Double Whammy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Although stunned by what he has been told, he doesn’t even bother trying to deny it, now realizing that Samantha Bliss is the daughter that he left behind so many years ago.
“Look.. Miss Bliss.. We don’t have time. Scorpion just doused our best lead. We need to find her before she gets too big of a jump on us.”
She turns away from him without a word all of the while lifeguard is feeding her information on Scorpions whereabouts.
“She’s headed out of the city Sam.” he tells her. “You can’t let her get too big of a lead on you, you’ll never catch up with her.”
She moves back towards the rest of the team.
“Team Alpha assemble.”
Priss appears at her side.
“I called up the van Samantha it will be here shortly.”

Samantha Bliss nods, stopping in front of the reds van where Sil is kneeling over the body of Guido Garfoni. She casts a puzzled look in the direction of the team leader. Samantha bends down next to her.
“Problem there Sil?”
“Yes.. This isn’t Guido Samantha. They wanted someone to think that it was. But it most certainly is not.”
“And your certain of this how exactly?”
“It is a long story.”
“Is there a short version Sil? We don’t have much time.”
“Guido was injured in a fight when I was at the palace. He had his shirt off and I remember a large dragon tattoo on his chest. And he had a long scar along the length of his ribs. And the face is different. Higher cheekbones. deeper eye sockets. This one has no scar, no dragon. Not Guido.”

Samantha slowly stands looking up and down the length of pier 36. Tombstone appears at her side, looking as puzzled by Sil’s revelation as Samantha is.
“So what was their game?.. Daddy?”
“Please don’t call me that.”
She turns back towards the reds van, and then towards the black Hummer.
“Maybe Guido is smart like Sil said. Maybe he smelled a double cross, so he decided to double cross them too.”
Klinger approaches them looking Tombstone up and down unimpressed while lighting a fresh cigar .
“Transports here Sammy, we rolled over on the dead mercs and them reds. They didn’t have anything on them.”
Samantha Bliss is not a woman that is easily convinced.
“Something isn’t right here. The mercs bring sand instead of explosives. The fake Guido brings what I’m guessing is a bag of what really isn’t money but something else.”
“What are you thinking Samantha?” Sil enquires.

She walks through the bodies of the dead mercs and reds alike. And carefully studies the entire scene. Stopping to kneel down beside of the body of a dead red.
“Tombstone. Were either of your boys hit?” she asks.
He slowly shakes his head no.
“From what I saw these dipshits couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn if they were standing next to it. Why?”
She slowly stands.
“Because I’m starting to think that they didn’t hit anyone because they weren’t suppose to. This whole thing is starting to feel staged. Guido Garfoni- or someone. Has gone to a lot of trouble here to make someone think that he is dead. And now I would like to know why.”
Tombstone now tries to follow her logic.
“Staged? For who’s benefit?”
She doesn’t answer.
“Load up the team Kling.. Where are we headed Lifeguard?”
“West.”

Scorpion's Eye's
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



She stands almost defiantly leaning against the stone structure overlooking a thick grove of trees. She has chosen this as the meeting place with Tito because it afforded her a view of every possible angle to and from the location. This time there wouldn’t be any surprises. She watches as the limousine slowly rolls to a stop. The drug dealer known as Tito emerges from the automobile, wrapping himself up in a long coat, as he casts a suspicious glance in the direction of Scorpion.
“You come alone?” he asks in thick Spanish accent.
She gives him an icy stare but says nothing, holding the satchel out where he can see it. Tito’s eyes brighten. And now is giving her a big smile.
“You got my money back!”
“I wouldn’t get too excited Toto.” She tells him sarcastically. “Your buddy Guido has been a bad boy.”

She throws the satchel at Tito, it lands by his feet.
“Shredded newspaper. He was going to double cross those mercs. He sent in a body double too. The red that I hit wasn’t him.”
“So what are you going to do now? About getting my money back I mean.”
He tries to take notice of her appearance as she begins to walk towards the limo, but her back is to the sun and it is blinding to him.
“I’ll tell you what I am going to do Titty. I’m going to hunt down that red bastard and I’m going to kill him.”
For the first time he detects a slight accent in her voice that he presumes to be Russian. She still makes him uneasy.
“Oh Titty. And by the way. Guido’s boys weren’t alone with those mercs on pier 36 neither. There were 3 other independents that I counted. And another larger group. Separate from them.”
Tito’s eyes narrow.
“Who were they? ”
“I think that the independents were Tombstones crew. The others smelled like military to me. Probably Threshold. I’d watch myself if I were you.”

He fidgets nervously pulling his coat collar up around his neck.
“Should I be worried?”
She stops and turns back to face him.
“I would be. If Threshold even slightly suspects that you could be in any way involved in any dealings with the reds. Well lets just say Guido Garfoni will be the least of your problems. If they come knocking at your door, the next time that I see you will be in the obituaries. Lay low Tata. Let me handle Guido.”
She climbs aboard the motorcycle and the engine roars to life, she places the sunglasses on the bridge of her nose while looking back over her shoulder at Tito. He hears the click of engaging gears and she throttles the bike and disappears into the sunset.

He returns to the limousine and slowly closes the door as if waiting for something or someone to interrupt. a deep voice reverberates from the shadows of the corner of the limo.
“Do you think that she bought it?”
Tito contemplates the question.
“She’s hard to read Guido. At this point I’m not sure. So when are you going to tell me what this is all about?”
The large male red leans forward and looks Tito in the eye.
“You just set up the real deal, with the real mercs. Tell them that I still want those explosives. I need certain people to think I’m dead. And Ambala is one of them.”
Tito scratches his chin thoughtfully.
“All of this so you can get your hands on a stone to open the gates of hell for this Ambala chick?”

Guido reclines in his seat and lights another cigar.
“You think that I want to open the gate for that bitch? Lemme tell you Tito. This deal that you and me got in New York? So sweet. Drugs.. Money.. Whores.. Hell everything that I ever wanted. But Ambala? She wants me back in the Jericho straits, she needs another general, and she thinks its going to be me. And when I get them pieces of the stone from Threshold? I’m gonna destroy them. Fuck Ambala. I got my own agenda.”
He slowly inhales the cigar smoke while staring out the window of the limousine.
“Just give that Scorpion bitch and threshold something else to chase for awhile. And set up that deal.”

~Scratch A.B.T. Copyright © 2008~

Into The Dark
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



He sits quietly perched on a rooftop approximately one half a mile away from the dock, it is cold outside and still dark, a slight misty rain has been falling steadily for the past two hours. His full name is Winston Churchill Downey, affectionately known to his team mates as “Church.” he has been silently watching the movements on and around the dock for the past two hours Patiently feeding information to Samantha Bliss and the other members of Team Alpha. She has put him, Klinger and Milo Tripper on three different elevations to cover every possible angle on the docks below them. On the ground she has the rest of the team all spread out along a slope that overlooks the reds position. Now they must play the waiting game,the reds are present, but so far the rest of the party are no shows.Each member of Team Alpha waits for the word to engage the enemy, but no order will be given just yet.
“Church?”

The earpiece fills with a slight hum of static briefly before it crackles to life.
“Yeah boss lady.”
“Anyone out there yet except for the reds?”
“I don’t see anything moving from up here just yet, except for the reds.”
“Klinger?”
A slight pause.
“No. I’ve got nothing up here Sammy.”
“Nobody but the reds?”
“Nobody yet.”
She peers through the black misty morning with her field glasses. If Tombstone knew about this exchange he would more than likely be there, and as for this Scorpion person it was more of a feeling that Samantha Bliss has had, that Team Alpha wasn’t the only ones watching the reds at this moment.Sil moves up next to Samantha Bliss, who turns to face her.
“Sil?” She hands her the field glasses.
“Look down there and tell me if you see that Guido person that you spoke of.”

Sil raises the field glasses to her eyes.
“ No Samantha.. He’s probably hiding in the van right now. He doesn’t like water too much. And right now it IS raining.”
She hands the glasses back to Samantha Bliss.
“Well, obviously this Scorpion person isn’t going to tip her hand until Guido shows himself. If that is who she’s after.”
Finally, Milo Tripper’s voice floods her earpiece.
“Sammy? Heads up. We’ve got company.”
“Milo?”
“There’s three of them.. All human males, big bastards too. Probably your buddy Tombstone and his crew.”
“Any sign of Scorpion?”
“Not yet. But she’s here somewhere, I can just feel it Sammy.”
The voice of Ethan John Klinger interjects into the conversation.
“Sammy.. Three o’clock. Black Hummer is approaching. Probably the mercs.”
Suddenly the docks have come to life, as it would seem that all parties relevant have shown themselves to Team Alpha. Six men emerge from the Hummer, all armed to the teeth with standard automatic weapons. The leader motions for his men to fan out and check for snipers. One wanders around the dock with a hand held device checking for any radio transmissions. He nods to the leader giving the all clear.

Scorpion Rising.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



They surmise that they are alone here with these reds on this cold misty morning. And nothing could be further from the truth.
They watch as Tombstone, Loki and Cavanaugh all settle into their positions. Everything suddenly appears to be moving in slow motion, the leader of the mercs moves towards the van, while two of the others begin to unload the black case from the Hummer. From out of the side of the van the form of the large male red known as “Guido Garfoni” appears and cautiously begins walking towards them. Samantha Bliss can feel her stomach tighten knowing that Scorpion is somewhere watching. But it is only when one of Guido’s guards notice’s the small red dot climbing up the body and coming to rest on the forehead of the Merc leader that Samantha knows that all hell is about to break loose.

The first shot strikes him right between the eyes, blowing out the back of his skull, everyone on the dock all at once begin to exchange panic fire. Tombstone’s crew now appear at the sight and have begun an all out engagement with the remaining mercs, while Guido’s bodyguard has dropped the satchel of money in order to usher him safely back into the protection of the van.
“Team Alpha! Cover the escape routes. This is going to get out of hand quick. Take out that van NOW! We have to take Guido alive!”
The first body guard takes a head shot and is dead before his body hit’s the pavement. Two more to the left of the van fall immediately afterwards.
“Damnit! She’s not taking any prisoners! Church? Do you see her?”
“No Sammy! I’ve got nothing!”

Another red takes a direct hit straight into the back of its skull, and panic stricken now Guido is forced to fend for himself, as he jumps into the driver’s seat of the van and slams it into gear. The tires spin against the wet pavement as he tries in vain to get out of the line of fire. From above him and to his right, Church has shot out the left front tire. Guido has once again emerged from the vehicle, this time with his weapon drawn. They all watch curiously as the distant sound of what Samantha presumes to be a motorcycle of some type, echo’s throughout the dock. They are all quite shocked when it appears, the rider swoops in and scoops up the satchel of money and begins to fire its weapon into the chest of Guido Garfoni, hitting him numerous times. He falls back against the van and slides down it’s side, dead. Both rider and cycle disappear into the rainy morning.“Lifeguard!! Track that rider! We’ll catch up with them later, we’ll clean up this mess first.”
Meanwhile, the remaining members of Team Alpha have pinned in Tombstone and his crew. Who finally disengage,the now dead mercs.

The members of Team alpha have formed a circle around Tombstone, Loki and Cavanaugh, who are walking towards the black case. Samantha Bliss arrives. They all stand in front of the case as he bends down to examine the latch for possible booby traps, he motions to Loki, who bends down to check it. He nods, flipping open the latches. Tombstone cautiously opens the case to reveal several carefully wrapped bags of sand. He stands slowly, turning to face Samantha Bliss.
“I should have figured Threshold would send in a field team to investigate. I didn’t figure it would be you though.”
She doesn’t smile, nor introduce herself, as he slowly approaches her. He looks the Threshold unit up and down.
“The famous Team Alpha, I take it. And that must make you Samantha Bliss. They call me-”
“Tombstone.” She says flatly.
“So you know me then?”
“Your Dylan Poe Rand.”
His smile slowly fades.
“My Father.”

~Scratch. A.B.T. copyright © 2008~

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