Valeria - A Short Story Collection

Chapter 4, Part 1 - Saving Mr Sampson

Brussels, Belgium.

February 11th, 2138.

*

Eric Sampson POV

I gripped the briefcase tighter as Sam and I made our way through the halls of the shiny new building. It was a new headquarters for NATO, and our team had been tasked with bringing very sensitive information to a meeting with the chairman and a few others from both strategic commands within the NATO Military Committee.

The operation had been really tricky this far. A new powerful organization called Libertas started taking over territories around the Black sea, and to our horror, we realized that they were more resourceful than we first thought.

The briefcase contained a flash drive with a list of people that had successfully infiltrates the Libertas movement in several regions, along with a covert weapon sites from both the UK and the US, and we had worked together to deliver the information so that NATO could take action and help Ukraine and Romania out since they were struggling to keep territories from falling to the Libertas. This could be the turning point to stop the violence, and just the thought of what was at stake made the briefcase feel a lot heavier than what it was.

We decided to ditch the ring of bodyguards when we entered the building, but I didn’t dare relax until the information was registered in their system. I knew that Libertas desperately wanted this information, and they were going to do everything in their power to get it.

I stepped into the large conference room. The walls were covered with screens, actively showing security footage from all around the building.

“Mr Sampson.”

Mr Torres shook my hand.

“I’m sorry for the trouble. “ He said with a thick Spanish accent. “I appreciated that you were able to bring the information so fast.”

I had worked with Mr Torres several times before, and I knew that he was very good at his job. After being very successful in the Spanish military, quickly climbing the ranks, he started taking on more political and diplomatic missions, and now he represented Spain in most of the top secret meetings inside NATO.

“It was no trouble at all, Sir.” I replied. “It’s important and I understand why you needed the information immediately.”

Sam excused herself to go to the bathroom, now that I was inside the secure room, and I set the briefcase down on the table.

I had already met most of the people that were sitting by the table. I had worked with them on several occasions. There were only two people that were new to me. A woman in her thirties with straight jet black hair and a black pantsuit, and a man approximately the same age with thick brown hair and light brown eyes.

“Do you have the files?” Mr Torres asked.

I nodded and patted the briefcase.

“It’s locked though.” I replied. “I’m the only one that can open it.”

The unknown man leaned forward in his chair.

“Open it.” He ordered.

I put my hand on the briefcase and hesitated.

Something felt off.

And when my gut feeling was alerting me of danger, it was usually right.

I looked up at the two and smiled politely.

“I don’t believe we have met.” I said.

“Can you open the case or not?” The woman asked impatiently.

I frowned.

“Who are you?” I asked.

“Romanian representatives,” Torres replied. “I apologize for their impatience. Their country is in a lot of trouble and they are a little stressed.”

I sighed.

“I can’t open the briefcase.” I said.

“What?” The man yelled and stood up from his chair so fast that it fell to the floor. “What are you talking about?”

I shook my head.

“I’m sorry.” I said. “I don’t believe the information is safe right now.”

Mr Torres frowned.

“What makes you say that?” He asked.

“Well, he’s kinda right.” The woman smirked.

Suddenly, Torres’ head whipped to the side, blood splattering all over the wall behind him. I stared in shock as he fell to the floor.

Both the Romanian delegates held out a gun each, swiftly shooting down every armed guard in the room. Then they turned to the other delegates and I saw them fall to the floor one by one.

I took the briefcase and started heading for the door. But before I could get there, it burst open from outside and six armed men walked in, led by a tall man with skin so pale that it didn’t take me long to realize that he was Albino.

I glanced back into the room and realized that I was the only one still alive.

“I suppose you are Eric Sampson.” The man said.

“Who’s asking?” I muttered while my eyes darted around the room looking for a way out of there.

“The name is Marino.” He replied. “We have a lot to discuss.”

*

Sam POV

I washed my hands just as an alarm blared through the air. I jumped and carefully opened the door to look outside. Everyone was walking quickly towards the exists and I saw red lights flash in the ceiling.

“Code Red. Evacuate immediately.”

A computerized voice was heard from speakers, and I looked around to see if I could find Eric anywhere.

I started moving against the crowd, trying to get back to the conference room, and saw Lieutenant Matthews come my way.

“Wrong way, Miss Grayson.” He said.

He grabbed me by the shoulders and turned me around.

“Have you seen Mr Sampson?” I asked. “And what’s going on? Is there a bomb threat or something?”

“The building has been taken.” Lieutenant Matthews replied. “Libertas operatives have taken over the whole wing and they are holding people hostage. According to security, they all gathered in the conference room where Mr Sampson was.”

My blood ran cold.

“He didn’t get out, did he?” I asked.

He shook his head.

We followed the crowd outside and saw the police and military gather outside the building. With Lieutenant Matthews following me, I marched over to the building’s security chief Mr Yates, and showed him my ID. He was highly involved in the operation that brought us to Brussels in the first place, and I hoped that he could tell us what was going on.

“I’m Eric Sampson’s assistant.” I said. “I worked on the Switchback operation. Do you have a report?”

Mr Yates squinted his eyes at my ID, but then sighed.

“I’m afraid we got caught off guard.” He said. “I hate to admit it, but they were really well prepared.”

He walked over to a table with a large map of the building spread out.

“They are in complete control of the security system.” He grunted. “They had to have infiltrated the whole building before it was even finished.”

“But Mr Sampson is still in there with a briefcase full of very sensitive information.” I replied. “We need to get in there before it’s too late.”

He sighed.

“No.” He replied. “We can’t risk the hostages. Besides, the whole building is fortified with the best defenses there is. You’d have to be Superman to get in there.”

“But they could get away with the briefcase, Sir.” Lieutenant Matthews protested.

“I know.” Mr Yates sighed. “But right now there isn’t anything we can do.”

We left and I sighed in frustration.

“This is insane.” I muttered. “What are we going to do?

Lieutenant Matthew stiffened.

“Maybe we just need to ask for help.” He said.

I frowned in confusion.

“What are you talking about?” I asked.

He looked around and pulled me further away from the crowd.

“Don’t you remember what Yates said?” He whispered. “It would take Superman to get in there. Now, we don’t know Superman, but…”

He shrugged.

“We know someone just as powerful.” I finished for him. “It’s a huge risk for her. I don’t think we should pull her into this.”

“Eric has risked so much for her.” He said. “Don’t you think she should have the opportunity to help him if she could. She deserves the chance to choose for herself.”

I pursed my lips, unable to argue with his logic.

“Go.” He said. “I’ll call you if anything happens.”

I nodded and started running back to the car, hoping that I could get Valeria here before it was too late.”