Snow flurries.

His head spinning in confusion, Henn sat in Central Park with his past life flashing before him as again he ran with a small blond Russian close behind him.
    Just thinking made him smile, because no matter what, Sukoloff had always been there when he was needed and usually with some sarcastic comment that enabled him to cover any concern he might have felt. "That’s fifth car you’ve wrecked. You explain it to boss."
     How many times had Sukoloff arrived to rescue him just in time, but always with the same no emotion. "I don’t know what you’d do without me."
     Henn frowned now, with him it was so different, he felt no shame in showing his feelings, but if he’d tried to with Sukoloff it was always the same story, "Vacily! Are you all right?" His eyes would flash their disapproval and the snapped reply would be something in the region of, "of course I’m alright, aren’t I always?"
    He flinched slightly as a fleeting pain in his arm brought him back from the past and at the same time as he removed the dart, he gave his ring a slight twist. Then having made his distress signal active the world began to spin and blackness drew a curtain across his eyes.

As Proctor sauntered into the office he was met by turmoil and tears from the lovely Trixie, "They’ve got him, Kijac have got him."
    Bayfield approached, for once somber and he quickly explained the situation. "Mr. Henn started his distress signal. I’ve sent out a tracer car but so far we’ve had no results. Worse, I can’t locate Steele or Tzavros, I believe they went to a party but where I don’t know."
    "Right, let me see the grid map... I see!" Proctor said swearing under his breath. "This is the last location of his trace is it?"
    "Yes, Sir."
    "Right then, we will go from there... You did not inform Sukoloff, did you?"
    "No I did not." Was the cold reply.
    Proctor tapped at the monitor in a vain effort to regain the trace. "We do not have much time. If it is Kijac who have him and we do not know yet if it is, then we know their tactics. They will endeavor to extract as much information as they can from him and he will do his utmost to prevent it. As our controller he holds much valued intelligence and will do everything in his power to hold on to it."
    A shudder ran through Bayfield’s body as he whispered, "Cyanide, Sir?"
    "If they have not discovered where it is, then yes. We all know the rules. He might find it the only way to protect this organization. I am afraid I am taking New York to a Phase A-Red alert. The rest of Pia will go to Phase A-Green, until I have authorization from the other leaders." Then sighing deeply he began to issue orders. "Mr. Galloway, Mr. Dwire, cruise Grid One... Take one of the big cars as they have the latest trace equipment... Report back at the end of each sweep. Bayfield, who is that on Grid Two?"
    "Mr. Klyne and Er... Miss Bird." Bayfield said looking at his list, "So far we’ve had nothing but clean sweeps. Grid Three is negative as well. We’d do a lot better if we had Steele and Zav out there."
    Proctor nodded and glanced at his watch as the alarms sounded throughout the base and agents of many nationalities raced to their posts. "They are late, why on earth did they leave their Complinks behind?"
    Bayfield looked down and gave a small smile. "Mr. Henn and his damn beep, beep. He tends to interrupt just at the wrong moment."
    Proctor managed a laugh as he recalled his old controller and his talent for calling you back to base the instant you went beyond a kiss, it was most annoying. Henn used to say he was positive both Headquarters and Sukoloff had him wired for passion, but he stopped smiling as the smug spy walked into the office.
    "Morning, you happy people. Oh, I see he over slept again. Who pushed the panic button?" As Trixie gave another sniffle Sukoloff turned round. "What’s wrong?"
    "Security, Mr. Henn’s office immediately," Proctor coldly shouted into the intercom.
    "What’s wrong, Joseph?... Where’s Alex?" His eyes were already beginning to flash concern, but Proctor didn’t answer, he just turned his face away in disgust. It was Trixie who blurted, "Kijac have him. All we got was the distress signal, but now we’ve lost it. That trace will only last another three hours then there’s no chance of finding him, is there?"
    Sukoloff made a move towards the intercom only to be grabbed firmly around the wrist by Proctor. Tilting his head back, Sukoloff squinted at him which caused Proctor to momentarily quiver seeing the anger on his face.
    "OK, Joseph, so you know, that’s fine. The only importance at moment is getting Alex back safely. I need my team so let go of me."
    Proctor felt the ice piercing through him and he trembled again at the fierceness now apparent on the Russian’s face. He had witnessed what Sukoloff was capable of doing especially if Henn was in danger and knew he would think nothing of killing. Then he blinked, this was not Sukoloff, just a look alike. He blinked again, not him? Yet so alike was he it was terrifying. This man had the same unfriendly indifference and yet a flicker of panic deep within his eyes.
    "No, Sukoloff, do not try any tricks, all you are going to do is answer questions. Forget the act, because I will not break from one of your looks or any of your knuckle cracking. I am not fooled by it."
    As two large security guards rushed in, Sukoloff stood with his head held high and a defiant look on his face as on Proctor’s orders they handcuffed him. "Now take him away and lock him up. I will come down later to take him to debriefing."
    A small choking laugh came from Bayfield as he watched Sukoloff calmly hand the cuffs back to the guards. "Hold these a moment will you?" he said. Then without effort he dived headlong towards the intercom and shouted loudly into it. "Sepia Specials. Mr. Henn’s office, now!" Then he calmly took the cuffs back again.
    Proctor swung him around and gasped as he saw Sukoloff’s wrists still firmly enclosed by the cuffs. "Oh, yes, we think we are Houdini do we? Well I am sorry, but our holding cells are escape proof so do not even think of attempting to abscond from there."
    Again Sukoloff said nothing, he merely moved towards the door with the guards, then Steele and Tzavros arrived.
    "Alex is in the hands of Kijac," said Vacily with surprising calm. "Get out in car and find me that blip. The instant you do, get our communications officer to send me location. I’ll go in first to make sure there not using damn wasps. You’ll be my back-up men. Any questions?" Both men shook their heads and to Proctor’s astonishment promptly left without one word to anyone else.
    "Look here, Sukoloff. Get this into your thick skull. You will not be going anywhere. As soon as he is found I will send in my full attack force."
    Sukoloff tutted and his eyes blazed their anger. "This time I don’t hurt you because you don’t understand situation and because of friendship. But, very next time you call me thick is last time you do... To anybody. Now you think, you a top man and know our rules, so why you going to risk lives of so many for one man? Is that our way? Save one man no matter what cost?"
    "He is our controller, of course I will strive to rescue him."
    "I don’t think Alex would agree. Save the man at risk to whole organization while at this very moment Alex is doing just that. I have to get him out, me, dead if have to."
    Proctor’s temper rose and he shoved at him violently. "Now I know for definite you are not Sukoloff. He would have gladly sacrificed his own life for Henn, not kill him."
    "Correct, Joseph and will again. Just think about this, if my life were on line Alex would do his utmost to save me. As I will for him, but not putting others at risk. And if I was about to tell whole of Pia’s secrets I pray it was him killed me."
    "Do not talk rubbish man. You would want him to save you, not kill you."
    "Joseph, believe me it would be better if it friend pulls final trigger. That wouldn’t hurt so much. It’s the whole we have to think about, not the one, even if that one man is your brother. Now if you excuse me I believe I have nice secure little cell to go to."
    "And I suppose you think you will escape and single handed save Alex?" growled Proctor.
    "First team work, Joseph. Very special team work."

Slowly, Steele drove back and forth across his given map block communicating constantly with the other cars and headquarters. He knew, or hoped Tretow should be in the office awaiting instructions. Also that Proctor would have the full fighting team ready to go at the touch of a button.
    Tzavros fiddled with the dials and tapped at the small round scope on the dashboard. What they were hoping for was a small green dot, Henn’s trace, but at the moment all the dots were orange, other cars with their homers activated.
    "If we find him what then?"
    Steele raised his eyebrows. "Vacily called Sepia. Our first job is to quickly think of some kind of code so that we will be able to use conventional communications without causing a stir. We know that Vacily’s a prisoner. Tret is the communications specialist and I hope he is waiting for our signal... What code?"
    "It has to be simple because haven’t time to tell Tret... Okay, how about Sepia and number. Vacily will be number one, our leader. Leave number two for Henn. you be three, I be four and Tret five. That will do for now, maybe later we work out something like stars for Class Ones. Here they could be pilots."
    "Oh, you’re not expecting to find more ghosts are you?" Steele snorted.

Henn painfully opened his eyes, then quickly closed them as the bright light caused the stabbing pain in his head to worsen. He squinted as a voice squeaked at him.
    "Alex Henn, lovely, lovely. I’ve waited for this moment for years. I’ve lived for it; I’ve planned for it. I want to see you suffer and when you’ve told me everything I want to know, then you’ll die."
    He looked carefully at the man who’d spoken, at the cadaver like face and the yellow stained teeth and he gave a short low laugh. "Still getting major parts in horror films I see. Aren’t you going to promise me life if I talk?"
    A hideous laugh emitted from the tall famished looking man. "No, Henn, I said suffer and die, you will do both. Of course if you talk you won’t suffer so much. Tomorrow I’m having you moved to Kijac headquarters so that others can see your demise." He moved his face closer to Henn’s and grinned widely. "I wanted so much for you to see our experiments, but it’s not ready yet. But don’t worry, we’ll show Sukoloff Sasam instead."
    "What’s Sasam?"
    "Never, never interrupt me," he said twitching like an electrocuted rabbit. "Sukoloff will love my pretty Sasam. I want you both to suffer for what you did to me. I thought we’d already got Sukoloff but he fooled us, so I’ll start with you." He moved back and with a long bony finger pointed upwards. "If you look above you you’ll see a pretty device that transmits sound waves. When I turn it on it will begin to vibrate and you, Henn,—will vibrate with it. At first you’ll be able to with stand the pain, soon however you’ll be begging us to stop."
    "And of course you will stop!"
    "Oh, yes we will, because we are a merciful organization. But only when you’ve told us everything you know. Please don’t talk too quickly, that would be so disappointing. I’m leaving now, but don’t worry I’ll see you tomorrow."
    Henn stared at him and hate flashed into his hazel eyes. "Don’t be too hopeful, King."
    The hideous laugh echoed around the dirty room. "Henn, oh Henn, there is only so much a person can stand. Two days I’ll give you, others I tried this on lasted only hours. But you I think longer, until you’re totally mad." His laugh and stink seemed to hang in the air for minutes after he had left and Henn began to look around the best he could.
    He was laid flat on a Steel table with his arms and legs splayed, these were held firm with leather straps. Nothing seemed to be in the room apart from a large piece of electrical equipment being operated by several men. Its colored lights flicked and blinked, but the hum he heard was not originating from this, it was coming from directly above him. It did not take him long to locate where the sound originated. Above him was a large dish shaped object with a crystalline barrel in the center that seemed to be pointing straight towards his head. It had the appearance of an early laser and pulsed with every color imaginable. As the pulsating quickened Henn began to feel a sensation. It was only slight at first as if his teeth were being drilled by an invisible dentist. At that moment his nose started to tingle and he closed his eyes tightly as he felt them begin to wobble, then the headache began. Next the dentist hit a nerve and an excruciating pain shot through one of his teeth, this stopped as he turned his head only to be replaced by earache.
    He moaned slightly as his thoughts returned to Sukoloff, always there behind him—always bursting in with a last minute rescue. This time he would not arrive, he had gone on a mission of no return. Henn gave a pained laugh as he thought of Sukoloff in heaven, Lord no, you wouldn’t like it. You’d get bored and change the color of the clouds, or make it snow in the desert.
   As pain ripped through him his mind began to wander, bouncing from the past to present then back again with Sukoloff’s voice constantly reverberating around his aching brain. Dead, Alex... Dead... Dead... I’m dead. Another moan escaped and he mumbled, "You died alone, Vacily." Then the whirring again, dosbridania muy Droog. He moaned and the merciful relief of faintness held him.

Steele continued to criss-cross the grid covering every possible angle. Occasionally blips on the scope raised their hopes, but usually they turned out to be a false echo or one of the many other cars trying to locate their leader.
    "Green, west 45 degrees."
    "Green? Are you sure this time?"
    "Yes it green, we got him. Call in now," yelled Tzavros.

Proctor was pacing the office with worry evident on his face, already he’d had to inform all other leaders of departments. With their controller in the hands of KIJAC, PIA was in great danger and consequently all bases had gone to Phase A-Red and the task of changing all codes had begun.
    He listened to the constant stream of agents calling back to Trixie and sighed at yet another negative sweep. Every time it happened she became more and more distressed and Proctor wondered if it might be better for all concerned if he relieved her from her duties. Then Steele’s voice came through—calm and collected but causing everyone to scowl, could this be another agent cracking under pressure?
    "This is Sepia Three to Sepia Five, please TT to Sepia Leader now."
    Proctor gave a subdued laugh as did many in the office. "What on earth was that all about?"
    "Haven’t a clue," said Tretow smiling, then the grin vanished and he jumped. "Oh, crickey, Sepia... That’s me!" he gasped pushing a button on his Complink. "... Sepia Five to Sepia Three, understood and calling." Then he sat to begin face pulling as Proctor shook his head and glanced skyward hoping for divine help.
    Even though he was expecting it, Tretow jumped as Sukoloff walked through the wall grinning. Shaking his head Tretow quickly sent him another mind message, Watch it, Vacily. Remember that Gent will see you even if you’re in disappear mode. Go and examine the grid and meet Steele. I’ll be here to receive your messages and to send any back. Please keep yours short. Remember that you can’t spell yet.
   Sukoloff shrugged and looked remarkable hurt. Can too speel. You can’t weed.
   Tretow started laughing then stopped as Proctor glared at him, Vacily, really, oh and whatever you do don’t crash. Then he groaned as he watched Sukoloff take off with a full spin. He should at least try to warn Steele something yowling was heading in his general direction, he gave a brief smile and spoke into his Complink. "Duck," he said.

Steele just sat scowling. "Duck! Why?"
    There was a list of Russian expletives followed closely by an ear piercing yell and the top of the car sagged. This was closely followed by a large crack appearing in the once thought to be impenetrable windscreen.
    Tzavros and Steele watched in disbelief as Sukoloff slid from the roof to sit with his head between his knees on the hood. Without feeling the slightest sympathy for the retching destructor kit, Steele jumped from the car and grabbed at him.
    "What the Hell are you doing? Just look at it... Designed like a tank and you wreck it. Thousands of dollars worth of beautiful car... Smack, you arrive. How do I explain the damage?"
    "Oh, you’ll think of something," he said giving a slight shrug, then added, "how about a... Gosh, Mr. Sukoloff, did you hurt yourself?... No? Thought not. OK then to business... In there is he? OK. I’ll be back in a moment. If there’s no wasps well go in. It has to look normal because Kijac mustn’t know what I am. No more terrorizing or haunting... Shame great pity... Was fun you know?" Then he vanished to return minutes later very angry. "No wasps but lots of guards. Alex is not having a pleasant time so we need more men I think." Before Steele could stop him he was on the car radio, "We’ve found him... Dwire, Galloway, get here immediately. Klyne, Bird, move up for back-up. Main back up stand by but we should have the situation covered."

Proctor jumped in disbelief at the sound of Sukoloff’s voice coming from the loud speaker and he called into the intercom. "Security, prison wing, have you lost Sukoloff?" At the same time Tretow furiously sent a mind message to Sukoloff.
    There was stony silence for a few minutes and sweat became visible on Tretow’s brow. Then security answered. "No, Sir? He’s still locked up but he’s not looking that good. He’s retching an awful lot."
    "Damn! I hope he has not taken something. Keep an eye on him," Proctor said frowning.
    Tretow swore, what were they going to do now? Sukoloff didn’t want any lives lost in this, but without him they just might. Then he chuckled as the Professor of bizarre ways to spell sent a message. Snow flurries, said got womiting... Gone bath room... Take off me am to fry... Tell Steewl.
    "Duck!" shouted Tretow.

This time they needed no second telling and leapt well away from the car. Even so, Tzavros fell to the ground and pulled Steele down with him as the expert pilot landed on top of them. Steele jumped up angrily trying to stop his violent nosebleed and grabbed Sukoloff’s jacket.
    "What the devil are you trying to do, kill us?"
    As Tzavros stood with his hand over his already blackening eye Sukoloff shrugged. "Oh, come on now, that wasn’t my fault. I decided to land well away from the car to save it from more dents. How was I to know you were standing on the runway."

Henn’s mind spun as already the pain started to become too much and the temptation to tell every secret he knew became immense. Worse, he could still hear the voice of his dead partner. "Turn that thing off. I said... Turn it off."
    Henn smiled, yes he could almost see him—running fast across the room yelling his fury and a flying drop kick brought down a Kijac-man. Another retaliated with a punch which Sukoloff expertly avoided with a flip kicking out backwards into the man’s stomach as he did. His voice rang out clearly. "Zav, over there, turn that thing off. Steele, watch out behind you."
    He seemed to be fighting hand to hand now and from somewhere outside came the sound of gunfire. Henn jumped as a spark lit up the dish and it stopped its pulsating.
    "Aha, wrong switch, not to worries it stopped." Now that seemed like Tzavros’s voice.
    "Science expert indeed, you wouldn’t know the right switch if you were shown it." Now could that be Steele’s voice? "Vacily! No terrorizing you said and I’d call that terrorizing."
    Slowly the agonizing pain stopped, leaving his head feeling as if it had been hit with an iron bar. His vision remained blurred as he tried to focus on the voices. Yes, that would definitely be Tzavros showing off, he must remind him there was no need to cartwheel after every attack.
    "OK, Zav, I know you can do that. Try doing it without putting your hands on the floor. Oh, shut up, man." That was definitely Steele, but who?
    "Always laying down on the job and sneaking a nap aren’t you, Alex?"
    He could only blink as he saw the blue eyes and the worry within them and instinctively he did what he always did to alleviate the worry. "You took your time with the rescue. Lose your compass did you?"
    "Grateful as usual, Alex?"
    Henn frowned as his vision waved in and out. "Vacily?... Is that you, old friend?" He felt a hand briefly touch his arm and heard the whispered sentence. "No, it a nightmare and I just figment of your imagination."
    Henn managed a croaky laugh. "Nightmares, right, I don’t believe in ghosts and you’re dead. Vacily?... You are dead aren’t you?"
    "Yes, Alex, I’m dead." Then he jumped back. "Steele, how’s the fight going? Under control? Good because I have to get back to washroom."
    "Well don’t squash any guards, because I bet it will be me that has to clear the mess up."

Proctor sighed with relief as Steele’s voice came over the Complink telling that Henn was battered but alive and they were coming home. He happily stood the base back down to Phase B.
    Tretow was not so happy as Sukoloff appeared right behind Bayfield, spun and knocked him flat. Oops... Snow flurries... Up taking... Off frying... Wrong place this is... Solly. Then he vanished.
    "What is the problem, Mister?" Proctor sighed as he looked down at the prone Bayfield.
    "Well... I think I was pushed."
    Proctor helped him to his feet and murmured knowingly, "Pushed was it? I think maybe too much grape juice." At which Bayfield frowned and looked at Tretow thoughtfully.

Despite being advised to stay in bed, Henn was in the office as usual in the morning. His head still ached and the bad dreams constantly floated through his mind. He moved Sukoloff’s body to PIA’s mortuary and again visited the body. He arranged for PIA’s Doctor Taylor to perform an autopsy and until those results came through Henn had not informed anybody of Sukoloff’s death, apart from those few who already knew. He was beginning to wonder if his sanity was on the line. He could see clearly the vision of Sukoloff fighting close together with Tzavros and Steele, yet Steele’s report had not mentioned it at all. As usual the report made a smile come to his tired face.
    "Mr. Steele? I’ve heard of some excuses but this beats them all." He loudly read from the report. "The car was dented by a UFO. By any chance did you capture the little green men that were driving it?"
    "No, Sir?" Steele sighed. "It wasn’t a space ship type of UFO. It was an... Unidentified falling object... Sir"
    "Of course, how stupid of me, one of those. Very original, Mister, but try... I wasn’t looking where I was going and rolled it. That’s so much more realistic. I suppose Mr. Tzavros’s black eye was from an invisible fist that he walked into?" Both men began to laugh but stopped as Henn’s glare hit them.
    "Joseph, that impostor! Have you begun to interrogate him yet?"
    "Yes, I have! He is an expert at the art of withholding the truth. The only information we have obtained is that his name is Peter Pan. He works for an organization situated in... Would you believe, Neverland. He receives orders from The ticking crocodile. When I asked him who killed Vacily, he said it must have been someone with bullets in his gun. Oh and finally I asked who else was working in that organization, he said, Tinkerbell, Dumbo, Bambi and a lazy fat hen."
    Henn gave a sudden chuckle. "Oh, well he would say that wouldn’t he, lazy fat hen indeed. You just wait..." Then he stopped and frowned.
   Eyes bored... Jodie work so can’t pray wiff... Who wiff you? Can I come in? Tretow smiled as the mind message came through and looked quickly around the office before calling back. Yo, Vacily, all clear. But land in Mr. Henn’s washroom. Might be embarrassing if you land on someone or even break the table. For goodness sake, Vacily, quit with the weather report. Snow flurries indeed, I do flurry. I mean worry.
   Sukoloff walked through the washroom door holding his head and slumped down moaning next to Tretow. Shut up, Vacily, someone will hear you.
   He flicked a piece of paper across the table. Dat drug see... Felt it see... Got bum on head... Guess what did?... Snow? Crack sink, cor must hab hard skulls.
   Henn blinked and looked up scowling and Tretow gasped. Vacily? I think he heard you! Sukoloff stood and peered closely into Henn’s face. Trys it, Tret... See he hear you?
   This time Henn looked in his direction and Tretow very nearly whistled. Vacily, be careful. It’s you he can hear not me. You’ve both been friends a long time, who knows, perhaps you already could TT. You always seemed to know if the other was in danger didn’t you?
   Sukoloff nodded and kept quiet, but not for long.
    "Sir, message from Klyne," said Trixie.
    "Go ahead."
    " Sighted Professor Sprecville. I’m following."
    Sukoloff jumped up. Eyes going... Eyes cats hims. Again he vanished. Henn put his hand to his head, yes, he must be going mad, it was always his voice.
    Tretow began to mutter across the table almost tunefully. "Sepia Leader airborne. Sepia Three, are you lis-ten-ing?"
    "He’s what!? You’re joking," gasped Steele.
    "Yo! Landed, sort of," said Tretow wincing.
    "Oh please, not the car?" laughed Tzavros.
    "He says, snow flurries."
    Steele burst out with loud laughter. "More like a tornado I think."
    Henn looked at them and scowled, happy agents that were in actuality as deranged as himself and a dead friend who kept issuing weather forecasts.

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