Operation: Immortal Servitude From Declassified Files of Team of Darkness

by Tony Ruggiero

  Dimitri wanted to learn more about this military man. Find out what his weaknesses were, so they could use against him later. Johnson's reaction to their return indicated both surprise and awe. This would be the beginning of determining how they could use him.

  Johnson looked at the group with an apparent admiration that Dimitri thought he usually held in reserve, only giving it to those who had performed superbly in the field. And why not? They had completed their task successfully and in a mere fraction of the amount of time that their captors had anticipated. There were no red splotches of paint staining their clothing. They have seen what they have wanted to see.

  "Get in the back of the truck,” Johnson said.

  As they got in the truck, Dimitri waited to be last. Before he jumped in, he turned to Johnson. “From one warrior to another,” Dimitri said. “We both have an appreciation for the art of military tactics."

  "Yes,” Johnson said, “apparently so."

  Dimitri smiled and hopped in.

  Johnson closed the back of the vehicle and took his place in the cab with the driver. He instructed the driver to return to the facility.

  As the vehicle made its way back, Dimitri felt satisfied for the moment. He had sensed what he wanted to from Johnson and he thought he had found a leverage point that they could use to their advantage. Johnson admired them.

  Chapter Forty-one

  "I'd call that a damned successful test,” General Stone said. His entire body exhibited excitement and pleasure at the successful outcome of the mission. “In fact, with a little training in tactics they could be operational in no time.” He looked at Reese, Stone, Johnson and Barkley as they sat in the briefing room going over the results of the test.

  "Lieutenant Johnson,” he said. “From an operational platoon commander, what is your assessment?"

  Johnson hesitated before he spoke, glancing sideways at Reese.

  Reese gave him a stern glare, hoping that he would not fuel Stone's enthusiasm any further.

  "They achieved the objective well above expected parameters that were set for them,” Johnson said, in a straightforward tone of voice.

  Reese exhaled, appreciating the professional tone of Johnson's answer.

  "However,” Johnson continued, in a voice that now reflected his own pleasure and enthusiasm. “I would like to also say that our own forces could not have performed as well."

  "Commander Reese, any comment?"

  Reese knew he had to be careful on how he answered. If he went too far in opposition, Stone would not like it. He had to find some sort of middle ground for the moment. He remembered what Dimitri had said when he told them about the test. To see how their specimens acted.

  "General, I concur with the findings and results of the test; however, I think that if any further thoughts as to the use of this team in the future is to have any success, then some type of terms will have to be arranged with them."

  "Terms? What the hell are you talking about, Reese?"

  "I don't think that the threat of death for not performing what you dictate to them will have the effect you desire. I would suggest a—"

  "I have a way of finding the weak points in people, Commander,” Stone interrupted. “Once I talk to them, I'll figure out something."

  Talk is good, Reese thought. If I keep everyone talking, it might mean less action for the moment. Perhaps once Stone gets a chance to see how Dimitri is, he might move more cautiously.

  "Then may I suggest that now might be a good time? That was the bargain I struck with them in order to go on this test mission,” Reese interjected boldly. “The leader, Dimitri, wants to speak with you."

  Stone eyed Reese speculatively for several seconds and then spoke. “Well then, we shouldn't keep them waiting.” He turned toward the rest of the men and said, “Thank you, gentlemen, for your time. Commander Reese, take me to our friends."

  They proceeded toward the confinement area of the creatures. Reese wondered what Stone would use for leverage against them. The look he had in his eyes as he saw the creatures complete the mission was one of awe and enthusiasm. He had plans in his mind; there was no doubt about that. And Johnson was acting differently as well. It appeared as if he admired the creatures in some way. But Reese thought he knew Johnson enough to think otherwise.

  As Reese thought about Johnson, they turned the final corner to find Idriz Laupki waiting outside the door to the confinement area along with Corporal Brosnev. Reese felt his stomach lurch at the sight of him, knowing that he wanted access now, as was the agreement of their bargain.

  Earlier, Barkley had informed Reese that he had received a new batch of the elixir, with explicit instructions on how to make it. Idriz had lived up to his half of the bargain. Now Reese would have to live up to his.

  Reese made introductions and the interpreter translated, but Idriz made no response; instead, he pointed at his throat.

  "He has laryngitis,” Brosnev said. “He said he inhaled some fumes from the new batch of elixir that he made. It caused his throat to become sore and he lost his voice. Major Barkley said it would be temporary."

  "Please pass along my personal thanks for the good work he has been doing for us,” Stone said to Brosnev, who quickly translated it. Idriz nodded and smiled but emitted no sound. “He is welcome to join us. I know that was part of the bargain for the work he has done."

  Again the translator spoke and Idriz bowed his head.

  "Sir, perhaps now is not the best time,” Reese said.

  "Are you telling me it is not safe, Commander? All these safeguards you have should be more then enough."

  "No, sir, that's not the problem,” Reese said. He lowered his voice so that only Stone would hear him. “It's just that there is bad blood between this man and the creatures, and if you intend to bargain with them to reach—"

  "Bargain? No, Commander, I don't intend to bargain,” he said, his cheeks flushed with anger. “I think you used the correct word earlier. I plan to dictate to them. Now let's go."

  Reese hesitated for several seconds before sliding his card and pressing his thumbprint to the scanner. Before he entered the confinement area, he turned toward Brosnev and spoke in a low voice.

  "Corporal, you stay out here. Call Lieutenant Johnson for me and tell him to meet us here—ASAP."

  "Yes, sir."

  The door slid open and the three men entered. Brosnev was on the phone locating Lieutenant Johnson, as one of the guards stood watch at the door. As they entered the common area, they found the creatures sitting and talking amongst themselves.

  Dimitri rose to meet them and placed a hand on Josip's shoulder so that he would stay seated. Reese saw a look pass between the two creatures. Dimitri was nervous about something; probably about the presence of Idriz Laupki, just as Reese was.

  "Dimitri,” Reese said. “This is General Stone. He is in charge of what happens around here. You said you wished to speak with him."

  "Ah ... General. It is an honor to meet you,” Dimitri said. “If I may suggest, this other man,” he said, pointing at Idriz, “should not be in here. It is not a good time."

  "This man is part of my team,” Stone said as he squared his shoulders in an obvious attempt to set the tone for the conversation. “And if I want him—"

  "Forgive me, General,” Dimitri continued, “but my men have been on your little test and they are wound up. It happens sometimes and it takes a while for them to calm down. The sight of this man—"

  "Who do you think you are?” Stone boomed. “You can't tell me who I can bring in here."

  "It is him,” Josip said. “The one that killed Franjo. He comes in here to taunt us with that fact."

  Idriz smiled but did not say anything as he locked gazes with Josip. Then he said something in his native tongue that Reese did not understand, but it was clear that Josip understood perfectly.

  What the hell? Surprise flooded Reese. Idriz was supposed to have lost his voice, and yet he sounded clear as always.

&nbs
p; Josip rose from his chair and was at Idriz before Reese had blinked. His hands clasped the man's throat, but Idriz still smiled even as Josip slit it open with his long fingernail. Blood flowed a deep red down Idriz's throat as Josip began to drink voraciously. Idriz laughed and Reese saw his tongue coated with blood.

  Reese awoke from the stupor and turned to the observation window of the control room.

  "Activate the—"

  Before Reese finished his sentence, Josip screamed, dropping Idriz onto the ground. Johnson and his standby security team burst into the room and surrounded the remaining three creatures. Idriz fell into a heap, blood still squirting from the main artery in his throat. Josip's skin exploded into a ball of flame which consumed his flesh.

  Barkley came running in after Johnson and his men. He knelt over Idriz, searching for a pulse in the mess of flesh that had been his neck.

  "He's dead,” Barkley said.

  Reese turned to Josip, who was nothing more than a heap of burning flesh.

  Dimitri knelt at the side of his friend, shaking his head as blood-filled tears flowed down his cheeks. Andre and Iliga joined him, placing their hands on his shoulder and not saying a word.

  General Stone appeared unaffected at the event that had taken only seconds to transpire. But Reese knew that beneath that stoic demeanor, he was plotting and planning even as death lay within five feet of him. He had now seen up close the capability of his new team.

  Reese turned to Johnson. “My compliments to the control room. They activated the collar just—"

  "They didn't,” exclaimed Johnson. “I told them to hold off until I was in the room and signaled. I was going to try and resolve the conflict before ordering the activation."

  "But if the collar wasn't activated, how did the elixir get released?"

  Barkley looked up from Idriz's body. “I think Idriz drank the elixir. His throat and mouth tissues show signs of massive bleeding. There is scar tissue, too. He's been drinking the elixir for a while."

  "He goaded Josip into attacking,” Dimitri said. “Just as he did to Franjo with the poisoned cow ... except this time, he was the bait."

  "What the hell are you talking about?” Stone asked.

  Reese explained. “Idriz knew that if he could get into this room, he would have a chance to kill Josip. He saturated his body with the elixir, and then said something to Josip to rile him. He knew that if Josip attacked, either the control room would activate the collar, or Josip would get the elixir from him. Either way, he got what he wanted.

  "Death?” Stone exclaimed. “He wanted to die? He's nothing more than a farmer and now a fool to give up his life!"

  "No, sir, not death, but revenge,” Reese said. His voice was stern and angry at the general's easy dismissal of Idriz's death, as well as the loss of Josip. “He had nothing else in life to look forward to except seeing the killer of his daughters punished. He carefully plotted this entire scenario out from the moment he walked into Camp Bondsteel to report the deaths of his two daughters. He knew that he couldn't get to Josip on his own, so he let us do it for him. He used us all the way. He hid the manner in which he made the elixir in order to ensure that he would accompany us back to the States. He was thorough as well as methodical. Not bad for a person we thought of as just a local farmer from—"

  "That's enough, Commander,” General Stone said, his voice indicating his strong dislike of Reese's tone. “I get your point."

  "Yes, sir,” Reese answered.

  "Bring Dimitri to the conference room."

  "Sir? After what just—"

  "Just do it, Commander,” Stone said, as he turned and left the room.

  Chapter Forty-two

  "Please accept my apology for the loss of your friend,” Stone said to Dimitri. The two of them sat at large table across from each other in a conference room. General Stone had thought it best to talk to Dimitri alone, against protests from both Reese and Johnson. “We did not expect the man to act the way he did,” Stone continued. “However, as much as we do mourn the loss of him, he has paid the price for inappropriate behavior."

  "Is that supposed to be some kind of conciliation?” Dimitri asked angrily.

  "No, of course not,” Stone said. “But I saw in the reports from Commander Reese that Josip attacked and killed two other men. I surmised it was only a matter of time before he would have tried to kill others.” Stone leaned forward on his elbows and continued. “And I was right because I know people. I understand the motivation that drives us, and that includes you and your kind. You are not any different then the rest of us."

  Dimitri looked into the cold hard eyes of General Stone. He knew this man was here to not offer his sympathy, but to get to the heart of what he wanted. But Dimitri thought along the same lines; he needed to find this man's leverage point.

  "Possibly you understand,” Dimitri answered. He lowered his voice to a non-threatening tone. “But no one should have to die like that. Especially a soldier.” He wanted to see what Stone's reaction would be.

  Stone stared at Dimitri with a curious look and said, “A soldier?"

  "Yes,” Dimitri affirmed. “That is what we were, more in spirit than in body, but soldiers of our country nonetheless."

  "You wanted to fight to keep your country from the invading bastards, isn't that correct?” Stone asked.

  "Yes,” Dimitri said, and he saw the look in Stone's eyes that he needed. This would be the way to lead him to get what he wanted, which would ultimately get them their freedom. “It was a long time ago..."

  "Things are not the same anymore as they were in the time you marched off to fight. Politics have worsened. The soldiers have become the politician's puppets."

  "Ah,” Dimitri said. “There is the obvious battleground and there is the other."

  "Yes, yes. You understand."

  "So are we to become a politician's tool?” Dimitri asked. “Is that what you want from me and my men?"

  "I want you to fight for my country,” Stone blurted out, as if the words had been confined too long inside of him and he had been waiting for the perfect opportunity to shout them out. “Fight for what I believe!"

  "Fight?” Dimitri questioned. “We are but a handful of men; soldiers briefly, with nothing but farming in our blood. How can we turn the great tide of the West for you? You have the strongest force in the world today."

  "That is true, but we cannot use them where we need to because of these political borders that have been set up to protect the rich and bureaucratic assholes of the world."

  "And where are these borders?” Dimitri asked.

  "Many places, but first I would attack those that are nearest to us. Those that send their drugs into our country. Drugs that people are tricked into using and then used to kill themselves."

  "What are these drugs?” Dimitri asked.

  "They rob the body and mind of life. They are substances that people place inside of their bodies thinking they will remove all their problems. But then they become a slave to the substance and it drives their lives to the point of death. It's a poison, nothing more. Those that make it know it and they thrive on the deaths of others. They don't use guns to do the killing, but it is killing just the same. This is war."

  "I detect a strong emotion to this commitment,” Dimitri said, probing further. “There is more."

  "My daughter, she was killed by these drugs,” Stone said.

  "You seek revenge then?"

  "No—it is not only that,” Stone said and pounded his fists on the table top. “I want an end to the madness that is destroying us!"

  "You are a man who cares about your country and its people,” Dimitri said. “It sounds like a noble cause that you carry upon your shoulder, but..."

  "But what?"

  "Surely this cannot be sanctioned by your politicians."

  Stone laughed bitterly. “No, of course not. The politicians think they will resolve the problem by diplomatic means, by giving the governments of these countries money to
make them fight this drug war. What they don't want to talk about is the economic balance that is involved. These shit countries would fall apart if they didn't participate in the drug trade. It takes lots of people to grow, manufacture, package and then move the product to market. If we put an end to the drugs, these country's economies would fall apart. So instead, we act like we are doing something to make the public think we are actively engaged in fighting drugs but we're not. The children are dying and all we are worried about is fucking public relations."

  "So how can you fight this without backing from your government?” Dimitri asked.

  "Simple. They wouldn't know about it directly. I have the ability by my position to keep all of this secret. This would be a clandestine operation. I would be in charge of the team. I would pick the missions, outfit you and your men with whatever you need."

  "I see,” Dimitri said. “You have obviously thought this out very carefully."

  "I have,” Stone agreed. “You don't get as far as I do without being able to obtain and use leverage."

  "Yes,” Dimitri said. “Leverage is very important—very important. However, you have given me no reason, besides death, why my men and I should engage in this endeavor of yours."

  "You said you are a soldier,” Stone said.

  "Yes, we were. Soldiers who wanted to free our country."

  "You cannot help your own country,” Stone said pointedly. “They need to settle their internal squabbles. But you can help mine. You can rid the world of those that prey on humanity. It will be a long war until we get all of them. And when it is done and things have settled down in your own country, I'll send you back, well-trained and prepared for modern warfare. You will be able to shape your country into what you want it to be."

  "I see,” Dimitri said. “You offer us a truly noble cause."

  "That's the long term plan. In the short term, I will ensure that you and your men have all the human blood of the enemy you want,” Stone added. “In addition, I will afford you and your men every accommodation that you may desire, within reason of course."