Operation Reconnaissance

01110* Risk and Return

Unsure but determined, a young boy bounced towards a guard, testing out his newly acquired supporter. The boy rammed hard into the guard, knocking him over. Toppling over, the guard issued a loud curse but did not take notice that an older wanton spy had slipped his hand into his pockets. The spy left soundlessly, turning around the corner and tossing the keys to a passing ardent fencer, who stowed it away in her coat. As the passing girl left, turning around the same corner, the spy took off his jacket and hat. He spun back around in the spot, holding both of the items.

Lancelot ran out from behind the corner, frantically picking up the young boy. He apologized to the guard, curtly bowed to him, and ran away. Laughter was exchanged after the two boys were out of sight.

"You're done here, kid," said the wanton boy. He put Roland down and let him climb into the car. "As much as I know you want to keep going, I can't let you. We'd be risking a lot."

The wanton spy smiled at the young boy, patting his head before leaping out of the car. They grew to have a relationship not unlike those of siblings. It was certainly new to the spy, for he had no brothers or sisters growing up. Though Lancelot did not know how one was supposed to treat their siblings, he did know enough to acknowledge that siblings weren't used for missions.

Sentiment, the spy deemed, was death in rebellion. His wanton self melted away, leaving behind a serious and attentive double crosser running in the streets.

---

"Catch," came a voice above a certain charming girl.

Alexa was perched right outside the back door of the storage rooms, waiting apathetically for her friends to return. She perked up at the sound of a certain girl's voice, barely reacting fast enough to catch the keys that flew towards her face.

Rosalind approached her, sitting down beside her friend. The usually enthusiastic and ardent girl was now quiet and reserved, something that Alexa only saw when they were alone. "Sorry," she said quietly.

"What for?" The charming girl replied, though she knew already.

"For these past few days," the ardent girl grumbled back, "Did you really have to make me say it out loud myself?"

Alexa nodded, a soft smile appearing on her lips. The two spies simultaneously snapped their heads towards the slight ptew of a silenced musket. Turning around the corner was a meticulous girl and an intelligent boy. The meticulous girl looked behind the corner again, checking for more pursuers.

"Got it," said Tristan, holding up another set of keys, "Now we're only missing one more - right there."

With his statement came a wanton spy, skidding to a stop right at the alleyway that contained the storage room's back entrance. He fired backward, glancing over his shoulder and ducking. A cry of agony ran out in the silence, which returned mere seconds after the bullet was fired. Then, without hesitation, the wanton boy strode into the alley.

"Lance," Alexa simply stated. The spy handed her the key he stole, watching it as it clicked through easily.

All of them quietly slipped in, with Tristan immediately silencing a guard at the entrance. He snapped the guard's neck in seconds without hesitation. When the intelligent boy threw the dead man out into the dark, however, a guilty glimmer of sentiment flashed in his eyes.

---

"Good work, spies. You are now excused." spoke the General, "L, J, and R, please stay behind. A, T, leave us, now."

Yet again, two of the five were alienated. Jocelyn glanced at the two before they left, pushing her worry into the pit of her stomach. Lancelot stood absolutely still, while Rosalind shuffled uncomfortably.

The General took a deep breath and put down the information they obtained on the table. He scribbled something quick and careless on the paper before straightening it up and arranging it into a neat pile. The words were clearly visible.

He turned to the three and spoke, "Now, you three, I have a new order and an order for you only, specially requested from the new conductor of Central himself.

"We need you to eliminate the other two spies. According to their tails, Central has reported to us spies in England that those two are no longer trustworthy. At times like this, we cannot take any risks, for we need as much return as we can get, especially when we're so close to sabotaging the French government. You will require their assistance in assassinating the queen, but once that is accomplished, you will make sure they no longer pose a threat. Understood?"

Silence.

None accepted, none refused. The three stared at the General, mouth zipped shut.

Finally, Lancelot spoke. "I understand, General."

Rosalind and Jocelyn both snapped towards him, eyes flaming with shock.

"You-" Jocelyn started, but saw the certainty in her partner's eyes. She shut up immediately after she started up, knowing very well what was about to happen. Her eyes flitted to the table and the paper, a sudden sense of dread overwhelming her.

"I understand as well, General," said the meticulous girl, after two seconds of consideration. The ardent girl besides the two seemed to nearly lose her composure when she forced herself to restate the statement.