Going Back
By Dragonlady
The Christmas Ambience at the CLHQ was overpowering. Music rang through the air. The aroma of a Christmas Feast tantalised your senses. It was December 24, and the halls were abuzz with good-hearted cheer. One room however, was not cheery. There was Jingle Bells in the background, and delicious shortbread cake aroma filled the nostalgic air. Two playful cats danced merrily in and out of Christmas gifts and tinsel.
But the woman standing on a rickety stepladder blathered out obscene language and a few gestures we will leave unmentioned... "It must of been Glass Curtain who made up this richly fattening holiday. Cooking till our pores are clogged with fat. The annoying music that only comes out this time of year because... Urgh!"
A overzealous kitten named Maxx screeched to a resounding halt a second too late and teetered the old wooden ladder their Mama had been standing on. A resounding Thud was heard as she and the tree came careening down.
A shocking silence filtered the room. Then beneath the garland and bows, a strangled muffle became a raucous laughter. The two cats sat perplexed. Heads cocked, Stormy gingerly mewed and pawed at the edge of the moving tree. This set off the occupant still trapped beneath the tinsel and pine.
A knock landed on the door, and a tentative question was asked. "Uh, Dragon, are you alright?" This fuelled the fire and Dragonlady began a whole new set of giggles and hiccups. Nabiki, unsure if the woman on the other side was hurt, sought out Roy and he began the task of breaking the locked door down.
They could never imagine the sight that awaited them. After the initial shock, Roy’s laughter had himself breathless and holding onto the doorframe for support. The only words that were recognisable from his lips was "Goonie", an endearment he used for his sister. Nabiki, struggling to be the adult, began the arduous task of detangling human from tree.
"You really get INTO the Christmas Spirit Dragon!" Nabiki couldn’t help but to poke fun and her boyfriend’s sibling.
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Part Two
Walking towards Comm Dragonlady encounter Rita and Michael, their closeness apparent, happy words were exchange on the fashion she was wearing, the tinsel and garland still clung to her from the tree incident a little while ago.
Entering Comm a few looks were exchanged, but quickly covered. Dragonlady was an expert in Torture and many felt uneasy around her.
"You called Birkoff." (Dragon had been summoned to Comm and was given orders to come straight away, hence the fashion.)
"You are to report to Section in full mission gear the day after Christmas. Here are some of the preliminaries, the rest will come in debriefing." The face she was making, assured Birkoff that Dragon was not pleased with this information. "Uh, also you are to report to Madeline as soon as I give you your panel to study, and here it is."
With Panel in hand, Dragonlady headed down the corridor to Madeline’s office.
"Enter." Dragonlady stepped down to Madeline’s level. She had been sorting through computer data from another mission. When Dragonlady stood before her she turned and focussed on the operative in front of her.
For a brief moment she studied her. She had carefully gone over her profile. She was an accomplished strategist and interrogator. In Section 4 she had been used as a field operative for quick information extraction. He file was impeccable.
"Please sit. How are you adjusting to CLHC, it must be a drastic change from your previous surroundings." Madeline already knew the answer but always thought she could learn from hearing such answers from the person.
"There is a lot more interaction between operatives, there had been a time for adjustment, however I have completely integrated into the situation.
"Quite right, I can see that you have."
Madeline saw no reason to delay the inevitable and placed the mission profile in front of Dragon and began the rigorous task of filling the operative with as much information she would require for this mission...
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Part Three
During the Christmas Eve scramble, Christmas day explosion, Secret Santa Fiasco, and Oh so scrumptious dinner, Dragonlady was lost and oblivious to the outside world. She was on automatic. Many asked if anything was wrong but she just knocked it off and the gloom and doom of the training she will need to get rid of Cheesecake and Oreo Pie form her thighs.
Later that night, she was in her room, staring off into nothingness. Roy came in without disturbing her, sitting on the bed he put his arms around his sister. "Ok, give it up, there is something wrong, so spill it Goonie."
Dragon smiled. Since childhood, Roy had taunted her with that name. She had grown to love it and what it represented between them. "I am going back to Section 4."
Roy tensed, turning her to face him. "I don’t understand.." Confusion echoed in his eyes. They had become close since Sophie had died. They both knew they heavily depended on each other for strength through their late night sniffle fests.
"Not for good Roy, I am to weasel out a traitor. Madeline figures I will be able to do it quickly and efficiently." She grimaced as she repeated those words.
"Are you Ok with this?" Roy could see that there was something else to this puzzle, but could also see that it was information he would not be getting.
Dragonlady extracted herself from her brother’s embrace. Looking down into her mirrored eyes she gently laid her hand on his shoulder, gently squeezed, then turned away before opening her mouth again.
"I will be as soon as it is finished."
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Part 4
Location: Maui, Hawaii
The cool breeze of the morning filtered through her unbound hair. She had missed the smell of the salted air. She was waiting outside the car to pick her up and bring her back to her old work environment. Dragonlady was stone cold on the exterior, but felt nothing but dread. She had thought she would never have to see this place, never have to see him, again.
A few looks were passed her way as she made her way to his office but no one approached her. No smiles of joy to see an old colleague were given. He looked as he did that last day before she had left for her Sister’s Funeral. Basic Black draped his overpowering frame of lean, dangerous authority. His eyes, black as his hair pierced to her very soul as they always did. He stood as she entered his office. No words were spoken for what seemed an eternity, both drinking in and sizing up each other.
Breaking the torturous silence Dragonlady handed him her panel, careful not to touch him and spoke with as much coldness she could muster.
"Here are my orders, where do you want me to start."
He slowly began a seduction technique she knew all to well, cocking his head ever so slightly, a slight curve of a smile, a soul-wrenching look... "I thought I would at least get a smile, from an ex employee...." As quickly as the seduction began, cold water drenched the steaming air.
"Look Damien, I am here for only one reason, to do my job, nothing else, do you understand!?"
Damien, paused for a moment. Unsure how to deal with her. He decided he needed time to think. "Carter can give you all the information you need to get started." He dismissed her with his action of sitting back down.
Outside the office, Dragonlady allowed herself a instant of relief. One meeting down, it only can get easier she thought. She began her methodical investigation of Section 4. No one, even Damien knew of her true reason of returning. She spent three weeks, gathering Intel and avoiding him. This was a difficult task since he was commanding officer, but since she was only doing minuscule tasks and reading up on past and present missions, she was afforded much time to herself.
Her only tasks had been to digress two cocaine dealers suspected to be involved with Red Cell. Dragonlady knew she was being put to test. But did not complain. She had more important things to actualise.
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Part 5
Dragonlady began to wonder if she had been forgotten. No communication had been passed to her in the last few days from home. She had completed her task and found the leak. Not a hard task by any means. Surely she was returning home soon. But why no communication?
Later that evening, Dragon sat pondering this question. She sat in the dark, with light music somewhere in the background. Many thoughts crossed her mind, many not in her favour...
The ring of the doorbell brought her out of her revue and she crossed to open the door.
If he hadn’t gotten his foot wedge, the door would have shut in his face and she would have let a smile cross her face.
Turning away and walking back to her chair, she knew it was time for this long awaited confrontation.
"Alone are we Lucy?" Damien walked slowly into the room, settling in the chair across from her. He held a bottle of her favourite champagne. "At least be a graceful host..." She stood suddenly, reached for the bottle and stormed into the kitchen. Fuming, not knowing what to do, she opened the aromatic alcohol. As she reached for the glasses, her door rung again. Now on alert she began the trip to the door, but Damien had already beaten her there and was opening the door.
"HEY!!, oh, your not Dragon!!" Pushing there way into the apartment, past a confused Damien was none other that Nabiki and Rita. Followed by Roy, Michael, Curlly and Sylvia!!!
"Did you think you could get away that easy without a goodbye!!!" Rita and the gang dropped their luggage, handed their hats and purses to the perplexed man at the door and proceeded to embrace Dragon.
Michael and Roy shot daggers at Damien, then came over to join in on the chit chat happening further into the apartment.
"I Brought CHEESECAKE!!!" "I see Champagne, told ya she knew we were coming!" "Hey Goonie, the tan is already started." "Say nothing about my shirt! Rita made me wear it."
Dragon lady was now completely confused. Everyone was here. Why was everyone here?
"Well, I see you are busy, I will let myself out." an embarrassed man, dropped the mound of hats and purses on the chair and shut the door behind him.
"OK will someone explain this" Dragon bellowed loudly over the crowd.
Michael was the first to speak. " Comm went blank on you 3 days ago. We were unsure of your status. So I was sent to investigate and retrieve.
"Ok, that makes sense, I haven’t been able to establish a link, but then what are the rest of you doing here?"
"Well it really was a snow ball effect," piped Rita, "I heard he was going and weaselled my way into the mission, then Sherry came on board, then Curlly, Roy, and Nabiki!!! A vacation if you please!"
Dragonlady just smiled, completely taken aback by this group of operatives. How was anything done around Headquarters with this bunch!
"I was given two days to find you, so it seems we have some time..." Michael began to suggest some recreation time, but the mention of two days set the girls off.
"Two days!!," the girls exclaimed in unison
"Where’s the BEACH!!!!!"
The end
This story ©Cindy, 2000