Lexicon I

Ready for The Mission?

The air in the warehouse was thick with the smell of gun oil and metal as Kinan and Olav stood at one of the makeshift tables, assembling their gear. Every movement they made was precise, efficient—an unspoken rhythm developed from years of working together in the field. The sound of weapons being loaded, checked, and reloaded filled the space, but beneath that, there was an underlying tension. Sasha, or rather, Red Queen, stood silently nearby, watching them with those unnerving red eyes, her face an unreadable mask.

Kinan slid the final piece of her M4 Carbine Custom into place, testing the weight in her hands. The weapon was light but powerful, outfitted with custom modifications for increased accuracy and mobility. She glanced across the table at Olav, who was meticulously cleaning his M2010 sniper rifle, his fingers moving with the kind of careful precision only a sniper could possess.

"Everything good on your end?" Kinan asked, her voice breaking the silence between them.

Olav nodded without looking up. "Perfect."

Kinan nodded back, then quickly checked her secondary—a custom Glock-19, reliable and deadly at close range. She holstered it at her side and glanced toward Sasha, who stood motionless, her own weapons already prepared.

Sasha's loadout was simple but lethal. A SIG MPX, compact and designed for fast, aggressive engagements, was slung over her shoulder. She also carried a sleek, custom combat knife strapped to her leg—a weapon that was as silent as it was deadly.

"You're quiet," Kinan remarked, her eyes narrowing slightly as she met Sasha's cold gaze. "You sure you're ready for this?"

Sasha's lips barely moved as she responded, her voice a low, detached murmur. "I don't waste energy on words when they're unnecessary."

Kinan snorted softly, a hint of amusement crossing her face. "We'll see if you still feel that way in the heat of battle."

Olav, who had finished prepping his rifle, stood up and slung the weapon over his shoulder. "We've got everything we need. Let's not waste time."

Sasha glanced toward him, her expression unreadable as always, then turned to the table where a small collection of military equipment had been laid out. "We'll be infiltrating the compound from the north," she said, speaking in the same calm, detached tone. "The terrain is dense, which gives us the advantage of stealth, but it also means we need to be quick and efficient. Once we're in, we split into two teams. I'll lead the assault. Olav, you'll provide sniper support from a vantage point outside the compound. Kinan, you'll run backup with me."

Kinan's eyes flicked toward Olav, who gave her a small nod. They had always worked well together, with Olav providing cover while Kinan handled the close-range engagements. But this time, they had a third player in the mix—one they weren't sure they could fully trust.

As the final preparations were made, Olav checked the time on his watch. "The agents are waiting. We need to move."

Kinan and Sasha both nodded, their faces set with grim determination. The mission was clear, the plan was in motion, and there was no turning back now.

---

The drive to the meet-up point was quiet, with the city lights fading into the distance behind them. Kinan sat in the passenger seat, her mind focused on the mission ahead, her eyes scanning the horizon. Olav drove with the same calm efficiency he brought to everything, his hands steady on the wheel.

Sasha sat in the back, her presence as cold and silent as ever. Kinan glanced at her through the rearview mirror, studying her for a moment. There was something off about her, something that went beyond just her detached demeanor. It was like Sasha was holding something back, some part of herself that Kinan couldn't quite see.