ANME-3

=Chapter 3 Ancient Memories=
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==In the name of Exodus==
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===Act 1===
Kerensky had been searching. Officially the story was for a Cameron heir. But the truth? To have a chance he needed a particular family line. One he hadn’t found.
“We’ve spent as much time as we dare, Aaron. We need to start running, with or without the one family line listed in Project Sidhe as our salvation.” Kerensky sighed.
“I’ve been making the preparations. The unit commanders are being assembled now.”
"Do the men believe the cover?" Kerensky asked.
"Enough of them. It helps that the House Lords have decided to be so ****** stupidly stubborn about this." DeChevalier noted, "it would be a lot harder if any of them had an attack of reason."
“Yes. And they’re already poaching units. That too will help sell the need to leave.”
"A few details in preparation." DeChevalier suggested, "One of Richard's side projects in the Periphery, on a place called LV 5775. I've taken the initiative in having that project's contingency code activated, which should keep that research from being found or used by the House Lords if they find out about it."
“Good. It’s a long shot but it just might give us the edge we need. We’ve had to share an awful lot with the Houses to keep the army supplied and fit to fight for this campaign. Anything more we can keep from them before we leave the better.”
“How many do you think will go with you?”
“Not enough. But more than can be reasonably expected. Especially with what we’ve just gone through.”
“We could still execute Operation SCATTERING. I know it’s more extreme…”
“Exodus will be sufficient. Besides people will decide to break off on their own anyway. All we can do is balance the loads of critical materials as best we can so that no one ship leaving dooms either side. And lots of slack for that. Because really we’ll lose dozens of ships to that or to breakdowns.”
“Ready to begin our return to Terra at your order.”
“Do it. We’ll just have to pray we can run far enough and advance enough that we can survive what is coming.”
-----
===Act 2===
"Major Garrow, I've got the reports you asked for." the IG man handed Mike a thick file, "Not sure why you're interested…"
"It's above your pay grade, Lieutenant." Mike said smoothly, "Don't worry about it. Continue with your duties."
"Yes sir." 
Mike nodded subtly to his 'aide', an administrative warrant officer in harsh office-dress uniform. She smiled at the Lieutenant from the IG section, and blew a kiss before joining her officer as they left the room.
The man would remember nothing about this, or about the information his security clearance had been used for, aside from a fairly normal investigative audit.
Theresa made sure of it, just as she made sure the surveillance showed nothing out of place. There would be no security alerts.
Taking such efforts were proving to be a drain though. She knew she was still limited. But her memories were still hiding much from herself. Still she was certain she had made good their departure without notice.
“You okay?” Mike asked.
“Yes. Just need to take some time to recover before we do something like this again. I’ll be fine.”
Mike opened the door on the staff car, and helped her sit down before going to the other side, and joining her in the back.
Eckhardt started the engine.
"Well boss?" The mechwarrior prompted as she pulled out into the morning traffic.
"We're out of the system." Mike said, "and I know what Kerensky's plan is."
"What is it?"
"He's going to desert, with most of the senior commanders. Apparently running off to nowhere to start playing at 'foundation' is easier on his mind, than reconstruction of civil government and order in the Hegemony."
“He can wait. We have plenty of time. Before then we have plenty of other people to tend to.” Theresa said calmly.
The car rolled through the intersection onto the Lake Washington bridge, eastbound.
“So where do we start?” Lara asked.
“That’s the best part. Once Kerensky leaves, it is going to be open warfare. So really our priority will be keeping ourselves safe.” Mike could sense it as clearly as the feeling of the faint rays of sunshine coming through the clouds and window of the ground car. “Don’t worry. We’ll still be doing plenty of killing. It won’t be too boring.”
Lara smiled. She knew Mike well enough to know if anything he was downplaying how much killing he was expecting to have to do.
“We’ll need our 'mechs then.” Lara pointed out.
“True. Time to plan a heist then when we get back.” Mike agreed.
"Most of the really good thieves use pen and paper to steal…or in some cases, digital records keeping, and I can't help but notice that file's got SLDF Logistics Command codes. You transferred our stuff, and that is where you sent it, isn't it?"
“So it does. Yes. But to claim it we’ll still need to keep up certain appearances.” Mike admitted.
"Why do I get the feeling our next step is the kind of thing that makes Styles all girly and Vien go through singles bars?" Eckhardt complained, "Who are we killing to get our stuff back?"
“To be fair it’s less killing to get our stuff back and more Kerensky’s up to something and that something is putting extra scrutiny on Dropships and Jumpships, enough so that paperwork is only going to be enough to get us onboard. We’re eventually going to need to leave Terra.”
“What about Johnny? He’s been tied up in medical for a while now.” Lara asked.
“Yeah. That’s our next stop. General order of business until something inevitably goes wrong and we have to change the plan. First we help Johnny, get him out of medical. Second we get our mechs. Third we get off Terra. Fourth we disappear for a bit.”
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===Act 3===
“Jonathan Wangker.” A man in SLDF Captain’s uniform entered Johnny Wangker’s hospital room.
“Who’s asking?” Johnny was in a mood.
“I’m Captain Yusef Mostert. I’m from the medical review board.”
“I’m being cashiered.” Johnny almost spat.
“Yes. With the state of the Hegemony, we’ll try and do everything we can to make sure you recover from your injuries…”
“Save it. We both know that my injury would have been trivial to fix before the crises but now… Unless one of the member states decides to suddenly become uncharacteristically generous, I’ll be lucky to even be wheelchair bound for the rest of my life.”
“Sergeant…”
“Save your promises. They’re empty now. My unit is turning traitor. Signing on with the Combine. The Combine!”
The Captain just nodded then tossed an envelope on Johnny’s lap then left.
His next visitor was a special kind of torture. A young, blond nurse, maybe doing her internship, came in.
“Time for me to be transferred to another facility already?” Johnny nodded at the wheel chair she was pushing.
“After a fashion. Remember Michael Garrow?” The young woman asked.
“Yeah. We worked together on a nasty piece of work on Caph. He said if I ever needed a new billet I’d always have one with him. Something about me saving his life.”
“Well he remembers. And from what I overheard sounds like you could use it.”
“Well I can’t walk. Completely paralyzed from about the waste down or so.”
“I can help with that. Tell me, what is it you desire?”
“My regiment is turning traitor. I can’t stop that. So what I desire most is the Regimental Honors. It’s the stuff we used for presentations, medal award ceremonies, and yes even when hosting a fine dining event.”
“Then so it shall be. Until such time you recover the items you seek you shall be in my service and do my bidding.” The young blond said as she reached out her left hand and slid it under his back.
Johnny felt…something.
“What did you just do?” Johnny asked.
“You’ll find out as soon as we get you out of here. For now please refrain from speaking.” The young woman literally picked him up and helped him into the wheelchair.
Johnny was still confused but he was silent.
She pushed him right up to the discharge station, pulled a clipboard off the back of the wheelchair.
“Medical transfer to John Hopkins.” The nurse said to the other nurse.
“Transport?”
“Arranged. Second page.”
“Everything seems to be in order.”
Johnny was still sitting in stunned silence. He wanted to talk, to ask what the hell was going on but found he couldn’t.
Without anyone from the hospital objecting he was pushed right out the front door and into the back of a waiting van.
“Apologies. Now you may speak freely.” The nurse said after strapping him in.
“What the hell are you?” Johnny asked.
“A good question. But the only answer you’re going to get is ‘special’ or your ‘mistress’.” The person in the passenger seat up front answered.
“Mike?” Johnny recognized the voice.
“Yup. I made you a promise. So no way in hell was I going to leave you hanging in that hospital. Or let them kick you to the curb like that.
“That still doesn’t explain a damned thing.”
“This will help.” The nurse said as she pinched his thigh. “Wake from your slumber. See the world for what it really is.”
Johnny’s eyes went wide. He felt the pinch. Just a few minutes ago he couldn’t feel anything from his legs.
Then he saw her.
“You’re not human.” Johnny said.
“No. No I’m not.”
“I can feel my legs.”
“A bit more power and time and you’ll be able to walk again.”
“So now I’m what, your slave?”
“Not at all. Sure there is a price for breaking contracts but you are free to do so if you wish. Mike informed me of his promise to you, what was happening with your comrades, and here we are. I help you get what you desire, in exchange I get your service towards what I desire.”
“And what is that?”
“Revenge. I was imprisoned for a very long time and my essence was drawn from me without my consent while I was also unable to defend myself. There are many humans I would see pay for this.” Theresa answered almost cheerfully.
“And some of the people we want to see buried are the same people.” Johnny understood.
“I imagine so.” Theresa nodded.
“You know what’s coming next though don’t you?” Johnny asked.
“Humanity is about to punish itself. It’ll make our revenge much easier.” Theresa’s voice was almost like a song now.
“Now about that contract business. Obviously this isn’t quite the type of contract I’m familiar with.”
“The ancient oaths. With them many things are possible.”
“Like making me able to walk again.”
“A large part of why that is possible for me to do at this time is human technology has advanced." she reached into her blouse and produced a flask. "However, sometimes the old ways are comforting." she took a sip, then offered it to him. "Go ahead."
He looked at her skeptically, but accepted the flask, and took a sip. It was almost sickly sweet, with an alcoholic under-bite. "What is this?"
"Meade." she told him, "A drink for champions, you're one of mine now."
“I’ve had worse.” Johnny finished the flask.
-----
===Act 4===
Kerensky was back on Terra, his searches fruitless.
Strange this clock I’m up against. I need to be in a hurry but at the same time I need to prepare my troops to leave the Hegemony for at least seven generations. We’ll have time yet to do this right with the measures I’ve ordered.
“Another war is coming. The troops are exhausted. So I’m going to refuse allowing them to be pawns. I need your help. Not just Aaron’s. Which is why I’m coming to you.”
“What can I do?” Jerome Blake asked.
“I’ll need you to stay behind. Keep the HPGs working. So that when my troops return after the war we’ll have an information net. Make yourself indispensable and irreplaceable with the House Lords. I don’t care how you do it. I just need the nets to be up and running for when we return so we don’t come in blind.” Kerensky said. “And try to keep Terra out of the hands of the House Lords. I know some of my troops will stay behind to help with that.”
“How long before you leave?”
“At most four years yet. It’ll take me that long to get all the supplies, ships, and people in order. Especially with the secrecy that I’ll need to keep.”
“You really think it’ll be that bad?”
“Worse. The House Lords can’t even agree that there are cadet branches of Camerons we could tap to resurrect the Star League and Hegemony. They want the big chair for themselves now and I can’t build the Hegemony up and fight a five sided war at the same time. It pains me but I have to do this to spare Terra and my troops. If I stay and fight Terra becomes even more of a target.”
“Alright General. I’ll do this for you and help keep your secret.”
“Thank you Jerome.”
“It’s what the council has essentially asked me to do anyway.”
Kerensky stood then bowed.
Once he was safely away Conrad Toyama stepped in from an adjoining room.
“That went better than I expected. I thought we’d have to work a bit harder to clear Kerensky from the board for our own aims.” Conrad said quietly.
“So did I. He’s not wrong that if too much of the SLDF is on the board Terra could become a most uncomfortable target to take and the Age of War shows what happens to such targets. He didn’t even bat an eye. Something else has him worried. See what you can find out, Conrad. In the meantime the Ministry of Communications has a task and I intend to carry it out.”
“I’ll see what we can find out.” Conrad nodded then left the way he came.
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===Act 5===
There was a slight burning sensation as soon as the water touched her lips. Theresa realized what it was and spat out the little bit of water she already had in her mouth.
“No one drink the municipal water.” Theresa was having trouble speaking. Such was the power of silver.
That memory was not lost to her. It was only a trace of traces. But someone knew. They were purifying water with silver.
By itself that would not kill her but it would be enough to keep her weak and in agony if she did not recognize the effect. It was part of how they kept her in prison as long as they had.
“So how much longer are we going to lay low? We have our mechs. I’m getting bored already.” Styles complained.
"Mmmh." Nixon looked up from the magazine he was reading. "We're between missions, Styles, maybe see what the new guy's up to?"
“Fine. I’ll see if he’s up for some fun.” Styles stood up and walked over to Johnny.
“Jeez.” Johnny Wangker startled as he realized someone was standing over him.
“I’m bored. You know things are dull when I’m bored. And as the new guy you’re my diversion.” Styles announced.
“Well I’m not sure what you expect from me.” Johnny countered. “Mike’s the C-Oh. He’s got the forms and access codes.”
“I guess we’re trying to figure out where you fit in. What you bring to the crew.” Styles continued.
“Johnny’s got shall we say unconventional contacts. So when it comes time for us to go off the grid he’s going to be the one keeping us in bullets, beer, and beans.” Mike came into the common room. “But if you’re looking for something to do, well I got a lead on some Quislings that sided with Amaris.”
“I’ll take it. Better than sitting around here bored out of my mind.” Styles said.
“Here. Study it. Johnny, we’ll need something to collect rainwater for ourselves and Theresa. And our own distillery. No silver components.”
“Sure. Borrow Cham for back up? These are the sorts of people you don’t meet with alone if you want to come back with the merchandise. Especially with what’s going on these days.”
“Yeah that will be fine. And someone go with Styles. We don’t need random explosions drawing attention to us right now.” Mike looked around for a volunteer before his eyes landed on Eckhardt.
“Sure. I’ll do it. Those bastards are why I don’t have a family to go back to. Or close enough anyway.” Eckhardt nodded.
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===Act 6===
The building was formerly a hotel before the crisis. Sometime since then it became more of a gilded cage.
“I know why I’m doing this Styles. But I don’t get why you are. What’s your axe to grind in all of this?” Eckhardt asked as she looked through the binoculars.
“Because I’m self aware enough to know I’m a sociopath. Lara’s right about the fact that I’ll never fit in with normal civilians. Not anymore anyway. So I have zero issue with helping you and Theresa get your revenge.”
“So as long as we point at something and say ‘kill’ you will?”
“Yup.”
“Even if they wear a SLDF uniform?”
“Sure. You know how many people I killed that were wearing Star League uniforms? People who turned traitors and fought against us? Now they’re protecting people who hurt you. People who should die for what they did. And well, finding out how many lies and crimes the Terran Hegemony and thus the Star League were built on? People need to die for that too.”
“Well if there’s anybody from Elbar in there they’re not coming to the windows.”
“We could always ask one of the nice guards.” Styles observed.
“Yes, yes we could.” Echardt was slightly frustrated that the datapacket Mike was able to dig up didn’t have names.
Just that this was a holding facility for nobles that sided with Amaris. For their protection. Lynch mobs were still very much a thing for people who collaborated. So the prison was almost a fortress too.
“So what do you think, Eckhardt? We doing this or what?” Styles studied through her scope.
“There. South wall. That one’s about to go off shift. Let’s keep an eye on him and setup a honeypot.”
“Kinky.”
“Two for one. I get my fun then you get your fun.” Eckhardt countered.
“True.”
----
A bit later
The guard was walking on his way home. He was glad he lived in the city, meant unlike the others he didn’t have to live in the barracks.
He spotted an attractive dark skinned woman on the street corner. It was pretty clear what she was trying to do. He understood. Saving Terra from Amaris was great and all but a lot of people across Terra were still out of work. So that she was trying to prostitute herself? No surprise at all.
So he walked up to her.
“You’re new. Have you tried going to the aid center? They could help you. Hate to see a pretty young woman such as yourself do something so degrading as selling yourself.”
“Yes but I need the money now. Not months from now. That’s if I get it at all. My sister is in New York and in the hospital. She could die before I get the money or a pass.” The woman said.
“Uh huh.” The guard nodded.
“He’s not buying it, Eckhardt.” Another woman walked out of the alleyway.
“Yeah and now I’m feeling slightly conflicted. He actually is kind of nice. Tut tut. No sudden moves. You’re going to follow me into the alley like we made the deal.” Eckhardt nodded.
Eckhardt stepped over to the guard and slipped her arm over his shoulders as she led him into the alleyway.
Once away from the street she fished his sidearm and communit out of their proper places and onto the alleyway ferrocrete.
“Now you’re going to tell me some stories. And trust me you’ll tell them. The only question is what I’ll have to do to you to get you to tell them to me.”
A short while later
Eckhardt had her stories.
One of them was indeed a name she recognized.
Elbar’s former Chief of Medicine for the Duke. It was they who were ultimately responsible for Elbar’s organ harvesting scheme.
“Mike… I’ll need one of those transfer order forms of yours. They’re protecting him.”
"From more than just one source. I think he might've been…" Carl stopped, then, "...they sent the one-seven-one home right before the liberation op for Terra itself. I think the closest the 'loonies got was retaking Titan, then it was 'thanks for the hand now go home'."
"What're you suggesting?" Johnny asked.
"Someone in Command knew he was here, knew they wanted his ass, after what Ngo did at Running Deer to the officers running it, someone decided to send the vengeful Kowloonese and most of the people they recruited on Elbar back to Kowloon without their guns. What do you think that suggests?" Carl continued.
“He has something else. Something valuable. Enough that they want to keep him alive. Well I don’t care what it is. He dies.” Eckhardt answered.
Mike looked thoughtful, then, "It doesn't matter what he has." he looked up, "are we agreed? It doesn't matter if the guy learned the secret of eternal life, he dies."
"Why?" Streine asked.
"Because it's owed." Mike said. "Are we agreed? Price was paid, service has yet to be rendered."
Lara looked over at Morgan Eckhardt. “Yeah. That was a special kind of ****** up. I’m in.”
Johnny made finger guns. "Bang, he dies."
Styles licked her lips. “Mmmm. This is going to be interesting."
Cham shrugged his shoulders. “Turns out the grass isn’t greener on the other side. I’m in for some gardening.”
"So, let's work out how we're going to get this son of a bitch."
“Sorry Eckhardt but it’s going to take more than a transfer of custody order for someone that important.” Lara said as she laid out the map.
Nixon was already in that weird headspace he sometimes got into. "There's always a hole in the security." he said. "Let's get eyes on target. They're keeping him in one of the hotels that they’ve turned into a prison fortress. High sec, but it's not Unity City."
“Which means other collaborators are in there, which we already knew. It’s a shame we can’t just level the place with our mechs.” Lara nodded.
Styles giggled, she had a faraway look in her eyes, "but we can level it in other ways."
“Yeah. We can get close. We might even be able to get inside. Since we have this.” Eckhardt fished out the guard’s ID badge.
"They'll be eyes on the guard…but there's someone nobody looks at." Nixon said, "I bet the guys guarding won't look either."
“Housekeeping. Nobody pays attention to housekeeping.”
"Sewer service. They might clock me or Mike as 'not housekeeping' but we can get coveralls, and that hotel's on the common utility grid." Carl stated, "All we really need is to borrow a municipal truck and coveralls for the ones who can't look like housekeeping or staff."
“Uggh. Tell me the uniform isn’t completely ugly. I like killing in style.” Styles groaned.
"Let's actually look at this." Carl said, and thumbed out a recording into the player. "While the two of you were bagging the guard, I took some pictures."
Lara wheeled over a mobile posterboard and put up the pictures for Carl.
"Note, not staff and military doesn't issue short-short skirts and micro-purses…someone is getting call girl service in there. I bet she's not a spouse unless someone's marrying way too young."
"Could still be a dependent."
"Watch the door guards, if someone slapped your last Colonel's daughter on the ass like that, what would be the result?"
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure I’m still supposed to be on KP duty for the last time a commander decided I was getting too friendly with their offspring.” Cham nodded.
"Funny, I got the stockade for three months for it." Styles commented, "Mind that was before we spent ten years fighting a civil war, but still…"
"Someone's getting hooker service delivered." Mike asserted, "So, there's an option besides staff and utilities, depending on how you feel about-"
“A three prong approach.” Lara nodded.
"Inside-outside." Carl suggested. "Outside team uses Utility service as cover, inside team uses staff and 'services' to get past the outer layer, then helps the external team work in."
"Makes sense." Mike nodded. "We'll have to know the routes out, and we'll want those routes cleared."
“How extreme do we want to get?” Johnny asked.
"We get the main target for sure." Mike said, "Anything over that is bonus, and we keep it contained. I'd as soon not have to try to survive a planet-wide manhunt, so it needs to be tight, we're killing a war criminal or two, and getting out, and we try to do it so we're out before they notice we've been in."
“Okay. I’ll spread a bit of our supplies around to the street kids. Have them report false incidents, false bomb scares. They know how to crank call the police. I just need to know when for maximum effect of keeping response busy.” Johnny offered.
"Spread cameras around first. We need to see the routine, time it." Mike was in the groove now,"street info, when does the guard change, how many at a time? What days are they getting deliveries?"
“Told you there were more questions we should have asked the guard before we made sure he couldn’t tell anymore stories.” Styles said sing-songily.
"We'll have to see how well they notice he's missing." Carl said, "and who they bring in to cover his post."
“Sure. We have more pallets of Meals Rejected by Everyone than we can go through before they get old. Plenty of kids who’ll take those since we’re strapped for usable cash.” Johnny nodded. “I’ll get on that part.”
Theresa was sitting on a counter humming, smiling, and kicking her legs. “Be careful my champions. I can’t bring you back from death. But since this is in the pursuit of justice I can offer some small boons.”
----
===Act 7===
“Styles… You sure this will work?”
“Trust me. I know you’re still developing your sense of style for who you are now, and I know I can seem almost emotionless at times but one thing I take seriously is fashion. The guards won’t even question you. They’ll be too busy thinking about being jealous of whoever ordered ‘room service’ and getting some for themselves.” Styles said as she put dresses in front of Eckhardt who was standing in front of a full body length mirror.
“The purple one.” Eckhardt said.
“See, you’re learning. Now for the shoes.” Styles hung the dress from a rack before disappearing into a closet.
“You know you don’t have to play this role in the plan. I’d be willing to do it.” Lara said.
“No. It’s the riskiest role, this is for me. I have to do it.” Eckhardt shook her head.
“Here you go.” Styles came back with a matching pair of heels for the selected dress. “Now makeup.”
“She’s way into this.” Lara shook her head.
“I don’t mind.” Eckhardt smiled. “I’m actually enjoying exploring this new me. Somehow it feels right.”
“Grub and recon photos are in ladies and gentlemen!” Johnny said as he came into the warehouse.
“Kurita rations?” Cham looked at the MREs skeptically.
“Would you rather have the Number six SLDF rations?” Johnny countered.
“Kurita number three it is.” Cham seemed much more positively responsive to the offered MREs.
“The spirit of the local information net has heard no mention of a replacement for the guard.” Theresa offered her small contribution to the operation.
“They’re clearly at heightened awareness but, look at them.” Carl put up the pictures and played the videos.
“They’re going through the motions. They’re either not motivated or they’re doing a really good job of not tipping their hands that they think something is up.” Lara nodded.
“Guard rotation?” Mike asked.
“Looks like the vast majority of the guards are staying on site, here in the second tower.” Carl pointed at the structure. “Looks to be a standard SLDF shift structure. Rotating out guards for leave into the city once a month.”
“Two days. The next guard will be allowed leave in the city in two days.” Johnny confirmed.
“Can you get the truck we need by then?” Mike asked.
“Already have it and my friends just need some photos of Eckhardt and they’ll make arrangements so the next order for room service will be Eckhardt.”
“Eat. Quickly. We have work to do.” Styles demanded as she scarfed down Kurita MRE number 3.
-----
===Act 8===
The ground car pulled up to the main gate. Out stepped a tall, athletic, gorgeous woman with short black hair and pale green eyes in a flat purple dress that left little to the imagination.
Her gait accentuated her features as she strode towards them.
One of the guards was staring at her as she walked past and the staff service truck pulled up.
“You’re new. They tell you where everything is?” The other guard said as he was desperately also trying to watch the woman go into the complex.
“They gave me the floor plans.” Lara said as she stepped up to the entryway.
“Good enough. 704 needs a full cleaning, 1201 is completely off limits. The rest should already be on your task sheet.”
“Right here.” Lara patted her uniform pocket.
She entered followed shortly by Nixon.
“Did I detect a note of jealousy?” Carl said once they were out of easy hearing range of the guards.
“I know this uniform isn’t very flattering but really? They couldn’t oggle me at least a little?”
“Theresa did excellent work finishing what the surgeons started.”
“I know. But that’s what makes it more hurtful.”
“Well next time we’ll put you in the skimpy form fitting dress and Eckhardt in the frumpy custodial uniform.”
“Only if the mission calls for it. I’m a big girl and honestly I’m happy Eckhardt is getting that sort of attention. After Elbar was tough for her.”
“Yeah. She needs this.” Carl nodded.
Eckhardt pressed the elevator call button.
It opened with a guard inside.
“1201?” He asked.
“Yes.”
It was a surprise when Johnny got the information from his underworld contacts who the prostitutes were for. They weren’t for the Commandant or any of the guard staff, they were for him.
She was frisked and her bag searched.
Then the button for the penthouse was pressed.
After the elevator reached the top Eckhardt tugged on her right earring.
She walked up to the door, was shown inside and the guard left.
“My you’re quite fetching. But I can’t help but feel we’ve met before. Where are you from?” The older slightly overweight man in a suit said as he was pouring drinks in the room’s minibar.
“We know each other quite well.” Eckhardt tugged on her left earring. “Uncle Otto.”
The lights went out.
Eckhardt slid the old fashioned chain lock into place.
“Jennifer is that you?” Otto Eckhardt’s eyes widened in realization and fear.
“Your own brother and his family. Don’t worry. You won’t feel a thing.”
Otto fell to the floor grasping at his chest.
“A heart attack. Wow. Talk about karma. I don’t even have to kill you. I just get to sit here and watch you die. Here I had this whole plan about choking you out in a way that wouldn’t leave marks. This is way better.”
“Not… Jen…en…enifer…”
“Morgan. Your nephew. At least I used to be. Now thanks to the ****** up list of hormones and glands your butchers harvested from me the best way to save my life was to turn me into your niece. Which in a way I am grateful for. You made it clear I wasn’t your sort of ‘guy’ growing up. That I should have been born a woman. Which now that I am I think you were right about. For all your other victims I still have plenty of people to kill.”
Eckhardt stood, walked into the bathroom as a knock came from the door. She quickly got out of her dress and slipped a robe on, kicking her shoes off.
She went back to the door and opened it a crack.
“We heard something. And the lights are out. Everything okay in there?” The guard asked.
“Yes. Doctor Eckhardt just got a little carried away for his age but he’s fine. We don’t exactly need lights for what we’re trying to get up to. If you’re done interrupting us…”
“Right, sorry.”
Eckhardt waited about ten minutes then took a quick shower.
Dried, clothed, and satisfied Morgan Eckhardt walked out of the penthouse suite.
“He’s resting and asked not to be disturbed.”
With little more than a nod Eckhardt was back in the elevator.
She walked right on out without any challenge whatsoever. The groundcar waiting for her.
The groundcar was halfway down the hill when it pulled over to the side of the road where Lara and Carl were waiting with the service truck.
“Everything in place?” Eckhardt asked.
“Yeah. Everything will point back at the missing guard we took out. No one will come looking for us.” Lara nodded.
“Then time to go home.” Morgan smiled. “One down, a lot more to go.”
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