The Diamond Spy

Ch.44 Desmond King

Desmond King

"I'm showing you this, kitten, so you understand," Dale is leaning back on the main control board after ordering Ace, Serge and Jose to head up and prepare STRIKE for our trip to Desmond King's place of residence, "It's the ultimate reason why you should trust in our choices. Let me make it clear," Dale reaches out a hand for my own as he stands up off the control board. He flicks a switch to light up the whole dash. I take his hand and watch him curiously as he wraps his own around the back of mine and he pulls me forward to stand in front of him.

He hovers my hand over the lit up dash of the control panel while my other hand clenches the gun he gave me.

The flickering lights have my eyes entranced and my hands are twitching on their own with the call of the control panel. It's such an odd thing.

"What is this sensation?" I whisper as he continues to hold my hand over the buttons.

"DNA memory, a new concept, proven to be a reality a hundred years ago," Dale murmurs and let's my hand go, "Press 'Launch'."

I see the big red button and I glance at him in confusion, as I know instantly it has to be a weapon pad.

I have an odd sense of trust in Dale now, including in my own fingers as I press the Launch button.

On a small computer screen above, writing appears 'Enter Launch Code'.

"Uh..." I find Dale grabbing my hand again and he hovers it over a key pad while my eyes scan over the number of digits that need to be entered.

"Twenty three," Dale answers for me, coming in so close I feel him right behind me as his hand leaves mine but he closes in my body so I can't back off from the control panel, "Guess on your first try, kitten."

What he asks is ridiculous, but guessing a random twenty three combination is pretty unlikely, even with a memory I didn't even have a feeling of.

It wasn't like any numbers were coming to mind.

I lay down my hand and start pressing random numbers.

9 6 3 5 1 7 5 3 8 5 5 6 7 2 3 9 1 7 4 5 6 3 7

After I've filled all twenty three slots, the control panel lights up 'Accepted. Preparing for launch in 60 seconds. 59 seconds. 58 seconds. 57 seconds...'.

I panic and try to turn into Dale but he leans forward and presses 'Cancel Launch' casually.

Then, he switches off the power to the control panel while maintaining a close proximity.

"Thanks for not breaking the key pad with your claws, kitten," Dale growls his approval in the most menacing way as he now faces me after I've turned into him, chest to chest... I feel like a midget as he places his hands either side of my hips and locks me in until I can't move.

"What is that?" I whisper up to the Lord of the Underworld, hoping to distract Dale from influencing my own heart... I wanted to say I missed them... but damn him and all of STRIKE's physical influence over my own body, "DNA memory?"

"The first time I randomly entered the numbers I didn't have a feeling either, or a memory to hold onto... I just did it... and I was as shocked as you were. I had to try multiple codes to make sure it wasn't just accepting random entries. I soon found out it only had one pass code," Dale happily explains while I'm squished back against the panel, "Only Casey, you and I know the launch codes," Dale explains, "Perhaps now you understand why, willing or not, enemy or ally... you're staying on a leash now. And my tolerance for your disobedience will be short lived if at all existent. Do you understand, Alyssa?" Dale tilts his head down at me.