[V2] Chapter 18: New Mission

Date: Monday, April 24th

Location: Wolfpack HallwayMission: NoneTime: 10:15 AM

Most of my time was spent contemplating September and, really, this whole idea. It was rather expansive, with many key factors at play. The thoughts consumed me, weaving in and out of my mind, forming different scenarios, each more complex than the last.

It was honestly too much. So I had my own little plan on the side, and it was rather simple—get as much time with September as possible. Just keep it going and keep it steady. If I could make my presence as constant as Malachi's, then I had a fighting chance. I had observed how he always managed to be around her, casually slipping into conversations, making her laugh, being present. That was his strategy, and it worked. If I could mirror it, then perhaps I could stand a chance.

That’s how Malachi wins every time; he’s always with September. But I’ll use the same tactic, and once we get comfortable, I’ll say my feelings, and from there—boom. A clean confession. At least, that was the plan.

As I approached my locker, I could feel Greg’s presence arriving beside me. “So… been an uneventful few days, huh?”

“Yeah, pretty much,” I said. “Something normal for once.”

“Anything on that CARGO mission thingamabob?” he asked, glancing at his phone.

I opened my mouth, but realizing the weight of everything that had happened, I widened my eyes in surprise. “A lot, actually.”

“And you said it was an uneventful few days,” Greg sneered.

I furrowed my eyebrows. “What—no, you said that.”

“Come on, hit me with it,” he said, now fully focused on me.

I sighed. “We were brought to the interrogation room, where this agent—Lloyd White, I believe—questioned Lowman. In the end, we figured out that their entire plan was to get the location and send a mole inside.”

“Whoa!” Greg shouted. “I’ve always wanted that to happen in the FMA. But the most excitement we have is when they storm the halls with their marching band.”

“Nonetheless, we got intel that the mole might be one of Malachi’s friends. It would make sense.”

“Make sense of what?” Greg asked.

“They said they were looking for someone with great power. According to what the TSA filed to Lowman, it had to do with someone powerful. The MP system was mentioned.”

“And Malachi’s the top.”

“Fortunately and unfortunately.”

Greg squinted in confusion. I explained, “Our plan is to kill two birds with one stone. I join some sports, like Mage Football, and with my Perk, I’ll take the top spot on the MP board. They’ll focus on me instead, and in doing so, we save Malachi while I get September’s attention.”

“Talk about a plan. But I love it. It makes you stand out.”

“Yeah. But maybe just talking to her more would—”

“No, this is a plan from nectar itself! Who came up with it?”

“Nikki,” I admitted.

Greg clapped his hands. “You need to start listening to her more. She is your ticket out of here. You’re making it out with this one.”

“Sure, yeah—definitely,” I said, trying to sound convinced. But was I?

Greg smiled. “You have good friends. Really good friends. And you have a good brother who lives just fifteen minutes away. You’re set,” he said, patting my back.

I wasn’t sure how I was supposed to take that—whether it was meant to be comforting, a warning, or something in between. It lingered in my mind as Greg walked off. I stared into space, trying to make sense of my emotions. Was I truly set? Or was I walking into something way over my head?

“Yeah, sure,” I muttered before looking back at my locker.

After heading home and donning my yellow utility belt and gear, I arrived at the academy with my body slamming into the car. “Nggh….” I groaned, glancing beside me at Mr. Drails and a few other agents behind him, all looking concerned.

Mr. Drails wore a long black jacket and a trilby hat over a gray suit, perfectly finished with a red tie. He always had that composed look, the kind that made it impossible to tell what he was really thinking.

“Bad day, huh?” Mr. Drails chuckled. “Dropped my wand there?”

“Yeah, like you always do,” I winced. I was livid. Of all the places, in front of probably important spies from the agency, I had to crash into a car.

Bad day for sure.

“Can you guys fetch another vehicle?” he asked. “I’ll be here for a bit.”

He looked at me, now sitting up, a large dent on the hood beneath me. It was like someone had dropped a boulder—me—on top of the car.

“How have things been?” he asked, taking off his hat, revealing his slick black hair.

I shrugged. “Weird… I guess… poor.”

“Why’s that?” Mr. Drails asked. “After the Armonk assignment you guys successfully completed, I’d assume you’d have some friends. You have Malachi.”

I winced. Mr. Drails’s smug smile faded.

“Come, stand by me,” he said, stepping next to the hood, now covered in shattered glass.

I did as he said, and he looked out over the plains. There was no wind, so the grass barely moved.

“Tell me. Tell me everything.”

I hesitated. “Even my own spies have to tell me everything,” he added. “Plus, I’m your father.”

I sighed. “Sure… I’ve been having feelings for—”

“I knew it!” he said, clapping his hands.

Then I finished, “September.”

His enthusiasm vanished. He nodded. “September? You’re going for the biggest fish.”

I nodded. “Yeah, but I’ve just been feeling for her, and I wanted to tell her how I feel.”

“Have you?”

“No, because my friends think I shouldn’t. I need to grab her attention by being great at something.”

Mr. Drails shrugged. “Your Perk. She knows about that.”

“Yeah, but Malachi always gets to her first… I’m just… not sure.”

Mr. Drails widened his eyes. “Oh… and Malachi is your opponent. That’s a long battle, Connor.”

I sighed. “Yeah, I figured. But there’s a small chance. Two, actually.”

“Two? Maybe not so small then,” Mr. Drails said. “Let me hear them.”

I told him everything. He listened, nodding occasionally, but never interrupting. Then finally, he asked, “And if this doesn’t work?”

I didn’t have an answer. I simply stared ahead, knowing full well that this mission was only getting harder.

“Well, bucko, get moving,” he finally said.

Well… dang… Those were the only words that were replaying inside of my mind. But there was now an addition to the mission. Follow the three (and possibly more) and try to get information. Hard enough.