Ever felt that nobody understands you?
They think they know you and assume your motives are not what they really are?
It can be frustrating because they will not listen and think they know better.
This can be demonstrated at the interface between politicians and the armed forces, or even senior generals and those lower down.
It was said of British troops during World War One, that they were Lions led by Donkeys!
The armchair generals had no idea what it was like in the trenches but decided the fate of those on the front line, and so we had nightmares like The Somme and Ypres.
This is probably what those at the Entity Affairs Directorate probably feel, as after their headquarters was attacked with the death of four people, the minister over seeing it has decided that they ought to get the help of the Americans, who allegedly have more experience.
Meanwhile it seems that Earth is about to become the battle ground of two opposing forces
+ + +
The Troll City of Power
The Manjura Empire
Callum, the elf, approached the troll leader with slight trepidation. This was Padow, the Lord High Troll, Slayer of Worlds after all.
It was said that Padow kept a loaded sidearm at the ready, should anyone coming to see him, displease him. Either that or one of the two troll body guards armed with combat assault rifles would do the job with one nod from Padow. As Callum had returned empty handed from his brief trip to the world of humans with technology, Padow had summoned him to account for his failure.
As Callum entered the room, he could see that Padow had been busy working on his computer. The troll looked up at Callum, “So your mission has ended in failure” he said angrily, “Why should I not order your execution right now?”
“I have not failed my lord, there is a mere delay caused by faulty intelligence supplied by your incompetent trolls” Callum responded, “The weapon you seek is no longer located in that city they called London, but in a secure military facility referred to as Porton Down. All we need do is locate and enter that site and retrieve what we were after”
“So it is my fault then” Padow replied sarcastically , “I was led to believe that you had messed up at that place they call the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, that you left early because the humans had worked out who you were”
“Captain Strang putting his version of events as ever” Callum retorted, “He was never happy that it was an elf and a doppelganger carrying out this mission instead of a troll strike force. I hear that an attempt to destroy a human facility that monitors travellers to and from their universe ended in the entire loss of that expeditionary force and total failure”
Padow shook his head, “Unfortunately I have to agree with you there, Strang is always impulsive like that and looking for glory in battle like the old days. Unlike me he does not realise that some jobs require finesse, but he represents a particular faction of the Manjura who want to return to the inefficient days of mass armies and open conflict. I had to let his little adventure go ahead lest he accuse me of being weak”
Then Padow grinned, “At least it gives me something of a political weapon against him should I need it”
“I understand My lord” Callum replied, “But I saw no point being at that so called school of medicine, so I left early in order to continue our search for this super weapon we can use to rid ourselves of the human pestilence. The humans in that place in London, as I said have relocated what they term the pathogens to this secure Porton Down place in an area called Wiltshire”
“Hmmm” Padow mused, “With what we know of what this pathogen can do, it shows that someone on that miserable world understands the military potential of what we need to annihilate our human enemies from that world where the humans use magic”
“I still believe” Callum went on, “Your idea to use guile and subterfuge to obtain this super weapon is the right way to go my Lord”
“Indeed it is” Padow reciprocated, “But if this pathogen is located in a military base, we may have to rethink how we go about this. Strang will insist on it”
“Maybe” Callum suggested, “a combination of subterfuge and a full frontal assault, where your trolls create a decoy for our mission of guile and deceit. Maybe Strang could be encouraged to go personally. And of course during such a glorious mission, he might win himself a glorious warrior’s death.”
“I like you’re thinking elf” Padow replied, “We will be able to do several things at once. We will get what we want from this Porton Down place, rid myself of that meddlesome Strang without splitting the Manjura clan and those humans will know the might of the Manjura empire”
+ + +
The Entity Affairs Directorate
South London, England
The car arrived back the EAD, and passed through the explosives scanner. Drake, Kevin and Janine got out of the vehicle almost simultaneously.
To say Drake was fuming would have been an understatement. Neither Janine nor Kevin had wanted to engage in conversation with Drake whilst in the car, so angry he was.
To be effectively side-lined by someone who was not in reality a senior member of the government but a mere parliamentary under-secretary of state in the Ministry of Defence, in favour of the Americans was galling. Especially as the last time the Americans ran things with their policy of engagement, first the old base called the Facility was bombed with enormous loss of life and then Earth fell. They had to go crawling to a troll tyrant just to undo the damage that they had done, no wonder the US government had shut them down, they were an embarrassment.
A security guard was waiting at the entrance with a supermarket carrier bag. “These are your clothes Miss” he said to Janine, “Sorry about the mix up”
Janine took the bag without comment and entered in to the reception area.
Once again the automatic system assigned the three of them lockers for their clothes. Janine placed the bag with her clothes in the locker, but then asked Drake if she should remove the overalls that the minister had arranged for her to have at the MOD building, after she was made to travel there naked by Drake. After all, did not the minister tell her to wear them at the EAD when she returned?
“The Minister is not here” Drake rebuked her sharply, “Until the oversight committee change them we stick to the existing security protocols, IS THAT CLEAR!!” he added as he removed his clothes and angrily threw them into his locker.
Janine removed the overalls and placed them in the lockers and then the three of them, naked as the day they were born entered into the lift and went through the lift’s identification system.
At the bottom of the lift, they exited the lift and stood there, waiting for someone to offer them the paper smocks and flip-flop shoes.
No one came
Nobody had been asked to fill in Katrina’s role, she was the woman who always offered the paper smocks, even though she never wore them herself. She had been one of those killed by the trolls who had attacked the EAD when they tried to deliver a bomb via an artificially produced wormhole.
It was a poignant moment that emphasised the loss that they felt for one of the more visible of their fallen colleagues.
Technically Janine and Kevin were not really inconvenienced as both always turned down the smocks because they caused them skin irritation, but it still hurt. As for Drake, this seemed to break through his apparent flint like exterior for a moment as he stood there naked and motionless.
“Right” Drake muttered, and headed off to his office, still completely naked.
“I suppose we see if we can hack into whatever satellite system we can” Janine suggested.
“Did I hear that the bodies of the trolls did not turn to ash when they were killed?” Kevin asked.
Janine nodded.
“Shall we?” Kevin began
“No!” Janine interrupted, “Leave that for Drake or someone else to look at. It’s not our specialism”
“It’s not anyone specialism I would have thought” Kevin replied.
“I dare say those from the old IDEC might be more qualified” Janine told Kevin as she ushered him to his station, now cleaned up from where the troll bullets had hit.
+ + +
The Castle Lodinium
(An unknown world)
Lord Samail of the Petros Lands, a man in his fifties with grey hair accompanied Sir Timous of the Zacharan, a younger man in his thirties as they approached three mercenary adventurers who had been summoned to the castle’s main hall.
“These men have never let me down” Lord Samail told Sir Timous, “I have often used them on various missions, which is why I have selected them for you when you travel to that other world of men, let me introduce them for you”
Lord Samail then pointed at the first man in the line-up. The first man stepped forward; he was armed with a large battle axe and a shield
“This is Travis of the Delphi” Samail explained, “Officially he is classed as an outlaw in his own land because he slaughtered the duke there along with his wife and baby son.
“He was a weak and harkened to that woman he called wife” Travis growled, “As for the boy, my patron wanted be sure there was no succession issues and no possible figurehead that the peasants could rally around”
“So you did what needed to be done” Sir Timous asked Travis
“Without a moment’s thought” Travis replied with a smile.
“Excellent!” Sir Timous commented
“This is Quaylong” Lord Samail then said pointing at the second man.
“What he does not know about the darkest and blackest of the magicks, is not worth knowing” Lord Samail explained.
“I know magicks to turn anyone, even the hated trolls and elves inside out” Quaylong sneered, “bring us a slave girl and I will demonstrate”
“I believe you can Quaylong, but that won’t be necessary” Lord Samail replied, “And I would rather not cause a mess in the main hall just yet”
“As my liege has confidence in your ability so do I” Sir Timous added
“But we will be calling on you to help start this mission you have been hired for” Lord Samail chipped in before moving on to the third mercenary adventurer in the main hall “And finally” Lord Samail continued, “This man for obvious reasons just goes by the name of Jamaal”
“That is what they call me at the assassin’s guild” the third man chipped in.
“I hear we are going off world” Jamaal went on, “Suits me, especially as I managed to bump of the local head of the assassin’s guild because he chose to favour one of my competitors in issuing contracts, oh and I bumped him off as well”
“So we will be going up against the trolls in that world of the races that are not of men” Travis interrupted, “I look forward to slaying as many non-humans as I can”
“They are perfect” Sir Timous smiled, “Just one thing my liege”
“And what is that Sir Timous” Lord Samail asked
“We will need outfits that will blend in with that particular society so we can move amongst those heretics without suspicion. We will also need to be armed with weapons that will not attract attention”
“That won’t be a problem for me” Jamaal ventured, “like all assassins, we are masters of blending in and vanishing in a crowd. I could easily pass myself off as an elf or a halfling”
“My dearest Jamaal” Lord Samail interrupted, “This mission will be more of a challenge even for you.”
“How so?” Jamaal pressed
“Our enemies the trolls from that other world of the races that are not of men” Sir Timous explained, “have found another world of men to invade, but this is a world of men not like ours”
“This is a heretical society” Lord Samail interrupted, “who long ago abandoned the noble art of magic in favour of the forbidden art of the artificer. They chose the path of technology and machines over sorcery just like our troll foes have done. These other humans must therefore be considered potential enemies as well.”
“From a captured device of that world” Sir Timous continued, “that was found on a hobgoblin in the pay of the trolls, we have worked out what kind of garments these other humans clothe themselves with”
“This is all very well” Travis interrupted, “but what is our mission on this despicable world we are heading for?”
“The trolls are interested in something this other world of men has” Sir Timous replied, “Which I suspect cannot be good. We are to find out what it is. If it is treasure to pay for mercenaries to fight against us, we must steal it. If it is some kind of weapon, we must either take it ourselves to use against their world or destroy it, along with any of those humans who have been involved in developing it, as a precaution”
Jamaal shook his head in disbelief
“Something you want to add Jamaal?” Lord Samail asked
“We assassins in the past have been hired as spies” Jamaal went on, “I remember being rather good at it”
“And your point” Travis asked aggressively
“Why not find out if these other humans are in league with the trolls or not?” Jamaal asked, “If the trolls prove to be a common foe, maybe”
“I see your logic” Lord Samail interrupted again, “But as I said, these humans chose technology over magic, just like the trolls. Even if they were enemies of the trolls as well, the problem is what their technology does to the order of things and how it could fundamentally undermine our way of life. If we became allied to them, there could be a flow of ideas that could lead to the destruction of the noble houses. It could lead to a populace in rebellion. Do you really want that?”
The three mercenaries shook their heads, the spread of technology and the consequences of the democratic thought it would bring and the impact on their livelihoods was not lost on them. None of them wanted their world of magic disrupted; it was far too profitable to forbid the art of the artificer than let it disrupt the natural order of things
“The maid servants here have done an excellent job in creating garments that will help us blend in to that heretical society” Sir Timous then told them, “We will send them to you as I collect mine and then within the hour we leave for what the humans on that heretical world call Earth. With Quaylong’s help we will be able to find where those perfidious trolls entered that other world of men. Even if they are not there we have the enchanted items that will allow us to hunt them down”
“It just remains for me to wish you good journey and every success” Lord Samail added.
With that Lord Samail turned around and headed out of the main hall, followed by Sir Timous.
“You were quiet” Travis the fighter said to Quaylong as soon as Lord Samail and Sir Timous were out of site
“I prefer to listen” Quaylong responded in an irritated tone, “especially to what is not being said”
“A good thing to do Sorcerer” Jamaal chipped in, “We assassins are known for listening at doors”
“So what was not said” Travis asked
“They are scared of something” Quaylong answered, “If these trolls were after treasure, we would mount the mission into the troll world where we have a bit more intelligence and have had more successes in our fight against them”
“You suspect the trolls are after some kind of weapon?” Jamaal asked
“If it is, then it has to be something really special only these other humans have invented” Quaylong went on, “We have seen how the trolls once used machines to try and dispatch many of us. It was only by use of magic were we able to defeat and annihilate their attack force. They know that”
“So our patrons here suspect a super weapon?” Travis asked
“Indeed” was Quaylong’s reply
Just then three young naked women approached the three mercenaries carrying in their arms clothing for their mission on the other world of men.
Being slave girls to Lord Samail, they were made to go completely naked, to show their lowly position. Also should Lord Samail or any of his male guests feel so inclined, the slave girls were also to be naked so the sexual desires of his guests could be satisfied. Magic spells against conception ensured no awkward pregnancies took place, unless of course any of his guests might want that as a request.
“These have been determined to be the best clothing for your mission my lords” one of the slave girls told the three men.
“We are also here for your sexual needs as well” one of the other slave girls added.
Travis smiled and was about to get ready to have union with one of the slave girls, but Quaylong shook his head, “Carnal lusts can blunt my magic, especially as it seems I am to follow the route our enemies have taken” he told the slave girls, “But I appreciate the offer”
“I too must decline fair maidens” Jamaal told the slave girls, “It is not that I do not think you are worthy, but all three of us have a perilous mission, and we must prepare”
“You may leave us” Quaylong interrupted, “None of us are able to partake at this time”
“Oh!” Travis complained.
“We need to get changed Travis” Jamaal told the fighter, “and that includes you. Once the mission is completed, maybe then you can satisfy your desires, but not until”
“And who elected you leader” Travis angrily asked the assassin.
“And why should it be you I could very well ask” Jamaal retorted
“Please” Quaylong told the two of them, “Our leader will be our patron, but Jamaal has a point, we are going to a different world and we must prepare”
“Oh” Travis said reluctantly, “very well, you may leave us” he told the naked slave girls.
At which they turned around and left.
+ + +
The Troll City of Power
The Manjura Empire
Captain Strang stood in front of his armed shock troops. Everyone a veteran troll tested in combat all armed with full automatic weapons and body armour. They were now awaiting inspection by their commander in chief, the Lord High Troll himself
The small figure of the troll leader, accompanied by and elf, dragging along a wretched doppelganger shape-shifter in chains walked across the parade ground
Strang’s eye narrowed as he saw the elf.
Strang hated elves, especially as they used guile and deceit and were therefore without honour, unlike the noble drow. From Strang’s perspective, that elf had no business going on another mission to this wretched world of the hated technological humans. That elf had already failed to secure the vital weapon that weakling of a leader Padow had demanded when he had first visited that world of technological humans.
If it had been up to Strang, they would have gone in with overwhelming force and torn that city apart until they found what they were after or until the wretched humans surrendered it. Then glory would have belonged to him rather than some abominable elf.
“We are ready to go into battle” Strang said proudly, as he pointed to his troll soldiers
“So I see Strang” Padow, the Lord High Troll sneered.
“I do not see why we need that elf and that human loving shape-shifter” Strang protested
“It is quite simple captain” Padow responded, “We need you to mount an assault on this Porton Down complex to draw out their military. You are to make it look like that they have repulsed your raid, meanwhile Callum will with the use of this captured doppelganger will infiltrate the complex.”
“With all due respect Lord High Troll” Strang interrupted, “If an attack has been mounted, even if it is repulsed, will they not clamp down tighter on internal security”
“Against Trolls they will” Padow replied
“This wretch and I” Callum the elf spoke up as he cruelly yanked on a chain around the doppelganger’s neck, “were able to pass off as humans in that City of London, so if we appear at the gate when you attack, they are more likely to bring us in to their inner sanctum”
The doppelganger just stared at the floor in despair; they still had his family in detention, to ensure he took part in the genocide of all humans. This proposed mass slaughter of humans was something that would revile all doppelgangers as these ones were opposed to violence and the taking of life. It was well known that these doppelgangers on this world were strict vegetarians. The doppelganger was in a no win situation, just because they possessed the ability to modify their form.
“This does over complicate matters” Strang went on, “If we move against Porton Down with overwhelming force”
“Then they may destroy the very thing we seek before you get to it” Padow snapped back angrily, “If these humans believe they have been victorious, then they will drop their guard, while Callum and this shape-shifter retrieves the pathogen we seek which will annihilate the human menace from that world of magical humans and this world of technological humans for good measure.”
Padow then walked up to Strang and looked him in the eye, “Of course” Padow went on in a quiet yet menacing tone, “if you are unable to lead this decoy attack, then you are welcome to resign your commission in the Manjura Guard”
“I will give you your distraction” Strang growled back, “But if that elf fails yet again with this plan you approved, will you be stepping aside as Clan chief?”
“You would like that Strang” Padow said with venom
“I am a mere loyal member of the Manjura elite guard my lord” Strang said with obvious sarcasm, “I was just thinking of how the Manjura elders would see yet another defeat in our war with the human invaders”
“You just do your job Strang and leave the elders to me” Padow answered back, “Is that clear”
“As a dry winter’s day” Strang growled back
Padow turned around partially and walked away from Strang towards the elf
“And you elf” Padow growled at Callum, “You had better bring me back that weapon or I will personally see to it that your clan is exterminated”
“You forget my liege” Callum replied, “I am the last of my clan, the humans have already slaughtered the rest of them. I will do whatever it takes to wipe that race from existence in all universes they infest”
Padow then looked at the wretched doppelganger, “You had better do as this elf orders, or it won’t be just your family that will pay the price for your misplaced sympathies for the human scum”
“But” the doppelganger was only able to get out before a searing pain went through his body from the shock collar he was forced to wear, causing him to collapse on the ground.
“You do not speak unless bidden” Callum scolded the doppelganger as he produced a black box. “You have to make these wretched creatures know their place my lord” Callum calmly told Padow.
For a brief moment, Padow, the Lord High Troll smiled to show that he approved of the chastisement of the miserable shape shifter. Humans deserved no sympathy or mercy, only extermination.
Padow then moved away from the elf and addressed the assembled trolls as well as Callum and the doppelganger
“Our Orc technicians will bring out the artificial gateway to that world of technological humans in a moment” Padow went on, “This mission is of the utmost importance in our war with the humans. Captain Strang will brief those of you in the Manjura guard on your roles, Callum here and the shape-shifter are already aware of their roles. There is no need to remind any of you, that we cannot afford failure, because failure could mean our destruction at the hands of the humans. The stakes are that high. These other humans in this world you are going to have a weapon which will obliterate the humans who attacked us once and for all, with the benefit of having another two worlds to exploit once those humans, and the humans on the world you are going to are no more. A perfect prize to show that the Manjura clan is the only troll clan that actually delivers victory.”
At this the Manjura troll guards with the exception of captain Strang gave a loud cheer
+ + +
The Entity Affairs Directorate
South London, England
Kevin looked for feeds from various astronomical satellites looking to see what could be used in place of the Sky Guard system, but it was tough going. A number of them were positioned looking away from Earth, and some, if they even looked at Earth, it might cause them damage.
The added complication was that such access had to be covert so the legitimate users did not find out what their probes were being used for, especially the American ones. It was bad enough that the minister was bringing in Americans but for them to find out that the EAD was trying to hack into their systems would complicate maters.
But the truth was his heart was not in it, especially as he remembered the four colleagues, including Katrina who had been slaughtered by the troll assault squad. He really wanted to be in on the examination of the troll bodies, but others, more skilled in that field of study had taken that job
“I think you are on a hiding to nothing” Janine’s voice broke through.
Kevin looked up at Janine’s naked figure as she stood there beside his chair
“What else have we got?” Kevin snapped back
“We have the mobile scanners” Janine replied
“But like I said earlier” Kevin went on, “They were never much cop when they were first developed. Some building materials block their signal and even when you don’t have that problem the range is limited and they have been known to give false readings depending on what space weather we are having, especially if we were to have a
CME”
“I thought we were at a solar minimum” Janine answered back, “Plus I don’t think we are anywhere near a star that is due to go nova and send us a
GRB, since they are supposed to give false positives”
Kevin sighed, “Look I know people here want to be doing something, but I worked on those things last year. We really hoped we could reverse engineer something like the old orbs of detection the IDE’s had, but at the end of the day, we could not get them to work efficiently in an urban environment due to
EMC issues. Take it from me Janine, the mobile scanners were a dead end, I’m surprised that they were even kept”
Janine glowered at Kevin, with his defeatist attitude and then a thought struck her, “What building materials caused the most problems?”
“Granite” Kevin replied, “Because it has a natural radioactivity, also some steel and concrete buildings caused a problem, but as I say, even if you don’t have those, London is awash with various electronic signals from Wi-Fi to short wave radio and mobile phones. Hunting for an incoming wormhole with a mobile scanner would be like trying to detect a pin drop at a heavy metal rock concert”
“So how did Sky Guard manage it then?” Janine asked with frustration in her voice.
“Well it was in Low Earth Orbit and well away from some of the signals we get at ground level that jammed the mobile units, plus a lot of the roofing materials did not block the gamma ray, X-ray and neutrino emissions that the materials used for walls did”
“So we need to get some height then?” Janine suggested.
“I can see where you are going with this” Kevin interrupted, “Theoretically it is possible to get a mobile scanner and put it on say a weather balloon, just like they used to do, to do some times of astronomy, but a balloon will be at the mercy of the winds and let’s not forget what a crowded airspace London is, assuming that, that is where these IDE’s are going to target.”
“Helicopters?” Janine asked.
“Too much interference from the avionics” Kevin countered, “plus there is the danger the scanner might interfere with the helicopter”
“There has to be something Kevin” Janine said angrily, “Those b*****ds killed Katrina, tried to kill the rest of us and we are doing nothing”
The phone sounded at Kevin’s terminal
Kevin reluctantly answered it.
Janine turned to go away and started heading anywhere away from Kevin and his can’t do attitude.
“Janine” Kevin called out, “Mr Matthews wants to see us in his office”
Janine frowned and accompanied Kevin as they both went into Drake’s office.
Drake by now was wearing a paper smock.
Janine and Kevin just stood naked and at attention.
“Preliminary findings” Drake went on, “that the calibre of the ammunition that the trolls used is of the same calibre of the ammunition that killed that vagrant a while back”
“Well that’s a no brainer sir” Janine ventured
Drake looked daggers at Janine for that interruption and then spoke up, “take Mr Brown and go back to that place”
“Why?” Janine asked, “We deep cleaned that place, there’s nothing there”
“Even if there were any residual trace” Kevin added, “There’s nothing there that would be of much use”
“I know” Drake replied, “But we need to be able to show the yanks our minister in her infinite wisdom is bringing in that we have been covering all bases”
“Even though there is no point going to that location” Janine asked
“They initially chose that place” Drake replied, “The first Sky Guard satellite that was taken out was the one that detected that intrusion. Maybe they chose to go back there again, it’s isolated and nobody goes there now?”
“You want us out of the way” Janine accused Drake
“Now why would I want that Miss Sedlacek?” Drake retaliated
“There’s something you’re not telling us” Janine pressed
“I don’t want any unpleasantness” Drake said after a sigh.
“And what do you mean by that?” Janine asked, a sense of foreboding creeping over her.
Drake gritted his teeth for a moment, “Remember how the minister is inviting those yanks back?”
“Yeah” Janine replied
“Well it seems that one of the so called experts the Americans used is actually a Brit, living here in England and she is someone you have met before” Drake explained
Janine shook her head in confusion and then it dawned on her, “Her?” she asked with incredulity?
Drake nodded his head
“Who’s this?” Kevin interrupted
“Not her please, not her” Janine said softly, “I don’t think she will be too happy to see me, will she?”
“Well since your father basically destroyed her career at CERN, I wouldn’t be surprised” Drake replied
“When is she coming?” Janine asked
“She’s on the train down from Leeds right now” Drake answered, “Our minister has had her summoned down to London. How she knew about her I have no idea”
"If the minister has spoken to a particular American, they might have mentioned her” Janine suggested
“You’re most probably right Miss Sedlacek” Drake admitted, “we are expecting her in about two hours and her former boss sometime tomorrow I suspect, depending on how fast our minister can persuade the home office to grant him a visa”
“But I thought we had him declared persona non grata” Janine objected
“So did I” Drake said sympathetically
Janine was quiet for a moment, “So I better take Kevin to that factory then”
“Yeah! You do that” Drake responded
“We will need to take a mobile scanner and a residual detector even if it is just for show” Janine told Drake.
Drake reached into his desk and pulled out the two devices and handed them to a confused Kevin.
“Come on, let’s go” Janine told Kevin, “We have a site to visit”
“I’m confused” Kevin spoke up as they left Drake’s office.
“I’ll fill you in later” Janine replied.
The two then headed for the lift and entered into it. After confirming their identities the lift ascended
In the reception area, their lockers were opened for them and both Janine and Kevin got dressed in silence.
After that they went outside where a driver pulled up with a pool car and handed Kevin the keys
+ + +
Kings Cross Station
London, England
The woman with platinum blonde hair passed through the ticket barrier carrying an old duffel bag with her spare clothing and a laptop bag.
After checking her ticket she headed past the coffee stands out of the front entrance and looked around at the London traffic.
The instructions were quite clear, head out of the station and turn left. Head out until she reached the Starbucks coffee shop.
The woman headed out and navigated past the pedestrian crossing and the McDonalds store. She reached the Starbuck coffee shop which was just past the Pret a Manger coffee shop and went to open the door to go in,
Suddenly she felt what seemed like a gun in the small of her back.
“Are you alone” A male voice asked her
“You’re going to have me deep cleaned here?” the woman asked, “In public”
There was the inaudible sound of someone speaking on a phone, or a Bluetooth device.
“That won’t be necessary” the man behind her said, “You’ve been cleared, now go in to the Pret, the woman on the left before the steps to go down stairs”
Then he was gone.
The blonde woman looked around, but whoever the gunman was, he was skilful in vanishing into a crowd. Obviously recruited from Special Forces, but why?
Nervously she entered the alternative coffee shop wondering why the change of venue. There was a large queue of people selecting sandwiches and other items, but all the blonde woman was focused on was a woman in her fifties sitting on her own with a large cup of tea.
The blonde woman sat down in front of the woman drinking tea
“Well I’m here” the blonde woman announced to the woman drinking tea
“Sorry do I know you?” the woman replied, looking startled and confused.
But I was told you” The blonde woman started to say, but then the whole café started to spin and she felt weird.
Then everything went black
+ + +
An abandoned factory
Somewhere in London
“So this is it” Kevin stated as he parked the car and switched off the engine, “There’s nobody here and no CCTV are you going to fill me in”
“What?” Janine asked a little distracted
“This woman that Drake wanted you out of the way for?” Kevin said for clarification
Janine looked at the dashboard and was silent for a moment, “Her name is Doctor Charlene Henshaw”
“So how did your father destroy her career?” Kevin pressed
Janine looked out of the window at the factory, a tear forming in her eye, “That b*****d destroyed so many lives” she whispered as her thoughts went back to Cindy, the young mother, abducted and hanged in Janine’s cell at Holloway as part of her father’s then plan to spring her from prison.
“Sorry” Kevin then said, “I should not have asked” he added as he opened the door and got out.
Janine composed herself and got out of the car and closed her door. Kevin was getting the scanner and the residual detector out of the boot of the car.
“My father had her abducted to work on his project to reconnect our world with IDW01” Janine told Kevin
“And how did that destroy her career?” Kevin asked
“In order to do that he reactivated a clean-up squad and used a former member of the UK IDEC who did not like the American takeover” Janine went on, “They were following some minor spirit of virtue, Luck I think she was, and her boyfriend as they tracked down Doctor Henshaw. They tracked them to CERN and in capturing Doctor Henshaw my father’s men killed a number of people at CERN at their reception area, including a young mother. When Doctor Henshaw was released from my father’s artificial universe apparently she found out that they no longer wanted her back. The people at CERN say that the employees my father’s men killed were murdered because of her work with the Americans, and she was no longer welcome back there, nor was she welcome back at her old university when they found out what had happened”
“So what happened to her?” Kevin asked
“Last I heard she was living with her aunt and trying to get a low grade job like in a supermarket as a shelf stacker or something like that” Janine replied
“That’s a comedown from working with cutting edge technology at CERN” Kevin said in a shocked expression
“Well Kevin, there’s no way she will ever get a job in physics again when at the last place she was employed, her colleagues were slaughtered because work she did for the Americans” Janine said before emotions got the better of her and she turned around and headed towards the abandoned factory.
Kevin closed the boot and caught up with her and put his hand on her shoulder. For a moment Janine flinched before remembering it was just Kevin.
“It was your father who had them killed and ruined her life not you” Kevin told Janine.
“And I killed my father because of what he did to me and my mother” Janine spat back, “But it doesn’t make me feel any better”
“That bit I didn’t know” Kevin said quietly
“Well
patricide is not something to boast about is it?” Janine retorted
Kevin sighed for a moment and turned on the residuals detector, “Ok let’s get started” he said out loud
“Right” was all Janine could reply
The two of them entered into the old factory past a broken fence that was supposed to keep people out.
“Well this is a waste of time even though it gets me out of the way” Janine said softly, “This was where that vagrant was found shot dead by what appears to be troll weapons” Janine called out.
Kevin made no reply
“We swept the area then and made sure there was nothing for the Met to find” Janine went on.
Still no response from Kevin
Janine turned around and saw that Kevin was fiddling with the residuals detector. “Kevin?” Janine called out
Kevin held up the residuals detector, “When was this last calibrated?” he asked
“I’ve no idea, that’s Mick’s department” Janine replied, “Why?”
“Because it is saying that there has been wormhole activity within the last forty eight hours at least, possibly less” Kevin answered
“That’s impossible, that vagrant was killed weeks or months ago” Janine retorted and came over to where Kevin was, “Are you operating it correctly”
“Yes” Kevin said defensively and handed Janine the device
Janine closed the device down and restarted it, but even she got the same result, there was the tell-tale result of intense gamma ray, neutrino activity and X-rays, characteristic of an artificial wormhole.
“Drake’s not going to like this” Janine told Kevin, “No wonder they knocked out Skyguard”
“But a troll is highly visible” Kevin pointed out
“That has to mean that they sent someone who can blend in” Janine replied
“Like doppelganger assassins?” Kevin suggested
Just then they heard a sound coming from a corner of the factory. Instinctively Janine pulled out her regulation issued nine millimetre automatic.
“Someone’s still here” she whispered to Kevin
+ + +
A white padded cell
Location unknown
The blond woman came too
She was in some kind of padded cell and she was stark naked.
“Hey!” the blonde woman shouted, “What kind of perverts are you?”
Nothing
“I have rights” the blonde woman shouted
Still nothing
“Why don’t you just deep clean me you a**e holes” the blonde woman shouted
The door clicked as there was the sound of it unlocking.
Suddenly the blonde woman felt very afraid, whoever had asked her to take a specific train from Leeds and whoever had somehow drugged and stripped her, were probably very dangerous people, given what secrets she had been privileged to.
The door swung open, but there was nobody in the doorway. It had been opened by automatic means.
Nervously the blonde woman approached the door, using her arms to cover herself as best as she could
Outside was some kind of corridor and a man in his fifties approached her. He was looking irritated and wearing what looked like a paper smock and flip flops.
“So you’re a wake then” the man said in an irritated manner
“What kind of pervert are you” the blonde woman shouted angrily, “How many people have raped me then?”
“None” the man retorted, “We don’t do that sort of thing here. The man then produced another paper smock, “You can put this on, or you can go naked if you like, it’s up to you”
“What?” the blonde woman replied with incredulity, “What have you done with my clothes and my laptop”
“They’re safe, you’ll get them back” the man replied again in an irritated tone, “We had to make sure that you were human and not a HIDE47, that was why you were sedated and stripped. Now do you want this or not” he added waving the paper smock at the blond woman
The blonde woman took the paper smock and pulled it over her head and glowered at the man.
“Why am I here?” the blonde woman demanded to know
“Why indeed” the man sneered, “Let me make this quite clear, you being here was not my idea. Your former CO recommended you after a certain politician stuck her oar in and invited him to meddle in our organisation”
“The colonel, I mean the brigadier major?” the blonde woman asked
“Yeah” the man continued to sneer, “Now this way Doctor Henshaw” he added as he gestured to follow him down the corridor, “We are rather busy”.
+ + +
The weather was dry with a light breeze as a green dot appeared in thin air, outside one of the fences, close to a field which had set of buildings in it,
It went unnoticed
Then the green dot grew in size to a whirling vortex.
Suddenly several trolls piled through the vortex, some carrying machine guns others carrying other equipment. They were followed by Captain Strang their commander and Callum the elf, dragging along the reluctant doppelganger.
Finally an orc came through carrying a large green box.
The vortex closed down
“So” Callum told Strang, “This wretched doppelganger is going to mimic one of those human politicians whose photo Padow the Lord High Troll found on the human’s own computer network and we will approach the main gate. Our story is that we have come to attend a meeting which the guards on the gate have not been informed of for security reasons”
Strang scoffed, “And why will you be on foot and not in one of the humans automotive transports? Any guard worthy of that profession will ask that question”
The elf grinned, “There is a road nearby here is there not?” he asked, “Intercept one of those human transports and kill the occupants, problem solved”
“And how do you know how to operate such a vehicle?” Strang queried, “I have not noticed his Lordship owning one” he added sarcasticlly
“The Lord Low Troll and I have studied how they work” Callum replied with irritation, “They are a crude internal combustion engine, not so very different from some of the automotive transports the orc technicians have developed and of which I am a skilled driver”
“I am yet to be convinced of your ability to operate an alien machine” Strang growled.
“Then we shall have to say that our official vehicle has broken down a long way back” Callum snapped back, “And hope they are gullible”
Strang shook his head in disgust, “Listen Elf” he began, “When I plan a mission I make sure every part has been rehearsed and nothing is left to chance”
“Like that mission to take out that base where the humans look for intruders to this world of theirs?” Callum sneered
Strang chose to ignore this interruption. “You may have the ear of the Lord Low Troll” he continued, “but I have the ears of other members of the Manjura Clan who may be persuaded to seek a new clan chief”
“You want to replace him don’t you” Callum accused the troll
“I will serve whoever the Manjura elders consider fit to lead our clan” Strang growled back in an unconvincing manner
“Well they consider the Lord Low Troll fit to be your leader” Callum growled back, “And it is he who suggested that we acquire from a human one of their vehicles in order to ensure the success of our ruse”
“As you wish” Strang snapped back, “But if you crash that thing it will be more ammunition I can use to convince the Manjura elders of the folly of supporting our current leader”
“I will not crash that thing Captain” Callum asserted “And once I am at that gate you launch your assault. The guards will want to make sure that the human politician and his faithful aid are safe, and we will be ushered into their complex, where this wretch of a shape-shifter will take on whatever appropriate form we need to obtain what we need”
“Callum Sir” the orc coughed and handed a small brown box, “This is from our labs sir” the orc went on, “It’s a one use gate back to our world once you have secured the human developed weapon”
The elf took the box and thanked the orc, before turning to the troll yet again, “It is so good to know that at least some races accept the rule of the Lord High Troll and trust his judgement”
Strang narrowed his eyes and glowered at the orc, quietly he felt it was a betrayal of troll-kind that the Lord High Troll had dealings with this particular race, even if the orcs were some of the best technological innovators of their world.
“Now get me one of their transports” Callum persisted
The troll captain grunted and waved at two of his trolls to come with him down to the road where they could see an approaching vehicle in the distance.
+ + +
An abandoned factory
Somewhere in London
Janine continued to be wary as she heard ominous noises from elsewhere in the abandoned factory.
“Kevin I think we need to get out of here” she called quietly to Kevin and motioned for him to head for the exit.
“Ok” Kevin replied, “We need to report in anyway”
Kevin turned around to head out of the building when suddenly he screamed in pain and collapsed to his knees.
Kevin fell forward, dead; a crossbow bolt embedded itself in his back
Janine turned around to face from where the bolt had been fired.
Suddenly the gun was wrenched out of her hand and flung to the far side of the building and she was thrown on her back.
A force held her down, preventing her from moving
Then four men emerged from a part of the building that had been in shadow. They looked like they were dressed in the kind of clothes everyone dressed in, but something did not seem right. One of them a small male was the one wielding what looked like a small cross bow. Another of the men seemed to be chanting something, obviously he was casting some kind of magic spell that had thrown her to the ground,
A human using magic?
“A wench that carries a weapon” one of the men said in a strange accent, “How appalling and how stimulating, I’m sure Lord Samail will have a great time interrogating her before she is put to death”
To be continued