In a moment of lightening reflex, Addison brought the knife around from her back and hurled it with deadly precision towards Shamus. The fatally sharp projectile slid solidly into the centre of his throat.

Brodie looked up as Shamus gasped for air. His jaw dropped, eyes wide in shocked horror. The weapon fell from his hands.

Before anybody had a remote chance of comprehending what had just happened Addison jumped to her feet. She charged at the wall, slamming her left shoulder back into its socket. The pain was sharp and intense but not enough to overwhelm her.

Shamus fell back against the wall behind him. Blood poured from the fatal wound and gurgled from his mouth as he slid to the ground.

"NO!" Brodie shouted. "GUARDS!"

Instantly the two armed men standing outside the door burst into Brodie's room of torture. Still reeling from the pain, Addison charged the men. Jumping into the air she spun into a kick, knocking the first man out cold. As she landed, Addison found herself confronted by the second guard aiming his AK-47 level with her face. The threat didn't stop her as Addison kicked the weapon from his hands. They collided, trading a series of petty blows. It was a match Addison soon tired of and as she blocked his last punch she aimed her fist towards his Adams apple and delivered an almost instantaneous deathblow.

Turning, ready for another attack, Addison found Brodie surprisingly absent. She had escaped while Addison fought the last man.

"Sky," Addison said, approaching the blonde. "Are you okay?"

Skyler nodded. "Just get us out of here, Addison."

With a nod Addison pulled her knife from Shamus. She sliced swiftly through Skyler's bonds, freeing the relieved blonde. As soon as her legs were released, Skyler jumped down from the table and wrapped her arms around Addison.

"I knew you would do it."

"It's not over yet," the agent replied.

Skyler jumped as a loud siren echoed around Brodie's complex.

Addison stepped towards the door. "I still have a few scores to settle."

Chapter 22.

The alarm, which sounded very much like an air raid siren, was accompanied by sharply raised voices. Commanders of Brodie's militia who informed her soldiers of the situation harshly barked out orders. Section heads began rallying groups of men. Their objective was clear, to eliminate both Addison Black and Skyler Tidwell. Brodie had ordered her men to use whatever means necessary in order to stop them. She knew her superior still wanted Addison alive but if one of her men were to fatally wound the agent in an attempt to locate and capture her, then so be it. The purpose of her own mission was complete and she'd already received payment. Addison Black was hers.

Agnes Brodie stormed through the compound and out into the open air. It was almost mid-day and the desert sun shone down like a relentless inferno. Armed with a semi-automatic she addressed her soldiers. "If Black leaves this place alive you shall all forfeit your lives. The man... or woman to bring down that b.i.t.c.h will be highly rewarded."

Fuelled with added motivation, Brodie's soldiers readied themselves for Agent Black.

Skyler's hand within her own, Addison ran down the narrow corridor towards Brodie's office. Just before they reached her door, two guards appeared in front of them. A man and woman both armed with high-powered sub machine guns. Addison dispatched them easily, incapacitating and taking the female guard's weapon before she could blink. Two swift kicks to the face and chest left her lifeless upon the ground. Then using the SMG, Addison thrust it into the male soldier's face before kicking him to the floor. Retaking Skyler's hand she led her swiftly into Brodie's office and closed the door behind them.

"What are you doing?" Skyler asked, recognising where they were. If they were to escape what on earth were they doing in the 'wolf's lair'?

Brodie's office was large. The floor was a buff grey tile and the walls were spa.r.s.e white and disturbingly bare. In the near right corner stood a large wooden cabinet and it was this that Addison focussed on.

"I'm not leaving here until this building is razed to the ground. But first..." Addison took the sub machine gun once again and thrust it against the cabinet's lock. "There are a few things I want back and I am hoping..."

After her third strike the lock broke. Addison pulled both doors open and scanned the three shelves revealed to her. Although the bottom shelf was empty the remaining two were not. "Bingo! Brodie sure is into her keepsakes, huh?" Addison reached into the very top shelf and pulled her s.h.i.+rt out. She handed it to Skyler. "Put this on." She indicated her top that was shredded open.

"Thanks," Skyler replied and slipped into the garment speedily.

Turning her attention back to the cabinet, Addison reached into the middle shelf. "I'll take these back, thank you very much!" She took her Beretta pistols and after checking each was loaded she placed them into the empty holsters at her back. Next she took the extra clips of ammunition Brodie had taken from her and dropped them into the side leg pockets of her combat trousers. Lastly Addison grabbed the Baby Browning Brodie had confiscated from Skyler and held it out for her. "Take this."

"Addison I..."

"Now is not the time to argue, Sky. Same rules apply, okay?"

The young doctor nodded. "Okay, but the way I am feeling right now, Brodie might not be safe around me anyway!"

Addison gave a short smile. "You and me both." She re-closed the cabinet doors and strode over to Brodie's table. "But let me take care of her... I owe her plenty."

Multiple sets of footsteps ran past Brodie's office and both Skyler and Addison ducked behind the large desk, out of sight. Leaning against the desk drawers, Addison took the magazine from the fallen guard's gun. She checked its capacity, finding it fully loaded. With a satisfied nod, Addison locked it back into place. She held the weapon against her torso and turned to Skyler. The blonde crouched beside her, pistol trembling in her hand as she hid in silence.

"Sky, did you see where the main laboratory was?" Addison whispered.

Skyler shook her head. "No, but when Brodie first brought me here I did see a couple of guys in isolation suits come up on an elevator. I noticed the elevator had only one floor... down to a single lower level."

"Right." Addison twisted her body around and took a blue pen and sheet of ruled writing paper from Brodie's desk. She placed the sheet upon the floor and began jotting down a series of seemingly random letters and numbers. "I have a job for you, Sky. While I take care of destroying the physical evidence of Project Gemini I want you to access the main computer. Can you do that?"

"Well yes, but what do you want me to do?"

Addison handed Skyler the paper. "I want you to get into the computer and open up the network. There has to be a link to the whole system, maybe even a mainframe somewhere. Get in there and direct the main computer to this site address. It is a super virus. As soon as the site is accessed the virus will automatically load into the system and spread through the entire network. Don't worry about getting there. I will be with you."

Skyler studied the obscure address Addison had given her. Her practically photographic memory easily recorded Samuel Perkins Alpha Numeric super virus; once done she folded the paper and slipped it into Addison's s.h.i.+rt pocket. "It's pretty tough numbers out there, Addison."

"I've had worse."

"You plan on destroying this place and everything in it, don't you?"

Addison shrugged. "Well you did say extreme heat would destroy the bacilli, and besides, I do love a good bang," she winked.

From outside, more footsteps ran past the door. Addison's senses p.r.i.c.kled as she heard a presence pause outside the entrance to Brodie's office. She placed a finger over her lips in a gesture of silence. Her breathing softened. The door opened and Addison gripped her weapon, placing her finger lightly upon the trigger. She sensed the single figure step further into the room and looked under the desk surface. A large pair of black booted feet came into view. There was only one move to make. Addison knew making too much noise would instantly alert people to their presence. She didn't want that just yet.

Addison waited for the guard to approach their place of hiding. She held her finger over her lips one more time and winked at Skyler. The American nodded, her nerves almost gone as she griped her Browning pistol and remained as silent as possible. From the opposite side of the desk, their threat moved ever closer. Making a swift decision, Addison placed down the weapon she was holding and then with surprising reflexes she jumped up from behind the desk.

Face to face with a shaven headed man, Addison said, "Hi," in a c.o.c.ky manner as she leaned over the surface of the desk, grabbed a hold of his collar and pulled him over and onto the floor. He landed with a thud; Addison not giving a moment's thought as she delivered two fatal jabs and rendered him lifeless.

Skyler pointed to a black devise attached to his hip. "Is that what I think it is?"

"Excellent!" Addison pulled it from his belt. "A stun gun. Do you think you would feel better if you had to use this on somebody?"

Nodding, Skyler slipped the Browning pistol into the waist of her jeans. She took the stun gun after Addison adjusted it to a higher setting.

"Keep behind me; do as I say." Addison peered over the desk. "I'll get you to their main computer. While you are doing that I'll ready the building for a major fireworks party." The soldier turned back to Skyler, feeling a need to rea.s.sure her that everything would be fine. "Just stick by me, Sky. Are you okay?"

Skyler took a deep breath. "I have to be."

The apprehension in Skyler's eyes bolstered Addison's need to a.s.sure her that she would be all right. It wasn't hard to see that in numbers, the odds were stacked against them, but Addison had come up against larger quant.i.ties of foes in the past.

"Sky," Addison whispered. "I promise you we'll get out of here." She unconsciously licked her lips, desperately wanting to rea.s.sure her with a kiss. Unfortunately, it seemed inappropriate to do such a thing with a body lying only inches away. Instead, Addison cupped her cheek and ran a thumb over her lips. The memory of how wonderful it felt to kiss those soft, inviting lips pa.s.sed through her mind. "How about when we get out of here we make plans to go to Egypt. We can go skinny dipping in the Nile!" Addison wiggled her eyebrows causing Skyler to smile. "Ready?"

"Ready."

"Okay, let's go."

Twisting to her feet Addison held out one hand, indicating that Skyler should stay on the ground. She jogged silently over to the open doorway and looked out. Checking the area Addison a.s.sessed that the coast was clear. "Okay," she called and Skyler emerged from behind the desk. Stun gun in hand she stood slightly behind Addison.

"Keep behind you, right?"

"Right."

"I can do that."

Holding the weapon in front of her, finger poised upon its trigger, Addison led the way out of Brodie's office. Close by they could hear general sounds of commotion from all around them. Reaching a corner the women stopped. With her back pressed against the wall Addison peeped around to the next pa.s.sageway. One armed soldier was swiftly approaching. Addison waited until he was close before she stepped out in front of him.

"Catch," Addison shouted and threw her weapon at the guy. Instincts taking over, the man reached up to catch the machine gun. Addison took advantage of his exposed position by delivering a solid kick to his stomach, just as he caught the weapon. When he doubled over in bewildered pain, the agent regained possession of her weapon, slamming it down into the back of his neck. He crumpled to the ground. "Which way to the lift?"

Skyler looked around them. "Down there." She pointed down the corridor from where the guard had just emerged less than fifty feet away.

"Right." Addison took off again. She could see a set of doors to the elevator and quickened her pace. Suddenly, numerous sets of rapid footsteps began to approach from both directions. "Come on!" she ordered and ran towards the lift. "Get it open!"

To their right, five soldiers began running towards them. Addison opened fire, showering the approaching men with bullets as she backed Skyler into the lift. Then to their left more men appeared. Addison switched to the new threat, firing rapidly as they in turn answered her attack with one of their own.

Safely inside the elevator, Skyler pressed the appropriate b.u.t.ton. The doors began to shut so she placed her hand onto one of its mechanical shutters, halting its progress. "Addison!"

"Yeah!" Addison yelled. She continued firing as she backed up towards the lift. Men and women came from both directions and she switched aim constantly, hitting any target that came into view. Once she was inside the lift, Skyler removed her hand and the doors slid shut. Rapid fire was still heard from above as the elevator car descended to the bas.e.m.e.nt level of the complex.

"You did good," Addison commented as she checked her weapon. There was a single bullet remaining.

"I did nothing."

The agent disagreed, saying, "You remained calm and kept your head."

"I suppose," Skyler replied. "I don't feel scared anymore. I feel... energized!"

Addison quirked her eyebrow but her reply died as the elevator came to a halt. She dropped her useless machine gun and took out both pistols. There was still a painful ache in her shoulder but Addison had no time to dwell on the fact at that moment in time.

The lift doors slid open, revealing a long narrow pa.s.sageway. Half way down there were two doors, one to the left and the other to the right, facing each other. At the end of the walkway stood another door and six armed guards. Rapid fire commenced immediately forcing Addison to take hold of Skyler and thrust them both against the side of the elevator.

"b.o.l.l.o.c.ks," the agent growled. She attempted to look back out but the firing continued. "I have an idea." Addison placed her hand upon Skyler's stomach, keeping her still. "Don't come out until I call, okay?"

"What are you going to do?"

Addison a.s.sessed the size of the elevator car. It was wide enough for what she intended. "I'm gonna do this," she said and ran three steps closer to the back of the lift. Jumping, Addison ran up the back wall until she was centre of the doorway. She then propelled her body through the lift's exit, twisting mid air to face the ground as she began to fire at the six guards. Three men had fallen before Addison hit the ground. She slid along the floor on her stomach, shooting down the last men before her body slowed to a halt.

"Okay," Addison shouted.

Skyler emerged from her elevator. "How on earth did you...?"

"I did gymnastics as a kid." Addison rubbed her chest. "Of course that was B.B."

"B.B?".

"Before b.r.e.a.s.t.s."

"Ouch."

"Yep." Addison peered through the door to her left as Skyler looked through the gla.s.s of the door to their right.

"Storage," Addison stated.

"Bingo!" said the American. Inside she saw several active computers.

"Perfect." Addison opened the door and they both stepped inside. Although the room was small and no lights were active, they could see three working terminals. The upper part of the far wall was half glazed and provided an ample view into the laboratory. Besides it was a door that led into the sterile room. Addison noted an isolation chamber at the right corner of the lab and three suited bodies worked cautiously inside. There was also a larger computer beside the chamber.

Being sure to keep out of view, Addison said, "You know what to do? I need you to access their entire network... worldwide. Bring the b.a.s.t.a.r.ds down."

Skyler surveyed what she presumed to be the main computer in the laboratory. "Leave it to me."

"Great." Addison turned as Skyler stepped towards the door leading into the laboratory, but before she left she said, "I'll be back for you, Sky."

The young doctor smiled. "I know you will."

Addison nodded. "See you in a while," she replied and slipped soundlessly from the room.

Skyler watched as the agent's form disappeared out the door. She recognized the taut yet somehow fluid way Addison held her body. The expert killing machine was in full evidence.

Skyler marvelled for a brief moment at the paradox the dark haired woman presented. On one hand was the efficient agent, skilled in the arts of espionage and death, but on the other was the loyal friend and vulnerable woman. Skyler was sure Addison would object to the word "vulnerable" if she heard it, but it was definitely true.

And then there was the kiss.

The act that was supposedly just for Brodie's benefit set off a firestorm of wanting within Skyler and she admitted to herself that had circ.u.mstances been different, she would have never have stopped with that single kiss. Though she knew Addison was far more experienced than herself in s.e.xual matters, a voice born of pure instinct told the scientist that the agent felt the intensity between them too.

These thoughts took no more than a few seconds before Skyler decided to file them away for later action. That there would be action on those thoughts was not a matter even up for debate.

Skyler turned to scan the lab. This was familiar territory for her as her course of study took her across many disciplines from the practical to the arcane. As she searched the lab she kept an eye on the isolation room where the technicians were working. It had to be where the bacillus was being synthesized; it made no sense otherwise.

The technicians were blissfully unaware of the mayhem happening outside the lab. Skyler knew that happy state had to be because of the safety parameters of the room. It would have to be isolated and insulated, temperature controlled and with a negative air flow system. No chance could be taken that a virulent organism could escape and contaminate the facility. Adding those facts to the decontamination suits and respirators the technicians wore and Skyler felt she had a good chance of completing her mission un.o.bserved. Even the alarm, so piercing in the hall, was nearly inaudible in the lab.

She moved cautiously through an amazing variety of sophisticated technology. An electron microscope, cell separator, incubators and every bit of equipment needed to conduct bioresearch and experimentation was present. None of it was what she was looking for though.

She moved closer to the isolation room, keeping track of the movements of the techs as she hunted for the computer system she knew had to be there. There was too much technology not to have it tied together somehow.

She crouched down and was within a few feet of the isolation room before she spotted the terminal and monitor. It was a larger system than she antic.i.p.ated and was connected to a block of machines on the wall nearest the room with the techs. Scanning the set-up, Skyler realized the computer system was not only connecting the various pieces of lab apparatus, but it was also connecting the lab system with a larger system off-site. Could be anywhere in the world she thought. No telling who's gotten the Project Gemini information if Agnes was telling the truth about their success.

The American knew Agnes was telling the truth though; Skyler becoming expendable was evidence of that.

Skyler moved back to the main monitor and watched the display a moment. A ma.s.s of data was rearranging itself in a linear fas.h.i.+on. The information seemed familiar to her somehow and she searched her memory for the answer. They're DNA sequencing! Skyler realized, but she had no idea what was being sequenced. You can bet your a.s.s it's nothing for mankind's benefit she thought.

With a last glance at the three techs, Skyler focused on the monitor. While not disturbing the running program, she brought up the control panel and found the modem. Studying the properties screen, she discovered what needed to be done to contact the outside world. Entering the appropriate characters on the keyboard, she reached an open line and quickly tapped out the coded sequence Addison had given her earlier. A connection seemed to be made as a low tone, similar to connecting to a fax machine, sounded from the terminal.