First Mission

As the siblings sat catching their breath, the lingering ache from the sparring session gradually faded away, and the numbness subsided. The room felt strangely serene, a stark contrast to the intensity of their recent trials. Mr Darkwood, with his signature cool demeanor, turned to face them, a hint of approval in his eyes. “How was it? From our side at least, both might need some training, but I don’t see why not allowing you into my Team 1” he began, his voice carrying an authoritative tone. “You performed better than expected, especially the tenacity you showed there, Luke. Those fights weren’t meant to be won anyway.”

Luke, still simmering with irritation from his encounter with Dante, shot a sharp glance at Mr Darkwood. “Aren’t you glad that bastard pushed me this far then?” His tone was edged with defiance, but there was also a smirk playing on his lips. “Hope you’ll at least make it worth it for us then.”

Sophie, who had been quietly nursing her bruises, turned to Luke with a look of both pride and concern. She knew her brother’s fiery spirit often got him into trouble, but it also propelled them forward in ways that few others could match.

Mr. Darkwood raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by Luke’s boldness. “Well, let’s discuss the terms then” he said, taking a seat behind his grand desk. Luke nodded, his expression turning serious as he recalled the conversation he and Sophie had the previous night.

“Right, the terms” Luke began, settling into his chair. “We talked it over, and we’re willing to join your Team 1, but there are a couple of conditions. First, the payment needs to be 20,000 credits per mission, not the 10,000 you initially offered.”
Mr Darkwood leaned back, interlacing his fingers as he considered the request. “And the second condition?”.
Luke continued, “Second, we want to be paid per mission, not on a monthly rate. We need the flexibility to manage our own schedules, and to ensure we’re compensated fairly you know?”

Sophie chimed in, her voice steady but firm, “And third, we reserve the right to quit whenever we choose. No binding contracts that keep us locked in if the circumstances change or if we find ourselves in a situation that doesn’t aling with our goals.”

The room fell silent for a moment as Mr. Darkwood weighted their terms. The siblings watched him closely, their future hinging on his next words. Finally, he broke the silence with a nod of agreement. “You drive a hard bargain, but I respect your determination and your sense of self-worth. Agreed.”
Relief washed over Luke and Sophie. They had secured their place in Team 1 and on their own terms. As they stood to leave, Mr Darkwood added, “one more thing—some members will leave for a mission, and there’s an open spot now”. Luke paused, his mind drifting back to Dante. The thought of him either knocked out could or recovering from their intense sparring session and taking his spot brought a wicked grin to his face. This was a golden opportunity, a chance to prove himself further and solidify his place in Team 1.

The anticipation of joining an actual mission, of moving beyond training to face real monsters, was thrilling. He turned to Sophie, who met his gaze with a mixture of excitement and determination. Mr Darkwood’s eyes narrowed, as if gauging their readiness. “You’ll need to be prepared for anything. This mission will test you in ways you haven’t yet imagined”.

Luke nodded, his resolve hardening. “We’re ready” he said, the fire in his voice unmistakable. Sophie squeezed his arm in silent agreement. With that, Luke and Sophie left Mr. Darkwood’s office, hearts pounding with a mix of excitement and anticipation. Each step in hallway leading to the armory echoed, reinforcing the weight of the moment. As the large automatic door to the armory opened, they were greeted by the low hum of conversation. Standing near a rack was Iris, the formidable woman who had tested Sophie’s mettle earlier. She turned and gave them a nod, her expression softening slightly.

“Good to see you both”, Iris said, motioning for them to come closer. “Let me introduce you to the rest of Team 1”.
A tall, lean man stepped forward first. His dark hair was tied back in a neat ponytail, and his piercing green eyes held a sense of calm authority. “This is Altair Leclerc” Iris continued. “He’s our leader and a master of the sword.” Altair extended a hand, his grip firm and confident. “Welcome to the team. Nice fight back there” he said, his voice low and steady.

Next, a burly man with a wild mane of red hair and a full beard approached. His arms were thick with muscle, and he carried a massive double-headed axe effortlessly over one shoulder. “And this is Ian Thorne, our axe specialist” Iris said. Ian gave them a hearty laugh and a pat on the back that nearly knocked the wind out of Luke. “Pleasure to meet you two. We need strong fighters, and it looks like you fit the bill” Ian said, his voice booming.

Finally, a slender woman with sharp features and an air of quiet confidence stepped forward. Her dark eyes seemed to miss nothing, and she carried a rifle on her back. “And this is Emily Hawke, our sniper” Iris finished. Emily gave them curt nod, her lips twitching into a small, knowing smile. There was something undeniably magnetic about her presence.

“Welcome aboard. Let’s hope you’re as good in the field as you were in the sparring ring” Emily said, her voice carrying a playful lilt. Her gaze lingered on Luke a moment longer than necessary, her eyes glinting with a mischievous sparkle.

Luke, seemingly oblivious to the undertone, grinned back at her, his usual confidence on full display. “I’ll do my best to keep up” he replied, his tone equally light-hearted. Emily’s smile widened, and she took a step closer to him, her eyes never leaving his.

“I’m sure you will” she said, her voice dropping slightly, enough for only Luke to hear And you ever need a personal shooting lesson, I’d be more than happy to oblige”.

Sophie, standing just a step behind Luke, felt a pang of discomfort at Emily’s words. They were supposed to be here for a quick buck, then leave, Sophie thought. She clenched her jaw, trying to mask her annoyance. She knew her brother well enough to see he was enjoying the attention, and while he might not catch the nuances, Sophie clearly did.

“I think we’ll manage” Sophie interjected, her voice steady but with a slight edge. Emily turned her gaze to Sophie, her smile never wavering but her eyes assessing.

“Of course” Emily said smoothly “It’s always better to work together, right?”

Sophie forced a tight smile in response. She wasn’t sure if Emily’s words were meant to ease the tension or to subtly remind her of her inexperience. Either way, Sophie wasn’t about to let herself be overshadowed.

With introductions complete, Iris turned to a nearby weapon rack and pulled two sets of weapons. “These are for you” she said, handing Luke a pair of longswords that looked like an upgraded version of the ones he had used earlier. “I thought you might appreciate something similar to what you used in the sparring matches”
Luke took the swords, which felt like an extension of himself, fitting perfectly in his hands. “These are incredible” he murmured, a grin spreading across his face.
Iris then turned to Sophie and handed her a pair of sleek, deadly daggers. “And for you, Sophie. I believe these will suit your fighting style better”. Sophie took the daggers, flipping them effortlessly in her hands. “These are perfect” she said, her eyes shining with gratitude.

“Ready?” Altair asked, as he glanced at each member of his team. They all nodded, determination etched on their faces. With a wave of his hand, Altair activated the teleportation pad, making the room hum with energy, and in a flash of light, they were transported to an underground parking lot just beneath the building. The walls were lined with various vehicles, most sleek and advanced, hinting at the quality of clients NovaCore Industries received everyday.

Altair led the way, his steps echoing off the concrete floor. He paused in front of a large, imposing vehicle that seemed to be built for both speed and protection, with reinforced plating and tinted windows that gave it an almost ominous appearance.

“Get on” Altair instructed, his voice calm but commanding. He opened the back door, revealing a spacious interior clearly designed for both comfort and efficiency, ensuring the team could rest and strategize on their way to the mission site.

Luke and Sophie exchanged a glance, a mix of excitement and nerves evident in their eyes. They climbed into the vehicle, followed by Iris, Ian, Emily, and finally Altair. “We are heading to the outskirts of the city” Altair said, as he imputed their destination “This one was last spotted near an abandoned industrial complex. We need to be prepared for anything”
The vehicle hovered off the ground before speeding through the underground passageway, emerging into the city streets above. The lights of the city flickered by in a blur, the team mentally preparing for the challenge head.