!Novaturient
----
You are the talented handler assigned to Agent X, the top field agent at Mi6. However, despite the supposed thrill of your job (and the tidy paycheck), you find yourself bored.
That is until X’s latest mission.
X is in Las Vegas, infiltrating the world-renowned Club Delirium, a suspected front for an international smuggling ring. But when things take a sudden and dangerous turn, you lose contact with your agent completely.
After X is disavowed, you take it upon yourself to use your considerable skills to track down your missing agent, and travel to Las Vegas with your flatmate and fellow handler.
Unfortunately for you, not only do you find X, but you and your flatmate manage to get dragged into a mission to save the world alongside X and a small team of agents.
* Thank you for playing Novaturient! I hope you enjoy.
* Disclaimer: This is inspired by the film Spy (2015), however the plot and characters will ultimately be different.
[[Proceed to Character Creator]]
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<li>[[Handler Profile]]</li>
<li>[[Character Codex]]</li>
<</nobr>>!Prologue I.
!!Three weeks before X goes MIA.
----
There was something almost humbling about listening to the wretched sounds of one choking to death on their own blood.
A realisation perhaps, that it would not take much to be the one grasping blindly for any sliver of life to clutch on to.
Cold, grey eyes gleamed as they observed, with almost clinical cruelty, the broken man before them.
"Enough, my friend," the voice cooed, sounding almost gentle in its chastising. "It will be over so much sooner if you stop fighting the inevitable."
[[However, before the dying man could attempt to choke out a word, the so-called King of Vegas spun on the heels of his shoes and strode away.|male noah][$ngender = "man"; $nthey = "he"; $nthem = "him"; $ntheir = "his"; $ntheirs = "his"; $nthemself = "himself"]]
[[However, before the dying man could attempt to choke out a word, the so-called Queen of Vegas spun on the heels of her shoes and strode away.|female noah][$ngender = "woman"; $nthey = "she"; $nthem = "her"; $ntheir = "her"; $ntheirs = "hers"; $nthemself = "herself"]]
[[However, before the dying man could attempt to choke out a word, the so-called Royal of Vegas spun on the heels of their shoes and strode away.|NB noah][$ngender = "person"; $nthey = "they"; $nthem = "them"; $ntheir = "their"; $ntheirs = "theirs"; $nthemself = "themself"]]
Mercy had no place here.
Mercy had no place anywhere.!!Content Warnings
----
Rated 18+ for:
- Violence.
- Death (including murder).
- Strong Language.
- Sexual Content (including mentions of prostitution).
- Dark Humour (towards death).
- Mild Gore.
- Mentions of Past Child Abuse.
- Kidnapping.
- Mentions of Blood.
<<button "Back" "story start">><</button>>!!! Checkbox:
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<<textbox "$textboxVar" "Type answer here">>Novaturientby <a href="https://kalorphic.tumblr.com" target="_blank">kalorphic</a>!Handler Profile
Name: $mcname $mcsurname
Gender: $mcgender
Identity: $mcidentity
Pronouns: $They/$Them
Codename: $mccodename
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<center><<link "Return to game" $return>><</link>></center>!Character Codex
Under construction
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<center><<link "Return to game" $return>><</link>></center>!Prologue II.
!!Agency Leaders (Two weeks before X goes MIA).
----
If there was anything Salan Williams, the Director of Mi6 hated, it was tardiness, and there was no one on the planet who was tardier than Director Jessica Harper of the CIA.
Director Jaide Garcia Torres of the NIC looked as though they were half asleep, and Director Kelechi Musa of the NIA was currently throwing M&Ms up into the air as he tried to catch them in his mouth. The key word being //tried//. Salan found herself watching him, a little fascinated about he could be so blasé while on a professional video call with the likes of herself and Jaide, who, despite looking like they could not care less about anything, was one of the most ruthlessly efficient agents that Salan had ever had the privilege of working with.
The same could not be said about Jessica.
If it wasn’t for the fact that the topic of discussion today was an American citizen, then Salan would have suggested they move forward with the meeting without her.
“I am going to kill that woman.” Salan’s words broke the silence that had fallen over the three of them for the last half an hour.
Kelechi blinked at her like he was surprised she was still here, and then winced as the last M&M he'd thrown got caught in his hair. Jaide simply stretched like a satisfied lion, their stupidly perfect muscles going taunt, and refused to dignify her with an answer.
“Aw come on, Sal,” Kelechi pouted, making him look about ten years old. “You made me lose my streak.”
Salan wondered briefly how someone as young as Kelechi had made it to the position of Director already, but she could not deny that things had been getting done under his leadership. It did not stop her from feeling like his mother when she spoke to him though.
“This is a meeting, Kelechi, not a place for you to practice your party tricks.”
Kelechi spluttered in protest, but before he could start yelling, the wicked witch herself turned up with a ridiculous grin on her face.
Salan scowled at the audacity.
“It is good that you are diabla, Miss Salan was ever so worried about you,” Jaide’s smile was as radiant as Jessica’s.
“Oh yes,” Kelechi chimed in. “I think she was ready to board a plane and track you down herself, Jessie.”
“If it seemed that way, it was only because I was going to kill her when I found her,” Salan hissed.
The way Jessica’s teeth sunk into her plush bottom lip promised Salan that today was going to be a lesson in self-control.
“Promises, promises, hot stuff.”
Something snapped, and Salan blinked down at the now broken pencil in her hands. The other three went completely silent, a smirk twitching on Jaide’s face as Salan sucked in a deep breath, and slowly placed the two pieces of the pencil on the desk in front of her.
<<button "“Now that Director Harper is here, let us begin this meeting.”" "Prologue II.0">><</button>>A woman stepped into place beside the $ngender.
"Is it done?"
"Hello to you too, Manon."
The previously chiding voice had taken on an almost gleeful quality, and $ntheir eyes, which had been so cold, were now crinkled up with genuine amusement.
The woman, Manon, pinched the bridge of her nose in clear frustration.
"Enough of your nonsense, Noah, you fool." Her lips curled back from her teeth in disgust. "The word is out about your little //plan// and now we shall have all manner of mutts sniffing around Delirium."
"Dearest sister, you'll go grey prematurely at this rate." Noah laughed as $nthey slung $ntheir arm over her shoulders. "Everything is going exactly as I've planned."
She gave $nthem a dubious look.
"You doubt me?"
"Often."
Noah gasped in mock offence, dramatically slamming $ntheir hand into $ntheir chest as $nthey staggered away from her.
"One hit kill," $nthey wheezed. "Tell our parents I love them."
"You just left a man to choke to death on his own blood." Manon said, incredulously. "How are you this cheerful?"
"Mr. Rosco betrayed us." Noah merely shrugged, drifting back to her side. "And I'll destroy //anyone// who threatens our goal."
A more solemn mood settled over the two of them momentarily, before Noah lit up again.
"I'm starved, let’s get ice cream."
<<button "Next" "Prologue II0">><</button>>A woman stepped into place beside the other $ngender.
"Is it done?"
"Hello to you too, Manon."
The previously chiding voice had taken on an almost gleeful quality, and $ntheir eyes, which had been so cold, were now crinkled up with genuine amusement.
The woman, Manon, pinched the bridge of her nose in clear frustration.
"Enough of your nonsense, Noah, you fool." Her lips curled back from her teeth in disgust. "The word is out about your little //plan// and now we shall have all manner of mutts sniffing around Delirium."
"Dearest sister, you'll go grey prematurely at this rate." Noah laughed as $nthey slung $ntheir arm over Manon's shoulders. "Everything is going exactly as I've planned."
Manon gave $nthem a dubious look.
"You doubt me?"
"Often."
Noah gasped in mock offence, dramatically slamming $ntheir hand into $ntheir chest as $nthey staggered away from the other woman.
"One hit kill," $nthey wheezed. "Tell our parents I love them."
"You just left a man to choke to death on his own blood." Manon said, incredulously. "How are you this cheerful?"
"Mr. Rosco betrayed us." Noah merely shrugged, drifting back to her side. "And I'll destroy //anyone// who threatens our goal."
A more solemn mood settled over the two of them momentarily, before Noah lit up again.
"I'm starved, let’s get ice cream."
<<button "Next" "Prologue II0">><</button>>A woman stepped into place beside the $ngender.
"Is it done?"
"Hello to you too, Manon."
The previously chiding voice had taken on an almost gleeful quality, and $ntheir eyes, which had been so cold, were now crinkled up with genuine amusement.
The woman, Manon, pinched the bridge of her nose in clear frustration.
"Enough of your nonsense, Noah, you fool." Her lips curled back from her teeth in disgust. "The word is out about your little //plan// and now we shall have all manner of mutts sniffing around Delirium."
"Dearest sister, you'll go grey prematurely at this rate." Noah laughed as $nthey slung $ntheir arm over her shoulders. "Everything is going exactly as I've planned."
She gave $nthem a dubious look.
"You doubt me?"
"Often."
Noah gasped in mock offence, dramatically slamming $ntheir hand into $ntheir chest as $nthey staggered away from her.
"One hit kill," $nthey wheezed. "Tell our parents I love them."
"You just left a man to choke to death on his own blood." Manon said, incredulously. "How are you this cheerful?"
"Mr. Rosco betrayed us." Noah merely shrugged, drifting back to her side. "And I'll destroy //anyone// who threatens our goal."
A more solemn mood settled over the two of them momentarily, before Noah lit up again.
"I'm starved, let’s get ice cream."
<<button "Next" "Prologue II0">><</button>>Jaide’s mouth was still curled into a small smirk as Salan attempted to get the meeting on track. She was really starting to see where their agents got their attitudes from.
“Sure, sweetness.”
//Breathe.//
“Kelechi, it was your intelligence that first picked up on this,” Jaide smoothly interjected. “Why don’t you start us off?”
“Oh my,” Kelechi’s eyes widened comically at the suggestion. “Mx Garcia Torres? Putting faith in little old me? Is this heaven?”
Salan nearly fell out of her chair when, instead of tearing him a new one for his cheek, Jaide actually laughed.
“Don’t make me regret it, Pequeñín.”
Kelechi beamed at the nickname, despite it essentially meaning that Jaide had called him a little boy.
“Right well,” he shared his screen, which showed a photo of two people shaking hands, as several more stood in the background. “Last month, we received information, along with this photo, that led us to an American citizen, by the name of Noah Caine, who is the owner of a Club in Las Vegas. A club that is already on the CIA’s watchlist.”
Jess nodded in confirmation.
“Club Delirium. It is a suspected front for an international smuggling ring,” she sighs. “And I stress the word suspected, because the FBI have never been able to get any solid proof.”
She mutters something under her breath about that not being unusual, and Salan feels her lips twitch up. It was only momentarily, but by the look on Jaide’s face, they caught it. She fought the urge to stick her tongue out at them and focused back on Kelechi.
“Go on.”
“Caine was meeting with a man called Albert Rosco,” the screen changed to a picture of a classically handsome middle-aged man with a younger woman hanging off his arm. “Rosco is the right-hand man of Xavier Morrell, patriarch of the Morrell crime family and a known bioterrorist who is on the NIA’s watch list. The woman pictured here with Rosco is Tanith Morrell, his eldest daughter.”
“So, you think Caine is working with Morrell?”
“After seeing this meeting, we believed that was what Caine was working towards. It is why I called Jess.”
Salan’s eyebrow rose.
“Meaning?”
“Meaning, Xavier Morrell turned up dead two weeks ago, and Rosco went stream-rolling into the Feds Nevada branch with Miss Morrell and demanded protection in exchange for spilling his guts about Caine’s little…” Jessica pondered on the correct word. “Project.”
“Don’t keep us in suspense, diabla.”
It was the most interested Jaide had seemed the entire meeting. However, without warning, Jessica burst into a fit of laughter. Jaide immediately recoiled from the screen, while Kelechi tilted his head in confusion, and possibly a little bit of awe. Salan could not fault him; Jessica was pretty when she laughed. From a purely objective point of view of course.
“Jess?” Salan’s voice was gentler than she intended, but it had the desired effect and Jessica, with effort, visibly pulled herself together, the giggles eventually subsiding.
“According to Rosco,” Jess breathed through her nose, trying to keep herself from laughing again.
<<button "“Noah Caine is planning on taking over the world.”" "Prologue II.I">><</button>>Silence.
For a moment everyone was frozen.
Then Jaide scoffed, pressing their fingers into their temples.
“That is what we were called to discuss?” They sounded pissed off. Not a good sign. “You wasted almost two hours of my time to inform me of some moron who has grandeur delusions of taking over the world.”
Jess sounded just as pissed off when she snapped back at them.
“I would not have called for you, if I did not have a justified reason, you di-”
“Jessica!” Salan near enough yelped at her. “Jaide’s right to have concerns. We all get several people a year who have the same ‘plans’, what makes Caine any different?”
“I can answer that one.” The expression on Kelechi’s face caused any words to die on Salan’s lips. From the way Jessica swallowed and looked down, and the way Jaide’s face went carefully blank, she thought it was the same for them as well.
Kelechi tugged on his curls, grounding himself before speaking.
“I told you that Morrell was a known bioterrorist and that he was on NIA’s watchlist,” he did not wait for them to answer. “Three years ago, Morrell created a drug that induced a state of total compliance, and he used it in my countries capital city of Abuja.”
A curl fell into his eyes, Kelechi did not move it.
“Forty-seven people were affected and were ordered to attack each other. There was only two survivors, and they’ve never recovered.”
The silence that fell over the four of them this time felt even more oppressive than the last.
“You think Caine’s taken that drug and is planning on a world-wide dispersal?”
Jaide’s concern was evident in their voice. Their soft spot for the younger Director clearer now than it had ever been. Kelechi’s jaw clenched.
“I do.”
“Do you know how?”
“That is where Jess came in.”
“Kelechi called me, and explained, and I planned to fly over to Nevada myself to talk to Rosco about the how, why, when, etcetera.”
“I’m sensing a but coming.”
The fact that Jess missed a chance to make some sort of juvenile flirtation at Salan’s comment was telling enough.
“Caine got to him.”
Jessica dragged her hand down her face and nodded.
“No clue how, Rosco was meant to be under twenty-four/seven lockdown, but a week ago, he turned up just as dead as his former employer.”
“Shit.”
<<button "That about summed it up." "Prologue II.II">><</button>>“With that in mind, we have got to assume that Caine has people on the inside.”
Jessica nodded at Kelechi’s words.
“Seems that way, yeah.”
“So, what you are essentially saying, is that Caine potentially has a drug that could aid $nthem in $ntheir plan of world domination, and that this bastard is not above murdering anyone who is deemed to be a hinderance.”
Everyone nodded.
“On top of that, we have no idea what Caine’s actual plan is, or if $nthey was even successful in procuring the drug.”
More nodding.
Jaide sighed. “Maravilloso…”
Jess suddenly grinned.
“That is why I called for this meeting,” she looked entirely too pleased with herself. “We need to send in a team of our best.”
“Jess and I have already talked, and we are in agreement that a four-person team would have the greatest chance of success.” Kelechi seemed to have recovered some of his enthusiasm.
//Sending in their best, huh.//
“I will be sending Agent Eushu.”
“I’m sending Agent Eleven.”
Salan just managed to refrain from making a face at that.
“In that case, I shall send Agent Pérez.”
“Looks like I’ll be putting Agent X’s leave on hold.”
“Eleven will lead of course.”
Salan scoffed. “You are joking, right?”
“Nope,” Jessica popped the ‘P’ as she leaned back and smirked. “American soil going after an American citizen, Eleven will take lead.”
Jaide’s face remained perfectly blank, but Kelechi nodded along as if that made sense. Which under normal circumstances it would, but Kelechi had never met Agent Eleven, Salan had, and Eleven was just as bad as Jessica…in more ways than one. She knew better than to argue this though, X and Eushu could keep Eleven on track.
She hoped.
“This will be an absolute ‘need-to-know’ mission, your agents need to disappear.”
Thoughts of X’s handler suddenly invaded her thoughts. A gifted kid who had managed to tame X’s more reckless habits, and who was fiercely protective of X.
//That will be ugly.//
Salan could already feel the incoming headache.
<<button "Next" "Prologue II.III">><</button>>“Get your agents ready, we’ve got a planet to save, and a megalomaniac to beat up.” Jess cackled.
Salan could see that Jaide’s patience for them was beginning to wear thin.
“Wow y’all should see your face-”
"Would you stop with the fake southern drawl. You're from Atherton, last week you got lip fillers and your arsehole bleached." Salan snapped, and then grimaced when Kelechi snorted water up his nose.
If you asked her later, she wouldn't be able to tell you what possessed her to say that. She just knew that Jessica always managed to wind her up to the point of unprofessionalism.
Jess, when she looked back at her, was grinning like a damn hyena, and it took every ounce of Salan's control not to recoil at that look. Even when it was aimed at her through a screen. She knew that look. It never meant anything good.
"The way you say ass is so sexy," the American purred. "Makes me wanna drag you to bed so you can whisper all sorts of filthy things to me with that toffy accent."
Kelechi was barely breathing, he was laughing so hard at this point, and Jaide looked like they were contemplating the homicide of their fellow agency leaders. Salan sent Jessica a vicious look, but that only seemed to delight the sadistic woman more.
“Well, any who, I have things to see, people to do,” the She-Devil winked. “Until next time.”
“That bloody woman drives me insane.” Salan muttered.
“Oh? Is that why our intelligence states that you were with diabla when she was getting her…cosmetics done?”
Kelechi’s jaw slackened, before he once again begin chortling.
Salan kept her face as blank as possible, ignoring Jaide’s beautifully smug face and that she could feel her own getting warmer.
“That will be all, we’ll speak again next week,” she couldn’t turn the monitor off quick enough.
<<button "Salan's phone beeped." "Prologue II.IV">><</button>>Jess: you know you loved seeing my ass ;)
Sal: Arse***
Jess: toff <3
<<button "Next" "Prologue III">><</button>>!Prologue III.
!!Agent X (One week before X goes MIA).
$kname had never entertained thoughts of disobeying an order before. Especially not one that came from Director Salan herself.
Agent X was the top operative of MI6 and was expected to be able to pull miracles out of their arse. $kname was just a $kgender who wanted to go home to visit $ktheir mothers and hang out with $ktheir best friend.
Agent X wasn't allowed such weaknesses.
CLASSIFIED was stamped on top of the file that was currently held in shaking hands, $ktheir knuckles were almost translucent from how hard $kname was holding it.
This mission was possibly one of the most important that $kname would ever undertake, but $kthey could not shake the feeling that something was deeply wrong.
//I can't take you with me this time.//
It was an unbidden thought, curling itself around $ktheir heart and //squeezing//. $kname took a deep, shuddering breath and tried desperately not to let any more of $ktheir composure slip.
//I'm so sorry.//
<<print $ktheir.toUpperFirst()>> teeth ground together.
//I'm going to hurt you, and I don't know if I'll ever be forgiven.//
//I don't know if I deserve to be.//
$mcname…
<<print $kthey.toUpperFirst()>> couldn’t help but think of you.
<<print $ktheir.toUpperFirst()>> best friend, $ktheir protector, $ktheir guide.
$kname thought back on the first time $kthey met you.
It had been a few years since then, and the relationship between the two of you had evolved greatly, but $kname could honestly say that $kthey hadn’t been that impressed when $kthey first met you.
<<button "Next" "Prologue III.I">><</button>>There are four gender-selectable characters, please choose their genders below:
!!![[SET ALL TO MALE|Prologue I][$nname = "Noah"; $ngender = "man"; $nthey = "he"; $nthem = "him"; $ntheir = "his"; $ntheirs = "his"; $nthemself = "himself"; $kname = "Kalan"; $kgender = "man"; $kthey = "he"; $kthem = "him"; $ktheir = "his"; $ktheirs = "his"; $kthemself = "himself"; $rname = "Reese"; $rgender = "man"; $rthey = "he"; $rthem = "him"; $rtheir = "his"; $rtheirs = "his"; $rthemself = "himself"; $aname = "Amari"; $agender = "man"; $athey = "he"; $athem = "him"; $atheir = "his"; $atheirs = "his"; $athemself = "himself"]]
!!![[SET ALL TO FEMALE|Prologue I][$nname = "Noah"; $ngender = "woman"; $nthey = "she"; $nthem = "her"; $ntheir = "her"; $ntheirs = "hers"; $nthemself = "herself"; $kname = "Kalix"; $kgender = "woman"; $kthey = "she"; $kthem = "her"; $ktheir = "her"; $ktheirs = "hers"; $kthemself = "herself"; $rname = "Reese"; $rgender = "woman"; $rthey = "she"; $rthem = "her"; $rtheir = "her"; $rtheirs = "hers"; $rthemself = "herself"; $aname = "Amara"; $agender = "woman"; $athey = "she"; $athem = "her"; $atheir = "her"; $atheirs = "hers"; $athemself = "herself"]]
!!![[SET ALL TO NONBINARY|Prologue I][$nname = "Noah"; $ngender = "person"; $nthey = "they"; $nthem = "them"; $ntheir = "their"; $ntheirs = "theirs"; $nthemself = "themself"; $kname = "Kal"; $kgender = "person"; $kthey = "they"; $kthem = "them"; $ktheir = "their"; $ktheirs = "theirs"; $kthemself = "themself"; $rname = "Reese"; $rgender = "person"; $rthey = "they"; $rthem = "them"; $rtheir = "their"; $rtheirs = "theirs"; $rthemself = "themself"; $aname = "Ama"; $agender = "person"; $athey = "they"; $athem = "them"; $atheir = "their"; $atheirs = "theirs"; $athemself = "themself"]]
!!![[CHOOSE WHEN YOU MEET THEM|Prologue I0]]!Prologue I.
!!Three weeks before X goes MIA.
----
There was something almost humbling about listening to the wretched sounds of one choking to death on their own blood.
A realisation perhaps, that it would not take much to be the one grasping blindly for any sliver of life to clutch on to.
Cold, grey eyes gleamed as they observed, with almost clinical cruelty, the broken man before them.
"Enough, my friend," the voice cooed, sounding almost gentle in its chastising. "It will be over so much sooner if you stop fighting the inevitable."
[[However, before the dying man could attempt to choke out a word, Noah spun around and strode away.|Prologue I.0]]
Mercy had no place here.
Mercy had no place anywhere.A woman stepped into place beside the $ngender.
"Is it done?"
"Hello to you too, Manon."
The previously chiding voice had taken on an almost gleeful quality, and $ntheir eyes, which had been so cold, were now crinkled up with genuine amusement.
The woman, Manon, pinched the bridge of her nose in clear frustration.
"Enough of your nonsense, Noah, you fool." Her lips curled back from her teeth in disgust. "The word is out about your little //plan// and now we shall have all manner of mutts sniffing around Delirium."
"Dearest sister, you'll go grey prematurely at this rate." Noah laughed as $nthey slung $ntheir arm over her shoulders. "Everything is going exactly as I've planned."
She gave $nthem a dubious look.
"You doubt me?"
"Often."
Noah gasped in mock offence, dramatically slamming $ntheir hand into $ntheir chest as $nthey staggered away from her.
"One hit kill," $nthey wheezed. "Tell our parents I love them."
"You just left a man to choke to death on his own blood." Manon said, incredulously. "How are you this cheerful?"
"Mr. Rosco betrayed us." Noah merely shrugged, drifting back to her side. "And I'll destroy //anyone// who threatens our goal."
A more solemn mood settled over the two of them momentarily, before Noah lit up again.
"I'm starved, let’s get ice cream."
<<button "Next" "Prologue II">><</button>>!!Character Creator
What is your name? (Please capitalise).
<<textbox "$mcname" "Type answer here">>
Suggestions
<<radiobutton "$mcname" "Reagan" autocheck>> Reagan
<<radiobutton "$mcname" "Kahu" autocheck>> Kahu
<<radiobutton "$mcname" "Jude" autocheck>> Jude
<<radiobutton "$mcname" "Elijah" autocheck>> Elijah
<<radiobutton "$mcname" "Arden" autocheck>> Arden
<<radiobutton "$mcname" "Quinn" autocheck>> Quinn
<<button "Next" "Surname">><</button>>What is your surname? (Please capitalise).
<<textbox "$mcsurname" "Type answer here">>
Suggestions
<<radiobutton "$mcsurname" "Knight" autocheck>> Knight
<<radiobutton "$mcsurname" "Huang" autocheck>> Huang
<<radiobutton "$mcsurname" "Zapata" autocheck>> Zapata
<<radiobutton "$mcsurname" "Callahan" autocheck>> Callahan
<<radiobutton "$mcsurname" "Armas" autocheck>> Armas
<<radiobutton "$mcsurname" "Lu" autocheck>> Lu
<<button "Next" "Nickname">><</button>>What is your gender?
<<listbox "$mcgender" autoselect>>
<<option "female">>
<<option "nonbinary">>
<<option "male">>
<</listbox>>
How do you prefer to be referred as?
<<listbox "$mcwoman" autoselect>>
<<option "woman">>
<<option "person">>
<<option "man">>
<</listbox>>
How do you identify?
<<listbox "$mcidentity" autoselect>>
<<option "cisgender">>
<<option "transgender">>
<</listbox>>
How do you prefer to be addressed?
<<listbox "$mctitle" autoselect>>
<<option "miss">>
<<option "mr">>
<<option "mx">>
<</listbox>>
Choose your preferred pronouns?
> <label><<radiobutton "_choice" 5>> Customise Pronouns</label>
<center><<button "Confirm">><<nobr>>
<<script>>
Dialog.setup("Custom Pronouns");
Dialog.wiki(Story.get("Custom Pronouns").processText());
Dialog.open();
<</script>>
<</nobr>><</button>></center><!--[[Hair]]-->What facial hair do you have?
<<listbox "$mcfacialhair" autoselect>>
<<option "none">>
<<option "stubble">>
<<option "full beard">>
<<option "clean shaven">>
<<option "moustache">>
<</listbox>>
What texture is your hair?
<<listbox "$mchair" autoselect>>
<<option "straight">>
<<option "wavy">>
<<option "curly">>
<<option "coily">>
<<option "afro">>
<</listbox>>
What style is your hair?
<<listbox "$mchairstyle" autoselect>>
<<option "natural">>
<<option "in braids">>
<<option "in a ponytail">>
<<option "in a braid">>
<<option "in puffs">>
<<option "in twists">>
<<option "straightened">>
<<option "curled">>
<</listbox>>
What length is your hair?
<<listbox "$mchairlength" autoselect>>
<<option "shaved">>
<<option "above your ears">>
<<option "chin-length">>
<<option "shoulder-length">>
<<option "chest-length">>
<<option "waist-length">>
<<option "hip-length">>
<</listbox>>
Is your hair more than one colour?
[[Yes|Hair Colours]]
[[No|Hair Colour]]<<nobr>>
<<if ndef $mc_vbP>><<set _verbTense = "plural">><<else>><<if $mc_vbP is true>><<set _verbTense = "plural">><<else>><<set _verbTense = "singular">><</if>><</if>>
<</nobr>>\
<h3>''Subject:'' //It was a long time before ''they'' spoke.//</h3>\
<span class="sectionline"><span class="inputlabel">Uppercase</span><span class="namebox"><<if ndef $They>><<textbox "$They" "They">><<else>><<set _They = $They>><<textbox "$They" `_They`>><</if>></span></span>
<span class="sectionline"><span class="inputlabel">Lowercase</span><span class="namebox"><<if ndef $they>><<textbox "$they" "they">><<else>><<set _they = $they>><<textbox "$they" `_they`>><</if>></span></span>
<h3>''Object:'' //I can't keep ''them'' in the dark.//</h3>\
<span class="sectionline"><span class="inputlabel">Uppercase</span><span class="namebox"><<if ndef $Them>><<textbox "$Them" "Them">><<else>><<set _Them = $Them>><<textbox "$Them" `_Them`>><</if>></span></span>
<span class="sectionline"><span class="inputlabel">Lowercase</span><span class="namebox"><<if ndef $them>><<textbox "$them" "them">><<else>><<set _them = $them>><<textbox "$them" `_them`>><</if>></span></span>
<h3>''Possessive Adjective:'' //What is ''their'' dog's name?//</h3>\
<span class="sectionline"><span class="inputlabel">Uppercase</span><span class="namebox"><<if ndef $Their>><<textbox "$Their" "Their">><<else>><<set _Their = $Their>><<textbox "$Their" `_Their`>><</if>></span></span>
<span class="sectionline"><span class="inputlabel">Lowercase</span><span class="namebox"><<if ndef $their>><<textbox "$their" "their">><<else>><<set _their = $their>><<textbox "$their" `_their`>><</if>></span></span>
<h3>''Possessive:'' //This gun is ''theirs''.//</h3>\
<span class="sectionline"><span class="inputlabel">Uppercase</span><span class="namebox"><<if ndef $Theirs>><<textbox "$Theirs" "Theirs">><<else>><<set _Theirs = $Theirs>><<textbox "$Theirs" `_Theirs`>><</if>></span></span>
<span class="sectionline"><span class="inputlabel">Lowercase</span><span class="namebox"><<if ndef $theirs>><<textbox "$theirs" "theirs">><<else>><<set _theirs = $theirs>><<textbox "$theirs" `_theirs`>><</if>></span></span>
<h3>''Reflexive:'' //They couldn't handle it ''themself''.//</h3>\
<span class="sectionline"><span class="inputlabel">Uppercase</span><span class="namebox"><<if ndef $Themself>><<textbox "$Themself" "Themself">><<else>><<set _Themself = $Themself>><<textbox "$Themself" `_Themself`>><</if>></span></span>
<span class="sectionline"><span class="inputlabel">Lowercase</span><span class="namebox"><<if ndef $themself>><<textbox "$themself" "themself">><<else>><<set _themself = $themself>><<textbox "$themself" `_themself`>><</if>></span></span>
<h3>What verb tense do these pronouns use?</h3>\
<ul><label><<radiobutton "_verbTense" "plural" autocheck>> Plural (they ''are'')</label></ul>\
<ul><label><<radiobutton "_verbTense" "singular" autocheck>> Singular (<<print either("she","he","xe","ey")>> ''is'')</label></ul>\
<center><<button "Confirm">><<nobr>>
<<if _verbTense is "plural">><<set $mc_vbP = true>><<elseif _verbTense is "singular">><<set $mc_vbP = false>><</if>>
<<run Dialog.close()>><<goto "Hair">>
<</nobr>><</button>></center>What is the primary colour of your hair? (Please do not capitalise).
<<textbox "$mchairpri" "Type answer here">>
What is the secondary colour of your hair? (Please do not capitalise).
<<textbox "$mchairsec" "Type answer here">>
<<button "Next" "Eyes">><</button>>What colour is your hair?
<<textbox "$mchaircolour" "Type answer here">>
or
<<listbox "$mchaircolour" autoselect>>
<<option "black">>
<<option "dark brown">>
<<option "light brown">>
<<option "dark blond">>
<<option "golden blond">>
<<option "ash blond">>
<<option "ginger">>
<<option "red">>
<<option "white">>
<<option "grey">>
<</listbox>>
<<button "Next" "Eyes">><</button>>Do you wear glasses?
<<listbox "$mcglasses" autoselect>>
<<option "yes">>
<<option "no">>
<</listbox>>
Are your eyes more than one colour?
[[Yes|Eye Colours]]
[[No|Eye Colour]]Agent X was a notorious name.
On the field, it was because there was no one better. Suave, charming, and ruthless. X got missions done.
Inside MI6, it was because of $ktheir lone wolf status. X was a warning. Literally. The new recruits were often told at length not to mess with X, and that included flirting. Those who still attempted to were swiftly and without mercy put in their place. Usually in tears, or on one highly memorable occasion, in the Medbay with a broken nose. Which by X’s standards was practically kind.
Said reputation was especially bad in the Quartermaster’s department. No one had ever lasted more than a couple of months handling X because of $ktheir attitude and unwillingness to cooperate. In fact, $ktheir last handler had ended up transferring to a different department.
Enter you.
A relatively new recruit, and yet, you had been noted as one of the most talented handler’s the agency had ever seen. Known for your high levels of intelligence, quick thinking, and near unbeatable hacking skills, it was little wonder that you were put forward to be X’s next victim.
<<button "Next" "Prologue III.II">><</button>>So, there X sat, waiting for $ktheir new leash holder to arrive.
The door had opened and a $mcwoman entered. X had blandly noted that $they had been attractive, but beyond that, $kthey just wanted to hurry this along.
“You’re Handler $mcsurname?”
“I go by Handler $mccodename, but yes.”
X scrutinised $mccodename and came up unimpressed.
[[You had been sweet, kind of shy even. Someone who would have been eaten for breakfast out in the field.|Prologue III.III]]
[["You had been so bubbly and hyperactive, " + $kname + " was almost blinded by blinded by your grin."|Prologue III.III]]
[[$kname + " hadn’t been sure if you usually acted so stoic or if you were just trying to be professional."|Prologue III.III]]
[[There was only one word to describe how you had acted. Grumpy.|Prologue III.III]]Not that it had really mattered how you acted, X had disliked you all the same.
At least. Until that incident.
When you became $ktheir saviour. When X realised how wrong $kthey had been.
When X became $kname, and $mccodename became $mcname.
$kname had found someone to listen to, someone to bond with, someone to love.
$mcname didn’t become $ktheir best friend overnight. Oh no, $kthey had had to work for that privilege.
But it had been worth it. It had been so, so worth it.
You quickly moved up in the ranks as one of the most important people in $ktheir life. Worming your way into $ktheir heart and making a permanent space for yourself.
You had a key to $kname’s home, your own bedroom decorated to your style, your favourite foods were always stocked, and you had even…
[[Exchanged homemade friendship bracelets.]]
[[Gotten matching necklaces.]][[They had been awful, but you both loved them.|Prologue III.IIII]]
[["The one " + $kthey + " had made had been awful, but yours had actually come out nicely."|Prologue III.IIII]][[$kname + " had a moon to your sun."|Prologue III.IIII]]
[[It was one of the half a heart each necklaces.|Prologue III.IIII]]Everyone with eyes could see that you had changed $kthem. That you were $ktheir soft spot.
It should have placed a large target on your forehead, but it was well known that X would kill any who attempted to harm you.
No one wanted to risk that wrath.
A part of $kname knew that your friendship wasn’t particularly normal, could even be classed as a little co-dependent, but $kthey couldn’t bring $kthemself to care.
Normal had never been a word associated with $kthem anyway.
<<button "Next" "Prologue III.V">><</button>>Loosing you was $ktheir greatest fear.
And now, that fear was here.
Laughing in Agent X's face.
<<button "Chapter One" "Chapter one">><</button>>You’re running.
Nothing about this mission has gone the way it was supposed to, and you curse every single person that had a hand in this shit show.
If things had gone according to plan, you would have been in and out of the targets home with the required information in fifteen minutes tops. If things had gone according to plan, no one would have been at home. If things had gone according to plan, you wouldn’t be tearing through the streets of London trying to shake your pursuers.
Unfortunately, things hadn’t gone according to plan, and when you got a hold of your source of information, you were going to ring her neck.
You skid around a corner and narrowly avoid getting a bullet to the head. //Damn, these guys aren’t playing around...//
There’s no time for you to pause and get your bearings, you just have to keep moving until you can find some form of shelter to lay low in and get in touch with HQ to receive your orders.
A short distance ahead of you, you spot an alley to duck into, and don’t hesitate to bolt towards it, hoping to find an entrance to the building or even just some cover.
In hindsight, blindly sprinting into an alleyway? In London? A sure fire way to end up in a body bag, but you don’t have time to second guess yourself. Besides, if all else fails, at least it will be a way through to another street. Well…you hope. It would be just your luck to actually find a dead-end alley in this City.
Reaching the mouth of the alley, you internally cheer as you immediately spot a door. You rush forward, slamming your body into it and…achieving nothing, but the near dislocation of your shoulder. You swear viciously under your breath.
What the hell was this door made of?
You glared at it, deathly aware that your pursuers were nipping at your heels.
A thought popped into your head. What would $kname do?
//This is an indication of interest. It will not lock you in or out of $kname’s route.//
[[$kname + "…your partner [♡]"|Chapter one.I]]
[[$kname + "…your best friend"|Chapter one.I]]
<<print $kthey.toUpperFirst()>> would probably pick the lock with $ktheir fingernail or something…which isn’t really an option for you as you…
[[Bite your fingernails|Chapter one.II]]
[[Aren’t willing to risk breaking one|Chapter one.II]]
[[Think it’s total bull. Who the hell can pick a lock with their fingernail?|Chapter one.II]]Either way, you aren’t getting anywhere thinking like $kname.
You need another option and fast.
“$mccodename?”
You frown, turning to try and find the source of the voice. Those goons couldn’t possibly have learnt your name already.
“Hey, village idiot.”
Ah.
“Cody?”
“Who else?” They sound bored, but then that wasn’t unusual for your broody flatmate. “I am your handler.”
Right. Of course. You knew that.
“I need an escape route,” you yelp as a bullet lodges itself into the wall next to you. “Now please!”
“I don’t think that you’re in too much danger,” Cody drawls. “They have lousy aim.”
You grunt as you’re forced to duck down behind a large bin.
“And yet I’m still getting shot at,” you snap back.
“Fine. You need to take—”
Their voice fades and you smack at your earpiece in frustration.
“Cody?”
“$mcname?”
“I can’t hear you very well. Can you repeat route.”
“$mcname!”
“Cody? Hello?”
“You better not be sleeping on the job.”
<<button "What?" "Chapter one.III">><</button>>You are feeling completely bewildered at this point. You’re being shot at, your tech sucks, and your handler is now accusing you of ‘sleeping on the job’”
//I don’t get paid enough for this…//
You almost lose your balance when you feel pain in your shoulder and hear a gruff voice call out…
“Hey!”
You jolt and snap your head to the side to stare at the offender.
It’s Cody, because of course it is…no one else would pinch you for no reason, and they’re just standing there watching you with a totally blank expression on their pretty face.
“What?” You ask, feeling weirdly defensive as you rub your shoulder.
They roll their eyes at you; a move made all the more effective due to the glittery eyeliner Cody liked to wear. It was blue today.
“You were daydreaming again.”
//Oh.//
Your eyes flick to the monitors in front of you. Everything looks normal, but you really should have been paying more attention. You turn back to Cody feeling a little guilty.
[[You appreciate them snapping you out of it, dreading to think what would have happened if the Director had caught you, and you tell them so.]]
[[While you do appreciate them snapping you out of it, your arm now hurts, so you refuse to tell them so.]]
[[You pointedly rub your arm and glare at them.]]
[[You don’t actually appreciate them snapping you out of your daydream, it was just getting good, you don’t say that though.]]
[[You don’t appreciate them snapping you out of your daydream at all, you would definitely have woken up if something had gone wrong, and you don’t hesitate to tell them that.]]“Thanks Cody, think you saved my arse there.”
They sigh, but also seem to soften minutely.
“Just keep your head in the game, $mcnickname, X is relying on you.”
You can't stop the grin that spreads across your face at that. "Aha! You called me $mcnickname."
Cody scowls.
<<button "Next" "Chapter one.IIII">><</button>>“Don’t sulk, $mcname, you look like a child.”
You take it back. You feel no appreciation towards this jerk.
<<button "Next" "Chapter one.IIII">><</button>>Cody just rolls their eyes, unbothered by you trying to death stare an apology from them.
Maybe you need to ask Agent S for lessons, she seems to have them perfected.
That would show them, you sulked.
<<button "Next" "Chapter one.IIII">><</button>>“Oh. Thanks.”
Cody doesn’t even bother to respond as they move to their station next to yours.
You sigh internally.
<<button "Next" "Chapter one.IIII">><</button>>"I didn't need your help," you snap.
Cody just gives you a look. One that clearly says //shut up//.
<<button "Next" "Chapter one.IIII">><</button>>That's all for the moment, but thank you for reading.
Hopefully now I've got the customisation done (massive shout out to Albie (Zorlock) and Lin (Sinners and Saints) for the inspiration), things should flow a bit easier and I can get chapters out a bit quicker.
What is your code name? (Please capitalise).
<<textbox "$mccodename" "Type answer here">>
Suggestions
<<radiobutton "$mccodename" "R" autocheck>> Z
<<radiobutton "$mccodename" "Twenty" autocheck>> Twenty
<<radiobutton "$mccodename" "Ace" autocheck>> Ace
<<radiobutton "$mccodename" "Wolf" autocheck>> Wolf
<<button "Next" "Identity">><</button>>What is the colour of your right eye? (Please do not capitalise).
<<textbox "$mceyer" "Type answer here">>
What is the colour of your left eye? (Please do not capitalise).
<<textbox "$mceyel" "Type answer here">>
<<button "Next" "Body type">><</button>>What colour are your eyes?
<<textbox "$mceyecolour" "Type answer here">>
or
<<listbox "$mceyecolour" autoselect>>
<<option "black">>
<<option "dark brown">>
<<option "light brown">>
<<option "dark blue">>
<<option "light blue">>
<<option "dark green">>
<<option "light green">>
<<option "dark grey">>
<<option "light grey">>
<<option "hazel">>
<</listbox>>
<<button "Next" "Body type">><</button>>What is your skin tone?
<<listbox "$mcskintone" autoselect>>
<<option "black">>
<<option "dark brown">>
<<option "light brown">>
<<option "bronze">>
<<option "sun-tanned">>
<<option "beige">>
<<option "ivory">>
<<option "rosy">>
<<option "pale">>
<</listbox>>
What is your height?
<<listbox "$mcheight" autoselect>>
<<option "very short (5'0 and under)">>
<<option "short (5'4 and under)">>
<<option "average (5'9 and under)">>
<<option "tall (6'2ft and under)">>
<<option "very tall (6'5 and under)">>
<</listbox>>
What is your body type?
<<listbox "$mcbodytype" autoselect>>
<<option "slender">>
<<option "chubby">>
<<option "fat">>
<<option "athletic">>
<<option "average">>
<<option "lean">>
<<option "curvy">>
<<option "lanky">>
<</listbox>>
What is your muscle tone?
<<listbox "$mcmuscletone" autoselect>>
<<option "toned">>
<<option "muscular">>
<<option "soft">>
<<option "bony">>
<</listbox>>
<<button "Next" "Scars">><</button>>What facial scars do you have?
<<listbox "$mcscarsf" autoselect>>
<<option "none">>
<<option "across your lip">>
<<option "across your cheek">>
<<option "through your eyebrow">>
<<option "over your eye">>
<<option "across your nose">>
<<option "on your forehead">>
<<option "on your chin">>
<</listbox>>
What body scars do you have?
<<listbox "$mcscarsb" autoselect>>
<<option "none">>
<<option "down your side">>
<<option "across your back">>
<<option "several on your legs">>
<<option "several on your arms">>
<<option "lots over your hands">>
<<option "across your torso">>
<<option "on the side of your neck">>
<</listbox>>
<<button "Next" "Transgender">><</button>>Have you undergone any of the following procedures?
<<listbox "$mcsurgery" autoselect>>
<<option "none">>
<<option "top surgery">>
<<option "bottom surgery">>
<<option "top and bottom surgery">>
<<option "facial reconstruction surgery">>
<<option "all three procedures">>
<</listbox>>
Do you take HRT?
<<listbox "$mchrt" autoselect>>
<<option "no">>
<<option "yes">>
<</listbox>>
<<button "Next" "Skin">><</button>>Do you have any skin conditions?
<<listbox "$mcskincon" autoselect>>
<<option "none">>
<<option "vitiligo">>
<<option "rosacea">>
<<option "acne">>
<<option "eczema">>
<</listbox>>
Do you have any marks on your face?
<<listbox "$mcskinmarks" autoselect>>
<<option "none">>
<<option "freckles">>
<<option "moles">>
<<option "birth mark">>
<<option "beauty mark">>
<<option "acne scars">>
<</listbox>>
Do you have any piercings?
<<listbox "$mcpiercings" autoselect>>
<<option "none">>
<<option "one ear pierced">>
<<option "both ears pierced">>
<<option "multiple ear piercings">>
<<option "eyebrow piercing">>
<<option "nose piercing">>
<<option "lip piercing">>
<<option "tongue piercing">>
<<option "monroe piercing">>
<<option "septum piercing">>
<<option "medusa piercing">>
<<option "labret piercing">>
<<option "belly button piercing">>
<<option "several piercings">>
<</listbox>>
Do you have any tattoos?
<<listbox "$mctattoos" autoselect>>
<<option "none">>
<<option "on face">>
<<option "on neck">>
<<option "on shoulder">>
<<option "on chest">>
<<option "on ribs">>
<<option "on back">>
<<option "on legs">>
<<option "half sleeve">>
<<option "full sleeve">>
<<option "several">>
<</listbox>>
<<button "Next" "Extras">><</button>>Are you touch adverse?
<<listbox "$mctouch" autoselect>>
<<option "no">>
<<option "yes, with people i'm not close with">>
<<option "yes, with everyone">>
<</listbox>>
Are you okay in crowds?
<<listbox "$mccrowds" autoselect>>
<<option "yes">>
<<option "only if i'm with someone">>
<<option "no">>
<</listbox>>
Do you need to wear a hearing aid?
<<listbox "$mchearing" autoselect>>
<<option "no">>
<<option "yes">>
<</listbox>>
Are you known for being clumsy?
<<listbox "$mcbalance" autoselect>>
<<option "no">>
<<option "yes">>
<<option "somewhat">>
<</listbox>>
Do you fidget?
<<listbox "$mcfidget" autoselect>>
<<option "yes">>
<<option "no">>
<</listbox>>
<<button "Next" "Proceed with Game">><</button>>What is your nickname? (Please do not capitalise).
<<textbox "$mcnickname" "Type answer here">>
<<button "Next" "Code name">><</button>>!Prologue II.
!!Agency Leaders (Two weeks before X goes MIA).
----
If there was anything Salan Williams, the Director of Mi6 hated, it was tardiness, and there was no one on the planet who was tardier than Director Jessica Harper of the CIA.
Director Jaide Garcia Torres of the NIC looked as though they were half asleep, and Director Kelechi Musa of the NIA was currently throwing M&Ms up into the air as he tried to catch them in his mouth. The key word being //tried//. Salan found herself watching him, a little fascinated about he could be so blasé while on a professional video call with the likes of herself and Jaide, who, despite looking like they could not care less about anything, was one of the most ruthlessly efficient agents that Salan had ever had the privilege of working with.
The same could not be said about Jessica.
If it wasn’t for the fact that the topic of discussion today was an American citizen, then Salan would have suggested they move forward with the meeting without her.
“I am going to kill that woman.” Salan’s words broke the silence that had fallen over the three of them for the last half an hour.
Kelechi blinked at her like he was surprised she was still here, and then winced as the last M&M he'd thrown got caught in his hair. Jaide simply stretched like a satisfied lion, their stupidly perfect muscles going taunt, and refused to dignify her with an answer.
“Aw come on, Sal,” Kelechi pouted, making him look about ten years old. “You made me lose my streak.”
Salan wondered briefly how someone as young as Kelechi had made it to the position of Director already, but she could not deny that things had been getting done under his leadership. It did not stop her from feeling like his mother when she spoke to him though.
“This is a meeting, Kelechi, not a place for you to practice your party tricks.”
Kelechi spluttered in protest, but before he could start yelling, the wicked witch herself turned up with a ridiculous grin on her face.
Salan scowled at the audacity.
“It is good that you are diabla, Miss Salan was ever so worried about you,” Jaide’s smile was as radiant as Jessica’s.
“Oh yes,” Kelechi chimed in. “I think she was ready to board a plane and track you down herself, Jessie.”
“If it seemed that way, it was only because I was going to kill her when I found her,” Salan hissed.
The way Jessica’s teeth sunk into her plush bottom lip promised Salan that today was going to be a lesson in self-control.
“Promises, promises, hot stuff.”
Something snapped, and Salan blinked down at the now broken pencil in her hands. The other three went completely silent, a smirk twitching on Jaide’s face as Salan sucked in a deep breath, and slowly placed the two pieces of the pencil on the desk in front of her.
<<button "“Now that Director Harper is here, let us begin this meeting.”" "Prologue II0.I">><</button>>Jaide’s mouth was still curled into a small smirk as Salan attempted to get the meeting on track. She was really starting to see where their agents got their attitudes from.
“Sure, sweetness.”
//Breathe.//
“Kelechi, it was your intelligence that first picked up on this,” Jaide smoothly interjected. “Why don’t you start us off?”
“Oh my,” Kelechi’s eyes widened comically at the suggestion. “Mx Garcia Torres? Putting faith in little old me? Is this heaven?”
Salan nearly fell out of her chair when, instead of tearing him a new one for his cheek, Jaide actually laughed.
“Don’t make me regret it, Pequeñín.”
Kelechi beamed at the nickname, despite it essentially meaning that Jaide had called him a little boy.
“Right well,” he shared his screen, which showed a photo of two people shaking hands, as several more stood in the background. “Last month, we received information, along with this photo, that led us to an American citizen, by the name of Noah Caine, who is the owner of a Club in Las Vegas. A club that is already on the CIA’s watchlist.”
Jess nodded in confirmation.
“Club Delirium. It is a suspected front for an international smuggling ring,” she sighs. “And I stress the word suspected, because the FBI have never been able to get any solid proof.”
She mutters something under her breath about that not being unusual, and Salan feels her lips twitch up. It was only momentarily, but by the look on Jaide’s face, they caught it. She fought the urge to stick her tongue out at them and focused back on Kelechi.
“Go on.”
“Caine was meeting with a man called Albert Rosco,” the screen changed to a picture of a classically handsome middle-aged man with a younger woman hanging off his arm. “Rosco is the right-hand man of Xavier Morrell, patriarch of the Morrell crime family and a known bioterrorist who is on the NIA’s watch list. The woman pictured here with Rosco is Tanith Morrell, his eldest daughter.”
“So, you think Caine is working with Morrell?”
“After seeing this meeting, we believed that was what Caine was working towards. It is why I called Jess.”
Salan’s eyebrow rose.
“Meaning?”
“Meaning, Xavier Morrell turned up dead two weeks ago, and Rosco went stream-rolling into the Feds Nevada branch with Miss Morrell and demanded protection in exchange for spilling his guts about Caine’s little…” Jessica pondered on the correct word. “Project.”
“Don’t keep us in suspense, diabla.”
It was the most interested Jaide had seemed the entire meeting. However, without warning, Jessica burst into a fit of laughter. Jaide immediately recoiled from the screen, while Kelechi tilted his head in confusion, and possibly a little bit of awe. Salan could not fault him; Jessica was pretty when she laughed. From a purely objective point of view of course.
“Jess?” Salan’s voice was gentler than she intended, but it had the desired effect and Jessica, with effort, visibly pulled herself together, the giggles eventually subsiding.
“According to Rosco,” Jess breathed through her nose, trying to keep herself from laughing again.
<<button "“Noah Caine is planning on taking over the world.”" "Prologue II0.II">><</button>>Silence.
For a moment everyone was frozen.
Then Jaide scoffed, pressing their fingers into their temples.
“That is what we were called to discuss?” They sounded pissed off. Not a good sign. “You wasted almost two hours of my time to inform me of some moron who has grandeur delusions of taking over the world.”
Jess sounded just as pissed off when she snapped back at them.
“I would not have called for you, if I did not have a justified reason, you di-”
“Jessica!” Salan near enough yelped at her. “Jaide’s right to have concerns. We all get several people a year who have the same ‘plans’, what makes Caine any different?”
“I can answer that one.” The expression on Kelechi’s face caused any words to die on Salan’s lips. From the way Jessica swallowed and looked down, and the way Jaide’s face went carefully blank, she thought it was the same for them as well.
Kelechi tugged on his curls, grounding himself before speaking.
“I told you that Morrell was a known bioterrorist and that he was on NIA’s watchlist,” he did not wait for them to answer. “Three years ago, Morrell created a drug that induced a state of total compliance, and he used it in my countries capital city of Abuja.”
A curl fell into his eyes, Kelechi did not move it.
“Forty-seven people were affected and were ordered to attack each other. There was only two survivors, and they’ve never recovered.”
The silence that fell over the four of them this time felt even more oppressive than the last.
“You think Caine’s taken that drug and is planning on a world-wide dispersal?”
Jaide’s concern was evident in their voice. Their soft spot for the younger Director clearer now than it had ever been. Kelechi’s jaw clenched.
“I do.”
“Do you know how?”
“That is where Jess came in.”
“Kelechi called me, and explained, and I planned to fly over to Nevada myself to talk to Rosco about the how, why, when, etcetera.”
“I’m sensing a but coming.”
The fact that Jess missed a chance to make some sort of juvenile flirtation at Salan’s comment was telling enough.
“Caine got to him.”
Jessica dragged her hand down her face and nodded.
“No clue how, Rosco was meant to be under twenty-four/seven lockdown, but a week ago, he turned up just as dead as his former employer.”
“Shit.”
<<button "That about summed it up." "Prologue II0.III">><</button>>“With that in mind, we have got to assume that Caine has people on the inside.”
Jessica nodded at Kelechi’s words.
“Seems that way, yeah.”
“So, what you are essentially saying, is that Caine potentially has a drug that could aid $nthem in $ntheir plan of world domination, and that this bastard is not above murdering anyone who is deemed to be a hinderance.”
Everyone nodded.
“On top of that, we have no idea what Caine’s actual plan is, or if $nthey was even successful in procuring the drug.”
More nodding.
Jaide sighed. “Maravilloso…”
Jess suddenly grinned.
“That is why I called for this meeting,” she looked entirely too pleased with herself. “We need to send in a team of our best.”
“Jess and I have already talked, and we are in agreement that a four-person team would have the greatest chance of success.” Kelechi seemed to have recovered some of his enthusiasm.
//Sending in their best, huh.//
“I will be sending Agent Eushu.”
“I’m sending Agent Eleven.”
Salan just managed to refrain from making a face at that.
“In that case, I shall send Agent Pérez.”
“Looks like I’ll be putting Agent X’s leave on hold.”
“Eleven will lead of course.”
Salan scoffed. “You are joking, right?”
“Nope,” Jessica popped the ‘P’ as she leaned back and smirked. “American soil going after an American citizen, Eleven will take lead.”
Jaide’s face remained perfectly blank, but Kelechi nodded along as if that made sense. Which under normal circumstances it would, but Kelechi had never met Agent Eleven, Salan had, and Eleven was just as bad as Jessica…in more ways than one. She knew better than to argue this though, X and Eushu could keep Eleven on track.
She hoped.
“This will be an absolute ‘need-to-know’ mission, your agents need to disappear.”
Thoughts of X’s handler suddenly invaded her thoughts. A gifted kid who had managed to tame X’s more reckless habits, and who was fiercely protective of X.
//That will be ugly.//
Salan could already feel the incoming headache.
<<button "Next" "Prologue II0.IIII">><</button>>“Get your agents ready, we’ve got a planet to save, and a megalomaniac to beat up.” Jess cackled.
Salan could see that Jaide’s patience for them was beginning to wear thin.
“Wow y’all should see your face-”
"Would you stop with the fake southern drawl. You're from Atherton, last week you got lip fillers and your arsehole bleached." Salan snapped, and then grimaced when Kelechi snorted water up his nose.
If you asked her later, she wouldn't be able to tell you what possessed her to say that. She just knew that Jessica always managed to wind her up to the point of unprofessionalism.
Jess, when she looked back at her, was grinning like a damn hyena, and it took every ounce of Salan's control not to recoil at that look. Even when it was aimed at her through a screen. She knew that look. It never meant anything good.
"The way you say ass is so sexy," the American purred. "Makes me wanna drag you to bed so you can whisper all sorts of filthy things to me with that toffy accent."
Kelechi was barely breathing, he was laughing so hard at this point, and Jaide looked like they were contemplating the homicide of their fellow agency leaders. Salan sent Jessica a vicious look, but that only seemed to delight the sadistic woman more.
“Well, any who, I have things to see, people to do,” the She-Devil winked. “Until next time.”
“That bloody woman drives me insane.” Salan muttered.
“Oh? Is that why our intelligence states that you were with diabla when she was getting her…cosmetics done?”
Kelechi’s jaw slackened, before he once again begin chortling.
Salan kept her face as blank as possible, ignoring Jaide’s beautifully smug face and that she could feel her own getting warmer.
“That will be all, we’ll speak again next week,” she couldn’t turn the monitor off quick enough.
<<button "Salan's phone beeped." "Prologue II0.V">><</button>>Jess: you know you loved seeing my ass ;)
Sal: Arse***
Jess: toff <3
<<button "Next" "Prologue III0">><</button>>!Prologue III.
!!Agent X (One week before X goes MIA).
[[A man sat at his desk staring at the file in front of him.|Prologue III0.I][$kname = "Kalan"; $kgender = "man"; $kthey = "he"; $kthem = "him"; $ktheir = "his"; $ktheirs = "his"; $kthemself = "himself"]]
[[A woman sat at her desk staring at the file in front of her.|Prologue III0.I][$kname = "Kalix"; $kgender = "woman"; $kthey = "she"; $kthem = "her"; $ktheir = "her"; $ktheirs = "hers"; $kthemself = "herself"]]
[[A person sat at their desk staring at the file in front of them.|Prologue III0.I][$kname = "Kal"; $kgender = "person"; $kthey = "they"; $kthem = "them"; $ktheir = "their"; $ktheirs = "theirs"; $kthemself = "themself"]]$kname had never entertained thoughts of disobeying an order before. Especially not one that came from Director Salan herself.
Agent X was the top operative of MI6 and was expected to be able to pull miracles out of their arse. $kname was just a $kgender who wanted to go home to visit $ktheir mothers and hang out with $ktheir best friend.
Agent X wasn't allowed such weaknesses.
CLASSIFIED was stamped on top of the file that was currently held in shaking hands, $ktheir knuckles were almost translucent from how hard $kname was holding it.
This mission was possibly one of the most important that $kname would ever undertake, but $kthey could not shake the feeling that something was deeply wrong.
//I can't take you with me this time.//
It was an unbidden thought, curling itself around $ktheir heart and //squeezing//. $kname took a deep, shuddering breath and tried desperately not to let any more of $ktheir composure slip.
//I'm so sorry.//
<<print $ktheir.toUpperFirst()>> teeth ground together.
//I'm going to hurt you, and I don't know if I'll ever be forgiven.//
//I don't know if I deserve to be.//
$mcname…
<<print $kthey.toUpperFirst()>> couldn’t help but think of you.
<<print $ktheir.toUpperFirst()>> best friend, $ktheir protector, $ktheir guide.
$kname thought back on the first time $kthey met you.
It had been a few years since then, and the relationship between the two of you had evolved greatly, but $kname could honestly say that $kthey hadn’t been that impressed when $kthey first met you.
<<button "Next" "Prologue III.I">><</button>>