There was someone new in the room.
The Asset did not know him, did not recognize him, his face was not familiar like many of the other ones. (It wasn’t its place to feel familiar with anything.) It occurred to the Asset that maybe the man was not familiar with it either, because the Asset was a functional weapon and can tell, by that brief, small look invisible to most on the man’s eyes. He had never seen this. Had never watched the cryo, the prep or the wipes. No one else noticed that, it thought. It had everyone’s attention, and the man was good at hiding it. So good, in fact, that the Asset wondered if he’d imagined that look at all.
There wasn’t much time to wonder, however, as there came a stinging pain against the side of its face, and the sound of the slap resonated through the room.
“Mission report, now”, Superior Pierce ordered.
The Asset turned its attention sharply to the Superior. “Failed”, it admitted. “Target is still alive. Complications caused by unforeseen allies from the other side.”
There was another blow, but it’d already been expecting that one. It doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt. Quite the opposite: its face was still stinging from the slap, and punches hurt worse, especially when delivered with purpose, with force. Superior Pierce was angry, the Asset noticed, as it blinked black spots from its vision.