"I would love to ask if you don't mind, what your favourite part of today as been?"
"I-I beg your pardon?"
Malcom stuttered a little, confused by what Esmond just said.
He thought for a moment he heard wrong, but what Esmond said next clear that straight up, like hot coffee straight to the face.
"I've seen you taking a tour of New York with me today…
From when I left my hotel to the boat hire for the graceful lady of liberty and then you broke off for a bit when I went to the library, but you came back like a Jordan in the fourth quarter and joined me here, in the majestic Grand Central Station that makes one wonder if they are waking under the heavens…"
Malcom, and those listening in on their conversation through his microphone, were on edge Esmond kept a close eye on Malcoms steps which meant they rest weren't likely to have escaped Esmonds sights.
'Malcom! Hurry the hell up and say something man!'
.
Those outside in the vans with monitors and computers were screaming through the microphones to get Malcom together, as they were going through their own little crisis trying to understand how Esmond knew of their agents' movements.
One of the agents in the van were watching the monitors and saw that Malcom was about to speak so he screamed, "Every shut up! Malcoms about to say something" felt a little ashamed to have spoken up after hearing the garbage that came for their colleagues' mouth.
'…You have a way with words, Mr Manston…' the collective sigh could be felt by everyone in the vans and rooms that surrounded Esmond and Malcom.
.
"Ahh… well… my mother likes to say I'm gifted with words as well…
Now Mr Fletcher,"
"Please just call me Malcom,"
"Then please going forth call me Esmond, now as I was saying… what part did you find was your favourite during today's little trip?
I haven't made my way to Central Park as of yet, so you could send your friends along their and the Museum of Natural History also… I enjoyed the filmed Night at the Museum, so I've wanted to take a peek.
Who you care to join for that as well or would you like to stalk from a distance, Malcom?"
There was no malice in Esmonds voice, however the sharpness his eyes that exhibited the magnificence of the nebulas in space within them, clearly showed the irritation he felt by their actions and behaviour.
.
Malcom couldn't understand why he felt so supressed and gasping a little for breath, but he pushed him self through the pressure the best he could and came out atop like he was gasping for breath.
But when his body and mind broke free of the weight that bound him, Malcom didn't feel breathless, instead he was drenched in the sweat of his own body, that his blue shirt beneath his suit coat had turned a darker shade from being slathered in his sweat.
.
"Seem to be a little uncomfortable there Malcom, I think it's best get going and leave you to your vices…
Let's meet another time when I am visiting the GREAT land of the FREE! Haha…
Anyway… it's been a treat…"
Malcom wanted to rebuttal Esmonds words, however his body felt dreadful to say, move or even breath in Esmonds presence.
There were screams coming from Malcoms earpiece, asking him to say something or to give some orders on what they should do next.
'MALCOM! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!'
'Got dammit, what the hell do you think we should do?! Fuck it! Send the boys to grab him!'
'NO! DON'T MOVE! We don't have anything on the guy for Christ's sake so relax everyone.'
Only the mention of some sanity by one of the agents speaking on the communications line did Malcom finally get some words out, though he croaked every syllable out his mouth like it was tortuous.
.
"Sstopp… bbaccckk off fffoorrr nowww… justtt obbsserrve."
Barely making out his words, the agents all around moved fast according to Malcoms orders, quickly sending some people to observe him at the locations Esmond had mentioned during his conversation.
While everyone ran around and moved like a fired bullet, one of Malcoms colleagues made their way over to him, as Malcom had stopped speaking once again after getting the few words out of his mouth.
"Malcom! What is wrong with you? Did he give you something?!"
"Jaina… jjusssttt… let mee breath…"
Malcom could only get a few more words out before quietening up again and sitting very still as his colleague, Jaina tried to nudge and move Malcom, but he refused to say anything like his mind was fragile and struggling to keep it together.
With panic written all over her face, Jaina called for an ambulance to attend to Malcom, while she took charge of the operation, being the next agent in line.
Anger and the mystery of what happened bugged at Jainas mind while he tried to figure out what the next course of action was with Malcom out and her running everything now.
.
"Attention… *sigh* F.B.I Senior Agent Malcom Fletcher is out and recovering after his conversation with the target, Esmond Manston.
From now on, I, Jaina Mathews, will be running the operation, so right now I want surveillance and observation only for now.
Nothing more.
DO NOT!
I repeat! DO NOT interact with the target in any capacity!"
Get her order across the radio channels, Jaina moved to her blacked-out all over Mercedes Sprinter Panel Van and got her team moving out fast from the Grand Central Station and to tightly follow Esmonds movements.
…
..
.
Esmond wasn't interrupted for the remaining part of the day, though there was always a team observing his movements from a distance, nobody got close like Malcom.
Walking through Central Park had to be one of his favourite moments just because of the peace of mind it offered in the jungle of steel all around.
He'd even made this point to Carter, who also felt that the second city he was making should be more open and spacious as they had plenty of land within the space from what they knew so far.
Plants, large gardens, and trees of various sorts filled the sidewalks of the roads and were integrated into the buildings to create a unique ecofriendly atmosphere all around the citizens.
Carter had already started taking notes where the first city needed to change and be rebuilt before it would be open to everyone.
.
Once Esmond returned to his hotel and entered his room, he sent out his body energy to look for some bugs or toys the agents might have installed in his absence.
His little inspection found several small cameras and bugs that were installed, but Esmond did do anything to them, nor did he ask for Carters help.
Instead, he simply pulled out his phone and called Carter and spoke loud enough that the people listening in on him wouldn't miss his words.
"Book me a flight home… the contract didn't work out with the New Jersey State Government, but no matter, the recycling and dismantling factories we have already in Adelaide should be fine for now.
Once we have enough people trusting our work, we can expand our business for the United States, but for now I think we should look into areas overloaded with garbage as landfills…"
Esmond just blabbed on about his business that his name was already attached to and brought up his earlier meeting in New Jersey in the hopes to push the agents off his back for a bit.
And to check the type of business he was conducting…
Though they weren't wrong in Esmonds mind to monitor his actions, they were wrong to catch him out on the premise of his recycling business.
…
..
.
Meanwhile, away from Esmonds monologue to his loyal assisiant Carter, who would more than like be muting Esmonds bullcrap, Anton was wandering through the streets of Karachi, Pakistan, quickly reaching the Lyari neighbourhood.
Anton was wearing a kurta, a loose and overhanging shirt that had a collar, but could be made without one.
The plain faint green colour of the kurta and black and white checkers keffiyeh, Antons lucky scarf he'd kept and worn since his time operating out of the middle east, in particular, Palestine.
While walking among the chaos of the busy night markets, as people yelled allow to advertise their goods, and others had come out for the amazing street food that were littered all over the markets.
Anton even felt like stopping for a little snap, but he was already a little late, so he pushed on after handing some money to a little child who didn't seem like he was being fed enough.
Take a few more cuts into the side alleys, Anton arrived at a wooden door that seems a little torn up, but none the less it was still standing and fulfilling its purpose.
Though it looked like it was dying while do so.
.
"Your late…"
"Shalom to you as well my friend."
Through the shady door, the inside was a complete opposite of the door's appearance, as it looked well cleaned and built, even containing a small flat screen tv which was were quite dear to buy in Pakistan because of tax and importing costs.
In the far corner of the room, close to the window, the one Anton called his friend sat with his eyes on the people moving about outside on the street.
He was paying attention on the people, looking out for an irregularity, but in the meantime, Anton came in carrying some packaged food in his hands and started plating everything up, not caring about his friend in the corner.
.
"Did you call me here to eat Anton?
You really think I have the time to freely come out for meals like this…?
We aren't all burned like you, you know…"
"Whoa! That's a low blow Schmuel…
I thought you were better than that!"
"Stop… with the childish games Anton…"
Already annoyed Anton was late, Schmuel couldn't believe Anton was further wasting time with this nonsense of food and other crap.
He had taken time out of his busy schedule monitoring some target from a radical group who planned to attack Israeli, but they were finding some trouble grasping a hold of some location where they would feel safe.
Schmuel wanted to capture or end the group tonight before reporting back to Mossad, but seeing how things were going with Anton, he didn't believe he would be able to leave anytime soon.
.
"Calm down… I bought enough food for several of us.
Now help me set everything out for everyone…"
'Knew it…' left to only complain in his mind, Schmuel went to help Anton with the food, while they waited for a couple other people to arrive before everything started.
Who Schmuel didn't expect to see was his counterpart from Hamas, however he was quickly restrained before either made a scene.
.
"Now we can eat and talk a little, before going for each other's throats."
In the room beside Anton and Schmuel were several operatives from different intelligence agencies from all over the world.
There was Husan from Hamas, similarly, wearing a kurta like Anton and not jeans and sleeved shirt like Schmuel.
His light tone of brown hair matched with his green eyes that gave him the charms of a panther.
From M.I.6, Vishal, dark brunette and deep caramel tan which helped his work in the region and Luka from FSB who stood out like Anton in the streams of Karachi and was wrapping his face in his own scarf.
It seemed like the only ones to develop in deeper with the people were Anton, Husan and Vishal who were all dressed in kurtas, while Schmuel and Luka preferred their pants, belt and shirt.
.
"You already know I was burned and sent to be forgotten by my nation…"
"If you think one of us will take you in, you are sorely mistaken Anton, right now no one wants to be near Blackwater operatives."
Schmuel interrupted Anton as he was speaking, impatient with the amount of time he'd wasted in this safe house of sorts.
"Ex… operatives… and I haven't called you here for that, in fact I already have a new employer, which is also the reason I've called you all here."
Everyone was visibly confused, and shocked Anton had found work with someone willing to take a gamble on him after all the nonsense that went down with Blackwater and the methods of their operatives.
However, what they all heard next put a unique thought into every mind within the room.
.
"I've called you here because I know you all are contacts for your agencies and practically retired from your work.
Especially Vishal and Luka… you guys have had it bad with Iraq and Afghanistan, so I came looking for you guys.
For the rest, I took a wild shot to see if your interested, but I'm looking for people.
The group will be working in certain territories to reclaim the land and help revitalise the regions we will operate in.
I don't want to give too much away, but I've already got the Lone Wolves squad to join up, just to let you know…"
Everyone had to take a deep breath and question what they heard, finding it unbelievable that Anton could secure the US Delta Force, Australian SASR, and U.K SAS taskforce that was created by the three nations to combat against special targets.
They went through some of the most strict and brutal training which saw them alone and in the deep wilderness of Canada, United States, Australia, and various other nations around the world to test their resilience.
Unfortunately, the taskforce was dissolved, and the members, reaching 100 elite and deadly soldiers, were forced into retirement when they were selected for any missions because of politics between the armies and national leaders.
.
"I'm in…" Luka voice caught everyone off guard even Anton, who didn't show it, but felt surprised that Luka would return into the chaos of private military work and giving up on work for Mother Russia.
"However, I don't know if I can bring many brothers… I might be able to convince a few who've been itching to move again…"
Lukas thick Russian seeped into his English, which added to his brutish charm and appearance that screamed gladiator.
.
"Fuck… fine… if that oaf is in then I'll throw my name in.
My problem is, what is the goal of group behind the company?
What do they want us to achieve?"
Anton wanted to laugh aloud at Vishals words, but he held himself back as it would be highly rude and they had no idea about Esmond in the first place, so it was his responsibility to let them know of their future boss, even if the others could hear.
Hopefully his words attracted more…
.
"There is no group… just one person.
He plays for everything and is even creating things for our use right now.
While… he is a little young, he's more deadly than those I've come across in battle…
A monster that should never be bothered… but if it were… there would be no saving you…
Buttttt… who knows… I haven't completely figured the guy out…"
Leaving his words in such a coy way and thinking it was fine, Anton got up and moved to Vishals and Lukas side, ready to hand them some information about their next steps, ignoring the mind games going through the heads of the others who didn't know what to do after they heard Anton.
Just knowing that one person was in control of their life and not thousand of fools above them and to their sides that put them in countless bad situations which saw them lose people they held close and dear.
.
"Anton… if I wanted to meet the 'boss' first, could it be arranged?"
Schmuel wasn't ready to say yes or no, plus he was looking closely at Husans movements, wondering if he would join, but first off, he wanted to speak with his future boss.
One boss meant much more safety for himself and his comrades that would be out fighting and doing the bidding of their employer, so Schmuel wanted to ask his what their main plans were.
Anton knew something like this would come up because everyone would want to know what the goal was other than the money they were being paid.
They weren't ever told so it never helped with their confidence for the job, but when they were told in detail, they could get involved and make their own suggestions on how to proceed.
.
"I won't be able to get you to meet in such a short notice, but I can get you in touch be phone.
Secured, of course…"