Post by Sean on Oct 1, 2019 18:03:33 GMT -5
TEAM GALACTIC HQ (DAY BEFORE HEIST)
The day before a mission is always the same. Grunts filled the indoor gym, eager to get some last-minute training in with their pokémon. New recruits looked on in envy, exhausted from their exercise drills but determined to join the cause. All personnel were obligated to make preparations regardless of whether they were going on the mission or not. They needed to be ready for deployment in case of an emergency. All this excitement is sure to attract spectators, and among them would be admins tasked with scouting the best performing grunts for the mission. Everyone understood that showing your mettle in a battle is a surefire way to get yourself on that list. The atmosphere was almost like a tournament, but without all the festivities and more routine. Galactic’s research department was a stark contrast from the bustling commons. Mission day was always a deadline for them. As usual, no one there was in high spirits. At each desk stared a pair of tired eyes and moved a pair of hands. Scrambling to publish a progress report on their latest findings, the scientists typed away for hours to compile all the data.
On days like these, Theia attends to her administrative duties. She inspects the barracks, follows up with company shareholders for intel, reviews upcoming operations with the commanders, and performs a final assessment of the grunts selected for the mission. If a grunt didn’t meet her standards, she simply removed them from the mission and referred them to an indefinite period of intensive training.'Eliminate every risk.' Those were Ariadne’s words. Theia couldn’t help but remember them as she sat in the conference room, face-to-face with Ariadne for the first time since her failure in the woods outside Azure Academy. The black marble flooring and tall windows made the room look more spacious than it was. It was an empty space furnished with only a long glass table and a few chairs. At the opposite end of the room sat the indomitable leader of Team Galactic with her hands folded on the table. Very little light shined through the windows, casting a half-shadow on Ariadne’s face. Only Theia was illuminated in full view, thanks to Lunatone who hovered over her head like a spotlight.
“I see you’ve made a full recovery,” Ariadne said, squinting her eyes into an examining peer—searching for a sign of weakness.
“Yes, your eminence” Theia said. “No matter the injury, I will always return to your side. I live to serve Galactic.” She spoke firmly, almost never showing a hint of her true feelings even when lying. Though the healing wish therapy and additional burn treatments were able to heal her physical wounds, they could not remedy her psychological trauma. She still remembers the sensation of her flesh burning and now other memories that she repressed are starting to surface too. It frustrated her.
Ariadne silently dissected every word Theia uttered before responding. She suspected some dishonesty behind Theia’s words but didn’t see any reason to address it now.
Ariadne swayed her hand over the “G” emblazoned on the glass table and activated a hologram projection of the Oreburgh City Mining Museum. “I’ve summoned you here today to assign your squad a special role in tomorrow’s mission.”
“A museum?” Theia observed. “My apologies for speaking out of turn, but isn’t the mission everyone’s preparing for a mine bombing?”
“That is a diversion,” Ariadne explained. “While the grunts cause havoc in the mines under the pretense of stealing coal or evolutionary stones, your squad will infiltrate the museum. The local police will be far too busy to even notice. All that’s left is the museum’s top security. And what better a duo to pull this off than the two recruits who have been making strides since they joined us?"
"I’m speaking of Violet Vensia and Camilla Briar."
On days like these, Theia attends to her administrative duties. She inspects the barracks, follows up with company shareholders for intel, reviews upcoming operations with the commanders, and performs a final assessment of the grunts selected for the mission. If a grunt didn’t meet her standards, she simply removed them from the mission and referred them to an indefinite period of intensive training.'Eliminate every risk.' Those were Ariadne’s words. Theia couldn’t help but remember them as she sat in the conference room, face-to-face with Ariadne for the first time since her failure in the woods outside Azure Academy. The black marble flooring and tall windows made the room look more spacious than it was. It was an empty space furnished with only a long glass table and a few chairs. At the opposite end of the room sat the indomitable leader of Team Galactic with her hands folded on the table. Very little light shined through the windows, casting a half-shadow on Ariadne’s face. Only Theia was illuminated in full view, thanks to Lunatone who hovered over her head like a spotlight.
“I see you’ve made a full recovery,” Ariadne said, squinting her eyes into an examining peer—searching for a sign of weakness.
“Yes, your eminence” Theia said. “No matter the injury, I will always return to your side. I live to serve Galactic.” She spoke firmly, almost never showing a hint of her true feelings even when lying. Though the healing wish therapy and additional burn treatments were able to heal her physical wounds, they could not remedy her psychological trauma. She still remembers the sensation of her flesh burning and now other memories that she repressed are starting to surface too. It frustrated her.
Ariadne silently dissected every word Theia uttered before responding. She suspected some dishonesty behind Theia’s words but didn’t see any reason to address it now.
“Well, I’ll keep that in mind,” Ariadne said. “Shall we get to business then?”
Ariadne swayed her hand over the “G” emblazoned on the glass table and activated a hologram projection of the Oreburgh City Mining Museum. “I’ve summoned you here today to assign your squad a special role in tomorrow’s mission.”
“A museum?” Theia observed. “My apologies for speaking out of turn, but isn’t the mission everyone’s preparing for a mine bombing?”
“That is a diversion,” Ariadne explained. “While the grunts cause havoc in the mines under the pretense of stealing coal or evolutionary stones, your squad will infiltrate the museum. The local police will be far too busy to even notice. All that’s left is the museum’s top security. And what better a duo to pull this off than the two recruits who have been making strides since they joined us?"
"I’m speaking of Violet Vensia and Camilla Briar."
Theia’s face softened as if she had been complimented herself. Although she had never met the two due to her injuries, she has been training them remotely through a messenger and assigning them tasks based on their progress. “They certainly learn fast, and they have a rare cunning about them too,” Theia said.
Ariadne nodded sagely. “I’ll be relying on that craftiness for this stealth mission to be a success. But you’re probably wondering why I’m going to such lengths.” Ariadne flexed her fingers over the hologram and zoomed in on an exhibit. An assortment of stone tablets was displayed on the wall.
“The museum has recently acquired eight of the sacred plates I’ll need to advance my plan,” Ariadne said. “Vensia and Briar cannot fail here, do you understand? We only get one chance. Get in and get out.”
Theia stood up from her seat and gave a polite bow. “Of course, they will not fail you.” After a brief moment, Theia turned on her heels and was heading for the door when Ariadne suddenly posed another question.
“But will you fail me?” Ariadne asked.
Theia paused.
The answer was obvious, but there was more Theia wanted to get off her chest. Maybe Ariadne would understand? “Lately, I’ve been thinking about the past. About Cyr—”
“Stop,” Ariadne commanded. With a single word, Ariadne rendered Theia speechless and demanded obedience. A deafening silence filled the space between them.
The tension in the air was heavy and razor sharp.
“That sentimentality is unbecoming of you,” Ariadne said. “Speak nothing more of that fool to me.” Theia couldn’t even look at Ariadne; she could feel that icy glare staring her down with contempt. No, she wouldn’t dare to look. It would be the end of her.
“Take pride in the fact that I trust you to complete this mission flawlessly.” Ariadne said. “And never take that trust for granted.” This was her warning to Theia, a warning never to cross her.
“Oh, and Theia?” Ariadne said. “Please send in Vensia and Briar for a briefing on their mission in the next thirty minutes.”
Theia nodded sheepishly and let herself out of the room. She turned the corner to an empty corridor and collapsed to her knees.
I can do better. I have to do better. I won’t fail, not again. Not again.
