₦airaland Forum

do4luv14:
Nice update, but DOC no finish me with suspense abeg, am sure its agent somto in the shadow unnoticed by all except ma sweet TALIA,


DOC pls update asap, to bring ma beating suspense to normal, or na you go treat me ooooo

Just updated bro

kelvinhilton:
Mehn this is a thriller, Nollywood what y'all waiting for?? We gat a talent her, come buy into this talent and produce us some good thrilling movies..

You sure sey Nollywood fit act this one?? Lol...This one na Hollywood things oo. Thanks bro for the appreciation. I just dropped more

*** 2 hours ago ***


Minutes after Talia had left the Safe House that evening, Somto followed her discreetly, taking note of the places she stopped and people she talked to. He wasn't doubting her loyalty and neither was he suspecting her either. But he had the sudden intuition to follow her to the local airfield mainly for her protection. On reaching the airstrip, he hid behind a stack of wooden crates to watch Talia discuss with the Mossad agent delivering the package. Then he saw her collect the black bag from the stocky agent. But some metres away from the stack of crates where he hid, Somto noticed a group of men discreetly watching the two Mossad agents from the inside of a hangar, and his interest fell on them instantly. Minutes later, he noticed the men walk out of the hangar into their car. As soon as Talia flagged down a taxi and drove off, the men's car followed behind. Quickly, Somto stole into a car parked by the entrance of the airfield and drove after them without risking exposing himself. On getting close to the slums, Talia alighted from the taxi but the men drove ahead. They were probably going to cut her off infront; so Somto drove ahead too, trailing the men till they stopped a few distance to the slums and he ended up stopping some metres away from where they had stopped.

From where he hid in the shadows, he saw the men step into the darkness bordering the street as they waited in ambush for Talia. In no time, Somto could make out Talia's silhouette approaching the faintly luminated street and he came out his hiding place, running across the opposite end of street to a place more concealing. He noticed Talia slow her pace and move for her gun the moment he crossed the road, and he knew she had seen his figure move in the shadows. Then he watched as two of the men from the airfield approached her from each side as another man in a bowler hat who he made out as their leader, came from behind her, forcing her to drop her weapon. When the man in the bowler hat pointed his gun at Talia and was ready to kill her, Somto aimed right for the man's forehead before taking counts and shot him point blank in the faint light.




The man in the bowler hat dropped dead instantly and Talia seized the opportunity to move for her weapon, tactically rolling on the ground and picking up her gun as she took quick shots at the other two men who were still startled by the sudden shot from Somto. They fell down instantly, except for one who only went down on his knees, gurgling blood from his mouth as his feeble hands rose slowly to shoot at Talia who shot a bullet through his head, splattering his brain matter about the ground. Just in that moment, Talia lifted her eyes to see a familiar figure approaching her in the opposite direction (she held the trigger of her gun). As the figure advanced closer, she rasped, "Agent Somto!" while Somto came to stand before her.

"You took that shot", Talia said with awe. "And...what're you doing here?"

"I followed you all the way", replied Somto. "Even to the airstrip", and Talia's face creased.

"Do you doubt my loyalty?" she asked

"No Agent Talia... don't get me wrong", Somto explained. "I felt someone had to watch your back and I guess it paid off", he said indicating at the lifeless bodies on the ground. Then he moved to squat close to the dead man in the bowler hat, peering into his face. His bowler hat had been tossed far away in the night wind.

"These men followed you right from the airstrip", said Somto.

"Really? Who could they be?" Talia asked. "Duncan's men?"

"That's what we have to find out", replied Somto. "We have to search them, then leave this place as soon as possible".

"Why would Duncan send these men? Probably he suspects we're on his tail".

"You never can tell till you get the answers", stated Somto.

He shone the light from his phone's screen on the man's face, searching his breast pocket to bring out a card which read 'Günthers Casino'. And he peered closely at the man with a keen look on his face, turning the man's head from side to side.

"Can you I.D him?" Talia inquired.

Somto nodded his head. "These men are the Mob", he stated still examining the dead man. "I remember seeing this one's face around the casino, opposite the Cafe house where we had the meeting with Duncan and the director of the C.I.A", he said. "He was involved in a street brawl that night...quite a cocky guy you can say. And I believe that Casino is a meeting point for the Mob in this city".

The two agents stared at each other with the same thoughts in mind. They wondered how the guys had known she would be at the airfield that evening. And was it a coincidence the cocky mob guy was at the same proximity with Duncan the last time they saw the C.I.A agent?

"I really don't know what to think", heaved Somto

"I think we should leave now", Talia warned, noticing a number of local women approaching the street with tungsten lamps in their hands.

Hurriedly, the duo left the scene and hastened down the road as moments later, they heard the women scream behind them on sighting the dead bodies.

do4luv14:
Hmmmmmm suspense........

That's the flava

xaviercasmir:
A thriller indeed. More ink to your pen.

Thank you bro

holymayor5:
Bravo .............Wish there is timeline in the update.

Update for you

Tuhndhay:
Presently present

Welcome

vosquare:

How far??

Chapter Four - Scramble at Imst
--------------------------- -------- ------


Talia's heart was now thumping hard into her ears as her palms were beginning to sweat due to the tension. She was already used to the awkward feeling. That awkward feeling that beclouds an agent whose cover was about to be blown in the line of duty. She was certain if anything went wrong with the whole mission, it was going to paint a bad picture about the Mossad, and might make the other Intelligence agencies around the world suspect her country for espionage, thereby complicating issues and worsening the trust issues within the Alliance of Nations. Moreover it could make it impossible for the mysteries at hand to be unravelled if Duncan found out he was being monitored. He would definitely cover his tracks meticulously. This was not what Tel Aviv would like to hear at the moment as she stood on her feet contemplating on whether to abandon the boys or not. She had warned them earlier but the stubborn Somto wouldn't budge to her warnings. One thing was certain, and that was the fact that they could have been caught already. What was her fate now? she thought within.

Moments later,she saw Agent Duncan and Director Hans Stubber coming out of the elevator and walking to where she stood. For a moment, she felt petrified by the serious look on the faces of the two men who were approaching her that she didn't know whether to escape or stand her ground; since Somto and Saul must have been caught. Then she took two calculated steps backwards and Agent Duncan's hand moved into his jacket (she believed he was bringing out a gun) as she made to dive for cover, when Duncan's hand came out from his jacket holding the little handset in the air.

"I think it's faulty", he said smiling faintly at Talia who was bamboozled by what had just happened, and she heaved a sigh of relief. For a second, she thought events were about going ballistic.Then Hans and Duncan came to take their seats once more before her.

From what Agent Duncan told her, he found no one in his room when he went to the 11th floor, making him believe the transmitter must have gone beserk. But what puzzled Talia was the whereabouts of Somto and Saul at that moment. And how they had managed to beat Duncan to the game on a clean slate, despite being close to apprehension. Truly Agent Somto was one of the finest agents in the world, and she smiled to herself.

"Why the big smile?" asked Hans.

"Nothing serious sir", replied Talia.

As they talked, she hovered her eyes round the lobby in search of her two friends while she bade her time to leave the two C.I.A men. Within a matter of minutes, they noticed two funny looking cleaner guys walk passed them and she thought she could recognize one of them, while Duncan said something funny about the two guys and they all laughed as Talia feigned interest in what he had said. It was now 2:00am in the early hours of the morning when Talia decided to leave the company of the two men. It had been to no avail waiting for any sign of Somto and Saul. So she decided to go back to the Safe House at least to know her next line of action. She was already close to the Safe House when her cellphone rang. She looked at the screen to notice a strange number, and she answered.

"Hello", she said.

"Hey Talia", the familiar voice sounded.

"Agent Somto?"

"Yeah....we're back at the safe house".

"But how....Oh my God, you got me worried".

"Just get back home", Somto said and dropped the phone. Quickly, Talia sped on the highway with a glimmer of hope on her face.


She arrived the slums and stashed the car somewhere not too far from the Safe House inorder to prevent being traced. Now the Safe House was more of a control centre with the presence of Saul. It would be ghastly if the house was breached and that would be tantamount to loosing delicate intel to whoever that might have intruded. Moreover she needed to be careful now that Duncan was suspected to be a mole. With each step she took, she looked over her shoulders at intervals to ensure she wasn't being followed. On getting to the apartment door, she rapped on it before she heard a pistol cock from inside the house.

"Who's there?" came Somto's voice.

"It's Talia", the she replied.

Somto was too good an agent to be deceived by a familiar voice. There was every possibility that an intruder could use a voice simulator to gain unauthorized access into the Safe House. In all his years as a secret agent, he had seen a lot of things, and anything was possible in modern day espionage. So he asked: "What was my code name in the last mission we undertook?"

"Oh come off it Somto", whined Talia. "Don't be rediculous...it's me"

"The code name please", Somto growled impatiently, pointing his gun at the door.

"Okay...that's code name Ghost", repied Talia. And there was a momentary silence before she heard the door lock turn as the door swung open with Somto standing by the way with his Magnum pistol clutched in his hand; and she stepped in.

"What was that all about?", questioned Talia.

"Security measures", replied Somto "You know the drill" as Talia walked passed him going to place her jacket on the couch.

"So tell me...how did you evade Duncan back at the hotel?" she queried.

Somto began by telling her how he had manged to buy Saul some more time to complete the cloning process by getting hold of a pair of cleaners' clothings from the janitor's room which was fortunately on the same floor where Duncan's room was located. While Saul had been busy with the cloning process, Somto had given him one of the cleaners' uniforms to wear (inorder to alter his identity) incase the housekeeper lady awoke. While he, Somto, disguised as a cleaner guy, covered his face with a baseball cap and his sunglasses before hurrying down the corridor with a trolley. From beneath the bill of his cap, he saw Duncan coming in the opposite direction, fuming and cursing as the CIA boss hastened behind him. So Somto pushed the trolley directly towards the cursing Duncan, bumping into him as a bucket of water under the trolley spilled onto his shoes and stockings, and Duncan yelled in anger.

"Watch it, you jerk!" he screamed. "Just take a look at my shoes". And Director Hans Stubber tried to calm him down.

Somto, still playing the cleaner role, bent down to clean Duncan's shoes with a towel and ended up making a mess as Duncan jerked his leg away screaming "Fück off!' By then some time had elapsed and Somto was sure Saul would have been through with the cloning process and would have also left Duncan's room. So he apologized and rolled the trolley ahead so he could catchup with Saul in the basement. That was when Talia remembered the two funny looking cleaner guys that had walked passed them back at the hotel lobby.

"Wow! That was brilliant", she cooed. "I suspected that was you guys back there. For a moment I thought you both had been caught".

Then she excused herself to go check on what Saul was up to at the control monitors and saw him running through the anti-hack system of the cloned phone. The phone which was now a duplicate of Duncan's was protected with some sort of encrypted security which would make it impossible to fully gain access to all of Duncan's phone conversations. Though the phone was already cloned and would serve its purpose, the encrypted security system kept taking different forms at intervals by causing a jamming of waves being transmitted by the other phone in Duncan's possession. So Saul decided to decrypt the security firewall of Duncan's phone, hoping he wouldn't notice at all or too soon.

Two days later, Talia and Somto concluded all necessary preparations to leave for the town of Imst in Tirol. It was time to bring in the Krypto Capsules Somto had left with the old man after escaping from the Facility. Bringing back the bio-chemical weapons was not just a task they would venture into without proper planning. Every form of security measure was to be applied in successfuly transporting the highly prized capsules to the point of extraction. So they had to put all logistics in place, ranging from ammunition to money and other supplies which would come in handy. That same day's evening, Talia had got a message concerning the arrival of some ammo and gadgets, from Tel Aviv in the company of a Mossad agent. So she had gone out alone to clear the package at a close by private airstrip belonging to a Mossad asset, while Somto secured the Safe House. She had also gone out without the car inorder not to raise unnecessary suspicion or alert any stalker. But on her way back, hanging a black paraphernalia bag containing all the package and gadgets, she noticed the road which was some distance away from the slums had become lonely unlike other days. The street lights were twitching as usual, casting momentary shadows by the street corners as she kept walking ahead and looking over her shoulders from time to time to ensure she wasn't being followed. Unexpectedly, she saw the silhouette of a figure move in the shadows some distance in front and she clutched her weapon in alert, now taking calculated steps as she walked. Shockingly, she heard a hoarse voice from behind.

"Stop!...don't move".

Talia hesitated in her steps a little, then turned back but saw no one. She was certain whoever it was that had spoken, was hiding within the shadows behind her. And the voice came again, "Don't even think of pulling your trigger. You're out numbered". In that instant, more footsteps were heard from the shadows beside her as dark figures emerged into the blinking light, walking towards her. Then the owner of the hoarse voice finally came out of hiding as Talia turned to see the figure of a man clad in a bowler hat and an overcoat. The man in the bowler hat pointed his gun at her.

"Drop your weapon and hand over whatever is in the bag", the man said in an authoritarian voice. He seemed to be the leader

Talia let her pistol fall off her hand, clattering on the cobblestones. But she held on tight to the bag's strap on her shoulder. Immediately, the other men noticed her defiance and cocked their pistols.

She could've just slipped out of the situation easily based on her training and skills, but she didn't know if there were more of them hiding within the shadows. Moreover she was outnumbered. Being unarmed at that moment was a critical disadvantage. So she stood unmoved, her heart racing fast as the other men began to step closer.

Out of the corner of her eyes, Talia could see the other figure she had seen earlier, in the shadows in front, move slowly. She wondered who it could be, noticing that even the men hadn’t noticed the figure move. Then the leader of the men cocked his gun, stepping forward as he aimed to shoot her. Sensing this was the end of the road for her, Talia felt her heart skip beats instantly in acceptance of her ill fate as she awaited the bullet of her assailant. And she gently shut her eyes in the helplessness of her last moment. Then the shot rang out, casting a sudden darkness.

do4luv14:
Wow!!!!!!!! Time for intrigues!!!!!!!! Nice update doct,
and happy splendid weekend to you

Same to you bro

Saul Natayoun arrived Vienna by 18:20 GMT with the assistance of Mossad and was driven to the Safe House by Talia while Somto waited behind. In no time all necessary High Tech gears and equipments for satellite communication and espionage was set up in Talia's room which was to be the Operations and Control room. And then came the next step of how to gain entrance into Duncan's hotel room. Finally a plan was mapped out and the two agents alongside Saul, left for Hotel Rosseau by 11:00 GMT at that ungodly hour of the night.

Somto was the first to walk into the hotel lobby in the guise of an Arabian from north Africa, while Saul followed behind as a business partner carrying a briefcase. They got to the reception, paid for a room and were given a keycard to room 205 which they took and walked into the elevator, heading to the tenth floor. Once they stood before the door to their room, Somto tampered with his keycard by scratching it's sensor stripes before they called room service, feigning the need for assisstance. In no time the room service guy arrived, and they told him they would be needing the master keycard of the hotel housekeeper. All these while Talia was down at the hotel lobby, waiting for the right time to act.

The housekeeper was a chubby lady with rosey cheeks. Minutes after the room service guy had left, the housekeeper came walking down the carpeted corridor on her way to room 205 when she saw the Arab man and his partner standing before their door. In the spirit of hospitality, she walked to meet them.

"Excuse me gentlemen", she said politely. "How may I be of help?".

Then Somto began to speak in Arabic, feigning exasperation and rubbing his keycard which wasn't responding on the electronic door lock while Saul kept muttering angrily in his language as the confused housekeeper stared from one man to the other with her face creased in perplexity. She could hardly make out a word of their rantings. Suddenly she smiled.

"I think I know what you mean", she chuckled, bringing out her master keycard which she rubbed on the lock and the door clicked open. She smiled in self satisfaction, as the two men thanked her. But as she turned to leave, Somto grabbed her from behind, placing a handkerchief filled with chloroform over her nose (while she struggled) as he dragged her into the hotel room. Within seconds the chubby housekeeper went limp, lying on the floor as Saul stared at Somto in anxiety. At least she would be out for a long time. Somto then picked the master keycard from the housekeeper's pocket and pressed his ear, speaking into his comm device.

"We're good to go now, smoke", he communicated with Talia.

"Alright, smoke screen coming up at my signal", repied Talia from the other end. As Somto and Saul waited for her signal.

Talia then put a call through to Duncan, telling him to come down the lobby with his boss Hans Stubber, but without their phones or any elctronic device, claiming she didn't want their conversation being recorded in any form. Soon, the blonde haired American agent walked out of the elevator and Talia sighted him.

"Smoke screen initiated", she muttered into her comm device, barely moving her lips as Agent Duncan smiled, walking down to her. "Where's your boss?" Talia asked Duncan

"He'll be here soon", he replied shaking hands with Talia.

Immediately Somto and Saul got Talia's signal, they headed up the 11th floor where Duncan's room was and located his room. Rubbing the master keycard on the lock, they gained access into the room which scented like peppermint. They closed the door behind them and Saul spotted the cellphone lying next to the bedside lamp. Quickly he went to sit on the bed, opening his briefcase to reveal a high tech computer; and brought out a similar phone to that of Duncan's which he connected to his computer with a cord, and also connected Duncan's phone to the computer with another cord. Then he initiated the cloning protocols.

Down at the lobby, Director Hans Stubber had joined the other two as they talked in hushed tones seated in a lounge area. Suddenly Duncan jumped in his seat, clutching his breast pocket.

"What's wrong?" Hans asked. Duncan brought out a little handset from his breast pocket.

"I think my room has been intruded", he gasped.

"But i said no phones or gadgets", Talia sparked.

"Sorry this is a transmitter meant to transmit signals of unauthorized access to my room", Duncan explained. "And i'm getting a signal now".

Instantly Duncan excused himself and hastened away, followed behind by Hans who was eager to know what was going on. In that instant, Talia knew there was bound to be trouble if Duncan caught Somto and Saul in the act. So she spoke into her device. The cloning process was now at 80% completion when Somto got Talia's alert on his comm device.

"Ghost, you've been compromised", she sounded desperate. "Target heading your way....evacuate immediately".

"Process almost complete, Smoke", Somto rasped "We have to go through".

"Abort mission!" snapped Talia. "Target heading your way. Abort!" and the line instantly went dead as Somto disconnected his communication device. He was almost close to getting what he wanted and he wouldn't let anyone distract him. He knew he was taking a risk, but his doggedness would see him through. This was espionage and anything was possible. Duncan had now approached the 11th floor and was now heading down the corridors to his room, and Talia kept speaking into her device but got only a static sound from the other end. At this point she was hopeless and the boys were now on their own as she sat back in the lounge bracing herself for the worst.

adebyt:
u bad mehn. lov the update. expetin more.

Update don show

***************

Somto had fallen asleep right after Talia had injected him with some doses of intramuscular morphine and a sedative after she had cleaned his wound. He was now muttering in his sleep and tossing his head from side to side with his torso drenched in sweat when he suddenly screamed, jerking awake from his sleep. Instantly, Talia came rushing into the sitting room (where he lay) with a pistol in her hand, thinking he was under attack. She met him alone seated upright and sweating profusely as she turned on the gas lamp beside him and peered into his face. Somto sat petrified and heaving frantically with shock registered all over him his as he stared into thin air. Gradually the scenes from the dream began to unfold in his head. From all he could remember concerning his dream, he was running in the woods on a rocky terrain, clutching two transparent emerald capsules in his grasp and panting in the cold air as a helicopter hovered far above the trees. He could also hear some men chasing behind him in the distance and clamoring in German while he ran through the woods. Suddenly a bear appeared and charged at him as he fell back to the ground, dropping the cylinderical capsules, before pulling out a knife around his waist which he expertly sunk into the neck of the bear as it roared in agony and collapsed lifeless ontop him. Then he picked up the capsules and brought out his pistol to shoot down two of the pursuers closing on him. Soon he outran them, coming to a cottage close to the foot of the mountains and knocked on the door. Immediately the door creaked open and a very old man appeared at the doorway. Somto desperately muttered something to him in German and the old man nodded in total comprehension before collecting the capsules from him. Leaving the capsules with his old friend was his best shot at that moment at keeping the bio-chemical weapons away from his desperate pursuers. Then he began to run once more down the cliff. Suddenly he missed a footing and came tumbling down the rocks, smashing his temple against a rock and instantly went limp.

Talia's voice calling Somto startled him back to reality, and he gasped looking into her worried face. "It's Imst...the capsules are in the town of Imst", he rasped. Instantly he felt strong reverberatioins in his head as more memories came flooding back to him. Then his eyes then went down to the pistol in Talia's grasp and he said: "That's a Baretta M9 pistol you're holding" as he felt his memory trickling back gradually like a jigsaw puzzle. Talia being surprised, stared at him in awe. She was certain the recent collision between his head and the electric pole, coupled with the anxiety he had experienced while being chased by Cristo's men had triggered impulses within his brain.

Moments after he noticed his memory gradually returning, he began to narrate to Talia how he had taken the Krypto Capsules from the secure labs of the facility (when Cristo stormed the place), and how he had entrusted it in the care of a trust worthy old man he knew, who lived in the Alpine Crags of Imst in Tirol. When he was done talking, for a few seconds, Talia was dumbfounded at all he had said. She found it hard to believe he had suddenly recovered his memory. Speechless, she watched him take the pistol from her hand (as he stared at the gun with nostalgic enthusiasm), removed the magazine and fixed it back; before slowly handing the gun back to her. Talia smiled in disbelief.

"Welcome back Agent", she said softly.

Within the next week, Somto's memory improved a great deal and Talia thought it wise for him to commence series of physical fitness exercises and tests which was supervised by her, including gun range tests, in which Somto passed with a 70 against a 100 in all. A fine score for an agent who has been off field service for a long while. He was beginning to assimilate his past back into his persona and Talia knew he was ready once more for the rigorous tasks of a field agent. So she took the first step by alerting the director of the C.I.A, Hans Stubber, who requested for a discreet meeting with Somto. According to Talia's agreement with Somto, the meeting was to be held before they would retrieve the Krypto Capsules from where he had stashed them. Talia had decided to alert only the C.I.A concerning Somto's recovery (of which the Mossad was already aware) because she wanted the African agent to work under strict undercover with her. To the whole world of espionage, Agent Somto was done for, missing or even dead and out of the shelve. Only the Mossad and a fraction of the C.I.A knew that Somto was hale and hearty. Some thought he was probably dead, and Talia wanted the assumption to remain that way for the fear of moles blowing their cover. Somto needed the all the guise he could get at that moment to pull through any mission.

The director of the C.I.A arrived Vienna in no time in the company of Agent Duncan, a C.I.A field agent on counter intelligence, who was also on the case of the missing Krypto Capsules. Talia drove them down to a cafe where she introduced them to Agent Somto, who was eager to meet them. The meeting was essential based on the fact that Tel Aviv had also pledged to assist the US in clearing her name as the murderer of the Swede President, but during the course of the meeting, the brilliant Agent Somto discovered that Agent Duncan of the CIA was not a man one could team up with. He was such an obscurantist who was not eager to work with anyone nor share intel, and that got Somto worried and suspicious. As a result, Somto decided never to share intel with him too.

After carefully analyzing the events surrounding the murder of the Swede president, Somto arrived at the conclusion that either the United States knew something about the Swede president's death and was denying it; or someone within the U.S had assisted whoever might have carried out the assassination, thereby framing the Americans. If the murder of the Swede president could be successfuly executed on American soil, without the knowledge of the various American security agencies, it meant there was a mole involved. For all Somto cared, Agent Duncan could be that mole. Moreover the murder weapon was never found except for the bullet which revealed that the murder weapon was a Sniper gun, military grade. So Somto decided to make his assumptions known to Talia. He walked into her room an hour later, after they had returned from the meeting with Hans Stubber and Agent Duncan; and she was startled when she turned to see him standing at the doorway.

"How long have you been standing there?" asked Talia.

"Long enough", replied Somto. And Talia's face creased in suspicion.

"Were you watching me ündress?", she asked. Somto chuckled mischievously.

"No Talia...relax...", he said and Talia heaved a sigh of relief.

"So what brings you to my room Agent Somto?" she asked. "You look worried".

Somto told her all about his assumptions and lack of interest in working with Agent Duncan, and Talia stood staring at him with her eyes betraying a lot of thoughts. She shook her head in dismay and sat on the bed, while Somto came to sit beside her.

"I've also thought the same thing too", she said. "We could be heading for a wild goose chase if the US is responsible for the assassination. They'll do all they can to keep us running round in circles", she heaved. "But i never really suspected Duncan"

"You may not be able to pick out a mole", Somto stated. "But i was good at it. One of the reasons i was brought into the facility".

"But you missed the mole in the facility!", Talia snapped (Somto glared at her). "Look, sorry i sounded that way. But i want you to know the facility was breached because of a mole".

"I know", growled Somto. "And that same mole could be Agent Duncan. Though he wasn't in the facility, he knew about its location. This means both the attack on the facility and the murder of the the Swede president is connected".

The two agents sat in silence for a while, each filled with different thoughts as they pondered on the ambiguity of the situation at hand. If Duncan was a mole, that meant he had people in high places aiding him. Being a senior agent in counter intelligence of the CIA, Duncan was certain to know politicians, terrorists and international criminals like Frank Cristo, who could pull stunts. Probably he had established contact with Cristo before the facility was breached. Does that mean Cristo was also connected with the Swede president's death? What if the US really had a hand in the assassination? Somto thought. Ofcourse he knew such an allegation against an Agent of the CIA was preposterous without tangible evidence. And pinning him down with substantial evidence wasn't going to be easy either. Talkless of getting the evidences needed. It was going to be a gruesome task with intrigues.At first he had thought of involving the CIA director. But he wasn't sure Directror Hans was going to buy his baseless assumptions. At least he, Somto had been smart enough not to reveal he had any idea about the Krypto Capsules. When Duncan had asked him about it, he denied every claim linking him with the highly sought capsules, thereby shifting the attention from himself. Then Somto broke silence.

"We have to track Duncan", he said coldly.

"And how do we do that?" asked Talia.

Somto told Talia of his plan to clone the American agent's phone which sounded like a good idea, and that would help them listen to Duncan's phone conversations whenever he had a call. All they would be needing was another phone which would become the clone. But the hitch was going to be how to get Duncan's phone and cloning it, as the need for a computer expert suddenly arose. Only a good computer genius was needed to do the job without leaving traces. Somto knew a good computer expert in Houston, Texas, who worked for the Nigerian Intelligence Agency and MI6, but making contact with anyone at the moment could blow his cover, since just a few people knew he was no longer amnesic and was alive. He didn't want to go alerting the whole world for fear of betrayal. Not even informing his friend Col. Ademuyiwa, in the Defence Intelligence Agency in Nigeria. Whoever that must have sold out the facility and assassinated the Swede president would surely have versatile friends around the world. Not that he had any doubt concerning his friend in the Nigerian D.I.A (ofcourse the colonel was a man of honour). But it was better being on the safer side. So Talia decided to contact a reliable Computer technician she had once worked with during one of her 'off the records' job for her country, whose name was Saul Natayoun. A Computer Information Technician, forensic analyst and hacker of Israeli nationality with a credible biography.

The CIA boss, Hans Stubber and Agent Duncan were supposed to leave Austria by morning the following day, and Saul was bound to arrive Vienna on the evening of that same day, making Somto and Talia behind schedule in cloning the required phone. So Talia decided to delay the Americans' movement by contacting Mossad to fix a decoy meeting with Hans Stubber, under the pretext of a fresh intel coming in from Tel Aviv. Though the CIA boss wasn't too elated about the improptu delay, he had to inform Langley about his delayed arrival inorder to get whatever info the Israelis had to offer. That meant Somto and Talia were still on track.

The street was now getting narrow and darker as they walked ahead, passing by homeless people who sat beside barrels with flames in them as they tried to keep themselves warm from the cold. It was now 4:55am when Talia checked her luminous wrist-watch while Ted continued limping and wincing along. He had suffered an injury to his left knee and his head was now bleeding profusely as Talia wiped the bruise on her right cheek constantly with her upper arm. When they had walked to an extent, on getting close to a drugstore, Ted staggered backwards and leaned on the wall of the store.

"I need medication, please", he panted. "I can't go any further". So Talia came closer to hold him

"Listen my friend", she said. "I know you're weak. And I also know you're hurt. But we have to keep going because of the cops".

"This is a drugstore for Christ's sake!" Ted snapped. "Go in and get me something"

"Sorry we can't. The police will definitely question the store attendant for our description. Let's keep going".

Ted had wanted to argue further with her. But on seeing the truth in what she had said, he heaved in pains as he managed to get himself back on track and Talia supported him by crossing his hand over her shoulder with her hand around his waist. Then he asked, "Where are we going?"

"To my place", Talia replied. "A safe house actually....And I've got medication there"

They walked for a few minutes before they came to a path where the road became steeper in a downward gradient as they approached a settlement which reeked of primordial desolation to Ted's disgust.

From the look of it, they were now in the slums and Ted didn't fail to notice the gawky state of the whole place. The streets were lit with faint bulbs which twitched momentarily on the rusty poles. It was now twilight, and they walked passed a small wooden shed and an empty field, with dusty roads and stiff winds as the inhabitants of the place cast them suspicious looks while speaking in their native language as they walked passed them. The language was clearly different from the local German. The older women wore heavy scarves on their hair and long, shapeless dresses. They all seem to be pushing, pulling or carrying things like bags and mattresses. These things which were of some great weight, the kind only known to people permanently displaced, rested on their weary shoulders, while some pushed their babies in worn out strollers. The shops also looked worn out and less cared for, but hardly the kind of dangerous looking places one saw in any big city. And the grocery stores had a lot of sorry beggars sleeping on their frontage.

As Ted and Talia reached the heart of the slums, the buildings became similar with old walls which were compacted. While rats scurried around the whole place. Soon they arrived before a one storey building and Talia spoke to Ted: "This is the place", she said. And Ted couldn't believe his eyes.

"Don't tell me you live here" he said.

"Well, i don't...like i said...it's a safe house", she explained. "I'm just here temporarily because of you". And she helped Ted up the stairs as rats scurried beneath their feet.

"You could have at least found a better place for your safe house bullshit", Ted whined

"Don't be an ungrateful swine", snapped Talia. "Such places are the best for safe houses".

Talia led him to the door of her apartment and a nosy old woman poked her head through the next apartment door close to Talia's. She said something to Talia in Hungarian while Talia replied fluently in the same language. And Ted looked at Talia quizzically while he leaned on the wall, watching her unlock the old blue door.

"I was trained to speak Hungarian too", she smirked pushing the door open as the nosy old woman cast Ted a disdainful look before going back inside her apartment. Then the duo walked into the safe house.

Talia's safe house had just two rooms inside. In which she used one for a sitting room and the other a bedroom. It was quite old fashioned with worn out wallpapers gracing the walls, a cracked ceiling, old dusty settees and a small television which stood on an antique shelve at the corner. A weird looking gas lamp lit the whole room. Talia took off her jacket and hung it on a hanger before walking into the inner chamber.

"What did you say to that old woman?" asked Ted locating a cane chair beside the old gas lamp.

"I told her you were a jerk", replied Talia from inside the bedroom, and Ted scoffed.

Minutes later, she appeared with a white first aid box in her hands and came to sit beside Ted who was already sweating in the stuffy room.

"You're bleeding profusely", she said studying Ted's bleeding head. "That was a nice jump. I was thinking you would be rusty by now".

"How do you mean rusty?" Ted asked, watching Talia open the white box.

"You're an agent who work for the Alliance of Nations", revealed Talia as she began to clean Ted's cut with a gauze. "I was thinking being away from active field service would have left you weak".

Ted held off her hand firmly and peered into her face in bewildement. "What are you trying to say?" he demanded. And Talia wrenched her arm free from his strong grasp, sighing deeply. "Guess you wanna hear the truth", she said dropping the bloody gauze. But Ted didn't reply rather kept looking at her expectantly.

"Well, your names are Special Agent Somto Chuka Thomas", she began. "A Nigerian-American, born in the US as an only child to Nigerian parents. But on reaching age 12, your parents returned back to Nigeria with so you could learn the culture of your people. Unfortunately your parents died in an auto crash before you turned 24. You also worked for the Nigerian Intelligence Agency, before you were chosen by the Alliance, for your rare qualities, to undergo a special training by the CIA and Mossad for the purpose of Project Erebus". She looked at Ted who stared back wide-eyed at her; and she continued: "Project Erebus was a Bio-Chemical Weapons research programme in which the Krypto Virus was to be created for the sake of defending the nations under the Alliance from the Trident Powers in the case of an eventual world war."

Talia told him about the assassination of President Glenn Larsson, the Swedish president, and how the shooter was still at large and the murder weapon missing. She also told him all that had transpired before the Israeli government had sent her to look for him. All the while she spoke, Ted sat speechless and motionless as he couldn't comprehend all that was being said.

"You were the only African Agent to have been chosen by the Alliance of Nations to supervise Project Erebus alongside the other Western agents. And you were trained in Camp Peary, Fort Bragg and Tel Aviv. I know you so well because we once trained together in Tel Aviv", she said . "Here is your file", she handed him a blue folder containing some documents, which Ted collected from her and slowly opened it. Talia watched the expression on Ted's face as he glanced through the contents of the folder in bewilderment.

"From what you can see there", Talia updated. "You were such an outstanding agent, top class. Also trained to speak fluent Russian, German and Arabic. That's why the Alliance placed you in charge of all other agents during the project. You were head of security details. Too bad you can't remember any of these".

Then Ted opened his mouth to speak but rather stuttered, "But Rox...or rather Sasha told me I was also in the army", said Ted. And Talia laughed.

"I guess that was a hoax incase you inquired or discoverd about your hand to hand combat skills", Talia explained. "Sasha is Cristo's assassin, a highly trained killer. Her full name is Lieutenant Sasha Romanov, ex-GRU, an ace sniper and a Russian. One of the best shots the Russians has ever produced in the last ten years. She went rogue six years ago after carrying out the Black November bombing on Red Square, Moscow, which took out part of the St. Basil's Cathedral and left over a hundred people dead on November 5, 2014. Ever since she had gone off radar only to appear now in the event of the missing Krypto Capsules. If you must know", Talia explained further "she was supposed to kill you right after extracting information concerning the whereabouts of the capsules from you. And I had also guessed she would become hostile once you asked her about 'Black November'...so I had to place a watch on your house, hence appearing when Cristo almost had your head".

"But...but why me?" Ted stuttered

"That's because you're the only surviving agent who escaped from that secret facility when Cristo attacked", said Talia. "So it's assumed you, Agent Somto, have the missing capsules since Cristo himself doesn't".

Talia also told him that Frank Cristo was a Belgian arms dealer; and would probably sell the Bio-Chemical Weapons, once he found them, to the highest bidder, probably a terrorist. "We don't want those weapons in the hands of the wrong persons because it's a neurotoxin that works on the nervous system", she stated. "It's capable of wiping an entire nation the size of New York city in a week with the newly developed Krypto virus. So you see, it all points down at you Agent Somto. Where are the capsules?"

Somto (as he was now called) could not understand why everyone was adamant to the fact he had no idea what the Krypto capsules were all about. From all he had seen in the file, this was surely his real past but he felt no connection with it. He could now feel the strong pang of headache as blood oozed out once more from the cut on his head.

"I'm sorry Talia.....I can't remember", he rasped "I...I really can't help you...I don't even know what to believe anymore".

Then Talia leaned forward and peered into his face. "At least believe you're gonna survive....that's what you were trained to do....to survive", she muttered.



**************

The huge Russian man sat in the confines of his dimly lit study in his magnificent mansion. He was seated on a rotating chair behind a desk with his back to the the door, and looking outside the rear window of the room while he smoked his Cuban cigar. The door opened and a young man walked in.

"Mr. Yuri there's an urgent call for you", the young man said.

The Russian puffed a ball of smoke before he growled, "Patch it through the secure line", he said. The young man bowed and left the room. Seconds later the phone on the Russian's desk rang and he stretched his right hand and picked it.

"Mr. Yuri on the line", he croaked.

"Hey bro. How has it been?" the hoarse voice at the other end asked.

"It's all a matter of time and we'll be as rich as the gods on Olympus".

"But all these can't happen without the Krypto Capsules", the hoarse voice said. "It's taking too long to find them!"

"I know, William. And I believe Cristo is getting close".

"Not so close anymore, Yuri. I had called yesterday to tell you Cristo lost the Nigerian agent. But was told you weren't on sit. Seems you didn't get my message".

The Russian man paused in a sinister silence before he spoke again: "That must be an error on the part of my men", he said. "I'll speak to Cristo once you get off the phone".

"Alright then", said the hoarse voice. "I'll be waiting to hear from you". And the line went dead.

The huge Russian dropped the phone and pressed a bell which rang and moments later the young man rushed in. "You called sir", he said.

"Come this way", his master ordered. And the young man scuttled round the desk to stand before his master. Then the Russian said: "You never told me William Garret called yesterday".

"So sorry sir", the young man shivered noticing an object in his boss' left hand.

"You know I hate nonchalance, Mikhail", the boss said, brandishing the object in his hand which the young Mikhail could hardly see in the semi darkness, but could guess what it was. Instantly, Mikhail went on his knees.

"Forgive me boss", he pleaded. "I promise never.... " and there were three flashes accompanied by three shots as the young servant fell down dead in a pool of his own blood.

Andykruiz:
Their influence is certainly rubbing off

That's true bro. And that's why someone has to fill in the gap. Moreover not everyone can write spy thrillers. It's a very technical genre.

do4luv14:
Giv us more doc, its deliciously and poisonous exciting!!!!!!

**winks**

Chapter Three - The Mole
---- ------- ------- -------- --------


Ted's eyes moved to the Audi car parked on the lawn and he held the lady by the arm. "The car!" he pointed, and the lady led the way as they headed to the vehicle. With her right elbow, the lady smashed the drivers window to the get the car open before letting Ted in.
Due to unauthorized entry, the vehicle's automatic system switched from button to key mode. And the lady turned to Ted.

"The keys!" she jerked.

More by reflex, Ted's hand went under the steering wheel and he smashed the key port with just a strike, before jamming the ignition wires together (he was surprised where he had learnt that from) causing the engine to start. More sporadic shots were now being fired at them and the lady pulled the gearstick, swerving the car sharply as they sped off into the chilly wind.

They drove down the road passing by the lit stores. And seconds later, Ted noticed the set of headlamps behind them, in the wing mirror beside him; and he turned to the lady driver.

"We're being followed", he rasped frantically. The lady looked up into the rearview mirror (to see the car behind) and cursed aloud, "Shit!" as the speedometer increased sharply with a rev. Ted was beginning to panic as he watched the car behind them closing in while the lady kept speeding ahead and swerving dangerously.

"Can you tell me what this is all about?" Ted yelled in exasperation, looking back repeatedly. Then their pursuers fired a shot which hit the wing mirror by his side (he jumped in his seat) as the lady swerved the car sharply, noticing a second car behind, making it two pursuers.

"Just stay down and listen to me", the lady ordered (still driving). "My name is Talia Abendana and I am....". She had hardly completed her statement when there was another shot which shattered the rear window (Ted grabbed his head), and the lady continued. "I'm a Mossad agent from Israel, sent by the Alliance of Nations to find you". Instantly Ted looked shocked.

"Mo-what?"

"MOSSAD!" the lady yelled taking a screeching left turn beside the maginificient State Opera House, and dodging oncoming vehicles which honked frantically as they swerved off her lane sharply, while some collided with other stationary vehicles beside the road.

"Take the wheel!" Talia ordered

"What?"

"Just do it!" she yelled. And Ted grabbed the steering wheel instantly as Talia stood on the seat and touched the sun roof, winding its knob. She slid the space open for her head to come out through the roof as she sat on the driver's head rest (with her buttocks to Ted's occiput) while the wind billowed her hair. Immediately, she opened fire at their assailants.

Talia took several shots at their pursuers, not ceasing to yell the word "FASTER!" at Ted who was now reaching the speed limit of the speedometer. She rendered more shots which took out one of the drivers, causing the car to go out of control as it crashed into a cloth mall, leaving one more car on their tail.

"Faster Goddamn it!" she snapped at Ted who yelled back at her, "How much faster psycho!?" he fumed while speeding at full throttle.

Talia soon ran out of ammo and she slid back into the driver's seat as Fred moved away for her to take over the wheels. With the last vehicle still in pursuit, Talia had just one final hope of ending the chase. So she turned to Ted.

"We have to jump out", she suggested.

"What? No...you psycho, No!" Ted tried to stop her

But she was defiant. "On the count of three....1...2...3...." and she stepped on the brakes sharply as they simultaneously dived out off the car (from both sides). Owing to the dive, Ted's head collided with an electric pole while the pursuing car slammed headlong into the rear of their Audi, causing a loud explosion which boomeranged. Ted and Talia staggered back to their feet to notice the whole street illuminated by the combustion from the explosion as people screamed in shock, running in different directions. In no time, there were distant wails of police siren which was now approaching from the inner city block. Talia stood across the road and beckoned on Ted who came limping down to where she stood. Hand in hand, the duo scampered away from the accident scene before the police could arrive, as they headed into the clumsy streets adjacent to the scene of the explosion. .

Andykruiz:
Oh geez! Sidney Sheldon, Jeffrey Archer and Tom Clancy will be freaking jealous! This is magnificent man! Awesome!! Brilliant!!! Welcome back doc.

Thanks a lot bro. Those guys you mentioned are my inspiration

****************

Days passed with no glimmer of hope of Ted regaining his memory. At one time he had gone for a therapy without telling Roxanne, but to no avail as he blew tantrums on his way back home that day. As fate would have it, he stumbled upon an article in an old news paper he had found in a pub, but it was all written in Russian. And while he glanced at the inconspicuous writing, a drunk old man staggered up to him and snatched the paper from his hands.

"That's mine, you shit head", the drunken old man belched. And he looked at the page which Ted had been staring and hiccupped. "Reading about the Black November huh?"

Ted's attention was instantly drawn to what the man had just said. His mind rolled back to his brief meeting with the strange lady in the parking lot some days back. He held back the drunken bum as he was about staggering away.

"What do you know about the Black November, sir?" Ted asked. The drunk man looked at him intently and burst into an alcohol induced laughter.

"And what do you want to know about Black November, son?" the man replied.

"Everything....."

Suddenly the man's countenance changed and he wrenched his arm free from Ted's grip. "Sorry i can't talk about it", he rasped in sudden grief. "I lost my son Wulfgar on that day". And he squeezed the old paper, stashed it into his jacket and stumbled out of sight. Ted watched him open the door to the pub and leave. If not for one thing, he was now sure that the term 'Black November' actually existed and was something in-depth. But what could his wife Roxanne have to do with it? And how was he supposed to reconcile the fact that the strange lady had spoken a truth about the Black November. Did that mean she was also correct about all she had said about his marriage? What was the Black November? he asked himself as he sat behind the steering wheel of his car on his way home.

Ted arrived home quite late and tipsy that night, staggering into the kitchen where he met his wife preparing dinner. Roxanne smiled the moment she saw him.

"Hey Ted, where have you been? I was dead worried about you". she said. Then she looked at him closely. "Blimey! You're drunk!". And she left the kitchen knife which clattered on the cabinet and rushed towards her husband at the doorway. "Come here let's get you seated. You're back at it again, baby. I thought you promised not to drink anymore?"

"Did I promise?" Ted inquired slurpily

"Oh come off it", replied Roxanne sharply as she guided Ted to a seat beside the cabinet. And she squatted before him, looking into his face and cupping his chin with her palms. "I'll tell Sensei to prepare you some of her herbal tea to clear the alcohol in your system". And he nodded drowsily as Roxanne got up and turned to leave. Then he called her name, "Roxanne?" and she turned back expectantly.

"Who's Talia Abendana?...and what's Black November?", he asked.

Roxanne looked transfixed right where she stood staring back at her husband. She shook her head and smiled faintly before squatting once again before Ted. "And what's that all about?" she questioned back.

"I met this strange lady who told me things. And from the look of it, she knows you. She was so particular about the words Black November".

In a matter of seconds, Roxanne's pale face crimsoned and came back to normalcy as her expressionless eyes stared deeply into Ted's face. She bit her lower lip in deep thoughts.

"Who have you been talking to Teddy? Don't let anyone take advantage of your memory loss. She could be an enemy from your past whom you can't even remember, so you ought to be careful". With that she leaned forward and kissed him tenderly on the lips and got up once more. "I'll tell Sensei to make you that tea now", she smiled before walking away from sight.




Hours later, Ted suddenly woke up from his deep slumber in the dimly lit bedroom with a strong pang of headache in his head as he stretched groggily. He must have slept so deeply because of the alcohol. But the herbal tea must have quelled the expected hangover. Then he picked up the digital clock by the bed lamp to discover it was 3:45am in the early hours of the morning. That was when he turned to notice Roxanne's space on the bed was empty, and he called out her name, but there was no answer. Probably she was in the bathroom, he thought. Getting out of bed he strolled to the bathroom and peered inside but she wasn't there. Could she have gone down to the kitchen? he wondered. Closing the bathroom door, he turned and took two steps forward, before he heard a whirring sound from a distance.

The sound seemed to grow closer with each ticking second as he now came to stand before the vast bedroom window. Then the sound became a loud whirring; and suddenly a strong beam of light hit him directly in the face through the glass window as the deafening sound of a helicopter rented the air. Instantly there were rapid bursts of machine guns, shattering the glass and sending its splinters flying in the air as he instinctively dived for cover. In that moment, all he could think of was his wife and her safety as he was certain the mansion was under attack. Just then armed masked men on black combat garbs swung into the room (from the helicopter) through the shattered window and Ted swiftly scrambled to his feet, dashing out of the bedroom as the masked men opened fire at him.

He was now running through the corridor and calling "Roxanne!" before he bumped into Sensei (who looked scared) by the stairway.

"What's happening sir?" she whimpered frightfully

"Just run!" Ted cried out and meant to pull her along, but she held him back and he turned back in surprise. That was when Sensei threw him a deadly punch which dazed him. And before he could recover from the surprise hit, she gave him a spinning kick to the face, sending him staggering backwards and crashing down the stairs, crumpling in a heap. He couldn't believe what had just happened as his head swirled in the aftermath of the kick, and the men on combat garbs came down the stairs to bind his hands behind and pull him along, up the staircase.

They were now in his bedroom amidst the helicopter sound as the men hauled him into a settee and Sensei came to stand akimbo in front of him with a smile.

"What is this Sensei?" Ted asked. "What are you doing?"

"My job", she replied

"Where is my wife?" he demanded.

More of a shock than surprise, he was stunned to see his wife walk into the room, wearing a black leather catsuit and matching black boots.

"Hi Ted", she smirked

"What.....what the hell is this Roxanne?" Ted gasped. Just then a lanky man wearing a camo jacket stepped forward. The man seemed to be in his 50s. The man drew Roxanne closer and kissed her fully on the lips, "Well done Sasha", the man said to her smiling, while Ted blinked in confusion.

"Sasha?" Ted muttered. Then the lanky man came closer, offering Ted his hand.

"Forgive my manners mister", he said in mock politeness. "My name is Frank Cristo". But Ted's hands were bound and it wasn't as if the man wasn't aware of it. And the man withdrew his wrinkled hand and began to speak: "I know you're surprised", he scoffed. "Sasha here works for me", he indicated at Roxanne. "And so does Sensei too". Instantly Ted recollected all the strange lady had told him about Roxanne and he sighed deeply.

"Tell me I'm not married", he rasped. Cristo chuckled.

"You were never married my dear", said Cristo. "Infact the whole thing was a ploy after we discovered you had an amnesia. So i placed Sasha on you to recover what you owe me. She was a good actress wasn't she?", he winked. "Never knew she could perfectly play the role of a good wife despite being a Black Widow. Too bad her cover almost got blown up when you started talking to that strange woman", he gritted. "And that brings us to the matter at hand. Where are they?"

"Where is what?" Ted growled. "I don't know what you're talking about". And Roxanne (who was now Sasha) struck his face with a blow, causing blood to trickle down his nose. He stared at Sasha with livid hatred and gritted teeth, and she sneered while Sensei giggled.

"I wont ask again after this, mister", Cristo said bringing out his jagged knife from its scabbard and brought it to Ted's nostrils. "Tell me....where are the Krypto Capsules?....think!....remember!".

Ted had no idea of what he was talking about. So he panted desperately in fear, looking up at Cristo and expecting him to slice off his nostrils at any moment, when suddenly there was a deafening bang within the room and a stunning bright light blinded him and everyone for some seconds as his ears wheezed from the loud effect of the stun grenade. And in a flash, he saw someone in the room take rapid and precise shots at the armed men and Sensei (who fell down dead) as Ted made out the figure of Sasha and Cristo diving for cover (with Cristo stil under the stun effect), and Ted took a good look at the shooter to discover it was the strange stalker lady.

The wheezing sound in his ear had now ceased. And he could now hear the helicopter open rapid bursts of fire towards where he sat on the settee and the strange lady dived at him pushing him down to the floor and toppling the settee over as a shield. Everything seemed to be happening so fast as Ted watched the lady change the magazine of her automatic pistol and handed him a blade which he used in slicing through the rubber cuffs around his wrists and she said, "Don't move!" before getting up to take sporadic shots as the empty shells from her pistol dropped down beside Ted.

The lady was a good marksman. She took one precise shot which pierced the helicopter glass, hittng the pilot dead as the copter swereved uncontrollably and came crashing head long into the room; and the lady pulled Ted along as they sprinted out of the room and the Copter exploded behind them, emitting an explosive force which hurled them into the air as they fell below the last flight of stairs. Undaunted, they giddily got to their feet and smashed through the front door, dashing into the front lawn of the mansion as two more shots were fired at them from the distant shadows the mansion's grounds..

The ticking of the clock was the first sound he heard minutes later when he woke up on the couch, with Roxanne seated beside him, and Sensei the maid kneeling close by, bearing a cup of tea in her hands. It was a Japanese herbal tea precisely used to quell cases of severe Hysteria. The maid brought the cup forward to Roxanne who collected it and helped Ted sit up as she handed the cup to him.

"Drink up....it's going to help you"

"I made it specially for you sir", Sensei said. "The art of herbs run in my family".

Ted sipped on his drink gradually while Sensei excused herself as Roxanne stroke his shoulder reassuringly. "What happened? she asked. "You were muttering in your unconsciousness". At that instant, Ted looked at her with an unwavering attention. "And what did i say?" he asked.

Roxanne shrugged with a sombre look on her face. "Nothing specific. You were muttering gibberish....incoherently". She watched him take in the last gulp of the herbal tea, afterwhich, she took the cup from him and stood on her feet about to walk away, and Ted held her back by the hand.

"I'll be fine Roxxy", he assured her as she gave a weak smile.

"Of course you will", she nodded before turning and walked away.

As the days passed into weeks, the bond between Ted and Roxanne grew rapidly, and he was now bonded with his home despite he was yet to establish the connection between his past life and the present. He had already given up all hopes on recovering his memory and decided to forge a new life as he never for a second try to remember anything from his past life. According to Roxanne, he was giving up so fast on himself; but that was the highest he could do to maintain his sanity since the more he tried to recollect his past, the more his mind broke down on his way to self discovery. From what he discovered about himself, he was a fun loving person and a very focused man with a broad mind. In essence he was smart and brilliant in all ramifications. But there was one more thing he discovered about himself....he had a sharp reflex and this he came to notice on a fateful day.

It was on a sunday morning while Roxanne was still in bed. He had got up from bed very hungry and had come heading to the fridge to pick up a jar of milk after he had already collected a steak, when he accidentally knocked a jar of Jam over. In a swift motion (with the steak still in his right hand), his left hand moved involuntarily and he caught the jar a few distance from the ground. He was astounded by what he had done and he slowly placed the Jam back in the refrigerator and left the kitchen puzzled. On his way upstairs, he met Sensei, the maid. She started the moment she saw him and he looked quizzically at her. Though the Asian woman looked meek, yet there was something strange about her as he always noticed an unusual demeanor in her whenever he was was around. Probably she was the timid type or only being nervous because of his presence. Could it be she fancied him? he wondered. Whatever the answer was, no way was he going to have an illicit affair with a maid if that was what Sensei had in mind. He wouldn't want to do anything that would hurt his wife whom had discovered had been there for him through thick and thin.

Ted was not yet over his smoking habit. As he lay sat in bed that same Sunday's afternoon, he felt the strong urge for nicotine and black coffee. So he decided to drive down town a little bit, without Roxanne who had gone off to the next street to get groceries. He drove through the now familiar road, into the freeway and decided to make a stop at Vienna's Garden district. As usual, the place was busy owing to the coffee houses that lined the streets; and to him, it was the best place to have a cup of black coffee before going for a smoke. He took a seat under the shade, outside one of the coffee houses and glanced through a newspaper while he waited for his coffee to arrive. It was only in a matter of minutes before a freckle faced girl brought him his drink. Lowering the newspaper, he took a sip of the hot black drink when his eyes made out a woman sitting two shades away, staring at him. He choked on his coffee when he identified her as the same strange lady from the hospital and the train. But this time, she had no hood over her head. Was she stalking him? the thoughts ran through his mind. How come he saw her almost everywhere. Pretending not to notice her, Ted watched her from the corner of his eyes as he continued sipping the coffee. And when he was done, he hastily left the place, looking over his shoulders to see the lady still seated in the cafe, before he drove away.

If he could recollect properly, a couple of nights ago, he had noticed a black Mercedes Benz tailing him on his way home. The car had pulled over in the shadows of the avenue, some meters away from his house. And before he could alight, he noticed someone step out of the car and walk into the shadows in the adjoining street. Something told him the whoever it was, was watching him from the shadows, so he put his Audi car on maximum security before going into his house. Presently, he was now convinced, the person he had seen that night was the same woman all along. But what he couldn't explain was why she was following him. He had the option of informing the police, which he had decided to do, but not without telling his wife about it first. Atleast that would put Roxanne on the alert, whenever she was outside, incase the lady meant any harm.

Ted made another stop at a smoking booth close to an underground parking lot (where he had parked his car) and puffed away some sticks of cigarette much to his pleasure. It had been a long while he had a smoke, due to the fact he was trying to please Roxanne who wasn't comfortable with his indulgence. While he savored the aroma of nicotine in his head, he wondered what his wife would say at that moment if she caught him in the act. He shrugged indifferently and smiled to himself as he blew puffs of smoke balls into the cold air. Atleast it was meant to keep him warm from the frosty winter he mentally comforted himself with the excuse. By the time he was done it was way passed 5:30 pm (he knew Roxanne would be worried), and he stubbed the last stick of cigarette in the ash tray and headed to the parking lot.

On getting to the lonely lot which was sparsely occupied by vehicles, he walked to where he had parked his car while his footsteps echoed. But as he tried to unlock the driver's door, he heard another footstep sneak up behind him as his eyes caught a faint glimpse of someone (from the reflection on the car window) standing at his back. He startled.

"Hello Mr. Thomas", a female voice said. And in a reflex, Ted spun sharply, grabbing the lady's throat as she tactically slipped off his grasp; and he swiftly hurled several punches which the lady quickly evaded with a great fighting skill before throwing a punch at Ted who ducked in time to spin a scissors kick at her, sending her backwards and sprawling on the floor. He immediately recognized the woman as the strange lady. Instantly, Ted was marvelled at the combat skills he had just exhibited. In a fit of shock, he rushed to open the car door, but the lady (now sitting erect on the floor) stopped him.

"Wait!" she exclaimed, wiping her bleeding nose with the back of her hand. "You have to listen to me" and Ted turned to look at her. She continued: "The woman you live with isn't your wife", she said to Ted's amazement. "She's an assassin and would kill you when it's time".

Ted couldn't comprehend what the auburn haired woman before him was saying. She wasn't making any sense as far as he was concerned and he watched her get back on her feet.

"You're definitely crazy!" Ted snapped.

"I know I sound crazy", she stated. "But I also know you're surprised at the fighting skill you just displayed moments ago". And Ted stared blankly at her.

Of a truth, he was stunned on how he had managed to fight his way out with the lady who seemed to be well trained in the art of physical combat. But who was she? What business did such a dangerous woman have with him? he reasoned. Moreover she had called him Mr.Thomas. That was no where near his name.

"There are so many things you don't know about yourself Mr. Thomas", she explained. "That bîtch you call your wife is taking advantage of your memory loss" (Ted was bewildered). And the lady spoke on: "You have to hear the truth. Everything was staged....the marriage, the house, the loving home....."

Ted couldn't bear hearing more of her disheartening words, so he rushed towards her, grasping her by the throat once again. But this time she didn't resist as she raised her hands above her head. Then she rasped, "I know you feel like killing me right now. But do me a favour", she choked owing to Ted's grip. "Ask your so called wife about Black November. Ask her about Talia Abendana. Thats my name....Talia".


Ted looked into the caramel coloured eyes of the lady and saw sincerity in them. But he just couldn't let a total stranger brainwash him and rob him of the happiness he had in his life. So he pushed her backwards. "Just stop following me, you psycho", he said before dashing to his car and starting the engine. With a quick swerve, he screeched the car dangerously passed the lady who stood watching him drive away.

As he drove back home, Ted's mind couldn't cease reflecting on all the strange woman had told him. She sounded so sure and determined. What if she was planted by an enemy from his past to wreck his home. Perhaps there was someone from his past life who was trying to get back at him. But for what reasons? he thought. Running his fingers through his kinky hair in frustration, he couldn't help himself from hating his condition. If only he still had his memory with him. But on the other hand, what was Black November and the 'Talia' bullshit the lady had talked about? Her words were very strong allegations against his wife, but he wasn't ready to jeopardize his marriage because of one psycho he had met. She could be lying for all he cared, he scoffed. Ted arrived home in time to join his wife for dinner. All the while they ate, he hardly spoke a word as he kept looking at his wife and trying to match her persona with all that the stalker lady had told him that evening. It was so unreconcilable. Looking steadily at his wife, he smiled at her and she smiled back mouthing the words "I LOVE YOU".



*****************

Few days after the North Koreans began their campaign of taking the DMZ, the leader of the New Norse Movement (NNM) had released a threat video which went viral on YouTube, urging the West especially America, to let the African nations who declared interest in leaving the Alliance go free. The leader of the NNM declared his interest in working with some of the corrupt African presidents and rebel groups, thereby creating an army of terrorists. He also promised to wreak havoc on Nigeria if they continued acting as the police of Africa. He warned Nigeria to refrain from coaxing other African nations to remain members of the Alliance of Nations. Gradually, America was beginning to loose her face and prestige in the international scene as they struggled to improve their diplomatic ties with various nations inorder to maintain global peace. And Israel promising to stand by them, sent one of their best secret agent (under the auspices of the Alliance of Nations) into the field to join the other Western agents in solving the puzzle behind the missing Krypto Capsules and murder of the Swede president.

That singular but yet treacherous act of assassinating the Swede president was the originator of the ongoing global strife as the trust within the Alliance was depreciating rapidly. It was only a matter of time and the Alliance of Nations was expected to collapse in a much anticipated world war.

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Chapter Two - The Stalker
-------- -------- ------ -----


Ted was finally ready to leave the hopsital that evening after being discharged. He was now seated on his bed while Doctor Demien tallked with Roxanne (by a corner) who stood with her back to him as she would turn back from time to time to stare at him while the doctor kept talking. For some reasons Doctor Demien avoided his eyes anytime their gaze came in contact, and he wondered what it was he was telling his wife. When they were through with their discussion, Roxanne shook hands with the doctor and walked back to were Ted sat as the doctor waved at Ted before taking his leave.

"What was that all about?" asked Ted as his wife packed his wares into a sports bag.

"You mean what?" she replied

"You were discussing with the doctor and staring at me".

"Oh....that", Roxanne smiled. "He was just telling me how best to go about your amnesia".

"Thought my attending doctor had done that earlier?" Ted queried

"Ofcourse baby...there's no harm in getting more advice from the experts themselves".

Shrugging indifferently, Ted watched his wife zip the bag and haul it behind her and he offered to help her with it.

"That's just how i fell in love with you Ted", Roxanne purred, handing the bag to him. "Always a gentleman". And they walked out of the hospital lobby, saying good-byes to the doctors and nurses on duty. Soon they were outside the Hospital Complex onto the premises and Ted felt the cold air fill his lungs as he marveld at the scanty snow drifting from the sky.

They walked through the car parking lot and more by instinct Ted's eyes fell on a strange looking lady in the distance, with the hood of her brown jacket drawn over her auburn hair and a sunglasses which did a lot to conceal a definite portion of her face while she leaned with her back to the trunk of a car. She wore a black tight leather pants with black boots to match. And she seemed to take a look at him, before turning her attention to the scene of an old man being wheeled in a wheel chair into the hospital. Strutting behind, Ted followed Roxanne's lead as she led the way. Turning back once more, he was surprised to notice the strange lady was gone and his eyes hovered instinctively before he felt Roxanne hold his arms tenderly.

Ted and Roxanne had now come to a Metro Station amidst the vibrating sounds of the speed trains. And Roxanne turned to face her man, "Sorry i couldn't come with the car", she said apologetically. And Ted fondled her shoulder reassuringly. "That's okay....I'm not complaining", he said. Just then a train stopped before them and the automated doors flew open as they and other passengers got in. Roxanne led Ted to a spot close to the window where they took a seat and she cuddled up to him as he habitually stroke her hair. Suddenly his eyes caught the sight of the strange hooded lady he had seen back at the hospital premises a while ago. She was seated at the end of their compartment. He instantly felt uncomfortable as he watched her read through a newspaper in her hands and he wondered, who would be reading a news paper with a sunglasses on her face at night? Soon the train got to their stop and Ted and Roxanne both alighted as the doors closed behind them. Watching the train screech away, Ted noticed the strange woman who still sat inside raise her head to look at him steadily through the window before the train sped into the Tube.

It didn't take them long before they arrived the brightly lit Von Lussac Avenue where they live. The avenue was more of a boulevard with fir trees and brick mansions lining the path in opposite side, with posh cars which graced the parking lots of the various owners. They walked some few distance before they came to stop before a red brick mansion with a spacious lawn on which the building stood. Ted's eyes didn't fail to notice the black Audi A3 model parked in the lot beside them.

"Welcome home baby ", said Roxane before pressing the doorbell.

Within seconds, swift footsteps were heard inside the house as the sound advanced towards the door which swung open to reveal an Asian maid standing at the doorway.

"Welcome Madam", the maid said in typical obeisance, collecting the sports bag from Roxanne who showed Ted the way in and he gently stepped into what he felt was an adjoining corridor closing the sitting room.
"Meet Sensei, our maid", Roxanne indicated at the Asian woman who bowed before Ted in the typical Japanese way.

"Welcome back Mr.Ted", she said before turning and heading up the stairs as Ted watched her climb further. Then he brought his eyes down to the pictures on the basement wall. They were his pictures; and some with Roxanne in them, and he stared at them closely trying to see if he could make out a memory or even a fragment out of it, but his mind went blank as he tried to recollect. It was as if his memories had been blocked with a firewall. Roxanne noticed the sudden sadness in his face and came to stroke his arm lovingly. And hs gaze moved to a picture which had him adorned in a ceremonial military garb. He moved his hands to the frame, "What's this?" he asked in astonishment.

"That's you on your arrival from your post in Belarus", Roxanne said. "You served with the US army. A brilliant officer"

"Served?" Ted inquired

"Yeah. You served for ten years before resigning inorder for us to start a family", replied Roxanne. "You didn't want your kids to miss your fatherly love".

"Wow!.....can i ask you a question Roxanne?"

"Go ahead Ted...I'm all ears".

"Why did we choose to live in Vienna? All the way from America?"


Roxanne told him how he had been the one to suggest a change of city far away from Baltimore, before they could start having kids. According to her, she had objected at first but inorder not to fight with him over the issue, she reluctantly agreed to follow him and then he bought the mansion where they lived presently, out of his pension from the US Army.

"Anyway, I've come to love the city", she added as Ted stared at her speechless and with so much thoughts in his eyes. Then Roxanne pulled him closer to her, "Come let's go have dinner. You must be very hungry", she said leading him towards the dining table and passing by the stone walled fireplace.



******************

He was now running through the woods panting and breathing out the frosty air which stung his nostrils. In his grasp were two strange cylindrical objects (looking like large test tubes containing greenish, translucent gelatinous substance) which Ted clutched firmly like his life depended on it. He could hear the raucous voices of the men chasing behind him while he ran for his life, climbing the rocky terrains which was a tiring task as the task sapped his energy gradually. But the undefilable zeal and passion burning in him kept him going. All of a sudden, a bear appeared from nowhere, charging towards him and....... Ted jerked awake from his nightmare as the beams from the morning sun, leaking into the room, hit his eyes directly and blurring his vision of his wife who was leaning on the balcony of their bedroom's porch which faced the street. Her hair billowed in the wind, owing to the height of the porch from the ground. It was morning already and he stretched lazily heaving at the dream he just had, and his wife turned back to see him seated erect. She wore a large cotton shirt which was apparently his, and the shirt was unbuttoned, revealing a white bra and lacy panties underneath.

"Hey sleepy head", she cooed. "You're awake" and she walked back into the bedroom, towards him, while he admired the sexual appeal she exuded. Her pale skin glowed in the early morning sun as she came to sit by him on the bed. "Goodmorning darling", she said pecking Ted on the cheek and he reciprocated by kissing her fully on the lips.

"You're so beautiful Roxanne", he grinned

"You always say that at mornings", she replied. "And I love the way you say it".

Then Ted's mind fell back to the dream he just had and his expression changed instantly to Roxanne's notice, and she peered into his face. She asked him what was wrong but he felt this sudden intuition to keep the dream away from her so he cheered up and smiled. "It's nothing baby", he replied. But deep within him, he felt torn between two worlds and couldn't really explain why he felt that way. Turning away from her, he kicked away the duvet and headed to the bathroom, now standing before the wall mirror as he leaned on the washbowl. He could still feel the sting of the cold air from his dream, inside his nostrils; so he turned on the faucet and splashed some water on his face to jolt himself back to reality, just incase he was still dreaming. The creaking of the bathroom door distracted him from his thoughts and he looked through the mirror to see his wife now standing behind him and she wrapped her tender but fragile arms around his trunk from behind as she rested her right cheek comfortably on his broad back.

"Are you sure you're okay baby?" she inquired

"Yeah....yeah I'm fine", he answered grabbing the towel on the wall hanger to wipe his damp face.

"Guess it's a nightmare", Roxanne interjected suddenly.

Ted stopped wiping his face and turned to face her with a quizzical look in his eyes. "How did you know?" he demanded, and Roxanne looked up at him with a faint smile playing on her lips. "Remember i once told you i majored in psychology", she stated. "Moreover i'm your wife and i know that expression in your eyes whenever i see it". Ted heaved.

"It's your Peace Keeping experience back in Belarus". she added."It's haunting you".

"No, this is quite different", Ted muttered. "It was more than a combat experience....felt so real".

"Then tell me about it". demanded Roxanne in a sweet voice. Ted opened his mouth to speak but could only stutter as he lacked the right words to express himself. And he swallowed hard, blinking in sheer hysteria. Thinking about the nightmare seemed to make him hyperventilate, with his heart thumping at an alarming rate and he suddenly felt dizzy as the whole place swirled around him, causing him to gasp for air. He could now feel his legs giving away till he could hardly stand anymore, while Roxanne's voice echoed distantly in his head, "Teddy!....Teddy!!..." and then he passed out.

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