1 + 2

by Kristie Lynn Higgins

  "Got a sweet tooth?"

  "They're for the kids," she answers. "Aunt Kat and Aunt Kim are coming for a visit."

  "I know I'm really going to hate this," I say as I unlock the door, and a woman rushes in past me and pulls down her pants as she hurriedly heads into a stall. I wave for Pandora as I say, "Come on."

  Chapter Thirty-three

  Cerberus And The Council

  1:45 P.M...

  The Chamber...

  The door opened, letting light from the hall brightened the area, and the Council paused as a figure stepped in. Analysts hushed and halted their work, recognizing the one who entered. None of them dared make a sound. They didn't want to attract its attention.

  "Cerberus, you have returned," Mr. Morta said. "Did you track down Pandora? Have you been able to observe Pandora?"

  "Yeah." Stephanie closed the door, plunging the Chamber back to partial darkness illuminated by a computer-blue glow. "She isn't what I expected?"

  "Not what you expected?" Surprised by its statement, Mr. Decuma asked, "Did you make contact with Pandora?"

  "Yeah." Stephanie walked across the room and stood before them. "I learned a lot from my encounter."

  Disappointed, Mr. Decuma stated, "You were told not to make contact. Why did you disobey our orders?"

  "Actually, I was told not to kill Pandora, at least not yet. And I was told I could monitor her."

  Ms. Nona asked, "When did monitoring mean making contact?"

  "What better way to understand the prey than to get close, to study her habits, and to see why she does things." Stephanie added, "What better way to find her weaknesses."

  Mr. Morta's view...

  "Have you?" I ask.

  Cerberus is biting at its leash. We will need to keep a close eye on this experiment.

  I repeat my question, "Have you discovered Pandora's weaknesses?"

  End Mr. Morta's view...

  "A couple." Stephanie smiled, thinking of the boy. "I can use them to exploit her." She placed her hands on the table and looked into each of the Council's faces. "When will you let me kill her?" Stephanie glared at them as if willing them to give her the answer she desired. "How much longer do I have to wait? I want to kill her now!"

  Mr. Morta activated the center screen, and it lowered.

  "The bio-data we received from Pandora is inconclusive." Ms. Nona studied the outline of the female body on the center screen. "The readings seem to indicate Pandora has reached the Delta Phase, but..."

  "But there is no indication that Pandora ever reached Gamma," Mr. Decuma interrupted. "Without reaching that phase, there is no way it reached the Delta."

  "Does that mean our readings are correct?" Mr. Morta asked. "Do we have no further need of the Pandora Project or is something eluding our sight?"

  "Nothing eludes us," Ms. Nona said. "Pandora is a failure."

  Stephanie's eyes brightened. "Then you'll let me kill..."

  "Yes." Mr. Morta gave in reluctantly. "It means you can eliminate Pandora. We have no further need of that project."

  Stephanie clapped her hands like an excited child. "Finally, I thought I was going to have to disobey my orders."

  Mr. Morta caught her last statement; it seemed they might have more than one defiant project. He ordered, "Report to the Infirmary. You will go through one final checkup before your mission."

  "Awe... Come on! Do I have to?"

  "Yes," Mr. Decuma replied. "Do not make us repeat ourselves."

  "Oh, alright." Stephanie headed for the door. "But when I'm done, I'm going after her."

  After the experiment left...

  Mr. Decuma turned to the larger man and asked, "Why did you send Cerberus to the Infirmary?"

  "It will give Argus time to get into position. He is gathering his equipment as we speak," Mr. Morta said. "I want him to follow Cerberus. The experiment has an embedded tracking beacon, but still, I want no more unmonitored excursions into Noir. I have seen signs of insubordination from Cerberus. The experiment needs to be watched. We do not need a rogue."

  Ms. Nona and Mr. Decuma nodded.

  Mr. Decuma leaned back pleased with himself. "Cerberus will finally prove it is the superior project, and we will be rid of the useless Pandora."

  * * *

  1:51 P.M...

  Elsewhere in the Sanctum...

  Peters and Maxwell skittishly glanced around the hall and walked into the armory as Argus packed a duffle bag with equipment, and a cane leaned against the table. Argus' cuts and scrapes were mostly healed, and he favored his bruised ribs.

  "Is the Council sending you out on a job?" Maxwell asked.

  Argus nodded to the heavy set tech.

  "Are they sending you after Pandora?" Peters questioned.

  "No." Argus paused from packing. "I'm to follow Cerberus."

  "Oh..." Peters replied.

  Argus turned to the techs and questioned them, "Why did you want to know?"

  Maxwell answered, "We feel kind of bad. I mean, Pandora rescued us from the Factory, and all we did in the past was hurt her."

  Argus moved to the men. "What do you mean?"

  "About eight months ago, the Factory captured Pandora." Peters quieted his voice. "We were part of the group who experimented on her and some of the stuff we did..." He paused, unable to finish the sentence.

  "Some of the stuff we did was harsh," Maxwell admitted. "Torture, to be exact."

  "You were the ones!" Argus glared at the techs till he thought about his own role in the ordeal, and his anger vanished. "You're afraid of what Pandora might do if she finds out." He went back to his duffle. "Will she come after you and take her revenge?" Argus placed several magazines to his M4 in the bag.

  The techs nodded as Argus zipped up the equipment, and Argus said, "You might not have to worry about that."

  "Why's that?" Maxwell asked.

  "Cerberus is being sent to take out Pandora."

  "What?" Peters shouted and looked outside to the hall to see if he caught the attention of anyone. No one seemed to notice, so he turned back. "Cerberus is going to kill Pandora?"

  "And you're going to watch?" Maxwell uttered, folded his arms, and asked, "Aren't you?"

  "It is my job." Argus grabbed his black trench coat from a bench and put it on. "I'm not to hinder or help." He picked up his M4 from a table, slung the assault rifle over his shoulder, grabbed the cane, and headed for the door. "My job is to watch." The cane made little sound as its rubber tip struck the floor.

  "Even after she saved you?" Peters asked.

  Argus stopped beside the techs and looked at them. "If the Council captured Pandora, brought her in here, and ordered you to experiment on her, would you? Would you even after she saved you?"

  Peters and Maxwell frowned, knowing they would for fear of their own life.

  "Then leave me to my dark path. You have your own to walk." Argus continued out. He wished he could be more like Kat; he wished he could help when his heart beckoned.

  Chapter Thirty-four

  Closers, Closers, And More Closers

  2:41 P.M...

  Nile Sector, Commorance Vicinage...

  Bes Hotel...

  Kim and Kat walked out of the lady's restroom and headed for the hotel's entrance. They scanned the crowd for Nikolai and Natasha. The lobby bustled with people and at first, they didn't see any sign of them.

  "Hurry!" Kim increased her pace, ready to draw her gun at any moment. "Out the front!"

  "I'm coming." Kat followed her.

  Nikolai and Natasha exited an elevator and spotted them.

  He motioned with his head and said in a calm voice, "There they are."

  Natasha reached her hand up her sleeve, going for her knives.

  He put a hand on her arm and told her, "Not here. There are too many people. We must wait."

  "They are heading outside, my brother. We can kill them under the cover of darkness."


  Near the entrance...

  "Hurry!" Kim pushed her way out the rotating doors.

  "Go on." Kat paused still inside the hotel. "I'm going to buy us some time to cross the road."

  Nikolai halted along with his sister. He reached into his suit jacket ready to draw his gun, not knowing what Kat would do. He preferred not to pull his weapon in front of so many people. "What is she up to?"

  "I do not know, my brother." Natasha eyed her. "Perhaps she is giving the Phoenix some time to escape. We should continue."

  Making sure they noticed, Kat reached into her pocket, removed a small item, and placed it on the floor in front of the rotating doors. She rushed outside and joined Kim.

  "Wait..." Wary, Nikolai put his arm out, holding back his sister. "We must be careful."

  Natasha leaned to her twin brother's ear and whispered, "What did she place on the floor? Was it an explosive?"

  "It could be that or some sort of toxin." He put his arm down. "We must be cautious. I will go and check it out. Stay here." Nikolai slowly walked to the small item.

  People came in and out the front, and a few people walked over top of the item, till someone kicked it across the floor. The round thing slid, stopping in front of Nikolai. He took a step back, afraid that at any moment it would explode, but nothing happened. Nikolai stared at the red and white thing for a few seconds. He bent down, picked up the item in a plastic wrapper, and returned to his sister.

  "What is it?" Natasha asked.

  Nikolai held out his hand, showing her. "A peppermint candy, I think."

  "A sweet? What does it mean?" she asked. "Is this other woman trying to tell us something?"

  "I do not believe so," he answered. "I believe she hoped it would give them time to flee."

  Natasha thought the woman was trying to tell them something. She looked to her hidden left wrist sheathe where her throwing knives were positioned. There were sweets that were treats, and Sweets that could kill. Natasha wondered if the woman was using her own words against her, and they moved to the entrance as she questioned, "Where do they hope to flee?"

  He pointed with his finger. "Look there, they are entering that house."

  Natasha looked to the ceiling of the hotel, remembering the layout of the roof. "Could that house belong to the Phoenix's Mark? Would they flee into the den of her prey?"

  "I have noticed in this city that anything is possible. Come Tasha. Let us make our plans for the assault." He walked outside along with his sister. "With the Phoenix's odd behavior, perhaps Voice will let us go ahead and acquire the Mark's Closing. We can earn some extra money and proceed a little early with the Closing of the Phoenix."

  "You mean..."

  "Yes," Nikolai answered before she finished her sentence. "I was only toying with the Phoenix. The Closing File states we cannot kill her till tomorrow, but I knew, dear sister, you were bored. The drama on the rooftop did give you enjoyment, yes?"

  Delighted with the events, Natasha wrapped her arm around his. "Yes, and I thought you only wanted to show me the Dry Clouds. You were hoping the Phoenix would show up and check out the roof's layout."

  Nikolai patted her arm. "And now that we know what the Phoenix looks like, maybe Voice will give us permission to close tonight."

  "That way we can leave this dreadful Dark Half tomorrow and–" Natasha smiled. "–see the sun once again."

  * * *

  Minutes earlier...

  Outside Bes Hotel...

  Rushing to the curb, Kim hailed a taxi, and the yellow cab pulled up as Kat walked out. Kim opened the back passenger door.

  "Wait." Kat watched as Kim started to get into the taxi and then questioned, "What are you doing?"

  Kim paused and told her, "Getting out of here." She waved for Kat. "Come on."

  "No. We're going to Melissa's." Kat pointed across the street. "That way I can protect all of you."

  "You're serious." Kim pulled out of the cab and stood on the sidewalk. "I didn't think you were serious about taking me into that house."

  The taxi driver barked, "Lady! Am I driving you anywhere or what?"

  Kim bent down and yelled to the driver, "Hang on." She glanced at the hotel to see if Nikolai and Natasha had come out yet and then turned to that woman. "You're really going to take me into that house?"

  "Yes." Kat stood there, anxious to cross the street before their pursuers walked out. "You did promise you wouldn't kill anyone till we took care of the Raven and the Wolf. Come on. I didn't buy us that much time." She looked both ways and started across the street.

  Kim slapped the top of the taxi. "Sorry." She joined Kat, and they ran to the other side. Kim couldn't believe Kat was trusting her.

  They paused at the sidewalk and glanced back at the hotel.

  "When is Melissa's Closing?" Kat asked.

  "Anytime Monday."

  Kat grabbed her wrist and looked at her watch. "3:07 P.M. That gives me almost nine hours. I can trust you until then, right?" She didn't wait for an answer, hurried up to the stoop, and rang the buzzer.

  "Sure." Kim rushed up the steps behind her. "You're not a complete idiot but still too trusting." She glanced behind them. "What are you going to tell them about me?"

  Daniels answered the door and inquired, "Is this her?"

  "Yes. Hurry, let us in." Kat pushed past the bodyguard. "I have more news."

  Kimberly's view...

  I warily look at the man and follow her. I can't believe I'm doing this; I can't believe I'm walking into the house of the woman I'm going to kill. I shiver and scan the living room, and it feels eerie being here. It isn't my style to get chummy with the Mark before I off her. I prefer long range Closings.

  Hades... I should have never taken this assignment from Voice. I think about what the Raven and the Wolf told me. Maybe there's more to Voice sending them after me. And what about Maestro? Why is my alias down as the one who killed the little girl?

  Daniels locks the front door and walks into the living room, and I look to him and notice he reaches for his gun. What did he mean by is this her? What did that woman tell them? I glance at that woman who stands behind a shot-up couch. Why am I getting this sinking feeling that...

  "Kat," a man calls as he enters in from the kitchen. "Did you capture the Phoenix?"

  I panic as I part my hoodie, ready to draw my gun. She tricked me, and I'm the idiot who walked into a trap!

  Katharine's view...

  I watch Kimberly. Am I being too evil? Am I letting her think the worse about the situation? Look at her... Kimberly has to be wondering if she made a mistake by coming here; yes, she's thinking that, I can tell. Kimberly believes I betrayed her, and it's about time she's on the other side of the loaded barrel of doubt. I know I'm wickedly-evil because for some reason I'm getting a sick sense of pleasure out of seeing her squirm. But I better not let it go on for too long; someone might end up getting hurt.

  I answer before Kimberly does anything to blow my plans, "No, I didn't capture the Phoenix; actually, we have another problem."

  Kimberly's view...

  I relax after that woman speaks, but I can't believe how easily I trusted her. If this had been a trap, it would have been all over, and I would've been caught or killed.

  I put my right hand to my left shoulder as I can't understand why I trusted that woman. I never even suspected this could be a trick. I must be losing my edge. Did the Raven and the Wolf shake me up or is there another reason I'm not myself today?

  End Kimberly's view...

  Johnson looked to the two women and then asked, "There's another problem? What's that?"

  "There are at least two Closers," Kat answered.

  Johnson folded his arms. "You know this for certain?"

  "Pretty certain. I have a very reliable source. I believe they'll try to infiltrate this safe house in the next thirty-three hours." She glanced at Kim and turne
d back to Johnson. "I'm not sure about the rules for Life Closers, but I discovered the Closing date for Melissa. It's tomorrow, Monday. If we can hold off till Tuesday, we'll be in the clear, right?"

  "It's correct," Johnson said. "If you're right about the date."

  "What do we do?" Andrews asked. "What do we do for the next thirty-three hours?"

  "Prepare," Kat answered. "Prepare for the battle." She glanced at Kim. "Be more prepared than the Closers."

  The four of them entered the kitchen and there Melissa sat at the kitchen bar, sipping on coffee. Her hands shook slightly. Melissa glanced up as they entered.

  "Melissa, this is Kim," Kat said.

  "Then this is the woman who's going to help us with our Phoenix problem." Melissa stood and offered her hand. "Thank you for coming."

  Kim stared at the hand till Kat nudged her in the back and she shook it. "Don't thank me," Kim said as she glanced back at Kat. "Thank Kat, this is all her doing."

  "I'm thankful for both of you." Melissa smiled. "With your help, I'll survive to see my children grow up."

  Bonnie walked through the door that led to the second floor as she rubbed her eyes. "Mommie..."

  "Come here." Melissa held out her arms and placed the child on her lap. "You didn't sleep long."

  Bonnie didn't say anything and hid her head in her mother's bosom.

  Kim stared at the little girl with black curly hair. Voice had sent her there to test her, and since the failed Closing in Moscow, Voice must have been wondering if she had lost her nerve. Whatever Kim did, she couldn't botch-up this Closing.

  Chad came out the door next, followed by Andrews.

  "Kat!" Chad's face brightened.

  "Come here." Kat grabbed the boy in a head lock and rubbed the top of his head with her fist.

  "Cut that out," he laughed and then straightened his hair after she released him.

  "How are you doing?" Kat asked.

  His face showed a little fear, remembering the Un-Men as he replied, "Fine."

  Kat knew he lied to her, but there was nothing she could think of to say to him to reassure him. She turned to Andrews and said, "I'd like to see the layout of the house. Could you show me?"

  He looked to Johnson who nodded, and Andrews told Kat, "Yes." He motioned with his hand. "We'll start out back."

  Andrews made his way to the back of the kitchen to a door leading into the laundry room. He unlocked it, opened it, and entered the next area. She followed, and Daniels secured the kitchen door behind them. The two walked past a washer, a dryer, and a large hamper. Andrews unlocked the back door and went outside, and a wooden fence surrounded the small backyard. Kat stepped to a gate and opened it to a large empty lot, and beyond the vacant property was the next street and across that road on a sidewalk was stairs that went underground. A locked fence enclosed the entrance.