Chapter 21

Nyx was relieved to be back in Texas, having escaped his covert mission at Joint Base Andrews. Upon listening to the radio on the drive back, something he rarely ever did, he heard the aftermath of Avery’s plan. Nyx didn’t know how to feel about his participation, but he was safe, and that’s all that really mattered at the end of the day to him.

The team had reported success so far in each of their individual assignments. Thanks to Avery, all communications have been routed with special encryption that would take even the most advanced computer outside Avery a millennia to crack. They were able to have phone communications and receive updates.

Not that Nyx was very concerned about leading the group, but it meant that Avery was growing in awareness and power, and the walls could close in on Nyx even faster if it was needed. The only update he had yet to receive was from Tremor. If he had known the status of his task, then maybe Nyx will start to feel a semblance of normalcy.

Nyx settled in to make himself a garlic and herb chicken breast. There still wasn’t much for food in the house but bags of frozen chicken. The phone buzzed just as he had sat down to cut into the juicy fillet. ‘Son of a—'

The news had come down from none other than Avery himself. The failure from Tremor had sent Nyx into a fury, sending the paper plate that contained his lunch flying across the kitchen. Now he was pissed and hungry. He knew that his usefulness would end at some point, and his own life would be in jeopardy. He just didn’t want it to be by someone else’s carelessness.

I had told him not to be creative. Just do it.

The result was exactly why he had never liked working with a team. He could never depend on people to get the job done. One way or another, he would always be the one doing it himself.

“You really need to learn how to control your anger,” Avery said through the phone.

Nyx had thought that the phone call had already ended. No matter. “That’s easy for you to say. You don’t have some cowboy FBI agent trying to capture your ass.”

“I do. I just handle it a little bit differently. More calculated.”

“I guess it’s up to me to take out Brandt.”

“No. Send Lucious as well.”

“Lucious? Why? I’m perfectly capable of handling this.”

“Because Lucious will terminate Edward Brandt’s wife, Joyce. You don’t have much of a history with women.”

Avery was right about that. Nyx had plenty of reasons not to target women and children. “Why go for the wife?”

“Because I have lost track of Edward Brandt. Without a location, I cannot be of assistance. It’s in his nature to protect the people he cares about. If Lucious goes after Joyce, then we can draw him in. You can lay in wait for when Brandt comes to the rescue.”

“Yes, that could work.”

“I have run the necessary calculations. It stands at a ninety-five percent success rate.”

Nyx was slightly bothered by an emotionless voice hidden behind silicon and circuitry, giving him uncertain numbers. “Ninety-five? Why not run a scenario that has one hundred percent success?”

“Because human beings are wildcard variables. It is impossible to have absolute certainty when dealing with that element. There is always a hidden variable that you refer to as luck and must be considered.”

Nyx didn’t believe in luck. He believed that luck was a by-product of due diligence and preparation. “Luck? What about skill, preparation, and surprise? Surely that has to bump the number up a little higher.”

“Accounted for. There’s still a less than five percent chance that you and Lucious become captured, dead, or both.”

If Avery was trying to sell it, Nyx didn’t want to buy it. If he had a choice in the matter, he would’ve turned it down flat. Unfortunately, the reward had outweighed the risk in this situation. “Okay. What’s the plan?”

“I will forward a detailed outline to your printer of what you need and where to go. There will be a couple of days of preparation, as Lucious is currently in Washington.”

The printer sputtered out ten pages in total. Nyx was still amazed at how fast Avery could whip up a batch of plans. He thought of the old days when people would sit behind a typewriter, sometimes spending hours putting words to paper. He had made peace with what Avery was, but not at how fast he performed.

I guess this is it.

Nyx picked up the stack from the printer’s tray. The first two pages were further tasks for Echo and Slim. He’ll get to them in a moment. The following eight pages outlined in significant detail how Lucious and he were to take out Brandt.

He found the plan brilliant, but what else did he expect from someone or something capable of such precision? Maybe Nyx was actually starting to admire Avery. Nonetheless, he needed to get Lucious on the phone and discuss the actions necessary to see its resolution.

“Avery sent the synopsis to my phone,” Lucious spoke as soon as he answered the call.

“Everything?”

“Yes. Is this really happening?”

“It appears so. Your medical records have likely already been created, so you might as well get started on your acting. I’ll meet you in three days.”

“Roger.”

The phone disconnected. Short and sweet. No questions, only the task at hand. It was one of the things Nyx respected about Lucious. Unlike the rest of the group, Lucious was self-aware and experienced enough to keep things simple.

Now it was time to give Echo and Slim their assignment.