CHAPTER 12

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Over the Atlantic

Elevation: 35,000 ft

2016

Xander adjusted himself in the cockpit of the V-22 Osprey that he had taken from Bagram Air Force Base. He was lost in the steady humming of the engines and the chopping of the propellers. Along with the subtle vibrations through the cockpit, the sounds of flight entranced him into a deep contemplation on his mission to determine the true identity of Agent Zero and to stop the attack on American soil. His focus had only intensified at the revelation that Agent Zero was a Spartan. He probed every small detail for any theory as to who could be the defector.

Who could be capable of turning on us and plotting an attack on America? Seamus? Reckless and aggressive. Jooles? Silent and scheming. Ashton? Tobias? Mac? It could be anybody – even an instructor...

Just then a familiar voice interrupted his reflection as it bellowed through his headset.

"Rattlesnake come in. This is AT101 do you copy?" It was Captain Axle's voice, already barking over the radio.

"I copy. How are you doing Captain?"

"What the fuck are you thinking?! Do you have any idea how many phone calls I had to make to keep F150's off your tail. The United States Military does not like it when a 100 million dollar plane disappears!" Axle's bark became a yell that rocked Xander's ear drums.

"It was an emergency..." Xander explained, adjusting the headset to a better comfort.

"It's always an emergency with you. How many times do I have to tell you not to abuse the freedom being a Spartan gives you! We are government contractors that aide the military. We aren't supposed to steal their aircrafts!"

"Yes sir," he responded, obediently, knowing fully that the response would disarm his Commanding Officer.

"Good!" Xander could hear Axle finish his fuming over the headset. After a short moment, Axle moved onto business. "What's the emergency?"

"Agent Zero is a Spartan," Xander said it plain.

"What?" Axle's voice grew grave.

"Agent Zero is a Spartan. During the recon, I intercepted the package being exchanged, then I got a call from a distorted voice on my sat phone. It was Agent Zero."

"The voice identified itself as Agent Zero?"

"Yeah and the package was a brick-shaped stone with the words 'Nothing Is As It Seems' inscribed on it," Xander reported.

"Fuck..." Axle exhaled.

"The stone was intended for me all along. Agent Zero is playing some messed up game with me," Xander postulated, trying to make sense of it all himself.

"Xander, there is something you should know."

"What's that?"

"Duke went dark three months ago" A long pause sounded over the headset. Xander's grip tightened on the throttle, his temples pulsed.

"Why wasn't I told this?" Xander asked through gritted teeth.

"Given your history with him, you were on a need to know basis..." Axle explained.

"Find him!" Xander ordered over the headset.

"You know as well as anyone we trained you to be ghosts. He's gone," Axle explained, but Xander didn't want to hear it.

"I'll be at Andrews Air Force base in 5 hours. This is Rattlesnake, over and out!" Xander cut the comm and sunk back in the cockpit seat. He gazed out over the clouds on which he hovered – he again saw a red swirl across the sky as the sunset ahead of him. It resembled a lone lock of curly hair, similar to what he saw when he was descending to the Korengal Valley.

Fiona...

A heaviness settled in his gut at the thought of her. It was a longing to see her again and in many ways return to the Compound, no matter how strenuous the training was, and relive the innocent playful flirtations that formed their love. His sadness turned into anger as his mind returned to the mission at hand and the variables at play. His eyes fell to his grip on the throttle, his fist clenched – the whites in his knuckles popped.

The chilling words from Agent Zero's distorted voice echoed in his head.

This is your game Xander. Play it well, people's lives depend on it.



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