mutated

chapter forty two: why are you giving me a sniper? no!

"Going radio silence. Linked up?" Sophia's voice echoed in my ear, and I nodded, squinting into the distance. From my spot up on top of one of the cranes at the Kwai Tsing Container Terminal, I could see every little person down there, through my visor of course. It was dark, and only a few street lights illuminated the bridge that crossed the Rambler Channel. The night vision goggles didn't do much to help with my view - instead, I guess I was going to have to rely on my telepathy to see what was going on. 

I closed my eyes, sinking into the psychic plain, not the deepest levels but just skimming the surface, where I could still see the physical world around me. Each consciousness glowed silver in front of me, identifying the members of my team in front of me, and the hostiles that they were going to have to face. 

Describing it like that made it seem like it was going to be a simple mission. It was supposed to be, that much was evident, but somehow, something always ends up being screwed up. This was our first mission, and two groups were running sidelong each other. One group was going to Yuen Long to raid a Dragon drug facility, while the other was sent to Kwai Chung to destroy or steal a shipment of weapons from the Ghosts.

Our team of heavy hitters would be attacking Yuen Long, but me, with my skills more stealthy and manipulation based, was sent to Kwai Chung. The orders were simple. I was on sniper duty, high above everyone like I wanted to be. Everyone else? Get the weapons out, knock everyone unconscious, or if they prove a problem - kill them. Blow it up if you had to, but better the mission is discrete.

How wrong we were all going to be.

---

(6 hours earlier)

My victory and ascension to the rank of Sapphire and therefore the commander of the rest of the class was short-lived when Lily announced that every 6 months, there would be a fight if anyone wanted to challenge me to the rank. Similarly, if you were lower ranked than another, you were allowed to challenge someone above you. If you won, you would swap ranks, but if you lost, tough luck, nothing happens.

Alpha was looking way too smug in my direction for my liking when this was announced. Thankfully, Elliot was looking like he was about to murder Alpha as well, so I could surely state that Elliot as probably going to be the next competitor for Sapphire instead of Alpha if he even bothered to challenge me. 

Then that was when Starling walked in.

Jasmine was hard to describe in words, but she radiated a sense of authority as she entered the room. Even Lily and Chase's heads were lowered, a rare sign of respect from both of them, since the two were often blatantly disregarding of rules, regulation, and responsibilities. She didn't wear gear like the rest of them - instead, she strode into the room in a halter dress and 6-inch heels, with a big-ass sword strapped around her waist, looking like she was ready to go to a party and then beat the shït out of anyone who dared question her.

Which was probably what she was going to do to us if we questioned her as well, so we all kept our mouths shut. She regarded us a simple nod before she addressed us. "Hello, Phoenix Squadron. I am glad to see that your tournaments have finally ceased and you have found a leader, subject X-20. This marks the day that playtime for you children is over. You have a mission. Two missions, to be exact, which I expect should be completed tonight. Chase and Lily will split you into two teams, and assign a leader to both, as they see fit. I do not expect any complaints from any of you.

Your missions are simple. Raid a Dragon base and clear their facility of any drugs and weapons that may be used to further their economic goals, and stop a shipment of Ghost technology that will be landing at the docks tonight. These are simple, but you must remember that authority is important. If your leader has commanded something I expect full obedience. Disobedience on the field may result on you being pulled off fieldwork and doing paperwork for Maxim, or in the worse case, death on the mission."