֍ 5th February 2008 ֍
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'Hello, this is Titan… who am I speaking with?'
Esmond was on the phone, currently in the first class at John F. Kennedy International Airport, waiting for his flight back home.
He thought there would be some issues going through customs, but there weren't any problems thankful, and it seemed like he wasn't being followed anymore, so he was happy to get out of America.
With Carter informing about the possibility of a call from Anton, Esmond paid for a little private room off from the side of the lounge, which was perfect for the call.
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"Thanks for taking our call, I am a friend of Anton… Schmuel…"
He didn't know if he should say his name or not but seeing Anton nod as he paused for a moment, Schmuel decided to say his name, even though he felt a little weird that the person on the phone was obviously using a code name.
'Nice to hear from you, Schmuel, now how can I help answers any of your questions?'
"…
I'll be straight forward then… please do not mind…
But what exactly are you planning to do?
You have one hell of a skilled person like Anton in your hands, but if you get the lot of us, I don't know what will happen to our homelands, so I would like to know…"
Of course, he was selling himself for than he was and the others as well, but they had significant power and influence still within their nation.
It came about from years of work and survival that granted them their positions, even if they were pretty close to being burned or forgotten, so they all wanted to hear what Titan had to say as it meant a lot for the people back home that they care about.
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'If you were straight forward, then I'll do the same…
I want to create my own forces that will help me control certain regions from both up front for the public to see and from the shadows, taking care of the darker side of the business that comes with controlling regions.
After enough of the lands in my range of influence are places that can rival places like Russia, China and America when it comes to influence, that's when I want to move into space… and dominate the stars…
Can't tell you why, but I want to have a greater influence in space before governments try and sweep in with their half assed democracy that helps the minority…'
Esmonds words made them question if Antons sanity was all their, making such a grand decision to join someone who was ready to take on the great powers of the world, but the following questions helped clear up some of the fog clouding their minds.
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"May I know which areas you will be focusing on?"
Husan asked, not trying to directly ask which nations that would be working in, just to hide their intentions if someone were to listen in even if the call was secured.
'Somalia, Kenya, Sudan and Ethiopia are favourable areas to expand the business, especially starting with either Somalia or Kenya because of their connection to the Indian Ocean which eases transportation of cargo ships with our products.
But I would like to hear your thoughts on the matter… that is if you care to join.'
"If you don't mind, Titan… sir, I would like to know if our families will be protected?"
Vishal had a wife, daughter, and son back home in the U.K, so he wanted them protected and safe as well as the other close relatives just in case he somehow ended up working against the U.K government's interests.
'They will be safe and secure along with yourself.
For now, if you do wish to join, take the information for Anton and bring your people and their families to where the information states.
You will all be moved to another location after that, which will be the place you train and operate from.
Other than that, I won't say anything more, but I do hope to see you all and work beside you to change the status quo of the world' and with that, Esmond cut the call, leaving everyone in the room with Anton to decide.
Luka glad he already agreed to join and was even more happy to hear the words of Titan, because nothing indicated direct conflict with his motherland.
He loved his land and its people so he didn't want harm to come to them, but he couldn't care one bit for those in power, making decisions that often led to more trouble and problems.
Vishal felt the same that he come across before and now with the reassurance for his future boss that his family and people would be safe, he felt ready to get back into the game he longed for.
Having waited for so long that it made him itch that he wasn't in the field already working and not aiding the new agents who were bold and adventures, yet instead they were foolish and immature about what they were going up against.
He'd seen enough young guns die because those up higher knew what was better and refused to listen to those on the ground, asking to get back in to save more people from dying.
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Anton was able to get them to all agree and started to organise what their next steps would be, internally smiling non-stop that he could secure the cooperation of his old network in the middle east.
With everything that was happening in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq, there were more than enough places for their forces to infiltrate in the future and get to work establishing governments and people in power that would be supportive of them.
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While the small council of spies munched away on some of the curry they had left over, Esmond was still in the first-class lounge, waiting for his name to be called so he could board the plane.
Sitting alone and looking out the large glass panels that showed him all that was happening throughout the airport, with planes coming and go, heading to the gates to unload the passengers they were carrying.
"It can feel daunting at times, don't you think so?"
A blonde-haired beauty with exceptional body proportions that caught Esmonds attention for a moment before he broke his eyes away from her seductive body.
Her aqua coloured eyes could peer into one's soul, but for soul like Esmonds that gone through much more than one lifetime, she found it difficult to see the truth in the man before her for the first time.
She refused to say anything else, keeping her eyes on the planes and the busy workings of the airport, with Esmond looking over her curves and the flowery pattern dress with a frilly skirt.
Before Esmond knew it, she'd taken the seat beside him and ordered some drinks for herself, all while Esmonds eyes were focused on the busy life of the airport, trying their best to not gaze at her body.
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"I think it's more picturesque than daunting… It shows the resilience of human ingenuity to make something so grand for the sake of travel…"
Esmond replied to the blonde beauty's earlier question, trying his best to not be seen as a pervert that couldn't keep his eyes off a drop-dead gorgeous woman.
"But isn't that all what humanity has been doing till now?
We try and find ways to make things easier for the vast majority to travel, while the few are left basking in the wealth made from the ingenuities of others…"
"That's why we all work hard to make a difference where the power we attain might be able to cause some change.
Sadly, the power those who hold at the top can push aside those changes like it was a bug in their face."
Esmond and the blonde lady continued to talk about the struggles the common people face against those who run parts of the world because of the immense wealth and influence in their hands without asking for the others name.
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The two were so lost in their talk that they long forgot to ask for the others name that it felt a little weird to ask now for any normal person, however Esmond was the furthest thing from normal, so he asked for her name, apologising in her process for his earlier misbehaviour…
"I have to apologise for my poor manners that I never asked your name, nor did I introduce myself.
I'm Esmond Manston, but I prefer Esmond and not Mr Manston… reminds me too much of my father haha…"
"Haha! Well, we have been having such a great conversation that names can be hassle at time, no?
Hehe, anyway my name is Ava Harper, but please call me Ava and not Ms Harper."
Ava brushed her hand against Esmond forearm, who didn't mind one bit, instead he felt a little closer with the beauty sitting beside him.
Problem was, his name was called from the speakers above, "Attention passengers of flight QF- 12 heading to Sydney, Australia, we are currently boarding all first-class passengers…"
"Seems like I am being called…"
"Ahh though it cuts our talks short, it has been a pleasure Esmond."
"As it's been a pleasure being in your beautiful company Ava, hopefully we come across each other during either of our travels."
"Well, lets see where the world takes us in the future."
The two gave each out a small hug that Esmond became a little fond of with the smell of roses and lilies coming from Ava, but he was able to push himself away and walked off, leaving Ava behind who kept smiling in Esmonds direction until he escaped her sight.
At that instant, her smile that could break a million hearts turned ice cold, as she turned and made her way for the exit from the lounge, her hand went to her eye, pressing on the little earpiece as she sent through her report…
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"Target has been intercepted and tagged…"
"Well done Agent Volkov, now hurry out of there and get back to your previous position."
"Copy…"
Ava or whatever her name might be, was disgusted she had to spend time with Esmond, flirting and laughing, so for a moment, she would have the time to place the tracker mark on Esmonds right arm.
While it took quite the time for it happen, Ava was able to leave her mark and get out safely without leaving any trace of her appearance in the area.
Though she was leaving, her image was burned into Esmonds might as he sat down for his seat on the Qantas plane, unaware of another set of eyes following him from the shadows.
'What a nice lady,' was his last thoughts about the lady supposedly known as Ava Harper…