INFESTATION: Agent of S.P.E.A.R. #1

I. HOWLS IN THE NIGHT

"Not really," I said, trying my best to act nonchalant. "There's scarier things out there than that." 

"Really?" the local boy turned to face me as the rotors droned on from the distance. "You're not afraid?"

"You think I'm lying?" I smiled at Aleis as I waved the yellow smoke flare on my hands. As the aircraft drew closer to us it got louder and the wind grew stronger as well. Aleis had to cover his ears with both hands.

He smiled back, excited to hear another story. But I didn't obliged. It wasn't the right time to tell another story. 

But as kids do, he was relentless.

"Don't tell me you've ridden one of those before!" He paused for a while unsure of the right word to say. "Have you?"

"A couple of times already." I shouted as the droning sound got even louder and louder.

I ruffled his unruly black hair as disbelief slowly curtained his face.

"Now, you're just bragging!"

I didn't answer back, more focus on giving the right signal for the pilot of the Chinook. I glanced back at Aleis fir a moment. But his attention was transfixed on the aircraft above us.

"Really!" I said as I nudged him in the shoulder. "I've traveled around the world on fancier things than that. Now do me a favor... Go and run down the village and tell the elders." 

Aleis took a step and hesitated. "Tell them what?"

"Tell them... that S.P.E.A.R. is here." 

Aleis nodded before bolting away, still covering his ears with both hands from the noise.

One of the village boys about his age met him half way, excited to talk to him. I'm sure he was going to brag to the other kids how he stood next to the stranger when her friends arrived. And make up tall tales about me. They probably think I was a witch or that my hair was actually on fire. 

Some of these superstitious lot haven't even had chance to see any foreigners before, let alone a red head. 

The deafening sound of the rotor blades died down as the Chinook that eclipsed the sun grounded itself in the landing-site cleared by the villagers yesterday.

I stood a couple of yards away from the landing zone, hair in disarray as the wind from the aircraft blew on all directions. When it finally touched down I threw the flare away on the leaning grass beside me.

Two men came out from the transport. The first one was a bald Haitian. He was tall and broad-shouldered wearing a brown leather jacket and worn jeans.

As he smiled, his left bone earring glinted red reflecting the aircraft's dying lights. His field name was Agent Theo St. Clair, a Dunstan class agent with a DT5 level sensory ability. According to the briefing reports he'd been to a couple of missions already but most were redacted. I guess I need a better security level to know the man.

I swallowed a clump on my throat as I entertained the idea. Could I ask him tips about being a Dunstan class? I had formal training and made full use of the agency's facility but to actually ask an agent... Was a different thing entirely. Maybe I should... but first things first.

I smiled back at him.

The pilot exited the aircraft with duffle bags in hand. He dropped it beside Agent St. Clair, gaunt face shining with sweat. He nodded towards me and scratched his thin stubble as they both came closer.

The pilot smelled like gasoline and sweat. And his kevlar personal armor and khaki cargo pants were both too big for his small, thin frame. 

"Ya must be the rookie. The names Doyle, first name's Agent." He and St. Clair chuckled at the joke.