1. Perfect Day.

"You, you sorry fucking excuse for a plant. Do you honestly believe you can outsmart me? I am a highly freaking skilled and special agent, a savior, and a knowledgeable botanist. I will extract you from this pitiful excuse of soil where you've rooted yourself. You smelly piece of shit, trying to get one over me!"

As I knelt in the sweltering, sweaty jungles of Bolivia, my angry and low voice reverberated around me. I was attempting to unearth a stubborn and perilous plant, surrounded by this damn muddy silt that passed as the soil in these parts. It was no easy task, as one wrong move could result in a lengthy nap, with no clue as to when I would awaken. I had to be gentle.

There were these nobs along the roots and lower stems of this damn plant, bruise those just by accident enough, and volatile compounds would evaporate, would absorb through the skin and lungs. Sedative fumes. I laid out a special cloth beside me, where I would carefully wrap this pathetic excuse of a plant and place it in my collection bag for safekeeping. 

My irritation was palpable, and I channeled it into a stream of curses like a drunken sailor, hoping it would keep my hands steady and prevent me from rushing. Patience was crucial, but even for someone like me, it could wear thin. These kinds of environments were not suited to my nature. Too hot, too humid, and far too hazardous if you take the wrong step. It felt like I was defusing a bomb, and that had never been my preferred pastime, even as an adrenaline junkie.

I had been on this mission for two weeks now, my first official assignment as Special Agent Mimi Springcove. And even though we were in Bolivia, I had all the necessary permits with me. We hadn't encountered many people along the way, but, as luck would have it, I had a few locations to investigate in this area as well.

There was a facility nearby for me to check. Evil or not, that remained the question of the day. It was relatively easy for me to decide if I could get close enough to their air vents, but my primary aim here was to collect these plants. It was just once again time to smell those damn pheromones coming from the air vents.

This mission combined my roles as the leader of my organization, a rebel leader, and a special agent of the freaking NSA with the task of conducting field missions sanctioned by the Bolivian government. Of course, this has been my NSA mission to come into the jungle and get some plants. Sure sounds easy, but reality sucks. I had my travel pack secured around my waist, containing my specially customized Glock, my identification, permits for excavation and botanical sampling, as well as charts and maps. So, in case anyone questioned my intentions, I had my documents in order.

 I wasn't alone; there were two other female agents with me. They were shifters. Nina Stillman, standing at almost 180 cm tall, had a busty figure with a natural DD or maybe E cup size. Her wide hips and relatively narrow waist made her resemble a blonde bombshell, and she played her role extremely well. But she was also as lethal as they come. She was a canine shifter, not just a normal wolf, but also a dire wolf, hyena, jackal, coyote, and a few foxes. She had several different forms, although her shape-changing was slower than mine.

The other girl, Tina Wexford, was also tall but not as curvy. Maybe a C cup. Her narrow face, pale yellow eyes, and tight expression revealed that she was actually the rarest of shifters, a bird shifter. She could transform into an eagle or a hawk, but what truly set her apart was her ability to become a flock of starlings, about 30 of them.

I had rescued her and Nina a few years ago, so it was a surprise to see two of my rescues now fully fledged agents. They were ironclad professionals, and because of my alpha female status, they saw me as their alpha. This meant I had two bodyguards, which could be a little vexing at times since I was more than capable of defending myself. But that's just how things were.

Finally, I managed to get the damn plant off the ground when Tina spoke to me telepathically, "Be careful, some guys are coming out. There's an armed guy in a lab coat and more armed guards."

I groaned in my mind. A guy in a lab coat carrying a gun was never a good sign. It meant he was either paranoid or just enjoyed playing doctor or scientist. Either way, it wasn't good news. But we were almost finished in this place. I still hadn't figured out what this place was all about, but I had a good excuse to get close to the air vents, even with the run fence. All I had to do was walk alongside the fence to reach a certain tree where I had spotted a particular plant growing. From there, it would be relatively easy to see the inner yard of the compound and smell the pheromones.

Oh, I was really hoping this wouldn't be a nasty place. We still had plants to collect, my plate was already full, and I knew that once I finished here, my schedule would be packed for the next few weeks, maybe even months. We had so many missions ready to deploy and we needed more staff.

I carefully placed the plant on a cloth, wrapped it up, and grabbed another bag. I put the specimen in the bag, tied the strings loosely, and stood up. Opening the heavy bag hanging from my hip, I placed the bagged plant inside my large collection bag and closed it securely.

I turned around and stood at the edge of the jungle, keeping a close eye on the men milling about in the yard. The guy had a Glock, not as fancy as mine, but he moved like an agent. This was not a good sign. Suddenly, something pricked my neck, and my instincts kicked in. I moved closer to the tree, determined to get that orchid out of there. One scientist was looking sharply in my direction as he walked by. He gestured to the guards and walked closer.

I maintained my pace, trying to appear relaxed and focused on finding my plants. I was dressed in shorts, a strap top, and sneakers. My red, curly hair was pulled up in a high ponytail, and I had some makeup on, so I didn't look like a teenager. I was in good shape, with my muscles rippled under my skin, and I had a tan from being here for a while, so I wasn't as pale as usual. I had a travel pack around my waist and a collection bag on my hip, with a strap slung over my opposite shoulder for security. It was the perfect outfit for the task at hand.

I was getting closer to the tree when he shouted, "Stop or I'll shoot! Step out of there! I can see you! Slowly, missy, you have some explaining to do!"

His voice was filled with tension. I calmly walked towards the fence, opening my travel pack and taking out my ID, permit, and official maps that allowed me to collect plants. This was just perfect. The NSA had informed every known facility in the area about our mission and had got their cooperation. If this particular facility had no idea about it, then it wasn't a very good facility. And he probably knew that.

I said to him calmly, opening my badge, "Special Agent Mimi Springcove, NSA. I assumed that every facility in the area was informed about this mission and had given their approval."

I let the man examine my badge, his expression growing even more sour as he tried to find a motive for them to be here and not knowing about my mission. 

I presented him with my permit from the Bolivian government, which authorized me to collect and harvest plant specimens, and provided maps indicating where to find them.

The man carefully examined my papers, handed them back, and remarked, "It appears that you are here on official business. We have slightly distanced ourselves from the USA, so it's possible that the NSA hasn't reached us yet. However, would you mind clarifying a few things? What exactly are you seeking here, and are you alone?"

I replied, maintaining a professional tone, "I'm sorry, but that information is classified. I cannot disclose the specifics of our mission to civilians, as it pertains to national security for both the USA and Bolivia. I am not alone; I have two other operatives who are also collecting specimens. We will be finished here soon."

It felt strange to be posing as a government agent. But then again, I was the actual agent of the NSA. I was no fake. The scientist studied me intently, never revealing his own identity. I resisted the urge to push for answers, as I didn't want to make him nervous.

He continued to observe me and suggested, "You don't really look like a special agent. Perhaps you would like to come to our facility for a cup of coffee and discuss what you're doing here, and how we can assist you. I would hate to think that we are hindering your important mission in any way."

I smiled politely and declined, saying, "Thank you for the offer, but I am on a tight schedule. The specimens are sensitive, and time is of the essence. We must transport them to their next location as soon as possible. So, I have to decline."

The man smiled back at me. He was taller and thinner than Damon, with brown eyes that peered out from beneath thin eyebrows. His slightly long nose and wide-set eyes, along with his not-so-attractive, almost pouty mouth, did not make him any less dangerous.

He remarked, "What are you looking for near the fence? I know we don't have proper signage to keep intruders away, but if they all looked as cute as you, I might consider skipping signs altogether."

I politely smiled and responded, "I am searching for a particular orchid in that tree. Its seeds are valuable in certain medical settings, and we have a top-quality plant lab where it can be cultivated and cared for. We are ensuring the species' survival. As you can see, that tree is quite old and may not be around forever, so I am rescuing the orchid and relocating it to a better environment where it can thrive."

He glanced at the tree and nodded. I approached the tree and effortlessly climbed up to the branch. I retrieved an empty canvas bag from my collection bag. Although this orchid was harmless to me, it posed a threat to Damon and the pack. It could be dangerous for magical creatures. After securing it in the canvas bag, I dropped the orchid into my collection bag and descended from the tree.

The man looked at me and said, "Take care and watch out for any nasty bugs. There is quite a collection of them."

I reassured him, "No worries, I have repellent on me. It seems we're finished here, so let's head back to our car. We still have a few more places to check out before returning to the States."

The man nodded, turned around, and started walking back, speaking to the guards. I overheard him instructing them to ensure that we were gone before the next shipment arrived. As I walked away from the fence and back into the jungle, I informed Tina and Nina that we were done there.

I groaned inwardly as this place reeked, and I would prioritize reporting it as soon as I got back to base. There was no rest for the wicked. I knew my schedule was already packed, and I was trying to figure out who in our team could take on this mission as their top priority.

We still had about a week's worth of plant hunting to do, but travel took time, and not every location was in Bolivia. Jungles were scattered everywhere, and we had obtained permits from every country to collect our specimens. When I reached Tina and Nina, who were waiting a little further away, both of them with full bags, I informed them about the creepy scientist and the terrible condition of the place.

They couldn't directly get involved since they were part of my new division in the NSA, but I had others I could rely on. Nina collected certain types of plants with medicinal properties, which would be useful for humans, and Tina focused on collecting magical plants. In my time as a world savior, plants had saved many lives. Colin would be interested in the majority of what Nina was collecting.

In time once they would have shipped to states those that were deemed to to be shipped there, and some plants would probably end to Dresden, Constantine, and even for wulfe, that is he was coming back to work. I had no idea what they were doing. Were they a pack already and how long the vampire heat they would have? I knew and felt the absence of Rick, Magnum, and Wulfe very strongly, as well as Murdock, Dexter, and Colin. They were all doing something with Salvatore's and I had no fucking idea what. but as there were over three million people in my organization, I had people doing the work when they were free. 

We walked and jogged along the path back to our car, the sun casting a warm glow on our faces. The mile seemed shorter with the vibrant colors of wildflowers lining the trail. The sound of our footsteps echoed in the quiet air, accompanied by the occasional chirping of birds. 

As we reached my car, I opened the door, the scent of leather wafting out. The girls quickly settled into the back seat, preferring the comfort of their own space. I couldn't help but feel a tinge of disappointment, but my usual road rage quickly took over. 

We placed our collection bags in the trunk, the cool air conditioning ensuring that the plants would stay fresh. Once we arrived at one of my houses, I planned to take a much-needed bath before heading to the base. The girls had already driven their cars to my yard and were likely grabbing a snack before heading to the base themselves. 

I despised the sweltering weather, my body drenched in sweat. The thought of stepping into a refreshing shower, changing my clothes, and then returning to the base to check on my plants and mission progress was a welcome relief. We would continue the collection tomorrow or the next day, depending on whether the rain would pour, turning the roads into a treacherous mess. 

As we drove back to my house, there weren't many other vehicles on the road. However, the shoddy condition of the road caused a steady stream of curses to escape my lips.

"Freaking road! This is unbelievable!"

I warned the girls of the upcoming bumps, my frustration evident in my voice. "Fucking bumps up ahead, so beware!"

This was nothing new to girls. They had soon gotten used to this language that I spouted.

Small trees lay fallen across the road, their branches brushing against my car. I slowed down, aware of the potential slipperiness if I were to drive over them at top speed. This was far from the glamorous image of a special agent on an NSA mission. Perhaps next time, I would think things through before accepting such a task. But for now, we were over halfway done, with only a week or so left before it was back to work. 

I pondered the time that had passed, realizing it had been about three weeks since the pack had gone to have vampire heat. If it were a month-long process, it might be nearing its end. What would happen after that? Well, the future was uncertain, and one could never truly predict what lay ahead.