Noctura

forty two

seunghoon

DIRECTOR HAMADA calls me into his office and I go inside. A guard closes the door behind me and gestures for me to sit down in a chair opposite the director.

The director is leaning onto the desk, his hands clasped together in front of him. He gives me a cold smile. At least, it feels cold to me.

"Seunghoon Lee," he says with a rough voice. "Rank one senior officer. I've noticed your scores lately on the training simulation. Did you know that no one has ever gotten scores like yours?"

Slowly, I shake my head. "No, sir, I wasn't aware of that."

Director Hamada clears his throat. "The attack from the Malums earlier... you were there, I was informed."

"Yes, sir."

"I had multiple officers watching you, Seunghoon, to see how you would compare on the real field to the simulation. Your scores are no lie, Seunghoon." Director Hamada reaches into his desk and pulls something out. He sets it down on the desk.

I squint my eyes in confusion, as I realize what it is he has set out on the desk.

It's a badge.

An AAN soldier badge.

With my name on it.

As I look up at the director, my mouth opens to say something, but I'm not even sure what to say.

"Never in my career as director of the AAN have I promoted a rank one senior officer directly to a rank one soldier," Director Hamada tells me. "However, I feel that this is necessary. I need you to start leading teams, Seunghoon. We haven't had a fighter like you in a very long time. It's time you leveled up and began doing greater things."

"Thank you so much, sir. I don't really know what to say."

He holds up his hands. "Please, there's no need to say anything. Know that this is a great honor, Seunghoon Lee, rank one soldier."

He hands me the badge. I gladly pocket it, bowing my head in respect. "Thank you, Director Hamada."

"Now, a team of scouts have alerted me of a base owned by the Alliance," the director says suddenly.

I give him a confused look.

They found an Alliance base?

"They have been faking it to be a regular office building, but we've had someone discover its true secrets. I want you to go there now, Seunghoon, and lead the group of members I've just sent down there. Do you think you can do that?"

I nod. "Of course, sir."

Take down an Alliance base? I would never miss it.

"Good," he says. "I'll have someone send the location to your phone, but it's in the sixth sector. Now, go. The team has already been informed of your lead. Tell them what to do. Take that base down, Seunghoon."

"I will. Thank you again, sir."

Director Hamada puts his hand up as a gesture for goodbye and I quickly leave his office.

I move through the AAN building, heading directly for the front doors. Normally, at a time like this, I would stop and say hello to Teagan. But tonight, I have no time.

I have an Alliance base to take down.

. . .

ONCE I reach the Alliance base, I stand with a team of AAN officers, hidden from sight of the building.