The Puppet Assassin [TTR sequel]

The Puppet Assassin - Ch 34 [sleep can wait]

Liam murmured something low to Luke who nodded and looked back at us. “Let’s go,” he said cheerfully, I could imagine him almost snarling with the excitement a cat had upon sighting weak prey. My respect was only increasing.

As the group trotted past, Liam slapped the backs of the men and women and I held myself stiff as I went past, careful to keep my face shielded with the cap of the helmet. His slap on the back seemed more than just encouragement, it felt like a sort of triumph. I was so ready for this.

We jogged around the complex, keeping out of sight of any cameras, heading for the back wall. Once the second team was in, that would mean that the electricity on the fence was down and we’d be free to climb over. Garth and his two men set up a platform to make the crossing easier but I had a feeling the height of it was mostly for me. They could probably take the wall with a single leap, especially with their ability to turn certain muscles into cat muscles.

I watched as the rest of the changers squatted or stood with arms folded, all with ready expressions, none with an inkling of fear. Luke was going around to the first few teams, going over the plan and questioning readiness. He’d always seemed like a leader to me, the way he held himself, the way he thought things out. But now he seemed even more in tune with it, eyes were drawn to him and there was complete silence whenever he talked. I had curious sensation, like I was proud. I ducked my head and smiled. I was getting giddy from the wait.

I heard the horn of the alarm and then the yells and orders of submission as Liam’s first team entered the building. The first shots fired made my heart jump up to my throat and the fine hairs on my skin stand straight up. I remembered my last mission and Kieran’s kill. Had someone just died? Was Kieran in there too?

“Second breach,” Garth said quietly to the group. “Two minutes.”

I slid my hand up my back and unsheathed the two longer knives I’d stowed there. Their grip fit into my hands comfortably and I remembered the never-ending hours of training I spent with these in my hands. They were an extension of my arm and I felt a sense of wholeness with them in my palms.

“Second group, begin shifting.”

Three changers, one female and two guys, stood and shed clothing. I turned away. It didn’t seem like the right situation to be embarrassed by their lack of self-consciousness.

“Garth.” Luke beckoned him over. They said something together in quiet tones. I could hear the creaking of bones over their conversation.

Garth laughed, punched Luke on the shoulder and trotted back to the fence. “Time to go over,” he said with a manic grin. He leapt up, grabbing onto the top of the fence, and launched himself over. Another of his team did the same while the third used the platform. They were gone in seconds. Luke trudged over the grass to me and knocked on my helmet.

“You ready to get in there?” He grabbed the tip of my helmet’s brim and lifted it up so that I looked him in the eye.

“Yes sir,” I said. I could feel a confident sneer creeping onto my features and I quickly wiped it away. But he was a lot faster than I was.

“Stick to the plan. Follow my lead. And Dizelde… Do not, under any circumstances, go chasing a fight on your own. You are in no way capable of taking on a group of these men.” His watch beeped and he signalled for groups two and three to go over. Group four began to shift.

“Stay safe, no matter what. Even if it means risking someone else’s safety. If things get bad, get yourself out. Don’t play the fucking hero. No one likes heroes anyway.”

He smiled and slapped my helmet. “I wanna see you kick ass.”

“Yes sir,” I murmured. I was the one who wanted to watch him fight.