Okay folks, here we go again for the penultimate segment of this week's short story project. I would first, however, like to state how I, at this point, do not know how I want to end this story, which means that at some point, I may return to continue it from these nine segments, but then again, I might not, only time will tell...
It had almost gotten to the point where Tyler was worrying about Cassie's emotional detatchment from seemingly everything, but then, when he considered what it was they did on a regular basis, he wasn't so sure that is was her who had the wrong attitude. Maybe he was too involved. Maybe she was right, he was too much of an idiot, always trying to look at the positives, however small they were. But then she'd smiled. He had no idea just how much one little facial expression could make a difference. He knew he was being corny again, but he'd give and do anything to keep that look on her face... She did have such a pretty smile after all.
Their next job came through three days later. They were to infiltrate a hotel and 'persuade' a local mafia boss to conviniently leave Seattle alone. It was effectively the organisation's way of maintaining control over Seattle. The plan was their usual for infiltration. Tyler works the inside whilst Cassie observes and covers from a nearby building. It was simple enough getting past the hotel security, all it took was a simple suit, some well forged documents and his usual payload of non-metallic equipment. It was once he'd reached the penthouse that things got serious. He didn't have his visor so couldn't rely on his usual readouts so had to play this one purely on instinct, and a hell of a lot of faith in Cassie. He knew she had his back. The first two guards fell without so much as a raised voice or a drawn gun, the first had a personal encounter with one of Tyler's ceramic knives whilst the second turned to look only to drop to the floor himself, a hole in the head courtesy of Cassie through a window. They'd hoped to avoid her taking shots. He'd have to mention that to her later. The smashed window had obviously alerted guards as the sound of footsteps carried into the hallway. Tyler dropped behind an ornamental shrubbery for cover, unsheathing his second knife. Forget tradition, he thought, these idiots brought guns to a knife fight. He smirked as they burst through the door and he took a quick sidewards glance out of the window to Cassie's position before nodding.
Cassie was at the top of an office block a street away. She watched as Tyler left the lift and took the first guard down. She knew the plan, but didn't want to run the risk of an alarm being sounded, or worse. She saw the second guard go for his gun and knew that Tyler wouldn't react in time in such close proximity so she had to take the shot. Thirty seconds later and the hall was full of guards. She managed to drop another two before Tyler moved to engage. It was bizarre, watching him fight. It was like a dance, so fluid, so well timed. They'd been trained to read a person's movements; Tyler always excelled at that. It was as if he could pre-empt a person's movements just by their body language; that's why he preferred close combat. He worked his way along the corridor, Cassie taking out another four guards before Tyler finally reached the penthouse suite itself. She watched him pause to crack the lock on the door before noticing one of the guards, still alive, reach for his gun to try and take one last shot. She was quicker to the trigger. She watched as Tyler glanced back, no doubt hearing the guard's body hit the ground and then he looked through the window, giving a thumbs up and grinning. Cassie smirked, "Goof..."
Once inside the suite, Tyler was surpised to find no more guards, but then after wading through a small army, he couldn't help but feel relieved. He sheathed his knives and pulled out one of his pistols. It was nothing fancy, but it served in a pinch, or for intimidation. Then again, the fact that he'd not only just passed, but killed an entire personal security force, that had to be a big intimidation factor too... The mob boss stood from behind his desk and drew his own pistol but Tyler shot it from the man's hand effortlessly. "Your men're dirtying up the corridor, I'm tired, I'm achey, I want a bath, a burger and a beer so I'll make this quick..." He raised his pistol level to the man's head "Back off Seattle, okay?" The man nodded and scurried backwards on his rump. Tyler grinned and made his way to the roof for evac.
Cassie had already used a portable rappel to zip-line her way to the evacuation point and looked up, pulling a gun as she heard footsteps. "Whoa!" Tyler raised his hands "Easy, s'just me..." She smirked and lowered her pistol, "Some might say that was more of a reason. I saved your ass at least five times back there. You're getting sloppy, hot shot." Tyler grinned that goofy grin which always made her chuckle "Yeah, thanks for that," he exclaimed as he walked over to her, brushing some hair out of her face "D'you think Eddie's pizzeria do deliveries this late?" She paused, looked to her feet for a moment before turning and kissing him. He looked just as stunned as she felt. "Whoa, okay, where did-" "I'm sorry..." They both looked away from each other nervously, but it was Cassie who spoke first. "What you said to me, the other night. That was the first night in so long that I didn't hear the screams. There were no nightmares. I'd, I'd almost forgotten how that felt." Tyler looked up to the sky, seeing the blinking lights of their evacuation transport in the distance, he smirked and turned to kiss her once more "Well, here's one night that I don't want to have mind blanked either..." He sighed and shook his head, chuckling at yet another cheesy line... 'Stupid' he though, but right now, he didn't care...
Well, a little sloppy, but we've gotta have a bit of romance somewhere right? This is another segment I'm not sure about, and it did pan out a little longer than I'd planned, but I think I know where I'm going with tomorrow's finale now!
I hope you're all still with me. Let me know what you think?
Adios for now, and I'll see you back here for the finale tomorrow!
Craiggy.
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