The Book of Luke: Earthquake (Prologue)

Force field three at the upper level has been breached.”

“Dispatch the main security team. I’ll meet them there.”

The man was dressed in black slacks, turtleneck sweater, and specialty boots that were made just for him. Checking his weapons that he kept on a belt around his waist, he raced up the flight of stairs leading to the service level of the facility that was in the final stages of completion. There was no way he would allow intruders to infiltrate them now.

“They are armed,” Leo, his commanding officer said as he opened a black box.

“How many?” he asked as he retrieved a black mask from the case Leo held open. He then covered his face to hide his identity.

“At least twenty.”

He nodded. “Alert Slay and Tank of the interruption. Advise them I will be delayed.”

“Do you want them to join us?”

He paused for a moment then nodded. “It may be good practice for them.”

Leo activated his earbud. “Action on upper level.”

When they reached the silo, Slay and Tank were waiting for them.

“How many?” Slay asked.

“Twenty,” Leo replied.

Tank laughed as they stepped into the silo. “Twenty? The Boss can handle them.”

“True, but I thought it would be fun on our last night here.” He replied.

The silo moved upwards towards the service level, as the occupants checked their weapons. The ceiling opened, as they reached the surface.

The trespassers’ backs were to them. They had moved beyond where the team appeared from out of nowhere.

“Let’s roll.”

He pulled the nunchaku from his waist, swung it out, knocking out the legs of one of the trespassers who had guns. The man dressed in army fatigues, grunted then fell to the ground knocking the man next to him down. He ran to the two men as his team covered him. He picked up the weapon and swung, knocking the teeth out of one man’s mouth, then he wrapped the chain portion of his weapon around the other man’s neck and yanked once, breaking it. Scanning the area, he saw Leo had taken out two men with his blowgun, Slay had sliced three down with her Ninjato sword, and Tank had taken out three with one bow. In the distance he heard the firing pin of a gun. Distance and time, distance and time flowed through his mind. At the precise right moment, he leaned back on his haunches and felt the wind from the bullet as it traveled past his head. Pulling out a star from his waist, he flung it in one smooth motion, hitting the target center mass. He took off running towards the target before the man’s body hit the ground. He hit the ground and rolled to the left flinging his nunchaku at the three men raising their weapons at his team. The nunchaku hit one man’s ankle, then wrapped around another. Once they were on the ground, he ran over, and threw an elbow across the throat of one, while kicking the face of another. The knife from the hidden compartment in the tip of his boot landed in the man’s forehead. He picked up the gun the man dropped, used the butt, swung it and took out two more men.

When he looked up, the trespassers were either dead or close to that inevitability. “Everybody good?” He looked at each of them as he pulled his weapons from the men he’d taken down. Never leave any forensic evidence behind, especially when you are in another country. Since the intruders were walking in the wrong direction, it was clear they did not know the entrance point of the underground facility. This was going to be an entrance and exit point for covert agents of the United States to move around undetected. There could be no question on if the location had been compromised. He made a note to move the entrance location.

“Hell no. I broke a nail,” Tank hissed.

Leo glared at her.

“What? It took me over a month to grow these.”

“Just think, she didn’t know what a manicure was a month ago,” Slay chuckled as they started walking back to the silo.

“Send a cleanup team to the location,” he ordered. “Put an extra layer of security on the perimeter until the project is finished.” They stepped on the top of the silo. He pushed a button on his belt activating the silo to begin its descent. Once the top reached surface level, it slid closed then continued its descent.

Once it reached the underground facility, the doors swung open, Luke Lassiter removed the black mask. He handed all of his weapons to Slay. “Sterilize the weapons. I’m going to grab a shower. I’ll meet you guys at the control center in 30 minutes.”

The team went down one corridor while Luke went down another. Entering the living quarters of the facility, Luke stripped out of the clothes he was wearing then placed them in the incinerator. Whenever he had contact with an adversary, he destroyed everything. Forensics was precise. He could not take a chance that any fiber could be traced back to him. It was also the reason his team did not use guns. Bullets are easy to track. Bows, knives, swords and stars, are difficult to track.

After completing his shower, Luke met his team in the control center. Leo, Slay and Tank were his team leaders. Whenever he was away from the job, which was every August through January, they ensured the task continued on schedule. He would not trade any of them. They were trained to his specifications and loyal to a fault.

“At the end of the week I will be leaving for the States,” he began talking as soon as he walked into the room. “The final run through will commence at midnight. Slay, every entrance and exit point needs to be checked for access and security. Leo, the final report on the air filtration system, lighting and temperature checks should be sent within the next 48 hours. Tank, personnel close out is on you. All crew members need to be prepped and ready to depart for the next destination in the next 72 hours. As they complete their final assignments, start processing bonus distribution.”

“You are doubling their salaries for the job?” Tank asked.

Luke nodded. “They finished a month ahead of time. Their pay is doubled. They have three months before they have to report back for the next assignment.”

“You still need me for London?” Slay asked.

“For a week, then it’s back to the States,” Luke replied. “I’m looking forward to spending some time with the family.”

“Family?” Tank gasped. “You’re married?”

“No, I’m not married,” Luke laughed. “I haven’t spent real time with my parents or siblings in a while.”

“Oh.”

Luke glanced at Leo, then at Slay. He walked over to Tank then kissed her cheek. “You know we can’t happen, right?”

“Don’t flatter yourself Lassiter. I mean you got the meat and all, but you are not the only man on the planet.” “Damn, I thought I was.” Luke laughed.

“Well, you’re not,” she smirked then walked out of the room leaving Luke staring at her back.

“I think the lady doth protest a little too much,” Leo smirked.

Slay walked over to him. “You have to stop being so deadly. That shit turns her on.”

“I’m not going to send my people out to do something I wouldn’t do myself.” Luke exhaled. “What should I do? She is too good to lose.”

“Tank isn’t going anywhere. She is a professional. Her crush on you is not going to interfere with her work.” “Take her to the States with you,” Leo suggested.

Luke and Slay turned to frown at him.

“Don’t you think that would be counterproductive?”

“Luke, she has only seen this part of your life. She thinks you are a mysteriously deadly man. You need to let her see the other side of you.” Leo shrugged. “She’ll see you are just a regular, average Joe.”

“I’m not.”

“Yeah, you really are,” Slay nodded.

Luke glared at her. “My father is an average Joe and I believe him to be close to god-like. I’m wired a little differently.”

“At heart, you are just like your father. If you take her to the States with you, she will see that. The last thing Tank wants in her life is a godly man.” Slay laughed and walked out of the room.

Luke looked at Leo and shook his head. “Those are two of the fiercest women I know. Hell, either one of them can take down ten men. I would think they can handle affairs of the heart better than this.” Leo laughed. “Man, you have a lot to learn about women.”