Chapter 11

The grass is beginning to be blown hard on Chirikof Island in the Gulf of Alaska as the wind picks up from the north. Tsyr Ker sits quietly in the comfort of her MD530MGhelicopter watching as the islands only inhabitants of cattle graze steadily against the winds. Her hand drops to the folder lying in the seat next to her as she stares off into the distance. Slowly, her eyes fade as her mind drifts back...

“And what about our agreement?” Tsyr Ker asked.

“As soon as Natalya returns, you will have you payment,” Colonel Pierson said. “Ah, speaking of which...”

Natalya walked through the door dragging an unconscious form Rythern in chains behind her. “I hope it isn’t anything too bad,” she said when both turned to look in her direction.

“Nothing bad my dear, I assure you,” Pierson said. “You were successful I see.”

“I know not why you wanted this piece of shit alive, but here he is.” Natalya gave the chains a hard tug bringing the young Sura sliding hard into the room.

“An exchange,” Pierson said with a smile. He looked down toward his desk to a small box and pressed a button. “Send a detail to my office.”

“Have you my shipment?”

“Of course I do,” Natalya answered with a sneer. “Our agreement has been fulfilled.”

Pierson grinned, chuckling to himself. “It has. Thank you for your services my dear.”

Natalya gave him a curt nod and left just as a group of three soldiers entered the office. They quickly parted to allow the Goji to pass before addressing Pierson.

“Take him to her transport,” he ordered the soldiers.

“Sir.”

“I hope you get whatever enjoyment out of him that you are intending,” Pierson flashes a brief smile at the assassin.

Tsyr Ker caught his eye and said, “Oh I will, you can count on it.” She turned away before the colonel had a chance to inquire anymore of her walking past the soldiers. The soldiers gathered up the chains and quickly followed behind the assassin. She left the soldiers behind as she they struggled to pull the heavy body of the unconscious Sura. She smirked to herself at the thought of how three men were struggling with the beast when she found herself nearly walking straight into Natalya Rinehart.

“You should watch where you are going,” Natalya said sneeringly.

Tsyr Ker abruptly stood straight up and reached for the hilt of Muramasa but was stopped short when Natalya reached out to caress her cheek. “No need for that,” her tone quickly changed. “We are not enemies.”

“Nor are we allies,” the assassin was quick to add as her hand continued to the sword’s hilt.

“A proposition for you,” the Goji offered. The assassin’s hands faltered for a second and Natalya smiled. “I know what you intend to you that bastard Rythern for.”

“And I’m not sharing either.”

Natalya laughed and then looked over the assassin’s shoulder. “Come, if we are seen talking then this will certainly get back to Pierson.” She grabbed the assassin’s upper arm and pulled her into an empty conference room before the assassin had a chance to refuse. As soon as the door closed, Tsyr Ker spun away from the creature’s grip, drawing Muramasa in the process. “I told you I’m not your enemy,” Natalya pressed again.

“You haven’t given me reason to have you as an ally either.”

“You plan to use him as a means to copy a technique similar to that of a Shakti. I hope you are not planning to use Julie Brannon’s home to do it.”

Tsyr Ker did well to keep all emotion of surprise hidden and she slowly relaxed her body as she slid Muramasa back into its sheath. “How do you know of my intentions or movements?”

“How is a good question considering you are very good at keeping your action secret and very untraceable,” Natalya had said matter-of-factly. “Normally I would have to admit that I probably wouldn’t have been able to find out shit, but considering Julie was the sloppy one, it made it very easy.”

“What do you mean?” the assassin asked hoping to dig information out that she didn’t have in hopes of uncovering both something important she needed and ensure there wasn’t any more breadcrumbs leading to her.

“Oh don’t worry, my young friend,” Natalya said with a wicked smile. “For one, I knew what to be looking for so no one would know to look for you, and two, I erased all traces of you ever being there.”

“That’s awfully considerate of you,” the assassin remarked.

“Still not convinced?” Natalya asked slipping in closer to Tsyr Ker. “The Black List all over her home, specifically Martin Sternigan. She stirred up the hornet’s nest and I’m sure he isn’t too happy and that could put quite a dent in your plans.”

The assassin frowned uncontrollably for a moment before regaining her composure. “And you have a solution.”

“And a price tag attached to it,” Natalya added.

“Of course,” Tsyr Ker said. “Nothing in this world is free nor would I expect such a gesture.”

“Good.” Natalya pushed away from the assassin and folded her arms across her chest. “I will give you the location of a facility where you will have full access to all the equipment you will need in complete privacy in exchange for everything I need to know to infiltrate Sternigan’s home.”