Chapter 15 #2
Anubis grabbed his chest, breaking the moment of disbelief that stunned the others. “Damn, woman, that hurt.
Archangel leaned forward. “Nine of you take down an underground facility in hostile terrain against an unknown number of Shinobi-trained operatives."
"That sounds about right." Fury said. He held her gaze for a long moment. Then he nodded. Once. "If the Council authorizes it, you'll have them."
Lycos spoke quietly. "Raven. This is personal for you."
It wasn't a question, but she answered it anyway.
"Hell yeah, it is. The training we went through was perverted into something it was never meant to be."
"And for Dan. It’s personal for you, too?"
"Yes. They forced us apart, have killed too many innocent people, and have, as Raven said, perverted a discipline that never should’ve been changed."
Lycos leaned back. "That concerns me."
She looked at him. At the man who'd recruited her, who'd given her purpose after Kuro, who'd watched her build a life inside Guardian and had never once doubted her.
"It should concern you," she said. "Because personal means we won't stop until it's done. Personal means we know this enemy better than anyone else could. Personal means we'll bring everyone home." She paused. "Personal is what makes us good at this."
Lycos studied her and then looked at Dan. "You agree?"
Dan met his eyes. "Alexei Mori corrupted everything Kuro taught us. He turned the doctrine into a weapon for profit. He's killed and trained others to do the same. This isn't just personal, sir. It's necessary."
Silence.
Then Archangel spoke. "Ring. Can you have the full intelligence package formatted for Council review by the end of the day?"
"Already done," Ring said. "I'll have it uploaded to your secure portal within the hour."
"Good." Archangel looked at the camera. "If they authorize, we move immediately.
If they don't, we continue gathering intelligence until they do.
" He paused. "This is solid work. Both of you.
Regardless of what the Council decides, you've identified a legitimate threat and built a case that can't be ignored. "
"Thank you," Raven said.
Charley leaned back. "Assuming we get authorization, and I think we will, what's the timeline?"
"Seventy-two hours from green light to wheels up," Anubis said. "We brief the team, stage equipment, fly to the Philippines, and execute. The longer we wait, the more chance something tips Alexei off, and he relocates."
"Agreed," Fury said. "If this happens, it happens fast."
Anubis added, "I'll coordinate team staging. Everyone will be ready."
"One more thing," Lycos said. His eyes were on Dan.
"You've been operating alone for years. You've built your own intelligence network,” he looked at Raven and added, “ish,” before glancing back at Dan.
You have your own methodology. You're about to integrate into a team with its own protocols and chain of command. Can you do that?"
Dan didn't hesitate. "Yes, I can."
"You'll answer to Raven in the field. She's the operational lead. Her word is final."
"Understood."
"And if the situation requires it, you'll follow orders you don't agree with."
Dan nodded. "I will."
Lycos held his gaze for another moment. Then nodded.
"Good."
The screens began disconnecting one by one. Charley lingered for a moment, looked at Raven with something that might have been approval or concern, then disconnected.
Lycos stayed last.
"Raven," he said.
"Yes?"
"I meant what I said. This is good work.
You've handled this exactly right. Bringing Dan in, building the intelligence picture, presenting it through proper channels.
" He paused. "But I need to know you're ready for what comes next.
If the Council authorizes this, you're going to war against people you trained with.
People who learned from the same teacher.
That's going to be hard in ways you might not expect. "
She looked at him. At the concern in his eyes that he'd never quite admit to.
"I know," she said. "But it's necessary."
"Necessary doesn't make it easier."
"No. But it makes it right."
“That it does. Dan, your new identity is being worked. By the time you two get back, he’ll be a legit person again.”
He studied her for a long moment. Then his expression softened slightly, just enough.
"Call me after the Council decision," he said. "Regardless of what they decide."
"I will."
"And Raven."
"Yes?"
"Be careful. Both of you."
The screen went dark, and the room was suddenly very quiet.
Raven stood at the head of the table and felt the weight of what they'd just set in motion. The Council would review the evidence. Archangel would make the case based on the information they had supplied. She’d never been involved in evidence gathering; rather, she’d been the bullet to finish the work assigned.
She looked at Dan. “You're going to be legal again, with a real ID.” She smiled at him and noticed he was watching her with the attention of someone who'd been waiting to speak until they were alone.
He smiled. "I’m glad about the ID, but what you just did, that was good," he said. "You presented it exactly right."
"We presented it," she corrected. "This is both of ours."
"It felt good. You have a team here. Guardian resources and their trust. I'm still—" He paused. "I'm still learning."
She crossed the room and stood in front of him.
"You did fine," she said. "Lycos trusts you. Fury trusts you. That's not easy to earn."
* * *
"I haven't earned it yet." He wanted to prove himself. He needed to prove what he was capable of doing to show Guardian their trust had not been misplaced.
"I’ll earn it in the Philippines."
He looked down at her. She’d been carrying this investigation for six weeks, brought him into her world despite having every reason not to, stood in front of Guardian leadership, and vouched for him without hesitation.
"Thank you," he said.
"For what?"