“No. Luke?” Boudicea screamed she knelt down and held the dead animal’s head.
Dexter dragged his injured body from behind the car door towards Jason. The view before him could have been from a horror movie. The two dead blood-covered guards lay side by side, the pool of blood around each body forming into one. To his left a massive leopard covered in blood was lying on something motionless, the blond hair giving away its identity and over them on her knees a woman with the most horrific burns to her face and ear.
He wanted to look away the woman was hideous. She pulled out a large knife and raised her hand to strike. Dexter was powerless to help.
Just before Boudicea brought the knife down another gunshot rung out spitting Boudicea in her chest. She was thrown away from the leopard. Gory hands were clenched against the crimson wound in her chest, useless to stem the blood flooding the white folds of her blouse, drenching the crimson road surface darker still.
Dexter lifted himself up on one elbow. “Jason,” he croaked.
Jason swallowed back bile. It was the wound that held him transfixed. He’s seen so much blood, stood close to death so many times. But gazing at the pool of blood around him from life that had parted, he felt suddenly helpless and small.
At first silence, followed by a sound that made Dexter smile.
“Get this bloody thing off me,” Jason cursed.
Although in severe pain from his shoulder wound Dexter couldn’t help but smile. “Now now Jason I don’t expect my junior agents to use language like that.”
The response from Jason was far worse this time. He gently eased one paw at a time from his shoulders. The leopard’s claws had cut through his skin and on his left shoulder they had gone though to his muscle. Once he had removed the claws he wriggled out from under the dead animal and crawled towards Dexter.
“You ok?” Jason gasped in obvious pain.
“I’m losing a lot of blood but I’ll live. What about you?“ Dexter grimaced.
Jason opened his mouth to speak, his jaw dropped and he could not believe his eyes.
Dexter twisted his head to see what had caught Jason’s attention. A Shaolin monk was approaching.
“How many rounds does your gun have?” Jason asked Dexter.
“It had six. How many did you use?”
Jason replied with a curse word and forced himself up onto his feet. He kept the gun in his hand pointing at the ground.
“Jason Steed?” The Shaolin monk asked in an Asian accent.
Jason studied him. He looked to be in his early twenties. He was wearing black silk pants and a matching jacket his left hand was bandaged.
“It’s not bedtime yet,” Jason smiled.
“I do not understand you. What is this bedtime?” The monk asked in broken English.
“You’re wearing pajamas. Are you getting ready for bed?” Jason jeered.
Dexter frowned and shook his head. He didn’t think he would ever get used to Jason’s schoolboy wit and immaturity. Dexter was lying on the ground in a pool of his own blood. Jason was beaten, cut and barely able to stand holding nothing but an empty gun. Yet still he tried to antagonize people.
“Ah so. You make joke. Joke not funny, this is Shaolin Monk traditional costume,” the monk concurred. “You are responsible for the death of many Shaolin Monks at aircraft hangar. And I see you have killed Boudicea. For this you must pay with your life.”
“The monks at the airport hangar caught a terminal illness,” Jason joked. “And as for Boudicea and her kitty,” Jason paused he started to laugh at his own terminal illness joke. “Terminal illness. Get it? Airport terminal.”
The monk raised himself on his toes and pulled out his sword. He raised his left arm, elbow facing towards Jason and gently placed the sword on top pointing at Jason.
“Sir. I understand you’re upset over your fellow monks getting killed. But be real, you have a sword, I have a gun. You’re not that stupid to think you could get within six feet of me and harm me before I fill you with bullets? How about you go on your way.”
Jason raised the gun and aimed it at the monk. In a move that surprised even Jason the monk crouched and leapt into the air. He came down within a few feet of Jason who retreated. The blade flashed by missing Jason’s face by a few inches. It was enough to scare Jason into action. He threw himself forward, twisted on his left leg and kicked out with his right catching the monk in the arm, sending the sword into the air.
The monk was stunned by Jason’s speed and lost concentration.
Jason knew what danger did to his system, how his body could work to his advantage. His fear was exciting the sympathetic nerves. His adrenal glands, two small triangles just above his kidneys, were gushing adrenaline into his blood. His pulse rate increased and rallied sugar from his liver to fuel his body’s urgent demands for energy, sharpening every sense and reflex.
The sword came too close; he needed to take the monk out and fast. Dexter looked on as Jason exchanged kicks, blocks and punches with the monk. What toll would Luke’s injuries pay on him? How much energy did Jason have left? Could he take on a Shaolin monk and win?
The monk pulled a six-inch dagger from his waistband, its sharp blade easily cutting through Jason’s jacket shirt and skin. It penetrated his stomach, missing his lungs by fractions of an inch. The close proximity gave Jason an advantage. Desperate and clinging to life Jason threw a dummy punch at the monk’s face.
The monk pulled his head back clear. It was enough for Jason to go for the hand with the knife. He caught his knife hand, twisted it and turned the blade on the monk. With a frantic leap Jason pushed his whole body against the knife forcing it into the monk.
“This is for Wong Tong,” Jason grunted through gritted teeth. He followed through with three rapid punches using his knuckles into the monk’s windpipe, which was enough to put him down indefinitely.
The urgent wail of police sirens echoed throughout the area. Jason stepped back from the monk’s body, holding his wounded stomach. Blood oozed between his trembling fingers. Dexter groaned in severe pain and struggled to remain conscious. He watched helplessly as Jason fell heavily to his knees. Jason’s blue eyes met Dexter’s pleading for help. Jason collapsed forward face down on the ground. The pool of blood around his small body alarmingly started to spread.
Police cars screeched to a halt. Armed police wearing bulletproof vests emerged with guns raised and were all shocked to see the carnage. A dead leopard and four dead bodies, two people were rushed to hospital, and one of them died on the way.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Infinity called an emergency meeting with some of the most important world leaders who knew of its existence. China had breeched every NATO agreement since World War Two. They denied any wrongdoing and insisted they were just carrying out military training exercises. They denied knowing Boudicea or anything to do with the EMP bombs that shut down a German village.
Infinity considered the mission a major victory. In an effort to catch Boudicea they prevented World War Three. Civilian casualties were minimal and the United States and Great Britain introduced prevention measures to protect against an EMP attack.
Infinity agents including the support staff weren’t given such a positive report. Quentin Roosevelt ordered all missions to be suspended until there was better protection and planning for all future missions. It was the first time anyone who was used for bait was actually taken by the enemy. The capture of Jason Steed by Boudicea was one of the worst failures in Infinity’s history. It was also the first time in many years since an Infinity agent had been killed on a mission. The only comfort was that Jason was able to avert a major war.
Scott Turner was just as hard on himself for not being able to work out where Jason was being held. He felt responsible. In the past he had always been able to help from afar. This time he gathered everything about the case but was no closer to finding Jason’s location and sending backup. Scott was so upset over
it he handed in his SYUI ID card and told Brenda that he would no longer have anything to do with spying or intelligence gathering.
Scott withdrew becoming lethargic and short-tempered. For the first time in his school career he never handed in his homework assignment. His teacher Mr. Rogers was so taken back, he forgot to give Scott detention like anyone else. It was so unlike Scott.
On his way home from school Scott languished behind the other students in a mopish mood. He never noticed the car pull along side him until it stopped. The driver wearing a black suit and tie stepped out and opened the back door. A woman wearing a tight fitting skirt and tight red blouse alluringly climbed out and smiled at him.
“Hello Scott,” she hummed with all the magnetism she could muster.
Scott stopped and looked her up and down and the driver. “And you are?” Scott asked taking a nervous step back.
She smiled and opened her door wider. “Why don’t I give you a lift home and explain.”
Scott’s large brown eyes darted up and down the street. He was alone and started to get very nervous. “If I run I take it your guy here runs after me or shoots me?”
She smiled and climbed into the back seat and looked back at him. “Come on jump in,” she patted the seat.
Nervously Scott climbed in next to her. “Just get it over with quickly please.”
“Get what over?” She asked.
“Well I take it you haven’t asked me out on a date unless you have a desire for thirteen- year-olds with zits? I have no money, so whatever it is just say it,” Scott commanded.
She nodded her head. Her face had the same false smile as it did before and it was starting to annoy Scott.
“We want you to work for us,” she started.
“Us?” Scott inquired.
“Infinity. Not as an agent. We don’t think you are suited for that role but in our intelligence department. We heard you refused to help at SYUI anymore. It would be a terrible waste of talent for you not to put it to good use.”
Scott couldn’t help but notice how pretty she was. Her green eyes sparked as she spoke and he couldn’t remember seeing anyone with lips so red before. He lost his concentration and noticed how tight her blouse was, before he realized her knee was touching his. Scott had never had a girlfriend and he wasn’t sure how to talk to them. Yet here he was in the back seat of a car up close to the most beautiful woman he had ever seen before.
Scott seemed lost for words at first he was trying to guess her age? Maybe twenty-one or a young looking twenty-four. Much too old for him but she was stunning and so close and had an allure that reeled him in.
“If you know I quit SYUI then you know I’m done with playing spy. It’s too dangerous; too many people die. I was there when George Young was shot. It’s not a life I want.” Scott croaked he started to perspire. “Who are you?”
“Oh I do apologize. I’m Nancy Ellis. I work for Infinity and have done so since I was fourteen. I was just a few months older than you are now when I started,” she smiled.
Scott nodded. “I will have to think about it. I’m not sure what I want to do now. Life is on hold at the moment.”
“Yes we’re all upset about losing one of our best agents, but we have to carry on. We have prevented a war and saved countless peoples’ lives. That’s the upside.”
She explained details to him the rest of the way home. They would want him to attend Istanbul International Community School in Turkey. He would of course spend much of his time below the school at Infinity’s secret head quarters. The car stopped outside his home. He never asked how her driver knew where he lived. He guessed she probably knew everything about him, down to what he ate for breakfast and his shoe size.
As he walked up his garden path he noticed he had a spring in his step. Was it because he had just been offered a position at Infinity or that he had spent ten minutes chatting with a beautiful woman? Scott was unsure what he would do, but just being asked made him feel better.
After his dinner Scott’s father drove him to London Military Field Hospital and agreed to pick him up in two hours. Scott had spent the past two weeks visiting and had already made friends with many of the nurses.
At the end of the ward were two private rooms reserved for high-ranking military personal. Scott decided he hated hospitals and couldn’t understand how his father could enjoy working in one.
“Scott nice to see you,” Brenda smiled and gave him a hug.
“Hi any change?” Scott asked looking at the bed.
Jason had been in a coma for just over two weeks and was being monitored around the clock. His blonde hair was brushed back over his head. His skin looked a pale ash color and almost lifeless. He lay on a white bed covered from the waist down. His chest was bare and connected to wires monitoring his pulse, blood pressure and breathing.
Scott noticed Jason’s shoulders. Previously they were heavy bandaged but today they had been removed and revealed deep cuts caused by the leopard that were now stitched up. The black thread twisted and knotted with congealed blood.
“Ouch the cuts on his shoulders look painful,” Scott said, gently pulling Jason’s bangs down over his eyes.
“Scott don’t do that they need to test his temperature and I don’t like to see his face covered with his hair. It’s far too long. It always is and should be cut, since you can never tell where he’s looking,” Brenda protested.
“It’s how he likes it so that’s how it should be,” Scott said taking a step back admiring his handy work.
“Yes that is how he wears it,” Ray Steed said carrying two paper cups of coffee in. “Hi Scott.”
“Hey Mr. Steed.” Scott smiled and looked back at his comatose friend. “So Jase. This really hot woman called Nancy from Infinity wants me to work for them. Have you seen her? I think she likes me, maybe she likes younger guys. What do ya think?”
Scott sat on the edge of Jason’s bed. For the last two weeks he had spoken to Jason like this as if he could hear him.
“Is that true Scott?” Brenda asked.
He ignored her question and continued to talk to Jason. The nurses had told him to talk to his friend like everything was normal and it might spark something inside him that would wake him from his coma.
“Oh and you’ll never guess what Jase? I went to the toilets today at school to take a dump and the first cubicle was disgusting. Someone had taken a dump and didn’t bother to flush it. This turd was massive and it had drank all the water, someone must have a butt the size of a rabbit hole.” Scott laughed. “I bet it was that Malcolm Vango.”
“Oh my gosh,” Brenda said. “Is that necessary Scott?”
Ray was trying to hide his smirk.
“What else am I gonna tell him? He doesn’t want to hear about history or math or what we had for lunch,” Scott said looking back at Brenda. “Did they figure out what happened yet with Dexter and Boudicea?” Scott asked Brenda.
“The German police think they pieced it together from the scene and statements from the taxi cab driver, but they find it hard to believe the taxi driver’s statement. He said a truck pulled across their path, two men got out with guns. Dexter was shot through the shoulder and Jason shot both of them. Then the leopard attacked Jas...” Brenda was interrupted.
“Luke. The leopard was called Luke,” Scott added.
“Okay Luke, well it attacked Jason no doubt causing the claw marks to his shoulders. Jason shot it and then Boudicea tried to stab Jason while he was still pinned down under the dead leopard. He managed to shoot her. Then finally Jason got free from under the leopard and a Shaolin Monk brandishing a sword attacked Jason. Apparently they went at each other for some time and the monk stabbed Jason.
Moments later Jason turned the knife on the monk and killed him. Then Jason collapsed because of his injuries,” Brenda said.
“Why is that so hard to believe?” Scott asked.
“They doubt anyone, let alone a boy could tak
e down two armed guards, a leopard, a woman with a dagger and a Shaolin Monk.”
“Huh, then they don’t know our Jason do they?” Scott said triumphantly.
“Dexter,” a weak voice croaked. All eyes stared at Jason. His eyes flickered but remained closed.
“Jason,” Scott shouted excitedly and kissed his forehead.
“Dude. Did you just kiss me?” Jason coughed.
“I’ll kiss you again if you don’t open your eyes,” Scott said. Tears started to roll from Scott’s eyes onto his cheeks.
Jason opened his eyes and looked around the room. They connected with the person he loved and depended on. “Dad,” Jason cried.
The next few moments were filled with tears of joy from Ray, Brenda and Scott. Jason was weak but happy to be alive and surrounded by his family and best friend until Scott broke the news to him that Dexter had died. The bullet wound in his shoulder had hit a main artery and he bled to death.
Scott had to leave the room. It was distressing seeing his friend so upset. To Scott Jason was a fearless hero. Today he was just like any other boy crying his heart out over the death of Dexter and Wong Tong.
It was times like this when Jason needed the support of his father, a strong comforting figure to hold him close and tell him everything would be fine.
It angered Ray Steed to see his son so emotionally hurt. Over the next few weeks, Scott’s father, Dr. Turner would use his plastic surgery skills to repair the exterior damage to Jason’s body. The emotional damage would take much longer and although his physical scars and cuts healed the emotional scars would never heal.
Within a week Jason was home again, looking forward to having a baby brother or sister and getting back to Istanbul.
When Jason had first arrived at the hospital Ray and Brenda had agreed that should Jason recover from the coma he would never work for Infinity again and would go back to a school in London.
However with Jason’s best friend now attending Istanbul International Community School it would be a complete waste of time and energy to try and fight with Jason over it. They knew he would be thoroughly miserable at a London school and worst still if Scott was away. They gave in to Jason’s demands if he promised to be more careful. Jason would introduce Scott to his friends at Infinity.