Spy Amongst Spies

The first few weeks in Stiff’s organization felt like stepping into a viper's nest, every move scrutinized, every word weighed. After my initiation, I was assigned to the group’s espionage department. This wasn’t the ragtag team of mercenaries I’d expected—these were professionals. Black ops espionage was their specialty, and now it was mine, too.

It was nothing new, at least not for Clarke. For David, it definitely should be so it was.

They called themselves “The Veil.” Their job wasn’t to kick down doors or fire bullets. They worked in the shadows, gathering intelligence, sabotaging rivals, and occasionally pulling strings for the highest bidder. It was a small unit—seven operatives, each with a codename to match their skills.

My codename? "Shade."

It didn’t take long for me to realize how deep Stiff’s network ran. From corrupt politicians to private militias, the man had his hands in everything. And The Veil was his scalpel, used to cut away anything that threatened his empire.

“You don’t ask questions here,” said Lynx, one of my teammates, during my first briefing. Her tone was sharp, her eyes colder than the steel blade she carried at her hip. “You do the job, you come back alive, and you don’t leave a trace. That’s all that matters.”

The job was straightforward, at least on the surface. We were sent to infiltrate a pharmaceutical company suspected of withholding a cure for a deadly disease. The official story was that we’d expose their corruption and force them to release the cure. The truth, as I discovered, was that Stiff wanted their research for himself.

Breaking into the facility was easier than expected. With Lynx’s hacking skills and my own knack for quiet entry, we bypassed security and slipped into the lab. The air was thick with the scent of chemicals and the hum of refrigeration units.

“You’re up, Shade,” Lynx said, nodding toward a computer terminal.

M’s voice echoed in my head. “Accessing system... Please maintain a casual demeanor while I retrieve the data.”

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. Casual demeanor wasn’t exactly my strong suit.

“Got it,” M said a moment later. “Downloading files now. This company has been developing the cure for a year but withheld it to drive up demand for existing treatments. Profits over lives—charming.”

“That’s all we need,” I whispered, pulling the flash drive from the terminal. “Let’s go.”

But as we slipped out of the lab, I caught a glimpse of something that made my stomach churn. In a side room, hidden from the main facility, were rows of refrigerated containers. Each bore a tag with a name and a date.

“M, what am I looking at?”

“Human test subjects,” M replied grimly. “They’ve been experimenting on living patients. The survival rate is... abysmal.”

I clenched my fists. This wasn’t just corporate greed—it was outright butchery.

“Shade,” Lynx hissed. “What’s the holdup?”

“Nothing,” I lied, stepping away from the door.

For now, I couldn’t do anything about it. But I burned the image into my mind. Evidence like this could bring the whole operation down someday.

*

Back at base, the team celebrated the mission’s success, but I couldn’t shake the weight of what I’d seen. Stiff’s organization wasn’t just corrupt—it was a machine that thrived on human suffering. And I was now a cog in that machine.

The only way to destroy it was from the inside.

Over the following months, I became an expert at playing the long game. Every mission was an opportunity to gather more evidence. Stiff trusted The Veil to operate independently, which gave me just enough room to maneuver.

Mindy remained my lifeline to the outside world. Through encrypted channels, I sent her everything I could gather—documents, recordings, photos. She cataloged it all, creating a dossier that painted a damning picture of Stiff’s empire.

“Clarke,” she said during one late-night call, “I know we decided this was necessary, but you’re playing with fire. If they catch you... These guys are even more dangerous than we were when we served under Stiff in the military.”

“They won’t,” I said firmly. “Not as long as I’m careful.”

“Careful?” she snapped. “You’re infiltrating a criminal organization run by a guy who framed us for a crime we didn’t commit. Careful went out the window the moment you signed up for this insanity and I supported it.”

She wasn’t wrong, but we couldn’t back out now. Too many lives were at stake.

*

One of the most dangerous missions I undertook involved sabotaging a rival group. The target was an arms dealer who’d refused to sell to Stiff. Our job was to make it look like an accident—a fire in their warehouse, sparked by a “faulty” electrical system.

The team worked with mechanical precision, planting incendiary devices and setting the scene. But as we prepared to leave, I noticed a group of workers still inside the building.

“They’re just civilians,” I said, my voice low.

“Not our problem,” Lynx replied, already heading for the exit.

I hesitated, my fists clenching. I couldn’t let this happen.

“M,” I whispered. “Divert them.”

“Already on it,” M said. Moments later, an alarm blared inside the warehouse. The workers panicked, abandoning their posts and fleeing toward the exits.

Lynx glared at me as the alarm echoed through the night. “What the hell was that?”

“Faulty system,” I said, keeping my voice even. “Happens all the time in old buildings like this.”

She didn’t look convinced, but there was no time to argue. The fire ignited seconds later, engulfing the warehouse in flames.

As we drove away, I felt a pang of guilt. I’d saved the workers, but the warehouse—and its contents—were gone.

“Was that worth it?” M asked.

“Yes,” I said without hesitation.

*

Little by little, I built my case against Stiff. Each mission revealed another piece of the puzzle—money laundering, human trafficking, illegal weapons deals. The deeper I dug, the darker it got.

But with every success came greater scrutiny. Lynx and the others weren’t fools. They noticed when I lingered too long at a terminal or asked too many questions.

“You’re acting different,” Lynx said one night, her tone suspicious.

“Just doing my job,” I said, forcing a smirk.

She narrowed her eyes. “You better be.”

The turning point came during a mission to recover a stolen shipment of rare minerals. Stiff had his sights set on a prototype energy weapon, and the minerals were the final component.

The mission went south quickly. The rival group had anticipated our arrival, and a firefight broke out in the middle of the city.

Bullets whizzed past as I ducked behind cover, my mind racing.

“M, any suggestions?”

“Retreat is the most logical option,” M said. “However, it may also raise suspicion among your teammates.”

I gritted my teeth. Staying would mean risking exposure—or worse, death. But running would make me look guilty.

With a deep breath, I charged into the fray, using my Bastion abilities sparingly. A sudden burst of energy of Morphreversion removed turned shoes to particles and knocked a group of enemies off their feet, giving my team the upper hand.

I made sure I was noticed using my powers, but it was still noticed that something I did took them down.

When the dust settled, Lynx gave me an approving nod. “Not bad, Shade.”

I forced a smile, but inside, I knew I’d just dodged a bullet—literally and figuratively.

Back at base, I uploaded the mission data to my encrypted drive, adding it to the growing collection of evidence.

“M, how much longer do you think we can keep this up?” I asked.

“Based on current trends, your cover will likely remain intact for another two to three months,” M replied. “However, the probability of discovery increases with each mission.”

“Great,” I muttered. “No pressure.”