Back to GatefoldIssue #1 by John Cheese
September 2017 |
Wanderer Private Security Offices, Miami, Florida
“My client is suing you for damages she received during your, and I’m using her words here, sloppy attempt at protecting her from her stalker.” The tanned lawyer announced, as he nervously straightened the sleeves of his expensive suit. “Uh Miss Clay, are you listening to me.”
“Not at the moment.” The dark haired woman dressed in a red jumpsuit replied as a bronze spear shot across the room and embedded a few inches above the desk the pair were hiding behind. “I’m in the middle of an office invasion by this bastard!” Clay hissed, as she fired back with her antique pistol at the blue armoured shooter, the blow staggering from him slightly.
“This is important Miss Clay, I am trying to read my client’s complaints regarding your conduct.” The lawyer stated, as another spear flew across the room and slammed into the desk.
“One moment!” Clay snapped as she grabbed the spear and flung it back at the attacking mercenary only for him to catch the projectile. “Gotcha!!” Clay yelled as she vaulted over the desk and tackled the attacker, knocking his spear gun out of his hand.
“Screw this!” The mercenary spat as he reached for the telescoping bo-staff on his belt and levered his target off of him. “You’re not worth it babe!” He added, as he got to his feet and darted out of the office.
“Neither are you Spear!” Clay yelled back, as she picked up her dropped pistol and pointed it at the lawyer. “Now why am I being sued by Miss Williams again?”
“She claims that she was horribly injured during a battle with her stalker, the super criminal known as Knight Vision.” The lawyer gulped as he looked down the barrel of the weapon pointed at him. “Uh Miss Clay…or do you prefer Flintlock?”
“Flintlock will do since you are determined to piss me off.” Clay told him coolly, as she went over to the wall and pulled the spear out of the plasterboard. “When the police took Knight Vision away she was fine save for a pulled muscle that she’d sustained whilst jogging five minutes before her ex, who she never mentioned had super powers, attacked her.”
“Regardless you claimed to protect her from harm.” The lawyer stated, as he removed some papers. “I also have a complaint from one Gordon Chuldzinski, he claims that you assaulted him on…” He stopped and gulped as Clay glowered at him, the spear in her hand trembling with rage. “…on two separate occasions.”
“Knight Vision is suing me?!” Clay hissed. “He’s being convicted for the murder of two police officers as well as attempted murder of your client. What’s next, are the families of those two officers filing a claim against me?”
“Hmm, that could be worth pursuing.” The lawyer murmured under his breath, only to see Flintlock point to the battered hole where her door had been before it had been kicked off its hinges. Nodding slightly, he placed the papers on the desk and run to the door, not bothering to look back or acknowledge the woman who had pulled him behind his desk when the super mercenary had commenced his attack on her officer. Placing both the spear and her pistol on the desk, Flintlock went to a cupboard, and pulled the spear jammed through the metal doors out, before removing a box of nails and a hammer.
“My landlord is going to kill me.” She sighed, as she went and pulled the door to her office off the ground, and inside, being careful to avoid kicking the pile of glass any further then it needed to be. Returning to her desk, she almost missed the new message that had flashed up on her computer, now lying on its back and on the floor.
“Dear Miss Clay, I am a fan of your work and would like to offer you employment suited to your talents.” The email read. “Your service would be greatly appreciated, as would your presence at the following address…”
Shaking her head, Flintlock typed a quick reply, stating that she wasn’t interested at this time, and that she had an office to try and repair. Both the speed and subject of the response sent by the messenger, who only identified themselves as ‘Argent’ was surprising.
“What is the estimate for repairs? I have funds that can cover it.”
“A lot, I also have legal problems not to mention a spear throwing super merc to pound.”
“I can help you cover your legal costs. The mercenary is called the Spear, AKA Jasper Daniels, he and his associates are people of interest for a number of domestic intelligence agencies, all of whom have been notified that Crossfire and his crew are currently in Miami.”
Flintlock looked again at the responses, a growing sense of unease filling her body. This ‘Argent’ character seemed to have the answers for everything, to know everything, and she was running out of ways to counter the offer being placed before her. Going for broke she typed in one last response; “Address is in Colorado, have no car and bike is in the shop. Sorry.”
“I have a private jet at Miami International Airport” Somehow this response didn’t surprise Flintlock and with a sigh of defeat, she grabbed the equipment bag she used for stakeouts and undercover pursuits before looking at the damaged door and shrugging. As soon as that was back on its hinges and locked, it looked like she had somewhere else to be.
# # # # #
Silver Shadow Ranch, Colorado
Flintlock walked down the steps of the private jet and stopped midway as she stared at the expansive ranch house. Between the private airstrip and the extensive grounds that stretched out for miles, the place stunk of money. Initially she thought she had taken a gamble on ‘Argent’ but it appeared as if the owner of this property had the coinage to back up his or her claims about paying for office renovations and legal costs. Descending onto the tarmac, Flintlock walked past the high-tech looking aircraft control tower, and onto the terrace, a honeysuckle strewn tunnel funnelling her towards a courtyard consisting of a fountain surrounded by four patches of grass fenced off with well-trimmed box hedging.
“Hello?” Flintlock called, as she walked round the fountain, before the grass in the quadrants exploded open and four skeletal looking droids emerged, each one armed with a weapon. Drawing her pistol, Flintlock mentally took note of her opponent’s weapons; a war hammer, a pair of throwing axes, a rapier and a shield complete with a firing slit. Silently the droids formed a loose box round her, each one poised ready for an attack. Staying calm, Flintlock looked for a sign of movement and just noticed ‘Hammer’ stir, the motion causing her to dash forward to avoid the impact she knew was coming. That impact never came, least not from Hammer, the robot dashing backwards on its boosters just as Rapier kneeled forward, the blade heading for its human targets flank. At the last moment, Flintlock turned and just avoided the blow before bringing her weapon down on the droid’s arm.
Preoccupied she failed to see ‘Shield’ rotate to face her back and fire a hail of flachettes through the slit in its defences. Struck by the darts, Flintlock pushed Rapier back and returned fire, her own shot entering the slit and cracking the metallic carapace of the robot behind it. Pushing the attack Flintlock covered the distance in a few seconds, but in those few seconds Hammer had positioned the haft of its weapon to trip her, turning her charge into a fall, her head smacking into Shield’s defensive screen. Before she had even got to her feet ‘Axe’ had thrown its projectiles, the first missing and clattering off Shield, while the second skimmed across the surface of Flintlock’s left arm leaving a burning gash along her skin.
“I suppose you know that you just disarmed yourself.” Flintlock hissed as Rapier came charging in, only for its strike to be redirected by its target through the slit in Shield’s defences and straight into the head of the robot. Ducking under Rapier, Flintlock charged towards the unarmed Axe, just as the robot held its hands out, its projectiles magnetically skittering across the floor and back into its grasp, just in time to block the blow that was aimed at its neck joints.
“Or maybe not!” Flintlock groaned as Axe pushed her away its blades held in a cross formation to protect itself. Concentrating on the thrower, Flintlock heard the metal footsteps of Rapier and Hammer come up behind her, ready to act. Just like last time Hammer twitched, but this time Flintlock was ready and turned to face Rapier as it charged her before her shot took off half of the droid’s head. Her opponent staggered, Flintlock saw Hammer charge in, just as Axe threw its weapons, the former causing her to dodge just in time to see both axes slam into Rapier seconds before Hammer brought his weapon down, the impact crushing the sword wielding droid effortlessly.
Taking advantage of the chaos, Flintlock charged Axe once again, the droid calling its weapons back to it, one of its blades nothing but a crushed haft, the other seemingly intact. Swinging the weapon down just in time, the blade hit its attacker’s pistol, both weapons skittering to the floor. Despite this it was too late to halt the charge, the robot’s head slamming into the fountain with enough force to not only offline it, but crack it open too. Recovering Flintlock stared Hammer down, the robot holding its weapon out like a spear in-front of it, in an effort to block the charge it thought was coming. Unarmed, Flintlock held her arms out to show her weakness, her stance provoking Hammer’s own charge, one that had been predicted and was countered by a simple sidestep and a hand reaching out to grab the robot’s weapon. Spluttering and hissing, Hammer didn’t even look round at the woman holding its weapon, instead opting for another charge, one that terminated into the haft of the war hammer, the polearm sticking out of its armoured chassis as it powered down.
“What was that?!” Flintlock called, as she looked round at the destruction. A skilled mechanic would take days to repair Hammer, Axe and Shield whilst Rapier was fit only for scrap.
“Your initiation.” A female European accent voice announced, almost out of nowhere. Turning round, Flintlock saw the fountain descend to reveal an entrance carved into the foundations of the feature. “Please join us, you’ve more than earned the right to be here.” Hesitantly Flintlock picked up her weapon and removed the axe imbedded into it and reloaded it, before heading into the hidden passage. Thankfully the way was lit, and after a short distance opened up into a massive training space. As she now suspected, Flintlock wasn’t alone, there were four other women gathered there, all of them looking as if they had no idea what was coming back.
“So you survived your trial.” A middle aged black woman wearing a black blouse and red trousers asked. “It appears as if our host arranged them to test our strengths.”
“Yes so it would seem.” Flintlock replied, as she saw a blonde woman dressed in a military uniform shoot her a scowl, her thumb flicking to each finger on her hand in turn before reversing direction. “Who is our host exactly?”
“Argent.” A woman with a middle-eastern complexion dressed in a business suit replied. “And while I don’t know who she is, this property is owned by a Symkarian family.”
“She?” Flintlock asked curiously as she looked the last woman, if it could be called a woman, up and down. Whatever it was, was clad in thick grey linen, almost like a funeral shroud, from head to toe, with the outline of the former able to be just made out, not that it helped, the ‘thing’s’ face looked skull like, almost as if there was no flesh on the bone. The only spot of colour standing out from the grey fabric was a gold medallion with an emerald serpent framing the centre of the piece of jewellery.
“Sure you can tell by the way she speaks.” The dark skinned woman replied. “And we all know who the most famous daughter of Symkaria is.”
“Silver Sable!” Flintlock stated, almost as if the name was a curse word.
“Actually I prefer Sable.” The same voice from earlier announced, as a young woman with platinum grey hair dressed in a silver jumpsuit, walked out from a door at the other end of the room. She looked just like the pictures Flintlock had seen, save that she was shorter in person and seemed to have a scar under her lip, possibly the result of a piercing being removed. “Silver is my older cousin, practically an aunt actually. But that is beyond the point, I’m glad that the five of you answered my call.”
“A call to what?” The woman in the military uniform asked, her eyes not daring to lock with those of Sable.
“I think introductions are required first.” Sable stated, a half smile on her face. “My name is Ana just to further avoid any confusion. To make this quick I’ll also mention your codenames while in the field and your specialisation, any further information about yourselves is up to the five of you to share if you want to.” She added gesturing to the dark skinned woman. “First among equals is Zawadi AKA Huntress, our tracker and medic.”
“I haven’t used Huntress in an age.” Zawadi mummed as Sable turned to Flintlock.
“Rachel Clay AKA Flintlock, markswoman and our connection to the criminal underworld.” Ana continued, the last part causing Flintlock to hang her head in shame. “Jenifer Barstow AKA Silver Scorpion, the granddaughter of the original and our infiltration expert.” Flintlock looked at the uniformed woman and shook her head, Scorpion looked awkward, almost unsuited to the position, but then maybe there was more than met the eye about her. “Nefer Neith Sinue AKA Rosetta Stone, our electronics expert.”
“You can call me Rosetta.” Sinue told the others with a smile.
“And finally Sarah Hannigan AKA…” Ana began as the woman in the linen shook her head. “…AKA our Occult Expert. With that out of the way, we need to address the reason I brought you here. In three days an assassination attempt on a member of the G20 conference has been ordered. What is unusual about this hit, is that intelligence only picked it up two days ago, and even then, most of the security services believe that it’s of low risk.”
“Low risk?” Stone asked. “There are twenty world leaders there? How can they be so blasé?”
“Additional security was put on due to complications at the meeting in Hamburg last month. In a sense this is a follow up to that conference since it covers the same issues.” Ana replied. “But security is underestimating what they face, we have it on good authority that there are three assassins tasked to this hit; Grigori Sovchenko AKA Ghost Maker, Stuart Sarris AKA ‘Cuda and Cedric Moone AKA Laserworks. Make no mistake, these three will make an attempt, and your task is to stop them preferably before they get into position.”
“What about the one funding this operation?” Flintlock asked.
“We are narrowing down suspects, if you can get one of them to talk then that would be most appreciated.” And answered. “But your primary concern should be to stop them by any means.”
“Is there anything else we should know?” Stone queried.
“If there is, I haven’t been told.” Ana told her as she looked over the women assembled before her. “I promised you each a reward tailored to you, I will keep my word regardless of the outcome of this mission, but should you succeed I will offer you something more. The thing that all five of you are seeking.”
“And that is?” Flintlock asked.
“You already know.” Ana replied. “Good luck, I’ll be in touch when you arrive in Sydney.” She added before stalking away, leaving her agents stunned and standing in the half darkness, their curiosity and caution replaced by the thing they had all been looking for, the chance at a new beginning.”
# # # # #
Undisclosed Location
Paige Cooper was a smart child, at least for a six year old. She already had her own opinions and ideas about the world, she didn’t believe in magic and already knew what she wanted to be (a vet) when she grew up. All in all she felt stupid when she and her mum walked through the flap of the tent, out of the still air and into the air-conditioned space within. Her mum smiled her, they both knew the single occupant of the space, that face had been in movies, on TV even in video games.
“Mum why do I have to do this?” Paige asked.
“You used to love her when you were five.” Paige’s mother replied, as Paige shot the figure sitting in the chair a sceptical look.
“But I’m five mum.” Paige moaned as she walked over to the seated figure.
“What harm can come from making a wish?” Her mother told her, as Paige walked over to the seated figure. “Go on.” She added, a big smile on her face. Paige rolled her eyes, her mum was cool but she still treated her like a little kid.
“Welcome to the place where dreams come true my dear.” The seated figure chimed. “What is your wish for today?”
“I wish I was a vet.” Paige replied as the seated figure smiled and removed what looked like a wand and tapped her on the head.
“Wish Granted.” It chirped, as sparks fell over Paige and her body blossomed until she was twenty six years old, dressed in scrubs overlaid in a lab-coat, her hair tied back into a sensible bun. Feeling an urge to leave Paige heard a scream echo round the tent, but thought nothing of it, besides the seated figure there had been no-one else inside. Exiting a very different woman to the one who had entered, the seated figure leaned forward, the dim light reflecting off a crone like nose as a pile of ash circled as if grasped by a tornado before forming into the approximation of a spectre white human figure minus their head. “Payment Accepted.” The figure chimed as the spectral form faded away. “Next please.” It added, as it lent back in its chair, ready to make more dreams come true.
“My client is suing you for damages she received during your, and I’m using her words here, sloppy attempt at protecting her from her stalker.” The tanned lawyer announced, as he nervously straightened the sleeves of his expensive suit. “Uh Miss Clay, are you listening to me.”
“Not at the moment.” The dark haired woman dressed in a red jumpsuit replied as a bronze spear shot across the room and embedded a few inches above the desk the pair were hiding behind. “I’m in the middle of an office invasion by this bastard!” Clay hissed, as she fired back with her antique pistol at the blue armoured shooter, the blow staggering from him slightly.
“This is important Miss Clay, I am trying to read my client’s complaints regarding your conduct.” The lawyer stated, as another spear flew across the room and slammed into the desk.
“One moment!” Clay snapped as she grabbed the spear and flung it back at the attacking mercenary only for him to catch the projectile. “Gotcha!!” Clay yelled as she vaulted over the desk and tackled the attacker, knocking his spear gun out of his hand.
“Screw this!” The mercenary spat as he reached for the telescoping bo-staff on his belt and levered his target off of him. “You’re not worth it babe!” He added, as he got to his feet and darted out of the office.
“Neither are you Spear!” Clay yelled back, as she picked up her dropped pistol and pointed it at the lawyer. “Now why am I being sued by Miss Williams again?”
“She claims that she was horribly injured during a battle with her stalker, the super criminal known as Knight Vision.” The lawyer gulped as he looked down the barrel of the weapon pointed at him. “Uh Miss Clay…or do you prefer Flintlock?”
“Flintlock will do since you are determined to piss me off.” Clay told him coolly, as she went over to the wall and pulled the spear out of the plasterboard. “When the police took Knight Vision away she was fine save for a pulled muscle that she’d sustained whilst jogging five minutes before her ex, who she never mentioned had super powers, attacked her.”
“Regardless you claimed to protect her from harm.” The lawyer stated, as he removed some papers. “I also have a complaint from one Gordon Chuldzinski, he claims that you assaulted him on…” He stopped and gulped as Clay glowered at him, the spear in her hand trembling with rage. “…on two separate occasions.”
“Knight Vision is suing me?!” Clay hissed. “He’s being convicted for the murder of two police officers as well as attempted murder of your client. What’s next, are the families of those two officers filing a claim against me?”
“Hmm, that could be worth pursuing.” The lawyer murmured under his breath, only to see Flintlock point to the battered hole where her door had been before it had been kicked off its hinges. Nodding slightly, he placed the papers on the desk and run to the door, not bothering to look back or acknowledge the woman who had pulled him behind his desk when the super mercenary had commenced his attack on her officer. Placing both the spear and her pistol on the desk, Flintlock went to a cupboard, and pulled the spear jammed through the metal doors out, before removing a box of nails and a hammer.
“My landlord is going to kill me.” She sighed, as she went and pulled the door to her office off the ground, and inside, being careful to avoid kicking the pile of glass any further then it needed to be. Returning to her desk, she almost missed the new message that had flashed up on her computer, now lying on its back and on the floor.
“Dear Miss Clay, I am a fan of your work and would like to offer you employment suited to your talents.” The email read. “Your service would be greatly appreciated, as would your presence at the following address…”
Shaking her head, Flintlock typed a quick reply, stating that she wasn’t interested at this time, and that she had an office to try and repair. Both the speed and subject of the response sent by the messenger, who only identified themselves as ‘Argent’ was surprising.
“What is the estimate for repairs? I have funds that can cover it.”
“A lot, I also have legal problems not to mention a spear throwing super merc to pound.”
“I can help you cover your legal costs. The mercenary is called the Spear, AKA Jasper Daniels, he and his associates are people of interest for a number of domestic intelligence agencies, all of whom have been notified that Crossfire and his crew are currently in Miami.”
Flintlock looked again at the responses, a growing sense of unease filling her body. This ‘Argent’ character seemed to have the answers for everything, to know everything, and she was running out of ways to counter the offer being placed before her. Going for broke she typed in one last response; “Address is in Colorado, have no car and bike is in the shop. Sorry.”
“I have a private jet at Miami International Airport” Somehow this response didn’t surprise Flintlock and with a sigh of defeat, she grabbed the equipment bag she used for stakeouts and undercover pursuits before looking at the damaged door and shrugging. As soon as that was back on its hinges and locked, it looked like she had somewhere else to be.
# # # # #
Silver Shadow Ranch, Colorado
Flintlock walked down the steps of the private jet and stopped midway as she stared at the expansive ranch house. Between the private airstrip and the extensive grounds that stretched out for miles, the place stunk of money. Initially she thought she had taken a gamble on ‘Argent’ but it appeared as if the owner of this property had the coinage to back up his or her claims about paying for office renovations and legal costs. Descending onto the tarmac, Flintlock walked past the high-tech looking aircraft control tower, and onto the terrace, a honeysuckle strewn tunnel funnelling her towards a courtyard consisting of a fountain surrounded by four patches of grass fenced off with well-trimmed box hedging.
“Hello?” Flintlock called, as she walked round the fountain, before the grass in the quadrants exploded open and four skeletal looking droids emerged, each one armed with a weapon. Drawing her pistol, Flintlock mentally took note of her opponent’s weapons; a war hammer, a pair of throwing axes, a rapier and a shield complete with a firing slit. Silently the droids formed a loose box round her, each one poised ready for an attack. Staying calm, Flintlock looked for a sign of movement and just noticed ‘Hammer’ stir, the motion causing her to dash forward to avoid the impact she knew was coming. That impact never came, least not from Hammer, the robot dashing backwards on its boosters just as Rapier kneeled forward, the blade heading for its human targets flank. At the last moment, Flintlock turned and just avoided the blow before bringing her weapon down on the droid’s arm.
Preoccupied she failed to see ‘Shield’ rotate to face her back and fire a hail of flachettes through the slit in its defences. Struck by the darts, Flintlock pushed Rapier back and returned fire, her own shot entering the slit and cracking the metallic carapace of the robot behind it. Pushing the attack Flintlock covered the distance in a few seconds, but in those few seconds Hammer had positioned the haft of its weapon to trip her, turning her charge into a fall, her head smacking into Shield’s defensive screen. Before she had even got to her feet ‘Axe’ had thrown its projectiles, the first missing and clattering off Shield, while the second skimmed across the surface of Flintlock’s left arm leaving a burning gash along her skin.
“I suppose you know that you just disarmed yourself.” Flintlock hissed as Rapier came charging in, only for its strike to be redirected by its target through the slit in Shield’s defences and straight into the head of the robot. Ducking under Rapier, Flintlock charged towards the unarmed Axe, just as the robot held its hands out, its projectiles magnetically skittering across the floor and back into its grasp, just in time to block the blow that was aimed at its neck joints.
“Or maybe not!” Flintlock groaned as Axe pushed her away its blades held in a cross formation to protect itself. Concentrating on the thrower, Flintlock heard the metal footsteps of Rapier and Hammer come up behind her, ready to act. Just like last time Hammer twitched, but this time Flintlock was ready and turned to face Rapier as it charged her before her shot took off half of the droid’s head. Her opponent staggered, Flintlock saw Hammer charge in, just as Axe threw its weapons, the former causing her to dodge just in time to see both axes slam into Rapier seconds before Hammer brought his weapon down, the impact crushing the sword wielding droid effortlessly.
Taking advantage of the chaos, Flintlock charged Axe once again, the droid calling its weapons back to it, one of its blades nothing but a crushed haft, the other seemingly intact. Swinging the weapon down just in time, the blade hit its attacker’s pistol, both weapons skittering to the floor. Despite this it was too late to halt the charge, the robot’s head slamming into the fountain with enough force to not only offline it, but crack it open too. Recovering Flintlock stared Hammer down, the robot holding its weapon out like a spear in-front of it, in an effort to block the charge it thought was coming. Unarmed, Flintlock held her arms out to show her weakness, her stance provoking Hammer’s own charge, one that had been predicted and was countered by a simple sidestep and a hand reaching out to grab the robot’s weapon. Spluttering and hissing, Hammer didn’t even look round at the woman holding its weapon, instead opting for another charge, one that terminated into the haft of the war hammer, the polearm sticking out of its armoured chassis as it powered down.
“What was that?!” Flintlock called, as she looked round at the destruction. A skilled mechanic would take days to repair Hammer, Axe and Shield whilst Rapier was fit only for scrap.
“Your initiation.” A female European accent voice announced, almost out of nowhere. Turning round, Flintlock saw the fountain descend to reveal an entrance carved into the foundations of the feature. “Please join us, you’ve more than earned the right to be here.” Hesitantly Flintlock picked up her weapon and removed the axe imbedded into it and reloaded it, before heading into the hidden passage. Thankfully the way was lit, and after a short distance opened up into a massive training space. As she now suspected, Flintlock wasn’t alone, there were four other women gathered there, all of them looking as if they had no idea what was coming back.
“So you survived your trial.” A middle aged black woman wearing a black blouse and red trousers asked. “It appears as if our host arranged them to test our strengths.”
“Yes so it would seem.” Flintlock replied, as she saw a blonde woman dressed in a military uniform shoot her a scowl, her thumb flicking to each finger on her hand in turn before reversing direction. “Who is our host exactly?”
“Argent.” A woman with a middle-eastern complexion dressed in a business suit replied. “And while I don’t know who she is, this property is owned by a Symkarian family.”
“She?” Flintlock asked curiously as she looked the last woman, if it could be called a woman, up and down. Whatever it was, was clad in thick grey linen, almost like a funeral shroud, from head to toe, with the outline of the former able to be just made out, not that it helped, the ‘thing’s’ face looked skull like, almost as if there was no flesh on the bone. The only spot of colour standing out from the grey fabric was a gold medallion with an emerald serpent framing the centre of the piece of jewellery.
“Sure you can tell by the way she speaks.” The dark skinned woman replied. “And we all know who the most famous daughter of Symkaria is.”
“Silver Sable!” Flintlock stated, almost as if the name was a curse word.
“Actually I prefer Sable.” The same voice from earlier announced, as a young woman with platinum grey hair dressed in a silver jumpsuit, walked out from a door at the other end of the room. She looked just like the pictures Flintlock had seen, save that she was shorter in person and seemed to have a scar under her lip, possibly the result of a piercing being removed. “Silver is my older cousin, practically an aunt actually. But that is beyond the point, I’m glad that the five of you answered my call.”
“A call to what?” The woman in the military uniform asked, her eyes not daring to lock with those of Sable.
“I think introductions are required first.” Sable stated, a half smile on her face. “My name is Ana just to further avoid any confusion. To make this quick I’ll also mention your codenames while in the field and your specialisation, any further information about yourselves is up to the five of you to share if you want to.” She added gesturing to the dark skinned woman. “First among equals is Zawadi AKA Huntress, our tracker and medic.”
“I haven’t used Huntress in an age.” Zawadi mummed as Sable turned to Flintlock.
“Rachel Clay AKA Flintlock, markswoman and our connection to the criminal underworld.” Ana continued, the last part causing Flintlock to hang her head in shame. “Jenifer Barstow AKA Silver Scorpion, the granddaughter of the original and our infiltration expert.” Flintlock looked at the uniformed woman and shook her head, Scorpion looked awkward, almost unsuited to the position, but then maybe there was more than met the eye about her. “Nefer Neith Sinue AKA Rosetta Stone, our electronics expert.”
“You can call me Rosetta.” Sinue told the others with a smile.
“And finally Sarah Hannigan AKA…” Ana began as the woman in the linen shook her head. “…AKA our Occult Expert. With that out of the way, we need to address the reason I brought you here. In three days an assassination attempt on a member of the G20 conference has been ordered. What is unusual about this hit, is that intelligence only picked it up two days ago, and even then, most of the security services believe that it’s of low risk.”
“Low risk?” Stone asked. “There are twenty world leaders there? How can they be so blasé?”
“Additional security was put on due to complications at the meeting in Hamburg last month. In a sense this is a follow up to that conference since it covers the same issues.” Ana replied. “But security is underestimating what they face, we have it on good authority that there are three assassins tasked to this hit; Grigori Sovchenko AKA Ghost Maker, Stuart Sarris AKA ‘Cuda and Cedric Moone AKA Laserworks. Make no mistake, these three will make an attempt, and your task is to stop them preferably before they get into position.”
“What about the one funding this operation?” Flintlock asked.
“We are narrowing down suspects, if you can get one of them to talk then that would be most appreciated.” And answered. “But your primary concern should be to stop them by any means.”
“Is there anything else we should know?” Stone queried.
“If there is, I haven’t been told.” Ana told her as she looked over the women assembled before her. “I promised you each a reward tailored to you, I will keep my word regardless of the outcome of this mission, but should you succeed I will offer you something more. The thing that all five of you are seeking.”
“And that is?” Flintlock asked.
“You already know.” Ana replied. “Good luck, I’ll be in touch when you arrive in Sydney.” She added before stalking away, leaving her agents stunned and standing in the half darkness, their curiosity and caution replaced by the thing they had all been looking for, the chance at a new beginning.”
# # # # #
Undisclosed Location
Paige Cooper was a smart child, at least for a six year old. She already had her own opinions and ideas about the world, she didn’t believe in magic and already knew what she wanted to be (a vet) when she grew up. All in all she felt stupid when she and her mum walked through the flap of the tent, out of the still air and into the air-conditioned space within. Her mum smiled her, they both knew the single occupant of the space, that face had been in movies, on TV even in video games.
“Mum why do I have to do this?” Paige asked.
“You used to love her when you were five.” Paige’s mother replied, as Paige shot the figure sitting in the chair a sceptical look.
“But I’m five mum.” Paige moaned as she walked over to the seated figure.
“What harm can come from making a wish?” Her mother told her, as Paige walked over to the seated figure. “Go on.” She added, a big smile on her face. Paige rolled her eyes, her mum was cool but she still treated her like a little kid.
“Welcome to the place where dreams come true my dear.” The seated figure chimed. “What is your wish for today?”
“I wish I was a vet.” Paige replied as the seated figure smiled and removed what looked like a wand and tapped her on the head.
“Wish Granted.” It chirped, as sparks fell over Paige and her body blossomed until she was twenty six years old, dressed in scrubs overlaid in a lab-coat, her hair tied back into a sensible bun. Feeling an urge to leave Paige heard a scream echo round the tent, but thought nothing of it, besides the seated figure there had been no-one else inside. Exiting a very different woman to the one who had entered, the seated figure leaned forward, the dim light reflecting off a crone like nose as a pile of ash circled as if grasped by a tornado before forming into the approximation of a spectre white human figure minus their head. “Payment Accepted.” The figure chimed as the spectral form faded away. “Next please.” It added, as it lent back in its chair, ready to make more dreams come true.