Part 2 - Denmark

Chapter 9

My nose was almost touching the screen as I concentrated on hacking into the CCTV system. The agent helping with our training waited patiently for me to disable the cameras. He was crouched down behind some crates as ICA operatives patrolled the warehouse acting as security guards. He didn't have to wait long; I was in within seconds.

"Done, all security systems disabled." My voice was confident and steady in his ear. He acknowledged by quietly moving towards the stairs to gain access to the upper floor. That was where our target was.

The whole warehouse was housed in a large aircraft hangar hidden somewhere in the Danish countryside. It was a simulated environment but I still got a thrill every time I did one of these sessions. It always felt so real. He crept soundlessly up the metal stairs and reached the second level walkway. I glanced at the blue prints for the warehouse; the Colonel's office was the last room.

"Dead ahead, last door on the left." I informed my agent. He moved quickly along the walkway, careful not to alert the guards below. Reaching the door he stopped and listened crouched next to the door. I could hear talking from the room through the agent's microphone.

"It's not good enough Saunders, I need these weapons shipped tonight." The operative playing the Colonel was doing his job well; the aim was to make these scenarios as real as possible to prepare us for the actual thing, and they definitely knew how to do that. Every detail was rehearsed to give us an accurate idea of how to tackle a contract.

"Yes sir, there's been a problem with the contractors. They haven't arrived to transport the freight yet."

I looked down at my intel sheet; all the information I had gathered on the contract was there. I had hacked into the transport company's database beforehand, small fry to me nowadays. They were due to take the freight shipment at 1800 but had been waylaid, by yours truly, putting a little detour in their route planner. All I needed to do now was ring Lieutenant Saunders' phone to inform him of the problem with the transport and lure him away from the Colonel.

He had been my only real issue, as he was reported to stay with the paranoid Colonel at all times. This was the plan I had formulated beforehand seeing his name on the company's clients list.

"Find a place to hide while I get him out." I warned the agent, he quickly located an empty crate on the walkway and climbed inside. Hastily I dialed the Lieutenant's number into the phone next to me. It had a hidden number so no one would trace it back to here. I heard the muffled ringing from inside the crate and then Saunders picked up the other end.

"Hello?"

"Hello there sir, this is Samantha calling from Freightline Limited. We apologies for the delay of our drivers but there has been a slight problem with the paperwork at the security checkpoint at your premises. Would you be so kind as to assist them so they can gain access to the freight you want transported?" Sometimes I scared myself with the ease at which I could lie nowadays, it had almost become habit.

"Oh for god's sake. Okay, tell them I'll be there now." He hung up and I heard the muted conversation he had with the Colonel before Saunders emerged from the room and walked straight past the agent's hiding place.

"All clear." I instructed once I was sure the Colonel's bodyguard had well and truly gone.

The agent quickly returned to the door and waited a moment to ensure the Colonel was occupied. The rest was up to him now; I had got him safely to the target. All I could do was let him do his job as I watched on. He opened the door silently; the Colonel had his back to him staring at a map on the wall behind his desk. The agent slipped in and stood up.

Even though I knew this wasn't really happening I still felt a shiver travel up my spine as he took out a fiber wire and advanced on the Colonel. The deed only took a second or two, the Colonel's legs kicking against the floor. Then he lowered the limp body to the floor, and turned to leave.

The exit was already clear from our journey in, and there was no evidence of him ever being here. As he pressed the 'End Mission' button by the vehicle outside the perimeter, the lights switched on in the room I was in, the screen showing me the warehouse going black.

I breathed out and twisted in my chair to look at the two-way mirror behind me. I felt the tension fade away as the usual ecstatic high of completing a mission kicked in. It really was like a drug. The fact I was training to help take people's lives never really crossed my mind; I couldn't let it.

"How was that?" I asked the mirror.

"Well done Peregrine, that was a new personal record." Diana's voice came over the speaker in the room, I could hear the barely concealed pride.

"Yes, I don't think anyone else can access security systems quite as efficiently and quickly as you girl." Training Director Mahone's voice was gruff and abrupt in contrast to my mentor's, but I coloured slightly at the praise.

"Thank you." I got up and left the handler training room. I found the pair waiting for me in the corridor outside.

Diana smiled at me, "I think you're nearly ready to take the test Initiate."

It had been six months since I had first set foot in the ICA's headquarters in Copenhagen. Since then I had done things I never thought I would, I had had extensive training in covert operations, tutoring on the different ways to kill a person (that one had been a fun one) and because of my 'special skill' as everyone kept calling it I had been encouraged to expand my hacking knowledge. My proudest moment regarding that had been when I had successfully infiltrated the CIA's government system, only for about a minute but it still counted.

The final test would be a random contract selected from the Agency's history; usually it was their most challenging ones. If you succeeded you were cleared for field duty, if you failed…well, you were kicked out and god only knows what happened to ensure your silence.

I grinned at Diana, "Well, I learnt from the best." Diana had been my mentor from the start. Every initiate had one, but apparently this was the first time she had taken someone under her wing. I could still remember the envious looks from the elite Ivy League and Oxbridge University candidates that first day, as I walked through the induction meeting with her at my side.

Director Mahone grunted, his main form of communication, before turning on his heels and walking away from us. I let my shoulders hunch as the stress left me.

"It takes it out of you doesn't it." Diana commented. She started walking towards the main atrium, I followed letting my brain shut down slightly. We walked in companionable silence; I liked my mentor's quiet and unassuming style of teaching. She never pushed too hard, she always knew when I had had enough.

We reached a large open stairway; I had grown to love this building. It had been very intimidating when I had first arrived, all modern architecture and glass. I remembered thinking it was very open and light for a secret organisation that dealt in assassinations. It had an amazing view of Copenhagen and the Nyhavn River.

We descended the stairs heading for the atrium below. Diana turned her head slightly to look at me as she spoke, "You're doing well Peregrine." I smiled at her, my codename had taken a while to get used to but now I responded like I used to Morgan.

"I honestly believe you could pass that test tomorrow." She continued. I could feel a warning in her tone. "I just want you to remember what becoming an active handler will entail however."

I frowned, confused at her request. It was a bit late in the day for that one wasn't it?

"I am aware." I stated; my tone perplexed. I saw her slowly shake her head.

"This isn't a game initiate. Once you're in the field your agent will be killing real people, in real situations under your guidance." I paused on the stairs, turning to look at my mentor full in the face.

"I know." She looked back at me, a hint of sadness in her eyes.

"It's not something I can prepare you for. Taking someone's life for the first time, whether you're the one pulling the trigger or just helping to hold the gun, it's an…experience." I took in her solemn words.

"It's okay Diana, I know what I'm getting into. I signed that form remember." She smiled at the mention of our first meeting.

"You've changed so much since then Peregrine. You're going to make an excellent handler." We continued to walk down the stairs.

"I'll talk to Director Mahone about scheduling your final test. Keep practicing your computer skills, that's your ace in the hole with any contract." I nodded as we reached the bottom of the stairs. Diana touched my arm briefly as she walked briskly away. I swiped my pass on the security gates, giving the guard a cursory nod.

The atrium looked like any modern company's reception, I guess that was the point, hidden in plain sight. There was a wall of glass at the entrance letting in natural light. The security here looked minimal but anyone working here knew better. This was the headquarters of the ICA, and only the chosen few who were selected to work here knew what lay behind the corporate façade.

I made my way out, heading to my apartment in the middle of the city. It was late afternoon now; the sun was just beginning to redden, casting an interesting light on the impressive building behind me. Making my way to the metro I glanced down at my phone; there were a few texts from Helen and Andy, and my mum had sent me a message about her and Dad's new extension. I smiled sadly, once it had sunk in what I was going to do I had told my parents I was moving abroad for a new photography job. They had been ecstatic, of course, but I had felt a lead weight inside me having to lie to them. Diana had been right too, the training salary alone was more than I had ever thought I would earn in a lifetime. I wasn't the extravagant type, so I had instantly started transferring half of it to my parents every month through an anonymous bank account. They just thought they'd won some competition my mum usually entered without realising it. Their happiness made the separation from them somewhat easier.

I boarded the metro train and leant my head against the cool glass of the window, closing my eyes. I was always tired after doing a simulation. God knows what I was going to be like after doing a real contract. The train jolted me as it rounded a corner and I snapped to attention. It wasn't rush hour yet, but the carriage was quite busy. As I opened my eyes I caught a glimpse of a tall man with a baldhead; my heart squeezed uncomfortably in my chest as I tried to focus on him, but he had disappeared in the crowd further down before I could get a good look at him.

I didn't think about Tobias that often, but often enough for me to notice his absence. Obviously, due to the secrecy of the agency I had no idea which of the agents he was. I knew most of their names by now, but their identity was well hidden. I knew not to pry too much. I wondered sometimes if he ever thought of me, and how much he had changed my small life.

The train pulled into my stop and I got up, stretching my legs. Copenhagen was miles apart from London; the metro was clean and on time, the city was bright and modern not cluttered and stuffy. The people were lovely, I never felt like anyone wanted to start a fight with me just for looking at them, like they did in my old home. Making my way down the small side street to my apartment complex I checked my phone again, this time for encrypted messages.

As a way of furthering my skills as a hacker I had decided to offer my services online for people who maybe couldn't afford the Agency's premium rate, but still needed help. I hadn't told anyone at work obviously, but I thought there was no harm in it. There was a new message waiting for me and I hurried into my apartment to get to my PC.

My new home in Denmark was a hundred times bigger than my London hovel. I had rooms! Actual rooms with walls. I went to my office where my PC was set up; I may not have been into buying expensive things but I had definitely invested in my computer. Rubbing my eyes as I started the machine, I sat cross-legged on my chair and opened my onion router. The message was from someone in America, a guy was being blackmailed by his neighbour, for money he didn't have and needed me to delete the information being held against him.

This one was fairly simple and I messaged the man back asking for as many details as he could give me. I didn't charge for this; but it wasn't easy to find my site on the deep web. I figured only the truly desperate would go to such lengths, and they deserved my help for free.

The man was quick to message back and gave me a full name and address; brilliant, this wouldn't take long. Usually I just went off a description, maybe a first name nothing else. I quickly found my target on a social media site and gathered as much information from there as I could. People really needed to learn how to use the privacy settings on these things. Next I moved onto his email, which he had kindly provided me in his 'About Me' page. Idiot.

I used a password cracker program to run through options on his email login. While it ran I leant back in my chair and stared at the ceiling. A nervous energy had been in me since Diana had mentioned the consequences of me becoming a fully-fledged handler. What did I really think of witnessing an agent actually kill someone? I wasn't sure, in theory I had seen it done repeated times but those targets had been operatives pretending and they had always got back up. I hadn't even really seen Tobias kill my old boss, just the gruesome aftermath on the news. It felt like a lifetime ago that day, these past six months had disappeared so quickly.

The program pinged as it found a match to his password and I logged in to the target's email account. There was a lot of junk to sift through; finally I hit the jackpot. An email from his Internet provider. I quickly copied the email address and made a dummy one that was near identical. I used a link that would give me access to his computer if he clicked on it and sent it under the guise of a maintenance check. Phishing emails were usually easy for someone who knew computers to see, as long as you were observant.

I sent it and waited patiently. 'Ping', yeah, this guy wasn't very observant. He had clicked the link and now I was able to remote in to his computer.

"Thanks friend." I said under my breath and I swiftly set to work. I knew what I was looking for and in no time I had located the video and image files he had stashed away on my guy. Erasing them from the hard drive I smirked imagining his panicked face as I deleted his data. Before I released him I inserted a virus onto his hard drive that wiped anything non-essential from his computer. Then a message popped up on his screen:

If you attempt to do this to someone again I'll post your details onto the deep web where you won't be able to delete it. Blackmail isn't very nice, is it.

Satisfied I gave control back to the user and shut my browser. I sent a message on my phone back to the guy who had requested my help, saying everything should be fine. Not a challenging case but I felt a bit better for helping out a random stranger.

As I was about to leave the office I got an email from work. Quickly I opened it, seeing it was from my mentor.

Spoken to Mahone, he agrees you're ready. Test is scheduled for next week.

Good Luck Initiate.

My smile turned into a grin, this was it. The moment my training had been building towards, and I couldn't wait.