Tuesday, September 18th, 2020, at exactly two minutes before noon. Standing outside Pier 42, Warehouse 7b, was a group of people of all different ages, from a composed elderly grandmother to a eight year-old pair of twins. Teens, adults, people in crisis, all types of people awkwardly shuffled on the path, the obliviously perfect blue sky with a bright sun shining down on them.
Every now and then, for an hour, they had all watched people approach the group, slowly expanding the cluster of people.
Some people knew each other, and chattered among themselves, others tried to strike up conversation with the people around them, while most just kept to themselves, glancing at the people around them casually.
And one stray person, who didn't fall into any of those categories, was Kaos Maharaja Break, this time with a black brand sweater over an off-white dress shirt, complete with khakis, white socks, and black Converse sneakers. Her hair wasn't particularly styled, and a different pair of glasses fell on her nose. This time, she had the same ring from before on her pointer finger, pale sea-green gem glittering beautifully on her fingers, henna all faded. She also had her treasured stud diamond earrings that she wore for the majority of her life.
In her hand was a cup of milk coffee with a decent amount of sugar in it, which she was sipping in annoyance.
I can't believe that damn sorry excuse of a teacher, Gambast still asked for all people to complete the damn essays. That sunnuva-- Kaos was interrupted when she saw someone acting strangely out of the corner of her eye. She narrowed her eyes at a guy with a red mullet that wasn't working for him, short and unkempt, obviously unhygienic based on the ketchup and mustard stains on his black t-shirt. A hermit? Maybe…
As Kaos analyzed this strange guy, who was glancing around more than average, while nervously looking at his cracked phone.
Kaos discovered three possibilities, each equally likely based on the evidence he was showing. One, he snuck out without letting anyone know, perhaps his guardians or maybe even a girlfriend. Not likely thought, sorry not sorry. Another possibility is that he is in a hurry, or needs to meet someone quickly. This possibility is one of Kaos's less favorites. And finally, the most likely one, is that he is most likely a spy.
Kaos had already confirmed that this was an official government project, run by General Commander Blanche and Colonel Atlas Meringue. If this was a secretive government project, it would almost be certain that there would at least be one spy trying to check it out.
Kaos smirked at the foolishness of the people who hired these spies in the first place. At least choose trained spies. Her smirk suddenly fell, crossing her arms in slight frustration, now deep in thought. What if it was just a show, a decoy, to throw off the trail to the real spy, or maybe even test the waters? Or maybe he wasn't a spy, and the spy was just waiting to make a move? Or is there a spy at all?
���Hey," Kaos flinched slightly at the sudden person talking to her, looking at her with concern. She was a little bit annoyed that she got pulled out of her thinking, which she spent a lot of time doing, but what could she do? Hindrances were inevitable.
Kaos turned to see a girl with short brown hair and hazel eyes peeking over her dark sunglasses, a large white sunhat, and a daisy-like sundress with platform sandals. She was about a few inches shorter than Kaos, and she seemed to be a high school student based on her demeanor.
"Hmm?" Kaos raised her eyebrow, piercing gaze effectively stabbing the girl who approached her.
"Oh, ah, I'm Maple Melani. I just wanted to say you are very pretty." Kaos's expectations dropped when she heard this, aware of the new attention this girl had just placed on her. But she could clearly see that there was a hidden intention Maple had in causing her to be at the center of attention, and even pointing out someone was pretty in the first place. Plus, Kaos didn't like the way she smiled. It was very fake.
"Thank you, Miss Maple." Kaos turned away, a clear sign that she wanted to end the conversation. And of course, to Kaos's disdain, suspicious Maple continues her needless chatter.
"So, this is an interesting situation we are in, aren't we? I got in by volunteering, what about you?" A red flag. Kaos glanced towards Maple, who seemed oblivious to the flag she just waved. In the email, it said that how you came to this project should be classified, as well as any other personal information besides our names, so we shouldn't go asking around. Kaos, of course, was invited, while this person claims to be a volunteer.
Kaos figured a lot of people here would be volunteers, considering they only claimed to have invited a few, which means there must be two separate functions for each group. Maple could be a spy for the volunteer group, she could just be trying to push her buttons, or she could be testing her.
A test… The girl thought, all in under two seconds.
"It is an interesting situation. Some people were invited while others are volunteers. I am intrigued towards the purpose of this project, letting in three separate groups."
"Three?" Maple tilted her head with a playful smirk, Kaos taking this as a surefire sign that this was some sort of test.
"I can't say all of them here, but two include invitees and volunteers. But you already knew that, didn't you, Miss Maple." Kaos was no Sherlock Holmes, but she felt especially proud of her deduction skills. Even if it didn't reveal everything, and she was still trying to understand the feelings of other people besides herself, she was still proud. Probably the proudest thing in her eyes, most likely because she is understanding people more. She saw this as a huge win.
"Oh, we have an interesting one in this group. You saw right through me." Maple Melani sheepishly replied, a grin widening across her peach-colored face. Kaos nodded, then going back to her thoughts from before. Maple looked at her curiously.
"Aren't you going to tell me which group I am in?"
"Hmm? Oh right, I don't know. I'm not that smart. I'm sure there are others that can tell you here though, considering I was told that Eden Summers was going to be here." Kaos recalled his angel-like appearance, blonde hair almost as pale as snow, and alarmingly pale blue eyes. Despite his angel-like demeanor, Eden was probably one of the most dangerously smart people here, practically omniscient. How annoying, is what Kaos first thought when she saw his name. No, perhaps when they first met.
They met at Ministry Academy, in the so-called 'genius' class run by a substitute teacher at the time, named Miss Knowhere. They were partners for a studying project, where they all had to write a ten page essay and create a slide about a certain person in history, and they had to pinpoint everything about their life, from their influence to biography to personality to way of thinking. They both had contradicting opinions, and were prideful. Not to mention that they were both super smart, and had annoying god complexes. It was a mutual rivalry that turned into a mutual hating-ship. She hated him, and he hated her. They co-existed like that. Well, tried to.
"Alright, it is exactly twelve o'clock, so let's head into the 'warehouse'. Just walk straight in!" A new person dressed in a sleek black military outfit, flat shoulder pads, boots, belt, hat, and closed coat included, caught the attention of all of the people in the throng.
So they did, Kaos the last because she was subconsciously waiting for Maple, but when she looked ahead, all hopes of enjoyment of this outing went out the window, into the ocean, and drowned in the abyss.
He, however, was smiling. That son of a bitch. Fuck my life.
"Welcome, everyone, to the government project, a project we like to call Assignment Nickel. If the people with invitations could please step up to the multi-touch table, holograms of blueprints and structures emitting a blue light.
And when everyone was there, Kaos found herself standing next to a very annoying person, aka Eden Summers.
Haa, this is certainly annoying.