The First
1255 Words
The command center buzzed with activity.
Vance stood at the central console, his father beside him. The monitors showed the Phoenix's global network coming online. Operatives in every time zone were receiving their orders. The machine was waking up.
"Echo, give me the status on the European cells."
"All cells are reporting in. The Collective has a command center in Berlin. That's our primary target."
"Secondary targets?"
"Three safe houses across the city. They're being used as staging points for their operatives."
Vance studied the map. Berlin. The heart of the Collective's European operations.
"We hit all four targets simultaneously," he said. "Echo, you're on comms and surveillance. Hawk, you take the command center. Flint, you're on the safe houses. Kai, you're on logistics."
"And you?" Hawk asked.
"I'm going after their leader. The man running the Berlin operation."
"You know who he is?"
"His name is Magnus. He was one of the Omega Initiative's top operatives. He's been running the Collective's European network."
Hawk nodded. "Then we take him out."
---
The flight to Berlin took six hours.
Vance sat in the back of the plane, his eyes closed. His mind was focused, sharp. The operation was risky. If they failed, the Collective would know they were coming.
But if they succeeded, they'd deal a crippling blow to the enemy.
His father was beside him. "Vance, I want you to be careful."
"I will, Dad."
"This isn't like the other operations. The Collective is more dangerous than the Phoenix. More dangerous than the Omega Initiative."
"I know."
"Then don't take unnecessary risks. Come back alive."
Vance looked at his father. "I will."
---
The plane landed at a private airstrip outside Berlin.
Vance and his team moved through the night, splitting up to hit their targets. Echo was at a command post, monitoring the operation.
Hawk approached the Collective's command center, a massive building in the heart of the city. Flint moved toward the first safe house. Kai coordinated logistics from a van.
Vance moved toward the penthouse where Magnus was staying.
"Echo, give me eyes on the target."
"I have thermal. Magnus is in the penthouse. One guard at the door, two inside."
"Easy."
"Vance, be careful. This could be a trap."
"I know. But we don't have a choice."
---
Vance reached the penthouse. The guard at the door was alert, professional.
Vance hit him from behind, dragged him into the stairwell. He took the man's keycard and entered the penthouse.
The interior was opulent. Marble floors, crystal chandeliers, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city. Magnus was in the living room, a glass of whiskey in his hand.
"Mr. Cole. I was wondering when you'd arrive."
"Then you know why I'm here."
"I know you want to stop the Collective. I know you think you can win."
"I don't think. I know."
Vance raised his Sig. Magnus smiled.
"You're too late. The Collective is already in motion."
"I don't care."
Vance pulled the trigger.
---
The bullet hit Magnus in the chest. He went down, his eyes wide with surprise.
Vance walked over, stood above him. "Where are the rest of your people?"
Magnus laughed, blood bubbling from his lips. "You'll never find them."
"Then I'll kill you."
"Go ahead. I'm dead either way."
Vance pulled the trigger again.
---
The operation was a success.
Hawk took the command center. Flint neutralized the safe houses. Kai coordinated the logistics. The Collective's European network was in ruins.
Vance stood in the penthouse, looking out over the city. The sun was rising over Berlin.
Echo's voice came through the earpiece. "Vance, we did it. The European network is down."
"Then we move to the next target."
"Vance, we need to talk."
"About what?"
"About the Collective's leader. The man running the entire operation. He's not in Berlin. He's somewhere else."
"Where?"
"I don't know. But I found a message. A communication from the Berlin cell to someone called 'The Director.'"
Vance's blood went cold. "The Director?"
"The same Director from the Omega Initiative. He's alive. He's been running the Collective from the shadows."
Vance stared out the window. The Director. Alive. Running the Collective.
"We need to find him," Vance said.
"I know. But first, we need to regroup. We've done enough for one night."
---
They flew back to the safe house.
Vance sat in the back of the plane, his mind churning. The Director. Alive. The master of the Collective.
His father was beside him. "Vance, I heard the news. The Director is alive."
"I know. He's been running the Collective all along."
"Then we need to find him. Before he moves again."
"How? He's a ghost. He doesn't leave traces."
"Then we find the traces he doesn't know he's leaving."
---
The days passed slowly.
Vance worked with Echo and Kai, analyzing the data from the Berlin operation. They found fragments, pieces of a larger puzzle.
"I found something," Echo said. "A location. The Director has a private estate in the Swiss Alps. He's been using it as a base."
"Then we go to Switzerland."
"Vance, it's a fortress. High walls, armed guards, security systems. He never leaves."
"Then we go to him."
Hawk stepped forward. "Vance, think about this. The Director knows we're coming. He's been waiting for us."
"Then we don't go in blind. We plan. We prepare."
Vance looked at his team. Hawk, Flint, Echo, Kai. His father.
"We're going to Switzerland. We're going to find the Director. And we're going to end this."
---
The flight to Switzerland took four hours.
Vance sat in the back of the plane, his eyes closed. His mind was focused, sharp. The Director was the last piece of the puzzle. The final enemy.
Echo was beside him. "Vance, I need to ask you something."
"What?"
"When this is over. When we've stopped the Collective. What are you going to do?"
"I don't know. I've been fighting for so long that I don't know how to stop."
"Then we'll figure it out together."
Vance looked at her. "Thank you, Echo."
---
The estate was a fortress.
Vance approached through the trees, his team behind him. The walls were high, topped with razor wire. Patrols moved along the perimeter.
"Echo, give me the layout."
"One main building, three floors. The Director's quarters are on the top floor. Security is heavy."
"Then we take the stairs."
They breached the estate through the east wall. The fighting was fierce, but brief.
Vance reached the top floor. The Director's quarters were at the end of the hall.
He kicked the door open.
The Director was waiting. He was in his sixties, gray-haired, with cold eyes.
"Mr. Cole. I've been expecting you."
"Then you know why I'm here."
"I know you want to kill me. I know you think it will stop the Collective."
"Won't it?"
"No. The Collective is bigger than one man. Kill me, and someone else will take my place."
"Then I'll keep killing until there's no one left."
The Director smiled. "That's what I admire about you, Mr. Cole. Your determination. Your refusal to give up."
Vance raised his Sig. "Any last words?"
"Yes. Your father is not who you think he is. He's been playing you from the beginning."
"I don't believe you."
"Then ask him. Ask him about the real plan. The one he's been hiding from you."
Vance's hand shook. His left hand. The nerve damage.
"I'm not going to ask him. I'm going to kill you."
Vance pulled the trigger.
- Writer
