Chapter 23: Calls

The morning sun peeked through the curtains, casting a soft glow over the hotel room where Edith and Zain had spent the night. Both agents stirred from their sleep, the events of the previous night still lingering in the air between them.

Without a word, Edith slid out of bed, her movements fluid as she made her way to the bathroom. Zain watched her go, a slight tension in his shoulders as he sat up, running a hand through his tousled hair.

As Edith emerged from the bathroom, freshly showered and dressed, she found Zain already up and about, sorting through his clothes. Without a word, she moved to her side of the room, selecting her outfit for the day ahead.

There was a sense of quiet determination in the air as they prepared for the day, a silent agreement to put the events of the previous night behind them and focus on the task at hand.

Zain stepped into the bathroom to shave, while Edith fixed her hair and applied a touch of makeup. They moved around each other with a sense of practiced efficiency, helping each other get ready without so much as a glance in each other's direction.

Once they were both dressed and ready, they exchanged a brief nod before gathering their things and heading out the door. The tension between them still lingered, but they both knew that there were more pressing matters to attend to.

—

Zain glanced over at Edith as they walked to the conference rooms, the tension between them palpable.

"Listen, about last night..." he began, his voice hesitant.

Edith held up a hand, cutting him off. "It's fine, Zain. It was a moment of weakness, it won't happen again," she replied, her tone clipped.

Zain nodded, relief flooding through him. "Exactly. It was just... a release of tension. Nothing more," he agreed, his voice firm.

They took their seats, the weight of their conversation hanging in the air between them. "I mean it, Edith. If anything like that happens again, it'll mean nothing," Zain reiterated, his gaze meeting hers. Edith nodded, a flicker of understanding passing between them. "Agreed," she replied simply.

The grand conference hall was abuzz with anticipation as Julius Hemingway and Cameron Jones took their places at the podium. Behind them, a large banner proudly displayed the new company name: Hemingway-Jones Incorporated.

"Good morning, everyone," Julius began, his voice commanding attention. "We have some exciting news to share with you all today."

Cameron nodded in agreement. "As many of you know, Hemingway Industries and Cameron Jones Associates have decided to join forces, forming a new entity: Hemingway-Jones Incorporated."

Applause erupted throughout the room as the audience absorbed the announcement.

"This merger represents a historic moment for Croacari," Julius continued. "Not only will we be combining our strengths in various industries, but we'll also be pioneers in another aspect."

Cameron stepped forward, his expression one of pride. "Indeed, Hemingway-Jones will be the first company in Croacari's history to merge investment banking and law services. This marks a new era of innovation and collaboration."

The audience erupted into cheers, the excitement palpable.

"We'll be relocating to a new headquarters, where all our teams will come together under one roof," Julius announced. "This move will allow us to work more efficiently and effectively as we strive towards our common goals."

Cameron concluded the conference with a smile. "Thank you all for your hard work and dedication. Together, we will continue to push boundaries and lead the way forward."

In a smaller, more discreet room, Cameron Jones and Julius Hemingway stood before a select group of individuals, their faces grave as they delivered their message.

"Agents," Cameron began, his voice low but commanding. "As you know, our recent acquisition of the Sentinel-7 technology has put us in a precarious position."

Julius nodded solemnly. "The government will stop at nothing to get their hands on this technology, and that includes targeting us, the ones who possess it."

He glanced down at a master list in his hands before continuing. "Agents Calahan, Wood, Whitney, Dennis, Hale, and Lachance, you are being transported to a safe house."

There was a collective murmur of concern among the agents, but Julius held up a hand to silence them.

"You have five hours to pack and make any necessary calls," he instructed. "We'll do everything in our power to keep you safe, but we must act swiftly and decisively."

— 

Edith's heart raced as she dialed her parents' number, her fingers trembling slightly with nervous energy. She had just returned from a supposed business trip, and now she had to explain to her parents that she was leaving again, this time under much more urgent circumstances.

The phone rang several times before her mother's voice answered on the other end. "Hello?"

"Mom, it's me," Edith said, her voice betraying a hint of anxiety.

"Edith, sweetheart, is everything alright?" her mother asked, concern evident in her tone.

Edith took a deep breath, steeling herself for the conversation ahead. "Mom, I know this is going to sound strange, but I need to leave again," she began, her words rushing out in a nervous blur. "It's... it's a school trip, a last-minute thing. There's this... this conference, and it's really important for my career."

There was a pause on the other end of the line, and Edith could almost hear her parents exchanging worried glances. "But you just got back," her mother said, her voice tinged with confusion. "And what kind of school trip is this? Is everything okay?"

Edith's throat tightened with guilt as she struggled to find the right words. "I know, Mom, I know. It's just... it's an opportunity I can't pass up," she replied, her voice faltering slightly. "And I promise, I'll be careful. I'll call you as soon as I can, okay?"

Her mother sighed, the sound heavy with resignation. "Alright, Edith. Just... just be safe, okay? We love you."

"I will, Mom. I love you too," Edith said, her voice catching with emotion as she hung up the phone.

As she set the phone down, a wave of conflicting emotions washed over her. Guilt for lying to her parents, anxiety about the dangerous mission ahead, but also a sense of determination to see it through. She knew she had a job to do, and she would do whatever it took to protect those she cared about.

Zain's fingers hovered over the keys of his phone as he dialed his sister Violet's number. He knew she was already aware of the situation, but he needed to hear her voice, to say goodbye properly before he embarked on this dangerous mission.

The phone rang several times before Violet picked up, her voice warm and familiar. "Hey, Zain, what's up?"

"Hey, Vi," Zain said, his voice tight with emotion. "I just... I wanted to say goodbye before I leave." 

There was a pause on the other end of the line, and Zain could almost picture the concern in his sister's eyes. "Where are you going?" she asked, her tone suddenly serious.

"I can't say too much, but it's... it's a mission," Zain replied, his words careful. "Things have gotten complicated, and I don't know when I'll be back."

Violet's breath caught audibly, and Zain could feel the weight of her worry through the phone. "Zain, please be careful," she pleaded, her voice trembling slightly. "I don't like the sound of this."

Zain's heart ached at the concern in her voice. "I will, Vi, I promise," he assured her, his own voice thick with emotion. "And I'll make sure to check in whenever I can. I love you, okay?"

"I love you too, Zain," Violet replied softly. "Just... just come back in one piece, alright?"

Zain swallowed the lump in his throat, his eyes stinging with unshed tears. "I will, Vi. I promise," he said, his voice barely above a whisper before ending the call.

As he set the phone down, a sense of determination settled over him. He had said his goodbyes, and now it was time to focus on the mission ahead. Whatever happened, he would do whatever it took to make it back to his sister, safe and sound.

Cian's heart raced as he dialed his mother's number, his fingers tapping nervously on the screen. When she picked up, he greeted her in their native Floradé, "Bonjour, maman."

"Bonjour, mon fils," his mother replied, her voice warm and comforting. They exchanged a few pleasantries, Cian cherishing the sound of her voice, before switching to Croacarian.

"I just wanted to let you know that I'm going away for a while," Cian explained, his voice tinged with sadness.

His mother's tone turned serious. "Is everything okay, Cian? Where are you going?"

Cian hesitated, knowing he couldn't divulge too much. "It's... a mission, maman. But I promise, I'll be careful," he reassured her, his voice filled with determination.

His mother sighed softly. "Please, mon fils, promise me you'll come back safely," she pleaded.

"I promise, maman. Je t'aime," Cian said, his voice choked with emotion.

"Je t'aime aussi, mon cher fils. Prends soin de toi," his mother replied before they exchanged their goodbyes.

Markus took a deep breath as he dialed his brother's number, his heart heavy with the weight of the situation. When Sam answered, Markus greeted him warmly, "Hey, Sam, it's me."

"Markus! What's up, bro?" Sam's voice came through the phone, laced with excitement.

Markus smiled faintly. "Not much, just... calling to say goodbye."

There was a pause on the other end of the line before Sam's tone turned serious. "Where are you going, Markus? Everything okay?"

Markus hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. "It's a mission, Sam. Things have gotten a bit complicated," he explained carefully.

"Wow, okay," Sam replied, his voice tinged with concern. "Just... promise me you'll be safe, alright? And come back in one piece."

"I promise, Sam. I'll do my best," Markus assured him, a lump forming in his throat.

"Take care, Markus. Love you, man," Sam said, his voice filled with emotion.

"Love you too, Sam," Markus replied, his voice barely above a whisper before ending the call.

Kasey's heart raced as he dialed Sarah's number, his fingers trembling slightly. When she answered, he greeted her with a shaky "Hey, babe."

"Hey, Kasey, what's up?" Sarah's voice came through the phone, filled with warmth.

Kasey took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. "I just wanted to let you know... I'm going away for a while," he explained, his voice faltering slightly.

There was a pause on the other end of the line before Sarah spoke again, her tone softening. "Is everything okay, Kasey? Where are you going?"

"It's... a mission, Sarah," Kasey replied, his voice tinged with sadness. "But I promise, I'll be back before you know it."

Sarah sighed softly. "Please be careful, Kasey. I don't know what I'd do if something happened to you."

Kasey's heart clenched at her words. "I'll be okay, Sarah. I promise," he reassured her, his voice filled with determination.

"Okay," Sarah said softly. "I love you, Kasey." 

"I love you too, Sarah," Kasey replied, his voice thick with emotion before ending the call.

Montana sat alone in the van, watching as his teammates made their calls to their loved ones. He didn't have anyone to call, no family waiting anxiously for his return, no loved ones to say goodbye to. He was an orphan, alone in the world.

As he watched the others, a pang of loneliness washed over him, a reminder of the void in his life. But he quickly pushed the feeling aside, focusing on the mission ahead. He may not have anyone waiting for him back home, but he had a team now, and they were counting on him.

The van rumbled down the darkened road, its headlights cutting through the night like a pair of searching eyes. Inside, the agents sat in tense silence, the only sound the hum of the engine and the occasional crackle of their radios.

As they drove, the tension in the air was palpable, each member lost in their own thoughts. Montana sat in the driver's seat, his hands tight on the wheel as he navigated the winding road, while the rest of the team sat in the back, their eyes scanning the darkness outside.

Suddenly, there was a deafening explosion, and the van lurched violently to the side. Metal groaned and twisted as flames engulfed the vehicle, sending shards of glass flying through the air.

"Get down!" Zain shouted, his voice barely audible over the roar of the flames. The team ducked instinctively, bracing themselves for the impact.

The force of the explosion sent the van careening off the road and into a ditch, the screech of metal against asphalt echoing through the night. Smoke billowed from the wreckage as the flames licked hungrily at the twisted metal.

As the smoke cleared, the agents stumbled out of the van, their ears ringing and their bodies bruised and battered. Montana quickly assessed the situation, his eyes scanning the surrounding area for any sign of danger.

Before they could react, a squad of armed soldiers emerged from the darkness, their weapons trained on the agents. "Hands up! You're under arrest!" one of them barked, his voice muffled by the crackle of the flames.

K.M Strunk