The Chaos Accounts #1: Account of Anxiety

Epilogue

With a holo gripped tightly in his hand, Gael walked with purpose to Conference Room A. The Director and higher-ups convened about an hour ago without warning. While whatever reason they'd call an emergency meeting concerned him a bit, the topic of their gathering wasn't his reason for crashing in.

"Gael!"

Without stopping, he twisted his head to find Kyra jogging to catch up. "Al-Ex told you, didn't she?" She reached him and matched his stride, following directly next to him. "Mister Teacher's Pet is going to interrupt a high-priority briefing? Color me shocked."

"You know why."

Kyra nodded. "Yep, and the panicked thoughts running through your mind are starting to annoy."

Gael cursed silently at his absentmindedness and constant forgetting of his Restrictor. He noticed Kyra's smile twitching and remembered she could still read his mind.

"I like your 'cursed' forgetfulness. It's kinda adorable." Kyra pecked a kiss on his cheek.

Shaking his head with a small smile, Gael countered, "And your constant changing from dark and blunt to calm and perky is a TOTAL turn-on."

"Glad to hear it."

The conference room came into view at the end of their current hallway. A neon sign shone "Do Not Disturb" above the door.

Even if it said 'Highway to Hell', he refused to stop. Without breaking his pace, he slammed open the door, silence instantly filling the room. Everyone's attention now focused on him. But Gael only had eyes for the figure at the head of the table. "Madam Director, I have something to tell you that's really important."

The Director lifted her head, her irises sporting a metallic purple today. "I was forewarned by Al-Ex via text message that you planned on doing something brash. While that is usually the norm for you, Commander, I usually do not receive warning. This better be as important as it seems."

Gael cleared his throat before speaking: "Division 3 had an agent go MIA during yesterday's retrieval mission."

"You mean the one without authorization that also endangered Henry?"

His face warmed from embarrassment and nerves. "He goes by Blaine now." The Director's expression clearly revealed her annoyance and impatience, so he brought himself back on topic. "Class-O agent Arin appears to have been captured and compromised by ChaosBlaze. However, she's sent secret communications to Al-Ex. We now have an insider."

The Director cocked an eyebrow. "I assume the important news pertains to the details of her communications, Commander. Or am I off-base?"

Gael nodded and pointed his holo toward the center of the table. Pressing a button, a 3-D hologram hovered where he aimed. It showed Arin sitting on a medical bed, hugging someone who looked vaguely familiar. It was when the two broke apart that everyone saw the burn scar on the young man's face. "It appears Division 5's old Commander wasn't KIB, but instead defected."

"James McAllister is alive?"

Nodding again, Gael added, "And reunited with his sister. But that's not the most important part. Keep watching."

A few moments later, another figure walked into the range of the holographic projection. He appeared around middle-age, draped by a white lab-coat. The scar across his throat and the half-rim style of glasses immediately revealed his identity, and the room filled with hushed whispering.

"General Markus has defected as well."

Slowly, the Director got to her feet, staring at the holo with dozens of mixed emotions. Fear. Anger. Disbelief. "I don't understand," she finall said, "General Markus died during a siege thirteen years ago."

Shaking his head, Gael responded, "Apparently not, Madam Director. Do you have any direct orders for me at this point?"

After a heavy, shaky breath, the Director sat back down. "Train him. And keep him down here. If it is revealed that Henry is alive, Markus might resort to drastic measures. I guess now we can adjust the register again. Henry is no longer the only Mimic in this war."

Gael nodded, pressing a button on the side of his holo to cut it off. "Yes, Ma'am."

As he turned for the door, the Director spoke up again: "Prep for Bio-Haz Two-Six-Two."

Gael froze and looked back at her a few seconds later. "Me? Am I-"

"Yes, and that's all I can say for now. And please, Commander, take good care of Henry. He could be the key to ending all this bloodshed."

With a quivering, forced smile, Gael nodded once more. "On my life, Ma'am."

After exiting the conference room and shutting the door, Kyra, who had remained out in the hall, commented, "Well, that went well."

Rubbing the back of his neck, Gael replied, "Better than expected, anyway."

Kyra shook her head. "You couldn't hear what I did."

As they started back to their sector of RosaBella, Kyra asked, "So, what happens now?"

Gael mulled the question over in his head to figure out the best, clearest, most logical response. When I finally had it, he poked his head with a finger, signaling Kyra to listen in.

Now, we prepare for a storm.

<<END OF THE CHAOS ACCOUNTS #1>>

From the Author: If you want to continue on this adventure with Blaine and Luz and the rest of Division 3, the journey continues on any eReader you desire. Kindle, Nook, iPhone/iPad, you name it!  This story arc will be complete at Account #5, which is slated for a Spring 2018 digital release. To prep for that mid-season finale, as it were, go buy the stories inbetween on any eBook platform. 

#2 = "Account of Unrest"

#3 = "Account of Friendship"

#4 = "Account of Secrets" (Due out New Year's 2018)

#5 = "Account of Risks" (Due out Spring of 2018)

I have other series out as well. My name is C. McDonnell, and I hope you enjoy the fruits of my imagination! xD lol