Title:Dead On.Part 3 Author:Tapestry Email:Shaddow_Cat@hotmail.com Standard Disclaimer apply *denotes thought I apologize to those whom I didn't reply your mails.This has been a busy year for me.I assure you I have tried to squeeze whatever spare time I have into continuing my stories.Those of you who are following Trusting an Assassin will be happy to know,Part 11 is nearly completed. Falcon/Zach - Zoiscite Raven (codename) - Raye Darien stared at the man in front of him, who stood unaware of his shock to his sudden claim.Licking his lips slowly,Darien found his voice. "You are Malakov Dancek??"asked Darien. "I am."acknowledged the man. Silence..... "Excuse me sir,here's your order."sang the waitress oblivious to Darien's expression,breaking the uneasy silence between the two men. "Uh,thank you."said Darien blankly. The waitress turned to Malakov. "And what would you like sir???"she smiled. "Just coffee,thank you."replied Malakov easily.Unlike his colleagues,he was able to pronounce his words without having to have second thoughts. When the waitress left them...... "Even if you are who you say you are,how did you know where to find me?" asked Darien suspiciously. "My friend,you are too suspicious.It's not difficult to find an agent in Washington."said Malakov sipping his coffee. "Being suspicious is what keeps you alive, 'my friend'."replied Darien sarcastically. "Ah....you doubt me.How is Serena?"smiled Malakov not even turning his attention from his drink. Before Darien had the chance to answer,Serena and the rest of the agents burst into the diner. "Shields!.."began Serena when her eye landed on the familiar shock of white-blonde hair."Brother!!"called Serena as she rushed to hug him. Malakov merely gave a good natured laugh as he returned the hug. "Hello,little sister....how have you been?"asked Malakov as he stared down at her face.Though Serena was not much younger than he,she only reached her brother's shoulder. "I'm fine!!"smiled Serena.Turning to look at Darien,she pouted and glared at Darien. "You didn't tell me you were meeting brother,here." Darien was about the same height as Malakov except for maybe a few centimetres. "He wasn't meeting me here,little sister.When I reached America,I recieved an anonymous tip that Shields would be here."stated Malakov. "Anonymous??"repeated Mina. "Well,anonymous or not,I suggest we return to our office now."suggested Andrew. "That's right,Marine told me we were meeting Raven later."informed Swallow. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~Back at the Goverment building~ "I see you've rendezvoused with Malakov Dancek."said Marine."I just met Raven and Falcon on my way up here." "Raven,it's great to see you again."laughed Darien as he hugged the agent. Serena glanced at the two new agents that Marine had introduced. Raven was a lovely woman with raven hair and violet eyes.She wore a red business suit similar to Marine's.Falcon was a tall handsome man with strawberry-blonde hair with bright green-blue eyes giving him an intelligent look. Raye Morton's eyes took in all the faces of the agents with great interest. "By the way Andrew....who is this source of yours???"asked Darien curious on how the British agents recieved the news. "That I must apologize,is a secret."replied Mina. "Only the two of us are authorized to speak to the source,anyone else and it might be a great danger to the source."informed Andrew. "Fair enough."spoke the young man who was codenamed Falcon."Raven,if you would kindly brief our allies....?"asked Falcon. Darien smiled lightly as he noticed Falcon stealing glances at his sister now and then,causing her to turn to a pink hue. *Amy and Zach Prynne are perfect for each other,the only thing keeping them apart is their jobs.*thought Darien to himself. "Our investigation reports clearly point to one of the abandonned buildings as a safehouse for the Dominion.Dominion agents have been reported seen going in and out of the building."said Raye. "And our operation this time is to raid the building and capture the Dominion operatives,alive."finished Zach. "Who will be leading this operation??"asked Darien. "I will."replied Amy. "WHAT??Marine,-"began Darien. "No,you listen big brother...someone is going to have to lead this mission and that person has to have a cool head.You know how you are with terrorists....no,I'm leading this mission brother."sighed Amy. "We strike the building tomorrow night."said Amy. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~The next night~ Darien handed out equiptment to the agents.Other agents stood waiting for Marine's order. Darien handed a hand gun to Serena. "I hope you know how to use one of these."teased Darien as he tried to lighten up the tense atmosphere. Serena's head shot up to glare at the American agent."For your information Shields,I am perfectly capable of handling any weapon.ESPECIALLY one of these."replied Serena indignantly. Amy smiled as she watched her brother tease the Russian agent.It almost seemed as if the old Darien was back.When Serena Thompkins had perished, she knew her brother had died within....and in it's place,a darker Darien had been born.Shaking her head,she returned her attention to the mission. Storming the building,the agents found no trace of the Dominion operatives. "Impossible!!Intelligence reported Dominion leaders and activity going down here!!"exclaimed Raye. "There's no one here."reported one of the raiders. "This is ridiculous.They couldn't have just disappeared.We had the building surrounded."growled Zach. "No windows or doors overlooked??"asked Darien. "We worked from the blueprint plans."replied Raye angrily. "Then they wouldn't have had this on the plans now did they?"asked Ann as she pointed to the floor with her flashlight.It was a trapdoor. "An earthy smell."said Nikolas. "They dug an escape route.Hard work but it paid them off."sighed Mina. "Where does it lead to?"asked Malakov. "Only one way to find out."said Ann as she bent down to pull the iron ring connected to the trapdoor. Something clicked in Serena's mind.....she'd been expecting it unconciously,but now.... "Wait!!she yelled running towards Ann."These terrorists love bombs!It might have been booby-" But Ann had already heaved the trapdoor up.Serena and Ann disappeared in a white hot flash of an explosion..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The explosion threw the rest of the agents standing nearby to the floor. They scrambled to their feet and ran to the two figures that lay still as death on the floor next to the charred trapdoor. "Serena!!"shouted Malakov as he cradled his sister. Darien's mind was filled with horror...... "Not again....not them too..."choked out Darien.His mind was reliving the nightmare again.The death of Serena Thompkins....the explosion. His eyes fell on Serena Dancek cradled by her brother.It was eerie.... it almost seemed as if he saw the ghost of Serena Thompkins. "Serena..."called Malakov. ~Serena's mind~ Jumbled memories pierced her brain.Laughing blue eyes...an explosion.... and then,blackness..... Serena's eyes fluttered open...she heard a voice calling her name... "Serena.....Serena...." "Mother???"asked Serena. "No Serrie....it's Malakov."whispered her brother "Mal??" "Serrie,you scared me....don't ever do that again."said Malakov as he hugged her. "I'm sorry,Mal....I'm lucky the trapdoor shielded me from the brunt of the explosion...but...Swallow...is she-she...?" Marine checked for a pulse and breath. "She's breathing...."sighed Amy with relief. "We better get out of here."suggested Andrew. "Yes...I agree,that bomb must have rocked the building's foundations." said Jed. "Everybody!!Go go go!!Out!Quickly."ordered Raye. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The building crashed down just as the last person came out.All the agents breathed a sigh of relief but sighed again in disappointment. "The Dominion agents got away..."said Alan. "We will get them another day."reassured Nikolas."Until then,we must warn Mother Russia to be on the look out for terrorist activities. "I agree."said Malakov as he carried a half conscious Serena. "We should get Serena and Swallow to a hospital-"began Zach when he was interrupted... "NO!!No hospital.I'm fine.All I need is just rest."protested Serena. "But Serena,we cannot have you running around wounded."said Darien as he tried to convince her. But Serena Dancek had already made up her mind and she could be as stubborn as a mule when she wanted to. Raye was impressed and respected her.Serena Dancek was a strong lady. Capable,bright and beautiful.It wasn't difficult to see why Darien was attracted to the lady.Of course...the fact she was the mirror image to Darien's Serena was also a factor. Raye had once tried to win Darien over after Serena Thompkin's death. In fact,many women had tried to do that.Raye and Serena had been close with Amy as well.But Raye had always been attracted to Darien only that she had backed off when Darien and Serena became a couple. Of course,Darien had treated her with cold civilness and rejected her as lightly as could.After that....they had only been good friends. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~Early dawn~ "Serena??" "Oh,it's you Shields."sighed Serena relaxing slightly. "What are you doing here so early in the morning?"asked Darien concerned. "I couldn't sleep."replied Serena simply. "Still thinking about last night?The explosion??"asked Darien. "Not really." "Dancek....Serena.....you,really worried me last night.It scared me." sighed Darien. Darien took hold of her hand."Say you'll promise me one thing...please?" asked Darien. "Of course,Shields."said Serena confused. "Promise me you'll stay safe and not do anything stupid."said Darien. He stared at her crystal blue eyes.As if by making Serena Dancek promise him this,he felt that he was making Serena Thompkins promise him this which he should have said 5 years ago. "Shields??" "Please,Serena...just promise me???" "Alright...I promise,Shields."sighed Serena. "Cross your heart-"began Darien. "And hope to die."finished Serena. Darien's eyes flew wide open.He stared at Serena.It was the exact way Serena.T use to promise him anything. "What's the matter??"asked Serena. "N-Nothing."muttered Darien as he released her hand and backed away. "Shields?" "I,have to go...I'll see you."mumbled Darien quickly as his voice faltered.It almost came out sounding like a sob. *What is she doing to me!!??* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Serena sighed....whatever had made her say that last sentence about hoping to die???It just came out of her mouth instinctively. Leaning over the bridge,Serena saw her image in the still water...like a mirror.Her brain hurt.Ever since the explosion,visions of laughing blue eyes and an explosion was all that ever haunted her mind. Tugging her coat around her tighter,Serena stood straight and took a deep breath.Cold air brushed her cheeks turning them a rosy hue.A single curl tickled her cheek. Turning to face the road,Serena's eyes widened. Squinting in the darkness....Serena's eyebrows knitted.*Was that....??* "Natasha and Piotr???"said Serena aloud. *What are THEY doing in America??*she wondered. Walking towards them,Serena called out to them, "Piotr!!Natasha!!"smiled Serena as she waved her hand towards them. The two KGB agents looked up.A frown marred their faces red from the cold. "Serena??"questioned Piotr. "Natasha,Piotr..it's wonderful to see you!What are the two of you doing here in America??"asked Serena smiling,her eyes bright. "We are....we are....-"babbled Piotr. "We are here to gather information."said Natasha seriously. "Why didn't you contact us and tell us you were in America??"asked Serena still smiling. "Because this is a top secret mission for authorized personnel only. Please,Serena....do not say a word to anybody that you saw us.It wouldn't do any good for both our careers."said Natasha. "Alright.Perhaps I'll see you around."smiled Serena as she waved goodbye. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Are you sure it is wise to let her walk off like that??"asked Piotr. "Of course.But this changes all of our plans.We must inform Lazarus at once of the change so he may improvise."said Natasha an evil glint in her green eyes."Let Lazarus deal with her." "You are right,Natasha."agreed Piotr "Of course I'm right,stupid."hissed Natasha."Now where is that phone?" Serena reached the bureaucractic building.Entering the building,Serena ran into Nikolas who took hold of her arm. "Where have you been??"asked Nikolas angrily."Malakov has been worried sick about you."growled Nikolas. "Niko,release me this instant."ordered Serena. "Serrie,there you are!!"said Malakov coming towards her with Alan. Alan's face was dark and menacing.His brow was knitted together. "I'm fine,you see???There was no reson to panic.I CAN take care of myself you know."reminded Serena irritated. Suddenly a fat burly businessman pushed past rudely. "What is this,your grandma's hall???"shouted the fat man towards them. Malakov frowned. "What a rude man."muttered Malakov. Serena noticed a handphone on the ground.Picking it up,she noticed the last call the phone had recieved was from Domina and Colossus. *Domina??Colossus??Who are they??*wondered Serena. "Does this phone belong to any of you?"asked Serena waving the handphone in front of them. "Yes,it's mine."answered Alan holding his hand out for it. Serena plopped the handphone onto his palm dismissing the two names. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~Later~ "Domina,it was very careless of you to be seen by the agent."reprimanded the voice. "I didn't expect Serena to be walking along there,forgive us,Lazarus." pleaded Domina. Colossus bowed his head in shame."We will be careful next time." "See that you do.I have to return now."growled Lazarus. "You have your orders.Dont make me improvise again...I don't like it." said Lazarus as he walked deeper into the shadows that hid his face. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "What are you doing Shields?"asked Serena curiously as she peeked over Darien's shoulder. Darien had been sitting in front of the computer screen for hours. This aroused Serena's curiousity. "Knowing my enemy,Serena."replied Darien. "Knowing your enemy?"repeated Serena confused. "He means he's studying the Dominion,Serena."answered Mina with a laugh looking up from the hill of papers on the desk. "It's a good tactic when dealing with the enemy."confirmed Andrew as he continued scanning the papers in his hand. "So,what DO we know about the Dominion so far??"asked Serena. "The Dominion's operative who has been running the show so far,has three envoys."answered Raye joining in the discussion. "Domina,the right-hand envoy,Colossus,the left-hand envoy and Atlas,the secret envoy."said Darien. "Somebody's been doing a lot of reading."laughed a feminine voice. It was Amy and Zach at the door. "Marine,Falcon...find anything interesting with the bureaucrats at the agency???"asked Darien looking up from the computer. "Yeah...something you'd want to know.The Dominion sent a package to the agency yesterday.It was filled with some jewellry and....and Serena Thompkin's identity badge."sighed Amy. "What???!What does that mean??"asked Darien his eyes going wide.A small flame of hope lit in his heart. "Not what you think,brother...the Dominion are taking credit for the bombing of your car and the death of agent Luna 5 years ago." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The flame of hope died....in the void,hatred for the Dominion grew. Darien's ocean blue eyes turned hard and dark. "Domina and Colossus..." Every eye turned towards Serena. "What was that???"asked Zach. "Domina and Colossus..those were the names I-...I saw yesterday on-on..." *No...I don't even want to think it...*thought Serena to herself as she squeezed her eyes shut,wanting to block out the memory. ~FLASHBACK~ *Domina and Colossus??Who are they??*wondered Serena. "Does this phone belong to any of you?"asked Serena waving the handphone in front of them. "Yes,it's mine."answered Alan. ~END FLASHBACK~ "On what,Serena??"asked Mina. "I-.."began Serena.But the words were stuck in her throat. "Where did you see the names???On a piece of paper??Where??"asked Mina. "I...I can't remember."squeeked Serena. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Serena sat in her room.She couldn't bear to say it.She couldn't even bear to think it. *Alan cannot be part of the Dominion.He just cannot!!*wished Serena to herself. A single tear fell from her eye. Rubbing it away,Serena's face hardened.She had to find proof. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In a dark room.....Darien Lachlan codenamed Shields sits,sobbing. Tears had wet his face as they ran down unchecked. When his sister had come into the room with news of Serena,he'd allowed himself to hope....that maybe,just maybe his love had been alive all these years. He threw the melted keys into a corner.His anger and pain rising. Then,his eyes were wild as he threw anything he could get his hands on at his unseen enemy. Rage and hatred was boiling within him....and in a single horrible moment, every type of negative emotion he had ever experienced,the emotions that he had buried and locked down which had festered within the deep recesses of his mind,was released..... "I'LL GET EVEN,YOU MURDERERS!!!IF IT'S THE LAST THING I DO!!!!YOU MURDERERS!!"screamed Darien as if he was insane. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Outside Darien Lachlan's room,stood a lone figure with raven hair and violet eyes.Her eyes shone with unshed tears as she heard the man inside curse and scream with rage. "Rena.....if you can hear me,he misses you..."whispered the woman as tears ran down her cheeks. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~Outside~ "Amy,don't you think you should check on your brother??"asked Zach as he held her hand tightly thanking the heavens she was with him and prayed he wouldn't have to suffer what Darien was going through. "No....it's good for him to be alone.It's-..it's been so long since Rena's death and ever since,he's never displayed his emotions.He's been bottling them up.This release of frustration is...a-a start."sobbed Amy. "Shhh.....It'll be alright.Darien has always been strong."whispered Zach trying to calm the woman he loved. "That's what I'm afraid of Zach....Darien's been too strong all his life. Rena was the one who gave him a new purpose.To be strong when it was needed. Rena w-was....everything to him." "Everything will be alright.I promise."soothed Zach. "Promise?"asked Amy in a muffled voice as she buried her face in his chest. "I promise,love.Now just relax...." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~Somewhere nearby...~ An evil laugh sounded. "You'll never beat me,I am a Dominion....and I am always 2 steps ahead of you."laughed the voice as the owner of the voice stared at the building. "You can never win." The voice laughed again but the laughter was never heard by those he had been mocking. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! To be continued... Well??What did you guys think????Email me. Who is Lazarus??What role does Alan play in the war between terrorists and goverment agents?What will happen to Serena??Can any of you guess??? :)