Crawler stood on top of the building, her body hidden from sight with the sky blue jumpsuit and ski mask she wore. Anyone who happened to glance up would see nothing, as she blended into the cloudless morning sky above.
Down below, Wells stood with Rouddim and his flunky. Crawler had come to learn his name was Cim. She had been observing these meetings for two days now, the two men working together to figure out where this "galactic prize" was. For such a group of professionals, they really do suck when it comes to detective work...
Then again, it wasn't like Crawler had been succeeding in her own assignments. Wells was getting impatient on her not finding the young charge. But it seemed that this girl, whoever she was, just wasn't anywhere to be found. Hell, Wells didn't even mention if she was in Paris or not. The girl could have skipped town, and Crawler wasn't at the leisure to go on a cross-country backpack trip at the moment. Or maybe she was supposed to arrive and just hadn't shown up yet.
You know Wells, one day I would appreciate a complete briefing on plans...
Movement caught Crawler's eye. She brought her binoculars up to see another man running to the group. He pulled Rouddim aside and they talked quickly, the man moving his hands in wild exaggerations. Wells moved to get closer, but Cim stopped him and they both stood aside, waiting.
From her breast pocket, Crawler pulled out an earpiece and stuck in into her ear. She slowly raised the volume until she could hear.
"Reached Germany… if we hurry... American won't know…"
Crawler felt the side of her lip come up into a smirk. I knew not to trust them, but did Wells listen to me... noooooo.
"Crawler," a voice spoke in her other ear. She had almost forgotten about the communication device she had that let Wells talk to her. "What are they talking about?"
She looked down at Wells, who looked as if he was talking on a cell phone. She grinned. Americans and their cell phones.
"Something in Germany. I think they have your little prize. They're going to try and pull one over you."
From far away, Wells nodded, his face getting grim. "Make out anything else?"
"They're slipping in and out of Arabic. Don't know that language."
"Do you know any language besides English?"
Besides a few intergalactic ones you've never heard of... "I know a bit of German. Enough to get by."
Wells paused for a second. "Come down here."
"But what about the..."
"Get down here!"
"Fine!" Crawler pulled out her earpiece and growled to herself. Tucking the device away, she looked over the edge of the building. Five stories. Halfway down was a flagpole. She grinned to herself as she took a deep breath. Then she jumped off the edge.
It was a short jump. She had taken longer ones, but the thrill of momentary weightlessness, followed by the exhilaration of the fall was a release to Crawler. As she fell, she twisted her body around in an aerobic air dance, positioning herself perfectly to grab the flagpole. Using her momentum, she swung herself around the pole three times. Then, releasing herself, she flew forward once more, a graceful arc with a single flip, landing on the ground below with a soft...
"Ow," Crawler muttered, jumping again as pain shot up her ankle. She hopped for a moment, then took the ankle and rotated it slightly. She felt her foot pop back into place, and put her weight back on it.
Reaching up, she rolled the front part of her ski mask up to reveal her face, the cap keeping her hair covered. Once again, she found it better to honor the Arab's custom. Better to make them think she was respectable than her true form.
She let her face relax and walked out from between the two buildings. Wells saw her and smiled, waving her over. Rouddim had also returned to his conversation with the American military man, and gave Crawler a big grin. As she joined their side, he took Crawler's hand and gently kissed the knuckles. "Jamâl, a pleasure," he muttered.
Crawler forced a smile onto her face. "Shukran," she replied.
Rouddim's face lit up. "You speak Arabic?"
"Enough to be polite," Crawler stated, and felt Wells walk to stand right beside her, his fingers poking her in the ribs at the verbal jab she had unknowingly made at him.
"What did he discover?" Wells asked.
"Nothing major. Just a little detail we must take care of in Germany. Won't be gone more than a week." Rouddim turned his gaze to Crawler. "Though it shall seems years without seeing your face, jamâl."
"Not necessarily so." Wells squeezed Crawler's shoulder. "My friend also knows enough German to get by comfortably."
"Is that so?" Rouddim asked with an appraising look.
"Ja," Crawler replied, a smirk wanting to break free on her face. Good going, Wells. You know he's attracted to me. Getting me to go along will keep him distracted, letting me get the information I need. Maybe you're not as dumb as I thought.
"Are you sure?" Rouddim suddenly looked worried. "I mean, this isn't just a sightseeing trip. Things will be dangerous. I would not want a desert bloom such as yourself to get caught up in any conflicts."
"Oh, I know how to handle myself," Crawler stated sweetly. "Have no fear, M'allim Rouddim."
"A beauty and a fighter. Your worth grows by the minute, Jamâl." He reached over and kissed her hand again. "So be it. We will leave in five hours. Will that be long enough for you to prepare?"
Crawler nodded. Rouddim smiled, then held out his hand to Wells. "Then I shall see you in a week, and I promise not to damage the young lady."
It took Crawler all of her demeanor not to snort.
"You sure you're going to be ok?" Wells asked again, perched on the kitchen counter. He looked at the burnt cookie in his hand and tossed it in the trash.
"I'll be fine," Crawler stated, wrapping her hair up in a black scarf. "I've survived worse company than Rouddim."
"I just don't like the way he looks at you..."
Crawler raised an eyebrow and turned to look at Wells. But the look on his face was one of business. Any emotions meant in those words were on her end. "I can handle myself, Wells. That's the reason you hired me in the first place." She quickly knelt down beside her bed and fiddled with something. She then stood up and wiped her hands on her knees.
"Take this with you." He walked over and handed her a small package. She flipped it around in her hand, testing its weight. "What is it?" she asked.
"If you get in trouble and need assistance, just open it. I'll find you."
Crawler let herself give Wells a rare smile. "I didn't know you cared."
A horn honked outside, cutting off any other comment. Crawler walked to the window of her apartment and saw a van waiting outside, Cim waving her down.
"They're here... guess it's..." she stopped, her gaze caught in the distance.
Wells noticed the distance in her voice and gaze and walked to the window beside her. "What's wrong?"
"There!" She pointed to a figure in the distance. Reaching the chair by the window, Crawler grabbed her binoculars. She focused in on a young female in the distance. She walked with a few other people, yet her gaze was one of someone trying to get her bearings.
"Let me see." Wells took the binoculars and quickly found the object of Crawler's notice. A smirk came to his face. "That's her. Good work, Crawler."
"You always find what you're looking for when you least expect it." She reached for her rifle and slung it over her shoulder. "I could go get her, stall our Arab chums for a few minutes…"
"No, that's OK. I'll handle it from here." Wells turned to look at Crawler. "Remember, if you have any trouble…"
"I know, get my ass out of there. Don't worry." She patted her rifle. "As long as I've got old trusty here, I'll be fine."
"You and your weapons…" Wells shook his head. "I expect updates."
"Can't you ever just say, 'Goodbye, have fun and be careful?' Always must you give orders?"
Wells smiled. "Old habits are hard to break."
The horn honked again outside. Wells reached over and tossed Crawler her bag. "Don't kill anyone, OK?"
"I won't. And I'll hide the bodies if I do." She slung her bag over her other shoulder, checked her scarf and left. Wells waited a few moments, then returned to the window. From the corner of his eye, he saw Crawler climb into the front seat of the van.
But his real focus was on the young lady a few feet away. Now it was time for him to accomplish his own ends. He walked out the door, making sure to touch a tiny activation pad on the door as he closed it.
Rouddim smiled as he watched Crawler gaze out the window beside him. The landscape of France went flying by as night fell. Her gaze was locked on the stars.
Letting his gaze focus back on the road, Rouddim let himself fade into plans of accomplishing his own ends as well. And the beauty in the seat beside him… that would be its own end in itself.