The Edge Of Justice

The Edge Of Justice Chapter 31

“Yes you have,” Katrina said from my left. “You just know it as Stalingrad. The name of the city was changed in the sixties, during Khruschev's term as leader of the USSR.”

“So what am I supposed to do?”

“A military incursion into Russia is a very bad idea,” Prince said, ruffling through a file in front of him. “We won't be able to send the Marines with you.”

“I want Adder at least. He's proven himself invaluable.”

“Adder is a soldier,” Katrina said. “He might be stealthy, but not as stealthy as you or me. His skill set not suited to a mission like this.”

“So you and I then?”

“Looks like it.”

I smiled. “Then let's get moving.”

I stood, nodding to Prince, and walked toward the door. Katrina was right behind me, and she shut the door behind us. “You really should watch what you say to him, you know. He is a four-star general for a reason.”

“He's an idiot,” I said, turning to the right and walking down the hallway.

“In certain matters, anyone can be. That doesn't mean you have to be an ass.”

I chuckled. “Since when are you so philosophical?”

“Since my new team leader could use some words from the past to direct his future,” she said, elbowing me.

I laughed, and then realized I had no clue where I was going or even how to get there. “Wait, what're we doing?”

She grabbed my arm and steered me toward the hallway on my left. “We're going back to see Lannister, because instead of just not using the transmitter in your ear, you dug it out, which means it will need to be replaced.”

“I panicked! What did you expect?”

“Anything but you digging it out with a knife, that's for sure.”

“Well excuse me for trying to protect the mission's security.”

She didn't reply right away, and we turned a few more corners before she finally spoke. “Christian, there is one thing I have been wanting to ask you.”

“Shoot.”

“I don't mean to pry, but you seem awfully relaxed with your family being held by Neal and his Spectres. You kid, you laugh, you smile. Why?”

I pursed my lips, thinking about how to best answer her. “Well, I see it like this. Neal wants me for something, and I don't think it's that he just wants to kill me outright. I think he wants me to suffer not knowing where they are, and if they're okay, but I know this man, rather well I might add. He won't harm them. He thinks of himself as a father to all his operatives, and even though Melissa and Haley aren't part of his organization, he won't harm them. I think he wants Melissa back, and I'm pretty sure he has plans of training Haley as a Spectre. He won't do anything to jeopardize either of those goals, which would include hurting them.”

“So you're thinking that he won't hurt them because he wants to convert them?”

I nodded. “That's what I'm hoping at least. Don't get me wrong, I worry about them every waking moment, but I'm also a logical person, and that is what I believe is most logical.”

We had reached Lannister's office by then, and she nodded, pushing the door open. “I hope you're right.”

“Christian!” a voice echoed, and I looked up to see Wight walking toward me, the machine for the sub-dermal implant in his hand.

“Wight.”

He gestured to a chair and I sat, waiting for the pain of the implant breaking through my skin, jumping when it pierced my ear, even though I had been expecting it. I rubbed my ear once he was done, and Katrina used her implants to test it. It was working fine, and I turned to thank Lannister, extending my hand, expecting him to shake it. Instead, a black gauntlet clamped down on my arm, just above the wrist, extending to the middle of my forearm, and two ratcheting straps clicked closed, securing it in place. “What's this?”

Wight gave me a look. “It's a gauntlet, Mr. Winters. Now please, give me your other arm.”

I extended my other arm, a second gauntlet clamped down, the straps closed, and Wight walked away. I looked at my new toys, and wondered what the hell I was supposed to do with them. He came back a moment later with a katana, and I raised an eyebrow. “What are you doing?”

“The best way to show someone something is not to explain, but to demonstrate. Please, lift your arm and I will strike it with the katana.”

I backed up, quickly. “Hell no.”

Lannister followed me, holding the katana with a skewed grip. There was no way I was letting Head Nerd anywhere near me with that blade. “Mr. Winters, please stop moving. The gauntlet is made of a heavy duty thermoset plastic, and it will stop the blade without a problem.”

“And if you miss and take my arm off?”

“I won't.”

Katrina was laughing so hard her face was red and she was clutching her ribs, and the rest of Lannister's staff was laughing quietly along with her. I put a desk between Wight and I, moving to the left when he moved right. Finally, he threw up his hands in exasperation. “Then what would you have me do?”

I looked around quickly. “Give the blade to Katrina. I trust her.”

I could tell he was a little hurt, but he handed the blade over anyway, and Katrina lined up still chuckling. I raised my arm, and she brought the blade down, hard. It jarred my arm, and I stumbled back, but I was no worse for wear, the blade having glanced off.

I looked at the gauntlet closely, but it showed no signs of being struck, there wasn't even a mark where the blade had hit it. “Nice, I said appreciatively.

Wight gripped my arm and pressed a small button on the side of the gauntlet, close to the ratcheting strap. With a click, two blades popped up from the sides, and I closed my fist. Each blade was curved, so it left about an inch of space on each side of my thumb and pinky respectively, and was only sharp at the beveled tip. “These are not for cutting, Mr. Winters, but for stabbing. The metal is strong, but don't use it against other blades or it might shatter.”

He turned and walked away again, while I stared the the little marvel incredulously. “I've seen these somewhere before,” I muttered, and Wight turned back around. “A gamer too? I'm impressed.”