Rescued: A Nyssara Story

Chapter 33

SARA: The nightmares have finally stopped. It's been 1 whole month since my last one and 4 months since my first kill. I know that I'm not supposed to count my targets, but I can't help myself. I just today reached 30. He was a drab old man. I almost wished he was more interesting, or more of a challenge, but a kill is a kill, I suppose.

The art of the kill has become less of a burden, and more of a second nature or, dare I say it, entertainment. Since I'm different from the other members, I still long for amusement. I'm not allowed any companionships of any kind in or out of Nanda Parbat, so I make do with reading dictionaries of various languages and thinking of new and interesting ways to execute my targets.

It's hard to believe that today is the one year anniversary of my first night in Nanda Parbat. A year ago I was someone so different, and I was even more different a year before that. I cringe at the thought of myself before the Gambit. How could I have been so weak and idiotic? 

My father did have my sister and I learn self-defense when I was 15 because of stupid Gwen giving me a black eye...a well-deserved one I guess for flirting with her boyfriend, but still uncalled for. Laurel and I used our self-defense to fend off Gwen and her group of friends, and that was great and all, but is that my only feat from before the Gambit? I was just a dumb kid that dated misfits, shoplifted, and hotwired cars for fun until I was 18 (because then my dad couldn't get the charges dropped for me anymore). At that age, Nyssa was probably at least 1000 kills into her career, knew like 10 languages already and traveled the world. How trivial my life was before the Gambit baffles me. Almost like I was just a fictional character from one of those teen drama shows. 

Thankfully, my thoughts are interrupted by a light knock at my door. It's not time for any food, so I go to the door and open it to find the Heiress standing tall in the hall holding a paper bag and wearing a pair of dark jeans, a leather jacket on top of a tank top, and some stylish boots.

I kneel at the sight of her.

"You may stand," she says.

As I stand, she continues: "Ra's believes you are ready for a multi-target mission. This mission will be assessed by me similarly to your first mission. We are to leave immediately."

"May I query, Heiress?" I ask.

"Yes, go on."

"How many targets?"

"It is a group of 13. They are most likely untrained in combat, but they may have firearms available. I do not foresee any issues, for you are more than capable."

I nod.

She hands me the paper bag. "Here are some civilian clothing for blending in. Pick an outfit out to wear now. Pack enough for a week, we will be traveling by plane. Meet me at the front gate," she says.

I nod and she turns and walks away. I go back into my quarters, retrieve my travel bag, and put it on the bed. I remove the contents from the paper bag and find two outfits.

A pulse of excitement enters my body as I lay eyes on the civilian clothing. I haven't worn clothes like this since before the Gambit. I find a smile creep through to my face. I clear my throat and push the feelings away.

I put on an outfit.

Why does Nyssa know how I'd dress as a civilian. This is honestly what I'd wear if I were Sara Lance back in America finishing off her college degree. Right, she has done research on me. She knew my stupid high school nickname that Gwen gave me so of course she would most likely know about who I was in college. Or at least, what I liked to wear. 

I stop myself from pondering further.

"Stop it. Stop that. I've been doing so well," I whisper to myself. "Stop thinking of the past. The past is gone. Sara Lance is gone."

I fold the clothing, put it into the bag, and add some other things I need for the trip. I walk out and make my way to the front gate.

This is it. This is the entertainment I've been needing. Staying in the stronghold all the time and going on short missions have not been enough to keep me entertained. This is a real challenge.

I meet the Heiress as I'm meant to. She hands me a wallet and a passport. I open the passport to find an older picture of me and some random name listed with it.

"May I query, Heiress?" I ask.

She nods.

"Where are we going?"

"There is a small group in the outskirts of Central City that we've been tasked with eliminating. Ra's found it to be perfect for your skill level."

I nod. She starts walking and I follow close behind.

The drive was long and silent, and boarding the plane was simple. We sit in first class. Nyssa reads a small, unlabeled book next to me while I gaze out the window at the clouds. How do I entertain myself on a 40 hour flight? Everyone around us has books. I wish I had brought a dictionary to test my Spanish with or something. I just close my eyes and drift off.

When I awaken, Nyssa is reading a different book. She looks over to me and notices that I'm awake.

She retrieves the other book from before and hands it to me along with a small piece of fabric.

"Do not fold the corners of my book like a heathen," she says quietly to me. "And do not tell my father that I entertained you with such a book."

I nod. I open the book to find that it's a collection of Emily Dickinson poems. I've heard of her from somewhere. School, most likely. I never did pay much attention for most of school and I was never really into poetry.

I flip to the first page to find it covered with annotations written in Nyssa's familiar handwriting. The notes are gibberish, though. I open my mouth to ask why it's written like that, but she answers before I can get a word out:

"My thoughts are my own, Yellow Bird. It is imperative when writing your mind into the physical world where other's could discover it that you make it only intelligible to yourself."

"You made a secret code?"

"I have many codes. I suggest you devise one of your own, even if you don't end up needing it."

"May I query?"

"You already have before the request, but you may once more."

"Yes, my apologies. But I only wonder why you didn't code your notes in those meditation books and such that you gave me."

"Notes on educational matters I felt needed to remain readable because it could help another learn. And as I see you now and how far you've come, I must be correct in that."

I nod. "Yes, thank you, Heiress. Your notes have helped."

She smiles slightly for a split second before becoming stern once more. "Enough socializing, Yellow Bird," she says blankly before going back to her book.

I look down at the poems and then back out the window. I think coming up with my own code would be a much more better use of my time than reading some old poems, as much as they may be great.

I have much to think about...

When we finally arrive to Central City, Nyssa has a car ready for us in the lot already. I don't ask how, mostly because I assume she has connections everywhere around the world to do favors for her or the League in general.

She drives us to a small safe-house somewhere on the outskirts of the city. We have a quick meal, change into sleep-ware, and then go to our rooms to rest with hardly 10 words spoken between the two of us. 

Tomorrow, I must scout the targets and asses correct action for the executions of 13 targets. I'm not sure how involved Nyssa will get, hopefully no interference will happen at all. I don't want a repeat of my first evaluation with her where she did all of the work for me. I don't need help anymore. I am capable. I am strong. I am lethal. I am Ta-er al Sahfer.