Round 1:
I had 8 days to write a 2500 word story with categories that were given to me.
genre: spy
And so... here it is. 2,498 words (not including the title & synopsis).
Silence of the Heavens
Synopsis:
When resources go missing from the Agency, someone will have to pay.
Matthew 27:50-51
Then Jesus cried
again with a loud voice and breathed his last. At that moment the curtain of
the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks
were split.
Agent J stood in the doorway, his
deep-cover disguise still in full effect. Everything was just as an elite agent
of his standing should be. His flawless dark-olive skin glowed with an inner
light. His deep-chocolate eyes gathered information at a glance, while
expressing immense love. A soft light shone down on hair that flowed around his
shoulders, catching the small breezes that moved through the room.
G slammed down their phone and gestured to
the chair in front of the desk.
“Enough.
Sit.” Their voice sounded with undertones of thunder, resonating off the walls
and rolling down the hallways. Chatter ceased for a brief moment as an ANGEL
(Alternate Noise Gathering Electronic Listener) swooped over the entire room.
J carefully closed the door, glided across
the room and sat on the edge of the chair. He waited, knowing better than to be
the first to speak.
“What the eff, J? This was supposed to be
an easy mission. Go in, gather intel, get out. Instead, we had to initiate a
high-level scrub, fake your death, and get you out. The blowback on
this...well, our analysts are running scenario simulations right now to see if
we can get ahead of it.”
J sighed and leaned back in the chair.
This he was ready for. It wasn’t the first time he had to answer for his
actions. When he spoke, his voice carried almost as much weight and gravitas as
G’s. He had been practicing it for centuries.
“So,” he said, “What’s the next step?”
Silence grew on the other side of the
desk. G looked at Agent J and didn’t say anything for almost an eternity. G
crossed to the large expanse looking across the Universe.
“I’ve been in this role for 5 millennia,”
They said. “We are finally close to having answers to THE Big Questions. I
don’t have to explain the importance of this to you. You’ve been in this since
the Beginning.” Turning suddenly, lightning bolts crackled with ozone-producing
static all around G. “You could very well have compromised all of our work!”
G rubbed the bridge of their nose, and
closed their eyes to regain control. “There is going to be an internal
investigation, of course. Complete with debriefing and most likely an interview
with the Oversight Committee. Just make sure you have all of your information,
whatever you may need, to give a full accounting.”
The office door opened, indicating the
meeting was done. Agent J stood and turned to go. He stepped back as another
agent crossed the threshold.
“Agent J. So nice to see you,” said the
other agent. The musicality of his voice almost stopped J in his tracks.
“Nice try, Agent L,” he growled. “I’m not
some newly formed human wandering through the Park. Try your smooth-talking
ways on me again, and I’ll put my foot through your head.”
Agent J stalked out of the office,
followed by the scent of fresh cut flowers and baking bread.
-------------------------------------
Revelation 4:6-8
…around the
throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front
and in back. The first creature was like a lion, the second like an ox, the
third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. Each of the
creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its
wings.
The Hall of the Oversight Committee was
set for a Full Review. The Guardians of the Dais were in the front, as always. The
normally empty audience chamber was completely packed. It had been awhile since
there had been an examination of any import, so everyone that could was in
attendance. An entire Host of Agents were in the audience chamber. A buzz of
discussion filled the hall as everyone waited for the arrival of the Oversight
Committee. J sat at the left table. The other table was empty.
A gong sounded. A lanky, cat-like creature
turned its many eyes on the crowd filling the Hall. Silence fell. Its voice
trumpeted through the silence. “All rise for the Most Honorable, Supremely
Exalted, Superlatively Illustrious Overseers!” The conversations became a
rustle as everyone stood. A single golden pinpoint of light appeared on the
Dais. It pulsated and grew in size and brilliance, causing everyone in the Hall
to shield their eyes. When the light dimmed, the three Oversight Committee
members stood next to their respective seats.
Before anyone could be seated, a flurry of
resonating chimes sounded and the light in the chamber dimmed. The entrance to
the Hall swung open, spilling coruscating light and dazzling everyone’s eyes.
The chimes swelled just below uncomfortable and then throbbed into a pulsating
rhythm. Everyone began bobbing with the beat, even the Triumvirate. Agent L
strolled the length of the chamber and stood behind the empty opposing table.
He caressed the Agency pin clasped fashionably on a scarf around his neck. He
gestured and the music came to an end on a very satisfying crescendo. The
Chamber burst into applause. L held up his hand and the applause died down.
“Your Honors, my sincere apologies for my
lateness.” His voice floated through the room, interlacing overtones, weaving a
glittering web of enchantment. “I had to review my notes one last time because
I believe this…‘interview’…is essential to the future of our Agency.”
J jumped to his feet. “What the aitch is
Agent L doing in the opposing seat? There’s no way he should be there! Everyone
knows he’s been gunning for me since the Beginning! Besides, he’s augmented to
enhance all aspects of sound. How am I going to have a fair hearing if he is
influencing every word that comes out of his mouth?”
The bovine Guardian brayed a single tone.
Silence fell again. Another Guardian screeched, “You say the Majestic Overseers
are unable to hear past augmentations?”
J opened his mouth to protest, but then
thought better of it and closed his mouth. He just shook his head.
The gong sounded again and the Guardians
all proclaimed, “All special features of the beings in attendance will now be
disengaged. No influencing abilities will be in play. Only the information
pertinent to this hearing will be shared. Everyone will be seated.”
J sat down, only slightly mollified. L
arched his eyebrow at J, and sat down smirking.
The Triumvirate stood. They spoke
together, each speaking a single word, one-after-the-other. As they spoke, wind
rushed through the hall, filling the space with their voices. It was the same
as listening to a waterfall speak sonnets or wind chimes proclaim rhymes.
“We will hear an accounting of the actions
of Agents in the field. Agent L will give a synopsis.”
L stood slowly. He didn’t have use of his
augmentation, but he was a consummate showman regardless. This was another
performance. He turned and looked at the gathered Agents. He let each audience
member feel like he was talking specifically to them. “My esteemed colleague,
Agent J, has caused major loss of Agency property, time, and assets. So much
so, it will cost the Agency,” glowing symbols began scribbling through the air,
“this much!” The numbers circled the Great Hall seven times and still the
scribbling continued. The watching Agents gasped. Agent L smiled. He had them.
“This means resources for other missions have
been diverted to support his reckless actions. And in that diversion, things
have gone missing. Today, we are only asking for an accounting of what
rightfully belongs to the Agency!” The audience chamber buzzed with comments
between all of those watching. Agent L gave a little curtsy to J and sat in his
chair.
The Triumvirate stood. The commenting
ceased. They spoke. “Agent J will give a reckoning.”
J stood and took a deep breath. “I have
spent the blink of an eye in a place that is the intersection of many Agencies.
Our main goal is becoming the One Agency left standing. At times, the focus on
the main goal means that I have had to work with Agents from competing Agencies.
We all have stories of assets who have converted to another Agency. And we have
transformed others to our side. He looked around the gallery and saw various
Agents nodding in agreement.
“But this mission was about more than
that.” He gestured to his table. The table expanded and allowed everyone in the
gallery to see the beautifully intricate sand painting on the table.
J continued, “This is the final communique
I sent before I had to be extricated from the mission. As you can see, here and
here and here are the resources I used.” As he spoke various areas of the
mandala glowed, showing various patterns and connections.
“Yes, some manipulation of water here,
several instances where restorative effects were utilized to complete a conversion
there. But again, nothing more than what any of us have done. Yes. I used
Agency resources. But that is my job. That is what we all are supposed to do:
use our resources to secure assets and ensure a final victory. I had twelve
main assets. All but one were completely loyal to me. And even he was useful to
furthering our mission.”
Agent L stood up. “You would have us
believe that the things that have gone missing are a line item mistake?” He
laughed. “There is no way that could happen!” A murmur of agreement began to
swell.
J turned and looked at L. “You’re right.
That couldn’t happen. Unless,” he paused to allow the whispers to subside.
“Unless someone was smuggling funds out for their own purposes.” He swept his
arm across the table and the mandala was wiped away, replaced by fresco after
fresco filled with images of death, torment, and destruction.
“Here is proof that Agent L has been
setting up shop on his own.” Edges of mayhem began to trickle through the
watching Agents.
J pitched his voice to carry over the din.
“L has wanted to set up his own Agency since time immemorial. He has been
smuggling resources from the Agency and selling his services to the highest
bidder. In particular, to torment all of humanity. This hearing isn’t an
accounting of my actions! It is an accounting of Agent L!”
Agent L leapt on top of his table. “Of
course, you assholes!” he shouted. “We spend all of our resources learning
information about humanity. Why? To bring about peace and harmony? What a
flaming sack of syphilitic sphincters! Humans are the bane of all existence!
They deserve to be wiped off the face of all eternity!”
He snatched the Agency pin from the scarf
around his neck. “I don’t need to start my own Agency when I can just take over
this one!”
He threw the pin at the Dais. It smashed
and flashed vividly in front of the Guardians. All of their eyes were blinded
momentarily. L rushed the Dais.
Before he could get there, Agent J vaulted
his table and tackled L from behind. L ducked into a side roll. He swept his
leg back and around, tripped J and used him to break his own fall. J’s head smacked
against the floor. He kept his arms around L and swung around, using the
momentum to continue his roll and landed straddling L.
Righteous anger flashed in his eyes. “You
dare to think you can lead the Agency?” Stars filled his vision as concussion
tried to fill his head.
The ever present smirk on L’s face didn’t
falter. “You haven’t stopped me yet!” he laughed. He thrust his hips up, twisted
his body, and threw J off of him.
J rolled across the floor, careening off
the Guardians that were staggering around, blinking their eyes and shaking
their heads. L leapt on top of the Dais, pulling the scarf from around his
neck. The scarf stiffened and became a multi-flanged staff with red fire
spurting from the extensions. He swung it over his head and slashed it towards
the Committee members.
The eyes of the Guardians re-engaged at
that moment. All four of them emitted a roar that split the skies. They
launched themselves between the flaming staff and the Committee. They planted
their feet and stretched their wings, flowing together to form a writhing
energy-shield, swirling with an opalescence brilliance.
The staff met the Guardians and there was
a vivid purple-white flash of light and an explosive crack of electricity. The
concussive sound rooted L where he was and held him in an invisible grip. He
was completely trapped in the power that surrounded the Committee. His muscles
strained against the energy that pulled him closer to them. He could not break
free. He knew that when he arrived at their inner sanctum, he would be erased
from existence as if he had never even existed.
The Three stood silently watching his
struggle. Then, one lifted a single finger. L dropped to the floor, panting.
Everyone waited for the death blow that was sure to come.
“Agent L.” A mighty wind whooshed through
the Hall, carrying the voices of the Triumvirate. “You were one of our top
Agents. You were in line to one day be considered for joining the Triumvirate.
But based on the evidence, along with your actions today, you are being
expulsed from the Agency.”
L struggled to his feet. “You’re not going
to have your minions kill me?” he panted.
The Committee answered, “No. We are
occasionally merciful. But, this will not be mercy for you. You will continue
to exist. You will retain the knowledge you’ve gained until now. But, now, the
entire Agency will be set against you. You will live with the knowledge of what
you no longer have and every Agent will be actively working against you. And…”
The wind died down and an expectant hush filled the Hall. “You are condemned to
live among the very beings that you despise, the humans you deign to subjugate
and ensnare. You will be despised by those you cannot stand.”
The Triumvirate lifted a finger again.
Faster than lightning, one strand of the Guardian energy snaked over and ensnared
L’s foot. With a small flick, the Triumvirate tossed the energy strand towards
the wall. L shrieked as he sped towards the wall, fully expecting them to go
back on their word and have him smash to bits against the wall. At the last
second, the wall disappeared and he flew across the cosmos, towards his new
home.
Quietude descended upon the Hall once
again. As everyone chattered about the turn of events, Agent J looked at the
Triumvirate and said, “Well…I guess that one’s gone into the Void.”
He shook the dust from his shoes and
joined the other Agents.
