Chapter Six: Divided Loyalties

Moscow

Her bulky camera and his clumsy handling of a map disguised Smith and Jadzia among a group of tourists that provided cover while they planned an escape.

Two tourists approached Jadzia and inquired politely, "Would you mind taking our picture?"

Jadzia glanced to Smith for assurance. Her lack of sleep was beginning to wear on her psyche. She felt exposed, as if everyone knew she was hiding a secret.

"No, we would be happy to," Smith answered.

Squinting through the viewfinder, Smith recognized why Jadzia had been singled out. A black Dahlia, waiting with its door open, beckoned behind the couple. Unfazed, Smith snapped the picture, grabbed Jadzia's hand, and moved briskly towards the car.

In the back seat of the sleek, black automobile, a man who possessed the unmistakable posture of a Communist appartchik greeted them. However, Smith sensed the man's conflicting priorities.

"I have been instructed to assure your safe passage from the Motherland," the gentleman stated as he handed Smith a stack of official-looking documents. "These documents will not be questioned. I assure you."

Smith was skeptical. The car picked up speed, carrying them away from the tourist sites.

"I am a patriot, Mr. Smith," the gentleman replied. "I belong to the underground."

"The Streltsy are a myth, a legend gone the way of King Arthur's court," Smith said.

"There remain those of us who have sworn to die to preserve Russia's honor," the gentleman said.

"A patriot and a martyr?" Smith asked.

"America is too young to feel anything but invincible. America will pay a steep price for its arrogance. History has taught Russians that the mighty always fall."

The car slowed to a stop. Smith stepped silently out and towards a waiting plane. Jadzia bowed her head at the gentleman as she exited. The gentleman nodded in reply.

With that subtle gesture, Jadzia knew that she was to proceed as planned.

New York

Special Agent Sean Dawkins sat in the medical examiner's office waiting for Dr. Alice Lee. She had summoned him to discuss a corpse found in the Hudson. Typically, NYPD would handle "floaters," which were not uncommon this time of year. This case, however, was different.

According to the report, the corpse, a John Doe, was found with no clear cause of death besides unusual lesions that covered the skin. Upon identifying the cause, Dr. Lee followed protocol by quarantining the body and notifying the appropriate agencies.

"I have to admit this is a first," she said bluntly as she entered the room.

"I can assume that this man died of radiation poisoning?"

She motioned for him to follow her towards the quarantine area. "The victim ingested a significant amount of high-grade plutonium against his will," she said.

Before putting on protective gear to begin his examination, Dawkins signaled for a moment of privacy and dialed headquarters.

"Sir, Agent Dawkins. We may have a Mayflower scenario on our hands."

He paused, listening.

"Affirmative sir, indications are that we have weapons-grade nuclear material in enemy hands within the United States."

"What about Daniels?" the voice on the other end inquired.

"Daniels has been compromised. He'd been deep undercover without contact for months. NYPD discovered his body yesterday. He had managed to report that the group had been attempting to acquire nuclear material. Judging by his cause of death, I'd say that they were successful."

Another pause.

"Sir, I suggest we call the others immediately." There was no debate from the other end.

Moscow

Colonel Bedny paid meticulous attention to his prized rose bushes as a grim-faced man was escorted into the garden.

"The American operative has been released as you requested," the man reported. "I saw to it personally."

Bedny was pleased by this news. "And I assume that the girl is still with him?"

"Yes," came the reply, "and I provided him the letter from Kuba."

"Wonderful," Bedny said. He carefully pruning a stem on one of the bushes before speaking again. "Kuba's apparent discovery should provide the confirmation the Americans seek. My sources tell me that the Americans have begun preparations."

Bedny motioned the man to observe the precision of cuts Bedny made to shape the bush to his wishes.

"I sense your skepticism. Why warn my avowed enemies? To defeat the Americans you strike at their roots. The more the Americans think they see, the safer they feel. While they are busy watching the skies, they refuse to see the devastation I have placed at their feet."

Bedny stepped back to admire his work. "Russia is like an exquisite red rose. Admire its beauty, but not without respecting its thorns."

"It appears your diversions are working as planned."

Bedny was quick to reply. "Yes, Comrade Solovieff, you have served your country well."