The Phoenix Project by Kris Powers

“Informing you as requested,
General. We are entering into lunar orbit,” a crisp male voice said.
         “Thank—you,” Nadine said and thumbed
the earpiece off. She dragged her feet into the bedroom and changed into a
fresh uniform. Nadine took cautious steps toward the nearest lift and paused
briefly before the doors parted for her.
         She thought of the man that
she was to mate with while the elevator took her to her destination. He was
forty—eight, good looking, and charming according to the initial report she
saw. The photo of him sent to her afterwards disappointed her. This Elliot
Fredericks looked stuck—up, arrogant, and God knew what else. Nadine thought of
other disparaging qualities her newly assigned mate was bound to have as she
boarded her small, biplane—sized shuttle and guided it sluggishly out of the
bay.
         Earth grew larger in front of
her tiny personal shuttle. The surface eventually resolved itself into the east
coast of Russia.
         Maria saluted the MERA guard
when she stepped from her duckling ship and walked into a large and lush
courtyard framed with tall hedges. A small woman rushed to greet her. The mouse
of a girl with thinning blond hair had a rank of   acolyte.
         “The Council is not here,
Veteran,” she said, saluting her superior.
         “They’re not here? I don’t
understand.”
         “Yes, Veteran. They left
instructions requesting that you go to Communications Lounge B. The Prime Counsel
said she would contact you there,” she replied in a tiny voice.
         “Thank—you, Attendant.”
         She rushed through the
entrance and down the ornate corridors. Nadine ascended mahogany steps to the
second floor and hurried into a small, secluded, but comfortable chamber with a
screen on one side. A brown studded leather couch occupied the other side of
the narrow room. Nadine sat down and pumped her code into the pad fastened to
the arm. The screen immediately sparked to life in front of her and the aged
face of Catherine came into being.
         “My student.”
         “My Teacher,” Nadine replied.
         “It is time to give you a new
lesson. First, do you know where we are?”
         Nadine extended her senses.
They had played this fox and hound game before as part of her lessons. She
could feel the Council somewhere on the planet no further out than the solar
system.
         “Find me.”
         Nadine sensed them somewhere
on a nearby continent.
         It was Eastern Europe. Latvia.
Riga. They were
at the Coalition Headquarters.
         Catherine saw the concern
radiating from her pupil. “No need to worry, my student. We are in our private
apartments.”
         Nadine sighed in relief. Many
assassination attempts had been carried out there. That was why the Council had
moved their office to MERA Headquarters, citing the presence of other
Aggressives to keep them safe. Their private apartments were a set of rooms
known to themselves and few others. They   moved about by way of a maze of secret passages within the predominately
military complex.
         “Teacher, what lesson would
you teach me within our HQ?” Nadine asked.
         “Your stumbling block is here.
We are here to remove him.”
         “General Nadir?” Nadine asked,
remembering the name of the head of diplomatic relations.
         “Yes.”
         “Forgive me, my teacher, but I
don’t understand. Why do you need me for this?”
         “We are going to teach you
something new,” Catherine replied.
         Nadine’s curiosity was piqued.
“What do you have to teach me?”
         “You require a lesson in
manipulation, specifically body manipulation,” Catherine replied.
         “Yes, my teacher.”
         “Keep your focus: follow me. I
will have my attention on our subject. I can not focus you in this action. If
you wander, I can’t bring you back into it.”
         “I