Morning Sunshine

(Technically, this is for the creator's enjoyment only, characters WOULD not be reading any of this)

I have a terrible headache. This morning, the heater in my studio got totally screwed up and there was no cold water. To make matters worse, I'm a genius, but I don't do plumbing. So I call the plumber first thing in the morning.

As Italians go he gives me a long speech of the art of plumbing.

"Yeah... but when will you be around?"

"Prontisimo..."

In italiano, that's the same as you better get used to cold water for a few more weeks.

Sighing, I let that slip. They say cold water is good for you after all. If it's not good for me, at least I'll pretend that everything is fine while I freeze to my death.

I called Samuel and told him, the store was under his supervision today. It's becoming a habit as of late. I take the mornings for my real job and then do the hobby-store thing in the afternoons, though I can technically work wherever I have connection to a network. Nonetheless, I was recently promoted to the person in charge of Technological Intelligence, thus converting me in a field agent once more.

The thing I like most about field work is the adrenaline and the overall feeling of authority. I get a kick out of it. Although pink is my favorite color, I wear solemn colors to work. Though I own a pink Beetle as my 'usual' car, I have a black corvette safely tucked away in a garage near here, only accesible by code. Code which I have, and which I've specialized in making not vulnerable. And I beg your pardon, I just don't walk to the garage, obviously. We all have assigned lockers located in the basement of the building. Mine just happens to have a direct hallway that leads to the garage and the car. I can't really be connected to it in any way, can I?

I get to the INTERPOL headquarters, located right outside the city and of course, I'm received with every possible honor. These particular headquarters are specialized in my branch: networking. Only the people within that building and of course, the secretary general of the INTERPOL are allowed to know my real name. Everyone inside that building is protected to a maximum level. That's why, from that point onward there's no sense in pretending Lucia Piucelli is more than a cover. From that point on, I'm addressed as Agent Lucille Delton. Just the sound of it, makes my lips quirk upwards.

Many say I'm much like my brother in this sense. We have an incredible way of adapting to circumstance and take great pleasure in positions of power. Oh, I take great pleasure in positions alright... but having power, is a whole new level.

"Michaela... The reports, now."

"Yes, Ma'am." Michaela is one of the youngest in the team. She is only 18, petite, has dirty blonde hair and big brown eyes. The girl looks incapable of killing a spider; she has single-handedly cut the electricity of New York City... three times.

"Lucille, good morning, I have your coffee for you." I turned to spot Santiago. He's from Chile and an expert in locating people all around the globe. We have worked together for at least three years now. He's 5'9, blue eyes, brown, slightly curly hair. He's excellent at what he does, at the age of 24 he can easily hack a National Bank. Nonetheless he is no threat to humanity; he spends most of his time looking for porn in the computer. I haven't caught him at it again. Last time I did I threathened I'd cut his dick off, and with God as a witness, I would've. We don't play with people lives, this is not a game.

"Thank you, Santiago." I don't really like coffee. I rather have tea, but coffee is the only thing that wakes me up to 110%.

The other members of my team where already sitting in their seats and ready for action.

My "vigilante", Gavin (though we call him Hawk), barely looked up from the screen. He was always listening to music, but he had a knack to spot any transaction in any phone call, any email: if it was electronical, he would surely find it. He had a Neo complex and usually wore his black glasses to work. Last time I saw his eyes, they were dark brown eyes, combined with black hair that he kept tied back with a ponytail. At 29 he didn't talk much either.

In the back of the room, with paperwork, was Alodie, a french 27 year old, brown haired girl, with hazel eyes. Generally, she was extremely good at anything related to catching people. She set great baits for hackers and crackers alike. She had a list of all her outer friends and all the songs they downloaded, in case she needed to blackmail them some day. Together with Michaela, we were quite close friends.

Xander, the defender of the people, stood up instantly the moment he saw me walk in. He was another field agent who loved to take on the most hard core missions just for the sake of it. He had the body of a muscle builder champion therefore making all 6 feet of him quite impressing. In the room, he was probably the brawns over the brains guy, although he'd graduated from MIT back when he was 19. Now, at the age of 31, he said he'd forgotten most of the technological aspects and had just retained the part where he tackled the enemy down.

Last but not least, completing the team was the most enigmatic of our members. Johnathan Wilbatten Windsor was Prince of England. Contrary to his ancestors, who had joined the army and had fought in Afghanistan, John had opted to join the INTERPOL forces considering them much more civilized. He had intense blue eyes and black hair and he was only a year older than me. He was 5'11 and had a cunning mind. No one could relate him to his brother, King Richard. John had stubble, his bangs covered one side of his face and his hair was shoulder length. He could shout it to the world that he was royalty and the most he would get was a penny in a hat and a pat on the shoulder. That or he'd be taken to the loony bin. John had a strange way of perceiving things. If he had a 'feeling', that feeling was generally correct. His other persona was a lights ingineer.

Within the walls of the building, every secret could be exposed.

I sat down in my office, and Michaela immediately handed me the reports. "So... how was it?"

"How was what?" I stared at the reports not looking up to her.

"The dinner, with your boyfriend... weren't you planning to do something fun?" she beamed at me.

I put down the reports and quirked an eyebrow at her. "Yes, well, it was... alright."

"Alright! What's the 411?" she sat in the chairs placed in front of my desk.

"M, I almost have to go, the Cardenian twins are..."

"Forget the CARDENIAN twins, Lucy! Oh my God! They're going to be stealing for some more minutes, we have them thoroughly checked, therefore they won't be leaving anywhere... you'll go get them in five minutes. Now tell me!"

I smiled to myself. "Christian is... gentle, and smart, and when he smiles... oh when he smiles... He talked about his sisters and how much he loved them and I think my heart did a little cartwheel in my chest..."

"Oh Mio Dio, you love him!"

"Of course I love him. Duh. Though if he knew what I really was he'd probably KILL me. Did you know? I told him about my pink beetle, and he said I couldn't be careless, a woman like me living alone."

Michaela stared at my dumbfounded. "... he really has no idea?"

"I'm sworn to secrecy, aren't I?"

I heard a knock on the door. We both looked up at him.

"What is it, Hawk?"

"Umm.... Director... the Cardenians brothers are on the move."

"SHIT." I stood up immediately, running outside the room. Johnathan and Xander were immediately behind me. We doned our bullet proof coats and armed ourselves with our weapons. I grabbed my two beautiful 9mm guns, and we walked into the garage. Our car was all ready for the action.

John stared at me and laughed. "I bet Christian would love to see you like this."

"Shut up, Johnathan."

The moment we reached our destination and stepped out of the car, I saw the first bullet pass right through me. I could hear Alodie's voice inside my ear. "We have a complete thermal scan of the area, they are located in the following coordinates..." I immediately placed special made glasses and saw the coordinates through them. Talk about technology rules.

"They're right in front of us to the left."

"I have them." John whispered and rapidly moving, shot twice.

"Did you get them?"

"I think I got one of them."

"You think?" I stared at him "God, you're bloody awful at this."

"Eh, I'm sorry, Miss Fashion, they are armed to their teeth, next time, I'll be sure to stand still and have them hole me through."

Alodie spoke again. "You have three unknowns walking towards you."

"Xander, Johnathan, give those guys our special welcome, I'll handle the brothers up there."

They both nodded. Soon enough I heard the exchange behind me.

Good. My turn. The adrenaline rushed through my veins. It was time. Now, Lucille Delton, NOW. I stood up raising both guns, staring at the brothers as they aimed at me. I raised the 9mm and fired. They moved away from the other and I slid behind their car. Then, it was just a matter of time, before I crept back out, shot 10 shots into the oldest brother and then 5 into the youngest. Then they were dead, and we had succesfully stopped the information transference.

Johnathan and Xander came back almost immediately. Xander was slightly bleeding. I nodded towards them "Mission complete on this part. I just transferred their data and sent it to HQ."

"Perfect. The three guys we caught were also involved."

"You didn't kill them, did you?" I quirked an eyebrow

"As protocol demands, they are to be taken for questioning."

"Good." I nodded. "Gentlemen, it's been a good morning, let's get ourselves a round of ice tea!"

Xander and John laughed. "We'd rather have beers."

Shooting

I shot 60 bullets today. 30 to the head, 10 to the heart, 10 to the stomach, five to the knees and five to the crotch. I didn't miss one bullet. Not only did my shooting instructor almost flee in terror, but he took various steps away from me. When I changed the shooting target I violently threw it towards the floor and replaced it with a new one. It was only then that I realized I was out of bullets.

"Miss Piucelli, I think that is enough."

Who needs arrows when you have guns?

"Can't I buy more?"

"Of course... you can, Miss Piucelli, but that is not reccommendable at this point. You have already exhausted yourself thoroughly without a doubt?"

I quirked an eyebrow.

"I'll get you more immediately." He gulped

10 minutes later he was back with the most experienced instructor and a box of fresh new bullets. I helped myself to the whole box, practicing with movement, different positions...

"Miss Piucelli..." the instructor stopped me after I was done (the older one that is). "Have you ever considered joining the SWAT?" He was only half joking.

I gawked. "Umm.... no. Never! I don't like any of those things! I mean, it's a grand ideal! But me? I just like designing clothing! Really."

He stared at me. Looked at how I held the gun, then at my face again. "It doesn't seem to me like you don't like any of these things..."

I let go of the gun. "Please excuse me." I was back to a more serious kind of work and I needed my skills polished. Can't a girl practice without being molested? So I was good with a gun. I had my ways with weapons.

As I moved to the car, my mobile phone started vibrating. I took it out of my purse nonchalantly and pressed it to my ear. "Yes?"

Shit.