High Stakes - Part 1

Noreen’s home had a charming old European aesthetic. Nestled deep in the farmland, far from any city lights, it was the perfect location for someone with their own private airstrip and hangar. The hangar was more of an old barn, though.

John was dressed in a sleek, tactical black jumpsuit standing next to the barn. He knelt beside the metal suitcase and flipped it open, revealing an array of gadgets KJ had stashed away for him. Though he didn’t expect to use the decoys again, they had proven surprisingly effective.

Inside the case were a brand-new grapple belt and a few silver discs used to detonate the inflatable decoys. A few more items caught his attention: a sleek silver pen with a small handwritten note attached.

Dear John,

Can you test this out?

This pen shoots blow darts. You only have six shots. It works by clicking it. No refills. So be careful. Although using them in dangerous situations would be best. I mean, you’re supposed to do that, right? Plus, that’s way better for data.

On second thought, don’t be careful. By the way, let me know if you have any weird allergies. Not that it matters now. I probably should've asked first. You'll be fine. I'm like 99% sure. Unless you're allergic to Xylazine. I hope you know what that is. Also, if it gets on you and you’re allergic to it, that could be bad. It reacts on skin contact alone. Yeah, so… here.

–KJ.

He smirked. Typical KJ. Resourceful and desperate to try out his new gear. John would have to thank him when he got back.

There was also a standard pistol and a pair of durable tactical gloves. Nothing extraordinary, but clearly high quality and useful for climbing. John geared up, strapping everything to his suit with precision.

Soon, Noreen emerged from her home, dressed in a vintage flight suit. Green slacks, a brown leather jacket, a white scarf, and even an old-school flight helmet with goggles.

“What’s with the getup?” John asked.

“What do you mean?” Noreen asked back. “This flight suit’s been in my family for generations! It’s my lucky flying fit. And if we’re sneaking under a blimp, I need all the luck I can get.”

“So, where’s the plane?”

With a confident grin, Noreen swung open the massive barn doors. Inside stood a stunning cherry-red biplane. Though designed in a vintage style, it clearly was made in the last few years. It had a larger propeller, aerodynamic modifications, and boomerang-shaped wings. It even had submachine guns and a hook on the bottom of it.

John whistled. “I’ve never seen a biplane like this. It’s gorgeous.”

“Damn right,” Noreen said proudly. “Best one there is! I fly it in dogfight competitions in Germany.”

“Germany? I thought dogfights were for jets.”

“Nowadays, sure. But there are underground vintage tournaments. Some official, some not. I just like knowing I’m the best pilot out there. There’s something magical about flying these. When you go biplane to biplane, you can actually see your opponent’s face. None of that impersonal crap you get with supersonic jets these days. I mounted this thing with guns just in case I got to mess up some care packages. I even have a hook at the bottom to catch any that are falling by chute.”

“A hook?”

“Yeah, in those fights, sometimes people are air-dropped supplies while they load on the ground. That hook allows this baby to grab parachutes right out of the sky. The underground is surprisingly full of faithful sponsors.”

“Speaking of the underground,” John asked, “is that how you and Mango reconnected?”

Noreen laughed. “It is, but that’s a story for another day.” She glanced toward the house, then leaned in. “While she’s in the bathroom, I need to make something clear.”

She stepped close and poked John in the chest. “You better not get my cousin killed.”

“I don’t plan on it,” John said calmly.

“I’m serious,” Noreen repeated, her voice firm. There was this look in her eyes. As if she had morphed into another person, like before when she was upset. “Michelle’s had a rough life. She doesn’t need someone screwing up what little peace she has left. Promise me you’ll take care of her.”

John felt a heavy weight settle on his shoulders. The way Noreen looked at him made it clear. He was glad to see someone cared for her. He nodded.

“I’ll protect her. I promise.”

Noreen exhaled. “Also, for the record,” she added, “she calls herself Mango, but her name is Michelle. No idea where the nickname came from, but if you ever find out, let me know. It’s so damn weird. I thought she hated mangoes…”

John chuckled. “I’ll definitely let you know if I figure it out.”

Noreen reached into her jacket and pulled out her phone. “Here, give me your number. Just in case something happens.”

John took the phone and began typing. Midway through, a loud throat-clear interrupted them.

“Ahem,” said Mango, now standing beside them.

John jolted slightly, quickly locking the phone and handing it back. “Hey,” he said quickly.

“Why exactly are you giving her your number?” Mango asked, crossing her arms.

“She just asked for it,” John said.

Noreen laughed. “Oh, Michelle, so this really is your man! Not just some guy you know.”

Mango blushed, averting her eyes. “I never said that. In fact, that reminds me that someone hides giant secrets from people they say they love and have sex with in closets! So we’re not even on good terms right now. He’s an idiot. I don’t care!”

Noreen grinned as she glanced at the saved contact and slid the phone into her breast pocket. “Sure, sure,” she said with a knowing smile. “To be fair, I did ask for it. Never know when you might run off again. I need some way to send the Christmas card.”

As she passed Mango, she gave her a playful nudge. “Just don’t lose him,” Noreen whispered with a wink, before heading off to prep the plane.

Mango glared at John.

“What?” John asked, hands raised. “She just asked for my contact in case of an emergency.”

Mango scoffed and lifted her chin. She walked off without another word.

John hurried after her. “I’m serious! Nothing just happened. I swear! Are you really mad at me again?”

**********************************************

The biplane had only two seats. There was one in front with the flight controls and one directly behind it. This meant that for the entire flight over, Mango had to sit in John’s lap.

John didn’t mind. He loved the shape of her body and the way she felt against him. Mango, however, spent the whole flight pouting. Every time he grabbed her hips over a turbulence bump, she’d shove him in the chest.

“What?” John shouted over the fast wind. “If you fall out, you could get hurt! There is only one parachute on board, and neither of us is wearing it.”

“Whatever,” Mango yelled back. “Just be happy you get to touch me at all.”

“A lover’s quarrel?” Noreen called out sarcastically from the pilot seat.

“Shut up!” Mango snapped. “You’re always talking too damn much.”

Noreen laughed. John smiled. Despite the bickering, it was nice to see Mango having a playful exchange with her cousin. She always seemed like such a loner, but it was clear she enjoyed having Noreen around.

Soon, they flew beneath the blimp.

It was oddly constructed. It had two massive balloons, each with its own gondola, connected by a network of metal support rods between the balloons.

The gondolas attached underneath the balloons were of a large size. About the size of two trailers. Clearly designed for advanced operations and a long sustained flight. John stared at it, scratching his head.

“Fantastic,” John said to Noreen. “Which one am I supposed to take you to?”

“Good question,” said Noreen. “Also, do you even know how to get on? I mean, it’s not like it has a front door or anything.”

Mango turned toward John. “Yeah. How did you know there were two gondolas?”

John shook his head. “I didn’t. But of course there are. Just my luck. I have no idea which one he’s in either.”

“So, what now?” Mango asked. “If we choose the wrong one, we could lose him forever. Laz isn’t stupid. If he sees us, he’ll book it.”

John stroked his chin in thought. “Noreen,” he said, “can you get close enough to one of the gondolas, out of the cockpit’s view, so we can peek inside through the windows?”

“Please,” Noreen scoffed. “What kind of pilot do you think I am?”

“But what if he sees us?” Mango asked.

“There’s no way,” Noreen replied. “This blimp doesn’t have the tech to detect a low-tech plane like mine.”

She steered the biplane up and under the blimp, moving it close to the rear of the right gondola. There was a small bridge connecting the two gondolas at the center.

John leaned forward. In the right gondola, he saw a large computer setup and several armed guards in a large room. Then there was a door leading to the section of the bridge. Then some other back room.

“That must be the central computer,” John said. “It’s probably connected to the CIA’s network. And even if it’s not, whatever files Laz is working on will be stored there.”

Mango nodded. “Then that one’s mine!”

Noreen dove, swooping under the blimp and reappearing near the left gondola. There were rows of commercial seats. The blimp at some time must’ve taken passengers in the past. John spotted Laz pacing back and forth inside the cockpit. There was a large screen that he seemed to be talking to, but John couldn’t make it out.

Then they dropped under the blimp again. Ahead, a thick wall of clouds hovered in the sky.

“We should wait until the visibility clears,” Noreen advised. “Flying through this could be dangerous.”

“There’s no time,” John said. He turned to Mango. “Do you still have my belt?”

“Yeah,” she said, pulling it out. She quickly put it on.

John handed her a pair of tactical climbing gloves. “Take these.”

“What are you two planning to do?” Noreen asked. “Ask them to pull over? We should tell them to roll down the window. ‘License and registration, sir.’”

“Not exactly. Mango,” John said, “grapple onto the backside of the right gondola. There’s a back door near the engine windows. From there, climb into the rafters. You should be able to enter the gondola undetected.”

“And the guards?” Mango asked. “If they see me as I drop down, they’ll shoot. If a single shot goes off, we’re screwed. I don’t know about this.”

“It’s okay,” John replied calmly. “We’ll stay right below you. If anything happens, we’ll be there in seconds. Plus, they know where they are. They won’t dare shoot in there.”

“Okay…” Mango took a deep breath.

“You’ve got this,” Noreen said. “I mean, I’ve never seen anyone do something like this before, but if you fall, we’ll catch you. John’s got a parachute ready.”

Mango nodded, her mind still stirring as she exhaled slowly. “Okay. Okay. Let’s do this.”

The biplane circled back to the rear right gondola of the blimp. As it aligned, Mango carefully climbed out of John’s lap. He gave her a light pat on the butt. She spun around and glared at him.

He just gave her a sly smile. Mango rolled her eyes and grinned back.

She climbed up to Noreen’s seat, balancing carefully. When she got there, Noreen banked the plane sharply to the right, distancing them from the gondola. When they were far enough away, Noreen whipped the plane back left, angling it to about 45 degrees. She was in perfect alignment. Now or never.

Mango aimed from the cockpit and fired the grappling belt.

The hook landed perfectly on it. It was right above the rear gondola door.

She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, allowing her confidence to build. Then, with one press of a silver button, she zipped across the open air.

THUD!

Mango slammed against the side of the blimp. Her breath caught in her throat as she hit it hard. She instinctively looked down, and what she saw made her stomach twist.

Beneath her were tens of thousands of feet of nothing. Then they suddenly went into the clouds, and not being able to see the ground made it all the more worse.

“What is she doing?” Noreen asked.

“I don’t know,” John replied.

Mango couldn’t look away. Her heart was pounding. Her grip tightened on the gondola handle. She was really doing this. One misstep or malfunction, like back at the restaurant, and it was all over. She was sure she wouldn’t survive the fall.

Her hand trembled as she reached for a small utility knife. She struggled to hold it steady in the wind. She jabbed at the door’s lock, but her normally skilled fingers fumbled.

It shocked her.

She’d picked locks in high-speed car chases, hanging off the backs of trains, but never in mid-air. And the wind was absolutely brutal. She prided herself on not needing any kind of lock-picking skill in her FOCUS because she was that good. And yet here she was, fumbling around.

Then from below, she heard John’s voice call out: “You’ve got this!”

She looked down and saw him and Noreen watching her. They were there, right beneath her. The fear began to melt.

“Just focus on the sound of my voice!” said John. “You’ve done this a thousand times! It’s like riding a bike. Get on and your body will do the rest!”

She closed her eyes and focused. She wasn’t thousands of feet above the Earth. She was just a few feet above the people who cared about her. Her hands steadied.

Mango slipped the knife to the side of her belt and pulled out a lock pick kit. It was a triple-chamber lock. She studied the tumblers, took a breath, and went to work.

SNAP!

The hook pick snapped. Inside the hole. That’s ok, she thought, trying not to worry. This is why I bring extras.

She pulled out a lock pick, rake and hook this time. It was a three prong. First one through… second one good… SNAP!

Damn! she thought, I only have one more left! Come on, Michelle, are you a thief or not?!

She let the pieces fall into the open sky. She pulled out her last rake and hook. She pecked at it and pecked and then–

CLICK!

Finally, the lock popped open. She pushed the door ajar, peeked inside, and then turned back and waved to them below. She gave John a thumbs up. He and Noreen returned the gesture. She smiled and slipped inside the gondola.

“All right,” said Noreen. “Now it’s your turn.”

John nodded silently. The FOCUS AI spoke in his mind.

<<<>>>

[New Mission]

[Mission: Defeat Laz, Acquire codes, Get Mango’s CIA file deleted]

[Rewards: More Data XP, Mental gadget connectivity.]

[Warning: Possible CIA termination.]

[Do you accept?]

[Yes or No]

John groaned audibly. “If there was ever a time to doubt myself, this isn’t it,” he said. “I accept.”

<<<>>>

[Mission: Start!]

A timer started at the bottom of the screen.