Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction ❯ Coming Home ❯ 78 ( Chapter 78 )

78

 

without a noise, without my pride

I reach out from the inside

 

I don't know what I was expecting, but the total lack of an Esset presence wasn't it. We made it from New York to London to Moscow without so much as a curious glance. For some reason, this didn't make me very comfortable.

 

But Brad took it in stride, as though he'd planned it this way. Which, of course, he had. The detour through Canada, the exit into New York state, all this served to create an ant trail that led nowhere. If Esset were indeed watching our every step, they should still be wandering around Canada, or possibly dredging Lake Erie by now.

 

Ten excruciatingly tense days to get from Michigan to England, with no sign of pursuit. And now, after a two-day pause in London, I found myself in Russia for the first time in my life. From the vantage point of a flight terminal café, it looked like any other place in the world.

 

I waited at the snack shop, vaguely browsing a tourist magazine and providing unneeded cover as the others made their way from the gate. The magazine was one of those airline books, written in several languages of which I could read three and filled with rather bland photographs and ads for bean pillows and collapsing suitcases. The thing was dated September/October 2002; hell, we wouldn't even be in this country long enough to explore any of it. With a snort I tossed the magazine back on the table and picked up my coffee cup.

 

That sense of being watched kicked in, and I cautiously looked around. A little kid was staring at me, seemingly fascinated by my bright and unruly hair. Since he was obviously not an Esset spy, I made a face at him.

 

He made a face back.

 

His mother hauled him over to her table with the kind of surly grumble that only an exasperated Brit can manage. “Roger! Stop bothering that man!”

 

I grinned. There was something refreshing about children.

 

“I saw that,” came a familiar voice, tinged with a soft Irish accent. “Lost your dining companion so soon, did you?”

 

“Yeah, I'm afraid he had a prior engagement.” ::Where are the others?::

 

::Men's room. When we see them round that corner, we're to head out.::

 

I sensed a small presence by my knee and looked down. The little kid, Roger, had returned. This time he didn't just stare at me, but also at my fierce-looking friend.

 

Far stared back.

 

“Are you a soldier?” Roger asked, pointing at Farfarello's scars. Then, with no warning the kid sneezed, in that inelegant way unique to children: open-mouthed, snot and spit flying everywhere.

 

I looked around. His mother had stepped up to the counter. I hoped she'd hurry and collect the little brat, as the last thing I wanted was a bunch of child germs.

 

Far just offered him a napkin.

 

As Roger blew his nose with great gusto, Far turned to me and said, “Do you know why you close your eyes when you sneeze? It's because the air rushes out of you with the force of a hurricane, and if you didn't close your eyes they'd pop right out.”

 

“Disgusting.” ::I see them. Let's go.::

 

But Farfarello paused, looking down at the impressionable child who absorbed his every word. With deliberate slowness he reached up and lifted his eyepatch. “It's true. I tried it once, and look what happened to me.”

 

Roger goggled, his little mouth open and drooling.

 

Far replaced his eyepatch with great dignity before following me onto the concourse.

 

::That was sick, Far. Do I even need to tell you this?::

 

Farfarello chuckled. ::I think Roger may be a right storyteller. Can you imagine the looks on his friends' faces?::

 

::Unfortunately, I can.:: That wasn't all I could imagine; I only hoped that the kid's mother wouldn't report us to security.

 

Some distance back, I could sense Brad and Nagi falling into step with us. It felt strange, being at the vanguard like this. I took the position seriously, keeping close watch on the strangers all around us while listening carefully from behind my shields. Still no sign of Esset. I put on my sunglasses and headed for the door.

 

Moving with drill-team precision, we exited the terminal and appropriated a vehicle. They say that skilled car thieves can have their prize in under sixty seconds.

 

Schwarz did it in forty.

 

We stopped at a hotel near the border. Brad checked his watch, then arranged for a suite for three days.

 

I grinned at this news. “A real hotel, for three days? I don't know how to act!”

 

“Don't get too excited, Schuldig.” Brad slung a bag over his shoulder and started toward our rooms. “Things have a way of changing.”

 

Ignoring him, I asked, “They have a restaurant here?” I was thinking of Nagi; the kid had sort of wilted during our stay in the wild, and I wanted to get some decent food into him.

 

Brad pointed at the sign as we passed. We'd be eating like kings that night! Now if only they had something the chibi might like…

 

Once the four of us were fairly settled, Brad signaled for me to tighten the team link. ::We are not here by accident, gentlemen,:: he told us. ::I've been working on this plan for weeks now, bit by bit, and I believe it is solid.::

 

He had our attention, all right. ::Plan?:: I asked, wondering just what the man had in mind.

 

::We've been in evasion mode for too long. They're getting ready to get dirty, and I'm not going to just wait for it to happen. I intend to make a point this time, get their attention in a way that keeps the advantage squarely with us.:: He unpacked two maps and started unfolding them onto one of the beds. ::A dog can't see its fleas, but it certainly feels them. When it nips at the irritation, the flea is long gone. If we can get right in under Esset's nose, it will have a damn hard time finding us before we bite, and an even harder time after we have moved on again.::

 

::So, this is it,:: I observed. ::You're declaring war, for real this time.::

 

::Good,:: Nagi stated.

 

Far asked, ::Where do we start, then?::

 

Brad traced around Poland and Germany with the tip of his finger, coming to rest on the eastern border of Poland. ::We start here. Diplomat's Road.::

 

::Diplomat's Road?:: I asked. ::What is that? I've never heard of it.::

 

::I wouldn't expect you to,:: Brad told me with a small smile. ::Esset history, leader level. During World War II, Esset organized this bloc of Eastern Europe so that it could be ruled as a single country. This never happened, the war went the other way. But Esset had already put so much effort into consolidating this region that it was reluctant to just let it go.::

 

My throat felt dry. ::The Eastern Corridor.:: This would be like a spider knocking on the door to an anthill.

 

::That's part of it,:: Brad acknowledged. He pointed to the map, following the border between Germany and Poland and down toward Prague. ::The Eastern Corridor is here. Its original purpose was to expedite travel and shipments between the research posts in Denmark and the intelligence corps in Prague. Remember, this region was in the middle of chaos: roads and supply lines were compromised. Esset needed a secure means of travel for its own purposes, and this is where the Diplomat's Road comes in.::

 

::So, Crawford, is it an actual road?:: Nagi asked, glancing up from the map.

 

::It's a network of roads and the checkpoints along them, actually.:: He ran his finger around the region again. ::Everything within this area is considered part of Diplomat's Road. Think of it as a circle with an X in the middle, and every segment is heavily guarded. Crossing here, the Central Division connects Warsaw and Berlin. You can imagine how useful this was during the war.::

 

::I'm trying not to,:: I mind-whispered. Thoughts of war prisoners and experimentation turned my stomach.

 

::Though the world has changed since World War II,:: Brad went on, ::Esset really hasn't. It has only moved forward along the lines it was already on, rather than adapt to a brave new world not of its making. The outposts along these routes will still be active, and it is there we shall start.::

 

::What about south of it?:: Far asked. ::I notice it borders the sea to the north, but does the region stop at the mountains?::

 

::Officially, yes,:: Brad replied. ::There are some checkpoints in the Carpathians, but not many and they are easily avoided. If I understand the question behind the question, yes, Farfarello. If we have to retreat, we go into those mountains and on into Romania. Esset's hold on that country is flimsy, and there are many places to hide.::

 

::Why here?:: I asked, hoping he would intuit my real questions as well. I didn't want to seem skeptical of his plan, but I couldn't help it. Already he'd hinted at stinging them and running away after, already he had brought us close only to dance away before making any real impact. I couldn't understand his strategy, and what I didn't understand I tended to scoff at.

 

Brad regarded each of us in turn as though willing us to understand the gravity of his words. ::Because `here' is the single largest concentration of Esset's holdings in the world. This region - Germany, the Eastern Corridor, and Poland - represents the heart of the organization. And it will guard that heart with no holds barred. I'm counting on it to do so.::

 

He began folding up the maps, but I stopped him. ::But why? What are you after?:: Tightening the link until it was just him and me, I said, ::We'll follow you, but I want to know why.::

 

Rather than glare at me or react in any way, Brad merely said, ::Open up the link, Schuldig. I want them to hear this.:: Once the others were again included, Brad stated, ::We're going to hit the checkpoints along the Central Division, crippling their communication between Warsaw and Berlin in a way they haven't seen since the fall of Hitler. I want to remind Esset that if we aren't at the top of their to-do list, we should be. I want them to think that their strategy is not sound, that whoever is calling the shots on their side should be reevaluated. The sooner we can get them to change tactics, the better. They've been moving us around a damn chessboard. It's time I revealed just what the game really is.::

 

::The fox is smarter than the mice, though he may seem outnumbered,:: Far observed with a lazy smile. ::Is that it, Crawford? Not fleas, but mice?::

 

Brad seemed to debate a moment before replying. ::That's right, Farfarello. The mice have got to go.::

 

::Any time you want me to go a-hunting, just give the word.::

 

::Thank you,:: Brad acknowledged with a slight bow of his head. ::I will.:: To me he said, ::Link us out, Schuldig, and come with me.:: He rose and headed for the bathroom.

 

I stretched and followed him. ::What's up, Brad?:: Hoping to lighten the mood some, I leered at him and added, ::Or is that the whole point?::

 

He smiled, but only a little. ::Pervert. No, I just need a shoulder rub. I was going to take a shower, see if that loosened it up any, but…::

 

::You missed me, didn't you?:: I bantered. Back in the Takatori days, I used to massage his shoulders on a regular basis. That man had kept us in an almost-constant state of stress. Compared to running from Esset, those days were paradise. I stood behind Brad and placed my hands on his shoulders. The muscles felt like steel cable, the kind you see on suspension bridges. “Damn, Brad…”

 

He sighed and tried to relax under my touch, but I could feel the pulse of tension through his muscles and through his mind, defying him. I kneaded harder, until my hands began to ache.

 

::Schuldig, if this plan fails…::

 

For a moment I didn't know what to say. Then with sudden comprehension I told him, ::It won't fail. It can't fail, because it's not really much of a plan, is it?::

 

Brad chuckled and relaxed a little. ::Good point. But seriously, Schu. If something does go wrong… I just can't See any other way.::

 

A little tremor of worry vibrated up my spine, leaving chills behind it. ::Brad, why are you really doing this?::

 

Brad raised his hand to grasp mine. ::Schuldig, what I've Seen… If we don't hit those checkpoints…innocent people will suffer for it.::

 

I frowned in spite of myself. ::Wait a second, what innocent people? Since when do you care about war casualties? It's sad, yeah, but it can't always be avoided.::

 

He met my eyes through the mirror. ::If we go this way, everything will be all right, at least for a little while. But if we don't…they're going after my family.::

 

 

 

 

A/N:

without a noise, without my pride

I reach out from the inside

“In Your Eyes” - Peter Gabriel So

 

Welcome to Book Three. I'm changing the layout of the end notes to match the other stories in the arc. Besides, it's easier than trying to say something clever about each quote, and that leaves me with more time to write the story itself.

 

And I don't know if that sneezing thing is an urban myth or scientific fact, but it sure makes an impression when told like that.