“I thought no one knew we were coming here a week early.” Aj hissed into Kevin’s ear.
“I didn’t know about this either!” Kevin hissed back at him.
Nick and Brian stood unable to move or even think. They had no idea, what so ever about how to get out, in one piece.
“Calm down everyone. Here comes security.” Howie said, hope twinkling in his eyes.
It took some time but in a few minutes the five were in their limousine and on their way to their hotel. “Smell that?” Nick said taking in a big mouthful of air.
“Nick!!” Everyone complained.
“Not like that.” Nick snapped at them. They complained about him being silly and juvenile, but in reality they were even worst. “It smells like the sand and the sea and the sun…” Nick said dreamily.
Brian sniffed at the air but all he could smell was the unusual stench of Sydney International Airport, which had somehow stayed on to his cloths. From the expression the other three wore it was clear that they had discovered the same thing. They looked at Nick with concerned expressions for a few moments, and then the thought was pushed aside in their minds placed by concerns about themselves.
“Guys I have a feeling we’re gonna enjoy this tour.” Kevin said sleepily. He signed and sat back in his seat closing his eye, the sleeping pills he had taken hadn’t worn off yet.
“I think one of own staff sold the information to the media.” Aj suddenly burst out. He couldn’t help it. They had all been trying to avoid the problem, but now there was no way.
“What makes you think that?” Nick asked him with out turning away from the window. He was worried and had to try very hard not to let it show.
“Only our staff knew that we were coming to Sydney a week early!” Aj snapped at him, frustrated by his friend’s lake of observation skills.
“But why would they? For money?” Brian asked. At his remark disgust over took all of their expressions.
“Yes for money” Nick hissed bitterly.
An awkward silence fell over them for a few minutes. “So do we all agree that we have a problem?” Aj asked finally breaking the silence. He was worried. Even with his eyes covered the others could read his expression.
Everyone nodded their head in agreement, reluctantly. “We’ll have to step up security,” Kevin began. He hated the idea of security 24 hours of the day, and if it had been just him in danger he wouldn’t have ever thought about it, but he couldn’t risk all five of their lives. “And only limited information will be released to our staff.”
Brian signed, “You know I really hate this?” He said leaning back into his seat and closing his eyes. “Why us? I don’t think we’ve ever done anything to anyone. Never disrespected a fan, or anyone else for that matter.” Hie eyes suddenly flew open and rage over took his expression. “Why us? God damn it just tell me why us!” He yelled and slammed his fist into his palm. Every one stared at him as sweat broke out all over his forehead. He reached for his hankie chief.
The limousine came to a halt out side the hotel and the five stepped out slowly and walked up the stairs in a tight group. Even though they had no proof, they all had the feeling that they were being watched by someone...someone who knew their every move…
“Awww…” She moaned in pain as she struggled to get her sore body out of bed. She tried to remember what had happened the previous night but her mind was blank. She tumbled all the way to the bathroom cursing as she tripped over strange objects, lying around her floor. Once in the shower she turned on the cold water forcefully and cried out in pain as a stream of cold water poured down on her. For no reason she was feeling very miserable and depressed, and without warning warm tears began to pour down her face, only to be washed away quickly by the falling water.
She came out of the shower and began to get dressed, regardless that she hadn’t dried herself.
RING RING
73 reached over and picked up the cordless phone and pressed the receive button as she began to clean up around her.
“Hello?” 73’s voice came out rough and reluctant.
“73 do you know what time it is?” Christopher’s voice boomed trough the phone.
“Aiii…” She wailed as a sharp shot of pain shot trough her head.
Falling on to the ground she spotted a bottle of vodka sitting close to her bed.That explained the headache, she thought bitterly.
“You were drinking again weren’t you?” He yelled at her accusingly, making her cry out in pain. pain.“Bloody hell we had a meeting this morning at 10.00 do you know what time it is—.”
“Christopher quiet frankly I don’t give a fuck. I’ll be on my way down now. Keep your pants on.” She snapped and hung up on him rudely.
She went to the cupboard in search of aspirins and found that there were none. Cursing under her breath she found her shoes and left.
“...just compeleting your missions is not enough…And now I have no choice but to send you off to Australia—.”
“What?” 73 suddenly burst, wishing that she had been listening to him.
“I said we have no choice but to send you to Australia.” Moore repeated , he himself, slightly angered by her actions.
“But why? I have no one there. If I have to be alone I’d rather be alone here.” 73 begged desperately. Moore just shook his head at her. “Alone 73? Is it because of 62-what was his name-Rupert, that you’re doing this to your self? You drink yourself into depression just because of him? He’s gone. But you still have to live. It’ll do you no good wasting yourself away.” He said to her coldly.
At the mention of 62’s name tears swelled up behind her eyes, she fought hard to stop them.
“You'll go home now, and you'll pack, Sally will give you your ticket on your way out.” He said. His voice was warm but she could see right trough him. To the average person it might mean a lot to be able to control their expression, but to 73, it was just another old SI trick.
“Why Australia? What I am gonna do there?” She choked out.
“73 it wasn’t my decision to send you there. All of UNSI voted on the matter. You’ll manage. You’ve served in Italy France Hungary, Mexico, Japan, and Taiwan…. The list goes on you’ll adapt to it sooner or later.” He replied almost looking sympathetic for a moment. For the first time 73 noticed that he was nothing more than a little old man...
Just a man, only a man….
“As for what you’ll be doing” Moore’s lion voice broke into her thoughts. “You will be staying with an agent…26.”
“I’m not sharing an apartment.” 73 snapped. If they were going to transfer her, she was going to make it as hard on them as possible.
Moore seemed to take no notice of her, he continued as though undisturbed. “26 is aware of your drinking problem and she will be your partner—”
“Partner? I work alone or in an organized group—”
“73 you are not been given a choice. These are orders direct from the high bench of UNSI, they have decided that you have a problem ,they have decided that you should go to Sydney, they have decided that you should have a partner and they have decided that you should go to school and learn about civilian life.” He stopped yelling at her and sat back down. Sweat broke out on his forehead. 73 stood in front of him silently, taking no notice of Moore’s dramatic performance.
He noticed her disapproving expression. “ If it were up to me I’d keep you here 73, you’re a great killer…when you’re sober.” He said in a soothing tone that 73 knew wasn’t fake. “You are dismissed 73” He said handing her the pile of papers. 73 stared at him defeated for a few seconds then saluted him for the last time and stalked out of the room, slamming the door shut behind her as hard as she could.
