For the next few hours Karma and Jynx were very busy. Not busy watching the airport. The long drive had caused them both to be a bit worked up, and sometimes you just need to unwind. Their clothes were tossed all around the room. Karma laid on the bed with Jynx laying on his shoulder.
Jynx opened one eye to see if he was still awake. Then she said, "I don't mean to pat myself on the back, but I think I have trained you well." Seeing him smile, Jynx put her arm across his chest.
Karma put his arm on top of hers and said, "I disagree 100%. We need more training. In fact, skip the mission. Just do more training."
They laid there quietly together. Just enjoying each other's company. Jynx asked, "Are you afraid this whole trip is a waste? Like if Marx doesn't show up?"
Karma answered, "It is a risk, but you need to ask yourself this, what if Freeman is right and Agent Marx is Agent Death? She is the monster in the dark, the predator that hunts us. We find her and their whole organization falls apart like a deck of cards. Even if it fails, isn't that worth a try? You can't be afraid to try. The plan will work, or it won't work. If it doesn't work I... we can say it was an attempt at trying something new. Something that could have ended the Cold War. How could they judge us for that?"
"You are always so calm and cool in these situations. What are you going to do when the Cold War is over? I can't imagine you playing golf." Jynx said with a snicker.
Karma reached over and stroked her hair with one hand. Then he said, "I will go find some place to grow old and die. Maybe in a place... somewhere that I don't hate."
Jynx raised an eyebrow and said, "Some place you don't hate? Is it so hard to wish for happiness? To live somewhere where you can find happiness. It's not just a place you DON'T hate."
Karma disagreed, "I never really thought about it. For as long as I can remember it has always been victory or death. Win or go home in a box. The idea of living for happiness was a lost concept to me."
Jynx replied, "I think you should retire and do whatever you want." After she said that, they laid there in silence again. Jynx was almost afraid to ask but she stammered out, "When this is all over… the Cold War. Will you think about me?"
"Of course, I will. How could..." Karma paused for a second. He just figured it out. "Happiness isn't a location. Why does happiness have to be a location? Why can't it be a person? I would be happy living in a cardboard box so long as I woke up with you on my arm." This made Jynx smile profusely. Karma once again wiped the hair out of her face. Then he said, "Maybe we both need to retire."
Jynx's smile faded. She fluttered her eyes a bit and took a deep breath then she said, "Can I be honest with you?"
"Always. I wouldn't want it any other way."
Jynx thought about it for a second then said, "I couldn't tell you this before, because I thought you wouldn't understand... I joined Mirage for the adventure."
Jynx explained and she said, "You see, my dad always had the best stories growing up. He's already had his crazy years in the military. I wanted my own stories. Better stories. I wanted my own great adventure. So I signed up to be a military doctor. I survived Basic Training, but I am not smart enough to be a doctor. I got kicked out for failing too many tests. So, I tried to be a civilian doctor, I signed up for college... racked up some debt and failed that too. My great adventure was a story of failure. I couldn't go home like that. That's when the CIA recruiter found me. They loved my drive and my excellent shooting skills."
"How could I turn it down? All the adventures without the books. My war was the Cold War. My adventure was Mirage. Think about all the stories I could tell my dad when I got home?"
"But?" Karma said.
"But the truth is Mirage agents can't talk about the things they do. And they rarely get to go home to see family." Jynx looked at him with sad eyes, then she said, "Karma, I didn't sign up to fight Hitmen... or jump out of buildings while getting shot at. I knew all that stuff was involved when I signed up and that was awesome. But expectations versus reality, being a spy is..."
"Less awesome?"
"Yeah. Well, I was going to say terrifying. The job. Violence." Jynx clearly felt bad saying it. She touched the scar on Karma's shoulder. Then she said, "Every scar tells a story, but they are always the most painful ones."
Karma replied, "So that is it? Your whole motivation to join Mirage, move across the world, dodge bullets, and probably get killed is seeking adventure to outshine your dad's stories? Your dad must have had some good stories."
Jynx replied, "He does. He has really great stories." They laid there in silence for a moment then she asked, "Now that I made it this far... I am failing again. Just like in med school. Do you hate me?"
Karma leaned over to her face and said, "Never. In fact, you are smarter than I am for getting out of the Agency while you still can." They both looked at each other but before another word could be said the phone rang. Both Karma and Jynx sat up in bed. Karma scrabbled for the phone. He picked it up and asked, "Hello?"
"Hey, this is Leo. Just checking in."
Karma picked up his watch off the nightstand. 10:25 a.m. Karma responded, "Sorry, I thought maybe you were calling to tell us you spotted Marx. But now that I look at the time, I see that it is nearly impossible."
Leo replied, "Indigo said we should use the radios. But you aren't answering yours."
Karma rolled his eyes and said, "How can I answer my radio if you don't tell me what channel you are on?"
"Oh, umm, channel 2."
Karma hung up and returned to the bed. Jynx was waiting for him covered up with blankets. She said, "Are you going to go get the radio?"
Karma shook his head, "No, I am going to make you get it." Jynx started to say no but before she could Karma playfully grabbed her legs and pulled her to the corner of the bed.
Jynx let out a little scream and a giggle as he did so, then she asked, "Why am I doing it? I am the trainer. I say you should have to do it. And I want to see you do it naked."
Karma shook his head and said, "There you go again. Always using your authority to get what you want. I never did that when I was in charge." Jynx pulled him in for a kiss.
Karma eventually got dressed and went out to get the radio from the back of the Land Cruiser. He eyed the airport entrance. If she wasn't here by now... Was this all for nothing? Karma purged the thoughts from his mind. This was going to work. It had to work. Karma returned to the hotel room and turned the radio to channel 2. "You copy me now, Leo?"
"Loud and clear." Leo responded through the radio. Then he said, "Shouldn't we have 4 radios so everyone can have one?"
"No, if anyone spots Marx we will contact each other via phone or radio. Just keep your eyes open. Karma out." He put the radio down next to the table.
While Karma was outside getting the radio, Jynx hopped in the shower. Karma sat down on the bed and thought about Operation Lostwoods. He needed to come clean to Freeman. But when and how? And exactly how mad was he going to get?
Karma laid down and closed his eyes. He had been awake all-night driving. He was starting to feel the weight. He closed his eyes for only a minute, and he was asleep.
*
Karma woke up startled. He was in a strange place with another strange ceiling. He looked around to see if he was still in the hotel. He checked his watch. It was 3:24 p.m. He had been out for hours. To his left, Jynx was fully clothed lying next to him.
Something was wrong, he could feel it. He got up and checked the radio. "Anyone there, this is Karma."
Karma waited for a response then finally the radio said, "Indigo here, you spot something Karma?"
Karma was relieved that the radios were still working. "Negative, just checking in. Stay vigilante."
Karma put the radio down and picked up the phone, he dialed the front desk. When the front desk man answered he said, "Hello this is the guest for room 112. Do I have any messages?"
There was a silence then the voice on the other end said, "Sorry sir, we have no messages for you."
Karma thanked him and hung up. He looked at his watch again. 3:27 p.m. It had been 10 hours since he called Freeman and leaked the plan. 10 hours and no Marx. Maybe she saw through the whole thing? How could he have made such a bold move? It was a move that was going to end his career.
Karma grabbed the phone and dialed Freeman. When someone answered Karma said, "Bravo kilo one niner."
"Karma! Where have you been?" Freeman shouted from the other end. "I recalled 6 agents. We have been waiting for your coordinates. What is the location of the Exstrusis Facility?"
"Not yet, Freeman, you need a clean line, just in case. We can't play around with this information. Call me back at this phone number when you get one." Karma gave Freeman the number in the hotel room and hung up.
Within a few minutes the phone rang. Karma picked it up and said, "Is this a clean line?"
"Yes, I am actually at a payphone across the street from HQ." Freeman sounded desperate for the information. "Okay Karma, what is the location?"
"Freeman there is no location. We are bluffing. Marx was able to trace Indigo and Leo's plane tickets to get them arrested in Prague. She has connections. I want to see if she shows up here in Chernivtsi."
There was a long pause then Freeman said, "Goddamnit Karma! Was this your plan? I just blew a quarter mil on gear and vehicles. I already called Brass! I told them everything. They think we already have the information." Freeman continued to unload on Karma through the phone. Karma listened and tolerated all of it. After several minutes Freeman finally ran out of steam.
Karma replied, "Sorry Freeman. It was just an attempt at something new. You are too connected, we had to leave you out of the loop." Freeman once again chewed him out over the phone. When there was a break in Freeman's anger, Karma said, "We just need 48 hours. That's all. When this is over, I will return with promising results or my resignation on your desk. Karma out."
With that said, Karma returned to the bed and waited. He looked over at Jynx. She was awake, watching him. Karma ran his fingers through her hair and said, "Have you been laying her pretending to sleep?"
Jynx rolled toward him while saying, "I like watching you work. You talk to Freeman like he is an equal, not your handler. You always have the right answer to everything."
"Not this time. Freeman is on the ninth level of pissed off while Marx is still nowhere to be seen. She should have been here by now." Karma gave her a depressed look and said, "I think we did all this for nothing. Now Freeman is going to put me through the ringer."
Jynx climbed up behind him and rubbed his shoulders. "It is a good plan. There is still time. You said we were going to wait three days."
"I was expecting a more immediate response. I thought Marx would be here in less than a few hours." Karma put the radio down on the bed. Then he said, "It has been 10 hours. Either she isn't coming, or she didn't get the message."
Jynx put her hand on his face and turned his head toward her. Then she said, "You are being too hard on yourself. The plan just needs a little more time."
Karma waited by the phone as Jynx walked over to the airport. She bought some sandwiches and brought them back for them to eat. She set it up at the table for them to eat together. Karma's head was on a swivel. He checked his watch. 4:19 p.m. He was ready. He would look at the phone then at the radio. Jynx noticed this. She snapped her fingers in front of his face as she said, "Relax, Eat. Enjoy. Talk to me."
Karma calmed down and started to eat his food. Then he said, "What would you like to talk about?"
Jynx took a bite and said, "I don't know. What would you like to talk about?"
"How about we talk about that funny noise you make in the sack?"
Jynx almost choked on her food. Then she replied, "Me? What about the collection of noises you make?" Karma did not respond. The Jynx said, "See, two can play this game." They both smiled at each other when Jynx asked, "Do you keep a lot of secrets?"
Karma was not expecting this line of questioning. Then he replied, "You and I don't keep secrets, remember? Information is a part of the business. Why? Do you think I am holding out on you?"
"Sometimes. You have some random phone calls and knocks at the door in the middle of the night. For all I know you have secret girlfriends hidden in every corner of the world." Jynx gave him a playful yet uncertain look. Then she said, "Who are you? Really?"
Karma just ate his sandwich. When he finally had a second, he fired back, "I already told you my real name. That's not the information I hand out to everyone. So you know who I really am. And this isn't the kind of job to have stable relationships or even secret girlfriends. You can't be serious with a girl you only see twice a year. The fact that you and I work, kind of blows my mind. If you had asked me a few weeks ago, I would have told you agent to agent relationships don't work. But here we are." Karma took another bite as Jynx waited.
Jynx was waiting for more. Like he left some parts out. Then she said, "None of the other agents are trying to date each other?"
"Nope."
"Everyone is just business first?"
"Yes."
"Just live a lonely life?"
Then Karma nodded and said, "Pretty much. I will tell you this. If I had girlfriends all over the world, they would be pretty jealous of you by now." Jynx just smiled at that fact.
They finished eating and walked outside to look at the airport. Karma made sure to leave the door open just in case the phone rang. But it didn't. They waited. Karma and Jynx had a small conversation and watched the minutes pass by. The minutes turn to hours as they watch the agonizing stretch of time. The sun slowly dropped onto the horizon. Karma checked his watch. It was 9:10 p.m. Every second that passed was painful.
Karma finally gave up and walked out to the Land Cruiser and unloaded all the equipment in the back. He carried the boxes inside the room. Jynx watched and asked, "What is all this for?"
"Training." Karma said as he threw the boxes on the bed. Then he said, "If I am going to fail then at least I can say I taught you something." Karma unboxed the wire tapping kit and handed it to her. Then he pointed to the phone. "Have at it. Please wiretap the hotel phone. The phone has a green and red wire running all the way from the phone to the junction boxes. Anywhere on that line you can add the tap and it will work." Karma showed her the insulation trimmers, the receiver, and the recorder.
Jynx was excited, "So, we can record all the incoming conversation? Or is it outgoing?"
"There is no point in recording half a conversation. You should always record both. Ready to try it?" Karma said as he picked up the phone. Jynx pressed the record button as Karma dialed Indigo's hotel room. As soon as Indigo picked up the recorder started.
"Hello?"
"Hey Indigo, just checking in. How is the mission going?"
"Boring, I don't know what part is worse, sitting here waiting for Leo to call me in a panic, or sitting in the train station waiting for Marx to show her ugly ass face."
"Either way I am glad to hear you are having a good time."
"Fuck you Karma, this whole mess was your idea to begin with. I hope I am there when Freeman fires your stupid ass." With that said, Indigo hung up the phone. Jynx watched as the smile faded from Karma's face.
Jynx asked, "What did she say?"
Karma hung up the phone and pressed the rewind button on the recorders. Then he said, "Listen for yourself." As he pressed play.
Jynx listened to the whole conversation as Indigo said her harsh words. With that, Jynx pressed stop on the recorder. Jynx understood why Karma was upset. She stood up and said, "If Freeman does fire you then he will have to fire me too. We are a team. Share victory, share defeat."
Karma did not respond. He reached out to her and pulled her into him. They held each other for a bit. All the stress was starting to bubble over. Karma was exhausted. But he always found Jynx could pull him back from the edge. In one quick motion he picked her up and said, "Enough training." He carried her over to the bed and threw her down.
Jynx laughed and said, "And just like that? Now you want to have sex?"
"Get your mind out of the gutter, Recruit." Karma laid down next to her and said, "I said, enough training. Now we rest." Karma snuggled up to her and put his arms around her. Then he added, "I mean it. Don't try to put the moves on me. I know how handsy you get."
"Sure… I will do my best." Jynx said sarcastically as she put her arms around him.
Karma held her tight as he thought about the events of the day. The events that should have happened. Jynx closed her eyes. Karma wasn't even sure if she was tired. She was just faking it to see if he would fall asleep. Karma quietly said, "Even if it was all for nothing, I would rather be here with you than anywhere else." Jynx did not reply, she just smiled with her eyes closed. Karma waited as he held her close. Soon enough he felt the pull of sleep. He was out.
*
Karma was jolted awake by the sound of ringing. The phone was ringing. He stood up and stumbled over to the phone. Karma picked up the phone and said, "Hello?"
The voice on the other side was male but did not sound familiar. He said, "Is this Detective Simmons?"
Karma remembered his alibi and said, "Yes, this is him. Sorry, I just woke up. What can I help you with?"
The voice on the other line said, "This is Officer Melnik of Chernivtsi International. I was just calling to inform you that your suspect has just landed at Terminal 3."
Karma's heart skipped a beat. He looked at his watch. It was 5:41 a.m. Marx was here. He almost forgot to speak, then he said, "Thank you, thank you so much! We will have officers waiting for her outside. Thank you for your assistance!" Karma hung up the phone and looked at Jynx. She was sitting up in bed waiting for Karma to say something. Karma said, "It worked. We gotta run!"
Karma and Jynx grabbed their things and ran out to the Land Cruiser. They left in such a hurry they almost forgot the radio. Once in the car, Karma handed over the radio to Jynx as he started the car. He said, "Call them, tell them to meet us here, fast."
Jynx pressed the button on the radio and said, "Anyone there? You read me?"
The radio crackled then on the other side of the radio someone said, "This is Leo, what do you need?"
Jynx shouted, "She is here! Marx is at the airport right now! You and Indigo need to get here as quickly as possible!" Jynx let go of the button and let out a small scream with excitement.
Leo answered back, "Are you serious?! Oh man, Indigo owes me $20 now. We'll be there ASAP."
Karma drove the car over to the airport terminals and parked behind one of the taxi cabs. He got out and waved to Jynx to get in the driver seat. Then he said, "Take the wheel. Keep it running." Karma walked over to the kiosk and bought a hat and newspaper. He put the hat on and sat down at a bench near the main entrance. He unfolded the newspaper and waited. Lots of people were coming and going. Even at this early hour. He listened in as they talked. Most people passing by were talking about the flight, how hungry they were, or their plans for the upcoming holiday.
After only a few minutes, Karma saw her out of the corner of his eye. She had on sunglasses, but nothing could ever cover that scar she had on her cheek. Karma knew it was Marx. She was walking with someone. They stopped just feet away from him as he sat there reading the paper. Karma made every attempt to go unnoticed. The man walking with Marx said in Eastern Slavic, "I thought Keys was coming to pick us up?"
Keys? Karma thought. Another name is now associated with Marx. After a few seconds Marx and the unknown man stepped off the curb and into a brown sedan. Karma was relieved that they were gone. He dropped the newspaper and waved to Jynx. She pulled the Land Cruiser up to him as he jumped in. Karma said, "Brown vehicle. Don't lose them but stay back far enough they can't see you." Karma grabbed the radio and pressed the button, "Indigo you read me?"
Indigo responded, "Here Karma, what is the situation?"
"We are south bound on Oblast Street. She is in a brown sedan with at least two other agents in the car with her. Ever heard of the name Keys?"
After a few seconds, Indigo responded, "Yes, that was the guy that crashed our operation in Brussels last year. Is he there too?"
Karma replied, "Keys and Marx are in the car together. I don't know who the third man is. I am going to say that Marx is a high priority player if she travels with two agents." Karma looked over at Jynx as she was driving. She was sweating. Water droplets were running down her face. Karma put the radio down and said, "Relax. Slow down your heartrate. Nothing is happening yet. We are just driving a car down the road."
Jynx apologized, "Sorry, I am a bit nervous." Karma kept an eye on her to make sure she was okay. Before too long, he spotted a Dodge Aries on their tail. This is good. All the players were on the field. The brown sedan had not begun changing directions. They were completely unaware.
Karma picked up the radio and said, "Indigo, I need you to take your point. We have been following them for almost 10 minutes now and I don't want them to get suspicious of us."
"Copy that." Indigo said through the radio. The Dodge Aries lurched around the Land Cruiser to take the lead.
Jynx slowly changed lanes, making distance between the vehicles. Once she was in the slowest lane, Karma grabbed the wheel and said, "Climb over me." Jynx took her foot off the accelerator and quickly climbed to the passenger seat. The vehicle was losing speed rapidly, but once Jynx was out of the way Karma climbed into the driver seat. He sped the car up and changed lanes. Within a minute or so he could see the Dodge Aries was only a few cars ahead of them. Karma looked at Jynx and shot her a smile. Everything was going well.
Another 10 minutes passed. The brown sedan turned left onto another road. Then right onto a dirt road. Indigo radioed in, "Yeah, we've got a problem. Target vehicle just went off the main roads. Following her from this point on is going to be difficult. If we are following her on an empty dirt road, she is gonna know we are here."
Karma took the radio and replied, "You don't have to see the car, Indigo. Fast driving on dirt roads picks up a lot of dust. Stay way back and follow her dust clouds."
Indigo slowed down and followed Karma's instructions. Tailing someone on dirt roads was hard. Tailing someone who was tailing someone else was even harder. Karma kept his distance. At least on the crest of the hills he could see Marx's vehicle. After another 15 minutes Indigo started to slow down. Then she radioed back, "I think we lost her." The Dodge Aries came to a stop on the side of the road as Karma drove around them. The dust cloud from Marx's vehicle was gone. Either they turned off somewhere or they slowed down so much that they didn't create any dust clouds anymore. Either way they were in trouble.
Karma pulled the Land Cruiser over to the side of the road. He let out a huge exhale and threw the radio down on the seat. "Damn it." Karma said with the slightest reserve. Jynx did not say anything. She knew how important this was. Indigo didn't say anything through the radio. Everyone just sat there listening to the hum of their vehicle's motors. Karma got out of the vehicle and walked back to the Dodge Aries. Indigo rolled the window down to see Karma's unhappy face. Karma asked, "How far back did you last see the clouds?"
Indigo responded, "About 100 to 200ft back. There could have been another vehicle we were following. We were so far back… There was no way to tell if it was the right vehicle."
Karma nodded and returned to the Land Cruiser. He stopped to look at Jynx. She could see the failure in his eyes, but his resolve would not be shaken so easily. Karma didn't get in the Land Cruiser. Instead, he grabbed the radio and walked to the top of the nearest hill. He looked at his watch. It was 701 a.m. He pressed the button on the radio and said, "Go ahead and retrace our footsteps back to the main road. Write down the road names and count the miles. We need all this information to send it back to Freeman."
Jynx got out of the Land Cruiser and walked up to the top of the hill with him. She looked down the road and back the way they came. There was nothing to see. Just road in both directions. She looked at Karma with a hopeful look and said, "Maybe they crashed?"
"No," Karma shook his head, "We would have seen their car. We would have seen smoke. It's like they just disappeared."
"I see smoke." Jynx pointed back toward the forest. Karma turned and looked in the same direction. After a few seconds he could see the smoke too. It wasn't much but there were small black clouds rising along the tree line. They both quickly returned to the car and turned around. Karma drove the car very slowly back the way they came. He inspected the sides of the road for tire tracks.
A few 100 ft back down the road. Matted down grass with tire tracks leading into the forest. The trees were spaced out enough for a large vehicle to pass through. The first time the vehicles passed by, they must have missed it due to the thick clouds of dust. Karma picked up the radio and said, "Indigo, come on back we found something."
Indigo replied, "Yeah we found something too. There is an unmarked white van heading your way. They just passed us about a mile back. Keep your eyes open."
Karma pulled the Land Cruiser over to the side of the road blocking the entrance to the forest. Jynx asked him, "Aren't we going to hide?"
"Nope, if that van is coming here to this entrance, I want him to stop. If he is delivering something to the hidden facility in this forest, then I think we should at least say hi." Karma got out of the car and waited for the white van to approach. Jynx followed him. She looked around at the beautiful forest and gave Karma a big hug and kiss. Karma was confused, "What are you doing? This is not the time."
Jynx held him close and said, "This is our cover! We are out here looking for a scenic location for pictures. Trust me when they approach, let me do the talking." Once again, she kissed Karma. He wanted to disagree with her plan, but it was too late. The white van just crested the hill and was headed right for them.
Karma pulled her head away from him and said, "This is a bad idea. They could be armed."
Jynx did not look at the approaching vehicle as she replied, "Who would dare shoot two lovers on the side of the road?" Relax, let me handle this." She said this as the van slowed down and stopped about 20 ft away. Out of the corner of his eye Karma could see the driver alone but wearing an all-black outfit. Including a dark coat. It's not good. He could be using that coat to hide a weapon of some kind. The driver honked his horn and put his hands up in the air. Jynx looked at the driver and smiled. She said, "Oh look darling! A local to help us find our way." Jynx led Karma by the hand over to the white van. She said again, "Greeting I am Anna, this is my fiancée, Hans. Can you help us out for a moment?"
The driver of the white van was very confused. He had on a black ski mask and was not amused. He leaned out the window and said eastern Slavic, "What are you speaking about woman? Your vehicle is in the way!"
Jynx realized there was a language barrier. Karma stepped around her and said, "Forgive me sir, my girlfriend does not speak the language. I am Hans, we are seeking a beautiful place for possible wedding pictures. Do you know of any waterfalls around here?"
"Waterfalls?" The man said abruptly. Then he continued, "All the land in this area is private property. You should not be wandering around here barking up the wrong tree."
Karma nodded and stepped toward the driver. Then he said, "Of course, perhaps you know the owner and could give us his number?" Before the driver could respond, Karma pulled his silenced Glock from under his coat and put it to the Driver's head. The driver was not expecting that. He froze in fear. Then Karma said, "Or maybe you could give us the tour yourself? Get out, slowly."
The driver slowly opened the door and climbed out of the van. Karma said, "Turn around. Lean against the van with your hands up." The driver did what he was told. Karma searched for him. He had a Soviet PSM pistol under his coat. Karma said, "What kind of delivery carrier service uses weapons like this?"
Indigo and Leo were just now showing up. They parked the Dodge Aries behind the van. The Driver said, "You don't even know what kind of people you are messing with pal. You should count your blessings now before you turn up missing tomorrow."
Karma nodded and said, "Lots of people turn up missing around here, don't they? You aren't involved with that, are you, PAL?" Indigo got out of the car and drew her weapon. Karma looked at her and said, "Check the back. See what he is hauling."
Indigo opened the back of the van. Leo and her both looked shocked. Indigo said, "People. Karma, he is hauling people."
With one swift action Karma smacked the driver in the back of the head. With a sharp exhale the driver slumped down to the ground. Karma walked to the back doors of the van. Inside were two people in straight jackets. Leo and Karma pulled on the legs of one. They pulled him to the back door of the van to look at him. He was heavily sedated. Karma grabbed the man and threw him over his shoulder and said, "Leo, grab the other one." Karma took the sedated man back to the Dodge Aries and put him in the back seat. Leo grabbed the second one and did the same. Karma returned for the driver and picked him up.
Indigo finally interjected. She said, "Where are you going with that one?" We are not saving his ass." As Karma walked by her, she pulled off the driver's face mask and said, "This one is an agent. Not sure which one he is, but he is dangerous."
Karma put the driver down near the trunk and said, "He is unarmed. We will put him in the trunk. So, we can ask him questions back at HQ."
"Yeah, that is a great idea." Indigo said sarcastically. "Until he breaks out of the trunk and escapes. Seriously, you should have shot his ass already."
Karma was out of breath from hauling two bodies, he said, "Open the trunk." Leo had the keys. He walked around to open the trunk. Inside there were some things that needed to be moved around. But the driver could definitely fit. They moved the spare tire out of the way and put the driver in the truck.
Karma turned back to Indigo and Jynx. Then he said, "Okay, one person needs to stay here to watch the cars. The rest of us are going on a little hike."
Indigo wasn't having this conversation. "Oh hell no. I see what you are doing. You want to leave your girlfriend behind so she can watch the driver escape from the trunk? Would she even be able to shoot him if he got out?" Indigo looked at Jynx. Jynx did not say anything. Then Indigo said, "This is some ridiculous plan to keep her out of harm's way."
Karma shook his head, "Not at all. We shouldn't leave the vehicles unattended."
Indigo walked over and took the keys from Leo. Then she said, "I wish I could believe you, Karma. A few years back you would have shot that driver the first chance you got. Now you want everyone to walk away from everything. This is the wrong business for sentiment." Indigo walked around to the trunk of the Dodge and said, "Let me take care of this for you." Indigo opened the trunk and fired a single shot. It was a silenced shot, so the sound did not travel very far. Both Jynx and Leo turned away in horror.
Karma just stood there staring at Indigo. After she was done executing the driver. Indigo shut the trunk and said, "See that's the easy way to do it."
Karma shouted, "What the hell is wrong with you! He was unarmed! We don't operate like this."
"Shut the hell up, Karma." Indigo put her pistol away and walked over to him. "You have gone soft in your old age. Now no one has to stay behind. Strength in numbers." Indigo patted Karma on the back and walked over toward Leo. Leo seemed a little less thrilled to be standing next to her.
Karma thought about it for a second, what was he to do with this situation? She just killed someone who could have possibly escaped from the trunk. He was a threat if he had escaped. She wasn't wrong, but she wasn't right to execute him like that. Karma looked at the vehicles and said, "We need to hide the cars." Karma drove the Land Cruiser to the far side of the road behind some bushes. Everyone loaded up in gear. Karma grabbed the camera. Leo unpacked Jynx's luggage sniper rifle and threw it over his back. Jynx grabbed her MP5. Indigo parked the Dodge Aries next to the Land Cruiser and played it off like everything was normal. Karma could see it in their faces. Jynx and Leo didn't like what happened. But they also didn't voice their concerns. Karma knocked on Leo and Jynx's back to make sure they were wearing body armor. They were. Everyone was ready.
The team walked into the forest along the hidden trail. Karma had his pistol out. Jynx was behind him with her silenced MP5. Jynx held her weapon at the ready and asked, "Okay, tell me about this place."
"The Exstrusis Facility?"
"Yes."
Karma replied, "As far as we know this is the Exstrusis HQ. Agent Marx, Agent Death, Agent Keys… These are all players in the Exstrusis collection of Spies, hit squads, and Doctors that deal with psychological manipulation. They bring people here and inject them with the drug Psych10. It's a neurotoxin that fries your brain. If you survive, they reprogram you. Make you one of them. Then they send you back out into the world with new orders. Sleeper agents. Your new job is to go home, chat with your family, and fit in. Then when they tell you to, you go out and assassinate someone. Or better yet strap a bomb to your chest and kill a few hundred people."
Jynx nodded, "Okay, so what you are telling me is that everyone here is a terrible person. I shouldn't feel bad if I shoot someone?"
Karma smiled and said, "Yes, that is exactly what I said."