"Is Diana in there?" Hunter asked.
The Alpha Sector had resumed activities and Hunter had been instated as an official agent of the agency despite several appeals and requests from the Public Safety and Demon Control agency for the sprite to continue as an agent in the latter organization.
The teal green-eyed boy hadn't seen Diana since Dreieck and looked to remedy that by searching for her on his first day in Sector 5 as an official agent.
"Yes," Skylar replied. "But she needs more time," she added.
"Seems like everyone does these days," Hunter said.
"I was actually coming to meet you," said the aqua-blue-haired woman. "Come with me."
Skylar walked past the dark-haired boy who turned back to the room Diana was in before rushing to catch up with the healer. Neither of them said anything until they got into an office.
"I need you to go to Thornbridge ... Discreetly."
"What?"
Skylar sets a small, rectangular device on the table that had a blinking red light on one side of its screen. "That's from Camille, she has new information."
Hunter looked side to side as if to make sure no one else was in the room. "Are you supposed to be in contact with her?" He said in a hushed tone.
"No, and that's why I said discreetly. Just because we failed at Dreieck doesn't mean the plan to oust Olivia and arrest the Archaeons is over, this is plan C," said Skylar.
"Did I miss plan B?"
Skylar smiles but the door swings open before she responds.
A man in his early twenties walked into the office. He had brown hair and green eyes and held a small smile on his face.
"Skylar!" He said.
"Wade ..."
"I just wanted to say congratulations on your promotion to Director of the Alpha Sector. Camille was great but if anyone was to replace her, it should be you."
"Thank you," Skylar replied. "This is Hunter," she said pointing to the dark-haired boy.
"Oh! The new agent!" He exclaimed, shaking the grade-A student's hand. "I'm Wade," he said throwing his hand over the Metropolitan School of Mysticism student's shoulders. "Come let me introduce you to everyone."
"Everyone has to be a bit of a s --"
"Shh ... You're gonna love it!"
.
.
.
"I did not."
"What?" Wade asked.
"You said I was going to like meeting everyone; I didn't," Hunter replied.
"For real? We still have a couple more guys to go through," said the brown-haired man.
"Please, no more," pleaded the sprite. "How do you even know that many persons?" Hunter asked.
"Easy. I want to build a harem."
Hunter raised an eyebrow.
'Looks like someone stole your idea.'
"Think about it. I just need --"
"No, no, no," Hunter interrupted. "Good luck!" He exclaimed.
"Thank you. It's a secret though so I'll appreciate it if you don't tell anyone," said the brown-haired man.
"Then why would you tell me? We literally just met."
"True," Wade nodded. "But I have a feeling we're going to be the best of friends." He declared. "So you're ready to meet more Alpha Sector agents?"
"Dude. No more, please."
"Too bad, another one's behind you." Hunter turned around with a slight frown that melted into a smile.
"Sydney!" Hunter exclaimed, embracing the orange-haired girl.
"You two have met?"
"We go to the same school," said Sydney.
"That's good, Hunter here was tired of meeting new people."
"I'm pretty sure I've met everyone on the Sector 5," said the dark-haired boy.
"Knowing Wade, you're probably right," said the Alpha.
"So this is the organization you told me you were asked to join?" Hunter asks.
"Yes. The Alpha Sector has been my home since I was younger."
[Ah. So that's where the child soldier accusations stem from.]
'Shut up!'
"I um .... Heard about River Pot," said Sydney.
"I actually don't remember that whole month."
"Yeah. Skylar told me. When you do remember, and if you need someone to talk to, you know where to find me." Sydney taps the sprite's shoulders before walking away.
'Was River Pot that bad?'
"Isn't she so reasonable?" Wade said putting his hand across Hunter's shoulder.
"I --" Hunter turned to see Wade on his side. "You're still here?"
"Of course. We have one more agent to see before we're done for today," Wade said.
"No," the dark-haired boy shook his head.
"Hear me out before deciding whether or not you want to meet her," said Wade. "Her name is Luciana Czichos and even though she's been here longer than most, she doesn't have too many friends so I thought you two might get along."
Hunter sighs. "Fine. Take me to her."
"Excellent. Luciano is mute by the way but she can --" Wade bumps into someone who is walking out of an elevator.
"Crap! My fault, sorry," he apologized.
"Of course it is! How about watching where you're going dipshit!" The woman exclaimed. She had brown skin, brown eyes, and curly, brown hair.
Wade looks up at the woman and frowns. "I should have known it was you, miss Gorilla, only you are stupid enough to bump into someone while looking straight at them."
"Says the one who bumped into me!" She turns to Hunter. "I see you've got a new agent to lick your ass," she said.
"Woah! There's no reason to bring me into this!" The sprite exclaimed.
"Shut up asslicker, I'm talking to the ass now," she said.
"Who the --"
"Forget her, Hunter," the green-eyed man said dragging the sprite away.
"Aw, did I hurt your feelings? Are you running to your room to cry?"
Wade ignores the brown-haired woman, walking away with the teal-green-eyed boy.
"Who was that?" Hunter asked.
"I couldn't tell you, I just call her Gorilla because of how ugly she is," said Wade.
Hunter raised an eyebrow. "Okay, she's very pretty but don't tell her I said that."
"Of course. So who is she?"
"Her name is Maxine Esposito, she seems to hate my guts for whatever reason."
"I noticed. I thought everyone liked you?"
"Everyone except her."
"I see."
Wade exhales deeply. "Don't let her ruin the mood."
Hunter's eyebrows furrowed. Wade turned and clicked on a button on a door before opening his arms wide. "One of the plenty wonders of the Section 5 which is thanks to Camille recognizing that staring into the ocean or looking up at metallic roof and ladders could get very boring very fast and deciding to make some parts of this ship an illusion."
"What are you talking about?"
"Allow me to introduce you to ... The park!"
The door slides open and Hunter's pupils have to adjust to the sudden brightness.
The grass was not too long, but long nonetheless, and felt soft under the sprite's boot. The air smelt nice and the Hunter could feel the heat of the sun from where he stood.
"What do you think?" Wade asks.
"Feels like every other park in Skyline. If you hadn't told me, I would've sworn that door was a portal to another realm."
"That's the beauty of Department H -- I mean Section 5."
Hunter takes in a deep breath. "Luciana is behind that hedge, she thinks no one knows she stays there to read some questionable books but I do," said Wade.
"Alright."
Hunter makes his way around the thick bush to meet with the agent. Luciana was sat under a tree, reading a book. She had long, disheveled, red hair that covered most of her right eye. Her eyes were blue and her cheeks were covered with freckles.
The blue-eyed girl looked up from her book to the sprite.
"Hi, you mind if I step into your personal bubble for a second or two?"
The girl shook her head before the dark-haired boy moved closer, sitting opposite the blue-eyed girl. "I'm Hunter Heffernan, I'm a new agent here at the Alpha Sector."
•"Nice to meet you, Hunter, and welcome to the Alpha Sector"• She said using sign language.
"Thanks, you're actually the first to formally welcome me," said the teal-green-eyed boy.
•"You understand sign language?"•
"Yeah. When I was younger, my friend, Jacob, had this crush who was deaf. So naturally he made me take lessons with him so he could impress her. Are there no agents in here who understand SL?"
Luciana smiles. •"Many couldn't care less. Skylar and Camille understand a bit but the others see it as a chore to learn. There are many agents in here so maybe there is someone I don't know about."•
"Ah," Hunter nods.
•"How did you know I was here?"•
"Wade."
•"I should have guessed. He thinks no one knows but I know he's trying to build a harem. Why else would someone be nice to everybody?"•
Hunter laughs. 'And he was saying it's a secret.'
"Wade was saying you mostly keep to yourself but I must say, you're pretty sociable."
•"People don't understand that it's not every time one would like to socialize. Take you for example, you asked me before stepping into my personal bubble, but others don't care, they just expect you to hang with them and nod and wave no matter what."•
"I know what you mean. Sometimes I just want to be by myself, on my own, without any outside thought."
•"Exactly!"•
"Anyway, I'll be on my way now, enjoy your book." The redhead nodded and smiled as the dark-haired boy made his back to Wade who was seated on a bench waiting.
"Let me guess, she ignored you the whole time," said Wade. "That's okay, among the girls you met today, which one of them are you interested in; I could help you with hints and their phone number."
"I -- Skylar."
"Sorry, she's going to be part of my harem."
Hunter raised an eyebrow. "What about Sydney?"
"Also part of my harem."
"Luciana?"
"I can't help you with that."
"Who else then?"
"Think harder, who else did we meet today?"
"I'm not about to ask for help with the Gorilla!"
"And I cannot help you with her!" Wade exclaimed. "You know what, forget it."
"I think that's for the best."
----