Operation Eclipse

The city’s government building loomed in the dead of night, its tall, glassy facade reflecting only the dim glow of streetlights. Inside, high-value evidence—documents, tapes, and photographs—were securely stored, evidence that could compromise the identities of two elite spies and dismantle their entire organization. Elias and Nina had just one mission tonight: infiltrate, destroy, and disappear without a trace.

Elias, disguised as a maintenance janitor entered the building late one evening and pushed an empty mop cart through the front gate with a convincing air of fatigue. Two female guards, stern and alert, stood at their posts. Their beige leather uniforms with black leather pencil skirts reflected their station: strict, orderly, and formidable.

“Evening,” Elias said in a casual tone, flashing a fake ID.

One of the guards, a brunette with sharp features and skeptical eyes, stepped forward. “Janitorial staff doesn’t usually come this late. Orders?”

“Big boss decided the morning inspection’s gotta shine. I’d rather clean now than hear him scream later,” Elias smirked, rolling his eyes for dramatic effect. The other guard chuckled, her stance relaxing.

But as soon as her guard lowered, Elias struck. Moving with practiced precision, he lunged toward the brunette, grabbing her around the neck and muffling her startled gasp with a cloth. The chloroform worked quickly. Her partner turned just as Elias delivered a swift strike to her temple with the mop handle.

Both guards crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

“Clear,” Elias whispered into his earpiece. Nina, clad in all black, slipped through the open gate like a shadow.

“Suit up,” Elias grinned, already dragging one of the guards into a storage closet. “You’ve got ten minutes before the next patrol.”

With an exaggerated sigh, Nina removed her black gear. “You owe me for this one,” she called out. She peeled the jacket off the unconscious guard and slipped her arms into it. The leather creaked slightly as it settled across her shoulders. The fit was snug—too snug.

“Are you sure these women aren’t mannequins?” she hissed, pulling down the skirt. The black leather pencil skirt hugged her hips tightly, restricting her movement. “I’m about to tear something.”

“You’ll manage,” Elias teased, peeking in to inspect her. “It’s tight, but it works. Finish the look.”

Nina rolled her eyes, slipping on the guard’s black boots and tying up her long hair into a neat bun. She mimicked the stoic expression of the unconscious guard on the floor. “How do I look?” she asked sarcastically, striking a mock-salute.

“Convincing enough.” Elias handed her the guard’s badge. “Now go make friends. and infiltrate the evidence room.”

Nina adjusted the collar of the leather jacket, her heels clicking against the polished marble floors as she strode through the hallway. Every movement echoed, the sound of the uniform adding to her cover. She passed two guards who gave her a brief glance before nodding in acknowledgment.

“Shift rotation?” one of them asked.

“Yeah. Captain’s orders,” Nina replied confidently, tapping the ID badge against her belt.

“Typical.” The guards shrugged, dismissing her presence as routine.

Each step brought her closer to the building’s archives where the sensitive evidence lay. Just as she approached the security checkpoint, a voice stopped her cold.

“Hey! You’re not on the roster tonight,” an officer called out, her brow furrowed.

Nina turned slowly, forcing a smile. “New orders. I’m covering Megan’s shift—she’s sick.”

“Funny. Megan didn’t mention anything earlier.”

The officer began stepping toward her, suspicion flaring in her sharp eyes. Nina’s heart pounded, but she remained calm. “You’re welcome to check with the captain,” she said, her tone laced with authority. “But considering he was pretty irritated when he gave the order, I’d rather not be late for patrol.”

The officer hesitated, the natural distrust fading in the face of Nina’s perfect impression of a dutiful officer. “Fine. Just don’t screw up.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.” Nina flashed a faint smirk, brushing past her into the deeper corridors of the facility.

Finally Nina reached the archive room and bypassed the door’s security and hacked into the evidence vault. She pulled out a small canister of thermite and set it on the files. As the thermite began to burn through the sensitive documents, alarms suddenly blared. Nina cursed her smirk fading. “They’ve noticed.”

Nina’s heels clicked furiously as she raced through the corridors. The beige uniform, despite its snug fit, blended perfectly with the chaos as guards rushed toward the smoke-filled archive room. She nodded briskly to two of them, playing the part of an officer on the move.

“Did you see them?” one of the guards asked.

“North wing!” Nina barked. “Move now!”

As the guards ran off in the wrong direction, Elias met Nina near the exit, his grin wide. “You are too good at this.”

“Shut up and run.”

The two spies disappeared into the night, leaving behind a smoldering vault of destroyed evidence and a building full of guards chasing shadows.

From the rooftop across the street, Nina removed the too-tight leather jacket and tossed it beside her. “Never again.”

Elias laughed, holding up a thermos of coffee. “You say that every time.”

“Next time,” Nina replied, eyeing the distant alarms, “you get to wear the uniform.”

Elias sipped his coffee. “I don’t think it’d look as good on me.”

The city skyline stretched before them, silent and unaware that two spies had just vanished—identities protected, mission accomplished.