Fifteen - Backstabbed
1924 Words
Rio De Janeiro Carnival
17:00
(Fergie - A little Party Never Killed Nobody)
I ain't got time for you baby, either you're mine or you're
not
Make up your mind sweet baby, right here, right now's all
we got
A little party never killed nobody, so we gon' dance until
we drop
A little party never killed nobody, right here, right now's
all we got
At least I miss trips around the world, don't mean a thing
if I ain't your girl
Eyes wide open, sweat all over his body and hands anxiously shaking. Rodney Nirvana could not allow himself to enjoy the ongoing festivities around him. Opposite to what he is feeling, the other gentlemen riding the float with him were full of euphoria. Banging their heads to the blaring music from the massive speakers installed in their vehicle. He almost lost his grip to the railings when he felt his phone vibrated in his pocket. Few people together with him instantly assisted him making sure he does not slip out of the float. A smile of assurance was the only thing he could returned to the concern people who he is about to betray.
"Something bothering you, Nirvana? This is a carnival Rodney not a funeral, show some smile. Or atleast fake one." He stood on his place stiffly when Vincent whispered behind his back like an assassin who will take him out in a snap.
All we got, all we got, all we got, all we got
All we got, all we got, all we got, c'mon all we got (got)
Got damn!
Glad that you made it, look around
You don't see one person sitting down
They got drinks in their hands and the room's a bust
At the end of the night maybe you'll find love
Fake chit chat 'bout the things they got
And my scout reputation keeping it hot girl
At the party of the year I'm a master plan
If you make me realize I'm your man
Vincent stood beside Rodney confidently raising his wine to the people in the street waving and jamming to the parade. Rodney managed to fake a smile when Vincent raised his wine to him. Another vibration creeped on his right leg, implication of an urgent call that needs to be answered, but all Rodney could do was to ignore it avoiding any suspicions from Vincent.
It don't mean a thing if I give you my heart
If you tear it apart, no, uh, uh, ah, oh
It don't mean a thing if I ain't in your eyes
Probably ain't gonna fly, no, uh, uh, ah, oh
A huge breath of relief quickly escaped his system when someone he is not familiar with called Vincent to discuss something. He nodded as respect to the receding gentlemen swallowed by the crowd.
He immediately withdrew his phone from his pocket and read the alarming message. Huge drops of sweat started dripping in every part of his body as he scanned through the crowd to look for the others. His heartrate dropped the moment he found Marco's team currently enjoying their own harem.
"Come on! We're getting off this thing! Faster!" He whispered rapidly to Marco's ear since his voice will not break through the loud music.
"What? I thought we're going to finish the parade?!" Marco responded full of disappointment and curiousity.
The other men noticed the growing tension between Rodney and Marco. They approached the two leaving their harem in disappointment. Rodney sighed loudly when he saw all of them complete.
"Follow me!" He turned around quickly to the stairs leading down.
"Wait! What about Doctor Vincent?!" Diego asked everyone who just absentmindedly followed Rodney. Marco stopped.
"Yeah! What about Doctor Alderige?!" Then he grabbed Rodney's sleeves making him rotate back to them.
"He's a big boy! He can handle himself! Let's go!" Rodney snatched his sleeves back and jump down to the streets joining the rest of the population enjoying the parade.
The four tipsy men followed Rodney. They started exchanging glances when they noticed that they are not following the crowd.
"Hey! The parade's going that way, doc!" Newland shouted to Rodney but he was ignored.
At least I miss trips around the world, don't mean a thing
if I ain't your girl
A little party never killed nobody, so we gon' dance until
we drop
A little party never killed nobody, right here, right now's
all we got
A little party never killed nobody, so we gon' dance until
we drop
A little party never killed nobody, right here, right now's
all we got
Out of reflex and the deafening panics around them, they dropped to the ground as the entire highway stumbled to the explosion of a float. A float they were just riding a while ago. The four gentlemen shot each others anxious looks. All the alcohol they took in flushed out of their system as panic started to crawl inside. All the people they were partying, the women enjoying every minute in that vehicle, gone.
Marco leaned to the nearest post as the entire street scrambled with people trying to find shelter and vacating the place. He wiped the huge drops of sweat dripping on his face while he watch his friends who were as disoriented as him. Out of all the horror and fear instilled to every person wandering the street, Rodney was the only person who has a different reaction to the explosion, relief.
I ain't got time for you baby, either you're mine or you're
not
Make up your mind sweet baby, right here, right now's all
we got
A little party never killed nobody, so we gon' dance until
we drop
A little party never killed nobody, right here, right now's
all we got
At least I miss trips around the world, don't mean a thing
if I ain't your girl
A little party never killed nobody, so we gon' dance until
we drop
A little party never killed nobody, right here, right now's
all we got
Still processing everything that happened, Marco snapped out Rodney's shirt. The doctor who is currently celebrating his salvation faced him in defense. Marco licked his lips.
"You better start talking." He uttered in gritted teeth.
Derrick tapped his back signaling him the incoming police cars responding to this tragedy. He let the doctor go and motioned his team to head out before the police notice them. With one last shot of judging look, Marco warned Rodney that he's watching him.
What do you think GoonRock?
Are you ready?
A little party never killed nobody, so we gon' dance until
we drop
A little party never killed nobody, right here, right now's
all we got
A little party never killed nobody, so we gon' dance until
we drop
A little party never killed nobody
***
"Pentagon wants this done, ASAP!" Newland reported when he returned to the rest of the team who were contemplating what happened to the parade. Marco nodded at him as acknowledgement.
"What the f**k happened there!" Derrick could not hold his frustrations.
"Damn! Those people, for Christ sake!" Newland added.
Marco blasted out of his chair the moment Rodney got out of the elevator. A series of profanities and displeasures escaped Rodney's mouth as he was dragged by Marco to their table. Rodney fixed his clothes in annoyance.
"What the f**k is wrong with you?!" He shouted to the furious gentleman leveling his tension.
"How the hell did you know about the explosion?! Don't even try to lie to my face or I swear to God I'm gonna make you swallow your own samples!" Marco grilled directly.
Rodney took a step back and took a seat.
"I don't know what you're saying, captain! And don't you dare raise your voice on me!" Rodney countered.
With a humorless laugh, Marco grabbed Rodney's arm tightly. Rodney groaned in pain trying to take it back.
"Don't try to use Doctor Alderige's play here, asshole! Atleast he knows how to do it smoothly!" Marco mocked.
Wounded ego, insulted scheme and a bit hurt on his arm, Rodney leaned to his chair. He strengthened his facade.
"We just got lucky that we got out in time." Rodney answered.
"Bullshit!" Marco roared making the restaurant staff glance at them in concern but Newland smiled to them in assurance.
"You forced us to leave with you, Doc. If we insisted to stay, we could've died back there!" Derrick added.
"What about Doctor Alderige?" Diego asked them.
They all shot Rodney a doubtful glare. Marco snapped his fingers when he connected the dots. He click his tongue.
"His target was Doctor Alderige that's why we're the only ones he forced to leave with him."
"What about those innocent people? You motherfucker!" Derrick shouted at Rodney.
"Better them than me." Rodney said coldly avoiding their eyes.
They all stood quietly, dumbfounded to Rodney's response. Derrick took a seat in awe and stared at the doctor in horror.
"Are you hearing yourself, doc?" Marco asked in disbelief.
Rodney sipped his juice, still avoiding their burning gaze.
"I have to move first against Vincent or he will kill me. You heard his subtle threats, right? I don't want to end up like Don Juan!"
"You will end up like Don Juan if you betrayed Doctor Alderige like Don Juan did! Wait! How can we be so stupid?! You've been working with Don Juan all this time. You just want revenge when he started to remove you from the production! You're the one who tipped the white house. You ordered to slaughter your own scientists! What an asshole!" Diego suddenly bursted, pointing his finger furiously to Rodney.
The three other men looked at their neophyte member in awe.
"You didn't escape from Don Juan, you were supposed to frame up Doctor Alderidge but you don't know how to put down the wise doctor." Diego continued.
A small smile formed on Rodney's lips, impressed by the deduction of the young man. He placed his glass to the table and slowly clap his hands.
"Impressive."
They all shook their heads in disappointment to Rodney and took their seats quietly.
"That's why you and Doctor Alderige get along so well." Newland stated sarcastically and left the restaurant.
"Where are you going?" Derrick asked.
"Packing. I don't wanna mingle with a murderer. I'm out of this mission." He responded and walked to the elevator. The three other gentlemen followed Newland.
"Enjoy your meal, doc." Derrick mocked.
***
"So what's the plan, cap?" Derrick asked Marco while they rode the elevator.
"I'm calling HQ. We're bombing that site B."
"I second that." Newman
"Third that." Diego added which made them laugh.
They all went inside their shared suite since Doctor Alderige was quite tight on budget. Diego turned the TV quickly.
"A catastrophic day for Rio de Janeiro Carnival as two separate explosions blasted in a matter of minutes injuring almost 2000 tourists and 50 casualties in the parade. The other explosion was believed to be a research laboratory of Alderige International that resulted to 50 casualties, all scientists of the site, and sadly, Doctor Vincent Alderige was allegedly one of the casualties to the related explosion. The authorities believed that this is an attack to Alderige Multinational company making the prime suspect left is Doctor Rodney Nirvana, a business partner of Doctor Alderige in establishing this research laboratories. Nirvana's legal council refused to release any statement confirming nor denying any involvement."
"Someone did us a favor." Derrick muttered.
- Writer
