by Cara Wylde
“Yes, Sir, I am. I’ve been waiting for this moment for so long.”
The director nodded. He grabbed his coat and took out his car keys.
“Stay safe, agent.”
“I will, Sir. You too.”
He was out the door in a second, but Avery couldn’t turn away and join the others just yet. She stared at the closed door for a few minutes, her mind focused on her breath and the confusing feelings churning in her gut. Something wasn’t right, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. Yes, the people she was going to work with were strangers to her, but if both the FBI and the CIA were sure about them, then it wasn’t her place to question her superiors’ decision.
“It’s nothing,” she whispered to herself while munching on her lower lip. “It’s just the sudden change. I’ll get used to it.”
“Agent Tonkin, care to join us?”
Ben Shaw’s serious, authoritarian voice felt like an annoying drill in her brain. She didn’t like the guy. It was probably because he never seemed to smile, not even out of courtesy. Especially not out of courtesy.
She strutted into the living room, scanned it quickly, then chose the armchair farthest from the desk the director had sat at fifteen minutes before. It made sense that it was, in fact, Shaw’s desk. As she sat down, Simon, the accountant, handed her a huge mug of steaming black coffee.
“Err… it’s too late in the evening for coffee. I need my beauty sleep,” Avery chuckled.
“I’m afraid we have a lot of work to do tonight, agent,” said Captain Shaw. “I can’t promise we won’t be stuck here until morning.”
Avery cocked an eyebrow. She opened her mouth to say something, but changed her mind. She accepted the coffee, thanked Simon, then settled comfortably against the backrest. At least, the improvised headquarters had nice, new furniture.
“Because this team was a quick, almost impulse decision,” began Shaw, “your colleagues didn’t have enough time to study the case thoroughly. I was aware of its existence before, and offering consulting from behind the scenes, so to speak, I have a bit of an advantage.”
Avery nodded. While listening to Captain Shaw, she let her eyes wander over the five new agents who, apparently, had her back. They were all watching and listening to their boss intently, brows furrowed, and lips pursed in concentration. “They’re taking it seriously,” she thought. “That’s always a good thing.”
“They will work extra hours to bring themselves up to speed, but I think it would help them tremendously if you shared your progress with us.”
“Oh, okay.” She sat upright and took another sip of the black, strong coffee. “Would you like me to start with the beginning, or…?”
“Start wherever you feel it is appropriate.”
She shrugged. “I don’t know how much they already…” She took a deep breath. “Never mind.”
If there was something she hated about her job, that was the regular debriefings. And now, Captain Shaw was asking her to tell a ridiculously complicated story.
“Five years ago, we found out aliens are planning to invade our planet.” No reaction from her audience. Good. It meant they did have a bit of an idea about what was going on here. “They have probably been preparing their invasion for much longer than that, but we’ve yet to find proof to support our speculations. They seem to have a very clear and strategic plan in place: infiltrate out society, take over major institutions and businesses, and wear us down and brainwash us until we’ll, practically, pray for an alien invasion. So far, we know for sure they have taken over science and the entertainment industry, they have infiltrated politics, although we can’t tell how far up the ladder they are, and we know there’s a new spiritual movement rising among US citizens. And it doesn’t sound or feel like the rest of the earthly mumbo-jumbos we’re used to.”
“You’re not religious, agent?”
Zadie’s soft voice startled her. For a moment, Avery didn’t know whether she should laugh or simply ignore her.
“What sort of question is that?”
“Then… spiritual?”
“Does it matter?”
“Since we’re dealing with aliens…”
“I don’t see how it’s relevant.”
“They come from the skies.”
“Aaand… spirituality comes from the skies, too? What? I’m confused. Not sure we’re speaking the same language here.”
“Childs, Tonkin, let’s not get off track.”
For the first time, Avery appreciated the Captain’s intervention. She couldn’t believe she’d have to work with someone who was so dense. Did Zadie really think aliens had anything to do with spirituality? She took a couple of deep breaths, relaxed her shoulders, and smiled. This was not the time to get angry over something so silly. There was still a chance she might get some sleep tonight.
“Anyway, our case deals with the aliens who’ve infiltrated the entertainment industry, not with the ones playing around with some new sort of religion. That’s for other people to figure out.”
Avery took Zadie’s silence as agreement to end their small argument, for the time being.
“I’ve been undercover for a little over two years, making a name for myself as an actress. Don’t judge me. Hollywood can be tough. Or, there really is a mole in the FBI who made things harder for me and the team I was working with. Whatever. What’s important is that tonight I found out I got the main part in the newest Kralia Studios production. Filming starts next week. I was also invited to a party tomorrow night, and I am confident I’ll finally meet Kit and Alex Walsh, the movie producer and the book writer who seem to be behind all this brainwashing that’s been happening in the past few years.”
“Do we know their real identities?” asked Chris.
“No.”
“But we’re sure they’re aliens,” he pressed on.
“Yes. Ninety nine percent sure. Tomorrow night, if everything goes according to plan, and it will, I will be one hundred percent sure.”
“Great work, Agent Tonkin,” said Captain Shaw. “I believe this is the first real breakthrough we’re having with this case.”
Avery grinned. “If I may, Sir, it might be the very first breakthrough we’re having with these aliens who’re planning to take over our planet. But then, of course, I know nothing about the other teams working on similar cases all over the world.”
“True. Let’s try to stay humble, agent.”
Avery fought the impulse to roll her eyes, and nodded instead.
“Do we know what these alien guys look like?” asked Lisa.
“No. They can easily disguise as humans. So far, we can only assume they possess technology that is similar to our invisibility collars.”
“Speaking of collars…” Chris Miller took a step toward her. “Zadie and I would like to do a routine check on yours, make sure it works fine.”
Avery’s hand flew to the goth-looking device around the base of her neck. The tips of her fingers ran over the smooth leather.
“I replace the vials every time I use it. It works great.”
“We’re required to check all the technology currently in use on this case,” he insisted.
She bit the inside of her cheek. It wasn’t that she didn’t agree that was the sensible thing to do, but she just didn’t feel comfortable handing her invisibility collar to a stranger. Well, okay, Chris Miller wasn’t a stranger. He was her new colleague, and he and Zadie were there on behalf of Dreamland, the secret USA science base dedicated to studying alien technology and developing new weapons and cool tech tools for humanity, so the people of Earth wouldn’t be at a complete disadvantage if a war was ever to break out.
“Agent Tonkin, it’s protocol.”
Well, if she could probably say “no” to Miller, she couldn’t disobey Captain Shaw’s order. Avery sighed, then reluctantly took off the collar and handed it to Chris.
“Later, we’ll show you some cool stuff that just
came in,” he said.
She nodded and smiled. He seemed like a nice guy.
“Alright, agent,” Shaw continued, “now that you’ve given us the big picture, let’s go into details. Kit and Alex Walsh. Brothers. Any other extraterrestrial suspects around them?”
Avery shrugged. “Not that I know of. It could be anyone. Business partners, actors, assistants, their maid… This is the first time I get to be so close to them, in their own house. I’ve seen them at parties before, but I never got to talk to any of them. They’re always surrounded by bodyguards, and Alex Walsh, the writer, never… and I mean never!… does signings or public appearances. People say he’s a hermit. Oh, the bodyguards! They might be aliens!”
“Here’s a question,” intervened Simon. “Are these aliens… all of the same species?”
Avery’s eyes lit up with excitement.
“Love it! My team and I… I mean, my former team and I were convinced… okay, almost convinced, that no. They are not of the same species.”
“Do you have solid evidence to support this?” asked Captain Shaw.
“No, Sir. It was just a theory we liked working on in our spare time. It was never on our list of duties, but we had fun watching the news, reading the papers, and trying to correlate various events.” She turned to Simon, Lisa, and Carter. Chris and Zadie seemed to be busy fiddling with her collar. “If you pay close attention, you can tell the aliens who infiltrated various industries don’t have the same modus operandi.”
“But, is it a fact, Agent Tonkin?” the Captain insisted.
“No, Sir. It is not. Not yet, at least.”
“Then, we shall never speak of it again. Indeed, it is not on our list of tasks.”
Avery blinked in confusion. She didn’t understand why he had to be such a killjoy about it.
“I don’t see how it interferes with our mission…”
“It does. It’s not our business. Our business is to stay focused and do our part of the job.”
“Yes, Sir,” Lisa and Simon mumbled.
“Understood?”
“Yes,” Avery said between gritted teeth. She drank more of her coffee just because the big mug was the only thing behind which she could hide her disapproval.
“Good. Let’s move on. Agent Tonkin, tell us everything we know so far. Everything we know that is fact, and not mere speculation.”
“With all due respect, it’s all in the files.” She motioned in the general direction of the desks crammed in the living room.
“You’re the only one here who’s been working this case since the very beginning. Your direct, personal input is crucial. Spare no details.”
“Oh, great!” She thought, annoyed. Subtly, she stole a glance at her phone. It was already past midnight. “No beauty sleep for me.”
Hours and ridiculous amounts of coffee later, no one was able to follow Avery’s story anymore. No one, except for Captain Shaw, who supposedly already knew all the details. Why she was there, reciting things which could easily be found in the files, and not in her own bed at home was beyond Avery. By the time she was done, her throat was sore, and her eyes were as big as saucers despite the exhaustion. She wouldn’t be able to sleep even if she wanted to. Also, she was pretty sure she didn’t like her new boss.
“I believe we can wrap this up,” the Captain declared right before the break of dawn.
“Awesome.” Avery stood up, stretched her muscles, then grabbed the invisibility collar off Zadie’s desk. “It’s fine, right? I can have it back?”
Zadie stifled a yawn and pinched the bridge of her nose. She either needed sleep, or an Advil. Both, most likely.
“Yes, sure. It works great.”
“Good. Thanks.”
As if triggered by an unexpected realization, Chris jumped off his chair.
“Wait! There’s this new gadget I wanted to show you. You might need it tomorrow.”
“Is it a weapon?”
“Well, it’s a bracelet. More like a wrist cuff. Very fancy. It extends into a small laser gun.”
“Then, no. I don’t want to risk blowing up my cover.”
She didn’t wait for him to protest or agree with her. In fact, she didn’t care what he had to say, or what any of the people in the room had to say.
“Sir, with your permission, I need to get home.” There still was enough time for her to get a quick workout in and then a shower to hopefully tire her body enough to pass out. “The party is at eight, and I might need a miracle to look presentable. Also, I don’t have a dress to go well with my invisibility collar, so I need to squeeze in some shopping, too.”
“Oh, I can help!” Lisa chirped. “I can’t sleep, anyway. I’m so pumped! This mission is exciting!”
Avery cocked an eyebrow. What did nerdy Lisa Jenkins know about Hollywood fashion? Then again, she had so many things to deal with that she couldn’t find the power to care about the dress and shoes she’d have to wear later. She also had to hit the salon to get her nails, hair, and makeup done. What a hassle!
“Sounds great, Lisa. Thanks. Sir, I’m out.”
“Alright, agent. Everyone, you’re dismissed. Go get some sleep. We’ll meet back here at five.”
Avery was the first out the door. As she pressed unlock on her car keys and her black Audi beeped from across the street, she heard Lisa yell after her.
“Are you more of a gold or a silver kind of girl?”
“Gold, Lisa. Always.”
CHAPTER THREE
Lisa had outdone herself. While Avery had spent the day sleeping, then at the spa and the salon, the chirpy IT engineer had found the most gorgeous golden dress for her, and the most beautiful high-heeled sandals to go with it. And the best thing? They fit beautifully with Avery’s black leather collar, which she decided to keep as the only accessory. The black nail polish and the smoky eye makeup helped, too, along with the stunning burgundy lipstick she had opted for.
It was no wonder that the moment she stepped over the threshold of the Walsh Residence, all eyes were on her. Her soft, luscious blonde hair was tied up in a stylish bun, leaving her shoulders and upper back bare. As she walked toward the center of the room, nodding and smiling left and right, and accepting a tall cup of champagne, her dress split enticingly up her left leg, leaving very little to the imagination. Normally, Avery would have felt exposed. The past few years had been all about uniforms, suit jackets, and gym clothes. Before being assigned this mission, she had almost forgotten how it felt to wear a dress and walk on impossibly high heels. However, tonight she wasn’t Avery Tonkin. Tonight, she was Poppy Tonks, and Poppy Tonks knew exactly how to rock a sexy dress.
“Poppy, my dear! You made it!”
Her agent, Lydia Carmichael, practically ran to her. They air kissed, then Lydia took her by the hand and guided her through the crowd.
“Did you ever doubt I’d be here?” Avery laughed.
“You didn’t bring a plus one? The invitation was for two.”
“I know, but it all happened so fast… Too many options, and I couldn’t pick in such a short amount of time.”
Lydia grinned and winked mischievously.
“I wouldn’t have minded seeing that fine piece of strong, round buns you’ve been hanging out with lately.”
“Who? Jake? Also, eww… Lydia, you can’t objectify men like that.”
The agent huffed. “What do you think happens in all these people’s heads when they look at you? Men and women.”
Avery looked around her. She waved at one of the actresses she had worked with on a previous project, and smiled at an old movie director who winked at her.
“They’re thinking how smart and well-educated I am, and how I’m taking over Hollywood with my brains and my brains alone.”
“You’re joking, right?”
Avery chuckled and pinched Lydia’s arm lightly. “Of course I’m joking. Still, I see no reason why we should generalize.”
“Pff!”
They stopped to exchange some pleasantries with a group of actors and producers, then moved on to the next group. As they crossed the large, richly decorated room, everyone wanted to congratulate Avery… err… Poppy… on her new role. She could see the envy in some of the other actresses’ eyes. Many of them would have killed to play Daisy Clearwater in “Star-Crossed”. Alex Walsh’s book was a bestseller, and based on that and the success of all the other movies made by Kralia Studios, pretty much the whole world was certain “Star-Crossed” would be a huge box office success.
“No one dares to say it out loud,” Avery whispered in Lydia’s ear.
“What, honey?”
“That I’m a nobody and I don’t deserve the role.”
Lydia’s hand flew to her generous chest in a theatrical response.
“Nonsense! You’re not a nobody, sweety. All these gals and guys you see here? Most of them have worked with the Walsh brothers before, but that doesn’t mean anything. You know Kit Walsh’s creed is to always bring new, fresh faces to the big screen.”
“It’s the only fresh thing they can bring,” Avery thought, but didn’t say it out loud. “When you regurgitate the same stories over and over again, yeah… makes sense to at least change the actors.”
“You’re right, Lydia. I’m just nervous. Nervousness makes me stupid and insecure.”
The agent threw her a concerned glance. “Maybe another glass of champagne is in order before you meet the brothers.”
Avery’s ears perked up. Suddenly, all of her senses were on high alert.
“No, no. I’m fine. I need a clear head for this. I’ve been dying to meet them!”
“I know, right? Bloody geniuses!”
They stopped a couple of feet away from Kit and Alex Walsh, who were talking to a curvy, dark-haired woman dressed in a purple gown. Avery did her best to look cool and relaxed. She’d never been so close to them before. As always, their personal bodyguards were lurking nearby. The brothers were the most well-protected men in Hollywood. It was strange, given that everyone loved them and looked up to them like they were gods. Men or women, people would have rather died before touching a single hair on their pretty heads inappropriately. It was scary how much influence these two disguised aliens had on the humankind. Their presence was overwhelming, and their books and movies practically brainwashed everyone who consumed them. Everyone except Avery. No, no matter what they did, they couldn’t reach her.
