Chereads / The Assassin's Vendetta / Chapter 2 - Mission Impossible?

Chapter 2 - Mission Impossible?

Lucien glided down the bustling city streets in his sleek, modern, and expensive sports car—a silver Aston Martin DB11. The engine purred as he navigated through the traffic, the sunlight reflecting off the car's immaculate surface. Approaching a towering skyscraper made entirely of gleaming glass, Lucien pulled up to the security checkpoint.

The guard, recognizing Lucien, nodded and waved him through after a brief check. "Nice wheels, Lucien," the guard commented.

"Thanks, mate. It's faster than your golf cart, that's for sure," Lucien quipped with a grin.

Parking his car in the underground lot, Lucien made his way to the elevator. As the doors closed, he hummed a little tune and glanced at his reflection in the polished metal. "Good thing I've got the looks and the brains," he mused, chuckling to himself.

The elevator ascended smoothly, and Lucien pressed the button for the top floor. As it climbed, he continued his one-man comedy show, cracking jokes about the absurdity of corporate life and elevator music. "Why do elevator jokes always lift the mood? Because they have their ups and downs!" he said to no one in particular, thoroughly amused.

Finally, the elevator doors slid open, revealing a luxurious office suite. The floor-to-ceiling windows provided a stunning view of the cityscape, and the furnishings were modern and elegant, with a touch of minimalism. Lucien strode to a keypad beside a large mahogany door, swiftly entering a code. The door clicked open, and he stepped inside.

Seated at a sleek glass desk was a young woman in her twenties. She wore an elegant red dress that hugged her figure, the fabric shimmering slightly under the office lights. Her name was Isabella, and she looked up with a serious expression as Lucien entered.

"Lucien, you're late. Again," she said, her tone firm.

"Fashionably late, Isabella. Always fashionably late," Lucien replied with a wink, sliding into a chair opposite her. "So, what's the scoop on our target?"

Isabella's expression remained serious as she handed him a dossier. "Our target is Pierre Durand. He's rarely alone—always surrounded by bodyguards and associates. We've tracked him to a high-security location. You'll need to be extra careful."

Lucien flipped through the dossier, nodding thoughtfully. "Bodyguards, huh? Sounds like a party. Do you think they'll appreciate my sense of humor?"

Lucien's eyes lit up with mischievous delight. "Marcel and Alita, huh? This mission just got a lot more interesting. I love a good challenge."

Alita was an advanced AI designed specifically for assassination missions. Created by the organization, Alita's primary function was to execute high-stakes targets with precision and efficiency. This mission with Lucien and Marcel was Alita's first field operation, marking a significant test of its capabilities. Equipped with state-of-the-art stealth technology, Alita moved undetected and adapted swiftly to different combat scenarios. Its sophisticated algorithms enabled real-time data analysis, hacking into security systems, and gathering intelligence, ensuring seamless mission execution.

Alita's loyalty was hardcoded into its programming, designed to follow orders from designated operatives without question. It had multiple fail safes, including encrypted communication channels and self-destruct protocols to prevent compromise. Despite advanced security measures, Alita was not entirely immune to hacking. Skilled cyber operatives could potentially breach its systems and reprogram it. EMP attacks could also temporarily disable Alita, highlighting its vulnerabilities despite its cutting-edge design.

Adrien stood in his small London apartment, meticulously packing his belongings into a sleek, black suitcase. He carefully placed his new documents and essentials, including cash and a burner phone, into a hidden compartment. His mind was focused, and his movements were efficient. Once everything was secured, he zipped up the suitcase and grabbed his black leather case, ensuring all was in order.

He picked up his phone and ordered a taxi through a ride-hailing app. Within minutes, a black London cab pulled up outside his building. He locked his apartment door behind him and made his way to the taxi, the driver rolling down the window and calling out.

"Good morning! Where to?" the driver asked cheerfully.

"Heathrow Airport," he replied, getting into the back seat.

As soon as they started driving, the driver began chatting incessantly. "Heading off somewhere nice? Must be great to travel. I don't get out much, just driving this cab around all day. You know, my cousin went to Paris once. Said it was beautiful but expensive. Ever been?"

Adrien smiled politely, offering noncommittal responses, letting the driver talk without interruption. The journey seemed to fly by with the constant stream of conversation.

Upon arriving at the airport, Adrien paid the fare and stepped out of the taxi. He made his way towards the entrance, his suitcase rolling smoothly behind him. As he approached the security checkpoint, a guard dog started barking, straining at its leash.

A security officer moved towards Adrien, but another officer intervened. "It's okay, I'll handle this," the second officer said. He gestured for Adrien to follow him to a separate area.

He followed the officer to a small room where his documents were thoroughly checked. The officer scrutinized the details, occasionally glancing up at Adrien, who remained calm and collected. Finally, the officer nodded and handed back the documents. "Everything seems to be in order. You can proceed."

He continued through the airport, his presence drawing curious glances from fellow travelers. There was something about his demeanor that commanded attention. He navigated through the bustling terminal with ease, heading straight to the first-class check-in counter.

After a swift check-in process, he made his way to the boarding gate. The flight attendants greeted him warmly as he stepped onto the plane, guiding him to his first-class seat. The spacious, leather-bound seat offered a luxurious haven, complete with ample legroom, a personal entertainment system, and a menu of gourmet dining options.

Adrien settled into his first-class seat, enjoying the luxurious comfort. The air hostess, a professional and attentive woman, walked down the aisle, ensuring all passengers were comfortable.

As she approached Adrien, she noticed his youthful appearance. "Excuse me, young man," she began with a polite smile. "Are you traveling alone?"

Adrien looked up and nodded confidently. "Yes, I am."

Her expression became a bit more serious. "Can I see your boarding pass and identification, please? We have protocols for unaccompanied minors."

Adrien handed over his boarding pass and documents. She examined them carefully, noting his age. "You're fourteen. Do you have a guardian waiting for you at your destination?"

Adrien nodded again, keeping his demeanor calm. "Yes, I do. My uncle will be picking me up as soon as I land."

She still seemed slightly concerned. "Alright, I'll need to make a note of this. If you need anything during the flight, please don't hesitate to ask. We'll make sure you're well taken care of."

Adrien smiled appreciatively. "Thank you, I appreciate that."

Satisfied but cautious, she made a quick note in her log about Adrien's status as an unaccompanied minor. She then continued down the aisle, ensuring all passengers were settled.

Adrien settled into his first-class seat, enjoying the luxurious comfort. The air hostess, a professional and attentive woman, walked down the aisle, ensuring all passengers were comfortable.

As she approached Adrien, she noticed his youthful appearance. "Excuse me, young man," she began with a polite smile. "Are you traveling alone?"

Adrien looked up and nodded confidently. "Yes, I am."

Her expression became a bit more serious. "Can I see your boarding pass and identification, please? We have protocols for unaccompanied minors."

Adrien handed over his boarding pass and documents. She examined them carefully, noting his age. "You're fourteen. Do you have a guardian waiting for you at your destination?"

Adrien nodded again, keeping his demeanor calm. "Yes, I do. My uncle will be picking me up as soon as I land."

She still seemed slightly concerned. "Alright, I'll need to make a note of this. If you need anything during the flight, please don't hesitate to ask. We'll make sure you're well taken care of."

Adrien smiled appreciatively. "Thank you, I appreciate that."

Satisfied but cautious, she made a quick note in her log about Adrien's status as an unaccompanied minor. She then continued down the aisle, ensuring all passengers were settled.

Adrien's plane touched down smoothly at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. As the aircraft taxied to the gate, he gathered his belongings and prepared to disembark. The luxurious first-class experience had been a welcome respite, but now his mind shifted to the mission ahead.

After stepping off the plane and making his way through customs, Adrien headed towards the arrivals hall where people waited to be picked up. The hall was bustling with activity, as families and drivers held signs and greeted arriving passengers. Adrien scanned the crowd, ensuring he didn't miss any details.

As he stood near a column, observing the scene, a security officer approached him. The officer, noting Adrien's youthful appearance, spoke to him in French. "Excusez-moi, jeune homme. Est-ce que tout va bien?"

Adrien looked up, his expression calm. "Oui, tout va bien, merci."

The officer seemed slightly concerned. "Vous attendez quelqu'un? Vous êtes sûr que tout est en ordre?"

Adrien nodded confidently. "Oui, j'attends mon oncle. Il devrait être ici bientôt."

The officer examined Adrien for a moment longer before nodding in satisfaction. "D'accord. Si vous avez besoin de quoi que ce soit, n'hésitez pas à demander."

"Merci, je vous en suis reconnaissant," Adrien replied politely.

As Adrien waited in the arrivals hall, scanning the sea of faces, he spotted Lucien approaching with another young and beautiful girl beside him. Lucien, always the charmer, exuded confidence as he walked through the bustling terminal. The girl, elegant and poised, matched his stride effortlessly.

Lucien noticed Adrien and raised a hand in greeting. "Je ne suis pas sûr que nous nous soyons rencontrés," he said, his voice carrying over the noise of the crowd.

"Je ne pense pas," Adrien replied, nodding in acknowledgment.

"Alors, voici Alita," Lucien said, gesturing to the girl beside him.

"Enchanté de faire ta connaissance," Adrien responded politely, thinking to himself how great the organization was at this—their ability to introduce new recruits seamlessly.

They reached a sleek black car waiting outside the terminal. Lucien opened the door for Alita and Adrien, continuing to chat as they settled into the backseat.