Project HellFire

Chapter Four: Calm Your Farm

Chapter four

Calm your farm

“It’s been quite a month hasn’t it Max?” asked Raven as we entered her sleeping courters.

“You’re telling me. Attempted assassinations, you in a coma and to top it all off we have a breach resulting in three KIA, two MIA and Bobby in tears. Yes, quite the freaking month,” I replied, venom dripping off the final words.

I instantly regretted it. Smack! My head was knocked to the side, my cheek burning I looked back at Raven. “Better?” questioned Raven.

“Much, Thank you, and, sorry. It’s just…. Seeing Bobby like that…. He knew all of them by name y’know. All Three. Bobby isn’t the bravest of souls but he sure is one of the toughest. I’ve only ever seen him cry like that once. When they found his Dad,” I confessed, remembering the tragedy of Mr Costello’s death.

“What actually happened to him? I was off campus at the time and nobody was able to tell me because it was apparently too horrifying,” she asked.

“At the time, nobody was able to talk about it, but that was a few years ago and a lot of people would have pushed it out of their memory. But the real tragedy of it all was that he wasn’t actually found, more like captured,” I told her.

“Wait, what? Captured? Why would he need to be captured?” she questioned.

“Would you like me to explain or not? It’s already hard enough telling you this; please don’t make it any worse. He was like a farther to me, and actually was a farther to Bobby,” I continued

She sat down on her bed and I sat next to her. As I sat down she reached over and squeezed my hand tight in hers. It was a sign of reassurance, and god did I need it.

“Mr Costello was sent undercover to work I a factory that we suspected was manufacturing some kind of Bio-Weapon, he had been inside for fourteen months, it had been two since he last reported back to us. A couple of agents were sent in for extraction under suspicion his cover might be blown. When they arrived they found him and asked why he hadn’t reported back for so long. Those agents were then captured in an ambush and used as an attempted at bargaining chips. He had tuned, Raven. One of our best agents was tuned to the ideals of an enemy to humanity. No one knows if he just cracked from all of the things he’d seen in his life or if he truly believed in their standards,”

“Ten more agents, including myself were sent in on a recovery and capture mission for the other agents and Mr Costello. We found him polishing the Bio-Weapon’s missile casing. Polishing it, Raven.  He was caught off-guard and we took him in for questioning whilst another squad went in to destroy the Bio-Weapon and any trace of either of our agencies,” I explained to her. She just sat there, listening intently, her face blank of emotions.

I continued, “He was so far gone. During the interrogation all he did was ramble on about cleansing the world. Our food was rejected by him; he said ‘I refuse to eat the same food as the bacteria that are The Society’. Not even Bobby himself could talk any sense into the man. To Mr Costello he was a disappointment. Eventually he starved to death. And no one could believe what had happened,” I finished.

Raven just sat there, her hand in mine. Just before she spoke she gave me a squeeze “Thankyou Max, I needed to know. I understand how hard that must have been for you,”

We quickly hugged and set out again. Every field agent that was part of the breach had to file a ten page report by the end of the week. Sometimes I feel that there’s more paper work than anything when it comes to being an agent.

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“Sir, the operation was a success, all units are now securely under quarantine behind enemy lines and are awaiting your orders,” Explained the slightly more than excited officer.

“Very good, inform them that they are to remain docile until they are confronted by our target. I want him to feel like he is in control for a while. They are to inform him with more details of ‘Project Hell Fire’. Once this is accomplished they are to await further orders,” Explained the shadowed figure staring at multiple screens of information, god only knows what the information is for.

“Yes Sir, right away Sir,” the officer cried before leaving.

“Your move Mister Diamond, “the figure said to himself before walking out of the room also and locking the door behind him.

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“Done!” I exclaimed as I slammed my pencil onto my desk.

“Done!” I heard Raven yell followed by her pencil on a desk of her own.

We both got up and walked over to the agent responsible for filing the reports and handed ours in. it was eight o’clock on a Friday night and none of the agents had any intentions of staying at HQ. Raven and I included. Tonight, I was taking here to a local restaurant I loved going to as a child.

“How do you even pronounce that? Raven asked when we reached the entrance.

“Its pronounced ‘Sa-Tay-Muss’, it’s like Sizzler, an all you can eat, but smaller and a bit more Asian stuff like curry chicken,” I explained

“Ugh, I hate all kinds of curry, I thought it was made pretty clear last time we were out,” she complained. But I was prepared.

“Tell me Raven what is your favourite type of food?” I questioned her.

“Duh, anything with Chip in the name!” she cried.

“Well then, I hereby present to you the mother of all chips!” I exclaimed as I gestured towards the small Asian restaurant.

“You’re the best Max!” she squealed before pecking me on the cheek.

The rest of the night was filled with Raven tasting almost every type of chip she could find. Classical, Deep fried Wedged and even more. Whilst I had what I had every other time I went to Sataymas. Classical chips, two chicken drumsticks, pumpkin soup with bread and prawn crackers on the side.

We tried to be as normal as two secret agents could whilst having a conversation. We talked about stuff at our schools, how our grades were going and how much we hated Maths and Science.

“This was really nice, Max. Why don’t you take me out to dinner more often?” she asked whilst holding my arm as we walked out.

“I’m actually not too sure.  I’ve never really had the time to even ask you, let alone actually take you out for dinner,” I confessed.

“Well, I’m glad you did, it was really fun,” she told me as she snuggled in closer. “Now take me home out of this cold, my nose is about to freaking freeze over!’ she yelled.

“I’m actually kind of sad now,” I told her.

“Why’s that?” she asked.

“Because now if you accidently say something dirty I can’t say ‘at least let me buy you dinner first’, I mean, I just did, so it’s kind of pointless,” I explained to her. This was then followed by Ravens laughter.

“If that’s why you’re depressed then you’ll just have to buy me dinner every time you say it,” was her genius answer.

“With the things that come out of your mouth? I’ll be broke by the end of the night!” I exclaimed.

This was then answered by a punch in the arm. We both laughed hysterically as I rubbed my arm and hugged Raven tight.

“I never want this to change,” Raven sighed

“On that, we agree,” I told her.

I then turned her to face me and we kissed deeply, I’m not sure how long we kissed, all I really remember is the smell of her hair and the taste of her lip balm.

Hmm, Chery flavour, I thought to myself.