by S. E. Weir
A spike of Etheric energy rippled toward her, flooding her senses and overwhelming her. She raised her shields, leaving only the connections to Sundancer and Todd open since they were permanent.
Sundancer nudged her with his head, rubbing his face against her for comfort. You know what it is now.
“Yeah,” she whispered as she took deep breaths to control the involuntary trembling of her body after the sensory overload. “Another piece of the puzzle.”
It’s a big piece.
“But it doesn’t tell us who the traitor is, just that they are connected to the Qendrok’s ‘goddess,’” Phina pointed out as she maneuvered her body to lie down.
Not that I doubt you...
“But you do.”
He continued as if she hadn’t spoken. Could it have been one of the Qendrok? They were the ones who had the devices.
“No.” Phina shook her head. “They are straightforward in their way. They wouldn’t have pretended they were done with the devices and keep some for themselves. Besides, we have the power source.”
Sundancer sniffed. Well, we still have to figure out who this traitor is, and now how he’s connected to this goddess person. I haven’t heard anything. No one is talking out of turn, not one blackmail or threat, no one sneaking around more than normal or hiding things unless it’s for mating. Only humans are silly enough to think that hiding matings is important. You don’t see Nodin and Savas hiding anything, do you?
Phina blinked in surprise. “Well, they aren’t talking about it, either. I only know because I read their minds.”
That’s because mating is a private ritual, but relationships are accepted before all. Humans get it backward with public affection displays and hiding matings like it’s shameful. Sundancer turned in a circle before finding a cozy spot to lie down.
Used to Sundancer’s scathing critiques of humans, Phina pulled the covers over her and rolled over. “The point is, we’ve still got nothing on the traitor.”
Haven’t you scanned them all by now?
“There’s a few I haven’t done yet,” Phina told him reluctantly. “One in particular.”
His ear turned toward her. Who?
“Shaw.”
Then he should be first tomorrow night. Agreed?
Phina recognized that she had put off scanning Shaw because she liked what she knew of him. He treated her like an equal, even though he was her trainer. She didn’t want him to be the traitor. Even though he had remained on the shortlist after everyone else had been eliminated, she didn’t want to believe it was him.
Still, it had to be done.
She sighed and nodded. “Agreed.”
As they settled down to sleep again, Phina continued to feel uneasy. She felt like something was ticking down.
As if time were running out.
Phina yawned as she stretched to wake herself up. The movement disturbed Sundancer, who was sleeping curled up next to her. He hissed in displeasure and repositioned himself with his nose buried under his belly.
As had become her morning ritual since she had been on the base, Phina strengthened her connection to Todd, sending him warmth and love. She wasn’t able to mentally speak to him from this distance, but she could feel him. From past conversations, she knew he could feel the emotions she sent his way, although the strength waned and waxed.
Once finished, she thought about the incident the night before and concluded there wasn’t anything she could do until tonight. Her thoughts turned to the instructions they had received to report to a small training room for the briefing on today’s task.
The trainers have been quiet on the subject, so she’d figured they didn’t want to give the trainees time to prepare.
Which begged the question as to what it could be. Phina wasn’t a betting person, but if she had been, she would be tempted to put her credits on the task being spy skill-related as opposed to fighting. The whole competition was a means for evaluating all their skills, and their spy skills hadn’t been tested yet.
After showering and dressing in comfortable, stretchy, and protective clothing, Phina joined the other trainees for breakfast. As she listened to the speculation, along with some needling about their fighting skill placements, she determined that they had no idea what today’s task would be either.
“Hey, Phina, where are you off to?” Nodin asked curiously as she rose from her seat with her tray.
She flashed him a smile. “Since we don’t know what today’s task will be, I’m going to get a warm-up. I want to make sure I’m loose and awake.”
“This is why you’ve gotten so far ahead of the rest of us,” Ian teased. “You focus on the goal and not the journey.”
“Hey, speak for yourself, suck-up! I still think this has all been rigged,” Cade sneered. “She’s the alpha agent’s slut, so of course she’s going to win.”
Angry rumbles and protests erupted from several of the other trainees, but they all ran together in a blur as Phina’s anger flashed hot. She moved fast but had just enough presence of mind to keep it to human speed as she dropped her tray back on the table and grabbed Cade’s throat as he cried out in pain from her mental jab.
The trainees quieted to hear as Phina leaned down next to his ear while she pushed his head forward and to the side just enough to make her point.
“Let me make this very clear, Cade.” Her voice roughened as she spoke. He reached up to knock her away, and she pulled his hands into an immobilizing hold with her free hand. “Say whatever you want about me. Call me a slut if you want. Tell me you think I’m a cheater, whether it’s true or not. Feel free to despise me in whatever way you wish. But don’t you ever say anything about the Alpha like that again. He has never behaved inappropriately with me or anyone else, and it is both in very poor taste and extremely hazardous to your health to insinuate otherwise.”
She let go of his hands and pushed him forward with the hand holding his neck before stepping over to pick up her tray just as another agent stopped at their table.
“What’s going on here?”
Phina glanced at him as she passed, recognizing Team Leader Nicholson. She nodded and responded, “Teaching.”
She listened in using her enhanced hearing as she walked away.
“Is that true?” Agent Nicholson asked Cade.
“That bitch just put her hands on me!” Cade seethed.
Phina wished she could see Agent Nicholson’s face as he responded, “Son, if that’s how you talked to her, I can see why. I’d advise you to keep your mouth shut and open your ears, or you won’t make it very far here.”
She glanced at the table as she placed her tray into the washing receptacle and saw the agent walking away.
Felan shook his head as he picked up his tray. “Some of you can’t see past your noses. Phina just showed you why she’s winning. She’s smart, loyal, determined, and fierce when she needs to be. I’m getting the sense that she’s being groomed to be Agent Wells’ successor, or didn’t you notice all the underlying tensions and glances between the senior agents yesterday?”
Huh. Phina hadn’t put that together before since she had been so focused on finding the traitor, but now that Felan mentioned it, that probably was what the senior agents were speculating about.
“Yeah, Cade, that’s why you aren’t winning. You aren’t loyal or smart,” Ian snarked.
“Shut up, McCallister!”
Phina shook her head as she walked out of the dining room. Time to warm up and find out what entertaining torture they were in for today.
Gaitune-67, Spy Corps Headquarters and Base, Small Training Room
Shaw waited patiently for the trainees to arrive. Phina had been in the room when he arrived. As they waited for the last few to slip into the room, Shaw couldn’t help the involuntary pull on his gaze toward the younger woman.
Every time he tugged his gaze away, it found its way back. Part of it was the growing attachment he felt toward her—an unfortunate and ill-advised attachme
nt. The other part just seemed to be her natural magnetism. It felt like she drew every gaze to her.
A good portion of the agents he interacted with seemed infatuated with her, and they hadn’t even spoken half a dozen words to her. He didn’t delude himself into thinking he was any better than they were, even though he had spent a lot more time with her.
Then again, he was more than half in love with her. Much more.
Hell, he might as well torture himself. He was all the way in love with her, and it didn’t matter one bit. He still had his duty, and he didn’t see that changing. Not to mention that she was in love with a man who he admired and respected.
Shaw put his thoughts aside when the last two trainees slipped in as the clock ticked over on the hour.
“Attention!” he called.
The trainees straightened. They stood in small groups in front of him. He observed them gravely, thinking about the task ahead.
“This will be the last day of the competition. This task is, as they say, the one to win.” He saw a competitive light spark to life in many of the trainees as he continued, “We are putting a new spin on two classic children’s games—hide and seek and capture the flag. Items marked with this symbol scattered throughout the facility.”
He held up his tablet, which showed the black silhouette of a female vampire with teeth and long hair—the symbol of the Queen Bitch, Bethany Anne. “The objective is to be the last person caught by the end of the day and to have the most items captured. Now, you are allowed one question each. Balehn, we will start with you.”
The Yollin shifted on his clawed feet as he searched for a question. “You said the objective is to be the last person caught. Who’s doing the catching?”
“Very good question, Balehn.” Shaw nodded in approval. “If either the beta agents or I put our hands on you, you can surrender or fight. If you can get away, you have another chance. If you are defeated or incapacitated, you are automatically out. Until then, you are free to evade us however you wish. Cade.”
The belligerent young man crossed his arms as he spoke. “Can we take those special items from other people who have already gotten them?”
Shaw’s eyebrows rose. “Well, I can see where your mind is. Yes, you can steal items from others if you can manage it, or fight for them. If you are defeated, you must relinquish one item you possess. However, unnecessary violence, such as if someone is already defeated and is struck by the winning person, will result in that winner being disqualified from the competition. Felan.”
The large man stood with his hands clasped together behind him as he spoke thoughtfully. “Will we be monitored?”
Shaw nodded decisively. “You will be monitored and evaluated. Do not think you can be so sneaky that you will get away with not being seen. It won’t happen. Gina.”
“Are there any areas out of bounds?”
“Another good question.” He pulled his lips back, not quite smiling. “Yes. The door up the stairs in the hangar and beyond is out of bounds. Everywhere else is in bounds, but not every space is advisable. Ian.”
The young man spoke earnestly. “Can we use anything to help us hide or fight?”
“Yes, you will have thirty minutes to prepare yourselves, including grabbing practice weapons or other equipment. However, if you use live weapons, you will be disqualified. Jahlek.”
“Will there be any other obstacles we will have to deal with?”
Shaw grinned. “Yes. It will be up to you to identify them and either avoid the obstacles or escape them before you are caught. Jasper.”
The young man tilted his chin arrogantly. “What happens if one person holds out the longest, but another person holds the most items?”
“A tie,” Shaw answered simply. “Kabaka.”
“Aside from unnecessary violence or live weapons, are there any other actions with penalties?” He stood quietly to the side with Jahlek and Phina.
Shaw tilted his head in thought. “You all have read the mission, purpose, and code of conduct for Spy Corps, correct?”
After a chorus of yeses rang out, he continued. “As long as you follow those guidelines, you will not incur a penalty. Nodin.”
The Estarian’s features bunched together as he thought. After several seconds went by, he lifted his head. “Will there be any participants other than the people you’ve mentioned?”
“Yes.” Shaw smirked in satisfaction at the quieter being’s intelligence. “It’s up to you to determine in what way they are participating. Phina.”
She spoke quietly. “Are all skills, talents, and abilities we possess allowed, or only ones that others might have as well?”
Shaw tilted his head as he thought her question over. He thought it intriguing that the very same question had come up in the planning conversation. It was Alpha Agent Wells himself who had brought up that same point. If he didn’t know the two of them had integrity and wouldn’t find it fair to cheat, he would deem it suspicious. However, Alpha Agent Wells had brought up a good point—that they were testing the full breadth of the potential agents, and they couldn’t do that if they were all limited to the same scope of abilities.
“Yes,” he answered. “Use everything in your personal arsenal to complete the objective. The prior stipulations I mentioned still apply. Savas.”
As he turned to the last trainee, Shaw caught the corners of Phina’s mouth tilting up. Fascinating. He made himself tear his gaze away to focus on the Shrillexian.
“When does the challenge end if people still aren’t caught?”
Shaw nodded in approval. “One way or the other, the challenge will end at midnight tonight.”
He straightened his shoulders and addressed the whole group. “That gives you fifteen hours. Survive to the end or be caught. Your thirty minutes of preparation begins… now!”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Gaitune-67, Spy Corps Headquarters and Base
Phina grabbed her practice weapons from her storage locker and dashed to her room, maintaining an easy speed as she weaved between other trainees and agents darting around to make their preparations.
She was changing in her room when she heard Shade speak over the intercom.
“Twenty minutes remain until the exercise begins.”
Hearing the EI’s voice gave Phina an idea.
“Hey, Shade?”
“Yes, Phina?”
She strapped on her weapons. “Shaw told us we are allowed to use all our skills and abilities. My skills include hacking. Would you be willing to step aside so I can use those skills? I wouldn’t need you to help, just not stop me.”
Phina tightened the last of her straps as she finished speaking, then packed her go-bag with several items she thought she would use while she waited for the EI to reply.
Shade responded. “I have checked with ADAM and Alpha Agent Wells. That is a request I can grant.”
“Thank you, Shade!”
The EI spoke again. “Ten minutes remain until the exercise begins.”
Phina understood that it had been a facility-wide announcement. She slung the pack on her back, taking care to avoid tangling it in the straps of her back sheaths, and headed swiftly to the kitchen.
Phina swung inside the door just as she heard, “Five minutes remain until the exercise begins.”
Lourise Brown and Reese Claire, the two chefs on the base, glanced up at her entrance. Lourise pursed her lips in disdain and turned back to the mass of bistok meat she was butchering with a sharp knife.
Reese gave Phina a grin and waved her in. “Come on in. They told us to get you whatever you wanted if any of you came in here.”
Smiling appreciatively, Phina carefully moved forward, keeping Lourise’s knife visible at all times. “Thank you. I need nutribars or something that won’t take up much space, is filling, and doesn’t need to stay cold.”
The good-natured older chef snapped his fingers and pointed at her. “I’ve got just the thing. Give me a minute.”
“I think that’s about all I have.” Phina smiled ruefully.
“Right, right.” Reese kept up a one-sided conversation about what they were cooking that day as he entered a pantry and rummaged around out of sight. He didn’t seem to expect a response from her. Then again, with a silent and seemingly unpleasant woman like Lourise for company, perhaps he had just gotten used to it. He came out of the room with a smile and a flourish as he handed over five AIOs, All In One bars.
“Here you are. We get the good ones so there’s two fruit-flavored, two peanut butter, and one double chocolate.” He gave her a wink while Lourise scowled.
Phina accepted them gratefully. “Thank you very much!”
He grinned and shooed her toward the door. “Just do your best to win. I saw the fights yesterday. I’ve got my money on you.”
She laughed as she slid the bars into her pack and moved back toward the door, keeping a wide berth around the disgruntled woman. “I’ll do my best. Thank you both for giving us all such delicious food every day!”
She waved goodbye to Reese and finally saw the woman’s body posture softening as she stepped through the door. The door gently closed just as Shade’s voice spoke over the hallway speakers.
“Today’s exercise begins...now.”
Phina smiled as she moved toward a quiet spot to begin using her tablet unnoticed. It was time to flex her skills.
“Today’s exercise begins...now.”
Balehn panicked. He wasn’t ready for the exercise. He was a Yollin, for tak sake! Everyone knew Yollins weren’t small and sneaky. What had made him lose his mind enough to think he could be a spy?
He was a decent fighter. He could haul ass when he needed to with his long legs and sharp talons that could grip the ground beneath him. If only the universe had also given him natural camouflage.
After calming himself down, he decided to use logic to figure out where to find the items they were supposed to search for. Of course, Sergeant Hardass hadn’t told them how big these objects were or how hard they would be to find. No, that would have been too easy!
