Who is Magpie?

When they arrived at training they were both late and forced into target practise to see who would be sent to run laps. Starting with throwing knives, both girls hit the centre. Axes, stars, bow and arrow, crossbow, hand guns,… each time both girls got a three grouping right in the middle. By the time they ran out of things to aim at the target they were both sent to run laps.

That was really how things began. Two of the top people being sent to run laps, a loner and miss popular… it was like it was meant to be. Magpie taught Kay how to get around through the secret hallways and after classes they would spend time together in one of their bedrooms. Sometimes Kay would book a private training space and they would train late into the evening, until they were so tired they barely made it back to their rooms. On a few occasions Kay had fallen asleep with Magpie on her bedroll, only to wake up to the dull footsteps of Bluejay and need to make a mad dart to the bathroom.

Magpie and Kookaburra quickly became the dream team, the first choice for every assignment, and with each successful return, Kookaburra’s status increased even as her popularity went down. Even still, it was for the best, as her extra training with Magpie was the most she had ever been challenged and as her skills grew she grew closer to taking over for her grandfather. Through the use of the secret hallways, few knew about how close the two had become, except, of course, Bluejay.

He made sure he was never late with her tea again, so Kay was never privy to another brilliant smile or joyous laugh. She had tried to sneak away some of tea, to lessen her doses over time, but the mind control ran deeper than what Kookaburra could handle on her own.

Today was finally the day, Kay had worked her way up to being able to lead an important assignment. They had been told their was a munitions warehouse near the port, and they were going to blow it up.

“Bluejay and Sparrow head to security and take that out. I don’t want any footage remaining but more importantly I don’t want them getting a heads up. After you finish getting rid of the cameras, head to the mainframe room and take whatever you can grab.This isn’t a priority and we have no word that there is anything important there so don’t go if the risk outweighs the reward, it would just be a cherry on top. Get in and out quickly, you will have forty minutes from when we enter before everything goes, and we will meet back at the car. Make sure you’re not followed, don’t be seen.”

Everyone nodded in agreement before parting ways. Bluejay and Sparrow had the easiest task after Kay and Magpie set a fire to some bushes near a smokers area by the break room. Once the alarm was triggered they headed to the storage room, happily finding it empty. Magpie began setting charges, attaching them to boxes and anything drawing power. Kay sealed the entrances, their goal was the weapons, not the people.

After that she started opening some of the crates, hoping to spread some things around that would aid the fire but the first boxes contained imported cooking oils. The second was full of bags of rice, and the the third was medical supplies including oxygen tanks hidden within large crates. The more she looked the more nervous she got that she had messed up, but Bluejay would not have let her go this far in the wrong direction.

She turned to halt Magpie, but the charges were already counting down. With no time to spare they both bolted for the exterior doors, Kay dropping her bag in her panic and mix of emotions but Magpie was quick to notice.

“I’ll grab it.” She offered, stopping and turning back.

Kay barely got out a ‘no’ before the fire struck what Kay had believed to be only oxygen tanks, but from the resulting explosion, she guessed that she had been wrong.

Kay was knocked on her ass, and Magpie was tossed several meters with the clutched bag breaking her fall as much as any supply bag could. Her ears were ringing and she felt unbalanced but it didn’t stop her long, running to pull Kay up with her. They took the long way to the car, Kay had believe it was Magpie being careful, but in actually she had taken a wrong turn while feeling disoriented.

When they finally got to the car the other two were already there, so the pair slid into the back quickly. Their chests heaved heavily up and down as they tried to catch their breath, and Magpie smacked her hand against the sides of her head in an attempt to stop the persistent ringing.

“What happened?” Bluejay asked, as Kay recovered her breathing first.

“It wasn’t guns.” She said. “It was aid supplies, and there was a corner of compressed gases, the chain reaction caused an unexpected reaction.”

“I’ll say!” Magpie added, way too loudly but she was still trying to pop her ears.

“That can’t be right. You must be mistaken.” Bluejay muttered quickly, putting the car in drive and heading off.

“I know what I saw.” Kay insisted. “That was not a munitions warehouse that we just blew up.”

“You can take it to the Martin when we return.” Bluejay replied, trying his best to silence the conversation but Kay just laughed.

“Oh believe me, when we return I will be taking this up with my grandfather.” She crossed her arms and legs in defiance, glaring at Bluejay in the rear view mirror all the way back.