The time was 1500 and team Cursed was preparing to go back home. In the village hall, the team was having a meeting with Rocky and Clara about the fate of Rion.
"We are leaving Rocky and that's not up for discussion, two of my team members almost died." Laura announced. She had vowed to protect her kids and she was never going to risk their lives again.
"But can't you find the pack leader and set a trap for it or something" Rocky asked in desperation.
"This pack is way bigger than we thought. Chances are the leader is in the third rank. We are also sure that there is at least one peak rank two lion in their ranks. We just don't have the fire power to safely defeat it" Laura sighed helplessly.
Rocky knew Laura was right, if the enemy had a rank three leader and also a peak rank two beast. Laura's team could never win without casualties. He hated to admit it but they had to leave even if they didn't want to. If only they knew that the pack had already left the area.
"Fine we will come with you " Rocky said as he walked out to prepare the villagers. Laura also made a few calls to the military to make arrangements for the extra 'passengers'.
Two hours later, team Cursed stepped off the helicopter which had landed on the school grounds. It was around 6pm so the school was pretty much empty.
"You can all go home and have Friday off. So we will meet again Monday" Laura said.
The students all dispersed with Mia following Jessica. She was going to stay in her dorm room until the school arranged her own room. She still thought she was in a military base though.
"Lieutenant Commander Lane. General Brown requests your presence in his quarters immediately" said a man standing by Laura's side. He was wearing the standard blue military personnel uniform as he stood there with his back as straight as an arrow and his right hand making a fist above his heart as a sign of respect for someone of higher rank
This action greatly surprised Laura. No one has ever called her by her rank before. She didn't even know when she was promoted to Lieutenant Commander because the last time she checked she was still a Lieutenant.
"At ease soldier" she said and the man put down his hand " Thank you I will make my way there now."
As Laura walked from the grounds to the headmaster's office she noticed something strange. There where guards everywhere she turned her head and the atmosphere just felt different. Something was up and she had a feeling she would discover what in her meeting.
Arriving at the headmaster's office, two guards where standing in front of the door and it didn't seem like they would move even after Laura stood in front of them for a few seconds.
"Lieutenant Commander Lane, here to report to General Brown" she said, to which the two soldiers immediately bowed their heads.
"We apologize for not recognizing you Lieutenant Commander, General Brown is waiting for you" One of them said as he opened the door.
Laura entered the office and saw Mr Brown looking out the window with a cigar in hand. He seemed to have not heard Laura enter given by fact that he had still not turned around after half a minute.
"Headmaster ? " Laura called.
"......"
Laura seemed to realize what was going on as she stood up straight with her hand on her chest.
"Lieutenant Commander Lane, here to report to General Brown" she repeated the same words she used on the guards.
Mr Brown then turned around after Laura introduced herself.
"Good to have you back Lieutenant Commander, you may take a seat"
"I would rather stand sir"
"Suit yourself"
"How was the mission ? anything to report?" General Brown asked.
"Yes sir we managed to save some of the villagers but unfortunately we failed to kill the pack leader. I suspect it was a being in the third rank sir." Laura started.
"I also have some good news sir. Three of my students successfully broke through to the second rank" Laura announced proudly.
"Really now ?....congratulations Lieutenant Commander. Even though I'm not that surprised since we all knew the talent of your class" General Brown said.
"Anything else ?" He asked.
"Yes sir, I also recruited a new student by the name of Mia Dayne, she has talent and i believe she will be a good asset to have on my team." Laura announced.
"Oh ? So then Lex, Adam and Michael all in the second rank. As well as Linda, Tina and Jennifer who will no doubt also follow in the footsteps of the boys, and now Mia as well. I have to say Lieutenant Commander team Cursed is quite powerful aren't they?.
An look of surprise appeared on Laura's face as she heard the General call all her students by name. She never knew that Mr Brown cared enough to actually know the names of her children. However what shocked her the most was that he also knew about the name 'Cursed'. She was now pretty sure that there was a camera or recording device in her classroom as that's were the students came up with their team name.
"Sir how did you know it was those students who broke through? " she asked while trying her best to sound respectful.
"We are the military Lieutenant Commander Lane , we have connections... everywhere" Mr Brown replied vaguely.
"Anything else to report Laura ?" Mr Brown said once more.
"No sir that was all" Laura replied.
The General heaved a sigh "Im disappointed in you Laura, why do you want to hide the fact that Lex black killed rank two beasts while in the first rank?, or that he and Adam fought a beast on the verge of rank three and not only lived to tell the tale but also drove away said beast?"
He then walked around his table and came close to Laura who was at this point sweating from her forehead.
"What else are you hiding from me Lieutenant Commander Laura Lane?"
"Se yah tomorrow bro , I will pick you up at 8 for the double date " Adam said to Lex he entered his house.
"Sure thing but please don't wear a suit this time. Remember, you don't need to impress Tina anymore"Lex shouted back as he ran in the direction of his dorm.
However before he could get even 100 meters away from Adam's house he felt an intense amount of pain in his heart. It was so sudden that he fell to the ground clutching his chest. As quickly as it came it disappeared, but Lex still had a feeling that something was very wrong.
'Adam!' he thought as he ran as fast as he could back to Adam's residence. He didn't even bother to knock as he barged into the door and ran up the stairs to one of the bedrooms. The pain in his chest was only growing more and more as he got close to the only door which was open in the house.
Finally stopping in front of the open door, a bad smell reached his sensitive nose. Looking into the room, Lex could see Adam kneeling over the dead body of his mother, two bullet holes could be seen on her forehead.