Laying the Best Laid Plans
July 7, 2008 JFK airport, chopper pad 0800 hours Paige heaved the pack on to the chopper floor. Guns could be deceptively heavy and the bag filled with multiple guns proved it. Declan heaved a bag next to that one. This was the second chopper they were taking. This one was supposed to take them straight to Oregon, then they would pick up a van to move into Galice. "Think we got enough?" Declan grinned at her. "I dunno, 4 teenagers in the middle of East Bumblefuck Oregon…could be pretty dangerous," Paige grinned back. She was, for the most part, beginning to like him. She even, as she climbed into the chopper immediately noting the smell of expensive leather, almost considered him part of the team. The rest climbed in after her and looked around with small smiles. The chopper was nice. Corporate. Paige sank into one of the soft bench seats as Jordan, the team leader, sat down next to her. "Gray spoiled us this time," Jordan said still looking around. "We're worth it though, don't you think?" Paige winked at her. "I dunno," Jordan shrugged, "maybe some people wouldn't think so." "True, not everyone thinks we're all that and a bag of chips," Paige agreed. "Got work to do," Jordan said opening a laptop. "I'll leave you to it fearless leader," Paige said standing, leaning as the chopper lifted, "at least the blood won't stick to the leather… might stain though," Paige said quietly. Jordan looked up at her, "do you plan on there being blood?" Paige shrugged, both physically and mentally, "never know." Jordan nodded then beckoned for Simon to join her. Paige tussled his hair as they passed each other, much to his unhappiness. She sat down across from Declan and Bella who were chatting softly. They were on a bench seat but Paige had a bucket seat and she leaned on her knees looking out of the window at the ground moving quickly below. So many things had changed over the past couple of weeks. Her relationship with Joshua had become more turbulent and though he still considered her a possession, an object that he must control, that he owned and that still owned him, the eyes he cast on her were not sympathetic anymore. He looked at her as the enemy. And treated her like the enemy when he found his way into her bedroom...she had the bruises to prove that. The enemy...and rightfully so, she thought to herself. She was his enemy, and a most formidable one though he only had an 'idea' to that effect. Her ally list would grow quickly, even now, even on the current mission would she enlist more. Jordan would be first: intelligent, capable, and loyal. Though it had never been told, Paige knew Joshua had done something to Jordan or had made her do something. Jordan looked to Joshua with pure hatred in her eyes and venom on her tongue. Yeah, Joshua definitely had done something to her. Next would be Simon. He had no loyalties...of course that would change. And Paige would need his security access and computer knowledge. Then there was Bella and Declan. Bella was loyal, unfortunately only to herself. Paige wasn't sure if she could get Bella on her side. She would have to wait and see with that one. And Declan, well, she didn't know him at all. But there was time. Her plans would not come to fruition for many months. That was the game plan for now: get close allies. There was also Joshua. She had taken her place as his equal had shown her hand and put him in his place. Unfortunately, that made him very suspicious and suspicious people were very dangerous. She had to figure a way to put him back in charge, to show some vulnerability, something he could step up to the plate with and use against her. A very dangerous position to put herself in, but a necessary one. If he felt she was a lesser threat to him...he would overlook things. She had to ask him for help. But with what? She thought intently for some time, letting thoughts drift in and out, people, events, random things. And all of these thoughts kept coming back to the same thing. The same person actually. She smiled just a little as a plan, a scenario, started coming to the fore. There was a way after all. Return