E.C.H.O.

Stage 23 "Closer"

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There was silence as Lucas watched his teammates. One had taken a suspicious dive and was dramatically clutching his knee. Another ran over, pretending to pull an invisible card on the closest guy to the victim.

"I wasn't even near him!" came the protest.

"Give me some more time," Lucas said, not turning his eyes from the scene before him. "If I don't come up with anything soon then send in another operative."

He was aware of Zack getting to his feet. "Sounds like a plan." The older agent brushed himself off, Popsicle clutched between his teeth. "You have three weeks." He held up three fingers.

Lucas turned his eyes on him.

"Make the most of them," Zack said.

Lucas nodded.

"Well...your uncle is a busy man so he's going to head out." Zack's arm shot out and he patted Lucas on the shoulder. "Study well." He grinned.

Another nod. Turning, Lucas casually made his way back down the bleachers to the field, Popsicle in one hand.

"Lucas..."

The voice made him pause.

"Also...the personal job you requested to take...the one before coming to Ellison."

Lucas froze. He slowly turned to find Zack watching him, a troubled glint in his eyes.

"The higher ups don't seem too keen on you asking."

Lucas bit down on the blue ice he held. He chewed. "I know."

The other agent nodded in thought. "Sometimes the past doesn't need to be dug up."

Another bite, but Lucas didn't reply as he guarded his expression.

"Some things are better left buried," Zack added.

Lucas cocked his head to the side. "You're making me curious." His eyes narrowed. "You know something?"

Zack let out a sigh. "It's just one of those feelings." The troubled look was gone.

"Message received," Lucas told him. He took one more bite, finishing the Popsicle. "Until next time." He turned.

"Oh...and Lucas!"

Turning his head Lucas shot him a questioning look.

Zack grinned before pointing at his tongue. He chuckled. "It's blue."

Lucas pointed the empty stick in response. "Yours is red."

Zack's grin dropped.

Raising a hand in farewell, Lucas bounded off to join his teammates.

"Yo! Tell them I didn't foul anybody!" his accused teammate sought his help.

Lucas shot a glance at the bleachers only to see that the other ECHO agent was already gone. His attention turned to the game at hand, however, he couldn't get back fully into it. Zack's warning stayed in his mind along with everything else he had mentioned.

Echo's getting impatient... And Lucas knew why. This job was taking him longer than it should. He let out a frustrated sigh.

Might as well look around, he noted. There's so many people everywhere that I won't be as out of place looking around... The scrimmage ended and the guys decided to get showers before heading to the dorm and playing video games. Lucas used this as his que to leave. He bid the others farewell and headed for his room. Taking a quick shower he changed before heading towards a building he hadn't explored yet – the custom-built auditorium.