It's now one week before the attack, they gathered all the info they can. First, they know one of the kids' names is Zap and one of the adults named is Quix. They got that from hacking into a camera and finding their faces on the government database and having a perfect match. They are also estimated to be at least five people in the two separate places, by the pattern of when they leave and enter the separate facilities. They also figure the best time to go is at night so they'll be more tired and less expecting an attack, which allows them to use shadows to their advantage. Lastly, they have to have some decent amount of power in this government considering the amount of No-Names detected in the area. 50 of them to be exact, all protected whatever is inside.
With all this new information they were feeling confident about their chances of winning. My progress with his Zoe training is going well, except for my Detection, which is taking harder than expected for me to grasp.
Other than that Elemental was going ever so smoothly, like butter. Needless to say, the whole agency was ready for a comeback and to fight for Koji, it wasn't just me training everyone was. This wasn't something the U.A could overlook, this was to start a very big war.
Today was a relaxing day. Every bit of pressure that has been applied has vanished. Everyone seemed to be in a lighter mood, so much they were having a party in the center room. The day was full of random things like Aza making a coat for me to wear when it's cold, and Kingsley challenging me to an eating contest.
Alfred being drunk trying to convince Apollo to carry him everywhere. Pete getting happier than usual about his food than usual and so much more. It felt like a day everyone needed and everyone wanted for so long but just didn't have the time to have. The calm before the storm some would say, and I loved the calm. Even though Koji was still poisoned, it didn't bring everyone down that day. By the end of the day, I went to sleep with a smile on his face.
After yesterday's success, everyone went back to what they were doing beforehand, refreshed and recharged. There are only a couple of days until the attack so everyone is trying to get everything ready. That's when Alfred assigned a meeting for the detective agency by interrupting one of their meetings.
CHAPTER 8: The Light At The End Of The Tunnel - 2
"Hello everyone, sorry to interrupt but I want to talk to you guys about the upcoming mission and how it's going to play out. You'll be joining Apollo and his brother Dion."
"Question" I said after seeing the obvious red flag.
"You guys said Dion died so how is he back alive?"
"So, this isn't the Dion that was also a top-five, there was just two Dion's. Kind of funny right? Trust me it was at first but got confusing and annoying after a while." Alfred said with a low tone before continuing
"Now with that being said I want you guys to try to split up into groups of two, seeing as it would be easier for the mission. I also have your fake identity passes just in case. Lastly, I want to speak about Koji and how his condition is going."
When Alfred said that everyone went full focus mode and was dying to hear an all-clear. "Koji won't join you guys' mission but we're slowly finding a way to make him cure again. He moved his finger not too long ago." Alfred said with a genuine smile that lit up the room.
Everyone followed the same while Kingsley said "That's good, he had me worried there." Then proceed to smile as well.
"Well, now that's all done. If you guys need anything you know where to find me, Apollo! Dion! You guys and come in."
That's when Apollo and this other guy came in. He was well dressed and mannered, his hair was perfectly combed, and even his eyebrows to his mustache were all perfect and concise. His black dress shoes look like they glisten even if there is no light directly on them. To how perfectly white and straight his teeth were. He looked like the perfect gentleman.
"Hello, detective team, as you know I'm Dion I am quite pleased to finally make your acquaintance well for one of you. Especially since he seems to t liked by the whole agency in a matter of a day or two makes me surprised and want to see that person even more." Dion said walking towards Z and looking at him then stretched his cheekbones and seemed to be looking for something., although Z couldn't tell what it was.
"Well, he has the potential to be sharp, although the lack of facial hair makes his look tank a little bit. So if you don't like this kid for his looks then why do you like him? Is he stronger than you all? Smarter? Funnier? Well come on spit out I don't have a century to live." Dion said tapping his foot and at Apollo to speak.
"Well, for starters, he is a quick learner and adaptive to his situation. I was surprised to see how he did in the simulation room, using every bit of material to his advantage. Then he has some power to him. He did a very good mid-level fire stream that he shouldn't have been able to do for a while. Lastly, he didn't live a good life like the rest, but he stood up tall and faced it like a man or has some would save as brave as a dog." Apollo said which made Z feel great about himself until Dion said something afterward.
I mean I drink so why shouldn't you be able to do something that calms you down." Of course, that is just from his persona so far. Regardless, let's get to speaking about our case now shall we?"
"Sure sit down over their brother," Apollo said, pointing to Koji's seat.
"Now for this case I want to split the teams into two, Dion, Z, and Aza will go to the closer but slightly more dangerous location which we are calling Location A. While I and Kingsley will go to location B which is farther away. Location A seems to also have more traffic in its more hidden area so once Team A moves in they have to be stealthy and not be picked up by any of the cameras or they'll know you're there. It seems to be on the outskirts of the town and near a barn, they seem to own. So move in with extra caution, as for my team we'll have to go to the other side from where they're at and go to an abandoned city dump. It's somewhere there although we have no idea where. With that being said we have our fake ids and costumes if you want to get into character. Is everything good? Does everyone know their team?" Apollo said the most formal he ever was which made everyone shake their heads.
"Great if you want more questions about the case, ask now or ask Alfred." Everyone seemed to agree with what was said, so Apollo and his brother Dion took their stuff and took their leave.
"Well guys, there's only a couple of days left until our attack. I just want to say I love you guys, and we'll win and come back with good news for Koji. Right?" Aza said looking at them for that extra bit of confidence and closure.
"We sure will!" Kingsley said, trying to cheer her up.
"Thanks. Koji wouldn't want me to keep beating myself up although it still hurts to go to sleep thinking about it sometimes. I promised myself I wasn't going to lose this battle, so having you guys there and helping and just picking up my slack means a lot to me. So once again thanks." Aza said looking down with guilt that no one had not seen her had not even the members of her department seen her in. The once trickster, evil, but good-hearted Aza felt so inflated.
"I'm glad we can help but please don't keep yourself up at night thinking of what you could have done better, if you got to save your friend even if you knew the risk you would do it in a heartbeat. Once you abandon your previous life to join something like this agency it becomes your life and your only family. Knowing the bit I did about Koji before he got hit, I can tell, he doesn't like people messing with his family." I said, trying to get Aza to see a different point.
"I see where you're coming from, It's just I always feel guilty in the end. Even if I didn't do anything at all or was involved at all. I just don't like it when someone I care for gets hurt because I always think I could do better and be faster. But I'm working on that so having you guys, here again, just thank you." With that, Aza stood up and walked out of the room.
"I really hope she doesn't keep beating herself up about this." I said with audible concern in my voice.
"Don't discredit her yet, she is very strong-willed and a great person she'll work herself out of it. I know she can, as you said, have faith. She'll find the light at the end of the tunnel, I know she will." Kingsley said before getting up and walking to the door.
"I'm going to go visit Koji, catch you later Z?"
"Yeah, catch you later." With that Kingsley went towards Koji's room.
I've gained this habit of walking around the halls when he was bored now. To hear the tad bits of information that could be heard through the walls. Today was an eventful one. I started walking down the one to his right. I heard Pete singing a song about cooking and how much he loved his cooking. Then I heard Aza stressing over a dress size she made and how it was too big.
Then I walked down another hallway and heard Kingsley's voice. He was talking to the not moving sleeping Koji in a very sad tone.
"I miss you, man. You catnapping at the end of every meeting, always there to help me with something when I needed it, and the times when you and Aza and I go out just have so much fun, not to mention that time you taught me how to skate because Apollo kept rubbing it in that he could and I couldn't. Then he gave me the nickname Goldie because I couldn't do anything just right so he gave the name has an insult but then you called him a Dog and he got so mad he tried to chase you on the ice and ended slipping. Wake up soon, I genuinely do miss you." That was all Kingsley said before signing back into his seat.
I then went down the hallway further to whip my tears and nose before hearing a rather weird conversation that I couldn't make out what it meant considering he only started to hear halfway through. Also, the fact that it was coming from a locked closet room where the voices were a bit hard to decipher who it was.
"Release that stress? Maybe on me~" A voice that was hard to tell who said. The second one was hard to hear and he only heard bits of "How'd.... Beg..... tasty." Was all I was able to pick up and immediately thought how weird it was and took myself to my room to go to sleep.
"The whole agency, 2,300 people are invested in this case. I can't fail. I won't fail." With that I closed his eyes and went to sleep knowing he has a lot of final training before the mission. True to that over the next few days I worked on everything and even did a training session with Kingsley for a day.
Then it came the day everyone was waiting for, we all suited up and grabbed their weapons. we all ate their final meals before the fight and were greeted by Alfred before they left.
"Alright everyone, today is the day we figure out everything. We'll figure out what we're dealing with and try to stop them in Phronesis. More than 2,000 people are waiting for you guys so come back home safe okay? We'll be watching you guys from the cameras around the best we can, for our ease of mind. Lastly, show them why the U.A shouldn't be messed with. Got that?" Alfred said with an evil supervillain smirk that was oddly satisfying
"You got it, boss, leave it to us!" Apollo said, giving Alfred a wink.
"Alright, I trust you guys. Now go out there and win!" Alfred said to us with the most energy in his voice.
"Don't drink yourself to death old man, that's my job," Dion said before walking into the elevator.
"He's got a point, don't drink too much," Apollo said laughing while going into the elevator.
"Don't worry about us we got this, tell Pete to have some bulgogi for when I come back though," Kingsley said, getting into the elevator.
"Ooo tell Pete to have some pink lemonade ready for me, I could use it. Oh and don't worry about me and whatever." Aza said walking in.
"We won't stop until we get revenge, no one messes with the ones we love and gets to walk free. We'll beat them down and take down their facilities for sure!" With that I got in the elevator, and Apollo clicked the button to go up, and up they went.
Once we got up they took our city train all the way to the other side of city and from there the long walk journey truly began.
"How long did you say the walk was Z?" Kingsley said
"Two days..." "TWO DAYS!? I think I'll die before we can get there in two days." Aza and Kingsley said in unison, both with shock in their voices.
"Calm down, it's not that bad. Besides, I think you guys are not seeing the bright sides of this. You'll get to up your cardio." Apollo said in a sarcastic way to make them mad. That's when I started to try to cheer them up.
"C'mon guys don't be so sad. Just have some faith in our abilities. I did this without any training and was fine. Just try to look for the light at the end of the tunnel."
===============EXTRA SCENCE==================
"So are we going to ignore that after I said The Light At The End Of The Tunnel once, everyone started to say it?"
"I couldn't tell you Kingsley, I guess your the main mc."
"Mc?"
"Yeah, you're the main mc."
"What does that mean, Aza?"
"I- I don't know."