historical

"How are you doing, Skye?" It was the happy voice of a young man in his early twenties. Senon is the youngest and new officer on the team. He smiled brightly when his eyes fell on Anya Owen. If Jason was Anya's idol, she was this young man's idol.

Skye was Anya's hacker name. Usually, hackers keep gender-neutral nicknames or some code names. However, Anya preferred her gender. In their field, even criminals make fun of females. So she wanted to use her gender to normalize.

"Officer Owen." A tall man in his early thirties greeted her formally. Paxton talks less, is attentive to team members, and is a standby officer in the absence of Jason.

Another man late twenties nodded at her with an amiable smile. Melvin was born mute which didn't stop him from becoming an excellent programmer. He helps every team member in their missions by collecting data, sometimes helping them build secure software.

"Anya, was this mission adventurous?" A lady in her late twenties excitedly asked, approaching Anya. "I asked Chief Jason if I could join you on the ship, he scolded me." She grumbled in a low voice without letting Jason hear her. Luna might seem loud, she was a mood booster by making everyone happy with her nonsense.

Last but not the least, Anya Owen ends the beginning of the conversation with her eyes or a simple smile. Only people working close to her knew, provoking her was deadly.

This group is like a small family. Each one has their personality and they accept each other as they are.

One who brought them together was Jason. He was a whole package. Outsiders might just know him as a terror officer, only these five know the hard work he put in for it. There were times, he hardly slept for many days consecutively.

Jason looked at his teammates who were together after a long time. This time, the other four members arrived there just to meet Anya Owen.

They all had their different projects and also multiple projects at hand. The most complex one and longest one was Anya's so they naturally came to show their support.

Anya flashed a smile at Melvin, and she nodded in response to the rest.

Before she could open her lips to respond to their question, Jason signaled the four by his hand, saying Anya's mood wasn't good.

Everyone tactfully understood. Paxton took the lead, cutting off Anya's possible words, "Alright, let's not disturb Officer Owen."

"Yeah, we will catch up back in the city," Luna added cheerfully as she hugged Anya.

"Skye, have this." The youngest man handed her a lollipop and added, "You have to tell me about the ship network after you are back."

Before Anya could say anything, Luna chased after Senon, "Hey, why do you always give chocolate to her? I want one."

"No, you are not Skye." He argued, running around the car.

Melvin held out his fist and Anya gently bumped her fist. Then the four officers soon got into a car and left.

Anya looked at Jason who behaved as if he didn't know what happened just now and went to the elevator. She breathed a sigh out. It was true she wasn't in a mood to speak but a few words with her team won't hurt her.

In the elevator, Jason wasn't serious, rather he looked murderous, his lips were arced in a vicious smile. "The Chief Justice is probably going to ask if you could handle the case on your own." He meant the Chief Justice might consider handing over the remaining case to somebody else.

Anya's eyes glinted sharply. It wasn't just asking her, somebody was trying to take credit for her work by taking over her mission in the end.

He looked at Anya who was aloof, "And you know what to do, don't you?" He sneered with a hint of mockery for the man who was trying to snatch her hard work. He could solve it by talking but some fools don't understand until they slap themselves in the face.

Her words were no less sharp than her eyes that glowed in confidence, "Let me see who got the guts this time to go against Team Ace."

Team Ace was a small team separated from the main cyber security team. With Jason and his former chief's rigorous efforts, team Ace was formed to mainly operate on secret missions involving highly confidential information. The identity of these five officers to the world would be general cyber security officers but the special identity was only known to the insiders.

Jason is chief to the five officers who are specially chosen, trained, and hold special benefits than regular officers. Thus some people in the main cyber security team often try to challenge them, either to get into the Team Ace or to dissolve the Team Ace.

The officers who genuinely would like to work in a top-notch team will have the opportunity every six months. Only the shady officer will have wicked thoughts of snatching the almost complete mission by challenging the Ace Officer.

Melvin and Luna were often used to be the targets as Skye was very well known to cyber security for her achievements. However, recently Senon had become the target as he was the youngest who walked around with a lollipop in his mouth. But the young man plays those people like nonplaying characters of his game.

Jason hadn't expected somebody would dare to challenge Skye aka Anya Owen. However, it wasn't surprising considering her absence from the main office for two years.

The elevator door opened on the top floor. Anya followed Jason a step behind in the corridor. Her gaze went out to gauge the situation and unintendedly she caught someone through the glass wall. Her steps slowly seized and halted when she saw Alvin was still standing in the same position without moving.

Her fingers curled to a tight fist and her lips pressed to a thin line. She couldn't understand him. Given his temper, he should have left the port or caused her some trouble in anger. She couldn't quite explain what she was feeling while watching him standing alone while nobody was daring to approach him.

In the past, she never thought of seeing Alvin or speaking with him. After these few days with Alvin, she was craving to solve the problem, just so she could speak with him, see him whenever she wanted. Was she wishing too much again?

But.. What if she put everyone in danger?

She could risk her life for Alvin, but how could she risk her son's life?

She couldn't lock her son in the home. He has his life to live, he has to go to school, make new friends, find his goal, and enjoy his life.

She felt her eyes sting but refused to fall weak. 'Just another step.'

Jason, who sensed nobody behind him, halted and glanced behind. He followed her line of sight and saw Alvin unmoved, looking towards the direction they came.

His eyes shifted back to Anya who was again going hard on herself. He was curious why she was pushing Alvin away when the latter seemed to treasure her.

"An.."

"Phone." Anya cut him off plainly. She had seen a mobile in Alvin's hand. She was sure his men had already arranged for it.

Jason was certain she was up to no good. He fished out his satellite phone from his pant pocket looking at her determined gaze.

Unlike the normal smartphone, this phone had attached small devices. The specialty of the phone was it sends messages with different numbers. As soon as the work completes, the number deactivates. Hence tracking the number or finding the owner of the number is impossible. It was developed by Jason and Melvin for secure communication with the team Ace.

Anya quickly entered a string of numbers. Then she typed, deleted, and re-typed a message before hitting on the send button, [Tsk, Alvin Matthews, you think too highly of yourself. Don't you? Do you think you can control everyone? Go, find another toy to play around with.]

Jason: "..."

He frankly wanted to be a saint and give her some insight but they had no time and it was her personal life.

In a few seconds, they saw Alvin's movements and he read the message on his mobile. He seemed to be angrier. Like a wind, he soon vanished from the harbor, getting into a sports car. His men followed him hurriedly in a sedan.

Anya looked up at the sky and dried the moisture back into her eyes. Only if Alvin could have let her go, they wouldn't have faced such a farewell. There was a sting inside her which she refused to feel.

'Snap'

Anya blinked when Jason snapped his fingers in front of her face to get her out of her daze. Jason had always seen and heard girls being possessive and obsessed going behind the person they love. He wasn't sure what her struggle was so he suggested like a big brother, "If you are in a dilemma, his actions will show you the path. Have patience."

Anya really wanted to nod but she couldn't. She drove Alvin away, why will he come back? She also left him like his family. So there was only a single path. She has to forget these few days like a dream and live her life as she used to.

"Thank you, Chief." She handed the phone back, and nodded her head in apology, "I am sorry for taking your time." When she lifted her head, she had composed herself for the battle inside.

The quicker they complete this work, she could have time for herself and speak to her son and family. Jason didn't waste any more time. He entered the room where Chief Justice and a few more annoying bugs were waiting for Anya.