Chris Mooney - World Without End

Out of the darkness came the Blackhawk attack helicopter, the one Angel Eyes had stolen, the one Booker had sighted in Roxbury. The chopper flew past him toward the other end of the building. From the belly of the chopper a searchlight kicked on.

Pasha came to him and helped him back up. They both scrambled back inside the alcove. His ears ringing from the wind, Conway looked over Pasha's shoulder and saw the bright beam of light searching the rooftop for them.

"Pasha?"

She didn't move, didn't talk, just stood there, looking like some sort of futuristic lethal warrior ripped from a science-fiction movie. The intimidating-looking figure pressed a button on the wrist-mounted computer and the helmet's face shield flipped open.

Pasha's blue eyes stared back at him.

"Where's Dixon?"

"He's safe," Pasha said, and looked out at the Blackhawk moving across the roof.

Conway grabbed her left wrist and started to pry off the paperback book-size computer mounted against her forearm.

"What are you doing?" she asked, looking back at him.

"Angel Eyes is here. We've got to destroy this thing. Get out of the suit."

Conway felt something cold and hard press against his temple. He looked up and saw what looked like a nine-millimeter digging against the skin near his temple.

"Step back," Pasha said.

It took a few seconds for Conway's brain to register what was happening. He stared at her, dumbfounded, vaguely aware as her free hand quickly reached around his back and yanked the Clock from his waistband. She tossed it onto the roof and the nine skidded across the floor.

"Let go of the computer, Stephen."

"Pasha " "Step back. Now." Pasha's eyes were as cold as her voice.

Conway knew she meant it. He straightened up and took a measured step back. He stood there, wrapped in confusion and anger and panic, and stared at her. For a moment there was only the whistle and roar of the wind.

"Relax. Everything will be explained," Pasha said. Like she was talking to a child.

This… it felt surreal. This woman he had let her into his private world, had loved, shared secrets. She had saved his life twice and was now standing before him with a gun pointed at his chest. He stood in the cold air, his gaze moving between the Clock and the cold expression in Pasha's eyes, his brain struggling to find the hidden pieces and connect the larger picture.

"Stephen, I know you're confused, and you're angry. After everything that's happened, I don't blame you. Don't do anything rash."

Conway stared at the Clock. He wanted to step forward and knock the gun out of Pasha's hand.

She can just as easily knock you to the ground. You've trained with her, she knows all of your moves. Don't underestimate her strength.

Over Pasha's shoulder, Conway saw the Blackhawk helicopter balancing itself in the strong winds, looking for a place to touch down. Pasha hadn't moved, hadn't reacted; she remained planted. Confident.

Stoic.

The chopper's waiting for Pasha.

In that moment, the truth of what was happening, the truth of who Pasha Romanov really was, the mask she had worn all of these years when they were alone, making love all of it was a lie. In the span of four hours, he had been betrayed by two people he trusted and respected one of whom he had loved deeply. He stared at her and thought, Who are you?

The picture came into sharper focus, and the answers he had sought all this time came bubbling to the surface. Conway had to force the words out.

"You're the leak. Not McFadden."

"He worked for us. All your questions " "You mean he was a traitor, like you."

"Don't be so willing to condemn what you don't understand yet."

"You sound like Angel Eyes." His voice sounded hoarse, outside of himself.

"He's an impressive man, Stephen."

"Obviously. He's programmed you well."

"The ideals that you live by, the things you and I fought for to keep people safe, to keep this world safe we can still do it, together. Only we'll be doing it on the right side, with the right people. We want you to be a part of this, Stephen. A part of us."

"Destroy the suit and I'll come with you."

"I can't do that."

"Angel Eyes told me he wanted it destroyed. To keep it out of the hands of people like Raymond Bouchard and Misha."

"The suit… it's too important to our work."

"So he lied."

"No, he didn't lie. I had a change of heart. This is my decision.

Like coming here to get you."

"He has the laser rifle."

"I know."

"So that day, that was a setup too?"

"No. That was an accident. Armand's computer expert, Blake Mattenson, escaped with the rifle but wasn't good at hiding. We relieved him of it."

"And produced several more rifles."

"Again, my idea. We have to protect ourselves from the Raymond Bouchards of the world."

"Sounds to me like you're going to war."

"Everything Angel Eyes told you was true, Stephen. The man doesn't lie. All the weapons are hidden. Only the laser rifle was manufactured. And the name Angel Eyes? It belongs to Raymond. I didn't make the connection until after I discovered he sold us out.

He's the one who killed Jonathan King not us."

"You killed the other inventor, Matthews."

"He's the only one. The rest are safe. You can meet with them."

"All this… the whole time in Austin, all that work, it was all bullshit. You were going to help Angel Eyes retrieve the suit that day."

"Only Raymond betrayed us."

"The same way you're betraying me right now."

"I saved you at the Aquarium. I didn't have to. And after I saved Dixon, I had the suit. I didn't have to come here. I could have just left without you, but I decided to come here. To save you. Again."

"To save me," Conway repeated.

"Raymond has more friends like Cole. If you stay here, I won't be able to protect you."

"Where's Dixon?"

"With us. He's safe. We protect our own, Stephen."

We protect our own. The words summoned the scene from the Tobin Bridge, and the words Angel Eyes had said: Right now, the suit is a one-of-a-kind item. It isn't a mass-produced weapon of destruction yet.

Angel Eyes mass-produced the laser rifle. What's to keep him from doing the same with the suit? He has Dixon.

Conway thought about the Palm Pilot in his pocket.

You have to destroy the suit, a voice said.

I end up killing her.

Then he recalled Angel Eyes that morning at the Holocaust Memorial, the way the man had his bare hand pressed against the glass. No grief on his face, no regret, no look of mourning, it was almost like… rapture.

Wearing that suit, you would be a god. A man would go to great lengths to have that kind of power. You said those words to Bouchard, remember?

Conway looked into her eyes and remembered them making love that last morning in Austin.

"I'll be watching you," Pasha whispered, her words sounding like a low, drowsy hum against his ear.

"i'll keep you safe, Stephen. I'll always be here for you. I promise."

The woman in that moment and the woman standing before him with the gun were two different people.

Pasha made her decision and now you have to make yours.

The Blackhawk had landed near the back corner of the roof.

"Come with me and meet the man," Pasha said.

"Give him a chance to explain."

"And if I don't like what he has to say, he's going to, what, just let me walkaway?"

"I want you to be a part of my life. That's why I came back for you.

Give this a chance." Pasha stared at him.

"Please."

Conway placed his hands in his pockets. He felt the Palm Pilot.

Pasha's eyes were on his hands.

"What's your decision, Stephen?"

I don't like the path the world has taken, Angel Eyes had said. I often wonder what it would be like if the whole planet started over. I think it could happen. If the right person came into power.