To Run Away...

Chapter 17

  The head of state sat calmly behind her desk as she waited for the meeting to start.

"Madame?" Dalia asked.

"Yes?" replied Vanessa.

"Redmond's here."

"Good, send him in."

  The door opened with a slow creak as the old man walked in. With him, was Alice; as well as two guards dressed in all red. They were armed with shotguns, and were not showing any sign of letting down.

"Thanks for coming Mister Redmond." She said in a subtle manner. "You look-"

"Cut the chatter Madame." Redmond grunted. "Let's get this over with."

  The four landed on one of the buildings.

"So, where do we go now Pierre?" Ivan asked, looking at the arising smoke.

"Don't know. I forgot."

"You serious?" Ivan fussed.

"Mmm Hmm."

"Then where do we go? We're nothing but sitting ducks right here!"

"Why didn't you remember it?"

  Ivan raised his finger to argue, but Pierre was right. "Alright you got me."

"Good. Anyways, there's an apartment we can go to. There, we can try and contact Troy through ze family's telephone."

"Fine then, C'mon Haystack! ... Haystack?" Ivan turned around, noticing that he and Maribelle were looking at the vast cityscape in front of them with nothing but joy in their faces. Approaching them, Ivan had to warn them, "You both are going to get caught if you put yourselves out in the open like that."

"We know." He said. "We're just havin' a little look."

"Hmm, when you're done doing so, follow us." He turned to Pierre. "Ready Pierre?"

  The spy was staring off towards the smoke, unable to listen to what Ivan just said.

"Ugh, Pierre?" He moaned.

"What? Oh, of course." He switched to his Air-grabber. "Let's head to 'ze home."

  He sprinted towards the edge and jumped off, firing his gadget into the air. Ivan would follow him and head towards the building across the street.

"Alright Haystack, when I meant by-"

Zzzzzz!

  The pony landed next to his comrade.

"Huh, At a boy."

  This annoyed Haystack. "Don't you mean colt?"

"Oh, cut the Equestrian pride and let's-"

Zzzzzz!

  They now noticed that Pierre was already leaving without them. So, without saying anything else, he followed along.

  With him gone, Haystack asked. "Maribelle?"

"Um, yeah?" She replied willingly.

"Did ya lah'ke the view?"

  She nodded happily.

"Well, um, Ah'm glad ya did." He looked out towards the other building, where Ivan and Pierre were waiting. "Hold on."

"Okay." She said faintheartedly.

Tw-wch!

  Zzzzzzz!

"So, do you have evidence on your behalf for the cease fire?" Vanessa questioned.

"Yes." He took out the sheet which contained the search history, and walked over to the lady. His footsteps and tapping cane were the only thing making noise in the quiet congregation, but it wouldn't last long once her guards stood their ground; pointing their SMG's at his bald head. The stance was a shock to the representatives of every city in the small country, it was enough for them to prepare and shoot at his guards.

"At ease, comrades." Vanessa directed in a settling mood. "Don't be rude to our partners."

  The representatives and guards stood down, letting the man give her the report. She began to look at it with a keen eye before asking. "What am I looking at?"

"Uh, oh." He pointed at the 'Search history'.

"You mean they're looking for him too?"

  The old man nodded before walking back to his guards. "Mmm Hmm."

"What are you going for, Mister Redmond?"

  The man knew that she needed more information, so he turned around, and consulted his friend. "Alice?"

"Uh, uh, yes?" she squeaked, trembling at the eyes that were sniping her.

"I need exhibit B, please."

"Uh, yes sir." She sprinted towards him, giving him the next piece of evidence they had.

"Hmm, same old Redmond." Vanessa smirked.

  After being handed the photos, she made her verdict, "So you're saying that they're not hunting him down... they're delivering something to him?"

  Redmond nodded as slow as a turtle.

   She gave the pictures back to Redmond, "And you're also suggesting that we gather intelligence on the package, correct?"

"Indeed Madame, acquiring information on the package will lead us to 'Silver Fox'."

  Skeptical, she asked. "Eh, but how do you expect us to accomplish that? It's already proven that-"

"Please Madame, leave it to me." He turned around and headed for the door. "Entourage, follow!"

  His group did just that, following him without saying a word as they left the congregation.

"I hope you know what you're doing!" Vanessa called out rom her desk.

"Oh, sure." He yelled flamboyantly. "Don't worry."

Slam!

"So Alice."

"Uh, yes sir?" she uttered, trying to regain her composure.

"Looks like you're right."

"Uh huh." She didn't understand why he didn't say that earlier. "I see."

  They continued to walk down the empty hallway. While doing so, they ignored the turrets that were eyeing their every move.

"That's why I want you to be in charge of the operation."

  She froze in shock. "Uh... huh?"

"You were the person that proved to me that they can't be useful business assets; so I want you to take command." He stopped to turn around. "Now get to commanding."

  Frozen, Alice said. "B-but sir I-"

"No buts. I'm your boss." He affirmed. "So do as I say."

  He continued his walk towards the elevator. "You're dismissed."

  He then reached an elevator and left her to stand and mope.

"Damn it Alice." She muttered, angry with herself. "You and your mouth."