The Warrior Luna

Lock and Load

"Everyone ready?" I yell at my team after we pack our weapons into the back of the Black Suburban. Everyone loads their bags into the back of the car and hold at least one weapon in their laps in case of an attack. "Yes Princess!" They all yell back in unison and echo's off the parking structure walls. Perfect. I load my bag in too and do one more mental check to make sure that we have everything. "Forgetting something?" I heard my fathers voice boom and carry in the building. My team automatically kneels and places their fists across their hearts. I do the same but slightly bow out of respect. He is dressed in a black form fitting suit with a red shirt and deep red tie. He looks powerful and intimidating. He looks like a King. "Rise everyone." We all rise at the same time. He clears his throat and handed me a map of a warehouse. 

 "As you all know and I am sure Princess Maxine already explained," he did a side glance at me then back at the team and narrowed his eyes, "I am requiring that this mission is to be completed within 48 hours. Tonight at midnight the timer will start and I fully expect all of you here on the third day to tell me of your success. Failure, is not an option. If this mission does by chance fail, don't bother coming back." The last bit of the sentence hung with silence. My heart sank to my stomach and my body felt cold. Don't bother coming back... ? I understand that this mission is important but we have never had a mission this extreme. We have never failed a mission before, set backs yes but if we were to have failed, we would have been allowed to return to our homes. Our beds. Our friends. I looked around and everyone's face was the same as mind. Some faces showed fear while the others looked in shock. The weight of this mission felt even heavier on my shoulders. Don't worry guys. I'll make sure we can all come back home. 

 I narrowed my eyes and straightened out my shoulders to project my confidence. "We will not fail father. My team is the best of Raine and I have the upmost confidence in their abilities. We will return within the allotted time with the success story of our mission." I place my fist back on my heart and slightly bow. I see my team all square their shoulders as well as they seem to have regained composure. They follow my lead and do the same. My fathers eyes slightly widen and he smiles a genuine smile at me. He walked toward me and placed both hands on my shoulders and looked me straight in the eye.

"Max, please don't fail me. You have no idea how much this mission means to your mother and I. We have been waiting for this opportunity for a few months now. I hate to send you off before your birthday and I understand that this may be confusing for you. You are strong, beautiful and smart. I know you feel outed sometimes by your mother but she does have your best interests at heart. She does love you and hopefully after this mission we can celebrate your birthday with a big celebration." He looked at me sincerely and frowned as if he was deep in thought. This was the most genuine my father has ever been with me. "Ill send for your sister to come as well. Please be safe." He patted me once on the shoulder and stepped back. "Good luck to you all." He boomed and walked back the same way he came. His knight following very closely behind.

I looked back at my team who were all quiet now. The small speech about not coming back must be weighing on them. "Guys, I'll make sure you all come back. I promise. But for now, lets head out while I come up with a strategy for this. Axel, after I look at this map, please look at this as well. Find any flaws in my layout so we have the best chance at killing our target without error. The rest of you, pack what else you need and lets leave in 5. We have to make it into the city as soon as we can so we can ensure that we are fully prepared." After my instructions and promise is announced, my team seems to snap back to reality and goes back to work. 

I follow my instructions as well and double check my weapon inventory. I have my brass knuckles infused with silver in my side pocket, my dagger that has both iron and wood inside of it strapped to a strap on my thigh for easy access. I also loaded my twin katanas in the back of the suburban along with my two handguns. Packing light but heavy enough to hold my own. Everyone else had weapons as well so I didn't need to bring as much as I would on a solo mission. 

"Princess, we are about ready to leave." Jen said right beside me. She loaded the same weapons as me into the back but she also included a cross bow. I raised my eyebrow at her with a smile. "Trying to one up me Jen?" She looked back at me and laughed. "Of course not!" She said with a devilish grin and pretended to be offended. Then she bent over to pick something else off the ground. "Because I brought you one too!" I started laughing while she put it in the back as well next to hers. "Okay guys! Enough with the love fest! Lets go!" Ron yelled.

We glanced at each other and smiled. I jumped in the passenger seat while Ron jumped in the drivers seat and adjusted the mirrors. I took out the map and began to study. Axel, Shelby and Jenna in the back fighting over who sat where. Shelby losing the battle and had to sit in the middle because of her height while Jenna and Axel took the window seats. "Lock and load guys! Lets make this a quick trip!" The engine started and we started to move down the parking structure. Instead of feeling confident for my team, I instead started to feel dread. Like my body knew we were going to fail the mission. This whole mission didn't make sense. Why the time frame? Why such threatening consequences if we failed? I couldn't understand. I took a deep breathe and refocused. My team needed me to be at 100%. I looked back down and looked at the map to come up with a plan. I can do this.