//------------------------------// // Status, Dissatisfaction, and Dreams // Story: Consequences // by shallow15 //------------------------------// It was a couple of hours later when Tempest walked into the break room on Level One. She made a beeline for the coffee machine and was adding her usual mix of cream, honey, and sugar to it when Lightning Dust entered. The other agent leaned up against the counter. “So,” she began. “Anything useful?” “No,” Tempest grumbled. “Not from Shimmer, anyway.” “You should lean on the one you found with the cryptid,” suggested Dust. “She looks like she'll crack pretty easily.” “Don't be so sure,” Tempest snorted. “I got a taste of what she's like when she's pushed when I interviewed them at the school.” She took a sip of her coffee. “I don't get it. They're teenagers. They should be begging to go home. To see their parents. Anything. But they aren't.” “Didn't you say Shimmer might have connections to a gang?” Dust asked. “That could explain it.” Tempest shook her head. “Only in Shimmer's case. But not the others. They've all lived in the suburbs their entire lives. Nothing out of the ordinary until last year at that damn dance.” “So what happened at the dance?” “I have no idea. But it wasn't a damn gas leak, I can tell you that much. If I could just get a handle on one of them. Find a crack, something.” “Agent Shadow?” Tempest and Dust looked up. A uniformed STORM guard was in the doorway to the break room. “Sorry, ma'am,” he said. “But the Director is on line one. He wants to speak to you.” “Can I take it down here?” Tempest asked. The Bravo-Six bunker was shielded from most communications. Cell phones were completely useless, hence why the Director was calling from a landline. “Yes, ma'am. Level One phones connect to the outside.” “Thank you.” Tempest crossed the room to a phone mounted on the wall and hit the button for line one. “Agent Shadow.” “Well,” came the Director's voice. “I'm glad to see seven teenagers weren't too much trouble for you, agent.” Tempest could hear the condescension and felt her teeth grit. “Yes, sir. I'm sorry it took longer than usual.” “Never mind that. What have you been able to find out?” Tempest sighed. “Not much. They're all being quiet at the moment. One of then, the ostensible leader, made it clear she has no intention of being helpful.” “What are we doing about that?” demanded the Director. “I'm still trying to figure that out, sir.” The Director grumbled. “Fine. Have you discovered anything about them?” Tempest fought to keep from sighing in frustration. “Yes, sir. Whatever powers they have seem to be connected to the necklaces we confiscated from them. If they had access to their abilities otherwise, we probably would have been looking at a breakout attempt by now.” “They haven't tried to escape?” The Director sounded surprised. “No, sir. At least, not yet. They seem to be keeping quiet.” “That bothers me.” “Me too, sir,” Tempest admitted. “We're keeping a close eye on them for the moment.” “What about the cryptid you reported capturing?” “In holding on Level Three. We're feeding it and doing our best to keep it docile until we can figure out what to do with it.” “What's the problem?” “Honestly, sir, there's nothing like it in our files. We have no idea what sort of natural habitat it has, so we aren't sure where we can safely relocate it.” “Then terminate it.” Tempest's eyes widened. “Sir?” “You heard me. If we can't get rid of it somewhere it won't bother civilians and it's of no use to us, terminate it.” “Sir, I think that might be an... unwise course of action,” Tempest began. “We've never terminated cryptids we've captured before. It's also very resilient. We needed an entire squad and nearly every tranquilizer we had just to contain it. The bio division alone could benefit greatly from – “ “All right, all right, save the sales pitch. Obviously, we're in an unusual situation, here. About those necklaces, any chance our people could use them? Do we actually need those girls?” “I'm afraid so, sir. I had them tested and compared with the samples I found at the quarry outside Camp Everfree. They're the same, but from everything our people can tell, they're just ordinary geodes. It seems that in order for the power to be used, you need both the rocks and the POIs.” “And we can't give the rocks back to them or we're looking at a guaranteed breakout attempt.” The Director was silent for a moment, then: “All right. Continue as you are for now, agent. We'll figure out a plan once I get there tomorrow.” Tempest blinked. “I'm sorry, sir?” “I'm coming out to Bravo-Six,” the Director repeated. “I want those girls working for us, and I want to be sure they understand the position that they're in.” “Sir, not to sound insubordinate, but are you sure that's wise? The cryptid – “ “Is still secured on Level Three, isn't it?” The Director snapped. “Or are you saying that you can't handle something like this?” Tempest's lip curled up and she gripped the phone receiver tighter. “No, sir. I can handle it. We'll have everything prepared for your arrival.” “Good. I'll see you then. And Tempest?” “Yes, sir?” “Good work.” The call ended and Tempest replaced the receiver. She turned to Lightning Dust, who was looking at her with interest. “The Director will be arriving tomorrow. Make sure everything's in order.” “The Director's coming here?” Atonishment was evident in Dust's voice. “Seriously?” “Seriously,” Tempest replied. “So everything needs to be in order. Get on it.” “Yes, ma'am!” Dust grinned and left the break room. Tempest went back to her abandoned cup of coffee and picked it up. She stared into it for a while. “The Director will never, ever, give you what you want.” Tempest sipped the coffee then spit it back out into the sink. It had gone cold. She dumped the remnants down the drain and crushed the cup in her hand before tossing it in the trash. She doesn't know a damn thing about him... or me. In a large secured room on Level Three, Frank dozed in fitful sleep. He dreamed of the forest. Of the river. Of Harry. He dreamed of the glowing blue flower he had eaten which started all of this. He dreamed of She-Who-Speaks and her pack. He dreamed of better times. He dreamed... … and he grew.