"Where are the access codes?" He looked at me. I didn't have time for games. I shot his knee cap off. He screamed in agony. "I'm on a clock so don't lie to me or I'll make sure you never walk again. I'll ask one more time. Where are the access codes?" He looked stone lipped again. I cocked the gun
"Ok. It's right there, just don't kill me, I'm valuable to you." He pointed to the umbrella. I looked at him incredulously "It has a false bottom I swear…" I looked at the umbrella it was in an awkward position. I would lose sight of him if I stooped to pick it up. So I did the only logical thing. "Goodbye Morimoto it would've been an honor to play for you."
"Why are you doing this?" I paused looking at him "Are you doing this for your peace of mind? For power? For ideals? Do you think you can take down the world? What foolish dream is this?"
I looked at him not dropping the gun an inch. "Trust me when I say this. In this world there is nothing more dangerous, more powerful than a man with ideals. Especially when that man is me." He had a defeated look on his face before I pulled the trigger.
"No wait…" were the last words he said before I pulled the trigger. He hadn't been lying. The codes were right there. Closing the door to this mansion, I decided to sweep the place in case another person was present and to see if there was somewhere I could use these codes freely.
After entering several rooms there was no one I could find or sense. Granted after hearing the interaction I had with the owner of the house even if there were someone here they wouldn't be found easily. During my search I was able to find a well put away laptop. I was able to access the mainframe from the comfort of his own home and I wiped and outed 97% percent of China's intelligence work. They had no information about who my sister and I were though which was concerning. According to this, they received directive from the KGB that we were people of interest that were in proximity. Maybe Ny received more information. I set up a massive virus to attack and infect the rest of the government mainframe as planned, crumbling any future resurrection as a super power. I started getting an eerie feeling and decided to check my phone. I usually kept it off during missions. I saw that my sister tried to call me twice. I was going to call her back but I saw her text saying "Never mind. Didn't need you. Meet at rendezvous when finished" I was going to call her anyway but what was said didn't sit well with me. How could she say she didn't need me? I mean things had been rough between us and it was just a text message but to say you didn't need me? Maybe I was just being a baby. Whatever, I thought to myself, I think I just made my decision regarding… before I finished my thought process. Nala called. I couldn't help but smile.
"Hey gorgeous. I was actually just thinking about…
"About what Ty? Lying to me?!" I froze. "You're hiding something from me Ty. I can feel it"
"Babe…"
"Oi! No! Don't 'Babe' me right now Thylonius." She had never used my full name before. This was serious. "What 'appened in Tokyo? What 'appened to your sister?"
"I told you what happened. She got hurt badly from that attack. We had to make sure she got better"
"Ok then why 'aven't you returned? I just found out from a professor she and you are not just taking a week but the whole semester off? Why didn't I know that?"
"I told you we would be back later"
"I assumed in late January. Early February for the express session. You didn't tell me you weren't coming back for three months. Didn't you think I would need to know that? I am your girlfriend right?" I didn't answer right away "RIGHT?!"
"Yes you are. But I had to make sure Ni was ok. She's in no condition to take classes. I have to make sure she's ok."
"I thought you'd say that. But you told me she was fine. That was why I couldn't see her. Remember? So what is it really Ty?" I sighed I didn't want to lie to her. But this wasn't the time to enlighten her either. There was still danger surrounding me and my sister and anyone who was close to me. Enlightening her would be condemning her. While I pondered this she continued "I love you Thylonius" That wasn't what I expected to hear her say in that moment. "But I don't know you, love. Those small parts of yourself that you share with me… Those times when I'm absolutely sure that I'm seeing the real you. Those are amazing to me. You are amazing. Your laugh, your touch and your kiss, that look you give me when I'm in your arms… I love that part of you. But that part of you that I saw in Tokyo. The part of you that has kept yourself away from me. Basically, the you I've yet to see with my own eyes since that day… That's the part that gives me pause. So, I have to ask you two things. Do you love me?"
I didn't know if I could actually say the words. They were words I never actually spoke out loud since that day. I could only answer in the affirmative not to lose her. "Yes, I do, Nala"
"OK. Can you tell me the truth?"
I didn't want to give the answer but… "No I can't"
She paused holding back tears "Ok so when you can. Whenever you can, when you can get past your lies and deceit. You let me know. Goodbye Ty."
"NO WAIT PLEASE! I want to tell you. I do I swear I do but there is so much you don't know about me and I know that's what you're saying but I'm scared. I'm scared you won't love me anymore after you find out."
"That is such shite Thylonius. I'm a big girl. I can 'andle it. You just want to hold onto your secrets and your lies. Well, you can either have them or me. But not both. You have to choose."
"Nala…" She waited "You are everything I want. Everything I've ever needed. I love you more than I even understand. I just need some time please. Just give me some time. And I promise you I will tell you everything you want to know." I waited with bated breath. It seemed like forever but all I heard was,
"Goodbye Thylonius" before I heard a click on the phone. And all I saw was my favorite picture of her with one of my tears drop on the phone before the screen turned off.
I didn't answer my phone for a few days after that fight with Nala. I texted my sister back saying I had to tie up some loose ends in Beijing. I would be late to meet her at the rendezvous. She just sent a text saying "Understood". For the first time in my life, I drank to excess. I usually drank for a purpose or a mission. But losing or at least presumably losing Nala had wounded me. More than anything before it. More than any wound I had suffered in the field. So I was in my hotel room hung over when I saw my phone shaking periodically (I had put the phone on vibrate). I thought maybe just maybe it was Nala. But it wasn't. It was Nick. I hadn't spoken to him since wishing him a Merry Christmas. I looked at it knowing if I didn't pick it up he would just keep calling. I stood up. Literally shook myself and…
"Hey bro. What's up?"
"Hey Ty. I haven't heard from you or Ni for a while. I ran into Nala…" I closed my eyes. "She looked upset and when I asked about you two she said to call you. Is everything ok? Is Ni?
I paused taking my head in my hands as I did. "She's fine. I'm fine. She had an accident in Tokyo and she's not well enough to take classes so I'm staying with her. You can call her if you want."
"What about you? What's up with you and Nala? She was angry. I mean she's usually at a 5 but that was a definite 11. She wouldn't even mention you by name. Ty I know something's wrong. Tell me"
I looked at the wall in my hotel room. Thought about the day all those years ago when he saw through me when I tried to lie to him. And he inspired my life's work. So, I told him the truth. At least as much as I could. I told him how I felt about her but I couldn't tell her everything. That she couldn't take the half measure that was loving me. He made a noise at that but did not interrupt further and let me finish. He only said one phrase when I finished.
"I know exactly how she feels" I was taken aback by that statement
"What? What do you mean?"
"Are you serious Ty? Only one person in this world knows what you're thinking and it's your sister. The rest of us are fighting for pieces of you. The same thing with her. I mean I thought you were dead for 3 years and it turns out you were fine just chopping it up with your sister. I mean there is no better explanation of you than that statement. Nala didn't even know about her did she?"
"How could you possibly know that?"
"Because I know you Thylonius. Everything is close to the vest, Even the fact that I know you scares you. Nala knows you too. We both know that we care for someone that has never been truly, irrevocably honest with us. I'm cool with it. I always have because I know one day, that wall will come down. Now for Nala, she seems to have decided that the day needs to be today or someday soon and I don't blame her. When we love something it's better to actually know what it is than just to be blindly in love with it. Otherwise, it's just infatuation. An empty one at that"
"Is that how it is for you and Ni?" He was quiet for a while after that. "I've known since we were in Miami Nick and I have never had a problem with it. Mainly because of who my sister is, but also because you're the wisest man I've ever known and I respect you more than you'll ever know. I hear you and I understand what you're saying. But I can't say that I'm someone who can open up just like that. For anyone no matter how much I like them. With that being said I appreciate that you told me the truth and I will try to be better. It won't happen overnight but hopefully I can get there." After that he said "Fine" and we continued speaking. We had been talking for about an hour about life, politics, China's economy and communist governments collapsing, the terrorist attack in Moscow with hundreds dead, Nala, my sister, and the new opportunity with the UN that he was taking. The clock was inching towards midnight when I finally asked him "So… When are you going to ask my sister out?"