The girl with a thousand identities

Chapter 1

Not everything is about work, but often it feels like my whole life is planned out by the people I work for. It's definitely not easy getting sent from one mission right into another one. Especially if it's an undercover mission each time, and that for a long time, often for a couple of months. Usually the agencies I work for get me out to verify my identity as one of them, when I'm put into prison, but my last cover identity sent me deep, really deep into prison, a high security prison. I had my own cell, pretty spacious I had to admit, but it got lonely after a couple weeks. My cover identity was created by myself and I blackened my real one completely, I even locked my picture away so that they couldn't identify me, even if they hacked. I made myself a fake identity that could get me into such a high security prison so that I could finish my mission, which was a success, but I was caught too and during my last deal at that. My identity as Adoración Ramirez, the world wide known hacker, hitwoman, and arms dealer got me into a lot of trouble, more than I ever bargained for, especially when I wanted to go home, to my cute little twins, my niece and nephew and that for more than a couple hours 'til my next mission. But as one can see I don't exactly get what I want, never. I mean at this point in time, I sat in that prison and had a usual day in my cell. It was a routine I had started a couple days after they arrested me. Every day began with training my body in the cell. After that I got breakfast and trained again. Then I was allowed to go into the court, alone with just a couple of guards, who made sure, that I couldn't get out. I got lunch and then was taken to be interrogated and when they couldn't get answers out of me, tortured. Getting back to my cell, I trained again and then got dinner. After that I would get to call home, and the day started all over again. That went on for months, but the torture began after the first month, so after three months in that prison i sported quite a few scars on various spots of my body. My interrogators didn't even get me a doctor after each torture, they didn't seem to care for my wellbeing, but I got the medicine I needed to stitch myself up, which got me out of more dangerous wounds. But as the torture got harder for me to survive, it was more difficult to stitch myself up afterwards. But that would soon change.
I started my day as I normally did. I did my usual routine until afternoon came. Two guards stormed into my cell, even though there seemed to be more force behind their actions than on normal days, and took me. Cuffing my hands behind my back to make sure I didn't try to escape, they rushed me towards the interrogation room. Normally I could keep up with their fast steps but the problem was, the torture was quite brutal yesterday and I had to stitch up thigh so I couldn't match their pace and was more like dragged by them until we stopped....right in front of a door I didn't know. Either they were going to try something different today are I really had visitors, who were let in, for the first time. I hoped it was the second one, because if I would gain just another wound near my thighs, than it would be game over for me and walking even a mere two steps.
So we stopped in front of the metal door, that was open by the way and they pushed me, in front of them, into the room. There they sat my weak body onto one of the chairs and cuffed my hands to the table to make sure I wouldn't do anything. Then they left me alone in that small room. I sat there for a while and tried to think of torture methods they hadn't used yet, which wasn't much. They would be more successful if they could dig out my real identity, because than they could threaten my loved ones and that would put pressure on me. But they didn't, they took me for Adoración Ramirez and not the real me, only because I hid everything about my real life, because if I would get caught by murderers and hitmen, then I would die, certainly a really painful death. But at this point those imaginary situations didn't concern me, because they were just not real. Even if i thought about those different scenarios, that could have happened to me, I quickly grew bored. I shuffled in my chair to escape boredom but that failed after some minutes. That was kind of okay, because in that moment I thought of another brilliant idea to escape boredom.
I looked around the room for any hidden cameras, other than those two obvious ones, that were turned on, which could be seen because of the red light, but couldn't find any. Then I started. I turned and kind of twisted my body till my hair hid my face as well as both of my hands and evaded the cameras. I was hunched over, which could be seen as me either trying to sleep or being to pained to sit straight. Either way they wouldn't question my actions, especially when they couldn't see what I was doing. So sitting like this, I took out a little paperclip, literally the only thing I had always with me. I had it in my orange jumpsuit's breast pocket to twist whenever i was bored, but today it served a different purpose. I used it to open my handcuffs, because they were really tight, to the point it hurt. I turned and twisted it inside the hole, until it clicked. It sprang open, so I used the paperclip for both hands, the right one first and then the left, till I could move them around freely. I made sure to put the paperclip away again, so nobody would know, what I did. After that I sat back up, slowly, to make those, who observed me, believe that I was hunched over because of either the pain, I really felt, or exhaustion. I leaned into the back of the chair, my hands still on the table, as it seemed like I was still cuffed to it, and waited again for people to come in.
I thought I would get bored again, rather quick, as I waited and waited, but it seemed like the observers waited for me to do something to step into the room. It looked like they wanted to test me or something and thus they waited till I got bored of just sitting there and doing nothing. Because this time I didn't have to wait long, till the door was opened and two people stepped in. I didn't even look up, to know, that there were two men stepping into the room. I heard four, rather cumbersome footsteps, that weren't that fast. One of them seemed lighter than the other, perhaps he was younger, so his steps were faster and lighter than the other one. I didn't move, even when the door was closed again or when one of the men sat down in front of me. I was still in the position of leaning into the chair with my head hanging down. I could hear something shuffling on the table, but decided to not lift my head. If I had to bet it would be information about my cover identity, so I was not that curious to look up. After the sounds stopped no one moved again for a couple minutes, but after those minutes a foot started tapping, kind of impatiently, onto the ground. It seemed to be the one still standing, so I didn't have to look up. I just waited for one of them to start talking, either one would suffice. If they were waiting for me to start, then we would have to sit for a long time, because I wasn't one, that would break even under pressure, I mean the only time I talked during those months was, when I was allowed to phone home. I had one call a day, sometimes one call a week, but that's not important right now. What was important, was the fact, that they finally started to speak....to eachother, instead of me. I knew that they wanted to get a reaction out of me, but I wouldn't give them the satisfaction of talking.
"Mac, what are we gonna do, if she doesn't start talking? I mean we can't exactly force her, can we?", said the older one, which I could only pinpoint because his was deeper and didn't come from in front of me. "I don't know, we can just inform her, of why we are here and what we are doing, perhaps she starts talking after knowing more about our visit Jack.", answered the younger one, who as well had kinda a deep, charming voice. Now I really wanted to talk, but that would put me in a situation I didn't want to be in. So instead I just used sign language to communicate with them. I just hoped that one of them understood sign language. Because of that I lifted my head, so that I could observe them and held my hands up, in front of my body so I could start to sign. I watched how their facial expressions changed after realizing, that I wasn't cuffed to the table anymore. They seemed shocked and kinda proud, I didn't know why, i mean they didn't know me, they only knew the information of my cover identity. Then they watched my hands moving, intently, after realizing that I wanted to tell them something. "Why are two federal agents visiting me? Are you here to get me out, or do you want to question me?", I signed and waited. I couldn't hide my smirk, seeing the confused look on the older man's face. He had short, seemingly grey hair and was built with only muscle. He was dressed casually, admitted both of them were. From what I could see, he had a holster with a gun, but the younger one didn't have one to begin with. What I had to admit was, that the younger one was handsome with his, not really, short blond hair and his sea blue eyes. Those let him be seen as an innocent kinda boy scout, but the leather jacket he wore, destroyed that image immediately. With that he looked more dangerous, like a federal agent during forced vacation. He was the one, who understood what I "said" and he answered. "How did you know, that we are agents, you shouldn't know about us." Now he seemed as confused as his partner.
Sighing I signed again, now to answer his question. "The way you hold yourself and because of the fact, that only federal agents are allowed to go into this high security prison." "Oh, I didn't know that, anyway we are here to make an offer.", Mac explained and looked towards his partner. Then his eyes focused on me again and he began to talk about their purpose of being here. "As you already seemed to know, we are federal agents and work for the Phoenix Foundation. My name is Angus Macgyver and my partner here is Jack Dalton. Our director wanted to make you a part of our team, so here we are. You don't really seem that dangerous but the information we got about you are quite interesting I do have to admit. A young woman, such as yourself is on the list of the most wanted criminals, that is impressive. You are known as a hacker, an assassin and an arms dealer, so you are known worldwide. I don't know exactly why Thornton wants you to be a part of the Phoenix Foundation but we are here today to take you with us, wherever we like it or not. I would take these handcuffs off of you but as I see you already freed yourself, so I think we can go now.", Mac explained in detail but i had to ask just one question to make sure I didn't hear wrongly. I signed:"Do you mean Patricia Thornton, the director of DXS?" When I saw their heads nodding up and down, I didn't even try to think of anything now. The good thing was, that they would think I hacked into DXS, because that was actually not that difficult, but the bad thing was, that I knew Thornton and her cover identity, with whom she herself acted as a terrorist. She bought  weaponry from me, so I knew who she actually was. Maybe that was why she wanted me to join her. I mean I could get her literally any weapon that existed, so she could only use me, when I was out of prison. But to not show them, that I personally knew Thornton, because I was sure, that they didn't know, who she really was, I let my hair cover my face again, eventhough I was sure, that my expression wouldn't change.
"Come on little prisoner, we don't have all day.", Jack took me out of my thoughts and I nodded and stood up. While Mac held my bicep, so that I couldn't escape, even if I tried to, Jack opened the door for us and followed after us, when we left the room. There was one question I had left, the other ones I would ask after we arrive at the Phoenix Foundation. I shook my arm, to show Mac that I wanted to tell him something. "Mac...are we going to get my things, like my clothes and my phone, my identification or are we just going to leave them here in the prison?", I signed an waited for him to answer. He seemed to think it through, but then he said:"Thornton said, that we had to take your things with us, I don't exactly know why, but we were told not to ask questions, so we didn't." I just nodded again and we went to the front desk to take back my things. After we got them, they led me out into the open, towards the only car that stood in front of the prison. I was actually quite surprised that they would let me leave, especially since they couldn't extract any information from me.
As soon as we got to their car Jack opened the door to the backseat behind the driver's seat and told me to get in. He himself got into the driver's seat, while Mac sat himself next to him on the passenger's seat. "When we get back, you can dress yourself like you usually do again. But until then we will take your things, so you won't have chance to contact one of your friends little prisoner.", Jack explained and I just nodded to let him know, that I understood.
During the whole drive, which was actually quite long and boring, I listened to Mac and Jack quarreling like an old married couple and that was so funny, that I couldn't control myself and giggled. At this moment the car did an abrupt swerve but recovered relatively quick as both of them turned towards me to look at me astonished. Then they looked at each other and started grinning from ear to ear. "So she does have a voice. She is not mute as I thought. I mean we would have been informed if you little prisoner turned mute. I think Patty would have our heads if we came back with a mute Adoración, so I'm quite happy to know that I can live for another day.", said Jack and looked relieved. It seemed that he was afraid of Thornton, but I wouldn't bet on it.
After giggling some more, because of Jack's antics, I grew quiet again. It was not, that I couldn't talk to them, they seemed nice enough and trustworthy, but knowing that they worked for Thornton, I couldn't trust them yet. I could trust no one especially when it came to my real identity, that I covered up and blackened completely so nobody would find out, who I really was. Nonetheless I thought that I could trust them enough to talk to them. "So little prisoner how was it in there, now that we know, that you can talk I have a couple of questions for you.", Jack continued and I just nodded, while Mac was obviously listening in on us. "So first question. Why didn't you talk back there?""Oh that's because in those months I've been there I haven't spoken a word with my interrogators, so they thought I was mute. Jokes on them though, because as you can see, I can talk pretty well." I laughed at that and looked back at Jack expectantly, waiting for his next question. "Another question....I mean we know your information, like the basics and what you can do. I must say, that I'm impressed by what I read so far. You are multilingual and can do pretty much everything. I can understand why Patty would want you. If it weren't just for your crimes, then I would say that you would fit perfectly into our team.""Even if you don't like me, it was Thornton's decision to get me to work for her. I don't even know why she wants me. I mean she could only want me, because I have connections, ones you'll never obtain without someone from within the circle. Someone like me." That was the only explanation I had for both of them, tilting my head like I was deep in thought. What I didn't know, was that the two of them were looking at each other before turning to me again. I mean Jack had to drive, so he had to look through  the rearview mirror to see me.
After that we kind of hit it off and were acting like a family already. They seemed to trust me very quickly, despite working for Thornton. It was very funny listening to Jack and Mac arguing like a couple already married for years. For the first time since I enlisted for the army, i felt relaxed and kinda safe. This feeling allowed me to find an easy sleep, although it took me to the past I never wanted to repeat again.
As soon as both Mac and Jack realised, that their guest was asleep, they started talking. "I must say, she is quite a little sweetheart. If only she didn't commit those crimes.", said Jack, a bit disappointed, after learning of her. "Jack, we don't know anything, other than those crimes, we don't even know, if that's really her job, or if Adoración is really her name. I dont know, why Thornton decided to bring her into our team. I guess we just have to see, what she can do." Mac was kinda defensive about welcoming a new member, with his last girlfriend's and field analyst's betrayal still fresh in his mind. "But you have to admit, she is a pretty one." Jack wiggled his eyebrows to show his suggestion. While Mac wouldn't dare to admit it and just rolled his eyes, he turned away from Jack's prying eyes and looked back at the sleeping girl before his ears turned red.
Like this they drove from Mexico back to the USA, more specifically to Los Angeles. Jack and Mac arguing, and Adoración either sleeping or just listening. Most of the time, she just slept, as she had a light sleep, it was kinda like, as soon as she slept, either Jack or Mac were to loud and woke her up again.

So that's my first Macgyver fanfiction. I just hope that you like what I've written.