Chapter 2 - Part 2

Ebbe liked Moon Face as soon as she set eyes upon him. She could tell he was an honest man who would make the right choice. Shakes, on the other hand, was clearly unable to make a decision on his own, he barely looked old enough to buy a carving knife, let alone wield that big gun. Fearless Leader, was just the type she'd hoped for. The fact that she was tied up, rather than dead, spoke volumes for a start, but his face also told her he'd had his fair share of disagreements over orders. His dark green eyes were bright and inquisitive, rather than dead and soulless. Unlike the Grim Reaper skulking in the corner. That one was in the job for the fun of it and could cause troubles.

She watched Fearless Leader poring over her high res moon photo. You have no idea what this is all about do you? And you're puzzled and that annoys you doesn't it! Oh yes, you hate loose ends and this is the mother of loose ends isn't it!

"Mare fecundatatis," the man suddenly read one of the lunar seas out loud.

"Sea of fertility," Ebbe couldn't resist translating. The puzzled tone of the man was too enticing. It was a bad habit and she knew it, but what fun it was when one had the answers to someones puzzle. Of course, Ebbe concluded, it is most commonly I who has the answer and rarely the other way round.


I have his attention now, Ebbe told herself, and he looks surprised. I suppose he was expecting a blubbing little lady to confess all so he could get home to his dinner. But I must be strong and show resolve or I shall find myself on the losing end of a bullet. Ebbe quickly resolved to show that she had been expecting such a visit. That would surely wrong-foot fearless leader and pique his curiosity regarding her further. The more curious he was, the safer she should be.

"I'm surprised it took them so long," she said, her voice sounding as strong as she hoped, despite her pulse starting to race a little. His face was a picture, thought Ebbe, I must have hit a nerve, best hit him with another zinger before he has a chance to think too much. "Is this not against protocol?"

His face remained remarkably resolute, but his eyes betrayed him. It was a subtle flash but Ebbe caught it and knew the word protocol had really lit a firecracker in his brain. Thank you geeks, she praised internally, still wary of Grim Reaper in the corner, who had yet to flinch during her brief conversation.


"When did you work for the agency?" Came his considered reply. This drew a blank for Ebbe, it was too vague for Internet chit chat. The agency could mean all manner of government or private factions and she could neither confirm or deny her involvement without further questioning. She could hardly deny she was intruigued by such a juicy, conspiratorial sounding group. But that would take up too much time and be off subject. No better to kill this line of questioning dead and hope to move on.


"The agency?" Ebbe therefore retorted, hoping her genuine ignorance of the subject was enough to convince Fearless Leader that pursuing the matter further would be fruitless. 

"Don't bullshit me lady. You know something," he spat back immediately, the first outward sign of his growing frustration. Ebbe sensed she was losing him and needed something utterly unrelated to blindside him with. It had to be quick, off subject and unexpected. 


"I'll ask you to mind your language sir," she heard herself say with a straight face. Fearless Leader stopped dead in his tracks. Brilliant Ebbe, brilliant, you are now the politest captive in the world, demanding that your captor interrogate without swearing. That thought triggered another idea in her head, how undignified it was for a lady to be tied legs apart.

"And if you are not planning to kill me at present I would much prefer you retied my legs together rather than apart," Ebbe requested of Fearless Leader. If he allows this then I'm certain I can get him on my side. Much to her delight Moon Face was waved over and with remarkable speed and skill retied her feet together, instantly making her feel more at ease. 

"Perhaps now you are comfortable," Fearless Leader began, "you would be so kind as to explain why the fu," Ebbe was amused to note he caught himself about to swear and instead swallowed it. That was it, she had a grip on him and she only had to keep pushing little by little to get him with her. "Why the government want you, your family and anyone who has associated with you in the last 3 months wiped from the face of the Earth?"  

And there it was, the validation of the fabled V6, once considered a mythological order and now not only confirmed as real but right here in Ebbe's living room. Not only that, but now Fearless Leader was finally on track, asking the right questions and giving Ebbe the opportunity to hook him. She knew she couldn't just blurt everything out here and now, tied to this chair with Grim Reaper still caressing his gun with intent.

"Interesting choice of words, er..." Ebbe paused, hoping Fearless Leader was feeling open to offering a name, or at least a pseudonym. When he was clearly reluctant to do so she continued regardless, it had at least been worth a try, "It is a truth, or more accurately a mystery about the Earth that has led you to me." 

"Jesus lady, what the fuck is that supposed to mean?" Fearless Leader raged back at her, clearly infuriated by her vagueness in the face of likely death. But Ebbe was going to have to stick to her plan if she wanted him on her side. But now that meant taking the ultimate gamble, the absolute test of his resolve, because to reveal all now would most likely get her that bullet in the head. No she needed him to break his orders first.

"I won't talk to someone who is unable to converse politely," Ebbe replied stubbornly, using the ruse of the offended prisoner to further disconcert Fearless Leader. "I feel it is probably for the best if you simply follow your orders," she found herself saying. Dear God, I am really pushing my luck, she thought as the words escaped her mouth. But the statement appeared to have the desired affect. Fearless Leader turned away from her in evident disgust at her apparent disregard for not only her own life, but that of her family. Jorge would be disgusted too, she thought, her mind suddenly wandering back to the day he finally got fed up of her and left. 


It had been a Sunday, as she recalled, and he had waited until three in the morning for her to return home from work. It wasn't that he'd cooked a special meal, or planned any great surprise. It was, as he'd said, not wanting to lay in bed alone for more nights than not for the rest of his life. She'd said 'fair enough'. He'd said 'fine then'. And he left that night. He'd packed a small bag at twelve and resolved to wait until two and if she still wasn't home he was leaving. One hour too late and he walked out of her life forever.


It was this distant memory that caused her to see Jorge's bearded face upon Fearless Leader's body when he uttered his next words.


"You understand that by undertaking my orders, you, your family and friends will all die?" He said with deathly seriousness.

In the blink of an eye Jorge was gone, replaced by the clean shaven Fearless Leader and his intelligent green eyes.

"I do," she replied knowing this was going to be the defining moment for them both. Either she dies and that was that, or he releases her and she would have her very own commando unit. "It isn't that I don't care sir," she started deciding honesty was the only option left now, "it is only that I have long been resigned to the fact that neither I, nor they shall likely live much longer."

She watched her words sink in. For a surreal moment Ebbe found herself pondering whether Fearless Leader was handsome or not in the midst of this life or death event. A quick blink of her eyes shook such nonsense from her head. You're not picking the father of your next child you fool, she scolded, you're trying to save your current one.


Fearless Leader muttered something under his breath before turning to Shakes.


"Cody, untie Miss Nystrom," he ordered decisively.

Thank God, Ebbe almost cheered out loud. But Shakes dithered, why had Fearless Leader picked him over reliable Moon Face, she wondered. It was only as everyone started shouting over each other that it became clear to Ebbe what he was doing. He also didn't trust Grim Reaper and he was relying on Shakes to fall in line with his order and for Moon Face to back him up against Grim Reaper. As the men roared at each other Ebbe began to fear the testosterone overload was going to cause someones trigger finger to itch and then all hell would break loose. Come on Shakes you little weasel, she cursed, get a backbone and untie me before Grim Reaper decides to complete the V6 on behalf of Fearless Leader. 


Ebbe had stopped listening to what they were yelling, all she knew was she needed Shakes to undo the damn knots and for Moon Face to step up. 


At last she heard Moon Face bark something at Grim Reaper. It didn't matter what it was because it was clearly all the vindication Shakes needed to free her hands. But Ebbe saw there was still serious friction and with a pounding heart took one final gamble. Fighting her every instinct to dive for cover she instead stood, putting herself right in front of Fearless Leader's gun barrel to her front and even worse, Grim Reaper to her rear.


"Ah, that's much better. Thank you young man," she said, swallowing her fears, grasping Shake's hand tightly and shaking it with vigour before turning to Fearless Leader. "Now, Mr Team Leader," she began "are you all going to shoot each other, or help me save the world?"

Her brown eyes met with his and for a moment the pair were locked in a curious staring competition. She was determined that this macho posturing between Fearless and Grim Reaper would end right now because time was short and if she could get this team on her side it could give her the literal firepower she had previously lacked. Finally I'll be able to kick some doors down, she figured hopefully.

Fearless Leader broke off his piercing gaze and with a swift sidestep had his gun trained back on Grim Reaper. From the corner of her eye Ebbe could see Moon Face also holding his position, gun sight clearly aimed at Grim Reaper's head.


"Jake," Fearless Leader addressed Grim Reaper, "lower your weapon."


Ebbe backed away, knowing she had intervened as much as she could now. Maybe that brief pause had been enough even for someone as institutionalised as Grim Reaper to think. Surely, she hoped, sense would prevail.


"We'll lower ours first," offered Fearless Leader, clearly having the same hope as she, though Ebbe started to sense it was a false hope, seeing no sign of activity in Grim Reaper's cold eyes. As Fearless Leader nodded to both Moon Face and Shakes, Ebbe began to take minute steps backwards, her heels effectively shuffling across the dirty red carpet. "Jake, think about it," Fearless Leader continued, his gun near the floor now.

"I don't need to," growled Jake.


Ebbe reached her destination and thrust her arm backwards, slapping the light switch off and plunging the room into unexpected darkness. At the exact same moment a gun blazed in her direction. She dived to the floor before she had a chance to see who was where in the room as the muzzle flash lit up the room for a split second.


Ebbe heard a thud that could be someone else diving to the floor, or perhaps the body of an injured or dead man. The gun flashed and the crack, crack noise of the shots echoed through the hollow house like devilish castanets. For a second all Ebbe could hear was her own heavy breathing and the high pitched ringing in her ears. This was broken by several muffled shouts and another loud thud. 


Ebbe didn't dare move. As much as she wanted to switch the lights back on, she feared the first thing she would see was the three dead bodies and the leering face of Grim Reaper, smoking gun in hand, pointed right at her. The last thing she would hear would be that infernal crack, crack, crack as the gun fired and then it would be all over.


Better, she concluded to wait it out here. Either whoever survived will find the light switch or her eyes will adjust to the dark and the scene will be laid bare.


Yes, better to wait.