Agent M: Testament (The Agent M Series Book 2) (43 page)

“Any time you’re in town give me a call,” D.A. Smith said while handing Adrian his business card. “Whenever you need anything, the D.A.’s office is at your service. With a bust like this, we’re friends for life in my book.”

“Thanks,” Adrian replied almost blushing.

He had already made powerful allies over in his home territory but adding others to that list is never a bad thing. You never know when one favor will turn around and be the difference between winning and losing.

“I’ll be sure to stop by once things quite down over there.”

Thomas laughed.

“Who are you kidding Agent Fischer? Twenty bucks says you’ll be on the phone before you even make it out to your escort vehicle.”

The S.A.C. simply shook his head.

“I might surprise you once and a –”

He was immediately silenced by the vibrating of his phone blaring for attention as it sat in the front breast pocket. He picked it up and offered his companions a sarcastic smile as he took off without another word.

“We’ll go double or nothing next time you’re in town,” yelled Prince as his colleague exited the room.

Adrian quickly brought the phone to his ear as he hustled down towards the building’s entrance.

“Skip the pleasantries Mark and tell me what you’ve got.”

“Hello to you too,” replied the analyst.

He could tell by S.A.C.’s tone he was serious but not matter what the situation, there was always room for levity.

“Did you hear the news about Agent Madison?”

The S.A.C. paused for a moment. He stumbled silently in his thoughts trying to come up with a way to answer that question that would both command respect and ensure he wouldn’t be asked about this subject again.

“I did. It was an inevitable outcome,” Adrian replied. “This is what happens when you go off book. Remember that Mark.”

“I – uh,” the analyst replied.

Perhaps the coldness of the S.A.C. threw him off guard.

“Yes, yes sir,” he continued to stammer.

“You didn’t call me to just discuss a former employee, did you?”

“No sir!”

That seemed to snap the analyst out of his funk.

“I’ve found some critical information regarding our Vegas sugar-daddy.”

The news slightly startled Adrian as he arrived at the vehicle and quickly entered it. The car sped off as he continued.

“What are you talking about Mark? The case is dead. We handed over everything to the Vegas office. It’s their issue now.”

“Not entirely,” Mark stated. “Something just didn’t seem right with the ICBC. They had marked every transaction, withdrawal, and transfer without fail but there was something odd about one of those accounts.”

Adrian shook his head. He wanted this thing buried when he left the courthouse. There was an overdue appointment for a serious ass-chewing with his superiors in Washington over the Michael Madison fiasco and he needed to get his ducks in a row before taking that on.

“What’s the problem Mark?”

“It’s these account numbers. They hid their tracks well creating over two dozen and spreading out the funds so as not to be flagged by any of our regional snoops but for some reason, about fifty percent of the funds ended up in an account with an ID unlike the others. It’s completely unique in both sequential patterns, alpha-numeric, and general size,” Mark stated.

Adrian shook his head, not that his employee could see him sulking.

“I still don’t get it Mark. Why is this still our problem and why should I even care?”

“That’s the thing boss,” Mark said.

His town grew sullen and quite which is very unlike his chipper demeanor.

“I traced the account backwards and forwards over every bank within a thousand mile radius of Korea. None of them matched. So I widened the search.”

Those words were both grim and ominous. Suddenly, Mark had Adrian’s full and undivided attention.

“Where is the account located Mark?”

The phone was silent for a few moments. Maybe the connection was bad or Mark had seen something on his screen that caused him to lose focus until suddenly, he replied.

“Washington D.C.”

March 27th, 2013 1:15PM

Washington, D.C.

Lee's men began the final preparations. They formed a supply chain and began laying out sandbags near the warehouse entrance. This makeshift trench will ensure a proper foundation to defend this base of operations.

The Colonel watched his men and supervised their efforts. They had all of the arms and ammunition they could desire. If the doctor wanted a war, they could definitely get it started.

“You men,” he called out to the soldiers.

Two of them ceased the chain and approached. The rest spread out a bit more and continued to work.

“Grab the cannon and set it up behind the first dock door. Then stack sandbags all around it at least 2' in height.”

“Yes sir!” They exclaimed and immediately went to work.

The Kord 6P50 machine gun was a gift from some of their Russian allies. With a fire rate of over seven hundred rounds per minute, this had enough stopping power to silence any threat the opposing government could challenge them with. At least, any local threat. If the military gets called down to strike at this base they would need a lot more than single rapid-fire cannon to stop them. They were all putting every ounce of faith they had left into the good doctor's hands.

“Colonel Lee.”

His timing couldn't have been more foreboding. The Colonel turned around and saluted the doctor has he approached.

“I need a few moments of your time. Follow me,” Shin instructed.

Lee always followed orders. They took a long walk towards the back end of the warehouse. This was the area that had been barricaded off and the crates of cargo stored by the doctor's orders. When he wasn't spending time in his lab above, he was down there working behind closed doors. His only rule for the facility was that no man enter these premises unless physically escorted by Shin himself.

They slid down the side corridor and entered through the wooden door. Though the secrecy of the project was abundantly apparent, their security measures thrived off fear more than impedance.

“This way Colonel,” Shin stated as he flicked on the light switch.

A sixty-watt bulb hanging off an extension cord shined on and illuminated the general area of the room. Dozens on extension cables littered the floor. Each and every one had been connected to a single crate. They vanished into another corner of the room, presumably where the main generator was located.

The Colonel slowly paced around the area and took up residence directly underneath the light. It was apparent that the doctor wanted to show him something back here so choosing the spot with the best view was an easy guess. He took a long look at the crate before him. Every inch was carefully inspected from top to bottom. Though he had spent much too much time riding alongside this cargo on their journey here, he never once thought or questioned its contents.

“Go ahead,” the doctor began, “open it.”

Shin must have sensed the inquisitive look in his subordinate's eyes. The Colonel didn't feel as strongly as some others. Nothing gave him greater pleasure than following orders and succeeding in his command. If he was instructed to watch this box for the remainder of his life, he would do so without question and never once feel the desire to unearth its contents. Then again, this was a direct order form his superior.

The wooden case was sealed only by the massive weight of its lid. Lee gently flipped it open and allow the wooden slab to fall on the other side and hang on its rusted metal hinges. The light reflected a slick shiny surface sitting within the crate. A giant tomb made of metal and hard plastic revealed itself. Its bright white exterior looked like something that is twenty years before its time. A few bright lights flashed and flickered on the outside and a sole LED screen showed a few readings, sensors, and a wave scope monitor that seemed to activate about once a second.

In all of his years in the military, the Colonel never would have fathomed they were carrying such a precious cargo let alone thirty of them. Shin slowly walked up and tapped an exterior button. The hatch slowly released and the lid of the tomb. That's when the Colonel's jaw officially dropped.

“Don't be alarmed Colonel. They are all fine thanks to you and your men.”

Lee couldn't come up with the words to describe what he was feeling. Inside the lid of this aptly named chamber laid the body of one of the proud soldiers of the People's Republic Army. A breathing apparatus was strapped over their mouth and nose with various other wires. Everything looked clean and well organized. The only thing that was out of place were the soldier's uniform. It was tattered, dirty, and still had an air of combat wafting about.

“These brave men were critically injured during the invasion. They were going to rot in a medical tent or even worse, the soiled lands of our fallen home until the takeover was completed. At my request, our Generals pooled together what little resources we had available and induced these fine warriors into comas. They remained hidden in one of our caves for months, resting their weary bodies for the battles to come. Once our funds started to come in, I was able to secure their transport in these life support pods. There was just enough power in their internal batteries to make the trip and keep these men alive so that they may live to fight another day.”

“That’s not possible,” the Colonel shook his head. “They are barely alive. What –”

He carefully mulled over his next words. Sometimes, you just have to ask the question even if you might be afraid of the answer.

“What are you going to do?”

“That’s the beauty about science Colonel. With enough money and time, you can move mountains, travel galaxies, and cure any ailments.”

The doctor turned towards the comatose soldier, sighed and continued,

“Many had thought their days of fighting were over.”

He reached into his front pocket as he continued.

“But I will give them purpose. I will give them a reason to fight again. I will give them...  Life.”

As the doctor pulled the tube from within his pocket the Colonel couldn't even imagine what rested within the shining metal exterior.

“What is that...?” Was all he could muster through a muffled gasp.

Lee's speech hadn't recovered from the previous revelation.

Shin smiled. This was his prized work. Thanks to a generous donation and some assistance from nearby allies, he was able to obtain the formula that brought this drug to life. And one that will bring life to others.

“This is God-Slayer. Developed from one of the most powerful substances ever concocted. One dosage is all you need. It turns children into men. Men into soldiers. And soldiers...  Into gods.”

Mortified as he was, the Colonel still couldn’t begin to wrap his head around what he has just heard.

“But how? How can you give it to them when they’re in this state?”

That question actually drew a bit of laughter from the doctor.

“Don’t be so naïve. These men have already received their dosage of God-Slayer back in our homeland. They are not on life support. They are merely being medically sedated, biding their time until I release them from their slumber. I just need to give them the order.”

“And when do we initiate our attack doctor?” Lee boldly asked.

He could barely summon the courage to do so without stuttering in an effort to look serious about his mission when so far, it’s seemed anything but.

“Patience Colonel,” Shin replied. “We still haven’t been given the signal.”

March 27th, 2013 10:47PM

Las Vegas, NV

Adrian blitzed through the terminal at a rapid pace. Two police officers followed nearby as they escorted him right past security and directly towards his awaiting gate. The plane was scheduled to leave as soon as he arrived. That still wasn’t soon enough given the circumstances.

“God damn it Mark!” Adrian spat.