Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 4 - 7 2018 | Page 100

“SHUT UP and SIT DOWN, we are landing! Our mission starts soon.”
Before the jet landed, Genevieve quickly went to sit with Xavier. She held his hand in a tight grip, as if it
gave her comfort. Or maybe the other way round. Xavier looked at Julian and was surprised to see him
handling it well. In reflex, Xavier raised an eyebrow with a smirk at Julian's bravery. Xavier shared a look
with Scar only to find out he had the same reaction. Julian was laid back, deep in thought. Not in panic,
pacing. Genevieve wasn't surprised, she was worried.
The judge ordered them to search for the NASA headquarters on the plane’s computers. A classified file
with the title “Mission Bravo Echo Houston” was all also given to them. Xavier began to understand what
they were here for – to delete American Intelligence on the Chinese government’s classified plans.
They stopped on a road, it was a dusty road. They had landed in a remote area. And after half an hour of
impatient pacing and cursing, a truck stopped in front of them.
The Major gave the judge a questioning look, 'really?' He thought. 'We'll be going to the headquarters in
this?'
Even Scar was shocked, his hazel eyes wide open in shock. His black hair whipping in the wind. The huge
truck looked like it was about to break into pieces right then and there. Xavier barked out a laugh when
the doors of the truck automatically opened. For a truck that looked almost done with, it sure was
impressive inside. They entered the truck and gasps erupted from Julian and Genevieve. The car from the
inside was beautiful. It was spacious or the white colored paint made it seem so.
Scar and Xavier just stared at it in silent awe.
"Are we really going to do it?" Julian snapped everyone out of the daze they were in.
"Of course not."
The Judge ordered, “ Stay focused! Does everyone understand the brief…”
“Bang” - a gunshot resonated the vehicle and everyone jumped. In moments, the judge turned into a mere
memory. Xavier inhaled a sharp breath, this reminded Xavier of the time his alcoholic father killed his
mother then ran off when he was sober. He heard Genevieve choke back a sob. Scar, stunned, just stared at
the dead body.
"No!!!!" Julian wailed.
"What's this?!" The Major demanded.
A deep voice boomed over the speakers, "He defied me. I felt obligated to show you what'll happen if you
defy me. There are guns installed in this truck."
The group didn't know what to do, Genevieve was crying in Xavier's arms while Julian and Scar were
holding themselves up. The place didn't seem attractive anymore. Xavier felt like they were now locked up
in a moving firing squad. The truck door suddenly opened again, someone dressed in all black slipped in,
got the judge's body and threw it out. The man slowly turned back, stared right into every single one of
their eyes and slipped out again.
The Major signaled them to keep calm and kept away from the cameras as he turned back around and took
out a piece of paper and a pen. He started to map something out.
The Major started to whisper to himself, "Follow the protocol, you know this was going to happen. You’ve
been briefed by the judge.” Suddenly he grabbed Xavier by the shirt and screamed, “You set me up little
punk, didn’t you!”