The Package

Tuesday Afternoon

14h30

The thought was of death.

Cool air filled my lungs. Oxygen flowed into my blood as clear, decisive thoughts filled my mind. Each was structured to flow in the next. Beginning, middle, end. No missing details. No chance given to failure.

The clock said 14h31 when I raised my Sleeve. One minute into the time frame, nine minutes from closure. My heartbeat was ninety-one beats per minute. Slightly higher than anticipated, but within parameters. The corridor was empty. Hades' cameras were online. They would note my presence, but it didn't matter. All prerequisites were met.

Perfect.

I rested my hands in my pockets as I walked. The yawn would suggest to any potential watchers that I was heading for a nap. A ruse, for my pockets housed secrets of their own. Three devices, each placed in the order they will be used. Breast, left and right pocket. One, two, three. Confusion, entrance, elimination.

Beginning, middle, end.

‘Never leave an area via the entrance’ was an old piece of war advice. While it was not possible in a facility like this, the thought behind it remained the same. My interpretation was to never use the same disguise twice. After pretending to scratch my nose, I let my hand fall onto my breast pocket, and the item within. Everybody would mistake it for something extremely common. But not me. I saw it as deployable confusion. A way to mask all movements in our wireless world. An object, one of my own creation, waiting for the signal to cast a cloak of darkness over the facility neither Hades nor Management would pierce.

Three clicks blinded all the cameras. Confusion, completed.

But not me. I kept my pace, putting one foot in front of the other as I marched towards my target. The door would be unresponsive, but it didn't matter. The scanner would reject my Sleeve even if the former was working. But I knew a secret. One brought to light six months ago, when an accident threatened to remove V from her head. One that will give me access to my target.

I stopped in front of the door. No response came when I tapped against it. Good. Confusion, completed. Time for the entrance. Paranoia, or was it nervousness, made me glance down the corridor. Only when I knew it was safe did I reach for my left pocket. Inside it was perhaps the simplest and most common tool used within the facility: a flat-head screwdriver. Clenching my hand around its handle, I ran my finger along the top of the scanner until I found the small gap. A brief twist separated the faceplate from the scanner's body, within which I pressed a button. I allowed myself a brief smile as the door slid open.

Entrance, completed.

The room was like my own. Bed in the corner, desk against the closest wall, and bathroom door to the left. Were the rooms on the opposite side mirror images of this one? I broke the thought with a brief shake of my head. Now was not the time to ponder such frivolous thoughts. Besides, the question will answer itself tomorrow.

I reached for the last pocket, taking out an object ten centimetres across and five centimetres wide. I should thank V. I doubt I'd have thought of this method if it hadn't been for her accident. After all, what better way to kill a target than to have the target do it themselves?

I had debated where to put the package. Putting it under the bed would be the most obvious option, but there would be no guarantee that the package would do what it's supposed to. The door to the corridor was a second option, but the risk of collateral damage was too high. Instead, I analyzed my pattern once I retired for the day. I walk into my room, take off the Sleeve, and perhaps sit on the bed for a few seconds before going to the bathroom.

Which was the answer.

I swung the bathroom's door twice to determine its arc. I found it odd that while the outer doors were electronic sliding ones, those inside our rooms were regular swinging doors. Maybe they wanted to keep some semblance of normality? I couldn't be sure, but at this moment I was thankful.

Satisfied, I crouched low and placed the package, ensuring the door would press the red button when it swung open. With everything in place, I hurried outside, closing the door by pressing the button and snapping the face plate into position.

Mission complete. I thought I started making my way down the corridor.

"Hey!" My heart beat increased at the voice. A stray thought wished I still had the scalpel with me, but no such luck. Still, innocent until proven guilty, so I resolved to act the part. I looked over my shoulder, slowing my pace when the smiling yet slightly worried face of N came into view. I allowed a smile of my own. Seems N may start my cover earlier than anticipated.

Elimination, completed.