Debriefing

His hand quivered as it raised to meet the slightly wrinkled one held just a bit out in front of his face. Meeting the man’s skin, their hands shook, and the joyful smile on his face remained. Despite that, Slater could not bring himself to do the same. Charlotte simply watched on, looking satisfied as if watching two close friends of hers meet each other for the first time.

Lupus continued with his kind gesture, but stopped and looked around after a few tense moments, then turned to the girl in the chair.

“Where is Blitz? Shouldn’t he be home now as well?”

She threw up a hand, pointing to the where he had exited earlier. Lupus sighed in response, aborting the handshake and bringing his hand to the bridge of his nose.

“I didn’t tell him about this because I knew he wouldn’t take it well… Perhaps, I should have told him to not subject you to this, Slater.” He turned to the boy. “Blitz is always difficult when it comes to change, don’t mind him. For now, just follow me. I have a few housekeeping topics to discuss with you.” The man approached the same place Blitz had retreated to. Not wanting to anger the man who he still was quivering from the presence of, he complied as fast as he could and followed in the man’s shadow.

Of the two, the man leading’s footsteps echoed much more fiercely throughout the hallway. As they passed each door, Slater’s worries began to grow. Have I done something wrong? I just got here, I couldn’t have. He didn’t sound mad either, but… He reanalyzed the composure of the man from behind. He looks prepared to tear off my head at any moment!

Eventually, the eternal walk ended at the third door down the hallway, where Lupus turned and the door slid, making way for him. Slater approached from behind, entering and viewing the office-like area inside. A simple desk stood in the center of the monochrome room. Nothing of significance decorated it, and yet Lupus sat down in the desk’s seat as if it was as natural as breathing. A smaller seat sat across from the desk, with it’s blatant placement calling out for Slater to occupy it, and so, he obliged. Had he not, he thought, the wolf in front of him might’ve bit his head off.

“Slater Ferruccio.” The old man called out just as the boy whose name he had called made himself comfortable, completely ruining his sense of comfort. “That is your name, correct?”

Slater gave a hesitant nod. He had many questions about how they could’ve even known that, but those took a backseat to preserving his own well-being. At least, until they were answered for him.

“That name was registered in the data of your sword there.” Lupus pointed at the dormant blade. “However, we weren’t sure if it was right when we heard you muttering another name while you were still comatose.

“Another name?” He couldn’t stop himself this time, however, the fact that his new boss was being surprisingly reasonable gave him the confidence to shrug off his worries for a moment.

“Yes. ‘Elio,’ I believe it was.”

The boy stared down at his feet in shame. Noticing the sentiment in his face, Lupus reflected an empathetic rendition of it himself in return, before clearing his throat and moving the conversation along.

“I’m glad you accepted the offer to work here. I had your uniform prepared for you already, so it would’ve been unfortunate for that cloth to have gone to waste.” His words turned from an explanation to the old man’s own flight of fancy, while Slater could only think of the face of who put him here in the first place.

“That damn brat..!” He tightened his fists. He had accepted his offer immediately, but that didn’t mean he was at all happy with what position he was put in and, even worse, seeing his sister used as a bargaining chip. His audible cursing did reach the ears of Lupus, however.

“Ah yes, President Ellis. Please show him some patience, he doesn’t have it the easiest running a country and can be a bit of a, as you put it, brat, at times.” Lupus’ hands cupped each other as he leaned forward. “The child saw his father, the last president, die in front of his eyes, as well as became paralyzed from the waist down, in an attack several years ago. Shortly after, his already high exposure to politics drove him to run for the presidency, as, due to concerns regarding life expectancy, the age requirement was repealed. Nobody thought a 12 year old kid would actually win, however.” He paused, giving a sigh and a pensive look. “I owe a great debt to his father for giving me this position. So please, give the boy some grace.”

Slater looked over the man speaking to him. For a man lecturing about life expectancy, he looked rather old himself. Although, he dared not speak those thoughts, lest he have his head bitten off. Instead, he brushed aside the man’s question with his desired answer and gave a much more topical question.

“I’ll… consider that when I see him next… But, enough about the president, there’s a reason you had me come alone here, right?”

“Of course! Mainly, I wanted to get to know my knew subordinate, but there was also some key information I thought you should be aware of. Ellis instructed me against informing you of this, as he deemed it ‘unwise,’ however, despite his position I’d argue he does not yet have the experience to determine that.” He reached under his desk, pulling up a tablet with various numbers displayed. Most of which being zeros. “Your blade has been fitted with technology to read its signs and study its output, among other things, whenever you are engaged in combat. I couldn’t do anything to have it removed, so letting you at least be aware was the most I could do.” The director’s face was completely serious under his silvery mustache, giving Slater at least enough confidence to trust he was being genuine.”That being said,” His eyes grew in intensity as he stared down Slater. “Due to my regular interferences with requests made of this division, we have been assigned a mission meant to test your capabilities. I would’ve denied it, had the alternative not been much worse.”

The boy’s voice quivered. “So I’m being sent out to the field already?”

“No, at least not yet.” Lupus answered matter-of-factly. “You’ll be going with Charlotte and Blitz, but they don’t know of this mission yet. Furthermore, none of you will be debriefed on the details until you complete your first mission directly from me, Slater Ferruccio.”

A lump formed in the new recruit’s throat. “Huh?”

“Slater Ferruccio, I give you one simple mission: Get Agent Blitz Bolzen to leave his room. I wish you the best.”