Coveted Operation - the Ninja Steel, part II

The Open Threat, Part I

"Where's Nym and Aidan?" Preston asked, looking around for any sign of their friends. "We did remind them about today, right?"

Calvin nodded. "I texted Aidan this morning," he answered. "He got back and said they would meet us here."

Preston flicked through his contacts.

"What are you doing?" Brody asked, watching him.

"Thinking of calling Nym and seeing where they are," said Preston.

Hayley rolled her eyes. Preston's crush on Nym was evident to everyone but him. "They probably got caught up at Rootcore," she said. "You know they do extra training to us, don't you?"

"Yes, I'm aware," said Preston. He paused, eyes widening. "What if there was an attack? What if Rootcore is under fire and can't get a message to us? We should check in..." he turned to leave, hesitated, and rocked back and forth on his feet. If he left now then he would lose in place in line.

Brody placed a hand on Preston's shoulder. "There's no new alert," he said. "Rootcore was fine when I left this morning, and Aidan said he and Nym had some Mystic Defender training to catch up on. Relax, Presto, they'll be here."

Preston relaxed, releasing the breath he had been holding. "I can't believe they would choose training over meeting the Rebel Rockers," he said.

"They don't really have a choice," said Calvin. "They're Mystic Defenders. That's more than being a Ranger, you know? They have to be prepared for the worst."

"And we don't?" Brody asked. "Being a Ranger is an important job. We're in charge of defending the world from Galvanax. What are Mystic Defenders in charge of? Protecting one little dimension?"

Hayley frowned at Brody. "Wow," she said. "You really do harbour resentment for a world you barely know, don't you?"

Brody sighed. "I don't resent the Mystic World," he said. "I just, don't understand it."

"Do any of us?" Calvin asked. "It's new to all of us. We didn't know it existed any more than you did."

"But, your dad knew about it," said Hayley. "You're telling me he really never told you about it?"

Brody shrugged. He could remember stories of a magical place that his father told him growing up, but he never associated that with an actual, living, breathing place with real creatures and people. The Mystic Realm was always a fairy tale. The only place that Brody knew about and saw, that had connections to the Mystic Realm, was the Elemental Academy that his father had once attended.

"There they are!" someone toward the front of the line screamed. The team turned, hands in the air, jumping up and down along with everyone else, as guitarist, Terry Watanabe and singer/guitarist, Antonio Garcia walked onto the stage that had been crafted in the middle of the square.

The pair waved to the crowd, taking their seats with a smile. Their manager, an average-sized man with receding hair named Tom, unhooked the velvet rope, and started to let the first lot of people inside. He debriefed them on something and then allowed them to approach the table.

"I can't believe I am about to meet Terry Watanabe in person!" Hayley squealed, excitedly. "He is sooo cute!"

Calvin turned away, pouting.

Hayley rolled her eyes. "Don't worry," she said, nudging him. "He's not as cute as you."

"He's also taken."

Preston's eyes alighted and he turned to see Nym and Aidan approaching. They were carrying their guitar cases on their backs, something that didn't go amiss by anyone in the line.