Stealth Contact

Ang Jin stood up, outraged.

"What? You guys are way too paranoid. My missioin is to find the criminal! Not be criminal!"

Ang Jin, though he didn't let it show, felt betrayed that his only friends would think that he was a terrorist. Though, the whole 'innocent little kid' image that he put on had to seem kind of like an act. And after all, they had to be paranoid if anyone had any shot at finding the terrorist. But it was still hurtful, all the same.

 

Gratia looked at him, with a smile.

"Sorry Ang, but you know we have to state the facts and find solutions. One or maybe even more of us is a traitor. Just because you're a child, doesn't leave you out of it." She bent over and gave Ang a hug. She was sorry for what she had said, but she knew she had to say it. She sat back in the seat at the end of the table.

"You know, little Sammie didn't want us to know but the people hired into this organization are thoroughly investigated, and those invited are always under check. Kevin and James told me, before they went missing, that they knew about it." she said winking at Samuel. "Though for all we know they're monitoring Sammie as well."

 

Ang Jin laughed. "I already did a good job with that. I got some dirt on some of the fiascos that went on during Sir's time in college!"

 

Gratia laughed hysterically, her chest heaving. Maybe he had something to shame Samuel. She knew it might make her feel better.

"Do tell little Ang." she said with a devious grin.

 

I didn't know exactly how to respond to Samuel, or the person that just walked by me. I just sat still, puffing on my cigar. I was sure the mission would come up soon enough, and I'd be out of here to go to my job. I hated being late. I always feared I'd missed something already.

Samuel started talking randomly about something and the others talked back and forth. I didn't participate. I waited for the important part. Nothing more I could do, I figured.

It didn't take long for the cigar to go out. I sighed. I had been here for too long if I had time to go through a whole one.

 

"Well for starters," Ang Jin began. "He smoked a lot, and I mean a lot, of weed."

He walked up to Gratia, and whispered in her ear, "I think that's why he has moobs."

 

"Ahem."

Samuel banged the table, seeing Ang Jin and Gratia giggle amongst themselves. The distanced Jason and Jackson eyed them uninterestedly, or perhaps the wisdom of remaining quiet had endorsed such an action. He avoided Neha's gaze who seemed to know what he was about to say.

"I wouldn't exempt anyone of us from this witch hunt."
Neha finally said, pulling Samuel closer to herself.
"Not even Sammy."

There was a discomforting smile on her face, and Samuel literally jerked her off, perspiring.
"Ya, that's fair enough. Now, Miss. Suri, d'ya have anythin' else to say?"

Neha shook her head, relaxing her back.
"I want to hear first."

Samuel nodded and picked up the papers, reciting in a mundane tone.
"First, Kevin. Some great things we learnt 'bout Kevin could be taken as a suspicion, or otherwise. For instance, Kevin was rumored ta be the one ta ask meh to check the system for data loss afta the night of infiltration. That's a blatant lie - anyone af you who learned offit should know that it was someone tryin' ta frame Kevin."

He then scratched his chin, continuing:
"It is more valid that he had been the only one af ya fer which the board of directors, including meh, had unanimously voted. Yes Gratia, he was under surveillance and perhaps knew it too, but we are an anti-terrorist organization. Dun't underestimate us."

He finally threw his profile in front of everyone, sighing:
"He was a good man. Caught by the terrorists in Alabama on his way ta French embassy, and now we can't contuct him."

Samuel didn't wait to cry for him and moved on to James.
"A popular refutation to terrorism was that James was checked thoroughly by commandos befer his hiring, thus is a divinely good choice. That was a big, bad lie. Somethin' fatal. Nothin' like that ever happened, if anyone thinks so. In fact, of the three missing men, James is the only one who we have named as a wanted terrorist. Thus, you can no longer trust the guy if he walks up ta ya in near future."

The room was silent.
"I know, Raven was a possible target, but to tackle with common sense - Raven was a psychopath, and to handle him was to handle a veally nasty pack of lions. Even the terrorists din't have the guts to use him. Thus, our friend remains to be a good man with a nasty disease. I did hear that the keyboard keys were cracked 'cause of him, but actually the keyboard keys were cracked because of me."

He stopped, turning red with embarassment.
"I've got anger management issues sometimes."

With that, he threw the profiles of the other two on the table for everyone to contemplate.
"Your mission ratings are with Anna at the reception desk. A better rating means more bonus at da end of this month."

With that, Samuel turned away to leave.
"Wait, Sammy. At least take customer feedback."
Neha said with a wink.

 

Gratia looked at Samuel and Neha with eyes of annoyance.

“Is that all? You tell us Kevin is innocent, but missing. James is a terrorist, and can’t be trusted. Yet missing. And you’re telling us Raven was so friggin crazy that he couldn’t even be a terrorist?” she was yelling by the end of it. Where was her explanation? Why was someone after her? What the hell was going on?

“Mission ratings?” She hissed, “I don’t care about any mission ratings! I want to know what the hell is going on and why my life was suddenly tossed into the desert. You’ll tell me Samuel.” She said as she opened the door, and walked from the room.

“You’ll tell me what’s going on. I’ll be waiting in your office.” She snapped, slamming the door behind her. She walked up to Anna, grabbing her envelope without much thought. She opened Samuel’s door, and sat in front of his desk. She quickly took a cigarette from her pocket, and lit it.

Her mind raced angrily as she thought of the past two weeks. She’d been on the run… with no explanation. She’d changed how she looked, how she talked and how she acted. Yet they had still found her. With no explanation she had driven down there without any sleep. Nonstop. She screamed angrily, and took a puff of her cigarette.

She didn’t care if Samuel got mad about the smoke in his office. She truly didn’t care.

 

Jackson looked at Jason. He could see that he wanted to leave as much as he did. When Samuel and Gratia took off he didn't waste any time. he watched Jason leave and then everybody else left. He stayed alone, sitting in the haze of cigar smoke and aftermath of accusations. A terrorist in an anti-terrorist unit huh? What a [cusrse]ing coincidence. How was someone able to even get into this office with all the background checks they do? Jack pondered for a second before also leaving to collect his mission envelope. It read DNC (did not complete). [curse]. Gotta find that snitch.

 

Samuel sighed and followed Gratia. He was not in a mood to act sympathetic towards her but he was ordered so. He bit his lower lip and entered his office, enraged by the smell of cigarette inside.

"Calm down, Georgia. Your case is classified. Some goons were after you, as you may know. We got rid of them. Simple as that."

He said, conveniently sliding his arms around Gratia.

 

She looked at him with a raised eyebrow. An arm around the shoulder? That didn't quite make sense with his actions.

"Classified even to the one it's pertaining to?" she said, her voice with less venom then before, "You know, you're being very strange." She leaned in closer to him, putting her mouth close to his ear.

"You'll tell me before this day is over, or I'll be disappearing for good." she said in a faint whisper. She gave him a kiss on the cheek, and got up nudging his arm off her.

She stopped at the door. Waiting for some sort of reply from him.

 

Samuel shrugged, a little nervous.
"I promise I'll give you an answer, Georgia. Just give me two hours."
He tried to form a comforting smile on his face, but to little avail.

 

"I'll keep you to that promise." she said walking from his door, and quickly leaving the building.

She looked at her Motorbike in the front of the building. She didn't feel like driving. She put her hood back over, and lunched her back. She put her hands in her pocket.

Might as well act like a teenager if I'm going to play the part. she thought with a smile.

 

Gratia walked forward, slumping her back. She stopped at a cornerstore, buying a new pack of cigarettes and a newspaper. She sat on a bench in the corner, pulling her hood down just above her eyes. She opened the newspaper and laughed at the first article in health.

“Lose weight in 2 weeks!!”

She quickly turned the pages, until her eyes met something that caught her interest.

“Malaysian and Indonesian Governments work with USA, Productive Seeds!”

She then began to read the article.

‘Malaysian and Indonesian governments, also with some help from USA, have developed HYV seeds which are not only resistant to several kinds of pests but also are expected to give 60-80% more yield than the currently used varieties.’

She rolled the paper into a ball, tossing it in the trashcan on the side. She quickly knocked the cigarette pack against the bench, opening it. She took one out, lit it and took in a deep breath. She relaxed her shoulders, just in time to feel a knife to her throat.

“Don’t scream.” She voice said. His accent was thick, but she could tell he was only a child. A punk child, that probably lived most of his life on the street.

“Give me your money.” He said, as he motioned for her to get up. She followed as he led her into the back of an alley. She began to put her hands for her pockets, but instead of taking out her wallet she took out her hatchet. She instantly sliced his wrist with a speed he would never understand. He yelled out in pain, grabbing his bleeding wrist. She quickly sliced at his other hand, sending him falling to the ground.

“I was only kidding!” he yelled, backing away. She took another puff of her cigarette, and looked at looked at him with that motherly stare.

“Shouldn’t you be in school boy?”

He looked at her in shock, his eyes wide with awe. She bent down over him, taking his knife from him, and placing it in her pocket. She rummaged through he jacket finding a wallet and his I.D.

“16 huh?” she asked, handing him his wallet, “I have your name now son. I’d better see you in school by tomorrow.”

She walked off, leaving him to stare into space dumbstruck.

She dropped her cigarette to the ground, putting it out with her shoe. She needed to get back. She wasn’t sure how long she had been gone.

 

I wasn't sure what my next mission was exactly, but I knew I wasn't doing it well enough sitting on my ass. I was to keep an eye out for James if he ever appeared. Bastard couldn't be trusted.

I picked up my phone and redialed Sam's number. I needed help.

 

Jack gave himself a second to think of the possibilities. It could be anyone.He delegated himself the task of fishing out the rascal. He decided to follow his fellow agents. Surely i'll see some kind of indication.
Gratia walked passed him, she didn't so much as look at him. Something's up. Here we go.

He followed her outside and watched as she hunched her back and pulled her hoodie up. He stood some distance away and watched as she read the paper. He lurked a distance away, mingling with the crowds, his ball cap pulled down just eniough for him to see her. She stopped by a bench but didn't see the adolescent boy with a knife behind her. Jack wanted to shout but kept his composure. He pulled Gratia into an alley. A moment later Gratia emerged, good girl. She began to walk towards him, he turned away hoping she didnt recognise him. She carried on walking. he went into the alley and saw the teenager, bloodied wrists, bawling on the concrete. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a hundred.

"Get yourself to a hospital."

 

Gratia walked onwards, going back to her slumping shoulders. She went a few blocks before he picked her phone up, and dialed Jackson's number.

"You're a terrible tail." she said with a laugh. She quickly hung up, not giving him a chance to answer. She spit on the ground angrily. Situations like this could turn friend against friend. She wouldn't let that happen with her and Jackson. She continued forward until she saw Jason. He appeared to be calling someone on his phone. She sat in bench feet from him, waiting for him to get off the phone.

 

"There is no moment of peace in this life. What did I do in ma past life to deserve this? Buddha, I'm retirin'. Ya hear meh?"

Samuel grumbled as he received another phone call. This time, rather than his lady friend it was his team member Jason.

"No thanks, I'm done with you."

He said out angrily and canceled the call. With that, he finally navigated to the profiles section.

"Silent for eternity. No one will irritate me now."

He grinned as he shove the mobile into the drawer.

 

Gratia watched as he angrily closed his phone, and stuffed it in his pocket. She took her chance and pulled out her pack of cigarettes, hitting it against the bench so some came halfway out.

“Nothing like a smoke when you’ve just got a bad call.” She said. He turned around and gave her a half-grin, taking one of the cigarettes putting it between his lips. She took out her lighter, and he bent over as the flame came up. He breathed in and took the cigarette from his lips.

“Thanks.” He said taking a seat next to her.

She took a cigarette from the pack, and put it back in her pocket. She quickly lit it, inhaling deeply. She breathed out, and looked back at him taking the cigarette from her mouth.

“What’s your thoughts on James?” she asked, “He was your partner wasn’t he?”

 

"Trash," I said in-between puffs. "I think I might of even known, though I guess that's because he was always at the scene of some national disasters just as a face, not a worker."

She nodded.

"Don't get lose in thinking he might be good."

She puffed on hers and then looked out towards the street.

"You have quiet the reputation now," I mused, "Always finding a way to get in trouble, so I'm told. Any good war stories?"

She laughed, looking back at me with a smug confusion. "I think we all have many."

"Share one then." I said, wanting to pass the time.

 

Ang Jin had a habit of dropping in to people's conversations at the worst of times. When he saw Gratia and Jason smoking cigarettes, he leaned against the wall, trying to act cool.

"Hey, Gratia," He said in a laid-back tone. "Can I take a drag?"

 

Gratia looked at Jason, and got lost in her thoughts as she thought of all her adventures. She remembered the first time she had met Samuel. She had been barely twenty at the time, and she had worked as a teller in a bank at the bad side of town. They got robbed more times then she could remember but every time she took control of the situation. She had a way with words and an even better way with her kicks and punches. That was before she even considered using a gun. When she had only used her kick-boxing, her reflexes and more importantly her hatchet to protect herself. Samuel had seen her potential that day, after another robbery. She had seen it as an easy task that time, the robber had only been a teenager. A stupid one at that, she doubted he even knew how to use his gun.

"Hey, Gratia," she heard Ang say in a laid-back tone. "Can I take a drag?"

She was snapped out of her thoughts, and she let out a loud laugh, turning Ang’s way. She gave him a wink, and walked over to him. She took the cigarette from her mouth, nearly at it’s end and handed it to him.

“Take one puff and I’m sure you’ll never go back.” She said with a smile. He looked at her with wide eyes, probably shocked she had even given him the cigarette. He put it to his lips and took in a deep huff. He instantly coughed. His face went red as he dropped the cigarette to the ground, as his body shook from the coughing fit.

She put her shoe over the cigarette and snuffed it out.

“I told you.” She said with a wink, “Don’t get like us, smoking will kill you.”

He gave her a grin, and she ruffled his hair with her fingers.

She sat back on the bench next to Jason, “When I was about twenty, I worked at this bank. It was before I even joined the Cathexis4U. I was never much of a fighter, but I was always there to defend. If that makes sense.” She stopped and looked as Jason nodded. She took another cigarette from her pocket, and lit it as Ang squeezed in between them. She ruffled his hair again, and quickly lit the cigarette, taking a quick inhale.

She blew the smoke out as she went on with her story, “That bank was so dangerous. It was robbed regularly and I wasn’t sure why it even stayed where it was as long as it did. It was a school day. I remember that because I had pity for the young man that robbed us. He couldn’t have been more then 14, I’d have to say. He looked so confused with that gun in his hand. He was alone, and I was positive he had never held a gun before that day. He came to my desk, and pointed the gun at my head.” She paused for effect, taking another puff.

“There was nothing between his gun and my head as I pulled the money from my drawer. I could see directly into his eyes, I could see that fear. That uncertainty. I talked to him, like I would have talked to my own brother. I was always good at advice. He seemed to listen for a while, but for some reason he got riley. He turned to shoot at one of our customers, who thought it was a joke. I knocked the gun from his hand and I jumped on him. He didn’t fight me though. He just looked at me, and he cried.”

Her mind was brought back to that day. His name had been Bryan, and he had gotten into a lot of trouble over that. Not only had he robbed the bank, but the gun he had was stolen. She had fought hard with him the entire way, she wanted to save him from what only she could see as a life of crime. She took a puff of her cigarette.

“I guess, a lot of my misadventures are a battle of the mind as well.” She said with a blush, “I’m sure that’s not that kind of story you were expecting. Anyways. You tell me one of your ‘war’ stories.”

 

Jackson walked up to the conversing couple,

"Am i the only one who is concerned about the infiltration of our organization?" He looked at Gratia,"Just looking out." She didn't buy it by the reaction on her face he could tell she knew what he was doing.

"Does anyone have any ideas?"

 

Gratia looked over at Jackson and tossed her cigarette on the ground. She dug her heel into the cigarette, snuffing it out.

“I think our dilemma is at an end. Though if it’s not, we’ll be seeing that shortly, I’m sure. Maybe James was the only terrorist.”

She took another cigarette from her pocket, just playing with it in between her fingers as Jason began to speak.

"I think there are more out there that Sam isn't telling us about." He paused to inhale and exhale from his cigarette, "He seems like an untrustworthy person, I think."

She held her tongue as she had the instant impulse to snap at him, and tell him he was wrong. He wasn’t though. Samuel had lost her trust, no matter how much she cared for him. She got up from the bench, and grabbed Jason’s shoulder.

“Let’s take a walk.”

She walked forward, leaving the other two to talk it out amongst themselves. He followed behind until they were a few blocks down the sidewalk.

“I think you’re right. You haven’t seen the things he’s been doing to me. It makes me suspect someone else is pulling his strings.” She said in a whisper.

Jason whispered back, smiling. "Pulling his strings? Or doing it himself?"

She looked at him and bit her lip, “May be so, but these things…” she trailed off and thought of the gun to her head, “He said someone was making him get rid of me. It concerns me.”

"I've dealt with diplomats in the Gulf like this. Although I'm sure he's working with someone, I still think he's running the show." He paused for a moment, as if to speak.

"Unless." He trailed off, "Well, unless this is all just a ploy to separate us all."

“By breaking the trust between us all?” she asked.

"Think about it," he said using hand gestures. "We're the best there is and we're being pitted against each other like mad dogs."

He quickly added, “I don’t like it.”

She nodded and knew he was right.

“I have a talk due with Samuel. He has something important to tell me. After that, I think it’s time we had our own little chat with Samuel.”

"I think we should scope the area first." He said, "I'm sure Sam has got goons waiting day and night for anything like this to happen."

“So we just wait and watch?” she asked.

"When's your meeting?" he asked.

She looked at the time on her phone. “About thirty minutes.”

"Let's scope out the area now. See if we can find all the hiding spots. We're smart, we can find them."

She nodded and they took off towards the office in silence. As they turned the corner, just a block from the office they could hear the gunshots from behind them. They quickly fell to the ground as the bullets whizzed past them.

 

As Gratia got up he gave her a soft pat on the back and said,

"I'm gonna loaf around for a bit, get my thoughts together." She nodded silently and proceeded down the street.

Jackson knew that somebody had the answers and by the way Gratia had stormed into his office earlier led him to one conclusion, one of them knows something. He fidgeted in his pocket for a moment and then pulled out a small earpiece which he put in his right ear. HE switched it on and heard a conversation,

"...makes me suspect someone else is pulling his strings.” That was Gratia.

"Pulling his strings? Or doing it himself?" Jason's voice was a faint whisper in the background.

“May be so, but these things…he said someone was making him get rid of me. It concerns me.” Betrayal 101. Jack had always had the suspicion that Sam thought of them as disposable assets and he never liked it and now he finds out he was trying to kill Gratia. Hey! Dont make it personal! Just do what you know best.

“I have a talk due with Samuel. He has something important to tell me. After that, I think it’s time we had our own little chat with Samuel.” So to Samuel we must go. He pulled out the earpiece and began to walk down the street, when he heard the unmistakable sound of gunfire. He stood for a moment deciding. You know what you have to do and its not in that direction. #$%^ it! he moved towards the gunfire, pulling his collar up to conceal his face and a firm grip on his 9mm.