Blind Sky

Tadao requested to see me at the end of class. It was week four of training, and I wasn’t the best in class, but surely I wasn’t the worse either, so I was clueless as to why the private request.

I entered the meeting room five doors down from where we were training, and immediately judged the look of anxiousness on Tadao’s face. It was a look of interest met with concentration when he asked me to take a seat.

He placed a finger to his nose allowing his thumb to rest underneath his chin.

“First, I want to say how sorry I am again for what transpired with the guards, and also for your loss, Sky,” Tadao mustered. “Death is hard enough, and losing a parent unexpectedly and violently,” he paused as his eyes filled with sorrow, “is that much harder. Your mother was an asset and vessel to this agency. She had a hand in crafting most of the system and strategies we use to recruit and train.”

I turned my head, recalling the many designs and sketches of business logos for Logue I found in a folder stored chronologically in mom’s office. Mom, unlike dad was proficiently organized, which he knew from day one and what attracted him to her. Mom was employed by Australian government to track financial reports of organizations and companies of interest, which included the responsibility of either closing them down or customizing a major overhaul. Fortunately for dad, mom saw potential in his cellular research, providing the funding his organization needed. Though mom said she only helped because she thought he was cute.

“Sky,” he said carefully. “I’ve reviewed all of your test results we’ve done so far, and it’s been brought to my attention that you’re a great candidate for our System Protocol missions.”

Tadao laughed, noting the look of confusion on my face.

“Sky, you have several great skills. You shouldn’t be so shocked.”

“But..”

“But what?” He questioned.

“But I’m not the number one fighter.”

He laughed again. “No, but you’re close. Besides, you don’t always have to start out ahead to get ahead that can easily be mastered, especially with your persistence. More importantly,” he said glaring at me assertively. “You have what it takes.”

I was interested, yet I had my suspicions. “Out of this training group, you’re the only recruit selected for elite missions, and when you say yes, that will make you only the second female ever to be selected and meet the criteria for System Protocol.”

“How do you know I will say yes?”

He chuckled at first. “Because I know you will.” He smiled with confidence. “So are you in?”

“You said you already knew what my answer would be.”

“I don’t doubt what I know; I just want to hear you agree to it.”

I sat quietly in the chair, deliberating for a couple minutes.

“When do I start?”

******

At the start of training, there were thirty-five recruits total, male and female included. Now at the end, there were twelve, eight guys and four girls.

Every recruit, trainer, director, guard, and anyone working at the agency was present for our last match. All remaining recruits stood in line next to one another, as Tadao addressed the coliseum shaped room filled with spectators.

“Before we begin, I want to say I am very proud of everyone who has stayed and committed to the training. What you’re doing, what you are a part of, is something greater than yourselves. What awaits and lurks out there is vicious cruelty, and uncompromised dedication to kill people and overthrow our government,” Tadao expressed.

“They will stop at nothing to accomplish their mission, so we must prepare ourselves to fight back,” glancing at me.

Tadao continued with his speech, ideal for the fourth quarter of a championship basketball game. I looked over at all the recruits that made it, which for the females included myself, Misty, Casey, and Jane who had short blonde pixie hair and a mean right hook. I was thrilled knowing Lacey didn’t make the cut. Apparently she had more mouth than skill.

The males were Derek, Lawrence, Ted, Brandon, Seth, Cliff, Robert, and Reggie. Joshua and Claire also didn’t make the cut, but they seemed more focused on hooking up rather than training, so it might have worked out better for them.

Misty glanced over at me with apprehension. “I hope Tadao goes easy on us,” she joked.

“Hopefully,” I said.

“This is an important week and our last week,” Tadao stressed, “so I would like to introduce my special guest who came as a favor to me. He is a black belt in Brazilian jujitsu, martial arts and tae kwon do and will assist with our final matches.”

“Everyone,” Tadao introduced his enthusiasm evident. “Let’s welcome Galen.”

Misty glanced over at me, deciphering the words from her mouth. “Who is that, he is gorgeous,” she mouthed.

Misty was first up, and everything moved quickly. They shook hands, and immediately slammed her to the floor. I flinched, thankful for the cushioned floor, as I’m sure Misty was too. This went on for a while, but Misty was able to get a few moves in.

“Very good Misty,” I heard Tadao say. “Sky, you’re next. Please come to the front.”

I walked up exchanging bows, then shook his hands, mentally prepped for him to slam me down like he did Misty. He stood with his arms behind his back, circling me.

He had an athletic built, but he wasn’t robust or stocky, so I knew I should be able to take him, though I was still trying to figure out his next move. I wasn’t sure if this was part of the routine, making sure to keep a close eye on him.

Unexpectedly he walked away, leaving me standing alone. But that did not last long, and before I knew it, I was slammed to the ground.

Although a little shaky, I leaped forward launching a kick which he quickly caught. I spun around to release my leg, but that only made me fall. I got right back up aiming at his knees with another kick which didn’t do much, only making him stagger slightly.

I stepped back and he picked me up, throwing me down like a rag doll.

“Well done, Sky,” Tadao said then smiled, but I felt defeated and exhausted.

Once all the matches were completed, Galen made eye contact glancing at me apologetically, but instead of acknowledging his concern, I frowned because I didn’t want sympathy, I wanted to finish the fight.

“I’m so sore,” Misty expressed rubbing her arms. “That guy took me down hard a couple of times. But I don’t mind,” she grinned, “I would let him do it again.”

After our fight session, it was announced who would continue and who would not. And at the end of the week, selected recruits would be given a graduation ceremony. Derek, Misty and I made the cut, and after graduation, would officially become agents of Logue.

The graduation ceremony was short and simple. The ceremony was held in the same auditorium as the fight session. My dad was present and very proud. I was also proud and ready to begin my missions.

******

My first mission came almost immediately. A week after graduation, I was given a packet with my assigned target information. I was to locate and capture Kelis, an ex-Authority Official, traitor, and conspirator of the war who escaped from Authority Official’s custody. The dictum killed or be killed was never more prominent and real than at that moment.

Death was not something I tried to meditate on, though training prepared me for life threatening missions, with no room for mistakes.

Doubt and fickle learners were not tolerated. We were required to be tough and resilient, because humility didn’t fit, and as the only recruit selected for elite missions, I could only depend on myself.

Since Kelis was a huge threat not only to civilian lives, but to Australian Official’s, I had to act immediately.

I’ve been staking out his activities and location for two days since receiving my mission. It was early Thursday evening, and Kelis was last seen holding a guard hostage outside Gold Coast’s Swat Team Headquarters.

He managed to escape, fleeing on foot. He was in route and close by.

Knowing I had to amplify my defense, there was a charge of impending doom that eclipsed the atmosphere with bouts of murky clouds staged across the sky. Precision was key and triumph an essential.

I was two miles from the Headquarters. There was an abandoned Land Rover stranded underneath an overpass, and despite the chipped gray paint and muddy tires, it was still a good looking truck, though there weren’t many vehicles on the street or in the city, since most were damaged or blown up by the attacks.

Heavy rain poured from the sky, while a streak of lightningfractured an opening through the dense crowd of rain clouds onto the ground igniting loud sessions of thunder.

Dozens of Australian Authority Official’s roaming around in military tanks patrolled the city of Gold Coast. No other vehicles or citizens were allowed to patrol the city, with the exception of a handful of guard’s in the distance parading in line next to the tanks in the street, flaunting their large guns.

No one outside the agency, not even the issued guards stationed to protect us was to be trusted.

The stormy street didn’t leave many options to hide, so the truck had to work.

I hid inside the Land Rover, hiding in the back seat curled on the floor, and remained quiet while drubbing footsteps stomped close by.

I had a gun and knife, prepared to use either one, though the agency wanted Kelis alive. But before I had a chance to use either one, shots were fired, aimed at the truck.

I was dragged out of the truck with a gun pointed at my head. “Keep moving,” positioning the gun near my temple.

He smelled like stale ham, the bags under his eyes and frayed look of exhaustion suggesting tireless days on the run.

The fatigued must have settled in. He took a step, losing his balance. I took advantage striking my foot across his face. The gun flew out of his hand, landing in a puddle of water. I fired my gun, the bullet striking him in the arm. He was pissed, surging towards me with a bolt of aggression.

The hunt, the pursuit, and the thirst to execute resumed on his face, but my mission was simple; annihilate him before he had a breathing chance to win. He was one of the bad guys with a plot to corrupt our freedom, and why my dedication to the agency was easy.

I was trapped underneath him. He stamped his fist across my face, the blood raiding inside my mouth tasting like rusted metal. I could feel the swell soaring inside. I plowed my head into the center of his skull, and held him down, stabbing both his legs with the knife in my pocket. I was infected with rage while he wallowed in pain, but the sound meant nothing to me. I put a bullet in his head and returned to the agency.