Adopted Soldier

Alex was waiting for Oliver in front of the gates of his house, he checked the time, it was 07:40. It was then Alex received a text message from Oliver. "I'm sorry my comrade but we need to reschedule the meeting I have with your father, I have another mission that abruptly happened." Those were the words written in Oliver's message.

Alex sighed thinking that Oliver was a truly busy man. He then proceeded to report to his dad about Oliver's decision to reschedule, after giving the report Alex left the room.

Carlo lit a cigarette and started smoking, in his desk was a detailed report of Oliver's whole life right from his birth to the time he entered Cromer Public High School. Today Carlo wanted to test Oliver out, to see if he really was James Bourne who was part of the so-called elusive shadow mercenaries. Yet Oliver avoided him... Was this part of a bigger plan, if Oliver really is who he claims to be... Carlo started to think that Shadow Mercenaries was really an organization worthy of its name. Operating in the shadows, even falsifying such a detail background. What were they planning in positioning an agent near their home?

...

Oliver who was being doubted by Carlo was in a line to get the limited edition replica of the customized MRI Desert Eagle that was used by legendary officer Chuck N. Sagara. He was blissfully unaware that he had started the long term behind the scenes fight of Carlo and the shadow mercenaries.

...

Since there was no school today Alex had no way to naturally follow Rachel with her consent. If he was spotted he would be breaking number two in the mission revision not to make the girl uncomfortable. So he needed to watch her without her noticing. Alex looked at the tracking signal of Rachel, he placed a nano tracker on top of Rachel's food which of course she ate. Alex even wanted to place listening devices in Rachel's home, but knowing Kumiko she might immediately find those so Alex was forced not to continue that plan.

Alex suddenly noticed that Rachel's signal was moving. Alex went inside his room and took a suitcase that was labeled for long-range related missions.

...

Alex had followed Rachel into a mall, where Rachel started browsing. Alex had no way to follow Rachel without raising other people's suspicion.

Alex had a sudden thought, such a big mall must have something similar to a control room to monitor whatever is happening in the whole mall.

It didn't take long for Alex to figure out where the monitoring room for the mall was, based on the layout of the building.

Alex entered a place that had a label saying Authorized Personnel only. When Alex barged into the room, he saw two men who were too fat to be security guards watching a dozen monitors.

The two security guards got surprised by Alex barging into the room and got their stun guns out.

"Who are you?!" One of the guards asked, but Alex wasn't even going to bother answering he needed to find Rachel, so he scanned the monitors and saw Rachel buying a pair of shoes. Who then proceeded to go to a different store.

"It's an emergency I need to commandeer this room," Alex announced without looking at the two security guards.

"What the hell are you saying, you crazy kid?!" One of the guards shouted, but Alex didn't bother responding. Losing his patience one of the guards used his stun gun, Alex didn't even bother evading. The stun gun's two probes couldn't stick properly since Alex was wearing a Kevlar vest under his shirt.

"What the hell? Kid if you don't surrender quietly will be forced to call the police." Hearing this Alex without looking at anything but the monitors that where showing Rachel, took out his phone and called Renold.

Renold picked up the phone, "So how can I help you, Alex?"

Alex started explaining the situation to Renold. "Okay I understand your situation, pass the phone to one of the guards."

"Here catch." Alex threw his phone to one of the guards, without removing his sight on the monitors.

"Hello, who is this? The police chief? Really? Your just a friend of this crazy guy... Don't you know impersonating a police officer is a felony? What? I should be receiving a message right now?"

At that exact moment the security guard said those lines, someone spoke to the guards using their radios. "What, a special operative? Need to fully comply to his demands?"

The guard now understanding that the real Police chief was talking to him, started to sweat profusely. "I'm sorry sir, I didn't know." After a round of apologizing the guard returned Alex's phone.

"So Sir how should we help you?"

"There is no need anymore." Alex left the monitoring room since he saw Rachel was ready to leave the mall. The dumbfounded guards stood in their position staring blankly on the spot where Alex stood. 'What was that all about?'

...

Rachel was now moving to the market area. It seems like she was going to buy some food supplies. Alex was observing Rachel on the roof of a mid-rise building which he rented the whole top floor. Alex was using the scope of his AW50 sniper rifle to monitor Rachel. Alex even placed a small anemometer to measure the wind direction and speed just in case he needed to shoot.

Alex surveyed the area where Rachel could possibly go through and spotted a hostage situation that was happening approximately 300 meters from Rachel who was buying some strawberries. Alex was about 1,900 meters away from the hostage-taker, the effective range of Alex's rifle was 1,500 meters, but this distance was no problem for Alex. Alex double-checked his anemometer and adjusted his shooting position and when he was ready he pulled the trigger, using specialized rubber bullets Alex accurately hit the hand of the hostage-taker that was holding the gun. Once he dropped the gun the police officers at the scene immediately restrained the man.

...

The snipers of the police force were shocked... Who had made that shot? Since awhile ago they couldn't get a clear shot, so not one of them attempted to shoot since they might accidentally hit the hostage, yet one of them actually did it.

"Who was the one who made the shot?" All three snipers radioed in the same question. "Huh?" Not one of them was the one who made the shot... Then who was it?

...

Alex not caring about the aftermath of the hostage situation was following Rachel in a crowded street. Midway before reaching Rachel's house, Rachel bumped into Saya who joined her walk back to her house. While walking Saya looked behind, stared directly at Alex and winked.

Alex shrugged, he already knew that Saya had noticed him the moment she started talking to Rachel.

The two girls safely reached Rachel's house. Alex went home as well and reported to his father about the day he had.

...

"Hey, Rachel why did you buy so many new clothes?" Saya asked Rachel while they were eating dinner.

"Nothing I just felt like it." Hearing Rachel's answer Saya smiled slyly.

"You bought those to show off to Alex didn't you?" Rachel sprayed what she was drinking and started to splutter at Saya's unexpected question.

"Why do you even think that?! Why would I want to show off to Alex?! God! Can't a girl buy clothes without any meaning?"

Saya hearing Rachel's response started giggling, she remembered the face of that emotionless boy. 'Hey, Alex I think Rachel is too good for you.... You even have Evangeline, seriously what do they see in a stalker-like you?'