The Sol 3 Agenda

by Brian Kitchen

  “You have news for me, King?” she asked him.

  “Yes boss. I’ve learnt that John Trevaskis may be meeting with Oisin. We’re tracking him at present as we don’t yet know where the meeting is to take place.”

  “You say we, King, so who is with you?”

  “Terry Jackson, boss.” King had nearly said Soldier Boy, but Terry was higher ranked than him in the Rectifiers and so he used the name that he knew him by.

  “So why is it not Jackson who is making this call?” Mona enquired icily. King gulped and hesitated for a moment, then decided that he owed Jackson no favours.

  “He hasn’t made the call as he wants to take them both down and then tell you, when it’s done. Probably glory hunting, boss,” King added spitefully.

  “So, let me get this clear,” Mona said, barely controlling her temper. “You and Jackson are tracking John Trevaskis, to a possible meeting with Oisin, at an unknown destination and Jackson, your superior in the Rectifiers, hasn’t seen fit to inform me of this. Is that correct, King?”

  “That’s correct, boss.”

  Mona was fuming by now. Why had JT’s pet cyborg not notified JT, or her, immediately that he had been made aware of the meeting between John Trevaskis and Oisin. She shook her head. She’d been told by JT that the cyborg followed orders to the letter and wasn’t capable of independent thought. Mona’s orders had been very specific. If the whereabouts of Oisin ever became known, then she was to be immediately informed and no action was to be taken until she had given further orders. It appeared that JT might be attempting to double-cross her. Then something in what King said suddenly struck her.

  “King you said that Jackson wants to take both John Trevaskis and Oisin down, what quite do you mean by that?”

  King wasn’t sure if he should voice what he felt, but again knew that he had no loyalties to Soldier Boy and that Jackson would blame him if anything went wrong.

  “I might be wrong boss, but I think that Jackson is intending to terminate them both.”

  What King said stunned Mona. She had no intentions whatsoever of terminating either John Trevaskis or Oisin. Her plans were to try and form an alliance with them, both against JT and the Nemhain. If they were both dead, then that wouldn’t be possible. JT must be behind this she immediately decided.

  “Right King, this is what you are to do. You will leave your phone on, so that we can track you and . . . .”

  “You can track me from my phone?” King who was a bit of a technophobe asked in wonderment.

  “Yes, and don’t interrupt me again!” Mona snarled at him down the phone.

  “Sorry boss.”

  “Then, when you are sure that John Trevaskis has reached the place that he is to meet with Oisin, you will immediately let me know. Under no circumstances whatsoever, are you, or Jackson, to attempt to eliminate either John Trevaskis, or Oisin. Do I make myself clear?”

  “Crystal clear, boss,” King replied and then asked the question he really didn’t want to ask. “Er, what if Jackson is intent on killing them both?”

  “Then you stop him King! Kill Jackson if necessary, but both Oisin and John Trevaskis must be kept alive at all costs.”

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Abbot’s House, Trentbury, England

  The same day

  Kate Penrose had woken up late that morning and so for her had a very quick shower. She then got dressed and went down for breakfast. Morann and Padraig were in the room where they all usually had their meals, but there was no sign of John.

  “John’s had his breakfast I take it?” Kate asked them.

  “I really wouldn’t know, Kate,” Morann answered, “but Conn has just told me it isn’t safe for you to be here for the time being. So, Padraig and I are going to take you to a place of safety, until certain matters are resolved.”

  Kate looked at Morann in disbelief, but noticed that she was looking very serious indeed.

  “You’re frightening me Morann,” Kate said and then noticing that John was nowhere to be seen. “Where’s John?”

  “John is on a mission of great importance,” it was Conn who answered her, coming into the room.

  “What do you mean and what is this mission? I thought that we were going back to the VarTech HQ today.”

  “He has gone to meet with Oisin, Kate,” Morann answered.

  “Oisin? Why?” Kate asked, looking first at Morann and then Conn.

  “All will be revealed in good time, Kate, but we really must go to the teleportation chamber now,” Conn insisted.

  “But I’ve not had my breakfast!” Kate protested, realising as soon as she said it, that she’d sounded rather childish.

  “Jane has prepared you a takeaway,” Morann told Kate, as an android, one of the staff at Abbot’s House, came into the room carrying a large lidded plastic box and a thermos flask.” Jane handed them over to Kate.

  “They’re your favourite bacon sandwiches Kate and I’ve remembered to put on the tomato sauce,” Jane told Kate before walking off.

  “Thank you, Jane,” Kate replied and then rather bewilderedly, followed Conn, Padraig and Morann out of the room. What the hell was going on she thought, as Conn led the way towards where Kate knew the teleportation chamber was situated.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~

  On route to Great Conch Cay, The Bahamas

  JT had left the White House in his private Helijet and was on the way back to Great Conch Cay. Unbeknown to Mona McBeolain, JT had received a message from Terry Jackson to say that he was following John Trevaskis to a meeting he was having with Oisin. This had concerned JT, as Terry should have first reported knowledge of the meeting to JT and then awaited instructions as to how he should proceed. Something must have gone wrong with the cyborg’s programming. Perhaps as JT had feared when he’d first converted the body of Terry Jackson to that of a cyborg, he’d left it too long before making the conversion. That could have affected the neural links between what had been left of Jackson’s human brain and the electronic implants that JT had inserted. Over time the neural links must have deteriorated further, and JT realised that Terry was no longer under his control and was about to do something that JT didn’t want him to do.

  JT needed John Trevaskis alive, for now that JT knew that the Nemhain was free from captivity and no doubt hunting for him, he needed to get off this planet and as Hoskens’ Deltoid had seemingly vanished, JT needed to acquire another one. John Trevaskis would have access to a Deltoid and as JT couldn’t fly a Deltoid himself, due to not having the Aos Si genes, he would need John Trevaskis for that task. Convincing John Trevaskis to do so could prove a problem, but if JT was holding Kate Penrose hostage, then he was sure that John Trevaskis would be easy to persuade. Of course, JT would need to get hold of Kate Penrose, but Terry had informed him that she was at Abbot’s House. JT knew Abbot’s House well and thought it should be easy enough to kidnap Kate Penrose from there.

  First things first, however. Terry had outlived his purpose and needed to be terminated along with Oisin and afterwards JT could have John Trevaskis abducted and brought to him. Soon after that, the girl’s abduction could then follow. JT took his secure satellite phone out of his pocket and dialled one of the pre-set numbers. His call was answered almost immediately.

  “Siabhra,” JT said. “I have two terminations I wish you to carry out. Your usual rates, I assume.”

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Haddon Hall, Derbyshire, England

  John Trevaskis was standing on the steps leading down from the upper garden terrace, which overlooked the fountain terrace below. Someone was down there, standing with their back to him, looking at the fountain. Looking at his wristwatch, John saw that it was 1.55pm and then smiled to himself. Like John, his father had never liked to be late for anything and so, if it was him, he was being true to character. Certainly, the man whoever he was, appeared to be the same height as his father, 5ft 9ins and was of medium build with broad shoulders like him. John couldn’t see the colour of the man’s
hair, as he was wearing a baseball hat, which looked suspiciously like the ones that John had seen the Trentbury Rovers supporters wearing, the previous Saturday. Taking a gamble John walked down the steps and then over the grass towards him.

  “So, you knew where to meet me then, John,” his father said, turning to face him. He studied John closely. The lad had filled out a bit, muscle, not fat and he looked far fitter than he had done the last time he’d seen him. The training he knew John had had would have helped with that and also the medical nanobots too. John also seemed more confident and self-assured, which would all stand him in good stead, for the future that he knew lay ahead for his son.

  “So, you’re Oisin,” John suddenly said. “Where have you been, dad? I thought you were dead, when you weren’t in Trentbury, when I came back there.”

  “There was a reason I wasn’t in Trentbury and as for where I’ve been, well probably to some of the places that you’ve been to and also to some that you’ve not yet been.” John’s father answered. “I don’t have time to explain it all to you at present, as we’ve got some unwelcome guests about to gate crash our reunion. I promise you however, that I will explain everything to you in good time. Yes, here they are, John, bang on time,” John’s father replied looking up towards the steps that John had just come down. John turned his head to see where his father was looking and saw Terry Jackson and another older man, who looked vaguely familiar, coming down the steps towards them from the upper garden terrace.

  “That looks like Terry Jackson,” John said. “What on Earth is he doing here?”

  “Probably come to kill us both,” John’s father said.

  John turned in shock to look at him, but saw no concern whatsoever on his father’s face.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Earlier that afternoon

  Terry Jackson and Marcus King had followed John Trevaskis all the way from Derby to Haddon Hall and had pulled into the car park to the Hall, which was across the road from its entrance. Terry was now looking at the software on his phone which showed that John was somewhere either in the Hall, or its grounds.

  “Looks like we’ll be doing a bit of Stately Home visiting, Royalty, at least you should be at home there,” Terry said sneeringly. “I hope you’ve got some money as I’ve left my wallet back at the hotel.”

  Typical, King thought to himself as Terry now looked at his wristwatch.

  “We’ve got an hour and a half yet, before the meeting, so let’s drive on into Bakewell and you can then treat me to a pub lunch,” Terry said turning to smirk at King. “Drive on, my good man.” Terry instructed. King cursed under his breath, put the car in gear and drove back onto the A6 and headed for Bakewell.

  Arriving there they parked up. King then noticed a public toilet.

  “I need a pee,” he told Terry and headed for it.

  “That’s the problem with getting old, Royalty. Bladder problems!” Terry shouted after him. King cursed again. He was only going to the toilet to get away from Terry, so he could call the boss again. Finding an empty cubicle, King went in and locked the door. He took his phone out of his pocket and dialled the pre-set number for the boss. It was answered within seconds.

  “Yes, King, have you something to report.”

  “John Trevaskis is at Haddon Hall, near Bakewell, in Derbyshire,” King told the boss, “but Terry’s insisted that we go into Bakewell to get something to eat. He says John Trevaskis won’t be meeting Oisin for another hour and a half.””

  “I see, just a moment King,” Mona McBeolain, paused the call thinking hard. Could she arrange for Morag, the Siabhra she used, to get to Haddon Hall before the meeting and terminate Jackson. Well she could try. “You’ll need to ensure, that you and Jackson get back there in good time, King, and as I said, you’ll need to kill Jackson if it looks like his intention is to kill John Trevaskis and Oisin.”

  “Will do, Boss,” King replied, hoping that he didn’t sound too nervous. The call had ended though, before he could say anymore. Exiting the toilet cubicle King hurried back to the car, where Terry was impatiently waiting for him.

  “You’ve been a long time, what’ve you been doing?” Terry demanded to know and then grimaced and shook his head. “On second thoughts, I don’t want to know.”

  I’ll swing for him yet and take great pleasure in it, King thought to himself as he then trailed behind Terry, who was striding purposefully towards a nearby pub. Terry stopped outside it and read the menu, which was displayed on a board near the pub’s door.

  “Bit expensive,” Terry said and then turning to grin at King added. “Doesn’t matter though, you’re paying, Royalty. Come on, don’t lag behind,” Terry opened the door and walked in.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~

  After a very hurried pub lunch, Terry and King had driven back to Haddon Hall, parked in the car park and then crossed the road over to the Hall. King had grumbled at having to pay Terry’s admission too and vowed to himself he’d make sure he got the money back for that and also for Terry’s lunch that he’d paid for. They walked on up the drive until they reached the hall.

  After looking at the tracking app on his mobile phone, Terry had told King, that Oisin and John Trevaskis were in the terraced gardens. It being the middle of September, the kids were back in school and it being a cold afternoon, there weren’t many visitors about. Only an old couple seemed to be in the gardens. Terry looked down to the Fountain Terrace where he soon spotted John and another man, standing over by the fountain.

  “There they are,” Terry said drawing an automatic pistol. King hesitated for a moment and then drew his own Glock 17. He realised that he might have to use it to stop Terry from killing John Trevaskis and Oisin and sincerely hoped that he had the nerve to do it.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~

  John could now see the other man more closely. He couldn’t be 100% sure, but John thought that it looked like a very much older Marcus King, the Special Branch man who had been pursuing Kate Penrose in Cornwall, back in 1985. Terry, John saw, had a gun in his hand which wasn’t an Immobiliser and that it was pointed towards John’s father and himself.

  “Stop trying to draw whatever weapon you’ve got hidden in your pocket, John,” Terry said, having seen John’s hand edging towards where the Immobiliser was hidden in his pocket. “In fact, you can both put your hands on your head, nice and slowly. Now!” John and his father did as they were told.

  “That’s better,” Terry said. “Any last words, boys, before I pull the trigger?”

  “They weren’t the boss’s orders Terry!” King suddenly shouted out and swung to face him pointing his gun now at him. “Drop your gun, now!”

  Chapter 25

  Haddon Hall, Derbyshire

  Wednesday 14th September 2005

  Terry turned to confront King, his eyes widening a little, when he saw King’s gun pointed directly at him. Then he laughed. “Don’t make me piss myself laughing King, put the gun down you stupid sod!”

  “You put yours down, Terry,” King said, a tremor in his voice and Terry saw that King’s hand was trembling. A shot rang out and King staggered backwards, dropping his gun and looking in horror at the wound in his right shoulder. Terry cursed under his breath, he’d aimed for King’s heart and he didn’t usually miss, but his shot had been well off target this time.

  John and his father had been closely watching what was going on, when suddenly out of the corner of his eye, John saw a tall woman with cropped, golden platinum blonde hair, suddenly step out of the rose bushes to the side of them. She too was holding some kind of a hand gun in each of her hands, though it wasn’t like anything John had ever seen before. The woman pointed one of them at Terry and the next moment he was falling to the ground, a gaping hole in his head, right between his eyes. Then she pointed the other weapon at King.

  “You, down on your knees!” the woman commanded King and without hesitation he dropped to the ground, clutching his right shoulder and shaking like a leaf. The woman’s weapons then turned to ta
rget John and his father. “I am very sorry, Oisin, but I’ve been commissioned to execute you.”

  “ So, may I ask who has commissioned you, Siabhra?”

  “You know I can’t tell you that Oisin, client confidentiality forbids me.”

  “Siabhra, Imperial edict forbids you from assassinating a member of the Fianna, who has not undergone trial by the Triumvirate.” John heard his father telling the woman.

  “Where have you been Oisin, the Triumvirate no longer exists, they are all sadly demised,” the woman replied.

  “No, you’re wrong there, Siabhra,” Johns’ father answered, but then John’s attention was attracted by the sight of a young woman who was now walking down the steps in their direction. She looked familiar, but John was at first unable to place her. He looked at the young woman’s short hair, a dark auburn and then at her face. If the hair had been green and spiky, John would have said that she was Iseabail.

  This young woman, however, was dressed in a gold-coloured tunic and trousers and carried in her right hand what looked like the kind of mace that a medieval knight might have been armed with. The young woman saw John looking at her and put a finger to her lips. She also smiled, and it was then that John realised that it was Iseabail after all. He also knew that he had to warn Iseabail to run away, for she obviously didn’t know what danger she was in.