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CHAPTER

8

The Swan Headquarters

9:49 Am

Bang! Bang!

Casey fired the fake gun at the figures running towards her from both sides. They immediately went down with shots to the heart. She heard a noise from behind and knew it was close, so she holstered the gun, grabbed a knife from the inside of her left thigh and made contact with the hooded figure's neck without actually cutting them. The fake blood spilled out and they fell to the floor unconscious like the rest.

She'd never felt so alive before. The adrenaline coursing through her body made her feel invincible, and the anger she'd felt last night still soared through her veins as she fought and pulled the trigger. All she needed was a reminder of Derek's lack of faith in her and the fact that he'd left The Swan and hadn't returned, without even a phone call, in two weeks.

Another figure jumped out from behind a pillar and Casey, with those thoughts on her mind, let out a growl as she dodged the fake bullet that had been fired, then jumped up, knocked the person to the ground, and fired a bullet at their head.

"That's enough." Colonel Yemchuk's voice spoke and the simulation was turned off.

Casey blinked a few times to adjust to the light that now lit up the large enclosure and stared at the multiple agents that littered the area. A few were beginning to wake up. It reminded the young agent of a zombie movie that she'd watched as a teen, when trying to get over her fears, as they slowly stood to their feet with red patches on their chests, necks and heads.

"How was it?" She asked after walking out of the simulator towards her trainer.

"Good enough." Yemchuk replied with a curt nod.

"You were great, Casey! We hardly even had to help!" Ben exclaimed as he approached and slapped her on the back.

"You were phenomenal!" Karma chimed in with a smile. "If I didn't know that was you out there, I'd believe you were a real assassin. It gave me the shivers just watching."

Agent Morvis slapped her on the back with an approving grin and said, "You kept your emotions in check, you were quick, and you showed no fear. That's exactly what they will look for. I'm proud of you, Casey."

"Don't lose that confidence though," Yemchuk spoke with a grim expression. "This little simulation is nothing compared to what you will face while undercover."

"He's right," Agent Morvis nodded as he placed a hand on Casey's shoulder and looked into her eyes. "It becomes all too real once you're really there."

"I'm ready." Casey assured them with a serious expression.

"No one is ever ready for this kind of mission." The Jamaican frowned. "You're just lucky you get to fire fake bullets; they didn't have that kind of technology when I worked in the field." He grimaced and Casey could see the sheer terror and guilt that crossed his features in that moment when he had a flash from his dark past. It made the hairs on her arms stand to attention and the unease she'd felt about this mission all along crept back up her spine once again.

A ringing sounded, causing the young agent to jump slightly as Ben pulled out his phone and answered it with an apologetic look her way.

"Agent Blake speaking." He nodded. "Yeah, we'll be right there." Then he hung up.

"Who was that?" Karma asked.

"Inez wants to see us all in the meeting room right away."

(=)

Meeting Room

10:15 AM

Casey entered the large room where Olivia Inez awaited them; her teammates and trainers close behind followed her in. Taiki was also there, along with Dr. Shepherd. She'd hadn't seen much of the troubled Japanese man in the past weeks due to her excessive training and sent a smile his way. He didn't recognize her new look at first and then his eyes widened with surprise as he grinned and sent a nod of approval and a thumbs up.

Once everybody was seated around the table, Olivia addressed them, "I apologize for interrupting your simulation training but there are still some matters we need to discuss before Agent McDonald begins the mission. We are still in the dark about where the "auditions" will be taking place. We are also still in the process of trying to get Agent McDonald in. Luckily for us, we have Mr. Kaito and the information stored in his head about The Collective." She gestured to Taiki who sat across from Casey. He blushed at the attention directed at him and sat lower in his seat as Olivia continued to speak. "Mr. Kaito was able to hack into a system used by the group of assassins and put Agent McDonald's alias in to direct their attention to her. We've also created a couple of videos from the feed in the simulator to show her in action. It looks real enough that they will believe the content viewed."

"If they've viewed the video by now, won't they be searching for her?" Ben asked from where he sat between Casey and Karma.

"I was just getting to that, thank you, Agent Blake. " Olivia replied. She then looked at Casey. "For that exact reason, you will be leaving tonight and getting transported to New York."

"Why New York?"

"Your latest victim is there."

"Excuse me?"

"In order to keep up with appearances, you need to be working when they find you, which means they need to actually see you hunt and kill a man. There's no need to fret though, your victim will be a Swan agent in disguise. You will shoot him with your gun, render him unconscious and our people will retrieve him when it is safe to do so."

The young agent let out the breath she was holding in and nodded in understanding.

"You leave in three hours, so start preparing. The mission has now begun."

(=)

Outside of The Swan Headquarters

10:32 AM

Derek tried entering in his code for the fifteenth time since last night but the hidden passage into The Swan headquarters wouldn't open up for him and denied him access.

"You damn piece of junk, let me in!" Derek cursed as he kicked the wall that he knew opened up to a door. He looked up to where he knew tiny surveillance cameras were located and yelled, "Open the door! I'm Agent Venturi!"

Yes, he'd left The Swan and told them he was done, but he changed his mind. He wanted back in, he needed to see Casey. He couldn't let her leave without her knowing he was sorry and that he did support her.

"I'm not going anywhere, so you better tell Inez to let me in!" Derek hollered one more time at the camera and sat back down on the paved parking space in the deserted garage.

Please, God, don't let me be too late.

(=)

Surveillance room

10:34 AM

"You told us to inform you if he returned, and he has. He's been out there since midnight." A man by the name of Richard Burke said as he sat at the surveillance desk and pointed at the many holographic screens circling the room. The images displayed showed Agent Venturi standing outside the hidden passageway.

"I'm not going anywhere, so you better tell Inez to let me in!" The frustrated man yelled outside as he glared up at the camera.

"Should we alert Inez?" Richard asked.

"No. I will deal with it." Colonel Yemchuk replied with a frown and exited the room with haste.

(=)

Women's Dormitory Wing

10:58 AM

"You need any help packing?" Karma asked. The blonde entered Casey's room with a sad smile on her lips.

"I'm almost done. There's not much to pack anyway. I basically just need my weapons." Casey replied with a sigh as she placed a few more items inside her suitcase and latched the lid.

She felt Karma approach her and place a hand on her shoulder. "I'm going to miss you." Her roommate spoke, trying to hold back the tears and remain serious.

"I'll be back before you know it." The young agent said as she turned around and embraced her friend, while forcing her own tears back.

She not only wanted to cry because she'd miss her friends, but also because she missed Derek. She wished he were here to hold her and give her words of encouragement before she left.

"He could still come back before you leave." Karma spoke as the women remained in each other's arms. It was like she'd read Casey's mind.

"I don't think so." Casey said with a shake of her head and pulled away from her friend to grab her suitcase.

"You know he still loves you, right? I mean, the guy proposed to you. He wants you in his life forever."

"Or he just loves the idea of me; the me that I refuse to be."

Karma was about to reply but a knock at the door interrupted as she closed her mouth and turned away to go answer it. Casey followed, curious as to whom it was. Both women were hoping and thinking the same thing. Maybe it was Derek.

Casey held her breath as her roommate slowly opened the door. Frowns formed on both women's faces when they saw who stood on the other side.

"Uh… hey…" Taiki waved awkwardly with a nervous smile. "I know I'm technically not supposed to be here but I wanted to see you before you left. You're not mad at me, are you?" He asked, sensing the tension his presence must've caused as he stared at both female agents who continued to glower at him.

Casey immediately realized how it must've looked to the young man and shook her head, "I'm sorry, Taiki. We just thought you were possibly someone else… But I'm glad you're here. Come in." She said gesturing him inside and closing the door.

"You were hoping it was your boyfriend." Taiki stated as Casey led him to the kitchen and they took a seat at the table.

The young agent nodded, keeping her emotions at bay.

"That's one of the reasons why I'm here. I… I can't help feeling partly responsible for what happened between you and Agent Venturi. If you hadn't of rescued me, then your agency wouldn't have enough information to send you undercover." The young Japanese man frowned and stared down at the table's surface, avoiding eye contact.

"No, Taiki, what happened between Derek and I had nothing to do with you. Sure, the mission is what caused us to disagree, but there were other reasons for our… departure, than just that." The young agent took his hand in hers and forced him to meet her gaze. "I don't regret saving your life, and you shouldn't regret it either. We're going to get though this and figure out whatever that thing is inside your head. Thanks to you, we actually have a chance to finally take The Collective down."

"I'm also worried about you. I spent some time with a few of those people and they mean business. I have so much information on them and the things they've done… the people they have killed… It terrifies me. I don't want you to be their next victim."

"I won't be."

"I… I was also wondering if while you're in there, could you try to find out anything about my parents and how they disappeared?"

"Of course." Casey smiled and ruffled his dark hair. "You know, you remind me of my brother."

"You have a brother?"

"Yeah, I have two… Well technically three… but the third I don't consider a brother. Anyway, you remind me of my stepbrother, Edwin. He's actually about your age too. He's very smart and extremely loyal to those he cares about."

"Sounds like a good guy."

"He is."

"I hate to break this up but Ben just texted me and said that your shuttle is on it's way, so you better head underground." Karma said as she entered the kitchen.

Casey and Taiki stood at the same time and the young agent gave him a quick hug and a peck on the cheek before she hurried to the other room for her belongings and the trio exited the apartment together.

(=)

11:25 AM

Derek was about to start screaming and hollering at the cameras again when the wall suddenly opened up and a man he recognized as Colonel Yemchuk motioned for him to step inside.

"It's about time." The young man grumbled. He took a step inside the passageway and the wall slid closed behind him. "Is Casey still here? I need to speak her with her immediately."

The Colonel didn't reply as he entered a code into the keypad and the small enclosure began descending.

"How come it took so long to let me in? I would've thought Inez was expecting me."

"She was."

"Then why did I just spend eleven hours waiting to be let in?"

"The better question is, why are you just returning now?" The Russian narrowed his eyes.

"I… I don't expect you to understand." Derek avoided eye contact. "Just tell me, is Casey still here or not?"

"She is about to leave."

"Then take me to where she is. I need to see her."

"I am sorry, Mr. Venturi, but I cannot do that." Colonel Yemchuk said as the elevator stopped and the doors slid open.

Derek stared up at the man with confusion, "What do you mean?"

The Colonel stepped out of the elevator where four armed agents were waiting.

"What's going on here?" The young man demanded to know as he backed up into the wall. "Where is Casey?"

"You came back to tell Agent McDonald that you do care about her mission and have faith in her; is that correct?" Colonel Yemchuk asked.

"Yes…" Derek answered hesitantly.

"If you care about the succession of this mission, then I cannot allow you to have contact with Agent McDonald before she leaves. Because of you, she was able to become the assassin we need. Without her anger and bitterness towards you, all of my training would be for nothing, she wouldn't be able to truly become her alias and infiltrate the enemy."

Derek's eyes widened, "That's crap! Casey needs to know that I'm sorry, she needs to know how much I love her! You can't keep me from seeing her!" He tried closing the doors but his access code wouldn't work.

"You're not an agent anymore. Your authorization was terminated, the moment you chose to resign." The man smirked.

"So what are you going to do with me? You're going to lock me up for six months, or however long this damn mission takes? Does Inez know about this?"

"It doesn't matter. Inez would agree with me anyway. All that matters is that this mission succeeds." He turned to the men on either side of him and ordered, "Take him to a holding cell until I give further instructions."

"No!" Derek yelled as the men began advancing on him.

The first man tried to grab Derek by the arm but the former hockey star twisted free, then swung his arm and punched him in the jaw. The second agent shoved him against the wall but Derek brought up his knee right into the man's groin, causing him to hunch over in pain. A tranquillizer dart flew past his shoulder as he ducked, then grabbed the other agent's gun and shot the one shooting at him. He was about to shoot the fourth man when something sharp stabbed him in the neck. He stopped and stared up at Colonel Yemchuk; he'd shot him with a tranquillizer.

"If you care about Agent McDonald at all, you wouldn't fight me on this. If her alias doesn't work out, The Collective won't hesitate to kill her. I am only doing what's right."

Derek's eyes began to feel heavy as his body lost feeling and he fell to the floor.

"You… You're the one… that lacks f-faith in Casey… not… m-me." Derek struggled out before his world went black.

(=)

11:31 AM

"You ready to save the world, Bluebird?" Benjamin asked as Casey approached him, Olivia Inez, and Agent Morvis. They all stood inside a tunnel underneath headquarters where a shuttle awaited the secret agent to take her straight to the agency's hidden airport outside of the city. There, she would board a private jet headed to New York and her mission would officially begin.

"As ready as I'll ever be." The young agent replied. She noticed someone was missing from the group and glanced around. "Where is Colonel Yemchuk?"

"He said he needed to take care of something and wishes you the best of luck." Olivia answered.

Agent Morvis approached her and placed a hand on her shoulder as he looked into her eyes, "Remember, we will be with you. You are a great agent and were chosen for this mission for a reason. Just don't get too caught up in your alias that you forget who you truly are."

"I won't."

Olivia shook Casey's hand with a brief smile, "We have faith in you, Agent McDonald. The safety of the world is once again in your hands. Do us proud."

Casey nodded, "I promise to do everything I can."

Ben was next as he pulled her into an embrace and kissed her forehead, "I wish I was going with you." He breathed out honestly.

"I do too."

"At least I'll be in your ear." Her winked.

"I'll cherish the sound of your voice in my head every day." Casey laughed before he hugged her once again.

"And don't worry about Derek. I plan to hunt him down myself and give him a piece of my mind." Ben whispered in her ear.

Casey didn't reply. She couldn't reply. Deep down she had hoped he would show up to apologize and say goodbye. Now, as she stepped aboard the shuttle and glanced down the tunnel once last time, she knew he really was gone and wasn't returning. Their relationship really was over.

Goodbye, Derek. She thought and swiped at the tear falling from her eye as she took a seat and the shuttle sped off into the darkness where her undercover life would begin.

Please don't hate me... It's all a part of the story. I know it's killing you that Casey and Derek aren't together but I promise it will get better. Hang in there with your Dasey hearts!

Please Review, even if it's to get mad at me for ending the chapter like that. I love hearing from you!