Chapter 13: Presentation

Edith and Zain stood at the head of the conference room, facing the assembled board members of the CJA, along with Julius Hemingway and Cameron Jones. The tension in the room was palpable as they prepared to present their mission plan.

Julius Hemingway leaned forward, his expression grave. "Alright, let's hear it," he said, his voice commanding. Zain took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the moment. "Thank you all for being here," he began, his voice steady and confident. "As you know, Sparrow Unlimited has recently come under new leadership, and their CEO is hosting a gala at their warehouse."

Edith jumped in, her voice carrying a sense of urgency. "The details of Project Phoenix were laid out before us," she explained, projecting an image of the facility onto the screen. "It's a covert operation by Sparrow Unlimited to develop advanced weaponry and surveillance technology."

The board members leaned in, their interest piqued as they absorbed the information. Zain continued, "The facility where the project is housed is located in the quadton region of a neighboring city. It's heavily fortified and guarded around the clock."

Edith flipped through the files until she found the relevant document. "We're after the blueprints for a new surveillance system they're developing," she replied, holding up the file for Zain to see. "It's called the Sentinel-7, and it's rumored to be capable of intercepting encrypted communications from anywhere in the world."

The audiences' eyes widened at the revelation. "That could be a game-changer," someone murmured, their mind racing.

Edith nodded gravely. "Exactly. If Sparrow Unlimited succeeds in developing this technology, it could give them an unprecedented advantage in the ongoing conflict," she explained, her voice tinged with urgency. 

A middle-aged board member raised his hand, his expression skeptical. "And how do you plan to retrieve these blueprints?" he asked, his tone challenging.

Edith exchanged a glance with Zain before answering. "We'll attend the gala disguised as a couple," she replied. "Once inside, I'll distract the security guards while Zain gains access to the secret facility."

Zain nodded, picking up where she left off. "Once inside, we'll change into our tactical gear and enter through the main entrance," he continued. "There's a blind spot near the eastern perimeter that will allow us to slip in undetected."

Edith flashed a confident smile. "Once inside, we'll make our way to the heart of the facility, where the blueprints for the Sentinel-7 are kept," she declared. "Our goal is to retrieve them and get out before anyone knows we were there."

The board members listened intently, their expressions ranging from curiosity to skepticism. One of them, a middle-aged man with a skeptical look, raised his hand. "I have a question," he began, his tone skeptical. "Are you sure you're up for this, Miss...?"

"Agent Edith Wood," she replied firmly, her eyes narrowing. "And yes, I assure you, I am more than capable of handling this mission."

Cameron Jones stepped in, his voice firm. "Edith is one of our best agents," he stated, shooting a warning glance at the skeptical board member. "She has proven herself time and time again, and I have full confidence in her abilities."

Beside him, Edith bristled at the implied doubt in her skills, but she held her tongue, knowing that now was not the time to argue. Instead, she focused on maintaining her composure as she waited for the next question.

Julius Hemingway leaned forward, his expression grave. "This is a high-stakes mission," he reminded them, his voice serious. "The blueprints for the Sentinel-7 could have far-reaching implications for the world. We can't afford to let them fall into the wrong hands."

Zain and Edith nodded in agreement, fully aware of the gravity of the situation. "We understand, sir," Zain replied, his tone determined. "I won't let you down."

After the intense briefing, Zain and Edith stepped out of the conference room and found themselves in a quieter hallway, away from the prying eyes and ears of the others. They exchanged a glance, each still feeling the weight of the meeting.

"Quite the show in there," Edith remarked.

Zain nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I don't think I've ever seen so many skeptical faces in one room, except my birth maybe." 

Edith chuckled softly. "Well, I think I managed to convince them, despite their doubts," she said. 

Zain’s eyebrow raised at that, “You convinced them? Did you not hear the superiors questioning your abilities? Clearly, the only reason it went through was because of my charm.” 

Edith rolled her eyes, "Oh, please. Your charm had nothing to do with it," she deadpanned. After a moment, Edith spoke up again. "Seriously though, Zain," she began, her tone serious. "I think we make a good team. Despite our... differences."

Zain laughed, "I may not always agree with your emotional and impulsive methods, let alone the fact you don’t work very well with a team, but I can't deny that you're good at what you do, Wood."

Edith –a smirk playing on her lips– said, "Coming from you, that's high praise," As they reached the end of the hallway, they came to a stop outside the elevator. Zain opened his mouth to say something but stopped short. They stepped into the elevator, ready to ace their mission.

K.M Strunk