In Your Own Reflection

By: Joseph Jensen

Dedicated my Bae, because why not?

Audrey searches from her rooftop lookout. All movement catches her eye and nothing
escapes. She is in New York City for one reason and one reason only. Her mission is to
investigate a possible lead on the location of the leader of a secret terrorist organisation. His
name is Ahanu. She glances across the street at another rooftop and can vaguely see Michael,
all five foot ten inches of him. A little bit taller than the average thirteen year old, he would look
dreamy to others. His sea blue eyes, lean muscles, and sandy blonde hair would have drawn in
any other girl, but Audrey was not any ordinary girl. Michael wasnt part of her mission, and
therefore he was just a distraction, a dead weight as she saw it.
She looked back at the road feeling guilty, and strangely a little bit self conscious.
A sleek black suburban slid out from the red light it was stopped at.
Target spotted, Audrey said into her earpiece. Immediately, Michael stood up from the
top of his perch on the roof and screwed on the attachment to his gun. He fired one shot, which
came out almost completely silent and Audrey knew that he had hit perfectly. A voice in her
earpiece sprang up.
Alright, we have a beacon, it said calmly. This was the director of the agency. His name
was David Williams and he had been her father image since she was taken in at four years old.
She checked her watch and saw a tiny dot appear on the electronic background of a map. The
map background began to move, indicating that the tracking device that was just shot onto the
car was on the move.
Time to move princess, Michael said excitedly.
Dont call me princess, Audrey muttered under her breath. It was mildly annoying, but
in a way Audrey also liked it. Even so, these situations called for a calm body and a focused

mind. That was mostly the reason why Audrey was so successful in her missions. It was easier
to see what was about to happen and how to combat it if you can think clearly about it.
She ran to the opposite side of the house, and seeing that the suburban had turned onto
her street, she slid down onto the fire escape. Swinging from bar to bar, she quickly made her
way down the side of the building. Reaching the ground, she ducked into a side alley and
peeked around the corner. The suburban stopped and four men got out. Three of them were
very tall and heavily muscled, and the fourth was just the opposite. Short and very skinny, the
man had deep brown skin, and a rough complexion. His face was sharply angled and he had a
deep scowl on his face. That man could only be one person.
Objective in sight, Audrey stated. Michael could be seen peeking out from the other
side of the building. The three bodyguards surrounded Ahanu and walked quickly inside without
a word. Audrey signaled to Michael and he began to creep slowly out from behind the wall of the
building and towards the suburban. He produced a small device that he held gingerly. Audrey
dashed out of her alley, stopping next to the door that the men went into. She listened intently,
and when no sound was heard, slowly opened the door a hair. Looking through the crack, she
could see the inside of a warehouse. Stacks upon stacks of crates stood on tall shelves. They
were marked with the symbol of a snake devouring an eagle. In the center of the warehouse,
the four men who were in the car stood deep in conversation with two other members.
A deep seated hatred arose in her stomach. All of these men were criminals, and
everywhere they went, bloodshed would most definitely follow. They were planning who knew
what. The only thing that Audrey knew is that they were trying to take away the safety of the
people of the United States, and that was wrong. She felt a tap on her shoulder and immediately
swung around, punching out of reflex. There was a solid crack as her hand met skin and bone
and a loud grunt pierced the silence.

Audrey looked to see that she had just punched Michael flat in the face, and his nose
was gushing blood. He had a stunned look in his eyes. She grabbed his arm firmly and dragged
him into the alleyway.
Youve got to be kidding me, Michael groaned. This is the third time youve punched
me!
Well I would have thought you would have learned your lesson after the first time,
Audrey exclaimed, looking cautiously out of the wall. The three bodyguards walked out with
Ahanu securely in the middle, completely oblivious of what was about to happen. When they
were all in the car, Michael pushed a button on his watch. Nothing happened. He pushed it two
more times, but to no avail. Furiously, he began smashing the button, flinging blood everywhere.
Did you plant the bomb? Audrey asked him, aghast as the car drove away.
I ink o, Michael replied, attempting to stem the flow of blood that was erupting from his
nose.
Did you activate it? she asked in a petrified voice.
Michael just stared at her.
Are you serious? she shouted at him, all image of calm gone now. The one job you
were supposed to do you failed! It was so simple You literally had to punch in the code and
PRESS THE BIG RED BUTTON!
Yeah, I kinda get that now that you mention it, he said quietly.
Audrey was furious, but overall, she felt guilty. She felt guilty that she hadnt taken the
responsibility of planting the bomb herself. She was guilty for trusting Michael in the first place.
She felt guilty that the one mission that actually meant something to her might be compromised.
It might take years for Ahanu to resurface, or even worse Ahanu might be close to completing
his plan, a plan that the agency new only a few meager parts to.

She turned on her heel and stalked away from Michael, climbing the fire escape ladder
with a new intensity. When she reached the roof, Davids voice resounded through her earpiece.
I can assume from the screaming that Michael did not press the big red button.
No sir he didnt. Audrey felt so guilty. David hadnt sounded that disappointed with
her in her entire life.
You dont need him to like you, Audrey reminded herself. Hes not your dad. Despite her
own reassurances, she couldnt help it. He was the only thing that she had left. At the age of
three, a top secret terrorist organisation called, T
he Bane, had completely destroyed her home,
killing her entire family. By some miracle, she survived, though not without significant injuries.
She had received a large burn on her neck which had since then healed completely except for
an ugly purplish scar at the base of her neck. The terrorists had taken everything from her. She
was living in Saudi Arabia, where her father worked as a translator. Audrey only survived
because David Williams, a forty year old agent rescued her. He worked for an organisation
called the International Unidentified Bureau of Intelligence, or the I UBI. He pulled Audrey from
the rubble and rushed her back to headquarters, where she received the medical treatment she
needed.
Audrey was then raised inside of the agency and she soon found her place among the
workers. She learned that the IUBI was an intelligence agency that not even the government
knew about. That was what made it so powerful. It didnt have to follow the presidents rules.
This made it a powerful allie that the U.S didnt know it had. The I UBI was completely dedicated
to stopping terrorist groups, and as Audrey grew up, she learned to hate the terrorists just as
much as everybody else.
It seemed that David, or Dave as Audrey had always called him, had known that one
day, Audrey could become an important asset to his team, so he was always nice to Audrey.

When she was seven, she began asking questions about her family and parents. It wasnt that
she wasnt content with what she had. On the contrary, she loved it. She had almost complete
freedom to do whatever she wanted, but she was curious. Dave sat her down and had a very
long talk about her family. After the talk, Audrey had shut herself in her room, feeding the fire in
her heart until she was out of control with hatred against the terrorists that had taken the lives of
her family for no reason.
She hated the feeling of being out of control and having to depend on other people to
avenge her family. She hated the feeling of being out of control in general. At that time, she
couldnt control her feelings, emotions, temper, and sometimes even her actions, and she hated
every moment of it. Now that out of control feeling was beginning to come back. She had failed
the mission, not Michael. She should have taken the authority as she normally did in situations.
Audrey had allowed herself to trust another person, and that was a mistake that she would
never make again.
Im at the corner of third avenue and 169 east, said Dave. Meet me there.
Michael still hadnt spoken. Audrey looked down the side of the building, and there he
sat, head in his arms.

Chapter 2
Michael knew that he had blew it. He blew it when he forgot the code, and he blew it
when he scared Audrey. Now she was mad at him and there wasnt anything he could do. He
made himself and everybody else feel terrible. To make matters worse, this was one of the only
missions that actually mattered to Audrey. Sure she hated all terrorism, but this particular group
killed her entire family, and left her to suffer instead. His story wasnt like hers.
Michaels family hadnt loved him to begin with. His father came home drunk every night
and left his mom to deal with seven children. He couldnt hold a job, and he was abusive to
everybody in the family. His mom wasnt much better. She left the kids to fend for themselves,
only giving them a never warm house to come home to each night. Then the drugs started.
Michaels mom started taking drugs when he was pretty young. They completely ruined
what little bit of life she had left in her eyes. Eyes that had once shone like diamonds in the
moonlight were devoid of any humor, personality or hope. One night, she had just flat out told

Michael that she hated him. She didnt want him in her life, let alone in her home. She told
Michael to get out, so he did. He lived on the street for almost a year, cold, hungry, and alone,
and wandering, until one day, he found himself leaning against a billboard shivering and out of
any optimism.
The billboard gave way, and Michael fell through a hidden door, suddenly in a sharply lit
tunnel. It was warm, so he spent the night there. In the morning, he was awakened by a woman
gently shaking his shoulder. When his blurry vision came into focus, she asked him some
questions about his background, his life, and how he came to get into the tunnel. Michael
answered them all truthfully. He had nothing to lose. She asked him if he wanted to stay there
and he said yes, hardly believing his luck. Like Audrey, they had taken him in and raised him up
to be the perky kid he was but now all sense of perkiness was gone. He had failed.
Somebody sat down next to him, but he didnt care.
We should probably get going, said Audreys voice, but the sound was lost in the
sound of his rushing head. There were times when he just couldnt calm it down, so he had to
let his emotions rage on until he felt like he could take the reins again.
Come on stupid, we have to leave, her soft voice washed through his head, calming his
thoughts. He took his earpiece out and placed it on his knee, and seeing that Audrey had
already done the same, he proceeded.
Im sorry I was such an idiot I know how much this meant to you.
He looked into her eyes, their forest green shade boring deep into him. They were cold
and calculating, with just the smallest trace of playfulness. Michael found that surprising. Audrey
wasnt the happy type. Shed had to endure so much in her short lifespan.
You werent the idiot, I was, she replied gently.
How can you say that? Michael asked. He knew the answer even before Audrey said it.

I should have seen that coming and taken control before it happened.
That might have been the only thing that was wrong about Audrey. She refused to trust
anybody, and insisted on taking care of details herself. That had to be extremely taxing on her,
but if there was a limit as to how much Audrey could take, Michael hadnt found it yet.
Its never one persons fault, Michael tried to reason with her, now completely focused
on trying to make Audrey feel better.
Why dont you take your own words to heart once in awhile? she asked, as she
gestured for him to get up and started walking away.
Michael stood there for a little bit, wondering how in the world him trying to give her
emotional support had turned into him being coached by her.
Come on snail, she called over her shoulder. Dave is waiting.
Michael shook his head, smiling. He was so relieved that she wasnt still mad at him, or
at least she wasnt showing it. His mind fell back onto the mission as he walked the couple of
blocks to where Dave was positioned. The fact that they had failed still remained. Dave was
most likely furious in his own calm way, and the rest of the agency would be disappointed as
well. He would be humiliated to walk back into headquarters, knowing that he had left out one of
the simplest part of the plan. Any person in their right mind would have known to arm the bomb,
and the code had been drilled into his mind for weeks on end. There was no reason for him to
forget it.
He got to the corner of 3rd and 169 east and spotted the black BMW, its hood shining
like the reflection of fireworks supported by the surface of a pool on the fourth of July. There
were no other cars like that in the world, Michael was sure of it. Maybe someday, he would be
able to drive one of those cars, but for right now, he had to wait until he was old enough to get
his license. Dave, as well as Jerald Parr, the chief director, had both agreed not to let that day

come until it was legal. The tinted windows resisted every attempt to see through, but Michael
was aware that he was perfectly visible right at that moment from the inside.
Michael opened the back door to find that Audrey was already in the back seat. He slid
in and closed the door behind him. The car had that distinguishable new car scent. Michael had
never liked the new car scent. It had always seemed to sharp to him the scent of the new
leather and freshly oiled plastic mixing together to form a strange smell that had always made
him carsick.
Dave sat in the front seat, his bald head gleamed in the gloom of the car, reflecting off of
the dash like a beacon in the dead of night. Michael often wondered if Dave used oil on his head
because it was always so shiny. He was skinny, as most retired agents were. They liked to sit
around on their computers playing Mappy or Galaga, when they were not processing top secret
information. Dave had done a good job staying lean, but he probably hadnt worked out in
upwards of five to ten years. He was pretty short at only five nine and always wore a button
down and khakis. In Michaels eyes, it was official; dave was a nerd.
Nerd or not, David Williams was always nice, and never discouraging, which was why it
formed a lump in Michaels throat when he saw the agitated look on his face. Everybody knew
that a storm was coming. The three of them kept their silence on the drive back to the airstrip.
Never in his entire life had Michael failed a mission, and the effects were evident. Dave took a
sharp turn onto the runway, jostling both Audrey and Michael in the back seat. When they
reached the private jet, Dave got out without a word and slammed the door behind him. Michael
took a second to throw a worried glance at Audrey, but all he got in return was a bone chilling
glare.
Maybe she hadnt completely forgiven him. It was all most likely just a ploy to get him
into the car. He berated himself for being so sensitive he was on the brink of tears, and

Audrey had seen him! If there was anything less attractive than a guy who cried at every little
thing that went wrong, Michael would have liked to see it.
Michael stepped out of the car into the blistering summer heat. The sun bore down on
them like an inescapable eye. That was how he felt as he walked up the stairs into the sleek
plane. He could feel all of the staffs eyes on him. Normally that would have been great, but not
for this reason. The ride home felt like sitting in a pressurised chamber for an entire lifetime. The
tension was unbearable, and it only grew as the miles passed underneath the body of the jet.
Though they were slicing through the air at around 400 miles per hour, it could have been 20 for
the time it seemed to take to get back to the concealed air strip of the agency.
Michael looked out the window as the plane began to descend. The location of
headquarters looked exactly like the surrounding countryside. The structure had been built into
the the side of a huge cliff, overlooking the pacific ocean. This made it perfect for concealment
against unfriendly, and accidental discoveries. From the outside, it was virtually undetectable.
The landing strip itself was inside of the cliff. The plane had to fly into the side, and then land.
Each time this happened, Michael couldnt help but flinch. He knew that only the most skilled
pilots were chosen to fly for the agency, but that didnt make the fact that they were flying into
the side of a cliff any better. His irritated mood didnt help either.
The landing was uneventful, as it normally was, and Michael was relieved to get his body
moving again. He had ADHD pretty badly, and it was hard for him to sit in one place for a long
time, so he needed something to do. He walked down the staircase and onto the landing strip,
and a sliding door came down behind them with an ever echoing boom. He felt trapped. There
was no turning back now. Behind him was twenty cubic feet of solid concrete, enough to protect
him from a small nuclear blast, and in front of him, a bunch of disappointed people that he had

come to love, all looking at him in disgust. If he had the choice, opening the concrete door and
braving a nuclear blast might have taken some serious consideration.
The inside looked like a giant airplane hangar, with many different types of aircrafts.
There were commercial, private, and military jets along with choppers, stunt planes, and many
prototype aircrafts. A thin line of light ran across the center of the floor, splitting the chamber into
two separate parts. This light acted as a colossal projector, which flashed with varying images.
This served as the main communication system for the hangar. The hustle and bustle of the
place made it look like something out of a star wars movie. People were all around the room,
fashioning small groups around each aircraft, which they serviced, checked, and built on.
Separate conversations all rang out at once, adding to the overall chaos. They echoed off of the
walls and rang through Michael's head at the same time, causing it to buzz with the effort of
processing them simultaneously.
A face appeared in the top left hand corner of the projector screen. It spoke, and Michael
barely caught what it was saying.
Welcome back special agents M and A, it said. I trust that I will hear a thorough
explanation as to what happened out there. That was Jerald Parr, the chief director. He was in
charge of pretty much running operations around the agency.
Id rather not explain what happened, muttered Audrey, her eyes shooting daggers at
Michael.
I get it, I messed up, Michael snapped back. The past is the past.
Dont make it a habit to let your past become your future as well, because that might
prove fatal for all of us, she ended firmly, speeding up and veering off towards a door marked ,
Bay 54. Michael tried to catch up, but was grabbed by the back of his shirt.
Shes right you know, Daves voice said.

Of course shes right, retorted Michael. Shes Audrey. Shes always right.
I know thats how it seems to be, but its not. Audrey always takes a great deal of time to
prepare herself before every mission. Thats why she is so successful.
Michael began to respond, but was cut off immediately by Dave.
She beats herself up when things dont go as planned, and the next time, she makes
sure that thing goes right. Take a lesson from her. You failed this mission, and that is
unacceptable.
Michael was a little bit shocked about how straightforward Dave was. He usually tried to
water down the bad parts, and beef up the good parts, but there was none of that here.
I want you to report straight to formal testing, then to the intel room. Ill meet you there. I
need to go give my report.
That was Michaels punishment. His two least favorite rooms in the entire complex. The
intel room is where you were dispatched on your mission. The people there ran through various
scenarios, recording each of your answers and then, once they were satisfied that you could
respond to them with logical explanations, they would move on to the mission details. It was
such a boring process that Audrey was the only one Michael had ever seen stay fully alert
through the entire thing.
Despite all of that, if there was an award for the driest part of the agency, formal testing
definitely took the win. They ran you through various standardized tests, determining mental
state, and IQ. Then they compared the results to your previous records. This was usually done
after every mission to determine emotional strain, but that didnt make it any better. Michael
walked through the rows of planes, searching for a way out, but he couldnt find one. He flat out
hated doing this part of the job. He would rather be out fighting some terrorists with his bare
hands. Thats pretty much all he was good for.

Michael couldnt think of one time when he had lost a fair fight. That is what he lived and
trained for. He thought about disobeying Daves orders, but decided against it. Enough people
were about to be mad at him anyway. He mosied his way towards the door that led to the
testing rooms.
Headquarters was and endless maze of tunnels, hallways, and rooms. One of the first
things that most new recruits did was learn the general layout of the building. Michael however
had grown up in that building. He knew all of the ins and outs and had even discovered a few
secret tunnels that nobody except for he and Audrey knew about. The transformation that
Audrey had gone through was a little bit sad. Michael had come to the agency at the age of six,
and he immediately connected with Audrey. She was turning five at the time, and they became
best friends. They both grew up together, and always played together, never having a care in
the world.
They were completely inseparable. Audrey managed to get advanced a grade in a
normal school program, which the agency provided, and moved up to Michaels grade. They
went to school in one of the seemingly endless number of rooms branching off of the tunnels
like leaves on the branch of a tree. Their teacher was a nice lady in her mid sixties. Their
classes went fast because they were the only two kids in class. All of their spare time was spent
together. This lasted for around a year, and then it all fell apart.
Suddenly, she disappeared, not coming out to play with him for two straight days. When
she did come out again, she wasnt the same person. She was a lot more intense. She seemed
to have no time whatsoever to play. She went from school to her room and then back to school
again. The only times that Michael would be able to see her were during school, and a few
strained conversations in the hall on the way to her room. She began advancing so fast through
school that she had finished fourth grade by the end of that year, and didnt take any break

moving on to fifth. A year later, she was done with seventh grade. Michael was still struggling to
complete fourth.
Without realizing it, Michael had traveled all the way to the testing facility, deep in
thought. That never seemed to happen. He normally couldnt be deep in thought for more than
thirty seconds. He placed his hand on the doorknob, feeling the icy chill of the medal on his skin.
The sensation helped clear away his troubled thoughts.
He opened the door and walked in. The room had the feel of an insane asylum. The
walls were whitewashed, and nothing hung on them. The room itself was sectioned off into
multiple different segments, each of them holding a man or woman being tested. He walked up
to the desk, at which sat a pleasant enough looking lady, who smiled at him kindly. Obviously
the atmosphere of the room hadnt worn off on her.
Name? she asked him, looking down at a tablet.
Michael Adams, he replied. The lady typed his name in and looked back up at him.
Please go to room thirteen for your test, she said.
Thank you, Michael responded, looking around for number thirteen. He spotted it in the
second to last row of rooms. Walking slowly, he tried to listen in on other peoples tests to glean
something that might be able to help him on his test as he had never been good at taking tests.
His attempts at gaining some inspiration were fruitless however, as most of the tests were done
in silence on a piece of paper. Only a select few were done orally. He reached room number
thirteen out of luck.
A very large man sat on a small chair in the corner of the confined space. He reeked of
body odor and had sweat marks the size of Michaels head under each arm.

Hello, the man started in a wheezy voice. Michael instantly disliked him. Youve come
for the mental evaluation I assume? he asked, looking around nervously. Michael made a
mental note to do a complete background check on the guy, as long as he could find his name.
Yes, replied Michael in a dull voice. I suppose thats right.
Wonderful, the man said in an obviously artificial voice. You have the test in front of
you, so you might as well complete it!
Michael nodded and picked up the tablet that lay in front of him and touched the, B
egin
Test button. The first question popped onto the screen.
Rate the difficulty of your mission on a scale from one to ten, ten being the most
difficult.
That was relatively straightforward. Compared to almost all of his other missions, this
mission should have been a breeze, which is why it was so stupid that it was this one that he
had failed. Michael touched the 2 and, Next Question. Using your own words, would you
say that your mission was a success? NO, Michael typed. That was his own word and
nobody could have said it better. It was a true thirteen year old answer. This test was going
pretty well. The guy started to really stink. Maybe a combination of week old mac and cheese,
and an Arby's beef and cheddar that was left out in the sun for too long, he thought.
Explain the components of your mission that could have gone better, and explain
why they werent defectless and what you could have done to revise them. There it was,
the dinger question. They used big words that meant simple things, and Michael didnt do big
words. Michael took a side glance at the man sitting in the small chair and almost laughed. The
man was leaning sideways slightly because the leg of the metal chair was bending slowly.

If I touched his stomach, I wonder if the fat will eat my hand? Michael thought. Many
comments came up that would have felt great to say, but he knew that he was being recorded,
so he tried his hardest to refrain.
The test went on for another twenty questions or so, taking around an hour to complete,
proving not to be as stressful as it should have been. Whenever he got bored, he just looked at
the roly poly guy in the corner, who gazed back at him under lidded eyes.

Chapter Three

Audrey felt good being back in the enclosed space of headquarters. She always felt so
vulnerable in the outside world. The walked under the soaring ceiling of the hangar away from
Dave, Michael, and all of their problems. The trouble was, there was nowhere she could hide
from her own issues.
She walked past the prototype planes, wondering about the ingenuity involved in
making some of them. They were truly works of art. She was looking for one in particular
though. She spotted it about one hundred feet from where she was standing. It wasnt anything
big and flashy like the super jets that many of the scientists were making, but it was flashy in its
own way.
Laying under the plane on a roll out plank was one of Audreys favorite people. Harper
Robinson was super short, super peppy, and super smart. She was pretty much the perfect

person to hang around because she completed Audrey. Audrey understood what Harper was
saying and always tried to suck in some of her energy and enthusiasm.
Audrey stood next to the plane, just waiting for Harper to notice her.
Howd it go? asked a voice from somewhere inside the planes hull.
Audrey smiled on the inside. Harper always knew when Audrey was there.
Howd you know this time? Audrey asked.
Footfalls are amplified in here and you walk with a particularly unanxious gait, she
replied, sliding out from under the plane. She was short for her age, which was around twenty
five years old. She had ginger hair, freckles and she scrunched her nose up a lot of times when
she talked. Audrey looked up to her. Harper was beautiful, intelligent, and always exited. Her
eyes were what Audrey really envied though. They were sea blue, with a large hint of green.
They seemed to cut right through you, exposing your inner secrets and leaving you completely
bare.
Im gonna ask again and this time you better answer me, she advanced. Howd it go?
Rather terrible, Audrey replied, letting loose a sad smile.
Okay, and what happened?
I was an idiot, Audrey responded.
Never in your life have you been an idiot.
I was today.
Whatd you do?
I let Michael try to arm the bomb.
An unbearable silence arose between them.
We failed the mission, Audrey finished with a small whimper.
Harper paused, her bright red hair flashing in the brightness of the florescent lights.

Lemme guess, she finally said. He forgot to push, the big red button right?
Audrey smiled, despite the conversation they were having.
Quite literally as a matter of fact, Audrey retorted.
Thought so, Harper said as she picked up an allen wrench and slid back under the
plane. It was too easy of a mission, I knew that hed fail.
What do you mean? questioned Audrey.
It was so easy that Michael didnt do enough mental preparation. He knew what he was
supposed to do, but he never ran any mental reps.
Audrey thought about that, and it made pretty good sense. As long as the missions
seemed difficult, Michael would get nervous and subconsciously run through what he was
supposed to do in his head.
I guess thats what theyll change when they give you the actual mission, Harper said
nonchalantly.
What do you mean, the actual mission? Audrey asked suspiciously.
Do you really think that they would let two teenagers go about doing an extremely
important mission without any backup whatsoever? Harper laughed. You should hand me a
flathead screwdriver. Audrey obliged.
Youre saying that the whole mission was a test? Audrey questioned, still not quite
comprehending what Harper meant.
Thats exactly what Im saying. I see everything that goes on around here and nobody is
ever alone. They would have to put some backup in the area if they really wanted the job done
right. The screwdriver came sliding back out from under the plane. Too big, Harper declared.
After taking a minute to find one in the general mess, Audrey slid another, smaller
screwdriver under. To be honest, that thought had never crossed Audreys mind before, but it all

made sense. If there were to be a mission like that in the future, the briefers knew what to do
now, based on what went wrong with this one.
Harper slid out from under the plane, looking even more happy than she normally did.
What got into you? Audrey snorted, glancing at the look on Harpers face.
Im close, she responded, smiling even wider. Wanna see it?
Harper had been working on this prototype plane for almost four years. Audrey had
witnessed way too many nights where Harper went home utterly exhausted. The plane was
taking almost all of her energy.
Yeah I want to see it! Audrey exclaimed.
It featured a jet propulsion system that could rocket the small, sturdy plane past the
speed of sound. The wings were triangular and shaped backwards a small amount, adding to
the overall aerodynamics of the plane. The entire plane was covered in small propulsion units,
allowing for small or large direction changes, no matter what direction the plane was turned.
This made it easy to dodge projectiles coming at the plane. If a missile was coming straight at
the plane, the plane could be propelled directly sideways, avoiding the missile. It could also fly
upside down and sideways no sweat. It could act as a helicopter and hover in one spot, and it
was virtually silent.
The one problem that she had a really tough time on was the fuel consumption. It burned
fuel at an insane rate. She finally designed an engine that recycled the exhaust back through
the engine in the place of fuel. Half of the engine was powered by exhaust and half was
powered by the fuel that created the exhaust. It cut fuel consumption in half. She hadnt
completely told anybody except for Audrey. The plane was armed with twin rotating 50 cal.
Machine guns, as well as heat guided rockets that could fire in any direction. It could be the

ultimate machine to get around discreetly and quickly. Audrey felt honored to have been there
every step of the way.
She had already been here when Harper joined the agency as a technology specialist
and immediately latched on. Harper was having a tough time connecting with other people, so
Audrey and Michael often came to visit her while she was working. Then Harper developed a
passion for building and began her work on the plane. At this point, Audrey had began visiting
Harper in secret. She liked the fact that Harper was willing to share her work as a secret that
only they knew about.
Its amazing, Audrey admitted. All of the work that had been put into it was insane.
Harper had thought out all the details. I especially like the memory foam seat, Audrey jested.
I do think it adds a nice touch of luxury, Harper bragged.
Audrey looked around at the rest of the people working on various projects.
You know, if you told somebody about this, it could make life easier for a lot of people,
she reasoned.
I know that, and I will when its time, but right now I need to work on perfecting it before I
make a demonstration, Harper responded.
Audrey cracked an amused look. Well, call me when youre ready. I want to celebrate
properly, but for right now, I need to go.
Youre not going to stay? Harper asked.
To be honest, I just came over to check in with you and let you know that Im back. I
have to go give my report and find out if the mission was, as you say, really just a test.
If you must, Harper sighed, but be sure to come back soon to see me. I get lonely out
here all by my self.

Sure thing, assured Audrey. She turned on her heel and walked briskly toward the bay
54 door again, which led to the briefing room. The first time, she had to dart off sideways to
avoid being seen by Dave or Michael. This time, she walked with purpose and new hope. She
felt drained by her encounter with Harper. It seemed to take a lot of energy out of her to act
happy all the time. She felt like a completely different person when she was around Harper,
although weather that was a good thing or a bad thing, she didnt know.
She reached Bay 54 and placed her hand into one of the many slots available. It did a
screening, recording handprint, bone structure, and skin tone. This was a fairly foolproof method
for identifying people. A speaker chimed next to her and a small gate sprang forward as she
walked up to it. As she walked through the gate and into the hallway, she was hit with a feeling
of relief.
Audrey always felt vulnerable in big open rooms. Too many people would randomly
attack her. She would have felt safer with Michael. He was always good in a fight, and he never
seemed to lose. She wondered how he was doing at that very moment. Sure he was good
working with his body, but he was absolutely terrible at test taking.
It seemed a little bit strange that Dave hadnt given Audrey any sort of punishment. He
had seemed so upset to begin with, more upset than Audrey had ever seen him. Michael had
taken the mission as a pretty hard blow. If it did all amount to nothing, what was the reason for
all of this drama. Was Dave just acting, and if so, why would he?
Audrey stared at the ground as she walked, thinking about the predicament. She really
wished that the agency would switch to softer lights. They were so bright and harsh that they
hurt Audreys eyes. She turned right, not even thinking about the path she was taking. She had
taken it so many times before that it had become almost second nature. She cut through a small
storage room and into another identically hallway. She walked for another minute and found

herself in a large room with tiered seating. She emerged from the top tier, looking down at all of
the people in the room. Each seat had a computer in front of it, and each computer was
personalized for each individual that worked in this room. This is where most of the information
analysts practically lived. They worked round the clock and barely slept. There was a mass
amount of data that went through that room everyday from personal reports to satellite feeds.
The room was full of jumbled conversations that mostly sounded like gibberish to
Audrey. It would be worse if Michael were here. Michael had a hard time with lots of people. His
brain over processed things, which made him extremely valuable in a fight, but practically
useless anywhere else. This was one thing that he tried to keep a secret from everybody.
Everybody that is except for Audrey. He feared that if his secret were to be let out, the agency
wouldnt let him go on missions any longer.
Audrey started down the steps towards the center, where she knew Dave would be
waiting for her. He always was. This was the moment she had been dreading ever since leaving
New York. She finally reached the bottom and looked to the center of the room. It was an
elevated platform with a ring of computer monitors all around it. Dave stood in the middle
scribbling on a pad of paper. His face was bunched up in concentration. Audrey marched up the
steps, trying to gain a little bit of confidence.
Dave looked up at her, nodded his head, and continued to file through his papers.
Im reporting for questioning, Audrey prodded him.
Good, good, Dave replied in an absent voice.
Dave, need twelve million dollars by the end of this week to complete my pet rock
collection, Audrey said, holding back a snicker.
Yeah, Ill be right over, Dave replied in the same lost voice.
Dave! Audrey said forcefully.

Dave looked up and his eyes brightened. Hello there, he said.

Dave, Im reporting for questioning about my mission, Audrey said, the butterflies
reentering her stomach.
Ah, yes sorry about that, Dave said, regaining his composure. I would like you to
take the full assessment and then report back here.
Is it true that the whole mission was just a test? Audrey asked.
Dave recoiled in shock. What do you mean, he probed.
I mean that on any actual important mission, you would have sent s ome form of backup.
If anything, they would be there to see that the whole mission went through, that we didnt leave
any holes, and to give a report on us after it was all said and done.
Dave faltered, his eyes glancing around nervously. I just thought that this might be a
more personal case for you, so I didnt send any.
If it was a personal case, that was all the more reason to send backup. You never know
what can happen when emotion gets into these kind of things, Audrey pushed forward, gaining
steam. There was nowhere for him to go anymore. Im going to ask one more time. Was this a
test case?
Daves shoulders slumped. You have to understand, it honestly killed me to do this. he
tried to reason. This was supposed to make you prepare more thoroughly for the actual
assignment.
You dont think that I prepared enough, Audrey demanded. I poured my heart and soul
into this project and you would just take it and throw it away, just so that I would spend even
more sleepless nights pouring over it! I covered all the angles, made sure that everything was in
its place, and anticipating each outcome and how to deal with them.

Audrey was mad now and Dave flinched with every word she spat towards him as
though she were smashing his face with a hammer.
There is nothing I can say right now that could change anything.
Well thats an understatement! Audrey said.
Im sorry, Dave said sincerely, and Audrey knew that he meant it. That, however, did
not stop her from fuming at him.
Yeah right, Audrey replied, brushing the hair that had fallen into face away. You care
more about your job than you do about anybody else.
Audrey tried to turn around, but Dave caught her by the arm and pulled her back.
Look at me, Dave said. Audrey looked at his stomach. No, look me in the eyes.
Audrey obliged. She could see them dripping with sadness and regret. What do you
want, Audrey asked, staring him right in the eyes. I dont have much more to give.
I just want your approval, he pleaded. These missions would go so much better if you
would just lay back and do your best.
Im doing my best, she answered.
Both of us know thats not true. I want you to put the same amount of energy into the
actual mission part as you did with your first mission.
Ive been planning it all out with a lot of energy.
And that is your problem. You need to learn how to improvise, how to make things go
right when things dont go to plan. No amount of plotting or planning can prepare you for the
actual thing. It might get you more comfortable, but it will never completely prepare you.
Audrey stopped and thought. Never in her life had Dave ever failed her. He always
spoke wisdom and she believed that he truly loved her as a daughter. The only problem with
that was that she loved him right back as the dad she had never grown up to know. Audrey had

been taught that emotion was weakness all of her life, but maybe emotion was just fuel for the
fire.
Audrey was on the brink of tears now. She had come into the room confident that she
could make Dave feel terrible, but he had somehow turned the tables. She felt guilty for ever
doubting him. His face was still etched with heavy hearted lines and Audrey remembered the
way he had acted coming back from their mission.
Why were you so mad if the entire mission was just a fake? Audrey asked, gaining
composure again.
Dave just smiled sadly. If there is one thing I know, its that I can never keep anything a
secret from you, he said. Part of it was that I wanted it to seem like the mission was actually
botched and I was disappointed, but that wasnt the only reason. The other is that I had just
received word that my unborn child didnt make it.
Chills erupted in Audreys stomach. Dave hadnt ever told her that he was having a child.
A single tear ran down the side of his face. Audrey was at a loss for words. The emotional strain
that Dave had to be going through at that very moment was insane.
Dave Im so sorry, Audrey breathed. I had no idea.
More tears joined the first on Daves face, and he wiped them away, glittering diamonds
crushed and obliterated from the face of the Earth. He sniffed and rubbed his face with his
hands. Blinking hard, he said, just promise me that youll train instead of plan.
Thats what youre thinking about right now?
No, but I would still like you to do it.
Are you going to be okay?
Never again, but Ill manage.

Chapter Four

Michael was finally finished and out of the cursed room with the fat, sweaty dude. It had
taken an eternity, but it was finished. He walked out of the office feeling accomplished. Now he
was back in the hallway. He had to stop and close his eyes for a second because he had been
looking at a screen for so long and his eyes hurt. He checked his watch. It was 8:32. He still had
to go to the intel room. Who knows what Dave had in store for him. Most likely a two hour
session on how to arm a bomb by pressing the big red button, as Audrey had so gracefully put
it.
Maybe he would meet Audrey on the way. She usually went to the intel room to give a
report after every one of her missions. This was usually necessary if the mission results were of
utmost importance. Formal testing usually took all of that information, but it was always a little
while before the results were processed and actually given to the briefing people.
Michael opened his eyes, trying to clear his head. He started back down the hallway,
taking all of the shortcuts that he and Audrey had found when they were little kids. Memories
flooded back to him. Theyd had some good times, but Michael feared that those times might be

drawing to a close. He had had so many hopes, most of them stupid and childish, but it still felt
terrible to feel as though none of those hopes would ever come true.
Michael smiled as he thought of one specific room where he and Audrey would go when
they wanted to hide from Dave. It was a small room, but it was one of the only rooms in the
entire structure that had a window. They would open it up and let the fresh air flood through the
room. They could sit in there for hours on end, talking and laughing. Nobody had ever found
them. Michael decided to go there before he went to the intel room. It couldnt hurt, and he
needed to clear his mind before he had to make a report.
He ducked down a narrow hallway after checking to see that there was nobody
watching, and into a janitor's closet. From the outside, it looked just like a normal closet, and it
was pretty much the same on the inside. Old mops and brooms lay scattered all over the floor,
and a thin layer of dust covered everything. Everything that is except for the ground, which
exhibited a fresh set of footprints.
They seem really fresh, thought Michael as he gazed at the prints, his senses now alert
for any sound or motion. He heard a faint sigh emitting from the other side of the wall in front of
him. Michael picked up a special paint can, revealing a blue button underneath it. He pressed
the button and the wall swung backwards.
Audrey sat directly opposite him, gazing out the window. She spun around when she
heard the door opening. Michael raised an eyebrow in question. This could go pretty badly. As
far as he knew, Audrey was still mad at him.
Dont ask, Audrey said, getting up to leave. Michael made no inclination that he would
move out of the doorway.
Im about to ask, Michael responded, cracking a smile.

Audrey didnt seem impressed. Look Im sorry about the mission, Michael began,
becoming serious again.
Dont be, it doesnt matter anyway, Audrey said rolling her eyes.
What do you mean it doesnt matter? Michael questioned. Of course it does!
No, it really doesnt, Audrey sighed.
Whats gotten into you? Michael asked, confused at her remarks. She seemed more
tired than she did mad.
I just talked to Dave, she said, her brow furrowing as though it brought up a hard
question.
So what, you talk to Dave all the time.
He just informed me that the whole mission was just a test.
What! That was why she wasnt mad at him anymore. Why would they send him on a
fake mission? What did they expect to find out?
I know, thats exactly what I was thinking, she said.
But what did they expect to gain from it?
Now they know that you dont put in enough mental preparation to the missions, and I
dont put in enough physical training.
Well thats a rather large assumption gained from just one mission, Michael tried to
counter.
You and I both know that theyre right though, Audrey said dismally.
Michael thought about it for a second. If Michael had been better mentally prepared, he
never would have forgotten that code.
Now it was Michaels turn to sigh. Youre going to make me arent you? he asked her.
I sure am, she replied.

Michael looked out the window, surprised at how dark it was already. It didnt matter
though. He still had to go see Dave himself. He had a hard rest of the night ahead of him.
Okay, Ill try a bit harder.
No, youre going to try as hard as you can, because if you dont, I will personally come
and smack that smug look off of your face.
Well, I see that my submission was well received. Thank you for that. A long and
awkward silence followed and Michael began to get uncomfortable. Finally, Audrey spoke.
Look, Im sorry about how Ive been acting lately. I know its not like me.
You know, sometimes I like to think that it might be like you. Could a change hurt? he
asked hopefully.
Frankly, it could hurt a lot.
Do you remember when we used to come in here all the time and just talk? Michael
asked, trying to change the subject.
Yeah, she said smiling sadly. Those were the days.
Why cant it be like that anymore?
Because times change, and people change along with them. I would love to be able to
come in here whenever I wanted to and just sit, but I have stuff to do.
Michael went silent he would have loved to spend the rest of the night in here, just
talking to Audrey, but he still had to go and see Dave. He looked at Audrey. She had changed
so much since they were little. She had gone from a cute, lively playmate to a stunning, calm
teenager. She was beautiful, her eyes gleaming like diamonds and her hair cascading gracefully
in shining waves of obsidian, obscuring a pale face and red lips. Michael could have sat and lost
himself forever, but Audrey blinked and looked down.

Dont you have to report to Dave or something like that? she asked him. She had given
him a way out, and even if he didnt want to take it, he had to.
Yeah, I should probably leave, he replied. Uh, see ya, he finished awkwardly, backing
out of the room and pushing the blue button to close the door again. It slid shut, cutting off his
view of Audrey. Michael sighed, put the paint can back on the button, and walked out of the
room, trying to comprehend what had just happened.
Audrey never opened up like that to anybody. As skeptical as he was, he kind of hoped
that she would stay like this. Michael went back down the hallway and before he knew it, he
emerged in the hangar area again, the voices and tools, abruptly assailing his eardrums. They
took his handprint, and he was emitted into the cavernous room. He walked over to the gate to
Bay 54 and stuck his hand in the scanner. It was always a weird experience when they scanned
your hand. For some reason, Michael always expected his hand to come out blackened and
burnt, as if they had literally scanned his flesh away, but thankfully, it never did.
He was let into Bay 54 and he began walking down another maze of hallways. The
agency building was split up into 60 different sections, and the hangar lay in the middle of them,
granting access. The sections were arranged in a crown around the hangar, and the only way to
get from section to section was to go through the hangar and enter the main gate to each
sector at least thats what everybody else thought. Michael and Audrey had discovered
passages that supplied a shortcut between each section. They werent much more than crawl
spaces, but it was useful that they were there and Michael and Audrey had frequently used
them to postpone many inevitable punishments, much to Daves frustration.
Michael could have easily taken them to cut off some of the time it took to travel, but for
some reason, he chose not to. Maybe it was the fact that he wanted to postpone his meeting

with Dave, or the fact that it would bring back memories that were bittersweet, with more bitter
than sweet.
Michael didnt know why he was dreading his meeting with Dave. If the mission really
was a fake, then there shouldnt have been anything to worry about, yet Michael worried on. He
passed through security with no trouble, and navigated the halls without thinking, only seeing a
few people along the way, which was unusual. Normally the halls held many people who were
all rushing from place to place, trying to get papers in order and dropping half of them along the
way. Tonight there was none of that. Michael checked his wristwatch. It was 9:30. The night
shift should have gotten in a half hour ago.
Michael took a right, and opened the door that led to the intel room. Michael had always
liked the feel of the intel room. It was like a football stadium, but instead of armrests and
cupholders on each chair, there were computers and notepads, and instead of a football field,
there was a raised platform with about ten computer monitors around it, giving current feed from
hundreds of different cameras.
Dave stood in the middle as he always did, surveying the mayhem as only he could.
There was something different about him tonight though. A certain tenseness in his shoulders
and the deep furrows on his face told Michael that something was wrong. The workers around
him typed furiously, pouring through large amounts of data every minute. Michael could see
images of destruction and death on each and every screen, and immediately, Michael knew that
there had been an attack.
Michael sprinted down the steps and towards Dave, who was giving orders to a group of
information analysts. When he saw Michael, his face relaxed a little bit.
Michael, I need you to go to my office right away, Audrey is on her way. There has been
an attack by The Bane.

Thanks for the welcome, Michael muttered. Yes sir, he said, loud enough for Dave to
hear. Michael had learned a long time ago not to mess with Dave, as he could make your life
miserable in a minute. Michael dashed to his left, exiting through a break in the seats that
looked like the entrance to a football teams locker room. He dashed through until he found the
glassed in enclosure that was Daves office. Inside, he found Daves assistant Greg Smith, the
agency secretary Mary Olson, and the lead analyst Tim Hashaw. All of them were good people,
but honestly a little bit too serious sometimes. Tim nodded at Michael when he came in, and he
nodded back. Looking for his nametag, his heart fell when he saw that he was sitting next to
Audrey.
This could get awkward in a hurry, Michael thought to himself. Audrey burst in, looking
disheveled. She was panting as though she had just run a mile and her hair was messed up.
She took her seat next to Michael, refusing to even look at him. The group of five waited for
what seemed like an eternity, all of them dreading what they were about to learn. Finally, Dave
came in, his head shining with sweat and looking utterly exhausted. Michael felt sorry for him.
Dave had a sleepless night ahead of him and he was already tired.
Hello, he began. Im sorry to have called all of you down here on such short notice, but
this couldnt wait. Audrey stirred, looking agitated. About ten minutes ago, we were informed
by our analysts that the base of the Statue of Liberty exploded, causing the monument to come
crashing to the ground.
There were gasps all around the room.
No demands were made prior and there were no threats beforehand, so I for one am
assuming that this is a terrorist attack.
Do we have security feed? Audrey asked.

Of course we do, replied Tim Hashaw. We have feed everywhere, and yes, Im sure
we are tapped in.
Currently, we are trying to compose a list of suspects and figure out where they might
be hiding, if they didnt kill themselves in the explosion. When that is done, we will have a
mission mapped out for you, he finished looking at Audrey and Michael.
Why us? Michael asked. They had just gotten back from a mission, and even if it was a
fake mission, the results were the same. He was exhausted and beat up, but most of all, he was
hungry.
Dont argue, Audrey scolded. Well end up doing it either way.
Michael saw the truth in that statement, but that didnt make it any better.
Im just wondering why they cant have other, more accomplished agents do it?
Because, in light of your last mission, I would like to see some improvement from you,
Dave stated in a serious voice.
Michael couldnt argue with that. He too wanted to make up for his failure, even if in the
long run, his failure didnt matter anyways. Plus, he was tired and wanted to go to bed.
Audrey and Michael, Dave began. Youre both dismissed. Be prepared to receive your
mission briefing the day after tomorrow.
Yes sir, Audrey replied. Michael just nodded and got out of his chair. He hoped to talk
to Audrey again after they got out of the room, but when he got out of the door, she was lost in
the crowd of people in the intel room. He couldnt see any particular person. Head hung low,
Michael walked slowly out of the intel room, not wanting to be seen. Getting out of the room was
a relief. There were too many people in one place, all talking at the same time.The eerie silence
struck Michael once again when he was finally up the stairs and out the door. He looked both
ways down the hallway, but Audrey wasnt anywhere to be seen.

It doesnt matter, though Michael. He began to walk towards the kitchen, his favorite
room in the entire complex. Looking left and right, he saw many rooms, most of which were
barricaded with darkened glass, so that nobody could see what was happening inside. Most
were occupied during the day, but the majority of the people who worked for the agency left
when the night shift came in.
As far as Michael knew, the rooms were the headquarters for many experiments, as well
as the development of new technology for use on the field. Hed only been inside of a couple of
them, but the time he spent in them was amazing. Michael had seen scientists develop
ingenious technology, much of which Michael had used later to complete his missions. He didnt
always like using technology because it could be so unpredictable, but he had to admit that it
definitely made life alot easier.
Michael had followed his nose all the way to the kitchen. Inside the swinging doors were
shelves upon shelves of baking supplies like spices, sweeteners, flour, oil, and about a
thousand other things that Michael couldnt name. There were rows upon rows of ovens and
stoves, many containing delicacies that were like treasures waiting to be exploited.
Wonderful smells wafted towards Michael like butterflies floating on a summer breeze.
He closed his eyes and smiled, taking it all in.
Howdy there Michael, a cheery voice called. Michael looked up to see a big, round,
jolly old woman who might have been his grandma if he hadnt had one.
Hey Auntie Esther, Michael replied happily. What do you have cooking tonight? he
asked. Auntie Esther was a wonderful woman, and she was arguably the best cook around on
top of it.
I got some chicken pot pie if you want some deary! she exclaimed happily. Esther
loved Michael, not only because he ate her food, but also because he provided her with some

great company. It got pretty lonely in the kitchen, and Esther always made sure that Michael
realized it.
Esther waddled over to an oven and opened it up. After putting on an oven mit, she
reached inside and pulled out a golden brown pie with small slits in the middle.
It looks great! Michael exclaimed.
Thank you deary, replied Esther in a pleased voice. You must have just gotten back
from a mission, Esther stated. Sit down and tell me all about it. You cant operate on an empty
stomach forever you know deary.
Michael smiled and accepted her invitation. Sitting in a cushioned chair next to a white
table, he cut a slice off of the pie and put it onto a plate that Esther had supplied for him. He
began to tell Esther all about the mission. When Michael got to the part where he forgot to arm
the bomb, Esther just rolled her eyes.
It seems to me that you were not prepared whatsoever for this mission.
Both Dave and Audrey seem to think that youre right. Theyre making me focus more
on the mental preparation than the physical.
Good for them.
Youre on their side? Michael asked, a little bit hurt.
Well, yes, Esther replied. I think that you focus way too much on growing those tiny
muscles of yours. Sure they will come in handy if you get into a fight, but how many missions
have you been in where you actually had to engage in a fist fight?
I guess none, Michael replied, thinking hard about how he could turn the conversation
in his favor.
Well theres your answer right there. You just said it yourself. Now eat some pie quick.
Ive baked a chocolate cake. I had a feeling you would be returning from your mission with that

girl you seem to like so much. Michael felt blood rush to his face. As much as he hated the fact,
it was true.
Oh come off it, lied Michael. I dont like her that way, he said, his voice cracking.
Esther just smiled.
Still in denial I see. I guess I cant judge. I went through those days as well and there is
no shame in that. Im just saying, there is no shame in loving somebody either.
On the contrary, thought Michael, t here is a bit of shame. What would people say if they
heard that Michael liked Audrey? They would probably laugh at him. He could never get a girl
like her. Just the thought of that made Michael cringe.
Stop it, Michael said. Why are you constantly trying to hook me up with other girls?
Michael asked. A few months ago, Michael had to do a class with another girl. When he had
mentioned it to Esther, she had practically bent over backwards, which for Esther was a great
accomplishment, to ensure that Michael and the girl would meet up as much as possible. For
the most part, Michael just wanted to keep his distance and not have anything to do with the girl.
I just want you to be happy, Esther replied, kneading dough for a sheet of cookies, her
sleeves rolled up revealing ebony skin that gleamed with sweat. Esther wasnt married and
didnt have any children. She had kind of adopted Michael as her own, and often worried about
him way more than she should have. Yet sometimes even she could not run from the fact that
Michaels real parents didnt want him and nobody could ever completely replace them.
Michael ate in silence, thinking about what tomorrow might hold. He finished his pie just
as Esther put the cookies into the oven. She washed her hands as Michael cut himself a piece
of the cake that she had made. It was, as he liked to call it, a triple chocolate punch. It was
chocolate cake, containing chocolate chips and all covered in a thick layer of chocolate frosting.
Michael took a bite and smiled. He could practically live on that stuff. It was too good to be real.

Michael could see Esther glancing at him out of the corner of her eye, trying to see if he
liked the cake. And did he ever! Michael finished it in under a minute, glancing wishfully at the
rest of the cake, which was just sitting there, tempting him for more. But then a wave of fatigue
hit Michael and all he really wanted to do was go to sleep. He thanked Esther for the food,
making sure to tell her how good it had been, and left the kitchen, satisfied. He headed to the
hangar area, neglecting the shortcuts. They always took a little while to find. He took a glass
elevator up to the fifth floor.
The hangar area was encased in glass, that glass acting as windows to rooms. Michaels
room was on the other side of one such window. He always had a great view of the hangar area
from where he sat. Michael often looked down on the hangar and tried to make sense of what
he saw below. Thankfully, the glass was soundproof because if it wasnt, Michael wouldnt have
ever fallen asleep. He reached the fifth floor and walked down the hallway to his room. He
opened the door and stepped in. Directly opposite him was his window. It was nice to have one
wall a window. It made him feel free and unenclosed.
His bedroom kind of reflected his personality. There were various objects hanging on the
walls. They ranged from boxing gloves to posters to samurai swords. Michael loved weapons.
His twin sized bed lay in the back right corner, fitting snugly against the two walls. Clothes
littered his floor, but he made no attempt to pick them up. He peeled off his shirt and added it to
the pile on the ground. He brushed his teeth in his bathroom. His bathroom had a marble sink
and a toilet seat that closed super slowly. Even if you slammed it, down, it would just close
slowly. Michael loved that part.
He was so exhausted that he stripped down to his boxers and just fell into his bed after
turning off the lights. The last thing that he remembered was being warm and comfortable and
then life ceased to exist for the next ten hours.

Chapter 5

At the moment, Daves life was completely miserable. He had just found out earlier that
day that his unborn child had not made it, then Audrey and Michael had failed the mission which
could pose a problem in the future if he wanted to use them on important missions any more,
and on top of it all, The Bane had chosen that day to explode the Statue of Liberty. The
president got to deal with his country, while Dave got to catch the terrorists who staged the
attack in the first place.
It was a little bit unfair. Dave got all of the real work. He would have loved to be out there
in the field still, but that was almost impossible. A few months before he had found Audrey,
Dave had incorrectly disarmed a bomb. Luckily, it wasnt a large explosion, but he had still taken
the brunt of the hit to his right arm. Dave was out of duty for a month while his arm healed, but
during that time, the agency had replaced him with other agents. The chances of Dave being
able to serve in the field again where next to nothing. He couldnt just find a job outside of the
agency. It would be a major security hazard, for one, but life just could never go back to normal.
He had to get another job inside of the agency.
Dave was good at crunching numbers and planning strategies for attacks, so he applied
for the position of overseer of intelligence, and he had gotten it. The previous position holder
had suffered from a stroke, so Dave gladly took the position. He had loved it at first, but then
people stopped taking it easy on him and he realized the amount of work and effort that had to
be put in for the position to be properly run. Not many people appreciated his work, but Audrey
did.
Audrey was special. She was a light in the darkness for Dave. He loved her as a
daughter, and raised her as if she were his own. To be honest, Dave thought that Michael was
setting a bad example for Audrey. She could grow so fast when there was nobody to hold her

back. She was a motivated, outgoing person who always put business first, and Dave liked that
about her. He trusted her and often told her things that he wouldnt confide in anybody else.
Dave felt a little bit guilty. He had married his wife at a fairly young age. He was fresh out
of college and stupid for love. His work always came first though. That wasnt fair to his wife.
They had never taken the time to stop and think about raising a family until it was almost too
late. They tried and tried, but to no avail. One last desperate attempt worked though, and she
became pregnant. It was some of the most beautiful news that Dave had ever heard. The baby
was looking healthy, growing like it normally should, and on the day of Audrey and Michaels
mission, his wife was scheduled for another routine checkup. That checkup was far from routine
and ended up crushing all of Daves hopes and dreams in one stupid phone call.
Hed spent a long night giving orders and trying to glean as much information as he
could. He got no sleep and he felt super guilty for not going to see his wife. As soon as his shift
was over, he was going home. It just wasnt right for him to stay here and bake in his own
misery, while his wife was all alone with no shoulder to cry on.
Where should I take this sir? asked a small, freckle faced man with red hair. He was
carrying a folder full of documents on the Statue of Liberty attack.
Scan them and get them into the system. After that, I dont care what the heck you do
with them.
The man nodded and hurried away. Dave glanced up at the clock. He had five minutes.
Five minutes of doing the same exact things he had done for the past few hours. Some people
around there were just flat out stupid. Sure, they might have known the books better than
anybody else, but when it came to common sense, they were completely dumb. Why couldnt
they just figure some of this stuff out for themselves?

After an eternity, Daves time was up, so he rushed out of the room, not even bothering
to answer questions from analysts on the way out. He didnt want to face what was coming at
home, but in comparison, it was a lot better than sitting in ignorance while giving people orders
that they should have been able to figure out for themselves.
Dave practically ran down the hallway, growing impatient when he had to give his hand
print. He ignored many who gave shouts of greeting, and just kept rushing forward. He found
the elevator and smashed the down arrow with his fist. It took about thirty seconds, but those
thirty seconds were the longest of his life. Finally, the elevator arrived with a satisfying ding.
Dave jumped in and drove the basement button in. The doors shut in front of him and the floor
dropped out from underneath him, providing a sense of weightlessness for a brief moment
before returning to normal. Finally, the doors opened and in front of him appeared what looked
like a very advanced parking garage.
After walking out of the elevator, Dave typed in a few numbers to a keypad on his right.
It had him scan his hand, and then chirped and affirmation. His car started moving towards him
on what looked to be a moving sidewalk. This was implanted so that if people needed to get out
in a hurry, their cars would come to them and they wouldnt have to worry about finding it.
Dave stepped up to his car and opened the door. He sat in the seat of his 2016 Chevy
Camaro SS and turned the key. The engine roared to life, and Dave could practically feel the
455 V8 engine through the seat. He stepped on the gas, not even bothering to buckle up. The
only thing that mattered at that moment was getting home to his wife. He got to the end of the
parking garage and waited for the doors to open. They would only open if there were no other
cars in sight of them. Finally, they cleared, emitting Dave. He roared down the road and around
the cliff that the agency was located in.

It was truly an architectural miracle. There was no seam visible from the outside world.
Everything was encased in solid stone. It took him a half hour, but each second ticked by with
agonizing slowness. The Camaro that had once seemed so powerful to him now seemed weak
and slow. He needed to get home. He drove through downtown LA. and out the other side.
Thankfully, traffic wasnt as terrible as it usually was in Los Angeles. He was able to zip right on
through. On the outskirts of the city, Dave finally pulled into the driveway of a cute little house.
It was painted turquoise and had white trim and a white picket fence. Dave ran up to the
front door and twisted the knob. He was surprised to find that the house wasnt locked as it
usually was. As soon as he had taken a few steps into the house, his wife was suddenly in his
arms, sobbing her eyes out.
Dave reached up and put a hand on the back of her head, stroking her hair gently.
Kissed the top of her head, smelling the vanilla and coconut. Together, they cried and cried.
Dave just held her until his shoulder was soaked with tears.
Im so sorry, Dave whispered into his wifes ear. He repeated that over and over until
he was just murmuring seemingly nonsense.
Eventually, his wifes sobs slowed and then stopped until her frail body was left quivering
like a cornered dog. Dave took her hands, which felt weak and cold, and gripped them tightly,
looking deep into her coffee brown eyes.
We can get through this Grace, Dave said gently, wiping a tear from her cheek. She
nodded, threatening to cry again. We just need to stay strong and never give up hope. Grace
nodded again, dipping her head. And dont you ever tell yourself that this was your fault. It
could have happened because of a number of things, its not you.
Grace looked up at him, trying to gain her composure. Dave could see the struggle that
was going on in her head. She was wondering about what she could have done differently, and

what might have caused this terrible thing to happen. She seemed to give up the fight, for it was
a fight that could never be won. It was a fight that would haunt both of them for the rest of their
lives.
Dave took Graces hand and led her to the sofa in the small living room that they had.
Dave made two cups of hot chocolate and put marshmallows in both. He carefully brought one
over to Grace and she took it gratefully. The reality of the situation was really beginning to set
in. They had lost their baby. The baby that they had wanted so badly, and finally gotten was
completely gone. Dave sat next to Grace and she put her head on his shoulder. She had one
hand on her stomach, feeling for what was no longer alive. Dave leaned back against her. It
would have been a beautiful day, but nothing else mattered now.
Dave fell asleep listening to Graces rhythmic breathing. Her heart was still beating and
her lungs were still working. For that, Dave was thankful. He was thankful beyond what anybody
else knew. This whole miscarriage really put life into perspective. It was short, and you never
knew when it would end. Dave vaguely remembered a bible verse. For what is your life? It is
even a vapor that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. How true that was. Dave
felt himself drift off into a dreamless sleep where no problem could trouble him. If only he could
stay there forever.

Chapter Six
Audrey awoke to the light streaming in through the gaps in her curtain. Her room was
arranged in much the same way as Michaels the only difference in fact was that Audreys room
was sharp and to the point. No clothes littered the ground and no posters hung on the walls. Her
dresser was neat and everything was completely free of dust. Audrey would sometimes sit on
her bead with the curtains drawn and try to listen to conversations being held in other rooms.
What she found surprised her. It was amazing how much one person could learn from
just a few audible sentences. That was one reason her room was so devoid of any personality.
It helped her think by removing any unnecessary distractions. She could just close her eyes and
think. Right now, she didnt want to listen to anybody else's conversations though. She had
enough problems on her own and she didnt need to add other peoples on top of it all.
Her bed was warm and inviting. She didnt want to get out of it for any reason. It was so
comfortable, that she could have stayed there all morning. She didnt however, because there
was so much to get done. She allowed herself five more minutes before sitting up. She took a

shower and dressed quickly. Then she stood in front of her mirror and just looked at herself,
trying to glean information about herself just from a mere reflection of light. There was so much
that you could learn by studying your own reflection.
Its a new day, Audrey thought joyfully. She was going to go back to her normal self now.
There were so many emotions acting upon her the previous day, that her mind had just kind of
shut down. That was one thing that you could learn from your own reflection. You could study
your face and body language to see just how close to breaking down you were. That was one
way that Audrey trained. Your reflection held your deepest darkest secrets. It held your
successes as well as your failures. It held your struggles, and your enjoyments, but most of all, it
held your fears.
In Audreys mind, fear had two meanings. The first and most unfavorable was to forget
everything and run. The second was to face everything and rise to the challenge. Audrey strived
to always practice the latter.
She walked out of the bathroom, feeling very refreshed, and she wondered how Dave
was holding up. She hoped upon all hopes that he had taken the day off and let his assistant,
Greg Smith deal with the work. If anybody deserved it, it was Dave. The man had been through
way too much in the past couple of days and he needed a break. His heart had to be torn apart
right now. He needed time to heal, but knowing Dave, he wouldnt be gone for more than a day
or two and would most definitely be back in time for Audrey and Michael to be briefed.
For this mission, Audrey wouldnt fail. She had began to slack off a bit on the physical
side of things, so she was off to the training facility as soon as she finished breakfast. Her only
hope was that Michael had taken their talk seriously and was getting prepared mentally and not
just physically. Audrey exited her room, giving it one last look to make sure everything was in
order. She walked calmly down the hallway and stepped into the elevator. She pushed the

ground button and the doors had almost closed when she heard a voice calling from down the
hall.
Wait! it said urgently. Audrey put her hand in front of the closing doors. They stopped,
and retracted back to where they had come from. The red hair of Harper bobbed up and down
as she jogged down the hallway, carrying a toolbox and a stack of papers.
Hey there, said Harper cheerfully. Audrey nodded a greeting and pressed the button
that closed the door.
Whats with the papers? Audrey questioned.
Oh, these are just the plans for a new air coolant system for my engine, she replied in a
bored voice. Its been running really hot. What are you up to today? Harper asked.
I have to go to physical training for the day. I have a lot of stuff to catch up on, She
finished.
Yeah, when was the last time you were in there? Harper asked.
It couldnt have been that long ago, Audrey lied. In reality, the last time she was in the
training room was most likely about a month after she had first become an agent, excluding the
checkups she had to go through from time to time. For the most part she had stayed fit because
of the rigorous missions that were a constant part of her life. She didnt feel like she needed any
serious physical training.
The door opened and both Audrey and Harper stepped out. They said sad goodbyes
and parted ways. Audrey had always liked the feel of the agency in the morning. It always felt
like you got a fresh start. Everybody was chipper and ready to work.
Audrey took a right and went through the gate that led to the physical training section.
She was pretty sure that this region of the building was where Michael spent the majority of his
time, which most likely resulted in his corded, heavily muscled arms and back. As she emerged

into the training room, a horrible stench hit her like a boulder, washing over her and drowning
her in body odor. She almost gagged, but quickly got used to it. It was a brightly lit room with a
number of different machines that were used for various purposes.
A tall, handsome man walked up to her. His arms were so big that they almost looked
ridiculous.
Are you here for training or just reps? he asked in a deep, rough voice.
Im here to train for a mission, Audrey replied, a little bit intimidated by the mans size.
Through that door, he said, pointing and then walking away. Audrey tried to thank him,
but he was already gone.
Im off to a great start, Audrey thought to herself. She walked through the door, to find a
totally different environment. It was hard to see because it was so dark. The only light came
from the black lights hanging in various spots around the room. Colors that would have been
fairly subtle and normal in real life now had an alian feel to them, as they glowed brightly.
A woman in a skin tight bodysuit strode up to Audrey.
Youre here for training right? she asked.
Yes, Audrey responded tightly.
Good, Ill hook you up for the next round of annihilation ball.
Whoa, what was that? Audrey asked skeptically. The name just made everything
sound a little bit sketchy.
Annihilation ball is basically, paintball, just more intense. Everything is amplified,
including the pain. The goal is to not be seen or shot. The power of each gun is multiplied by
three, so its harder to dodge than a real paintball gun.
Sounds like a pretty good game for anybody except for me, Audrey chuckled. She
would shoot anybody, but only if it was required.

A new round is about to start, the woman said. Do you want me to get you suited up?
she asked pleasantly enough.
Yeah, sure, Audrey replied, not really knowing what she was committing to.
Are you positive, youre a little bit young. That just helped solidify Audreys decision to
play. She hated it when people judged her abilities just on her age.
Just suit me up, Audrey muttered fiercely.
If youre sure, the woman laughed skeptically.
Audrey was outfitted with a thin, black, tight shirt that fit snuggly, as well as black
leggings. She was given a loaded pistol and a belt of ammunition. As she adjusted her belt,
suddenly, a popping noise could be heard and Audrey felt a sharp pain between her
shoulderblades. She cried out and clawed at her back, whirling around. The woman was holding
a pistol, identical to the one she had given Audrey, and smiling.
Just wanted to give you a taste of what you were getting into.
Thanks, I needed that, Audrey grumbled. The pain subsided to a dull throbbing.
Thats going to bruise, she thought.
The rules are simple. You can punch kick, bite and basically do whatever you want to
win. You will be on the red team. Your team mates will have red straps wrapped around their
bodies, which will glow once the black lights are turned on. Go out when you get shot and dont
even think about cheating. The paint glows too.
Fair enough, Audrey retorted. When can I get out there?
Right now, the woman declared. Sliding doors opened in front of Audrey, admitting her
into an even bigger room. There were balconies, rails, stairs, and just about everything else you
could think of. It was like a tiny city. A red banner hung from one end of the arena and a blue

from the other. Audrey jogged over to the red. She had about thirty teammates, each of them
shifting their weight from foot to foot nervously. Everybody was anxious to get going.
A recording blared from hidden speakers.
This test is designed to simulate many conditions of a field of combat. You have all been
explained the rules. All forms of cheating are accepted. The team who gets the entire opposite
team out wins. The test will begin in five seconds. Five Four Three Two One Start!
Audrey rushed out from the building she was hiding behind, staying low to the ground.
She couldnt see any members of the opposing team as of yet, but she imagined them behind
every corner. A paintball flew in her peripheral vision and one of her teammates went down.
Audrey widened her eyes, trying to catch some movement, as she rushed forward, stopping to
hide behind any barrier she could. A form flew out from around a building, opposite from her. In
a whirl of motion, Audrey spun, dropped, and fired her gun. A resounding pop filled the air and
the body collapsed in front of her.
One opponent down, and about thirty to go. The next ten minutes were a constant battle
of wits and body. Audrey was sweating after the third person she took out, but she kept pushing.
She found a building in which three men were standing plainly in windows, firing at her
teammates below. They were winning too because her teammates were too big of wimps to fire
back at them. Audrey couldnt bare to watch the pathetic actions of her team any longer. She
sprinted out into the open, hearing the shots being fired, and seeing them land all around her,
but never feeling the pain that signified elimination. Without realizing what she was doing,
Audrey fired, jumped, somersaulted, fired again, spun, and fired one last time, hardly taking any
time to aim. There were no longer figures in the windows. A man peeked out from behind a wall
of sandbags and she knew what he was about to do before he did it. As he fired, Audrey leaned

backwards, feeling the paintball graze her hair. She let herself fall to the ground before rolling,
narrowly avoiding a second shot. She saw a blur of blue, and she shot, scoring a direct hit.
There couldnt have been that many people left, and Audrey was still struggling to find
her opponents. Many men had stepped up against her, but none had survived. Audrey searched
house after house, shooting whoever she saw in cold blood. There was no mercy to be had
from her. She was an unstoppable force, trained and hardened by years of missions.
Audrey stopped for a second, listening for any noise. The entire battlefield was silent.
She crept into a mansion like house. The detail was insane. The agency could have spent
hundreds of thousands of dollars on that house alone. She snuck up the stairs, her feet padding
on the ground and making virtually no noise. She was up the spiral staircase and looking in awe
at the crystal chandelier that shed soft light over everything.
She heard a soft creak from somewhere down the hall and she ducked behind a railing,
hanging from the floor. Footsteps could be heard directly above her. She pulled herself up from
her position and took a peek at the persons face. It was a man in his early twenties. He was
lean, muscular, and had an extremely serious look on his face. He walked past and began
looking around and over the railing at the ground below. Audrey swung her leg up, planting it on
the floor. She pulled her body up and flipped up over the railing, onto the mans shoulders,
twisting her body as he overcompensated and fell forwards.
Audrey kneed him in the face, hearing a sharp crack as his nose broke. She whipped out
her pistol and shot him at point blank range in his upper back. He let out a cry of pain and
suddenly a siren sounded. Over the announcement system, the same female voice rang out.
This session is over with a total time of twenty three minutes and twelve seconds. The
red team wins. All remaining players please report to the start.

Audrey was exhausted, and she didnt really know what was going on. She just knew he
had to report to the start again. She walked out of the mansion and over to where a big
fluorescent sign read, STARTING POINT.
She walked through the door and into the first room she was in. The woman in the
skintight suit nodded at her with respect. Audrey later learned that she had taken out the entire
opposite team except for two people singlehandedly. At the moment though, she was too tired
to do anything. That was just about enough physical training for one day. The test taxed her to
the limit. It felt like a nonstop mission. Usually, missions only had a few minutes of intense
combat, but this took twenty full minutes. She left in a trance, only about an hour into her day.
She still had so much to do, but she didnt want to do any of it. Audrey walked back up to her
room, noting her already aching muscles with a wary eye. She really was out of shape. The
adrenaline rush that she had felt during the previous ordeal was gone now, leaving her a
semiconscious vegetable.
All she wanted to do was lay down again. The elevator door let out its usual ding and
she was on the floor her room was on. She opened the door with her key and fell into her bed,
utterly exhausted. She lay there for about ten minutes before sitting up and walking into the
bathroom. She ran hot water over her face and changed her clothes.
After all of that, she still didnt feel the best. She needed to eat something. Audrey
decided that she would go to the kitchens. Most of the cooks didnt like her because she always
took their food and ran, not stopping to talk. She wasnt a talkative person for the most part. She
liked to keep her distance. Her travels to the kitchens were uneventful, as was eating.
Audrey always disliked eating. Why couldnt humans have been created so that they
didnt have to eat? It would have opened up so much more time in the day. She knew that
Michael would have disagreed strongly with her, but she didnt care. As she ate, she thought

about many things. She thought about how her life would have been different if the terrorists
hadnt attacked her family as she often found herself doing. She also thought about Dave and
the things he was going through. The world was a messed up place. There was terrorism,
death, and love, the latter being the most confusing for her.
Everything needed to have an explanation in her eyes, and love was one thing that
didnt. Maybe it was caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain, but Audrey didnt think that
anybody would ever figure it out. Other teens just had to worry about the grade they were
getting in school at that moment, or the party they were invited to on the weekend. Audrey had
to worry about the security of the entire United States Of America. Many people had told her,
and she agreed, Audreys life was messed up.
That was no reason to give up though. Out of volcanic ash sprang new, stronger life, so
why then, couldnt Audrey grow stronger in spite of her problems. No matter where she was in
life, there was always a person in greater need. She needed to stay humble and stop feeling
sorry for herself.
The food had energized her, and she decided to go and see how Harper was doing on
the coolant system. She traveled to the hangar area and decided to take a closer look at a few
of the planes. From the outside, they didnt seem like much, but Audrey knew how much looks
could fool a person. One of those machines could hold the potential energy of a small nuke.
She mosied around until she spotted Harper's little plane. It was almost comical how
much it was dwarfed by the aircrafts around it. To the little planes right was a Boeing 777, the
largest commercial airship in circulation and to its left was a military cargo plane. Harpers small
craft could easily have fit in side of the other two, but despite that, Audrey kept working hard.
She was convinced that she was playing her part in helping the agency work.

Audrey was sitting in the cockpit of her plane, punching seemingly random buttons and
flipping switches furiously. The small plane whirred to life. Audrey could see Harper looking
intently at a gauge on the dash of the plane. Finally, the sound of the plane faded into oblivion
and Harper hopped out of the cockpit, grinning from ear to ear when she saw Audrey.
What are you doing here? she asked, throwing a few tools on the ground by her plane.
Audrey cast a disapproving eye on the action before answering.
Im in between training sessions, so I thought that Id come and hang out with you for a
bit, Audrey replied. Hows the cooling system coming? Audrey asked, eyeing the plane behind
Harper.
Harper laughed. Well, its brought the overall temperature of the engine down about fifty
degrees, but then it just stabilizes at that point. Im attempting to change the heating of the
engine so that the system doesnt get overloaded. If the engine is working really hard, a
byproduct of that work will be heat, and if we suppress that heat, its putting a lot more strain on
the coolant system than is necessary. At that point, I want to be able to manually jack down the
system, pulling the heat up to a higher, but safe level.
Seems pretty high tech, Audrey said, feeling a little bit out of place. Can I help you with
anything? she asked.
Actually, that would be great! Harper replied. I need some help with the circuiting.
That was a relief for Audrey. It could have gotten really awkward fast if she had just
shown up to be a nuisance.
I know how to do that, said Audrey carefully. To an extent, she added.
Well, Ill just put you on the easy stuff then, replied Harper in a cheery voice.
Sadly, Harpers definition of easy was way too hard for Audrey. Harper attempted to
show Audrey what she had to do. Audrey just nodded in agreement whenever Harper asked her

if she was good with her job. That most likely wasnt the best idea. When Harper stopped telling
her what to do, and sat beside her to work instead, Audrey became completely lost. The
circuiting that Harper was trying to make her do was extremely complex. Audrey got the basic
components, so she set to work, just trying to do as much as she could.
Minutes passed by, than a half an hour, and then an hour and Audreys fingers were
super sore. Harper seemed completely happy just doing what she loved, but Audrey was
miserable. She had seemingly finished the circuit board and checked it over a few times. Then
she just waited, pretending to continue to do stuff. Finally, Harper put her tools down and broke
the silence that had formed between them like a sheet of ice over a frosty lake.
Well, I think Im done, how are you coming?
To be honest, Audrey had no idea how it was coming. She had learned very
unadvanced circuiting in one of her classes, but that wasnt nearly enough to fully complete
what Harper wanted.
Im done too, Audrey replied simply.
Alright, lets fire her up, Harper exclaimed excitedly.
Harper bounced up to the cockpit and jumped in, pressing a few buttons. The engine
started. A soft whirr that could barely be heard amid the chaos of the rest of the hangar. Then it
slowly grew in intensity still sounding no louder than an air hockey table. Then the intensity
declined again and the engine shut off. Harper popped out of the cockpit, practically glowing
with joy.
It worked! she exclaimed.
Audrey was a little bit taken aback. She was fairly positive that she had made more than
one mistake working on that circuit board.

Harper practically dove to the spot Audrey had been working at, making her jump back
to clear the way. Harper peered intently at the job Audrey had done, then frowned.
This wasnt what I asked you to do at all, she blurted.
To be honest, I didnt even know what you asked me to do, Audrey replied.
Harper cracked a smile. This is so simple, it had to work! she exclaimed. All this time,
Id been thinking that the answer had to be something really complicated, but why should it be. I
was just trying to perform a basic function, be it on a complex machine.
What did the gauge show you? Audrey quired.
The heat went up when I increased power to the engine, and the coolant system only
came on when it reached a temperature that I had set previously.
Cool, Audrey said. I have to go though. Im going to be late for my next training
session.
I wont keep you then, said Harper.
Make sure you contact me when its all done though, Audrey insisted. You need to
show me how to fly it.
You dont have your pilot's license through, reasoned Harper.
And you do? Audrey retorted.
Harper laughed. You got me there, she admitted. See you around.
Audrey turned and walked back towards her room through the maze of planes around
her.

Chapter Seven

Michael was having the worst day of his young life. There had been nothing but five
hours straight of mental preparation for him. He had drilled scenarios into his brain without
stopping and he felt a little bit dead inside. He needed a break. Getting up at seven, just to work
his brain until noon wasnt his idea of fun. Sure, it gave him the training that he needed for the
upcoming mission, but until he knew what that mission would contain, the field of study couldnt
be narrowed down at all.
He mostly had to drill through general things that were commonly found on the mission
field, which could be almost anything. Michael called it quits at noon, deciding that the fullness
of his stomach was much more important than all of the work he was doing. Who cared if it
made Dave happy? He had a feeling Dave didnt like him in the first place.
Michael didnt understand why Audrey was so attached to him. Sure he had pulled her
out of the rubble when she was a kid, but lately, Dave hadnt been himself. He had seemed
more tense, and short tempered.
Maybe the stress of the job he had been put at was catching up to him at last. Speaking
of Dave, Michael hadnt seen him for a while now. He was usually popping in and out of various
different rooms, trying to glean some information that he could use back in the intel room, but he
was nowhere to be seen.
It didnt really matter though. The only thing that mattered was that Michael was hungry,
and when michael was hungry, nobody could get in his way. He was like an avalanche falling

down a hill. The kitchen wasnt too far from where he was, but it was in a different section.
Michael decided to take a shortcut and, knowing the agency like he did, he was to the kitchen in
only about five minutes.
The familiar smell of food filled his nostrils, and Michael decided that he wanted
breakfast again. Something about breakfast was special. It never really got old to him. The only
problem was finding a cook that was willing to go out of there way to make it again. The cooks
had to make food for anybody who wanted it. They basically ran a restaurant inside of the
agency. The adults had to pay for it, which was the best part. Michael got off scotch free.
When he got in, he couldnt find Esther, so he decided to make it himself. He looked in
the refrigerator and found a half dozen eggs and some ham, cheese, and butter. That was all
you really needed for a really good, really big omelet. The cooks werent too picky about other
people using the supplies, because the agency provided funding for them, so Michael helped
himself.
After about ten minutes, his omelet was perfectly done and ready for him to eat. He took
a paper plate and a plastic fork and began to walk back towards the room that Dave had
previously set up for him to be in. Dave had even arranged for Michael to have his own tutor.
That didnt help at all. His tutor just kept telling him to close his eyes and envision the scenario.
Michael would have much rather had the scenario playing out in front of him in real time.
The walk back felt slow, as he ate his omelet, enjoying the upbeat chatter of many who
were walking in the halls, but his work felt even slower once he got back. To be honest though,
it was a really good refresher. Michael hadnt thought about the mental aspect of a mission in
quite some time, but he made a silent promise to himself that he would work before every
mission and run through possible scenarios that he might run into. It would make him much
more prepared and reduce the chance of another failure.

The fake mission was bound to stay at the forefront of Michaels mind for the rest of his
life. Thats what he thought at least. Every time he thought of his next mission, his failure was
right there. That could be a good or a bad thing. It could push him harder, or it could make him
crumble because he was so nervous. It was honestly up to Michael to decide which one it would
be.
The rest of his work time was pretty uneventful, and Michael found himself falling back
into the trance-like state that he had experienced every single day when he was in school. T
his
is summer, he found himself thinking. W
hy am I doing this to myself?
In fact, he wasnt doing it to himself. Dave was doing this to him. Michael had the choice
to be in school at the moment, but every moment that he spent inside of school felt like a year,
so he did his best to miss it whenever he could. Every moment spent away from school was
heaven.
Close your eyes and picture this, the soothing voice of the older gentleman spoke softly
to him. The man had turned the lights off, making it a lot easier for Michael to fall asleep. It was
a constant struggle. You are creeping down a scarcely lit tunnel, looking for any sign of a
terrorist. You have full combat gear, and a partner at your side. Suddenly, you are surrounded
by a half dozen men, who are raising their combat rifles at you and demanding that you put your
weapons down. You have a lightswitch in front of you, but you dont know what it does. What do
you do? the man finally finishes.
These questions were pretty good ones, but Michael didnt see the reason to drill
through them. When was he ever going to be in a dark tunnel with one partner in full combat
gear? Reasonable or not, the question still stood.

I would back up against the wall that the lightswitch was on. Its a pretty natural reaction
for someone who has just been jumped by a half dozen terrorists to back up against a wall dont
you think?
It is reasonable, the man confirmed.
Good, then I would flip the switch, seemingly on accident as I went down to drop my
weapon. If there was a reaction, I would play off of it. If there wasnt, Im pretty much dead in the
water, unless you know any terrorists that would spare a person's soul, when that person is
shooting up all of his comrades.
Good choice, the man commended. Michael was tired of this guy. He treated Michael
like a little kid. Michael had most likely had more experience in the battle field than the him in
the first place.
If there was no reaction, I would shoot as many as I could and try to overpower them. I
do not want to take the chance to be submitted to torture for questioning.
You speak logic, the man commented.
This went on for another twenty minutes before the man finally said, I have used all of
my scenarios up, causing Michaels heart to soar. He was ready to be out of there. Michael
needed to use his body so that he could clear his mind. It was so muddled with various cases
that Michael didnt know what he was doing anymore. Thoughts and words were zooming
around in his brain at an unbearable rate. Certain ones popped out, before diving back into the
raging river that was his brain.
Michael was getting a headache. He politely thanked the man, and excused himself,
before running out into the hall. His head was swimming and he had to do something about it.
He needed something that could bring him out of this state, but he was not controlling his own
mind. Michaels mind seemed to be controlling itself. It wouldnt listen to what Michael wanted to

do. He fought for control, shaking his head and rubbing his face vigorously with his hands. An
image popped into Michael's mind of him on a jet ski a while back, falling into the deep dark
depths of the cold, merciless ocean water.
Yes water, Michael thought to himself as the image slipped away from his grasp and
his mind became once more, a raging blizzard of thought, memory, and sense. Water water
water water. That was the only thing that Michael could understand he needed water. He
finally stumbled into a bathroom and practically punched the faucet. Thankfully, the water
popped on and Michael stuck his face underneath it.
An overwhelming sense of cold touched Michaels face. It shocked his brain so that he
could seize control again. Forcing it into submission, Michael left his face under the running
water, sputtering incoherent words to himself as he did so. Eventually, Michael stole himself and
turned off the water. He was breathing hard, so he decided to take things slowly.
One breath at a time, he told himself. In out in out. That helped a great deal and
Michael took a quick drink before walking back out of the bathroom. That didnt normally happen
to him anymore as he had gotten pretty good at controlling the attacks when he felt them
coming on.
When he was younger, Michael used to have these attacks all the time. His mind would
just kind of spin out of control whenever it wanted to, and keep doing so until Michael was a
useless, shuddering mass. Only then would they stop. These spasms had raked him over and
over again and eventually, he had learned to control them after one particularly bad spasm
when Dave had to have a talk with him.
Michael berated himself for not doing something about it. He definitely felt it coming on,
but Michael had decided to push his limits and he got through the last scenario. By the end,
there was no turning back.

He walked back towards his room, suddenly losing the desire to work out. He still wanted
to do something physical, so he decided that the basketball courts were his best option. He liked
the environment at the courts. Everybody worked hard to improve there game. If he wanted,
Michael could ask somebody to set up a cone drill or something. Michael could spend hours at a
time refining his game. He had grown to be a respectable player by the standards of other
basketball players in the agency.
As Michael entered the basketball courts, he realized just how big the agency building
was. It had to house thousands of people and still offer the basic necessities of life. The people
who designed the building went a little bit overboard on the basic necessities. They must have
realized that many of the people who lived inside of the agency building would have little contact
with the outside world. They had to be kept happy. In their free time, what were they supposed
to do, sit in their rooms doing nothing? No, they got full privileges to all of the things the agency
building had to offer.
Michael was already changed and ready to sweat a little bit, so he grabbed a basketball
and started to shoot around. He started with inside shots like post moves and layups, but soon
moved to fifteen foot jumpers. That was his favorite shot, and he was on that day. One right
after another, he would pull up, shoot, and the ball would come back down in the hoop, perfect
every time. Michael probably shot about one hundred shots, and then got tired.
After a short water break, he moved on to ball handling. Inside, outside, between the
legs, behind the back, crossover, shoot it. It was the perfect scoring combination and it worked
every time.
A group of guys asked him to join a game of three on three and he obliged. Michaels
team worked together well, bumping up the score almost every time they had the ball. The
opposing team, however, was not as good together. They had a weak link that they couldnt

trust with the ball. In a game of five on five, its okay to have one weak link because you still
have four other guys that you know can back you up. With three on three, if you're covered and
so is your partner, your only choice is to pass to the weak link.
Michael saw that and played up on it. He would purposely double team the other strong
player when the first stopped dribbling, leaving the weak link open. Then, he would stuff the
poor guy. After two or three times, Michael began to feel sorry for the guy, so he stopped and
actually started playing normal defence. The game ended 45-13 with Michaels team winning. It
was a good game and Michael was left sweating like a pig. He fooled around a little bit more
with the ball, but overall, he was tired. He decided to eat and turn in early.
This was one of the wonders of being in the agency. The kids were treated the same as
the adults. If you wanted to stay up late, it was your choice, but you would pay the
consequences the next day. Michael learned quickly not to test the limits because Dave might
just end up working him harder the next day, adding to his overall misery. He checked his
watch. It was only 5:17.
Should I do something? he asked himself. Y
eah, he decided. He couldnt go to bed at
five seventeen. What to do? There wasnt much that he could do. His room needed some
serious attention. It was messy beyond belief. He always tried to ask himself, if Audrey came in
here, would she be okay with it? His answer was always no however because he was pretty
positive that Audrey wasnt even happy with her own room, and her room was spotless.
Michael decided to go clean his room and do his laundry. He w
as a teenager after all
and he should start being responsible. He was pretty positive that he barely had a shirt and a
pair of jeans for the next day. That was a problem. When he got to his room, he was
immediately lost. There was nowhere good to start, so he just put clothes into different piles
according to what they looked like.

He had to scour his room for any other clothes that he might have missed because you
never know where that extra sock might be hiding. After he was satisfied that there were no
other clothes hiding from him, he took each pile one at a time down stairs to the washing
machines, which thankfully werent being used. It seemed like too much work, but eventually, he
got it done. His only problem was that he didnt have nearly enough room to hang all of his
clothes up, and he couldnt put everything into the drier without making them shrink.
He ended up just hanging clothes everywhere he could find a place for them. On
doorknobs, coat hooks, dressers, the top of doors, over his shower curtain and even on top of
his alarm clock. He felt pretty accomplished. His room needed organizing as well, but he
decided that would be a job for another day, seeing as it was a little bit hard to organize when
you had clothes draped over everything you were trying to organize in the first place. Michael
fell asleep that night to the smell of laundry detergent and fabric softener. It was a soothing
scent, and he kind of liked it. He also liked the feeling of being mature. Normal teenagers would
have their parents do this work, but, for one, he wasnt a normal teenager, and two, he didnt
have parents, and funnily enough, that was okay with him.

Michael awoke to the sound of a dying alarm clock. The moisture from the jeans he had
hung over it must have messed it up pretty badly. He reached down and unplugged the clock
from the wall. He had briefly seen the time before it had flashed out of existence. It was 10:49.
He had slept in way too late.
Michael jumped out of bed and decided that he would do his morning routine. He hadnt
done his routine in a good while and needed to get back into it. It consisted of fifty pushups, one
hundred and fifty crunches, a three minute plank, and a five minute wall sit. Normally, it left all of
his muscles burning, and today was no exception. Michael finished his routine, muscles aching,

and put away his now dry clothes. It was a little bit nice not having to step over piles of clothes
every time he wanted to sit on his bed.
He took a quick shower and got dressed. Just as he was about ready to head out the
door, a buzzer sounded on his watch. The buzz lasted for five seconds or so, and then Daves
voice could be heard speaking to him.
I need you in the intel room as soon as possible, he said calmly. Be ready for your
mission briefing.
Finally, Michael actually had something that he wanted to do. Sitting around the agency
building got pretty boring after a while, and he was thankful that he now had something that
could keep him occupied for a time. He loved the mission field, and wanted to prove himself
after his recent failure.
That was only two days ago! He reminded himself. It felt so much longer than that.
Normally, Michael had to wait months until he would be briefed on a new mission. Terrorism
was nonstop, and there was always more work to do. In Michaels eyes, that was a sad fact. He
didnt get why people chose to become terrorists. It was such a stupid solution to a problem that
could easily be avoided. Why couldnt people just respect one another?
Michael pushed a button on his watch, telling Dave that he understood the message.
Then he rushed out the door and down the hall, hearing the soft click of the lock snapping into
place behind him. Once the elevator was at ground level, Michael hopped out and started off
towards the wing where the intel room was. He scanned his hand and was emitted. Five
minutes later he walked into the always bustling room.
Dave wasnt in his usual spot, and Michael couldnt see him anywhere. One of the
analysts glanced over at him.
You looking for Dave? he asked, looking back at his computer screen.

Yeah, do you know where I could find him? Michael replied.

I overheard him telling someone that he would be right back and that he had to contact
the data center to find a specific piece of information. He should be right back, the man
finished.
Thanks, Michael sighed. In the meantime, Michael would just have to wait, or find
somebody that he knew. He began to walk down the steps towards the center of the room and
the raised platform, when he spotted someone that looked vaguely familiar. It was a tall, young
man who looked to be in late teens.
Michael jogged up to him and tapped him on the shoulder. When the guy turned around,
Michael punched him in the gut. He doubled over, coughing, and laughing at the same time.
I got to admit M, he said when he finally regained his breath. I forgot what that felt
like!
Maybe you should work out more, Michael suggested. Looking a little bit saggy there
dont you think?
Nah, I work out, the man replied.
Ha, what? Maybe your fingers. All you do is sit around and type all day.
Well, you got me there, he admitted. His name was John Adams, named after the
second president of the United States. He and Michael were buddies for a long time because
Johns dad had worked at the agency forever, so Michael and John had hung out whenever
they could. The age difference wasnt really a big deal because Michael had always been a very
athletic kid, and John really wasnt. Sure he was tall and lean, and maybe even a little bit
muscular, but he never used those muscles.
John had been the older brother that Michael had never really known. It was nice having
another boy your age when you grew up in a building full of serious looking adults. Michael and

John had forever been the pranksters of the building. Every unsuspecting person they caught
would very likely end up with whipped cream in their face, or silly string all over their clothes. He
was also a good relief a little bit later on, when Michael didnt want to hang out with Audrey as
much.
How have you been doing? John asked.
Pretty good, Michael replied.
Still hunting down terrorists by the dozens?
Always will be, and arent we all? Michael reasoned
In a way, thats true, John responded. I just dont think of my role as being as
important as yours, he said dejectedly.
Oh, come on, Michael laughed. How can you say that? Without the info analysts, there
would be no mission in the first place.
Well, I didnt do anything to put together the upcoming mission against T
he Bane, John
muttered. I assume thats why youre here right?
Right. Do you know anything about it?
Oh, I know lots of stuff about it, admitted. Im just not allowed to tell you about it until
you get the actual mission briefing.
Thats dumb, Michael griped. Im down here for the mission briefing anyways, why
cant you just tell me?
Because I was told not to, and because the information Ive gleaned might not
necessarily be correct, John retorted.
How much info do you have? Michael asked, waiting for the answer that was sure to
come.

Pretty much everything, John bragged. Its amazing how much you can learn from
hacking into the system and watching what other people are doing.
John, thats illegal! Michael gasped. John could be kicked out of the agency and put in
a federal prison, but Michael knew that it wouldnt have happened. John was so good with
computers that nobody would have ever known that he was in the agency system in the first
place.
I know its illegal, but to them, it looks like there was a small breach by a thirty year old
in Tokyo who still lives in his moms house.
Michael laughed. That was pretty much what John was all about. He believed that he
would rather not work here at all, if he had to live in ignorance about the various missions that
were created in that room.
Cant you just tell me? Michael pleaded. I mean, its not like there will be any
consequences.
Id rather not, youre about to see for yourself, John replied, pointing towards the
entrance of the intel room, where Dave had just walked in. He was sporting his usual button
down and khakis, and walked with a new confidence that he hadnt had for a couple of days
now.
He walked down the steps and spotted Michael, motioning for him to follow him. Michael
said his goodbyes to John and left, in hot pursuit.
Dave walked into the hall that his office was in, and then took a right when he got so that
the door was directly in front of him.
This must be a really important mission, Michael thought to himself. They only met in the
room that they were heading towards if a representative from the agency had to listen in, and a

representative only decided to listen in, so that he make sure that nothing was messed up.
Nobody worried about mess-ups unless messing up could cost you a great deal.
He walked into the enclosed room to see the normal people that attended the meeting,
as well as the very fat man who had given Michael his test.
Great, he thought to himself. Now Ill never be able to concentrate. Michael didnt trust
the man. It wasnt because he was overweight, it was because of the way he had acted when
he had tested Michael. It had seemed like he was very uncomfortable around Michael, as if
Michael had the ability to see through his deepest secrets. The man never stopped looking
around, as if mapping out an escape route if he ever needed to use one. Not that the route
would do any good. The man most likely couldnt run more than a few feet without falling over
from exhaustion.
Michael realized that he never got the mans name. He couldnt perform the background
check. After this, Ill just give his name to John, if I learn it in this meeting. Hell be happy to hack
into the system and find some stuff for me.
Everybody was there, and Michael was relieved to see that he wasnt seated next to
Audrey. He wanted to be able to concentrate. Once everybody was seated, the large man in the
corner took out a pad of paper and a pen.
Hello everybody, and I hope everything is going well for you, Dave began. In light of
the circumstances, not everything was going well for Michael. The fact that he was here in the
first place said that something bad had happened, so of course everything wasnt going good for
Michael
We are honored to have our representative, Michael Roach joining us today.

Michael felt sick to his stomach. The big dude shared his name. That was terrible and it
put a bad taste in Michaels mouth as the other Michael nodded his head at each of the people
sitting at the table. Audrey nodded back politely.
Lets begin, Dave said. I trust that we all know about the recent bombing of the Statue
Of Liberty, he said tentatively. Many people spoke affirmative words and Dave nodded, pleased
that he didnt have to get into any details. This call to action is a seemingly obvious thing for the
IUBI to respond to. If there are any objections in that respect, please state them now. Nobody
spoke up. They knew better. Dave would have shot them down so fast, they wouldnt have
known what hit them.
Good, Dave said, continuing. Our analysts have put together a great deal of
information on this attack, and I believe that it is enough for us to launch a full scale operation
against the terrorist group who started this in the first place. T
he Bane.
Michael could see Audrey tense up, a look of unrestrained loathing etched into her face.
It was for good reason too.
We have selected two of our most accomplished agents for this mission. Audrey and
Michael, please stand up. Michael obliged, as did Audrey. He quickly sat down once he felt that
it wouldnt be rude. The feeling of everybodys gaze cutting into him like a lazer wasnt one that
he enjoyed. He felt too vulnerable.
Their last test was failed, but since then, they have both trained very hard for this
assignment and I for one believe that they are both ready for this.
Sir, Tim, the lead analyst spoke up. Dave cast a questioning look at him.
What is it Hashaw? Dave asked irritably.
Ive reviewed Michaels report on the last mission, and he showed no evidence of being
remotely aware of what was even going on. He didnt seem to care one way or another, but

instead resorted to snide remarks instead of actual answers. Dave stared straight at Tim, his
eyes wide and full of cold judgment. Michael hadnt seen Dave ever look at a man in that
manner.
Go on, said Daves voice, full to the brink with bitterness.
Um, Tim muttered swallowing hard. Then he squared his shoulders and said, I dont
know if Michael is the best choice for this mission.
Daves eyes bulged and he drew his lips together in a tight line.
There are many people who are more than qualified to take his place. Michael knew
that he was right, and hated himself because of it, yet Dave gave no sign of even contemplating
listening to Tims complaints.
There may be people who are qualified, Dave said with a burst of tension. But I have
not found two people more passionate about removing these filthy slugs from the face of the
Earth than Michael and Audrey.
Tim frowned, but eventually yielded. He was fighting a losing battle. He didnt have the
rank, power, or argument to justify questioning Daves judgment.
Any other arguments? Dave asked, almost daring anybody else to question him.
Good, he said. Then lets continue. We recently gleaned a lead from our security cameras,
showing a man walking around the outside of the statue, looking it up and down. This man
produced a button, which he pressed. Then, he quickly picked up a block of rock, and dove into
a hole, replacing the rock over the top of him. Shortly thereafter, the explosion occurred,
blacking out security feed. Luckily, the tape is automatically transferred to a drive that the
government holds. With a little persuasion, one of our analysts was able to hack into the
government files and copy the tape.
Thank you John, Michael though.

We believe that there might be a Bane stronghold, or a tunnel leading to it under the
Statue of Liberty. We had one of our drones run an underground composition test on the sight
and it showed that there was an extremely high concentration of metal about a half mile from
the statue. Its under water and rock and sand, so it would be extremely hard to find by any
other method.
Michael was a little bit surprised. This was a lot to process. Somehow, T
he Bane had
organized a tunnel under the Statue of Liberty that led to an underwater lair. The whole thing
seemed extremely unlikely, but if Dave believed it, he knew that everybody else would too.
The briefing went on for another hour and a half or so. It basically described what was to
be done in certain situations and every single situation involved reporting back to HQ for
instructions. Michael was pretty positive that he could handle that much, plus, he had Audrey
who would undoubtedly be telling him what to do the whole time in light of their recent failure.
The fact was that she simply no longer trusted him.
The briefing finally finished and everybody in the room was handed a packet to look
through. It held assignment details and orders that were to be carried out during the mission.
This was Michaels main information log. He could study this. Michael and Audrey were to leave
in the morning after tomorrow, which didnt give much time for them to learn what they had to
do. Both he and Audrey had to have every step of the operation down to a point and nothing
could be left out.
After they were released, Michael rushed to catch up with Audrey, who had scrambled
out of the room as soon as possible.
Audrey, wait, Michael cried when he finally saw her.
She stopped, but didnt turn around, so he was forced to run up along side of her. She
started walking again.

How do you feel about the mission? he asked her tentatively.

I feel just like I always do, she replied simply, not even looking at him.
Do you trust me?
Absolutely not.
That could pose a major problem in the future. If agents didnt trust each other, the team
work would be destroyed and the mission would much more easily be compromised. One
person would try to take on too much responsibility and would fail. That was why everybody
needed to be equally dependant on one another. Some saw it as a weakness, but that was
completely wrong. It was a strength, and many times, the only thing holding a mission together.
They were both told that at a young age, and it unnerved Michael that Audrey had neglected
that.
What can I do to gain that trust back? Michael asked.
You can get me my family back, she responded, tears in her eyes.
Michael stared at her back as she walked away looking dejected. Now he had really
messed things up. Michael looked around for John, trying to forget what had just transpired
between he and Audrey. He spotted John in the same place he had been before.
He tried to sneak up behind him again, but John simply said, Dont even think about it,
when Michael got close.
You knew it was me? Michael asked incredulously.
Yeah, for one, my monitor reflects light pretty good, so I could see you the whole time,
and two, I saw your whole ordeal with Audrey. Michael felt blood rush to his face.
I need a favor, Michael stated simply. John spun around in mock surprise.
A favor, I dont know if I can help you there! he snickered. Michael rolled his eyes. Its
okay, John continued. Everybody asks at some time or another.

I need you to do a background check for me, Michael declared.

Thats it? John asked disbelievingly. Just a background check? I was getting ready to
hack into the government database to find you their nuclear codes! he jested.
Thanks, but I just need you to look up a Michael Roach for me.
John raised his eyebrows.
Youre searching up your own namesake? he questioned.
Dont even go there, Michael replied.
Alright, youre in, John said grudgingly.
Thanks bro, Michael replied.
No problem.
John proceeded to hack into the agency database. It looked like a really complicated
process, but for John, nothing was too complicated. He was in in under five minutes. His cursor
whipped around the screen at an unbelievable rate and Michael could hardly follow what he was
doing. One minute he was typing in some perplexing code and the next, his computer was
running through lists of names, faces, and fingerprints. Finally, a picture of the Michael that he
wanted popped up and moved itself to the bottom right hand corner of the screen.
Is that him? John asked, pointing to the picture.
Thats him, Michael replied. There couldnt be any mistake about it.
Alright, what do you want to know?
I just want his overall report.
I can do that, John finished as he simply clicked on the picture and typed in the code
for accessing the file.
Where did you learn that code? Michael asked. John just laughed and said, When you
spend as much time around computers as I do, you learn how to do stuff pretty quickly.

They were now into Michael Roachs file. Michael began to scroll down, looking for
police records, family associations, and just about anything that he could find that might get Mr.
Roach in trouble. Finally, he gave up. There was simply nothing that would signify to anybody
that Michael Roach was a bad person. He was completely clean.
Thanks, your the best, Michael said, patting John on the shoulder.
Is that all you need? he asked.
Yup, Im good, Michael replied. I got to go study my assignment though, he said
sadly.
Oh, that sucks. See you around then.
Yeah see you.
Michael hated just turning around and walking away from people. It had happened to
him way too many times, and it was so awkward to just watch someone walk away from you
without a word. Nevertheless, there was nothing else for Michael to do.
He walked out of the intel room and back towards the hangar area, bracing himself for
the next hour or so or mental struggle that he was about to endure. He reached the hangar, but
decided to drop into the kitchen to find a snack. He needed brain fuel. After retrieving the snack,
Michael took the elevator back up to his room.
Michael found it hard to concentrate when he was in his room. He didnt have a desk, or
any place that he could just sit down and really concentrate, because in the past, he had never
needed one. There were so many distractions in his room that he couldnt just pay attention to
his mission objective. Eventually, Michael had to get up to close his blinds. The view of the
hangar was super distracting, and every few minutes, he found himself gazing out at the turmoil
seething like an upturned anthill.

Michael decided to ask Dave for a desk the next time he saw him. The agency had
purchased many when it was starting out, and they still had a plethora to that day. In fact, the
agency had overestimated the amount of almost everything that they needed. They, however,
could afford to do that. Most of the money came from rich donors, who just knew that they were
donating to an anti terrorist organisation. They didnt know where that organisation was located,
or what it was called, but they were still champs about it. Millions of dollars came in every
month, fueling the research that was done on the agency premises.
That was why the agency continued to purchase stuff that they really didnt need.
Michael knew that it was one of Daves biggest struggles. Money management was not one of
the agencies strong suits, which Michael knew could be a fatal flaw in any organization. Dave
was their main budgeter, and accountant, on top of all of the other things that he managed.
The IUBI was split up into four major groups. There were the people like Dave who
oversaw operations, and planned attacks. Then there were the people who sat back and just
kind of approved or disapproved what Dave had organised. There were the analysts who
actually got the information and put together components of missions, and there were the
agents who actually carried out those missions.
As far as Michael knew, there were about fifty agents in the IUBI, but most of them
worked overseas. Audrey and Michael were the youngest of those fifty, but they still got to go on
many missions. It was an advantage being young because nobody would ever think that two
kids could possibly be secret agents.
MIchael decided to take a short break to refresh his brain. He had been looking over and
memorizing the mission plan for almost two hours, and his head felt like a bowl of spaghetti.
Michael looked around his room. It definitely needed to be reorganized. There were spots where

everything was clumped together, and spots where nothing hung or sat. He began rearranging
things, trying to find a way that he liked.
He pulled his bed into the center of the floor, creating room against the wall. He moved
his dresser into the back left corner and made sure there was an outlet nearby so that he could
move the table that held his computer next to it. He kept rearranging furniture. His lazy boy
chair, his bed, his nightstand, until he finally subconsciously created the perfect design. Nothing
was too far away, and there were no boring bare patches that held nothing.
The brain was an amazing thing. Without even thinking about it directly, Michael had
arranged his room into a pattern that he inherently liked. He cracked a grin. He had even
managed to leave a perfectly placed spot for his desk, if he ever got around to asking for one.
Michael sat down on his bed, which was now up against the the wall with the windows looking
down into the hangar. Next to it, about an arm's length away, was his nightstand, which was still
easily in reach, but not too close.
He began to study again, his heart beating fast from the physical exertion that he had
put forth moving stuff. Now it was a lot easier to concentrate. He could now see what he was
supposed to do in certain circumstances clearly, mostly because he wasnt even facing his
window anymore.
After a little while, Michael felt like he was actually getting stuff done. He hadnt been
able to do that in a very long while. Hed had no attacks and his head wasnt exploding with
facts. In fact, Michael found that he actually liked this. It was actually quite peaceful and
relaxing, just him and his thoughts, be them troubled thoughts.
The truth was that Michael was very nervous for the upcoming mission. He normally
didnt study at all and just let Audrey tell him what to do, but he was determined to make this

mission different. Audrey was growing more and more distant from him as time went on. Maybe
if he just changed to be more like her, she would warm up to him again.
Michael grew more and more hungry over the course of the next hour. The kitchens
were always open, and they were very tempting.
Not yet, Michael told himself. Just finish this part. Then he came to his senses. W
hats
wrong with me? He asked himself. Michael was not the person that turned down a chance to get
food, and he was not the type of person that told himself to finish a project. Michael was an avid
procrastinator and didnt do work whenever he could get out of it. Michael got up and readjusted
his watch on his wrist, rubbing the mark that always formed under it.
Before he knew it, Michael was back in his room, setting his plate full of food down on
his nightstand. He ate it as he was looking at his mission. Michael had a pretty good idea of
what he was doing now, but it was almost as though that packet of papers was an addiction. He
couldnt put it down, and he had an intense yearning for more knowledge. Eventually, Michaels
eye lids grew heavy, and then shut.
He drifted into the abyss that separates consciousness from the ever churning realm of
unreality, in which anything is possible and all of your dreams can come true.

Chapter Eight

Audrey didnt really like the plan for the mission, but there wasnt a thing that she could
do to change that fact. It made her rely way too much on Michael, whom she still hadnt forgiven
for ruining her perfect record. She knew that he had a point when he had told her that they were
stronger together than they were apart, but her emotions were so mixed up at the moment that
she hadnt really cared. She needed some time to recuperate.
It had been a little bit harsh telling Michael that the only way he could regain her trust
was to give her her family back, but all of the emotions that had been building up had just kind
of popped as if they were in a giant balloon being crushed by a hydraulic press. She was lucky
that she had been able to walk away before she said anything else. The next half of the night
had been spent crying and punching her pillow.
When her cries shuddered to a stop, the tears that had fueled her sadness now fueled
the fire that burned against The Bane. She completely devoted herself to going over the plan,
and didnt even stop to take a break to eat. She poured through the facts and the scenarios,
attempting to memorize every one of them. When she wasnt memorizing, she was reading up,
and gaining background knowledge on different aspects of the mission. She w
ouldnt go into the
mission unprepared. Audrey took a shower and almost didnt make it to her bed because of the
exhaustion that overwhelmed her mind and body.

Audrey woke up with bags under her eyes and a headache. She wasnt in a good mood
whatsoever, but decided that it was better being miserable and prepared, than well rested and
completely ignorant. She made herself a cup of hot chocolate and sat down with the information
packet once again.
She hadnt studied long when there was a knock on her door. She slowly got up to
answer it. Looking out the peephole, Michael could be seen in the hallway, looking down and
frowning at his packet. She opened the door and he looked up, seemingly surprised.
What do you want? she snapped.
Page twenty three is confusing me, he stated, looking down at it. This made Audrey
take a step back. Michael never studied for these missions. He always took advice from her.
Do you want to come in? she asked him weakly.
No, thats fine, he responded in a dull voice. I have to get going anyway.
What part do you need help on? she asked him, noticing how messy his hair was and
the wrinkles in his jeans and shirt. By the look of it, he had fallen asleep just as he was.
It says that were supposed to take a plane, leaving at 8:00, and get there in time to
catch the last ferry. Right now, the time in california is 8:17, he said, checking his watch. The
last ferry leaves 5:00, New York time. The time difference between New York and California is
four hours, so technically, if we left here at 8:00, it would already be 2:00 in New York, so we
would only have three hours to get from here to there and be on the boat. Audrey saw where
he was going with this, and appreciated his logic. The distance from California to New York is
almost 3,000 miles and if we were traveling in an average airliner, which goes about 500 miles
per hour, it would take about six hours, not three, so we would arrive almost two hours after the
last ferry leaves, making it much harder to get in.

Audrey laughed. Look who just decided to be reasonable! she exclaimed. A flurry of
emotion shuddered in her heart. I might save you yet, she thought. Let me take care of it, she
said. We will have to leave at seven though.
How are you going to take care of it? Michael asked skeptically. Wed have to get
there at about 4:30 so we have time to get to the ferry, and I dont know of many planes that can
get us there in only three and a half hours.
I do, now go away, Allie said, shutting the door. She opened it again a few seconds
later to see Michael still standing there, his eyes opened wide, still trying to comprehend what
had just transpired between them. By the way, make sure you set your alarm so you can be
ready by seven, she added, closing the door once more.
He was probably still out there, but she wasnt about to open the door again. Her heart
was beating fast, and Audrey didnt know why. It was only an encounter lasting about thirty
seconds, but the moment she laid her eyes on Michael, her heart fluttered in her chest, as if it
were trying to break free of its bonds and fly away forever. Audrey sat back down on her bed
smiling to herself. She was confused about the feelings that she was feeling.
Despite all of that, Michael had brought up a very good point. If she was going to get
Harper to hand over her plane, Audrey would have to talk to her right away. It was going to take
a great deal of persuasion. Harper had spent so much time on it, and Audrey didnt even know if
Harper had drawn up plans for it. She might not be able to replicate it again.
Another problem was that Harper hadnt even taken it for its test runs. It could fall apart
on takeoff. It didnt have an airworthy certificate, registration certificate, operating limitations,
and weight and balance information. The plane was in no way legal to fly, but rules were
different inside of the agency. Maybe Audrey and Michael could sneak by all of the guidelines
and fly in the plane unnoticed.

Audrey was getting way ahead of herself though. She still had to get Harpers
permission, and Audrey didnt quite know if she was good enough to fly the aircraft. Audrey
threw a sweatshirt on, as she had suddenly become chilled. Then she put on her sneakers and
jogged out of her room. She wasnt going to do any strenuous physical activity because she
feared that she was so out of shape that she would be as sore tomorrow as she was today.
Her shoulders ached and groaned when she reached down, or up for anything. Her neck
and back protested with every small turn. Audrey was in the hangar before she knew it, and it
wasnt hard to find the tiny plane that Harper never let leave her sight. Just as always, Harper
was sitting by her plane checking over one aspect or another. When she saw Audrey, she
grinned and sprinted over.
I finished it! she squealed. Its completely done. I tested it and everything works. I
mean, there are always a few things that need tweaking, but all of the major stuff works!
Thats great! Audrey said, cringing at what she was about to ask. Can I borrow it?
Audrey asked.
Harpers face scrunched up, not completely understanding what Audrey was wanting.
What? Harper asked.
Audrey sighed. Im leaving on a mission tomorrow, and we need to get to New York
quickly, Audrey explained.
And you want to use my plane? Harper asked, almost sounding awed.
I know its a lot to ask, but it would really help, Audrey said, hating herself for every
moment of this conversation.
Of course Ill lend it to you! Harper exclaimed.
What? Audrey asked. Now it was her turn not to understand.

Ive been waiting for years to make a difference in this agency, and now its finally my
time! You need my help, so Ill give it to you.
Harper, are you serious? Audrey asked. This is a big deal.
Oh come on girly, this is my time to shine! Im not just going to pass the chance up.
Have you even made plans for it? What if we crash it? What if it gets shot down? What
if the terrorists take it?
Slow down, Harper said in a soothing voice. Of course Ive made plans for it. I made
them as I went along building her. As for being shot down or crashing, the features that are built
in should prevent that from happening.
Audrey felt so honored that Harper was willing to give up all of her work to her just like
that.
I suppose that this is as good a time as any to celebrate right? Harper questioned.
Whos your copilot?
Michael, Audrey answered, holding back a smile when she said his name.
Go get him, were going flying!
Despite Audreys protests, Harper made her get Michael, claiming that they both needed
to know how to pilot the aircraft if they got into trouble. Audrey was pretty confident that Michael
would latch on pretty quickly. He was a natural at flying, and he could fly almost anything. At
least thats what it had seemed like when they had been training together. He had gotten into
the plane, started it up, and taken off, like it was no big deal. It didnt matter what kind of plane
either. It could be an airliner, an airforce jet, or a stunt plane. He was good at it no matter what.
Audrey felt a little bit awkward knocking on his door. He opened it up and his eyebrows
raised. Come back for more I see? he said in his best stalker voice. Audrey managed to keep
a straight face.

Were going flying, she said simply.

Oh goody! he exclaimed. Why may I ask, are we going flying? he asked.
We have a mission tomorrow, and we both need to learn how to pilot the plane I told
you about.
Seems like a pretty well thought out excuse to get me up in the heavens alone with
you.
Oh shut up butter brain, Audrey exclaimed.
I dont eat butter, he replied. Its too fattening.
I dont think you need to worry about what your food contains, I think that you need to
worry about how much of that food youre eating.
He flexed, showing off his corded arms. Youre right! he exclaimed as he gazed at
them. I am getting bigger!
Oh, just shut up and meet me at the bottom of the elevator, Audrey said, feeling the
blood rush to her face.
Okey dokey, Michael replied as he shut the door.
Michael met her right where they had planned, and Audrey led him to where she and
Harper had last met. Michael grunted as his gaze fell on the small plane. He nodded in
appreciation.
Looks fast, he agreed. Harper slid out from under the plane.
Just putting some last minute touches onto the fuel system, she said. And yes, it is
fast.
When are we flying? Audrey asked Harper.
We can go right now if you want.
Yes, Michael said simply.

Alright, but Audrey gets first dibs, Harper told him.

Michael stared at her incredulously. You dragged me down here to watch you two go
shooting through the sky without me?
Pretty much, Harper admitted. But you get to go right after her. Then you can fly
together if you want. That seemed to shut Michael up pretty quickly.
What makes it any different than a military jet? he asked skeptically.
Youll just have to wait and see when we get up there wont you? Harper jested.
Wow, I see how I rank, Michael declared. Ill just sit down here watching you guys
have fun, you dont need to worry about me. Im just a poor little boy anyways.
At least you know your place, Audrey said, as she climbed into the cockpit with Harper.
Youre not going to pull it out? Michael asked. Its pretty tight between all of these jets.
Well be fine, Harper assured. As the cockpit was completely closed in. The inside
looked like something out of a movie or maybe a rocket ship. It was all so complicated that
Audrey wondered how she would ever figure it out. Harper instructed her to put on the
headphones and speaker. Audrey wondered why this was necessary if the plane was so quiet.
Then Harper turned on the plane by simply pressing a button on the dash that said On. That
part seemed simple enough. Now Audrey understood why she had to have the headphones.
The noise on the inside of the plane was amplified. Maybe it was a compensation for the noise
on the outside.
Audreys radio sounded. You good up to this point? Harper asked.
Yep, I got it, Audrey replied.
Alright, all youre going to do from here is press the button on your yoke that says,
ground control. Audrey did so, but it didnt seem to change anything. Cool, now its just like
driving a car. You have the two pedals, just like a car, and the steering wheel, just like a car.

Audrey carefully made the plane glide out from the confines of the two massive jets on either
side. She taxied all the way to the runway, which ran through the center of the Hangar. Harper
instructed her to stop. Audrey tapped the brake and the plane lurched to a halt.
Woah, easy there, said Harper over the radio. The controls are really touchy.
Yeah, I kind of figured that out, Audrey replied.
Now youre going to press the same button, switching us back to air control. Audrey
obliged. She knew what to do from here.
Audrey pointed the nose of the plane out towards the bay doors. Over the radio, she
said, Prepare open. A man ran out onto the runway and gave her the thumbs up. Audrey threw
up the lever, giving power to the engine and propelling the tiny ship forward. They gained speed
at an insane rate and Audrey was pressed back against her seat. Just as it seemed that they
would surely hit the closed doors, they flung open about halfway, emitting rays of sunlight and
enough space for the plane to fit through. Audrey pulled slightly on the yolk ensuring that they
wouldnt be thrown down the moment they left the ground.
The plane was launched off the edge of the runway into open space. The drop off
always scared Audrey. Immediately after leaving the hangar, they were almost 700 feet in the
air, flying in a straight line.
You can pull up a bit now, Harper said as they shot through the sky. Audrey loved this
feeling. She had an aura of freedom around her. Audrey pulled up a little bit and the plane
responded instantaneously. It controls just like any other fighter jet. I just added a few things. If
you push your right leg to the right, the plane will go sideways to the right side. The same is true
for the left, and for up and down.
The plane was truly a work of art. It was very easy to fly, and it preformed complicated
maneuvers easily, without compromising control whatsoever. You could push the throttle

forward, past the full point to provide a sudden burst of speed. It could land on water, as if it
were land. When it was finally time to go back in, Audrey was sad. She didnt want to relinquish
her control on the beautiful machine. The landing was fairly uneventful, as the plane swooped
gracefully down and landed. The braking system kicked in and Audrey was pulled forward
because of her inertia.
Audrey got out of the plane beaming. She loved flying planes, and this plane was pretty
special. Her legs felt like jelly when she hit the ground though. Jets could be hard on the body.
Michael was standing a few feet off of the runway, gazing at the plane. Or was he looking at
her? Audrey wasnt sure, but deep down inside, she hoped it was the latter.
Setting her face, she walked towards him and handed him her helmet and radio. Your
turn, she said, not stopping, but instead walking all the way off of the runway to sit on a bench.
Thanks, I didnt know that, really, he called back to her. Audrey watched him climb into
the jet and receive most likely the same instruction that she had. Michael however didnt make
any mistakes. He guided the jet as smoothly as if it were a bike. The takeoff looked pretty much
the same as Audreys had, the doors swinging open at the last second and then slamming shut
behind the little plane. Harper had given Audrey a link to the live feed that the cameras in the
cockpit gave. She could hear what Harper and Michael were saying over the radio.
For the most part, it was exactly the same, until the part where Michael asked, Can I
actually fly now?
Um, yeah I guess, Harper replied in a confused voice. She obviously didnt know that
Michael was taking it super easy on the plane.
Thank you, Michael said as the screen on her phone seemed to tilt. Michael went
through a complex series of rolls, twists, turns, and drops. He would execute a double role as
the plane shot to the right. Immediately after, the nose of the plane dipped and Harper and

Michael spiraled down. Michael put on a burst of speed, and narrowly pulled out of the dive,
skimming the surface of the ocean with the back of the plane.
Take us in, Harper eventually said in a weak voice.
Yes master, Michael replied, as he whipped the plane around and shot towards the cliff
that the agency was located inside of. Michael finally slowed down and sloped down into a very
shallow dive. The doors of the hangar opened and Michael landed smoothly slowly decelerating
all the way to a taxi speed. He drove it over to the side of the runway and shut off the engine.
Surprisingly, Harper was the first one out, looking more than a little bit queasy. Michael
came next, starring in approval at Harpers plane.
Howd it go? Audrey asked, although she already knew the answer.
Insane, Harper simply said, pointing back at Michael who pointed at himself in surprise,
and then smiled as if he liked the title.
I am arent I? he said matter of factly.
Do you trust him? Audrey asked Harper.
I trust him with the plane, but not you, she responded. Youre going to step off of that
plane barfing your stomach out.
Audrey laughed. Good to know.
Michael walked up to them, glancing back at the plane every once in awhile. How long
did it take you to build her? he asked, gesturing backwards.
About three years, Harper replied.
I like the memory foam, he said.
Youre supposed to, thats why I added it.
Fair enough.

Audrey just stood there worrying about what was to come the next day. She needed to
be back in her room studying, not wasting time on small talk here.Michael and Harper began to
speak nerd, which Audrey didnt understand whatsoever. They went on about air compressors,
thrust, and lift while Audrey just felt awkward.
Well, while you guys flirt, Im going to go study for the mission, she said.
Michael stopped talking and his face turned red. I wasnt flirting, he said quietly. And
actually, thats a really good idea, he added. Im still really behind.
Dont let me hold you back! Harper said happily. Go study. Besides, I need to make a
few last minute adjustments. Showoff here decided that he wanted to mess up my calibration
with his fancy flying, she lamented, throwing a sour face at Michael, who bowed. See you guys
tomorrow, Harper said over her shoulder as she jogged back towards her plane.
I need food, Michael said, looking longingly in the direction of the kitchen. Audrey didnt
know how he could manage to stay so fit when he ate so much. She hardly ate at all, preferring
to stay in her room and read or study. Join me? he asked hopefully.
Not a chance, she replied flatly, becoming a little bit more self-conscious.
Suit yourself, Michael said. He walked off in the direction of the kitchen and Audrey
towards the elevator that led to her room. She didnt have too long to study, and she would have
no time the next day in the plane because it was so hands on, and there was little to no space in
the first place. She took the elevator to the fifth floor and got out in the abandoned hallway. That
was most likely a good thing. Being around people wasnt her forte.
She stopped at room 156 and opened the door. Her room needed a serious makeover.
Sure it was clean and practically perfect in anybody elses eyes, it was boring and drab in hers.
She liked to change things up a lot, and shed had this layout for about two months, and she
needed some change to keep her on her toes.

She opened the packet that lay neatly on her desk and turned on her lamp as she found
a mechanical pencil. Audrey checked to make sure that there was sufficient lead in it and went
to work. She circled all of the important parts that she didnt want to forget, and then circled
some of the points that she didnt necessarily need to know. Nobody really knew why she did
this, not even her, but she had found it helpful in the past. There had been times when she
would have wondered what in the world she was supposed to do, but then she remembered a
fragment from her mission overview that guided her.
She ate up a few hours doing this until she finally got to the end. At this point, she went
over the entire mission in her mind, including all of the possible outcomes. She ended up
finishing the mission in her mind a few times because there were so many possible outcomes. It
was good practice. Hunger gnawed at her stomach, but she ignored its beckoning and decided
to work instead.
Finally, it grew so intense that she had to do something about it. She went down to the
kitchen and found a chicken leg, some mashed potatoes, and snow peas. She scarfed it down,
and took a handful of the peas to eat on the way back. Hunger stated, she could concentrate in
peace now.
There was one part of the plan that she didn't like. They were supposed to go down into
the hatch that had been found and follow the directions to the main underwater base. Other
agents had gotten that far and mapped it out. Thats what Dave had told her at least. He had
sent a notification and an update to the plan. Once they were down there, they were supposed
to find any records that they could and destroy them. They were also supposed to record what
was down there for later use so that the agency could be properly prepared to destroy the base.
That was kind of the whole point of the mission. It was just to gain intelligence so that the
agency could use it to predict the plans of T
he Bane and thwart them. At the moment, the

agency had no inkling whatsoever about what the terrorist group was planning on doing. They
just knew that it couldnt be anything good.
The part that Audrey didnt like was that they had no escape plan, and no exact plan on
what to do once they got on the inside. Audrey was not good at winging it. That was something
reserved for Michael. He was a great spur of the moment thinker. Audrey preferred to study it on
spreadsheets and packets.
Exhaustion pulled at Audreys eyelids, urging them to close. Audrey fought it for a time
until she finished going through the packet. There was still a lot of mental preparation to be
done, but that could all be done on the plane the next day. That was something that she didnt
need spreadsheets and packets for. Audrey felt like this was as good a place as any to stop for
the night.
She walked to her bathroom and examined herself. She didnt recognize the girl she had
become. She turned her head sideways, looking at the base of her neck where an ugly purple
scar sat. She had received it when the terrorists had exploded her house and killed her family. It
was the only thing that remained of her broken past. Audrey hated that scar. It represented a
time that was long past. It marred her and made her imperfect. Nobody was perfect, and nobody
could ever be perfect. That was one thing that Audrey had to learn from the very beginning. She
sighed and looked down, tears forming in her eyes. She longed for her parents, for her siblings,
and for the life that she could have had. This life was so abnormal. She wouldnt ever be like
any other kids, and accepted that.
She quickly changed into sweatpants and a t-shirt and fell into her bed, pulling the
blankets over her and feeling her body heat up to a comfortable level. She tried to put all of her
worries aside, but thats not something that came easily when you have a mission the next day
that could change the outcome of history.

This must have been what normal kids felt like when they had a final the next day that
they werent prepared for, just on a much larger level. Eventually, sleep took her, but when it
did, it came only sparingly and in short segments. It wasnt a fun night for Audrey.

Chapter Nine

Michael was scared for the next day. He didnt study at all that night, although he said he
needed to, and he was right in saying so. His sleep wasnt much better than Audreys, but at
least he was able to sleep. There were too many times before a mission where his dreams were
filled with action packed sequences about all the things that could possibly go wrong. There
were times that he would get killed by terrorists to a quick bullet to the head, and others where
he made a complete fool of himself and failed Audrey, Dave, and everybody else at the agency.
The last time hed had that dream, it had come true. This night though, everything
seemed to go fine. Everything except for the last few minutes when he saw himself watching
sadly as Audrey boarded a plane that left the agency hangar a few minutes later. Somehow,
Michael knew that it would be the first mission in a long time that he hadnt gone with Audrey on
a mission.
Michael woke up to his alarm clock. Who had set it to six oclock? Michael was so
exhausted that he doubted another hour of sleep would do anything for him. He got up and put
his clothes on. A padded, tight fit shirt under a cavalier vest, and a pair of cargo pants with
about fifty different hidden pockets. Each held a specific gadget. Most of them were only useful
in a few circumstances, but there were a select few that could be used on almost anything. He
packed in his leg pads and put on a pair of combat boots.
He strapped a 9mm. to his hip and covered it with his shirt. Lastly, he pulled on a dark
blue sweatshirt and put in his earpiece, tuning it to the correct frequency. He checked his hair in
the bathroom mirror, but surprisingly didnt need to change anything. His hair had stayed
perfect. He did it over again anyways, just to be sure. Michael looked around his room, trying to
think of anything that he forgot, but nothing came to his mind.

He liked the way his room looked now and he was glad that he took the time to
reorganize it. He took one last look around before walking out the door. As soon as he got out of
his room, he remembered what he had forgotten. He needed his watch. He unlocked his door
and ran to his nightstand. There it lay, just waiting for him.
He strapped it on, and ran back outside. He took the elevator down five floors to the
ground level that the hangar was at. Michael waited for a little bit, trying to see if Audrey would
come down as well, but after ten minutes, he got bored and went to find the plane. It was so
small that he almost overlooked it, had it not been for Harpers fiery orange hair. It seemed like
a shining beacon of red in a sea of grey. She sat under the small plane, making some minute
repair that Michael most likely had no idea about.
Audrey sat next to her, talking nervously. It looked like she had gotten up far before
Michael. When she saw Michael, she gave no inclination that she did so. Instead, she opted to
keep talking to Harper. When Michael got close enough, he could hear what they were saying.
What if he does fail? Audrey asked.
Then that sucks, but you are going to have to trust him anyways, Harper replied.
Its going to take a lot more than that to get me to trust him, Audrey tried to reason.
Michael knew that they were talking about him, and the funny part about it was that he didnt
really mind. At least she was talking about h
im, not some other guy. Plus, she had already said
most of this stuff to his face, so it didnt really count as talking behind his back.
Hows it going ladies? he asked when he was in speaking range. Audrey rolled her
eyes and began checking her armor. He knew that she was going through the plans in her
head.

Fine, Harper said energetically. Isnt this exciting? she asked. I called up to Dave and
he gave us the okay to use my plane. He even went so far as to fill out all the paperwork,
making her a certified, flyable aircraft!
Thats great! Michael exclaimed. We wont be outlaws now!
Michael glanced over at Audrey as Harper laughed, but she didnt even seem to realize
that Michael was there at all.
We should get going, she said grimly. We dont have much time left.
Michael wasnt taking any of this personally. He knew that Audrey was pretty nervous
about this one. She couldnt fail again.
You know, Audrey started, finally addressing Michael. Some people dont think that
youre the best person for the job. Harper hung her head and sighed as if she had known that
this was coming the entire time. Theyre hassling Dave and he had no choice but to make a
deal with them.
What was the deal, Michael asked fearfully.
Either ace the mission, or dont go on any more, she finished solemnly.
Michaels heart almost stopped. Now he had to complete this mission, no matter the
cost. He couldnt just be a bystander as Audrey got all of the glory, he had to be in on the action.
Well thats an interesting conclusion to come to, Michael replied. Maybe if we do fail,
Ill have more time to play pranks on people. I could make them regret that they ever questioned
me in the first place. He shot a blinding white smile at Audreys concerned look, changing it into
a semi angry one.
This is no joking matter, she said. You cant fail this mission. You realize that if you do,
you cant participate in any missions ever again, right?

Yeah, I kinda got that, Michael replied. Whats it to you? he asked. What a set up. He
had played that card perfectly. Audrey blushed.
It would give Dave a bad name, she said after about five seconds of a completely lost
look on her face.
Well played, Michael thought. A
nd the joust continues.
Well, either way, we have to get going, Michael said, breaking the silence that had
fallen between them.
Hes right, both Audrey and Harper said at the same time. They chuckled to
themselves and shook hands, before Audrey climbed into the cockpit.
Girls, Michael said under his breath.
What was that? Harper asked, faking ignorance.
I said hurls, Michael replied.
I see, Harper said. And why would you be saying hurls?
Why wouldnt I? he asked. And why would you care? he added.
You going to say goodbye? she asked him.
No, he replied simply.
Why not?
Because things just got weird, and I dont want to lose the feeling of utter
awkwardness, he finished as he shut the top, cutting off all sound from the outside. He put his
headphones on, and turned on his radio.
You are one strange child, Audreys voice crackled over the radio.
Dont I know it, he said back as he started up the engine. He taxied out onto the
runway amid Audreys shouts of carefulness. Michaels head was filled with, d
ont hit that, or, be
careful, you have to turn right here.

Eventually, Michael just said, If you wanted to drive, why didnt you just say so? Audrey
didnt say anything until they hit the runway, where she asked for the all clear to take off. When
they received it, Michael switched from ground control and accelerated with a burst of speed.
The doors opened and they shot out. Michael gradually turned east and switched on the
autopilot.
This could be my chance, he thought to himself.
So, he began, but Audrey cut him off.
We need to go over what were doing.
Thats literally what I was about to say, Michael said. But I guess you said it better.
Well have backup once we get there, and well be briefed the entire time by
headquarters. Well head down into the tunnel, posing as construction workers. That shouldnt
arouse suspicion, should it? she asked.
Nah, he replied. Then the other agents will cover the tunnel, making sure that nobody
else goes into the tunnel.
Whoa, we gotta back up for a second, Audrey said. We land at the airstrip and take an
agency car to the ferry dock, which is bussing over construction workers and volunteers now
instead of tourists.
Right, then once we get onto the island, we can get into the tunnel.
Naturally, Audrey snorted.
Im sorry that Im not as intelligent as you princess, Michael teased.
Shut up, Audrey scolded. Then once we get down there, were just kind of
freeballing, she said nervously.
The perfect mission, Michael said. Technically, nobody can say that we
failed because we dont have any set standards.

That is not in any way correct, Audrey stated. We still have to get in, map it out, and
destroy as many records as we can.
They still never told us how many records we had to destroy.
Michael, you have to understand that theyll use anything they can against you, just to
prove their point. Theyll risk it all so that they dont look bad. If you dont do a good job, theyll
be all over you.
Arent they scared of Dave? he asked.
No theyre not scared! Audrey said. They just respect him enough to realize that most
of the time hes right. That doesnt mean they wont exploit every way that hes gone wrong.
Michael had to think about that for a little bit. He had always grown up thinking that Dave
never made a single mistake, and hadnt once given any thought to the political struggle that
went on inside of the agency walls. There was so much that Dave had to deal with that nobody
really knew about. If Michael were in his position, he would most likely end up firing anybody
that gave him trouble. That was why Michael was never in charge of anything. He didnt like
giving people that annoyed him second chances.
Dave was full of grace and forgiveness. Michael only forgave those that liked him, or that
he liked. He wondered how Audrey must have felt when he failed the mission. Trust was a
fragile thing, and when it was broken, it was like a puzzle. If you lose a piece, you couldnt put it
completely back together again. You could come close, but it wouldnt ever be the same.
They rode in silence for almost the rest of the trip. The little plane amazed Michael. It
kept making fine adjustments to their course. The plane included a GPS system that was
seemingly foolproof. It was completely accurate and contributed greatly to the autopilot. They
could pretty much let the plane fly itself. It wasnt, however, good for long distance flying, and it

was a very long wait in a rather uncomfortable position. The memory foam seat began to feel
just like a regular seat after a while.
More than once, Michael had tried to initiate conversation with Audrey, but she was
having none of it. Finally, the New York skyline came into view and Michael took control again.
He guided the plane towards the private airstrip that was located just outside of the city and
threw in a loop and a roll, just to get his blood flowing again. Audrey however, wasnt expecting
it and emitted a little squeak as she spun completely upside down twice.
Michael came in for the landing very steep and pulled up at the last second, decelerating
and coming out of the dive at the same time. Audrey cried out the same as she had done before
and Michael got the feeling that she wasnt as comfortable with him flying as she would be with
herself. He got that, because he was in the same boat. He could count on himself to do the job
correctly, but never somebody else.
He stopped the plane about five feet away from the refueling station and cut the engine.
The parking brake engaged automatically. He popped the cover of the plane and was met by a
warm spring, New York day. The air seemed very fresh, given the fact that they were standing
right outside of one of the biggest cities in the world. The grass on the side of the runway was
luscious and green and it was dotted with daisies. He picked one and smelled it, then handed it
to Audrey, who squinted at him as if trying to figure him out. She took it cautiously and smelled
it, giving the smallest hint of a smile, then tossed it aside and muttered, Boys. Ill never figure
them out.
It most likely wasnt intended for Michael to hear, but he heard it anyway. Audrey began
to walk towards the jet-black agency car that always carted them around and Michael followed,
his heart beating fast. In the past, he wouldnt have even given a wisp of his thought to doing
that, but this wasnt the past, and Michael had changed.

You only live once right? He thought. W

hy cant I try to make it count right now? Either
way, he was pretty confused as to how Audrey had reacted to his little stunt. She had seemed
happy at first, happier than she had been in a long time, and then she had seemed to cover it up
with a mask of disgust.
If Audrey couldnt figure boys out, girls had to be completely impossible. Michael stepped
into the car and shut the door behind him. The moment was coming to prove himself, and he
was getting the familiar butterflies in his stomach. It seemed that no matter how many missions
like this he had went on, he couldnt seem to get rid of his nerves. That was something that
stayed with you through your whole entire life.
The car ride to the ferry dock seemed a little bit longer than it should have. The
atmosphere throughout the entire ride was very tense and Michael had a hard time taking it. He
definitely shouldnt have given her the flower. It had just confused both of their emotions and
made it harder to concentrate on the task at hand. Finally, the dock came into sight, and he and
Audrey both put on the bright orange work vests that the driver had provided to them.
Their plan was fairly simple. They were posing as a couple of kid volunteers who needed
the community service time to complete high school, just in case they were questioned. The
man in the front seat who would pose as their father would accompany them until they reached
the island.
They sped through the city at a pretty surprising rate, considering how bad the traffic
was. They were lucky that the plane had gotten them there a little bit ahead of schedule.
Eventually, Michael was able to see out into the bay, in the midst of which stood what used to
be a tall, proud monument of freedom. It was now just a smoldering, crumbling mess. The rest
of the drive went quickly, and soon enough, Audrey and Michael were stepping out into the
beautiful evening air.

Michael took a deep breath and sighed, smiling. He liked the feeling of the city. It was
never quiet, and there were a lot of witnesses in case you got mugged, even thought that most
likely wouldnt happen to him in the first place. He loved his job. Suddenly, the reality of the
situation set in. If he failed this, he would have no job to love.
The man in the passenger seat stepped out and put his orange vest on. Both Michael
and Audrey followed suit, and soon they all looked pretty much alike. The driver wished them
luck and then drove off into the fray that was New York City. The man that was supposed to be
their escort spoke to them as he watched the car drive away.
My name is Jerry Thompson, and Im going to be your supervisor, he rumbled in a
deep bass.
Hey, Michael replied, as he began to walk towards the end of the dock. I assume that
you have money to pay for this? Michael asked hopefully.
Of course, the man replied, pulling out a large wad of cash.
Wonderful, Michael said, eying it up.
Audrey rolled her eyes, and began to walk towards the dock. Michael and Jerry rushed
to catch up, making a trio. Together, they reached the end of the dock. Many homeless people
sat along the sides of the pier, begging for any small amount of money. Their clothes were
tattered and bodies dirty and devoid of any form of good nutrition. A few reached out to him, but
he had nothing to give. Suddenly, he didnt like New York as much.
How could anybody let people fall this low? That was Michaels thought as he turned his
back to the people and pushed forward to the very end of the dock, where a middle aged man
sat, taking peoples money and certifications. The three of them joined the small line that had
formed there, but it didnt take that long, and Michael could hear the questions the man was
asking. They were easily answerable and it should have been a breeze to get by him.

The line moved at a decent pace, and in only about five minutes, they were facing the
security worker.
What are you doing here? he asked in a bored voice.
Were volunteers who want to work to restore the statue, replied Jerry in a confident
voice.
May I see your certification, the man asked in the same dull voice.
Jerry handed him a few papers, which the man promptly scanned over and handed them
back.
Can I ask you something? the security guard asked.
Michaels heart sank. He was sure that they would be figured out. The man could see
right through them. Sure, why not? replied Jerry.
Why do you people even want to repaired the statue? he asked. Why not leave it to
the normal construction workers, or the government?
Because we need the community service to complete our high school education,
replied Audrey without hesitation. She seemed to know where things were going, because the
man just nodded and waved them through, much to Michaels surprise. He was expecting the
man to ask them further questions, but he didnt.
Well that went wonderfully, Michael said as they board the vessel.
Did you expect anything different? Jerry asked. It kind of had to, the guard is working
for us.
Michaels eyes widened and he looked over at Audrey, but she seemed completely
unsurprised.
Those were code words, Audrey explained. The whole thing about the high school
credits was set up before today. We handed the guy our papers, which had the agency symbol

in the upper right hand corner, but anybody could have stolen those papers, so we set up a
code question just in case.
Michael saw the reasoning and it was actually really smart. Either way, they were into
the mission, and there was no turning back. The boat was a nice little thing that could probably
carry sixty people. The roof was opened, and seating was arranged on top so that tourists could
enjoy the outdoors and sightsee on the way. Michael liked that. It gave him a place to think.
They waited for another fifteen minutes before the gate was closed and the boats horn
sounded. It began to creep away from the dock until it was in open water, where it quickly
picked up speed. Soon they were clipping along at a reasonable pace, the ocean spray misting
in Michaels face. It was very relaxing. The man in front of Michael was grumbling the whole way
though, and it was getting pretty annoying.
He had nothing that he really had to worry about. He was just on this boat so that he
could help fix things. Michael was on the boat so that he could save the United States. He was
an older gentleman, but he didnt act like a gentleman at all. He kept swearing about something
or another, although Michael couldnt quite hear what it was about.
They got off on the island and Jerry led them to the hole, which was open wide, much to
Michaels surprise. He thought that the agency would have done everything that they could to
conceal the hole. Five people stood around the hole, talking quietly. Jerry walked right up to
them and showed them his badge. Audrey and Michael followed close behind, and did the same
thing. The five workers made a gap and Michael and Audrey went on through, putting in their
ear buds first.
Michael tapped his and said, Live. Audrey did the same. They also turned on their
chest cams, providing live feed of their position to the agency. This was the moment of truth.
This was what all of the preparation led to. Michael climbed down the ladder first, Audrey right

above him. They were in a small tunnel that led straight down. Michael could have fit two of him
shoulder to shoulder on any side of the cylinder. Michael reached the bottom and many
fluorescent lights met his gaze.
He pulled out his pistol and began to walk through the tunnel carefully, making sure that
Audrey was close behind him.
Okay, we have a mission for you, Daves voice said through Michaels earpiece. He
knew that Audrey was hearing the same exact thing. We need you to find the main power
source and put a tap on it, Dave continued. Intelligence thought it might be a good idea to
know where most of their power is going to.
Copy that, said Audreys voice. It was a little bit weird because her voice reached his
ears normally before he heard it through the earpiece, resulting in a double voice. Michael took
out a small device that he knew to be an energy tracer.
Revision, Daves voice said. We just need you to find a spot that has significant power.
We can trace it from there.
Copy that, Audreys double voice said once again.
The whole time, Michael and Allie had been walking down the tunnel, which looked like a
well-lit storm drain. No doors broke the smooth walls and there wasnt a window in sight. The
tunnel began to slope downwards, getting steeper as they went, until Michael and Audrey finally
reached another ladder. They took it gratefully and began down. The bottom looked about a
mile away from the top, but in reality, it was only about thirty feet to the bottom.
They reached the bottom and had only walked for about forty feet when they came to a
door. The door had a biometric security system on it, and Michael assumed that it was the
entrance to the main base. He tapped his earpiece, signaling headquarters.

We can see it, they replied. Put your tap on the wire going to the screen, Dave
suggested. Michael did so, and a few seconds later, the screen went green and the door
popped open. Michael took his tap back off and said, Tell John I said thanks.
That I will, Dave replied. From now on, Michael and Allie had to be careful. They didnt
know how people would be dressed, or what they were supposed to do. They stepped
cautiously through the door and looked into another hallway. This one was a lot different though.
It was lined with cameras and had glass windows, allowing for a solid view of the inside. It
looked surprisingly like the agency hanger, but instead of planes, there were submarines and
weapons of all sorts. There were bombs and missiles, along with many types of ammunition.
Thankfully, the workers were dressed fairly normally. Michael walked through confidently
with Audrey following behind him. At the end of the hall, the doors swung open automatically.
Now they were emitted to the hangar area. Michael turned a full circle, making sure that his
chest cam was capturing everything. He glanced at Audrey, who looked back and shrugged.
They had no idea as to where to go.
Im assuming you have some idea as to what to do, he asked her.
She chuckled. Nope. Maybe we should ask somebody.
Are you kidding me? Michael squeaked. Why would we do something like that? he
asked.
Because we sure dont know what were doing, so why cant somebody else give us a
little shortcut? she finished, walking up to a tall, mean looking man. He began speaking to her
in rapid Arabic. Audrey had a rather surprised look on her face, but she returned his words in
her own fluent Arabic. After a short discussion, Audrey walked back to Michael, who hadnt
heard the discussion. They had both been required to learn many different Middle Eastern

languages because they were told the information would most likely be critical. That statement
had proven to be true as it turned out.
Whatd you say? Michael asked.
I asked him where the main power core was located because I needed to do some
repair work on it.
And he bought it? Michael asked skeptically.
Yes he bought it! she exclaimed. He told me to go over there, she said pointing to a
gate on the opposite side of the hangar area. Then just follow the signs that said intelligence.
Seems simple enough, Michael replied.
There was one thing though, Audrey said, frowning. I think I had a pretty bad accent.
He didnt really understand me at first.
Well, thats alright, as long as he gave us the directions. To be honest, Michael
wouldnt have ever had the guts to just go up to a person and ask them for directions. His heart
was beating fast just being in this building. He didnt like the feeling of it and he would much
rather have been back at the agency. He was literally trapped in an underwater lair that housed
an entire terrorist group. He felt like all of the planning that he had done was for naught. In the
end, he was still depending on himself and his gut, not his brain. He and Audrey began to walk
across the center of the hangar area, making sure that they taped many of the projects so that
headquarters would have a good idea as to what was being developed in the lair.
Some of them surprised Michael. They seemed to be powerful weapons of a nuclear
nature. It was a little bit unnerving that the government had no idea about this. The place
seemed almost as massive as the agency building.
How do we know that the guy was telling the truth? Audrey asked Michael.

Why wouldnt he? Michael responded. He seemed to have no reason to suspect that
were fakes.
Thats true enough, Audrey said grimly. I just have a bad feeling about this.
Michaels glance caught the image of an American submarine. It was painted just like
one, and seemed to have all of the equipment that the American army required on a submarine.
This one was being loaded with what looked to be a giant torpedo. The torpedo had the
radioactive symbol stenciled on the side. It didnt look good. Michael motioned at it and began to
walk towards it.
Michael, what are you doing? Audrey asked urgently, hurrying after him. Were not
supposed to disobey headquarters, and they told us to find the main power unit, Audrey tried to
reason.
Audreys right Michael, Daves voice said. You better be careful. We dont know what
these people are like.
That wasnt a definite no in Michaels opinion. Dave had just said that Audrey was right,
and she was always right, so that was no surprise. Hed also said that they didnt know what
these people were like, which was pretty obvious in Michaels eyes.
Thanks for the heads up Dave, Michael said. Im just getting you more information to
work with. Michael walked up to the large vessel, staring in awe at it. It was truly a work of art,
as was the bomb that was being loaded into it. Michael spotted a man who was looking through
a book that had Arabic written all over it. It looked to be the manuel for either the bomb or the
submarine. Either one would do for Michael.
The man was leaning up against the wheel of a large trailer that would most likely be
used to haul the submarine. Michael crawled behind him and under the trailer. He crawled right
up to the mans leg, but the rest of his body was covered up by the top of the trailer. Michael

tapped the mans leg softly, but the guy didnt react in any way except to shift his leg a little bit to
the right. Michael tapped it again, and the man repositioned again. Michael saw Audreys legs
approaching the man, who seemed pretty absorbed in the book. Audrey began to speak to him
in Arabic.
Excuse me, do you know the way to the main power core? she asked pleasantly. Im
new here and am completely lost.
Michael tapped the mans leg a little bit harder this time, causing the man to hesitate
before answering. Yes, its right across the dome and through that door, he said, turning
around so that his knee was facing Michael. This was his chance. Michael grabbed both of the
mans legs and pulled, causing the gentleman to lose his balance. Audrey caught him and
quickly covered his mouth, muffling the yell that emitted from it. Michael pulled once more,
dragging the guy under the trailer where a quick blow to the head from Michael rendered him
immobilized.
Michael took the book that had fallen from the mans hands and crawled out from under
the trailer. Me looked at Audrey, who seemed a little bit surprised, and said, I got it.
I can see that, she replied slowly. Michael placed the book in the light and made sure
that his camera could see it. He then slowly skimmed through the pages, just kind of running
them off of his fingers. He knew that the camera would be able to read it, even if he couldnt. At
the exact moment that Michael finished flipping through the pages, a man shouted.
Michael looked up to see a middle eastern man looking directly at him and pointing.
About five men began to run at Audrey and Michael. There was nothing that they could do. They
couldnt put up a fight because there were far too many workers in the building to fight off. The
man came up to him and snatched the book out of his hands. Michael just stood there looking
confused. He was pretty good at that, plus, he knew that the damage had already been done.

The agency could go back and replay the video, slow it down, and read the manual for
themselves, page for page, word for word.
What are you doing with this? the man asked.
I just found it, Michael replied. He dropped it when he fell, Michael said, pointing to
the
man under the trailer. One of the men that had rushed over pulled the man out. What did you
see in this? the man asked.
Nothing, Michael said urgently. I just skimmed through all the pages. I have no idea
what it is, its way to complicated for me.
And how about you? he asked Audrey.
Me? Audrey replied. I didnt even see the book until you pulled it out of his hands.
You can take this up with the officials, the man said. He had broad shoulders and a
rough complexion that looked like somebody had chiseled his features out of a block of granite.
He took Michaels shoulders with insane strength and led him towards the door that they were
heading to in the first place. Another man took Audrey and began to do the same.
They were taken all the way across what the man Michael had taken the book from
called the dome. Michael saw many different things that he would have loved to sabotage, but
none of that was possible now. Michael felt personally guilty. Things were going great until he
had tried to be the hero. They were led through the large metal and concrete doors and down a
dimly lit hallway. The men never faltered at each intersection of hallways.
Michael walked past countless rooms that looked like like science classrooms. Then the
atmosphere changed. It felt ominous and cold, as though all of the life and happiness were
being sucked directly out of the hall. The classrooms turned to what looked like medical suits.
Michael had a feeling that he didnt want to know what happened in those rooms. He looked

over at Audrey and mouthed, sorry. She shrugged her shoulders and shook her head. Michael
understood what she meant.
They were being led closer without having to find there own way. Finally, after several
tense minutes, the men turned and opened a door that wasnt marked at all. The inside glowed
deep blue. Michael walked inside involuntarily. He didnt like the feeling. The door shut behind
him. There were no lights in the vast room that they were in. The only light came from the cool
blue object standing over a deep hole.
Thats a nuclear reactor! Dave said urgently. H
ow in the world did they get this down
here? Michael thought. There had to be an alternate route because they sure didnt smuggle an
entire nuclear reactor through the tiny hole by the Statue of Liberty. Then Michael figured it out.
Why would they be building submarines if they were coming in on land. The other entrance was
underwater! There was no way to signal Audrey of that though, besides, it didnt really help
them. They couldnt get out that way.
Michael was standing on a long catwalk, which was one of many in the room. This one
led straight to another door in the wall. They walked right through the door without even
stopping, emerging into a smaller room in the midst of which stood a man who held something
that looked like a cattle prod. This cattle prod however was attached to a cord which ran to a
massive generator in the corner of the room.
Story? the man demanded.
They were caught reading the manual for a special mission. The information enclosed
wasnt for their eyes.
I see, the man said. You may leave, Ill take care of them. The men all piled out of the
door, apparently not wanting to be there anymore. The man ordered Audrey to go over to the
wall, which she did. He opened a panel on the wall, taking out cuffs that were connected to a

chain. He snapped them onto her wrists. He then flipped a switch, which was on the wall next to
him, about four feet out of Audreys reach. A red light began flashing above the door.
The man walked up to Michael, who had stood there, trying to figure out what was going
to happen to him. The man then hit Michael with the cattle prod. His vision tinted red and
Michael passed out.

Chapter Ten

Audrey couldnt really do much as the mysterious man with the big stick hit Michael, who
promptly cried out in pain and passed out. The man quickly revived Michael and asked him a
series of questions.
What are you doing here? Michael answered.
I work here. Audrey was surprised that he remembered to use Arabic.
Why did you have that manual?
I found it on a man who fell and got knocked out.
What did you see in it?
Nothing.
The man hit Michael with the stick, which seemed to have some sort of an electrical
charge. Michael screamed and squirmed, and Audrey screamed along with him. She couldnt
stand to see him in pain. At another point of time, she would look back on her actions and feel
foolish, but at the time, she felt so hopeless that she couldnt do anything but scream. She tried
to reach down for her pistol, but she couldnt get past the chains that held her to the wall. She

tried to swing her body up so that she could reach, but it was to no avail. The man hit Michael
again, sending another round of blood curdling screams into the air.
Stop it! Audrey shrieked.
Try to reach into your pocket one more time and he gets three more shocks, the man
replied bitterly. What are you doing here? the man asked Michael once more.
I..I work here, Michael replied weakly.
Why did you have that manual?
I... found it on a man on a man who got knocked out.
What did you see in it?
N-nothing, Michael stuttered, knowing that there would be a fresh wave of pain coming
soon. He wasnt wrong either. The man hit Michael again.
Whats happening? Dave asked urgently.
This is torture! Audrey screamed at the man, hoping that Dave would pick up the
memo.
What are you doing here? the man asked again. He went through the same questions,
and Michael gave the same answers, growing weaker and weaker. This went on three more
times, Audrey screaming protests the whole time. Tears rolled down her cheeks. She just
wanted this ordeal to stop. She could feel every one of Michaels blows as if they were her own.
Do you want to talk to me? the man asked.
You murderous awful pig, Audrey said in a low voice, trying to reach into her pocket
once again. The man hit Michael again. Suddenly, Audrey remembered her watch and she felt
stupid. Her watch could deploy a laser that could cut through metal. If she could only reach her
watch...

She bent her head down and nudged the button with her chin. The laser deployed and
her chin got burnt before she could pull back. The shackle on her left hand heated up to an
unbearable level, but she didnt care. She had to get that cuff off. Finally, Audrey pulled her
hand out of the cuff, which had just broken apart.. Her wrist was black and charred, but she had
to do her duty. She reached into her holster, pulling out her gun with a shaking hand as the man
turned to look at her. She shot three shots, one of them hitting him squarely in the heart. He fell
backwards, dead.
It was at that moment that Audrey broke down. Her wrist still felt as though the burning
shackle was laying on it. She needed cold water as fast as possible, but she still had to get her
other hand out of the handcuff. She used the laser to cut the chain, not the cuff. Her hand was
free and she could worry about getting it out when she had the time, but at the moment, Michael
needed some serious medical attention. He was laying on the ground, shaking like a madman.
She ran to him, taking out her water bottle on the way and pouring the cool liquid all over
her wrist. It felt good, but it didnt last. She left about half of it in the bottle. Audrey knelt down
next to Michael, who reached up his hand. She took it, and poured some of the water into his
mouth. He swallowed gratefully.
Audrey, he said, as though tasting the words.
What Michael? Audrey asked him, desperately.
Headquarters knows, he managed to get out before his eyes rolled back into his
head and he fell back.
Michael, stay with me, she yelled, shaking his shoulder. Dave, we have a major
problem, she cried. Her wrist had no feeling left in it. She didnt feel the pain, which posed a
major problem. This was a third degree burn, but at the moment, it didnt matter, as she tried to
remember first aid for electrocution. She raised his feet and held them still.

Whats wrong? Dave demanded.

Michael has been electrocuted, she said as she felt his fleeting heartbeat. His heart is
barely beating, she added.
Did you elevate his feet? Dave asked.
Yes, Audrey replied. Michael suddenly gasped and his eyes fluttered open. Audrey
screamed.
What happened? Dave asked nervously.
He woke up.
Heart rate?
Normal.
Good, get out of there.
What about the mission? Audrey asked.
It doesnt matter now.
But that means that Michael-
It doesnt matter now.
Audrey hung her head and put her head in her hands. She felt Michaels hand on her
shoulder and she looked up. He smiled weakly.
We have to get out of here, he said. Audrey stood up. Her left hand still had no feeling.
She was getting a little bit nervous.
Can you stand? she asked.
Were about to find out, arent we?
That we are, she replied, holding out her right hand. Michael took it and tried to pull
himself up. He was very weak, but with their combined strength, he managed to get shakily to
his feet. He stood for a second, trying to get his strength back. He took a cautious step, then

another. His confidence seemed to grow. His steps became quicker and longer until he was
walking normally. He bent down gingerly and picked up a gadget that had fallen out of his
pocket.
Michael, Audrey said. What did you mean by, headquarters knows?
I meant that they would know what to do, he replied. And I was right, wasnt I? Now
lets get out of here.
He walked towards the door that still had the flashing red light above it. Michael opened
the door and suddenly, a siren went off. It blared through invisible speakers. He swore and
began running towards the door that they came into, Audrey close behind him. Michael tried the
door, but it was locked. He hastily put an explosive on the lock and backed up, taking Audrey
with him. Five seconds later, the lock exploded and Michael rushed forward and stumbled.
Audrey caught him.
Here, eat this, she said, taking out something that looked like a granola bar. Michael
ate it, and suddenly, he straightened his back and stood tall.
What is this? he asked, amazed.
Its a high power bar, she replied. I got it from Dave. It gives you an hour of immediate
energy.
Cool, Michael said, rushing forward again. When they got out of the room, the white
light that once shone in the hallways had turned to hundreds of red flashing lights.
How do we get out? Audrey asked over the sound of the sirens.
I have no idea, Michael replied, trying to read a sign on the wall. This says that
emergency is that way, he said, pointing to the right down the hallway. A man yelled and
Michael turned and shot, hardly even looking at him. The guy went down and Michael took off.
Audreys wrist had started bothering her again. She tried to push away the pain as she rushed

after Michael. Why the big fuss? Audrey thought. As far as they know, were just a couple of
workers. That shouldnt trigger all of this. Michael turned down a hall, and then scrambled
backwards as he came face to face with a man in full body armor, holding an M16. The man
aimed, but in the time it took to do that was far too much.
Michael ducked and spun, kicking at the same time. The man was knocked cold as
Michaels foot crushed his head. They rushed on, only stopping to decode signs. They got the
general idea, and soon found themselves at an elevator door. Michael smashed the up button
and the doors opened immediately, emitting five fully armored troops who all held assault rifles.
Audrey and Michael both dove to opposite sides, drawing their pistols. Audrey had taken one
down in the time it took Michael to shoot three of them in various places, finding gaps in their
armor. The last one was fairly easy. He just looked around, confused at his fallen comrades.
Audrey somersaulted and punched up, hitting somewhere that no man should ever be
hit. He doubled over and Audrey spoke.
Do you want to do the honors? she asked Michael.
Well of course, he replied, happily smashing the mans nose before shooting him. This
was the part of the job that Audrey hated, but nothing could be done about it. She had to kill, so
she did. They stepped onto the elevator together and pushed the button that closed the door.
The elevator shot up without them pressing a button. Audrey realized that there werent any
buttons. They were stuck going to wherever they were going.
The elevator stopped and the doors opened. They were back up in the dome area,
which was a little bit funny because Michael and Audrey had never gone down, so they couldnt
have taken an elevator back up to a place they had already been. Then it hit Audrey; this was a
completely different dome. There were multiple domes. The same alarms rang in this dome that
had rang down a level. People rushed about, securing things as soldiers ran through, searching.

This ought to be fun, Michael joked. Audrey looked to the side and saw a rack of suits
that looked like hazmat suits. Audrey threw one on quickly, not even knowing if it was on
correctly and Michael followed. Now their identities couldnt be found as easily. Audrey looked
around for any sign of an emergency escape. Obviously, the elevator hadnt helped them very
much.
Dave, I have know idea how to get out of this place without taking the same route back,
she said.
Look for a map or an emergency exit sign or something like that, he replied.
Audrey looked around and spotted an emergency kit. She was pretty positive that it
wouldnt hold what she was looking for, but it was definitely worth a try. She dragged Michael
over to it and opened it, not even caring if there was an alarm on it. One more alarm wouldnt be
heard over the alarm blasting into the eardrums of everybody. Inside was a defibrillator, a fire
extinguisher, and in the back was a map. She chucked the defibrillator, looking at Michael as
she did so. He didnt need any more electricity today. The fire extinguisher came next until she
could see the entire map. It was a multi page map. She looked around the dome. On all four
walls lay giant twos. She assumed that this was the second dome. She found the page that
said, Bay Area 2 and looked closer.
There was a mark that said emergency exit directly to the right from where they were.
That seemed to be a promising symbol.
Lets go, Michael said nervously, eyeing up a large group of soldiers that was running
directly at them. They didnt show any sign of slowing down or changing direction.
This way! Audrey replied excitedly. She was happy that she had her earpiece in
because there was no possible way that she would have been able to hear Michael otherwise.
Audrey sprinted towards the emergency exit and the group of soldiers yelled and followed. Now

they were in some serious trouble. The men were gaining on them and Audrey didnt think that
she and Michael would make it. They were tired and beat up. Audreys wrist was tingling now,
but there still wasnt much feeling.
Audrey turned around, taking a device out of her pocket. She threw it in front of her, and
ran. Thick smoke billowed up behind her. Audrey tipped over a couple of stands and then kept
running. It seemed to slow down the soldiers a good bit. She had highly misjudged the distance
from wall to wall. It was much farther than she originally thought.
They finally arrived, panting at the other wall, where a small door read, Emergency Exit.
Michael slipped in first, then motioned for Audrey to follow, which she did. They were in a glass
room. On the outside was the dark water of the upper bay. There were two scuba suits leaned
up against the wall. Audrey didnt hesitate to put one on. She neglected to put on the glove on
her left hand, thinking that maybe the water might do a little something for her wrist. Once
Michael was completely suited up, she looked around. Someone began to bang on the door.
Audrey pushed the only button that was in the room. Water began to fill the small room.
Audrey quickly fit her oxygen breather into her mouth. The room became completely full just as
the men outside managed to pry open the watertight door, resulting in a torrent of water pouring
in below. The roof slid off of them and Audrey began to kick, the pressure lessening as they got
higher and higher. Finally, they broke the surface. Audrey savored the sun on her skin. It had
felt as though she would never feel it again.
Were out free, she told Dave. She could hear cheers in the background as Dave
replied.
Good, swim to shore and well tell them where to pick you up. Audrey smiled. They had
made it. Then she had a sinking feeling in her stomach. They had failed the mission. Michael
would be relieved from active duty. That seemed like a harsh consequence for what he had just

been through. They began swimming towards shore, which was only about one hundred meters
from where they had surfaced. They both climbed up onto the pier that they had swam to and
collapsed, utterly exhausted.
Were at Louis Valentino, Jr. Park and Pier, Audrey said to Dave.
A driver is on his way, Dave said reassuringly.
Thank goodness, Audrey sighed.
I heard you screaming for me, Michael said after a while.
Oh, Audrey replied, growing red in the face. Yeah.
I would have done the same for you, he said after a few seconds of awkward silence.
Thank you, Audrey said, holding her wrist.
Michael looked down at it and gasped. What happened to you? he asked furiously.
I burnt the handcuff off of my hand, Audrey replied.
You what! Michael exclaimed. You need help, he said in a concerned voice. Here, I
have some burn ointment in my first aid kit, but I dont know if itll do much for you. He reached
hastily into his bag and took out a small tube. He gently squeezed a little bit onto his finger and
rubbed it onto her wrist. She didnt feel anything.
That doesnt hurt? he asked.
Nope, Audrey replied.
Then its worse than I thought. Most likely third degree.
I know, I need a doctor, Audrey told him. She liked the fact that he was fussing over
her. Even when he was weakened, he was still strong for her. She thought back to the flower
that he had picked her at the landing strip. That seemed like an eternity ago. It was hard to
believe that it was only a couple of hours ago. They sat there in silence until the car pulled up, at

which point, Michael told the driver to get back for medical attention immediately. The driver
obliged, and the ride was a little bit scary because he went so fast.
In no time, they were back at the landing strip, where a sleek black jet sat, ready for
takeoff. They boarded and found the medical advisor. He wrapped Audreys wrist up after
putting a cooling agent on the skin, which was hot and inflamed.
The ride back was all a blur to Audrey. She was riding an emotional roller coaster mixed
with relief, happiness, nerves, and sadness. Audrey leaned her head back and closed her eyes,
listening to her heartbeat. Thump...Thump...Thump.

Chapter Eleven

Dave was super relieved at the moment as he stood in the midst of a celebrating intel
room. Even though the mission technically failed, that wasnt the way that the analysts saw it.
Audrey and Michael had made it out safely, and that alone was reason to celebrate. The live
feed from their body cams showed scenes of intense pain, fights, confusion, and many things
that would have made the president pee his pants.
Dave rushed out of the intel room as soon as he caught word that the plane had landed.
He sprinted the familiar halls, the same halls that he had sprinted as a child, and got past
security quickly. The black jet that he knew held Audrey and Michael sat, idle on the landing
strip. The ramp popped down and Michael and Audrey stepped out of the plane. Dave ran up to
Audrey and started fussing over her. He saw her hand, which was wrapped up, and immediately

sent her off to the hospital wing. He saw her take a glance back at Michael and then continue
forward.
Michael, didnt look so good. He was completely exhausted. Dave had heard Audrey
give him the power bar, which was most likely a great idea at the time, but the after effects could
be terrible. It felt like the crash after a massive sugar rush. But they had done what they had to
do and Dave was just happy that they were back safely. He had a long day ahead of him.
He would try to convince the members of the board to continue to accept Michael into
missions. They most likely would stand firm, and there was nothing that he could do about that.
They would combat him no matter what. Dave knew that Audrey would be angry with him. He
thought that he was seeing a connection between Michael and Audrey. It was a connection that
he hadnt seen for quite some time. In fact, he hadnt seen it since they had been kids. This
bond seemed different. They were both more mature than they had been at the age of eight.
They were starting to see that this might have been more than just a friendship.
To be honest, that was a little scary for Dave. Audrey was basically his daughter, and
any father would be scared to see his daughter grow up and develope a relationship. It was a
symbol of freedom. Where has the time gone? Dave asked himself. He knew where it had gone,
he just didnt like the fact that it was gone in the first place.
Dave felt the adrenaline crash coming on. He had been so nervous during the mission,
but all that energy was gone now, and he felt like the weak old man that he was. Dave had to go
to his room. He didnt want a room at the agency at first, preferring to go home to his wife every
night, but later on, it became almost impossible to go home every night, so hed finally agreed.
Dave went back to thinking about Audrey and Michael. He had been like them once, and
it was kind of funny how their story was playing out. When Dave was a kid, he had grown up
much like Audrey and Michael. He had no parents, but lived in the agency building. Thered

been a girl that he was absolutely crazy about. He wouldve given almost anything to be with
her, and eventually, she began to warm up to him. She had been rather hostile for a while, but
that didnt last.
Hed asked her out on a sunny day with the spring flowers still in full bloom. Their
fragrance just seemed to make the mood perfect. The green grass made a natural carpet for
them as they sat there, staring at the clouds and seeing their shapes and how they changed.
Dave hadnt really remembered how they had gotten out there in the first place, since they
werent even allowed to leave the building, but they most likely snuck out together. It was there
that Dave had asked her, and ten years later, they were married.
Audrey and Michael hadnt quite gotten to that stage yet, but secretly, Dave wanted
them to be together. It would make them practically inseparable on a mission. That was, if Dave
could convince the board to let Michael continue to go on missions. Dave was going to have to
use everything that he had on this one, and it wasnt going to be fun. He would most likely make
Tim Hashaw hostile towards him.
The thing was, Dave didnt know how to get around the fact that the mission was failed,
and it was Michaels fault. Sure he had taken the torture like a true agent, and continued to fight
through it, even though he was weak, but they could still make the argument that he couldnt be
trusted because it was his fault that he was in the torture room in the first place.
Board meeting, my office, twenty minutes, Dave said simply. He knew that everybody
would be there. He began to walk to his office. Dave thought that the agency really needed to
invest in some transportation system inside the building. Walking from place to place was so
slow, and got really tiring after a while. Maybe that was just Dave getting old, but it would have
been nice either way.

When Dave arrived at his office ten minutes later, he found that most of the people had
already shown up. His assistant, Hashaw, and most of the board were already there. Dave
nodded in greeting and his gesture was met with various greetings. He noticed that Tim stayed
silent. Over the course of the next ten minutes, the rest of them trickled in, one by one, until the
room was full. Dave started, dimming the lights and pulling down the projector screen.
Were here to discuss the outcome of our most recent mission, as well as other
matters, he said. He told them a basic synopsis of how the mission went, going into very good
detail for their sake. Some people could be pretty dumb, and he wanted everyone to
understand. He finished giving the summary and moved on to the matter hed been dreading.
In light of the facts I just gave you, there are a select few who have said that they
wouldnt stand for Michael to be an active agent if he failed this mission. Now, by the book, he
did fail this mission, Dave stated, hating himself for it. He saw the triumphant look of Tim, but
he wasnt about to let Michael down that easily.
Even though thats true, I still believe that the information that Michael got us is
accurate, and very helpful, so we cant really put this mission down as a complete failure. Dave
clicked the small remote that he held.
These are images from Michaels body cam, Dave began, flipping through. This book
is the manual to a specialized nuclear missile that T
he Bane is planning to launch. Michael not
only got us the instructions for building, arming, and disarming it, he also received the plans for
launch. I received word a little bit ago that our submarines have successfully thwarted that plan.
Dave saw Hashaw's face fall, and smiled on the inside. He also got the position of the terrorists
nuclear core.
Many people nodded, giving their agreement to Dave, but even more remained
undecided.

Gentlemen, I move to keep Michael on our active duty list, Dave finished.
Im afraid that wont be possible Dave, Tim said cheerfully. Michael agreed to the
arrangement, and he lost fair and square. I have more than enough evidence to prove that
Michael has been slacking in his studies, as well as taking no worry in our tests. He is
completely out of control and hes failed two missions in a row now. We simply cant trust him in
the field anymore.
That left most of the board members deep in thought.
Gentlemen, think on this now, Im going to take a vote in a minute, Dave said. Now the
waiting game began. Hed played his cards, and Tim had done the same, but only one could
win. When Dave decided that they had waited long enough, he spoke.
All in favor of keeping Michael in active duty, please raise your hands. Dave counted
the hands. There were six, including him. Opposed, do the same. He counted eight. Thats
settled then, Dave said regretfully. He knew that there wasnt any use in arguing with them.
They werent about to change their positions. Michael will not return to active duty, starting
immediately. This meeting is adjourned.
Dave felt guilty, and neither Audrey, nor Michael would be happy with him, but there
wasnt a thing that he could do about it. Dave watched the people leave, filing out in a straight
line, one by one, trying to think of a way that he could get Michael back in, but nothing came to
him. Hed just blew it. Dave sat in his office for about a half hour, carefully going through every
single one of the pictures on his slide show. They provided a lot of information, and Dave was
happy that Michael had picked it up.
Hed learned a lot from that one mission. Hed learned that The Bane was cruel, vicious,
and more powerful than hed ever thought. They had stashed a nuclear reactor in a large, secret
lair right next to New York City and the government had no idea about it. They were producing

large nuclear weapons that could do a lot of damage to the American people, and the
government paid them no attention. At the moment, operations were going on. The base would
most likely be destroyed within the next two days. If it wasnt Dave wanted to hear about a lot of
the plans the terrorists were making, because every day that place was still running was a
bigger threat to society.
Dave clicked back to the pictures of the manual and he realized that this missile had the
potential to destroy New York City in its entirety. He never wanted the agency to have to build
anything that large. Dave prefered to stick to small charges or grenades. He didnt like things
that could go haywire and take out the whole agency within a second. Those were too risky.
Dave walked back to his normal position on the raised platform of the intel room. It was the
same as it always was, just a little bit louder and more chaotic than normal. The analysts still
had to decode a lot of the information that they had received.
Suddenly, all of the monitors and screens went completely black. A cry of alarm went up
from the analysts. Then, the screens were filled with a static covered face.
People of this agency, the person began in a gravely voice that changed with every
syllable. Your work is in vain. You cannot stop us, you cannot scare us. We know everything
about you; your location, your workers identities, and all of your records. We know you better
than you know yourselves. Dave didnt like where this was going.
Somebody find the connection and lock it down! Dave cried. The analysts just looked at
him like he was crazy. Without access to a computer, they couldnt do a thing.
We are coming for you and we will not stop hunting until we have destroyed you
completely and utterly. We have one mission; the United States of America must fall. With that,
the computer screens returned back to normal, as if nothing had just happened.

Sir, one of the analysts said to him. The signal was literally coming from every
electronic device in the building. They seemed to have infiltrated everything.
Sir, Im getting reports that this was showing on every screen the agency has, another
man said. We cant trust any of our files if theyve been hacked, which it seems they have, he
added. They might have access to all of them.
I thought that wasnt possible without the code, Dave said.
Its not, Tims voice said from behind him. Not unless someone who has the code gave
it to them.
Daves heart practically froze. They had a spy inside of the agency. Everything had to
change. They might have to completely shut down the system, input a new code, and then start
it all up again. That would require a great deal of work, and it would only protect the things that
they put into the system from the point that they changed the code on. This was a dangerous
situation for everybody. If The Bane really had access to all of the staff records, nobody who
had, or currently worked for the agency would be safe.
Dave felt as though his entire world was crashing down on him. They had to find that
spy. The work of the entire agency depended on it. Dave gave a series of orders, and then ran
out of the room. He had to find Jerald Parr, the supervisor of the agency. He was the one who
really ran everything. Dave needed an opinion on something. If they w
ere going to have to
shutdown the system to put in a new code, it seemed as though only two people should know
the code. The only two people who were completely devoted to bringing down the terrorists.
Dave, and Jerald himself. Sure, Dave could trust Audrey and Michael, as well as a number of
people, but just for the sake of keeping things simple and safe, he didnt think that they should
know.

Dave sprinted through the hallways that he had known so well as a kid, taking a few
shortcuts he had learned. They were very useful at times, and Dave hadnt used them in a long
time, but they were still there, just as he had remembered. The agency building had been
designed with all of the different sections, and the only way to get from section to section was
through the midst of the Hangar area. Dave however, had found a number of shortcuts that
could bypass security, and led straight through.
Dave used those now, and actually had a pretty good time. It was nice to relive his
childhood a little bit, but this wasnt the time for memories, this was the time for action, and quick
action at that. Dave emerged from one of the shortcuts and took a left down the hallway. He
then turned into another hallway. He stopped finally at an elevator and pressed a button that
was next to it.
Name? a female voice asked.
This is Dave, tell Jerald that its urgent, Dave replied quickly.
Come on up, the voice said after about thirty seconds.
Dave pushed the up button, which glowed, and the elevator doors opened immediately.