Skirted Spies: Season 1

Episode 15-2: Scrubs

McAllen, Texas: Ispio Training Resort

(Day 2/ 05:00 hours)

I let out a yawn as I glanced at the wall-mounted clock in the  bathroom. I had gotten used to sleeping in until eight or nine in the  morning, so waking up this early felt like dragging a corpse around. I didn't even feel like doing my makeup or hair, not that it would matter  around here. Meh, maybe just the hair today.  Although the mirror made a good argument that skipping makeup would be a bad idea.

"Whoa," I say to myself, "I look like trash. This camp is making me look stressed."

A knock on the door woke me up a bit more. "C'mon, Troy, our teacher is still standin' around waitin' for us! The other cadets already left!"

Thanks Tommy, that makes me feel better. "Okay, I'll be right out." I'm still wearing my cute pajamas, they're not going to like this at  all. I don't even like where I'm at; these type of tests make me sick to my stomach! No mission I've ever taken has made me feel so much dread as this camp has.

"Okay, we'll be waitin' for ya outside," he tells me. I look back in the mirror and practice smiling for a moment.  It's actually pretty difficult right now.

*** *** ***

My feet fell heavy with each step, walking feels like a chore right now.  I yawn and stretch all the way to the door that led outside. I stare blankly at the wooden door that kept me away from those dreaded  tests, and I contemplated whether I should just turn this course down and leave already. Of course I know that wasn't an option, but a fox can dream. I gave a small sigh and opened it with half-hearted confidence and joined my little group that oh-so patiently waited for my arrival.

"You all set finally?" Aiden asks.

I nod sheepishly. "Yes, although I didn't get to freshen up."

"That's fine, you're not on that kind of mission."

"So where's the next location?"

Aiden looks behind him at the open horizon. "About two miles that way. Ready?"

"Two miles!? Why do they have to be so far apart?"  His only response was to shrug his shoulders. "Alright fine, let's walk through the desert once more."

We set off, treading on the dead grass and rough dirt. Time passes strangely when we walk; it feels like an eternity, but you can't help but feel hypnotized by the barren horizon, almost like it could halt time itself for you.

"Hey, Troy," Tommy says, snapping me out of my trance. "Your unit was the one that worked on the Willow Society, right? How did you guys manage to pull that one off with no mistakes?"

Aw, I have a fan!

"Well it's simple. Bad guys will sometimes know your face, so all you gotta do is change your gender, and you'll be surprised at how quickly they dismiss you. It's almost like being invisible when you get good at it."

He scratches his head. "You change your gender? Does it hurt?"

"No silly, I just use a disguise."

I notice his eyes studying me, going up and down my body. "Yeah, I can see how you could do that. That's mighty impressive, Troy. I wonder what they'll have me doin' when I'm finally initialized. Think I could make the Special Units like you?"

I thought about seeing Tommy in a skirt, but it didn't exactly look effective in my mind. "Tommy, you can do anything you set your mind to. Just promise me that when you're at the top of the agency you'll let me keep my job."