Betraying Butterflies

Chapter One

July 22, 2126

1404

Communication from an enemy organization was found in an agent's suitcase. Agent is now under arrest. Mission is compromised. Further instructions needed.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

"Back so soon, Mari?"

I look up from the paper I'm reading, shrugging at one of my closest friends. "The mission was easy enough. I barely had any trouble."

He scowls. "You wouldn't have had any kind of trouble if I was there."

"Really?" I raise an eyebrow before letting out a light laugh. Brent hates being confined to a desk job; he'd rather be outside dodging bullets than writing a report. "It's not my fault you're injured."

Last time he had a mission, he managed to break a bone. That was one of the very few times he came out of a mission with something more than cuts and scratches.

He plops down next to me. "You know I need to be out in the field."

"And you know I don't make the decisions."

He ignores me and continues on complaining. "I'm already back to my perfect shape. The doctor removed my cast yesterday."

"Quit complaining to me," I say. "Why don't you tell the director?"

He looks at me like what I just suggested won't change anything. "I already did."

"What did he say?" Great. Instead of working, I'm chatting with him. I never seem to get anything done whenever I talk with someone.

"I still have a week of writing stupid reports."

I sigh. "Then stop bothering me. I also have tons of reports to make. It's just a week without field work. Trust me, you'll survive."

The sound of heels against the floor stops him from replying. I look up to see Sienna, another one of my best friends. Her light brown hair is tossed into a messy bun, and a white lab coat is draped over her black dress. Typical Sienna look.

"Hi, Marina. What's up?"

I blew at my side bangs. "Just some reports that I can't finish because of a complaining idiot."

"Hey, I'm complaining, but I'm not an idiot," Brent says. "Desk jobs are not for me."

She shakes her head, looking amused at Brent's behaviour. Unlike him, Sienna is okay with desk jobs, mainly because she doesn't do field work. I don't think she's done a mission before. She's mainly a researcher and a scientist, but she has other skills.

"What's up, Sienna?"

The amused look on her face morphs into a more serious one. "I just wanted to update you on some stuff."

"Like what?" It seems serious, judging from my best friend's expression.

"Just this week, agents have been disappearing." My eyebrows furrow when I hear this. Even Brent starts to listen and becomes more serious. "There has been an increased report of kidnappings, and the violence in the East is starting to erupt. A war broke out down South, and I just received a report of a bomb detonating in a train station."

Brent sits up straighter and asks, "Got any theories as to why the sudden violence?"

"We're not sure but..." Sienna trails off and looks behind her.

I prompt, "But?"

"Remember what happened when the new world system took over?"

"Of course. Violent organisations ceased to exist. Only small ones were alive, but we've been trying to track them down and have been very successful so far. Besides, they're only minor threats to society." Brent sounds like he's quoting something. Maybe he did memorise that.