"Director Betton, the Security Council would see you now."
The grey-haired woman looked from the man who had called her to the door behind him before rising to her feet and walking into the room.
Once she entered, all the eyes present followed her as she made her way to the alienated seat on the other side of the room.
The blue-eyed woman took her seat and stared unremorsefully at the executives, all twelve of them, before resting her eyes on those of the Supreme Leader.
The Chief of the interior security was the first to speak up. "Madame Director, I'm sure you're aware why you've been summoned to the Federation's security council.
The blue-eyed woman turned to him. "No," she replied.
He frowns but clears his throat and explains anyway. "Madame Director, you acted on your own accords in matters concerning foreign affairs without consulting the Supreme Leader of the Federation."
"As is my duty. When my organization was created along with the Federation, it was declared that it would be independent of the government and would not be required to consult the Supreme Leader or any government official."
"Let me just say, Mrs. Betton," the Supreme Leader spoke up. "I am aware you're relatively new to your position as Director of your organization and are still unaware of how things work in the Federation but a lot has changed since the United Republics was created centuries ago."
"While on that matter, can we discuss how Mrs. Betton here came to be Director?" The director of the Transnational Intelligence said.
There was a slight smile on the gray-haired woman's face as she turned to the speaker. "My organization handles its internal affairs as it sees fit."
"You killed a man, Vitt -- madame director – a man who saw you as his daughter."
The blue-eyed woman shifts her focus back to the Supreme Leader. "Your Excellency," she bowed her head slightly. "I am now aware I was wrong to act without consulting the Supreme Leader or his cabinet. I humbly apologize for my mistake and will accept any punishment you see fit. I would provide a report of every activity my organization was involved in since the beginning of my tenure for full transparency."
...
The blue-eyed woman walks out of the room but is called by the chief of the Transnational Intelligence. "Vittoria!" The man was blonde and had large maroon eyes.
The gray-haired woman turned to face him. "Kieran," she said calmly.
"What the hell was that back there?"
"You tell me." Kieran walked up to the blue-eyed woman and looked her dead in the eyes without saying a single word.
Vittoria checked the time on her wristwatch. "If you have nothing to say, I'll be taking my leave now." She turned and continued her walk out of the building.
"You're supposed to lay low until the Supreme Leader decides what to do with you."
"I know but I have a report to write."
.
.
.
"Ai? I didn't know you were here in Vrotland," said Hunter.
Hachimura shoots the sprite a small smile. "I've been here for a while now. I was following the drug lord," she said.
"You were there when he was arrested?"
The vanilla blonde nods. "Camille asked me not to interfere. I did follow them and see where he's being held though," she said.
"... And that's what your mission would be related to," Camille chipped. "The UR are aware we're trying to capture Ferb but they do not know the reason as to why so they arrested him and are trying to provoke a reaction from the Alpha Sector, they won't get one. Hunter, Aislinn, Hachimura, Ishani, and Sypha are going to be infiltrating the TranSec's maximum security without using any mystical ability."
"You want them to think we're Ferb's guys," Ishani said.
"Yes," Camille nodded. "This mission would have been a lot different if we knew where Ferb's gem is. Unfortunately, Hachimura did not spot him wearing it since her arrival at Vrotland so we need him to tell us where it is. Any questions?"
...
Hunter walked into the closet to change into the clothes he'd need for the mission. The dark-haired boy found Aislinn inside, the cinnamon-red-haired girl was not wearing her medical eye patch over her left eye.
"Sorry, I didn't know you were in here," the teal-green-eyed boy said. "Aislinn ... Your eyes."
The non-mystic's left eye was blue while her right eye was honey brown.
"I have heterochromia. Sorry, I know it's weird to look at but bear with me, it's only until I finish getting dressed."
"What are you talking about? You look pretty," Hunter commented.
"Oh?" Aislinn said shyly. "Thank you."
"Why do you wear an eye patch anyway?" He asked curiously.
"The blue one gets irritated quickly, especially when exposed to sunlight and wind. Obviously, I can leave them uncovered but only for an hour or two a day but any longer could lead to hemorrhage and or blindness."
"Right," Hunter nodded. "So no suggesting that you ditch the eye patch."
She smiled. "Definitely not."
"I didn't think you'd be a part of this mission," said Hunter.
"Because I'm a non-mystic? Don't underestimate me; I can hold my own if it comes down to it although I'm technically not a part of the mission. I am to keep a reasonable distance and hack into the facility's security so I'll grant you guys quick access and directions while you're inside."
"Aha ..."
There is a knock on the door. "Hurry up guys, we're heading out soon," the voice of Hachimura came from the the other side.
Hunter was the first to exit the closet and Aislinn followed soon after, they met up with the others who had already changed into black clothes and masks.
"Good luck guys and remember: no special abilities," Camille said.
"Don't mess this up," Maxine said. "... Especially you, chimp," she added looking straight at Hunter.
The sprite would have replied with "When did I become a part of your family," but not right now, he was locked in. He pulled up the mask to cover his face and turned to the others.
.
.
.
Finding a spot that was close enough for Aislinn to be able to hack into the prison's security and hidden enough for the cinnamon-red-haired girl to stay out of sight proved difficult but the group eventually found a spot.
The heterochromic-eyed girl took out a personal computer and began clicking on the keyboards. It didn't take long before she told them: "I'm in."
The group of Hunter, Ishani, Hachimura, and Sypha snuck into the facility, avoiding potential obstacles under the watchful eyes of Aislinn who guided them through the mazelike structure of the maximum security.
Not long later, they reached the cell where Ferb was being held. Aislinn unlocked the door for them and they rushed in and found the man sleeping. Ishani dragged him from the bed by the collar of his shirt.
The action woke the drug lord up but before he could think about asking what was happening, Hachimura threw a bag over his head. "Is this a breakout? Are you breaking me out?" He asked confused. The vanilla blonde tied his hands as she responded. "Stay quiet and do as I say at all times and you'll be a free man before the sun rises again tomorrow."
Ferb had a million more questions but decided it would be better to heed the words of the woman in front of him.
Hunter looks around the room. 'This was too easy.' The teal-green-eyed boy pressed the communication device in his ear. "Skybox, is there any GPS device on him?"
"None. None that is sending a signal at least," Aislinn replied.
Placing a hand on Ferb's shoulder, Hachimura began leading the drug lord through the maximum security. As soon as they brought him out of his cell, an alarm began blaring through the facility.
BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.
"Of course," Hunter commented.
"We should split up," Sypha suggested.
"She's right," Ishani concurred. "The guards must be trying to push us into a corner. If we split they'll be forced to break into smaller teams and adopt a new strategy."
Hunter nods. "Skybox, are there other routes to leave the facility apart from the one we came in through?"
"One second. ... I see two, one is to your left and the other is on the other side of the facility, there are more guards in that area."
"Got it. Can you cut the power?"
"I could but that'll leave me blind. Do it and move to extraction."
"Yes sir."
Hunter uses his hands to order the others. Hachimura and Sypha change paths and move left, dragging Ferb with them. Ishani was to continue down the route they came in through and meet up with Aislinn, the duo would then continue to extraction together. Hunter moved towards the large group of soldiers in hopes of slowing them down.
The power goes off and so does the lights. Hunter runs into a lone, unfortunate guard and takes him out pretty easily. The dark-haired boy then switched to the guard's clothes and took his firearms before continuing his path. When he came close to the group, he took a grenade and removed the pin before shouting "Grenade!" And turning the other way.
The men scatter and retrace their steps while the sprite locks the door, trapping them on the other side.
Hunter moved to the next spot where he could sense a large group of non-mystics, using a similar strategy to trap them in a secluded spot and lock the doors.
Hunter then went through the route Aislinn had identified as another way out earlier. The dark-haired boy ran into some guards but the former made short work of them.
As soon as Hunter began breathing the air outside the prison, he heard a sound above him.
[Hunter, we're being stalked.]
The teal-green-eyed boy turns and spins just in time to avoid a ball of fire.
'How the hell do they got an elemental?'
The fire elemental soon reveal themselves. A brown-haired middle-aged woman with green eyes.
Without saying any word, the woman charged at Hunter but before she closed the distance, a projectile flew in between them and emitted a thick smoke that allowed the sprite to escape.
"Sorry for the delay; I should be at the extraction in three," Hunter announced to his team.
"Hunter, I can't find Aislinn," Ishani said through the communication device.
"What?" Hunter clicked on the device. "Aislinn? Aislinn come in! Aislinn!"
[Hunter, she's nowhere around here.]
----