Flight Plans

Interpol Unit 7 Mobile HQ  //   Somewhere over the Pacific Ocean

The supersonic jet cleaves through the atmosphere, its sonic booms roaring across the horizon. Inside the sleek aircraft's cabin, Tomomi hunches over her compute box, which she's jerry-rigged to interface with the jet's analysis station. She types in commands furiously as she recovers the chip’s analysis data she saved from earlier. Jade approaches the station silently, sneaking in whiff as she closely examines the storage chip resting on the table.

In the jet’s conference room, Ray projects a hologram from his phone onto the center of the wood veneer table, displaying relevant graphics as he cites his briefing.

“The group that attacked you is known as Accel Order,” he begins. “Born from the general Anti-Council movement that reached its violent climax as the Geneva Riots. Their goal is ambitious: develop a new 'weapon of flames' that would serve as the 'ultimate equalizer of power.'“

Ray manipulates the hologram, showing a global map dotted with markers. “Usually, resistance groups flare up in isolated regions before they're crushed by Council’s military might. But Accel Order is different. We've intercepted members all over the world, though their recent activity concentrates in Asia. Due to this, we’ve been able to triangulate their cross-territory movements and deduce that their leader operates primarily from Japan.”

The hologram shifts to a blurry surveillance still image of a shadowy figure. “They're led by a dissident known only as Icarus. Based on the advanced scientific knowledge they've demonstrated, We think Icarus is a high-profile researcher.”

“You think it was someone from the Geneva Research Complex?” Mika leans forward as she asks.

“Which is why we pulled their roster for the past decade, but we couldn't find any likely suspects.”

“That would be a stretch,” Mika scoffs, leaning back in her chair. “Researchers at Geneva are highly vetted, and the entry exams are brutal. I know since I applied.”

“How did you do?”

“Well, I’m not in Geneva.”

“Right.” Ray clears his throat.

Mika drums her fingers on the table. “So you're hunting the leader of a global organization led by a faceless entity. Sounds familiar.”

“They've become the most notorious dissident organization in half a decade. Members in nearly every territory. We suspect their reach includes having members embedded in Enforcement.”

“So we can't trust Enforcement.”

“Not a hundred percent, no.”

“You trusted me.”

“Because you're different.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Your track record, for starters. Multiple commendations during your three years in Osaka Enforcement.”

“And instead of promotion, they assigned me the patrol routes nobody wanted,” Mika says with a bitter tone.

“And yet you took them and cleaned up the neighborhood.”

“That’s just doing my job.”

Ray leans in. “I saw you risk your life to save your colleague. That tells me everything I need to know about you.”

She shifts uncomfortably at the praise. “I don't think I am who you think I am.”

Ray takes pause. He shuts off the hologram and turns to face her directly.

“Mika, you have a science degree. Why did you join Enforcement?”

She gives a measured response. “I didn't get into the Council's research program. Enforcement had openings. That's all.”

Ray gives her a look that shows he's not buying it.

“Fine,” she sighs. “I have family in Enforcement. I figured I should fall in line.”

“That’s not all, is there?”

“No.” Mika hesitates, then continues. “It's stupid, but... I guess I can tell you. I actually knew a Geneva researcher. He was a classmate when I was studying material science... no, a friend. His name was Caleb.

“I don’t want to get too much into it, but he had this… tenacity. This kind of naïve optimism that only a child would have. He told me something that stuck to me to this day. He told me something once that's stuck with me. He told me, that he wanted to use his genius to make the world a better place.”

She gives a bitter laugh. “I rolled my eyes at first. But even when I made fun of him for being so cliché, he always maintained that motto.” She pauses, her expression somber. “After the Geneva riots, I lost contact with him, fearing the worst. I even looked at the obituaries, but I gave up after about page 20. I keep telling myself I joined Enforcement to find out what happened, but…”

She trails off before continuing. “In the end, I joined because in the back of my mind, I wanted to follow in his footsteps. I have the talent, the training... shouldn't I use them to protect people? To prevent another tragedy?”

Mika pulls back, suddenly self-conscious. “Sorry. I don't know what came over me. Must be the exhaustion.”

“No, it’s alright.” Ray says, assuring her. “It’s refreshing to see this side of you. I didn’t think you’d have a soft spot.”

She blushes. “I have feelings too, you know.”

“Did you… like him?” Ray wonders, being direct.

She stares at the wood grain of the polished walnut table. “I don't know. Maybe there were some unsaid feelings buried in there somewhere. But I guess I could say I admired him.”

The somber tension breaks as the conference room door slides open. Jade yawns as she enters with a half-lidden expression, now dressed in easy clothes. “So you caught Mika up to speed on Icarus, Accel Order, and all that?”

“The gist of it, yeah,” Ray replies.

Dell also stumbles in, dressed down to his tank top and shorts. “Hey, you sure we're headed to Tokyo? This flight's taking forever.” His giant muscles flex as he scratches his head.

“That's because we're not landing in Tokyo,” Bradshaw enters with a commanding presence. “We're taking a little detour. Unit 7 has a little side mission to complete.”

Jade’s face falls. No vacation.

“The annual Asia Peace Conference. With all the criminal activity in the region, Council wants to reassure the public with extra security—featuring all agencies, including yours truly.”

“Seriously? Guard duty?” Jade groans.

“So we’ll be mere decorations in security theater,” Ray mutters.

“Consider it a walk in the park. Nothing you can't handle,” Bradshaw responds with a brighter tone in his gruff voice.

“I guess I am still sore from our previous missions,” Dell admits.

“No big deal. I'm used to standing for hours on end,” Mika offers.

“This isn't part of the investigation,” Ray responds. “You can sit this one out.”

“Get some rest,” Bradshaw adds. “See what you can find from the chip with Miss Hikibi.”

Mika relents. “Copy that, Inspector.”

A chime sounds through the jet's overhead speakers. “Aircraft arriving at destination shortly. Please prepare for landing and take your seat.”

“Guess I should take a wizz before we land,” Ray mutters, following the others toward the door.

“Ray,” Mika calls after him. “My turn to ask. What made you want to join Interpol?”

He pauses at the doorway, a smirk playing on his lips. “That's easy. I'm good at it.”