The alarm blared in Matt's small apartment, piercing through the early morning silence like a sharp blade. He jolted awake but, instead of turning it off like a normal person, threw his pillow at the device, knocking it to the floor.
"Another mission, I suppose," he muttered, still half-asleep.
Before he could dive back into the warmth of his bed, the familiar sound of his communicator buzzed, crushing any hope for peace. He turned over, grabbed the device, and read the message on the screen: "Scotland. Loch Ness. Urgent mission."
With a sigh, he got up and headed to the bathroom. He knew the International Paranormal Agency (IPA) didn't make late-night calls unless it was something serious.
Team Introduction
A few hours later, at the IPA's secret base in London, Matt watched his two teammates as they went over the mission report. Tiffany, as usual, had her arms crossed, a stern look on her face as she frowned at him. Her light brown hair cascaded over her shoulder, and her eyes were as piercing as ever.
"Late again, Matt?" she said with her usual accusatory tone. "If we keep this up, not only will the monsters attack us, but you'll turn into one with how disastrous you are."
Matt shrugged, not bothering to argue. After several years on the team, he was used to Tiffany's constant nagging. And while it irritated him, there was something about her energy and ability to plan every move that intrigued him—though he'd never admit it.
In contrast, Rose sat quietly to the side, as calm as always, studying a map of Scotland with her serene eyes. Her long dark hair fell over her shoulders, and there was always a slight, enigmatic smile on her face that Matt could never quite figure out.
"We're hunting Nessie this time," Rose said, not looking up from the map. "There have been multiple sightings at Loch Ness. The agency wants us to investigate before someone records it and it goes viral. They can't let this become a global phenomenon."
Tiffany snorted.
"Nessie again... Didn't we seal that thing last year? These monsters have worse staying power than Matt's habits."
Matt rolled his eyes, but before he could respond, the door to the briefing room opened, and Commander Farrell, the mission coordinator, walked in.
"Team A-13," he announced in his deep voice. "This is a containment mission. The Loch Ness Monster has been sighted multiple times over the past few weeks. While it remains a legend to most, the recent sightings have been too frequent. We suspect something is disrupting its regeneration cycle."
Matt nodded, scanning the report. To most of the world, Nessie remained a myth, a local legend. But for them, it was a recurring threat, just one of the many paranormal entities the IPA was tasked with hunting and controlling.
Mission in Scotland: Facing Nessie
Hours later, the team was already in Scotland, standing at the edge of the mysterious lake. A thick fog covered the water's surface, giving it an eerie, ethereal feel. Tourists, oblivious to the real danger, snapped photos and videos, hoping to catch a glimpse of something moving in the lake.
Rose, as always, was one step ahead.
"The energy readings are spiking. Nessie is here, or something is provoking it to surface early," she commented, her eyes scanning the horizon.
Tiffany adjusted her gear and shot a quick glance at Matt, who seemed far too relaxed.
"Are you planning to take this seriously for once? This is one of the biggest monsters we've ever faced."
"You're right. I totally forgot to bring the harness for taming a giant lizard," he replied, a playful grin on his face.
Before Tiffany could retort, the surface of the lake exploded. A massive creature emerged from the water, its serpentine silhouette shimmering in the moonlight. The Loch Ness Monster had appeared.
"It's bigger than last time!" Matt shouted, pulling out his energy pistol as the creature let out a guttural roar.
Combat with Nessie
What followed was a whirlwind of action. Matt sprinted toward the lake's edge, firing multiple shots at the creature to distract it, while Tiffany moved in with her energy lance. With swift, precise movements, she slashed at the monster's smaller limbs, but each wound she inflicted began regenerating almost instantly.
"It's not working! It's regenerating faster than we expected!" Tiffany shouted, frustrated.
Rose remained in the background, analyzing the situation.
"Something is interfering with its normal cycle. There's a regeneration amplifier in the lake. We need to shut it down, or Nessie won't stop," she said, scanning the area with her device.
"How exactly are we supposed to stop a creature this size?" Matt asked, narrowly dodging a swing from Nessie's tail that nearly threw him into the lake.
Rose gave him a steady look.
"Trust me."
Though Matt often joked in the most critical moments, he trusted Rose more than he'd ever admit. Without another word, he dove into the water, swimming toward the spot where the readings indicated something strange was activating the monster.
Time was against him, but Matt reached an odd metallic structure submerged in the lake, emanating energy directly to Nessie. Without hesitation, he pulled a small explosive charge from his belt and attached it to the device. Within seconds, an underwater explosion shook the lake, destroying the amplifier.
On the surface, Nessie let out an agonized roar before sinking back into the depths of the lake.
After the Mission
The team regrouped at the shore, exhausted but satisfied. The fog was slowly lifting, and the tourists, blissfully unaware of what had just happened, continued snapping photos of the lake as if nothing had occurred.
"Well done, team," Rose said with a small smile.
Matt shook the water from his hair and, laughing, remarked, "Well, one more mission done. Anyone else feel like having fish for dinner?"
Tiffany shot him an irritated look, but there was a hint of a smile on her lips.
"Idiot... but good job."
As the team walked away, Matt couldn't help but notice something strange in the lake. A faint glow beneath the surface.
"This isn't over, is it?" he muttered, more to himself than to anyone else.
Rose glanced at him with her usual calm demeanor.
"No, Matt. It never is."