Jane

Standing alone in a transport meant for dozens of agents, Jane held onto a handle at the ceiling of the interior. She gripped her Aero SMG in her other hand tightly. Whoever those fraudulent Prime Swords were, she would find answers. Failing that, she would simply kill them and deal with the consequences later. These intruders had no business interfering with the Combat Games, let alone any operations conducted by the Alpha Corp.

Jane had asked for the same topographic map used by the computer terminals to be transferred to her HUD along with the drop off point chosen by the fake Prime Sword team. The transport began slowing and Jane could feel the aircraft slowly make its descent down into the desolate forest.

The door of the transport cracked open and lowered itself. Jane walked toward the opening and hopped down, landing down thirty-eight meters onto the land below through numerous trees.

The moment her boots hit the ground, she put her enhanced speed to use and speed through the forest. Jane knew she didn’t have the time or patience to track these Prime Swords through studying footprints in the soil so she had scanned the armor data on the dead agents and was now tracking them through waypoints attached to each of the imposters.

She found it hard to believe that these intruders could gain access to three additional suits of armor to disguise themselves, which let to Jane’s only conclusion. These intruders were using a camouflage technique nicknamed stolen projection.

Such technology could scan another person’s appearance and replicate their image to perfection, allowing the user to appear as whoever the tech just scanned. The perfect tool to use for intel gathering or subterfuge.

It had been a long while since she operated in a natural landscape. Most of her mission had been conducted in cities where she could take advantage of the concealing herself in alleyways and buildings. Out here in the wilderness, she knew as fast as she was, she would get spotted by all the other nearby teams. Even if any of them tried shooting her, she could safely ignore them thanks to her energy shields.

Jane raced past trees and bulldozed her way through low shrubs and bushes without slowing down. Her perception and reaction times allowed her to swerve and weave through the various trees that stood in her way.

Her HUD began filling up with notifications of numerous calls. The names of the two executives she tried reaching to rectify this situation appeared in her peripheral vision. But now it was too late for talk. She had boots on the ground and would solve this problem her way. These same suits have allowed the tournament to proceed even with these intruders using the perfect images of the three Prime Sword they murdered to keep up the charade. She had no clue what purpose they had in being here at the Combat Games.

Regardless of their goals here, Jane would freeze them in their tracks.

The same two executives repeatedly tried reaching her and her HUD became cluttered with the names of these execs trying to initiate private channels with her. She ignored all of them.

One name finally appeared on her HUD that caused her to hesitate, almost causing her to run face first into a tree.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Michael Cynosa.

Jane contemplated whether to ignore him as well. But she knew that this was the man who had taught her everything she knew now. Out of respect for her mentor and superior, she would listen to him and then resume her chase.

Though more than likely, she would continue as planned.

She lept into the air and then planted her feet into soil, her momentum sending her boots dragging into the ground before she came to a complete stop. Jane accepted Michael's request and his voice filled her mind.

“My star agent,” Michael said casually. “So anything exciting happening with you?”

“You can cut the pleasantries with me Michael,” Jane said. “Get straight down to business.”

“I can’t have a chat with my best student?”

When Jane didn’t respond to Michael’s feigned friendliness, he finally dropped it.

“Well Jane, the executives have been hounding me to pull rank on you and to put a stop to what you’re about to do. I gathered you’re crashing the broadcast of the Combat Games. You know, you should really let the younger generation get a chance at the spotlight. Your face is already well known enough, don’t you agree?”

“You know that’s not what this is about,” Jane said coldly. “We have infiltrators who have murdered three innocent Prime Swords and taken their appearance. Now they’re masquerading as tier ones with unknown intentions. I’m going to deal with them before they proceed any further.”

Jane heard Michael sigh on the call. “Some things never change.”

“Sometimes they don’t have to,” she spat. “If you have a problem with how I’m going about this, then the conversation ends here.”

“Jane, the executives and Combat Games staff are already aware of the situation. We have agents and other units mobilized to catch these interlopers. There was no need for you to interfere.”

“I’m here and I am. Those infiltrators were the team that Dan’s team have encountered numerous times. My team is in danger and I won’t sit by and let them potentially get killed by these intruders. Did you consider that the other young agents competing are also at risk as long as they share the same arena as these unknown trio of outsiders?”

Michael didn’t respond immediately, but when he did, his response was not what she expected.

“I was ordered to go in and stop you, but I think I’ll just let this play out. I think this will work in the Alpha Corp’s favor and maybe your appearance in the broadcast for the battle royale boost viewership and ratings,” he said.

“And how did you plan on stopping me?” Jane said, curious as to how Michael planned on preventing her from accomplishing her goal.

“Jane, you are aware of the power difference against a tier three and tier four agent. Even with your level of power, it would be folly for you to take me on directly,” Michael stated. “Besides, I’ll just tell the bosses that they can just explain your appearance as a wildcard added as an additional obstacle to the contestants.”

While Jane was glad Michael wasn’t going to directly interfere with her mission to deal with the intruders, she rolled her eyes at his pitch to the higher ups. And sadly, she knew theft would eat it up.

The Alpha Corp was desperate for more recruits in preparation for the rumored invasion of the Dead Zone, the nebulous home territory of the Church of Nano-Evolution. The past few Combat Games tournaments were never this desperate for viewership.

“As for Dan Orion, I’m sure he’ll be fine. That boy is strong and capable for being a newbie.”

“Let’s hope he doesn’t have to test that when he encountered those Prime Swords again,” Jane said. “Just remember, if you do anything to get in my way, I will show no mercy.”

The more experienced agent responded to Jane’s threat with a chuckle. “Of course. Michael out.”