A Long and Dark Night, Part 6
Near the Persian border - December 27
Angela didn’t say anything else for several hours. Alexandra didn’t want to say anything about the matter, and neither did anyone else. Time passed so slowly on the road from Basra, especially with the Walkman off. It felt like an eternity before the highlands of Persia appeared over the horizon. She didn’t feel relieved at the sight, only more determined to get there. After the disaster in Basra, she had no room for a second failure. She wasn’t going to lose Anders and Diana’s son after they had entrusted him to her. She wasn’t going to lose Thea and Magnus. She wasn't going to lose Alexandra again. She would get them over the border, at any cost.
“Mom, you look so tense,” Alexandra said.
“Yes, what of it?” Angela finally said.
“Look, we’re almost there,” Alexandra said.
“No, we’re not,” Angela said, “I just know Argus is right behind us. They’ve likely gotten drones watching the border. One frak-up—”
“I know, we’ll die,” Alexandra said.
“I don’t care if I die,” Angela said, “But protecting you and the others is all I care about now. I’m not going to lose you again.”
The road grew steeper and curved through the hills. Angela shifted into a higher gear and maintained her current speed, constantly checking her mirrors for any possible pursuers. Suddenly, she swerved off the Autobahn onto a side road.
“Where are you going?” Alex said.
“They’re no doubt watching the main crossing,” Angela said, “There’s an old tunnel to the north of here, running through the mountain. It was built as part of the first Autobahn expansion under Adenauer and discontinued in the 80s. My grandfather used to drive through it for his Inquisition business. Argus probably doesn’t expect us to use it.”
They entered the tunnel. Angela turned on the lights to illuminate the dark road and carefully navigated around the debris strewn everywhere.
“It’s quiet,” Magnus said.
“Almost too quiet,” Alex said.
“You’re right,” Angela said, “Something feels off.”
She stopped the car, pulled a syringe out of the glove compartment, and injected her arm with what was inside. Pain flared in her arm, and she winced.
“Mom?” Alexandra said. “What are you doing?”
“Taking a precaution,” Angela said, “If all goes well, I won’t have to use it.”
She also took out a pistol and her Walkman, holstering the pistol and pushing the Walkman into Alexandra’s hands.
“Wait, Mom, what are you…” Alexandra said.
“For good luck,” Angela said.
She floored the gas pedal again. The Impala’s engine roared, its noise echoing up and down the dark tunnel. She locked eyes with the exit and charged. The tires screeched against the tarmac, throwing up smoke behind her, before the Impala hurtled down the tunnel. The exit grew closer, its light a sight for sore eyes. Just beyond that exit was Persia, and freedom.
But of course, it wouldn’t be that easy. Several spotlights giving off a sickly green light dramatically flipped on one by one, revealing several dozen Argus soldiers having taken up firing positions behind large pieces of debris and at the exit.
“Frak!” Angela cursed, hitting the brakes.
“Step out of the car!” Kurt ordered over a megaphone.
“Mom?” Alexandra said.
“You heard him,” Angela said, “I’ve got no choice.”
Alexandra saw Angela gripping her pistol.
“I have a plan for this,” Angela said.
“What do you mean?” Alexandra said.
“All you need to do is get in the driver’s seat,” Angela said, “When you get the signal, and you will know what that is, drive as fast as you can. I’ll hold them off.”
“Don’t say that, Mom,” Alexandra said, “We’re going to make it.”
“We both know that’s not going to happen,” Angela said, “My fate is set in stone. But yours? Yours is not. You have to live, Alexandra. All of you.”
“Mom, please!” Alexandra said.
Angela hugged her daughter one last time. “As long as you get out of here alive, I don’t care. Whatever happens, remember that I love you.”
She got out of the car and drew her pistol. The Argus soldiers advanced, their rifles’ laser sights all focused on Angela’s head.
“Kurt Moreau,” Angela said, “I haven’t seen you in maybe twenty years. You’ve grown.”
“So have you, Agent Hansen,” Kurt said, “You know how it goes. Surrender now, and maybe we’ll spare you.”
“No!” a familiar voice said.
Theodor Tesla pushed Kurt aside and drew his own pistol.
“Theodor Tesla?” Angela said.
Theodor maniacally laughed. “I’m afraid you’re not getting special treatment today. Not even a former Athanatos of your renown would get special treatment from me.”
“Well, I wasn’t expecting any,” Angela said, “I should’ve assumed you were responsible for this little ambush here.”
“Guilty as charged,” Theodor said, “Elias didn’t see the benefit in transferring the Polish units, but I did. Now prepare to die.”
“I think you underestimate just exactly who I am,” Angela said, “And what I can do.”
“Really?” Theodor said. “You just have one gun, and you’re vastly outnumbered.”
“Go ahead and test that out,” Angela said.
She looked at Alexandra and nodded. Alexandra got the message and hit the gas pedal. The Impala rocketed towards the exit.
“No!” Theodor said. “Stop them!”
“I’m afraid I can’t let you do that,” Angela said.
She raised her left arm just as the soldiers opened fire. She concentrated on the hail of bullets zipping towards the Impala and focused on a single thought: protecting Alexandra. With a flick of her wrist, the bullets stopped in mid-air and dropped to the ground. The soldiers stopped in shock at the sight, but Theodor didn’t look surprised.
“So Mina’s reports were true,” he said.
With the Impala protected, Alexandra crashed through the barricades and drove through the exit. After a few seconds of confused murmuring, they turned back to Angela.
“You’ll regret that,” Theodor said.
“Nah,” Angela said, “Try me. I’ve got nothing to lose now.”
Theodor opened fire, emptying his clip in Angela’s direction. Angela snapped her fingers, and the bullets safely whizzed past her. She fired back at Theodor, but he ducked behind a barricade while his men kept shooting. Angela kept focusing on either stopping the bullets or at least deflecting them, but it took a lot of effort, and she quickly tired. Her gun also ran out of bullets faster than she thought. She couldn’t keep this up forever. Keeping her attention on the gunfire, she slowly made her way towards the exit. Theodor seemed to have gone out already, in pursuit of Alexandra. But as long as Alexandra stayed in the Impala, she should be—
Seconds after Angela registered the buzzing of a drone overhead, she saw a missile explode near the Impala, causing it to flip over, roll over several times, and crash into a tree in a burning wreck. Angela lost all concentration when she finally processed what had just happened.
“Alexandra…” she said. “NO!”
A shot rang out. She looked down and saw an exit wound in her stomach. She turned around and saw Josh behind her, his rifle still smoking. Her gun fell out of her hand and clattered on the cracked tarmac.
“I…I…I failed…” she said.
Perhaps it was fitting that she had chosen to wear Hans’ coat today, of all days. Still clutching her wound, she fell to her knees.
“Beg for mercy,” Josh said.
“Never,” Angela said, “That’s not who I am.”
“Who are you?” Josh said.
“My name’s Angela Hansen,” Angela said, “Ex-Athanatoi agent, survivor of the siege of Vienna, co-founder of X-Division, daughter to Erich Hansen, cousin to Anders Humboldt, friend to the Crown Princess Elisabeth Alexandra, and mother of Elisabeth Alexandra Hansen. If I’m going down, you’re all coming with me!”
She pounded the ground, which began shaking. Dust fell from the tunnel ceiling, followed by larger and larger pieces of debris. Josh fired another shot between Angela’s eyes, but by then, the tunnel collapsed, taking with it most of Argus.
---
No more resurrections.
