CHAMPION FIELD REPORT

AGENT STRIKER

"At 0900 hours the prisoner identified as Aaron Godfrey (also known by Champion codename Crusher) was being prepped for transfer to temporary holding cell via personal military transport hover-car assigned to Champion Agent Striker. Preparation for prisoner transport was supervised by Agent Derek Cole. A contingent of eighteen shock troopers was assigned to Agent Cole. Agent Cole’s squadron was authorized to use non-lethal force in the transport of prisoner. Site of preparation for transfer was on improvised containment zone 3 miles east of populated area."

“Agent Striker, we are approaching the crash site,” Striker’s pilot Gibbs announced from the front of the hover-car.

“All right, Gibbs,” she said looking up from her pad.

She was tired and frustrated. She had captured Crusher and her mission was almost complete. He would have been interrogated by now. Perhaps they would know why he had betrayed the Alliance. But, no—the chase continued. She typed her report.

"Prisoner was detained with mind-band. Prisoner isolated in cell guarded by squadron. No unauthorized personnel allowed inside cell or around perimeter. Prisoner broke through door of holding cell. Prisoner eluded Agent Cole’s detainment through superior physical strength and agility (see forthcoming report by Field Agent Peters, pending medical approval by attending physician). Prisoner caused nonlethal bodily harm to fifteen agents and caused three fatalities. Prisoner used heightened physical abilities to escape. Heightened speed and strength and invulnerability aided prisoner in breaking free of containment zone. Prisoner escaped containment zone at ten thirty. Prisoner was headed toward populated zone of Territory Five.”

God, she thought, why had she left him in the care of the agents? Perhaps, she could have prevented his escape….

Champion Agent Striker was alerted at ten thirty-two of prisoner breach of containment area. Agent Striker was positioned in Territory Five Main Population Center (see attached report ‘Civilian Rally and Information Campaign.’)

The doubts filled her again. Why had she failed? No, she thought, she would not give in to doubt. She isolated incidents. She laid out the facts. It was her only path. She did what Ultra had taught her to do. She owed him this.

Agent Striker set out to intercept prisoner near Fortress Five. Agent Striker authorized two contingents of Security Forces to intercept prisoner. Agent Striker authorized aerial surveillance of prisoner and immediate area. Prisoner arrived at Territory school. Security forces exchanged fire. Superior physical abilities of prisoner deflected fire. Prisoner continued to run and engaged with Alliance forces at school. One Alliance officer, Inspector Nathan Reynolds, sustained bodily injury during encounter with prisoner (eyewitness report by Inspector Reynolds forthcoming pending medical release). Champion special psychic operative Kristine Raven sustained bodily injury during encounter with prisoner (eyewitness report by agent Raven forthcoming pending medical release). Citizen Adam Cotton, veteran, 72, sustained bodily injury during encounter with prisoner (eyewitness report forthcoming pending interview). Explosion of undetermined origin occurred at ten forty-six. In aftermath of explosion at ten forty-nine, prisoner had escaped detection. Aerial forces found no evidence of prisoner’s whereabouts. As of twelve fifty at filing of this report, prisoner is still at large. Possible missing person: Citizen Daniel Cotton, aged thirteen, was participating in information gathering session when encountered prisoner in close proximity. Young Citizen Cotton not sighted after explosion— current whereabouts unknown.

Striker closed the report and sent it. She paused. She thought of the boy. Dead? Probably. She looked outside at the passing trees of Territory Five as they approached the crash-site. And then she reached into her pouch and pulled out a small round coin.

“Oh, Gibbs— I forgot. I found this. Fell off that Outlander,” she said to her pilot, smiling. “It’s all old and crusty. I know how you like that.”

Gibbs reached over and held out his hand. She dropped it in his palm and he took a look out of the corner of his eye while he steered the hover-car closer to the ground.

“Yeah, thanks,” Gibbs replied, through a half-smile. “Well— that is something.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. There's a woman on one side,” he said as he read the name. “Susan B. Anthony.”

“They didn't put many women on those things?”

“You had to be a pretty kick-ass woman to get on a coin. Pretty rare.”

“Well, then— aren't you lucky? Sharing your ride with two kick-ass ladies.”

“Yeah, lucky me,” he said rolling his eyes as he placed the coin on the dashboard.

“Agent Striker, incoming message from The Hall. From Commander Freedom’s Office," the automated voice of the hover-car stated.

“All right, put them through,” she shouted back, putting her headphones on. The video screen faded up in front of her and she saw General Rush approaching the screen. In the background, Commander Freedom was wearing a navy blue suit and speaking to members of the War Council. It had been a few months since she had seen him on a vid-screen and many more since they had met in person.

“Agent Striker, report!” General Rush barked through the vid-screen.

“General Rush, I had just filed my —“

“Yes, I read it,” the General barked back. It was impossible that he had read anything so fast, but Striker was not about to point that out. Ultra would have done so and taken pleasure in humiliating the man but Striker lacked the malice and the energy. “What is your present whereabouts?”

“I am en route to the crash site to be briefed by the investigating crew,” she replied, surprised that she was able to finish her sentence. She hesitated for a moment but then said, “Sir, I report directly to Commander Freedom, sir. Is Commander Freedom present?”

“Of course,” General Rush said, pausing for a moment to allow the awkwardness over chain of command to linger. “I look forward to reading that report. The Commander would like a word with you,” he said as Commander Freedom approached.

“Striker, good day,” he said. The Commander, though old, was quite handsome and still in remarkable shape—his enhanced physiology letting him live far longer than the ordinary man. But his eyes looked weary.

“Good day, sir!” she saluted.

“I just skimmed your report, “ he said and she knew that he had—that by skimming he meant committing each sentence to memory while identifying four or five different ways of phrasing each sentence for more efficiency and stronger conveyance of meaning. Of course, he was far too polite to make any criticisms knowing her present state of mind. “And I am supportive of your need to unearth any new data at the crash-site.”

“Striker,” he said, in that fatherly tone that he used with all his younger team members. “Your mission is of imperative importance but it has changed—is your telepath available?”

“Gibbs, can you manage a telepathic conference while driving,” Striker asked her pilot.

“Psychic radio coming right up,” Gibbs said. He was a lower level telepath, capable of receiving and conveying thoughts but unable to probe much deeper. He was also a damn good pilot and able to function as both simultaneously. His eyes grew bluer as he established a telepathic link with Commander Freedom and Striker.

“Thank you,” Freedom’s thoughts echoed in Striker’s mind. “I cannot risk any breach of security. This is official Champions business. Striker, we must determine if the crash was an accident or in fact an attack.”

“Sir, it would appear—“

“Striker, there must be no doubt. If this was an external attack then all preparations for the Peace Accord will be in jeopardy. The War Council is gathering.”

“But, if it is an attack—“

“Then we will respond in kind. But such an action will undo years and years of careful and painstaking work. We must be certain. Striker, I have not fought this long to see long and lasting peace undone by the unknown. I need your attention to this matter.”

“But Crusher—and the boy—?”

“I have dispatched Agent Whisper. He will take over the search for Crusher. I need you to focus on this crash investigation.”

She was silent.

“Striker, I need you for this. We will avenge Ultra. But now you will investigate. You will share your findings with no one else and report directly to me at the Hall of Champions tomorrow for the memorial service for Ultra. After you have completed this task, you will rejoin the search.”

“Yes sir,” she complied.

The thoughts drifted away like a waking dream and Agent Striker sat in the dark silence. Her mission had changed. The Peace Accord, Striker thought to herself. After a hundred years of fighting, Commander Freedom still held on to the hope of peace with Kill and his forces. The possibility baffled her. No one had known any other way besides constant warfare. And now with Ultra dead, what chance was there?

“Striker—we’ve arrived at the crash-site,” Gibbs announced, his eyes now returned to normal.

She steeled herself and looked out the window. In the distance she could see the gnarled wreckage of Ultra’s hover-car. She adjusted her mask, gathered her tools, and got out of her hover-car to begin her investigation.