Games of the Powerful

by William E Samela

  ~~~~

  By the time, the doctors finished examining Hreidmar and pronouncing him a living miracle the day had passed into early evening. Garrett had been kind enough to go to Hreidmar’s apartment and return with clean clothes for him to change into. Now he is on his way to the University of postwar New York with the scroll to see a linguist professor that he knew from his college days. Maiko and Hreidmar were sitting in the little Italian bistro down on tenth and main sipping some Italian wine and eating biscotti. On the drive over and while sitting at the table they talked about themselves both being honest with each other. They discovered they each had so-called skeletons in their closets but nothing that would be harmful to their budding relationship. They liked many of the same things in life, to Hreidmar’s relief one is food and another is fast cars.

  Their food had not yet arrived when two very dark and sinister looking men in black suits, white shirts and black ties came up to stand next to the table. Both were dressed identical with bulges under their suit jackets that Maiko noticed the moment they walked into the restaurant. Slowly with no sudden movements, they reached under their suit jackets presenting their badges respecting Maiko and her hand on her gun hidden underneath her black suit jacket she had put on when they left the hospital. Thinking it funny how traditional we law enforcement types are with presenting our shinny badges with the advent of holographic identification cards, she slowly took her hand off her weapon resting it on top of the table.

  “All right fellas you obviously know who we are and how to find us what is it we can do for you?” Maiko asked a little peeved they rudely interrupted their first date.

  “Ms. Nakamura you and the living miracle are being asked very nicely to come with us and once we are in a secure area we will be able to explain in some detail what is being asked of you. Would you mind coming with us?” one agent asked nicely but in a no-nonsense tone. Hreidmar knew he would soon be going with the agents and since this was way out of his league, he let Maiko take the lead.

  “Ok but answer me one question. Why the twentieth century looks fellas?” Maiko asked curious with a touch of humor around the edges of her voice.

  “Because we like the style,” both agents responded at the same time.

  Reluctantly rising from the table with matching sighs, they wound their way through the crowded tables out the front door and directly to a waiting presidential style black limousine. Approaching the passenger side rear door one of the agents quickly opened the door but before he would let Maiko pass he reached out his hand palm up waiting. Knowing what he wanted Maiko undid her holster clip from her belt handing him her gun and holster before getting into the car. Hreidmar slid into the back seat next to her the door slamming shut behind him. When both agents were in the car, they sped out into traffic. The car is state of the art with front and back controls for the Stellargraphic Systems Incorporated communication system and numerous other devices that they did not know exactly what they were for so they kept their hands to themselves and waited.

  “Well we started out great on our first date but the sad part is we did not get to eat the delicious food. I am starved half to death and if I don’t eat soon the living miracle is going to be a dead dwarf king,” Hreidmar laughed breaking the silence.

  “Don’t worry living miracle, your food is nicely wrapped with a fresh bottle of wine in the trunk and we took the liberty to order food for your friend Mr. Anderson. By the way Mr. Christensen, what’s with the dwarf king moniker?” the agent on the passenger side of the front seat asked. Maiko was not surprised in the least by what the agent said about Garrett after all if they wanted to talk to them, they would certainly want to talk to Garrett. She was very concerned that he did not have the time to get to the university before they picked him up.

  “Dwarf king is what my names means and as a joke my father named me Hreidmar,” he responded plaintively.

  “I am agent Smith and my partner is agent Smith,” the agent in the front passenger seat introduced them.

  “You’re kidding right? C’mon really Smith and Smith,” Maiko laughed skeptically.

  “Yes Agent Smith and Agent Smith Ms. Nakamura we are brothers.”

  “Ok well then Agents Smith and Smith why have you interrupted our first date?”

  “At the request of the president we are bringing you to the White House for a little visit. By the way, the food and wine is compliments of the president. You will be eating very soon your majesty I assure you," passenger Agent Smith answered with aplomb.

  They were speeding through the streets when the missile hit the street directly in front of their vehicle in a blinding flash of light and fire from the subsequent explosion causing the speeding car to flip upside down landing forcefully onto the street in a shower of sparks and screeching metal as it continued its forward momentum down the street. The car finally can to a stop with the passengers physically unharmed but thrown completely into disarray. Thankfully, their law enforcement training came to their rescue helping them recover from the shock of a sudden missile attack galvanizing them into swift action. Quickly unstrapping their seat belts one of the agents handed Maiko her gun and one to Hreidmar before they scrambled out the driver’s side doors crawling along the sidewalk behind some parked cars next to the curb. Their heads swiveled in all directions like human bobble heads wondering where the next attack would come from; their adrenaline-filled bodies coiled tight like compression springs ready to spring back to their normal shape at the first sign of another attack.

  Suddenly, the ferocious attack came nearly overwhelming them as steel tipped projectiles slammed into the parked cars around them some ripping through the metal as if it did not exist to turn chunks of the sidewalk into stinging pieces of shrapnel. The cacophony of steel shredding from the impact hundreds of bullets and the rapports from the weapons firing them caused a disconcerting effect to all of them. Spurring into action the two agents quickly moved them along the sidewalk back in the direction they came from away from the ambush point staying low behind the parked cars lining the street. When they were in relatively safe position, they returned fire with their weapons elated to see two of the enemy fall to the ground in front of the buildings across the street. Their victory was short-lived as another hail of steel tipped bullets ripped into the parked cars in front of them pinning them down preventing them from returning fire.

  Help suddenly arrived, when three black sedans came to a screeching halt in front of them with heavily armed agents pouring out of them firing their weapons with great effect killing many ambushers. One of the agents with a shoulder held missile launcher fired it into a building decimating the front and side in a huge ear-splitting explosion killing the enemy hiding there and knocking many others forcibly to the ground.

  Using the distraction of this sudden and relentless attack on the enemy that a moment before had them pinned down the agents took their charges by the arms and led them to the rear vehicle pushing them inside the rear compartment slamming the door behind them. Once they were both inside, they backed down the street the way they had come, turned on a side street speeding off at a high speed. From this point on the drive is breakneck and dangerous but Maiko had to admit Agent Smith could drive. What concerned her was who attacked them and how did they know when to. She had an idea why but she did not want to think about it. If whoever wanted them dead is in league with the creature, they have been tracking then they are in a very dangerous situation. Somebody influential in the CIA or whatever agency is in on this and they have very good information at their disposal.

  “What the heck is going on?" she yelled at the agents, her hearing still not returned to normal from the ringing in her ears caused by the rocket blast and gunfire.

  “All we know Nakamura is we have been compromised," Agent Smith yelled back. Reaching in the large glove box just in front of him under the dash, Agent Smith handed back two large boxes of ammo followed by a handful of magazines. “Load the magazines and any remaining
rounds that you have hand them back to me so I can load ours.” Quickly filling their magazines, they handed the leftover box back to the agent.

  “What do we do now?” Hreidmar asked in curiously.

  “We, meaning us have our backup plan for precisely this reason. We do not tell anyone what it is so the chance of anyone compromising it is virtually nonexistent. Gary look at that dot on the radar isn’t that Mr. Andersons escort?” the agent driving asked pointing to the HHUD. Hearing the first name of one of the agents for the first time surprised their passengers.

  “Sure is and it looks like he still has his location emitter still turned on. You turned ours off right Gary?” the passenger agent asked the agent driving. By now Hreidmar is laughing so hard he was holding his ribs at the expression he could see on Maiko’s face every time the street lights lit the inside of the car.

  “Damn it what the heck is going on with your names,” Maiko stormed.

  “Our dad thought it funny since we are twins to give us the same name. He was hooked on this show from the twentieth century where two brothers had the same name. Only difference was they were not twins I guess. I think we have been totally compromised and your friend is heading into a trap,” Gary said abruptly changing the subject back to the matters at hand.

  “Are you saying the agents escorting Garrett are compromised or it is the same situation that we faced?” Maiko asked with concern for Garrett.

  “Ms. Nakamura it doesn’t matter either way, we have to stop them before they reach the evacuation zone. Gary can you get us in a position to stop them?" Not waiting for an answer he continued, "When we get there you too stay in the car until we tell you it is safe,” Agent Smith told them firmly.

  “The target is running parallel with us Gary. I believe I can make a left up here and come right out in front of them. They are either going to stop or slam into us,”

  “Well I would have to say this has been the first best first date I have ever been on what do you say Maiko?” Hreidmar asked good naturedly not expecting an answer.

  Racing down the street at a high speed to get ahead of the target vehicle, Agent Smith quickly hit the brakes turning the wheel to the left gunning it down a side street. They were all watching the blip on the HHUD and wondering if they were going to make it in time or slam into the side to the vehicle timing was that close. As it happened, they did make it stopping directly in front of the onrushing vehicle that slammed on its brakes to avoid hitting them. Coming to a screeching halt, the agents from both vehicles exited the cars weapons drawn. Maiko opened the rear passenger, side door and eased out to the right behind the rear fender thereby putting her in a good position to observe or to return fire if necessary. Hreidmar quickly followed her and hunkered down next to her with his weapon in his hand.

  The agents in the other car had opened both front doors and had their weapons drawn. One Agent Smith is up by the right front fender weapon at ready and the other Agent Smith positioned himself next to a parked car close to the curb. They found themselves in a classic stalemate with none of the agents willing to trust each other. Quickly standing before anyone could stop him Hreidmar shoved his gun in his belt, walked around the rear edge of the car with his hands held palms outward away from his body stopping in the middle of the street between the cars. Too late to stop him Maiko watched him bravely walk right into the line of fire, thinking she is simply going to kill him for scaring her half to death.

  “Ok let’s not get hasty and start shooting guys. I am Hreidmar the dwarf king one of the people you are supposed to protect and escort. By the way, don’t ask me why I am the dwarf king now is not the time,” he said laughed trying to defuse the palpable tension with a little levity. “We were ambushed and these two agents saved our lives at the risk of theirs so as a matter of course we happen to trust them. The issue is we don’t know if you are compromised or were likewise heading into a trap but don’t worry I have a solution.” Maiko is going to kill me he thought continuing on anyway, “Why don’t you let Garrett out of the car to come stand next to me? That will show some good faith on your part that you don’t mean us any harm and still keep us within your reach.”

  “All right dwarf king we will play your game such as it is. Mr. Anderson get out of the car and slowly go stand next to your friend,” the agent on the passenger side said.

  Garrett opened the passenger rear door of the car and stepped out onto the road walking slowly as directed to stand next to Hreidmar looking at him expectantly. “Ok Hreidmar what is the plan?”

  “I don’t know Garrett I was winging it. All I wanted to do is get you out of the car and I did that. What do we do now you’re the cop?” Hreidmar asked under his breath. Garrett looked at him with a stunned askance expression on his face. Then Garrett burst out laughing so hard he had to sit down on the street so he did not fall.

  “Guys he has no plan, nothing at all,” he said still laughing. “Hreidmar told me I am the cop that I need to figure out the next move,” he said between bouts of laughter. Hreidmar knew he was in trouble Maiko is definitely going to kill him.

  “It seems my new boyfriend is indisputably brave beyond compare I can attest to that but, what I did not know was he is dumb as a rock. The problem is I think I am in love with him even with all his deficiencies, so I guess that makes me dumb as rock too,” Maiko laughed walking out from behind the car to stand next to her companions. Hreidmar was pleased she called him her boyfriend but the dumb as a rock part he would have to get his head wrapped around that first. Although he had to admit, walking out there in the middle of the street with guns pointing at him had to rank right up there with the most stupid thing he has ever done. The problem is he has done so many stupid things in life that he could not choose the most stupid thing he has ever done they were all dumb moves.

  The two agents looked at each other in agreement holstering their weapons they stepped away from the car doors and walked toward them. Both Agent Smiths holstering their guns joined them a moment later. Garrett’s agents were a stark contrast to both Agent Smiths. Both were dressed in jeans, with leather Loafers on their feet and button down the middle shirts with a light sport jacket. They were both unshaven and had their long hair pulled back into ponytails.

  “Hreidmar I am Agent Markowski you did good, real good,” the agent said in admiration shaking Hreidmar’s hand. “My partner and best friend, agent De Luca," he said pointing to the agent energetically shaking Hreidmar's hand. Where Agent Markowski is tall and slender with blond hair and blue eyes Agent De Luca is a stark contrast at medium height and stocky with dark-brown hair and brown eyes. Maiko definitely liked the way Markowski filled out his jeans then stopped that thought in its tracks remembering she is a changed woman.

  “We can’t stand here and talk all night we need to move,” Agent Smith said in a firm tone.

  “What is the plan?” Agent De Luca questioned.

  “I believe we have been compromised by someone in our government who I don't know, so we need to disappear off the grid for a time. We have not always been agents and when we were younger, we liked to help people disappear. We leave everything here cars and all your communication devises everything. There should be vests in the trunks, if you are not wearing one put one on, any weapons and ammo take them as well, and make it quick," Agent Smith ordered.

  “Why are you helping us?” Maiko asked.

  “Somebody wants you dead. You know too much about something, I don't know enough about and that makes me curious, curious enough to risk getting killed over it. The question is does it reach the level of the president or his aids I don’t know but I am going to find out who and why. We can do this right Gary?” he asked his brother who shook his head yes. "The question is do you guys want in? If you are in, we have a better than average chance all of us will be killed or at the least never return to this life. You are probably already marked for death anyway so it might be a good idea for you to join us what do you think?” Agent Smith asked expectantly.
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  “I am in for sure,” Agent De Luca said quickly.

  “Count me in too,” Agent Markowski chimed in.

  “Ok I want all of you back in this spot in sixty seconds.”

  Hurrying to the cars, they grabbed what they needed and returned with grim expressions in less than sixty seconds troubled that their every move is now well documented by the surveillance devices and whoever is in on this will have access to the data. Thankfully, it is late in the evening and the streets are quiet and, the city police are working the ambush site way too busy to come to this location or they would have some explaining to do. Taking a small device out of his pocket, Agent Smith thumbed it on pointing to the surveillance camera on the pole right next to them. The operational light blinked out and in seconds, they could see the cascading effect of all of them systematically going out up and down the street.

  “What this ingenious device I happened to design does, is send a virus into the system that will not only shut the entire system down it will destroy the data for the last three or four hours. The nice thing is it will keep the systems down for three or more hours. When the time has elapsed, the virus will destroy itself leaving no trace of it behind," Agent Smith said putting the device back in his pocket before continuing. "Here is the plan, we go to our bolthole and start the process of disappearing. When we get there we will talk more,” Agent Smith concluded heading off down the street expecting them to follow him.