Axel chuckled. “Here,” he said, waving his hand over the city. “Just like you.”
“Well I doubt it was just like me,” Dawn smiled.
“No, that’s probably true. I grew up mainly in a government facility known as the Home. Rolf still lives there.”
Dawn looked up at him. “Wow, that must have been hard.”
Axel shook his head. “Nah. It was better than the lab I lived at in Germany. Especially the food,” he smiled.
“What—you don’t like strudel?” she joked.
Axel threw back his head, laughing boisterously. “Actually, I love strudel,” he said. “Strudel is a sweet pastry—a treat—and we did not get it very often.”
“Sorry, it’s the only German food I could think of,” she said with an embarrassed giggle as she hid her face in his shoulder.
“I figured,” he smiled. “No, we normally ate whatever was prepared for Dr. Holger and his staff, normally a bland something or other. It was provided for sustenance, not enjoyment.”
“I understand. I grew up in a colored neighborhood in the forties. We ate simply to survive most of the time, too.” There was a long pause as they kept walking. “So, who was Dr. Holger?”
“He was in charge of the lab where we lived. Hell, he was more or less our father. We never knew our actual father and I don’t think we were conceived the old fashioned way in any event, so whoever our real father is probably has no idea we even exist. It was Dr. Holger and his staff and me and Rolf, Kristel, and Gerd. Er, Hammer and Sickle,” he said and tried to force a smile. “But Dr. Holger treated us well. Not like Arnulf.”
“What happened to him?” Dawn asked.
Axel shook his head. “I don’t know,” he said. “As I told you before, I shocked Arnulf with a lightning bolt. I had assumed I’d killed him.” Dawn nodded. “Dr. Holger rushed Rolf and I back to the lab. We had been separated from Kristel and Gerd. The Doctor said he was going back to get them. We never saw him again. Maybe he was killed. Maybe he was captured. I don’t know.”
Axel turned his head away from Dawn and reached up and wiped a tear away from his eyes. Memories of that day were still hard all of these years later. He was hoping Dawn didn’t see it, but she did. She stopped him and turned him toward her. She took his face in her hands and pushed herself up on her tiptoes pressing her lips to his. She lowered herself back down and stared at him.
Axel smiled at her. “So you are a mind reader,” he said. She laughed as he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close, kissing her deeply.
***
Axel pressed Dawn against the wall of the elevator as they rode up to his floor of the apartment building. The doors opened with a “bing” and Axel took her hand, pulling her out of the elevator and down the hallway. He soon reached the door to his apartment and removed the key from his pocket, but before he could slip it into the lock Dawn pressed him up against the door and kissed him.
“I’ve never been with a white boy before,” she smiled as she pulled away.
Axel couldn’t help but chuckle. “Well, I promise all the important parts are in the usual place. They just may be a little more difficult to find,” he said with a coy smile, causing Dawn to laugh. Axel slid the key into the lock and Dawn pushed him into the apartment as the door opened. He was hot for her and it was clear that she was hot for him, causing him to get even more excited. She unbuttoned his pants as he loosened his tie, pulling it from his neck and tossing it on the floor. He was just about to unzip the back of her dress when they were interrupted.
“Good evening,” a voice said causing Axel and Dawn to jump and the lights to flicker.
“Jesus, Tom! What the hell!” Axel said as he buttoned his pants and flung his hands into the air. “This has got to stop! I’m taking my key back.”
Tom sat in a chair facing them, laughing to himself while a ring of smoke drifted to the ceiling. He stamped out his cigarette as he stood, smiling mischievously at them. “I had a feeling about you two,” he said as he wagged a finger at them causing Dawn to blush as she bit her lip. “All that tension in the room the first day…” he began, but Axel interrupted.
“What are you doing here?” he asked, clearly annoyed. “Trying to get your codename changed to Cock-Block?”
All humor evaporated from Tom’s face. “Someone tried to kill Arnulf tonight,” he said to wide-eyed stares.
“Do we know who?” Dawn asked.
Tom shrugged. “Ian assumes it was the Russians.”
“But you don’t believe that,” Axel said. It was not a question.
“He’s probably right, but Arnulf doesn’t think so. He’s convinced it was some assassin from back during the war that they called the Valkyrie. Said she hunted Nazis. You ever heard of the Valkyrie?”
“No,” Axel said as he shook his head.
“Well, like I said, Ian is probably right. This woman was not old enough to have done too much killing during the war.”
“But the old bastard survived?”
“Yes, he is a hard man to kill, apparently,” Tom said.
“Tell me about it,” Axel replied.
“Anyway, Ian thought it best if I rounded everyone up and brought you in. He’s worried this assassin might come after each of us.” Dawn looked at Axel, but he simply nodded. “So pack up,” Tom said as he slapped Axel on the shoulder. “I’ll take Dawn to her apartment to pack a bag and then we’ll swing back by and get you.”
Chapter 16
Ian was moving quickly through the halls at CSOS headquarters. Tom, Axel, and Dawn struggled to keep up. For the past couple of weeks since the attempt on Arnulf’s life, they had been residing at the Home with Rolf, though each had a separate room. Ian had forbidden them to go out except when they were driven to the office or various ranges or training facilities by armed agents. They were going a bit stir crazy and had leapt up with excitement when Ian approached them saying they had a new mission. They were eager to hear about it, but first Ian insisted he had something equally exciting to show them.
“Where are we going?” Axel asked as they stopped in front of the elevators.
Ian glanced at Tom and both of them smiled. It was clear that Tom knew exactly what was going on and that annoyed Axel. “Well Axel, following your extremely successful demonstration at the combat town, we received a large uptick in our funding.” The doors to the elevator slid open and Ian stepped inside. The others piled in behind him. Ian pushed the button marked ‘B’ for basement. The doors slid closed and everyone turned expectantly toward Ian. “The first thing we did with the additional money was buy an espresso machine,” he said.
“You have me to thank for that, old boy,” Tom said as he nudged Axel.
“The second thing we did was greatly upgrade out sci/tech development division,” Ian said.
“We have a sci/tech development division?” Axel asked.
“Of course, but before we simply called him Steven,” Tom reminded him.
“Oh, yeah,” Axel smiled. “Pleasant fellow. Has the small lab in the basement.”
“It’s a little larger than that now,” Ian smiled as the elevator stopped and the doors slid open revealing a large, bustling area—part lab, part storage, part testing center.
“Wow,” Axel said as they stepped off the elevator. They were quickly met by a very excited Steven, hair as disheveled as ever and sporting his customary white lab coat. However, for the first time since Axel had met him he seemed truly enthusiastic.
“Welcome to sci/tech development,” Steven said. “Or as we like to call it down here, STD.”
“Oh,” Dawn said as she tried to suppress a chuckle.
“Is that what we’re calling it?” Axel asked with a smirk.
“No, we’re certainly not calling it that,” Tom said.
Steven laughed nervously at their joke, but it was clear he did not understand it. “I am Dr. Steven Quakenboss,” he said. “Please let me show you around.”
They followed Stev
en through the lab as he excitedly explained how they were building a state-of-the-art facility from scratch and fully intended to develop exciting new weapons and other devices to be used in the war against the Communist menace.
Axel smiled at him. “Do you mind if I call you ‘Q’?” he asked.
Steven smiled broadly. “Because I’m like Q in the 007 movies?” he asked.
“Actually, it’s because Dr. Quakenboss doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue,” Axel said matter-of-factly.
“Oh,” Steven said, the disappointment evident in his voice. “You can call me Steve.”
Dawn slapped Axel on the arm with the back of her hand causing him to turn and look at her. “Be nice,” she whispered, but Axel only shrugged.
“Steve, could you show them the suits?” Ian asked. “That’s really what we’re down here for.”
“Yes sir, of course,” Steve said.
“Suits?” Axel asked, his curiosity piqued.
Steve led them through the lab and down a hall to a room where they found Rolf already inside, being fitted with a suit by two men in lab coats.
“Hey, guys,” Rolf smiled when they came in.
“I sent Rolf down before I came to get you,” Ian smiled at them.
Steve presented the suits with a flourishing hand. “Here they are,” he smiled.
Axel, Tom, and Dawn stepped forward to look at their new uniforms, which were fitted to three mannequins. The suits were black and dark blue, with a lighter blue lightning bolt in the center of the chest. Axel glanced over at Steve who was beaming proudly.
“They are insulated, to solve that wet lightning problem,” he smiled. “After Siberia, Ian had me make some for Mr. Flemming and Miss Williams as well. So next time you decide to electrocute the entire room, they’ll be protected, at least somewhat.”
“So I can use my powers while in water?” Axel asked excitedly.
“Oh, no,” Steve smiled. “If you are submerged you’ll still fry yourself and anyone else close by. But if you get wet, like you certainly will in the jungles of Vietnam…”
That caused Axel and Dawn to shoot a look at Ian.
“Vietnam?” Axel interrupted.
Steve tried to cover his tracks. “Or wherever you go, this should insulate you so that you shouldn’t be afraid to use them.”
Axel smiled. “Should?” Axel asked.
“Well, you’re the only lightning man we know and you haven’t tested it yet so…”
Axel turned to Ian. “Alright Ian, what’s up with Vietnam?”
“Axel just listen to Steve for a moment would you?” Tom asked, as annoyed as Ian that Steve had thrown things out of order.
“What’s up with the lightning bolt?” Dawn asked as she pointed to the blue insignia adorning the chest of the uniforms.
“That was my idea,” Tom smiled proudly. “If the Russians are going to dress their super humans like comic book heroes, why can’t we?”
“Check me out, Axel,” Rolf said as he moved toward them, now fully clothed. He wore what appeared to be a bulkier, armored version of the same uniform.
“Rolf’s suit is special,” Steve said. “It’s a new lighter-weight body armor. It’ll be easier to wear, but still tough enough to slam into concrete walls if necessary.”
“Can’t we get some of that?” Dawn asked, memories of being shot at by Soviet soldiers in Siberia still fresh on her mind.
“Well, it’s not that light yet. Someone of normal strength like you or I will still be severely weighed down, but we are currently working on lighter bullet proof materials.” Steve stepped away and over to the wall, where he pointed to a large shield, also imprinted with the blue lightning bolt. “We’ve built this for Rolf as well. The next time someone swings a hammer at him, he can protect himself.”
Rolf lifted the massive shield and held it out for all of them to see. He posed with it like a knight readying for a dragon’s flame.
“Lookin’ good, buddy,” Axel said with a smile.
“Quite dashing,” Dawn smiled causing Rolf to blush. He returned the shield to the stand on the wall.
Axel turned to Ian. “This is all great, Ian. Really it is.” Ian smiled proudly. “But what’s this mission? What’s in the jungles of Vietnam?”
Ian’s eyes leapt to Tom’s. “Let’s talk in the conference room,” he said. “We’ve installed electromagnetic interference that prevents bugging. That way we can be certain no one else is listening in on our conversations. And this will be the most highly sensitive conversation we’ve ever had.”
***
Ian and Tom sat on one side of the conference table and Dawn and Axel sat opposite them. Ian glanced at Tom and then back at Axel and Dawn. He leaned forward, placing his elbows upon the table and spoke with animated hand gestures.
“Alright, what I’m going to tell you is going to take some faith on your part.”
“Faith?” Axel asked. That was an interesting term.
“Yes, I need you to have faith in me and in Tom and the rest of the government, because this is big. Shockingly big.”
Axel glanced at Dawn, then back at Ian.
“Colonel Arnulf has told us the location of an extra terrestrial base, hidden in the jungles of Vietnam.” Axel and Dawn sat still, staring across the table at Ian for a long moment as the director paused to let it sink in and expecting questions or comments. “Aren’t you going to say something?”
“Extra terrestrial?” Axel asked. “You mean like, aliens?”
“Yes, aliens,” Tom said. “Beings from other planets.”
Dawn smiled. “That is so cool. You know, I’ve always believed in aliens.”
“Axel?” Ian asked.
“What?” Axel said.
“I expected some reluctance on your part in accepting this.”
“I’ve recently learned not to dismiss things too quickly.” As he said that he reached under the table and took Dawn’s hand, giving it a little squeeze. She smiled at him, but quickly looked away, not wanting to draw attention to it.
Ian smiled, too. Now he was excited, like a child telling his little brother about Santa Claus for the first time.
“Tom, could you do the slides?” he asked and Tom nodded as he flipped on the slide projector. “We’ve strongly suspected that there was an alien base in Vietnam for some time, but no one has been able to determine the exact location. Colonel Arnulf told us where it was and our satellite photos corroborate his story.”
As he said this, a black and white photograph of something that appeared to be a stone building deep in the jungles appeared on the projector screed.
“Too bad it’s a war zone,” Dawn said as she shook her head.
“Actually it’s the real reason we’re there,” Ian said. He received doubtful looks from all three of them. “What? Do you really think we or the Soviets give a care about Vietnam? It’s nothing but jungles and rice paddies.” Axel looked at Tom, but he only shrugged.
Ian turned and pointed to the projection screen. “The place you’re going appears to be an ancient temple that has been reclaimed by the jungle on the outside. Arnulf claims to know how to get inside, but once in there be on your guard.”
“Wait, he’s coming with us?” Axel asked.
“Yes,” Ian proclaimed without further explanation. “If this place is what we think it is and what Arnulf claims it is, it will be very old alien technology. You won’t know how to access it, so don’t try. Your job is to confirm its existence and secure it so that we can get some scientists with greater expertise in there.”
“You want the four of us to secure this place?” Dawn asked.
“You’ll be going in with a platoon of Marines,” Ian explained.
“Wait a minute, what side of the border is this thing on?” Axel asked.
Ian smirked. “The northern side.”
“Great,” Dawn replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
“Don’t worry, it won’t be any more dangerous than Siberia and you
survived that,” Ian said confidently.
“Barely,” Dawn countered.
“Well, these Marines are the best we’ve got,” Ian assured her. “They’re out of Fox Company.”
“Absolute bad-asses,” Tom added with a wink as he lit a cigarette.
“Alright,” Axel said. “So we’re just going to go in, confirm this temple is what Arnulf claims it is, secure it and then…?”
“Well, once you confirm it we’ll have the calvary come in. Look this is the type of thing world wars get started over. This could change everything. If it is what Arnulf claims it is, it will change everything.”
“And if it isn’t?” Axel asked. “If Arnulf is full of crap?”
Ian stared across the table at him. “Then I’ll fly him back to Siberia and hand him over to the Soviets myself.”
Chapter 17
Vietnam
The helicopters whizzed over the jungle just above the treetops. Staying low made it more difficult for the enemy to track their movements. The helicopters carried Axel, Rolf, Dawn, Tom, and Arnulf as well as a platoon of U.S. Marines. Rolf smiled excitedly. He and Axel had been well trained by the CSOS and this was hardly their first time in a chopper, but Rolf still enjoyed it.
The Marines were all relatively calm. Many even slept, accustomed to the drum drum drum of the helicopter blades chopping through the air. A couple of them stared at Rolf, astonished at his size and unable to stop marveling at him. More of them stared at Dawn. The men didn’t see many American women here and of those they did see, few were as attractive as Dawn. She would occasionally glance up, catch the eyes of the gawkers, raise her eyebrows questioningly and they would quickly look away. Then she would attempt to suppress a smile.
The crew chief made his way down the center aisle, between the rows of Marines and came to stop in front of Tom. He leaned down, shouting into his ear above the whir of the blades. “We’ll be at the drop zone in five, sir,” he said and Tom nodded then leaned forward and held up five fingers to Team Blitzkrieg.
Origins of the Prime Page 13
