Chapter 13

Michelle and Dominic stood at the stove quietly talking to themselves as Petra and Laura came into the kitchen from outside holding blankets and pillows looking for coffee.

“Why did you sleep outside last night?” Michelle asked the two women.

“Someone was having a really good time last night. All we heard from that room was...” Laura started hitting the table rhythmically, “Was your bed hitting the wall and someone screaming ‘oh yes, oh yes, oh yes’ and then ‘harder, harder’.”

“I give you a 9 for endurance but only a 5 for originality.” Petra said to Dom and Michelle. “It would have been higher if you could have screamed something else, but that was all we heard.”

Michelle looked embarrassed and Dominic just smiled at their comments. “I promise that we’ll keep it down tonight.” He told them.

Denise and Talitha came walking in after Dom said that. “So ... I take it that you two rabbits got it all out of your system last night?” Talitha asked.

Michelle turned an even deeper shade or red hearing that. “Did everyone hear us last night?” She asked.

“Yes.” Robert said as he walked into the kitchen rubbing his eyes. “I agree with Petra’s scores and critique.” He told them with a smirk.

“Michelle don’t’ listen to them, it’s ok if you want to get rough and freaky.” Denise told her. “By the way, I gave you an extra point for the side saddle cowgirl you did with him last night.

Michelle had a stunned look on her face as she slowly turned to stare at Denise. “How did you know...” She started to say until she saw the smiles on their faces.

“You just told us.” Robert said starting to laugh. At that point, they whole group started to laugh. Michelle turned a brick color and went back to the stove.

“Hey ... Stop picking on our guest...” Dominic said to them as he protectively wrapped his arm around her. “Even if she is really easy to mess with.” He said. They whole group, Michelle included, laughed. He leaned down and whispered, “Don’t worry, we’ll get her back tonight.” She looked up at him and nodded with a smile.

“Anyone seen Steven and Hannah?” Denise asked.

“Where’s David and Lana? That’s what I’d like to know.” Laura asked.

“The four of them got up and left early this morning to head into town.” Dom told her. “She said they’d be back before lunch.”

“We need to go over what I brought and plan for all eventualities.” Michelle told them. “I got the pictures of Svetlana this morning and I sent them off to Rota to get her new ID and passport.”

“Did her new picture look anything like her old one? Talitha asked.

“We put some cotton in her mouth to change her facial structure and darkened her cheekbones some to show the appearance of change. It’ll pass scrutiny if needed.” She told her.

“Good. I’ll get ahold of Jack Turner and set up a meeting to pick it up.” Denise told her. “What’s everyone’s plans for the day?”

“Dom and I are going to drive into Barcelona so I can get my shoulder touched up.” Michelle told her.

“Get your shoulder touched up? Touched up with what?” Petra asked.

Michelle pulled her t-shirt over her head and turned her back to the table. “I’ve been working on this a little bit at a time. Every country I go to, I get a little bit done so I can have a memory of being there.”

The team looked at her tattoo and it was a Dragon with roses wrapped around it that started at her rear left hip and wound up her back and over her right shoulder onto her chest. Michelle turned so they could see the front and how it wound down her shoulder and under her arm and back around to the bottom of her abdomen and into the shorts she was wearing.

“At least now I know why you never wear sleeveless shirts to work.” Denise told her

“I have to ask, how long has this taken to get this far?” Robert asked.

Michelle thought for a moment. “If you could sit and wait for the artist to get this far ... two solid days.” She replied. “I get about an hour and a half each time I get something done.”

“I like your dragon over Svetlana’s” Talitha told her.”

“I agree. When did you start your ink?” Robert asked her.

“Right after I got to Ramstein when I was in the Air Force.” She told him.

“Air Force huh?” Talitha told her. “I had you figured for the Navy.”

“They honestly were my first choice of job. But when the recruiter told me that the job that I wanted was full and that I had pick something else, I went and talked to the Air Force.” Michelle told her. “I got my dream job and enjoyed the 10 years I was in.”

“What was your dream job?” Robert asked.

“I was an imagery analyst.” She told him. “I got to see all the pictures from orbital satellites, and from just about everything that flies in the inventory.”

“At least we know how high your security clearance is now.” Denise told her. “What do the powers that be have for us?”

“Director Richards will have the support pieces in place by the time we meet the boat tomorrow night.” Michelle told them getting back to business.

“Support pieces? What kind of support do we need?” Robert asked.

“In case Svetlana is discovered to be alive is what she’s talking about. Director Richards probably has made plans for us to separate and then rendezvous at a later date for pick up.” Talitha said. “That is how Mossad would handle something like this.”

“Exactly like you said Tali. In fact, Director Richards consulted with Director Fogelman on this plan.” Michelle told her.

“Wait ... what about the boat?” Petra asked.

“This is in case we can’t get to the boat. That’s still the primary means if escape. Everything else is back up.” Robert told her as he squeezed her hand.

“Good, because I like it and it’s easy to lay out on while it’s in motion.” She said with a grin. Robert shifted in his seat remembering her laying out in the nude on the way to Coma-Ruga.

Down in Coma-Ruga, Steven and David were watching Hannah as she was covering Svetlana as she looked for clothing. The team had been so busy getting things set up to occupy the house that they didn’t have much time for replacing their wardrobes. Svetlana was looking at shorts and tops to match while Hannah watched her surroundings and carried her choices, so she didn’t have to worry about getting hurt again.

“What do you think?” She asked Hannah holding purple and blue shirt up to her chest.

“Not the purple, that shade clashes with the blue in your hair.” Hannah replied.

“Quite right, thank you.” Svetlana replied.

She kept looking for something she liked, and Hannah watched over her as she went.

“How about this?” Svetlana asked holding a sleeveless paisley mini sundress.

“It’s Perfect. It matches the colors on your tattoo.” Hannah told her.

“Good, I really like this one.” She replied.

Hannah moved closer to Lana before she spoke. “Would you mind answering a question for me?”

“I do not mind at all.” Lana told her.

“When you were in Venice, we have video and pictures of you and your husband having sex all over the place.” She started to ask. “What I’m curious about is what you said a couple days ago back in the US about your training and being drugged to be conditioned to like sex.” Hannah said quietly to her.

Lana smiled and took a moment to think about her answer.

“If it’s personal, please don’t feel like you have to answer it.” Hannah told her.

“No, that’s not it at all. I was trying to think of how to answer you without sounding like a whore.” She thought for another moment and then responded. “Despite all my training from the school, I honestly enjoy sex. I loved it with Greg because he was a considerate lover. He always made sure that I orgasmed at least 3 times before he did.” She told Hannah. Lana pulled a black and white bikini off the rack and handed it to Hannah. “To be honest, I lost my virginity when I was 14 to a male student at the school. I had been told what was coming so I figured that I should try it willingly before I was forced to do it by the school. Turns out I liked it ... a lot. I wasn’t a slut, but I had regular partners until my 15th year.” She told her.

“I can’t imagine what you went through.” Hannah told her.

“It was so long ago that I barely remember any of it.” She told Hannah. “Besides, the amount of Rohypnol and other drugs that they pumped into me ... I barely remember any of it anyway.”

“You’re lying to me, aren’t you?” Hannah asked her.

“Yes, I am...” She replied with sad smile.

Lana put her hand on Hannah’s shoulder. “May I impart something to you I learned in Russia?” She asked Hannah. She told her to go ahead. “Those who have a why to live, they can endure any how that comes their way. That has stuck with me since I was 13 and it has served me well.” She told her.

Hannah smiled art hearing that. “Nietzsche was a wise man. What was your why?”

“I enjoy living. My early life was wonderful. My teen years were not that good, but I made it through the school. And now, I’m a healthy adult woman who enjoys living and tries to live every day to the fullest.” Lana told her.

“I can see that.” Hannah looked at her with a smirk. “By the way, I always tried to live by ‘is it better to out monster the monster or be quietly devoured’.”

“I am impressed...” Lana told her as she picked up another pair of shorts. “Come on, I think I have enough for now.”

Hannah followed Svetlana to the front of the store and the clerk started to ring everything up. She was in the process of signing the bill when a group of Australian men walked up them and tried to talk to them. Hannah reverted to her French accent and tried to get them to leave them alone.

“I appreciate the offer, but my friend and I are headed home tonight and we’d like to pack before we fly out.” She told them.

“Oh, come on, it’s a small beach party and you’ll be the guests of honor.” The leader of the group told her. “I promise, nothing will happen to you.”

Out of the corner of her eye, Hannah saw Steven and David getting up and cross the street towards the store. Seeing this, she almost imperceptibly shook her head no and they stopped where they were.

Hannah looked at Lana and spoke French to her. “Nos amis viennent de l’autre côté de la rue, nous devons empêcher que cela ne devienne violent, du moins dans la rue ici.”

Lana, looking surprised, replied, “Je suis d’accord, va t’asseoir comme si ta cheville me faisait mal.”

Lana faked a French accent and told the group that she needed to sit down. They made their way out of the store and next door. The leader of the 4 men offered to buy them a cold drink. It being warm out, they accepted.

“I’m Jaxon, this is Mike, Gerald, and the guy going to get your drinks...” He said handing the last man a wad of cash, “Is Noah.” Hannah, seeing the look that the leader gave his man, looked over at David and Steven and subtly nodded her head. They crossed the street and made their way to the store. David sat close by the women while Steven went inside to watch the man ordering the drink.

After getting the drinks for the girls, Noah set them down on a table near the back of the café. He looked up to make sure that no one was watching him. Noah pulled a small bag of white powder out of his pocket and carefully emptied it equally into both drinks. “I love women with tattoos...” He whispered to himself. When he was about to pick up the drinks to take them outside, he felt someone slide an arm around his shoulders and put something very sharp to the area of his neck where the jugular was located. Not wanting to get cut, he froze. He heard the person speak in a whisper to him.

“I saw what you just did. Are you really sure you want to do that?” The man whispered to him.

“Ummm ... not so much now.” He quietly replied.

“Good answer...” The voice said to him. “Now ... Listen very carefully.”

Outside, David was watching the exchange between Steven and the other guy. He guessed that Steven had managed to nick him on the neck because the hand of the man with the drink shot up to his neck. He pulled it back to look at it where he’d been cut and almost fainted. David watched as Steven asked him something and the man just shook his head as fast as he could. Steven walked outside and say down with David at the table and just watched.

“Noah, mate, where are the drinks for the nice ladies?” Jaxon asked as Noah rushed out of the store to speak in his ear. Noah leaned down and started to speak. As he did, Jaxon’s face went white. Him and Noah turned around and looked at Steven who just smiled at them.

Noah pulled a set of car keys out of his pocket and started walking towards the vehicle they were driving. Jaxon stood up and started speaking. “Excuse us ladies, I just remembered we ... have ... some other place to be right now...” He said to them and walked off. The rest of his group walked off with him, puzzled at what was said. They watched as the group got into a Volkswagen SUV and very quickly, drove off.

Hannah and Lana came over and sat down at their table, both wearing curious looks. “What did you say to that guy?” Hannah asked Steven.

“I told him that the ladies are the property of Mikhail Koshkin and that he would be very upset if anything were to happen to his favorite women.” Steven told him.

“Who the hell is Mikhail Koshkin?” David asked.

“Koshkin designed the T34 tank. He died in 1940.” Steven told him.

David tried to stifle a laugh but wasn’t very successful about it. Hannah and Lana had huge grins as they all made their way to the vehicle they brought into town.

“How did you know I spoke French?” Lana asked Hannah after they got in and drove off.

“I watched a metric buttload of videos you made, and one of them you spoke French.” She told her.

Lana laughed at hearing that. “Remind me to tell you about that trip to Montreal and the video.”

When they got back, Lana and Hannah took her clothes into the house. The men looked and saw Michelle laying out next to the pool. Dominic was swimming laps and it looked like Robert, Talitha and Denise were playing with a drone. Steven and David walked over to them to and listened as Robert told them about the drone.

“It’ll fly continuously for about an hour before you need to change out the batteries. Good thing about this one is that it uses standard lithium batteries, so it’s easy to replace them in a hurry. The camera isn’t 4K quality, but it’s still excellent.”

“How far will it transmit?” David asked.

“Only about a mile.” Robert replied.

“A mile? I’d have killed to have a drone that would transmit a mile when I was undercover. It would have made my job so much easier.” David told them.

“You were undercover?” Svetlana asked as her and Hannah walked up.

“Five years actually.” He told her.

“Who were you watching?” Hannah asked.

“I have blond hair and blue eyes, so the bureau put me with the a few of the white supremist groups in the United States.” He told her.

“Did you ever make it to Germany on one of their ‘pilgrimages’ to the mother land?” Steven asked him.

“No, they wanted me to go, but I didn’t. I was more worried about some low-level schmuck at TSA discovering I was an FBI agent and then having my cover blown.” He replied. “Besides, I’m an Air Force brat and I’ve already been to all the historical landmarks from WW2.”

They watched for a few more minutes as Robert zoomed in on the security station that you have to get past to get up to the house. They watched as the three men were watching the drone. One of them pulled out a cell phone and made a call. Two seconds later, Denise’s phone rang.

“Hello Liam...” She listened as the security man was talking. “No, that’s us playing with a drone that we have for you and your men ... Of course, that’s not a problem. I’ll have Robert give your men a class on how to use it this afternoon. I appreciate the great effort your men are giving us ... Ok, I’ll see you this afternoon, thank you again Liam.” She said disconnecting the call. “Liam would like you to give his men a class on the use of the drone.”

“No problem, all I was planning on doing after Petra and I get back was laying out by the pool today and maybe some weights.” Robert told her. “Can you spot me later Steven?”

“Sure, it’s chest day for me also. Since it’s my night to cook, I was planning on an outdoor movie.” He said. “Any requests for what to watch?”

“As long as it’s not Independence Day, Full Metal Jacket, or Adam Sandler movies I’m ok with anything.” Robert said.

“What do you have against Adam Sandler?” David asked him.

“My first team leader in the Seals was a HUGE Adam Sandler fan. Needless to say, when it was his turn to pick a movie, it was always something with Adam Sandler. I can quote Water boy to you verbatim.” He replied.

“I have to agree. Last time I flew home, they were showing ‘Click’ as the in-flight movie. I have a new disrespect for Adam Sandler and Kate Beckinsale.” Talitha said.

“Leave Kate Beckinsale alone, her Underworld movies are classics.” Michelle said as she walked up.

“You liked her in Total Recall then?” Steven asked.

“I did actually. It was nice to see her as a bad guy instead of the wounded heroine or supporting wife.” She replied.

“Ok, I’ll give you that, she did play a pretty good bad guy.” Denise told her.

“So, since you are our guest Michelle, I’ll be a good host and let you choose what to watch tonight.” Steven told her.

“Thank you, kind sir. I will endeavor to choose something we all like then.” She replied.

“Where’s Laura by the way?” Denise asked.

“She said she was going for a small run and then she was going to hit the weights this morning.” Michelle told her. “I honestly had no idea she was so built.”

“She’s a combat engineer. You can’t be weak in that job.” Dominic told her.

“She uses 40 and 50lb dumbbells religiously. I’ve been her throw up two hundred and fifty on the bench press like it was nothing.” Steven told Michelle.

“She was our primary strength trainer for the race when we captured you. She set up all the stations we used to build muscle.” Hannah told Lana.

“We’ve also seen her knock out a 6’2 tall man, pick him up over her shoulder, and carry him off like a sack of cement.” Robert told her.

“Do you think she would help me bulk up some? I’ve always had a runner’s build, but I’d like to add some bulk to my frame. I’m planning on getting back into Krav Maga and Sambo.” Lana told her.

“If you’re willing to do the work to build your muscles, I don’t mind at all...” Laura said walking up from behind the group.

“How far down?” Steven asked her.

“According to Google maps, the route down the hill to highway 7 is 1.8 miles. Feels like 5 miles coming back up though.” Laura told her.

“I think I’m going to run that in the morning.” David said.

“0600 so we beat the heat?” Dominic asked.

“Excellent.” He replied with a smirk. “I do have to admit one thing about this whole scenario.”

“What’s that?” Michelle asked.

“This is the most laid back and unstressed protection detail I’ve ever been on.” He told her.

“Trust me, it is for us as well. We’re also going to do our best to make sure that it stays that way.” Robert told him as he watched the drone camera screen.

Petra came walking up with her messenger bag slung over her shoulder. “Are you ready Robert?” she asked him.

“I love that dress...” Talitha told her.

She was wearing a midthigh sleeveless sundress and Chuck Taylor converse shoes. “I know, half off at Corte Ingles in Barcelona.” Petra told her.

“Give me 2 minutes to bring the drone down and we can go.” He replied. They all watched as he flew the drone over the house and brought it down lightly in front of them. “Easy peasy.” He said handing the controller to Denise. Him and Petra went and climbed into a Mercedes sport coupe. As it was driving off, they watched as the top slowly went down and Robert slid his arm over to her shoulder and squeezed it.

“I knew those 2 would make it.” Denise told Tali.

“We all deserve to be happy...” She told her.

“Yes, we do.” Michelle replied as she looked at Dominic swimming laps.

Back in the United States, Hank Richards was on the phone with the Denny Crane from the electronic warfare section in the basement at Langley. He had been listening to them talk about the sudden voice intercepts they had gotten from Europe regarding a target called Viking.

“How the hell did they find out about Viking? The major components haven’t even been assembled yet.” Hank told him.

“Not to mention, Viking is going to Poland, not Spain.” Denny told him.

Hank froze at hearing the country Spain. “Denny give me a minute please.” he put his phone down and walked to the office door and opened it. “Carla, find out from procurement where the Viking parts are presently sitting, where they’re going to be assembled, and let me know.” He watched as she picked up her phone and made a call. He closed the door and went back to his call. “Denny, I’m going to want you to dedicate people to this, can you swing it?

“I’ll send the tasking to Berlin and let you know who they have on it.”

“Last thing, I’m going to see Haspel after I get off the phone with you, so send me everything you have on this please.” He told him.

“I’ll have it sent up and tell the courier to sprint.” Denny told him as they hung up with each other.

Hank went into planning mode while he waited for the courier to arrive with the information he asked for. His mind was in planning mode as he started thinking of contingencies. He looked up to see Carla opening the door and walking in. “This just came for you from a very out of breath young man from electronic warfare. Also, Viking is in Spain, but is due to fly out three nights from now to Poland for complete assembly.” She told him laying it on his desk. He picked up the package and started to open it. She could see the stress on his face. “Trouble?”

“Could be.” He said to her.

“Anything I need to do?” She asked him.

“Yes, please call Admiral Cantrell’s office and ask him to call Director Haspel’s office ASAP please.” He told her. “Also, send a plain email to Michelle and let her know that her uncle needs to talk to her as soon as possible regarding dinner tonight.”

“I’ll take care of it.” She said to Director Richards. Walking out of his office, she sat down and immediately started typing the email.

Back in Spain, Michelle was ready to brief the team on contingency planning incase the team had to escape and evade. She had gotten everything set up and was waiting on Robert and Petra to get back from downtown.

Denise had taken this opportunity to look at what she’d brought with her. She was looking at the locations of the safe houses and comparing it to the map in her head of where they were. She looked outside when she heard the gate open and a car pull in. Robert and Petra climbed out of the car and walked up to the house. “Ok they’re back!” Denise yelled loud enough for everyone to hear.

The front door opened, and they walked in. Petra put her bag down and went to talk to Denise. “I made a couple inquiries with some other computer savants I know and they’re going to do some research on what we want. I have to get back to them in 3 days.” She told her.

“What’s your idea?” Denise asked her.

“I want to take their challenge and try to hack their network. I’m going to need your geek squad to participate in this.” She told her.

“Ummm, this doesn’t sound very under the radar?” Denise reminded her.

“It is if she’s going to do what I think she is.” Talitha said as she walked in and sat down. “She’s wanting to be completely above board about it and take their challenge. She wants Langley’s hackers to give her cover as she does a covert hack to look for what we want.” She explained.

“How hard will it be to hack their server?” Michelle asked.

“The server won’t be hard at all. Cracking their firewall will be the bitch. I also need enough time to get in and find what we want in their network.” She told her.

“How long will that take?” Denise asked her.

“I can tag the email address I’m looking for. But it’ll take thirty seconds minimum for the virus to find what it’s looking for.” She replied.

“That long?” Talitha asked.

“Yes.” Petra told her. “I was planning on using my hydra again, but I was advised not to after using it on the Russians. So, I have to come up with another idea and I’ve got about a week to do it.”

“Why only a week?” Michelle asked.

“Because they only take challenges once a month and only for eight hours. The rest of the time they’ll prosecute you WHEN they find you.” Petra told her.

“Gotcha.” Michelle told her. She looked around and saw everyone was in the living area of the house. “Lana is out by the pool?” She asked. David nodded his head yes. She pulled her own “pack of cigarettes” turned it on and set it on the table next to her.

“Ok, this is what Director Richards has in place for you if the excrement ends up hitting the oscillating wind movement device.” She said handing out folders to everyone. “The first option is of course the boat. You’ve got the logistics base on Mallorca to leave the boat docked to and the Mark 6 boats will link up with fleet resources and get you out of the area. Questions?” She asked.

“When you say fleet resources, I’m guessing you mean they’ll rendezvous with 6th fleet ships?” Steven asked.

“Yes. Ideally you’ll be on board whatever ship for a day till they can get you transferred to a carrier.” Michelle told him.

“I like it.” Dom told her.

“You are SO whipped...” Robert said under his breath. Seconds later, everyone in the room laughed.

When everyone calmed down again Michelle started speaking again. “Destination from the carrier would be a large base that had access for the gulf stream and then it would take David and Lana to Camp Hansen and the Marines and NCIS would take over security.”

“What base would we fly into from ‘The Avenger’?” Robert asked.

“Rota, since it has a runway long enough to get transportation into and out of and we have a dedicated facility on the base that you can hole up in till you can fly out.” She answered.

“Remind me where Camp Hansen is again please?” David asked.

“Okinawa.” She told him.

“Cool, never been to Japan.” He said.

“Denise, I never had a chance to ask, how strongly fortified is this place if a direct assault is made? I know you have the weapons I saw on the boats, but can you hold out under a direct assault?” She asked.

“I’m not too worried about a direct assault on this place.” She told Michelle. “In fact, none of us are too worried about that sort of thing happening.”

“Why?” Michelle asked.

“The men doing security here are all former French foreign legion and can handle themselves very well.” Denise told her.

“Ok, anything else?” Michelle replied.

“The cell tower behind us has two sets of cameras on it. Each watch the only two routes into this place. Both are monitored 24/7 by the guard house. The trail up the backside of the hill is unlocked only when coordinated with the guard house. When it’s open, an armed someone is within 25 yards of the gate until whoever coordinated it’s use leaves and then he locks it back. The area around the gate has very sensitive motion sensors with the alarm going to the guard house.” Denise finished telling her.

Michelle nodded her head said, “Please look at the sheet at the back of the packet you have. That’s the list of the safehouses within 150 miles of here. Each of these has a caretaker and he or she knows how to take care of the house.”

“When you say, ‘take care of the house’, what do you mean by that?” Steven asked.

“They have the skills and hardware needed to take care of whoever is in the house.” Michelle told him.

“Gotcha...” Steven replied.

Outside, Lana was laying on a float in the pool. She had removed her brace and wrap and was using her injured leg to propel herself around the pool. She had closed her eyes and was deep in thought about her life up to this point. She ran her fingers through her hair and felt the skin on the sides and smiled. Her mind drifted back to the first years of her training.

12-year-old Svetlana Antropovs was sitting in a classroom with 20 other boys and girls and was scared almost to death not knowing why she was here. They sat listening to an older woman explain what was going to take place over the next 3 weeks. They would be going through initial evaluation and then be assigned to groups based on their particular aptitudes. When she heard her name called, Svetlana nervously walked to the front of the class to go with the woman that was waiting on her. She was given a physical before being allowed to continue. When the doctor was finished, he told her that she was in excellent physical health and that she had more than likely outgrown her asthma. Lana smiled at hearing that since she loved to run and be active. She went on to the next station and was told that based on how well she did in school, she would be given testing concentrating on math. Lana nodded her head in understanding and set to completing the test she was given. When the instructor finished grading her test, he smiled at her and showed her score to the woman that was escorting her. The woman smiled and walked over to Lana and told her that she was the first female to ever score a 100% on the test which made Lana smile even larger.