The Galanza Hotel was up for a treat tonight. The VIP lounge, on the twelfth floor, teamed with names from all over the world. Politicians, generals, CEOs, the list went on and on. Tonight, they weren't here to sign contracts, they were here to mingle. The meetings had happened, the deals had been made. Things were looking good all the way around.

Woman, decked out in diamonds and wearing elegant dresses, drew eyes from all around as men clambered for attention. Laughter spilled as easily as the champagne flowed. Perhaps the first was brought on by the latter, but whichever the case, everyone was having a good time.

Waiters walked in and out, passing by security on their way and getting wanded down every time. No risks were being taken with the high-profile guests. No one would manage to penetrate the flawless set up.

"Suckers." The words came from a teen. He was currently lying on a rooftop several buildings away. Eyes glued to the scope on his powerful rifle, he watched the party goers.

A woman laughed, eyes sparkling as she took a glass handed to her by a gentleman at least twenty years her senior.

"Gold digger," the viewer labeled as he read her body language.

She leaned over eagerly, giving the man she had just met a better view down her already dangerously low cut yellow dress. A hand flirtatiously traced down his arm. More specifically, the hand CEO of EK Tech, global leader in computer development – a very much married CEO.

"Well, aren't you judgmental today, K13?" a voice spoke in the operative's ear.

"Please, Sam. I have a name." K13 swung the scope over the men and woman laughing in oblivious bliss. "Call me Kris." His green eyes latched onto a woman dressed not as scandalously as the last. She was perhaps in her late thirties, with bright eyes that showed only a fraction of her known shrewdness.

"Are you trying to get personal here with me?" the voice in the ear replied silkily.

Kris turned his focus on another guest, calmly taking his time to search for his target. "Is it working?"

He heard the chuckle. "I've been warned about you," Sam revealed.

"Oh yeah?" Kris reached a gloved hand into his pocket. "And what exactly did you hear?"

He caught the tapping of a finger against something.

"Young, smooth talker...you haven't failed a job yet."

Unwrapping the object, Kris popped a hard candy into his mouth, eyes never leaving the party.

"Yet?" he questioned. "You make it sound like there's a possibility."

"I'm placing my bet on this one." Sam didn't even try to hide it.

"Why so?" Kris stuffed the wrapper back into a pocket. He moved the candy from one cheek to another.

"I don't know..." Sam began. "I'm kind of surprised by your approach to this job. It doesn't seem like your usual style."

"Oh?" Kris raised his eyebrows.

The scope followed a waitress carrying caviar.

"You seem to know me." Kris waited for the reply. A breeze tussled his blonde hair.

"Well," Sam didn't hesitate. "From what I've read from your previous jobs, you seem more like a hands-on type of guy – close combat. Sniping just hasn't popped up as something you resort to often."

"Go on." Kris turned the scope on a young gentleman with slicked back hair.

"It seems to me like you enjoy giving the target an equal fighting chance," Sam shared her thoughts.

Kris caught the candy between his teeth, considering the thought. A moment later, his teeth cracked down with a crunch. The sweet exploded into pieces.

"Am I close?" Sam asked.

"Just because I don't often use it, doesn't mean there's a reason." Kris was aware of the breeze picking up. He made a mental note of it and adjusted the gun.

"The why have you gone in for the last twelve jobs and not today?" came the challenge.

"Because..." Kris adjusted the scope once more. "Today security is tight – too tight. Without backup, only an idiot would go in there. And I..." A copter sounded in the distance. It was ignored. "Am not one," Kris finished.

He turned the scope, scanning the crowd. Catching sight of something he jerked it back to the spot. A face flashed before him and he scowled.

You've got to be kidding me.

He sharpened the view to get a better look. The face of a kid appeared before him. The boy, perhaps thirteen at the most, fidgeted with his glass of orange juice as he stood beside a governor like a son would by his father. The face was familiar.

Kris' mind worked, matching the boy with the countless people and files he'd memorized.

"Sam," he spoke as he closed in on the identity.

The name popped up in his mind. L5. He belongs to the next generation of operatives.

"Do we have another agent on site?" Kris questioned.

There was no reply.

"Sam?" Kris asked sharply.

There was a sigh. "The only thing you should be concentrating on is your mission, K13."

"This concerns my mission," Kris snapped back. He watched the boy through the scope, noting the nervous body language of someone who wasn't acting in the least. The boy screamed suspicion to anybody nearby.

He'd be about his age...maybe a little older, a voice spoke in Kris' mind as it threatened to wander.

"He's objective and yours differ. Pay him no heed," came the firm reply.

Kris scowled. He took in the security guards eyeing the boy. One nudged the other and words were exchanged.

"He's still in training," Kris recited what he remembered from the files. "Why is there an operative in training on the field?"

"It doesn't concern you," came the reply.

A muscle in Kris' jaw jumped. "It does when it puts my objective in jeopardy. The kid is attracting attention." The agent swung the scope to the other security only to see they had their eyes on the boy too. Just because of his age, he wasn't escaping suspicion.

"He's compromised," Kris said.

"K13. Your objective," a different voice snapped.

Kris scowled.

"Complete your mission or..."

Kris wasn't listening. He's going to make security tighten. Those weren't the only thoughts. For a moment, legitimate worry for the young boy flashed through Kris. He shoved the annoying feeling down as fast as it had come. Those emotions had been growing lately. Ever since his almost normal time at a certain school, he was no longer the same as before. Hiding it was getting harder by the mission. All the extra time he'd been spending on training didn't seem to help either.

"If they make a move on him, take him out," those words came through crisp and clear.

Kris placed a finger over the trigger.

"Take him out?" he asked without thinking. The moment the words slipped out, he mentally scolded himself.

"Are you questioning orders?" came the sharp reply, still not Sam.

"Would you want it to look accidental or on purpose?" Kris replied smoothly. However, his mind raced as he tried to figure out what was going on. Another operative...with a different goal. Same job, different end...why place an agent in training in a high-level area of risk?

"Accidental. We don't need any traces."

Kris heard it but didn't reply right away.

Is this a new way of training? He wondered. Sending them to the field before training is complete? Kris resisted the urge to snort at the stupidity of the idea. Then disposing of them if they fail?

As the thought drifted through his mind, something in the corner caught his attention. Turning the scope, he searched, holding his breathe in disbelief.

There!

Another familiar face popped into view. Silky black hair tumbled down the back of a gorgeous brown eyed girl. The white dress she wore complimented her in every way, and though her makeup did a good job of making her look older, Kris knew her age full well.

His heart skipped a beat and a grin spread across his face. This just had to get more complicated. However, he couldn't say he was sorry.

She was standing near an older Asian man - a multi billionaire and her father. His business had boomed so much lately that he'd broken into the top five richest men in the world. Unfortunately for him, his son and direct heir, didn't seem as interested in taking over the business as in a football career. Perhaps that was the reason his daughter was the one present.

"K13?" a voice asked sharply.

"Understood. Accidental," Kris replied calmly. With regret, he turned the scope away from the angel in a white dress. He was just in time to see L5 stiffen as he noticed the security pushing toward him. A panicked expression took over the boy's face.

"Geeze, whose training these greenhorns?" Kris muttered.

"Don't get distracted," Sam spoke.

"Is that actual worry?" Kris teased. He turned the scope, scanning the security. Not good. They were bunching together. Then he found what he was searching for. "Bingo." His lips stretched into an almost boyish grin, too innocent for the deed about to be committed.

"Target acquired." His finger squeezed the trigger.

The bullets covered the distance in mere seconds. It slammed right into the person next to the target, piercing the chest of a muscular bodyguard. The man stiffened, expression blank. Crimson spread across his chest before he collapsed.

A scream shattered the high spirits of the room and chaos broke out. Men and woman stampeded for the door while security tried to shield them.

"Status?" Sam asked.

Kris swung the scope. He caught sight of L5 turning, eyes searching for the shooter.

Come on, Kris urged. I gave you the opening. Now, run!

A moment later, the boy did that, diving into the crowd and disappearing among them.

Kris grinned.

"Status?" Sam barked.

"Um," Kris spoke calmly as he watched his main target exit the room under cover from two bulky men. Sure enough, the angel in white followed closely. "I missed."

Silence.

The ECHO agent lifted his eyes from the scope.

"You what?" Sam asked.

"You were right." Kris stood. "I prefer close combat." His heart beat at the thought of not just going in, but possibly meeting a certain someone while there.

"K13?" Sam's voice sounded shaky. "You do know that you have two targets–"

"–one," Kris corrected.

"I beg your pardon?" Sam asked.

Kris took a few steps to the right. He crouched by the body of a man dressed in a suit and tie. The old man looked fast asleep from this point. That was, if one didn't look at the neat hole in his forehead.

Squashing the guilt rising within, Kris placed the rifle in the man's hands.

"I took care of the first one earlier." He got to his feet. "An ex special forces sniper, tries to take out his biggest competitor by himself. We can let the trail lead to him." Kris pulled a revolver from his pocket. "He failed and so got out the only way he knew how." He pressed the second weapon into one of the man's hands, making sure his fingers curled around it.

"I planted the fingerprints earlier." He took a step back, tipping his head back as the sound of the copter got louder. "The files are also all on his personal computer." He turned, heading for the door leading downstairs. "You're welcome," he added.

"T...that's..." Same seemed at a loss for words. "Your second target," she reminded.

"Don't worry about it," Kris replied.

He lifted a hand to the earpiece.

"K13, I ordered you to–" the other voice began angrily.

"I'm going in," Kris retorted. He ignored the string of swearing.

Still calm, he switched the earpiece off and jerked it from his ear.

"Also, my name is Lucas," he muttered. "Not Kris."

With that, he charged down the stairs, heading to go take care of his target, possibly pull a greenhorn operative to safety, and see the girl who made his heart flutter every time he ran into her. And oh, did they run into each other often. She would be so angry. The very thought made his face split into the biggest grin.

He was very much looking forward to this.

No options to choose from yet ;)

However, I have another way you can get involved.

If you want to create your own character, feel free to leave me the name, gender, general age and one sentence description of features in the comments (age may be adjusted to fit into the story). I'll try give the character at least a cameo (who knows...they may end up sticking around!) and the chapter will be dedicated to you. The character can even be you! However, remember, Ellison High is a boy's school.

Please note, that by posting your idea you're giving permission for the character to make a cameo in the book! Also...depending on who responds, it may take a while before the character appears.

And so...let Ace commence!