Acteon Syndicate

Chapter 12: Apologies and Preparations

Allis found Annalee in a training room on the first floor taking her anger out on a punching bag. She limped a bit on her injured leg.
“Ann, I'm sorry that I snapped at you like that.”
“It's fine.” Annalee hit the bag with each word. She stopped and faced Allis. “I thought you'd want this life. I thought that things would be better, would be easier, now that my lives intersected. I didn't mean to put you in harm's way. I should have thought how you felt. I'm the only girl in our syndicate. I don't have anyone who understands how I feel. I was happy to have someone else, and the fact that it was my best friend?” She laughed, “Perfect.”
Allis smiled. “I want to try again. I want to be a hunter. I want to be one of the Acteon Syndicate.”
Annalee threw a gloved hand over Allis’s shoulders. “Then let's get to training.”

Rand tapped away at his keys and pulled his goggles over his face. “Shit, shit, shit.” He kicked the desk that held his keyboard. “I'm sorry, my beauty.”
“Am I interrupting something?”
“Woah, Allis. Check you out!” He lifted his goggles into his hair. Allis stood, facing him, in a long red dress that covered her bite and heels.
“Nice, right?” She beamed. “Fully equipped too.”
He walked around her. “How?”
“Well…” Allis began.
“Enough oggling. We have an undercover mission.” Daniel stepped off the ladder.
“Just jealous.” Rand whispered.
“Shut up.” Daniel replied.
“Alright, boys.” Annalee stepped next to Allis in a purple dress. “We need a confirmation on Ebony’s location.”
“Sorry, Allis. I've liked her longer.” Rand said with a laugh.
“Oh no.” Allis pouted. “How will I ever cope?”
Annalee rolled her eyes. “Ebony. Innocent. End of the world. Are the two of you boys going to keep staring at us or are you going to get dressed so the four of us can prevent the utter destruction of the human race?”
“Yes!” Rand cheered. “Whole team field mission.”
“You only get to go because I don't want to get hit on for being alone. We need to focus.” Annalee reminded. “Confirmation.”
“Right. Ebony has entered the event, trying to keep up appearances. But, he's being accompanied by three human-shaped Phantom Morphs. Hence, the triple shit.”
“Who is Ebony to civilians? I mean,” Allis corrected. “What is this event for?”
“A banquet of sorts. As far as the humans know, he's a really rich archaeologist.” Rand explained.
“Can't we just go and take the topaz insignia back?”
“Last time anyone did that, the entire base was wiped out. He has Dreadsouls watching it. They can sense and defeat human souls. They’re the most powerful Ebony Demons in existence.” Annalee adjusted her dress and slipped on her glasses. “You fools dressed yet?”
“All set, Uli!” Daniel yelled.
“Then let's go.”