Lexicon I

The 1st Mission Briefing

The morning light filtered through the curtains of their apartment, casting a soft glow on the worn furniture. Kinan sat on the couch, her leg bouncing with pent-up energy. She couldn't shake the uneasy feeling in her gut. The decision had been made, but the weight of it pressed against her chest.

Olav sat across from her, calm as ever, his sniper's eyes focused on the task at hand. The television flickered on, and the message Mr. N had promised them the day before appeared in the inbox of Kinan's phone.

*Kinan, Olav, here are the details of your first mission. Review the video briefing carefully. No interaction, just intel. Mr. N.*

Kinan clicked on the attached link, casting the video to their TV screen. The image flickered for a moment before a man's face appeared—stern, clean-cut, and authoritative. His expression was unreadable, his tone crisp and emotionless.

"Your mission is to eliminate Yased Al Ghaffar," the man began, his voice cutting through the silence of the room. "He is the general chairman of the Aredin Warlords, a notorious militia responsible for numerous insurgent attacks across the Middle East and parts of North Africa. Intelligence reports suggest that he is in the final stages of negotiating a large-scale arms deal that would destabilize the region for years to come. Your objective is simple—neutralize him."

As the briefing continued, images of Yased Al Ghaffar flashed on the screen: a man in his mid-fifties, with a thick beard and cold, calculating eyes. Photos of insurgent groups followed, alongside maps of a remote compound deep in the heart of Borneo's dense rainforests. It was a highly fortified area, protected by well-trained guards and advanced surveillance technology.

"This operation is covert," the man continued. "You will be working as part of a three-person team. Kinan and Olav, you will form the core assault team. Your third operative—codename Red Queen—will provide additional tactical support. The success of this mission depends on precise coordination. Failure is not an option."

Kinan's stomach tightened as Sasha's codename was mentioned. Red Queen. It still felt strange to hear that name associated with the girl she had seen at school just days ago. The disconnect between the two versions of Sasha—the high school student and the operative—was jarring.

Olav shifted beside her, leaning forward as the video showed blueprints of the compound, pointing out weak spots in security and areas where they could infiltrate undetected. Kinan watched the layout closely, her mind already piecing together the approach. Years of experience guided her, calculating every move, every variable.

"The compound is heavily guarded," the briefing continued. "Expect resistance. The extraction point will be determined based on your team's ability to secure the target zone. You have forty-eight hours to prepare."

The video ended abruptly, leaving the screen blank and the room filled with tense silence.

Kinan exhaled slowly, her mind still processing the briefing. Yased Al Ghaffar wasn't just any target. He was a high-profile figure with a web of influence and power stretching across multiple regions. Taking him down would send shockwaves through the underworld, disrupting entire networks of arms dealing and insurgency.

"What do you think?" Olav asked, his voice calm but measured.

Kinan stood up, pacing across the room, her mind racing with the possibilities. "It's a high-stakes job, no question. The compound's defenses are tight. If we don't coordinate perfectly, this could go south fast."

Olav nodded, his eyes following her movements. "Sasha's involvement complicates things."

Kinan stopped, turning to face him. "You mean Red Queen."