CH5.5 - All's well that ends well --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 1 Oblivious to the four occupants of the Parkers backyard mesmerised by Sophia’s cocktail dress and new hair style, Dylan, Jess and Staci deep in conversation with Sophia had no idea a small flying drone about the size of a football buzzing in high altitude above their heads... dropping down to an altitude of 120 metre’s and zooming in on the 4 with its high resolution 200mp camera, The drone’s control from an unknown base had been flown into the location at a significantly higher altitude, ensuring that it would not be noticed, and now engaging its autonomous stealth mode, the inbuilt subsonic speakers beamed out noise cancelling sound waves tuned in real time to the whining of the 4 rotors, making the small flying surveillance craft almost completely silent.. With camouflage design from above and an adaptive active colour scheme from below, the drone like an octopus was able to morph colours to make it match the sky so perfectly, a casual observer would completely overlook the small robotic drone as it recorded and transmitted its live feed back to its operator concealed miles away.. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 2 Sophia lost in her thoughts for a moment over the possibility of Jessica’s father being the same high school senior that had changed her life so much in her junior year, only to disappear from her life after his final year, found her concentration broken when the alarm tone on her phone concealed in her handbag reminded her that she had other places to be, and other, important people to meet.. This for Sophia had been a whirlwind time from the chance meeting of the Raven haired Natasha on the way home from the beach on Sunday, and now, only 3 days later, she had become an integral part in an information gathering mission on an international criminal boss, Known only as Reignwolf.. (Sophia) (Flustered and giving a small wave) OH.. Damn, is that the time already, sorry guys, as much as I would like to stay and talk more with you all I really must go... (Meek smile).. (Dylan) Mom, are you OK?.. You look like you have seen a ghost or something.? (Sophia) No Hun.. It’s nothing... Just a lot on my mind, and now this damn function of your fathers... (Eyeroll).. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 3 Sophia stepping forward quickly and forgetting the concealed transmitter cunningly disguised as a very large anal butt plug, suppressed a small grimace of pain as the device moved and pushed its way deeper inside her anal passage applying pressure to her colon.. (Sophia) OOhh.. Umm, Anyway, no point complaining, sooner I go the sooner I get this over and done with.. (Grin).. Come on honey, how about you walk your old mom out to the car.. They are sending a Limo apparently so I should have at least have an escort to the kerb.. (Smile).. (Dylan) Mom, say the word and I will quickly change and escort you for the full night.. (Staci) Hey!!.. Not fair little bro.. If you go who will take the photos?? (Sophia) Its ok Staci, my baby is just being chivalrous.. But as I have trained him I need my son to be good host tonight, and look after his sister and her lovely friends.. (Warm smile). (Jessica) (Sideward glance at Staci) Don’t worry about that Mrs P.. I’m sure Dylan will take great care of us all tonight.. (Sexy grin).. (Sophia) (Thinking) Shit I knew Jess reminded me of someone, but I could never think of who... Russell, Is this really your daughter??. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 4 Meanwhile back in Ravens Nest. Having rushed back to her own private control room and HQ known affectionally by the firm as the “Nest” Natasha quickly changed into more basic operational garb from her staged office and detective persona as Detective Alexandra who had raided the school’s pool and questioned Miranda and a very terrified Claudia Jones.. Setting up Comms for the operation Natasha established the direct encrypted lines with A.R.C. (Airial Recon Command), and readied herself in preparation for the evening OP.. (Raven)(Mumbling to herself) OK, my drone is in position, and live feed established.. Time to check in with the OP’s team before going radio silent when the Limo arrives.. God damn I hope Raptor has got over her little tantrum.. Fuck it all, now after all this I have to put up with a regiment code red.. (Eyeroll).. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 5 Pressing a call activation button on the side of her headset, an augmented reality heads up display turned on directly in front of Natasha’s eyes giving her real time data from all the departments and resources she had available to her for the operation.. giving a quick voice command to her drone, the indication display showed the drones operation switch from manual to fully automatic face track on Sophia, and with a satisfied sigh that the surveillance was now underway, Natasha’s finger pressed a secondary button to initiate the voice command communications to the members of the Firm now in position and waiting further instructions.. (Natasha) Time to get this show on the road.. and the 1st call will be the worst I suppose... Time to see if Raptors mood has improved any??.. (Sigh).. Nest command to Raptor one, come in Raptor one. (Raptor) Raptor one receiving.. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 6 Natasha hearing her old friends voice reply back through the radio strained to hear any traces of inflection in her voice that would possibly give away her mood, but Raptor, always on the job in operational mode kept her voice flat and to the point as SOP (Standard operational procedure) dictated... (Natasha) Copy that Raptor one, what is your 20 and sitrep (Situation report).. (Raptor) Beaming you my coordinates now NestCOm and waiting further instructions.. (Natasha) Roger that Raptor 1, Swallow has not left the cage yet, hold current position and wait further instructions... (Raptor) Copy that NestCom.. Do we have confirmation of A.R.C. support yet.. (Natasha) Roger that, A.R.C. support inbound and will advise once confirmed... (Raptor) (Breaking radio protocol) Have A.R.C. confirmed who they are sending??.. We don’t need one of their green wannabe flyboys... If things get hot, I am going to need air support fast.. (Natasha) No confirmation yet... Will advise once known.. and Raptor, keep icy out there ok... (Raptor) Copy that, Raptor one out... --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 7 Sitting in an adjoining street to the Parkers house, Peregrine parked up waiting for the arrival of the limousine to pick up Sophia, listened in on the encrypted message on the operational channel in her highly modified pursuit vehicle... While used to the no fluff, all business attitude of Raptor, she couldn’t help but detect a tone in her voice that wasn’t usually there in communications between Raven and Raptor.. Both women having come up through the ranks together had always been tight as a unit, and at times inseparable, until lately, when since the beginning of the investigation into Reignwolf had started, and then the arrival of Ravens new CI had come on the scene, a small, but detectable change had occurred with the firms No.1 and with it, an uneasiness within Raptor that seemed to manifest in the otherwise quiet woman as deep seated distrust, or anger.. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 8 A crackling over her radio breaking her concentration caused her to jump slightly as Ravens voice signalled to her the same message requesting her position and situation as she had done with Raptor only moments before.. (Peregrine) Coordinates sent, and I am prepared and ready to go.. No visual sighting of bandit vehicle yet, over... (Natasha) Hold position Peregrine... Plan remains as briefed; you are to maintain visual contact with the bandit vehicle containing Swallow till it reaches it 1st waypoint.. We still anticipate that Swallow will be transferred to another mode of transport from this point and then the tracking will need to be done via her tracking beacon... (Peregrine) Copy that, do we still have alternate vehicles on standby if the secondary transport moves to air or water.. (Natasha) Affirmative... We need to be highly vigilant at all times and be ready to change the plans at a moments notice.. If we loose Swallows beacon signal and visual, she will be on her own for the rest of the night... --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 9 Meanwhile parked off road a short distance away from the Parkers covering a back road access point at the rear of Northtown’s estate, Harrier sitting quietly in readiness for the operation ahead listened intently with a growing air of concern around the uncertainty of keeping track of the target vehicle and its highly valued cargo... (Harrier) (Quietly to herself). Damn that beacon is only experimental and has never been tested in the field.. What if she is searched and it’s found.. I mean yeah, I know its unconventional in its design and how it’s been placed.. But has Swallow got the stones to be able to think on her feet and explain why she is wearing something like that to a dinner party??.. (Natasha) Harrier, come in, what’s your 20 and sitrep??. Shaken from her own thought and inner doubt as to the veracity of the planning of this operation Harrier pressing her own call button replied back to Ravens request.. (Harrier) Location sent NestCom, Harrier in position and waiting instructions... --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 10 (Natasha) Copy that, Harrier.. You are only insurance if the transport vehicle heads off road and attempts to evade by using back roads or fire trails... I feel this will be highly unlikely as our target will not be wanting to spook her guests.. Harrier on confirmation that Peregrine, Raptor one and A.R.C. have visuals you are to return to base and pick up our secondary air support vehicle to provide support our ground resources... (Harrier) Copy that NestCom, I have a bird prep’ed and ready to go.. I will work with Raptor to get her to where she needs to be failing that she is unable to get there on the bike.. (Natasha) Copy that Harrier.. All Hold and good luck... Maintain radio silence unless contact is needed... This is a 128bit encrypted channel but if the bad guys are listening, I don’t want them hearing digital static that will draw attention to our presence ok, This group is serious and highly motivated, and I can guarantee they will have no end of military grade toys to cover their movements.. Treat all contacts as hostile, but you are not to engage unless absolutely necessary... This is a stealth surveillance mission, and I don’t want any of their resource’s to disappear and cause suspicion.. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 11 Meanwhile skimming the skyline of the new modern buildings on the coast of San Alejo, a small agile twin turbo fan helicopter sped almost silently between the tall buildings of the city’s skyline as it startled some local inhabitants venturing out onto their balconies to enjoy the warm afternoon breeze and sun after a long day at work.. A lone figure sitting at the controls of the nimble aircraft also listening intently to Natasha’s signal, switched a comm’s button on her flight helmet activating her microphone before speaking in a gap in the transmissions... (Pilot) Nest Command This is A.R.C. stealth surveillance “Swift One” requesting permission to enter your operational airspace... --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 12 Natasha hearing the female voice break into her radio transmission sprung from her seat in anger at the break in operation protocol and the impertinence of the pilot that had dared to interrupt her.. Opening her mouth to give the new voice a dressing down while acknowledging the request to enter into her operational airspace, Natasha’s words stuck in her mouth as the fog of her anger cleared and realisation of the source of the call sign name given became clear.. (Natasha) Swift One, Swift??.. Your back??.. I thought you were still away on deployment?? (Smift) NestCom that was an affirmative up to 3 days ago.. Just got back state side Sunday and was due some RNR, but when I saw my old bird Raven needed assistance on a duty roster I couldn’t resist.. (Natasha) Well girl your voice is like music to me ears, I was assuming I would have only been allocated a 20 minuter and not an ace.. (Chuckle).. Natasha hearing Swift’s laugh break back through the comms smiled to herself as the old term for the life expectancy of pilots in WW1 having been only 20minutes, had been given to a stream of new recruits that had come and gone through the regiment when Natasha and Swift had first joined.. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 13 (Swift) So, am I assuming right that my other No 1 girl Raptor is attending this party as well... (Raptor) Swift, your assumption is correct.. and now your back don’t forget it’s your round ok.. (Swift) Damn girl you’re not going to let me forget that are you??.. Like its my fault that bar in Sucre was hit by the local militia... I didn’t plan the attack just to avoid paying for the next round of drinks.. (Laugh).. (Natasha) OK, Sorry but this little trip down memory lane will need to be cut short... Back to the task at hand, Swift I take it you have the brief on the op and know the targets details... (Swift) Theres the Raven I love... Always about business... Copy that on the brief, Target and your CI resource details are all locked into my flight system, and might I say... Damn girl where in hell did you recruit that CI, she’s even hotter than that one in Cyprus.. (Raptor) Don’t get me started Swift.. Will fill you in over that drink later.. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 14 Natasha pressing the function button for the HUD turned off the glasses info feed and slightly agitated by the casual attitude of Raptor and Swift took charge (Natasha) OK, Again, we don’t have time for this... Swift, your inbound I take it... What is your ETA? (Swift) In this bird from the city I’m over your target in 2 min 45 seconds... (Natasha) Perfect, Ok, we don’t have a visual yet on the bandit vehicle but its arrival in imminent... Maintain visual only Swift, They are going to do their version of the Crazy Ivan mauver to see if they have a tail, we assume after a security stop at a waypoint for phones and tracking devices they will attempt a break out to avoid detection and being followed.. (Swift) Copy that NestCom, what you just described I call Tuesday... (Natasha) Yeah but today is Wednesday... Listen girl this group means business; they are cashed up better than a small country and hire the absolute best to cover their operations... It’s great to have you back on board... But this isn’t just a normal DEA walk in the park... These guys are Ex KGB and play for keeps... (Swift) I hear ya Raven... Don’t worry, I got your girl... There is more tech in this bird than a CGI movie studio... I will signal you when I am in position... Swift out... --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 15 As abruptly as the nest was filled with voices and mirth from Swifts return, the seriousness of the op returning in a heartbeat all the participants back into an ops ready state of seriousness, left the room silent save only for the sound of cooling fans running keeping Natasha’s equipment at optimum temperature.. Stunned by the silence and enormity of her realisation, With the expression draining from her face, Natasha removed her comms headset and leaned forward before exulting a loud gut-wrenching scream in a release of emotion that hit her like a simultaneous gut punch and uppercut all in one.. (Natasha)(Hyperventilating) Fuck, Fuck… FFFUUUUUCCCKKKKK.. what the hell.. What have I done??.. I’m treating this like it’s a walk in the park but its anything but.. What was I thinking sending her into this meeting like its nothing.. Tatiana will see through any bullshit like its tissue paper, and Sophia is not strong enough to deceive her.. I have dropped her like fly into the centre of the web of a spider.. (Sob).. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 16 Natasha overcome with the overflow of emotion that she was not in anyway used too, remained hung over gasping for breath to still her rapidly beating heart.. The young woman so normally controlled, stoic, and strong struggled to regain control of herself for long moments before she stood and raised her arms to cradle her head.. (Natasha) (Quiet tone) I have put her in extreme danger, but its not the first time I have done this to others.. I fear for her safety but at the same time freely cast her to the She-wolf like a rabbit without care until.. until this??.. I understand now why Raptor is angry with me, I have put her in between us, in between everything I have worked to build, but what is it in her that makes me so blind.. It has always been a means to an end, and as mom always said when I was growing up that when faced with a challenge, that all’s well that ends well.. But is it as simple as that, is all well with the ramifications of our.. no my choices.. I must on my mother’s life make sure Sophia comes out of this unscathed.. and as God is my witness, I swear I will make good on that oath.. or die trying.. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 17 6.35pm Meanwhile as Dylan and Sophia walked from the mansion’s backyard entertainment area to the front of the house, Sophia in a quiet tone took the opportunity to speak to Dylan alone out of earshot to the others.. (Sophia) (quietly) Honey, I don’t want you to be worried about me tonight ok.. This is only a dinner with dads’ boss but our friend from Sunday has warned me that I probably will have my phone confiscated for security reasons.. (Dylan) Mom, I really don’t like this, if it’s only a dinner then why can’t you have a phone with you??. (Sophia) Security hun, they are international businesspeople and I suppose they are worried about being hacked or something.. (Dylan) Sounds like they are international criminals to me and don’t want to get arrested.. (Dubious tone). --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 18 Walking out onto the street Sophia and Dylan’s attention to each other broken as both saw at the same time a black limousine parked in front of their house with a driver already standing by the open back door ready for Sophia.. (Sophia) Well they are certainly punctual.. (Meek grin).. (Dylan) Punctual!!.. Yeah but look at the driver.. He looks like he just came from Central Casting’s dial a goon!!. (Sophia) Hun!!.. Keep your voice down.. Remember you are my son escorting me to the car to see me off on my night out.. All you know is that, nothing else and that is how you must act.. It’s bad, very bad if these people suspect anything ok.. (Dylan) OK.. (Sophia) (Hushed firm tone) No Hun.. I mean it ok.. Don’t give them any reason to suspect anything.. (Dylan) Sorry mom, sure, I just sort of tell bad jokes when I’m nervous.. (Sophia) It’s ok.. I think you get that from me a bit.. (Warm smile).. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 19 (Dylan) Mom, this friend of ours.. Is there a number or something I can call her on if I need.. I mean what if you just disappear or something??.. I could call her, shit, what do I even call her.. “Our Friend”?.. (Sophia) For now refer to her as Tasha ok.. That’s all you need to know for the moment, but she has told me that after this she will be meeting with us further.. Hun there will be no need for you to call her as she has a team keeping an eye on things tonight.. If something happens she will have more idea than both of us, I have put my trust in her, I can only ask that you do the same thing ok.. Listen.. I need to go but promise me you will look after your sister for me.. (Dylan) Shit mom that sounds like you are saying goodbye for the last time!!.. But.. (Sigh) yeah mom.. As I told you earlier.. I won’t let anything happen to you or Ellie, you don’t have to worry about that.. I promise.. (Warm smile).. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 20 Approaching the car Sophia’s heightened senses from all she had been told and taught by Natasha and Raptor, immediately noticed detail about the vehicle and its driver, that only a few days before would have been oblivious too.. With a quick subtle glance at the driver standing by the door, she noticed a small button style earpiece two-way radio in the man’s ear as he stood with a swarthy stance, his eyes not deviating from watching them both as they approached.. But it was the car sitting by the kerb that looked strangest to her, and wracking her brain she almost forehead slapped herself as she realised, that she had seen the exact same type of vehicle on the news recently reporting on the president’s visit to a summit held in the capital.. The Presidents car she remembered, called The Beast, had been a heavily armoured, bullet proof tank, and by the looks of what was parked in front of her house, Reignwolf’s car service used the same vehicles.. Flags on the cars bonnet displaying some sort of logo or crest looked to Sophia that this vehicle was no normal limousine, and instead seemed to be a diplomat’s transport that would be used by an ambassador on a diplomatic visit to a foreign county ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------