Maricaibo Airport, 0437 Hours
Lev tipped the cab driver generously before walking out to the tarmac, where a private jet awaited him. His SKSM Ops Director, Sam, climbed out of the cabin to greet him.
"Jimbo! Everything go alright?"
"Eh...let's just say Vance won't be making any withdrawls or deposits again."
"Ha! I'll bet he won't." Sam offered a hand to help him up the ladder.
"I'm fine Sam. Although, we have a problem." Lev pulled back his coat to reveal the dried black ink- looking stain on his waistcoat. "The wound itself has already healed over, but I haven't been in for bloodwork recently. Last time I checked, black blood and ultra pale skin isn't normal far a twenty-six year old."
"Well...damnit Jim, I don't know. I'd lay low and go for the smaller jobs, try not to get any medals or anything. You remember how finicky the head honchos are about the whole 'purity' garbage."
"Yeah, maybe I'm just paranoid." Lev pulled a large cherry-flavored Blow-Pop out of his coat pocket and stuck it in his mouth. "Let's just get the hell out of here."
___
Somwhere Over North America, 0500 Hours
Lev sat gazing out the small window, unable to sleep. Sam, on the other hand, was sleeping on the adjacent couch, snoring. Pliskin kicked him a couple times to get him to stop, but it didn't help that much.
"*sigh* Sam. Sam, wake up. Sam!"
"Huh...wha?" He sat up and grogilly rubbed his eyes.
"Candy's calling for HQ."
"Oh, right..." He proceeded to lay back down before the words registered in his mind. "OH...wait one eh...one sec..."
Lev shook his head and put the video feed on the main TV screen without hesitation. "Hey Candice, anything new?"
"Hello Lev, Samuel. I trust you've taken care of Vance DeMercel?"
"Yeah, he won't be giving us any more problems."
"Excellent. We've got a small support operation up for grabs, if you're interested."
"Am I? Of course."
"Okay, we've sent in a single Knight, Daniel Fortesque, to ensure the safety of a powerful ancient amulet. Your mission will be to assist him in keeping it out of the wrong hands at all costs. It is located in a city by the name of Marley's Point, in which you will be arriving in 15 minutes. I just sent the coordinates to your pilot, and the full mission briefing has been sent to your PDA. Have a nice flight, gentlemen."
The screen went blank, and Sam hit Lev in the arm. "That my friend, was close."
"I'll say." Lev pulled off the tan leather glove and examined the ink black veins in his hand.
"Way too close."
___
Marley's Point, 0527 Hours
Lev stepped off the plane, double checking his gear. "I'll give you a call when I meet up with Fortesque."
"Your ride, a black Humvee, is sitting in a 15 minute parking spot by the baggage claim. Tag number 07M4R8Z. Here's your keys."
"Thanks, I owe you one."
Lev walked though the muninciple hangar out to the terminal entrance, and spotted the Humvee sitting by itself. under a streetlight. This was a classic movie ambush scene if he'd ever seen one. He casually checked the warding stones stitched inside his coat. Two of them glowed faintly, so he wasn't worried, but cautious. Lev got into the Humvee and keyed in the Museum in his GPS. Today was gonna be a cakewalk.
"This IS my signature."