“Since when am I a solo operator? You know I was trained in urban warfare with a complete team assisting me.” I was puzzled and scared. I was not sure I would be able to accomplish what he was asking of me.
Blake smiled at me and handed me some papers. “These are your separation orders from the military. You will note that you have been separated under honorable conditions.”
I took the papers stunned at what he had just said. “What do you mean separated from service? I still had three years left in my enlistment.”
“You are outside of military influence now. I cannot disclose any more of what is expected of you. Let me introduce you to the head of a new organization which does not operate under the influence of any World Government but operates completely on its own. But bear in mind this organization has the support of every government in the world.” He pressed a button on his desk and walked out of the door.
I was still sitting in my chair shocked, trying to comprehend just what was going on when I heard the voice of someone I never expected to hear again. “Hello Pasche, I know this is going to be a lot to digest at one time but things have changed drastically since we last spoke.” I turned around and watched with my mouth wide open as my Grandfather Sam entered the room. He walked around and sat behind the desk. “I know you have many questions so please feel free to ask them.”
“I haven't seen you since Katie's funeral Grandfather.” My mind was in chaos trying to understand the events of the day.
The door opened and I turned to find out who it was. There stood Mimi proud as can be.
“Mimi? What are you doing here?” I stood there like a fool with my mouth open.
“Someone has to make sure this old fool is doing things right.” Mimi turned to Grandfather Sam and said sharply, “I know what you are planning you old fool and you will not subject Jason to that right now!”
“What is she talking about Grandfather?”
“Not a peep out of you old man or I will skin you and use your hide as a tablecloth!”
I looked from one grandparent to the other not sure what was happening.
“Aren’t you going to give the boy this foolish mission you have planned for him.” Mimi snapped.
“Right, The mission.” Grandfather Sam was all business now. “You will be going to Austria for this one and meeting up with an old friend of yours.”
“Who?” I offered a chair to Mimi and after she had sat down I returned to my old seat.
“You have to understand Jason. We did not expect things to happen the way they did.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I am trying to figure out where I can start.” He mused rubbing his chin with wrinkled hands. “About six months ago we received a strange message from Origan. The war was not going so well on the planet because they were losing ground fast. Millions were dying. The message we received was that we were to prepare to receive a few ship loads of the most important citizens of the planet.”
“Things were getting that bad?”
“Yes, it was very important that we protect these citizens at all costs. We did as they asked and then we discovered that we were missing one of the most important alien of them all. This being was the head geneticist of the entire planet. Haevan, who was slotted to be the Mind Mentor for your sister Jenna was missing.”
“Why is this Haevan so important?”
“Because he knows everything there is to know of the original four families who were sent back to Earth.”
“Four families? I think I am missing something here. What four families?”
Mimi took this time to speak up, “Originally when we were taken from Earth to begin our training on Origan there were members of the human race taken from three other areas of Earth. Our family, or tribe as was call ourselves, was one of the four. The only other family that we were aware of was the group taken from the various Germanic Tribes of this area.”
“Wait there is another group like us over here?”
“Yes but this is something we can go into at a later point in time.” Mimi turned and snapped. “Get on with it you old fool!”
“Right,” Grandfather Sam cleared his voice, “We believe that a traitor was piloting the ship where Haevan was a passenger. This ship, as far as we could find out, landed in Lienz. Haevan was then taken to Innsbruck and is currently being held in an office building in the center of the city.”
“So I imagine you want me to go and get him out?”
“Yes but we can’t send in a full team. The situation is delicate. The group that is holding them are members of the fourth family.”
“What!” I could not believe it.
“Yes, but we believe that this traitor is deceiving them into believing they are doing this for the good of humanity.”
“You want me to convince them otherwise?”
“Not exactly. We need for you to go in and get him out without them knowing it was a member of the first family who saved him.”
“Do I have a contact on site?”
“There is a local national whose name is Kirstoff. He will be able to tell you exactly what room Haeven is in.”
I shook my head, not believing what was going on. “So you want me to walk into what may be a heavily armed fortress and then walk out without hurting any of the people holding him.”
“That’s the general idea. And Jason this is the most important mission you have ever been sent on. If we don’t get Haeven from the hands of the fourth family before the enemy has him then out offensive on Earth will be compromised before it even starts.”
“I understands, where am I to meet this Kirstoff?”
“He we meet you at the airport hotel in Innsbruck. Here are your tickets.” Grandfather Sam handed me the tickets and I stuffed them in my pocket.
“Oh and Jason.”
“Yes Grandfather?”
“Lose the uniform. You will not need them anymore.”
“Fine by me. One other thing. How am I going to get any weapon through the airport security?”
“The papers you travel with give you diplomatic immunity and they will not check your luggage. You will also bypass any security measures in the airport.”
I nodded, got up and hugged Mimi, then left the office.
Mimi turned to her husband and scolded. “You were going to tell the boy that Katie is still alive and then send him on a mission? You’re a damn fool Sam that’s all I can say!”
“Amanda, the boy is going to find out sooner or later.”
“He doesn’t have to find out just before you send him on a mission where we could lose him!”
I drove home to get out of my uniform. I knew Irma would still be in work so I entered the apartment and changed quickly into a suit. I had had the suit tailored several month ago to be able to carry both of my 45s in a holster under the jacket and my .44 in an ankle holster. The jacket covered both 45s well and additionally I could carry one Beretta in a belt holster in the small of my back. I shifted the Beretta to one side and sat down. After a minor adjustment I could sit without the gun jagging me in the back.
I dialed a local taxi service and ordered a taxi to Frankfurt where my flight took off. While I was waiting for the taxi I transferred some of the cash in my safe to my wallet. Normally I did not have to worry about cash but since this was a civilian operation I figured it would be better to be prepared. The taxi arrived and soon I was on my way to the airport. Knowing that I would not be able to sleep on the plane, I settled in for a short nap while the taxi was taking me to the airport.
I arrived in Innsbruck late in the evening and found my contact waiting for me in front of the hotel.
“Mr. Wayne I presume.” The small man extended his hand in greeting.
I was traveling under the identity of Bruce Wayne. My grandfather was watching those old batmen episodes again. “You must be Mr. Kirstoff.” I stated while shaking his hand in a bone breaking crush. Sometimes I forget my own strength.
“Ah
h... Yes,” The man said while waving his hand beside him. He was probably trying to get the circulation going again. “I booked a room for you tonight Mr. Wayne and tomorrow after your breakfast I will show you the building where the package is located.”
I nodded my head and said, “I am going to need s few things from you tonight before we part.”
“Yes, General White informed me on the phone.” He handed me his briefcase. “Everything you need is in here.”
‘General White. Seems like my grandfather forgot to tell me a few things’ I thought while looking at the small man. I decided I could trust him and said. “Very Well I will see you in the morning. Say possibly at eight thirty?”
“Very good Mr. Wayne I will see you then.” Kirstoff bowed and left quickly.
I walked into the hotel and inquired at the front desk for the key to the room reserved for Mr. Wayne. The desk manager called for the bus boy and ordered him to take the luggage to my room. I thanked him, took the key and followed the busboy.
The hotel was one of the better hotels I had stayed in up to this time. Once I was in the room I tipped the boy and locked the door behind him. I looked around and found the room safe. I put all the weapons except for the Berretta in the safe and locked it for the night. Then I sat on the bed with the gun within reach and opened the briefcase Kirstoff had left for me.
There was a floor plan for the building where Haevin was being held and several electronic pass cards. I would probably need these to gain access to the various floors. I also noticed some notes written on a pad that was in the briefcase. It looked like Haevin was being held on the thirty-first floor of the building. I would have to get out on the twenty ninth floor because access to the next two floors was restricted.
I looked at the access card. Well not too restricted since I had the cards to get in but there were sure to be guards. How did my grandfather expect me to get to Haevin without attracting attention? I looked at one card and an idea popped in my head. I just had to find a lone guard and use my wit to get me the rest of the way in.
I slept very light that night and was up and had completed breakfast by eight am. Kirstoff met me out front of the hotel and we said nothing to each other. He nodded his head in the direction of a dark sedan and moments later we were winding through the streets if Innsbruck.
I would infiltrate the building fully equipped. I had all of my handguns and my briefcase carried a Mac-10 and a few extra clips. I would do my best to not hurt anyone but all bets were off if they started firing at me. We stopped in front of a tall office building.
“I will be waiting out back for you.” Kirstoff stated.
I nodded to him and opened the door. “Be ready to go as soon as we come down we may have company joining us.
He opened a center console in the car and pointed. Inside were two gas grenades. “I have a small gift for any ‘company’ you should attract.”
I grinned at him and said, “I like how you think.” Then I was gone. I entered the door with a smile fixed on my face. The lobby was empty of anyone but I noticed the security cameras that were positioned all over the place. I entered the elevator and stayed close to the panel where you punched in what floor you wanted. Reaching up I yanked the cable from the back of the one camera that was in the elevator. It was a good thing I had the floor plans to the building.
I reached the twenty-ninth floor with no problem. Once I stepped out I took note of two security guards. One at each end of the long hallway. I started walking toward the south end of the building and turned into a hallway that would allow me to come up behind one of the guards.
Once I was around three corners of the square I placed my back against the wall and waited for the security guard to appear. When he did appear I breathed a sigh of relief. His attention was not on his job but on a paperback book he was reading. I slipped up behind him and reached around getting him into a chokehold. He slumped to the floor and I dragged him into the men’s room. Then I removed his uniform and put it one myself. The man was a bit bigger than I was so I could slip it on over my own clothing. I tied up and gagged the man and locked him inside one of the handicapped stalls. I wanted to make sure he stayed out for a while so I injected him with a sedative I had along with me for just such a case.
I exited the restroom and acted naturally. I walked back to the door I had seen at the end of the hall. The door was electronically sealed so I used the guard card to open it up. The plans I had read the night before were still good. The door I had chosen was the one to the stairs. I walked up two floors and looked through the small window. What I saw disappointed me. The place was crawling with security.
I looked up when I noticed fresh air was blowing down on me. A large vent was embedded into the ceiling. I knew from the plans that a large area between this floor and the next were outfitted with additional cooling elements to keep the data center on the floor cool. There were also walkways through the whole area for maintenance people. I opened the vent and crawled up into the opening between the floors. Reaching down I pulled the vent closed. Right next to me was the catwalk that extended the entire length of the building. Also right above my head was a security camera trained on the catwalk.
I knew I had to be quick about this. I reached in my pocket and pulled out a small recording device. I could record up to ten minutes on the device and then set it for a continuous loop. I spliced into the camera’s wire and recorded ten minutes on the recorder. Then I flipped the recorder to playback and bypassed the camera by cutting the lead on the other side of my splice.
I needed approximately twenty minutes to get to the room where Haevan was being held, get him out of the room and then back to this vent. I counted the vents until I reached the one where Haevan was being held. I looked down to see him in the room and waited while I extended my senses. I knew there was one guard right outside the room. I had to make sure nobody was in the room with him. Once I was sure nobody was in the room I sent out a call with my mind. I used a part of my mind that I knew would not be used by any other member of my family. I hoped it was the same with other families.
‘Haevan, don’t look up, but can you tell me if anyone is in the room with you?’
‘You must be Jason, The Chosen One, Moevin has talked about you.’ There was a moment of silence. ‘There is no one here and there will be no one for about three of your Earth’s hours.’
‘Good I am coming down’ I opened the vent and dropped softly into the room. I looked around the room. It was bare except for a metal chair placed near the door and a crudely built frame that held a powerful spotlight. I snorted at the idea that anyone thought they could get anything from a member of Moevin’s race with such a primitive method.
‘Let’s get you out of here.’ I reached for my boot knife and slashed open the rope they used to tie Haevan up. Once he was freed I climbed back up into the ceiling and reached down to pull him up. ‘We will need to be very quiet until I can get you out of this building.’
Haevan nodded at me and we both began moving back to the vent that led down into the stairwell.
I left the recording device where I had hooked it up and fifteen minutes later we were in the car heading back toward the airport.
I had thought we were clear of all danger when Kirstoff suddenly said. “We are being followed.”
I looked back and noticed a van behind us. “The white van?” I asked.
“That and the green sedan behind it.” He replied.
I reached out with my mind and tried to find out more about the inhabitants of both vehicles. They were just Hired thugs. “Pull into the next side street.” I ordered.
I knew from the city map that there was an alley that went to the left of the street.
“Stop near the alley and let me off. head down to the hotel and then come back here. I should have them taken care of by that time.” I yanked out my Berreta and screwed a silencer on the end of it. The Mac 10 was already outfitted with one.
I reached out again wit
h my mind again, as I stepped out of the car. I planted the image of two figures getting out of the car in the minds of the thugs and then I ran into the alley making sure they saw me. Once in the alley I took cover behind a dumpster and yanked the Mac 10 out of the briefcase I carried. I did not bother unfolding the extension to turn it into a rifle like weapon. I was going to use it like a pistol. The van and the car that was behind it turned into the alley and stopped short of the dumpster I was hiding behind. I saw seven men jump from the van and head in my direction.
I stepped out from behind the dumpster and cut loose with a stream from the Mac 10. Silenced the way it was the Mac 10 sounded like a fast quacking duck with a speech impediment. All seven men were laying on the ground with varying degrees of injuries. I slipped behind the dumpster again and slapped a new magazine into the sub machine gun. Yanking back on the crank I loaded another round into the chamber and peeked from behind the dumpster.
I saw five more men heading in my direction. I snapped off two quick shots and then there were three. I saw one of the men slide behind the van using that as cover. The man had slicked back hair and looked like he had just stepped out of a fashion magazine. “What do you want from us?” I yelled hoping to draw the me out of their hiding place.
“Just give us the being you stole from our offices and be on your way. We won’t harm you.” The man behind the van ordered.
The guy must think I was a idiot. I had just blown away nine of his colleagues and he though I believed that he would let me walk free. I needed to stall.
“You should have gotten an oil change before you came to work this morning. All that grease on your head is cooking your brains.” I insulted him.
“Huh?” I peeked around the dumpster and saw the man shrugging his shoulder at someone off to the right.
I looked beneath the van and could see the man’s foot. At thirty meters it would be a difficult shot, but... I aimed and pressed the trigger on the Berretta once. The bullet hit ‘Greasy’ in the ankle shattering it. He dropped to the ground screaming.
Rise of the Death Walkers (The Circle of Heritage Saga) Page 23
