Cora woke up feeling odd - and not from the faint hangover that she had. The type of feeling that you get on the first day of camp, or on the last day of school. Expectancy. Urgency. Nervousness. She yawned and dressed in black cargoes and a white t-shirt, then braided her hair and headed outside. Odd, she had half expected a note - from Dinzali, Turnbull, or Scythe. Maybe even one from James Hulio.
I'm becoming such a popular little girl. Cora muttered to herself as she tied her sneakers, then strode outside. She had nothing to do. She could go train, but after finding out that her guts were hated and she was considered an outcast, she decided that that wouldn't be the best option. Besides, her head throbbed and she felt slightly queasy.
She wasn't bored enough to seek out Salven, and she wasn't well accquainted enough to look up any Team Biohazard member.
iWhat, so you'll die along side them, but you won't invite one of them out for a cuppa? Weak./i she thought scornfully, brushing her braid back over her shoulder. It wasn't near the magnitude it had been in Mexico, but it kept her hair out of her face.
Cora sighed. Maybe she should just go to the shooting range. She turned around in the direction that she thought the shooting range was in, when Jonas Best came racing up to her.
he practically whispered.
What's the need for secrecy? Cora asked. Best winced.
Not so loud! he hissed. My head feels like hell.
Didn't you take an aspirin?
Yes! I took three! Now will you shut up and listen? Best said in a voice more near normal pitch. Cora supposed that was supposed to be a shout. Scythe has summoned Team Biohazard.
To where? Cora asked. She only knew where six things were in this sprawling maze. One, her room. Two, the gym. Three, the cafeteria. Four, the shooting range. Five, the bathroom.
Briefing Room Number Six. It's our first mission. Aren't you excited?
Cora said truthfully. There was a sinking feeling in her stomach, and her headache was forgotten.
Well, come on. Best said, then paused and pulled a small black contraption out of his pocket, tossing it at Cora. Cora snagged it out of the air.
It's a pager. he explained. That way, when it's time for a mission you can come without any difficulty.
Cora clipped the pager to her belt. Best scurried off without another word, and Cora followed him. The floor steeped, showing that they were going underground. Finally, they reached a freshly painted door, and Best swung it open.
That took you quite a while, Jonas. Scythe said sharply from his place, lounging against the wall. The others were sitting around the table in varied stages. A couple looked nervous, most looked cocky.
Well, it took me a while to find her. Best defended himself. Scythe paused.
Scythe said softly. Best didn't correct himself, but sat down. The team glared at him, as a team united against an outsider.
Sir, what are the conditions? Ada asked.
Right, Ada. This is a perfect first mission. Nothing too difficult, as long as nothing goes wrong.
Of course, anything could go wrong. Reeve said. Scythe nodded.
Right, so keep on your toes. This is one of those things that you really have to be talented to screw up at - Scythe glanced at Best, who's ears turned red, But if anything changes, then it's a whole new ball game.
This is a thing subject to change? Cora asked nervously.
You'd know, Cora. This is an assassination. Scythe grinned at the expression on Cora's face. Here's the deal. The Finance Minister of Canada has been using the salami effect to bribe Umbrella for twenty years. Lately, the funds have been diverted into another company. HCF. So we go in and we leave a calling card - the Finance Minister's body. Anyways, this is one that Ada, Cora and Best are going to have to plan out in detail.
Why me? Cora spluttered at the same time that Ada asked Wait, you want a hacker to plan out an assassination?
Ada, we need you to take out any alarm systems that'll be set up in this man's estate.
I can take out electricity for an entire block , if that's what you need. Ada nodded.
Best, I need you to help us with tactics.
I can do that. the everpaling Best was saying.
And Cora, you'll be the only one of us who's ever done something like this. We're going to need you to work out the details.
Yeah, sure. Cora nodded, exhaling. That didn't sound so bad. Best was looking positively ill though.
What's wrong with you, Jonas? Tweek grinned, leaning back in his chair. It's not like we have to face zombies yet. Just a few guys with guns. Oh, and maybe HCF if they show up.
Jonas looked like he was about to throw up the contents of his stomach over the new briefing table.
Relax. Just soldiers. Scythe raised a hand. Right. Let's get to work.
Best, Ada, Scythe, and Cora were all around the table, talking under their voices.
I'd say vents usually for a situation like this, but that's not going to be well for a large amount of people, and besides - the security's taken out. Cora examined the 3-D map that Ada had pulled up on her computer.
What if we were to charge the front? Scythe asked.
Best was in his element, and despite looking still like he was abotu to throw up, he was actually showing some intelligence. No, that wouldn't work. They'd throw everything they had at us, and we'd be stuck at the front. The best thing to do is to have a distraction, and have a specially made team go in for the kill.
Ada said.
Right. Cora, you, Best and me will go in for the kill. Scythe said.
Cora said. Don't you think I'd be better suited for the distraction team? she didn't want a weight on her shoulders. She wanted to be able to do something of little signifigance, something that was suiting for a first mission. But she knew that she couldn't look as nervous as Best, who looked like he was about to faint.
No, don't worry. I'll be there, and I'm probably the person on the team who'd be best for backup for you. Scythe said. Best can help with small things that come up along the way.
Cora said, rubbing her left temple to sooth the pain that was forming there. OK. I just don't want to die. I have a date, and I want to see Amelia again.
You're not going to die. Scythe said. Unless if another USF member comes across you. They are pissed that we got the brand new briefing room.
They are?Cora asked, feeling a bit more interested.
Oh yeah, it was pretty funny. Scythe said. Go suit up. You'll get through this fine.
If I don't, you're paying for the funeral. Cora said, standing and giving a nod before striding away.
