In the helicopter, everyone was silent. They had all been briefed the day before on what they were to do, and how to use the parachutes, so no one really had any need to talk. Vin sat across from me, face blank and unreadable, but I could imagine what was going on underneath that scruffy blonde hair.
When we jumped out of the helicopter, no one screamed or hooted. My team was professional and silent, blank aced even though this was their first real mission, I would have liked to take them on a few missions before this one, but I just never got around to it.
Touch down happened exactly 3.24 minutes after we exited the aircraft. We re-folded our parachutes and stored them within the leaf litter outside the boundary fence of the CIA main headquarters. We probably didn't need to be as stealth as we were, but it was better to be safe than sorry. Macbeth had eyes everywhere, even in the resistance, but no one really did anything about them, less we tip Macbeth off that we know of them. She thinks she is in total control, and we wanted to keep it that way.
We cut through the fence and snuck in, crawling across the grass. Night had fallen harder and faster than we had expected it to, but we used it to our advantage, sneaking with the shadows and remaining totally silent.
With Vin close behind me, I raced across the vast field that separated us from the main building, my team following swiftly.
When we reached the second barrier fence, the one that they had around the main building, my tech expert, Davey, shorted out the electricity as soon as he did, I flicked a switch on my watch. "We have 1 minute before security re-boots the fence, let's go." I whisper, turning and cutting through the fence with my pliers. I crawl through first, then Davey, Carol, Sam, Jessie and finally, Vin. We run to the door, that, if the map Trixie pulled up was right, lead us into the main power switch. We ran in and locked the door behind us, flicking on the light switch. Davey started fiddling, trying to find the switch that controlled the alarms in the air vents. We had a specific path to take, and little time to take it. My breathing was calm though my breathing was anything but. The vents; I knew what that meant, even though no one else did. This next part of the mission, I hadn't briefed anyone on.
"Got it," Davey whispered, giving me the thumbs up. I smile my approval and he blushes. He's so adorable, like a little brother to me.
We turn off the lights and run out the door and around the building till we get to the vent opening. Crawling in we all make a bee line to our sixth check point, the main cooler. This is a large square room, with four large air coolers in the centre and a path around them, for maintenance purposes. We have to take the third exit of twenty; it leads us to Vin's parents section. When we get there we are to follow the corridors until we get to the investigatory offices. Then from there we silently scope out the people, try to identify Vin's parents, tell them what's going on, then exit the building subtly.
But that's not what's going to happen, no, Vin's not going anywhere past the sith check point, neither are any of my crew.
We get to the sith check point, and, as if reading my mind, Vin taps my shoulder as my team check the alarms on Davey's phone.
"You ok, Zero? You seem distant… You're usually so much more hyped on missions." He whispers.
"I'm fine Vin; just go have a look at the alarms with the others." I say, trying to get him distracted so I can get away without them.
"No, I'm going to stay here with you," He says, almost like he expects me to do something without him. Damn, Vin, too clever for your own good. Looks like I'm not going to get away quietly, which sucks, but, I WILL get away.
"Zero, what are you planning?" He asks, anger lacing his curious voice.
"What on earth do you mean, Vinnie?" I ask, innocently.
"Don't fuck with me Zero," I wince, did he just swear? Vin never swears. "You're up to something."
Before I can reply innocently again, Davey runs over, "Ok, Zero, we have exactly 30 seconds to get into the vents and to their wing, we better leave." He rushes.
"Ok. Good work, Dave." I say, smiling tightly, a sick sense settling into the pit of my stomach. Vin's going to hate me, I can't stop it now, he's figured out to much to make a clean break, to make it look like an accident. I turn and head to the third vent, looking upward. I see three stationary pathway rigs. One bullet, one chain, one rig, the vent will be closed off so no one can follow me, and the noise will be so loud that my second in command, Sam, will order everyone out. They'll get out just in time for the guards to miss them, and by that time, the CIA idiots will figure that the chains holding the rigs were just old and needed to be replaced anyway.
"I'll go in first." Vin says from behind me. My breath catches; he's onto me… shit.
"No, I will, Vin."
"But, Zero…" His face is angry and hurt; he knows that I plan on ruining this mission for him.
"I am the commanding officer, no? I go first." I say.
Only a few meters before the vent opening, I drop to my side, and kick off the railing, sliding into the small hole, flipping out my gun. Vin's face is furious; he yells my name, beginning after me. I mouth sorry to him and aim at the chains, pulling the hairline trigger. The rig falls, loudly, sparks fly as it makes its way toward the ground. Vin jumps back, falling on his ass, still yelling y name, my team stand dumbfounded, mouths open. Sam is the first to snap out of it, he grabs everyone and pushes them into the vent we came through. I can just see Vin through the twisted metal and falling plaster, the flames licking his outline, his face is drenched with tears. My heart is in my throat, he shakes his head in disbelief, mouthing my name, yelling incoherent things. Sam pulls him up, yelling something to him, making him follow into the vent.
The flames envelope into a mini explosion, throwing debris at me, I shield my face with the sleeve of my jacket, and crawl as fast as I can to the end of the vent. Swinging down into the hall, I throw my dust covered clothes into my knapsack, glad that I was wearing a white singlet and black tights under my leather.
Above me, I can hear the flicking of flames and the yelling of guards, around me, I can hear nothing but silence, inside me, I can hear Vin yelling my name at the top of his lungs, I can see his tear stained face, the cuts on his arms.
Sorry Vin.
I'm so sorry.
Please don't hate me.