This is a restart of my Splinter Cell story. The initial version, Splinter Cell : The Fall has been scrapped but I have retained the original storyline. Splinter Cell Double Agent is a fan fiction based on the new segment of the Splinter Cell saga, and was intended for a 'mission' on Spyring, a fansite for SCDA. Thank you to those who have read my earlier story and reviewed it. I appreciate your comments. Please be reminded that the storyline is original and loosely-based on the actual plot, so do not base the story on the game or vice versa. Now here's presenting the prologue.
The pistol was placed in his palm. For once, he felt the cold metal of the grip.
"Go on. Do it." The raspy voice reminded him.
Sam looked straight ahead, staring into the two black eyes of the man he had known for ten years. A man who had given him this sickening job which most of the time screwed his life, but in the end was still his best friend.
The man said nothing as he stared down the barrel of the .45, but his eyes said it all.
"Do it, Sam. That's your job."
Emile was getting impatient. "Hurry up! What are you waiting for? You've been through this for six times now. What's wrong this time?"
Moss cut in. "I'm telling you boss. He's been lying ever since he joined us."
"Shut up! Don't tell me your records are clean as well. Jamie's telling me you've been transferring money to your foreign accounts."
"That's bullshit!" the muscular man clenched his gloved fists and threatened Washington, "You fucking specky, don't make me break your guts."
"Enough!" Emile roared. Everyone was taken aback because the old man seldom raised his voice. "When this shit's done, I want both of you in my office."
"Now Fisher, can you please don't keep us waiting."
He had killed six civilians, and he pulled the trigger on each and every one of them without hesitation. But this time it was totally different. This man was part of his screwed life – he was the only person other than Grim who knew his true identity. And the only senior person in the NSA he could trust.
Now he was tied up to a chair waiting for a bullet to be lodged in his forehead.
Sam closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He had to do it, or else both of them would be dead.
"Kill him, and you still save thousands." He tried to convince himself.
"Don't do it, Sam!" another voice rang in his head. It was not his but more feminine.
"Grim?" Sam blurted out.
"What are you talking about, Fisher?" Everyone in the room was surprised to hear Sam mention an irrelevant word amidst the high tension.
"Sam, do not shoot Lambert. There is another way out of there." Third Echelon's technical advisor spoke via the implants in Sam's neck and ear.
Sam knew he could not reply – all eyes were onto him.
Just then, one of the JBA technicians came bursting into the room. "Emile, we're picking up encrypted signals entering the compound."
Emile's expression changed. "Isn't this facility secure?"
"Yes, but this is a new string of codes. It must have found a way to get past our firewall."
Moss certainly smelt trouble, for he immediately drew his pistol and aimed at Fisher. "Game's over, you bald jerk."
"Moss, put that gun down!" Emile ordered. The JBA boss was still confused by the sudden chain of events.
"Goddamn it Emile. He is one of them, can't you see? The NSA's talking to him right now!"
Sam felt a sudden rush of blood to his head. The stakes now were just as high as playing a game of cards with the Mafia with five aces in hand. His gun was still aimed at the Third Echelon boss but it began to tremble.
Emile glared at the new member of the JBA who had earned his trust since he joined the organization months ago. "Put the gun down, Moss" he repeated without looking away from Sam.
"Goddamn you, Emile!"
And the first shot was fired.