When I arrived at the door of the barracks, the first thing I saw was Alex, leaning against the fence that protected the entrance to the barracks looking at his phone. Slowly and with a hint of embarrassment I approached Alex who did not notice my presence until I finally managed to get right in front of him.
Alex looked up in surprise, putting his phone in his pocket.
- Lucas? - Alex asked confused.
- Good morning, Alex- I greeted with a broken voice. I had to try not to be so nervous.
- What are you doing here? - Alex broke away from the fence and approached me. We were a few centimeters apart from each other.
- Miyabi told me to come at this time for something- I said- He didn't specify me for what- I added.
Alex was still surprised and didn't blame him for it. It was clear that the mere sight of a soldier on trial in front of the barracks door was something to be surprised about.
"Oh, right, that's why Soukaku rushed to talk to you after dinner," he said with a smile, seemingly calmer.
"Do you have any idea why they told me to come?" I asked
Alex shrugged.
- No idea, I was summoned during dinner, but they didn't give details of anything.
I nodded my head and looked away, praying that someone else would come to avoid these conversations that I thought were a bit forced. And so it was, a short time later Yanagi arrived where Alex and I were, greeting Alex first and then approaching me, staying right in front of me, just as Alex did a moment ago.
"I don't want to be rude but... why does everyone stick so hard to talk?" I asked, praying that neither Yanagi nor Alex would be offended.
Yanagi opened her eyes in surprise and walked away.
"I'm sorry, I didn't think it would bother you," he said. "Well... are you ready?" he asked as he placed the folder he was carrying in his hands in a much more comfortable position.
- I still don't know what this is about, so... I can't tell you if I'm ready," I answered.
- Didn't Chief Miyabi talk to you about it?
I shook my head.
"It was Soukaku who came to me to tell me that he was summoned to what he wanted you to do," I said.
Yanagi and Alex exchanged glances. Alex also had no idea what all this was about, but apparently, by magic, he managed to discover it just by seeing Yanagi's gaze, which made my curiosity skyrocket.
"This..." I murmured, silently without saying anything and, again, looking away.
It was clear that this moment where agents who knew each other arrived was going to be strange now my, that is, a guy who overnight is with the top agents of Division number 6? As if not to feel uncomfortable in this situation, or... I should feel like a god... I didn't know that. Little by little the rest of the members arrived, the last of these being Soukaku, who, as soon as she saw me, greeted me with an energy that she was already beginning to see as something normal in her.
I approached Miyabi nervously, as if approaching her was going to cut me in half with that sword that looked very sharp.
"Excuse me, Chief Miyabi," I said in a very typical way, like a child asking for a glass of water in a bar.
Miyabi turned around, seeing what was at that moment the weakest and most pathetic self ever observed by humans.
"Oh, Lucas, right?" he asked coldly but with a certain curiosity in his voice.
"Yes, the same," I answered.
"I'm glad you decided to come," he said.
I laughed nervously.
- Did I have a choice? - I will ask with a nervous giggle in between.
Miyabi was not smiling, she looked like a person who, looking at her from the front and inches away, seemed as if she had no soul or hope for life itself.
- You could have refused, it would be understandable - He finally replied, without changing his cold and monotonous tone.
"How could I refuse if Miyabi herself, leader of the best division in all of New Eridu, offered me a visit to this place," I said.
At that moment was when I realized that making the ball was not an option to take into account to please the boss, in fact, it was better to avoid it as much as possible. Not that it was bad, but seriously, it's better not to do it.
"You'd better not play ball with the boss, Novato," Alex said from afar. "Unless you're in love with her," he added, laughing mockingly at the end.
My cheeks flushed at this comment. I quickly covered my face to hide it so that Miyabi would not see it. I wasn't interested in her at all, but blushing gave the indication that I was.
- Alex, leave that kind of jokes for later, there's work to be done- Miyabi said with a serious and professional smile which relaxed me a little.
Miyabi and the rest began to walk to the security gate, leaving me behind with my face covered with embarrassment.
When I saw how they were moving away, I ran after them until I was next to everyone, walking at the same speed as them.
As we were on our way inside the barracks, I could see how some soldiers, both dressed and armed up to their shoulders, were chatting leaning on the military trucks that were preparing to undertake the trip to some mission. Suddenly I noticed how someone pushed me from behind.
- Be careful you fall, little duck - Soukaku said behind me.
I paused for a moment and looked at Soukaku in surprise. For a moment I thought it had been Alex.
- Well, little more and you make it- I said sarcastically, obviously I wasn't even close to falling.
- I'm very good at pushing people, or at least that's what Nagi says- She said very happily.
Nagi? Perhaps that was the nickname he gave Yanagi.
"Is it a nickname?" I asked. It was a stupid question but perfect to keep the conversation flowing.
-Yes. That's the nickname I have with Yanagi," he said.
I nodded my head as I continued to walk forward, keeping pace with the others. After a few hundred steps we reached the main door that led to the interior of the barracks. There were a dozen armed guards outside the door, as if the number of soldiers in the parking lots wasn't enough.
The building was navy blue. It had nothing special to decorate the walls of the place, of course since it was a government building.
I was curious about the huge statue that was located just before the beginning of the climb of the stairs to reach the main entrance.
We all stood at the entrance. I could see how everyone lined up, as if they were children who were about to enter the nursery. I was stunned trying to think about the reason for this sudden strange placement.
- Get in line - Yanagi said.
Quickly and without protesting I placed myself at the back of the line without being able to stop thinking about him why all this.
"Head of Division No. 6, Miyabi Hosino," Miyabi said in his serious tone.
The guard put his gun aside from him, leaving it hanging and grabbing him thanks to a tape that wrapped around his neck. He took out some papers and began to look at them, when he finished, he looked at Miyabi.
- Okay, go ahead - said the guard.
Miyabi entered the facility and the line moved forward. Everything remained the same, everyone had to say their name and their role in the team. When I was only one person away from making it to my turn, I thought: What role did I play in this team? Soldier in tests?
After Soukaku finally entered, it was my turn.
"Tell me," said the guard.
I stopped to think, watching as everyone in the division was waiting for him to enter. All this generated an internal shame in me that I did not link to get rid of.
- Lucas - I said at last - Lucas Harper - I added.
The guard looked at his papers. I noticed from his look and reactions that he wasn't on the list.
- Role? - He asked.
- This...- The words could not get out of my mouth. For me I would lie but I knew that it was not the right time or place to do it.
- He's coming with us- Miyabi said from behind the guard.
The guard turned around and discussed it with a certain nervousness in his voice.
"But Miss Miyabi, he's not on the list," he protested, checking the papers in case he had missed any relevant details.
Miyabi approached the guard's ear and whispered something that I couldn't hear, he blushed and nodded his head.
"Lucas Harper, welcome to the barracks," he said, pushing his way, putting away his papers and grabbing his gun again to enter a threatening position.
Every time I saw any of the things Miyabi did I thought he wasn't a real person or even a human person. Why was she so serious and perfect? Is it only about life at work? But there was something that worried me more: what had I said to him to have had that reaction?
I entered the barracks and looked amazed at everything inside, in it there were all kinds of people working in it, from normal humans at the reception to semi-humans of all kinds who seemed to work in the laboratory or something like that.
The reception was decorated with a floor of a rather nice brown color, shiny and polished like a newly purchased billiard ball. There were quite a few corridors to go through, each with its respective sign indicating that it was there if you went to that place. It was in that small moment that I saw a sign that said "Office of Cavity Affairs". I think it was clear that we were headed there.
"What do you think of the place?" asked Soukaku jumping for joy. "It's like it's my home, I spend most of my life in this place, but it's not at all ugly or uncomfortable, in fact, the people here are a love of people, especially Yanagi," he added furiously.
It was clear that Soukaku was immensely fond of Yanagi, but it was something I didn't really care about.
- It is a very intriguing place. I hope to be able to work here one day...- I said becoming absorbed in my thoughts.
- Of course you will, you have a talent for this - He said tapping me on the arm and running away with the group.
"Let's go!" Soukaku exclaimed from afar.
I ran to them and followed them into what appeared to be a room. This one had glass walls. It could be said that since it was a meeting room, it had very little privacy. I entered through the door and each one sat in a different seat, seeing this, I did the same.
I sat in the chair closest to the digital whiteboard that was on the only empty wall in the entire room.
Miyabi pressed a button, and what looked like a simple clear crystal turned into what looked like a solid black. Now I understood everything, in short, technology.
Miyabi stood in front of the blackboard and with a controller, turned it on.
"Well, let's start with the meeting," Miyabi said. "As you know, lately the Zero cavity has expanded excessively. We have no idea why this strange expansion is happening, but we do know that the level of ethereal activity has escalated uncontrollably. Our mission is simple, to enter, exterminate and extract, or in a simpler way. The "Triple E".
I kept thinking that I was just an infiltrator here that Miyabi had decided to include, but why do they want to put me on such an intense mission?
- Even though the cavity is full of entrances, we all know that most of them are dominated by cave bosses. The best thing will be to keep a low profile and enter through an area of low emission of ethereal beings- Miyabi pointed to one of the bead areas of the cavity that were projected on the blackboard- This is the best option for us, but, this time I decided to do something different from what you are already used to doing. As you can see I have decided to bring two new temporary members. I'll assume you already know Alex. Flooring of the reserve section of division 6. And this is Lucas, a soldier on probation in the division's camp. If I have decided to bring them it is because I trust them and hope that they will play a more than decent role inside the cavity. Since we are two more than normal I have decided to remodel it in the style of a purge by couples.
My mind kept being amazed at all the information I was capturing in such a short time. I was surprised at the simple fact of hearing that he was a person who was expected to perform well. It was clear that I had been chosen among thousands of soldiers, that motivated me.
"I formed the couples during dinner yesterday," Miyabi said.
"Nothing new in you, Chief," Harumasa said in a mocking tone.
Miyabi cleared his throat and continued with his speech and planning.
- Couple number one: Harumasa and Yanagi- He said- Strong in tactical aspect, I hope you don't fail. Second couple: Alex and Soukaku.
Don't with me.
- Perfect, good choice, but a formidable couple - Alex said confidently.
- Don't get upset, you know what happened the last time you came up - Harumasa said.
- And finally, Lucas, you will go with me - He said to finish the list.
- Understood, I will do the best I can, I promise- I said hurt to see that I had not touched the only person I trusted.
- I hope so- Miyabi Dojo- We have half an hour to prepare. I want to see you at the heliport, until then," Miyabi said, leaving the room as if nothing had happened.
- YES, WE ARE GOING TO BURST ETHEREAL BEINGS - Alex exclaimed with euphoria.
"We just pray to see each other's faces again," Yanagi said.
- Nagi is right, I want to see your beautiful faces again - He said almost between pouts.
My heart was racing, I couldn't calm down in any way. I got up from my chair and headed for the door.
"Where are you going?" asked Soukaku.
- I'm going to the bathroom, it won't take long- I said pale and with cold sweats that I was beginning to feel.
Before turning around and going out the door I could see the worried face of Soukaku and the rest of the team except for Alex, it seemed normal to him to see them in this state.
This was about to start, I didn't know anything, I was afraid, I felt bad, indecisive.