Agent X

xx| 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝙾𝚗𝚎 |xx

It was still early in the afternoon when the sound of a helicopter barreled through the stillness of the air. Clouds hovered around the craft, little pillows of water that broke up the monochromatic, pale-blue sky. And every so often, the sun would hit the metal sides just right to reflect a blinding stream of light. It truly was a gorgeous day to soar through the sky.

But I wasn't one to stare out windows, gawking at something that I'd seen pretty much everyday of my life—especially when I was on a mission. Instead, I opened the mission file and began reviewing the current mission plan in my head.

Operation Brev: Agent 23 lands helicopter twenty-five hundred yards away from the warehouse. Agent 24 and Agent 52 exit the aircraft while Agent 41 secures the perimeter for any agents. Agent 30 checks for any technological devices and bombs within a twenty-mile radius of the building. If any are found, Agent 30 hacks them and shuts them down. Agent 52 secures the exterior of the warehouse while Agent 24 enters. Agent 24 enacts exchange, watching for any signs of operation change. Agent 24 recites the password, retrieves the file, and exits. Agent 52 and Agent 24 return to the helicopter with the file and deliver it to headquarters immediately.

Must be followed at all times, unless Agent 24, The Lead, states otherwise.

If you were to ask most agents, they would tell you that things never go according to plan. I wouldn't say that. No, I would say that ninety-seven percent of the time, my missions go exactly according to the established operation. Because even when things go awry—a detail is missed or we are ambushed—there is always a back up plan.

It is The Lead's job to always plan four steps ahead. To recognize when to switch plans, as well as which plan to follow.

That's why my job is and always would be the most important. But I think it is safe to say that after more than twenty-three years of spy work, I can easily pick up on those signs, those slight cues. Those details most would miss, the giveaways that something isn't right. It's second nature to me.

And I know exactly which plan to call. I could never forget the plans, even if I tried. I remembered every single main operation, along with every single back up plan of every mission I had ever been on. That's what you get when you have a sonographic memory. Every recording that is played back, every conversation, every whisper you hear, you remember.

And that's why my name is renowned for being the best in the business. Everyone in the International Intelligence Agency, or IIA, had heard of Agent X.

The IIA is a third party spy organization, not affiliated with any country. We are hired by other countries to assist missions that are too difficult or too dangerous for their own agents. Our only caveat is that the missions must enhance peace and freedom in the world. My parents were two of the top spies in the IIA. So from an early age, I was involved in spy work. I was a natural at it with my sonographic memory and attention to detail.

My fingers flipped through the various photos and papers in the file until I found the page I was looking for. My eyes stared at the map, trying to memorize every last detail. The plans were no problem to remember, as they could be recorded. The instant the tapes were played for me, the plans were forever burned into my memory. Maps and photographs required a little more effort on my part. But I always managed to remember. My life depended on it.

"Nervous?"

I turned to my right to see Agent 52, otherwise known as Ty, with a huge smirk across his lips. I didn't so much as move an eyelash in response.

"Please inform me of the last time I was nervous," I stated, turning back to the map. Some people tease in order to get a reaction. But Ty teased me because he enjoyed my lack of reaction.