She thought of last night. Of skin on skin. Of the way he had made her feel. But it wasn’t who she was. She must remember that. Love and lust were fleeting. Duty and honor were immortal. She breathed in deeply, and then let out a slow release of air through her nose. Lena forced all of her emotion out of her body.

She looked back at the man sitting across from her. His single-breasted suit was exquisite. Gold cufflinks and an expensive watch. He spent his time in boardrooms and private jets. His connection to this part of her nation’s government was a mystery to her. But she knew of his loyalty to those he took under his wing...and of his brutal reputation to those that crossed him. This wasn’t a choice. It was a hurdle. Like so many she had jumped.

Lena looked to ensure the barkeep was out of earshot and whispered, “Of course, sir. I will do this without hesitation. I will prove to you my loyalty to my country. My loyalty to China.”

*****

Present Day

David’s internal clock was all messed up. His nap earlier hadn’t helped. He tried to sleep but couldn’t. He checked his watch. It was almost 1 a.m. A cool sea breeze drifted in from the screened window. A bright half-moon lit up the sliver of sea that was visible from his room. The thunderstorms had passed. He had too much energy to sleep. Screw it. He was going to take a walk outside.

He threw on his clothes and sneakers and headed down the concrete stairs and outside the barracks. Outside he could hear loud bird songs coming from the jungle-covered mountain. A few large moths fluttered around the light positioned above the barracks door.

David walked along the sandy path towards the beach. He had nothing better to do. Why not? The runway was in between the shore and where he was now. It was a beautiful night. He loved the way the air looked and felt so clear after a storm came through. It was like they sucked up all of the haze and humidity and left nothing but pure crisp air behind.

David walked past the communications building and heard a rumble in the distance. At first he thought it was the buzzing of an air conditioning unit or some generator attached to one of the buildings. Then the rumble grew into a reverberation. He recognized that noise. The reverberations got louder and changed pitch. A helicopter. And it was getting closer by the sound of it. Why would it be coming here in the middle of the night? An uneasy feeling grew inside him.

David stood on the gravel path and tried to look into the black sky above the ocean for any sign of an aircraft. Nothing. It was like looking into a black hole.

A set of dim blue lights flickered on at the end of the runway. He could just barely see them, but it was enough for him to notice. Had someone turned them on for the helicopter to land? David heard a door open directly behind him, coming from the communications building.