“MATCH OVER. TEAM PYTHON WINS.”
Eric stood up and brushed dirt off himself. “And I was just starting to have fun. Oh well. I look forward to our next meeting.” He smiled, then walked away.
Footsteps approached from behind. “That could’ve gone better.” It was Josh.
I leaned back on my elbows and exhaled. “No kidding.”
After, we made our way to the outfit room, still talking about the recent match.
“Dude, it hit me out of nowhere. Eric Riley is not human…” Josh trailed off, something to the far right of the room catching his attention. “I’ll catch you back at the dorm.” He said in a hushed tone and then scampered away.
I didn’t blame him or the rest of the team who had already left. I walked up to my locker and opened it. Noir was fiddling with something at her own, but I couldn't tell what it was; she hadn’t acknowledged Josh or me when we entered, but I soon decided to break the heavy silence. “We lost a close match out there today.” My back was still to her, so when she didn’t respond, I turned around. “Did you hear me?”
She was still preoccupied with what she was doing, paying me no mind at all. “Yes.”
I didn’t know what else to say, so turned to leave, but stopped at the exit. “Do you even give a shit?”
She didn't say anything or even react for that matter.
I walked back to stand near her. “No, of course you don’t. You don’t care about anything but fighting.”
She finally stopped what she was doing, but still had her back to me, so I couldn’t see her face. “You don’t know anything about me.” She said calmly.
Her nonchalant attitude agitated me. “I know we lost the match out there today because you lost control again.” My arm was outstretched as I pointed towards the training range.
She slammed the locker and finally turned to me. “If it wasn’t for me you would still have a boot buried in your neck.”
“Is that your excuse? Why don’t you just admit you were looking for another fight?”
Her left eyebrow twitched. “It's all your fault, to begin with.”
“How the hell is it my fault?” I raised my voice. “You can’t just blame other people –”
“Silence…” She growled underneath her breath.
But I didn’t. “For your lack of control, why don’t you just own up to it?”
“Shut up!” She threw down a rifle magazine that collided with the hard floor; the heavy silence in the room magnified the sound it made.
I stared at her in disbelief. I had never heard her scream, let alone raise her voice.
“What do you know? You’ve lived in a bubble your whole life. Just because you score a few points on a test doesn’t mean you understand about war and fighting, destruction, and death - you know nothing, Adin Anderson.” She clenched her jaw as she glared at me.
I pressed a hand on my chest. “So explain it to me, Noir. Should I be like you? Whenever I have a problem just to solve it with force?” I paused. “Like you did with your old squad?”
Her eyes flashed. “I’m warning you…”
For a second, I hesitated but then took a step forward. “I’m not afraid of you, Noir.”
Her big, green eyes bored into me. “You should be.”
“Everybody else may be, but I know there’s more to you than just violence.” I met her penetrating gaze with my own.
“You’ll never understand my world…” She said to me, but it felt more like she was talking to herself. She looked to the left, but there was nothing in that direction but a cold, dark wall. “You’re wrong; this is what I am…” She stopped for a second to take a breath through her nose and made eye contact. “I’ve become soft and weak… Before, I wouldn’t have thought twice about letting that monstrosity stomp all over you, but I sacrificed the match… for you… you and your menial conversations and useless acts of friendship.”
“I don’t –”
“Well, no more… you want me to shoot someone; I will, you want me to retrieve information? I’ll do that too, but nothing more than that.”
I furrowed my brows and crossed my arms. “Fine.”
After a few more seconds of hard staring between us, she brushed past me. I watched her back as she made her way out of the outfit room; she looked so lonely, and for a split second I wanted to reach out and stop her, but that feeling quickly subsided. I had repeatedly tried to offer her friendship even when she had beaten me to a pulp, but she had barely opened up to me. The wall she had up was insurmountable; it might as well have been Mount Everest, and I wasn’t much of a climber.
The next day Dean Dexter called for one of our meetings; we hadn’t made much progress in finding a solution to my transformations. Also, the meetings themselves were getting stranger and stranger. There was one where he had asked if I could smell colors and another where we said nothing for almost an hour. I didn’t know what to make of them anymore, but if it got us an iota closer to finding an answer, I was all for the weirdness.
“Are you positive?” The older man asked me for the millionth time. He was trying to get me to remember events from my childhood, more specifically, the events that correlated with my father and the virus.
“Umm... no. I’m sorry, but I really don’t remember.” I sat in the chair in front of his desk as usual.
“Think, Mr. Anderson!” He abruptly shouted, a vein popping up in his neck.
I flinched, his outburst catching me off guard. I had never heard him yell before, I didn’t even know he could, just like Noir.
Seconds of uncomfortable silence passed before he gave a strained laugh. “I’m sorry about that; I haven’t had much sleep lately.”
I was still trying to figure out what that abrupt change was. He always had a perpetual smile etched on his face like stone.
“We'll continue that discussion later… I actually called you here for another purpose.” He reached over and grabbed one of his homemade truffles.
My hand subconsciously went to my stomach.
“Your match yesterday was just another confirmation for me. You’re ready.”
“Ready? For what?”
He pulled one of his drawers to the bottom right open and produced a black folder, then placed it in front of me on his desk. “Congratulations, you and Team Umbra have been assigned your first mission.”
I ran my fingers over the red, bold letters on the folder that read ‘confidential.’
“That’s your mission briefing and for the next two weeks, bible.”
I slowly took my hand off the folder.
Dean Dexter continued. “Remember the lead I mentioned a while back?”
I nodded. Of course I did. I had come to him in a near panic after almost transforming in front of Noir.
“Only a handful of people know this, but the reason we’re at war with North Korea is a fabrication.”
My eyebrows furrowed. “What?” As far as I knew, the war had started over their illegal nuclear program.
His expression got serious. “The real reason is much more sinister. We’ve been tracking a traitor within our own organization for a while now. This traitor acquired information pertaining to Project Vita and provided it to a third party. We have finally found information that may tell us who that traitor is, so you, along with Team Umbra will disguise yourselves as students visiting the HAARP facility in Alaska and retrieve the illegal information from them.”
“So, the HAARP facility has gone rogue?”
He nodded. “Correct.”
I shook my head. “But what does the war have to do with it?”
“The rogue facility contacted North Korea and agreed to provide a portion of the research for funding. Why they went rogue, to begin with, we’re not completely clear on, but that is a moot point - we just need to stop them.” He leaned back in his chair. “Of course, this information requires discretion, but your situation makes it vital you are privy to this intel.”
“How exactly?”
> “There may be something in the facility that might trigger your memory. Or you might recognize something nobody else would be able to.”
I guess that made sense. “So, I have to keep this a secret from my team…”
The dean nodded. “I understand the secretiveness is not ideal, but it is necessary.”
I looked down at my hands. “Aren’t you worried that I might lose it out there?” The small box was in my back pocket. It held a single syringe, the only one left.
“Of course I am, but you’ve proven yourself more than capable, and I think your unorthodox ways suit this mission quite well. I have faith in you, Adin.” He smiled confidently.
I felt many conflicting things, proud, excited, anxious and terrified.
Dean Dexter studied my face for a moment, then leaned back in his chair. “I remember my first mission…” He gazed at the ceiling in nostalgia, “Your situation isn’t actually so different from my own. As a recruit, I was highly regarded early on. Everyone knew my name, I was cocky and had no fear.” His smile grew. “The mission was an assignment to rescue an important government official that was being held hostage in Cuba." He paused and shook his head, "It was a complete disaster. Because of my pride and lack of fear, I made a fatal error in judgment that resulted in the hostage’s death.”
My mouth was slightly open. If he was trying to make me feel better, he was failing miserably.
“After that debacle, I was demoted and had to work my way back up. I had never failed in my life before that moment, so it was a total shock to me. But I learned something important that day, do you know what it was?”
I shook my head back and forth.
Dean Dexter leaned forward, making his leather chair squeak and stared directly in my eyes. “To be afraid. The fear that you have is good, Adin. Hold on to it because that’s what’s going to keep you and those around you breathing. Only fools and the dead have nothing to fear, and nothing to lose.” He sat back once more, his eyes unfocused like he was mentally somewhere else. “Yes… only fools feel like they have nothing to lose.”
“You said that the match yesterday was confirmation, but we lost…” I said, breaking his reverie.
“Failure isn't always a bad thing. You can actually learn a lot from it.”
“I'm not sure if I learned anything by losing to Team Python.”
“Sure you did, you just have to pay closer attention.” He pointed at his head. “You’re only as strong as your biggest weakness.”
Maybe he was right; I had learned something important. “Can I ask you something personal?”
He smiled. “Sure, you can ask, but that doesn't mean I'll answer.”
“How well do you know Noir?” I remember asking her on one occasion, but she had been evasive about it, so I still wasn't sure about their relationship, but got the sense that it wasn't a normal teacher-student one.
“Why the interest?”
“To be honest, even after these months of trying to get to know her, she's still a total mystery to me.” I smiled wryly. “She isn't exactly Miss Popular, so the people I can ask are kind of limited.”
The older man clasped his hands. “Noir’s parents and I have been friends for many years, and as a result, I've known her since she was an infant; she’s like family to me.”
I suspected that she and Dean Dexter had a relationship but didn’t think that they were that close. “Oh.”
“You seem surprised.”
“It’s just that you don't seem… “
“Close?” He finished for me.
“Well, yeah.”
Dean Dexter chuckled. “She strictly forbade any sort of familiarity while on campus.”
I laughed. “That does sound like her.”
“But I sense that there’s more to your question.”
Again, he was right. “When I tried to find out what her problem was, you said it wasn't your place to tell me, so I won't try to pry again, but since you do know her on a personal level, I was hoping you could give me some advice.” My face became uncomfortable. “Since you were there you saw how we lost against Team Python…”
“I can’t say that I wouldn’t feel the same way if I was in your shoes.” He sighed. “You’re the only person I’ve met in a while who seems to care about her at all, so I guess I can help you out. The way Noir grew up was very different, so some of her mannerisms may seem a bit… odd.”
“What do you –”
He put his hand up, smiling. “She would kill me if I said anymore.”
I reluctantly returned his smile. “Yeah, I understand. Thanks, you’ve helped me out a lot.” Even if it was a little, I felt like I was a step closer to solving the mystery that was Noir.
A sudden knock on the office door made me jump.
Dean Dexter glanced at it. “Ah, the rest of Team Umbra has arrived for the mission briefing. Come in!”
I turned my head to see all of my teammates enter the room.
“Oh, Adin you’re already here.” Bianca had a surprised look.
I stood and joined them as they all huddled in front of the desk. “Yeah, just got here.”
Once everyone was settled, the dean explained the mission briefing again, this time leaving out Project Vita. They all cheered excitedly for the news, which I went along with.
“There’s only one problem.” He studied us each. “You need a co-leader for this assignment. You can discuss it amongst yourselves later –”
“I pick Adin.” Hope raised her hand; the action somehow made her look even shorter.
Dean Dexter smiled at his daughter. “Hope –”
Bianca grabbed her raised hand. “Me too! Adin for president!”
I laughed nervously. “Guys, I don’t know if I’m the right person to co-lead…”
“I agree. Any objections?” Mina scanned the entire group. “What about you George, Josh?”
“Fine with me.” Vince shrugged.
George gave me a once-over. “Me too, I guess.”
Dean Dexter smiled wide. “Good, then it’s decided!” Then he looked directly at me. “This is who you are.”
My lips curved up into a smile. “Yes, sir.”
Once the meeting was over, we exited the room, but Dean Dexter stopped me.
“Don’t forget, we’ll finish our session another day.” He gave a friendly smile.
I nodded at him warily, then followed my teammates.
Chapter 27 - Shots
As promised, only two days passed before Dean Dexter scheduled another meeting. But instead of the usual, we were in a room with padded walls.
“What is this place?” I looked around.
“My personal training room, like it?”
“Well… there’s not much here.”
He laughed, which sounded loud in the small room. “I use it more for meditation, but it’ll suit our purposes just fine.”
“What are we doing, anyway?”
He had instructed me to wear my training gear for the session.
“Today, we’ll be testing the parameters of your transformations.”
“In that?” I pointed at the red robe he always had on.
“I suppose not.” He removed it, letting it drop to the floor.
“Oh, crap…” My eyes passed over his body in surprise.
The dean checked himself and smirked. “I guess I’ve earned a few bruises from my more vigorous days.” Across his torso were a trail of scars; some looked like they were from gunshots, knives or other deadly objects, probably all three. “Shall we begin?”
After a second, I pried my eyes away from the ghastly sight. “Yeah…”
He and I meticulously moved towards each other, each footstep and movement carefully thought out. I was anxious to find out the capabilities of the dean of Addison and sent a swift jab to test his reflexes; he slapped it down without effort. Guess I don’t have to hold back. I stepped into a left hook that he dodged by dropping low to the ground. While still crouched, he swept his out
stretched leg under me. I hopped over it and landed lightly on my feet.
Staying on the offensive, I sent blow after blow, but he didn’t seem too bothered by my assault, having a smile the entire time.
“You have good technique, but your movements are too wide.” Without warning, he propelled forward and gave me a nasty shot to the ribs. “See, your movements have to be tighter, like I just demonstrated. Less wasted movement allows for quicker action.”
He had a candid attitude about the savage punch he had just inflicted on me, but I was reeling in unadulterated pain trying to catch the air that escaped my lungs.
“I’m going to attack now.” He announced casually, all the while with that smile stuck on his face.
I blocked, dodged, and weaved in my best effort to defend from Dean Dexter’s rapid flurry of ferocious strikes. Each shot that rattled off my arms sent me retreating until my back collided with the padded wall. He was just too quick and too strong, so I didn’t know how to extract myself from the onslaught of merciless attacks. Then out of nowhere, he grabbed my entire face with one hand and slammed it against the wall, making the back of my head explode in pain.
A moment after, the telltale signs of the virus activating ran through my bruised body, and the last thing I remember before passing out was the smell of truffles on the palm of his hand. My eyes fluttered open to see Dean Dexter watching me with all the focus in the world sometime later.
“How are you feeling?” He offered a hand down to me.
I watched it warily, then took it and rubbed the back of my head when on my feet. “What happened…?”
“You began to transform and blacked out.”
“That’s never happened before…”
He held up four empty syringes. “Well, it took four tranquilizers to calm you down and even then you’re already up and about. You’re like a bull.” He chuckled.
My eyes didn’t leave him. I believed the stories they told about him now; he was another level and fearsome, too.
“Today was very helpful. Thank you, Adin.” Then he put his hand on my shoulder and grinned widely. “You did great.”
Sixty-Seven Salamanders Page 19
