Operation Child Soldier (The Academy Book 1)

by Jaci Wheeler

  “Anything?” the senator replies, intrigued.

  “Anything,” I say firmly. “You won’t find that in a child who hasn’t been abused or neglected. He is thankful for being saved, and it’s that gratitude that we can use in our favor. Any spoiled brat from a loving home will never show that kind of devotion.”

  “Unless…” the senator trails off. I can tell he’s lost in thought and that I’m not going to like how this ends, but my curiosity always gets the better of me so I ask anyway.

  “Unless what?”

  “Unless you have total control from conception.”

  He can’t be serious.

  “You want me to steal a baby?! There’s no way I can pull that off. We stick as close to the line as possible so we don’t get caught. You start stealing babies and this will blow up in our faces faster than you can light a match,” I say, completely losing my cool.

  “No, you idiot, I never said anything about stealing it.”

  I know deep in my gut where the brandy is now churning that I’m not going to like the answer to my next question.

  “Then how are you proposing to get these babies?”

  “Not babies. Just like we did with the foster children, we must have one test subject first. This isn’t a sprint, Edward, it’s a marathon. We will have one baby and train it from conception, observe it over its lifespan, and then if it is as successful as I think it will be, meaning the same quality without the defects of the others, then we will talk about more.”

  “One baby over eighteen years?” I ask.

  “Give or take a few years, yes. Once we are absolutely sure the child is the best weapon and soldier created we will decide how to go about continuing the process, but first, one test subject. Back to the basics, Edward.”

  “And how exactly do you propose acquiring this baby?” I ask with trepidation.

  He has the nerve to chuckle and then follows it with a statement that changes my life.

  “Congratulations, Edward; you are going to be a father.”

  ***

  “Mr. Edward, Mr. Edward! Over here!” Estevan jump up and down and waves his hands to make sure I don’t miss him. I couldn’t sneak by that kid if I wanted to.

  “Estevan!” his instructor yells at him. “Back in formation. We have two more drills to finish.” The seven-year-old frowns; he has a hero worship towards me that isn’t healthy but I will never discourage.

  “Mr. Edward promised me next time he came he would bring his baby so I could see her. I’m going to be so mad if I miss seeing the baby because I’m doing these stupid drills.” I can’t help but chuckle even though the instructor shoots me a look. I approach him and make sure he is standing up tall and proud just like I taught him. I smile and whisper,

  “You can meet her when your drills are over, ok, son?” Then I say louder for everyone to hear, “Looking good, soldiers!”

  As I walk off I hear him very loudly whisper to the kid next to him.

  “I am going to be just like him when I’m older, a real-life hero. He saves kids from bad stuff and then he saves the world. I’m going to do that too because I’m a good soldier.”

  Once the drills are over I have an excited boy practically jumping up and down trying to get a look at the baby.

  “She is the most beautiful baby I’ve ever seen. Then again, I haven’t really seen any babies in real life, but I’m certain she is still the most beautiful. She has a lot of shiny blonde hair and big blue eyes. The prettiest ever. I love her,” he whispers in awe. I laugh and pat him on the back.

  “Good, son. You just remember to take care of her, ok? You’ve got to look out for her, make sure nothing bad happens, and you make sure you tell me if anything happens to her.”

  “You mean like be her hero, like you are mine?”

  “Yes, just like that. You will be her hero and protect her, Estevan. Teach her how to stay in line and follow the rules.”

  He looks back down at the her and she grabs his finger and holds on tight.

  “Oh look, I think she likes me! She’s trying to hold my hand. Mr. Edward, what is her name?”

  “Aria. Aria Aveline Richards.”

  “A beautiful name to go with her. It’s perfect, sir.”

  “Yes, she will be perfect,” I say and can’t help the grin that spreads at the idea.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  15 years later

  The Academy Compound, Colorado

  Aria

  “Aria, your father would like to see you in his office.”

  I hold back my sigh, and try to look at my instructor without rolling my eyes.

  “After session?” I ask as sweetly as I can. He only narrows his eyes at me.

  “Now.”

  “Yes, sir,” I say and I start to gather my belongings.

  “What did you do now?” my best friend, Hope, asks me.

  “It’s more like what did she get caught doing,” Lee adds.

  Although he wasn’t wrong, I glare at him all the same. I grew up here at the Academy. My mother died during childbirth and my father has raised me the best he could…well he’s raised the best soldier he could anyway.

  I’m smart, fast, strong, but I’m also bored. Very bored. I happen to have a knack for getting into trouble as well. I can’t help it if trouble tends to find me, even though Estevan, my handler, says I have a tendency to seek it out. Crap, if I’m in trouble, that means Estevan probably is too.

  If I get caught doing something, it’s his butt that gets fried since he is technically in charge of me. However, I am my own woman; I don’t need a man to be my keeper. If anyone should understand this, it’s my father since he is the one who taught me to be this way. It’s just too bad he doesn’t follow his own teachings. He wants me to be self-sufficient when it’s convenient for him.

  I reach his office and square my shoulders. Unlike the drab minimalist thing we have going on at the Academy, my father’s office is elaborate and if you ask me, overdone. He spared no expense when it came to his dwelling, but the rest of us get to stare at gray walls and stucco all day long and that’s acceptable to him. I roll my eyes now knowing I can’t once I’m inside, showing no sign of weakness just like he taught me. I raise my fist and knock.

  “Enter,” he bellows.

  Taking a deep breath, I walk straight up to his desk and make eye contact.

  “You wanted to see me, Daddy?” I ask with as much innocence as I can muster.

  The way his eyes narrow, he isn’t going to buy a single word of it.

  “What on earth were you thinking, Aria Aveline?!” he yells, even though he’s only a few inches from my face.

  It’s going to be one of those talks, I see…goodie. I go to open my mouth to ask what he is referring to, but I see he isn’t done, so I close it. It’s best to let him finish his tirade and then do damage control.

  “You are 15 now, Aria; you are not a child anymore. I expect more from you.”

  I want to tell him that technically I still am a child for another three years, but I don’t think that would go over well.

  “Do you know how this reflects on me? My own daughter? You should be upholding the rules and setting an example, yet you are always the first to push the envelope. I don’t care if I am your father, it is a privilege for you to be in this elite program and you better start acting like you deserve to be here!”

  So apparently I broke some sort of rule. Really, what’s new? But it must have been a big one for him to get this angry; the little vein in his forehead is out in full force.

  “Well, what do you have to say for yourself? Don’t just stand there taking up oxygen for heaven's sake!”

  “Well, Father, it would help if I knew what rule you are talking about,” I say, with confidence.

  “You mean you’ve broken more than one?” he asks. “Of course, you have,” he says more to himself than to me at my silence.

  “I’m talking about a very serious offense, Aria. I’m talking about hacking into
our main system! Do you know how stupid that was?! How dangerous? Do have any idea how many lives you put at risk? That is classified information for a reason, and you put this entire operation in jeopardy, not to mention all of the agents’ lives on the outside.”

  Oops, I guess he has a reason to be mad. I never thought about those things when I did it. It shows on my face that I am thoroughly ashamed.

  “I’m sorry, Daddy, I wasn’t really thinking about that when I hacked into it. You know that airbag of an instructor who teaches my course-”

  “Aria!”

  I stop mid-sentence.

  “You will give him the respect he deserves. That ‘airbag,’ as you put it, has given many years of his life to serving our country and to make sure you all are capable when out in the field. He has taught you everything you know, and that information will one day save your life.”

  “I get that, Daddy, I do. But I stopped being able to learn from him five years ago. I’ve been teaching myself ever since. My brain and computers just click and I’m bored to tears in that class. I just hacked into the system to prove him wrong. He said it was impenetrable and nothing is completely impenetrable. I was just making a point.”

  My father runs a hand through his thinning hair and blows out a frustrated breath.

  “I see.” He stays silent for a few moments, which usually means I’m not going to like what comes next. “Aria, you are highly intelligent. You could be the best-trained spy we have. One day you will be the best of the best and will train future agents. This is what I want for you; this is what you were made for. But you’ve got to learn to rein in your defiance. You are too proud and too much of a wild card to ever make a proper agent.”

  This stings. I am the best student he has and he knows it. So I’m not a mindless robot. Who cares? He wouldn’t respect me if I were. I can out-shoot, out-think, and outsmart everyone in this academy, including most of the instructors, which leads me to this.

  “How exactly did you figure out it was me anyway?” I ask.

  He tries to suppress a smile, which makes me feel a bit better.

  “You are the only one who has the skill to do it, not to mention you left behind hearts and flowers. Really, Aria? Hearts and flowers!” But this time he lets a smile slip.

  I smile back proudly.

  “I thought it could be my new signature. I was testing it out.”

  “There should never be a signature and you know that! In, out, ghost! You know the motto.”

  “But if I didn’t leave a signature, I couldn’t prove I was right, and we wouldn’t be having this heart to heart,” I say with as much sweetness as I can muster.

  “Heaven help me,” he mutters, looking up in search of guidance. “Do you want to be an agent?”

  “Of course, I do. I’m the best trainee you have and you know it!”

  “Do you want to go out on missions or do you want to get stuck in the home office doing intel for the rest of your life?” he asks.

  He knows good and well I want to be a field agent. It’s all I’ve ever wanted. I’d be the best one they have and he knows that also. I have the highest marks, and the best record of anyone my age…except for my discipline scores. I am a bit rough, he’s right about that, and I’m not the most submissive person, but I don’t see how that should affect my standing. I say as much to him.

  “Being a good agent is more than just skill. Anyone can be a marksman or a hacker, Aria. You need to be able to follow orders and work in a team. Until you learn to follow directions, you will be grounded. No more training for field agent. You will be going to new classes from now on. I have a new schedule set up, and you will follow it--and all orders--to a ‘T.’ Do you understand me? You have one year to prove yourself. If you prove you can comply, then you will join the rest of your class on your final when you turn 16. If you can’t reign in your ways, then you will fail and you will be remanded to support staff. Do you understand?”

  I say nothing but nod.

  “Good, now get back to your classes. Estevan will give you your new schedule later today. Please send him in on your way out. You are dismissed.”

  “Yes, Father.” I turn since I was dismissed but I can’t help but turn back to plea even though I know it’s useless. “Please don’t get mad at Estevan. It’s my fault, not his, you kn—”

  “You are dismissed!” He cuts me off.

  I turn and leave his office, wanting to slam his door with all my might, but I resist. See? I can practice self-control when I need to.

  I see Estevan sitting outside, waiting for his turn. He looks up at me with disappointment in his beautiful copper eyes. Every time I look in those eyes my stomach melts. The disappointment in them almost ruins me.

  “Please, Van, don’t,” I say, holding my hand up. “I don’t think I can handle a lecture from you too, ok?”

  I sink into the seat next to him and he silently puts his arm around me. Van is the strong silent type. He also has a bit of hero worship going on with my father, which is understandable since he saved him from a pretty bad situation. But Van has always been more of a father to me than my own.

  I’m sure my dad loves me, but he’s too lost playing general to me to show it. Van, however, has always shown his love and nurtured me. If you were to ask my dad, he would say that Van spoils and indulges my bad behavior. But it’s just the opposite. He makes me what to be a better person, gives me the hope that I can.

  “I’m sorry if I got you in trouble, Van. I don’t mean to; I’m just so restless all the time. I know we need the training, but I’m ready to be an agent. You know I am.”

  Van looks down at me and smiles. He also ruffles my hair, which annoys me that he still sees me as a child.

  “I know, Little Bug, but it’s a lot different when you are out there in the real world. We can only train you so much here. Once you are out there and it’s life or death, one bad call can kill your whole team. Or worse, you pull a silly hacking stunt and we are all dead if the wrong person traces you.”

  Van knows how to make me feel about two feet tall and immature. Everything he says is right, but he says it with so much love and respect, unlike my father.

  “I know. I’m sorry, Van. I’m going to try harder, I promise.”

  “You amaze me, Ari, you really do. You are so smart, fast, beautiful. You are the best. But don’t let that go to your head. Remember what I always tell you?”

  “Cockiness gets people killed,” I deadpan.

  “That’s right, and I want you very much alive,” he says, nudging my arm.

  “I love you, Estevan,” I say, truly meaning it. He will only ever see me as a little sister, but he will always be my first and true love.

  “I love you too, Little Bug. Now it’s time for me to go get chewed out by your dad.”

  I grimace and he laughs. Then gets up, goes to knock on my dad’s door, and closes it behind him.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Estevan

  “You wanted to see me, sir?” I ask, standing in front of him.

  “Have a seat, son. Now tell me right now why I shouldn’t pull you off my daughter’s case and get her a new handler?” he asks me point blank. I thought this might be coming, but hearing it is like a punch to the gut. Earning his trust and respect has been my life’s goal, and the fact that he feels I’m not doing my job hits me hard. I sigh and look down at the floor.

  “Estevan, answer me,” Edward says, harsher than usual.

  “How would another handler do with her, Edward? Are you saying you are unhappy with my job performance or are you just unhappy with Aria?” I ask, throwing out the question because I know I’m right.

  Edward lets out a sigh and runs his hand through his hair.

  “With all due respect, sir, you know that nobody can do a better job than me. I’ve worked hard to get where I am. Not only that, but I’m the only one she fully trusts. What would happen if you put her with someone else? Cameron, for example. Do you think that would be better? Two
hot-headed big shots? They’d kill each other in a week.” At first, he looks like he likes the idea and I inwardly cringe at even suggesting it.

  “Well, what do you propose I do? You know the gravity of what she did, even if she doesn’t. It’s all fun and games to her, Estevan, and it’s not a game. She hacked into our system. She’s very lucky that she didn’t go looking around, that she only planted that stupid signature. If she would have seen anything, you know what would happen to not only her but you as well.”

  I swallow hard. He doesn’t have to remind me; I know exactly how serious her offense was. Aria is young, naïve, and doesn’t think about her actions. She’s just a kid for goodness’ sake, and there’s no way she would have known the secrets she could have unveiled. I don’t even want to know what lies in the depths of our system.

  “I know, sir. The thing is, she doesn’t. She’s young, only 15, sir. I think because she is so smart and so far ahead of her peers in so many ways that we forget she’s just a kid, a bored kid with too much power. She also hasn’t had the life the rest of us had, the kind that matures you before your time. I can’t be following her every minute of every day and you know that. I already do twice as much as any other handler and that’s mostly out of respect for you, and out of love for her.”

  “I know, you’re right. She’s blown me away with how well she’s done here, but the little thing is too much of a firecracker. She needs to be contained. I have her on a new schedule now. She doesn’t need her shooting classes since she’s been the top marksman for years. I’m obviously taking her out of her computer class,” he says with an eye roll.

  “What are you going to put in place of those classes?” I ask with curiosity.

  Edward smiles wide and I know it’s something she’s going to hate.

  “Prim and proper 101.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

  “It’s not called that exactly, but they are all refinement classes. She is also going to take three more language courses and an extra course on lip reading.”