The Dragon Awakens

Chapter Twenty Three

Lanie stood across the street from Capital Hall in a pressed red business suit, one of the pieces from her mothers 2017 fall collection. Her hair was down and straight, brushing the edges of her shoulders. She had a briefcase in one hand and her grandmother on the other arm. 

Everything in town was going on exactly like normal around her; no military parades, no celebrations, no rioting, just business as usual. Except for the three limos pulling up in front of the building escorted by five police cars and two undercover SUV's. Every man from her unit stepped out of those limos and marched up the steps where more armed guards stood waiting. Lanie watched Po, Linc, and Yao dressed in suits walk up the steps, heads bent together, and laughing at something. Po looked so silly in his oversized yellow suit she had to laugh. Only him. 

Then the smile dropped from her face when Shang stepped out last in an all-black suit to mourn the loss of his father. There was a shiny gold medal pinned to his right lapel. His eyes were downcast as he followed his men up the steps and met Clark at the doors who looked like he was already talking a mile minute and wearing his own fresh silk suit, a light navy color. It probably only took a few minutes for all the men to go inside but Lanie felt like she'd been standing there for an hour. 

"Do you remember everything?" her grandmother asked, squeezing Lanie's forearm. 

Lanie's eyes slid to the nondescript service truck that had just parked on the side of the building. Five men climbed out in plain workers outfits and began unloading boxes with no labels. They were looking around suspiciously as they worked but they didn't notice her. "Yes. I remember all of it." 

"And remember-"

"No emotions. I know Nainai. I'm not new at this," Lanie snapped, straightening her shoulders. She marched across the street and up the steps with her grandmother at her side. The hobble that was usually in her walk was gone and Lanie knew it was taking her grandmother a considerable amount of effort to hide it but they both knew it was imperative they look every part the duo they were impersonating.

"Building is closed today ma'am," the guard said as soon as they'd mounted the steps. There were four of them but only the one by the door was looking at them. Lanie knew if she'd looked to her left they'd be unable to see the van.

"Yes I know," Lanie answered in a posh British accent. "But my grandmother here is Ms. Leanna Fa Washington and we have urgent businesses with Co-Coordinator and Vice President Mr. James Clark." 

The man glanced at Nainai who stared back at him, back straight and unmoving. "Please excuse me for just one moment." The officer turned and went inside to a small room they used as an office. There was a phone on the desk Lanie knew he would pick up, speed dial the number for Clark's office, and ask if they were expected. They already knew the answer would be a yes. It had all been handled a head of time. 

He came out two minutes later and held the door open for them. "I will escort you to his office." 

"Of course, thank you," Lanie nodded her head as she led her grandmother through the front doors and into the frigid cold lobby of the building. There was no one in here today save for the secretary stationed behind her large cement desk. She didn't even look at them as they walked by, her eyes trained on the screen in front of her. 

The officer punched the button of the elevator and in they went, up to the fifth floor where Clark's office would be. He, of course, would not be in his office but with the cavalry unit in the President's suite instead. The officer escorting them was none the wiser since Lanie had hacked into his phone last night and set a pre-recorded message to play whenever anyone called the phone. As soon as they got into the office Lanie could switch it back and no one would know.

"Have a nice day Mrs. Washington." The soldier opened the door for them and closed it firmly behind as soon as Lanie had stepped into the room. The office was large, sparsely furnished, and empty. Lanie walked around Clark's massive desk where one picture frame sat. It was him with the President, shaking hands on the podium where Clark would have been first appointed Vice President. He was beaming like a little kid and Lanie had to snort; that was just like him.

"Alright," Nainai took the briefcase from Lanie's hands and opened it. She took out a small black case and took out two small earbuds. "Here is your earpiece, I will sit here and monitor the security footage." She sat down in the chair and clicked some buttons and then suddenly the screens were showing ever square inch of the building including the ally with the delivery truck.

Lanie put the earpiece in her ear and took a gun out of the briefcase, the same one she'd brought with her to her training camp. She tucked it into her waistband and gave her grandmother a curt nod. "I'll see you at home then?"

"For tea." She smiled at her granddaughter and Lanie stepped out of the room and began jogging down the empty hallway to the staircase. Three flights up, down the hall, and sixth door on the right. It overlooked the ally.

"Kāihuā I hate to rush you but some soldiers just found the "delivery men" and are currently on their way up to the President's office via rappel lines. And the unit hasn't even made it to the office yet, they're still touring the bottom floors," Nainai told her calmly through the earpiece. Lanie stepped it up to three stairs at a time and threw open the door to the hallway right as Shang was approaching the door to the Presidents office.

"Don't open that door!" Lanie shouted, sprinting full speed down the hallway in her heels. Shang stopped in shock, his hand hesitating on the doorknob.

"Lanie they're in the room!" Nainai called. 

"Shang get down!" Lanie shouted right as the door exploded into the hallway.