Crossing the Line

Chapter One
Shots Fired
 
The duct was large and opened through the side of a wall, giving me a clear view of a big concrete area—the perfect space for testing and developing cutting-edge military technology.
 
This Japanese research facility was mere miles from a U.S. military base, which meant this was the closest I’ After nine years of teaching and training, KATO thought they had me brainwashed to be their ideal spy.
If I didn’t come back with the files for Project Pegasus, KATO would go out of their way to remind me just how much they owned me.
 
A few seconds later, a tall, broad figure rappelled down.
 

 
His code name was Scorpion. He worked out of the American-based International Defence Agency—the IDA. They were KATO’s number one enemy, and Scorpion was mine. We had squared off several times in the past, trading punches and wounds and barely escaping. In almost every instance, I’d got what I’d come for and left him empty-handed. Still, he was a complication.
 
It didn’t matter how many problems came up, KATO was still expecting a successful mission. It had been a while since I’
 
Scorpion did a quick sweep of the room, seeming to look for anything that might be out of place.
“Everything looks clear so far,” he said, using the communication system in his ear to report back to his headquarters. KATO didn’t give their agents that kind of support.
 
Scorpion slowly stepped away from me and headed up the ramp. He plugged a drive into the computer and started typing.
 
“I’m not seeing any Project Pegasus,” he said into his comm. “Oh no, now I’ve got it.” He kept typing, his fingers sliding effortlessly over the keyboard.
 
The only way Scorpion could get off that platform was if he came back down the ramp. And if he did that, he’d have to pass by my air duct.
 
“I’ve got the files copied and the computer wiped.” He unplugged the drive from the computer. “I’m moving to the extraction point.”
 
It flew out of the wall, completely nailing Scorpion’s upper body. He was so stunned that the force of the hit sent him flying, knocking the round metal rail loose from the top joint as he fell into the open testing area.
 
Scorpion had just got to his feet. He recovered quickly.
 
He caught my eye and smirked. “Go ahead, Viper.” He was taunting me. “Take it.”
 

 
I was two steps from the device—and four steps from him—when he finally struck. In one quick motion he reached for the loosened railing and swung it in my direction. It hit my arm and sent my gun flying across the room.
 
It dropped close to the drive. We fell into a fierce rhythm, taking turns between blocking and landing our hits. I did my best to back up as we fought, putting myself next to the drive and Scorpion’s gun. I picked my moment, then faked a move to Scorpion’s right. He took the bait, leaning in that direction and giving me the perfect shot at his left arm.
 
We were both panting. Scorpion and I had always been evenly matched—it was the only reason we had both walked away from our previous battles.
 
My gun was on him, and KATO’s directive demanded that enemy agents be put down at every opportunity. He wouldn’t be the first enemy agent I’d killed, and the fact that he had started backing away told me he knew that.
 
I didn’t want to kill him, but I pulled the trigger anyway—
 
It was a quick and subtle move. One that would no doubt be written off by the IDA as luck.
 
I didn’t look back.
 
Yet, in the back of my mind I couldn’t shake the thought that maybe—just maybe—

About Meghan Rogers