Tais-Toi

Chapter Forty-Six

You made a third choice... I realise after Agent Mestoeva finished her story.

"Screwing Layla is always the right choice, don't you think?"

Well, that depends. What do I get? I still need the information about my mum and who could be my biological father.

"I don't have a black box and there's no way I can get one. But the CIA has a black box, still with a lot of information on it. If you get that file that's on the black box, maybe you can... carefully search for your mother's file."

So while I'm stealing the file for you, you suggest I should steal one for myself? How about this, agent Mestoeva, forget about revenge.

"That's not an option anymore! Visioned picked up chatter that Gaspar put a hit on me. And Gaspar knows I'm CIA. It's only a matter of time until he lets that slip. Willow, please, I have to get Gaspar before he gets me."

The CIA does have a black box thanks to agent Andrews, the rogue guardian on the team. But Ryan has it hidden somewhere for sure. I can't just steal it. Ryan is watching me every step.

"It doesn't look like I can do it, does it? And by the way, without that black box, there's no way you'll figure out who your biological father is."

Why's that? Maybe I'll take the black box and I'll steal the file. But how do you know I won't screw you over?

"The black box is written in code. It'll take you ages before you've decoded the files, even with Peters and Andrews in your little team. And I happen to have the key." She's really thinking like a Visioned agent, isn't she? Trading information. Refusing to do something unless there's a positive side to it for yourself. And those things make this decision only more dangerous. I can't decide this on my own, so I try to get agent Talin's attention.

What do you think? I ask him. He has been watching the church with binoculars at the edge of the roof.

"So now you're asking for my opinion?" I try not to get angry at him.

I believe we're a team now. Whether you want it or not. You need me to clear your page with Ryan and I need all the help I can get. He sighs because he bloody well knows I'm right.

"I believe where she's coming from. Screwing over Layla does have its appeal."

Agent Mestoeva, I'll look into it and discuss it with the rest of the team. But I'm not making any promises. She sighs, then she nods and smiles wryly, clearly annoyed by me. On the tablet, I can see how she gets up and disables the camera, causing me to stare at a black screen.

We have to get a black box. I state. I know we need that one file. Otherwise, agent Mestoeva will never cooperate and help me.

"Are you crazy?! What are you thinking?! That you can just go and take the one of the CIA?!"

I know it's stupid, but we have to.

"Damn right it's stupid! One day and you're already thinking of doing illegal stuff? I knew this was a bad idea! Why don't you just go steal another one?" He jokes and I look at him like he gave me the perfect idea. "That was a joke. We can't get another black box!"

Why not? There are five left.

"Yes, five, spread over the whole world! The closest one is in Tokyo. And don't forget that they are guarded. Haven't you noticed how much stronger Andrews is? That's because he once was a guardian!"

So? I have a very good team. I have a guardian, a tech, a psychologist and an... agent.

"Wow, thanks!" He's offended, but it was true. He's just an agent. Barely graduated. "You know, you always want to know everything better. Accept it, Willow, we are agents. We are trained. And you are not!"

Okay, you're right. This team sucks. I don't trust it and everyone only thinks about themselves and their own advantages of doing this stupid mission. None of you can do something for someone else. We will never accomplish anything here if we don't start working together. So, we can't get a black box. Let's go to our own HQ and figure out what we can do.