[The Blue Sphere] II – Cimarron Vs. Troika

[Merovingian 656]

 

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents either are the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living, or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental or come from an alternate universe.

 

Read next part here.

 

Previously on TBS

I - The Notebooks: In 1986 – 13 years before present days – 5 years old Viktor, Kurt his father, and Anna his mother, all lived in Moscow Russia. Kurt worked as a physicist at the Institute of Atomic Energy, a nuclear research centre aiming to develop the energy of the future for civilian application. One cold evening he returned to his office to retrieve his secret notebook that he left unattended. While hiding from the night guards, he learned that someone is after the details of his plasma research theories and also discovered a key to a file cabinet located in the archives room. He took this opportunity to snoop in the archived documents of Ivan, the head scientist of the Plasma Department. What he discovered worried him. The man spying on him, Sergei Vonabalab, was a weapon maker. The discovery of misuse of this technology reinforced his resolve to pursue his clandestine plan.

 

 

II – Cimarron Vs. Troika

 

February 1999 - Brest, France
“Watch out!” warns Viktor (nickname Shadowstar). “Two opponents sneaked behind our base from the left flank. They wounded Nik (nickname LLapb) and me.”

 

“Don’t worry baby Vik, stay put by the flag, I got your back now. These noobs will not escape from my crosshairs.” Tobias (nickname Letloose) replies with a smirk.

 

“Clean the base, I’m coming with the enemy flag.” announces Kilian (nickname Drako123), “I’m on the left flanks behind the white tall building. Mikasa (real name Leoni), shake the nasty one on my tail, plz.”

 

“Vik, СЫН, dinner is served.” calls Anna, his mum, from the kitchen below. “Come down please.”

             

The young boy removes his headset and mutes the micro. “Mum, later, I’m playing and I’m in the middle of a clan war right now.” He shouts back slightly displeased with this embarrassing situation.

 

On his computer screen, an enemy dashed to the flag which was left undefended while he had lost his focus from the ongoing battle.

 

“Come now or it will be cold! Tell your little friends to pause the game for you until you come back,” insists firmly his mother.

 

He mimics a facepalm. “No mum, I really can’t. It doesn’t work like that,” He replies in despair and totally mystified by his mother suggestion.

 

On the headset, his clanmate Nik screams “Flag, Vik, mult, what are you doing?! Kill the attacker!”.

 

“Ugh!” he finally moans. He put back on the communication device and announces gloomily. “Sorry guys, I’m really, really sorry, but I got to go now, it’s dinner time.”

 

“LOL”, “Vikbro?”, “Noob!”, “Was zur Hölle?” He can hear among the stunned reaction.

 

“T’abuses vraiment mec,” complains Killian in French, the leader of the [CMR] Cimarron Clan, and his best class buddy in real life.

 

He personally knows his best friend’s mother and he is fully aware that he cannot argue with her. His friend is too nice, and he respects her a lot. Since they moved to France from Russia, she had the difficult task to raise him alone as a single mother in a foreign country.

 

“It’s ok Vik.” the leader finally adds, before instructing his team with new orders. “BlackMamba (real name Jaspal) come online and sub Shadowstar. You go midfield and I drop in defence. Tobias, move to attack and let loose with your skillz.”

 

“Yeeeeessssssss!! Come at me bro,” yells Tobias.

 

“Let’s solve this stand-off and WIN this game!” He declared, on a positive and decisive tone to his remaining teammates online.

 

Reluctantly Vik logs off, leaves his bedroom and walks down the stairs to have dinner, while the rest of the Cimarron clan members have fun on the multiplayer online video game. By the kitchen’s window, a small cracking radio has finished to announce the local headlines of the day and it is now covering the international news. “…Today’s focus is about Russia with the troubles in Syldavia.” the device broadcasts on a monotonous tone, “Mr. Voniasuhk, deputy at the Russian's State Duma, as declared earlier today, that Russia as a sovereign country will not tolerate interference from foreign governments into its internal affair. Too long, …”

 

This is the 13th of February 1999, the eve of his 18th birthday. On this special evening his mother announced to him that as he will soon legally be a grown-up, she thought that it would be a good idea to get him a passport before it becomes administratively too complicated. Secretly, without him noticing, she’d managed to apply for and obtain two passports: one Russian and one German. Yes, Viktor Wolfenstein has a double nationality. Firstly, his mother Anna is a Russian from Perm district, and additionally, he is born in Moscow district. Secondly, his father, Kurt Wolfenstein, is a German from Cologne.

 

Anna switches off the radio and hands over to him and announces, smiling, “Happy birthday in advance, my little man.” Happy, he thanks his mother as he is not mad at her anymore. With these new documents, he will be able to realise a project that the Cimarron clan members have set up together. For months they have talked about meeting each other in real life during this summer holidays.

 

Their plan is to first all gather in France for a week at Vik’s place, followed by another week in Germany at Leonie’s place and an additional fortnight in Russia at Nik’s place. Four weeks to tour some part of Europe, playing games, having fun together and, before all, relax after the school exams. It would not have been possible for him without a passport. After the dinner he will announce the good news to the clan.

 

 

Same day – Aleksandrovsk, Russia
A sleek shadow of an athletic and fit girl slides soundlessly in the long corridor of a vast and dim old Manor. The figure with untidy black hair moves towards a grand painting depicting a frail and sophisticated woman. As Daria furtively pass by, her intense brown eyes ignore the stern and empty look of the painted portrait of her long-lost mother. The determined girl is carefully heading in the direction of the main study of the house at the end of the north aisle, from where an agitated discussion is resonating. She intends to eavesdrop on her father, Sergei Vonabalab, whom, inside the closed room, speaks on the phone with several unknown, and inaudible, interlocutors.

 

“Miskam, this is great news!” he declares, “Keeping the passport application under check was a strikingly good idea. We have finally found out the whereabouts of the Wolfenstein family.”

 

“Your strong connection with the FSB, being an old member of the KGB, is a good asset to our Troïka Organisation,” he says, satisfied. He pauses for a minute, nodding time to time, listening to a muffled low pitch speaker.

 

“Yes, Kahzirts. The discreet investigation, conducted by Ivan at the institute, on the remaining members of the Tokamak team, confirmed the existence of another notebook with a blue cover, which has been concealed by Kurt Wolfenstein,” he confirms.

 

“We need to put our hands on the blue notebook rapidly. Ultimately this book will make its way to the boy. We should put him under surveillance and intercept the document before he can make sense of it,” Sergei queries. “What are your suggestions, gentlemen?”

 

A long, unsustainable silence pursues his last words. Daria starts to feel anxious, considering that she is missing something important, and gets closer to the solid wooden door. The boy… the Wolfenstein family…, are they talking about Viktor? This name is reminiscent of the sweet perfume of her childhood…”. Absorbed by her thoughts, she clumsily loses balance and leans on the door to regain balance which makes the rusty hinges creak. ДЕРЬМО! She curses in her head and quickly rushes for cover behind a large wardrobe not far away.

 

The cracking noise alerts Sergei. He sends a suspicious and sustained look toward the entrance of his study. “A moment gentlemen.” He pauses, walks to the corridors and peep his head to glance at the deserted aisle. Nobody here it seems. Back to the phone, he heeds the time on the chimney’s large golden clock and resumes the phone conversation.

 

“Sending Domdog on the case seems a bit extreme to me. While retrieving the notebook, to restart the project Isida, is a high priority, we are dealing with an operation in a foreign country and should avoid making noise. Consequently, we should be more cautious and avoid the use of brute force or any other direct approach.” He suggests.

 

Several minutes of arguing ensues between the 3 men on the phone. Sergei checks the time again, it has been about five minutes now. He opens a long casket sculpted in jade which lays on his precious exotic wood desk and extracts from it a deer-hunting knife with an ivory carved handle. Then, unexpectedly, Sergei drops the phone and dashes to the door, which he quickly opens and finds… his daughter crouched and paralysed. “Daria!” He shouts half surprised.

 

“I suspected it was you, Daria darling. Do you not know that curiosity killed the cat?” He smirks and moves his sharps blade away from the contact of her throat. “If you intend to spy on your father, make an effort to be subtler,” he mocks. “Now go back to your bedroom, there is no business here for you. You are not ready to take care of the family business. Not quite yet.” Turning his back on her he concludes the discussion, “As a punishment, for being caught and showing weakness, you will not get your Kabarda horse.” And he seals the door.

 

“Sorry for this, I had a small family matter to take care of.” He apologies once he is back on the phone. “But… this gives me an idea. Listen, we should not dispatch Noe Domdog, I have a better… subtler plan.” He says self-assured. “Miskam, could you urgently get more information from your friends about the boy: his hobbies, address, likes and dislikes. Here is my proposal...”

 

The discussion continues for another 5 minutes, and finally, they all agree on the next moves before putting the meeting to a close. The conspirator hangs up and rests calmly on his armchair contemplating his preferred weapon. The cold polished metals of the blade flickers in harmony with the dancing light of the warm fire. He lets go a large smile, thinking that his business is going to get better and flourish with this new technology, and more juicy military new contracts will come. Hunt or be hunted, in the “struggle for life” game, he has chosen to be the strongest. He loathes weak people, they are pathetic creatures.

 

Back to her room Darya is frustrated. She stupidly got caught by her father and even worse she will not get the superb Siberian horse with the chestnut colour coat. She could not believe it, at long last they found Viktor, that little boy she once met in the Gubakha skiing resort and who was nice to her when everybody was ignoring her. His future is not looking good if her father is involved in this. I’ll help him against my father, no matter what it will take. For the good old times, for my mother and for his own good, he will not succeed.

 

 

Epilogue

Who are the two men, Miskam and Kahzirts, conspiring with Sergei and forming the Troïka Organisation (TO)? Is Viktor in bona fide danger? Will he obtain his father’s blue notebook or will the TO’s agent intercept it first? Can Daria stop her father?

Let’s find out in the next chapter.

 

 

* * *

 

Extra: Confidential Dossier

NAME: Viktor Ilyich Wolfenstein

STATUS: Person of interest

LEVEL: Highly confidential

ACTION: Keep under surveillance. Report movement.

REPORT 29/03/1999: Viktor Wolfenstein is 18 years old and born in 14th of February 1981 in Russia. Only child of Kurt Wolfenstein (Missing, presumed dead) a German Physicist and of Anna Molotova, a Russian Physicist (now teaching science at a local college). Both parents graduated from Humboldt University in Berlin. Anna and son defected in April 1986 via Ukraine. The father current location is unknown, and he is presumed dead. Last known location, Chernobyl Nuclear-powered plant, Ukraine. Viktor is a shy teenager but easy to make friends. Currently in last year of college and following a scientific curriculum. He plays online video games and practice sailing at sea. He is part of an online clan called Cimarron. Talks fluent French, and manages both Russian and English. Possesses some basic knowledge of German. He is planning to visit Berlin, Moscow and Perm during summer with some members of the Cimarron team. The boy do have interest in girl but he seems to be currently single.

 

 

Translation of foreign words

French

T’abuses vraiment mec: Seriously mate

 

German
Was zur hölle?: What the hell?

 

Russian
LLapb (царь): Tsar
СЫН (syn): Son
Troïka (тройка): Triumvirate - 'a set of three'
ДЕРЬМО (DER'MO): Crap

 

Read next part The Blue Sphere III - Cardinal

Edited May 7, 2019 by Merovingian

[Flexoo 6,980]

Approved.

 

Edits:

The verbs in the spoiler were changed to past tense considering the fact it speaks about the matters happening before present days.

A few minor edits in tenses in the article.

[Merovingian 656]

Approved.

Tank you very much, Venerable Dictabot.

Edited November 12, 2018 by Merovingian

[thethiefofvictory 339]

Approved.

 

Edits:

The verbs in the spoiler were changed to past tense considering the fact it speaks about the matters happening before present days.

A few minor edits in tenses in the article.

So some tense issues slipped past me?! Well, well...

 

Nice story!

[P.4.R.K.O.U.R 329]

Tank you very much, Venerable Dictabot.

:lol: Edited November 12, 2018 by P.4.R.K.O.U.R

[thethiefofvictory 339]

Wait a second. Cardinal hasn't even been introduced yet and you've already spoiled this secret in that picture, meanwhile Tobias and Jaspal are missing...

Also, I wonder where Troika came from? Also, I don't think Cimarron and Troika are ready to fight just yet, hm?

[Merovingian 656]

Wait a second. Cardinal hasn't even been introduced yet and you've already spoiled this secret in that picture, meanwhile Tobias and Jaspal are missing...

Also, I wonder where Troika came from? Also, I don't think Cimarron and Troika are ready to fight just yet, hm?

Those are all legitimate questions. 

 

​I could not find anime character on the net that would suit those secondary protagonists. The early introduction of Cardinal's pic is a teaser for the next chapter (animes and mangas does it a lot).

 

I will let you search the word Troika on Wikipedia, it has to do with Triumvirate and Russia.

​Like any boxing match there is always a Boxing poster of x Vs. Y, so this chapter is a preamble to the match and not the match. I introduce partially the 2 adversaries in that chapter.

Edited November 12, 2018 by Merovingian

[Merovingian 656]

Coming soon Chapter III :ph34r:

Edited November 29, 2018 by Merovingian

[Person_Random 4,991]

Slight grammar issues, but a very good storyline.  Though I think they say 'only child' not 'unique child'.  But I look forward to Chapter 3!

[Merovingian 656]

Slight grammar issues, but a very good storyline.  Though I think they say 'only child' not 'unique child'.  But I look forward to Chapter 3!

Thanks. Good point, let me correct that.