Group X: Sub Rosa
The Docks
Berth 1013
6:38 PM
He waited impatiently as he watched the darkness overtake the calm water. Leaning on the edge of the pier, he mumbled, “I don’t like staying here, exposed for the world to see. He better show up soon or I’m leaving.” He checked his watch. Two more minutes. He shoved his cold hands back into his pockets.
He scanned the quiet warehouses behind him, watching and listening for the approach of his friend. His friend was always on time if not early. He saw him rounding the corner, briskly walking and searching the area before him.
“About time you got here!” He turned back and watched the water once again, waiting for his friend.
His friend walked to the pier and leaned on the edge of the railing, nearly elbow to elbow to the other. “Couldn’t be helped. You know what it’s like now. I don’t know whom to trust. Now, what information do you have?” He rubbed his hands together and blew on them. “Boy, it’s cold out here.”
The man turned and looked at him. “Are you sure you weren’t followed?”
His friend sighed. “Yes, I took all the precautions. Now, who is it? We have to find this person before anything else is compromised.”
“Too late,” the man growled as his eyes spoke the truth.
A single gunshot fired point blank at chest level. Laughter. Frantic searching. Nothing of real importance. The splash of a body hitting the water.
Group X HQ
Conference Room
8:23 PM
Seated around a square mahogany table were dellyone with her back toward the door, Cassie, darkslider and SpaceTime. In the center of the table was a platter filled with mouthwatering pastries, cakes and pies. At the other end of the room was a large screen television with a DVD player and karaoke machine attached to it. After watching a short video, dellyone pressed stop and placed the remote control at the right edge of the table.
Reviewing files which was standard operating protocol tended to be the longest part of a review session. This was a long session that held many surprises – one of which dellyone hadn’t expected. Her team seated in front of her had rooted out those who wanted to undermine her organization. Unfortunately, the last one was very cunning and well hidden within her ranks. Finding the person responsible had taken a toll on her mind and spirit as well as thinning of the ranks.
Two quick knocks on the door. The intoxicating smell of coffee. Reawakened tired minds.
“I got your fresh coffee here,” said a smiling Alex as brought in a tray of the jolt they needed. Starting to the right of dellyone and going counterclockwise, he placed an iced mocha in front of Cassie and black coffee in front of Space and dark.
Alex placed the tray to the right of dellyone and lovingly presented her with a double tall steaming mug of mocha with whipped cream. He bent over and started whispering sweet nothings into her right ear as he held her left hand. dellyone giggled as she heard his ideas and admired their matching wedding bands.
Whispers of love. A smile. Isolated from the rest of the world.
dark, Space and Cassie ate and drank in silence as the two giggled for several minutes. The trio smiled as they watched the two exchange hushed words. Cassie had finished half of her delicious iced mocha by the time Alex was ready to leave the room.
“See you later, sweetheart, with the analysis report,” said Alex sweetly as he picked up the tray. He gave her a quick kiss on her right cheek.
She turned around in her chair. “Later, honey,” she replied as he lingered at the door for a few seconds, smiling at her once again. “Go on, we’ve got work to do,” she jokingly commanded.
“As you wish, my dear.” He gave a bow before leaving the room. A couple of seconds go by before she went back into her business mode. She ate an apple turnover and drank some of her coffee while contemplating future goals for Group X.
“So what do you think of my recommendations, dellyone?” asked a tired Cassie as she finished her mocha.
dark grinned as he spoke. “I think you should cancel them.” He watched the others in anticipation of their reactions.
“I agree with him. They are not worthy to be members of Group X,” added Space as he reached for an apple strudel.
dellyone put down her mocha and thought for a second. “Not to worry, all of their next assignments are suicide missions.”
Her comment sent the foursome into hysterical laughter for several minutes. Only highly trained operatives or ones that failed one mission were sent on these assignments. The ingenuity and skill of the operative determined whether the mission was a success. There was no reason for cancellation – failure meant death.
“Let’s get to work. We’ve got a lot of files to review,” dellyone ordered as she grabbed a piece of apple pie. The trio nodded in agreement as they grabbed the padds in front of them.
Cassie yawned and remarked, “Grading papers takes time away from sleep. Man, that class is tougher than I thought it was going to be.”
“You’re telling me. You know you are such a bitch,” complained Space as he looked up from his padd.
dark added his two cents too. “Dammit, we should have gotten the highest grade in that class.”
dellyone was amused. “I read what the both of you wrote. I would have cancelled both of you on the spot for screwing up my story like that.” A wicked smile appeared on her face. The trio didn’t know if she was joking or not so they went back reviewing the files. The smile didn’t leave her face as she read the remaining files.
Alex knocked on the door once again before entering. He walked to the left side of dellyone and handed her a padd with the results of the DNA test. “Analysis confirmed on the residue. It’s him alright.”
dellyone studied the padd for several seconds. “So everything has been triple checked?” she asked as she looked up at him.
“Three separate analyses confirm it. One more thing.” Alex took off his wedding band and threw it on the table. When she noticed that there wasn't a ring mark on his hand, her right hand went for her gun.
An empty shoulder holster. A click of a hammer. Shit out of luck.
“Looking for this,” remarked Alex as dellyone looked up and saw the barrel of her gun mere inches from her head. All three looked up from their work.
“What’s the meaning of this?” asked Cassie as she saw an evil smile cross Alex’s face.
“Lovers quarrel,” commented dark.
Space had his own idea. “Power struggle for leadership.”
A furious dellyone demanded, “Where’s Alex?”
“What?” said Cassie, dark and Space in unison as shock registered on their faces as he pulled out another gun.
“You’ll be joining him soon.” His ice blue eyes told her that it was the truth.
Blue eyes she thought. “What the f... It can’t be unless... a clone. Brilliant.”
“On your knees,” ordered Sabre_Edge as he watched the others looking for an opening. There wasn’t one. One wrong move and they would lose their leader.
dellyone smiled as she stood up and faced him, clasping her hands behind her. “Never.”
“Suit yourself. A final request, dellyone?” asked SE as he eyed his target.
“Sober_Edge,” dellyone said matter-of-factly as she watched his eyes. “You didn’t think I would find out about him did you?” she smirked as the comment hit the target. She pulled the gun she hid in the small of her back.
A moment’s hesitation. Bodies fall. Gunfire erupts. Silence.
dellyone’s hand reached up and hovered above the tabletop. Her hand brushed against the remote control before dropping back to the floor. The remote control seesawed back and forth on the edge of the table for a few seconds then fell to the floor.
Group X HQ
Cafeteria
8:55 PM
HurriKain, DieselMickeyDolenz, Nobuyuki and nole9 were seated around a table shooting the breeze after they returned from a mission.
“So what do you guys think? Do you think the purge will continue?” asked HK as he sipped on some Pepsi.
“Well, there isn’t many of us left now, thanks to dellyone,” complained DMD as he took a swig of his Mountain Dew.
Nobuyuki added his two cents. “I don’t know how we’re going to pull off the next wave of missions without enough manpower.”
“We’ll do it or we’re fertilizer,” quipped nole9, holding his empty coffee mug. “Rumor has it that dellyone ran out of those Pikachu targets so she uses the moles as replacements until the next shipment.”
Several minutes of hearty laughter descended upon the group, relieving the stress and strain of the last few weeks.
“You do know that she can hear you?” asked HK with a grin on his face.
“She can see you too.” DMD pointed to a black box located on the corner of the wall.
“How do you know you were talking to Cassie and not dellyone? They’re identical twins. Hell, they could be doubles if I didn’t know better.” Nobuyuki threw his aluminum can into the recycle bin located twenty feet away. It clanged as it hit the edge and bounced into the hole. “WhooHooo, got another one in.”
“They’d never get rid of me. I’m indispensable and I’m the best hacker here,” said nole9 confidently.
“Um… Nobuyuki, do you have to keep doing that?” inquired an irritated DMD as he leaned back on his chair.
“Yes, I am and no one’s going to stop me,” was Nobuyuki’s reply.
“Whatever nole. One of these days your jokes are going to get you killed.” HK stood up and stretched his legs. “I’m headed to bed before I fall over.”
A smiling nole offered, “Anyone want some coffee?” Shrugs and “No thanks” were the replies. “Okay, then.”
“So, do you think they’ll stop with the interrogations?” queried DMD, watching nole as he grabbed the coffeepot.
“I think...”
An explosion rocked the cafeteria, leaving a gaping hole where nole was standing.
Darkness falls.
Chapter 2
Group X HQ
Control Center
8:43 PM
A weary EustiSlider was rubbing his forehead in an attempt to stave off the first sign of a headache. He paced across the floor once again to check on the real time satellite feeds from the missions in progress. He jerked the comm off his tired right ear and moved it to the left one.
“Any sign of target?” asked Eusti as he watched intel from the field.
JorgeCis looked up from his monitor. “Not yet, the meeting hasn’t broken up yet.”
“Keep me apprised of the situation. I’ve got to get this report to dellyone. You know that she hates it when something’s late.” His headache wouldn’t quit as he took another shot of Mountain Dew.
“Good luck and don’t piss her off because I don’t know how to run everything yet,” cautioned Jorge as he went back to monitoring the most critical mission.
Eusti picked up his padd and updated the mission status section. “Tell me about it. Ugh... first she sends Sabre_Edge on that deep cover mission then pulls all those who have experience into that mole hunt. I’m at my wit’s end at this point.”
“Yeah, it would help if she would stop arbitrarily canceling people so we wouldn’t be so overworked. I swear if I have to paint another wall, I’ll… I’ll… um… see I can’t even finish my thoughts because I’m so tired.” Jorge picked up his coffee mug and stared at the stale coffee. “Yuck and I don’t even like coffee and now I’m drinking gallons of it to stay awake.”
“You and me both. I’m going to ask for cancellation if I have to pick up another paintbrush,” joked Eusti as he read his report one more time.
“You don’t need to ask, just give her a mean look,” added Jorge as he watched the hotel across from the meeting area. “Seriously though, do ask her if we can lighten up on the missions. I know we’re not the only ones burning the candle at both ends.”
Eusti put his hand on Jorge’s shoulder, reassuring him. “Will do. Wish me luck, if I’m not back in half an hour, you’re in charge.”
Jorge looked over his shoulder, watching Eusti leave the room. “Uh... you mean Yeontoo’s going to be in charge then me since all the other senior staff are busy.”
“Oh yeah, totally forgot. I really need a vacation.”
“Good luck man. I’ll keep you apprised of the situations.”
Ivory Towers Hotel
15th floor
8:45 PM
The sniper watched the front door of the Newton Hotel, awaiting the target. The sniper had been poised at the edge of the window for several hours, rifle aimed to the area around the black limo.
“Has the meeting broke up yet?” the assassin asked coolly looking through the night vision scope. A mic picked up the message and relayed it to HQ.
“Not yet, the meeting hasn’t broken up yet,” Jorge’s voice answered back.
“Thanks. I’ll be waiting. So what’s up at HQ?”
“In less than 15 minutes, you’ve won the betting pot.”
“WhooHoo! Awesome.”
“Yeah, everyone’s almost relieved about that. Hey, hang on.” A few seconds went by. “The meeting’s broken up. Good luck.”
“Copy that and thanks. See you later, Jorge, with my money,” the assassin said with a smile.
“It’s not 9:00 yet. There’s still time, seeing that Eusti just went to give an update to delly.”
“Hey, don’t jinx it. Eusti’s cool. delly’s not going to get rid of him.” A white-gloved finger was flexed in preparation for the moment of glory.
“Jinx. Jinx. Jinx,” joked Jorge. “Later and out.”
“Later. Have my money ready. Over and out.” The senses of the assassin were keyed up ten notches as the adrenaline rush began.
Group X HQ
Yeontoo’s office
8:47 PM
An anxious SL4ever knocked on the office door. Damn, what did I do this time? Calm down, man. Everything’s fine. She just probably wants to see how you’re doing.
“Come in,” answered a female voice.
There were Capodimonte porcelain flowers that lined several rows on the glass shelf in the corner of the room. Plastic sheets lined the floor and the area around the shelf. SL4 saw dried reddish brown flecks on the sheets near the wall.
“Please, take a seat, hun.” Yeontoo pointed to the seat in front of her desk. “This isn’t going to take long.”
“Okay. What’s with all the plastic?” SL4 queried, trying to quiet the uneasiness in his stomach.
"Redecorating. You know hard it is to get blood off walls. I'm tired of smelling dried pain," she answered matter-of-factly.
"At least you haven't been the one painting the walls," blurted out SL4 before he knew what he was saying.
Oh crap, this is it. The upside is that I won't be frigging painting anymore. Downside is that I won't be doing much of anything except decomposing.
"Oh, do I detect a note of sarcasm in your voice, hun?" Y asked, looking up from her paperwork.
"I'm sorry, it's just that I've been pulling so many hours just like everyone else. She's got to stop cancelling people because of her paranoia," SL4 said smoothly.
Y folded her hands together, giving her full attention to SL4. "So that’s your proposal that you want me to tell her? To stop her mole hunt because it is an inconvenience and let this place fall apart even more? You know as well as I do that if I said that to her, I'll have to tell her that this was your recommendation not mine then you'll be next on her list."
The color drained from SL4's face. "Wait a sec. I didn't mean that."
Y continued playing Devil's advocate. "Doesn't matter what you mean. That’ll be her interpretation and you know exactly what happens next."
SL4's thoughts fell over each other trying to get himself out of this jam. I'm gonna die. She's crazy. Dammit, she can't do that. We need someone to stand up to her maybe... Alex. Yeah, Alex could do it.
Before, SL4 could suggest anything else, Y changed the subject. "Now, Alex tells me that you've been given the duty of watching the conference room whenever there are meetings being held."
SL4 looked upward and silently gave thanks before answering. "Yes, that's true."
"So he trusts you enough to make sure that she's protected, correct?"
"I would have to say yes," replied SL4, who was now more at ease.
"So why are you here now? Last I checked, there was still a meeting going on." Y patiently waited for a reply, watching his face intently.
"Alex said that you wanted a meeting with me at this time. He said that he was going to cover it."
"Very well then." Y picked up a file from a stack. "I've been reviewing your past missions."
Oh crap, what did she find? I didn't do anything wrong. Well, there was that one time, but she can't know about that.
Y turned the page. "Why is that you were the only one to come back from your last three missions? The odds of that occurring three times in a row are astronomical. What is it about you that makes you a survivor?"
"I'm lucky," automatically came out of his mouth.
Oh, man, wrong answer. Should have said that I was a skilled operative.
Y wasn't smiling as she pulled out her weapon and placed it next to the file folder. "Prove it."
Group X HQ
Outside Conference Room
8:51 PM
Eusti checked over his report one final time as he rounded the corner. He looked around and saw an empty station. "Jeez, where's Pie Boy? He's supposed to be here monitoring the meeting. Boy, this place really is going downhill, but then again, SL4's been Alex's 'Can't do anything wrong' man. Ugh... he should have been cancelled for slacking off on that mission. Well, I can't do anything about that since I don't have the authority."
Eusti checked the bank of monitors. Nothing interesting going on. He looked up and checked the clock on the far wall then his watch - the same time.
He was going over a troubling conversation he had with Alex a few hours ago. I still don’t know what he was getting at. What did he mean exactly when he said for me ‘To take care of things’? Why did he make me promise him that? The insanity has spread starting from the top. I really need a vacation. He rubbed his forehead again.
"Hmm... that's weird." He checked the monitor in front of him. "The DVD player is showing 8:30 PM. That's totally off. Something's wrong. delly always keeps that on the correct time."
Eusti unholstered his gun as he quietly crept to the meeting door. He counted to three as his mind blared out the message over and over again ‘Be careful. It’s a trap’. On three, he kicked the door down and hit the floor.
“What the hell?!?!” he mumbled as he saw the sight before him.
Newtown Hotel
23rd Floor
Northside Elevator
8:53 PM
"SweetOne, we need more support from the commission," Vortex62 said as he walked next to her.
"I'm trying Tex, but I've met with a lot of opposition." She pushed a stray hair from her face. Luckily, she had the presence of mind to put her hair up or she’d be pulling it out while answering the questions.
Tex pushed the down button at the first bank of elevators, opening the doors. SweetOne went inside and leaned against the right wall, exhausted and hungry. Tex walked to the opposite side and pushed the button for the first floor. As Tex faced her, she could see the worry lines in his face.
"I'm grateful for all your work as Taskforce EXtermination's government liaison, but we need more manpower as well as resources. We can't let Group X dictate what is or not needed. We have to stop them before they acquire sliding technology and bring their terror across other worlds. I just can't figure out how they seem to always have the upper hand. It's like we're just a step slower than them."
"How's the search going on that mole, Tex? Did you get any closer?" She heard her stomach grumbling for dinner. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw that Tex either didn’t hear it or was too focused on his work to pay attention.
Tex sighed in exasperation. "No, whoever it is, has been entrenched deep and covered his or her tracks too well. It has to be someone up on the chain, but for the life of me I can't figure it out. I have my suspicions."
"Care to share?" asked SweetOne as she saw that they passed the 17th floor.
"Not until I have definite proof."
Recall317's voice came over his earpiece. "Boss, the area is secure. No sign of trouble. I’m at the limo outside. It’s all clear."
"Copy that. We're on the way out. Double check with the teams again. I want to be sure this time around."
"Will do. Over and out." Tex’s earpiece was silent again.
"Everything okay, Tex?" asked SweetOne as she saw him bite at his lower lip for a second.
"Yes, but I have a feeling that something's coming up."
"You worry too much. Besides you have the best people working for you."
Tex glared at her. "SweetOne, if I were you, I'd take this more seriously. You haven't seen what this group has done, first hand. You've never been in my position. TEX is the only thing standing in the way of Group X."
"I'm sorry to take this so lightly. It's true I haven't seen first hand what they can do, but you've told me enough. They have to be stopped. I just can't get support from those higher up. They want to turn a blind eye and think that your budget is high enough to take care of the threat. I can only do so much."
He softened his glare. "I know, but we need more. There's only so much we can do. This mole has made it extremely difficult to know which of my people to trust and which not. We need a breakthrough soon."
"Tex, you need a break. Why don't you take..."
"No SweetOne, your safety is more important. Without you there's no way TEX can survive for much longer."
"Tex," the voice of JessieMallory rang in his ear.
"Go ahead, Jess."
"All teams in the Ivory Towers Hotel report all areas secure."
"Very well. Out."
The elevator finally came to a stop.
SweetOne flashed Tex a small smile. "See, Tex, I told you there's nothing to worry about."
“I’ll stop worrying once we get you back to HQ safe and sound. I still can’t shake this bad feeling.”
Ivory Towers Hotel
15th floor
8:56 PM
"Target in sight," said the sniper in the mic as Tex and SweetOne exited the hotel, walking to the waiting limo.
"Omega 1269. Repeat Omega 1269," Jorge’s urgent voice came over the mic.
"Damn," muttered the sniper, pulling the trigger several times before rushing out of the room.
Newton Hotel
Northside Entrance
"Man down! Repeat Man down! Lock that hotel down!” Recall yelled into his mic after he pushed both SweetOne and Tex into the limo, slamming the door behind them.
He rubbed off the blood on his hands onto his jacket as he ran into the Newton Hotel. “Get them the outta here, Blinker! The rest of you find that sniper! Team 3 sweep the Newton!”
Ivory Towers Hotel
15th floor
8:58 PM
Slider_Quinn21 and ThomasMalthus burst through the stairwell doors, guns drawn. An overturned housekeeping cart, haphazardly strewn towels littered the floor and a maid thrown against the wall next to the laundry chute came into their view as they rounded the corner.
Pointing with a white-gloved finger down the hall the maid mumbled, “He went that way. Very tall guy.”
“Subject was on the 15th floor. Proceeding down the hallway. Close the perim…,” TM relayed as he ran in the direction she pointed.
“You okay?” SQ21 asked, helping her up and leaning her against the chute.
“A little shaken up, but I’ll be fine. Just go,” she replied, tugging at her brown uniform.
“Stay here and wait a few minutes to catch your breath. Thank you.” SQ21 ran down the hallway TM had gone.
Group X HQ
Cafeteria
8:58 PM
“Yo, DMD, get up man,” urged HK, shaking his shoulders.
DMD blinked a couple of times, mumbling, “Oh man, I had this bizarre dream that we were talking and I saw nole pouring some coffee then BOOM. How’d I get on the floor? Jeez, I’m so tired I don’t remember anything. What’s with the alarm klaxon?”
“Dude, that was real,” Nobuyuki commented, standing at the blast crater.
DMD pushed himself up and turned to the right. “That’s not even…” He almost jumped out of his skin when he saw nole’s dead eyes staring at him. “
The fu...,” he cried out as he scrambled away from the decapitated head.
“I always joked with him... Death by coffee,” HK remarked, still not believing that he was gone.
“This was a deliberate targeting or else we wouldn’t be here.” Nobuyuki walked to the intercom and relayed a short message.
DMD grabbed a tablecloth and laid it solemnly over the remains of their friend. “We lost our best hacker. We need SE now, but he’s out on that solo mission. No one knows where he is except for delly.”
Group X HQ
Yeontoo’s office
8:59 PM
“So that’s all that happened?” questioned Y for the fourth time.
“That’s it Y. I’ve told you everything…” SL4 stopped when the intercom buzzed to life.
Nobuyuki’s sad voice was heard, “Y, we just lost nole. Bomb in the cafeteria.”
SL4 and Y stared at each other briefly before they ran out of her office.
Ivory Towers Hotel
Eastside Entrance
Housekeeping Section
9:02 PM
RMScream and CoolSlider were patiently waiting with their large cart under the dirty laundry chute for a special delivery. The other workers were busy steaming, pressing and checking the sheets to pay any attention to them.
“Come on, we got to get out of here on time,” coaxed RMS looking up the dark chute.
CS checked his watch. “Dude, chill. We’ve got a lot of time.”
A stream of sheets and towels flowed out of the chute followed by someone. RMS and CS quickly threw the towels upon their friend. Looking around, the duo swiftly pushed the cart into a waiting truck. RMS closed the truck’s door while CS hopped into the driver’s seat and drove through the open entranceway.
“All clear,” CS called out as they entered into traffic on the one-way street.
The towels flew into the air as she got out the cart.
“Tigs, my dear, good shooting,” remarked RMS as he threw her a cold bottled water.
Catching it in her white-gloved hand, she deadpanned. “I’m going to miss that rifle. It was my favorite.”
“That’s bull. You’re always complaining that it breaks your nails every time you use it.” CS turned around and smiled at her.
“That’s true, but it’s aim is truer than the others I’ve used,” she remarked as she opened the bottle. “So any explanation for the Omega 1269?” The water soothed her dry throat.
“What you heard is what we heard,” answered RMS.
“Well, you know what that means,” a cheery CS added as he pulled over at the next block.
“Mandatory 24 hours away from HQ!” the trio exclaimed.
Ivory Towers Hotel
West Side
13th floor
9:04 PM
Brand S, the sniper rifle over his back, ran down another hallway. Several people got out of the way as he raced by like a bat out of hell. He smiled when he saw an intersection coming up within seconds.
Hmm… I’ll take right this time. They aren’t going to catch me. They’re so incompetent. Probably catch them with their pants down at their ankles. Idi...
TM tackled S right before he turned the corner. The next thing S realized was being pinned against the wall with a gun at his head and staring at both TM and SQ21.
“Shit! I just had surgery. Take it easy!” S blurted out.
“We got him,” SQ21 said into his mic.
“Shut up everyone! What did he just say?” ordered Recall’s voice over all the comm traffic.
“He said he had surgery,” TM said smoothly, shoving the barrel deeper into S’ forehead.
“Awww... shi... Get him down here now! Where’s that... ” Recall’s voice trailed off.
“I hate this job.” S sighed.
The Limo
9:05 PM
“Tex, why are we coming back here? You’re hurt!” SweetOne exclaimed as she put more pressure on Tex’s right shoulder, her white jacket now red. “We got to get you to a hospital before you bleed to death.”
Blinker looked at his rearview mirror and saw that Tex was getting paler by the second. “Tex, she’s right. You’re losing too much. We got to…”
Tex sat straight up. “Dammit, you two! Don’t you see it’s a trap!”
“Tex, calm down!” begged SweetOne as she pushed him back against the seat.
“Five minutes. No more or I’ll shoot you myself,” Blinker threatened as the stoplight turned green.
“How much further?” SweetOne asked.
“Less than a block,” Blinker answered.
Just as the limo turned the corner, the westside part of the Ivory Towers Hotel came crashing down.
Recall’s voice came over the comm. “My God, what have they done?”
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