Chereads / ANCHOR / Chapter 9 - # Ep 9: THE DESCENDANTS

Chapter 9 - # Ep 9: THE DESCENDANTS

A new week starts and drags as usual, the boys still wary of BELLE try to find out more about her but each time they end at a dead end.

On the final day of the working week

HEAD

"No body on this earth is this clean...or are we looking in the wrong places?"

AUGER

"Probably....because we are looking for dirt but all we find are praises..."we miss her hope she comes back"...no one is loved that much, especially her it cant be true..."

just then BELLE walks into the boys office and hands HEAD a file

BELLE

"I heard that you have been making calls about me...if you are to look into someone then that someone should not be aware that you are looking into them...am greatly disappointed..."

The boys looks at each other but say nothing

BELLE continues

" Anyway, I have decided to take pity on you since you are not making any progress, in that file is everything you wanted to know about me"

ALLURE

"Really!"

The Boys gather around head as he hurriedly opens the file

BELLE slightly amused

"How are all of you so gullible?...at least one of you should be skeptical...that's your next assignment, we leave in ten minutes..."

She shakes her head as she leaves the now disappointed boys. A few minutes later, the boys hop into an armored truck where BELLE is already waiting for them. As soon as the door closes behind them

BELLE

"You know you guys are working too hard for no reason. I already gave AEGIS the key to unlock the vault that holds all my secrets...."

the boys look at AEGIS questioningly

ALLURE

"What secrets?

BELLE in a cheeky tone

"Yes AEGIS what secrets"

AEGIS cringes...

HEAD

"what secret is she talking about AEGIS?"

AUGER

"AEGIS are you keeping secrets from us"

AEGIS slightly furious

"Can everyone please stop using the word secret!..."

HEAD

"why?"

BELLE

"yes why?"

AEGIS scoffs

ALLURE

"Why does it seem like the two of you have a secret around the word secret?"

AEGIS

"Please!...lets use the word information.."

AUGER

"So what "information " are you keeping from us"

AEGIS

"Its a secr...sigh...I need do something in return she will declassify her file"

THE OTHER BOYS

"WHAT!!"

HEAD

"Why didn't you tell us earlier...we haven't slept for days!"

AEGIS

"Because I have changed my mind...I cant do it..."

BELLE pleased

"its a win win for me.."

ALLURE

"What is it, can we be of help?"

AEGIS sighs

"No..."

AUGER

"But what is it...tell us first we decide if we can't be of help"

AEGIS

"I will update you when we get back to the office"

AUGER

Why?...how long is his information?"

BELLE to AUGER

"You are a curious one aren't you...?"

AUGER

"Then you tell us"

BELLE

"Why...wait for your little gossip session after the mission...its a good thing he has held back we don't need you distracted during this mission"

AUGER

"Now you are making it worse am more curious"

BELLE

"Its juicy....as hell...ooh we are here..."

AUGER exhales in frustration as the team alights from the truck. The task had been to escort precious gems to a nearby bank. AUGER and HEAD carry the safety box while BELLE ,ALLURE and AEGIS walk close to them checking around for anything suspicious.

As soon as the team gets into the bank, an ambush ensues.

Five Criminals disguised as old men with metal walking sticks start attacking the team. The walking sticks have a push button that turns the tip touching the ground into blades. A Bank teller manages to press the silent alarm and the bank goes into lockdown. A knife fight ensues as the men try to get hold of the safety box.

BELLE dodges an attack from CRIMINAL 5 disarms her attacker using his walking stick to choke him to sleep. She then throws the stick at CRIMINAL 4 who is attacking AUGER the stick lands bulls eye on the criminals crotch Shocking AUGER who winces on behalf of the criminal.

Suddenly CRIMINAL 3 holds a woman hostage. He demands that BELLE and her team stand down for the sake of the woman. ALLURE sneaks behind him and manages to disarm him. However just as he was ambushing CRIMINAL 3, CRIMINAL 2 grabs ALLURE'S gun from his waist holster and shoots in the air.

Screaming, scrambling as people run for their lives. CRIMINAL 2 demands that everyone listen to their demands otherwise he will shoot the hostages, he then proceeds to hold ALLURE hostage with gun to the head.

CRIMINAL 2 Looking at the members of the team

"I will shoot this pretty boy if you don't behave…"

ALLURE Panting

"Thanks for the compliment man...these people never compliment me...and if you are to hit me at any point please avoid the face am still single…"

CRIMINAL 2

"You think this is a joke?..."

ALLURE stops talking. The team drops their weapons. From a distance sirens can be heard getting closer and closer.

CRIMINAL 1 asks the team to raise their hands, BELLE raises her hands and quickly pulls her hair clip and throws it at CRIMINAL 2'S groin, with fast reflexes ALLURE covers his groin area with both hands .In a split second the team manages to get back in control and subdue the criminals.

Finally, the situation is under control, the police rush in ,HEAD hands the criminals over and briefs the detectives of the situation. The team completes their mission and head outside back to the armored vehicle.

BELLE exhaling

"Its never smooth when precious stones are involved...is everyone okay?"

The boys nod in confirmation.

AUGER to BELLE

"Of all the places you could aim knives"

BELLE in a tone filled with justification

"It was the only clear shot I had...."

AUGER

"Both of them? ALLURE was blocking the other man almost entirely"

BELLE

"Yes both, especially the one who was holding ALLURE…If he was blocking the man I wouldn't have landed Bulls eye…"

she mimics throwing a dart.

HEAD shakes his head

BELLE In a serious tone to ALLURE

"And you… a knife is being thrown in your direction instead of covering your head or even neck what are you protecting?"

ALLURE without hesitation

"I know you probably don't know this...but just as the criminal stated I have a very good looking face"

BELLE shakes her head and scoffs as he touches his face with exaggeration and continues

"It will be a disservice to this world if I didn't make a copy of this face and left it behind...therefore to answer your question...I was protecting my descendants...and in a way the world..."

ALLURE climbs into the truck AUGER SMILES as AEGIS, HEAD and BELLE also join him. The vehicle leaves the scene.

On the way back BELLE starts to take a nap

AUGER

"Why are you always sleeping...you were to brief us on AEGIS's secret"

BELLE

"Am sure AEGIS would not appreciate me talking about his secret.." she smiles and cuddles herself again about to nap

AUGER

"But.."

BELLE in a warning tone

"AUGER!...I want to nap...wait to get to the office then you and AEGIS can talk about secrets"

AEGIS scoffs BELLE continues

"Plus your life was jus in danger a while back, somebody would think that would be your topic of discussion...but noo..you are more interested in another man's secret.."

BELLE goes back to her nap as AUGER pouts impatiently.

The team gets back to the office and BELLE requests they join her at the debriefing room

AUGER throwing a tantrum

"At this rate I will never find out..."

HEAD and ALLURE look at him in disbelief he pretends to calm down. After a short debrief the boys rush to their office to hear from AEGIS.

BELLE speaking to herself as she heads to her office

'Someone would think he was going to tell them he has discovered what happens when you die...am curious about that.."

As soon as they enter the office AEGIS speaks

"I am supposed to go dancing with her this weekend, I have to impress her for her to declassify the file"

The boys slightly amused

ALLURE

"She picked the one thing you couldn't do..."

AEGIS

"I suggested it..."

The shocked boys

"WHY?!"

AUGER

"So you had a chance to suggest anything!, but you chose the one thing you are bad at?(hands up in despair) ... she loves food...didn't it occur to you to suggest ...I don't know maybe cooking?..."

AEGIS

"I never thought she would agree to it...plus what makes all of you think I cant dance its not like any of you have seen me dancing.."

ALLURE

No offence man, but there's an aura that surrounds those who can dance and you my man...you just don have it"

AEGIS scoffs

"How would you know?"

HEAD

Plus we trying to prevent you from embarrassing yourself in front of her"

AEGIS

"That ship already sailed...she already..."

He sops mid sentence..

AUGER

"She already what?..."

AEGIS

"I mean.... That ship has already sailed for all of us...remember the dogs?"

The Boys nod in agreement...

AUGER

"Am sure that's not what you ,meant but I will let it slide for now as we have bigger issues"

AEGIS

"But I have changed my mind besides going out of town just the two of us sounds...

AUGER

"Wait!...why would you leave that part of the info out?...out of town where?how?

AEGIS

Someone would think I was taking you with me...you are even more shocked than her when I suggested it"

THE BOYS

"WHAT!!?"

AEGIS now angry

"Not the reaction I expected because if I recall clearly.... Last time you guys suggested I have a date out of town for my safety!..."

HEAD sighs AUGER is in disbelief and ALLURE is amused.

ALLURE trying to reassure AEGIS

"Its okay man, its not like she can do anything to you...all this time other than digging into our lives and issuing empty threats and crazy training she is pretty harmless"

HEAD nods

"True...ALLURE you are a genius!.."

ALLURE

"What did I do today...compliments are shooting me from unknown angles..."

HEAD continues

"We have been approaching this in a logical manner, like a mission...we need to approach it in a friendly manner..."

The Boys look at HEAD even more confused

"Any human can be disarmed...remember the night she rescued us? "

The boys nod in agreement

"Her weakness is she cares...but she disguises it so well...AEGIS make her care... and ALLURE is right she will protect you first before she harms you...Still if you knew how to dance it would have been easier and taken us a shorter route..."

ALLURE

"All the best...we will be waiting for updates on Monday"

AUGER

"Be safe...you know just incase these two are wrong and she tries to kill you in your sleep...Speaking of sleep, where are you guys..."

AEGIS

"Its a secret...I know you...you will not help yourself and want to carry out surveillance"

AUGER

"Someone would think am coming to ruin a date..."

AEGIS

"But it is a date and your presence there will ruin it.."

AUGER

All of a sudden you are so confident

AEGIS

Because I have realized ALLURE and HEAD are right...am safer with her than with any of you

Scoff from the boys

HEAD

"Hope come Monday you will have the same spirit of excitement you are showing us today..."

AEGIS takes his jacket and leave the BOY'S office

HEAD

"We need to get back to digging...our only hope has two left feet and no sense of rhythm"

ALLURE tilting his head

"But what if he can actually dance...naa....when I say it out loud I realize am lying"

HEAD to AUGER

"But you can dance...why don't you go and rescue us.. let me call AEGIS"

AUGER quickly grabs the phone from HEAD's hand

"I will work the entire weekend... and dig, earlier today she said one of us should at least be skeptical.. I am the skeptical one...I don't believe she is harmless like the rest of you...I do not! want to put my life in danger... AEGIS volunteered let the man go and "dance"...in fact he seemed excited don't take that away from him"

Meanwhile BELLE is in her office ready to go home just then a knock on her door its AEGIS

"What time do I pick you tomorrow?" He asks

BELLE surprised

"I thought you changed your mind"

AEGIS

"No, why would I miss the chance to show you my glorious moves..."

BELLE smiles and scoffs

"Be punctual.."

AEGIS

"See you tomorrow them..."

He leaves her office she slumps back onto the chair and shakes her head and speaks to herself

'maybe he does know how to dance in which case this will be too easy for him..'

She tilts her head

'Or maybe he is calling my bluff...either way both require courage I will be entertained either way...' she exhales and leaves he office in deep thought.

The next morning AEGIS is parked outside BELLE'S apartment waiting for her to come out .She gets out in casual wear carrying a travel bag ...he smiles. She drops her bag in the back seat..

BELLE

"what's funny..."

AEGIS

"you look so harmless ...almost cute.... but there is a rabid dog underneath the façade"

BELLE

"Funny that is how I describe you as well"

AEGIS

"how?…"

BELLE

"Rabid dog…"

She sneers at him buckles her seatbelt with exaggeration

AEGIS

"if you are scared it's too late to back out now..." He starts the engine and they drive off.

Along the way she starts shuffling through the radio...

BELLE

"Hand me your phone"

AEGIS

"Why? do you want to do another recording or do you want to turn off my tracker...everyone knows am with you...if something were to..."

BELLE

" relax...I just want to listen to your playlist...this is a very long ride..."

AEGIS

"No ...a playlist is something personal is like someone's underwear...you don't just randomly ask to hear it."

BELLE

"Am just asking to see it... not remove it...there's nothing to be embarrassed about..."

AEGIS

"Now that we are on the topic..."

BELLE

"What topic?"

AEGIS

"You know.."

BELLE

"No I don't…"

AEGIS quietly

"…Underwear..."

BELLE Scoffs

"you brought it up, just a few seconds ago you said UNDERWEAR so confidently what has changed.."

AEGIS looks uncomfortable

BELLE

Looks at him, in disbelief then shouts

"underwear! Underwear!"

AEGIS

"Okay !okay!…that day I came… to your place…"

BELLE Laughs,

"if you don't say it out loud I will not be able to answer"

AEGIS

"When you changed my clothes…while I was unconscious…"

BELLE

"Yes… I seriously cant believe you are still hung up on that..."

AEGIS looks at her in frustration

BELLE

"Ask, so many things happened that night, I need to know what exactly you want to know"

AEGIS

"…a …a…lot of things?"

BELLE

"Without a specific question am not going to answer anything"

AEGIS

"OKAY, leave it be…"

BELLE

"By the way your taste in Underwear is eclectic"

AEGIS

"WHAT!"

BELLE

"I mean your music playlist"

BELLE then proceeds to connect his phone to the vehicle Bluetooth.

AEGIS shakes his head in frustration.

BELLE sings along to some sings and even raps to some fast lines AEGIS shakes his head in disbelief. as he drives on

AEGIS Under his breath

"How many personalities does this woman have?" More songs continue to play as they drive along eventually BELLE falls asleep.

AEGIS

"Finally!" Sigh of relief,

He turns the volume down and drives in silence occasionally staring at her shaking his head. After a while she wakes up grumpy...

BELLE

"why did you turn off the music"

AEGIS

"You were asleep"

BELLE

"How do you know I was not listening to it in my sleep?"

AEGIS

"Then you should have woken up and turned it back on..."

BELLE

"Why haven't we stopped for food yet? do you have any snacks?"

AEGIS in disbelief

"no I don't have any snacks..."

BELLE

"who goes on a road trip without snacks....We need to find food..."

AEGIS

"how you survived multiple deployments still amazes me..."

he shakes his head

BELLE

"Am not going to war, am I? apparently am being taken out...hungry!"

AEGIS

"Okay, okay use the app on your phone and find a food joint for us nearby."

They finally stop at a fast food joint and AEGIS parks outside. BELLE rushes to the ordering station surprising AEGIS

"someone would think she has been starving for days!"

He follows right behind her.

FAST FOOD ATTENDANT

"How many orders do you need?"

AEGIS AND BELLE both speak at the same time

HIM- two

HER- three

The attendant looks at them confused and pauses

BELLE

Its three

AEGIS shakes his head and pays. BELLE takes two of the orders and leaves one for him. He carries his order in exhaustion.

Back in his car as he is talking to her she just nods her head while taking huge bites and not once looking at AEGIS

AEGIS

"Someone would think you haven't eaten for days"

she nods yes he continues

"Are you going to finish both orders?"

She nods yes again he continues again

"It seems I don't need to dig further ,food is your weakness"

she nods yes and no, swallows and speaks for the first time

AEGIS

"At the mention of food she speaks.."

BELLE

"Food is my weakness, when I don't have it am grumpy and my strength when I have it am very nice..so a piece of advice for this trip for the sake of your sanity. Make sure am well fed."

AEGIS scoffs they finish the meal and head back on the road.

Finally they get to their destination and AEGIS parks. By now its late in the evening she opens the car door and looks around in delight breathing in the sea breeze.

BELLE

"...this is beautiful"

she whispers.

She then turns to AEGIS

"did you book a single room or two"

AEGIS

"why"

BELLE

"If you booked one, am sleeping on the bed and you on whatever piece of furniture will be left unless of course if the bed is big we can share... also watch on your snoring...You snore heavily..."

Scoff from AEGIS

AEGIS

"You know you really scare me ... a normal woman...no any woman would not just share room with a random man out of town"

BELLE

"First you are not a random man...and I wouldn't do this with any man in case you are wondering...secondly I have predator instincts between the two of us...you are the prey..."

AEGIS

"Of course I know that...and that is why I booked two separate rooms..."

She takes her bag from he back seat and follows him inside the hotel building....

AEGIS

"Just out of curiosity...you didn't carry your weapons did you...that bag looks overly huge for an overnight bag"

BELLE smiling sweetly

"Well...whether I have any weapons or not depends on how well you behave...but so far I can say I have no weapon..."

Fear flashes on AEGIS'S face .As he presents his credentials to the hotel receptionist he recalls AUGER'S warning and sighs exhausted.