The Elite Government Task Force Headquarters buzzed with an air of clinical efficiency, reminiscent of hospitals and medical laboratories. El navigated the familiar scene, her eyes scanning the bustling scientists adorned in pristine lab coats, their animated conversations accompanied by the sound of clacking keyboards and whirring machinery. Among them, a small robot whizzed about, delivering cups of coffee with programmed precision.
A fleeting thought crossed El's mind. She could certainly use a cup of coffee, watching as the persistent little robot beeped and flashed blue lights in its attempts to capture the attention of the engrossed researchers. Further away, a group of business professionals gathered around an interactive chart, engaged in meticulous discussions of plans and logistics. A miniature tuxedo-clad robot circulated, distributing folders and documents with robotic precision.
El hurried past, uninterested in their affairs. They were not part of her work group.
At last, her gaze fell upon a tuft of fiery red hair peeking out from behind a workstation wall, prompting a smile to grace her lips. Someone had been diligently immersed in their work. Navigating through a sea of scientists engrossed in technical discussions, she approached the desk and tapped her knuckles upon it. Startled, the young man occupying the seat jumped, quickly recognizing El's friendly face and offering a smile in return.
"Hey. Sorry, didn't see you," he stammered.
"Did I scare you?" El teased.
"N-no. Of course not," he stumbled over his words, revealing his poor lying skills.
Seth, El's trusted friend, possessed an exceptional talent for gadgets and technology, coupled with unwavering dedication. Currently pursuing a degree in Computers and Programming, Seth frequented the Headquarters nightly, channeling his skills into creating spyware, discreet weapons, complex algorithms, and deciphering encrypted data. While El grappled with the fieldwork, Seth delved into research with unmatched diligence.
El retrieved her phone from her pocket, displaying the enigmatic message on the screen. Seth's dark green eyes, framed by thick black-rimmed glasses, furrowed as he squinted at the text.
"What's this about?" he questioned.
His frown faded, replaced by a somber expression as he grasped a thin sheet of paper and handed it to El—the report.
V.7.20, a code frequently utilized by the EGTF, stood for "victims." The following number indicated the group targeted, while the final number represented the quantity of lives claimed. In this case, there were twenty victims.
"Do you recall the group that protested their unsafe working conditions?" Seth inquired.
El wrinkled her nose, recalling the incident. "The one where a man lost his hand in a machine? His finger got amputated."
"Yes, exactly. Those protesters eventually camped outside the mayor's council building, demanding justice. They also mentioned the recent murders in Brommesville..." Seth's voice trailed off.
El held her breath, her intuition guiding her toward what Seth was about to reveal.
"Yesterday afternoon, after realizing their protest fell on deaf ears, they decided to pack up and leave. However, tragedy struck as they encountered a storm on their way back from a campsite. All of them were killed, with a sharp object piercing their hearts."
Seth reclined in his chair, rubbing his temples. "It's the same pattern again, El. Each victim bears the same symbol on their neck."
El glanced down at the report, silently thanking Seth for his efforts in sparing her the need to decipher the complex text. At the report's end, a small diagram caught her attention—a symbol she recognized instantly. It resembled a square box with a slick arrowrunning through it. All the corpses discovered by the police exhibited the same distinct features: a pale, almost creamy complexion due to blood loss, clean stab wounds to the heart, and a tattoo of the symbol upon their necks. Each victim's frozen expression conveyed the shock of their untimely demise.
Through Seth's technical prowess, the EGTF had uncovered valuable information about these crimes. Two groups existed within this enigmatic universe—the Ancient Ones and The Chosens. Piecing together fragments of a sacred scripture and decrypting the symbols inscribed upon it, they learned that the Ancient Ones were superhumans revered by Mayans and Egyptians for centuries. Though they had seemingly vanished from the physical world, whispers persisted of their eventual return.
In the meantime, the Ancient Ones had assembled a group of ordinary humans known as The Chosens, who fervently believed that their allegiance would grant them immortality. The Chosens wielded sacred artifacts, whose true powers remained shrouded in mystery.
With the mounting death toll in recent months, the Elite Government Task Force deduced the presence of a rogue member from The Chosens, utilizing an artifact to facilitate the killings. Their mission necessitated the retrieval of these artifacts to prevent further devastation.
To El, the grand narrative held little significance. She dismissed it as a mere superstition or religious belief, akin to the Aztecs' practice of human sacrifice. Nevertheless, she recognized the urgency of the situation and the need to secure the artifacts before more lives were lost.
"I've narrowed down the target zones," Seth announced, directing El's attention to the computer screen displaying a list of government buildings.
"Seriously?" El raised an eyebrow. "Aren't those places the most secure in town? Considering recent events, security would be tight."
"Sometimes, the safest places also serve as ideal battlegrounds," a cool voice interjected. Norman, their enigmatic supervisor, sauntered over with an air of authority.
Norman was a man of few words, his expressions seldom aligning with his demeanor. His piercing gray eyes and slender frame belied the shrewdness that lay beneath. Though his appearance seemed young and elvish, his interaction with the youth was scarce, preferring the company of elderly chess players in the park.
"I concur with Seth," Norman continued, his gaze piercing through El's soul. "They may assume we would avoid areas with heightened security. Reverse psychology, child's play."
He handed El and Seth notices, his lips curling into a thin smile.
"A Council Meeting will be held this Friday at Brommesville City Hall. Matters pertaining to the killings will be discussed, among other minor issues. I strongly suspect the rogue member of The Chosens will be lurking there."
"Do you want us to investigate?" El inquired.
Norman's smile persisted as he crossed his arms. "I knew I could count on you two." And just like that, he departed as abruptly as he had appeared.