Chapter 8: Who Are You?

Cammie's POV:

Liz and I had been working rapidly for about 30 minutes straight. We made a lot of progress and got past most of the defense firewalls. I was still fresh and ready to break this code and talk to Townsend, no matter how annoying he was at times, he's still my uncle.

Looking over to my right, I noticed a bead of sweat rolling down the side of Liz's face. I was still breaking the code, while Liz worked on another algorithm but I could see the hacking getting to her. This was pretty hard stuff after all and she didn't have a lot of experience with it. Her position was now slouched and her precise tappings on the keyboard were sloppy drags.

"Hey Liz, why don't we take a little break?" Her face filled with relief as she nodded and sat back in her chair.

"How are you not tired from this?"

I just shrugged, "I've been doing this for awhile now."

"But aren't you on the Cove-Ops track?" She was evidently confused.

"Yes, but I still learned everything in Research and Development. You never know when it's going to help you in the field," I explained.

Liz persisted for more information, "But this code! It's one of the hardest and you are handling all the tricky different add-ins. You would have to study for years to get this good!"

"I guess I have an advantage in this case," I pondered and watched as Liz was almost jumping out to ask what advantage. "I'll answer your unasked question: I made this code so I'm more familiar with it."

Her mouth dropped open just a little bit and her eyes widened showing the entire realm of blue in her eyes. I wasn't trying to brag or anything but from a look at her face, just saying that was a lot more than just bragging. She closed her mouth and looked at me with new-found respect. That was extremely better than the confused and puzzled look I had gotten. Liz was a nice innocent girl who reminded me of who I used to be. 'There was no threat in letting her in' I had assured myself.

"You're a pretty good hacker yourself, Liz." I offered up, "I'm impressed." She blushed and muttered a quick thanks.

"We will be done in no time."

With that, we both mutually agreed to end our break and shook out our hands. All that could be heard was the rapid clacks of the keys on the keyboard.

Half an hour later, Liz and I both sighed as I hit the last key and we sat back, waiting for the information to load onto a different hard drive that I could give to Townsend. We smiled exhaustedly at each other - more like Liz smiled exhaustedly. I was ready to get up and fighting for P&E next period after sitting for so long in the plastic chair. There might have been plenty of instances in my unique life where I have had to stay in uncomfortable place or positions, for example: holding on to a bar on the ceiling above my target, but that doesn't mean I liked it. I just adapted.

Mr. Mosckowitz approached us as he saw us lounging. "Is it done?"

I nodded my head along with Liz. In addition, she had to stifle a yawn and didn't bother to move from her position.

"Good, good, I need to get this down to Agent Townsend immediately," He began to eject the hard drive and then grabbed his keys from the desk and swung the lanyard around his neck.

My legs ached to be used so I interrupted, "You have a class to teach, I've got this."

"Go ahead, Cameron," The glum sound came from his throat. I could tell Mosckowitz was a little saddened by this revelation but he could deal with it. He was full grown for goodness sake.

Hurrying out of the room, I grabbed the hard drive. Quickly, I pulled a candle holder below the portrait of some sort of Gallagher landscape. The floor opened up and snatched me as I flew through the floor and into a silver tunnel. Soon, I found myself in Sublevel 1 and then ducked into a closet. Fishing toward the back, I felt around and immediately smiled. A cold metal made contact with my hand and I twisted finding a staircase that led near the Headmistress' office and her quarters.

I knocked at her doors and swiftly entered. Apparently that was too quick and I should have waited for a reply. My eyes narrowed and held disgust as I stared down at the couple devouring each other on the couch. They held no notice to my entrance and I interrupted.

"Hey, Townsend, I finished hacking through the information…" I timidly held out the hard drive.

They both jumped up in surprise and stood up to straighten out their clothes. Aunt Abby fixed her messy hair into a low ponytail at the nape of her neck. Townsend watched her lovingly. Ew.

After they were both situated, Abby had the decency to give me a sheepish smile and spoke out, "Sorry?"

Townsend nodded although he just had a stupid grin/smirk on his face. He was not sorry at all.

"Please, just use the lock on the door!" I scolded them, "Do you have no pride?"

"Knock before you come in!" Townsend shot back.

"I did, but you were too busy trying to eat each other's faces off."

At that, the couple blushed and I was satisfied with my lecture. It was pointless anyway, I would probably walk in that again in a few months. My face contorted in disgust and I got back to business.

Holding out the silver chip in my hand, I stated, "Hard drive."

"Thank you, Cameron."

"Yeah, nice seeing you. I'm going." I turned around, "You know, school and everything. Lock the door!"

I heard them chuckle as I disappeared into a passageway and made my way back up to my room to change for P&E since there was only 1 minute and 35 seconds until the bell would ring, signaling the end of classes.

Grabbing some clothes from my bag, I put them on and was out of the door in less than a minute. I was dressed in black running shorts with white striped down the side, a dark green hoodie above a white sports bra. I had 48 seconds until class ended, and then another 10 minutes until I had to get to P&E. Contemplating my choices, I threw on my black and pink Nikes and jogged to the barn. Might as well warm up before anybody gets there.

I got there in about 38 seconds which was pretty fast, even for secret passages. The barn was empty, so I stretched and looked around the equipment. I saw a corner filled with bars, beams, vaults and a large square floor and smiled adoringly. My legs seemed to move by themselves and carried me over to my favorite corner.

Zach's POV

The next period was horrible. They made us take a culture class… CULTURE! And we danced. I already finished my Etiquette class days at Blackthorne, yet here I was again. Dancing. The worst part may be that the girl that was clinging onto me, was Tina.

Jealousy had filled my entire body as I had watched Cammie walk out of class with her own excuse. Her mysterious facade was hidden and her best manners came out. How could the teacher refuse that? It still wasn't fair.

I felt a squeeze from the hand already resting on my shoulder. "Wow, you are so strong!" A squeal cut through my thoughts.

My signature smirk popped up as I replied, "I know, you should feel my abs."

A furious blush touched her cheeks as she coyly smiled, "I'll take you up on that."

She had been flirting with me for the past 10 minutes that we had been dancing. A comment would be made, I would reply, there would be blushing and maybe some gossip or two. I was barely listening to her although she had no idea. Her head was tilted up so she could see me, but also made her lips a lot closer to my face. Obviously, she liked me, a lot.

"Did you hear about Dr. Steve and our own Madame Dabney?" I shook my head no. "Well, my sources have said that they actually…" I tuned her voice out and nodded as if I thought she was interesting.

Another 8 minutes flew by and we were doing the waltz. I watched her mouth move at a rapid speed. This girl would not stop talking! My cover automatically flirted and nodded as my mind wandered.

"-And apparently Cammie was involved. There was this other socialite-"

"Wait, what about Cammie?"

"Weren't you listening?" An angry twinge reached her voice.

"Of course, I just, uh, couldn't believe it that I need to hear it again!" I over-exaggerated, "You are so amazing."

Her face flushed red, "Of course, I was saying that I heard from some sources in Europe, that she works for a secret organization and when she was 8, she created the Triple DB combo!"

I should have never baited her. Where does she even get this stuff? The Triple DB combo was a maneuver that incorporated all major fighting forms. Krav Maga, Bartitsu, Taekwondo, Ninjutsu, Rough and Tumble, and even some boxing. It was composed of moves that worked on disfigurement and cheap shots, fakings, powerful and complex kicks, and precision punches. This attack targets the eyes, throat, solar plexus, and knees, while being able to defend yourself at the same time. It's one of the most deadly and complex maneuvers to learn and only a handful of people in the world can do it. That's another reason I idolize the Chameleon, I mean, who else can say that even the most experienced can't copy a move that you made? (AN: You guys probably already had a suspicion that Tina might have been right for once. Or not. But maybe.)

Unfortunately, I'm not a part of the group who can do it, I'm a part of the group who is trying to learn it. I know I'm one of the best, but if some of the current top spies right now can't do it, I have some time to learn.

"Oh okay thanks for repeating that," My thoughts returned to Tina's eager face, "What were you saying about that socialite? That sounded interesting."

Her face brightened up as she started again, "So you know Hilton Marlors? Yeah well she has…"

I stopped listening and nodded as I drifted off to other things.

Cammie's POV

I had walked over to the bars on the side of the corner. My hands dipped in a small elevated bowl and swished in white chalk. Clapping, the dust floated off in puffs of smoke as I got into position at the side of the lower bar.

My arms stretched up and I pulled my chin to the bar as I spun around it and ended up holding on to the bar, arms outstretched, with it hitting my hips. I swung back and quickly placed my feet on the bar in a straddle as I swung around the bar, gaining momentum. I went around another time, before letting go and flying towards the higher bar. I swung with my legs straight in front of me and went over the bar multiple times before stopping at the top to spread my legs and get ready for my next maneuver. I suddenly flipped around so I wasn't facing the smaller bar, and swung down and jumped to the other bar, with a scissor motion performed by my legs. I stood on top of the bar, before I swung around again and rapidly was flung to the other one. I did a few times around the bar and finally executed my last move by flying off of the bar with complicated flips and turns with my body before landing perfectly in a slight squat on the mat, with my hands outstretched in front of me.

I heard claps coming from the entrance to the barn. My head snapped over within a second to see whether it was friend or foe. (AN: You most likely know who it is.)

There stood Zachary Goode, a silhouette in the bright entrance to our training area. His signature smirk was plastered on his face as he deliberately stepped into the room, slowly clapping as he went.

"I have to say," He started out. "You've finally impressed me."

"Oh please," I snorted, "I've impressed you in every second after the Mall."

His cocky attitude faltered for only a moment before he brought it back up, along with a retort of his own. "Please, I was only trying to flatter you."

I brought up a smirk of my own. "Not even you, 'top spy'," I mocked, "has experienced enough acting skill to fool me. I'm sorry, but you aren't that Goode."

His eyebrows furrowed at my imitation of his early boasting and his mouth opened ready to release a snarky comment that I could surely counter with a better comment. But it never came, because a bustling was heard, and we both looked to see Ms. Hancock walk in the room, and a few seconds later, the other students in the class.

Striking green eyes pierced my bright blue ones as Zach glared at me in defeat. His expression assured me that we would be back to this later, and that he wasn't very happy that he couldn't make a comeback to my ego stripping retort. What can I say? It didn't take much to demean him.

"Oh Cameron!" Ms. Hancock rushed towards me, breaking the glare between Mr. Goode and I. "It's so nice to see you!"

I looked over and with the same enthusiasm, said, "It's so nice to beat you, too!"

At my comment about beating her, her hazel eyes sparkled as she chuckled at the memory of our history.

My comment may or may not seem rude to you or anyone else who is reading this, but Avona Hancock and I, we have an understanding. When I was growing up, I remember my mother bringing me to school occasionally. One time, we had met in the P&E barn when she used to be a student here. I was five and my aunt had placed her in Cammie-sitting duty. Now that I look back, I feel bad for her: Stuck with the infamous Chameleon as a kid, and only because she had went to the barn to train. I can remember pleading for a match, and after that we would spar. She is a good fighter, and possibly was the only match for me at Gallagher. When she went on a mission when she was 19, a traumatic event of losing all of her family in front of her eyes caused her to leave the field for teaching. I felt sympathy for her, but was delighted that I could see her, when she transferred to Gallagher when she was 20 and I was 12.

"Cameron, humble up, and remember that the record is, to this day," She dramatically paused, "38 to 38."

I stuck my tongue out at her. This was such a childish action, but something about being with Avona just brought that out in me. Inside, I felt elated, the highest I had felt in months.

"So, kid, are you here to help me teach?" Avona asked, thinking she already knew the answer.

"Actually no." I surprised her and she motioned for me to explain. "I might have gotten into a little bit of trouble with Joey, and he's making me suffer through classes that I've already finished!"

"I have a feeling this might have not been only Joe's idea?" She prodded me further.

"My parents too, and I think also the director…" I pondered, "apparently this is supposed to make me work better in a team… or something. They said it would be, 'good for me'." I rolled my eyes.

A hearty laugh roared out from her mouth, "They thought this would work, how cute."

"Yup, they've been bothering me since Bangladesh. For the record, it was not my fault that Agent Rowden is such heartless monster!"

"Kid, you have to accept at some time that your punishment was because you hurt him and put him in a coma," She reached towards me and patted my back.

"Yeah, and at the same time, stopping a whole network of child abuse and form of slavery. It's was just too disgusting that anybody could treat them that way just to bring in some money."

"So putting your partner in a coma so he couldn't stop you, and tying up all the leaders at a meeting in less than an hour of planning and execution is just a normal reaction? We would have all appreciated if you called for backup first."

The little chime was suddenly heard and we both got back to business. Avona looked around her class and a confused expression showed up on her face as she found no one in the Barn. Zach had left a little bit into our conversation but the class and him would have been back by now.

My eyes scanned the barn and I noticed how the little layer of chalky substance that had been on the floor when I entered was mostly gone and scattered towards the equipment room.

I rolled my eyes at the silly (and annoying) antics of spies-in-training before bellowing out, "THE BELL HAS RUNG AND I WOULD SUGGEST TO INVEST IN YOUR OWN BUSINESS! NOW GET OUT OF THE EQUIPMENT ROOM AND COME LINE UP IN FRONT OF ME!"

There is this ability I have. I can sound and be extremely loud and demanding whenever I want to be. This was definitely one of those times and I almost lost my straight face as a small swarm of sophomores fought each other to be first to the line I asked them to assemble. They messily pushed their peers out of their way as everyone frantically rushed to do what I asked. Once they had all assembled themselves, which took a mere 10 seconds, I smiled my special, sadistic smile.

"Maybe you should be a teacher, Kid. I can't even do that although I could easily injure someone." Avona had turned to me and smiled in amazement.

"It's all in the tone."

Some of the students looked perplexed about their strict obedience to me but they stood still. Never wavering.

"Right," Avon started, "First, I want to get a gauge on your skills, boys, so we will be indulging in a Gallagher favorite, Queen or King of the mat."

One of Zach's friends spoke up, "So where are the boys going to play?" Nick gestured to the single square mat in the middle of the Barn.

"Right here, with the girls, of course," Avon started out, her eyes slowly hardening.

"I really think we should get another mat, I don't want to be hurting any of the girls and it wouldn't really be fair to them," He expressed his concerns, which angered me.

I interrupted before Avon could say anything, "As refreshingly sexist as that is, both genders have different advantages but if you were betting on yourselves, well, get ready to lose." I shrugged, playing my calm cover off.

Then a certain cocky, green-eyed boy made himself known, making one of the biggest mistakes he could make.

He looked me directly in the eyes with a smirk, "Well don't cry on my shoulder when you lose."

I brought up a smirk of my own, "Funny, I was just about to say the same thing as you."

AN: I'm sorry that this is later than I said it would be posted. I got sick and couldn't really focus on writing, but it's here now! Let me know what you think about this chapter - hopefully all good things! Also, checkout this story by XanderInkWaster, called "The Target". It's very different from this story, but it is really good. Anyway, hope you enjoyed! (Also this is my longest chapter: My way of saying sorry I haven't updated in forever.)

S.L.