"You cannot be sure of that."

"Blithe trusts me, Alon. In his own words he gives me my head on missions because he knows my judgement is always a sound calling. I understand you may not think this is an intelligent move... I might even have to agree with you, but the fact is that I have given this much consideration. If I have to let her think she has won in order to allow her caution to lower then so be it. I know the way Brodie thinks and what's more, I know the arrogance which lies behind that mind." Addison pulled the backpack from her back. Alon opened his mouth to speak but the raising of a hand silenced him. "Look, Alon, this is not a suicide mission. This is not a case of me finally losing my marbles or going off the deep end with some dodgy, half-c.o.c.ked idea. I mean... f.u.c.k... grant me with some presence of sense. I sure as h.e.l.l am not going to like it, that I can guarantee, but I endured worse while training with the Special Forces." Maybe, Addison added to herself in thought.

When the agent finally paused for breath, Alon jumped into the momentary silence. "But she could kill you and then where will Skyler Tidwell be?" This was his last hope for an argument. Although the Mossad could easily stop her from taking such a risk in a country that was their 'jurisdiction' so to speak, Alon knew he was powerless against Addison alone. She had a will of iron and no effort of pulling rank would work with her once her mind was set. Alon had learned that lesson the hard way.

"I doubt very much she would kill me, but if she did H.Q. would be aware and a counter plan would be brought into play. Opening her backpack, Addison pulled out the half empty bottle of mineral water. She drank down the remainder of the container. "Believe me, Alon, I have thought this through."

The Mossad agent looked on helplessly as Addison took the Colt survival knife from her boot and strapped it inside her footwear, hidden from view. He realised Addison had intended this the whole time. She really had given this plan serious consideration. With a sigh of resignation, Alon asked, "What do you want me to do?"

Fastening her bootlace, Addison smiled sincerely. "Just get in contact with General Blithe. Tell him what is going on. a.s.sure him of my motives and confidence in this. Placate him when he blows an artery basically." Addison reached inside her carrier and pulled out the two grenades. She looked over at Alon, registering his sombre expression.

"I don't like this, Addison."

"I know."

"It's very dangerous."

"It will work." Addison looked around the desert grounds. "Listen, Alon, you don't have to watch when this goes down. In fact it's probably best you don't."

"I'll watch," Alon said adamantly. "I'll need to make sure you get inside there alive. I will watch and I promise not to intervene."

Addison nodded. "No matter what happens."

"No matter what happens," Alon echoed.

"Thank you." Taking a deep breath, Addison held a grenade in both hands. "Let's get this started shall we?"

Alon looked away. He couldn't believe he was actually allowing this to happen. Granted, when faced with the stubborn will of Addison Black it was hard to win, but that didn't lessen the fact that what she was doing was so terribly dangerous. He believed many other ways of infiltrating the compound could be determined but at such short notice and with Addison adamant on her plan, he knew he was out of time and outnumbered. With Addison plus her determination that was practically two against one.

"I'll need you to keep monitoring their movements from this position." Addison patted down her body. "Do you have a pen?"

Alon produced a black ballpoint. He handed it to Addison and the British Agent took his hand, holding it palm down. She began scrawling a set of numbers upon his skin.

"This is a secured frequency you can use to contact H.Q. It goes straight to the General so only he will answer."

"Right." Agent Yamburg studied the frequency, memorising each digit and then proceeded to remove the ink from his hand. "I'll remember."

"Okay." Pus.h.i.+ng a grenade into each pocket, Addison held out her hand and Alon shook it firmly. "See you later, mate."

"Try to remain in one piece, Agent Black."

"Will do." Addison took a deep breath. She turned back to the valley and crawled towards the ledge. She looked back down to the buildings below. Addison knew her best point of entrance would be by the front, steel gates without breeching the site's defences. Three armed guards stood by the gate, one beside an electric lock and holding a dog, the other two patrolling the vicinity of the barrier as they conversed quietly.

"It's now or never, Addy," the agent mumbled and rose to her feet. She was suddenly in clear view of the guards below. Addison estimated the ledge down into the valley was a thirty-foot slant of sand and rubble. She braced herself for what she was about to do.

Strolling slowly across the peak of the ledge, Addison waited to be spotted. When she was certain at least one pair of eyes had registered her presence she stopped walking and looked towards them. "Here we go," she said and raised her hand, waving as she began to move down the slope.

"h.e.l.lo?" she called and purposely tripped on a stray rock. The agent braced herself as she went down. She hit the ground with a thud, careful not to cause any undue harm as her body began a dramatic fall of which any Hollywood stunt man would be envious.

Rolling down with the appropriate and well-placed yelps and curses, Addison travelled into the valley with a swift descent. She came to a halt, eight feet away from the guards, landing on her back with a thud and scattering of sand and dust. Groaning, Addison stood and looked at the men, two of whom trained guns upon her, the other restrained a large Alsatian.

Addison held out her hands. "Hey! I'm sorry but I just fell down that hill and you are aiming a gun at me? Look, I'm lost and was hoping you could help me. I'm not sure where I am." Addison noted these guards were dressed differently to how Brodie's other men had been dressed. They wore lighter weight clothes, a colour similar to military desert stripe in a light sand camouflage.

"This is a highly sensitive government site, Ma'am," a guard lied. "I suggest you turn around and head the other way."

"Okay... I can do that but I'm lost. You couldn't just tell me where to go... you know, kind of point me in the right direction?" Addison delivered her most innocent expression. "Please? I don't want to be lost in the desert. You hear so many stories of people disappearing in the desert and never being found."

The guards looked between each other and lowered their weapons with a nod. "Where is it you want to go?" the first guard asked.

"It's called ... um... d.a.m.n it, I can't remember... they have such peculiar names!" Addison patted her breast pockets. "I have it written down somewhere" She continued to search her body, pus.h.i.+ng her hands in each front trouser pocket. Addison clasped a hand around each grenade tightly, making sure her thumbs held the pins out ready. She pulled them out of her pocket, keeping the backs of her hands concealing the explosives as she chattered away.

"I can't remember how to p.r.o.nounce it but I know it begins with a 'Y'." As calmly as placing a piece of gum in her mouth, Addison grasped both pins in-between her teeth and pulled. They disengaged from the explosives. Grinning with pins still between white teeth, Addison turned her hands around to display the grenades to the guards.

Shock registered on the men's faces and they dived to the ground for cover. As they did so, Addison threw both grenades over the wall and into the middle of the compound's courtyard. Before the explosives even had time to erupt, Addison spat out the pins and pulled both pistols from behind her back. She fired instantly, taking out each guard before a combined blast echoed over the mountains and shook the very foundations of which she stood. Addison ducked, allowing rocks and sand to fall around her.

Not even waiting for the dust to settle, Addison took a run up, lunging towards the gate. She jumped high, placing her feet upon the steel rods of the gate and swiftly climbing up to boost herself over the barrier. She jumped down, landing on the other side of the wall and surveyed her surroundings. People were still rising from the ground in bewilderment. She took a mental calculation of only seven guards severely hurt by the explosion and figured she still had around twenty to brace herself for.

Berettas ready, Addison began running, firing at the people around her. Several bullets. .h.i.t their target before her shots were answered by enemy fire. The agent dodged bullets but cursed as the painful burn of a bullet slicing across her side cut into her flesh. She stumbled, dropping one gun and clasping her waist. Suddenly the sting of sharp teeth around her leg made Addison trip and fall. The remaining pistol fell from her right hand as she struggled to free herself from the growling hound clamped around her leg.

Swinging out her left foot, Addison kicked the dog hard. It whimpered and released her. Addison quickly rolled to her feet. She turned to find her weapons only to be confronted by five guards. The agent blocked the first couple of punches but allowed the rest to hit their mark, barraging her stomach, chest and chin with a series of hard knocks. Each one felt more painful than the last. She accepted each blow attempting only to remain upright and throw out the odd punch to at least make a show of trying to fight back. In fact, this was her intention from the very beginning.

Not wanting to appear too easy, Addison increased her attack, releasing a few more punches and series of kicks for good measure. Suddenly and completely unexpected, Addison's eyes were exposed to an a.s.sault of mace. Then she did cry out, thrusting both hands over her eyes as she fell to her knees. Violent kicks and the odd punch continued until Addison lay upon the ground, willingly showing defeat. She was smart enough to know when she had put up enough of a fight but knew it had to have looked convincing. Every part of her body protested at the pain of each a.s.sault. She felt searing jolts of agony rock her frame. Blood pooled in several places from her body including her lip, gum and eyebrow.

Without warning the attack stopped and an eerie silence fell over the courtyard. Addison panted heavily, her hands still clutched over her watering eyes. The sound of approaching footsteps forced Addison to move to her knees. Unable to see through eyes blinded by tears, Addison waited. She knew who it was.

"Addison Black... forever a pain in my backside."

"Agnes," Addison seethed with contempt.

Brodie remained two feet away from the British Agent. She stood, arms folded, glaring down with a superior air. The Irish woman's men remained silent, holding their weapons directed towards Addison. The soldier was surrounded, temporarily blinded and physically injured and yet so far everything had gone to plan.

"I knew you would f.u.c.k up, Agent Black, but I never thought it would feel so good to have you on your knees before me like this."

Ignoring Brodie's obvious taunting, Addison remained calm. "Where's Skyler Tidwell?"

"Ah... the girl. Well, she's alive if that's what you're asking. Currently enjoying my hospitality."

"If you've hurt her I'll..."

"What?" Agnes laughed. "I hardly think you are in any position to make threats, Black." Stepping closer, Agnes Brodie knelt upon one knee in front of Addison. She lowered her voice, leaning closer to speak into the agent's ear. "You're mine, Black, and you know what they say... 'Revenge is sweet'."

A flash of anger p.r.i.c.kled Addison's spine and she lashed out, delivering a blind punch at Brodie. Honed sense of distance and judgement connected her fist solidly with the redheads chin and she fell backwards as Addison felt the b.u.t.t of a pistol hit the back of her head. She too went down, landing face first on the sandy ground. Addison spat b.l.o.o.d.y grains of sand from her mouth but remained upon the ground as Brodie stood back up.

"Bind her hands together," she said and wiped the droplet of blood from her lip. She sucked the metallic tasting essence from her skin.

Addison felt her hands clasped from behind as she was hauled to her feet. Her wrists were tied together with a strong, nylon rope. The fibres dug tight into her flesh, chafing and sore. Her eyes stung and tears blurred her vision. Addison kept her head fairly lowered. This may have been her plan but she was beginning to feel vulnerable. The British agent tried to remain focussed upon her objectives. Find Skyler and destroy Project Gemini."

Brodie began issuing orders. "Clear the bodies. Post new guards by the gate." She turned to Addison and two large women standing either side of her, armed and waiting for orders. "As for Miss Black, bring her with me."

Addison felt a hand on either shoulder as Brodie began to walk towards the main building. She was pushed behind her. They walked in silence, Brodie leading the way as they entered a clinical scented hallway and walked down towards a room at the end of the pa.s.sage. Addison tried to look around her, attempting to gain some insight as to the lay out of the facility but her blurred vision made that impossible.

Guided into a room, Addison was pulled to a halt. Her vision had begun to clear slightly and she was able to make out dull edges. The urge to protect her eyes and ease the irritation was strong but with her hands bound together from behind, that was impossible. Addison stood silently allowing her senses to a.s.sess the situation. She heard movement behind and suddenly found herself being pushed backwards and down. Addison landed upon an uncomfortable wooden chair. She felt her ankles bound to the chair's front legs by more nylon rope.

"Okay, you can leave us for the moment."

Nodding, both women replied as they left the room, closing the door behind them.

Unable to contain her smile of delight, Agnes turned to the British secret agent and perched herself on the edge of her desk. She folded her arms, her eyes wondering over Addison's bound form. "I have to say, Black... this is a moment I have waited for."

"I bet," Addison replied.

"Oh please, let's not get bitter now, you have to admit my time would come."

Addison remained poised upon the chair although she was very uncomfortable. "Oh believe me, Agnes, your time will come soon. That I guarantee."

Brodie shook her head. "Always like to have the last word don't you? No matter..." rising from the desk, Brodie stepped towards Addison. "Now excuse my hands for a moment but I do have to check you for any concealed weapons, you understand." The redhead didn't wait for an answer as she began sliding her hands up Addison's right leg.

Addison fought against the s.h.i.+ver of repulsion she felt when Brodie's hands slid along her inner thighs. "Why would I conceal weapons? You have more than enough for me right here."

Laughing at Addison frankness, Brodie continued her search. She pulled many pistol clips from the side leg pockets of Addison's combat trousers. "I'm sure you were thinking of getting in here and using my power against me." Agnes stepped behind Addison, continuing her search. She ran her hands up Addison's arms. "Unfortunately your stupidity finally shone through a weakness for the good doctor." Brodie's hand found the bullet wound on the agents side and she pressed her fingers into the injury.

Addison grimaced but kept her emotions under check, ignoring the pain. "f.u.c.k you, Agnes."

Stepping around Addison, Brodie leaned into her. "Was that an offer?"

The agent snorted. "The only way that would happen was if you favoured necrophilia."

Brodie seethed. Moving away she backhanded Addison. "You are so arrogant that you would actually think I would be interested in you!" She stepped backwards, moving around her desk and sitting upon a large, comfortable leather chair. Agnes placed her fingertips together under her nose. She smiled maliciously. "Now that blonde doctor, however, she is a delight I have had the pleasure of sampling." Brodie hummed in a low bra.s.sy tone. "Sweet," she whispered.

It was hard not to rise to the bait when Brodie used Skyler. The agent felt physically repulsed by the mere thought of Skyler being harmed in any way whatsoever. If Brodie had so much as touched her improperly, Addison quietly pledged to make the woman suffer tenfold.

Attempting to adopt an indifferent air, Addison sighed. "If you are planning on a slow torture and death then can we get on with it as this is getting tedious... Agnes."

"GUARDS!" Brodie bellowed. Instantly the two women who had escorted Addison into the room re-appeared inside the doorway.

Brodie walked around her desk. "Yes that is my plan, Black, but all good things come to those who wait. I have business to attend to first and that I am afraid must come first. As for yourself... well you won't be going anywhere for a while. First however..." Brodie pulled a knife from her hip. She twirled the sharp object in the light. With her vision clearing slowly but surely, Addison was just able to identify the s.h.i.+ning knife for the threat it could be.

"Hold her," Brodie ordered and Addison felt her shoulders restrained firmly to the chair.

Cold steal from the sharp blade moved slowly down Addison's face and smeared the blood that had collected around the wound on her brow. The British agent held her breath, ready for Brodie's next move... whatever that would be.

"Tell me," Brodie cooed. "How does it feel to experience fear both of the unknown and of the inevitable?"

"Wouldn't know."

Agnes smiled. "Oh... you will." She handed her knife to one of the guards and ordered the binds around Addison's feet be severed. The order was carried out swiftly and the agent was hauled to her feet.

"Let's go, shall we?" Brodie led the way out of her office and down another corridor.

Though her vision was still fuzzy, Addison was able to make out a lot more around her. She made mental notes of the building and its layout, locations of guard placement and apparent room usage. She would need the information later.

They came to a halt beside a door guarded by one very tall man. He seemed familiar to Addison yet his features were still unfocussed.

"Shamus," Agnes addressed. "You remember Agent Black."

"Addithun," Shamus mumbled and recognition dawned upon the agent.

She sensed its arrival before it even made contact and braced her stomach muscles as a solid packed punch hit her square in the abdomen. Addison doubled over, feeling the very breath leave her body. She gasped through her teeth and blew out a calming breath.

"Now, now, Shamus." Agnes patted the burly man's arm. "I promise you can have as much fun as you want with her later. For now lets just stick her in containment shall we?"

Addison righted her position as Shamus unlocked and opened the door. Her eyes searched out Skyler and the gasp of shock told her the blonde doctor was indeed in the room.

"Addison!" Skyler cried and made to move but stopped as Shamus turned his weapon upon her.

"A gift," Brodie said and pushed Addison with force into the room. The agent stumbled through the doorway and fell to the ground. "Maybe you should take advantage of these last few days you have left... although looking at her... she is in no condition to do anything!"

Finis.h.i.+ng her statement, Brodie gave the nod and Shamus slammed the door shut.

Knowing it was now safe, Skyler leapt to her feet and ran to where Addison was climbing to her knees with a b.l.o.o.d.y grin.

"What did she do to you? How did she do this to you?" Skyler a.s.sessed Addison's injuries visually. "Oh G.o.d!"

"Just untie my hands," Addison said. "And don't sweat it. I am fine. This was the intention."

Skyler pulled at the rope holding the agents wrists together. "It was your plan to get the c.r.a.p beat out of you... and G.o.d knows what else!" She held Addison's face and looked at the redness around her unfocussed eyes.

"Yes." Addison flexed her arms glad to be free from the restraint. She rubbed the chafing around her wrists. "Let Brodie think she has us beat because soon... the last thing that b.i.t.c.h is ever going to see... is me... right before I send her straight to h.e.l.l."

Chapter 17.

Skyler reached around Addison and drew her up by the shoulders, a.s.sisting the battered agent to one of the mattresses on the floor. The Brit dropped heavily and groaned as she landed even though she did her best not to make a sound. Skyler took the opportunity to survey the damage done to the agent.

"Jesus, did they put you in a meat grinder or what?" the American said as she reviewed the various cuts, bruises and wounds.

"No," the agent replied, "It was just Agnes' little welcoming party."

"If that's how she says h.e.l.lo, let's hope we don't have to find out how she says good-bye. Holy s.h.i.+t, what is this?" Skyler found the large blood stain on Addison's side.

"It's nothing, just a scratch. The bullet grazed me really. The d.a.m.n thing wouldn't probably even be bleeding now if Agnes hadn't taken great joy in searching me for weapons."

"Did she find any?" the American inquired.

"What I let her find," the agent replied in a cagey tone of voice.

Skyler was already tearing up a threadbare sheet that had been left on the mattress to create makes.h.i.+ft dressings. "Well, I'm going to take a close look at all these wounds. We don't have much, but there is clean running water and some powdered hand soap in the bathroom. I can at least try to stop the bleeding."

"I appreciate it, Skyler. I've been trained to do it myself of course, but something tells me you probably know as much about tending to these things as I do." Addison winked at Skyler to let her know her words were only to be taken as gentle teasing.