“Hey Cariño, are you listening to me?” Aunt Martina said as she handed her niece, Ariadna, a drink.
Ariadna was at her auntie’s home for her routine weekly catch up. Since she joined The Enhanced Beings Collective, the routine had changed their catch up days to Sunday, much to Ariadna’s initial reluctance.
“Sorry, I got a text from Ferris.”
Aunt Martina beamed at Ariadna. “I’m so proud of you my little Ari! And I’m just really pleased you have Ferris to work with. What does he say?”
Ariadna looked blankly at her aunt. “He’s been sent on a G7 job so he won’t be around for today or tomorrow.”
“Oooh ok, what does that mean for you then? Do you go out by yourself? Do you feel ok about this?”
“No.”
“No, you don't go out by yourself or no you don't feel ok?"
"I feel ok."
"Well, alright. So what will happen then? With you?”
“Ferris said that we’ll only ever work together, so if he is away with the G7 then I won’t be by myself.”
“Oh good. Ok. Well, enough work chat. What else have you been up to?” Martina sat down with her own drink.
“I got a ticket to see an ABBA tribute band next month.”
A knowing smile crept over Martina's face. “Is it BABA again?”
“Yes.”
“Awh!” her aunt chuckled. “You like them don’t you?”
“Yes.” Ariadna only ever went to gigs by herself. Aunt Martina gave up asking if she could tag along with her, but she was just happy that Ariadna was comfortable enough to go alone. No matter how loud the music was, ABBA songs never made her go into her formerly named 'rage' mode.
***
“Ariadna, sorry to call you late on a Sunday, but thank you for coming in. Were you busy?” Amber asked.
“Yes I was.”
“Ok, well I appreciate your trip in. I just wanted to check in with you after yours and Ferris’ job last week.” Amber Hamilton invited Ariadna to sit in the seat opposite her at her desk. “The Secretary informed me of what happened. It went well, right?”
“Yes it did.”
“Except... it was unfortunate that you let Kyle McCann go?” Ariadna was confused by the inflection in her voice, suggesting she was asking a question, but the words she used stated a fact.
“Yes we did. He was able to keep cloning himself and when there were so many clones, it was hard to find the original and every time we got rid of one clone there were more in their place. Ferris said he didn’t have the mental strength to keep fighting.”
“Oh. He said that did he? I kind of expect my heroes to do whatever it takes…” Amber grumbled. “Oh well. Luckily for you and me, Intelligence have traced Kyle McCann down and so I need you to actually bring him in this time.” Amber handed Ariadna a file over the desk but she didn’t take it.
“I don’t go out without Ferris. We’re a team.”
Amber thrust the file again at Ariadna. “I get that… but he’s in Norway at the moment and because you’ve already come across Kyle and didn’t bring him in, I thought you’d like another chance to do your job for me. Think of it as you owing me.” Panic swept over Ariadna as she considered having to go by herself. “Budge and Nauyerdunt will be going with you too, so you won’t be alone.”
“Them?” It could have been the Queen of Sheeba going with her, it wasn't Ferris and this didn't make her feel any better.
“Yes. Them. They’re more than capable and I can count on them to get the job done where others… haven’t managed.”
“I don’t know them and no one here likes them except you.”
Amber was a bit taken aback by Ariadna’s response. “Well, that's kind of a bit 'tough shit', Ariadna." She snapped. "I’m afraid that I’m giving the orders and I’ve given you one and that involves working with who I say you will.” Amber thrust the file at Ariadna again, who reluctantly took it this time. “Patty-Sue, Jamison and a GRAB Team are expecting you in an hour at the hangar. And I’m expecting you to get Kyle into custody. Ok?”
“Sure.”
Ariadna got up to leave.
“And Ariadna? Thank you for coming in on a Sunday to do this.”
Ariadna wasn’t a good judge of emotions but she was pretty sure that Amber’s smile wasn’t a genuine one.
***
Ariadna nervously approached Patty-Sue and Jamison stood in front of their jet.
“Hey there honey,” Patty-Sue said in her southern twang. “Are you ready to go?”
“Yes.”
“Alrightee then, let’s get a-moving.”
“Will you fit?” Ariadna innocently and impulsively asked as the former champion speed eater started to board the jet. Patty-Sue shot her a raised eyebrow that said she was offended, whilst Jamison started laughing.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
“What, like how your foot just fit in your mouth?” he asked.
Ariadna frowned. Foot in mouth? My foot wasn’t in my mouth and wouldn’t fit. Patty-Sue ignored Ariadna and headed up the jet ramp with heavy stomps.
“She gets upset when people mention her size,” Jamison said out of Patty-Sue’s range.
“But she’s enormous,” Ariadna stated. “Surely if she didn’t like it then she shouldn’t have been doing those eating competitions.”
“I can hear you still, you know?!” Patty-Sue yelled out from inside the jet.
“It doesn’t matter Ariadna, she just doesn’t like it.”
“Ok, fine.”
***
The flight took them to the Florida Everglades where Intelligence had pinpointed Kyle McCann to.
Little conversation was had between the three as they headed South East, except to discuss their plan.
Nauyerdunt was to sneak in whilst invisible and secure the lone and solo original Kyle before the GRAB Team went in. Budge and Justicia were there as back up, but with their plan, not much could go wrong.
Budge made sure she sat nestled up close to Justicia just to make her feel uncomfortable, and as soon as the jet came in to land, the squashed Justicia was up and off as fast as she could, much to Budge’s amusement.
Kyle McCann was holed up in a small wooden hunters cabin deep in the Everglades, seemingly unaware of what was to come.
Nauyerdunt went in first, whilst in a circle formation around the property a hundred metres away were Justicia, Budge and the GRAB Team.
As time went by, Justicia had to keep shifting and pulling the fabric of her suit away from her skin, the heat causing her great discomfort. She swatted away a few flies and waited impatiently for word from Nauyerdunt.
She didn’t have track of the time, but it felt like ages, which was not helped my the muggy heat and lack of breeze. This went on to the point that Justicia had to sit down and slump against the tree she was waiting behind. Sweat dripped down her forehead and it felt like it was filling her suit. What was taking so long?
She heard some rustling on the ground near her, getting louder and louder, but as she became more disorientated, she found herself unable to react in time.
Nauyerdunt blinked into sight in front of her. “What are you doing here?” he asked her.
“Wh- huh? I’m waiting for the signal.” Justicia wearily picked herself up with the help of the tree trunk.
“We’ve already been in and out now. Why weren’t you listening?” he demanded.
She frowned. She was listening. She was waiting. “I was. No one said anything. I’ve been here in this heat waiting,” Justicia shot back defensively.
“Luckily we didn’t need much help and Budge was able to step up. Perhaps you’re not fit for the field. Look at you.”
“I am fit. I passed every test I was made to take. And we're in the Everglades. There are no mirrors here to look at me.”
“Then maybe you’re just shit at the job..? Anyway. We’re going back to the jet. You should come if you want a ride home.”
He blinked away out of sight. Justicia felt a strong feeling of unjust rise through her, and ripped her visor and headset off in frustration.
At the jet, Budge was already sat in her seat waiting. “Nice for you to join us, cupcake,” she said.
“I didn’t hear anything Budge. I was still waiting for the signal.”
“Well it was given plenty of times. But never mind. Kyle McCann is in custody so Ms Hamilton’ll be happy about that at least.”
"Just like that?" Justicia asked.
"Yup, see sweetie, we know what we're doing," Budge said.
"I do too. You just didn't give me the cha-"
"It's done now. Don't worry yourself," Nauyerdunt interjected. He turned away from Justicia. "At least not until Amber finds out," he muttered under his breath.
But Justicia heard.
***
“I had no choice Ferris. I didn’t want to go!”
“No, I know. I’m just pissed because they shouldn't have sent you. The rule is not without me. I'm not pissed at you, so don’t worry. You’re good. ”
“Well, except if they write me up to Amber for not helping them when I couldn’t hear anything, then I’m not good.”
Ferris frowned. “Was your gear faulty? Already? Let me see it.”
Ariadna passed it to Ferris. “I didn’t use mine. They gave me a different one to be in sync with theirs.”
Ferris frowned again. “But yours was made to be in sync with everyone’s. Theirs shouldn’t be any different to ours.” Ariadna just shrugged. He turned it over in his fingers. “Yeah, this is the same as our regular communicators.”
“Why did they give me a different one then?”
“And why didn’t it work?” he pondered. “Leave it with me, I’ll make sure you don’t get into trouble.”
“Good.”
“No, ‘thank you’ is what you’re looking for,” Ferris corrected, with a grin on his face.
“Oh right. Thank you. I owe you one.”