Hush Hush & Deception: Stolen

Chapter 2

When Finn Bemerick walked into the meeting room; he could tell something was wrong. He scanned the room of solemn faces. The members of the S.O.P.H. Squad --Alexis Kingston, Joey Lantern, Phil Sloanpiper, Veronica Hills, and Scarlet Croatia --sat at the table, eyes downcast. Magnus Schmitz and Veronica Hills sat silently, comforting each other. Teresa Hailstorm-Durnat, who was also known as HD, was standing at the head of the table with her back to everyone else. HD turned, and looked down when she saw Finn.

"Harold. . ." she choked on her words, "Harold's been killed in action."

Finn's eyes widened by a fraction and his fist clenched. The black hole of grief was starting to open in his chest. "How?"

"EMMA intercepted him during a mission. We managed to capture one of them and kill the other, but Gracious. . . She-she shot your brother." At this, Alexis began to cry again and Phil put his head in his hands. Joey sat down, still in shock.

"How the hell did this happen?" Finn asked quietly, with cool anger in his voice. Nobody responded. "How?!" He yelled louder. His angry pain was met with silence. The room grew cold as the reality Harold's death settled in with them.

"It was a setup," Phil said quietly, running his hands through his hair, "It was all a set up. They played us like a damn viola!"

"That's enough, Phil," HD said finally. The room turned its attention to her. "We have to move forward. We can't let them get the upper hand."

Finn's face turned crimson with anger and hurt. "That's all you can think about?" He shouted, stepping forward. "My brother is dead, and you want to 'move forward'?!" HD said nothing, and the room went silent. Finn turned and left in disgust; the S.O.P.H. Squad got up and followed him out.

Finn sat alone in the locker area, holding a picture of Harold in his hands. They'll pay, he thought, I'll make sure of it. Finn turned to see Magnus enter the room and the tossed him a pack.

"Suit up and meet Phil in his office. We've got an assignment." Finn said nothing. Magnus turned to leave but said, "We'll get them. I promise." Tears glistened in their eyes.

Finn got into his gear, a black turtleneck and pants with plenty of practical gadgets: a knife, a flashlight, and a gun holster.

He found Phil where Magnus said he would be. Phil was dressed in his usual lab coat. He was working on what appeared to be some kind of headset. "Phil," Finn said. Phil turned and saw Finn.

"Hey," he said. "You doing okay?"

"Yeah. Got anything new?"

Phil lit up, "I do, in fact." He shoved the headset in to a drawer and pulled out a bundle of cloth. He unwrapped it, revealing an array of devices.

"Right here's a sonic emitter. It should incapacitate anyone nearby," Phil said proudly.

"But not me, right?" Finn questioned, examining the device.

Phil raised his hand, frowned, thought for a moment, then took the device back and put in a drawer. "Let's put that away for now. Here's a USB, designed to send a virus into any security system. Just plug it into the security computer and you'll be golden." Finn pocketed the device. "This gum is a universal antidote for most poisons. Also, it tastes like watermelon. Finally, Your handy-dandy Secret Agent Watch--patent pending. This has an array of devices, including a high-powered magnet, a recording device, and knockout gas. Here's the instructional booklet," Phil handed him the watch and a remarkably large booklet. "When did you have time to type this?" Finn asked him, weighing the heavy manual in his hands. Phil didn't seem to hear him. 

Finn placed all of his new gadgets on a steel table near him. Phil moved to a screen with a projector. "Our mission is to extract a known accomplice of Braunze." Phil saw Finn frown, so he elaborated on the subject, "Braunze is a crime gang who we believe is affiliated with Mr. L. Does anyone read the weekly intelligence reports?" Phil looked around the room in annoyance. He sighed exasperatedly when no one responded.