A/N: Hey people. First fanfic here. Scary stuff. Anyhoo. All characters are human, set in our world in our time. Unfortunately, Radarr has not been included in this story. I have added a longer synopsis because 384 letters isn't quite enough for me.

I do not own Storm Hawks in any way.

Atmos Defence Academy is not your regular high school. Sure, the students wear uniforms and the school has familiar subjects like languages, history, and science, but the curriculum also includes combat, weapons, and strategic defence. The purpose of this school is to produce high-calibre bodyguards and secret agents, ready for the field straight after graduation.

Seventeen-year-old Jacklyn is a feisty new student ready to challenge the world and be the best bodyguard there ever was. At least, that's what her file says. In truth, her real name is Kira, a former top student, who is undercover at the Headmaster's request due to a possible threat within the Academy's walls.

One particular school guild, Cyclonia, is under suspicion due to its cunning captain and creator, Cyclonis. As straightforward as the investigation should be, things complicate when the captain's charming right-hand man becomes more of a distraction than Kira's willing to admit.

As she digs through lies, betrayals, and devious schemes, Kira rediscovers the complex layers of high school hierarchy, the meaning of true friendship, and the cost of deception.

The car pulled to a stop.

"Really?" I said, looking out the window. "Why aren't I going in through another entrance? A less... exposed one?"

"I'm just following orders, Kira."

I sighed. "Great. Nothing better than hundreds of eyes on me."

"You've been through worse."

"That's most likely true, however nothing comes to mind."

"Denmark?"

I winced. "I so did not need a reminder of Denmark, Gabriel. Not at this moment."

"You'll breeze through this assignment. I don't know why you're so wound up about it. As soon as you exit the car, you become one of them, and nothing more. A student. Just another student at the great Atmos Defence Academy."

I flashed him a smile through the rear view mirror. "You and your gift of the gab. You always say the right thing, Gabriel. Good thing too, because you're hopeless at every other aspect of your job description."

I opened the car door and stepped onto the footpath. The bright light, strong smells and deafening noise almost had me toppling back into the car.

"Good god," I muttered. "High school. Again."

The Academy hadn't changed much and I found my legs walking themselves through the familiar corridors. There were many looks and stares from the surrounding students; some curious, some wary. I kept my gaze ahead, avoiding eye contact.

The Academy was originally a huge mansion owned by some rich guy in the early 1900s, until one of the headmasters knocked down and renovated most of the buildings. Everything had been rebuilt in the name of security. If the Academy had to go into lock down, it would suddenly transform into an impenetrable fort. I'd seen it happen before, once.

I started up a spiral staircase, the walls narrowing until it was only wide enough for one person. In the case of an attack, it limited the amount of space so only one-on-one combat could happen. No overpowering in numbers.

A door shut from somewhere above and footsteps followed. Despite the downlights keeping the staircase bright, he still seemed to appear from nowhere. Tall, dark hair, and pale. His eyes shot to mine as he stood above me.

Red, red eyes.

"Well this is awkward," he said.

I smiled tightly and tried to move around him. Only he went the same way.

I sighed. "You go your left, I go my left. Sound good?"

"No problem, sweetheart."

I turned side-on and shuffled passed him, my skin recoiling every time he made contact. Once I was past him, I almost sighed with relief.

"Wait."

I paused and, with an eye roll, turned around. "Yes?"

"You must be new here."

My eyebrows rose. "Very perceptive. Now if you don't mind..."

"Right." He wouldn't stop staring at me. "Good luck, then. You're going to need it."

I'd almost turned my back on him when I spun around again. "Excuse me?"

But he'd disappeared around the curve.

I stared at where he'd stood for a moment longer before focusing on the task at hand. Up, I told myself. Go up.

By the time I reached the door with the word "Headmaster" engraved in it in bold capital letters, my pulse and breath had stabilised. I knocked twice and opened the door.

Almost immediately I came face to face with the Headmaster's assistant, a young woman behind a desk who stared me down as I entered. I didn't recognise her; she was new, clearly. Her predecessor never looked up when someone entered yet he'd been impossible to get the upper hand on.

I approached the woman. "I'm here to see Headmaster Creed. I'm expected."

"Name?" She held her pen close to her face, not quite casual enough to hide the slight threat of it.

"I'm expected," I repeated.

She glanced at her list. "Sorry, no one by that name on here."

I counted to three in my head. When I met her gaze again, my smile held an edge to it. "Listen closely–" I looked at her name badge "–Linda, if you look at your boss's schedule you will find that there is a blank space at eight thirty. Fairly unusual for a person of such importance, don't you think?"

She shrugged, completely unfazed. "I'm still not letting you in."

She still held her pen up, and the nature of the gesture felt like a mosquito bite. Before I could make a move for the pen, the door behind her opened.

"Linda, she's expected." The woman was tall and rigid, her gaze drilling holes into anything that breathed. She was one hell of an intimidating figure.

Glaring at the assistant, I moved past her and into the headmaster's office. Once the door shut behind me, I waited for the imposing woman to return to a desk that put perfectionists to shame. It had everything you'd expect a desk would have: a computer, stationery, and paper. The difference was that every space was calculated, from the space between pencils to the space from the stack of paper to the edge of the desk.

It made me want to push the paper stack over and up end the rubbish bin on it.

"Have you done any paper work since I've been here? Because I swear it looks exactly the same."

She tutted. "I see your humour hasn't changed."

"You sound surprised."

"At least it suits you now. You've definitely changed otherwise since you were eleven."

"A lot can happen in six years."

She sat down behind the desk and gestured for me to take a seat. "So it can."

"Why am I here, Creed? You've been incredibly vague with your correspondence."

"I need your help, Kira. The Academy's not safe anymore, and I need someone to locate where the threat is coming from."

"Why can't you find it?"

"I've done all I can from where I sit, but I need someone on the inside. I'm fairly sure it's one of the students here, but I have no evidence of who it is or what the threat is."

"What makes you so sure there is a threat?"

Creed opened a desk drawer and pulled out a file. "This is your assignment. It has everything you need, including the clues and the tip off we've received."

"Someone tipped you off?"

She passed the file to me. "Just read it. It also includes your new identity. Temporary, of course."

I opened the file to find a recent picture of me staring back. "Jacklyn? Do I look like a Jacklyn?"

"I think you could look like anyone you wanted to."

"What about a last name? Why's that missing?"

Creed stood up and turned to pace behind her chair, her hands clasped behind her back. "Atmos Defence is a unique school, as you know. A lot has changed since you've been here. Student last names are no longer common knowledge; they all start their education here with their first names only, until they create their own names for themselves. You'll find that the oldest students won't use their real names anymore."

"Interesting."

"Students also carry around ID with them, as a confirmation that they are indeed a student here, so we'll need a new photo of you since you've changed your hair."

I tugged a strand of hair from my ponytail and twisted it between my fingers. "I was going for the blond beach babe look."

"So I see. But you might want to consider cutting your hair shorter. I've had any images of you removed from the Academy's walls, but anyone could remember a young girl with long dark hair."

I snorted. "Fine. Back to the assignment."

Creed turned to rest a hand on the back of her chair. "Since you left, the number of guilds here have doubled. One of them in particular may have connections to this threat, possibly the guild captain and her closest allies."

I flipped through the file. "The guild's name is Cyclonia? Where'd they get a name like that?" I read on. "Oh, right. Guild captain... Cyclonis. I must admit that the students here now are far more creative than before."

"Flip the page," said Creed.

I did so and froze.

"Do you recognise him?"

"Uh..." I cleared my throat. "Yes. I met him on the staircase on my way here. Wait, so he's a suspect?"

"Indeed. He's Cyclonis's right-hand man. He's proven his loyalty to her countless times, almost concluding in his own expulsion once."

"Sounds intense."

"Kira, on another note: I know you can blend in well, but you must be warned of a few things first. These students are not morons." She hesitated. "At least ninety-eight percent of them, anyway. Do not slip up in front of them, because they will piece it together eventually. Also, there are three main forms of fighting taught here: hand-to-hand, firearms, and blades. Here, the experts are nicknamed masters; our top students have mastered no more than two each."

"So I'm guessing a master of three would stand out?"

"Yes. Choose one form only."

I groaned.

She continued pacing. "Don't start being childish now, Kira. You'll need all your focus for your new identity."

I shut the file, taking in a deep breath. "So basically, I'm to find the threat, infiltrate it, and report back to you. Am I to take action against it?"

"No. Report back first."

"What if I'm short for time and have to deactivate a bomb? Do I still report back first?"

Creed's eyes sliced through me. "I have a separate room prepared for you, but tomorrow night you will resume the life of a student here and share a room with another. Linda will show you where your room is. You're dismissed."

I stood with the file in hand, and mock-saluted her with my other. "Good to see you again, Auntie Creed."

"You too, Kira."

A/N: I love constructive feedback. If there's something you think really works or something that really doesn't, please speak up. Comments are the best, because it means someone read it. :)