Little Phoenix (The Census Book 1)

by Willow Dean

  Her expression hardens as she pales slightly. A look of cold determination passing over her face.

  “We believe they’re all working for the same people. That people, most likely being Archanine. There’s simply no evidence to confirm our suspicions. We investigated the leads, but each one came up empty. Not one of them ever used the names of their superiors or discussed anything of importance out in the open. Unless we can gain access to one of their compounds and infiltrate, it’s going to be like finding a needle in a haystack.”

  “What about Trick and Lachlan? It’s clear they believe this is all related to Archanine, but what’s the link? How do they know?” Well, at least it’s not just me who is noticing the inconsistencies. “They must surely know something about Archanine if they have been pitted against them for years. Lachlan definitely does.”

  Leave it to Mila to have them all figured out before any of us did. Like I said, the girl is far too observant for her own good.

  “The way that he reacted when Linc told me about Archanine for the first time, that wasn’t normal. Trick and Kaye weren’t exactly open to talking when I asked about it either. Kaye nearly revealed something to me, had it not been for that asshole,” she growls. A couple of snickers sound at the apt description of her bio dad.

  “They wouldn’t tell me anything. It’s obvious they know who and why, they just aren’t willing to share, but why? What’s so bad that they can’t share it with other agents in their organization. An organization that deals in espionage for a living and makes everyone swear fealty and secrecy?” Mila directs her musings out to the group.

  The thought had crossed my mind too and it makes even more sense after what I overheard today. My mind flits back to their conversation. It’s glaringly evident that the two organizations are linked, most likely through these testings that they were discussing today.

  We are just missing the crucial piece of information that is essential in connecting the dots.

  “I don’t disagree. What we know at present, is that Archanine are an extensive crime syndicate that deals in black market activities. After this mission, we need to investigate further, but we need to do so with caution. Trick specifically ordered us off this case and Lachlan had no say in the matter. If either of them catch wind of what we are doing, who knows what the consequences will be. We need to maintain a low profile and cover our tracks. Every move needs to be faultless. For now though, let’s just focus on completing the mission successfully.”

  Met with nods of agreement, I take a long swig of water and close my eyes. Relaxing back into the armchair, I bring two fingers to massage the bridge of my nose as a headache starts to develop.

  I hear Linc say he’s going to start dinner as the others discuss what movie to put on. When a set of small hands encase my shoulders, I jump, before relaxing as they start massaging away gently. Letting my shoulders drop, I rest my head back and enjoy the attention.

  All leaders need rest and recuperation, right?!

  “Thank you, Rick. I know this must be hard on you. You carry all of our stress and worries and never once complain. Let us take care of you for once,” Mila’s soothing voice wraps me in a warm embrace. A soft kiss to my forehead has my body unfurling and sinking deeper into the soft comforts of the armchair.

  A hand replaces the bottle of water in my hand with a cool bottle of beer as my feet are lifted onto a futon and my shoes removed. Usually I would protest. I don’t want to be pandered to like a pretty little princess, but I’m too tired to care.

  My body is exhausted from all the late nights, meetings and prep for the upcoming mission, on top of college and protection for Mila and all the other investigations we’ve been leading. These last couple of weeks have been insane. Everything has finally come to a head.

  Five minutes is all I need just to detach and allow myself a little peace before the hard work really begins.

  Oh, the joys of being the boss.

  40 Mila

  “Alpha Phoenix, checking in, do you copy?”

  “Whisky Foxtrot Monkey, copy that,” Micah replies, exuding his boundless energy.

  After having to decide on call signs, we decided that team leads would carry our team name and their call sign, anyone below would carry the denotation of White Fox, as Micah likes to call it. That’s also when we all came to learn, very quickly, that checking in is now Micah’s favorite part of mission prep.

  Before you ask…he didn’t like the idea of being called Mike, hence Monkey.

  “Whisky Foxtrot Lemur, copy that.” Comes Linc’s quiet reply.

  “Switching to the team channel. Alpha Phoenix, checking in. Do you copy?” There’s a brief sound of static before my call is returned.

  “Whiskey Foxtrot Romeo, copy that. We hear you loud and clear. Status?”

  “The twins are in place. Confirmed support team ETA, two minutes. Brief to commence once they are on site. Comms and tech checked. All systems go. Status?”

  I hear Rick’s chuckle down the line. “Alpha Phoenix, you realize I’m still in command?”

  “Copy that. However, no matter who is in charge, every situation should be looked over by at least two pairs of eyes to minimize casualties. Plus, it’s meant to be Alpha Juliett on the receiving line, not you,” I gently chastise, a smile tipping my lips at the sound of Micah’s laughter from across the parking lot behind me.

  He took great pleasure in Jax being referred to as Juliett. Jax being Jax, didn’t give a crap. It’s all part of the job for him.

  “What’s your status?” Waiting for his reply, I’m surprised when Jax’s voice comes over the comms in his stead.

  I can’t help but snicker at the vision of a fiercely pouting Rick as he hands over temporary command to Jax. I mustn’t be far mistaken, as when Jax’s voice filters in my ear, it’s full of repressed mirth.

  “Alpha Juliett, receiving. Strategic thinking Alpha Phoenix, well done.” I blush at his praise and clear my throat. “Whiskey Foxtrot Romeo and Alpha are in place. No back up required. Minimal security and combatants. Backup on stand-by with an ETA of less than ninety seconds. Comms and tech sufficient. Continue on schedule, over.”

  “Alpha Phoenix, copy that. Stand by for the go-ahead.” Without waiting for a reply, I switch over to my team’s channel and head towards the twins who are doing final checks on their equipment in the surveillance van.

  Three SUV’s enter the deserted parking lot we currently occupy. Doors open and close in quick succession before a mixture of men and women meander over, all decked out to the nines. Some I’ve seen around the campus, but most are new faces. All are experienced agents. No new cadets.

  I wonder how they’ll react when I take charge?!

  I guess we shall find out soon enough.

  The twins notice the increase in numbers and climb out of the van to stand on either side of me like sentries. Stepping up into the threshold of the van to get a little height on everyone, I cast my eyes over the group and do a quick head count.

  “Listen up!” I wait until I have everyone’s undivided attention before I begin. “You will be split into the four teams allocated. Each of you will run a comms check with me and confirm your attack points and objectives, then pair up to perform equipment checks. We want a smooth run people. No molly-coddling or hesitation. In and out, clean as a whistle. Nothing more. Nothing less.”

  Taking the silence as my cue to continue, I command the first team forward as my heart jumps in my throat. This whole situation is a teeny-weeny bit different, and a lot more difficult to coordinate, than your average college basketball game.

  I’ve never once directed a team this large or for this purpose before, obviously, but I’m up for the challenge. Hopefully they didn’t notice the slight tremor in my voice when I addressed them. That wouldn’t be the best of starts.

  An effective leader must be decisive and have a tough exterior. Showing little compromise unless necessary.

  Looks like I’m going to be in need of those
skills already.

  Initially, the first team seems reluctant to comply. Simply standing there, they glare at me, assessing and calculating. I don’t back down. Instead, I casually tilt my chin higher and tighten my hands that are clasped behind my back, staring them down with authority and intent.

  Hesitantly, one of the larger guys -who appears to be the leader- steps forward. Each of his team follows until I have four, very large and intimidating guys, standing at my feet.

  There’s a joke in there somewhere!

  Each of them is nearly as tall as me, despite the slight height advantage offered by the van. Clearly, they don’t think I amount to much either as all four of them fix me with a menacing and disapproving glare.

  Ignoring their looks, I keep my face straight and impassive. “Repeat your entry point and objective,” I command.

  Warmth pools in my chest as I hear Dad’s encouraging words from when we played soldiers.

  “Show them no weakness, Pumpkin. You’re in charge now. Show them who's boss and never back down!”

  “Basement stairs. Clear the floor and prevent exit from that point,” he drawls spitefully. Urgh, this is going to get exhausting really quick if all I have to do is continually hold myself back from nutting everyone.

  The clearing of a throat and a snicker comes from either side of me. Micah and Linc are both looking anywhere but at the team in front of me, who now sport very red and angry faces. What’s got up their asses?

  You know what...I don’t care. I don’t have time for their pettiness.

  “Comms check. One. Two. Three.” Watching the monitors for the feedback response, everything seems in perfect working order. Each of them responds back through my headset, seemingly heard loud and clear. “You’re good. Complete your equipment inspection and head back over the meeting point,” I instruct dryly.

  The team doesn’t move for a second, only snapping out of their stupor when their leader slowly inclines his head in my direction and leaves. The rest of his team following in tow.

  Sighing, I hold back an eye roll. This is going to get very tiring, very quickly, if I have to quell or ward off insubordination at every turn. Thankfully, none of the other teams offer any resistance.

  After repeating the checks with each team, satisfied they each know their entry points and objectives, I reopen the com line.

  “Alpha Phoenix, ready to infiltrate. Do you copy?”

  “Alpha Juliett, permission to infiltrate in T-minus three minutes. Do you copy?”

  “Alpha Phoenix, roger that. Infiltration commencing in T-minus three minutes.” Knowing my response was Jax’s cue, I synch my watch as I finish my sentence. “Switching to closed comms. Cut loose. Over and out.”

  I don’t know who thought of it, but ‘cut loose’ is apparently our team’s barbaric version of good luck. I busted up laughing when the guys said it before our first practice sim.

  It didn’t make an ounce of sense to me at first. Although, after they explained it to me, everything fell easily into place.

  They chose that phrase specifically because each of them, myself included, harbors repressed feelings of revenge and retribution that were brought about by past experiences. They utilise the phrase as a way of releasing the pain and anger they so tightly hold onto, in order to use it for something more positive.

  “Alpha Juliett, cut loose. Going radio silent.” The line cuts off as I switch to the team channel and authorize infiltration for my team.

  My team.

  Yikes, that holds a lot more weight than I thought it would!

  The whole prospect of leading my very own team was daunting at first. Realizing that I was supposed to head up such a large team on my first mission, a very important mission at that, it was safe to say I had been bricking it.

  Now that I’m actually here though, it just feels…right. I suppose it makes sense. Not only did my non-bio mum and dad have a similar life to mine, once upon a time, but they also brought me up with this future in mind.

  They knew that when the time came, I would be able to take up this position, instilled with all of the knowledge and traits that this role would require of me.

  It’s obvious I was meant to lead. The urge to lead runs in my blood after all. With my biological parents actually running the organization and my non-biological parents working by their side years prior, I really had no chance at a normal life. No matter how hard Mum and Dad tried to steer me otherwise.

  All of the teams head down the street to get in position as I situate myself in the van. Settling down, I check the views of all fourteen body cams and those that Linc and Micah have managed to place around the perimeter on their recon runs.

  One of the four teams will be holding the perimeter whilst the other three teams cover the only three entry points. The twins are acting independently for this mission, aiming to infiltrate and disperse, placing more cameras as they go.

  “Delta one in position.”

  “Delta three in position.”

  “Delta four in position.”

  “Whiskey Foxtrot Lemur in position.”

  “Whiskey Foxtrot Monkey in position.” I can’t help but shake my head at the jovial and energetic nature of Micah’s voice when he says his call sign.

  Accompanied by the memory of the little victory dance he did when we allowed him the name change, the nerves that continue to churn in my chest like a provoked vipers nest ease. Even now, without being physically present, Micah is able to lighten my mood.

  “Delta two in position.”

  “Alpha Phoenix, copy that. All teams in position. Commence operation in T-minus seventeen seconds.” A round of confirmations sound out as I scrutinize each of the cameras in detail until the timer reaches zero. “Commence infiltration.”

  I watch on as everyone jumps into action. Micah and Linc race ahead from opposite ends of the compounds, stealthily moving from shadow to shadow through the corridors. Their aim is to place hidden cameras as they bypass the security patrols. Allowing me further viewable access to the compound.

  “Lemur, in position. Status update.”

  “Phoenix, awaiting confirmation of status from Monkey. Stand by for command.”

  Switching my attention to Micah’s feed, I find him holed up in a storage cupboard waiting for a patrol to pass. Taking control of the camera he placed further down the hall, I survey the group.

  Seemingly none the wiser, none of them appear to want to move on anytime soon. Stopping right outside the storage cupboard, one of them leans up against the door as they strike up a conservation.

  Turning my attention to hacking the mainframe and security system, I manage to penetrate their fire walls in less than a minute and turn all the cameras on loop.

  Hopefully we’ll have everything wrapped up before they realize.

  Locating the coding for the comm system, I redirect the signal through an extra system I already had prepared that prevents them from communicating with their command center and any external sources. Essentially, directing everything through me.

  Surfing through the personnel files, I find the two I’m looking for. Initiating the voice modulator, I isolate the voice patterns I’ll need. Achieving all of that in less than ninety seconds, I give myself a quick mental pat on the back as I proceed to the next stage.

  “Dawson, get your ass over to lab one. You and your team are covering. The labbies are reporting a glitch in one of the machines.”

  “And that is my problem, how exactly?” His slimy reply already grates heavily on my nerves, making me very grateful I don’t have to deal with him on a daily basis.

  I’m just thankful I read him properly, or else that order could have been disastrous.

  “Are you questioning orders?” With an eager eye, I watch as Dawson’s face turns bright red. His need to not submit, warring with his common sense.

  As I wait for him to answer, I formulate a virus that quickly infects the labbies tech system causing one of the machines to break down. Glanc
ing at the compound cams, it’s easy to see the moment they realize they’ll have to get into the center of the machine to reach the console panel. Of course, being labbies, they have no muscle, so they put the call out for assistance.

  Deftly switching over to their channel, I inform them help is on the way.

  “Dawson,” I bark, taking pleasure in startling him. “They need muscle to move some of the equipment. One of the machines is down and they need to get in to fix it. Now get your ass over there before I have to come down there myself!”

  “Fine,” he snarls, reluctantly informing the group he’s with before storming off down the corridor, grumbling all the way. I wait until they’re clear of the corridor before switching comm stations. “Monkey, you are clear to progress.”

  “Copy that.”

  Micah makes it the rest of the way without issue, and once he’s in position, I clear the rest of our team for infiltration. Each team moves fluidly and with precision.

  Inside of eight minutes, we have everything wrapped up with the team manning the perimeter heading in to help with the clear up. Only minor casualties on our side. Each team sends a member back to me to help retrieve the SUV’s.

  Driving back to the compound, we are just pulling up as the distress signal in the back of the van sounds. Heart thundering in my chest, I throw open the doors, switch comms and scour our cameras.

  “Alpha Phoenix, do you copy?!” Urgency is rife in Jax’s voice.

  I reply as my eyes flit across our screens, making sure everything is as it should be. “Copy that, Alpha Juliett.”

  “One subject fled and was seen making contact with someone before we lost him. Keep you-” I stop listening as movement on one of the cameras catches my attention.

  All detainees and members of my team are currently gathered in the cafeteria, patiently waiting on us to return with transport. For whatever reason, no one is guarding the only entrance in or out of the cafeteria. Despite me having left one of them with strict instructions to do so.