Amira stepped out of the terminal and was immediately hit by the bustling chaos of the airport.
People were everywhere rushed travelers, security guards, and staff, all moving with purpose and urgency.
She navigated through the crowd with ease, her pace calm but assured.
With her cap pulled low and sunglasses hiding her face, she blended in perfectly; just another nameless traveler among the sea of people.
After clearing security, she reached for her phone.
It was already 11 AM, and her screen lit up with a flood of unread messages.
Most were from her squad, eager to know her whereabouts and estimated arrival. But one message stood out; a location tag marked for pickup.
"Few hundred meters away, look for a Cadillac XT5 near Gate D," she read aloud, chuckling under her breath.
"Real subtle," she muttered, shaking her head.
Her eyes shifted to the map on her phone. The pickup point wasn't far, but she knew better than to take a direct route.
Years of covert missions had taught her to never trust the obvious path.
She took a few deliberate detours, weaving through side passages and changing direction a couple of times, just in case.
She stopped and glanced over her shoulder every now and then to make sure that no one was following her.
Once she was sure she was clear, she slipped out of the terminal and made her way to a small café nearby.
It was this charming place that seemed to whisper a rustic charm somehow heartwarmingly welcoming over the frantic bustle of an airport.
As she opened the door, she swung around the place quickly, touching her glance for a flickering second against all those other diners and continued towards the counter.
"Mornin'! What can I get started for you?" she asked as if half-weary but really cheerful from behind the glass partition.
"Hot chocolate with whipped cream, a cheese bagel, and sandwich wraps for two, please," she replied, trying for a small, polite smile.
"Few minutes, miss," he replied, getting to work.
She found a seat by the window, keeping a clear view of the street outside. She sipped her hot chocolate slowly, scanning for the Cadillac.
A moment later, she spotted it; a sleek XT5 parked by the curb with its window rolled down and faint music playing.
"Yeah, nothing screams 'stealth' like blasting music with an open window," she thought wryly, shaking her head slightly.
She conducted a quick mental sweep of the surroundings, her senses expanding like a web, reaching into alleys and storefronts nearby.
She detected no threats, only the hum of normal city life.
She picked up her order and approached the vehicle, her strides casual but confident.
She opened the passenger door and slid in, closing it quietly behind her.
The driver, a young woman with curly brown hair and a round, bright face, glanced at her before freezing in shock.
"Drive already," Amira said, reaching over to playfully pinch the girl's cheek.
The young woman gasped, her eyes welling up almost instantly.
"Captain!" she cried, all pretense of composure gone. Without warning, she flung herself into her arms, holding on tightly.
Patting her back gently, feeling the warmth of tears soaking through her jacket.
"There, there. No need to cry like a kid," she chided softly, her voice both amused and gentle, "And watch it, or you'll spill the drinks."
The girl sniffled, pulling away and wiping her eyes hastily.
"I missed you so much, Captain," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
She handed her a sandwich wrap and the hot chocolate, "Here. Eat up."
The girl took it with surprise, "How did you know I hadn't eaten?"
Amira smirked.
"I have my ways," she replied lightly, though their bond ran deep.
The girl, Rina, an operative she had taken under her wing years ago, started the car.
As they drove, leaning back in her seat, allowing herself a moment of rare relaxation.
Rina, still humming along to the radio, stole glances at her, her face full of joy.
"Who'd guess this cheerful little thing has over 100 confirmed kills?" Amira mused silently, her gaze softening.
"How long till we reach?" she asked aloud.
"About an hour, Captain," Rina replied, taking a sip of her hot chocolate, "Only a few have arrived so far. The rest should be there by evening."
"And Bella?" Amira asked, her tone shifting slightly.
"Vice-captain's been there since morning," Rina answered with a grin.
Amira nodded, satisfied. Bella was reliable; one of the few who had kept the unit together after it disbanded.
Suddenly, Rina's phone rang, breaking the moment's calm. She glanced at the caller ID and sighed dramatically.
"Dammit, Elias," she muttered before picking up, "Can't you be happy I'm with the captain? Do you really have to ruin my mood?"
Elias's voice came through, urgent but steady.
"Just tell me where you are and how long you'll take to arrive. Everyone's waiting."
Rina rolled her eyes, checking the GPS.
"We're out of the city, about an hour away," she answered curtly.
"Okay," Elias replied simply before hanging up.
Amira smirked. "Still no sense of humor, I see."
"Yeah, but his sister Ema is way more fun," Rina quipped back with a giggle.
The ride continued with light banter, a rare but welcome reprieve for her as the city receded behind them, replaced by open roads leading to their destination.
Amira reclined in her seat, eyes half-closed but senses keenly aware of her surroundings.
Rina, however, was far more relaxed, tapping her fingers rhythmically on the steering wheel as she hummed along to a pop song playing softly on the radio.
"Are you sure we didn't miss the turn?" She asked, her voice casual but edged with caution, glancing at the GPS.
Rina's eyes remained on the road, her tone confident, "Relax, Captain. This is the shortest route. We'll be there before you know it."
But Amira's response was cut short when Rina suddenly slammed on the brakes.
The car screeched to a halt, gravel flying as the tires skidded along the unpaved road. Her hand shot out instinctively, bracing herself against the dashboard.
"What's going on?" she muttered, her gaze fixed ahead.
Three scruffy-looking men stood blocking the path. They weren't exactly menacing; a ragtag bunch more suited for petty theft than serious threat.
One wore a faded leather jacket, another a ragged beanie pulled low over greasy hair, and the third, likely their ringleader, sported a missing tooth along with a smug grin.
"Well, isn't this just perfect," Amira sighed, her eyes narrowing.
Rina squinted at the men, then burst into laughter, "Seriously? These are the big bad road bandits?"
The ringleader strutted forward with exaggerated swagger, motioning for his companions to flank the car. He knocked on the driver's window, trying to appear intimidating. Rina cracked the window just enough to speak.
"Ladies," the man greeted with a rough attempt at charm, "Looks like you've found yourselves in a bit of a situation."
Rina raised an eyebrow, fighting to keep a straight face, "Oh? And what situation would that be?"
The man grinned wider, pleased with himself, "This road's under new management. There's a toll to pass."
Amira leaned closer, her tone dry, "A toll, huh? And how much are you charging?"
The beanie-wearing man piped up eagerly, "Everything you got, sweetheart."
Rina snorted, unable to help herself. "Oh no, I'm so terrified."
The men's bravado faltered for a moment, but the ringleader quickly pulled out a small, rusty knife, brandishing it like it was a prized weapon.
"Hand over your valuables," he demanded, trying to sound authoritative, "No one has to get hurt."
Amira's eyes widened, but more in disbelief than fear, "That's your plan? You're robbing us with a butter knife?"
The ringleader's face reddened slightly. "It's not a butter knife! It's… tactical."
Amira and Rina exchanged a glance, barely managing to stifle their laughter.
It was almost laughable given the sort of threats they dealt with.
Rina's sudden impatience overthrew her manners. She flung open the door and stepped out onto the lawn, hands stuck out firmly on her hips.
"Okay, okay boys. Listen up now," she said, her voice laced with exaggerated patience, "It's a really long day, and I hope you really want to try robbing us.
The ringleader blinked, taken off guard completely by her audacity.
"Oh yeah? And what're you gonna do about it, little lady?" he taunted.
Rina flashed a sly grin as if actually thinking about giving it some serious consideration.
In an instant she shot faster than a man's eye could follow, sweeping ringleader's legs out from under him.
She hit the ground with a heavy thud, the knife slipping from his hand skittering across pavement.
"Oops," Rina said with mock sweetness, "I guess I'm clumsy."
The remaining two men scrambled, fumbling for weapons. One produced a switchblade, while the other grabbed a piece of broken pipe.
Amira watched with mild amusement, shaking her head.
"Rina, try not to hurt them too badly. They look like they'd break easily."
Rina rolled her eyes dramatically, "Fine, fine. I'll play nice."
The man with the switchblade lunged clumsily at Rina, who sidestepped effortlessly, delivering a light slap to the back of his head as he stumbled past.
"Hey!" he exclaimed, rubbing his head, "That's not fair!"
Rina crossed her arms, dripping with sarcasm.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Are we not following the official rules of highway robbery?"
Meanwhile, the man with the pipe hesitated, clearly losing his nerve.
He glanced between Rina and Amira, unsure of how to proceed.
Amira stepped out of the car, her voice calm but firm.
"Look," she said, addressing the man with the pipe, "this really isn't worth it. Go home, take a shower, and maybe reconsider your career choices."
The man glanced down at the ringleader, who was still groaning on the ground, then back at Amira, clearly unsure what to do next.
"Uh… I… um…"
Amira gave him a small, almost kind smile, "Go on. Run along."
The man dropped the pipe and bolted, with his companion not far behind.
The ringleader tried to scramble to his feet, only to be met with Rina's boot lightly pressing against his chest.
"Next time, bring a real knife," she advised with a cheerful grin.
"Fine, fine! Just let me go!" the man groaned, holding up his hands in surrender.
Rina stepped back, allowing him to get up. He shot them a wary glance before backing away slowly.
Amira leaned forward, her voice laced with humor. "And maybe a bath. Just a suggestion."
The man nodded hastily and ran off, his dignity left behind in the dust.
Rina got back into the car, still laughing. "Well, that was a riot."
Amira shook her head, a hint of a smile on her lips. "We needed some entertainment, I suppose."
As they resumed their journey, the tension dissolved into laughter, the absurdity of the encounter adding an unexpected touch of levity.
An hour later, they pulled up to a small, unassuming roadside restaurant surrounded by fields and a distant barn. It was an ordinary-looking place, perfect for a low-profile meeting.
Inside, the owner a middle-aged man named Garrick spotted them instantly. He hurried over, eyes alight with excitement.
"Miss Heilan, you're here!" he exclaimed.
"Good to see you, Garrick," Amira replied warmly. "Retirement treating you well?"
"Couldn't be better, miss," he said, grinning ear to ear. "You're as sharp as ever."
Garrick led them to a quieter area at the back of the restaurant, away from the bustling front. He pressed a hidden button, revealing a concealed staircase beneath the floorboards.
"Everyone's waiting downstairs," he informed them with a respectful nod.
"I'll catch up with you later," Amira promised, patting his shoulder.
With a nod, Garrick closed the entrance behind them as she and Rina descended the staircase, ready for the next phase of their mission.