Ultraviolet: Codename S.P.E.C.I.A.L

Author's notes: First anniversary of UV! Ok, it's nothing to scream about, but still… I'm surprised it went such a long way. After the completion of UV (soon), I'll post up my next Incredibles fic.

Chapter 26

Camaraderie

Specialist Training Mission File: 001

Mission Description: Government agents are meeting in Metroville for meeting on reinstating the Supers. The key supporter of the cause is arriving from across the country, ready to present his stand in front of top government officials. His journey into Metroville takes him through a forested path, perfect for a Specialist ambush…

Primary Objective: Assassinate government official in his car before he can reach to safety.

Secondary Objective: None

Resistance: Local police escorts around the car, official is secured by personal bodyguards. Intervention from government operatives is possible.

Training Difficulty: Moderate

The binoculars trailed the path of the limousine for a few seconds, before Lance's line of sight was blocked by a group of trees. He lowered the binoculars, motioning for the team to move up to his position. "Target spotted half a mile out. Resistance is as predicted. We're moving as planned."

The multi-purpose room was converted into yet another simulated environment. Everything was in place, according to the surveillance pictures given to Serena. This was the first team mission; though it was not their first time as a team, it was still important that they did this well.

The three police squad cars were their first targets; they couldn't let them call for back-up.

Serena took the rest of the team down from where they were to a position closer to the road, hidden behind a cluster of shrubs. Lance got back to setting up the mounted sniper rifle, before loading a single round into the chamber.

He couldn't see his target under the windscreen, but he could make out the position of the driver's seat against the frame of the car. The scope swept over the intended target, tracing its movement as the car rounded a bend.

There was a crack, following a jolt from the rifle and a thud as the bullet casing ejected from the chamber. The vehicle, instead of taking a full turn, swerved into the nearest tree. By then, the next round was loaded and the rifle aimed at the next driver.

The second shot; by now the rear guard had realised something was wrong. Three police officers emerged from each of the two driverless cars, using their now-defunct vehicles as cover as they drew their weapons. The limousine screeched to a halt, taking the cue from the escort vehicles in front of it.

Of the six officers in the open, only one of them had the sense to reach for the walkie-talkie. "We're under attack! Repeat: Under attack! Location…" He never got a chance to finish, and was left sprawled over his comrade, who pushed the body off himself.

Then it became a scene from the war movies.

"We're taking fire! Hostile sniper just took out three of us! Location unidentified!"

"Get back-up!"

"Protect the official!"

Lance smiled, loading yet another round into his rifle as the robots below him scrambled for cover. He should change their programming after this and take out those lines.

While the cops in front of the convoy hid behind their squad car doors, those at the rear rushed forward to secure the government official. Lance couldn't hear the 'reassuring' words said to him, but perhaps the now-dead robot over him would change his mind.

There was a flurry of movement in the limousine now, as three bodyguards stepped out of the convoy. The eyes under their darkened glasses scanned the area, simultaneously reaching for the assault rifles hid under their tuxedo jacket.

Lance took aim again, steadying his breathing as he slid another bullet into the chamber. With the sun's warmth against his face, he could see a significant change in his vision… everything was warming up now.

"Hostile spotted!" Lance took his eyes off the scope, as the five cops rushed Serena's position. Her mirror decoy was meant to draw their attention from the glare made by Lance's scope. The three of them can handle it.

"Second hostile spotted up the hill!"

Lance cursed under his breath. He had let down his guard, underestimating his opponents. A series of pistol rounds hurtled in his direction, as he ducked under the safety provided by the high ground. As he lowered his head, he spotted another cop on the walkie-talkie…

Now he really felt like cursing.

Abandoning his post, he reached instead for one of his handguns, expecting a few guards to rush his position at any moment now…

Three shots in quick succession sent the first cop tumbling into his comrades behind him; Lance followed up with a boot to his stomach, before finishing the clutter of metallic mess with the remaining rounds in his gun. Further down, a similar sight greeted Lance as he joined his siblings.

"Let's move on," he commanded, jerking a thumb towards their objective. The group nodded, following in his lead.

That was when the reinforcements arrived.

Three more cop cars were tearing round the bend, speeding forth to secure the government official. The Specialists didn't have to wait, because right then, the Supers arrived.

Father had warned of such 'attacks' in their missions; their job was to be prepared for all sorts of situations… and facing Supers were part of it. They didn't expect it to occur in their first mission though; the ban on Supers wasn't even lifted. In no practical situation were they allowed to surface…

No time to think of that, as four Supers descended upon them in their capes. All of them robotic replicas… of real Supers, perhaps?

"Serena, got any information on them?"

The reply came a few seconds later. "Nope, we're on our own."

"Everyone scatter and take out your man quick, then go for the main guy."

As if on cue, the limousine engine roared to life, attempting to escape while its pursuers were busy. Lance reacted with a couple of shots to its tires, ignoring the sound of metal grinding against sand. That should slow them down, at least for a while.

A fist connected an instant later with Lance's face. The same hand curled downwards, disarming Lance with a simple tug, before he was allowed to hit the ground. Lance caught sight of a streak of orange, before a boot driven into his face caused him to blank out for several seconds…

Lance scrambled back onto his feet as his vision returned, brushing the faint trickle of blood flowing from his nose. He'll have to take a look at it later. The fight around him was still in full swing; his opponent was now aiding his comrade, both men taking on Anna.

They were bullying the girl.

Lance took just three strides to reach the fight, using his momentum to deliver a punch to the cheek of the Super in front of him. Anna took out the other by slicing away at the thin metal skin around the robot's neck.

The limousine was creeping out of sight, nearing the safe zone. Though its progress was slow, Lance judged that it would probably take another five minutes. Not enough, even if the whole team went at it now.

The cops had abandoned the idea of escorting, and taken to hunkering down beside their squad car, just as the limousine approached their position. Around Lance, the fights were coming to an end; there may be some hope left. If they can reach the car before it passed the cops…

"There isn't much time to take on the cops. Create a distraction, I'll pass the cops and take it out myself." Lance noticed a scowl on Ken's face as he said that, but let it go due to the urgent lack of time. "Go on then… move!"

The three of them sped ahead, Ken slightly slower than the other two. Lance sighed, inhaling sharply to calm himself. As if the stress of the mission wasn't reaching him, now he had to deal with possible rebellion… from his own brother?

The startled yells of the cops signalled for Lance to move. Gunshots rang out as he passed the flurry of punches and kicks, occasionally having to evade a couple of guns aimed at him. The car beside him was punctured with a dozen holes; Lance smelt the vague scent of gas… as the limousine passed their position…

Unclipping a grenade from his belt, Lance pelted it ahead, estimating its landing spot where the limousine would pass; just a couple of feet away. The explosive landed way ahead of the car; the explosion merely ripped off the front wheels, sending parts flying all over. The flames seemed to gravitate towards his position, contacting with the fumes spreading in the air around…

"Everyone duck!"

The gas ignited, sending a ring of fire spiralling upwards, towards the trees. The force of impact threw everyone backwards, sending everyone unconscious…

Was it over?

The heat had yet to subside, possibly due to the burning trees all around. Lance opened his eyes to a wild blaze of orange all around him; everything was either on fire, or close to it. His comrades lay in various positions around him; Lance wasn't sure if any of them made it out alive.

The mission hadn't ended; that means… they have yet to stop that government official. Was it too late now?

Father didn't stop this, even though his team could all be dead now. What that meant… Lance couldn't think right now.

There was movement… several metres away. Crawling, one foot at a time, towards the safe zone… His figure was too scrawny to be the body guard…. He had to be…

Lance picked himself up, picking up his other handgun. This… robot… was the cause of this fiasco. It turned around to the approaching Specialist, backing away from him. He was pleading silently, holding up his hands in protest.

He deserved to die.

There was a brief click, followed by a single gunshot.

Everyone ended in the infirmary, being treated for minor burns and other injuries. Such was the fate of their very first mission… Yet, Lance thought bitterly, the only redeeming factor was that this was their first mission.

They can still become better.

Serena was wheeled out after being treated; Father had wanted to 'debrief' her. Well, at least everyone made it out alive… There was always their next mission. Until then, they had to recover first.

"Well… things turned out quite well, didn't it?" Ken started, taking a sip of water from his glass.

"It didn't, ok? So just shut it and rest," Lance muttered from across the room, resisting sending a rude gesture along with it. He was prepared to let this go as part of his 'experience'.

"Oh yeah, I remember. Things were going fine; until someone let the cops call for back-up. Whoops, guess that someone was you, Lance..." The only thing holding back a fight were the mounds of tubes stuck in their veins. Anna shrunk back into her bed, trying to block out the rising tension in the room.

"There were about ten of them. You can't expect me to keep my eyes on all of them."

'Things won't be like this if I was in charge…" Ken spat defiantly, slamming his glass onto the bedside table and splashing water all around.

Lance paused for a moment, considering the thought. If that would silence him, he wouldn't mind. "Fine, you're leader on the next mission. But I'll be waiting to take it back when you fail…"

With that, the tension cooled; both the guys turned their backs to each other, leaving Anna in the middle.

Specialist Training Mission File 001

Mission accomplished

Learning Outcomes: Teamwork, Communication. Establishing common goals.

Outcomes Unaccomplished.

Additional Outcomes: Leadership role abolished; free leadership implemented. Use of Supers: Ineffective.

End notes: I'm not sure if it turned out the way I wanted it, but this mission was etched in my mind for a long time. As usual, any comments in the reviews.