On board, Osprey V-01C5
"Alison, why bring him with us?" Phoenix was oblivious on what's Alice real motive. She remained quite since they boarded the helicopter, leaning comfortably on her chair while her eyes closed.
He was so tempted to nag her until she spills the beans. But he chose to keep his mouth shut knowing that nagging won't work to make her say something that will appease his state of mind.
Actually it was not only Phoenix who needs explanations but all of them. They can't figure out why Alice brought him with her. For all the years they've been working together, this was the first time Alice took a stranger after completing a mission! She's not fond of giving a helping hand unless she can make a use of it. Alice was not a vicious woman neither a holy one to begin with.
"Let's just give her a time to rest. She's still dizzy." Hawk said while covering Alice with a blanket and sit beside her. Hawk's eyes reflect several shades of black while examining Alice's bruises.
Once she was called the 'angel' of the pole. An impressive dancer and a great pleasure giver to anyone, young or old as long as it was her client she will do anything to please them. She tried to escape once but she ended up in her worst feet.
Her younger sister, who was her only relative left, was raped and killed mercilessly in front of her after she failed to perform her escape plan. It was a nightmare that she will never forget for the rest of her life.
Until one day, a bright innocent lady entered the bar where she worked for and saved her from the hellish and lowly life where she lived for ruthlessly long years. After successfully leaving that place, she thought that the lady will just abandon her in the cold alleys for her to find her own destiny but, she was surprise that the young lady took her into her own apartment and let her stay for good. The lady gave her everything she wanted and let her start anew.
Years swiftly pass and she transformed brand new just like her Good Samaritan. Mere thanks would not able to pay Alice. And because of these she promised herself that she will do anything to protect her savior 'till her last breath. Even if it worth her life in exchange she will abide without any hesitation.
And now she was furious for letting the culprit slip through her grasp and for not protecting Alice from having too many bruises. Her heart aches and ignites with fiery hatred whenever she remembered those assholes that almost let Alice loss her feet to ever walk again.
Hawk's fist formed into solid rock aiming to punch anything she sees however, it would be no use venting her anger out on metals, it will only hurt her at the end. She calmed herself and took the medicine on her bag and applied it into Alice's wounds so that it would not leave any scars.
Tsk! This won't happen ever again Alison...
"And also avoid mentioning names. We're not alone." Falcon reminded everyone. They seem to forgot that there is somebody else lying slump on the ground. They can't let their guards down at all times especially when there is somebody who was not part of the team.
"So... Does this mean we won't remove this masks up until we reach the headquarters?" Crow asked with a hint of irritableness. Everyone just stared at him with a most-probably-look as an answer.
Fuck! This mask will destroy my face any soon!
Crow could only cry his agony silently. His face flashed despair as if he was having a mental breakdown deep inside. These always happen to those whose so in love with themselves. He won't give a damn if his face wasn't his main source of income. And being part of the entertainment industry, face is one of the most important features of an artist that must be taken care of. This mask was too dangerous to wear for a long span of time!
Crow was not acting idiot nor overreacting. The masks they're wearing were not an ordinary one that could be bought into the markets. It was made of steel and iridium that makes it flexible and portable. It weight like a feather due to the chemical components that was added on it. Each of their masks was chemically embedded by an explosive triggering device so that if they've left it during a mission they would just activate it and let it explode within minutes. With this, they won't leave tracks and can't be easily traced by anyone.
"Sabr-...I mean Sparrow had you already run some background check about his identity?" Falcon asked her while scanning the videos that they gain access on. The video don't seem off with just a glance but watching thoroughly will reveal that it has been tampered. They clearly made sure to sort everything out before initiating an attack. Impressive!
Falcon can't help himself being suspicious about his "real" identity. There was something that is telling him that this man was no inferior to anyone else. His physic, although rugged by the torture, was emitting a domineering aura. His presence was undeniably noticeable from the four corners of the aircraft. His suspicions evenly rise whenever he tried to figure out why he was kidnapped together with Alice.
Was he that high caliber to be guarded by almost one-third of their clan? Just who the hell are you? Falcon can't help but throw the man with an askance gaze.
"My tablet got broke when we jump off from the building. Don't worry; he seems to be some ordinary person of some other company. He's harmless. But I'm still going to run a background check when we arrive." Sparrow answered nonchalantly. She was too immersed to the fight that she forgot about her device. Sparrow felt that the man doesn't pose any threat for them to be full alert. And also what can a rugged man slumped on the floor could do?
"Wait, are we going to bring him to the headquarters?" Vulture blurted anxiously. He suspected that the man might have ties with their opponents. At this point in time, trusting a stranger is like selling yourself out. Even an innocent façade of a child can be skeptical. So letting your guard down can cause death nowadays.
The headquarters wasn't a place a person can enter and exit as they please. Only the team of ISON had of access of that facility. Alice deliberately chose this to avoid any leakage of both personal and important information especially about their identity. The headquarters was an underground installation under the company building of ISON. The only path that leads to the base was through a personalized lift on the private conference room of the board of directors at the 9th floor of ISON. Each and every activity above was also closely monitored at the underground base. So it was impossible to bring anybody without Alice's consent.
"No, drop him to the Ramirez Medical Hospital before we go to the headquarters." Alice said without moving a finger. She was so tired to even bat an eye. Her body seemed to be run over by a huge truck and her head also felt like it was awfully beaten by some hard object. What they didn't know was all throughout the trip, she was all ears to all they were talking about but she chose not to say a word. This way she can rest and avoid interrogation about bringing a stranger with them. Then again she remembered why she ended in such an awful state a short time ago.
"And besides, there is a very important guest waiting my presence." Alice said with an eerily calm voice. It sends chills to everyone inside the aircraft. They already knew what Alice means when using such voice. In the surface Alice have a tranquil temperament but in the inside she was ready to throw a rampage. All they can do was to pity whoever crossed Alice's bottom line for he will have a severely bad ending.
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Shortly, they arrived on the rooftop of Ramirez Medical Hospital. There are few doctors and nurses waiting below. All of them were nervous because of the sudden call. They don't know what kind of emergency situation was there that they needed a bunch of specialists to assist them. Meanwhile inside the helicopter, Falcon removed his masks then wore his white robe and run his fingers through his messy hair. When he was sure that he's ready he signaled every one before opening the door of the aircraft and displayed his bright smile.
"Good morning everyone, I hope we didn't disturb your sleep." Falcon greeted everyone with a pleasant tone. Seeing their bloodshot eyes and dark bags underneath, it was obviously that they have just woken up.
"Good morning Dr. Ivan." After Ivan stepped out of the helicopter everyone bow to show respect. When they raise their heads, they can't help to adore his strikingly handsome face and his sturdy built. If he did not just wore a robe they might thought that he was a model. How can a man be this handsome!?
"I need your help." Ivan said with a serious voice before his gaze landed on the unconscious stranger behind. Everyone was shock and puzzled how the man gained such brutal wounds. His clothes could wring blood and his body had several cuts with different form at different parts. Just looking at his state they were sure that those are from a severe torture. Does this man survive some kind of assassination?
Ivan specifically gave an order to take the man at the emergency room to treat his wounds and run a full body checkup. And without any questions they comply with his orders. On the other hand, he was planning to take Alice to his office to have a thorough examination. But, Alice did everything just not to enter the hospital. She hated sick houses since she was young. Just by smelling the air filled with disinfectant makes her throw up a blood. She would rather choose to lie on the streets filled with mud than to enter a hospital.
They were all helpless because of her inhumanly stubbornness. She was such a headstrong that likes to throw them in a predicament without minding their mental health condition. Soon enough, they will go crazy because of her! And if there is someone who can level her stubbornness they will all kowtow three times to Buddha every day.
Leaving without any room of argument, they decided to go straight to the headquarters. Finally, now that only the team left they can talk freely with each other without being cautious. One by one they removed their masks and talk about 'business'.
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ISON headquarters, underground base.
"Ali, please spare my life! I was wrong. Please." A mid-forty old man wearing a creased tux was kneeling at the middle of the room while crying his balls out. He was facing someone sitting on a black swivel chair without any movement. He confessed and admitted his wrong doings almost immediately after he arrived. You're no fun men!
Ali thought that he would act tough in front of her but it disappoints her to see him begging without any self consciousness. What's the use of big body with weak knees? Tsk tsk!
They haven't even laid a finger on him and he was already trembling with fear. He was in the verge of peeing his pants out of fear. It all sink to him that it was such a bad move to trade those information. Now that he was caught red handed all he could do was to beg not to suffer death. At this moment in time, he will do everything just to appease the demon in front of him.
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