Wow! Loving all of the response! I really wasn't sure if you were going to like this idea or not!
Ziva's POV
"There is going to be an attack on the navy yard in one week from today. I'm the only chance you have at stopping it." The young girl sat across from me in the conference room and spoke with such certainty and such authority. I am sure the shocked expression on my face did nothing to calm how nervous she was.
I started to respond to her, but I realized she had not told me her name. "Um, what is your name?"
I am guessing that my response was not the one she was looking for because her face was full of confusion. "My name is Callie. I don't have a last name…" She looked at her hands and twiddled her fingers.
"Okay, Callie, how do you know there is going to be an attack?" I wrote down some notes on my notepad and then looked back up to the frightened girl.
"Because I helped plan it." She pushed some blueprints in front of me.
"These are layouts of the navy yard." I shuffled through the papers. "And the major buildings, like Quantico, NCIS, the armory. Where did you get these?"
"I have a lot of explaining to do and not a lot of time. So please just listen closely. I'm going to give you the shortened version so you're going to have some questions. I'll try to answer them all later, but right now I just need you to know the basics."
"Okay. Start whenever you are ready." I made myself more comfortable. I knew we were going to be there for a while.
"My parents, both Marines, were killed in action when I was six years old. My brother and I had no other family so we were placed into foster care. One day, our foster parents took us to the police station and left us there. A female officer talked to us briefly and then went to go call our social worker. But, before he could get there, some people showed up and took us. We were taken to a warehouse complex in the middle of nowhere. It is a secret agency called New Intelligence." She pushed a badge in front of me. I picked up the gold plate and examined it closely. If it was flashed at anyone it could easily have been mistaken for any government agency. "We were trained with a bunch of other kids in everything you can think of: academics, hand-to-hand combat, forensics, weapons training, and more. After we were all acclimated to our new lives, we were transferred to a new building in the District. We have been planning our first attack for years."
"The attack on the navy yard?" I asked.
She nodded quickly. "The commander said that it had to be perfect. That's why it has taken so long to plan. These papers have everything you need to know about the attack."
"If you are a part of this agency, why are you warning us of the attack?"
"Because my parents died protecting this country. I hate what I have been turned into. New Intelligence needs to be destroyed. My brother and I have recruited a group of agents that agree with us and we have decided to surrender." Callie scooted closer to the table and leaned towards me. "Are you going to help me?"
"I'm going to do everything I can. How do we stop them?" I got out of my seat and sat in the one right next to Callie. I could tell that she was very anxious and I wanted her to know that I was there for her.
"Well, it's not going to be easy. I will have to go with you to even get you on the property. I can disable the security cameras and then use my access code to get you in the building. You're going to need as many agents and soldiers as you can get your hands on. Everyone in that building is highly trained. They will not go down without a fight. But, the group my brother and I have assembled will surrender immediately. I've instructed them to lay their weapons down as soon as we enter the building. They will be laying on their stomachs with their hands on their heads. Just… please don't hurt them." Callie looked at me with fear in her eyes.
"I promise that they won't be hurt." I placed my hand on her shoulder and she flinched immediately. There was a knock at the door and Gibbs entered.
Callie stood quickly. Gibbs looked at her curiously. "At ease." Callie relaxed and her hard expression softened. "You are way too young to be in the Corps. Are your parents?" Gibbs motioned for her to sit and she eagerly obliged.
"They used to be. Killed in Afghanistan ten years ago. You?"
"Gunnery Sergeant, Desert Storm." Gibbs smiled at Callie and handed her a water. "You thirsty?"
"Thanks." Callie opened the bottle and took a small sip.
"Gibbs, this is Callie. She has informed us of a planned attack on the navy yard that is to take place in one week from today." I slid him my notes, but he didn't even look at them.
"I know." He stated plainly. He turned his attention back to Callie and gave her the "Gibbs stare".
Callie looked around the room and locked her eyes on the surveillance camera in the corner. "You've been watching us." She smiled at Gibbs. "So, are you going to take down New Intelligence?" Callie looked back and forth between Gibbs and myself with wide expectant eyes.
"Well, we need to talk first. How do I know that this isn't the real attack? What if you are just coming to tell us this to get us to go in the building where we will be ambushed?" Gibbs asked.
"Because then New Intelligence will be known about. We are under the radar. No one knows about us. If you searched all over D.C. you would never find our headquarters. We're invisible. This is not a trick. I give you my word!"
"Ziva, hallway. Now." Gibbs picked up the folder and made a quick exit for the hall. He shut the door behind us and whispered quietly to me. "Is she telling the truth? I can't get a good read on her. I want to believe her but…" He trailed off and shook his head.
"I believe that she is telling the truth. She came in here terrified, like she was being watched. From what I can tell, she is betraying the people who have been her family for the last ten years. Gibbs, there is no way that this girl is trying to trick us. The threat is real. And we have to take the chance to put an end to this rogue agency." I looked up into my boss's conflicted eyes and tried to reassure him that this girl was on our side.
He sighed deeply and rubbed his brow. "Okay. This girl, Callie, she trusts you. Go back in there and gather every single bit of information you can about this New Intelligence agency. I'm going to alert the director and get the National Guard here. We will have a briefing in one hour. We're going in, and we're going in today." Gibbs took off towards Director Vance's office.
As soon as I opened the door, Callie was on her feet. "What's going on? Is it happening?" Worry filled her voice and tears were forming in her eyes.
"Take a seat. Agent Gibbs is informing our director of the situation right now. We will be moving in today. But, right now, I need you to tell me everything you can about the layout of the building, the people, and most importantly, the weapons."
A small smile made its way onto Callie's face. "Okay, well, everything you need to know about the layout is right here in the blueprints. Depending on the time you decide to go in, I can tell you exactly where everyone in the entire building will be. Today is Friday and Friday is our off day from weapons training. All of our heavy artillery has been sent to a private corporation for cleaning and maintenance so they are ready for next week. But, everyone will have their personal weapons: a handgun, either 45 caliber or 9 millimeter. The majority of the people there are the agents. There are a wide variety of ages. The youngest is eleven years old and I'm the oldest at sixteen. We are all highly trained and are expert killers. The trainers have today off, so the building will be lightly secured. Commander Doran, who is basically our boss, will be in her office. If there is a breach in security, she will lock the door and go to the inner room. There is a trap door behind her bookcase that leads to a small, soundproof room. But, I can hack into the security system for her office and get us in."
"Okay, this is all very helpful, Callie. How many children are in there?" I dreaded the answer, but I had to know.
"Around one hundred. But, I can get them all out alive." I looked at her quizzically. "Jude and I are the best of the best in NI. We are the highest commanding officers and the two operatives that the agency has. Everyone else, besides the trainers and Commander Doran, must listen to our commands. After I cut off the surveillance cameras I'll go in and then I can subdue the guards that are on duty today without raising any suspicions. I'll inject them with a tranquilizer and then cuff them so they are unable to get away if they happen to wake up while we are still in there."
"No, that is way too dangerous. What if your true motives are discovered?" I shook my head at the young girl, already dreading what was going to come of this day.
"I am the highest in command. The guards trust me. They will let me get close to them and I'll be able to take them down. Please, Ziva, just trust me. It's the only chance we have at taking NI down."
"I'll have to clear it with Gibbs and the Director, but fine. What will happen next?"
"I'll come back out and give everyone the go ahead to come in. You will have to let me lead you. I'm guessing everyone will be in the barracks by the time we get there. I'll go in first and give my group the signal to surrender. The agents and soldiers will come in next. Countless weapons will be drawn, but no shots will be fired. I will command everyone to lay their weapons down and put their hands over their heads."
"What if someone does not comply?" I scribbled down some more notes.
"I will give them one more chance and if they do not follow orders… I'll shoot them."
"Callie…" I began but she cut me off.
"I won't kill them, just injure. And yes, I can promise you that my aim is very accurate."
I sighed, but nodded in agreement. "Let's go downstairs to the squad room and wait for the briefing."
I led Callie down to the main floor and got her settled at my desk. Agents started to gather around and whispered softly of what they believed the briefing would be about.
Gibbs and Director Vance descended the stairs together and joined us. Director Vance quickly, but thoroughly, explained the mission we were about to embark on. He informed us that we would be leaving in exactly one hour and to go gather our gear.
After everyone left, Gibbs came over and squatted down next to Callie.
"So, just how good is your aim?" He gave her a little smirk which elicited a little smile from Callie.
"Let me show you!"
Twenty minutes and ten rapid shots later, the target Callie shot at came down the rail and shocked us all.
"Not too bad kid. Not bad at all!" Gibbs pulled the paper off the clip and laid it down on the table. Every shot was either to the head or chest.
"The kid is better that you McMiss!" Tony said playfully to McGee. "Maybe she could give you some pointers."
"McMiss? I thought your name was McGee?" Callie asked, confused.
"Yeah, uh, Tony thinks it's funny to make a play on words with my last name every chance he gets." Tim explained.
"And it's hilarious!" Tony tried to give Callie a high five but she stood completely still.
"I wouldn't say hilarious. More like… juvenile!" She replied with a smirk on her face. Gibbs and McGee erupted into laughter and the smile on Tony's face disappeared and was replaced with an embarrassed grimace.
"The SWAT team and National Guard just arrived. Let's move out people!" Director Vance called out. Everyone sprang into action. Agents holstered their guns, strapped on bullet proof vests, and put in earpieces. We made our way to the cars and placed Callie in the middle of McGee and myself in the backseat.
"Wait! I don't have my weapons. It will be very suspicious if I go in unarmed." Callie announced.
"Where are they?" Gibbs stared at her from the rear-view mirror.
"Just off base. There is a bench across the street with a bunch of bushes behind it. They are stashed there."
Gibbs radioed that we had to make a quick detour to retrieve Callie's weapons. The SWAT commander replied and said they would have everyone standby until we returned. He then pulled out of the garage and parked on the street across from the bench that Callie described. She quickly climbed out of the car and pulled a small black bag from the bushes. She strapped a handgun to her right hip, a large knife to her other hip, and a small backup gun to her ankle. After she was back in the car, Gibbs radioed for everyone else to pull out.
Callie's POV
Agent Gibbs drove as I gave him directions from the backseat. I pulled a medicine bag out of my backpack and prepared four syringes with the tranquilizer: one for each guard.
"Okay, this is as close as you can get before we are spotted by the cameras. Stay here. I'm going to shut down the cameras and replace the live feed with a pre-recorded loop. Then I am going in to subdue the guards. I'll be back in five minutes. If I'm not, move in anyway." I started to get out but Ziva stopped me.
"Wait, you need to put on the bullet proof vest." She reached behind her and handed me a black vest.
"Ziva, if she wears that thing in there now, she'll stick out like a sore thumb. She'll get it after she comes back for us." Gibbs explained. Ziva's face turned bright red with embarrassment. I could tell that she felt dumb for suggesting it. McGee let me out of the car and I squatted down next to it. I pulled out my laptop and hacked the cameras so the recorded loop showed on the monitors. Finally, I made my way onto New Intelligence property.
Once I got to the door, I shoved the syringes in my pocket and typed in my security code. The doors opened and I headed in the direction of the first guard. I had their movements memorized. Fridays were the weakest days. Only four guards patrolled and their paths never intersected.
I rounded a corner and I saw my first target. I shoved my hand in my pocket and pulled off the cap that protected the needle.
"Hey Alpha! How was your scouting mission? Did you get some good info?" The guard, Henry, slowed to talk to me.
"Yeah, it was good! Plenty of intel!" I stepped closer. "And I'm really sorry about this." I stabbed Henry in the leg with the needle and pushed the tranquilizer into him. He was unconscious immediately. I pulled a pair of handcuffs out of my bag and secured him to the railing.
One down, three to go.
Hope you liked this chapter! I think the next chapter is going to be very exciting. What do you think is going to happen? Will everyone make it out alive? Leave me some reviews and let me know what your predictions are!