As the agency began to settle down, Zoey was just arranging most of her techical gear ranging from her hacker stuff, to her experimental new gadgets, to some modifications to her suit.
While she was cleaning up, her owl Violet was walking around her table top before flying back to her nest near Zoey's bed.
When Violet went to sleep, Zoey got notified by Maury, "Agent Codebreaker, you and I are summoned for a mission. It's a hostage situation in Sapporo, our target is located in one of the more unruly buildings. Meet me in the hangar where Agent 022 - Phoenix will take us to Hokkaido." Zoey nodded and made her way to the hangar.
Zoey hurried down the corridor, her boots echoing softly against the sleek floor as she made her way to the hangar. Her mind was already racing through potential scenarios and strategies for the mission. Sapporo wasn’t exactly a walk in the park, and with a hostage situation, there was no room for mistakes.
As she approached the hangar, the large doors slid open, revealing the bustling activity within. Aircraft were being prepped for various missions, agents were gearing up, and the hum of machinery filled the air. Zoey spotted Maury standing near one of the smaller jets, his arms crossed as he discussed something with Arkin, aka Agent Phoenix.
Arkin noticed Zoey first, giving her a nod of acknowledgment. “Zoey,” he called out, his voice carrying over the noise. “We’ve got everything ready to go. You good to roll?”
“Always,” Zoey replied with a confident smile, adjusting the strap of her gear bag over her shoulder. “What’s the latest intel on the situation?”
Maury handed her a tablet, the screen displaying a map of the area in Sapporo where the hostage situation was unfolding. “It’s a small-time criminal group, but they’ve managed to hole up in a pretty fortified location. We’ll be going in covertly. Phoenix will drop us off a few clicks out, and we’ll proceed on foot from there.”
Zoey quickly scanned the information, her fingers swiping across the screen as she absorbed the details. “Any word on the hostages? Numbers? Condition?”
“Three hostages, all civilians,” Maury replied, his tone serious. “We don’t know their condition yet, but time is of the essence. The group is heavily armed, and they’re demanding a ransom that we can’t afford to give them. Negotiations are stalling, so it’s up to us to get in and get them out.”
Zoey nodded, already thinking through the various gadgets she’d packed and how they could be deployed. “I’ve got some new gear that should help us with surveillance and infiltration. We’ll need to be fast and quiet if we’re going to pull this off without any casualties.”
Arkin smirked, his usual calm demeanor showing a hint of excitement. “That’s why they called us, isn’t it? We’re the best at what we do.”
Maury chuckled, though his eyes remained focused on the task at hand. “Let’s make sure we keep that reputation intact. Zoey, I’m counting on your tech to get us eyes inside before we make our move.”
Zoey gave a determined nod, her mind already working through potential entry points and electronic vulnerabilities they could exploit. “I’ll have us inside before they even know we’re there.”
With that, the trio boarded the jet, and Zoey settled into her seat, her thoughts drifting to the mission ahead. As the engines roared to life, Arkin turned to her with a reassuring smile. “We’ve got this, Zoey. Just like old times.”
Zoey smiled back, her hand unconsciously brushing the small pendant she always wore—a reminder of why she did what she did. “Yeah, just like old times. Let’s bring those people home.”
