A New Beginning

Chapter Five

The girls stared at Elizabeth.

"What?" Joann said flatly.

"You heard me." Bond flopped back onto her bed.

Julia was perplexed. "But I thought you hated him."

"That's what I tried to make it look like," Elizabeth replied, wiping away some tears.

Anastasia scratched her head. "Well, you succeeded."

Joann stared thoughtfully at Elizabeth for some time.

"I don't see the big deal." She finally said.

Julia smacked her arm, "He's her brother! Now she can't be with him!" Joann smacked Julia back. "I didn't mean it like that!" Joann looked back at Bond and question the group. "This can work; we can make it work. I mean, don't cousins marry each other all the time?"

Romanov rolled her eyes, "Yeah, but not siblings!" Joann sighed and fell back on her bed. "Pretty much the same, no?" Romanov, who was in the midst of shining her boots, laughed. "No, it's not. Although, it's not illegal." She stood up. "C'mon you guys. We're gonna be late to the meeting with the General." Joann got up and grumbled, "Yeah, well, she might as well do it, before it becomes illegal." Bond chuckled, "And what if I can't?" Joann cackled. "I guess we'll have to find out."

• • •

"Come in, girls," The General said without looking up, to the foursome standing in the doorway.

Joann glanced at the other three before stepping into the room and standing at attention. The others followed suit soon after, and the General motioned for them to shut the door. Romanov turned to take care of that, and the click of the door was lost in the sound of the General clearing her throat.

"Well, ladies, it seems that you are prepared," she eyed the thick folder Bond had tucked under her arm, "I assume that's your research?"

"Yes, ma'am," Bond confirmed, "We're mentally set."

"And," the General continued as if Bond hadn't spoken, "I assume you know the correct equipment to take with you?"

"Yes we do!" Romanov responded enthusiastically, "I searched up everything about the spirit and packed all we need to be more or less safe."

"Well, get rid of it," The General picked up a pen from her desk and twirled it with her fingers as Romanov looked on in shock, "This spirit is nothing like you have ever seen before. Normal defenses will not be as powerful as they are to a normal enemy."

"So, does that mean we go in unguarded?" Joann asked incredulously, "With all due respect, ma'am--"

"No, Agent Whiting," the General snapped, "You will do as I say. Forget all you read and just charge into the battle. That's the only way you can hope to defeat it."

"Um, if you don't mind me asking," Julia blinked, "How do you know so much about it?"

The General collapsed onto her chair with a sigh.

"I knew somebody was going to ask," she frowned at each girl in turn, "Very well. All you need to know is that I have had an encounter with this one before. It is very dangerous, but you four are capable of handling it- if, and only if, you listen to my advice and fight blindly."

"Is that all, ma'am?" there was an underlying iciness to Romanov's tone.

"Yes, that is all," The General waved her hand dismissively, "Leave as soon as you can." with a curt nod, Romanov pulled open the door and ducked out, the heels of her boots clicking on the tiled floors, sounding like gunfire as she stalked away. Joann gave a nod to the General, too, and hurried off after Romanov.