Story 6: Rescue Operation

[tirepanted3]

Good building of tension in this part, as Klenia and Shayna continue to be the series' most memorable duo. Surprised to see Klenia free the cleaner, although perhaps she's grown more sympathetic over time. (I also wonder if it means we'll be seeing the cleaners again.)

I didn't guess Mikani was the surprise character, so good job with that. The scene where she and her friends laugh over "exchanging the gifts" of Kjelle and Karin was excellent.

And Reka fits comfortably into her role as the new Sao - a woman you don't want to mess with, yet almost feel sorry enough to root for. That she has no qualms about assaulting a pair of policewoman, simply because she's in a bad mood, shows just what a formidable villain she is, even without her old partner.

[rufusluciusivan]

No we won't see them again (luckily for them^^). Klenia's always been sympathetic towards her victims when they aren't part of Olympus' repressive system (at least that was the intention when I wrote her), except of course those who earned her ire. I guess she usually doesn't have the time or the opportunity to free them once detaining them has lost its purpose. I liked adding the "gifts" scene, so I'm happy to see that you found it funny too. Glad you enjoy Reka as a villain, because she's not done antagonizing our heroines.

[esercito sconfitto]

the " Insuricare Building" is fulfilling a recurring fantasy of mine...the 'USB' version of the 'Bondage Building' of La Bionda by Saudelli

by the way, the cute redhair in the Cleaning crew van is unforgettable

[rufusluciusivan]

I didn't expect this young redhead to leave such an impression. Not bad for a nameless extra.

[rufusluciusivan]

**************

Contrary to what the name could lead to believe, Matilda was a town, not a person. If fact, it was the last town before the border with Olympus.

It was founded centuries ago by a warrior priestess called Matilda Myrmidia, who led the Okéani army to protect her country from a coalition of Ares tribes, then from several Naïad fleets. It happened back when Okéanis was still called the Holy Kingdom of Okéanis; long before the nation of Utopia was born, long before Constatin Basileus unified the Twelve Factions and created Olympus. In Okéanis, Matilda was a national heroine. In Naïad, they saw her as a bloodthirsty narrow-minded fanatic. The truth was, of course, to be found somewhere in the middle.

Klenia, Mikani, and Shayna had chosen to hide in this town during the time needed to contact Aster and organize with her their 'departure' from Okéanis.

After a few phone conversations, they had decided that the best course of action was to have Aster drive from Korê to Naïad to come and pick them up. Their former leader didn't want to take part in new infiltration jobs yet.

She wasn't over Aaria's death.

However, Aster was worried sick for their safety and she didn't hesitate one second to leave her shop a few days to come and pick them up.

Still, it would take her some time to organize the trip. Therefore, Klenia, Mikani, and Shayna had to spend a few days waiting in a hotel for Aster to arrive where they were supposed to meet up, a small village on the Naïad coast called 'Matilda's Bane'. They didn't want to involve the officials of the Utopian Federation, not even Hieron, because of the risk they could try to prevent them from going to Frontier, for fear of them creating a diplomatic incident.

The wait had been long, but it was finally the time to take action. Aster had called them. She had arrived at their meeting point.

One problem remained though.

They still hadn't found a way to cross the border.

**************

“Come on...” Klenia tried one more time.

“No.” Mikani answered.

“Please!”

“Don't try the puppy eyes on me. I'm not Shayna. It won't work.”

“It would be so fun...”

“For the last time, I said no.”

“But it could work!”

“No it couldn't. Have you seen my appearance? Do you truly think I could pass myself for a member of a pro handball team?” Mikani concluded.

Klenia sadly watched the picture in the newspaper. A line of tall smiling women were looking at her. The article was talking about Matilda's female handball team, that had just been selected to play an important match in Olympus. The girls were supposed to cross the border today, and Klenia thought it would be a good idea to take the place of some of them.

“Alas...” she muttered. “But it will be for another time. I promise.”

“I heard you!” Mikani said.

Shayna entered the room just as Klenia was about to retort something.

“I think I found a way to pass the border!” she happily announced.

**************

“You know. I’ve been wondering. Since when has there been so many women in the Okéani police force?” Selena asked.

“Well, since always. Why do you ask?” Lucina answered.

“I’m from Shield, remember?”

“Oh, I see. A patriarchal society.” Lucina chuckled.

“Hey! Stop mocking me!”

“How far into the boonies did you actually live anyway? Do they even have electricity there?”

“Enough!” Reka cut them to prevent an argument.

"Sorry boss! I'm just teasing her. She knows I'm not serious." Lucina apologized.

Reka ignored her and looked at Selena. “We have to thank Olympian laws for this situation. Funny to think that such a dictatorial and brutal regime could also be so progressive when it came to gender-equality.”

“Not that I’m complaining!” Lucina added.

She was dragging an unconscious woman in her early thirties by the underarms. The black-haired policewoman was down to her skivvies: plain grey sports bra, briefs, and socks. Her wrists were tied behind her back with her own handcuffs, her ankles were bound with zip-ties and her lips were gagged with package tape.

Lucina went to the corner of the abandoned warehouse in which Reka and her team were currently hidden to evade the officers currently chasing after them, then dropped her captive at the top of a small pile of half-naked bound-and-gagged policewomen. Some let out a few moans.

“How many are they now?” Coral asked from an other side of the warehouse, while finishing to slip into one of the uniforms of the down for the count policewomen.

“I think she's the sixth.”

“I must say that, in hindsight, assaulting these two policewomen because they ticked you off was a mistake, boss...” Amara remarked.

“Who cares? It’s not like these losers can be a threat to us.”

“But they can be a nuisance.”

“Be prepared!” Helen, who was watching the entrance of the warehouse, suddenly said. "Another one is coming!"

A few moments later, a brown-haired policewoman rushed inside the warehouse. She was younger than the others, probably the rookie of the group. Her shoulder-long hair were tied into a ponytail, and she had cute green eyes and a soft petite nose. She was so much in a hurry that she didn't immediately notice that the women wearing police uniforms weren't her comrades, speaking before even getting a good look.

“I think they have lost me! Did you have more luck on your side?”

She paused when she realized that the people she was talking to were not her colleagues.

“But… But...”

Amara had already moved behind her. She locked the brunette's head in a sleeper-hold.

“Mghhhhh!”

“Shhhh…” Lucina muttered tauntingly, leaning in front of the young woman. “Just relax...”

The girl didn't have much choice. She tried to fight off, but Amara was a professional. With one long sigh she crumbled in her captor's arms, out like a light.

“And that's the last one!” Lucina commented.

“Strip her and put her with the others.” Reka ordered.

While her henchwomen were busy undressing the unlucky rookie, Reka's phone suddenly rang.

It was Max.

“Yes?”

“Reka. Where are you?” he asked. “I hope that you're not doing something foolish. Again.”

Reka briefly glanced at her team. Lucina was laughing, mocking their victim's choice of underwear. “Pink bra and white panties? With little flowers?? Where did they hire her? At a kindergarten?”

“Of course not.” she lied.

“You do realize that your little run-ins with the police are making our lives harder.”

“I thought we found a lead on the b*tches, but it turns out it was a waste of time. And the police came up on us. I'm starting to suspect that they left fake clues in their motel room to fool us...”

“We will have to revise our strategy. I talked with Sparrow and Cutlass.”

Two of the most powerful crime bosses of Okéanis... Reka thought.

“We've been on the defensive for too long. We'll have to go on the offensive.” Max added.

“Now you're speaking my language. What's the plan?”

“We will go to Frontier. We will find Venia Iven first. She will be our bait.”

Reka thoughtfully carressed her chin.

“I see... Since we're not able to find them in Utopia...” she started

“We'll intercept them in Frontier.” Max completed.

It could work. Reka thought. Max knew Frontier. He already concluded agreements for Calypso there. He knew their language and their customs.

“I'm in. How do we leave?”

“Your little... 'clash' with the two policewomen will prevent us to buy our tickets legally. Fortunately, I came across something interesting in today's newspaper. Are you interested in taking part in an archaeological mission?”

Reka glanced towards her teammates. Lucina had just finished handcuffing the young policewoman, while Selena was smoothing the tape placed over the brunette's lips and cheeks. The two then grabbed the woman by the underarms and the legs, dropping her next to the other captives.

“Girls! Gather around! I have important news!” she shouted.

The others complied immediately, leaving behind a pile of half-naked bound women.

**************

Even though Matilda was a lot smaller than South Window, it still was an active port. In the town's harbour, plenty of ships were docked, and there were a lot of crates and containers waiting to be shipped.

It was the early morning.

“There they are!” Shayna whispered.

She discreetly pointed at a trio of women walking alongside the dock in the dim light of the dawn. They were wearing orange coveralls specifically designed to protect them from water, as well as black boots, orange plastic gloves and dark blue shirts. Even though they weren't currently wearing them, they were also carrying with them yellow raincoats and rainhats just in case.

Fishermen. Or, rather, fisherwomen.

The first two had brown hair, the third was a redhead. They were happily chatting with each other.

“I kept my ear to the ground in the harbour the last two afternoons, and it allowed me to learn about this... opportunity.” Shayna added. “The local fishermen take turn to go fishing in order to avoid conflicts. These three are from the morning shift today. We'll have to make sure they don't make any sound though. There are at least five other crews supposed to leave at the same time, and we can't risk having these three raise the alarm. Hopefully, the boats aren't too close to each others.”

“Perfect... With their boat, we can approach the coast of Naïad...” Klenia commented. “Aster will be waiting for us there.”

“Although... Will you know how to sail their boat?” Mikani asked Shayna.

“Trust me. My parents were fishermen. They weren't rich, but they were good at their job. They taught Venia and I everything they knew about sailing. We were supposed to take over the family business... But it was before Venia tried to earn some money with the help of the Callianass Cartel, and she...” Shayna stopped herself. “Anyway, I chose a different path.”

The two others didn't insist.

“Let's go relieve these three of their duty.” Klenia said instead to change the subject.

**************

Luckily for the three muggers, this part of the harbour was deserted save for their three soon-to-be victims. The other crews had their ships docked at the other side of the port.

Oblivious to the threat looming over them, the fisherwomen walked around a pile of crates. Their boat was docked nearby. The redhead told them a joke and they disappeared behind the crates while laughing. They didn't see the three women quickly running around the crates they passed a few seconds ago.

One of the laughs was interrupted by a muffled gurgle. The smallest fisherwoman, a petite brunette with two long braids, had been distanced by her two companions and was walking a few feet behind them. This made her an easy prey for Mikani's sleeper-hold. Her struggle was short-lived and soon she was crumbling in her assailant's arms, unconscious. Since the scene happened behind their backs, it took the two other girls a few seconds to notice their friend's dire predicament.

A few seconds too many.

They turned around.

“But who...” the redhead tried to say.

Springing up behind the woman, Klenia clamped a hand over her mouth to silence her.

The third fisherwoman didn't fare any better. She was already hand-gagged by Shayna.

From the other side of the crates, the noise of a struggle could be briefly heard.

**************

“I think this is my first time mugging a fisherwoman.” Klenia commented.

She was absent-mindedely removing the tallest fisherwoman's boots and coveralls, revealing that she was wearing pants underneath. After some hesitation, she took them off as well, leaving the girl in her white panties.

“There's a first time for everything...” Mikani answered while taking off the redhead's shirt. Her victim was wearing a grey tank top and a black bra underneath. Her boots, coveralls and pants were already on the ground, in a little pile. The unconscious girl had green panties and grey long woolen socks.

Shayna chuckled. “You should talk less, I'm already almost finished.” Indeed, she was currently slipping into her victim's pants and coveralls. The brown-haired girl was lying on the ground in her white t-shirt bra and pink boyshorts, revealing the woman's sharp curves that were previously hidden by her baggy coveralls.

“This isn't a race... And it's not funny if you hurry up too much.” Klenia playfully retorted

“But it makes it less likely to be found by unwanted witnesses. So, get on with it.”

No sooner said than done. A few minutes later, the three companions were dressed in their new disguises. A quick search of the fisherwomen's boat allowed them to find several coils of rope.

“A little ironic, in that they brought their own bonds...” Mikani commented.

They wasted no time tying up the three underwear-clad women. Their wrists were crossed behind their back and tied. Then, their ankles and legs were bound as well.

“Do we have something to gag them?” Shayna asked.

“Don't use tape. It might come out too easily because of the humidity.” Klenia answered.

“Then we'll have to make do with what is at hand...” Mikani said.

She eyed the three unsconscious women's sock-clad feet. The grey woolen socks were long and thick, going almost up to the knees.

“I have the solution.”

No sooner said than done, even though it meant untying the women's legs to remove the socks before tying them again. Each pair of socks was then used to fill the mouth of its owner. They then tied rope around their lower faces to keep the stuff gag in place.

“Not my best work by far, but this should hold the time we leave the country's territorial waters...” Klenia commented.

The three unlucky women were finally lined up between two piles of crates. Klenia and Mikani covered them with a nearby tarp to give them so privacy, and make sure that they wouldn't be found before a while.

With their new disguises, they climbed inside the small fishing boat.

“Ship ahoy!” Klenia exclaimed.

“That's not the right expression you know...” Shayna commented.

**************

Matilda's Bane was a big village, similar to the many fishermen's villages built on Okéanis' or Naïad's coasts. Its only notable point was that it was built on the location where Matilda Myrmidia's army had supposedly been stopped by Naïad's legions when she tried to invade the peninsula.

There was an inn at the center of the village. Aster was supposed to wait for them there.

Klenia, Mikani, and Shayna took the time to change into their own clothes in the boat before entering the village. The streets were deserted, a detail that they thought rather strange, but they chose to not queston it. They didn't have to walk for long before arriving in front of the inn.

Someone was waiting for them there.

She was in her early thirties, had tanned skin, brown eyes, and shoulder-long black hair.

“Aster!” Klenia happily exclaimed.

But her smile immediately disappeared.

Aster wasn't alone.

Another woman was with her. She had short coal-black hair and her eyes were almost as dark. Her figure wasn't especially tall or impressive, but there was something in her posture that could make people feel uneasy. She was looking paler than what they remembered, but they nonetheless recognized her immediately.

It was Emery.

It took Klenia, Mikani, and Shayna several seconds to register the information.

“I'm sorry...” Aster said. She gave Emery a murderous glare. “I didn't realize that Cérès had bugged my phone... She knows everything about your project, and she wants to stop it...”

It took them a few seconds to register the information.

Mikani was the first to recover from her surprise. “Cérès? Stopping us? But... Why?”

Emery gave a light smile. She was looking as arrogant as ever.

“The Federation is trying to build new peaceful relationships with Frontier.” the black-haired woman explained. “Cérès doesn't approve of your little freelance rescue mission because, knowing you, it will involve a lot of hijinks, and probably a few diplomatic incidents as well. She had sent me to put you back in line.”

Shayna bit her lips. They thought they were so close, and now another unexpected obstacle had just arised. She could have screamed in frustration.

“But...” she started.

“I didn't come to give you a chance to defend yourselves.” Emery interrupted her. “I came to stop your stupid game.”

Klenia immediately lost her temper. “Now you listen here...”

Emery slightly moved her arms, revealing the handgun in the holster strapped on her belt. Klenia's tirade died in her throat. The threat was clear.

The assassin absent-mindedely caressed the butt of the weapon. “You were saying?” she asked.

Klenia took a step back.

“I thought so...” Emery commented. She snapped her fingers. A dozen men and women dressed in grey clothes left their hiding places behind the nearby buildings to circle them.

There was a brief moment of tense silence.

“What will Cérès do with us?” Mikani finally asked.

“You will be escorted to Olympus, then assigned a residence in one of its luxuous hotels the time Cérès decides how to deal with the situation. Nothing unpleasant, don't worry.” Emery paused, then spitefully added: “After all, you are war heroes...”

“Still sour about what happened after the war, uh?” Aster commented.

After the civil war, the new government of the Utopian Federation took the time to decorate the people who played a big part in defeating Olympus. Aster, Klenia, Mikani, Thorn, and Shayna were among them, as well as Dimitri and Aaria posthumously. Emery was not, and neither were the fallen other special combatants. Her comrades. The Utopian Federation thought it wouldn't send a good message to the international community. Objectively, Shayna and the others would have agreed that this was unfair. However, Emery wasn't exactly the kind of person that easily elicits sympathy.

Emery stared at Aster. “I've seen people ten times more talented than you die for the Rebellion's cause. I've worked with them. And when the time had come to crown the heroes and honour the martyrs, I've seen them being conveniently forgotten because they weren't politically correct enough.” Her tone was neutral, but they could have sworn there was a hint of emotion behind the coldness.

“Emery... We're sorry about how they were treated...” Mikani started.

But the black-haired woman had already moved on, as if her outburst never happened.

Klenia tried one last time to convince her. “Come on, Emery! Even you can agree that these people are the worst!”

Emery took the time to approach her to better look her up and down. They could therefore notice the heavy limp hampering her walk.

“And you're telling me that you intend to topple their entire criminal empire to rescue all their innocent victims?” the former assassin asked.

Klenia frowned. “Not exactly... We want to...”

“... accomplish your own selfish goal of rescuing one person.” Emery completed. “A goal which isn't any more or any less selfish than Cérès' goal of building better relationships with another nation, which would create a lot of jobs.”

“I wouldn't call saving someone's life a 'selfish goal'...”

“And I wouldn't call your incessant babbling 'funny' or 'charming'. Yet, for some reason, everyone keeps finding you endearing. But please note that I am sorely tempted to break your jaw and write in the report that you resisted your arrest. So stop trying to pretend that you have the moral higher ground when you don't have it.”

Klenia opened her mouth to retort something.

“Klenia! Just give up. She won't listen and she's not worth the effort.” Aster intervened.

Klenia obeyed and lowered her eyes.

Emery motioned the guards to come closer. “We will escort you to...”

Suddenly, Emery's cellphone rang. She let out an annoyed groan and picked it up.

“Hieron... What is it now?”

Aster took advantage of the distraction to come closer to Klenia, Mikani, and Shayna. However, the guards' presence prevented them from trying something. They could only watch Emery talk with Hieron on the phone.

The conversation quickly became tense, at least on Emery's side. While they couldn't hear what Hieron was saying, they could hear in his voice that he was using the happy-go-lucky tone that Emery hated so much.

“Can't this wait?” the former assassin finally asked. “I'm in the middle of...”

Hieron interrupted her in the middle of her sentence.

Emery rectified her position, as if to stand at attention.

“Yes, Sir.”

While most people didn't remember it anymore now, Hieron used to be one of Emery's instructors. Even years after the end of her training, there were still some traces of the unconditional obedience she had been expected to show to her teachers while she was still in-training.

Emery closed the cellphone.

“Well, a few of my guards will escort you to Olympus. I have a few things to deal with in East Harbour.” she concluded. “Consider it your lucky day.”

**************

“I hope you will enjoy the ride! Nothing but the best for the war heroines!”

The woman who just spoke was one of Emery's subordinates, dressed in the same grey clothes as the others. She was a tall athletic brunette in her late thirties, with shoulder-long hair tied into a braid, brown eyes, a tanned skin, a statuesque figure, and an unpleasant smirk. She was pointing a vehicle looking like a police van, minus the inscriptions.

“What? No witty comebacks from the great Klenia? I'm disappointed.” the brown-haired guard added.

The latter kept silent. Emery was still watching them from afar. Klenia knew what she was risking if she tried to rebel.

The driver, a dark-skinned womand with coarse braided black hair and brown eyes, smiled. “Look at that, the kitty has been declawed..." She leaned closer. "She's afraid. She's actually afraid!”

“Only a fool wouldn't be afraid of that monster.” Aster intervened to defend her friend.

“Or a crybaby that prefers to cower in her flowershop instead of doing something useful...” the driver retorted.

The guard laughed, then pushed Klenia, Aster, Mikani, and Shayna inside the van. The four companions were soon crammed together in the back of the armoured vehicle. They were seperated from the driver's and passenger's seats by a metallic partition, with only a small plexiglas window to communicate. The backdoor closed behind them and was locked from the outside.

The brown-haired guard sat on the passenger seat. The driver took place behind the wheel and started the engine. Soon, they were leaving Emery and the rest of her guards behind in Matilda's Bane.

The first kilometers were covered in silence, except for the sounds of the engine. Aster and the others weren't in the mood to chitchat. The guard was regularly looking at them through the window. While they didn't have handcuffs on their wrists, the four friends still could clearly understand that they were prisoners.

However, the silence soon became unbearable.

“That rat!” Aster finally said while punching the wall of the van. “I should have been more suspicious! I should have known that Cérès wouldn't leave me unmonitored after I let Macha and Hana escape!”

She shook her head.

“I'm sorry. It's the first time you ask me for something, and I fail miserably...”

“It's okay. Cérès deceived us all...” Mikani answered.

Suddenly, Aster looked at the window communicating with the front of the van. The guard seated on the passenger seat had been satisfied by Aster's outburst and was now chatting with the driver.

“But I refuse to let them have the last word...” she whispered.

“You mean... ?” Klenia started.

“Hopefully.” the other mysteriously answered.

“So the whole thing you did in front of Emery... It was comedy?”

Aster made sure the guards in the front couldn't hear them.

“Oh, it wasn't comedy. Emery did take me by surprise, and I was legitimately angry. It's just that... Before I left, Hieron paid me a visit and he... implied that something could go wrong. So I took a few precautions...”

“Meaning?”

“I asked Thorn to follow me. Hopefully, he had noticed that something went wrong and he will get us out of trouble.”

The three others shared hopeful glances.

“Well, we can thank Hieron... It's good to know that we still have some support among the higher-ups...” Mikani commented.

**************

The drive wasn't very comfortable and, since their phones and watches had been confiscated, they had lost track of time.

The driver and the guard were still busy chatting with each other.

Shayna started to lose all hopes, and she could see that her friends were doubting as well. What if Thorn didn't notice their dire predicament? What if Emery had also found him?

Suddenly, the van stopped.

There was a car blocking its path. Out of gas apparently.

Shayna rised up. Could it be?

The driver and the guard immediately grabbed their weapons.

Thorn then appeared at their window, as big and as muscular as Shayna remembered him.

“Thorn? What are you doing here?” the driver exclaimed.

“It's Mr. Sillo for you. I thought you would have learned to know your place under Emery's training...” the man retorted.

“You're interrupting an important mission.” the brown-haired guard said.

“I know. I will take over from here.”

The two women shared a quick glance.

“You can't veto this operation. Emery holds a superior rank!” the driver objected.

“But she's not here, isn't she?” Thorn smiled. “And I'm giving you a direct order.”

“We don't have to listen to you.”

“Of course, but you will probably listen to the people currently aiming at you with their rifles. They're in the bushes over there.”

The two women shared one quick glance.

Thorn leaned on the van's door, a satisfied smile on the lips. He was looking confident, nonchalant, almost smug.

Damn he was good...

“Cérès won't let you get away with this.” The driver retorted.

But her outburst was in itself a sign of weakness. Even Shayna could see that she had already given up.

“I'll deal with Cérès. For now, all I ask you is to exit the van.” Thorn calmly answered.

**************

The driver and her partner soon took Aster's, Shayna's, Klenia's and Mikani's place in the back of the van, their hands tied behind their backs with zip-ties.

Thorn was accompanied by another man, who helped him overpower Emery's subordinates.

Shayna only knew him by sight. He was Eleo, one of the agents who carried the data that allowed to stir up the Provinces against Olympus, travelling all the way from Artemise to Lakeland. The one Aster and her team helped rescue when they took part in the raid on Alaric's camp.

Eleo had the brown hair, green eyes, and tanned skin typical of Okéanis. He also had the arrogant bearing shared by most of the inhabitants of his Province. Instinctively, Shayna was feeling the mistrust any Naïad would feel in front of an Okéani. And yet, she could have hugged him anyway she was that relieved.

“Where are the others?” the tied driver suddenly asked.

“The others?” Thorn repeated.

“The ones with the rifles.”

“Oh, there aren't any.” Thorn lightly answered. “I lied.”

The two women opened wide eyes, and their jaws dropped in an almost comical fashion.

“You... You lied? But that's... unfair!” the first said.

“Emery's gonna kill us...” the other added.

“Not literally, don't worry. Cérès and Hieron forbade her to kill her subordinates.”

Thorn then left the two women at their predicament and turned to face Aster.

“I guess we all owe you one.” the latter said.

“But are you sure you won't be in trouble now?” Shayna intervened.

“Hieron was in it. More or less." Thorn answered. "Why do you think he called Emery coincidentally while she was in the middle of arresting you?”

“But you interfered with an official...” Shayna insisted.

“This mission is anything but official.” Thorn gently interrupted her. “Officially, there wasn't supposed to be any arrest. Officially, you were supposed to accept an invitation.”

“So officially, we're not wanted...” Mikani thoughtfully said.

“Of course not. They don't have any ground for arrest.”

“Interesting...” Aster commented.

“So now, what's the plan?” Thorn asked.

“Find a way to leave the country. We're going to Frontier.” Klenia immediately said.

She gave a small smile to Shayna. She wanted to reassure her that, in spite of everything that just happened, she was still supporting her. Shayna smiled back, feeling a light warmth in her chest.

“The Federation's airports will be watched.” Aster objected.

“South Window has an airport. And the Federation won't be able to watch it.” Eleo intervened.

“Are you kidding?! We just left Okéanis to escape from Reka and her goons... And now you're telling me that we have to go back in?!” Mikani exclaimed. “Is life playing us some kind of sick joke?!”

“I guess this is irony...” Shayna added.

“I hate irony.” Klenia concluded.

“You can also give up if it bothers you too much.” Eleo added.

Shayna, Mikani, and Klenia looked at each other.

Shayna hesitated. She wanted to save her sister. She wanted to jump at the first opportunity she had for two years. But at the same time, she didn't expect so many obstacles to get in the way. Reka... Emery... Even Cérès and the Utopian Federation... She didn't want to force her friends to put their future, not to mention their lives, at risk for her. Because now that Emery and Cérès were involved, they were facing the risk of becoming wanted fugitives in their own country. They wouldn't have a home anymore.

She opened her mouth.

“I'm with you.” Klenia intervened. “No matter what you decide, I'm with you. Emery and Cérès can suck it, for all I care.”

Mikani nodded. “I'm with you too. It's too late to back up anyway, and I can't wait to see how this will end.”

Shayna smiled at them.

“I guess I will stay here to smooth things out with Hieron then.” Thorn said. "I'm taking Eleo with me."

“What about you, Aster?” Mikani asked.

The latter gave a small smile. “Well, I can't go back to my shop. At least for now. So I guess I will stick with you and give you a hand.”

“Are you sure?” Mikani asked. “I mean... We would understand if you didn't want to... After what happened with Aaria...”

“I think it's time to move on. Aaria wouldn't have wanted me to dwell on the past. But she would have wanted me to help you.”

Klenia and Mikani embraced her. “So that means you're back!” they happily exclaimed.

“Apparently...” she said while smiling.

They took the time to share one big hug before separating.

“I guess it's time to move then.” Thorn commented.

“However, first... I call for a change of clothes.” Klenia looked at the two prisoners, who backed away a little. “I haven't forgotten about your comments from earlier...” she added. “And I didn't appreciate you disrespecting Aster.”

************

Ten minutes later, a satisfied Klenia adjusted her newly acquired grey pants.

“Much better... Don't you think?”

“For once, I agree.” Aster answered while smoothing her grey jacket.

She turned to face Thorn.

“Aright, before we leave, I would have one last question. Why does Hieron help us? What's in it for him?”

“Let's just say that you and Hieron have similar goals.”

“Meaning?”

“He wants to topple the human trafficking business. He can help you in Frontier. He had managed to get some contacts there. In exchange, he wants you to harm these bastards in any way you can during your rescue operation. And to memorize every name. Also, if you happen to get your hands on some files...”

“We already have some about the Okéanis' slave ring.” Klenia answered. She took the flashdrive and gave it to him. “Here.”

Thorn smiled. “Perfect. We left you a car in the bushes. I'll explain to you how you can cross the Okéani border on our way to it.” he concluded.

“We leave the bimbos in the van?” Eleo intervened.

“Yes. Let them be found by Emery. It's more fun that way.” Aster answered.

Klenia smiled deviously, ignoring the muffled cries of their victims.

**************

Emery's left eye twitched briefly.

Inside the van, there weren't Aster, Klenia, Mikani and Shayna.

Inside the van, there were Rue and Lily, the two agents she tasked with escorting Aster's team to Olympus.

They were lying almost naked on the cold metallic floor of the van. Their only article of clothes were their panties: grey for the brown-haired woman, red for the black-haired woman. Their other clothes, including their bras, had been taken. White ropes were binding their arms and legs, along with a tight painful crotch-rope combined with a breast bondage. Their mouths were filled with something, as proven by their bulging cheeks, and tape had been wrapped around their lower faces with no care if hair got tangled in the adhesive. Both women were pathetically mewling in their gags.

Emery took off the tape gagging Rue. She didn't bother doing it gently. The brunette winced during the whole process.

“Explanations.” Emery coldly ordered.

The woman told her how they were ambushed and neutralized.

“So they escaped.” the former assassin concluded.

“Yes. I'm sorry.”

Emery left the van without bothering to untie her or listening to her pleas.

“But why have they left Rue and Lily in the van...” one of the men of the squad asked.

“This is a message.” Emery answered.

“A message?”

“More precisely, a challenge.”

Emery smiled. The man became a little uneasy.

“And I accept this challenge. I accept and I relish it.” the former assassin concluded.

The black-haired woman turned to leave.

“Emery! What about Rue and Lily?”

Emery coldly stared at the two women.

“I don't need incompetents in my service. Just bring them back to Cérès, at Olympus. They will have to resume their training.”

One guard moved to climb inside the van and free the two captives. Emery grabbed her shoulder to stop her before she could reach the captives' bonds.

“I never said to release them. Drive them in their current predicament. Hopefully, this will teach them a lesson.”

The guard gave the women a sorry glance, but then stepped out.

For Emery, the two unlucky guards had already become an afterthought. The assassin was focusing on something else.

The thrill of the hunt.

[tirepanted3]

So many threats, from so many places. Having Emery back - and as an antagonist - is sure to make things even crazier for our heroes. Interesting to see how these characters' loyalties and allegiances have changed since the end of To Overthrow the Utopia.

The brief exchange between Reka, Lucina, and Selena about gender equality on the police force was excellent. Good character-based banter, and a fun allusion to how some countries in this world provide the women with more disguises than others. Also good to see that the two policewomen from the previous part were more plot-relevant than I'd initially assumed. (I expect those two are part of the pile that Reka and her goons have accumulated.)

The scene with the fisherwomen was also well-done. Don't believe I've seen fisherwomen get their clothes stolen before. And Klenia's remark about the use of tape in a humid environment was a wonderful detail.

If there's one issue I have here, it's that our heroines are rescued from Rue and Lily by a couple of men. I prefer my stories as female-centered as possible, with men mostly functioning as occasional background props. I would have liked to see Klenia and her friends be saved by women, or better yet rescue themselves. But again, that's all just personal preference.

[rufusluciusivan]

Thanks for the long (and quick!) comment. In my opinion, Emery had always had the potential to be a good antagonist, and now she has her chance to shine. I always like to show that the world my heroines live in does not rely on white and black morality. The rebellion-turned-government is a political faction first and foremost, and therefore sometimes choose to make compromises with morality. Though I didn't want to diabolize them either and give them a reason for them antagonizing the heroines. (They need new incomes of money to recover from the war.)

Yep, mugging the two policewomen had more consequences than expected. Who knew that humiliating members of the law inforcement could have negative consequences? (Though if they are part of the pile, it means they have been mugged a second time. Talk about bad luck...) It's also a good way to throw some obstacles on Reka's way, while she's away from the main plot. And it means she'll have to keep on mugging people to evade the authorities.

I'm glad you liked the scene with the fisherwomen. Since there wasn't many scenes in this part, and this one was the main one, I tried to make it longer and more detailed.

As for your issue, I can reassure you (and everyone else) that this will not be a recurring occurence. I don't mind having male secondary characters, as long as they don't take part in the fun of uniform stealing, even though I try to not incorporate them too much in the stories. However, this was the occasion to have a scene with the character of Thorn before the story starts moving to different places, and I didn't want to introduce new recurring characters in this part. (There will be some in the next part, normally.)

[esercito sconfitto]

1)the Matilda's female Handball team...they willl never know how lucky they were



2) Rufusluciusivan, keep piling up girls stripped of their outfits!


3) as matter of fact, I was shocked when I read about Thorn and Eleo... male characters in an USB tale can stay as bystanders... nevertheless an exception is interesting


4) the scene with Emery and the guards in the van...priceless!

5)the fisherwomen's boat ... I loved the scenario



https://www.grindtv.com/wp-content/uplo ... .01-AM.png


6) a final thought... Reka, Amara, Lucina, Selena, Helen ec. ... they are in the process of becoming the funniest team in the room

[rufusluciusivan]

Just because they're criminals, it doesn't mean they have to be stern all the time...

[rufusluciusivan]

**************

Korra was happy.

It took her a month of hard work, but now her project was finally becoming a reality.

After the peace was signed with the Federation, the Okéani government had agreed to release funds to send an archaeological mission to study the desert ruins in the south west of Frontier. A theory held that the people from Okéanis and the people from Frontier were three thousand years ago part of the same empire. Korra intended to prove it. The politicians were hoping that she would too. In their everlasting quest to find supports among the foreign nations, they were looking for any excuse to build relationships with other countries.

The archeologist thought to herself that she had come a long way since the moment she started working at South Window's Institute of Archaeology, two years ago. Nobody was taking her seriously because she was young, and a woman. Indeed, with her long lustruous brown hair, soft tanned skin, as well as her big bust, her nice-looking waist, and voluptuous curves, Korra was the kind of woman people were more expecting to see in a fashion magazine than in the corridors of an Institute. She resented her physique. Because of it, she had to fight all her life to not be trated like a joke by everyone.

But today was the day of her victory. Today was her day.

Korra looked at the team of four women she had assembled. They were archeologists or historians coming from all over Okéanis.

Korra and her colleagues were all dressed the same. Black suit jackets over crisp white shirts, black over-the-knee suit skirts, brown pantyhoses, and black shoes. Admittedly, these weren't the garments of archeologists, and more something a wealthy businesswoman would wear. But they weren't in the field for the time being.

For the time being, looking serious in front of the old professors of South Window, then in front of the old professors of Frontier, was more important.

Korra finished her talk, tapping the envelope that contained the precious tickets. “Any question?”

Irene, the youngest member of her group, raised her hand. “I have a question. Why don't we bring John with us?”

“I'm not questioning John's expertise. I chose to not bring him along with us for another reason.”

“Which is?”

“Sending a message to the dean. Do you realize that, among all of our countries' institutions, the University is the most backwards when it comes to gender equity? This is the first time an all-female crew of researchers has been gathered together. This archeological expedition is more about the symbol than about the researches themselves. And...”

Korra was interrupted by the sound of the doorbell ringing. She frowned. Who could it be now?

She didn't have time to lose. They were supposed to take their plane in three hours. Luckily, she didn't leave far from the airport. But still...

The doorbell rang a second time.

“Excuse me. I'll go see who this is.”

Korra left the living room and went to the entrance. Through the spy-hole in the door, she saw a red-haired woman with long twin-tails, dressed in black pants, a dark blue shirt with an orange reflective jacket, and a black postal hat.

“A postwoman.” she said out loud to her colleagues waiting in the other room. “I will see what she wants.”

She unlocked and opened the door.

“Can I help you?” she asked.

“Hello madam." the redhead answered. "I'm sorry to bother you. I'm supposed to deliver a package to the apartment next door, but no one is answering. Can I entrust it to you?”

Korra shook her head.

“I apologize, but I'm leaving the country in a few hours. You will have to give it to someone else.”

“So you're the one we're looking for...” the postwoman commented.

The redhead quickly grabbed a small object hidden beneath her orange reflective jacket and, before she had the time to react, Korra suddenly felt the muzzle of a small handgun pressed under her chin.

The brown-haired archeologist gasped. The redhead posing as a postwoman winked at her. “Better keep quiet, right?” she whispered.

Afraid, Korra slowly nodded.

She saw a group of women, with their faces hidden by scarves and hoods, burst out of the corner of the corridor behind which they were hidden. The one who seemed to be their leader, a tall athletic-looking woman, motioned them to enter. The women rushed inside the apartment, running past Korra and her captor. The brown-haired woman heard her friends' shouts of surprise. The leader paused next to Korra.

“What do you want? What are you going to do with us?”

“Nothing too brutal. If you cooperate, of course.” the woman ominously answered.

**************

The women were gathered in a corner of the room, while Selena was closing the shutters to make sure that nobody in the street could see what was going on.

Reka faced the group of archeologists. Behind her, Amara, Lucina, Coral, and Helen were holding the prisoners at gunpoint. She could see that the women were terrified. They wouldn't try to resist.

The one who seemed to be the leader, the tall brunette with a big bust, finally swallowed and started to talk.

“If you're looking for money, it is in my...”

“We're not here for money. We're here for the tickets.”

The woman hesitated, then showed the envelope on the table. Selena grabbed it, checked its content, and nodded.

“We will also need your clothes.” Reka added.

This time, the women whispered among themselves, clearly reluctant to comply.

Reka sighed and gestured towards Amara. The latter pointed her handgun at the youngest of the captives.

“I'll give you thirty seconds to start complying.” she simply said.

This brought an end to their hesitations. One by one, they obeyed, removing their suit jackets first, then their white shirts. They continued with the shoes before taking off their skirts, making them slide on their legs. Finally, they removed the pantyhoses. Once they were down to their panties and bras, Reka motioned them to stop stripping. She didn't need more clothes and she didn't want to waste time.

The captives were all wearing conventional underwear, mostly plain white, blue or purple panties and bras. At least, these undergarments were giving them a semblance of modesty... The postwoman Selena mugged a little while ago wasn't so lucky. Indeed, she would be very embarrassed once she would be found trussed up in a dumpster and rescued while wearing a black thong and a matching lacy strapless bra.

Korra was the last to finish stripping. She had clearly stalled, to delay as much as she could the moment she would have to stand in her skivvies in front of strangers. The archaeologist was wearing a white full-cup molded bra with a pink floral motif and white control briefs with pink trimmings. She shivered and covered her underwear-clad chest with her arms.

Beneath the scarf hiding her lower face, Reka smiled.

“Alright. Let's get to work.”

Each archeologist was carefully bound with black nylon ropes. Their wrists were crossed behind their backs then tied. Their ankles and thighs were next. Then, their captors finished with their upper-arms. A quick search of the drawers in the apartment's bedroom allowed Reka and her girls to get their hands on clean cotton panties, fine gagging materials. They used the undergarments to fill the five archeologists' mouths. The sheets of the bed were cut and turned into makeshift cleave-gags to silence the prisoners.

Then, Reka and her team soaked rags with chloroform.

The big-busted archeologist was the only one to understand what was going to happen next, but she couldn't do anything about it in her current predicament. Reka pressed the rag against her nose.

**************

Korra let out a muffled shriek of indignation when the woman pressed the smelly rag on her face. She tried to get away, but the woman grabbed the back of her head to keep it in place.

This is unfair... Today was supposed to be my day... she couldn't help but think before succumbing to her drug-induced sleep.

**************

The five now deeply-asleep bound-and-gagged women were all seated in a circle, resting on each others. Their attackers finished the job by injecting them a sleeping drug that would keep them out of commission for several hours. By the time the archaeologists would wake up and free themselves, Reka and her partners would already be arrived in Frontier.

Reka, Lucina, Selena, and Amara quickly took off their own clothes, before redressing themselves in their victims' suits. The fifth set of clothes was left behind, as it was too small.

Coral glanced at it with a disheartened look.

“You wouldn't have been able to come with us even if it was your size. We needed the fifth ticket for Max.” Reka said to her.

She was sorry for her, but since Coral was the only Okéani of their group, she would be more useful in South Window. After all, they needed someone to watch the airport, just in case Klenia and her friends would take a plane here. Maxie had heard that there were a few troubles in the Federation because of their planned rescue mission in Frontier. According to his contact in the federal government, there were people there who wanted to stop Klenia and her friends. Therefore, them being forced to leave the country through Okéanis was still a possibility.

“I know you're disappointed, but it's best we leave two people behind to watch the town just in case. And you're the only one who can blend in here.”

Coral frowned, but then nodded silently. Helen had been designated to stay with her, but the blonde was taking it better.

Reka sighed.

“We're ready.” Amara said.

“Then let's go. Maxie is waiting at the airport.”

Then, without a second-glance to the women they mugged, they left the apartment, carefully locking the door behind them.

**************

“Remind me why we had to steal their tickets?” Selena asked once they were in the street.

“The fake identities we used until now have been compromised because of our recent little run-in with the authorities...” Reka explained. “It was easier to steal their tickets, and their identities, rather than wait until we finished creating other fake IDs.”

“And why did we take their clothes as well?” she then asked.

“To look the part.” Reka explained. “We're supposed to be highbrows. Therefore, we have to dress like highbrows.”

“Makes sense.”

While still talking, they passed near a dark alleyway, empty save for a big dumpster.

“I guess the saying was wrong.” Lucina commented after a brief glance at the place in which an unconscious underwear-clad woman was currently stashed. “Maybe 'neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds'... but a good spray of sleeping gas and a few bindings are enough.”

The others chuckled. Reka, as always when one of her henchwomen was joking, felt nostalgic. She used to be the one making wisecracking comments, before Sao's death forced her to become the responsible leader.

And, as of now, she didn't exactly make a stellar job. Kjelle and Karin had been captured, and she let her targets slip through her fingers at the Insuricare building...

Reka shook her head. She needed to remain focused. Max and she were already thinking of plans to break the two women out of prison. But first, she had to concentrate on her mission. Max had decided to change their strategy, and she had agreed with him. Instead of waiting for their opponents to make their move, they would take the initiative.

Coral and Helen were going stay in South Window to watch the city, just in case; while Reka, Max, Lucina, Selena and Amara would go to Frontier.

They would try to find first the woman Klenia and Shayna were looking for and use her as a bait, while also setting up a trap in case their targets would arrive before they located Venia Iven. At the same time, Max, who was still in contact with crime bosses in Okéanis and the Federation, was going to act as a middleman between them and mob bosses of Frontier to strike juiceful deals. He was going to be paid royally for his service. And this would earn them enough money to continue financing their operations.

This was typical of Max. Combining business with pleasure, money with revenge.

By the time the Rebels find a way to take a plane, we will already be in Fontier. With a couple days start. This time, it is us who are staying one step ahead. So... do your best to try to reach Frontier, we'll be waiting for you...

**************

Two days later, not knowing about the danger that was already awaiting them in Frontier, four women were travelling to South Window by train.

“Usually, I'm not the one traveling by goods train. Usually, I'm sending women with one...”

“At least you're not traveling bound and gagged inside a crate.” Shayna answered with a smile.

“True. But...”

“Admit it, you're simply sour because we didn't have to mug anyone to get here.” Mikani interrupted her.

Klenia muttered something under her breath, then decided to sulk.

The others laughed.

“Hey! Stop mocking me! This is what I like, that's all.”

“Don't worry, there will be more occasions.” Mikani joked.

“Very funny. But you will see...”

Shayna laughed and shook her head. It was good to have the full team back in action.

Well, not exactly the full team...

Shayna's mood darkened when she thought of Aaria and she quickly glanced at Aster, who was chatting with Mikani. Shayna didn't get that close to the older woman, but she was missing her nonetheless. With Aaria gone, something would never be the same. And even if they were happy to be together again, their team would never be full again.

Klenia had stopped sulking and joined the conversation. Soon, the three friends were reminiscing some old memories, speaking fondly of their past missions. And of Aaria and Dimitri.

Shayna silently listened to them. She knew most of these stories already, as Klenia had told them to her. But the three women were remembering these tales together with a fondness tinged of nostalgia, the kind of nostalgia one got after spending a lot of time hatching plans together. Shayna couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy when watching their complicity. She joined their team last, and sometimes she was fearing that she was the fifth wheel. She knew that these feelings were stupid, she knew that they were regarding her as part of the team. But sometimes, she simply couldn't prevent herself from feeling these emotions...

Shayna tried to find a better position. They were traveling in a wagon filled with wooden crates, some cargoes that had to be protected from the weather. The crates were providing them with makeshift seats, but they weren't comfortable. At all. To distract herself from her thoughts, the former thief summed up to herself the recent turn of events.

We may have had to backtrack but, in hindsight, our brief trip to Naïad was instructive. Now, we know that we have to be wary of Cérès and her goons...

They had to hide in Naïad's countryside the time for them to escape Emery and find a way to sneakily return in Okéanis. It took them almost two days. Finally, Thorn and Eleo helped them sneak aboard this train to cover their tracks. Hopefully, this would allow them to get on a plane in South Window before Emery, or anyone else, could catch up with them.

Be rigorous. Identify the priorities. Just like when planning a heist...

Right now, they had three priorities.

First, we find a way to get on a plane without being caught by the Okéani authorities.

Second, we always stay one step ahead of Emery – or any other goon she might send after us. We'll have to be quick and efficient.

Third, we never forget that Reka and her henchwomen are still looking for us. We have to make sure to not come across them. We'll have to be careful, and discreet.

A little disguise will probably be needed to solve all three problems...

Thorn gave them a crypted cellphone, which they could use to call him or Hieron for help. But Shayna was sure that they would also need to improvise.

At least, they were good at improvising...

**************

The train stopped, interrupting Aster, Klenia and Mikani in their talk.

“It looks like our ride has arrived...” Shayna commented. Suddenly, she stopped herself. Someone was currently opening the door from the outside.

“Hide!” she said.

The others didn't question her order and scattered in the wagon.

Shayna felt her heart rate accelerate. Could it be Reka? Hieron was confident that no one knew about their itinerary, but she had learned the hard way that the criminal could be very persistent...

A lone woman entered.

Shayna breathed in relief. It wasn't Reka or any of her cronies. The newcomer was a brown-haired woman in her mid-thirties. A clipboard in her hand, she was dressed in blue coveralls, and thick black shoes. Judging by her clothes, this woman was a mere worker, probably here for a routine check before the train was unloaded.

The brunette started to inspect the crates.

Shayna hesitated to intervene. While not a danger to their lives, the woman could still become a threat if she chose to make a fuss after discovering them. The former thief got ready to jump her.

Ultimately however, she didn't have the time to put her plan into action. The events forced her hand.

“What the? Who are you?”

The worker had come across some of her friends.

“No one of consequences.” Aster answered.

“In fact, it's best if you forget about us.” Klenia added.

“You are not allowed here. This is a goods train. You're stowaways. I'm calling the security.”

Mikani had already sneaked behind her. She closed the door before the worker could leave the wagon.

“Looks like your wish has been granted...” the black-haired young woman said to her friend.

Klenia smiled.

The worker gasped in fear.

She was grabbed by the collar.

The wagon's walls muffled the sounds of the brief struggle.

**************

Ten minutes later, four women were leaving the wagon.

They closed the door behind them, giving some privacy to the strictly trussed up brown-haired worker, now clad in her red tank top and black briefs. The woman's mouth was filled with her own long socks, held in place by a cloth gag.

All smiles, Klenia was displaying her freshly-acquired new uniform.

**************

Coral was currently busy filing her nails. Today there wasn't any flight to Frontier at South Window's international airport, so Helen and she were trying to kill time in the apartment Max had rented for them. Time was passing slowly now that Reka and the others had taken the flight.

Coral quickly glanced at Helen, who was currently reading something on her computer with a disinterested look.

Of course, Coral would have preferred going with her boss to Frontier. But she knew Reka was right, even if she wasn't happy about it. They needed to leave a few people behind in South Window to watch things there. And, as a native from Okéanis, Coral was the most likely to blend in. The others drew lots and Helen drew the short stick.

Still, Coral couldn't help but feel livid. She still wanted to avenge...

Suddenly, Helen let out a scream of surprise, making Coral nearly fall from her chair.

“What's your deal?!” she shouted.

Helen pointed the online article she had come across.

“Listen to this! 'A worker of South Window's railroad company found bound and gagged inside a goods train. She told the police that she was assaulted by a group of three women. They knocked her out before stealing her uniform...' It happened, like, a buch of hours ago!”

Coral blinked, the time for the information to sink in. Then, she jumped off her chair.

“That's them! This has their pawprints all over it!”

“The fools... Giving away their position just like that...”

“Send a message to Reka! I'll check the dates of the next flights to Frontier! We'll have to keep a careful eye on the international airport these days. Hopefully, they haven't left the country yet...”

**************

Emery was furious.

Who did these bimbos think they were?

After days of unfruitful search in Naïad, she had come to the realization that her preys had probably already taken refuge in Okéanis. She was about to cross the Okéani border with her team, but then the local customs officers denied them their right to pass. Emery and her team were considered a private militia and, therefore, unwelcomed. The agreement between Okéanis and the Federation be damned...

Just give some fools a badge and a uniform, and they think the sun shines out of their a... Emery shook her head.

She was furious, but at the same time she was glad. These fools thought they were so superior? It was time to teach them a lesson.

A definitive lesson.

Emery looked at the people composing her small team. They were five.

Cynthia was the best at looking innocent, with her short size and her black hair tied into two small girlish pigtails that made her look younger than she really was.

Yuna was from the Province of Kachikuni. The red-haired woman had spent all her childhood and adolescence working in the family ranch and had therefore a big stamina.

Agria was the best student of the promotion Emery was training. Tall and athletic, but without losing her femininity, the brown-haired dark-skinned woman from Korê was professional and efficient. In many aspects, she reminded Emery of herself.

Presa had a body a lot of women would have envied: beautiful, but without becoming vulgar. She was very good at using her feminine charms to deal with unsuspecting targets.

Cleo was the latest recruit. The blond-haired woman was one of her most skilled subordinates, but Emery suspected that she was also the most soft-hearted. She was keeping an eye on her.

They were all currently under her training. After the civil war, Cérès had made her an instructor, tasking her with training new 'special combatants'. To everyone's surprise, Emery turned out to be a good teacher.

There were other 'special combatants' in training, but Emery had only kept the women of her escort.

That way, she was hoping to put the blame of the upcoming operation on Reka's team of all-female mercenaries. Hieron had told her that the former criminal had recently staged a fake assault on another border crossing point to try to pin the blame on the Federation. Emery intended to plant evidences leading to the remnants of the Callianass Cartel.

However, this time the assault wasn't going to be fake... And, hopefully, it would put an end to the tolerance Okéanis showed towards Reka's actions.

They had waited the middle of the night, in order to strike at a time where the customs office would be almost empty. But these hours of wait were worth it. There wouldn't also be any circulation on this specific road, as it wasn't the main artery of communication between Okéanis and the Federation. And, icing on the cake, the officers in service were still the ones who dared refuse them the crossing of the border.

Emery took a deep breath. The coolness of the night reminded her of her own past missions... When she and the other special combattants were sent to assault isolated army outposts, with the darkness as their only ally...

Oh yes, she would enjoy this. Of course, with her leg, she wouldn't be able to lead the assault. But she would content herself with seeing these arrogant bimbos dead... This time, there would be no Hieron or no Aster to pull her back. By the time Hieron would get wind of the massacre, she would already be in Okéanis with no clue leading to her or her team.

Emery was about to send the signal to start the attack, when her cellphone vibrated.

The former assassin let out an exasperated sigh.

“What is it now Hieron?” she barked on the phone.

“Hi! Just wanted to say that you have our support for the operation you're about to perform. After all, the Okéanis broke off the agreement first when they staged their false attack to try to embarrass us. I'll deal with the political repercussions, don't worry. However, I'll remind you that I don't want bodies. You're supposed to stop Aster and her pals from causing a diplomatic incident, not create one yourself. Anyway, I know you're busy so I wouldn't want to impose. Bye!”

He hung up before she could retort something.

Emery remained motionless for a moment, her hands shaking because of anger. She violently closed her cellphone, then glanced at each member of her squad. There was no way Hieron could have known so quickly about her plan without someone warning him. Which one had snitched on her? She watched each woman but no one betrayed any emotion. In a way, she was a little satisfied.

It meant that they were good enough to fool her.

“Orders from above. We will do it the nice way...” the former assassin finally spat.

The others silently nodded. They put their hoods on, their night vision goggles, and hid their lower faces with a scarf.

**************

The operation went smoothly.

In fact, Emery found it disgustingly easy. The officers had clearly become complacent after weeks of boring routine.

One woman was even sneaking outside for a smoke break, showing a clear lack of professionalism. The brown-haired twat nearly wet herself when five well-armed masked women came out of the night and surrounded her. She didn't even try to fight back and surrendered immediately. A nerve pinch put her out of commission and she was dragged out of sight by Agria and Cleo, in one of the building's blind spots.

By the time Emery's team had regrouped, another custom officer had decided to check why her colleague was taking so long. She was tall and athletic, probably an adept of fitness centers, and her brown hair were tied into the long braid that used to be worn by the antique warrior women of Ares.

And yet she still whimpered pathetically when she surrendered without a fuss. A quick nerve pinch, and the unconscious woman was then thrown on her comrade.

Afterwards, Emery's squad entered the building.

While they were on their way to the main hall, they came across an agent exiting the door leading to the toilets. A punch in the guts made her bend double in pain and a quick chop to the neck took her down.

Emery's team finally arrived in the main hall. The three remaining customs officers were there. Two were drinking coffee. Facing four machine guns, they surrendered.

Cynthia came out of the building and motioned Emery that the coast was clear. The former assassin entered the customs post just as Agria and Cleo were leaving to drag in the building the two unconscious guards they neutralized outisde. In the corridor, Cynthia was now doing the same with the woman lying in the toilets.

In the main room, Presa and Yuna were watching the three remaining captured guards, who were lying face down on the floor, hands behind the back of their heads.

Agria, Cleo, and Cynthia quickly joined their teammates, dragging three unconscious brown-haired women.

Emery gave a quick nod of acceptance to her agents. Even if she was now unable to take part in the action because of her leg, she was satisfied to see that her lessons were starting to pay off. These women were already good before. – Cérès had selected them to become 'special combatants' for a reason. – But Emery was confident that, with their training, they were going one day to become better than her.

The former assassin then coldly glared at the customs officers, her face still hidden by her scarf.

“Strip them. We'll use their clothes to avoid the authorities. Afterwards, use the ties I showed you. The painful ones.”

**************

Fifteen minutes later, dressed in stolen uniforms, Emery and her squad climbed in a stolen van. They were leaving behind six naked hog-tied women lying on the cold tiled floor. Their mouths were filled with their own panties and they were gagged with tape. A tight crotch-rope was making their struggles very painful.

“We're going to South Window. That's the only town in Okéanis to have an air service with Frontier. We will find our preys here.” Emery ordered.

**************

“Now the question is, how do we leave the country?” Shayna asked.

“From South Window's airport, we can reach two cities.” Aster explained. “The first is Beryl, Frontier's capital city, to the north of the country. The second is Opal, the huge casino town in the south-west, at the entrance of the desert. Hieron has a contact in each town, so we can choose whichever we want. Though Beryl is the most logical choice. It's bigger and we would have more chance to find the informations we are looking for.”

“Then it's settled. We embark on the next plane.” Klenia happily concluded.

Mikani raised her hands. “Now, hold on a minute! Don't forget that Reka and her cronies might still be in the town, looking for us. Also, we're not exactly welcomed in Okéanis. We can't afford being recognized by the authorities. And we don't know if Emery had already reached South Window either.”

“Mikani's right.” Aster said. “We can't just go blindly ahead. We need a plan.”

“You know…” Klenia intervened. “I’m just saying… But…”

She showed them an article in today’s newspaper.

“Matilda’s handball team had won its match in Olympus, and they have been selected to play a game in Frontier...”

“Klenia! We already have had that talk!” Mikani. “The answer is no. Leave these girls alone.”

Klenia pouted. “So unfair...”

“So, it means that we will have to find something else.” Shayna concluded.

“But we will have to do it quickly, before our enemies reach us first.”

**************

Entering South Window was as easy as taking over the customs post. With their stolen van adorned by the customs symbol, Emery's squad could easily masquerade as officers and stop any coming vehicle. They simply waited for an opportunity to arise on the side of a road running through a forest.

The minibus was carrying a quintet of musicians dressed in black shoes, black pantyhoses, black skirts, and black shirts. They didn't even try to put up a fight.

At least, these women had the excuse of not being trained in combat...

Though Emery had to admit that two of them made a strange comment when they understood what was going to happen. They said that it was 'Just like last time' and that they knew they shouldn't have taken this road again.

The five women and their driver were left tied with ropes to some trees deep in the forest, gagged, and with nothing but their undies to protect their modesty.

Emery masqueraded as the driver. She didn't like the new clothes, but they would help them conceal their identities for the time being. Now that they were in South Window, finding Aster and the others would only be a matter of time.

**************

“The flight attendants then?” Mikani proposed.

“Too risky. I don't think we would be able to easily leave the airport once we arrived...” Aster answered.

“What about some passengers then?”

“We would be very lucky if we found four women ready to board the plane by themselves."

“At this rate, we'll have to try to buy our tickets...” Shayna intervened.

“And risk getting exposed? We're not exactly welcomed in Okéanis...”

“I think we could ask someone I know...” Klenia suddenly said. “We do have some allies living here...”

**************

Ashley and Tamiko immediately recognized them, but they wisely chose to keep their distance. Especially since Klenia and Shayna were now accompanied by two more people.

Carnela also recognized them, and agreed to see them.

“First of all, I'd like to thank you for the number you did in the Insuricare building. Now that he's drawn the attention of the police and his reputation is ruined, Trascias will need months to recover.”

“And the Federation knows about all his dirty businesses. They will do everything they can to crush him.” Klenia added.

The business woman happily rubbed her hands together. “Perfect!” She then paused herself, and added: “Though I guess that you didn't come back simply to share these news with me.”

“I thought that we could pursue our profitable partnership.” Klenia answered.

She quickly explained to the businesswoman that they needed help to board the next plane to Frontier.

Carnela slowly and thoughtfully rubbed her chin.

“I may have a solution.” she finally said. “I regularly send some dancers to perform in the city of Opal. You could take their place.”

“Perfect!”

It wasn't the capital city Beryl, but they couldn't afford to be picky right now.

“There's one catch though.” Carnela added.

“Which is?”

“I will tell you about their schedule, but I won't tell my dancers about this operation. You will have to... acquire their tickets by yourselves.”

Aster, Mikani, and Shayna exchanged puzzled looks. Klenia was opening big bright eyes.

“You actually *want* us to mug your dancers?” Aster said.

“Of course. You have to understand that, if a lot of money is at stake during these events, the things that have even more money at stake are the insurance contracts covering my girls' well-being.”

Aster was the first to understand. “An insurance scam...” she said out loud.

“Yes. Hence the reason why my girls won't be in the know. I wouldn't want them to make a mistake during the questioning. Insurance companies are notorious for being stingy. They would look for any excuse to deny me payment...” Carnela paused, before feeling the need to add: “Also, of course, I will ask you to not harm them. I saw what you did to poor Tamiko...”

“Well, she asked for it.” Klenia retorted.

"We'll be careful." Aster interrupted her.