Taria closed her eyes and breathed in deep through her nose. In her mind’s eye she saw the bamboo shoot sliced into pieces. Her curved blade was an extension of her arms and it made precision, angled cuts into the hard plant. It was cut into 4 pieces before it even hit the ground.
Lanala always loved to watch Taria train. Watching her visualize built an excited tension before she would strike forward and lay the bamboo to waste. Taria’s eyes shot open and Lanala jumped a bit when she struck out furiously at the bamboo. As she visualized, four quick cuts back and forth cut the bamboo into four pieces, none hitting the ground before she finished.
The silence in the air was broken by a sudden noise that broke Taria’s concentration and caused her to whirl around. She spotted Lanala, red-faced and grinning sheepishly, tightly clasping her hands together.
“What was that?” Taria asked.
“Um... nothing. I was just... um... you’re really good!”
“Nothing? You mean you didn’t hear that... slapping noise?”
“Um, clapping, actually. Sorry,” Lanala said.
“Clapping? Wait, did you really-”
“Oh, come on, Taria! That was so cool! I couldn’t help myself!”
Taria sighed and sheathed her katana, trying not to be angry. It was rather cute that Lanala had gotten so excited, after all. It was hard to be angry at someone as sweet as Lanala anyway.
“Well thanks for the audience,” Taria said. “I didn’t even know you were there.”
“I didn’t want to interrupt you. But I actually came down here for a reason. Artema has a solo mission for you. A pretty important one, too.”
“Oh?” Taria asked, raising an eyebrow. “Is she finally sending me to take down the witch?”
“Close,” Lanala said. “But Artema can give you the details.”
“So why a solo mission? Did she give you a reason for that?”
“Well, Artema did mention that the Director is still breathing down her neck after the last rescue mission went pear shaped and won’t give her authorization to send more than one agent.”
“What? That sounds like bullshit to me,” Taria said.
“Tell me about it. But, given the mission, Artema also said she wants our best fighter on the case.”
Taria grunted. “Then she should send herself. Or Meryn. That girl kicks major ass these days.”
“Artema knows you’ve been craving action at this point, too. And there’s nobody better to send in and get this done once and for all.”
Taria furrowed her brow. “Once and for all? Wait... you don’t mean...”
Lanala nodded. “Yep. It’s finally time. You’re going to bring in Aurora.”
...
The woman doubled over in pain when a solid fist hit her stomach. Taria, clad in her usual outfit of the black tank top, tight shorts and yoga sandals, wasn’t expected to be some kind of master class fighter. But the woman guarding the back door to the cabin soon got to know very quickly just how hard Taria could throw a punch.
Their exchange had started off innocently enough, with Taria approaching the back door pretending that her car had broken down and that she needed to use the phone. When the woman told her to leave, Taria pleaded with her and the woman pretended to relent, only pulling out a rag and soaking it in Aurora’s knockout solution. But Taria was prepared for this and started absolutely pummelling the woman without mercy.
It seemed Aurora didn’t really train her goons in hand to hand combat. The fight had attracted some attention and two more goons had come running out the back door. A voice spoke softly in her ear, watching over her with a drone camera from above.
“You’ve got two more on your six, Blade,” Celia said when she spotted the goon. “And more activity inside. Might be a good time to back up for a bit.”
Taria crouched low when the first woman came at her and shouldered her stomach, causing her to topple over and roll off Taria’s back, hitting the ground. Taria finished her with an elbow to the back of the head, knocking her out cold. She finally spoke into her communicator by tapping her ear.
“No way, Swift. I’m getting this done here and now. No more running.”
“Don’t be careless, Blade,” came another voice, tired, deep, and male. Jonas was in a separate location. While Celia waited in a van nearby, Jonas was hiding out in a disguised small power station, monitoring hacked security feeds around Aurora’s hidden property. “If you get captured there’s no one but us to come and get you. The Director has threatened to shut us down if we send in any further backup.”
Taria landed a solid kick to the next woman’s knee, causing her to cry out in pain and crumple to the ground. The next goon, a short, stocky man, tried to tackle her but Taria moved aside and shoved him to the dirt.
“To hell with the Director. And to hell with retreating. We’ve got the thief where we want her.”
“Tranquilizer drone, eight o’clock!” Celia said in her ear.
Taria whirled around and kicked a small drone with a thin tube protruding out of it from just behind her. It tumbled to the ground and sputtered a bit but it did not take off again. The drone was yet another piece of technology created in Aurora’s lab, though this one was only for defence, it seemed. It wasn’t as widespread as Aurora’s quick knockout gas, either.
“Thanks, Swift,” Taria said.
“More goons incoming from downstairs. Get out of there!” Jonas said in her ear.
“Not a chance,” Taria replied.
The two goons outside got back to their feet at the same time and stood either side of Taria, hesitating to move. Taria looked back and forth between them before launching herself at the woman, allowing the man to try and tackle her again.
The woman wasn’t quick enough to stop the flying fist that connected with her forehead and sent her sprawling to the dirt. Without looking behind her, Taria stepped to one side and spun around, delivering a swift roundhouse kick to the man’s face. The blow knocked him unconscious and he skidded away a few feet before coming to a stop.
The woman got back up and, by that time, two more goons had appeared, both of them women. Taria backed up a few steps and let the two uninjured goons come forward and shield their limping comrade. A wry smirk played at Taria’s lips and her cool confidence appeared once again.
“You’re not ready for this,” she said. “Give it up. Your boss doesn’t pay you enough.”
“Shut it. You’re coming with us,” one of the women said. “Surrender now and we won’t have to hurt you.”
Taria chuckled slightly. “Given what’s happened here, what makes you think I’m just going to surrender like nothing? Make your choice. I’m giving you an out. Either you take it or you join your buddies on the ground.”
“Enough,” the other woman said. “Get the stun guns. We’re not dealing with this one anymore.”
One woman reached to her belt and grabbed a stun gun but before she could raise it, Taria rushed her and kicked it out of her hand and into the air. In one quick motion, Taria shoved the woman aside and caught the stun gun in mid-air, jamming it into her neck and knocking her out as well.
Now with two women left, one still limping, Taria held the stun gun in her hands and flicked a switch to change it to projectile mode.
“So, which one of you wants to be the stupid one?” Taria asked.
The uninjured woman’s hand still hovered over a holster where her own stun gun lay. If she could be quick enough, she might be able to draw it and fire off a shot. But Taria’s sharp eyes remained fixed on both goons and they both were frozen in place.
“I see that twitchy hand,” Taria said. “Go ahead. Skin that smoke wagon and see what happens.”
“Smoke... it’s a stun gun,” the woman said.
Taria shrugged. “I still dare you to pull it on me.”
The woman didn’t pull it but she flinched once and Taria fired her stun gun, launching the wired projectile at the woman. It connected with its target and the woman’s muscles tensed and convulsed with a powerful surge of electricity. She fell to the ground and blacked out in seconds. The woman with the limp attempted to attack Taria one final time but one heavy punch between the eyes rendered her unconscious as well. With the last of the goons dealt with, Taria dropped the stun gun in her hands and started walking toward the cabin, feeling rather smug.
“That was... pretty amazing,” Celia said in her ear.
“Don’t forget the mission,” Jonas cautioned. “You still need to be careful. There are more of them inside.”
“Nothing I can’t handle,” Taria said.
As she stepped in the door, however, someone quick and strong got the drop on her and tackled her to the floor. She felt a sharp needle poke into her left bicep and her muscles started going limp.
“Ugh.... what...”
“Oh, darling,” a confident voice said. “I do love the cocky ones. You’re going to be so much fun.”
“What... is...” Taria’s head started to feel heavy as she stared into a pretty Latina’s eyes. The woman was clad in a red catsuit, a long, black coat and wide-brimmed, black hat.
“Taria!” Celia’s voice shouted in her ear. “What happened, Jonas? I just saw her go down.”
“Working on it. Getting the feed and.... oh crap,” he said.
“What?”
“It’s Aurora. She’s drugged her with something. Damn it! I told her to be careful!”
“I’ll get after her, Jonas,” Celia said. “You watch my back.”
Aurora, meanwhile, leaned down closer to Taria’s face. “I don’t believe we’ve had the pleasure, gorgeous. You and I should really get to know each other better.”
“No... get off.... me,” Taria said, the world beginning to fade around her.
“Oh, shhhh, girl. It’s all right. Just go to sleep. Everything will work out fine. I’ve got a nice room all picked out for you and everything,” Aurora said with a laugh. “Oh, you’re so pretty. And strong, too. I love you already, Agent Blade.”
Taria had no more words. All she could hear was Aurora’s dull voice, saying words she couldn’t decipher anymore. Eventually, the world went black and Taria’s head slumped to the side when she fell unconscious.
...
Her mind was still foggy when she finally woke up. Whatever had been pumped into her system had really done a number on her. But Taria gradually started to become aware of her surroundings when she realized she was laying down on a bed.
“Ahhh, the beauty is finally awake,” a woman’s voice said to her.
Taria was still bleary eyed and couldn’t make out the face of the person looming over her. She tried to reach up and rub her eyes but neither of her arms responded properly. Becoming more lucid, Taria was able to discern that her arms were held together and above her head. But, beyond that, she still couldn’t quite make out much of anything. I must be dreaming she thought to herself. Everything is... green.
It looked to her tired and addled mind that the entire room around her was bright green. She could also make out some faint purples and dark blues but, otherwise, everything in the room was green. At least it was a pleasant colour to look on. Green was Taria’s favourite colour, after all.
“Aww, the poor baby is still out of it,” the woman’s voice said. “I have something that will help.”
Still trying to get her senses back, Taria drew in several deep breaths. Suddenly, a very strong, chemical scent entered Taria’s nostrils and she was wide awake, trying to discern what the smell was. Was that... ammonia?
But the thought vanished quickly when she became fully aware of her situation. The room she was in really was mostly green. The bed, also green, was facing a heavy steel door and Taria could see her own name carved into a plaque above it. She furrowed her brow for a moment before remembering that she had heard a voice.
“Welcome to your room, Agent Blade.”
“Mmmmrmmm!” She had tried to say Aurora’s name but her voice was muffled by something. Now she understood why she couldn’t move her arms.
Taria was tightly bound with soft, white ropes around her wrists and biceps. Her arms were held above her head and lashed to the head board above her. She could already feel her muscles tiring from the position they were forced into.
More of the white rope tied her legs together at the ankles and above and below the knees. One final length of rope stretched Taria out and was tied to the bed’s foot board. She was laid out fully on the bed and completely tied up. Taria had also been silenced with a large, green ball gag strapped on tightly behind her head.
“Mmmmph! Mmmt mmmp!?”
“Do you like what I’ve done here? A perfect shrine devoted just to you, my dear,” Aurora said.
“Hmmmmph!?”
“There are six more rooms just like it for every one of you. And one special room for that adorable rookie, Agent Swift. I can’t wait until they are all full. You already look so darling in here.”
“Mmmph! Mmmll pmmm fmmm tmmmph!”
“Oh, such a fire you’ve got in you. I do love feisty girls, Agent Blade. I love them very much indeed.”
Aurora sat up from the bed and crossed the room, placing something small down on a blue dresser that matched Taria’s hair exactly. The exactness of the colours was... disturbing. And creepy. Farrah had been right to worry about Aurora. The thief had perhaps become a little obsessed with the Agency in their time as adversaries.
Taria eyed the item Aurora had placed down. Smelling salts she thought. It was ammonia I smelled.
“So, Agent Blade,” Aurora said, crossing the room and sitting down on the bed again. Taria struggled in her tight bondage but her position didn’t give her much leverage. Nor could she reach any of the strong knots Aurora had tied in the ropes. Aurora continued. “You came here all by your lonesome then? That seems a foolish thing to do. Though, I have to say, you are an impressive woman. I’ll have to better train my people to compete with someone as fast and strong as you, darling.”
“Mmmrrrgggh! Mmmph mmm grmm mmmng mmp mmph!” Taria’s rage made her spill forth only growls and garbled nonsense into her gag.
“I was wondering, though, what do you like to do for fun, Agent Blade? Or are you the more serious type?”
“Fmmghhk ymmm!”
Aurora chuckled. “So you are the more serious type. That’s fine. I’ll take my women any way I can get them.”
“Mmm nmmmt ymmmrph!”
“Yes yes, you’re very scary, Agent Blade,” Aurora said, waving her hand dismissively and crossing the room again. She opened the blue dresser and started pawing through the top drawer. She continued speaking while Taria tried to find some way to squrim free of her bonds.
“You will learn to have fun while you’re in here, I think,” Aurora said. “Or else you’ll go mad with rage, I suspect.”
“Mmmmph! Ymmmd bmmmtmm lmmt mmm gmmm ymm bmmmph!”
“Oh, that gag does wonders for stopping the no doubt vile things you’re saying to me. Ah, here we are.”
Aurora pulled something out of the drawer and closed it again. She sat down on Taria’s bed and the lithe woman’s eyes widened at the object in her hand. Aurora extended the thing in both hands; it was a telescopic riding crop with a hard, leather strip attached to the end. It looked heavy.
“Do you enjoy pain, Agent Blade? I guess we’ll find out!”
“Mmmmph!” Truth be told, Taria hated pain. For all of her outward toughness and strict workout regimen, Taria loathed being in pain more than anything. She had learned to tolerate it but nothing made her crankier than a dull ache. And nothing scared her more than the threat of the sting of a whip.
“After this I have a few more toys I’d like to try. But we’ll start with my favourite.”
Aurora tested the crop by slapping it against her own hand. “My, this is a lovely one. Care to try it?’
Taria shook her head frantically. “Nmmm! Nmmm! Hllmmmp!”
“There’s no one to help you down here, my dear. And when the rest of your precious Agency comes for you, I will be ready. Jhana will never get her hands on you. The lot of you are mine to keep now. And I can’t even begin to imagine all of the fun we will have together.”
“Mmmmph!”
“Now,” Aurora said with a wide grin. “Let’s begin.
...
Celia peeked around the tree and saw two of Aurora’s goons surveying the damage Taria had done to their people. She waited patiently for Jonas to report in with any intel but, for now, she listened to their conversation and mentally formulated a plan to get inside and rescue Taria.
“Geez,” a burly woman in a black suit said. “It was really just one chick that did all this?”
“That’s what the boss said,” another, smaller woman in a pantsuit and kevlar vest said. She was kneeling down and checking the pulse of one of the unconscious goons on the ground.
“Must be one tough broad,” the first woman said.
“Or these idiots are all slow as balls,” the second woman responded.
The first woman chuckled. “True enough. Didn’t she say there would be more coming?”
“They’re not just going to come at us straight away, Karen,” the second woman said. “They’re not all as dumb as blue hair downstairs. They’ll come at us quiet and with numbers.”
Celia cursed quietly to herself. If only that were true she thought. What is that idiot director thinking?
“Speaking of, where did the boss take her anyway?” the woman called Karen asked.
“One of those closed off rooms downstairs,” the second woman replied. “You know those seven cells she’s been saving.”
Seven cells? Oh no... Celia realized then that Aurora had been waiting the Agency out here in her cabin in the woods. She somehow knew they would come for her here eventually. But where could she have gotten her information from? With Farrah out of her organization, and also tied up and gagged back at Agency HQ, she couldn’t be leaking secrets to Aurora. Remembering Artema’s words, Celia realized that she may have been right about Jhana having something on the Director herself. And if they were working together, and Aurora was listening in to Jhana...
“Damn it all,” Celia hissed to herself. “Betrayals heaped on betrayals.”
“Hey, did you hear something?” the woman called Karen asked.
Celia clamped her mouth shut. Had they really heard her whispering?
“Yeah...” the second woman said. “It sounds like a sort of... buzzing. Like a fan.”
A what? Celia’s voice didn’t sound like a fan. That was when Celia heard the sound too. A high pitched sort of whirring from... above them. She spotted it between the trees. It was a small drone and it was coming down... right in between the two goons.
“The cavalry is here,” Jonas' voice said into Celia’s ear.
“You hacked a drone?” Celia whispered.
“Why not? It’ll make short work of those meatheads in your way.”
“It’s a tranquilizer drone?”
“You know it. Now, get ready to move. You won’t have much time before more of those damn goons come running outside. Soon as these two are out, head for the door. The coast is clear but only for a limited time. You’ll find an elevator in the basement. The code for it is...” Jonas sighed. “6969.”
“Oh my God,” Celia said. “Is Aurora really that lame?”
“Just enter the code when you get there. From there, head left and you’ll find this hallway with seven rooms. Taria is being held in room seven. Her name should be right above the doorway.”
“Jeez.... she’s been planning this for awhile. Is...” Celia was afraid to ask. “Is there one down there with my name on it?”
Jonas hesitated as the drone got lower. “Don’t worry about that. Just focus on subduing Aurora and getting Taria out of there. All right. Here we go. 3... 2... 1...”
The drone descended very quickly and drew both goons’ attention. The two women were taken completely by surprise when a tranquilizer dart shot out of either side and rendered them both unconscious in seconds.
“All right, go!”
“Thanks, Jonas,” Celia said.
“Be careful in there, Celia. You don’t know- ugh!”
Celia heard a thump in her ear when Jonas was talking and stopped dead in her tracks.
“Jonas?”
Back in the van, Jonas’ head started throbbing as it had been suddenly slammed into the table in front of him. He reached up to his forehead and saw blood on his hand from where he touched the wound.
He was then spun around and face to face with his former commanding officer. Jhana’s wicked smile was the first thing he noticed. Her dark eyes bored into his and he leaned back to try and pull himself away from her.
“It’s been too long, Jonas.”
“No it hasn’t,” Jonas said. “If I never see you again it’ll be too soon.”
“Oh, you flatter me ‘Agent Shadow,’” Jhana said, mocking his code name. “But let’s get down to business.”
“I have no business with you.”
“Is that right? Let me put it this way, then. A little bird told me that lovely little Celia is on her way into Aurora’s secret hideout, completely alone, on some sort of rescue mission.”
Jonas narrowed his eyes. It was true then. The Director had to be in league with Jhana.
“And if I were to snap my fingers then it’s possible that a sniper I have planted in the woods will take his shot and poor little Celia will be... separated from the inside of her head. Do you want that?”
“You would kill her?”
“Only if you don’t co-operate, my dear Jonas.”
Jonas cleared his throat and glared into Jhana’s eyes. His own eyes shone with anger and he gritted his teeth when he spoke next.
“What do you want?”
“Just a talk. With you. If you agree, my people will leave your people to their little rescue mission and get that pesky thief out of my hair.”
“And what would this talk entail?” Jonas asked.
Jhana smirked. “Now that would be spoiling the fun. You have to agree or else... well, I don’t think I have to say it, do I?”
Jonas sighed. He suspected Celia was hearing every word of the conversation through his communicator. “Call off your people,” he said. “I’ll go with you.”
“I knew you’d see things my way, Jonas,” Jhana said.
Jonas switched off his communicator and placed it down on the table beside him. He stood to his full height and glared down into Jhana’s cold eyes.
“But I swear, Jhana, if anything happens to Celia I will tear out your black heart myself.”
Jhana chuckled. “Oh dear. Threatening me will only make this more painful for you.”
She planted a firm punch into his stomach and another landed on his jaw, causing his ears to ring. He was suddenly pulled to his knees and his arms were grabbed by huge, spectral beings on either side of him. Jhana leaned down into his face and smiled wide again. “I do like to do things the hard way, Jonas.”
Jhana snapped her fingers and more of the spectral beings appeared and surrounded Jonas. “Take him someplace private,” Jhana said. “Someplace where we won’t be disturbed.”
The spectral beings dragged him out of the van and down a path deeper into the woods. He didn’t bother fighting them knowing that, if he did, Celia might be in real danger. So he accepted his fate for the time being and let the spectral people carry him off to someplace unknown.
...
Celia tapped the earpiece, trying desperately to get it to work. She had heard everything Jonas and Jhana were saying but the transmission had suddenly cut off.
“Jonas! Come in! Are you there? Jonas!”
Only static answered her and she ripped the communicator from her ear and tossed it into the woods.
“Damn it!” Celia took in several deep breaths, trying to concentrate. Every fibre of her being wanted to go after Jonas. But she still had a mission. And she knew that if it were her captured then none of the Agency would hesitate to go after her. She couldn’t just leave Taria. Jonas would want her to complete the mission.
“I’ll save him,” she told herself. “I will save him. But I have a job to do.”
Taking in more deep breaths to calm herself, Celia rushed into the cabin and remembered Jonas’ instructions for how to find Taria.
She found the basement stairs easily enough since they were right near the rear entrance she had come in. With the goons still regrouping, Celia was able to walk right up to the elevator without trouble and enter the ridiculous number code Jonas had relayed to her. After entering the code on the keypad, the elevator doors popped open for her and Celia stepped inside with a tight grip on the dart pistol in her hand. Aurora was always so prepared and quick and Celia never liked facing her so nerves ate away at the pit of her stomach. Celia breathed deep, psyching herself up for the task. Getting the drop on Aurora would take all of her training but it was more than that. Everything that had happened to Jonas was still playing through her head. You’ll save him she told herself. Just get the job done, first. Taria needs you, too.
The elevator doors opened and Celia was greeted by an empty hallway extending out in three directions. Celia took the left hallway and tried not to look at the plaques above each door with the names of her allies written on them. She stopped at the seventh and final door, still sealed shut but unlocked, with Taria’s name emblazoned above it.
Taking in another deep breath, Celia gripped her gun tighter and hovered one finger over the trigger, mentally planning out her dart’s path when she took the shot.
As soon as Celia gripped the handle and started slowly opening the steel door, she could hear Aurora laughing and chiding Taria, whose own muffled rage and grunts of pain made her move faster.
Aurora whirled around when she heard the door open and Celia raised her gun, gripping it tight in both hands.
“Drop your weapon,” Celia said, surprising herself with the confidence in her voice.
“Agent Swift, my favourite pet,” Aurora said. “I’m so glad you could join us. I’ve got a special room prepared for you.”
“Drop the weapon,” Celia repeated. “I won’t tell you again.”
Aurora raised her hands, a smile on her face, and let go of the riding crop in her hand. “I was only playing, Agent Swift. Isn’t that right, Agent Blade?”
“Mmmmrgh! Mmp mmmph!”
“See? Your friend was enjoying herself.”
“You keep your hands where I can see them,” Celia said, stepping closer to Aurora.
“As you say, my pet.”
“And stop calling me that!”
Aurora chuckled. “You’ve grown so much since we first met, darling. So much bolder. And you’ve done it all with that same cute face.”
“Shut up!” Celia said, stepping even closer. “Release her. Now.”
“Or what?”
“Do you want to find out?”
Aurora laughed. “I always want to find out.”
She lunged at Celia and grabbed her right arm, pulling the gun to the side and trying to elbow Celia in the face. Unable to get her shot, Celia was still nimble enough to slip out of Aurora’s grasp and trip her up by sweeping out her legs from under her. Aurora fell to the floor but, as she fell, she kicked Celia’s dart gun from her hand and she lost her grip on it. The gun flew across the room and gave Aurora enough time to get back to her feet again.
Celia knew Aurora was stronger than her so she didn’t want to get too close because the thief would win any close quarters grappling and then Celia would be captured right alongside Taria. She didn’t want to let that happen this time. She kept her distance and used her speed to her advantage to avoid Aurora’s quick hands. All she needed to do was get her gun and she could have a shot at incapacitating Aurora.
For now they circled each other around the bed in the middle while Taria struggled against her bonds, still unable to escape. Aurora kept rushing for Celia, trying to grapple with her and get her in a choke hold but she was surprised time and again by Celia’s speed. It had now become fully apparent that she was given an apt code name.
But Aurora was still between Celia and her dart gun. She would have to risk getting her out of the way. This time, Celia waited for Aurora to lunge for her and surprised her opponent by lunging for her right back, catching her off guard. A punch to the jaw and one roundhouse kick took Aurora down and carried Celia forward toward her gun.
By the time Aurora got up, Celia was already pointing her dart gun at Aurora again. Taking in heavy breaths, both women froze for a moment. Aurora smiled.
“Are you really going to shoot me?”
Celia didn’t answer her. She just pulled the trigger and a dart jammed itself into Aurora’s neck. Celia didn’t relax until Aurora slumped to the floor and blacked out. She finally holstered her gun and checked Aurora’s pulse and breathing. With the thief unconscious, Celia could finally set to work untying Taria.
Taria sat up on the bed, rubbed her wrists, and stretched her tired muscles. The struggling and whipping had taken a lot out of her. But she was more than happy to help Celia tie up Aurora. Using the same ropes that had once bound Taria, the two agents tied Aurora’s wrists behind her back in a crossed position, also taking care to bind her arms and pin them to her sides. Her legs were tied at the ankles and knees and Taria took pleasure in shoving the same ball gag in Aurora’s mouth that had once been in her own.
They stood up together, Taria patting Celia on the shoulder.
“You did well,” she said. “Taking down the thief was no easy task.”
“I’ll leave you to deal with her,” Celia said. “I have to go after Jonas.”
“Jonas? What happened to him?”
“Jhana has him. I don’t know where but I’ll track him down.”
“Wait, Celia,” Taria said. “Let me.”
“You’ve been through enough. Besides, he’s my best friend,” Celia said.
“I think I know where he is,” Taria said.
“What? How?”
“Aurora left me tied up in here for awhile but the door was open. I heard a couple goons talking about some place out here in the woods where Jhana used to hide. Some kind of holding cell, almost. I didn’t really hear the whole thing because she didn’t leave me for very long.”
“Yeah, I can see that. So it’s in the woods?”
“It is. And I’ll find it. Jhana doesn’t fool around and you tired yourself out enough already.”
“So have you,” Celia said. “And it’s my job to protect him.”
“Listen, I’m not going home without a job done. And I owe you one for the rescue. Let me go after Jonas. I’ll get him out of there. You get the thief back to HQ. Then we’ll be even. Sound fair?”
Celia hesitated. She knew Taria was as capable as they come but she had also just been captured. Finally, she relented.
“Fine. But I’m coming back after you as soon as I get her secured back home,” Celia said. “Take care of Jonas. Please.”
“I will, Celia. You just take care on your way home.”
Celia had some trouble getting Aurora out of the building so Taria helped her carry the thief out of the cabin and back to the city path.
“I’ve got it from here,” Celia said. “Just get him out, Taria.”
Taria said nothing more and simply nodded. She watched Celia heft Aurora into the back seat of a black car and pull away. Now all she needed to do was remember her old tracking skills.
...
Jhana planted yet another fist into Jonas’ stomach. All he could do was grunt in pain but he still wouldn’t break. It didn’t matter what Jhana did to him he refused to give up anything further. A bright light shined in his face from above him but the room was otherwise dark. His hands were cuffed behind a the steel chair he was sitting in and Jonas could feel blood trickling down his face from a cut on his forehead.
“That...” Jonas took in a breath and spit blood out onto the ground. “That is classified information.”
“Jonas, do you think I care that you’re in pain? Do you honestly believe that this will stop until you give me what I want?”
“Why... why would I think... that?”
Jhana got down close to his face. “Then why won’t you tell me where you hid that damn journalist?”
“What’s the matter, Jhana?” Jonas asked, finally getting in a good breath. “Having trouble finding her yourself?”
“The people of Weston need to know what it is to cross me, Jonas. That journalist fed your group valuable information that she stole from me. It is illegally obtained and I only want justice for a violation of my rights. Journalists like her are an enemy of the people of Weston.”
Jonas chuckled. “That’s rich. So someone who is only doing her job and reporting the facts is an enemy now? All she did was see things that would get you into a world of trouble. All she did was log what she saw and what she found of your awful plans and ideas. Nothing illegal there, Jhana.”
“Damn it, Jonas! I will get her back into my hands and you will tell me where she is!”
“That is classified informa-ugh!”
Jhana punched him in the stomach again. “If you say that to me one more time then I will rip your lungs out through your nose.”
Jonas chuckled and coughed a bit from the effort. “Keep going, Jhana. I can do this all day and all night.”
“Can you? What if I invited Celia to join us? Would that change things?”
“She’ll be gone and back in the safety of the agency by now. You won’t find her.”
Jhana smirked at him. “And what makes you think the agency is so safe? Are you sure everyone there is... on your side?”
Jonas cleared his throat, spitting out more blood from his mouth. “Everyone who matters is on the right side,” he said.
“You go on and tell yourself that, Jonas. Now, perhaps a new question. How well do you know that delightful director woman?”
Jonas stared hard into Jhana’s eyes. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, how much has she shared with you? I hear she thinks you lot are closing in on me. But are you, really? You may have forced me into hiding but... does the director think she has seen my full hand yet?”
Before Jonas could answer, they heard someone up above grunt in pain and then another person tumble down the stairs from above. Yet another person hit the floor above with a loud thump. They then heard a loud crash when something shattered and broke, followed by a cry of pain and then silence. After a few seconds, they heard light footsteps from above.
“Sounds like my backup is here,” Jonas said.
“Intriguing,” Jhana said. “I think that may be my cue to exit. Don’t forget about our little chat, Jonas. I won’t go so easy on you next time.”
Jonas grunted. “Next time I see you things might be a little different. You underestimate Artema at your own peril, Jhana.”
“Keep talking, big man. We’ll see who has the last laugh.”
Jhana disappeared into the darkness somewhere behind him. Jonas heard a door open and slam shut followed by mechanical movement. His attention was then drawn to the lithe figure descending the stairs in front of him. He smiled and chuckled when he saw her.
“I knew she could do it,” he said.
“And she got the thief,” Taria said as she approached him. “Looks like mission accomplished.”
She plucked a set of keys from the wall and freed Jonas’ hands, catching him as he slumped forward.
“You all right?”
Jonas grimaced and stood up with Taria. She put one of his arms around her shoulders and supported his weight.
“Oh, you know,” Jonas said. “Comme ci, comme ca.”
“She must have hit your head good. Since when did you get a sense of humour?” Taria asked, unable to hide the smirk on her face.
“Ah, I’m just happy to see you is all. You bloody fool.”
Taria chuckled. “I guess I deserve that. Didn’t see Aurora coming.”
“I tried to warn you. But I do owe you for coming after me.”
“Well, when you get better, maybe you can buy me dinner.”
Jonas chuckled. “Are you asking me out on a date?”
“I think you and I both know that dating doesn’t suit us. Don’t be stupid.”
“Fine. But, can I just say, it’s always good to have more friends.”
Taria shook her head. “All right. Time to get you looked after. You’re definitely acting weird.”
Jonas had no more words. As Taria helped him hobble his way back outside and into the light, however, his mind went back to Jhana’s words. He knew for sure that Meryn’s suspicions were correct. If they were going to get Jhana then they’d need to work off the grid, away from the director’s prying eyes. Luckily, he had just the idea in mind. He’d have to tell them when he got back home. As soon as his head stopped aching, that is.