"You've done well. You are now qualified to go for your next mission. As you can tell this would be your first solo mission. However there are seven targets and there are eight of you. So one person would have to sit this one out." Doc said
"Maybe you'll have to draw lots or pick something to decide" Deccan said
"Don't bother, I'll sit this one out" GMN-1 said walking to the couch. They were in the common room. She sat down propping her back on the arm of the chair and picking up a voluminous book.
"I do not understand this joke"GMN-6 said confused but GMN-1 didn't pay them any attention. Everyone was surprised but the person in question didn't seem to notice or at least pretended not to notice.
"GMN-1"Doc called
"Huh? " GMN-1 answered looking back. Doc didn't even know what to say neither did Deccan. When they didn't say anything she turned back and continued what she was doing.
"So we're even. Can you now share the targets? " GMN-5 said
Everyone turned to look at her and then to GMN-1. They were wondering if GMN-1 opted out because of GMN-5.
"why did you opt out? "GMN-9 asked 1
"You need to be one person short" GMN-1 replied without turning flipping a page
"You're gonna ditch playing with guns for a boring book. Doesn't make sense to me" GMN-6 said
Doc didn't know what to do. It was already out of her hands. GMN-1 willing opted out and she was one of the best. Be as it may she couldn't force her to go. She turned to the remaining GMNs and shared the targets. She made sure not to give 4 or 6 Senator Douglas. She had previously called him Dough and was afraid one of them might actually come back with a dog and a living one. She hated dogs. She didn't allow them to pick either. She didn't want 3, 4 or 6 ending up with a decoy now that 1 has opted out. She looked at 1, GMN-1 was looking engrossed in her book. She read the cover, it was a chemistry book. Like mother, like daughter.
GMN 3 got Senator Doug, 6 got Senator Howard while 4 got Senator Albert. The remaining GMNs got the four decoys.
"You have three days to study your targets. Leave no trace. It is to be a faultless elimination, no mistakes. Come up with your strategy and carry out your assignments. The elimination must be done before the next Senate meeting. Good luck" Doc said.
The GMNs looked over their files, trying to see if there was extra information they could get from them. GMN-5 didn't seem pleased with her target but for once she didn't make a fuss about it. She just took her file and went to one corner of the common room.
GMN-9 took his file to where he previously dropped his laptop and began to research his target. GMN-6 left what she was doing and went to stand behind 9.
"What have you there GMN-tech? " GMN-6 asked
"Researching my target. Check this. He has a dog which he walks personally every morning and evening. He likes to take coffee in a particular cafe. He attends functions every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday... "
"So all these are public info? "GMN-6 asked
"Not really. Some people just make it their business to know another person's business " GMN-9 replied. GMN-6 just snorted and turned to walk away.
"How are you going to get your target?" GMN-5 asked GMN-6
"The old fashion way. Follow him"GMN-6 replied.
GMN-5 nodded. She was thinking of a way to get her target. She didn't want to mess this up.
GMN-4 who was standing with his back to the couch GMN-1 was reclined on crossed over, adjusted GMN-1's leg and sat down at the edge of the couch. GMN-1 just raised her head looked at him then went back to what she had been doing.
GMN-4 looked at his target and frowned. Was their mission to study them or to kill them? Why do they need three days to study them before they killed them? Fortunately for him GMN-6 was thinking the same thing.
"Wait a sec. We are to off these guys, why do we need three days to study them? " GMN-6 asked
"Was thinking the same" GMN-3 said
They were still pondering on this when GMN-6 said again.
"Just met Doc... " she began
"When? "GMN-7 asked surprised. He didn't notice when she left. GMN-6 ignored him.
"She said that we can off them between today and tomorrow if we think we don't need to study them" GMN-6 finished just as Doc came in. She walked round to the front where they all faced.
"I heard some of you may have some objections about waiting before you carry out your mission, so we changed the plan. I just got information that the next meeting has been shifted. It will be held in two days time. I was about to notify you about the change in plans when 6 came in. This is what is going to happen, the agenda is that your targets must not be present at that meeting or they'll seal your fates. Take care of them today, tomorrow, a minute before the meeting, it is all up to you but they must be unavailable for the meeting." Doc said.
Immediately Doc finished, GMN 2, 3, 4 and 6 stood up. The rest looked at them except GMN-1 even Deccan who was just walking in. Deccan just watched them as they crossed to the other end of the wide room. GMN-6 was skipping happily behind the rest. GMN-3 got there first. He pressed a certain part of the wall and it opened, the walls moving in opposite directions to reveal a well stocked weaponry. GMN-6 starred in amazement as if she couldn't believe all these were available for her use. GMN-3 looked through and selected an LII5A3 long range rifle. GMN-4 just walked straight and picked an AS50.
"Interesting choice " GMN-1 said without looking up from her book. The others turned to look at her, they didn't know she was interested in what they we're doing let alone watching them. When they looked at her, she hadn't even changed position. GMN-6 turned to GMN-4
"Sure you can handle that big guy? " she teased as she picked a gun
"Mark 16" GMN-1 said again without looking up. This drew Doc's attention. She had watched GMN-1 after she made the first comment. GMN-1 had not looked up to see the gun GMN-6 had picked but from the look of Deccans face since she wasn't well acquainted with guns, GMN-1 had gotten it correct. Was she able to read minds, or see the future, how did she know. Doc wanted to know so she can exploit it.
"GMN-1, how did you know the guns they were going to pick?" Doc asked moving closer to her subconsciously. GMN-1 lifted her eyes from the book and looked at Doc as if she couldn't understand what was wrong with her. Doc stopped in her tracks. Doc wondered why GMN-1 was looking at her like that, maybe she didn't know she was talking out loud or she was busy reading other people's mind. The idea that she could be reading other people's mind suddenly unsettled her and her head became heavy. What if GMN-1 was actually reading her mind right now. She starred at GMN-1,lips trembling. GMN-1 raised her eyebrow as if she was confused.
Fear! Why? GMN-1 thought looking at her.
All the GMNs turned their attention to them. They didn't understand what was going on, all except one. Deccan recovered before Doc.
"GMN-1, you commented on their choice of gun. How?" Deccan asked
"I did not" GMN-1 replied. That reply sent blood flowing to Doc's brain. For a moment there, she had grown numb.
"When you said interesting choice and mark 16, what were you referring to? " Doc asked. GMN-1 hit her hand on the book she was reading and made a so? gesture. Both Doc and Deccan made sighs of relief before they could stop themselves.
GMN-2 turned and picked up an AK-74. They were looking at GMN-1 but she had already returned her attention to the book, ignoring them. When GMN-1 did not talk, Doc was able to breathe freely again.
The four GMNs who picked gun went to a nearby stand and picked up car keys and headed to the door. It was then Doc actually registered that they were heading out to complete their assignment.
"Wait, what of the rest of you? "Doc asked.
"We'll go tomorrow " GMN-7 replied
"I think it will be best if you all go out today. If you can't get an opportunity to finish them today, you won't fail tomorrow " Doc replied.
GMN-7 grudgingly stood up and picked a M82A1 SASR and went to join the rest at the door. He had no plans of not killing his target this night since he was already out. GMN-9 followed suit, he was confused on which to pick but ended up picking a McMillan Tac-50. The person left was GMN-5. She wasn't at all prepared to kill her target this night but she couldn't sit this one out like GMN-1. She decided to play this one out. She walked to the weaponry put her hand on her chin dramatically before picking an AK-100. This had some peoples attention. GMN-4 cocked an eyebrow, GMN-3 raised both eyebrows, GMN-2 rubbed his chin contemplatively, GMN-6 transferred her weight from one leg to another and then back looking at GMN-5. Even GMN-1 who was engrossed in her book, dropped the book and leaned her head on the back of the chair watching them. Deccan himself was uneasy. The gun had high penetration. In the wrong circumstance and her aim... He just didn't want to complete that train of thought. The others who didn't know much about guns looked on thinking she had picked a beautiful gun. GMN-5 proceeded to pick a car key. No one said anything, Doc rubbed her palm together and wished them luck and sent them off. It was then that GMN 7 and 9 remembered that they didn't pick a car key.
As GMN-9 went to pick a car key Deccan wanted to tell GMN-9 that he was too young to drive but checked himself. He had overseen their fake identity cards and verifications personally. In the eyes of the law, GMN-9 was old enough to drive even the highly weaponized car he chose.
Doc bid then well and sent them away. She was left with Deccan and GMN-1 who promptly turned her attention back to the book. She was on the fifth to the last page. Doc said something horrible in her mind but GMN-1 continued her book. Doc knew that in most cases it was hard to get a reaction from her so she couldn't judge by her reaction or rather lack of it. She had seen her turn immediately 5 chose a gun. Even if she wasn't reading minds something else was up. She needed to find out. She made a move towards GMN-1 who promptly stood up, picked up her book and left leaving Doc and Deccan in the common room.
Immediately GMN-1 left, Deccan wanted to say something but Doc raised her hand up silencing him. She looked at him sternly. Whatever they said was usually behind their office walls and the transparent glass walls surrounding their training area. This was because of their superior hearing. The areas used by the GMNs were built in such a way that sound can mostly go out not come in. Doc beckoned to Deccan and they walked to her office.