Across the street in a dark corner, a man laid atop a roof, camera pointing towards the parking lot. He snapped a series of photos and looked down at the screen. A lady in a white scarf and pink hat matched a similar photo he had of the girl he was to be tracking. He snapped a few more photos as she handed a man a wad of cash. “Well, that’s interesting. What are you buying, little miss?”
He pulled out his phone and dialed a number. “Sir.”
“Go ahead.”
“I tracked the car you asked me to follow. The girl matches that photo you sent, pink hat and everything. She is meeting some guy. I cannot get a shot of his face, but she handed him a wad of cash.”
“Little bitch. Didn’t take you long. Well no point in waiting to find out when this contractor plans to strike. Go ahead and take her out. She has served her purpose. And make sure its clean. I don’t need the dragon queen coming after me for t
~Kerrigan Kerrigan struggled at a cloth clamped around her mouth. She desperately tried to recall her training and slammed an elbow back, but the fumes made her motion sluggish. Whoever held her had an iron grip. She gasped for breath, which was a mistake. The fumes on the rag choked her, nearly making her vomit with its sickly sweet smell. The night around her closed in as she felt her body go limp. Small prick in the side of her neck before unconsciousness claimed her. Kerrigan’s eye’s opened as Abraxas roared in her mind. ‘GET UP, KERRIGAN! FIGHT!’ She found herself being dropped into a trunk, her head smacking the hard metal of the trunk floor. She glared up at the man, but was still to groggy to form words, her head swimming from the impact.
Kerrigan pulled herself to the edge of the bed and rummaged through her jacket to find her phone. She felt her strength ebbing as she pressed the speed dial for Breanna. “Miss? Is something wrong? Why are you calling so late?” “Breanne. Track my cell. Gah. Bring. Bring the emergency kit. I am up the mountain somewhere.” “Miss?! Kerrigan?! Are you ok?” “Hurry.” Kerrigan felt the last of her strength leaving her as she pulled herself onto the bed. She lay out trying to quiet her racing heart. As the shock of the evening hit in full force, she slipped into unconsciousness. Kerrigan awoke to Breanna shaking her awake and sliding onto the bed behind her, cradling her head. “Kerrigan? What the hell did you get yourself into? Stevic, search the grounds, make sure no one else is in the area. Lear, search that man, and figure out who he is. Reilynn, help me with Kerrigan.” A fiery looking young woman dressed in what could only be described as dark stealth armor came over and opened a kit
Jinstain – Bayan Province ~ Conor BrantleyAs winter began to thaw in Bayan Province, Conor found new life in working with the kids at the community center. Cara and Peter were an amazing pair as they helped him prepare for the spring Gala with the help of Amber Morrison. Amber organized the kids into teams based on where they lived and set them on scavenger hunts with photographers from Peter’s team. They were each to seek out members of the community and ask them what one activity they would want to have at a community center. Then they had to get a photo with them whereever they currently did that activity.Conor couldn’t help but laugh when he followed Cara and her gang of little girls up to a couple of old men playing a board game in the old park. When the girls fearlessly hoped up on the bench next to the men and asked them what they were playing the transformation on their faces was priceless. At first Cara snapped photos of grumpy
When the trio arrived back at Vokrizin, Conor led them to his office. Parker pealed off and stood guard near the elevators. Conor half suspected it was because Kayle was working the reception desk today. Eli poked around the office while Conor sat in his chair behind his desk. “You are welcome to take a seat Colonel. I do appreciate you coming. I hope this means you are at least willing to consider my offer to come back to active duty. Though if you have been out of the country, perhaps you have not been as retired as people may believe.” Conor said, as the idea crossed his mind. He eyes the Dragoon speculatively. “You are sharp. I will grant you that. The nature of my work was less for the temple and more along the lines of my royal appointment in the king’s army. I still review troops and conduct training for th
After several hours in the field Parker dropped Conor off back at Vokrizin.“I am going to shower and change then head home. Go ahead and enjoy the rest of your afternoon.” Conor said.“Are you sure?”“It should just be security here today, everyone else is gone for the weekend. I will text you when I am heading home.”“Sounds good sir. Have a good rest of your weekend.”Conor turned and spotted a female guard at the front of the office. He turned back to Parker, “New guard? I don’t recognize her.”Parker squinted at the entrance and said, “I don’t recognize her either. Colonel Eli said he brought on three new female guards this morning, maybe she is one?” Parker pulled out his phone and flicked open a text from Eli with the images of each guard. He held it out to Conor.“Maybe… looks like this Second Lieutenant Gabrielle. There is a capta
It took longer than he expected for the knock to come, but when it did, he opened the door to find Kerrigan with long baggy pants. A white blouse loosely hung over her shoulder which he could see was still bandaged. She did not at all look like the finely dressed queen of Dragon Corporation he had seen on several occasions prior. She seemed to be favoring her left leg.“Do you need a coat or jacket?”“Please.” She said simply.He slipped back into the room and grabbed one of his coats and helped gently drape it across her shoulders. He led them back out into the office and pulled out a chair for her. She dropped into it heavily, her left leg propped gingerly out to the side.“What day is it?”“Umm, it’s Sunday afternoon. March third if that helps any.”“Shit.”Conor watched as she rubbed more sleep from her eyes. As he assessed her, he saw numerus bruises and cuts every
Conor stopped and talked briefly with captain Evelynn before heading down to his car. on his drive home, he called Mr. Nuri. “Ah, Mr. Brantley. How are you this evening. I was planning to meet with you in the morning. is everything alright?” “Well, I was wondering if you planned to tell me about Kerrigan before or after I walked in on her.” “I. Oh, I see. I guess that means you were at the office.” “Yes, and had a rather awkward encounter with her in my suite. You could have warned me she was there. Actually, you could have asked me!” “I am sorry sir. I was contacted this morning and lost track of time with the preparations. There are many things in motion.” “What is going on Nuri? Why is Miss Lokir here of all places?” “This is better discussed in person. Can it wait for tomorrow? I promise to tell you what I can when we meet in the morning.” “Tell me this then, is her presence her a threat to me and mine?” “Possibly. But likely not any more so than Celia’s own existence. You
After the others left, Mr. Nuri bowed to Conor, “Again, Sir, forgive me for not informing you sooner about Miss Lokir.”“It’s fine. Just bring me up to speed sooner in the future.” Then turning to Kerrigan,“Miss Lokir-“But she held up a hand, “When it is not so formal, just call me Kerrigan. It gets bothersome being called Miss Lokir when we are the same age.”Conor grinned, “Kerrigan, is there anything you need?”“Nothing my team can’t acquire.”“Good, then for your safety and for that of my people, I think it best you stay on this floor for now. I know it's not a lot of space, but it is the best way for us to limit who knows you are here. I can have my people get anything you need, so as to further limit your own guards being spotted and assumptions being made.”Kerrigan signed, apparently resigned to her fate. “Fine, I do trust m