Title:Dead On.Part 1 Author:Tapestry Email:Shaddow_Cat@hotmail.com Standard Disclamer Apply Okay...first the American agents have codenames okay?? Darien - Shields Ann - Swallow Serena Thompkins - Luna On to the story...... 5 years later..... A man steps onto British soil,a beautiful red head on his arm.He had midnight hair and wore dark glasses. "Darien,look...there's our contact."whispered the red head. Darien Lachlan,an American secret agent.He peered through his dark glasses and saw two blondes,one man another a woman standing at by a vending machine.Darien nodded. Walking up to the two,Darien acknowledged their presence.The two blondes returned the courtesy.Then,speaking in a hushed tone. "You are Shields?"asked the blonde woman. Darien nodded. With that,the two ushered Darien and the red head out of the airport. "This is Swallow."intoduced Darien. "I am Mina Collins,this is Andrew Conners.We are your contacts and the agents working with you on this assignment."explained Mina. Darien merely nodded. "When do we meet up with the four Russian agents?"asked Ann. "They will be arriving tomorrow.We meet at that cafe over there."answered Andrew as he pointed to a small sidewalk coffee shop. "We will see you tomorrow."said Mina as she walked away. Darien merely nodded. "What do you think,Lachlan?"asked Ann. "I think we should go to our hotel first,MATTHEWS."bit out Darien. Ann Matthews,codenamed Swallow was Darien's partner.They were meeting up with the British and Soviet agents due to a rise in terrorism in their countries. Ann rolled her eyes. "Lets go then." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Darien kicked a pebble on the sidewalk.It had been 5 years and the bombing still haunted him.Every day and night.She was always there.Beside him, in his mind.Perhaps he was going crazy... Maybe her memory would never go away. *Get a hold of yourself,Lachlan.You came to Britain to meet up with other agents remember??This is your chance to put a stop to the terrorism. Putting a stop to the killings.* "But that doesn't mean I have to LIKE working with those Russians." muttered Darien to himself. The next day.... Darien and Ann walked towards the coffee shop they were to rendezvous we the other agents. Darien saw Mina and Andrew,together with four others.Two women,two men. The first woman had chocolate coloured hair with emerald eyes.The woman facing her back to him had blonde hair. The two men sitting next to the women were ordinary looking. One had a strawberry blonde hair and the other had mahogany hair matching the woman with emerald eyes. Mina was the first to notice their arrival.Waving them over,the group stood up. Darien's jaw nearly dropped when he saw the blonde haired KGB agent. "Shields,this is Litanya Rasputin,Serena Dancek,Alan Bessmerkov and Nikolas Krylov."introduced Mina. Darien swallowed slightly.He gaped at Serena Dancek.She was a splitting image of his dead girlfriend and partner,Serena Thompkins codenamed Luna. Ann nudged Darien. "Shields..it's impolite to stare."reprimanded Ann. "My apologies."said Darien as he mentally smacked himself. "No need."said Serena.She spoked with a slight Russian accent. A dozen thoughts ran through his head.Could she be Serena Thompkins??But that was impossible!!She had supposedly died in the terrorist bombing of his car,5 years ago!! "Is something wrong Mr.Shields??"asked Serena. "Nothing...I was just thinking."muttered Darien. Darien caught a glare from Alan Bessmerkov. Later.... Serena Dancek stood by the London Bridge,leaning on the railing. "Hello."came a voice. "Oh,it is just you,Mr.Shields."replied Serena. Silence..... "Did you want something?"asked Serena curiously. "No no,it's just you remind me of a very special friend."explained Darien. "Oh..who is she??"asked Serena. "Was.She's dead now.She was my partner.Died in a terrorist bombing." muttered Darien as he watched her reaction. None at all... "I am sorry."whispered Serena. "So,you're Russian?"asked Darien changing the subject. Serena gave a laugh."Is it that obvious,Mr.Shields?"laughed Serena. "As far as I know,I've been a Russian all my life.Born there,raised there." "Oh."muttered Darien disappointed. "Was your partner very important to you??"asked Serena hesitantly. "I loved her."answered Darien."I miss her." "That is very very sad.What was her name?"asked Serena curiously. "Similiar to yours."smiled Darien weakly."Her name was Serena Thompkins." "That IS similiar.And I think you imply I look like her as well?"asked Serena. Darien merely nodded. "Well...that IS strange.My apologies,but I am meeting with my colleagues now,Mr.Shields."said Serena.With that,she walked away,leaving Darien to wonder on her identity. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "What are you doing standing here,Lachlan???"came a voice. "None of your concern Matthews."spat Darien. "It is when YOU'RE MY partner."retorted Ann."Besides,I don't trust Serena Dancek.What is it with her that has you fascinated??" "For the last time Matthews,this is NONE OF YOUR CONCERN!!!"growled Darien. His tone of voice was harsh.This surprised Ann.As far as she knew about Darien Lachlan,he was a very aloof and private person.However,she'd heard older agents say he wasn't always like that.He became that way 5 years ago when his last partner died in a terrorist bombing. Darien ws surprised at himself too...he never lost his temper since Serena Thompkins's death. "I have to do something."muttered Darien walking back towards the direction of the hotel they were staying. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Serena Dancek entered a hotel room where she was suppose to meet her colleagues. Alan Bessmerkov who watched over her like a brother was frowning at her. "Where have you been??"asked Alan,his voice heavy with accent. "I was at the London Bridge.I wanted to see the sights.Besides...we leave for Heathrow in the morning.No harm in seeing the sights."said Serena. "Have you forgotten Natasha and Piotr's warnings??These Americans killed your family."spat Alan. Litanya shot Alan a glare,effectively shutting him up. "Alan,the times are changing.We are here to put a stop to the terrorist group in our countries.That is why we must work together."reprimanded Nikolas. "Nikolas is correct.Natasha and Piotr live in the past.They think the west is an evil influence."said Litanya. Serena was silent. "Serena?"prompted Alan. "No Alan...blaming the American's would get me no where."sighed Serena. Alan frowned.Out numbered...he silently conceded defeat. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Somewhere else... Darien was in his room using his laptop to check out information on Serena Dancek. She was apparently,born the same day,year and time as Serena Thompkins. Coincedence??Her supposedly parents died years ago.No younger siblings except for an older brother who also worked in the KGB agency..Born in Russia,a Russian citizen and a KGB agent. She had so much similarities to Serena Thompkins.Her blood type,her birthdate.However...fingerprints were harder.Something had disrupted his hacking and all he got was a blank screen. Darien uttered a curse under his breath.Turning away,he decided he was hungry and decided to go to the sidewalk cafe for some refreshments. Stepping out into the open air....suddenly... "Shields!Watch it!!"shouted a voice. Darien felt a body slam into him.His shoulder hit the sidewalk.It hurt like hell.Moments later...a loud crash sounded. He saw it was Andrew Conners.The British agent.Along with his partner Mina Collins.She was staring at the dented sidewalk.There was a silver serving platter with an assortment of knives,plates and a pot of hot tea. If the tray had hit him.He'd be dead by now. "Thank you."said Darien sitting up. "You're welcome."answered Andrew. "Mina,do you think it's the terrorists??"asked Andrew. Mina stifled a laugh. "The terrorists???If only.They're bomb and trigger happy,Conners.What terrorist would stoop so low-tech as to use a serving tray to kill him?" asked Mina. "Even better yet,HOW did they know I was an AGENT?"muttered Darien. "A leak?"suggested Andrew. "Possibly."answered Mina. "What is going on here?"came a voice. The four Russian agents along with Ann stepped out onto the sidewalk. "Shields,are you alright?"asked Ann. "Fine,Swallow.Thanks to Conners here."pointed out Darien. "What happened?"asked Nikolas. "Somebody tried to kill Shields."answered Mina. Serena stared at Darien.Her blue eyes worried. "Terrorists?"asked Litanya. "No idea.Maybe not."answered Andrew. "Maybe you'd better go back to your hotel room."suggested Alan. "Perhaps you're right Bessmerkov...I'll do that."said Darien. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In the room... Darien sighed as he stepped into the room.His laptop was acting up. Somebody tried to kill him.What else?? Getting into the bathroom,he turned on the warm water,taking a relaxing shower.Darien relished in the warm water as it relaxed his tensed muscles. Thought relaxed....he still thought of Serena Dancek and Serena Thompkins. How they looked exactly alike.Twins?Couldn't be. *Forget about it Lachlan.Just relax.*murmured his mind. With that,Darien finished his shower,dried and wore a thick fluffy white robe.Getting into bed,the blood drained from his face. Sharing his bed was a scorpion!!! The scorpion thrashed it's deadly tail from side to side,getting ready to strike. Darien's eyes searched the room while he lay still.His eyes fell on his thick fat hard novel by the telephone.Slowly picking the book up,Darien brought the book down on the scorpion with a sickening crunch. What was going on??Why was somebody out to kill him now???Could it be because of Serena Dancek's identity??A million questions shot through his mind.Perhaps he didn't know now....but he was going to find out. To be continued... Well???Espionage is always a killer.But I'm a buff on stories like this. Keep reading...this story ends with a funny twist!! Watch for part two.