Luminary

Episode 7 - Do You Know Where Your Children Are

Luiz and Leo were on the meeting point, in a street without exit, in the chilling cold of the night. Leo was inside the truck's drive seat, trying to warm himself with his arms and Luiz leaning against the bench door where the other boy was and looking at his cell phone, checking the time. It was dreadful silence around, no one on the streets and the only color around was the orange public illumination.

Leo approached the window and looked at Luiz, he thought of something to start a conversation but couldn't think of anything.

Leo: So...

Luiz: They're late.

Leo: Are you worried?

Luiz: I am, I haven't lost a teammate in action since... Never mind.

Leo: Hey, I'm the leader of this team, you can talk to me.

Luiz looked away, Leo felt a bit worried, but who could blame him? Luiz was a 20-year-old, relying on a young 15 years boy like Leo would be a strange thing to expect.

Leo: I know you went through a lot, but you can at least trust me.

Still, silence. Leo lay on the bench, hands behind his head, and stared at the ceiling of the cabin.

Leo: When you said since, where you referring to operation "StarFall"?

Luiz: How do you know this name?

Leo: I did my research on you too.

Luiz: ...

Leo: When I discovered you were in that operation, I was shocked, you along with Team Balance basically saved the entire world.

Luiz: ...

Leo: But at a certain price, right?

Luiz: You suffered by the loss of G, but at least you were not there to see it happening. Being the leader of a team and seeing one of them dying in front of your own eyes...

Leo quickly returned to the window.

Leo: Wait just a second, you were Team Balance's leader?!

Luiz: I created that team, reluctantly and for a one single mission, but yeah.

Leo: No way...

Luiz: I had a mission, but I knew I couldn't do it alone, so I teamed up with a girl, then more crazy people came along, when I stopped to see the whole situation, I had 8 people in my team and trying to stop a man from destroying both IBI and Saisem in a plan that could wipe all life on earth.

Leo: So, this was one of those "SS" missions?

Luiz: Yes, all SS missions are the ones that have the whole planet in danger, when IBI and Saisem sides don't really matter.

Leo: But why did the team disband?

Luiz: Leo, I'm a solo agent, I made that team exclusively for that mission. Mission done, no team necessary.

Leo: So why did you join our team, mister solo agent?

Luiz: You first.

Leo: What?

Luiz: I tell you the real reason I joined, if you tell me the real reason you created this team.

Leo: Boys secret?

Luiz: Boys secret.

Leo: ...Fine. I was part of the Saisem.

Luiz: I knew that.

Leo: You did?!

Luiz: Please, you would be surprised if you knew how many double agents are under the ground because of me.