[aesop_timeline_stop num=”GMT-3 22:26″ title=”22:26″]
[aesop_character img=”https://simonmuys.com/zodia/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2016/01/Poseidon-character-1.jpg” caption=”Dragon” align=”left” width=”300px”]
Me – Okay, I’m here.
Andromeda – Hi Dragon, what’s up?
Me – A little tensed right now, how are you doing girl?
Andromeda – You know, I’m on the sweet part of things here.
Me – Yeah, you should be glad. So what’s the program now?
Andromeda – Your target is three kilometres ahead. You need to get going right away. Don’t waste time. We have two drones over the villa so we already have eyes there.
Me – Don’t worry, I’m already on my way. Do you have any more information for me?
Andromeda – Nothing you should be aware of, no.
Me – Delightful.
[aesop_content color=”#352611″ background=”#333333″ columns=”1″ position=”none” img=”https://simonmuys.com/zodia/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2016/01/quoteback-1.jpg” imgrepeat=”repeat” floaterposition=”left” floaterdirection=”up”]The night is clear and this landscape is easy to cross. This mission shouldn’t be that hard. Surely they wouldn’t have chosen a difficult one for my first kill? But still I know the difficulty will not be the field. It is all a test. A real life test. But a test still. Am I really able to deliver? Joining Zodiac was all about this. Being ready to pull the trigger when others wouldn’t. I have been preparing for this moment for months now and still I am not sure. Do I really have it in me? Am I suited for the job or not? Will I follow carefully the instructions? And the voice of the distant English operator who must be talking to me from her computer, in her warm pyjamas?I’m running fast. I’m well ahead of schedule. The AS50 on my back doesn’t feel heavy compared to the heavy weights I’ve forced myself to carry on my daily runs. It’s quite a light gun anyway. I should slow down. Being too early will not do. Or maybe it will be an opportunity to have more time to calm down after the run. I haven’t missed a target for the last three months, even after ten kilometres runs.
I know why I do that. I didn’t really expect them to be that transparent on the target. I guess they wanted me to understand why he’s been set up to die. As if it would avoid having me thinking I have to put a blind trust in people who would not dare meet me. I understand. I also understand why all the secrecy. Still I really do feel like I’m jumping from a cliff with a blindfold just because someone I don’t know told me to. I knew what it would be like all along. I knew why I accepted it. I could foresee all that so well. Still the feeling sticks in my guts.
This is the neighbourhood. Perseus’ brief stated I have to reach the small wood and go around the house so as to hit it from behind. The villa is always well guarded with a dozen men so I must be cautious, but this is clearly not enough to control the perimeter from the threat of a skilled sniper. There shouldn’t be anyone looking for me out there.
[/aesop_content][aesop_timeline_stop num=”GMT-3 22:37″ title=”22:37″]
[aesop_character img=”https://simonmuys.com/zodia/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2016/01/Andromeda-character-1.jpg” caption=”Andromeda” align=”right” width=”300px”]
Andromeda – Dragon, can you give me a little status update?
Me – I’m entering the wood now. I should be in place in five minutes. On schedule.
Andromeda – Good boy. Anything weird on your way?
Me – No, anything weird from above?
Andromeda – No, I’m seeing the regular dozen guards around the villa. Most of them are in front but there are two posted on the back lawn. You’ve seen your briefing, you will fire only once, otherwise you will be at risk. Make it count.
Me – Do you see the target too?
Andromeda – There are eight heat signatures within the house. I have been monitoring it since midday so I’m positive one of them is him.
[aesop_content color=”#352611″ background=”#333333″ columns=”1″ position=”none” img=”https://simonmuys.com/zodia/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2016/01/quoteback-1.jpg” imgrepeat=”repeat” floaterposition=”left” floaterdirection=”up”]It is hard not to make any noise in these woods, even with those ninja shoes I cannot avoid cracking a few branches. Nothing that can sound suspicious five hundred meters away I guess, but still I realize how difficult it must be to really move like a shadow. If I am going to be good at this, I must master the art of silent approach. Right now I seem so far from it. I feel like a boar charging a deer… [/aesop_content]
Me – Ok, the villa is in sight, four hundred meters ahead I would say.
Andromeda – Can you find a spot.
Me – Don’t worry about that. I’ll be in place in five minutes tops.
Andromeda – Pegasus is ready too.
Me – I actually don’t care. I’d rather know he’ll be ready in thirty minutes when I reach him…
Andromeda – Yes, sorry. Just nervous chit-chat.
Me – Oh, so you ARE nervous.
Andromeda – I just want everything to go as planned.
[aesop_content color=”#352611″ background=”#333333″ columns=”1″ position=”none” img=”https://simonmuys.com/zodia/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2016/01/quoteback-1.jpg” imgrepeat=”repeat” floaterposition=”left” floaterdirection=”up”]The AS50 is a piece of cake to mount. I have to say they aren’t scarce on expenditures. The material sent with the Perseus brief was really pro stuff. Things that make me look like a real pro assassin. And I guess I am, or gonna be. I should pull myself together and start acting like it. Remember the movie Cool runnings: your hand soft and your mind clear. [/aesop_content]
Me – Hey Andromeda?
Andromeda – Señor?
Me – What, you’re latina?
Andromeda – No, but aren’t you?
Me – Not really.
Andromeda – You had a question?
Me – I’m almost there, could you start giving me updates on the people inside?
Andromeda – Ok, two haven’t moved for a while in the upstairs rooms. I guess they’re the two children.
Me – Great.
Andromeda – You knew about the children, didn’t you?
Me – Yeah, I guess I had the same file as you. It’s great they’re asleep, that’s all.
Andromeda – You know about the child trafficking too?
Me – I’m not questioning the mission niña. Next six people in the house?
Andromeda – Two guards posted in the entrance corridor and four persons in the living room. One is the wife, the guards, and him. I would guess the two guards are near the main door and the couple on a sofa or suchlike. They must be sitting.
[aesop_content color=”#352611″ background=”#333333″ columns=”1″ position=”none” img=”https://simonmuys.com/zodia/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2016/01/quoteback-1.jpg” imgrepeat=”repeat” floaterposition=”left” floaterdirection=”up”]The cannon is ready. The signature is pinned to the tree. A bronze Z pin that looked like a mix of the Anarchy logo and Zorro’s trademark. What a goofy symbol… A first look in the viewfinder confirms the operator’s review. Still I cannot see the guy. TV is on. A stupid telenovela it seems. Ok, time to concentrate on slowing my pulse. It is higher than it should be, even after the run. [/aesop_content][aesop_timeline_stop num=”GMT-3 22:51″ title=”22:51″]
Me – I’m all set, but I don’t have a shot yet. They’re watching TV.
Andromeda – Can you move to another spot?
Me – Not a chance, we just need a little patience. As soon as he leaves his couch, he’s mine.
Andromeda – He’ll be moving.
Me – Not a problem.
Andromeda – You’re sure?
Me – Talk to me belleza How did you end up killing people from your computer?
Andromeda – We shouldn’t be talking about our personal lives, you know that.
Me – I would do with a conversation though.
Andromeda – Are you stressed?
Me – You could say that. I just need to see through the waiting. Will you help me?
Andromeda – Is this your first time?
Me – I thought we shouldn’t talk about personal lives…
Andromeda – This isn’t personal.
Me – Still you know the drill.
Andromeda – Well, this is a first for me.
Me – Really?
[aesop_content color=”#352611″ background=”#333333″ columns=”1″ position=”none” img=”https://simonmuys.com/zodia/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2016/01/quoteback-1.jpg” imgrepeat=”repeat” floaterposition=”left” floaterdirection=”up”]Great… My first kill and they stick me with a newbie. [/aesop_content]
Andromeda – Don’t worry, I have it all covered.
Me – I’m sure you do. Feeling excited?
Andromeda – I don’t know. It still feels pretty unreal. I mean it’s not like I’m handling the gun.
[aesop_content color=”#352611″ background=”#333333″ columns=”1″ position=”none” img=”https://simonmuys.com/zodia/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2016/01/quoteback-1.jpg” imgrepeat=”repeat” floaterposition=”left” floaterdirection=”up”]No it’s not. And it is not my first mission. But gathering intel and doing reconnaissance has little to do with that. The end of the gun is trembling. Not much. But for this task, any micro imprecision will be too much. I must calm down. [/aesop_content]
Me – The man is trash, you know that don’t you?
Andromeda – I have no problem with the mission.
Me – Can I ask you a favour?
Andromeda – Anything.
Me – Could you go over his file and explain me why we’re doing this?
Andromeda – Alright… Let me see…
[aesop_content color=”#352611″ background=”#333333″ columns=”1″ position=”none” img=”https://simonmuys.com/zodia/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2016/01/quoteback-1.jpg” imgrepeat=”repeat” floaterposition=”left” floaterdirection=”up”]It is impressive how everything can stay still forever when you need them to move. Apart from the guard outside who had lit a cigarette, nothing had moved inside. [/aesop_content][aesop_character img=”https://simonmuys.com/zodia/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2016/01/Zeus-character-1.jpg” caption=”Alfredo Romero” align=”left” width=”300px”]
Andromeda – Alfredo Romero, sixty-five, Argentinian, lives in Villa Carlos Paz, Córdoba Province, you know all that… Six kids, two with his first wife, two with other girls, the last two with current wife Esmeralda, twenty-eight. He made a fortune in so-called journalism consisting of selling positive advertising for ill-reputed countries within famous newspapers. Complaints from country authorities about his companies’ threats and methods, complaints from his young workers… He has built an empire of tentacle agencies all doing the same thing and owned by him through a vast network of trusts in fiscal paradises. The complete map was in the folder, it’s really a gigantic work, I don’t even get how they have been able to compile that much data…
Me – The show seems to be ending.
Andromeda – It should… You’re running late now.
Me – Continue please, it’s soothing.
Andromeda – The ad agencies are a model of scandalous business, but legal. The system made him the richest man and a local figure in Córdoba. But he’s also been running parallel activities that were of interest to Zodiac. Kidnapping, ransom demands, kid-trafficking, drug trafficking, pressure over judges, policemen and political figures. It seems the governor of Córdoba is under his rule. Romero really is a monster when you see all the alleged charges and the money he’s making out of it. His first born is living a grand style life in London where he drives to the best nightclubs in a magnificent Lamborghini…
[aesop_content color=”#352611″ background=”#333333″ columns=”1″ position=”none” img=”https://simonmuys.com/zodia/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2016/01/quoteback-1.jpg” imgrepeat=”repeat” floaterposition=”left” floaterdirection=”up”]The TV stops. This is it. I take the deepest breath and then exhale. My pulse is now steady and slow. The trembling hasn’t stopped, but it feels almost imperceptible at this instant. My mind is clear, my hand is soft, my conscience is pure. [/aesop_content][aesop_timeline_stop num=”GMT-3 23:01″ title=”23:01″]
Me – Target engaged.
[aesop_content color=”#352611″ background=”#333333″ columns=”1″ position=”none” img=”https://simonmuys.com/zodia/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2016/01/quoteback-1.jpg” imgrepeat=”no-repeat” floaterposition=”left” floaterdirection=”up”]The two people have appeared to the right of the large window. The outside guard has lit another cigarette. His colleague too. The two guards inside seem bored as hell. The girl is a beauty. Damn, how can she be that hot with such an old creep? Alfredo is here – old, and rather fat. Yet he looks a handsome man from this distance. My finder is set on him. Steady. It doesn’t shake. It doesn’t shake. Does it shake? It doesn’t shake. My respiration is steady. [/aesop_content]
Me – I shoot.
[aesop_content color=”#352611″ background=”#333333″ columns=”1″ position=”none” img=”https://simonmuys.com/zodia/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2016/01/quoteback-1.jpg” imgrepeat=”repeat” floaterposition=”left” floaterdirection=”up”]I inhale one last time, long breath. Then I stop. Everything. Everything stops. My breath. My world. My life. Only my finger doesn’t. It doesn’t shake. [/aesop_content][aesop_parallax img=”https://simonmuys.com/zodia/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2016/01/villa-romero-1.jpg” parallaxbg=”on” parallaxspeed=”1″ captionposition=”bottom-left” lightbox=”on” floater=”on” floaterposition=”left” floaterdirection=”up”] [aesop_content color=”#352611″ background=”#333333″ columns=”1″ position=”none” img=”https://simonmuys.com/zodia/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2016/01/quoteback-1.jpg” imgrepeat=”repeat” floaterposition=”left” floaterdirection=”up”]SHIT. FUCKING SHIT. FUCKING FUCKING HELL OF A FUCKING SHIT. [/aesop_content]
Me – I missed! Andromeda I missed. I fucking missed him.
Andromeda – Do not take another shot. Pack your gun and get out of there.
[aesop_content color=”#352611″ background=”#333333″ columns=”1″ position=”none” img=”https://simonmuys.com/zodia/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2016/01/quoteback-1.jpg” imgrepeat=”repeat” floaterposition=”left” floaterdirection=”up”]Like I would have waited for advice. The two guards are already shooting blindly in my direction. I know better than to stay in sight. I had deployed next to a tree big enough to cover the angle from any lost bullet in my run away from this hell. [/aesop_content]
Andromeda – You have twenty minutes to make it to Pegasus. Hurry up. The two men outside are running your way.
Me – Don’t worry.
[aesop_map height=”300px” sticky=”off”][aesop_content color=”#352611″ background=”#333333″ columns=”1″ position=”none” img=”https://simonmuys.com/zodia/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2016/01/quoteback-1.jpg” imgrepeat=”repeat” floaterposition=”left” floaterdirection=”up”]In less than thirty seconds I am outside the wood. I need to reach the end of the field before they reach the wood and then I’ll be able to hide in the bush. I will have disappeared before they have even glimpsed me. A shadow. [/aesop_content]
Andromeda – You didn’t touch him?
Me – I did. But I missed his heart. I think I shot his right arm.
Andromeda – They’re still in the middle of the living room. They haven’t got him to a safer place. That’s crazy.
Me – Girl, I need you to quiet down now, no noise until further notice.
[aesop_content color=”#352611″ background=”#333333″ columns=”1″ position=”none” img=”https://simonmuys.com/zodia/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2016/01/quoteback-1.jpg” imgrepeat=”repeat” floaterposition=”left” floaterdirection=”up”]Ok, the bush. I can crawl up to the dark path. They will surely believe I’ve headed down the road. [/aesop_content]
Guard 1 – Se fue hombre, no hay nadie!
Guard 2 – No puede ser! Seguimos hasta el camino, debe estar!
Guard 1 – Estas loco o qué? Es un sniper… Yo no voy pa alla… Vamos.
[aesop_content color=”#352611″ background=”#333333″ columns=”1″ position=”none” img=”https://simonmuys.com/zodia/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2016/01/quoteback-1.jpg” imgrepeat=”repeat” floaterposition=”left” floaterdirection=”up”]Easier than expected. The truth is, guardaespaldas can not be ready to give their lives for any mafia chief. Still I crawl. In case it’s a trap. In case they are still watching. In case they are not gone. I just hope my moves don’t show through the grass. But there is a little wind to ensure any move would seem natural.Could it be the wind? I’ve not missed a target in months. And he didn’t even move. I was four hundred meters away. No more. How could I miss such an easy shot? Damn me.
Will they come after me? Is it one of those movies where an assassin fails and is then eliminated by his employer? Can I trust Zodiac? How can I know? I don’t know anything about them. I don’t know anyone. And they know everything about me… They watch me. They find me and pass me messages whenever they choose. Suddenly I realize how crazy all of this was. I’m not an assassin… I’m not a secret superspy or an insensitive killer trained to be flawless… I’m a fucking wreck. They will shoot me.
No. They can’t. It’s not their way. They only shoot people who really deserve it. It’s been documented already. None of the killings that bore their mark were made to silence a non-important target. Or they just didn’t claim those. Impossible. I wouldn’t have chosen to be part of it if it wasn’t moral. I have to believe. Come on Miguel, don’t stop believing.
[/aesop_content]
Andromeda – Dragon?
Me – I told you to stay quiet.
Andromeda – Yes, but the two guards are back at the villa. There are three guards going out with a jeep right now. They’ll be passing over the road in two minutes. No-one else is around you. You need to be going now. The car won’t wait forever.
Me – You’re sure no-one can see me?
Andromeda – I have a drone over the villa and another over your position. I can assure you I’ve got a full overview. You’re safe. Now get the fuck out.
Me – The target? Do you still see his signature?
Andromeda – The heat wouldn’t fade that fast, anyway. But yes, I can still see him. But they haven’t moved yet. They’re still in the living room.
Me – Have they called the police? Or an ambulance?
Andromeda – I don’t monitor their communications, sorry… I don’t know.
Me – Is it possible the place will get surrounded with cops in the next fifteen minutes?
Andromeda – I don’t know. Either way, you have to move faster than this. Go.
Me – Ok. Talk to me while I’m running.
Andromeda – Do you want me to tell you a bedtime story?
Me – Status update girl. I don’t need chit-chat anymore right now.
Andromeda – Sorry… The jeep has left. Do you see the lights?
Me – I see them.
Andromeda – Get away from them, follow the mission track. You shouldn’t be in sight from the road.
Me – Don’t worry, they can’t see me. I do have the map with me.
Andromeda – The kids have woken up. They’re all in the living room. The guards too.
Me – I see blue lights coming from the roadway. Ambulance or police? That fast? Where are the closest stations?
Andromeda – Don’t know… I’m looking for this. I’m gonna fly the drone away from the villa now. I’m afraid someone might catch its signal.
Me – Who will be gathering it?
Andromeda – That is not of your concern, don’t worry.
[aesop_content color=”#352611″ background=”#333333″ columns=”1″ position=”none” img=”https://simonmuys.com/zodia/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2016/01/quoteback-1.jpg” imgrepeat=”repeat” floaterposition=”left” floaterdirection=”up”]I don’t. Of course it’s not my concern. Someone will. I will never know who though. And surely Andromeda doesn’t know either. Maybe another knight. Zodiac really has men everywhere. I don’t know whether to feel relieved or more concerned. [/aesop_content][aesop_parallax img=”https://simonmuys.com/zodia/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2016/01/villa-carlos-paz-downtown-1.jpg” parallaxbg=”on” parallaxspeed=”1″ captionposition=”bottom-left” lightbox=”on” floater=”on” floaterposition=”left” floaterdirection=”up”] [aesop_timeline_stop num=”GMT-3 23:22″ title=”23:22″]
Andromeda – You are halfway there. In front of you you should start to see the residential area, with the view over the lake San Roque.
Me – I see the houses, not the lake yet.
Andromeda – How is your breath?
Me – Holding it. Don’t worry about me. I’ve trained like a beast for this.
Andromeda – I’m sure you did.
[aesop_content color=”#352611″ background=”#333333″ columns=”1″ position=”none” img=”https://simonmuys.com/zodia/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2016/01/quoteback-1.jpg” imgrepeat=”repeat” floaterposition=”left” floaterdirection=”up”]I am starting to sweat. I mean sport sweat. I have been sweating since the beginning but it felt more like stress moist. The kind of unease that makes your hands moist when you shake someone else’s and covers you with shame. Now I could feel the good sweat. [/aesop_content]
Me – What will happen if I missed? Is there a backup team? Do you have anybody to confirm the kill?
Andromeda – Not that I am aware of. But then again I’m only your operator. I’m just here to facilitate your mission.
Me – I think I missed him.
Andromeda – We’ll see soon enough, I guess.
Me – It’s not at all as I had expected.
Andromeda – Killing a man?
Me – All that… I’ve tried to think myself as a professional assassin but it really seems I’m not up to the task. Or I don’t know. It seems all…
Andromeda – You did everything right. The shot was a hard one.
Me – Yes. Everything seems so easy. But still it failed completely. I had imagined a whole James Bond movie.
Andromeda – Are you that hot?
Me – You should see me in a tuxedo…
Andromeda – Daniel Craig style or more Sean Connery?
Me – I would tell you Pierce Brosnan just for the joke.
Andromeda – Ok, take the first road on your left. There is no-one in the streets from what I see. I’ll have the drone fly over one step ahead of you and warn you if I see anyone.
[aesop_content color=”#352611″ background=”#333333″ columns=”1″ position=”none” img=”https://simonmuys.com/zodia/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2016/01/quoteback-1.jpg” imgrepeat=”repeat” floaterposition=”left” floaterdirection=”up”]She’s making things easy. There’s no doubt about that. Just a voice in my ear. And then it’s all the difference. She’s what makes me a professional hitman rather than a random dude on a vendetta trip. No more magic than this. And such a charming voice… [/aesop_content]
Me – News from Pegasus?
Andromeda – He’s in place. I told him you would arrive in five minutes.
Me – Is he a nice guy?
Andromeda – I didn’t see him in a tuxedo either.
Me – You have the voice of a Bond girl you know.
Andromeda – You imagine me as Ursula Andress right now?
Me – More Denise Richards or Olga Kurylenko.
Andromeda – I’m a distant computer operator. You should think of me more as Dennis Nedry in Jurassic Park.
Me – Ok, you killed it.
Andromeda – Right, then first left again. You’re almost there.
Me – Great. Still no-one in sight? It’s a ghost town or what?
Andromeda – Actually, there is someone coming along the right side of the street on your next left. I’m not sure you should let him see you.
Me – No? You think? I look like a fucking bat with this ninja suit and I have a bazooka on my back, maybe it’s wiser, yes?
Andromeda – I’ll take your sarcasm as a way to release pressure.
Me – Shhht.
[aesop_content color=”#352611″ background=”#333333″ columns=”1″ position=”none” img=”https://simonmuys.com/zodia/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2016/01/quoteback-1.jpg” imgrepeat=”repeat” floaterposition=”left” floaterdirection=”up”]A woman and a dog. Fancy neighbourhood. It almost looks like a US suburb. She’s crossing and going in the other direction. Perfect. Her dog might have barked at me if they had passed nearby. [/aesop_content][aesop_parallax img=”https://simonmuys.com/zodia/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2016/01/villa-carlos-paz-puente-1.jpg” parallaxbg=”on” parallaxspeed=”1″ captionposition=”bottom-left” lightbox=”on” floater=”on” floaterposition=”left” floaterdirection=”up”]
Me – Ok, am I there yet?
Andromeda – Three hundred meters. Next right, the car is parked on the right hand-side. It’s a white Chevrolet. Pegasus will start the engine when you pass by. Enter the vehicle quickly and leave.
Me – What else could I do?
[aesop_content color=”#352611″ background=”#333333″ columns=”1″ position=”none” img=”https://simonmuys.com/zodia/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2016/01/quoteback-1.jpg” imgrepeat=”repeat” floaterposition=”left” floaterdirection=”up”]The road is really a residential suburb. It doesn’t even look like a South-American town here. Cars are parked on both sides, in front of cosy houses with green lawns. I stop running but keep a fast walking pace. Two small, dark Chevrolets. Hard to tell the colour in this dim light. Not white at least. An old Buick, the kind of cars you only see in this part of world anymore. A black Volkswagen. Ok, this seems like a white Chevrolet and there seems to be somebody behind the wheel.Above me, I realize the small bee sound I had come to hear is nothing other than the drone. I look up but nothing can be seen on this dark night.
The engine starts. Inside the car the light reveals a man with a hood covering his face. I enter quickly enough. [/aesop_content]
[aesop_timeline_stop num=”GMT-3 23:45″ title=”23:45″]
[aesop_character img=”https://simonmuys.com/zodia/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2016/01/Pegasus-character-1.jpg” caption=”Pegasus” align=”right” width=”300px”]
Pegasus – Hola señor, vos sois el Dragon?
Me – And you’re Pegasus obviously. Could we get the hell outta here?
Pegasus – Claro. Vamos.
