really sent you here!" Helen stops, herlips twist with sorrow. But she follows Kevi''s request. "OK......here you are. He''s working with his colleagues right now, probably not able to get here fast......please don''t blame him on that." Enters the number, Helen puts the cellphone down cautiously, and kicks it to Kevi. Kevi squats herself, picks the cellphone while her eyes always attached on Helen without blink. I''m still afraid of her...... Beep---Beep----- Still...... "Helen?" After like a century passes, the man in the opposite picks the call. "What''s the matter there?" "Nemo-----" Kevi tries to calm down, buther first voice withsob reveals her real one, "Luna? Is that you?" "Where are you! How could you leave me like that------" A heavy sigh puffsthrough the signal. "It''s a complicated one, Luna. Though I used to doubt about Bagira''s bluff, it was confirmed to be a real threat now." Nemo speaks fast, "That ''mole'' hidden in U.S.S.A is true, Luna. Doctor Lance was just a little pawn, he lackseither thegut or ability. Without my permission, he has no authority to bring you out of my sight. There must be someone served in high rank ordered him.......maybe higher than all of our assume," "Then......then......" Keviis completely incoherent, "What do you want me to do, emmm? There are so many people want to kill me! Out of nowhere! Please------come to my side, I don''t feel safe with her......" "Luna, Helen just saved you. It''s not that serious as you worried. She''s on our side now." "That is your side!" Kevi shakes her head, "Your side!You''re the only person support her, but I don''t have that bond!" Nemo silences for a second. "Well......you have been a smart girl, Luna, and I can''t say those doubt are irrational if I were you," he says in a gentle tone, "You always judge the friendly and hostile, and I believe you will judge her fairly." With a click sound, Nemo hangs off the conversation. Helen watches Kevi drops the cellphone, but the pistol is still on hand. Sheconjectures what attitude stands behind Kevi. "Miss Song------whatever you heard about me, is true," Helen wrings her hands like a school girl making mistakes by her teacher, "I do......have something unstable in my mind, and I know it''s horrible......if you really feel danger, if-----if------" She cannot continues, "-----I go," Helen repeats in whisper, "Right. I go." "What?" Auga cries out, "Helen......don''t be stupid! You are the Most Wanted target-----" "I''m a profession, Auga," as she makes up her mind, Helen turns around walking to the front gate, "There areplenty of abandoned buildings nearby, I can find my shelters anyway." "That''s not necessary!" Auga still persuades, turns to Kevi with plead eyes, "Please Luna......I just dosedherwith the tranquilizer!" She is about to catch up with Helen, but her sleeve is seized by Kevi in tight. Auga stares back at Kevi, while Kevi stares at her toes.She can''t tell how many thought stiring behind her glistening eyes. As Helen walks into the snow, shecoughs a huge amount of white vapor, scattered by the chilling wind. Helen opens the door and sits in car, puts her hands over her face for a while.Then she takes a deep breath as recharge, plugs the key inside. Click 1......Click 2...... Shit......must be ran out of the antibreeze. Shakes head with a powerless smile, Helen takes the key off and ready to push the door open----- The door is not open. Someoneblocks there. Helen turns down the window andglimpses out. "Put your hands out," it''s Kevi, streches her hand to Helen, "Come on------am I not speaking English?" "Thanks-----Luna," feels a heavy burden fallingfrom heart, Helen responses her friendly, "I''m so sorry for......" Click--- Helen gapes at her, as Kevi grabs her hand, and takes a handcuff to lock her up. "No more words to me," Kevi''s face turns blushed, "Don''t take it as my compromise, Lieutenant! I just thought......my supervisor can''t see you freeze to death by some, random corner. Butyou''d better off behaving yourself in my house!" Assets in Masquerade, case 1 "Hey guys it''s ''Wheresthedude?'', as you all know that I''ve planned my trip to Europe for a year and now just arrive at my second station-----Berlin, Flughafen Brandenburg. But man......it seems like......some kind of chaos is happening right now------I''ll hold this thing a bit higher so you can see what''s going on clearly......" The camera is lifted up, scanning the huge crowd surrounding by. "......I think I''ve heard---like, two shootings? We doubt that first, probably some like......wheel explosion. But then the radio gathering us together to the lobby, ehhh.....said a firearm attack has been confirmed." The vlogger gaps with a heavy breath. "Gosh I''m so scared off, man......honestly the first time during my trip. I just wanna leave this place and back to the hotel, because.......because something is weird in the city, I definitely tell you. It''s like a battle front, I''ve never seen so many drones and armored vehicles in any European city like that.....well, let''s see------" Then, another gunshot bursts out in the air, clearly enough for everyone to hear, clear enough that impossible to misjudge. Through the screen, Weiss could see people screaming out, fleeing away regardless of the police near them. Someone got knocked down in the turbulence, then more people fallen in a chain including the vlogger himself. "Horrible......" Covers her mouth in a pale, Weiss keeps surfing the Youtube. To her surprise, all the comments and like-buttons are blocked, as well as other bloggers video resemble this one, some of them even disappeared after refresh. Same situation takes place in Blink, with only short statement from the official page "Bundespolizei": Suspect shooting, 2:30 pm at Flughafen Brandenburg, two armed men has been shot down, additional gunners on the run. Post time is 7:30 pm. 5 hours after the incident. Things couldn''t be even worse, as Weiss supposes. 5 hours passed, with still a brief report only, which usually means the official failed to make things clear at first place, or things are too severe to go public. Based on the issues she knew for now, situation could be both. As Weiss watching the video in daze, someone in screen catches her attention. It''s a girl dressed in purple crawling on the ground, by the corner of the screen. As she headed up and look at the screen, Weiss figure out that familiar face haunting her in every nightmare. "Natasha?" Someone stamps at that girl''s face, the video is cut off by this frame. Weiss stands up, paces around the room in her extreme anxiety. She trust that girl so much, she never act that stupid and pitiful before. Natasha, Luna, or Antje......which one is the real you? Weiss couldn''t stop questioning herself. How could you bond to such dangerous case? God.....if only I was there with my colleagues! I hate this wound! Pressing her ribcage, Weiss sits down again in caution. She picks her cellphone again. Suddenly, a phone call shows on the screen. It''s a stranger number, labled with "7", the Russian country code. Weiss hangs off out of instinct. She drinks a cup of water, attempts to memorize the person she could possibily encounter.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. No. Not a single result. She did public her additional phone number on webpage, but this one is for her private use. Who could have got this? Curiosity finally beats fear. Weiss self-mocks. She is indeed a journalist. She re-calls that number, waits and holds the breath. "ݧݧࣿ" she asks tentatively, "Hello? Who''s there?" After a moment silence answers the opposite. "Weiss?" that one says, "Is that......really you?" Weiss stuns by the words. Very few people call her with "Weiss" now. "Excuse me, but.....have I met you before?" she asks, "I can''t remember------" "I understand. We all changed much these years." that one sighs heavily, "But those memories never fade. Antje......my friend, my family, my only brother''s intended. For three years, you are not the only one who miss her, Weiss." A sudden twinkle shines at Weiss'' eyes. "Bagi?" she almost yells out, "You''re------Ilich''s little sister? My god.....what happened to your voice? What happened for all these years------" "That would be a long story, Weiss, I might write a dictionary about that someday. What I can tell you is.....Ilich and I, were tortured by her lost. Before this phone call we''ve discussed a lot. Ilich thought......the earlier to tell you the truth, the shorter you might be suffered. But he doesn''t have that courage to talk to you." Bagira pauses there, but Weiss realizes something instantely. "Please, Bagi.....don''t say that word." "I''m sorry, Weiss. She''s dead." Even though she has imagined that ending many many times, Weiss still burst into tears as she heard from Bagira. "Word is so powerless, Weiss......I wish, if only I could be with you." "Please.....stop it!" Weiss drops the phone, sinks herself in continues sob. 5 minutes later, she picks the call again. "What happened that night?" her voice is mixed with hoarse and nasal tone, "I asked Ilich, but never got any answer." "Because we knew no more than you either, Weiss. What you heard from public or urban rumours are also the only part we were acknowledged. But now......we have the document, from the leak of U.S.S.A itself." "U.S.S.A killed her?" "She died of the allergic reaction by agent SP-171. Highly damage to nerve system, but usually not lethal. Ilich and I spent a year to recover from that dose, but Antje......she never woke up." Weiss kneels slowly on the floor, with her back leans by the corner of the bed. "So......everything is in vain," she murmurs, "All those efforts, all those hopes......" "Weiss......" hesitates Bagira, "Please stay strong. It''s not over yet. Not over that easily for those demons. " "It''s over, Bagira!" Weiss cries with a hollow laugh, "She''s gone! What does eveything to do with a dead one anymore?" "Because we are still alive," Bagira says, "As well as those high-ranked official who murdered Antje. They''re still alive, sitting behind the chair, with no regret, no apology. We need your help, Weiss. We can fight together as family again, and we''ll make them suffer as we suffered." "Help? What do you want from me, Bagi? She brought all my spirit away......" "Have you ever realized your influence, Weiss? Look at your Blink page, look at the ''Lighthouse'', you are running the biggest slavic community on the internet. The government is afraid of you, Weiss. If our voice could broadcast on your platform, this accursed government will fall apart in people''s indignation....." Sneers Bagira in cruelty, "Is that the perfect avenge for you, Weiss? They''ll never imagine, that innocent girl died on their hand, will become their executioner." Weiss frowns, seems not be swayed. "You may harm more innocent people, Bagi......" she speaks in slight voice, "No avenge worths more than a single second that we spend together." "Things are beyond any individual now, Weiss. Don''t you forget your principle as a journalist? ''To reveal the truth, whatever the truth is''? Don''t you think, our people deserves to know the truth?" "My principle," Weiss says, "has another part, that the truth must be free. It should not be utilized by any individual or group, with any political purpose." "I wish you consider it carefully. I love Antje like you do, Weiss, and you know I''m the one on your side." "I made myself very clear, Bagi," Weiss repeats again, "I can''t do that. It''s not for Antje." About half-minute''s pause speaks Bagira. "Right, Antje, poor girl......she''ll never speak for herself if I don''t speak out today, and you......her beloved sister, you can hide behind your newspaper, soften our people with your cheap sympathy, but you shrink back in front of those murderers......" Bagira stresses her words with teeth clenched, "Because you are a coward, Weiss, you deserve no respect from me." "Bagi," Weiss says with heartbreaking, "I''m not a coward......please don''t call me that." ''I''m not your Bagi," Bagira stops her, "You have no idea how strong I am, the power within my mind, and the will to achieve my goal.....You don''t know me anymore. Soon you''ll find out who I really am."