Chapter Eight: Washington's Revocation

Luke and Christopher stayed in the house for the remainder of the day. That night, the two were searching all corners of the shack and spreading out into the farm field while walking low, hiding behind the very broad leaves of the field. 

The former breathed heavily, sensing that someone else was present beside him and his agent companion. As he watched everything across move across the fields, from bugs to animals, he noticed several truckers interact with their shadows rising against the nearby buildings. 

''Something is going on,'' he spoke into his two-way radio. ''See if you can find out.'' 

''The agency gave us strict orders to stay only in the house.'' 

''Were they here, I think they would agree with me. We have to find out what is happening. Some men are just down the street, and at this time, with the police gone, they seem to be up to no good.'' 

''I don't think acting rogue is wise.'' 

''Look, Dr. Daniil Rose is with their company. Chris, we have no choice but to stop them. The scientist has been behind all of this.'' 

''I think we can get your side-mission off.'' 

''No, it is necessary now. 

Christopher inhaled. ''Fine, but I hope that you know what you are doing.'' 

''Let us hurry!'' Luke urged. 

The two men raced quietly through the field. Their shadows became unotticable, as the darkness hid their speedy figures. Luke rushed over several bushes and past several trees, though Christopher maneuvered around several boulders on the house's land. They ran when the ground was permissible for their feet, though often, the presence of broken fences and construction work forced them to leap frequently. But soon, the two men were out of the house's sight and by the rails of the main highway. Luke jumped to the back of an eighteen-wheeler, as Christopher did to the one behind them. The flashing yellow lights of the vehicles lit up the fields, though the two spies remained unnoticed by the travelers inside. 

Luke ascended the back of the semi-trailer. He suddenly moved more quickly than ever, rushing to the drivers in the front, before descending on them, and casting them out of their doors. He then gripped the wheel, as if a helm to a lost ship, and drove the truck against those in front of them, making his presence known. His eyes couldn't help but notice a factory further down, where Dr. Rose's men were headed. 

By now, Christopher had leapt to the top of Luke's own truck. He was shooting back and forth at those ahead, as gunfire alarmed all of the local residences, including two young children who rushed to their parents' room to report what was happening, only to see mom and dad making out. 

Rain and zephyr added to the intensity of the scene. Christopher's cap blew off with the raging wind. The force of bullets from automatic rifles felt too much for him. Soon, he was ducking and hiding half of his figure on the back end of the semi-trailer. 

''Luke!'' he yelled. ''I can't hold much longer!'' 

''Give me a moment!'' Luke returned, while pressing his pedal and driving off some of the men off the side of the hill. 

''Luke, they are more than we can count!'' 

''Here, you take over the wheel!'' 

Luke drove the truck eastward until it was passing through a greenwood. Christopher changed positions with him, as Luke drew his weapon and looked through his rear window mirrors to see if anyone was following. 

''I don't think we should proceed any further,'' Christopher added, wiping his face. ''We don't have enough men to take on Dr. Rose's own. Apparently, he has plenty of his Slavs to protect him. I suggest we now return to the Agency and report all that has transpired.'' 

Luke didn't respond, but was facing the floor. 

''Why aren't you saying anything? Don't you agree?'' 

''Chris, if we let Dr. Rose go this time, we may not spot him again. Besides, he may have the most powerful weapon somewhere near---and if not, I want to find out where he has stored it.'' 

''You are relentless.'' 

''It is necessary in our profession.'' 

''Then I will follow you back.'' 

Christopher pushed the ignition switch. Luke leapt to the earth as he followed. Both slowly moved behind the trees before them, until they came under gunfire, and returned the gunfire on their attackers. For the following minutes, bullets sped past the maples and green ash. One slid by Luke's neckline, tearing at his shirt there. He and Christopher, however, brought down a dozen men by the accuracy of their shots before heading toward the factory. The building was quite large and stood over the Minehaha Creek. 

Luke began moving to his left before Christopher reached out for his companion. ''Luke, my friend, let us split up; we will have a better chance of survival that way,'' he said. ''It's the only way that we will take Dr. Rose down and survive.'' 

Luke's face revealed his uncertainty with this suggestion. ''Are you sure?'' he questioned, while loading his pistol. ''Two heads are better than one.'' 

''They are, and together, they are more likely to be immediately dead,'' Christopher returned. ''Perhaps one of us will catch them off guard this way. I wish you luck.'' 

''Thanks, you too.'' 

They abruptly separated at an outside wall of the building, divining their coming paths. 

Luke tried to open each door beside him. None opened. He continued searching around the building until finding drainage outside the building. Then, he paced toward the dirty waters and climbed his way past the waste before reaching the inside of the building, with urinals to his left and right. Beside one of the toilets was a fat man, singing as he peed, before he placed his magazine of the NFL on the floor and yawned. He saw Luke draw and draw his pistol before the spy knocked him out with one punch. Accordingly, the fat man fell on the floor as a pile of waste crapped from his behind. 

Luke nodded. ''He made his touchdown,'' he said. 

''So will I,'' resorted a voice. 

Luke turned and his behind barrels of food in the factory. His eyes surveyed the floor below, as an old man, Dr. Rose, was surrounded by a group of the Slavic Reds, with Christopher, beaten and knocked to the floor. 

''Your best man is now under my control,'' Dr. Rose continued. ''Give up now, Mr. Lancaster.'' 

Luke's expression revealed his shock. ''How does he know my name?'' he thought. 

Dr. Rose drew his pistol to Christopher's chest. ''Your father, Mr. Lancaster, was a threat against our society years ago,'' he continued. ''You resemble him, though I think you are less bright than he is. Your companion, once we got hold of him, out of fear for his own life, has revealed your identity to us. I want you know, should you escape today, we won't be forgetting you, and we will never let you out of our sight...unless...yes. unless...that is the catch...you hand over your weapon and surrender to us like a gentleman. Give yourself over, Mr. Lancaster. That is all that we ask for. Defy your pride by thinking of your friend. Cast out your weapon and do the noble thing...by denying yourself as the hero that you might become another's savior.'' 

Christopher turned to his companion. ''Don't do it, Luke, don't worry about me. Shoot anyway!''

Luke felt uncertain about what to do next. All eyes and guns were on him. 

''Don't do it!'' Christopher shouted. 

''Quite!'' Dr. Rose yelled furiously, as he pressed his pistol against the captured agent's chest. 

''If I drop my weapon, you will agree to hand Chris back over to me,'' Luke said. 

''Of course,'' Dr. Rose smiled. 

Christopher's eyes lifted to the buckets on the second floor, where Luke was somewhere present. His eyes spoke against such an agreement but Luke cast out his weapon anyway. 

''Good, now show yourself!'' Dr. Rose urged. ''Show yourself, Mr. Lanccaster, for your companion's life. Time is running out. You have five seconds.'' 

Luke waited behind the buckets before seeing a wire holder before him. He headed toward it, about to turn the lights off but one bang ended it all. He turned back, noticing Christopher's body wet and red on the floor. 

''No!'' he shouted, firing at the Slavs. 

The Russians returned the fire. 

Luke unleashed much anger and frustration as he fired at everyone and everything that he could reach. He then ran down an adjacent hallway, gunning down two men headed his way. The agent escaped out of one of the windows and leapt onto a passing truck. Soon, he was followed by Dr. Rose's men, taking up jeeps of local residents as they pursued him. Continuous gunfire came from both ends, though Luke sought an end to this affair and descended the hillside into the river, before hiding his figure where none of the Russians could see it. 

''Where did he go?'' one of the men asked another. 

''Find him, dead or alive!'' Dr. Rose shouted. 

                                                                             *      *      *

Luke stood uncomfterbly in a private room before Present Nathan Daniels and a host of other leaders of the CIA. Jude Kerrigan was also there, wishing to advocate for him, though having little to say. 

''You failed not only to find the bomb, but also made a scene of yourself in action, while losing one of our most trusted spies in a wasteful chase on the Slavs,'' Nathan spoke, his face revealing his irritation. ''Because of you, Christopher Molina is dead.''

Luke turned away. ''I wish that I had saved him before it was too late. I'm sorry.''

''Sorry, don't cut today,'' Nathan continued, while rising over his desk. ''This agency counted on you, Mr. Lancaster, to find a secret weapon. You found Dr. Rose, somewhat quite conveniently close to his home, yet not the weapon. And you rushed into action, forfeiting your purpose of being in Menniapolis by your haste to take on these terrorists.'' 

''I wish that I had found the weapon,'' Luke said, facing the floor. ''I regret that Christopher didn't make it out with me...alive. I wish that he had. We were a good team.''

''Because of you, he's not here!'' Nathan shouted angrily before wiping his distressed face. ''This agency needed a man like Mr. Molina. Christopher always stood for us when we needed him. He was a great agent...as you also were.''

Luke lifted his eyes to his boss, wondering where this conversation was going. 

''I regret to inform you that your assistance is no longer needed here,'' the president added. ''You have failed your mission and have failed it miserably. We thank you for your service, though we cannot depend on you any longer. Luke Lanaster, I reach out my hand to you, hoping that we shake it on good terms before your expulsion from this center. However, your license to kill has been revoked.'' 

Luke's own expression turned to frustration. He shook his head, unbending to Nathan's proposition. ''No, I stand by my actions and will not apologize for them.'' 

''So be it,'' Nathan returned, firmly. 

''I will draw up whatever papers you want of me, for me to signal my resignation as a spy for the United States government.'' 

''Good, we already have the paperwork when you are ready.'' 

Jude faced the young agent, pitying that their work together was expiring on this day. 

''You have a rich uncle, am I correct?'' Nathan asked Luke. 

''Yes, though I'm not certain how that is relevant to this discussion,'' Luke returned, while looking away. 

''Well, at least I am assured that you will be very useful elsewhere, with a strong career now that this one is over.'' 

''There, you have my signature.''

Everyone paused, and even Nathan was forced to wonder if his dismissal of Luke was the right decision. 

The American agent handed his gun over to his officers. It was the last move, the final line of surrender. 

''I appreciate all that you did,'' Jude said, though saddened by today's occurrences. 

''Thank you,'' Luke returned. ''I suppose it's time that I return to Philadelphia.''