Distortion

Lauren looked out the car window at the gray harbor sprawling along the shore. A single rusted boat rocked on the waves, and Lauren knew their path began at this point. The girl turned to James, who, hands on the wheel, stared ahead at the cold fjords. “Let’s go,” Lauren commanded hoarsely, grabbing her throat—her voice was unfamiliar even to herself, whether from the local wind or the tension that had been building inside. She opened the door, stepping out into the dry sea air that froze the ground. “What does this module look like?” Barnes, shoving his hands into his jacket pockets, squinted against the dull rising sun they’d caught. “Like this,” Lauren showed a small, smooth black rectangle on her palm, gray from the cold. “It’s very fragile, so try to toss people around gently.” “Of course,” the man smirked, watching the girl huddle in her sheepskin coat. “Maybe you should have chosen something warmer?” “It’s a five-minute job,” she shrugged, tucking stray hair behind her collar. “Go in—neutralize everyone—find the module.” “And you?” he raised an eyebrow at her 'simple' plan. “Wait outside,” Lauren couldn’t see what could be complicated. “Did you think I’d join the fight?” “We’re partners, aren’t we?” “For Valentina, I’m your boss,” Lauren rolled her eyes. “And you’re my tool. So let’s stick to that version in case she sent a tail after us.” “I’m not a tool,” James stopped, turning to face the girl. “Your spoiled ass can go and do something yourself, not order me around!” “I’m not ordering!” Lauren put her hands on her hips, feeling her cheeks burn from the cold. “We had a deal!” “Yes!” he threw up his gloved hands. “Let’s remember exactly how you made that deal behind my back!” “What’s all the shouting?!” a man emerged from the boat’s command booth. “What’s it to you?!” Lauren stepped forward, moving closer. “Get back inside and stay out of sight!” “What are you doing?” Barnes grabbed the girl by the elbow, but she jerked her arm free, taking a few steps toward the boat. The stranger, holding the door open with the toe of his boot, nodded to someone, and two more men came out on deck. They jumped onto the pier, and Lauren was the first to notice the glint in their hands—they’d drawn knives. “You think that scares me?” she no longer noticed how her frozen fingers were stiffening with each second. “This is our argument.” “Strange you chose this exact place for your squabble,” their leader stepped forward, walking straight toward the girl. He swung his knife, marking the territory. “There’s no one for miles, and you’re here.” “So?” Lauren crossed her arms, but her gaze followed the man’s every step. “We wanted to go out to sea at dawn, and you’re wasting our time.” “On what?” he turned around, well aware there were no other boats in the harbor. Lauren, ducking at that moment, gave Barnes an opening, who with a sharp blow to the jaw nearly sent the man to the ground. Lauren, jumping aside, dashed toward the boat, which was now empty. Climbing the ladder, she glanced for a moment at James, who had to take on three men, but she knew he could handle it. Jumping into the booth, the girl pulled a scanner from her pocket and pressed a barely noticeable button on its side, then fell silent, listening. Silence, only the creak of boards beneath her was audible. Through the time-fogged window, Lauren looked at the pier where Barnes was already waiting, surrounded by three dark spots. “Damn it,” the girl muttered under her breath, heading back. On approach, a dull beep was already audible, and James flipped one of the men over to check his pockets. “Maybe turn that off now?” he tossed the module to her. “I asked you to be gentle,” Lauren pressed the button, disabling the search function. “What was that?” Barnes watched as Lauren tried to remove the module’s cover with her frozen fingers. “Teamwork,” when she succeeded, the girl inserted the remaining half of the module into the scanner to get the coordinates. “To provoke me?” Barnes started walking back to the car. “You call that teamwork?” “If I’d told you the plan, nothing would have worked,” Lauren trudged after him, disassembling the device. “Next time, I’ll do the same,” he threw over his shoulder, getting into the car. “You wouldn’t dare,” the girl mouthed the words, flinching from a flash of fear. She looked at the man through the glass but understood he might just do that.