To the Sound of a Storm Ch. 1
By Matt Lawson

Colonel James Wolfman sat in the back of the car, as he waited for the new recruit to arrive. He checked his watch. 6:56 a.m.

I guess I arrived a little early…

He looked out of the window and watched as the rain fell lightly on the concrete beneath him. The storm had lessened considerably in the past hour, yet the rain continued to fall. He had expected no less. This was England, after all.

To think that she would come back after all those years away from home.

He then suddenly realised that he actually didn’t know very much about Miss White at all. He had read the file that she was an ex-Shadowloo agent, responsible for the assassinations of several dozen important political figures and soldiers. He also knew that she had actually been brainwashed by Shadowloo and was looking for some payback. That much was clear. What was unclear to him was that she was being signed on for MI6 without going through any of the usual channels, thanks to the recommendations of an American USAF captain, a Navy SEAL and an Interpol detective. She was, in essence, still a civilian after all.

He didn’t even know what she looked like. There was only a photo of an eight year old girl before she was kidnapped, ten years ago.

That was the other thing that bothered him. Her age. She was a lot younger than the other men and women under his command. Would they be willing to accept a teenager for backup? Especially a teenager with her background. He put these thoughts aside as he saw a girl appear from behind the apartment building.

He looked at her, dressed in formal wear, her blonde hair knotted into very long pigtails. The scar running on her left cheek did nothing to mar her beauty. In fact, to his point of view, it actually increased it. He began to wonder whether or not she was English at all.

Then he noticed she was walking towards him. He found himself realizing the glorious truth. It was her. Miss Cammy White.

“Start the car, Michael,” he said, signaling the driver. Then he whispered to himself under his breath. “Thank you, God.”

The BMW roared into life as Cammy approached it. Then, one of the back doors swung open. A man in formal military clothing stepped out of the car and stood, waiting for her. Judging by the number of badges and medals on his chest, he was someone of high ranking status.

“Miss White? My name is Colonel James Wolfman, of Her Majesty’s Secret Service, MI6. I’m here to take you to headquarters.”

Cammy felt it was unnecessary for him to say that, but guessed correctly that protocol required it. By the look on his face, he felt the same way.

“Thank you, Colonel.” She shook his extended hand. Wolfman stepped back, and let her sit herself into the car. Closing the door, he walked round and entered through the other side.

“They’ll be expecting you when we arrive. Captain Guile and Commander Dallas have spoken highly of you, especially from your experience in Sarawak. They’re already there.”

“I guess it’s good to know that I’ve got someone to back me up on this.”

“We’ll find out.”

Cammy looked out of the window as the BMW drove out of the parking area and out into the city of London. In an hour or so, her new life would hopefully begin. It was something she did not want to regret.

Wolfman spoke. “You realise that you’re going to have to provide some convincing evidence yourself to support your request. They aren’t going to just let you in because you simply want to.”

“What’s to tell that hasn’t already been told? You read my deposition, it’s complete and accurate from everything I can remember. No embellishments. It doesn’t need any embellishments.”

“Look, I believe you, but there are going to be some heavyweights in there, and every one of them is going to try to pick holes in your story. We’ll back you up as much as you can, but unless you can provide enough reasoning, they’re just not going to let you in. The results of your physical and psychological tests will also come into play here.” Cammy leaned back. She remembered every detail of those tests. The physical tests she hated, because they reminded her of the tests back then in Shadowloo. But it was the psychological tests that she hated the most, as she was required to explain every little detail of her experiences.

Including the dreams….

“I can handle it.”

“If that’s true, then maybe you’ll get your chance. Just remain cool and unemotional.”

Sure, she thought. Her whole family was gone, murdered by Shadowloo, and she’d lost ten whole years of reality to a brainwashed existence. Cool and Unemotional. Sure.

“If I don’t get this opportunity to fight, then what can I do?”

“Don’t think about that for now. Just think about what you’re going to say.” Wolfman noticed a faint heaviness in her eyelids. “Did you sleep alright last night?”

“I slept enough.”

He let it go at that.

Cammy looked out of the car window, watching the city fly past without as much as a pause. She began to wonder whether she was doing the right thing. But the memories of what happened in Malaysia pushed them aside. All she could do was to fight. To drive away the nightmare that had plagued her.

And if that was what she wanted, then she was going to do her d*mned hardest to get it.