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CHAPTER XXII. Hugo Bellini
Elina returned to the SHIELD headquarters, her mind already shifting into mission mode. She moved quickly, getting herself ready and making her way to the hangar. The vast space was filled with the usual hum of activity, but her focus zeroed in on the small group already waiting beside the sleek form of the quinjet.
Blake stood at the quinjet, her expression unreadable. Beside her was her partner, Malia Delarosa, as well as Xavier, whose calm demeanor brought Elina a small sense of ease in the midst of the brewing tension.
"So, are we getting the band back together?" Elina asked, raising an eyebrow as she joined them, curious as to why a team of four agents was necessary.
Blake gave a slight smirk, pulling out a tablet and handing it over to her. "You could say that," she replied with a hint of sarcasm, adding, "By the way, you're late."
Elina shrugged nonchalantly, taking the tablet. "I'm never late. Everyone else is just early."
Blake rolled her eyes, a familiar gesture that made Elina smile inwardly. "We're going to Yemen," Blake said, her tone turning serious as she nodded toward the tablet. "Everything you need to know is on there."
Elina began scrolling through the information on the tablet. Yemen-land of deserts, mountains, and recent turmoil. The file detailed a series of terrorist attacks, and at the center of the chaos was an American scientist named Hugo Bellini. He had ventured into the region with the idealistic hope of fostering peace, showcasing his inventions in an attempt to win over the hearts of the local people. But instead, he had been abducted by a militant group, now held for ransom. It was up to them to extract him from the precarious situation he had unwittingly wandered into.
With the mission clear, the four agents boarded the quinjet. Xavier took his place as the pilot, with Elina sliding into the co-pilot seat beside him. In the back, Blake and Malia began discussing the details of their plan, voices low but focused, occasionally glancing up at the two in the cockpit.
As the jet's engines roared to life, Elina turned to Xavier, a smirk tugging at her lips. "I left Susanna's before you. How'd you beat me here?"
Xavier chuckled, his hands steady on the controls. "I drive a lot faster than you. Plus, you take forever braiding your hair."
Elina reached up, playfully fingering one of her braids. "Fair point."
The flight to Yemen was long, but the advanced technology of the quinjet shortened the journey. Elina leaned back against her seat, letting her body relax, even as her mind stayed alert. She propped her feet up on the dashboard, earning a side-eye from Xavier, but she merely closed her eyes, waiting for their destination to come into view.
