Morris / The Dangerous Jade: Concl.

Morris Micklewhite and The Dangerous Jade

 

 

A Fanfiction

 

 

Based on the character Jade Dragon

 

 

created by Battlestrength

 

 

Conclusion

 

 

by The Preve

 

 

The Author wishes to express his deepest thanks to Battlestrength for his permission in writing this story, and Destodes 777 for the edit.

 

So there I was, stuck on a Caribbean island, my body swarming with nanotech, wondering how the fuck I got there.

I said my life sucked, earlier. Then things happened to me, and I forgot what suck meant. Now the only one who sucked was Jade Dragon, and not in a bad way.

I was on a giant bed, trying and failing to get my head around my crazy life. She was on me, sucking my cock.

There wasn’t really much to do except wait, exercise, and fuck. Jade, I guess, needed something to pass the time, and I was really addicted to her by then.

It wasn’t just fucking. Jade, a professional assassin, exercised, a lot. Pretty intense stuff: strength training, martial arts, gymnastics, and yoga.

I wasn’t as intense but I did swim a lot. I swam longer and faster than I used to. I never seemed to get tired.

I didn’t change much physically either. Maybe my body got more toned but that was that.

I didn’t turn into the Incredible Hulk, or Steve Rogers. I just got faster, my vision got better, and like I said, stopped getting tired.

This time we weren’t wearing clothes at all. Jade said she liked to go nude at home. I’d been so intimate with her so often, I stopped getting dressed.

Added, we didn’t expect any company really, other than the Contact. It was like a nude resort for two.

We swam naked, exercised naked, slept naked, and showered together. I had the best time ever.

The two of us weren’t too relaxed. We kept clothes and weapons nearby, in case Jade needed them fast. Veta monitored the email, phone, and property in case the Contact or some other guy showed up. She told us the MELF wasn’t scheduled for maintenance for another six months. We were good for now. Jade worked on her laptop, constantly.

“Everything’s quiet Red, but that could change. Always keep an eye on the news. It might keep you ahead of the hounds.”

We also went through all of Liz’s files. Most of them were technical and medical jargon I knew fuck all about. Jade, on the other hand, understood a lot. She’s really, really, really smart.

“IQ of 152 at seven, kid. Another doc tested me years later and put me at 200 plus. Those files got lost.”

Wow. A genius assassin.

A couple of days into our residency, Jade decided to test me.

“Look Red,” she told me after taking my cock out of her mouth, “Your stamina is better. So are your reflexes. Don’t you want to know how far you can go?”

“I think I’ve been going pretty far.”

“Not this way,” she got off the bed, “Let’s shower and after that, see how long you can run.”

I didn’t go to gyms often. I usually kept in shape by running and swimming.

We hadn’t bought gym clothes so I ran the treadmill in cargo shorts and sneakers.

I ran at different speeds, resting between runs for an hour, while Jade timed me.

The results: I could run flat out for an hour before I broke a sweat, and about another forty-five before I got tired. Jade suggested with more exercise, I could push it to past two, perhaps two and a half. I could keep a steady pace for five hours if I jogged; six if I swam.

“I’d hate to compete against you in a triathlon.”

“None for me. I’d kind of feel like I’m cheating.”

Jade tested my reflexes. She didn’t use a hammer on my knee. It started the morning of our third day. I’d just come out of the pool after a morning swim. Jade was there. She had something in her hand.

“Catch Red!”

She threw the object before I had time to blink water from my eyes. I caught it anyway.

“A stapler? What…?” More objects flew my way. I caught forks, knives, cue balls, baseballs, one after the other, in rapid succession. She had a bunch of stuff in a sack.

“How you feeling, Red?” she asked throwing a wrench.

“Weird. It’s like I can see them in detail, coming at me, not like a blur or anything. It feels easy catching them.”

Remember, this place wasn’t some lab or medical center. Jade improvised. We were trying to get an idea of what Liz did.

One benefit of Achilles was it made me better at Call of Duty. Jade made me play it as part of the reflex test. It was pretty kinky. So far as I know, I never met people who could say they played COD in the nude. It was fun. I beat Jade. Eat shit Stepbitch. I can take you now.

The game worked us up. All that adrenaline, all that violence. Jade was really into it. It ended with her all sweaty; her pussy looked wet. My cock stood rock hard, and I was as sweaty as her.

“It’s that time again, Red.”

“Yeah.”

We fucked for hours.

The work outs, tests, and fucks went on for a week. Jade also taught me a few moves, mostly jabs and places to put them. There wasn’t much time to train me to her level of martial arts.

The Contact didn’t show. I wondered why it was taking so long. Not that a week long sex vacation with Jade wasn’t fun, but we were still in danger. Jade asked Veta about the Contact.

“The security codes used to enter the facility triggered an automatic message to the Contact. He instructed me to maintain standard security procedure until his arrival.”

“So the Contact is a he,” I said.

“Correct.”

“No surprise. We stay put and wait, Red. He probably has to cover his butt to his boardroom, and get here roundabout to thwart tails.”

I didn’t know what she meant. As it stood, he showed up at week’s end. Unfortunately, he didn’t cover his trail well enough. The result was I found out what Redbird could do.

It happened this way:

Me and Jade were really into it, enjoying a mid-morning fuck. She let me get on top this time. I was pumping, her legs were wrapped around me, and her hands gripped my ass. She cursed a blue streak as usual. Veta raised us in the middle of an orgasm.

“Good morning, I wish to inform you that the Contact notified me his ETA is in ten minutes.”

“Damn!” Jade and I said simultaneously.

“Well Red, let’s take a quick shower and get dressed. Clean this place up Veta.”

“Compliance.”

The shower took only a couple of minutes. The MELF had automatic vacuums, floor cleaners, plus the bed was self-cleaning. We did some wiping and dusting, so things were pretty straightened up by the time he arrived.

I dressed in khaki cargo shorts, a red tee, and sandals. Jade dressed in her combat cat suit and armed up.

“Never take chances Red. The Contact might be legit or not, or he might be bent or turned. Always be prepared.”

“Like a boy scout?”

“Pretty apt in your case. You look like one.”

The Contact came in a speedboat. He set it on the beach. Veta let us view through the windows.

“Get into the passageway, Red. Stay out of sight ’til I say it’s okay.”

I did as she said. I didn’t know the guy. He could be like Jade said.

Jade Dragon

I already recognize the man in the boat. I’d never met him. I do have stock in his company. I know him from his portfolio. Harry might know of my connection. I don’t know. I wouldn’t be surprised if he did. It still doesn’t mean I won’t put a bullet in this guy’s brain, if he doesn’t tell me the right things.

I check my Kevlar, K-bar, and keep my Glock at the ready. I move to a position where I can respond quickly if he comes in shooting. Didn’t look like he had weapons though.

He owns the house. He’ll know the codes.

I know that Boss.

Veta is silent. She won’t rat on her inventor. Plus, he’s probably seeing everything through her surveillance system.

I guess you’ll have to take the chance. You’ve been in this situation… how many times?

Too many.

And you’ve always turned it around. You’re great at this.

I can’t get too cocky.

Yeah, once with the Doc was enough.

I wait until he opens the door. He comes into the living room, sees me, and stops, not really surprised. His puckish face smirks with a cocked eyebrow.

“Somehow I expected someone like you. He told me my Contact would probably be an old acquaintance of his. Pleased to meet you.”

I admit, this guy’s pretty handsome in person. His face is mischievous, with sensual lips just made for sin. I’d jump his bones just like his sister. Still, security’s security.

“I’d say the same but I need proof you know him. Your sis said you’d give me something only he and I would know.”

“Okay. The first time you and he met, you were fucking Joey Calebrese of the Magrani crime family. He put a bullet in Joey’s head. You didn’t notice and kept fucking a dead guy. He told me he was wearing a teal floral print shirt by Gucci, stonewashed jeans by The Gap, shoes by Hush Puppies, and he was carrying a Type 79 submachine gun.”

He had me at the part where I fucked Calebrese after Harry put a bullet in his head. One really doesn’t talk about those things.

Which is where you acquired a taste for fucking your marks as they’re dying…

I relax. “So how’s Harry.”

He relaxes. “A little worse for wear but good overall. Is his nephew okay?”

“See for yourself. It’s okay to come out Red.”

Morris Micklewhite, cont.

I came out of the passageway. The man was wearing light khaki Chino pants, a blue men’s cotton shirt, and sandals.

He had a slender, athletic build, with short dark blonde hair and light blue eyes. He looked to be Jade’s size, 5’9″.

I didn’t know whether to trust him. I didn’t know if I could like him. His face looked as if everything around him was a joke. I’d seen that look on too many people back home, in school, in the house, at the party, usually accompanied by varying levels of cruelty.

This man didn’t seem cruel exactly, but something hard and cold in his eyes reminded me of Uncle Harry.

There was something familiar about him, like I’d met him before but couldn’t remember where. Jade introduced him. I struggled to keep my jaw closed when she did.

“Aleksander Slutsky, Morris Micklewhite. Morris, Aleksander Slutsky, Macedon’s CEO.”

“Pleased to meet you Morris,” he shook my hand, “You certainly do not look like someone related to Harry.”

His accent wasn’t as strong as Liz’s.

“Uh, hi. Are you and Liz related?”

“I’m her twin brother,” he smiled, “Younger by about two minutes.”

“Red was kidnapped with Liz. She insisted I free him first. Doc Hazard used Klauzenstein braces. I couldn’t free her before Doc and his goons got back, sorry.”

“I have faith in my sister. She’ll hold out.”

“She has two years of memories erased, and no notes on her. Doc will get jack, which is why she had me rescue Morris. She didn’t want the Doc to use him as a bargaining chip.”

Jade was telling some white lies. I don’t think she wanted Alek to know about Achilles and me… yet.

“So!” he rubbed his hands, “I’m here to collect my sister’s project, safeguard it, and get young Morris to safety. I take it, it’s on the desktop?”

“Waiting in the office.”

“My company vaults are much more secure. Harry thinks people might already know about this facility. We have to leave now.”

“Harry have an idea why the Regional Director and the Syndicate turned on him?”

Alek nodded, “He suspects a faction within the Syndicate wants Achilles for a power play, and another wants to auction it to the highest bidder. The latter looks to have leaks, one of whom told Doc Hazard. He suspects they may have hired others. I had to do a bit of traveling to lose tails.”

“The kid in danger?”

“Harry doesn’t think so. The Syndicate knows the kid’s the son of Plum’s COO, but they also know Harry kept him in the dark. They don’t think the kid has the knowledge to understand Achilles anyway.”

We were moving down the passageway to Pod Three.

“Get your gear kid. We’re moving.”

I went to take my pack. I wondered if Jade was coming with us to another safe house. Was Uncle Harry going to be there?

I didn’t have much time to think about it. Veta sounded on the intercom.

“Mr. Slutsky, my motion detectors indicate there are unauthorized personnel on the island.”

“What?! Veta! Cameras! To my phone!”

Veta’s security cameras transmitted the images.

“You two! Get over here. See if you recognize anyone.”

The iPhone showed men coming out of the water. They looked like the Navy SEALs I’d seen in commercials and movies.

“Insulated wet suits,” Jade said, “Good for masking body heat. Thwarts infrared scanners.”

“They didn’t count on motion detectors,” Alek added, “I figured I’d see all the tricks the tails used in making my way over here. I forgot about the bloody mini-subs. Veta! Security Protocol Alpha!”

“I don’t recognize them. They’re special forces trained at least. SEAL or SAS.”

Veta sealed the house.

“That’ll hold them for a few,” Alek said. “We have to hurry. This place isn’t a fortress.”

“Take your pack, Red, and get to the storeroom. Hide there. You, Alek, do what you have to do. I’ll keep them occupied. If I don’t get killed, and they don’t kill Red, he’ll be the ace.”

“What are you talking about?” Alek asked.

“Later,” Jade answered, looking at me meaningfully. I gulped and headed toward the storeroom.

Alek Slutsky

I didn’t have time to dwell on Jade’s words. My priority was to secure Vet’s work.

It only took a few minutes to download the files. I designed the flash drive myself, for the Syndicate ironically. I could hear Jade at work; many gunshots, explosions, and screams, all men. She’s living up to her reputation.

The download completed. I pulled the drive. “Veta, purge the system, port yourself over to corporate.”

“Compliance.”

Veta purged everything and uploaded herself to headquarters, via satellite.

I took out a wrapper with specially made taffy, concocted by my personal chef with the company chemist.

I wrapped it around the flash drive, put it in my mouth, and swallowed it. The taffy would provide protection from stomach acid while it cycled through my system.

I smashed the screen, took the hard drive, and dumped it in the pool. Always best to be thorough. Jade did a good job of holding them in the passageway. She even managed to get a hostage.

Unfortunately, so did the mercenaries who came through the back way: the kid.

Jade Dragon

Veta said there were fifteen mercenaries; meaning three five-man minisubs. Kind of expensive for an op like this. Means some big money, deep pockets. Veta’s monitors tell her the team’s hitting from all sides.

“Who’s the closest group?”

“The team near the reception area. It seems they have decryption equipment. I estimate a breach in one minute, fifteen seconds. Mister Slutsky has ordered me to corporate headquarters. I apologize that I will no longer be of assistance. Good luck.”

I curse. Damn Alek, we need eyes.

He wants to protect his tech, Jade.

I know Boss. It just seems clumsy. They’ll hit us from the back. I hope Red can get hid, Alek downloads the files, and I can take care of this group before that.

Got it.

I crouch behind the table, ready a flash grenade and my Glock.

A ‘thump!’ and the sound of steps tells me the team’s in the room. I toss the flash. There’s a half-second’s start of a shout, then boom! Whiteout.

Go Jade.

I manage to get three in the head while they’re still blinded. The other two fire in my direction but I’ve already ducked out of the way.

I kneecap one and get him in the head as he falls. Chests and torsos are protected by Kevlar so no shots there. Go for the head or legs.

The last one’s dodged back into the doorway. He throws an object. Grenade.

I leap for the passageway, boom!

I’m stunned but still moving. I roll over, unclasp my C8 and fire a burst into the room. He’s delayed while I get further into the passage.

‘Boom!’ Damn! They’re in the kitchen. I better take down this guy before I’m trapped between them. I get an idea. I gamble he’s too close to try another grenade, so he’s going to rush.

He comes in shooting. I throw the K-bar. He uses his Kalashnikov to bat it away. I get him with the Glock.

How many grenades does he have? I grab his body. Five. I take them all. Just in time. They’re in the kitchen.

I decide the best defense is a good offense. I run right at them. I take the pins off two grenades as I do. I toss them just as the first merc gets his gun to bear.

I duck behind a trunk just as the merc says, “Fuck!” Then ‘kawump!’ one, followed a second later by ‘kawump!’ two.

I leap up immediately and follow with a third grenade, throwing it into the kitchen. I duck again and follow with a spray of bullets. I wait, Glock ready.

I wave my hand in the room. No shots. I take the risk and go in.

The kitchen’s destroyed. So are four of the mercs; two from grenades, one from bullets, one from a combination… and one is still alive, with a partially destroyed ear and a broken arm. He tries to stand.

How fortuitous.

I take my katana and point it between his legs. “Get up or get circumcised.”

It takes him a while. I’m not about to help him.

He manages to stand. He glares at me, very pissed.

“Keep in front. We’re going to Pod Three. Try anything and I’ll take your balls first, and then your head.”

Interrogation doesn’t interest me just yet. There’s the other five to deal with first.

Alek is by the pool. Looks like he just threw his computer in. He sees me and smiles. I smile back. Then it wipes from my face. The last five show up. They have a hostage. Red. Fuck.

Morris Micklewhite cont.

I was shit at hide and seek. I could never find the kids, the kids always found me.

I thought a nook between a chest freezer and the walk-in was a nice spot. I didn’t factor the stainless steel make of the walk-in, or the reflection it cast. That’s how the goons caught me.

I’d no sooner settled in when I found the muzzle of an AK pointed at my face (I’m kind of exaggerating. It actually took a few minutes.).

Two of the mercs hustled me before an asshole-looking guy.

I call him A-hole because his mouth was in a permanent sneer. The way he looked at me was like Doc Hazard.

He wore wire rim glasses like Liz. His snow white hair was pulled back in a severe ponytail. His eyes were pale blue, and his skin was almost albino white.

He was also dressed in a black suit, unlike the others.

“We found this one in the storeroom,” one goon, a cross between a skinhead and a Marine, said.

“Humph! Tell Martin he owes me a finger. His intel said the house was empty,” A-hole man had a slight accent.

“I’ve lost contact with the other two teams,” the speaker was a large, very black, bald head who sounded Nigerian. “Team One said a float plane was at the pier.”

“Who are you, boy?” A-hole asked.

“Um, Morris. I… uh… stay here.”

“You don’t look like much. Who’s with you? Whose plane is that?”

I had to spin something. I didn’t want them to know about Jade. Her ace-in-the-hole statement pointed both ways.

“Just the pilot.”

“And those explosions and gunfire I’m presently hearing? Is that ‘just the pilot’?”

“She’s a good pilot? I only hired her to bring me here. I don’t know anything else about her.”

“And Alek Slutsky? What do you know about him?”

“Only that he owns the house. He’s letting me stay here a few days. I was setting up for a big party with some friends.” Don’t push it Morris.

“So why are you hiding in the storeroom?”

“Because a bunch of men with guns just broke into the house? Um, I don’t know the combo to the safe, you should know.”

A-hole rubbed his chin, thinking. He looked at me like I was a maggot.

“Do we kill him boss?” one tattooed merc, maybe Filipino or Indonesian, asked.

“Later. We’re here for Slutsky and his sister’s research. He has some use as a hostage. Alek has ethics, if not morals. We can use this kid as a shield against whoever’s killing my men. You know her name boy?”

“No,” I lied, “I just call her The Pilot.”

I was making like a scared, clueless teen, not far from the truth.

The five mercs hustled me through Pod Four.

“Desktop’s missing,” a skinny, rednecky merc said.

“Find Alek Slutsky,” A-hole snarled.

We hustled to Pod Three. Alek was by the pool. Jade was at the entry with another merc. His face was bloody.

“Sorry boss, she was on us fast.”

Me, skinhead Marine had a gun at my head. The rest were pointed at Jade.

“Ah! Jade Dragon! Of course. Your reputation precedes you, and apparently you exceed it.”

“Kurt Sträger, last I heard you were slithering around Thailand. What crawls you here?”

“The contract is for Alek Slutsky and his sister’s research. You need not be involved.”

“I’m not exactly. I’m just bodyguarding the kid.”

“Your resume does not list personnel protection.”

“There’s a first for everything, and it’s easy money. So, you want your men to back off and we can end this standoff?”

Kurt Sträger shot Jade’s goon in the head.

“I think not. He’s fired.”

“Fuck!” Jade said and aimed her rifle.

“It would be better if Alek told us the location of Yelizaveta’s files. Unless you want to see this young man’s brains splattered across that monstrosity you call a television.”

“I’m afraid you’re going to have to look in the pool,” said Alek.

“I suspected as much. Which means her files are on you… or in you. I know all the tricks Mr. Slutsky. I believe this also means I’ll have to kill you, the boy, Ms. Dragon, and use my knife.”

It wasn’t looking good, and then Jade spoke.

“Alek, I think you should go get the laptop.”

“What?”

“Ace-in-the-hole Alek. It should take two minutes.”

Alek looked at me thoughtfully. “Right,” he said and dove into the pool.

“What, may I ask, is this about? You can’t shoot without killing this boy. And we outgun you.”

I knew what was coming. I knew I had to do it. I didn’t want to but Sträger and his goons were going to kill us.

“Say it kid.”

So I gulped and said, “Redbird.”

I’ll try to describe it as best I can.

Imagine you’re a passenger. The vessel is your own body. You don’t control it. You’re just an observer. You’re also passive. You don’t feel anything. No emotion, nothing. You just do.

Now imagine that everything around you becomes so colorful, so real. Every detail, where everything is placed, the people near you, detailed to the hairs on their skin, every sound, the splash of water, the air flowing through the room, the cock of the gun, all noted, filed, and factored into your movements.

Finally, imagine time slowing, not to something impossible, like bullet time, but like I’m moving through air while everyone else is moving through molasses.

The first thing I did was drop to the floor, in a crouch. A shot rang out. It was the merc with the gun to my head. He’d pulled the trigger, except my head was no longer in front of the muzzle.

The next thing I did was lash out with my fist. I aimed for his knee. I broke his kneecap.

Then I jumped up again. I grabbed the goon’s gun with one hand and broke his nose with the other. He didn’t even have time to scream from his shattered kneecap. He was already dead when he hit the floor. I’d driven bone fragments from his nose into his brain.

I took his gun and turned to deal with the other merc next to me. He was dead too. The bullet meant for my head went into his instead.

I continued my turning motion, like a pirouette, to the merc behind me. The rednecky guy. I slammed the barrel of the gun into his head, denting it.

I turned to the fourth goon, the Nigerian, and shot him in the face.

Finally, Kurt Sträger’s turn. He was the only one to raise his gun in time.

He fired, I dodged, not the bullet but his aim. The bullet grazed my side but I didn’t feel it. I shot him in the hip, and then the head when he bent over.

Time from “Redbird” to elimination of hostiles: eight seconds.

There were two other hostiles. One was in the pool. I shot at him but he dove under the wall separating the indoor/outdoor sections.

The other hostile was in the corridor between the Pods Two and Three so I had to go look for her.

There were dressers, trunks, and storage containers. I checked some, then I heard a sound from Pod Two.

Pod Two was a wreck. The stove and kitchen table destroyed, dead bodies everywhere. I checked to make sure, then I checked the patio. The sound came from the wrecked door tapping against the wall.

Pod One was less a wreck, but she wasn’t there either. I went back to check the storage trunks. One of them was open. I saw a glimpse of the hostile in Pod Three so I started towards it. Then the two minutes timed out.

Everything slammed into me at once. Everything that happened, everything I did. “Oh fuck!” I puked, and then I fainted.

Jade Dragon

I’d never had to duck a teenager turned killing machine. I watch him kill two of Sträger’s men before I head off to hide. Tempting as it is to watch the show, for the next two minutes this kid is going to see everyone in this facility as a target.

I could kill this kid but what’s happening isn’t his fault. I have to stay out of sight for two minutes.

A storage trunk as a hiding place seems too obvious. Sometimes obvious is best though. I pick the one closest to the kitchen. It’s damaged by the grenade blast but still intact. He might ignore it.

Full of kitchen towels and table cloth. You think you can camouflage yourself quickly?

I’ve done more with less, Boss.

You might have to kill him you know.

Two minutes is all I need.

The kid strides past. I peek through the lid. The look on his face… completely, utterly blank. Absolutely no emotion.

A complete and absolute robot.

I get a chill. That doesn’t happen often.

I figure: eight seconds to kill Sträger and his crew, seven, from the sound of the gunshots, to kill Alek (maybe, I hope he made it), twenty to search the trunks (very close call there), twenty-five to search the kitchen, five more to get to the living room. I wait another five until he’s out of sight, then I get out and run at top speed for the office.

I quietly count, “One-one thousand, two…” In the passage, Glock ready. Thirty secs maybe to search Pod One. Another ten for the passage. That means ten secs to wait. Unless Liz made a mistake and Redbird can’t turn off. In which case I’m stuck with a teenage Terminator.

I count to ten. I’m off by a few secs. I hear a retching sound and a thump. I wait another five to be safe, then I come out of the passageway, stepping over the bodies of Sträger and his crew.

The kid is laying at the entrance to Pod Three. He’s on his side, unconscious, puke dribbling out of his mouth.

I check to make sure he’s out, take his gun, and position him so he doesn’t choke on his own vomit.

I take another look at Sträger and his crew.

Bloody fucking hell.

Fucking hell’s right.

A trained team of mercenaries, most probably with military and special forces background, led by a ruthless criminal; taken out by an untrained eighteen-year-old boy.

“What in the bloody fucking layno was that?!”

Alek is standing, pissed and dripping wet, near the pool.

“Good to see you made it Alek.”

“No fucking shit Jade! What did I just see, and why did that, whatever you call it, try to kill me?!”

“That was Redbird. Your sister’s invention.”

“Redbird?! My sister was working on some biotech project called Achilles, not this Redb…” He stops as he figures it out. “Holy fuck! That’s Achilles?!”

“No,” I answer, “Achilles is inside him. Your sis injected him with it when things went south with the Syndicate, and they had to leave the safe house. Redbird is a killer melee program within Achilles. He says the word, he kills everything in the vicinity for two minutes.”

Alek gapes at the dead bodies. “Fucking hell.”

“Fucking hell.”

“Every intelligence agency, military, private contractor, and crime organization is going to want a piece of this thing.”

“Yeah, if they know it’s here. He did,” I nod to Sträger.

“Only by following me. So far as I’m concerned, it’s purged from Veta’s system, to remove the danger to myself.”

“And that flash drive I know you have?”

“On its way to the vault until a safe way is found to release it.”

We go to Red.

“This kid is a target if anyone finds out about him,” says Alek.

“I know. Is anyone going to find out?”

Alek looks at me meaningfully. “No.”

I look at him back. “I don’t mean it like that Alek.”

“No, but he’s still dangerous.”

“Only if he says Redbird.”

“He’ll need training.”

“That’s up to him.”

Alek looks around. “We need to spin these bodies.”

“I killed them. That’s the spin.”

“Plausible. I’m calling a cleaning crew for this, and engineers to fix the place up. It was due for an upgrade anyway.”

We clean Morris up, pack our clothes, and carry him to the boat.

“I’ll take him to my contact. He’ll know what to do.”

“Tell him I said hi.”

“Will do. I have a job for you if you want it. I’ll pay you a million, plus expenses.”

“What’s the gig?”

“Find my sister. When do you start?”

“I’m on the clock as of now.”

I take a look at Red. He’s out cold. He looks cute asleep.

It was a fun couple of weeks.

And it was fun watching you both these couple of weeks, but all things end.

That’s the life Boss. I have a feeling this isn’t the end though.

I get that too.

“Later Red,” I give him a peck on the forehead.

I watch Alek speed away in the boat and then head to the plane. I’ll take it back to Henny, go to my apartment to chill, and take care of Little Joe.

After that, it’s off to Minneapolis and ARF’s headquarters. They’re my only lead. I’ve been long overdue for a chat with those fucks anyway.

Morris Micklewhite

I woke up. I didn’t know where I was. I’d had a long stream of bad dreams, replays of killing those five men. At least I hadn’t turned into a cockroach.

I kind of wished I had. I wasn’t used to killing people then.

The room was nice. Uncle Harry was sleeping in a chair beside the bed.

His arm was in a sling. He looked okay; his usual swarthy, five o’clock shadowed self.

I didn’t wake him. Actually, I was contemplating sneaking out. I wasn’t sure I wanted to talk to him. My head was still getting around what happened.

Also, where was Jade? What happened to Alek? Did I kill him too?

What the fuck did I do? I lay in the bed thinking. One word, just one word and I turned into a killer. I didn’t think it was cool, but I couldn’t feel sorry for it either. They were bad men. They were going to kill me… us… well me and Alek. Jade could take them I guess. Still, there’s knowing the men you killed were bad, and there’s… killing them.

“The first kill’s the hardest kid.”

Uncle Harry was awake. I hadn’t noticed. He was staring at me with the same thoughtful intensity as when he watched me dodge the party goers.

“Uncle Harry. Uh, was I talk…?”

“No, I know that look on your face. I had it after I killed my first man.”

“I… killed five.”

“Yeah, I know. Alek filled me in. Yes, he’s okay. Fucking Achilles and Redbird, and she injected it in you. I see Liz again, she and I are going to have a serious chat. How do you feel?”

“I… don’t know. I mean, I’m not really sorry I killed them but… uh…”

“Killing’s a big thing to get around kid. If you get further into The Life you get used to it. Some enjoy it. Some even crave it.”

I didn’t like seeing myself as someone who enjoys it, or gets addicted to it. I wished I could talk to Jade.

“Uh, where’s Jade?”

“Gone kid. Alek set her on Liz’s trail. I don’t think you’ll be seeing her for a long time.”

I didn’t know what to think about that either. I was kind of in love with her, I guess. She’d taken my virginity, taught me more about sex than I’d know in several lifetimes. I knew on some level it wouldn’t last. Jade, I think, gave me several hints. Someone told me, later on, you always stay in love with your first. I guess that’s true.

“So what happens now?”

“Depends. No one knows you have the juice, other than Jade and Alek. He’s spreading scuttlebutt he had his sister’s files wiped to keep it out of Sträger’s hands. Jade’s getting credit for the kills. You’re still a civilian so far as the community’s concerned. I can take you back to Arch, or Barbara (my mother).”

I didn’t want either, in spite of these past weeks. I still wanted to go forward. I also thought of the danger if I accidentally said the word in a crowd. Going forward though, meant going in. Uncle Harry read my mind.

“If you chose it, there’s no going back.”

“I know.”

What could I say? I didn’t have much of a choice, and I didn’t have anything better to do with my life.

“Something told me it would turn out like this the day you showed up at the house. You have some good natural abilities kid. I saw that at the party. That juice will probably enhance them.”

Uncle Harry didn’t sound happy I made the choice, but he wasn’t disappointed either. “I’ll let you rest for a few days. Don’t call yourself Morris. You’re registered as Robert Douglas. Douglas was your paternal great-grandmother’s maiden name. I think you look more like a Robby than a Morris anyway. I got some errands to run, preparations to make. Sit tight and relax. Don’t let anyone in.”

Uncle Harry left, and I lay in bed. Robert Douglas, a nice, professional name, but I wasn’t quite satisfied. Robby sort of made sense. Douglas was just… nice. I wanted something cooler. Then I realized I already had a cool name. It went well with Robby, and it made perfect sense.

 

Epilogue- Five years later- Chicago

 

Robby Redbird

Shirley Hasslewell appreciated the lessons learned that night, looking back. The important one being, never make judgments based on personal appearance.

Case in point: The National Association of Data Systems Analysts Annual Convention held in McCormick Place, Chicago. It was a boring snore in itself but the real killer was the downtime.

She attended with her best friend Charlene “Charlie” Simpson, and it was Charlie, on the second night, who suggested a double date with her boyfriend, and a former classmate from Stanford, attending the convention.

Shirley sighed. She had nothing better to do for the weekend. She could take a risk on Charlie’s suggestion. Her handsome, well-behaved boyfriend testified to Charlene’s good taste in men.

When the blind date showed at the restaurant though, she couldn’t resist a glare at Charlie. This was it?

Shirley was a woman with some high standards. She was pretty in the pixie cute style and had no trouble attracting the good ones. She usually aimed high when on the hunt and landed them.

This one looked the type she used to ignore in high school. Sure he looked cute but he looked… “He looks… young.”

His freckles and red hair made him look like something from an old Saturday Evening Post cover. He was even shorter than her.

“What the fuck Charlie,” she whispered, “You set me up with Opie Cunningham? I’m dating fucking Archie Andrews.”

“He’s older than he looks, Shirley. It’s just one night and he’s at the same hotel.”

Dinner went okay. Charlene and her boyfriend were mostly into each other. The date (“Morris fucking Micklewhite. Even the name sounds loser.”) was polite and quiet.

“At least he’s not a prick,” she thought.

The evening wore on; she found herself liking the guy, if not overly impressed.

The group opted to return to the hotel. Charlie and her boyfriend wanted to have some fun obviously. Shirley was feeling a bit antsy herself, but this Morris guy didn’t seem like a good prospect.

Charlie and the paramour saw themselves off to their room. Shirley and Morris stood awkward near the elevator.

“Uh, would you like me to escort you to your room?”

Shirley’s first impulse was to say no but decided, why not? Let’s test him.

Her room was on the fifteenth. She took the chance and invited him in.

“How do you know Charlie?” she asked over drinks.

“We shared some of the same classes at Stanford. Dated a couple of times, but we’re mostly friends. We keep in touch.”

“Oh. What do you do now?”

“I’m a grad student. Computer design. MIT.”

“You look like you just came out of high school.”

Morris smiled, “A lot of people say that. I’m twenty-three.”

Shirley found it hard to believe, looking at him. He displayed some aspects of a young twenty something, but there was a shy, awkward teen vibe also.

He didn’t seem the type to make the first move, so she took the step.

“So, are you busy tonight?”

“Not really. Do you want me to stay?”

“I’m curious. You seem nice.”

“I let the women set the rules. I don’t like coming off like a prick. After that, I’m usually straightforward.”

“So you’re a gentleman,” Shirley liked that.

“A boy scout, or some people say.”

“How much of a boy scout?”

“As much as you want me to be. You set the rules.”

Shirley thought, nodded her head and said, “So if I asked you to take off your clothes then?”

“Then I take off my clothes.”

“Okay.”

Shirley’s first lesson in personal appearances: don’t assume body type.

The nude body revealed was not the skinny, bony geek she expected, but a slender, cut, supple package, like a dancer.

He was smooth as well. No body hair, not even pubes. No real blemishes except a scattering of freckles on his arms and shoulders.

She liked what she saw, and the way he carried himself. There was no ego or narcissism she’d generally expect from someone with his grooming and body standards. Just a nice, nude boy scout, smiling and waiting.

She was out of her clothes a moment later, and in bed seconds after that. The second lesson in personal appearances: don’t assume poor performance. He fucked her silly.

His stamina was remarkable. She’d never bedded anyone like him before.

“Okay Morris. Break it off. I need a rest.”

“Okay,” he smiled.

She drifted off for an hour, and woke to find Morris up and getting dressed.

“Leaving already?”

“Not quite. I just have an errand to run. Mind if I take your key?”

“Sure,” she smiled, “Don’t be gone long.”

“Back in a few,” he gave her a peck on the forehead.

Anton Ago, as Albanian mobsters went, was not high up in the hierarchy, nor well regarded by the Boys in New York. He decided, early on, the best way to compensate for his and his crew’s low status was through outdoing his contemporaries in viciousness.

One of his policies was new recruits prove their stones, by killing random people for no apparent reason.

His favorite method, one that amused him greatly, was to lure pizza delivery boys to some isolated derelict building, and have the new prospect make his bones.

This time was special. The new guy was his nephew. The venue, his chop shop. Usually he didn’t shit where he ate but his nephew was breaking his cherry. Anton planned a party to celebrate.

He’d made arrangements. People were looking the other way. The cops were paid properly to patrol elsewhere. His associate, Smoky Joe, had a new hire with no relatives as a sacrificial lamb. Just got on shift. It was going to be a good night.