The Agency
This story will be based in an alternate universe of FT where the world is set in the near future for us, so it will have material things from our world, i.e. cars, motorbikes, planes, cruise ships, but be set in the world of FT, I have made changes to aspects of characters and also some of their behaviours so consider this OOC and AU.
Post Chapter 26 me coming back to make some changes along with fixing up some minor things that bug the hell out of me. I'll explain more in the notes at the end however I'm putting the denotations up here too. They are as follows:
"This is Sub-Vocal Communication. The FTA's standard communication system for Agents and Operatives."
"This is Standard Chatter. So people talking normally."
'This represents Spoken Thoughts. Like an inner monologue.'
0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0 This is a soft break and is used to shift perspectives, i.e. from one group to another in a different location but in the same scene/time
A line break is a hard break and is used to progress scenes.
That's all for my little update, I hope you enjoy the story.
A man sat in a shadowy corner of a dark dive bar, sipping away at a glass of Jack Daniel's Whiskey and Coke, his dark green almost black eyes roaming around the rowdy bar, hovering for a moment on some guys getting agitated over a game at the pool table.
"You fucking cheater!" Yelled one of the drunken men. "You bumped the ball then shot from a different angle!"
"Fuck off I did, you fucking drunk cunt!" Shouted the man suspected of cheating.
"Who are you calling a cunt you fucking daft cunt!"
"I'm calling you one you fucking moronic cunt!"
The two men continued to argue until they broke out in a fight causing the bouncer to come over and throw them out of the bar but the fight and argument continues outside, the occasional "Cunt" loudly drifting in through the doors and windows and piercing the music.
The onyx-eyed man continued to gaze around at the other patrons of the pub, studying them for any sign of trouble as he casually sipped his drink.
"You know Sal, you aren't Lush… You can't function on the job while drunk." Said a woman as she gracefully dropped into the seat on the other side of the table from him, placing a new full glass of his favourite drink on the table. "You looked like you were about to run out."
The man looked across the table at the familiar face of his handler. "I didn't see you come in M, what do you have for me?"
"What, no 'thank you for the drink'?" M chided playfully.
Sal smiled playfully at the beautiful woman in front of him. "Thank you M, so what have you got for me?"
M reached into her bag and pulled out a folder, placing it on the table and sliding it over to him. "Kidnapping, all the details are in that dossier."
Sal opened it and was greeted with a photo of a blonde with chocolate brown eyes. "The city of Hargeon?"
"Yes, the Archivist has found out that she will be meeting the Doppler on a cruise ship called the Spirit of Innocence tomorrow night."
Sal grunted in annoyance at the mention of the slaver that they had dubbed Doppler due to him using the Salamander name. He tapped the photo of the blonde woman and glanced up at the white-haired woman. "Is she a target or the bait for the real prey?"
M smiled cheekily at the man before her. "She is both, all the information is in that dossier, you should finish your drink and head to your safe house in Hargeon as soon as possible."
"Before I do, this makes no mention of which room I can expect them to be in, there are a lot of places to hide in a cruise ship, which means a lot of places to look too…" Sal said as his eyes raise up from the paper to meet the blue eyes of his handler. "Especially one of the largest cruise ships in the world."
"Currently, we are unsure. But our little Archivist said to expect them to be in the rear third of the ship."
Sal let out a long sigh and downed the last of his drink in one go, wiping his mouth he stands. "Winging it again are we?"
"Unfortunately." M replied as she too rose from her seat and collected her things. "Make sure to be at the docks by 8 pm."
"Will do, M." The green-eyed man said as he picked up his backpack and headed out of the bar followed by the woman, her silvery-white hair shimmering in the moonlight.
"Goodnight Sal." M said as she headed for her black Mercedes Benz.
"Night M." Sal threw over his shoulder as he put on a black motorbike helmet and got onto his Kawasaki Ninja H2R, starting it as a roar of an engine echoed behind him.
He glanced over his shoulder with a grin hidden behind within his helmet, watching M spin her tires and rocket past him with a playful wink shot at him through the window, the CLS 63 badge glinting in the streetlight.
"Oh You're On!" Shouted Sal as he revved up his bike and popped the clutch, standing the powerful bike on its rear tyre as the exhaust roared out of the straight pipes.
After bringing the front tyre back to the road he raced after her, the supercharger in his bike whining and whirling as it force feeds air into the engine.
M laughed heartily in the cabin of her car as the headlight of her friend's bike drew ever closer, she quickly shifted up to the next gear and put the pedal to the floor.
As he neared the car it spat fire from the exhaust as the sound of a new burst of power thundered in his eardrums, the flames illuminating the second part of the car's badge, AMG Black Edition.
"Gods we must me waking the neighbourhood real good tonight!" Sal cheered as run up alongside the performance sedan, he quickly waved to his handler before racing past and getting in front of her.
As they reach the end of the long road they started to slow down for a red light, Sal drifted across to the right and gave M enough room to park alongside him at the lights.
"This is where we part ways, Hot Stuff." M called out playfully as she wound down her window.
"Heading home or to headquarters?" Sal asked after he lifted the visor up off his face.
"Home, I have to look after my brother and sister."
"Come on M, they are old enough to take care of themselves. Beast even goes on assignments too."
"They still need their big sis to look after them Sal, what about you and your big brother?"
"We know each other's capabilities and let each other do as they want, anyways he works in interrogation and training now."
M shrugged her shoulders and glanced up at the traffic lights. "Make sure you go right to the Safe House Sal, we wouldn't want any Phantoms to find you."
"Heh, they can try." He gently tapped the fuel gauge on his bike. "Gotta fill up before I leave town, I'll take the highway and hammer it to Hargeon so I can get some sleep before the Op, let me know if we get any new info."
M nodded and wound the window back up, heading left on the intersection while Sal turned off to the right and went to the nearest station. He rolled up next to a bowser and shut off his bike, quickly taking his helmet and hanging it on the handlebars before he started to fill the bike.
As he paid for the fuel, a police car pulled up behind his bike and both Officers got out, one walked to the bowser and began filling the car while the other started checking over the bike in front of them.
"How can I help you, Officers?" Sal asked carefully as he walked out of the building and over to his bike.
"Firstly, we have had reports of a bike racing a car not long ago, just wanted to ask you a few questions." The Officer beside the bike said, sparing a quick glance up to the man.
"Sure, ask away."
"Where were you about 15 minutes ago?"
"At my house talking to some friends online and making plans to head to theirs for the night."
"And that's where you are heading now?"
"Yes."
"Which direction did you come from?"
Sal pointed down the road, opposite the way he had actually came from. "I live about 10 minutes that way, pulled into here when I noticed I was getting low on fuel."
"Would you mind blowing into this please?" The Officer ordered kindly as she held out a breathalyser. "Don't stop until it beeps."
Sal took a breath and wrapped his lips around the Styrofoam insert, starting to blow into it shortly after.
"Keep going, keep going…"
BEEP
"That's enough."
Sal pulled back as the Officer took the insert out, binning it while she waited for the read-out.
"You're clean, we'll get you to do one more test for us though. Lick this tab for me." She requested as she held out a testing tab, once the man used it, she stuck it into a tube of liquid and began shaking it.
"Anything else Officer?"
"Can I see your licence?" She asked with an outstretched hand. Once the plastic card was handed over, she inspected it, looking up and down from the man to the card a few times. Once she was satisfied she handed it back. "You're all good, but there's one more thing I'd like to ask."
"What would that be ma'am?"
"Is this the new H2R?" The Officer asked giddily – her demeanour immediately becoming more casual – as she pointed to his motorbike.
"Yep, just bought it recently."
"Gods, I'm so jealous. I've been looking at one for a short while now. If I gave you my number then maybe we could organise a test ride?" The hopeful Officer asked while unashamedly fangirling over the bike.
"Yeah sure, I don't mind."
"Sweet! Oh, by the way, you are clean on the drug test too so you can leave in a sec." She said as she pocketed the vial into a pouch and grabbed her notepad, quickly scribbling down her mobile phone number then handing him the piece of paper.
"Thanks, Officer…?"
"Please, just call me Alexia Rose." She stated with a wink as she pointed up at his hair. "Salmon looks good on you."
"Thanks, Alexia, I'll see if I'm free on the weekend and will give you a call later." Sal replied kindly, giving her a small grin as he put his helmet on then got on the bike.
"Bye for now cutie~" The Officer said as she sashayed back to her patrol car and sliding into the passenger side.
Sal chuckled to himself and drove off down the street, heading up to the highway and speeding down the road to the city of Hargeon.
Hargeon City, 3:17 am
Sal rolled up into the garage of his safe house and closed the garage door. He stretched his tired limbs, feeling a little numb from a long and hard ride as he walked to the door leading into the house. "Err… What was that code again… ah yeah."
He quickly input the code and entered the house just as the house management A.I. called out to him while lighting the way. "Good morning Agent Salamander."
"Cherry it's…" He looks at his watch. "3:20 am, I think it's still nighttime."
"But goodnight is for when you go to bed." It asked, confused.
"Easy now, don't fry a circuit again. Has logistics been keeping the inventory fresh?"
"Yes, the last refresh was at 2 pm yesterday."
"Good, I think I'll have a cup of tea before I go and pass out in the bed." The agent murmured as he made his way to the kitchen, hearing the kettle pop as it was heated up by the A.I.
"Thanks." Sal brewed his tea then drank it, heading to the master bedroom and having a quick shower before heading to bed.
"Goodnight Agent Salamander."
"Night Cherry."
11:49 AM
Sal awoke with a groan as light streamed into the room through the windows, he turned his head to look outside then slowly sits up. "Damn sun… What's the time Cherry?"
"11:51 AM, Agent Salamander. Would you like me to start the coffee machine and get the coffee brewing?"
"Yes, Cherry." He replied with a yawn as he got out of the bed and prepared the shower. "Any missed calls or messages I need to know about?"
"None from HQ, so nothing important."
"Perfect." Sal said, sounding a bit more chipper as he quickly showered and gets dressed. He headed to the kitchen and swiftly made himself breakfast while he sipped the coffee.
"Is the basement stock up to date?"
"Yes, Agent Salamander."
"Good, I'll need to stock up for my assignment later."
After breakfast was devoured, Sal grabbed the dossier from his bag and headed to the basement, pressing his hand to the inside wall and accessing a biometrics scanner, after passing the check the walls all turned around to reveal a fully stocked armoury.
"Cherry could you bring up the schematic for the Cruise Ship titled Spirit of Innocence."
"Right away, Sir." The A.I. replied as a holographic display hummed to life above the table in the centre of the room.
Sal glanced over at it on his way to an assortment of pistols, grabbing out his favourite tool, a Glock 20 Gen5 10mm pistol, attaching a suppressor to muzzle and resting it on the table in the middle of the room along with half a dozen extra mags and a box of sub-sonic ammo for the pistol.
"Get Agent Demon on the line, I need to see if she has any more information for me."
A short connection tone played, ringing in the background of Sal's mind while he prepared his equipment. His attention snapped to the call as the tone ended abruptly.
"Na… Sal, what can I do for you?"
"Morning M"
M giggled at him. "It's afternoon silly."
"Already? Well… Afternoon then, I was wondering if you had any new info for me."
"Well~… I caught Agent Fairy, Ever, sneaking into the house and trying to slip into my brother's room."
Sal chuckled lightly and shook his head gently. "Save the gossip for when I get back to HQ, M."
"Can we please drop the code names, I know you are on a job and I'm your handler but we are on a secure line and both of us are in places where we won't be eavesdropped on."
"That's fine with me Mira." Sal said as he saw his silvery-white-haired handler pop up a holographic display next to him, causing him to reach over and activate his side.
"So, you wanted to know more if we have any new intel, Natsu?"
"Yes. But first, why are you in a towel?"
Mira glanced down and giggled softly as she brushed her damp hair. "I'm at my house. Just got out of the shower and had to put it on because someone~ called me."
"You aren't at HQ?"
"I was but I have a photoshoot for the magazine at 2:30pm today, so I'm home getting ready for it." Mira replied as she took in the sight of her agent, seeing him in black camouflage pants, black combat boots and a form-fitting black long-sleeved combat shirt.
"I still don't know how you manage to stay in the limelight and do clandestine missions at the same time." Natsu said offhandedly while he loaded 15 rounds into each mag.
"Well to be fair, most of my job is now bossing a certain pink haired man around to my heart's content."
"And I thank you for your helpful advice." Natsu chuckled with the roll of his eyes.
Mira giggled lightly. "Don't be like that~ it's not like I've made you clean my house for me."
Natsu hummed the quiet tune of a song that had recently been stuck in his head while he headed over to one of the nearby shelves and grabbed a knife, a mag-fed tranquiliser pistol with ammo and mags, and various non-lethal gadgets.
"Oh Natsu, the mission has to be done clean, so you don't have the usual freedom, no killing unless word comes in that the parameters have changed."
"Gotcha. Temporarily suspended License to Kill until the situation changes." He paraphrased as he placed the equipment on the table and went to get a utility belt and an under-arm holster for the pistol along with a holster for the tranq pistol to be sat on the back of the belt.
"We believe that the meeting will be held in the rooms ranging from 400 to 600 in the aft section of the ship."
The salmon-haired Agent glanced back at the hologram as he put his gear on. "Cherry, highlight those rooms for me."
"Right away, Agent Salamander."
The specified rooms change from a soft blue hue to an almost golden yellow, showing their location on the ship.
"That's a fair way above boarding level."
"Yes, it is a big ship, after all, you'll have to work your way up and then back down once the job is complete."
"And what about that bastard Doppler?"
"Incapacitate and prep him for custody, we are bringing in Law Enforcement to pick him up."
"So I have to work to a time window before the cops show up and inevitably make things harder?"
"Yes, we'll do our best to delay them but no promises. You know what they can be like."
"I do. Hmm… Chances are they have a guy in the security room so I'll have to take them out first so I won't be detected and they warn everyone."
"Cherry can you highlight that for Agent Salamander."
"Right away Ma'am." The A.I. replied as it dutifully did as instructed.
"Hmm, looks like I'll have to double back from the security room to the meeting place, can you light up all the security cameras too."
"Natsu I think it's best if you use the augmented reality contact lenses so you can keep track of all these cameras, I'll see if our little blue-haired friend can get a tap set up on them so we have cones of sight displayed for easy avoidance." Said Mira as she starts typing a message off to the Archivist.
Natsu nodded quickly and grabbed a small container from a shelf, taking it to the table. "Good idea, might also take some tracking micro-drones so I can keep track of positions of any hostiles."
While she watched him grab a small container filled with tiny spider-like drones, Mira went back to brushing her long and silky hair. "Don't forget your tac-com, we'll need it to manage everything and feed new objectives and intel to the HUD in your contacts."
"I know, I know, you drilled it into me hard enough that one time I forgot years ago that you don't need to bring it up every other mission." Natsu muttered with a slight chuckle in his voice.
He came back to the table after collecting the box and started filling the pouches on his belt and the holsters with the equipment he had lain out on the table.
"Keep your eyes on the table mister, I've got to get dressed." Mira chided playfully as she pointed at him through the call, smiling brightly as she spun around her chair and half-sashayed half-danced across her room.
"You know I'm sure all the guys and girls who buy the magazine you do a part in would kill to have you get naked while they watch."
"And very few people have the privilege to actually watch me as I'm comfortable with them, I think you are the only guy alive who has seen me naked." Mira added while she hung the towel up on a drying rack and began to rummage through her bedside table. "And have had the pleasure to touch me in all kinds of places."
"Keyword being 'Alive' isn't it."
"Yup~, minus the last part. Question, what colour should I wear?"
"Why are you asking me that?" Natsu asked curiously as he looked up at the holographic display of her camera.
She straightened up and faced him with her hands on her hips, baring all for his eyes to see and frowning at him in mock frustration. "Because I value your opinion, idiot."
Natsu rolled his eyes once more and took in the view any man would kill to see. "White I guess since it matches your hair."
"That wasn't so hard now was it~." She smirked before she turned and bent back over, going back to rummaging through her draws until she finally pulled out a pair of white lacy underwear. "Ohh~ I love this set, they are so cute~!"
Natsu moved over to his bag and pulled out his tac-com. Bringing it to the table where he sat it down for now.
Mira turned back to the camera as she bent and slipped her long legs into the lacy garment, her breasts hanging down due to their weight and size but still managing to retain their all-natural shape perfectly. "Got everything you need?"
"I should have, I've got lock picks and the tac-com has a built-in code breaker if I need it."
"Is it the newest model?"
"Yeah I just got it yesterday, while I was at HQ, R&D gave it to me for field testing. Said it was much faster than the old unit at breaking into the newer devices."
"Oh cool, I wonder when I'll be given mine." Mira said as she straightened up, her breasts bouncing and swaying hypnotically with inertia before they quickly settled on her chest.
"Depends on if my test goes well, from what I know Knight and Frosty both got given a test unit each as well for their missions too, I think Frosty is due back at HQ today and Knight is due later this week."
The model nodded at her agent and put her lacy bra on. "Dress?"
"Silver, satin so it shimmers." He replied as he grabbed a matte black jacket and pulled it on, covering his equipment from view. "And sapphires for your jewellery, to match your eyes."
Mira giggled cutely and smiled as she clasped her hands together loudly. "And that is why I let you see me get dressed, you always give me great fashion advice." She turned to her wardrobe but looked back at him with a devilish smirk as a devious idea popped into her mind. Never one to pass up the opportunity to tease her favourite man, she gave her ass a meaty spank.
"Really?" Natsu said with a chuckle. "Slapping your ass for me?"
"Oh come on Natsu~ you should know from all of our sparing lessons that I love roughness, being pinned to the floor or a wall~."
"Yeah, and we are just fighting in those, you know how distracting it is when you know your opponent is getting turned on in a fight?"
"You just love dominating me and taking advantage of me in times of weakness."
Natsu chuckled and shook his head, she was always like this. "Mira, I know we've fooled around more than a few times but no matter how much you always grind against me in an effort to distract me when I have you in a grapple, I won't break."
"Oh but you love it, don't make it seem like you don't always purposely cop a feel of my tits or ass whenever you get the chance." Said Mira as she straightened up and rummaged through her wardrobe for her desired dress. "Not to mention it doesn't fail to get you all hot and bothered."
"More like you shove them into my hands." He argued back playfully.
"No I don't~ don't lie to me you meanie." She giggled as she slid her dress on followed by some sapphire and silver jewellery. "They just happen to fall into your magical hands."
"Almost time for you to leave is it?"
"Yeah, not long until my shoot, I'll be back in time for your mission easily so I'll talk to you at 7:40 pm make sure you are in position at the docks by then."
"Will do Mira."
"Bye Sal." She said as she went to her desk and lent down.
"Bye M." He replied as they ended the call.
"Cherry, turn off the hologram and send all the data to my tac-com."
"Yes, Agent Salamander."
Sal strapped the tac-com to his left forearm over his jacket sleeve and powered it up, tapping away at it to integrate all the tech-based equipment he is using.
"Data transmitted, Sir." Cherry announced.
"Good, well I better go get set." Sal said as he double checked everything and made some lunch to go.
Hargeon City Docks, 7:30 pm
Agent Salamander rode into the dockyards on his bike, a paper bag full of fast food sitting between the bike's handlebars and its windshield, he drove down into a tight alleyway and parked his bike out of view, quickly getting off it and placing the helmet on the seat.
"Hopefully I have time to eat before I start."
Giving his gear a once over, he nodded in confirmation and grabbed the paper bag. He gazed up the sheer walls of the two warehouses to his left and right. "Better get up somewhere I can have a good view."
He secured the bag in one hand and he ran up the wall before leaping across to the other. He reached out and grabbed the handrail for the catwalk above him and pulled himself up before resting the bar in the groove of his boots and squatting down. Launching himself up higher shortly after. Once he is was on the roof he walked over to the side that had a great view of the Cruise Ship and sat down with a quiet groan.
"Burger time." Sal muttered while opening the bag. He started to eat the burger he bought on the way over.
The man kept an eye on the time while he quickly and cleanly ate the burger and fries and drank the cup of Coke. "Ah that hit the spot."
He cleaned his hands and mouth with a wet wipe and started getting ready, putting a sub-vocal microphone on his throat and adjusting the strap so it sat comfortably around his neck before he put in an earpiece in his right ear and finally places the A.R. contacts onto his eyes.
Sal quickly tapped away at his tac-com and linked the three pieces of equipment to the communication system and made sure it all ran just fine.
"Mic check"
"Loud and clear Sal, you all set?"
"Yeah, time is 7:39 pm, want to get started M?"
"Let's commence the operation."
Sal grinned and cracked his knuckles. He rolled his shoulders and neck and finally clasped his gloved hands together with a muffled snap. "Showtime."
So I hope you all like the first chapter of my new story, the first thing I should note is I know that I go between a few names for the characters but while on the mission they will be referred to as their code name, so, for instance, Agent Salamander for Natsu or just Sal for short.
The second thing is just explaining what a sub-vocal mic is so you don't have to google it, saving you the time and effort, basically, it is a special mic that picks up the movement of your vocal cords that happens even when you just think words, it's done through a sensor, analyser and transmitter, that's the simple version, if you want to know more then hop over to google, bing or yahoo, whatever you use and give it a read up on, it's quite fascinating.
What this allows is for silent communication between two people which is best for when you are doing clandestine operations as silence is your best friend.
As of Chapter 20, I changed the denotation of the Sub-Vocal communication from COMMS: to a format that I figured looked better and honestly, it did look tonnes better. It now appears as you see at the end of the chapter, Bold and Italicised. I've done this to further distinguish the difference between vocal and sub-vocal communication. I'm in the process of working through the story and applying these changes across all chapters prior to 20. I'm also fixing all my little errors, like using the wrong tense since I like using past tense saying that they did this instead of doing this. 'He closed his eyes' Vs 'He closes his eyes' where applicable, however, I may still not be able to catch every last mistake though hopefully, I do a better job than I initially did back in early 2019. To make it obvious which chapters I have Revisited and touched up, I'll be putting this after their Chapter Name - (R)
Thank you for reading and I hope you like the story.