Chapter 04

I loved it when Hue tried his best to watch Nekko, and I leave in the manner that we did. Nekko and I stood outside the office of Director Solomon. I knocked three times and waited.

"Come in."

I pushed the door open, stepping into a lavishly decorated room that had all sorts of papers strewn about. In the middle of the room was where the Director sat looking over a report. His face was stern and grim; a sure sign that the news he was about to deliver to us wasn't going to be good.

The Director tossed the report on his desk, composed himself, and took a deep breath.

"Miss Winters, Nekko; we have a situation."

~~~

A little before six, I was at the office brewing a pot of coffee and booting up my laptop. The computer asked me to insert my security key card before I could continue my emails. Slipping the thin credit-card looking security key into its slot, it opened up my email, and I browsed through them. All of them are pointless to me except one that read, in the subject line:

Meeting at 0700, room 411, Director Solomon

This was new. This never happened; the Director of Special Operations was coming down to my office for a meeting? Was Wallow aware of this? Was this a cyber-attack?

I checked the sender's email address. It appeared normal enough. I grabbed the office's landline, tapped in a security code, and dialed a number.

"This is Specialist Anji, please identify," rang a lively girl's voice.

"Dupeux, 001335, Alpha," I recited to Anji.

"Line is secure, Corporal Dupeux, how can I help you?" Anji offered.

"I need you to look at my computer, I have a suspicious email from the Director. We don't get these kinds of email from him, at all," I explained to her.

I took a seat in my chair.

"Hold on, and we'll take a look, Corporal," Anji said.

My computer flickered, and Anji began her diagnosis of the equipment and the email. It took her a minute to come back over the phone.

"There's nothing wrong with your computer or the email. I can give the Director a call and see if he actually sent the message?" Specialist Anji provided.

"Ah, yes please," I replied.

Just then, Sergeant Wallow waddled in.

I pointed at the message on the screen. Wallow hopped on the empty chair next to me. He and I began to do a mouthing, sign language thing with each other.

He pointed at the computer and motioned his knife hand under the subject line.

"Is this a hoax?"

I pressed my lips together and pointed at the phone.

"On the phone with I.T. Security."

Wallow mouthed if the Director actually sent this email. Again, I pointed at the phone.

"Yes, Specialist Anji, I am here," I re-engaged with Anji.

"Corporal, the Director did send this message and told me to tell you he will be there at seven. Where there any other concerns?" she asked.

"No, thank you, Specialist Anji," I concluded with a smile and hung up the phone.

I turned my smile to Sergeant Wallow.

"The Director did send the message and will be here at seven, if not sooner," I scoffed.

Wallow's ears laid back and eyes filled with worry. My own anxiety was building pressure in my chest. The Director had people come and give us things; we broke things down, analyzed them, and sent them off to the next person in succession.

"This has to be something major, something top secret," Wallow concluded.

"Or I'm finally getting promoted," I jeered.

Sergeant Wallow frowned and began to lick his fur down and straighten his shell.

I know he's a cat thingy, but this is just weird.

There came an abrupt knock on the door. Before either of us could move, the door burst open with the Director storming in. The Director always had a stoic posture, chiseled jaw, freshly pressed dress uniform with medals for body armor, stood six-foot-five, wore glasses, white hair in a high and tight, and look of a man who had seen some things in his lifetime.

"Room, ATTENTION!" Sargent Wallow called.

He and I stood and saluted, holding the salute until the Director saluted and dropped his first.

"As you were, gentlemen," he ordered.

Even his voice had weight and intimidation. Director Michael Solomon was the High Templar Knight, top of his field, and a natural leader.

I sat back into my chair as Sargent Wallow offered the Director a seat on the couch we had and a cup of coffee. He took up both offerings. I got a mug for Wallow to fill as the Director took his seat. Wallow gave the Director his cup; he took a sip and exhaled slowly.

"Let's get down to business," the Director pressed forward, setting the cup down.

"Corporal, get the door please," He ordered.

I did as I was told and. The door was closed, the Director waved his hand, and a yellow seal was stamped on the door making the room secure.

This is serious.

"A situation has developed in the Second State. Local officials that responded have tried and failed to rectify the incident. They have concluded that it is dark magic of some kind and is requesting that we send specialists," the Director explained.

Earth had one, massive continent and a few tiny tropical islands. The continent is called Pangea, and it's divided into seven states. Each state governs itself respectfully, but each state works to better the whole. The States are:

• First State

• Second State

• Third State

• Fourth State

• Fifth Stated

• Sixth State

• Seventh State

"Sir, what other information can you provide us with this incident?" Sergeant Wallow asked, cocking his head.

Director Solomon gave Wallow a hard stare.

"Gentlemen, as you know, paladins can usually compete with dark magic very well. I'm afraid to say that they didn't even come close to scratching whatever it is that they have their hands on," the Director reported.

"Sergeant Wallow, I would like to send you with our team to investigate and find out what the hell has got everyone so spooked," the director added.

The Sargent's ears twitched, and his tail may have fluffed a little.

"Regrettably Director, my forte for the S.M.G intelligence is to observe creatures and people, and how they are affected by dark magic."

"There have been reports of side effects when officials come into the immediate area," the Director imputed.

"If there are other qualities, or symbols, or anything of that nature, I would like to request that my Corporal would accompany me," Sergeant Wallow claimed, "he's far more knowledgeable in this field."

The Director took his attention off Wallow and placed it on me. He looked less than convinced that I needed to go on this trip. It perplexed me that the Director didn't think that I didn't need to go on this mission. Sargent Wallow was right, I would be a vast wealth of knowledge.

"Corporal, can you add anything to this?" asked the Director.

"With all due respect Sir, no," I answered, standing in parade rest.

He waved for me to relax as he pulled out a piece of paper with various symbols; symbols that I knew all too well.

"What can you make of these," the Director tested.

I took the paper, and a frog jumped in my throat.

Demon and necromancy glyphs that are fused together. This means that a demon and a necromancer are working together.

"Well?"

"These are ancient demon symbols," I pointed out.

"We already knew that but what do they mean?" the Director scoffed.

"They aren't in order but this one," I pointed to a random symbol, "this one means time, this one is death, and this one is revival, but without knowing how they are placed or where that's all these symbols mean at this point."

If the Director was, in any way, shape, or form, happy with my answer, he didn't show it. He got to his feet, as did the Sargent and I. We saluted, and he returned it.

The Director raised his hand, and the seal on the door was erased. The Director opened the door with Emma standing there.

What's going on? Why is she here?

She wasn't in her ninja uniform, but in her dress uniform like the one Mimiku wore this morning with the exception that she wore a light blue cored around her shoulder, and her katana strapped to her lower back. She saluted with a smile, the Director returning the salute and offered her to come into the room.

"Gentlemen, this is Emma Winters, our very own ice magi. She will be leading the investigation in Second State," he announced.

Why would they assign an ice mage to this case? They wouldn't they are sending the assassin, but why?

The questions began to flood my mind.

What's the Director keeping from us?

Emma had been staring at me since I started thinking to myself. Only when I happened to glance at her, did I come back into focus with the group. At times, I wondered if she could read my mind and know my thoughts.

Just to test the idea, I put something rather disgusting in my mind. Emma didn't react to it.

"She's been briefed on the situation, and you all will be leaving this afternoon," the Director concluded.

"Forgive me for asking," Wallow interjected.

"But why would we be assigning an ice mage to a case such as this?" Wallow asked.

Guess I'm not the only one questioning things.

"And you'll have to forgive me, Sargent, we need an officer, and the rest is classified to you," he bit down.

With that, the Director left as dramatically as he entered, slamming the door shut, and leaving us with Emma.

She smiled politely. Sargent Wallow and I gave each other a look.

That was met with a cold piercing glare.

"Whether or not you like the situation, it is what it is," she clarified.

"We didn't say anything," I blurted, dumbly.

"You didn't have to, Corporal," Emma emphasized.

Chills ran down my spine.

"Yes, Ma'am," I responded.

"I suggest that we use the time that we have to pack bags and any other essential items before we head to the Four Winds Train Station," she suggested, "or do you have questions about this as well?"

"No Ma'am," Wallow, and I answered simultaneously.

"Good, you're both dismissed. Meet back here at a quarter to noon and don't be late," Emma ordered.

With that, we departed the room; Emma walking one way, and I the other. Thankfully, the chills that I had went with Emma.