Fearless: Wrath of an Empire

by Bomul

Faced with the threat of a dangerous new Empire, Kiteki, a reclusive Glaceon, joins an elite force to protect the peace and freedom that she had known all her life. But when she uncovers the Empire's plans to unleash an ancient and forgotten power, will she and her team be able to prevent calamity before it's too late? (Rated M for violence, lemons, gore and sexual/mature themes)

14. Cerberus

Chapter 14

Cerberus

. . . . . . . . . .

21:30, August 10, Unified Year 4734 - Federal Bureau of Research and Intelligence Headquarters, Recruit Barracks (B4F)

. . . . .

It's commonly assumed by the general public that different components of the military have different requirements of entry. Following off of that knowledge, these components grow to gain their own reputations as seen through the public's eye, regardless of how accurate or baseless these assumptions are.

Hence, it's for this reason that many in the Federation see the army to consist of spineless Pokémon incapable of carrying anything greater than their own weight, regardless of how true that actually is or not. It's for this reason that many assume the Marine Corps to be filled with mindless beefcakes that smoke ten packs of cheap cigarettes a day and possess brains the size of an oran berry, and it's for this reason why many think immediately of the classic, stereotypically sexy veteran ace pilot with a stratospherically high IQ when they think of the Air Force.

Similarly, it's for the exact same reasons that many who believe in the Bureau's existence hold the organisation in such high regards, despite the fact that it technically isn't part of the Federal military. Even I, for the longest time, was under the impression that the Bureau would consist of the most elite of agents. And though my first encounter with the Bureau had caused my beliefs to falter, one look at their headquarters and how everyone conducted themselves proved loud and clear that they were indeed a force to be reckoned with.

But it isn't until a few weeks ago that I fully understood just how impressive the agents of the Bureau really were. Nobody, save for those most intimately associated with the organization, could ever know. That was how they operated, after all. With utmost secrecy. Nobody could ever know just how intense the requirements to be a Bureau agent really was.

Which is why, having now gone through nearly two months of their recruit training programme, I can say with all honesty that the rumours surrounding the requirements needed to become an agent of the Bureau are absolutely correct.

Though the details are inconsistent at best, it's often rumoured that the extensive training regimen is enough to make the Marine Corps blush. Even the revered and respected Federal Commandos seemed ordinary compared to the requirements needed to become a Bureau agent.

What's especially fascinating is that every agent has to undergo this gruelling process, very much including the research staff at the D.R as well as the D.I intelligence personnel. To know that every single scientist working in the labs below were capable of going through this process from start to finish was a thought that terrified me.

Frankly, I'm willing to bet that the Department of Research or the Department of Intelligence on their own could be a more deadly force than most militias or mercenary groups that exist today.

I'll be honest; given everything I had heard about the harsh and stringent recruitment process, I genuinely felt ill-suited for the three-month ordeal when training first started. As a matter of fact, I didn't feel like I belonged at all with the rest of the recruits when we first began. Nearly everyone around me that had gotten through the screening process looked strong enough to break me like a twig.

But now, I feel right at home, knowing that I've managed to make it this far. Maybe it's because of the sheer determination I felt to get through this when I started, but, whatever the reason may be, I'm having no problem fitting in and adapting to this new lifestyle.

Which is surprising because the same most definitely can't be said for the vast majority of the other trainees, despite them having been selected from the strict recruitment process. As a matter of fact, it could be said that the recruitment process wasn't strict enough. Because, over the past two months, the trainees from our original group of prospect future agents have been dropping out like flies.

I had expected Clay's statement with regards to the training process to be, at the very least, somewhat exaggerated. I understood that it was a tough programme, but such high a rate of dropouts seemed too great to be true.

But no, what Clay had said about recruits dropping out was true, word for word. I honestly believed that he was overemphasizing its difficulty to make himself appear tougher, but we're barely two thirds of the way into the training regimen and our initial group of forty is now only six members strong.

I suppose it's understandable, given the high requirements needed both in terms of physical fitness and mental capacity. The Bureau isn't looking for soldiers; it's looking for agents. They have no use for immensely powerful Pokémon if they aren't capable of thinking for their own. No, they're looking for someone who can talk their way out of a sticky situation just as easily as they can annihilate a target in a single blow. It just so happens that such Pokémon are in incredibly short supply.

That said, I'm doubtful that any of the other Pokémon here would drop out at this late of a stage. Even I can tell that we've weeded out those that aren't capable of keeping up with our training regimen. Some of them may not look like it, but all of them are as tough as nails, and startlingly intelligent to boot.

As for me, I don't think I'm at risk of dropping out or getting kicked out anytime soon. This training process isn't easy. No, even I find it to be gruelling at times. But I never felt like what I was ordered to do was ever impossible. There hasn't been a thing come up yet that I felt I couldn't do.

Of course, this doesn't mean that I'll blindly and willingly do anything that I'm asked to do, especially the impossible. Perhaps such a mindset could be nurtured in soldiers, but I'm not one. No, if anything, the only reason that I'm managing to get by without any problems is because of mum's training in District Twelve.

If I stop and think about it, it's amazing that someone who used to be as sickly as I was is capable of doing something like this. I'm sure that, had I told myself I would be doing something like this three years ago, I would have considered just the thought of it to be utterly suicidal. And yet, here I am, determined and capable of making it through to the end.

I guess mum really did help me out over those past three years.

I opened my eyes. Something brushes against my face, tickling my nose and throwing my train of thought off its rails as it passes me by. For a moment, I'm left in parts dazed and bewildered, utterly confused as to what it was, as well as terribly irritated by the distraction, especially since my idle thoughts were, for once, so pleasantly enjoyable.

But that annoyance fades in a matter of seconds. Looking up from my bed, I tried to identify what it was that had snared my attention.

As I had suspected, I spot a green, leafy tail idly swipe across my face. A familiar culprit.

I gently swatted it away.

"Lily, move your tail."

Despite my request, the tail's owner doesn't comply. Instead, she groans out in protest, her sweet, high-pitched voice dripping with her usual childish energy and enthusiasm, despite her overwhelming fatigue.

"Ehhh? But your breath feels so nice and cool!"

I turn my attention towards its owner, who was lying atop the bunk above mine. Despite being unable to see her, I can already picture the pouting Leafeon puffing up her cheeks as she lay sprawled out on her bed in an exhausted heap.

To be quite fair, I can completely understand why she's acting the way she is right now. Our instructors had put us through a particularly gruelling ordeal today, leaving us with no time for rest until just thirty minutes ago. Frankly, everyone here is worn out; so much so that even taking a shower felt like a cruel and unusual punishment.

Even so, it's still probably a good idea to stop her before she makes a habit of this.

"It's distracting."

With a huff, the Leafeon finally complies.

"Boo, you're so stingy!"

I sighed, shaking my head as I watched her begrudgingly bring her tail back, her leafy appendage limply slinking back up to her bunk. Even so, I can't help but show a faint smile at her childish display… though I dare not let anyone else see it.

I didn't think I'd make any friends while I was here. It wasn't my intention after all. But this Leafeon, Lily, has gotten surprisingly close with me. Maybe it's because of the unity we felt through our shared, unrelenting stress and exhaustion, but something about basic training makes the forming of relationships inevitable. And fast. I've only known Lily for two months, and already she feels like a closer friend than almost any of my other classmates from back in Winteroot.

Which is surprising, because my first impressions of her had led me to believe that I would hate being friends with her.

From the moment I first saw her on our very first day, she seemed to burst at the seams from the energy she contained. I remember watching her from afar as she hopped about all over the place, eagerly introducing herself to all the other trainees at the training facility with those bright, sparkly eyes of hers.

To be clear, it wasn't that she came off as a terrible Pokémon per se. As a matter of fact, she seemed perfectly amiable, friendly even. But I was certain that she was someone I could never get along with, what with her boundless energy and bubbly personality.

That was a feeling which only grew stronger when she, inevitably, came to greet me. Spotting me from amongst the crowd, she locked her eyes dead onto me as she came bounding towards me.

"A Glaceon! Yaaay! I didn't think there would be another Eeveelution here! This is perfect!"

It took me a fair bit of willpower to hold in a groan. I had been trying to avoid getting caught in her line of sight, so it was a little frustrating that my efforts had all been in vain.

"Err… hi."

Lily didn't seem to mind my display of terrible social skills, charging in as she took the conversation by its collar.

"Omigosh, and you have such a cute voice!"

I'll be honest, I quite envied her ability to be so enthusiastically chatty. No doubt, I would have a much easier time myself dealing with others if I could always find the right things to say at any given moment like she could.

What I wasn't so envious about, though, was her name.

"I'm Lily! What's your name?"

"…Kiteki."

Upon hearing my name, Lily squealed in delight, which took me by such surprise that it actually made me jump.

"Wow, what a weird name! That's really cool!"

Having recomposed myself, I stared at her hard in response, her statement leaving me confused, and in no small part insulted, as to the true intentions of her words.

'…Was that a compliment, or is she trying to pick a fight…?'

Had I managed to catch an image of myself at that moment, I'm certain that I would have seen myself staring daggers at the Leafeon before me. And yet, even so, Lily never seemed to notice, continuing to share, no, shower me with her overflowing enthusiasm.

"Ooooh, this is so exciting! Isn't this exciting? We're actually at the Bureau!"

"Uhh…"

"No, no, I totally get it, you don't have to answer that! Lost for words, right? Omigosh, me too, mee too! Ahhhhh, jeez! I'm so excited I think my heart's gonna explode! And then I saw you, and I was like "Huuuuuh!? She's so small! Is she younger than me!?", but, like, you understand that, right?

I didn't stop her as she went off on her own tangent. It seemed like a waste of breath to try and bring her back from her own runaway train of thoughts. Not that I particularly minded her ramblings, because to be quite frank, I wasn't really paying any attention to what she was saying.

No. Rather, I had managed to completely engross myself as I dwelled over the circumstances surrounding the Leafeon's name. I mean, really? Lily? A Leafeon named Lily? I'm not sure if that connotation was intentional, but if it is, it's a little pretentious, isn't it? I mean, leaf stones are notoriously rare and expensive. So, does this mean that she already had a leaf stone with her when she was born? Isn't that just a really roundabout way for her to flaunt her wealth? Actually, if I think about it, she isn't the one who gave herself that name, is it? It's her parents, right? So, does that make them the obnoxious ones? If so, then should I feel sorry for her?

Fortunately for me, my theories were soon put to rest during the first rollcall that took place not long after having met the bubbly Leafeon. Having arranged ourselves into a neat and disciplined formation, we listened in as one of the instructors, a surprisingly familiar looking Decidueye, called out our names one by one.

"Trainee number thirty-six! Lillianne von Frederika!"

From the corner of my eye, I watched as she stood straight up, stiff as a board as she tumbled head over heels over her own words.

"Y-Yes Sir!"

I admit, I did feel a slight pang of regret upon hearing her full name. Turns out that the truly obnoxious one was me after all, making all those assumptions about her without having any context whatsoever.

But before I could so much as consider apologising to her, Lily once again went above and beyond to prove her unbelievable cluelessness, bounding over towards me as we were ushered in towards the recruit barracks. Despite the look on my face, she appeared utterly oblivious to the dark thoughts that were only just starting to clear from my mind. Instead, she dejectedly hung her head, fretting over her own infantile concerns.

"Aww, jeez… I didn't think they'd call me by my full name like that…!"

I paused, trying to recall the name that had seemingly caused her so much grief.

"So… Lillianne von Frederika…?"

Lily, seemingly in a state of frantic panic, turned towards me with wide, desperate eyes. Gripping my shoulders with startling firmness, she began to frantically shake me about, practically hopping with feverish distress as she did so.

"No! Please don't call me that! It's embarrassing! Just call me Lily!"

"O-Okay, okay!"

I'm not entirely sure why she's so upset by her name, given that pretty much everyone else she's spoken to seemed as indifferent to it as I was. Quite honestly, it seemed perfectly fine. Regal, even. But if she so desperately wanted me to call her by her self-assigned nickname, then I would be all too happy to oblige.

"What about you? Do you have a nickname?"

Seemingly trying to shift my attention away from it, she turns the question back towards me, looking back at me with expectant eyes. Unfortunately for her, she was no doubt going to find my reply to be significantly less interesting than what she had been hoping for.

"No."

"Eh, that's no fun!"

"Kiteki is fine with me."

Despite my curt reply, she seemed to find my answer to be perfectly acceptable. Shifting attitudes with almost comical speed, she halted me for a brief second, moving in front of me before flashing me a blindingly cheerful and friendly smile.

"Okay then, Kiteki! Let's be friends and do our best!"

For a second, I found myself grasping to find an adequate response. In that short moment, she seemed to glow with the warm, beautiful light of the morning sun, radiating a pure and holy aura like an angel. So taken aback was I that, even as she reached to hold my paws with both of her own, I found myself unable to move or react, stunned and in no small part mesmerised by what I had just seen.

Even so, despite her impossible levels of wholesome friendliness, I remember having distinctly told her, upon overcoming my state of surprise, that I had no interest in becoming acquainted with her. Or, as I put it, "I'm not here to make friends."

She must not have understood, or perhaps she simply didn't care. Because, despite repeated attempts by me to push her away, she's somehow managed to stick onto me like an overprotective Goodra. So insistent was she on becoming friends with me that, after several weeks of unbelievable persistence from her end, I eventually ended up giving up on the idea of getting rid of her altogether.

But now, giving it a quick and idle thought as I flicked through the notes I had taken on my notebook from atop of my bed, I have to admit that it wasn't such a bad choice. She's airheaded, naïve, childish and, dare I say, even a little bit stupid. But her company isn't actually that bad.

"…What'cha doin' down there, Kiteki?"

Speak of the devil…

Hearing her peppy voice again, I looked up to find her hanging off the edge of her bunk, staring down at me from her upside-down vantage point.

"Reviewing notes from today."

My reply was matter of fact, given that it seemed like such an obvious thing to do. We had, after all, been taught a whole slew of new combat techniques today, with our instructors explicitly telling us that they would come in useful for tomorrow's main event. But clearly, Lily must have thought otherwise, because she looks back at me with a blank and confused stare.

"…Eh? Notes?"

I nod.

"We're going to need them for tomorrow's combat exercise." Seeing her expression remain the same, I paused from my notebook. "You should do the same."

"Are… are we supposed to take notes?"

I blinked.

"Didn't you take any?"

For a painfully long moment, she simply stared back at me, as if unsure if I was trying to crack a joke. Realising that the stare I was giving her was in all sense of the word serious, she began to laugh nervously, her eyes avoiding mine as I gave her a stern gaze.

"Ah… ahahaha…!"

But she couldn't keep her carefree act up for long. As the enthusiasm in her blatantly forced laughter fizzed out, she scratched her cheek apologetically, smiling sheepishly as she did so.

"…Oops."

I sighed. Sometimes I really worry for this girl.

"Lily."

But the Leafeon, as always, bounced right back up again, fighting my troubled frown with her own mixture of characteristically boundless energy and optimism.

"I'll be fine!" She smiled brightly, closing her eyes and placing her paw on her puffed-up chest as if declaring her allegiance for her way of life. "I believe in the me that believes in myself!"

Her attitude only forces a heavier sigh from me.

"Where on Earth do you get all that optimism?"

"Confidence, Kiteki!" She thumped her chest proudly. "There isn't a thing I can't do if I trust in myself!"

I groan. The logic behind her reasoning seemed utterly incomprehensible.

Nevertheless, despite her airheaded tendencies, I do have to admit that she's been doing well with her training so far. Though her appearance was girlish and feminine, she's deceptively strong. Frankly, her Leaf Blade is powerful enough to kill. And while she hardly ever studies or prepares beforehand for anything at all, she somehow always manages to make it through the day just fine.

So, in that sense, I can't really fault her for thinking that way, because it's clearly working out perfectly fine for her. Unfortunately for me, I can't say the same for myself. And so, with a sigh, I return back to my notes.

"…If you say so, Lily."

Lily stares at me from above, observing intently with unashamed curiosity. After spending a brief moment watching me jot down some annotations over my notes, she once again breaks the silence, her bubbly voice drowning out the soothing sound of my pen on paper.

"Wooow… your handwriting is really pretty, Kiteki!"

"…Thanks." I replied, my focus still placed squarely on the notebook before me.

"And you look so sophisticated when you're studying like that! Oooh, I'm jealous!"

I paused. I certainly wasn't expecting her to say that.

"…Thanks, I guess…?"

Taking a break from my notes, I looked up at the Leafeon, seeing her staring back down at me with an enthusiastic sparkle in her eyes. Try as I might, I just can't get my head around it. She's plenty attractive herself. I mean, she's young, frustratingly beautiful, and plenty cute to boot. What exactly does she have to get jealous over?

Her next statement only served to exacerbate my confusion.

"You totally need glasses to complete the look though."

I tilt my head, perplexed. Whatever it is that she's trying to hint at, I'm not understanding at all.

"But my vision is fine."

"That's not the point!"

I'm completely lost.

Giving up on… whatever it was that Lily was trying to suggest, I returned to my notebook, intent on finishing up my last couple of pages. Or I would have. But having a Leafeon stare at me so intently as I try to study is in several ways distracting, and more than a little embarrassing. Especially now, given everything that Lily had just said. I can't help but feel a little bit self-conscious about my appearance.

Eventually, after wasting a good several minutes trying - without much success - to get back into my rhythm, I turned back to her, intent on fixing this ridiculous atmosphere she had unknowingly created.

"…What is it?"

"Can… Can I read your notes too?"

…Oh, I get it.

I scoot slightly over to the side of my bed.

…You could have just said that from the start, you troublesome girl.

"…Sure."

"Yay!"

Her face lighting up in an instant, Lily leaped off from her bunk before diving into my bed, snuggling right up next to me. I'm tempted to complain about her overbearing enthusiasm, especially with me being as exhausted as I am, but I hold it in, knowing fully well that such criticisms would only fall on deaf ears.

Or rather, I'm finding myself quickly losing a reason to complain at all. Because, despite what her attitude would suggest, despite everything she had done and said so far, she's begun to study my notes with eager sincerity; her eyes scanning my notebook with firm and focused gaze.

Taking a brief moment to look over towards her, I'm reminded of why I've chosen to get along with someone like her. Because, despite all her flaws, there isn't a single superficial thing about her nor her actions; a quality that anyone would find admirable, me included.

Maybe the reason for that is because she's a terrible liar. So terrible, in fact, that it's painfully easy to see her true emotions. Frankly, at times, she's easier to read than an open book. If Lily had joined me on my bed while only feigning interest in studying my notes, I would have picked up on it in a matter of seconds.

But she's not. As a matter of fact, that just isn't the sort of Pokémon that she is. There's a clear and genuine earnestness in all of her actions, and that's something that I just can't hate.

…If only she could keep her attention for long enough.

"Hmmmm…"

After only ten minutes or so of blissful silence, Lily began to ponder out loud, her focus beginning to drift elsewhere. I can't say that I'm surprised. Rather, I'm actually amazed that she's managed to stay focused for this long.

"What's wrong?"

"You know? I don't think I've ever seen you smile. Why?"

I turn my attention towards her. It's only now that I realise that she's staring straight at me.

"…Why does it matter?"

Lily gawked, flabbergasted by my question.

"Ehhh!? Because I'm sure you'd look super cute if you did!"

I stared back, tilting my head as I furrowed my brows in utter confusion. Her reasoning seemed so pointless that, for a second, I wondered if there was any greater meaning to her rationale. But of course, finding none, I merely shook my head and sighed, returning my attention back to my notebook.

"…I don't have anything to smile about."

Lily's ears drooped, evidently disheartened by my statement. For a moment, she stares at me in utter silence, before, abruptly perking up in a blink of an eye, she began to nudge me, gently but frantically shaking me by my shoulder.

"Kiteki! Kiteki!"

I turned my head back towards her.

"What is it-"

"Bleeeeh!"

Without warning, Lily grabs her cheeks and pulls them wide apart, sticking her tongue out as her eyes, wide as saucers, flashed me a wild and absurd stare. It's rather gobsmacking that she could stretch her face that wide; in its own way, it could conceivably pass as an incredible talent all on its own. In short, it's an utterly ridiculous face.

From the corner of my eye, I notice a Nuzleaf and Scraggy, two other members from our training regiment, silently chuckling to themselves from atop their beds, trying their hardest to stifle their laughter. I can't tell if it's because of the ludicrous face Lily's pulling off or because of the fact that the Leafeon seemingly had little to no pride in her status as an attractive girl, but they're having an awfully hard time trying to remain composed by her display.

As for me…

"Lily, what the hell are you doing…?"

Noticing the stern and hard stare I was giving her, Lily promptly stopped, staring back at me in equal parts astonishment and admiration.

"Wow, no reaction? That's amazing!"

"My comedic standards aren't that low."

Lily pouts, making no effort to hide her frustrations in being unable to lighten my mood. By the look on her face, it's clear to see that she wants nothing more than to voice her dissatisfaction.

"Don't bother, Lillianne. That Glaceon has no sense of humour."

But the voice that came wasn't hers.

Confused, the two of us turned to face the third party that had joined in on our conversation uninvited. To my dismay, my eyes came upon the sight of a prim Delcatty standing beside my bed; a familiar face to everyone that had stuck with the training regimen so far.

I groaned. Ostentatiously prideful and conceited, this Delcatty, Mari DeLuna, had made a name for herself and her arrogant attitude, much to the irk of almost everyone else in the training facility. The only one here that didn't seem to mind her pompous and condescending attitude was Lily, although by this point, it wasn't hard to see why.

Even so, nobody could deny that she was an excellent fighter. Smart, witty, and deceptively powerful, she had more than enough attributes to her name to warrant her behaviour. And with her performance often placing her near or at the top of all the trainees here, few dared to challenge her. Even the Nuzleaf and Scraggy, who had been quietly laughing to themselves only a moment ago, had all but gone silent, awkwardly turning their backs to our conversation as to not draw her attention to themselves.

I can't blame them. If anything, I want nothing more than to join them. From the day that I first saw her, I had decided that I wanted nothing to do with her; her attitude both terrifying and infuriating me at the same time. And yet, despite my reluctance to interact with her, Mari DeLuna had made a dedicated effort to challenge me at every opportunity that presented itself, going so far out of her way as to declare me her supposed rival, even though the feeling was anything but mutual.

And so, deciding it for the best, I simply ignored her as best as I could, even as she turned her nose up and gave me a pitiful glance. But it's a little hard to do that when there's an exceedingly excitable Leafeon by my side.

"As a matter of fact, I don't think she even knows how to smile. Do you?"

I groan. Frankly, I'm far too exhausted to deal with her right now.

"What do you want, Mari?"

"Oh, how scary!" Mari raised her paws up, feigning fright upon my curt reply. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that your fuse is as short as your stature, should I?"

Lily, not one to partake in such belittling, jumped to my defence. Though she wasn't on bad terms with the Delcatty, she certainly wasn't one to support her behaviour, either. "Hey! Kiteki isn't short! She's fun sized!"

I grimaced. That doesn't sound any better, Lily.

"Oh please, Miss Frederika. That doesn't make her any less pitiful."

Lily tilted her head.

"Ehh? What do you mean?"

"It must be so difficult for someone so devoid of joy to get along with her friends." Mari paused, before bringing her dainty paw up to her mouth, a sarcastically apologetic look on her face as she turned her infuriatingly conceited gaze over to me. "Oh, I'm sorry! You don't have any friends, do you?"

Upon Mari's second jab, Lily bolted up onto her feet, hunching down in an aggressive stance as she gave the Delcatty a fierce look.

"Mari, that's really rude! Take that back!"

But Mari simply smirked in reply, feeling not at all threatened by Lily's animated display. "Oh, please. Just look at her, riding on her high horse because she's Arthur's daughter. It makes me sick."

I'm not sure what exactly it was, but something about her last comment makes me snap. Finally finding my patience run empty, I flash her an exasperated, icy glare.

"Are you finished?"

"No, but you are." Dropping any and all pretence of friendliness she had left for either Lily or I, she replied to my glare with a frosty scowl of her own. "I've been preparing myself for tomorrow, studying all the techniques that Instructor McAllister has been teaching us. There's not a chance that I'll lose in tomorrow's exercise. Especially to someone like you."

I shake my head, returning my gaze back to my notebook.

"I'm not interested."

"You don't have a choice. I've specifically requested to be paired with you for tomorrow's duel, so there's no avoiding it now."

I roll my eyes.

"Wow. Great."

Mari grinned slyly upon my sarcastic reply.

"Oh? What's with the long face? Scared that I'll beat you up?"

"No. I beat you last time. I'll beat you again."

"Not this time. You won't stand a chance against me now. I'll beat you to a pulp."

"Enough!"

Startled by the sudden roar of a fourth Pokémon, the three of us jumped in surprise, the tense and heavy atmosphere between us fading in an instant. Turning our heads to the source, we found ourselves greeted with the sight of Hackett McAllister standing by the doorway to our room, wings folded and a livid fire burning in the Decidueye's eyes.

Were it any other time, I would have been more than happy to see his presence. Though he was one of our instructors, having already gotten quite familiar with him beforehand had made things much more comfortable and relaxed between me and him. On top of that, whether it was because of what had happened back in District Twelve a few months ago, Hackett had been more than willing to turn the other way when things didn't work out quite right on my end, so his presence here was something that I greatly appreciated.

But, even so, that didn't make me completely immune to his legendary fits of rage. He was, all things considered, my superior now, after all. And from the look on his face, I knew that I was about to experience, yet again, the reason why he had become infamous amongst the trainees for being a hardass with a microscopic fuse.

"You call yourselves future Bureau agents with that sort of behaviour? Fuck off. If you three are among the best the Federation has to offer, then we're fucked."

I sighed in relief. Judging by his tone of voice, even Hackett seems exhausted by the day's events. Nevertheless, choosing to capitalise on our good fortunes, Lily and I promptly settled down, standing at attention by our designated positions next to our bunk.

Mari, on the other hand, unable to calm herself down even with Hackett's presence, stomped her paws on the ground as she pouted indignantly at the Decidueye's reprimands.

"This is absurd, I've done nothi-"

"Trainee DeLuna, piss off to your bunk. Now."

Caught dead in the sights of Hackett's murderous glare, Mari froze on the spot, the Decidueye's frosty words sending chills up even the haughty Delcatty's spine. Quickly conceding defeat to her higher-ranking superior, Mari dejectedly limped back to her bunk, her tail between her legs. It's a euphoric sight, but I don't dare let myself smile in the Decidueye's presence, especially when his patience is running as thin as it was.

Watching in unforgiving silence until the Delcatty had returned to her designated position, Hackett clicked his tongue, letting out a heavy and irritated sigh as his talons dug into the hessian sack underneath his foot.

"Right, listen up. I'm here to dump this sack of letters that's been messing up my office. But if I have to deal with one of your goddamn catfights again, I'm burning the next batch I get. All of it. Got that?"

"""Sir, yes sir!"""

Though there were only six of us, our cry echoed through the room with impressively sharp and disciplined clarity. I'm not entirely sure if it was because he was satisfied by our response, but by the look on his face, it seems as if he's chosen to drop the subject for the time being.

Letting out an exhausted groan, he sliced open the sack with a flick of his talon, before pulling out the first envelope that graced his feathered wing.

"Fucking hell… alright, you know the drill. I want you up here when I call your name. Otherwise, stay by your fucking bunks. First up… Steven Roswell. One letter."

I watched with lukewarm interest as a Linoone from the back of the room quickly made his way over towards the Decidueye, hurriedly taking the letter with a quick word of thanks before scurrying back to his bed. From all sides of the room, a salvo of jealous stares were shot at him, their owners all apprehensively waiting to see whether their names would be called out next.

Everyone pays attention when it's time to get letters. During the three months that we spend here, letters are the only way for us to get any contact from outside the training facility. Without them, we wouldn't have a clue as to what was happening out there. For all we knew, the war between the Federation and the Imps could have resumed and we wouldn't know about it until we finally left this place.

But perhaps more importantly to those that were anticipating an envelope with their name on it were messages, both from friends and family. Messages of love and encouragement from those that, while they may not necessarily know the details of the recipient's current whereabouts or what exactly it was that they were doing, nonetheless still held a warm and deep seated concern for them. And when we're as isolated from the rest of the world as we are while in here, even something as simple as that would be enough to render tears from the most hardened of trainees.

And so, with this understanding in mind, it was easy to see why everyone was standing bolt upright, watching intently as their names were called one by one.

Well, when I say everyone…

I'll be honest; I couldn't care less. Because, over the past two months, I have yet to receive a single letter.

I'm not mad, mind you. Quite frankly, I had expected things to be as such. Unlike the other five, I don't have family outside of this room, nor do I have any friends I should be expecting contact from. So, when I think of it logically like that, I don't really have any reason to get excited or upset by all this.

"Lilianne von Frederika. Three letters. Huh… Looks like someone's popular."

From the corner of my eye, I watched as Lily squealed in delight upon hearing her name get called out. Barely able to contain her excitement, she made her way to Hackett with hastened steps, eagerly taking her addressed envelopes before returning to her position by our bunk, a giddy smile on her face.

With Lily out of the way, that makes four recipients so far. If there's any more to hand out, then this is going to be the last.

"Lastly, Kiteki Schwarz. One letter."

Well, I certainly wasn't expecting that.

His last call caught me by surprise. For a few seconds, I stare back at him, almost certain that I had misheard him.

Hackett, seeing that I had yet to move from my position, turned his eyes towards me, his eyes cold yet curious.

"Ey. Miss Brain Freeze. You want it or not?"

"Err, y-yes, sorry."

Making my way over towards him, I took my letter in stunned silence, before, with no small degree of disbelief, I took a moment to inspect it. Any notion I had that this was a misunderstanding was quickly corrected the moment I discover my name written with bold, cursive writing. Even so, though I'm seeing it with my own two eyes, it's still hard to believe that someone had actually addressed a letter to me, the sender a complete mystery since they had chosen not to include their name on the envelope's side.

Watching me slowly return to my bed, Hackett picked up the empty sack.

"Right, that's all for today."

A distressed cry erupts from the back of the room.

"Huh!? What about me?"

"Mari? No letters for you."

"What!? Outrageous!"

Hackett ignored her. Turning around to take his leave, he paused by the entrance, taking one last glance at us before making his way out.

"Don't stay up too late reading them. We've got combat exercises tomorrow; you know what's at stake here."

We all nodded obediently in reply to his order, but by now, our disciplined act had already begun to crumble. To nobody's surprise, no sooner did Hackett take his leave was there an audible sigh of relief, the tense atmosphere of the room all but vanishing into thin air.

Taking its place was a wave of subdued jubilation as the other trainees began to indulge in their letters. From atop their bunks, they smiled warmly as they shared and exchanged the contents of their precious sheets of paper, reminiscing with one another about the times they spent with the senders of their beloved letters. Rare as they may be, these brief moments of tenderness within the training facility were truly heart-warming scenes to behold.

But this time round, I barely notice it. At this moment in time, all that I can focus on is the piece of paper in my paws. Restlessly occupying myself, I tore open the envelope before engrossing myself in my unexpected letter.

Hey, Kit.

Look, I can probably tell what you're thinking right now. And I get it. You've got every right to be mad at me. And, look, if you want to throw this letter away into the bin, then I get that as well. Tear it up, burn it to ash, that's all fine with me. But please, at least read it before you do that. It's all that I'll ask for.

First thing's first, I owe you an explanation. You see, when I heard that they had found you still alive, I was honestly thrilled to bits. Even more so when they told me that I'd get to accompany you on a mission. But me being the dumbass that I am, I managed to get into my head that I could use this as a chance to show you just how much I had improved over the past three years.

Because of that, I admit, I ended up overdoing a few things that day. No, a lot of things, if I'm honest. I wanted to show off what it was like to be a Bureau agent just a little, y'know? I wanted to impress you, even shock you a little, to show you just how intense my new line of work was. And, look, I know it's really childish of me, but I had this thought that, if I did that, you would maybe be proud of me, that you would think that I was professional and mature.

But, in trying to do that, I completely forgot to consider just how you felt about it all. In trying to impress you, I had dragged you neck-deep through a ton of shit, and needlessly put you in danger more times than I had any right to. And I did all that without even realizing I had until it was too late for me to apologise. Lee and Maya spent the whole day chewing me out when they heard about it, but frankly, I didn't need them to know just what I had done. I'm a fool.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that… I'm sorry, Kit. I'm really sorry. I'm sorry for being such an asshole, for trying to show off when I really shouldn't have. And I'm sorry for not being able to keep that promise we made all those years ago at the old train station back in Winteroot. You can hate me all you want, and I'd completely understand. But I just couldn't leave things between us as I had two months ago. It just ain't right. And even if this letter does nothing to change that, I can at least say that I tried.

I'm not asking you to forgive me. Hell, I wouldn't if I was you. But I wanted you to know that I'm sorry. I was a heartless prick, and I was wrong. I just wish I had known that sooner.

I'll end by saying good luck with the rest of your training. It probably doesn't mean much to you, coming from me, but I know you can do it.

Clay.

Finishing the letter, I can't help but smile.

Quite frankly, having been completely caught up in all the training, I had forgotten about the incident. Of course, when I think about it now, I have to concur that a lot of the events that took place back then could have been avoidable. but now that it was all behind me, I can't deny that everything had, in the end, turned out for the best.

And besides, having read this letter now, there's no way that I could be mad at Clay. I just can't find it in me to stay that way. Changed as he might have become, there's a tangible sense of humility in his letter that reminds me of the times we spent together when we were young and innocent. It may seem small and unimpressive at a passing glance, but with everything that has been going on, even that is enough to put my heart at considerable ease.

…I suppose there's a little bit of his old self in there after all.

"Ahhh! See? I knew it! You do look super cute when you smile!"

From atop my bunk, Lily screams in thrilled elation, once again staring down at me from her perched position above, her eyes wide open and her cheeky smile even wider.

In an instant, my smile vanishes from my face, replaced with a tinge of deep-seated embarrassment that began to burn inside of me.

"Do I?"

Lily nods frantically.

"Mhmm! Was it the letter? It was the letter, right? Who wrote it?"

Folding up the letter, I tucked it away into the drawer beside my bed.

"…Just an old friend of mine."

. . . . . . . . . .

10:15, August 11, Unified Year 4734 - Federal Bureau of Research and Intelligence Headquarters, Board of Directors Conference Room (B1F)

. . . . .

From his vantage point high above, Earnest J. Blackwood watched in unwavering silence as the chaotic scene unfolded before his very eyes. Clouds of frosted dust billowed from the battleground below as the two combatants, a Glaceon and a Delcatty, hurled themselves upon the other with savage ferocity, elemental attacks streaking across the battle-scarred ground as the two of them danced across the field with eyewatering speed.

But to say that he was surprised by the vicious spectacle could not have been further from the truth. If anything, he would have been most bitterly disappointed were he to find that the six new faces below were doing anything but making an earnest effort to tear each other's throats out. After all, that was the very reason he had chosen to have his meeting scheduled at this very hour. He needed to see them with his own two eyes.

And there was no better place within the Bureau headquarters to do just that than the very room that he had come to. Attached to the seventy-foot-tall ceiling of the Upper Level Training Grounds, the panoramic views offered by the Board of Directors Conference Room gave anyone who entered it a perfectly unobstructed view of the chaos erupting just below. The only way that the Torterra could get a better view of the violence below would be for him to enter the ferocious training facility itself.

But as Earnest watched, his steely eyes staring at the young, energetic Pokémon below, he felt… nothing. No malice, no excitement, and no hint of sadistic joy from the sight of violence. Instead, he merely stared, his gaze cold and calculating as he observed those fighting beneath him. The six below weren't gladiators. They were the future of his organisation; a tiny handful from a selected few that had displayed enough physical and mental aptitude to become part of the next generation of agents. Their performance now would no doubt reflect their performance in the field, and ultimately, the fate of his beloved Bureau. And so, with this in mind, Earnest watched, silently assessing the capabilities of his newest members.

The battles he had witnessed so far were impressive, much like many others of his previous prospective agents, though none so far had managed to wildly exceed expectations. In all fairness, Earnest knew beforehand that it would have been most peculiar if he were to find any of their performances even remotely astonishing. He had done this process so many times by now that he could now ascertain both the preferred battle style and capability of each trainee through a mere glance of their combat performance. It would take something most extraordinary to amaze him by this point.

With this in mind, Earnest had set his expectations appropriately low in advance. After all, those shedding their own sweat and blood as they struggled on the floor below were still only mere trainees. To expect much more than that would have been a gross overestimation of their capabilities. And yet, to his surprise, Earnest had to admit that three of the trainees below had managed to pique his interest. Not necessarily for their combat performance, but rather for the rare and unorthodox fighting styles they had chosen to utilize.

What was most noteworthy was that none of the three in question had any sort of military background whatsoever. Common logic would suggest that it would ultimately be those that have gained the discipline and experience from working in an organised military force that would have the advantage in a combat simulation scenario such as the one happening right now. But whether it was because they were untainted by such strict ideals or because of something else entirely, Earnest had to concede that the display from the three trainees down below was most… interesting.

The first to catch his attention was a Leafeon, who's shapely appearance belied the jaw-dropping strength and power she possessed. From the moment her duel began, she set about to fully showcase her brutally simple and single-minded attack plan, immediately charging headfirst into her opponent as she brandished a Leaf Blade atop her head.

Her opponent, a Nuzleaf with considerable military background, found himself completely stunned by her brazen onslaught. Despite having the superior combat skill and technique, he struggled to adapt to her unusually daft and direct attack, resulting in the Leafeon wiping him out with unexpected speed. Asinine as it may have been, the Verdant Pokémon's incredible strength complimented her battle strategy almost flawlessly. Seeing such a simple-minded attack prove to be so effective, Earnest found himself chuckling quietly from the absurd humour of her easy victory.

The other two that had caught his eye were still fighting down below, both deep in the process of ruthlessly testing their unique combat styles against one another. Arguably the most spectacular of the two was the Glaceon, who had begun launching another streak of brilliant blue energy upon her opponent. Standing from a considerable distance away, she launched attack after attack with brutal precision and strategic cunning, making no effort to hide the dazzling beauty and ominous power of her Shadow Ball and, to Earnest's surprise, her recently acquired Ice Beam.

Her opponent, a Delcatty, though lacking the visual spectacle that the Glaceon was displaying, was proving herself to be an equally competent fighter. Rather than fighting head on, she had instead composed her arsenal of attacks to deceive and trick her opponent. Her usage of Substitute was masterful, especially for a trainee, and the finesse she displayed when handling the Glaceon's own attacks through Assist made it seem as if they were her own.

With her ability to trick her opponent while utilizing their own power against them, there was no doubt that the Delcatty would have given most a run for their money in making an attempt to counter her. But, even with her highly advanced and intricate battle plan, the Delcatty was finding her attacks to prove frustratingly ineffective against the Glaceon. Her Substitute decoys were proving to be increasingly less effective with each passing moment, and with the sheer distance between the two, she was struggling to land even a single hit on her opponent.

To anyone who watched the duel below, it was clear that the only way for the Delcatty to get a hit in now was to get up close and personal with the Glaceon. But every time she tried to close in on her opponent, she would find the Glaceon to quickly back away, creating distance between them through her impressive speed and agility. It was easy to see that she was losing her patience, and fast.

And so, to the surprise of nobody, the Delcatty was first to stumble. Having momentarily lost sight of her surroundings, she faltered as her paws skidded across a patch of frozen ground; a hidden trap that the Glaceon had laid for her opponent in advance. Wasting no time at the given opportunity, the Fresh Snow Pokémon unleashed a blinding jet of streaking energy, the sheer power of her Ice Beam bathing the battleground in a blue, baleful glow. Unable to move fast enough on the icy surface, the Delcatty could do nothing but brace herself as the beam of ice made direct contact to her side. Her body began to freeze, thick and heavy ice rapidly encasing her form before, overloaded by its own immense power, the ice shattered, exploding in a tremendous cloud of white and blue smoke as shockwaves ripped across the floor.

The Glaceon, choosing not to wait and see the fruits of her labour, turned around and walked away. There was no need, after all. Given how devastatingly powerful the blow she had delivered was, it would be silly to even consider the possibility that the Delcatty would be in any shape to continue the fight. And, sure enough, the slowly clearing smoke and dust revealed the sorry sight of the Prim Pokémon lying on the ground; battered, bruised, and struggling to maintain her consciousness.

Having finally witnessed the conclusion of the day's combat exercise, the Torterra closed his eyes, nodding solemnly as he exhaled slowly. Despite their performance, he knew that the recruits below were still far from perfect. Be it their display of mindless rashness, predictable combat style or general lack of adaptability, Earnest could immediately identify flaws in each one of them. Even the Glaceon, though spectacular during her fight, had rendered herself haggard and breathless from the relatively short duel. Such things simply wouldn't do if they had any aspirations at all to become elite members of his Bureau.

But such things were still far off in the distant future. For now, they were only recruits; fresh blood that his organisation desperately needed. In time they would learn. Learn to be effective tools of espionage and harbingers of death. But until that day arrives, he would have to whip them into shape; mould them bit by bit until they finally become the lethal weapons he needed them to be.

Satisfied and having made up his mind, Earnest slowly turned back to the conference room, the window blinds automatically beginning to close behind him. As he peered into the slowly darkening room, he found himself greeted with the sight of fifty different pairs of eyes, their owners all staring back at him with respectful, unwavering attention. Among them, the so called Triad of the Bureau - the three Directors that lead and controlled the three pillars of the Bureau with an iron fist; leviathans of immense strength whose power and rank were second only the Torterra before them.

Making his way to his position at the end of the long table in the centre of the room, he nodded, signalling for the others to take their seat, all of whom promptly heeded his command.

Earnest grinned. It was finally time to start what he had really come here to do.

"Ladies. Gentlemen. I have gathered you all here today to discuss the future of our new prospect agents." The Torterra spoke slowly, taking a long and leisurely puff of his freshly lit cigar as his eyes surveyed the room before him. "As of this point in time, it would be safe to assume that the remaining trainees will see the training process to completion. I see no reason that we cannot start assigning them to their respective positions now."

From his position a few seats away, the Director of Intelligence, a laid-back Garchomp, chuckled upon the Chairman's opening statement. His body lean and with a devilish gleam in his eye, it was easy to sense his formidable power even as he lounged casually from atop his chair. "This is going to be fun. We haven't had a fresh batch of agents come out from the training regimen in a long time."

The Director of Command, a colossal Aggron sitting opposite to him, nodded firmly in agreement. Stern and stoic, his body rippled from the overwhelming strength of his finely aged, titanium-hard muscles. "About time as well. We're running out of personnel as is."

Earnest smiled. It was a good sign that his peers and subordinates were eager to proceed with the meeting at hand. Hopefully, their enthusiasm should result in a quick conclusion to the day's proceedings.

"Let us begin with the first prospective agent." Extending a vine from the tree upon his back, he slowly drew out the first sheet of paper from his pile. "…Lillianne von Frederika."

From the other end of the rectangular table, the Director of Research, a Staraptor with brilliant and immaculate feathers, shook her head upon the introduction of the first prospective agent. Elegantly poised and chillingly cool, her eyes shone with an intellectually inspired light that gave away her mental brilliance to any who could perceive it.

Picking up on the Staraptor's disapproval, Earnest signalled to her. "Yes, Director von Cannon?"

"The Department of Research has no use for her." The Staraptor replied, her tone matter of fact. "She lacks the mental capacity required."

The Garchomp, making no effort to hide his lack of interest, merely gestured with an idle flick of his claw for his own subordinate, a Murkrow, to speak up on his behalf, turning his attention away from the conversation as he closed his eyes. Swiftly picking up the pieces that had been scattered for him, the Murkrow cleared his throat before beginning to speak.

"Director Weiss, along with the rest of the D.I, agrees. If I may be so bold as to make a suggestion, she may be best suited for Command."

The attention of the room shifted back to the Aggron, who had turned silent as he began to carefully weigh in the different options he could give to the prospective agent. Despite his muscular appearance, nobody could deny the fact that the Aggron, much like the other two Directors, was an intellectual genius of his craft.

Giving the Iron Armour Pokémon some time to think, Earnest finally called for his answer. "…Director Valkov?"

The Aggron sighed, evidently still considering the different options that he could provide for the budding prospective agent. Though many outside the higher chain of command erroneously assumed that the Director of Command would take in any agent that neither the D.I nor the D.R fancied, the truth was that Director Valkov was just as cunning as the other two, perhaps even more so given his advanced age. Staring down hard at the Leafeon's report sheet, he carefully considered the potential the Verdant Pokémon had in ascending through the four ranks that Command offered; he wasn't typically one to settle for an agent that showed no promise of reaching the higher classifications a prospective Operative could achieve.

"…Though she has proven her physical capabilities to be excellent, she lacks the experience or mental fortitude required to be a solo operative." The Aggron furrowed his brows, clasping his hardened claws in front of him as he continued to ponder. "As I see it, she would be best served as part of a larger team or squad."

Director von Cannon nodded, her eyes scanning her personal copy of the trainee reports. "Agreed. Her attitude and general personality would best compliment a group environment."

"If… If I may, M-Mr Chairman."

The sudden interruption from an unfamiliar voice caused the room to freeze, all eyes slowly turning towards its owner. Scanning the room, Earnest's eyes fell upon a Purrloin, her whole body visibly trembling from having put herself under the spotlight. Holding her paw up like a shy and insecure student, she gulped audibly, terrified by the attention she was receiving from the Chairman and his three Directors; members that everyone regarded rightfully as titans of the Bureau.

But Earnest paid it no mind. She had brought this attention to herself, after all. And now that she had it, she might as well use it for something worthwhile.

"Go on."

The Purrloin, quickly following the Torterra's orders, took in a deep breath before making her explanation. "O-Operator Maya Rosenthal has stated that she would like to, uhm, have more members of, well, the s-same gender in her, uhh, newly formed squad."

His interest piqued by the new information; Director Valkov hardened his gaze at his subordinate.

"The Espeon?"

"Y-Yes, sir! I… I d-don't mean to overstep my boundaries by saying this, but… Would… Would it not be advisable to please her in order to, well, maintain our relationship with the Rosenthals?"

Giving it careful thought, Director Valkov nodded, both in reply and in acknowledgement of his subordinate's astute perceptiveness. As the Purrloin beamed from his wordless praise, he turned his attention back towards Earnest, his firm gaze asking the Torterra for confirmation.

"…Chairman Blackwood?"

Earnest nodded, a slight grin adorning his jaw as he moved the sheet of paper to another pile. "…Very well. Have Miss von Frederika put in my pile. I'll give it some thought."

The sound of rustling paper filled the room as everyone followed suit, organising their own copies of paper to match the Torterra's demands.

"Understood, Chairman Blackwood."

And thus, the tone for the rest of the meeting had been set. The thick and heavy smoke of tobacco swirled within the meeting room as the members present weighed in on the future of their newest additions, their heated debates fuelled by an urgency that only a time of war could ever produce.

With everyone in the room so eager to have the prospective agents assigned to their respective and suited departments, progress was much faster than normal. And, combined with the fact that there were only six trainees to assess, it became all but plausible that, for the first time ever, the trainee allocation meeting could very well end quickly enough for the staff present to make it for lunch on time.

Perhaps things may have been different had this meeting taken place just three or four years ago. Being the secretive organisation that it was known to be, the Bureau rarely, if ever, had the need for the astronomical number of personnel that the standard military groups of the Federation demanded. As a matter of fact, the very nature of the organisation meant that it was ill advised for the Bureau to harbour a wealth of employees. For much of its existence, it had been running on maximum capacity; had it grown any larger, its size would have most likely compromised its ability to remain a secretive entity.

But things were different now. With the outbreak of the Federal-Imperial War three years ago, the Bureau found its issue with manpower to seemingly flip overnight. No longer was it burdened with having too many agents within its headquarters; now it was burdened with not having enough. Everyone knew, especially the Directors and the Chairman himself, that the situation was quickly becoming dire.

And the same could be said for every other fighting force within the Federation. Everyone, from the Army, the Marine Corps, to even the Federal Air Force, was scrambling to vastly increase recruitment. The undeniable principle of numerical superiority in warfare was one so old and well known that, in ancient times, it was common for peasants and slaves to be forced into conscription by decree of their own kings and lords during times of war. And with history dictating it to be a universal truth, there was no reason, nothing about the current situation, that would suggest things to play out otherwise.

The simple truth of the matter was that, even with the greatest of tacticians and the mightiest of military technology, it was ultimately strength in numbers that would prove key for most battles in securing a victory. Without Pokémon to actually follow orders and complete missions, an army would be nothing more than an empty voice, screaming death threats from the top of its lungs but with no way to act upon them.

Which meant that, though the Bureau was not classified as a military organisation per se, the nature of its existence and the operations it handled resulted in the inevitability of the exact same doctrine applying to them; something that was especially true for Director Valkov and his beloved Command.

But, similar as their situations were, the truth was that the Bureau was always going to be handicapped when it came to recruiting more members. Simply put, the Bureau never had the ability to begin mass recruitments during the outbreak of war, nor did they have the ability to recruit large numbers all at once. The only limit that other armed forces had when it came to the total number of new personnel they could receive was, put simply, the entire population of the Federation itself. Such luxuries were never an option for the Bureau.

And so, though nobody was particularly thrilled with only having six recruits make it to the end of training, given the circumstances that surrounded them, along with the almost ludicrous requirements that the Bureau had for its prospective agents, nobody could bring themselves to complain about it. With just how tied their hands were, the only thing that the staff in the room could do was sit tight and shut their mouths and sit tight. Everyone was more than aware of the grievances that they all shared.

The meeting continued quickly and smoothly. Perhaps a little too quickly, considering their shared desire for a greater number of recruits. But as things were now, it was all too easy to find places that these new agents could fill. There was little reason to believe that there would be any sort of hitch to hinder their progress; little reason to believe that the task at hand would be over soon.

And for the vast majority of the recruits discussed, that was indeed the case. Four had been quickly swept away to become cogs in the great machine that was Command. One was curiously swiped by Director Weiss, insisting on the specific recruit, a talented but otherwise ordinary Linoone, be incorporated into one of his intelligence analysis divisions. There was nothing to suggest that the sixth and final recruit to be discussed would be any different.

That was, until her name was brought to the room.

"...Which leads us finally to..."

Earnest paused, slowly pulling out the last file from the pile of sheets. He had finally reached the recruit he had most been looking forward to discussing with the group.

"...Miss Kiteki Schwarz."

A hushed murmur filled the room as the staff present glanced restlessly upon one another. There wasn't a Pokémon in the room that was a stranger to her name, but that didn't make it any easier for them to figure out what to do with the enigmatic Glaceon.

Earnest had somewhat expected the Glaceon's introduction to cause a bit of a stir. But what he couldn't have predicted was just how interested his Directors would become with regards to their final recruit. Both Director Valkov and Director von Cannon were practically leaning on the edge of their seats, their eyes hungrily scanning the Glaceon's report sheet as if it were a treasure map made of gold.

Seeing his Directors become so unusually animated, Earnest grinned to himself. Though it was no surprise that a large portion of the Bureau would, at least momentarily, fall head over heels over the arrival of even a minor celebrity, those higher up in the chain of command were usually much less susceptible to getting swept away by such hype, even less so for the Directors. The only reason they would ever get so worked up over a prospective agent could only be because of a valid, significant reason.

The room fell silent, with all that were present holding their breaths for the Chairman or his Directors to begin the conversation. But when neither of them began to speak, their subordinates and those lower in the chain of command began to cautiously throw out some remarks, hoping to get the debate rolling.

"…She's got more than enough combat experience, but…"

"Well, her fighting style is definitely unusual."

"Right… She lacks the disciplined poise of an institute trained fighter, but she's got a… a certain flair?"

"Like a street brawler?"

"Yeah, that's it."

Von Cannon, finally opening her eyes after having spent a lengthy moment thinking to herself, gestured for the attention of her group of subordinates. "Remind me again. What are the results of her assessment?"

"Extremely high cognitive abilities, ma'am." Her order was met by a Whimsicott, one of her own subordinates from the D.R. Despite her unkempt appearance, her answer was charmingly diligent. "She currently ranks top of all the current prospective agents in that regard."

"Continue."

The Whimsicott nodded. "She works well, even under pressure, but her personality makes it difficult for her to work in a team. Furthermore, previous combat simulation reports show that she is not the quickest to adapt to new and unexpected situations, though that is something I'm confident she will learn to improve over time."

Valkov, listening in on the conversation, quickly joined in with a question of his own. "What about physical qualities?"

Momentarily taken aback by the Aggron's abrupt question, the Whimsicott composed herself before trying to come up with an adequate response.

"Err… She's fast, I suppose. She's nimble, especially for a Glaceon… though I'm sure her size plays a big part in that."

One of Valkov's subordinates, a burly and battle-hardened Gogoat, joined in on the discussion, realising quickly that personnel from the D.R were not the best suited to give the Aggron's question a proper reply. His voice carrying the firm clarity of a disciplined soldier, he added on to the Whimsicott's remark.

"She's proven her special attacks to be incredibly powerful; her recently acquired Ice Beam is especially potent. But she suffers from a lack of physical strength and average endurance at best. Despite her display from today's assessment, the fact of the matter is that she has yet to win a single close-quarters-combat match-up during training."

"And why is that?" Valkov asked, his question sounding more like a direct command due to his powerful tone. "I thought it was established that she was a capable fighter."

"She is. But she doesn't have the strength to throw any meaningful physical punches, nor does she have the endurance to wear down her opponents in an extended duel."

"Her true strength comes from using ranged attacks." A Dustox from across the room added on to the Gogoat's explanation. "Though she lacks the physical strength for hand-to-hand – or should I say paw-to-paw - combat, she's more than nimble enough to dodge her opponent."

Earnest, who himself had been listening silently to the discussion so far, slowly nodded as he put down his sheet of paper. "I see. Interesting. We've certainly got no shortage of specialized agents to assess today, don't we? Well, then. Any suggestions?"

A still silence befell the room yet again, the eyes of all subordinates and assistants glancing across the room from one Director to the other. For a moment, it seemed as if the Board of Directors would once again withhold their verdict and remain silent.

"Ahem."

But instead, they found the quiet to be broken by a dignified cough. Following the eyes of everyone else, Earnest glanced up, raising his brow as he calmly eyed down the culprit.

"Director von Cannon?"

"If I may, Chairman Blackwood." The Staraptor, having now been hailed by the Chairman himself, put down her report sheet, before calmly proceeding to give her opinion. "I would like to request that Miss Kiteki Schwarz be sent to the Department of Intelligence as a Researcher. Her intelligence score has proven to me that she would be an invaluable asset to the future of the Bureau's R&D plan."

The rest of the staff from the D.R nodded in unison, collectively agreeing with their superior's statement. Frankly, nobody could deny that Director von Cannon's assessment was in any way incorrect. And, given that she had yet to take in any recruits from the recent batch, it would have been understandable had everyone in the room all agreed to send the Glaceon to her command.

But Valkov shook his head, making no effort to hide his discontent at the Staraptor's judgement. "I disagree. Given the physical aptitude she has displayed during training, it would be a waste to put her anywhere other than under the guidance of Command."

Earnest raised his brows at the brewing situation. "Elaborate, Director Valkov."

"I propose that she be deployed as a Hex class Operative, effective as soon as her training is complete." The Aggron replied with iron-like firmness, his response aimed at both the Chairman as well as his colleague at the D.R. "Given the current conditions that the Bureau faces, we are sorely needing new Operatives. Not only does Miss Schwarz meet the requirements to be an Operative, but she shows potential to become one of our very few elites. If I have ever seen a prime candidate for a future Predator class Operative, she would be it."

A wave of murmurs filled the room as the Pokémon present found themselves presented with two different options, both entirely valid. While von Cannon's argument was sound, there was no denying the fact that Valkov's statement was painfully true. Everyone knew just how badly the Bureau needed more manpower, especially in Command. And, combined with the possible likelihood of the Glaceon becoming a Phantom class Operative - the highest rank an Operative could ever achieve, it made too much sense for the Fresh Snow Pokémon to not be put anywhere else.

But, undeterred, von Cannon turned towards the Aggron, ready to fight for the final prospective agent.

"Preposterous. Director Valkov, are you honestly implying that you intend to use her as nothing more than one of your barbaric henchmen? Her talents are wasted with Command."

Valkov simply laughed in reply. Though his colleague had matured considerably from the young fledgling that she was when they had first met, she was still far younger than he was. And while he couldn't deny the brilliance of the Staraptor, he wasn't about to let someone who was only in their early-forties get in his way.

"I see that your pride in your department has gotten even more inflated, Director von Cannon. It would do you well to not underestimate the capabilities of our Operatives. Besides, Command has a much more urgent need for new agents than the Department of Research. Your losses are nowhere near as dire as Command's."

The room watched with bated breaths as the two Directors challenged each other, their eyes gleaming like daggers as they stared each other down. Such instances were few and far between, given just how rare it was for any one candidate to garner so much attention from the directors. Typically, they would simply give them a passing glance before quickly deciding their position with blasé judgement. For a trainee to receive such a degree of scrupulous attention from two directors was almost unheard of.

But to Earnest J. Blackwood, it was easy to see that the two of them had more than just the recruitment of a certain Glaceon at stake. Both von Cannon and Valkov had a fierce reputation to their name, and one look at them showed that they knew it. The storm that was brewing within the confines of the blacked-out meeting room was as much powered by the need of the Glaceon as it was the melting nuclear reactor that was their pride and ego.

"Then, perhaps what Command needs is a proper restructuring of its hierarchy rather than new agents, Director Valkov." Director von Cannon shot back at her senior colleague, flashing him a glare so cold and sharp that it could easily cut glass. "Such losses can only be a result of incompetent leadership, when all factors are taken into consideration."

Director Valkov clicked his tongue, before making his retort. Though his voice was restrained, the bitterness in the Aggron's voice was palpable. "We're fighting a war, Director von Cannon. Perhaps you may have forgotten that while you and your team of eggheads have been holed up in the pits of headquarters?"

The tension in the room that came from the two was so thick that it could be cut with a knife, heavy enough that it suffocated everyone in its vicinity, rendering the rest of the room silent. The two stared at each other, their glares so hard that sparks seemed to ignite in the smoky air as their eyes crossed swords with one another. And, while Earnest couldn't deny that he was enjoying the battle of words the two had engaged in, he couldn't ignore the possibility of casualties resulting from it.

If this escalated any further, they would no doubt start to go at each other's throats.

"Enough."

With a firm voice, Earnest stomped the ground, demanding decorum. All at once, the two Directors ceased their bickering, falling silent despite the irritated frowns they wore on their faces. With a shaky peace returning to the conference room, Earnest took back the reigns of the meeting with an iron grip.

"Director von Cannon. I have to say, but Director Valkov does make a valid argument. Regardless of whether or not the fault lies with their leadership or the war, the fact remains that we are in dire need of new Operatives." He paused, taking a moment to read the Staraptor sitting opposite to him. "Having said that, I know you are not one to raise protest without purpose. Perhaps you can elaborate to us as to why you are so eager to have Miss Schwarz join your ranks?"

Thankful for the opportunity to explain herself, von Cannon gave the Torterra an elegantly dignified bow from her seat, before proceeding to speak, her tone of voice having calmed noticeably. "Mr Chairman, the Department of Research needs her because of the special qualifications that she possesses."

Director Valkov scoffed. "And what would that be, Director von Cannon?"

"Her knowledge in the Old World."

As Valkov fell silent from the Staraptor's unsuspecting reply, the room began to resonate once again with the sound of hushed chatter as personnel began to curiously turn to one another for answers that nobody seemed able to share. Its mentioning did, however, raise the interest of one Director Weiss, who had finally chosen to sit up after having lounged on his chair nonchalantly.

Earnest, having little interest in seeing the conference room descend into chaos again, raised his foot, demanding silence, before addressing the Garchomp.

"Director Weiss, I see that this has garnered your attention."

Weiss smiled, lighting a cigarette with not a hint of urgency before giving the Torterra a reply. "But of course. New knowledge on the Old World is hard to come by, after all."

Seemingly unconcerned with the Garchomp's casual attitude, Earnest waited for him to finish his first puff of his cigarette before prodding him further. "Do you not have anything to say with regards to this matter, Director Weiss?"

Weiss simply shook his head.

"She'll make a fine agent, no doubt. But the Department of Intelligence has no need for Miss Schwarz's particular skillset. She'll be a much more useful asset in one of the other departments." He paused, a grin slowly forming on his jaw. "That said, having discussed the matter with Director von Cannon, I will be giving her my full endorsement."

Surprised by his final input, Valkov's brow furrowed into a heavy frown, unable to comprehend the Garchomp's decision. "Rare of you to have an opinion on this matter, Director Weiss. You usually don't give two shits about this sort of thing."

His sly smile widening, Weiss drew his gaze over towards von Cannon, giving her a knowing look. "Director von Cannon, it appears that our colleague is… unaware of our peculiar situation."

Von Cannon nodded, fully understanding what Weiss was referring to. But, interesting and unusual as the circumstances may have been, she couldn't share the same sense of humour that the Garchomp had found. Instead, fully aware of the weight of such information, she turned towards Earnest, giving him an apprehensive, cautious look.

"…May I, Chairman Blackwood?"

Earnest nodded, grinning a mysterious smile in response as he slowly scanned the curious, confused faces in the room. "Go ahead, Director von Cannon. After all, Director Valkov is not the only one that has not yet been informed."

Having received the blessings of the Chairman himself, von Cannon slowly scanned the room. With the subject in question being as critical as it was, the Staraptor approached it with the diligent seriousness it deserved, her attitude reflected in her hardened gaze. She cleared her throat, taking in a deep breath before beginning in a firm and authoritative voice.

"Fellow members of the Board of Directors, what I am about to tell you has been given a Class A classification. Under no account must the following information be shared with anybody outside of this room without Chairman Blackwood's permission."

She paused, observing to ensure that the rest of the staff present heeded her warning. Though there was no audible reply, everyone, including Valkov, gave her a confident nod in reply.

Satisfied, von Cannon continued her explanation.

"As many of you may already know, ex-Operative Arthur Schwarz had spent much of his time both prior to and after his retirement to the cause of researching the Old World. However, beginning five years prior to his death, Mr Schwarz had specified that he had begun a study on what he claimed was an Old World superweapon."

Upon the word, Valkov's claws balled up into clenched fists. His eyes set dead on the Director of Research, he demanded an explanation. "Superweapon? This is no joking matter, Director von Cannon. Is it a bomb? A cannon? Be more specific!"

"I can't." But the reply he got was far from what he was wanting to hear. "We're not entirely sure what it is, and neither was Mr Schwarz. He did, however, come awfully close to figuring out what it was when he last contacted us on the day of the Frontier Massacre. That was why he was so desperate to keep the information out of Imperial hands."

"Has the Empire gotten hold of Mr Schwarz's research?"

To the relief of everyone present, von Cannon shook her head at Aggron's query. "If Operative Hackett McAllister is to be believed, then no. And, as I'm sure you can attest, Director Valkov, Operative McAllister is a more than trustworthy source. He is one of our few Phantom class Operatives, after all."

But Weiss shook his head, clicking his tongue as he discarded the ashes of his cigarette over an ashtray. "Yes, but even so, it appears that one way or another, the Empire has managed to get a hold of some information with regards to the superweapon in question."

Von Cannon nodded solemnly. "We're not sure how or where they got their information, but what I can say for certain is that it was one of the reasons we believe Emperor Sirius began his invasion in the first place. It's also the reason why the Empire has turned Winteroot town into the place that it is today."

"Wait." Valkov paused, slightly taken aback by the shock of the Staraptor's last statement. Giving her a hard, questioning look, he held his claw up to ask for silence. "I thought they turned Winteroot into a mining town in order to excavate coal."

"That's what they want you to think, Director Valkov my old friend." Weiss chuckled, reclining back into his chair, cigarette in mouth. "The coal mining excuse is nothing more than a front. Winteroot isn't a mining town. It's an excavation site."

Von Cannon nodded in agreement, continuing on with her explanation. "Director Weiss' explanation may be a little misleading, but it is not entirely incorrect, either. While the Empire's mining efforts in Winteroot and the rest of Fiore are genuine, their real objective is to excavate relics of the Old World."

"You mean to tell me that the superweapon is in Fiore!?"

"No, Director Valkov. While we aren't entirely certain of what Emperor Sirius plans to do with the excavated relics, we can at least say with confidence that the superweapon in question does not exist in Fiore."

Valkov's frown hardened. "…But given what we know, we can assume that these things they're trying to dig up are in some way related to this weapon they're after, correct?"

"Assume, yes. But with certainty? No. We aren't entirely sure of the specifics in mind, but with the information that we have obtained so far, it appears to be the most logical explanation. For the time being, the only thing we are absolutely certain of is that they are excavating relics in the region of Fiore, and from the report given by Operative Clayton Hunt two months ago, it appears that they don't much care for the collateral damage they cause."

"I think you mean to say that they're trying to excavate Old World relics, Director von Cannon."

"My apologies. You're right, Director Weiss."

Despite the overwhelming gravity of the information that the other two Directors had divulged, Valkov heaved a heavy sigh in relief. Of course, under normal circumstances, such information would have been considered critical by both him and his peers. But with how dire the recent string of events had been, even something like this seemed like an incredible stroke of good fortune.

"So… You're saying that they have yet to find these… artefacts?"

"Relax, Director Valkov. As of now, there are no signs to show that they have succeeded in acquiring any of these supposed relics."

Despite the Garchomp's laid-back reply, von Cannon failed to share the Director of Intelligence's sentiments. "Relax isn't the right word, Director Weiss. The Empire may not have found their supposed treasure yet, but our window of opportunity is fast closing. We need to identify what it is that they're after and find a way to defend ourselves against it, or better yet, stop them from getting it altogether."

Everyone within the conference room began to nod their heads upon the Staraptor's suggestion. If what the two Directors had been saying was true, then it was without a doubt possible that their war against the Empire would end in a catastrophic defeat should they get their hands on their supposed weapon. And with the Old World being the mystery it was, it was easy to see that trying to prevent the fruition of the Empire's plans would be infinitely preferrable to bracing themselves for a weapon they knew nothing about. From the hushed chatter within the room, it was clear that the thoughts shared within the room were the same: if this superweapon project was the Emperor's seed, then they would have to kill it before it grows.

"Director von Cannon."

The sound of Earnest's voice brought forth an immediate silence to the conference room once again.

"Yes, Chairman Blackwood?"

"How is the analysis of Operative Arthur Schwarz's research coming along?"

For the first time since the meeting had begun, Director von Cannon squirmed in her seat, clearly uncomfortable with the question that had been directed at her. With an apologetic bow, she responded, her voice firm and clear, but tainted with a hint of embarrassment.

"We're still analysing it, Sir, but we're reaching the limits of what we are able to comprehend. It shames me to say this, but Mr Schwarz's research is… More advanced than what I am capable of, let alone the D.R."

Fortunately for her, Earnest seemed to have completely expected her response.

"Which is where Miss Schwarz comes in, correct?"

"Yes. Though we have yet to test her full capabilities as of yet, Miss Schwarz's understanding of the Old World has so far proven to be extraordinary, far surpassing even my knowledge on the matter."

Weiss glanced over at the Staraptor, a hint of vague intrigue in his eye. "More than you, Director von Cannon? Now that's a surprise."

Von Cannon nodded, opening her beak to continue. But, catching the sight of the Whimsicott raising her stubby arm up from the corner of her eye, she halted, motioning for her subordinate to speak again.

"If I may, Director."

"Go on."

"Mr Arthur Schwarz was an established name in the scientific community, regarded by many as the leading figure in the field." The Whimsicott spoke clearly, her words addressed to the Director of Intelligence just as much as it was to everyone else. "As a matter of fact, though he never specified the reasoning behind his decision, it is commonly believed by members of the D.R that Mr Schwarz's growing fame in the field was one of the primary reasons for his early retirement twenty years ago."

The Murkrow by Weiss' side, who had silently been listening in on the conversation so far, finally spoke up. "So, what exactly does that mean? Are you implying that he taught his daughter?"

"It's highly probable, yes. What is certain, however, is that several textbooks on the Old World were found in Miss Kiteki Schwarz's possession when she was rescued from Sinnoh's District Twelve."

"Textbooks?" Director Valkov scoffed. "You can't seriously expect me to believe that she learned everything she knew from those textbooks."

"These aren't ordinary books, Director Valkov." Von Cannon retorted in defence of her subordinate. "Our assessment has determined them to be drafts of a new set of textbooks written by Arthur Schwarz himself detailing much of the new discoveries he had made following his departure from the Bureau. What was contained within those books far surpass anything that we, nor anybody else, currently have."

Valkov grimaced, tapping his claw impatiently on the black glass-topped table. "And the contents of these books has not been put into circulation within the D.R's staff, because…?"

"Because the books themselves have been heavily damaged, most likely from the harsh conditions of District Twelve." The Whimsicott replied, trying to keep her answer as clear and as concise as she could. "The information contained is fragmented at best and outright missing at worst. As it is now, we can only decipher tiny portions of those books on our own. A shame then, really, because, from what little we could retrieve, the contents within them were truly revolutionary."

Von Cannon nodded in agreement, keeping her firm and unwavering gaze on the Aggron as she readied herself to deliver her final blow. "Nevertheless, the point still stands that, whether it was because of the contents of the textbook or because she was taught by Arthur himself, her understanding of the subject far exceeds anything or anyone I have met so far. It is for this reason that I believe she may have, at some point in time, assisted Mr Schwarz with his research at home, or at the very least, is most familiar with the research data he left behind. In a word, she is the most suited - not just from this batch of recruits, but from all the Bureau - for the task of tackling her late father's research, and in turn stop the Imperial superweapon initiative."

With the conclusion of her defence, Director Valkov leaned back into his chair, heaving out a grand sigh as he gently pressed his temple.

Quite frankly, he should have known that von Cannon would have a reason significant enough to warrant her pursuing the recruitment of the Glaceon. She wasn't the type to blindly chase after something without having prepared for it in full, after all. And now that he had heard her argument, he had to admit that there really was nobody more suited than the Glaceon in question for the task that von Cannon had outlined. He wasn't so blind as to need the Staraptor to spell it out any further.

Worse still was the look on the faces of all the staff present. Nobody could deny that the Director of Research's argument was in any way wrong. So much so that it was surprising to several that Valkov had yet to concede to his colleague. He hated it, but even so, try as he might, he couldn't find anyone else to pin for failing to come up with a valid counter-argument to von Cannon's reasoning. The only one he could blame for failing to have picked up on her rationalization was himself alone.

And yet, even though this debate between him and von Cannon was as good as over, Valkov's stubborn will refused to let it go. Not when the recruit in question was as promising as she was. Balling his claws up into fists, he slammed them onto the table in raw frustration.

"You make a valid point, Director von Cannon… but I still don't like the idea of handing her over to the Department of Research. Assuming that all the remaining trainees make it to the end, that means that we only get six new agents. Just six, after a whole year's worth of recruiting. In that same period of time, I've lost a total of seventy-four agents because of this goddamn war, and that's only from the past twelve months alone. Quite frankly, I want nothing more than to have all six of them to be put under my command. So, forgive me if I'm a little too eager to take in just one more agent."

Several members of staff nodded sympathetically. The frustrations of Director Valkov were more than well known amongst them, especially since the deficiency of personnel in his department was something that the Bureau as a whole suffered greatly from in particular.

With the current rate of losses, it was entirely possible that there may soon come a time where neither the D.R nor the D.I could continue to reliably ask Command to have operatives collect information for their needs. And with no alternative method currently established for either of them to become independent entities, such a future would more than secure the death of the Bureau. Faced with the bone-crushingly heavy desperation that they were faced with, a disheartened sigh echoed through the conference room.

But Weiss seemed unconcerned by the damning prospect. Extinguishing his cigarette in his ashtray, the Garchomp idly tapped his mahogany armrest, a sly grin spreading across his face.

"If I may speak, Chairman Blackwood."

Earnest, who himself appeared unfazed by the sombre attitude of the conference room, turned his eyes towards him.

"Go on."

"Why not have her assigned as a Cerberus agent?"

All at once, the room erupted in a frenzied state of alarm.

"Director Weiss, with all due respect, have you lost your mind?" Von Cannon, though one to usually maintain an air of calm elegance, found even herself to be swept away by the absurdity of the Director of Intelligence's idea. "The project was a failure. It's been proven again and again that the Cerberus status is too compromised a position to be effective."

Even Valkov, although managing to contain his shock better than his feathered colleague, couldn't help but splutter out loud from the absurd proposition. "I… I concur. The decision has already been made five years prior to terminate the Cerberus project. It has been years since we last introduced our final dual-purpose agents."

There was good reason for the hysteria. It had all been agreed upon, and with some degree of fanfare, that the Cerberus initiative had been put down for good. Even considering the power that Director Weiss' position held, it was almost unthinkable for him to even suggest that it be brought back into service.

Named after a mythical, three-headed beast from an ancient folklore of unknown origin, Cerberus agents were special, multi-role Operatives that served in Command as well as either, or on extremely rare occasions, both the Department of Research and the Department of Intelligence, as opposed to the single department that all traditional agents were typically assigned. The concept was the brainchild of the Bureau's founding members several centuries ago, from a time when the Bureau was an entity independent of the Federation, meant as a means for particularly gifted agents to reach their full potential.

To this end, the Cerberus initiative had managed to produce a number of spectacular agents in its colourful history. Indeed, many of the most accomplished and renowned agents the Bureau had ever produced were agents that had received the Cerberus designation. Yet, for all the fame and glory that the Cerberus initiative brought, so too did it bring in healthy doses a mixture of disappointment and despair.

For starters, so few were ultimately chosen to be Cerberus agents that their numbers were meaningless in the grand scheme of things. Not that greater numbers would help otherwise, because the simple fact of the matter was that a significant majority of Cerberus agents would underperform, many of which falling far below expectations. The consensus reached was that, by creating an agent that could work in multiple fields, they would lose the ability to excel in anything.

And with the especially terrible results that the Cerberus initiative had produced in recent history, it was no surprise that the controversial project was axed sooner or later. With the exception of one Victoria Lancaster, the great Arthur Schwarz and one other member, no Cerberus agent over the last fifty years had ever earned a rank higher than the standard Hex class designation all new Operatives were assigned.

But, perhaps most damning of all was the extraordinary risk involved with the capture of Cerberus agents by hostile forces. Given their knowledge and involvement with multiple branches, such agents always carried the burden of being prime targets, especially to the few that knew of their existence. Should one be captured and have their knowledge leaked, the information they divulge would be catastrophic for the safety of the Bureau and, in turn, the Central Federation as a whole. And so, cruel as it may seem, all Cerberus operatives were given strict orders for suicide should they find themselves in a compromised position where the divulging of critical information to enemy forces was inevitable.

But, despite taking all the necessary precautions needed with a rule like such, given the initiative's spotted history, it was only going to be a matter of time before someone chose otherwise. It had happened once before – a mistake that the Bureau was none too eager to see repeated.

And yet, despite knowing full well of the inherent risks involved with the Cerberus initiative, Director Weiss didn't appear at all troubled by his proposition. As the whole room stared at him, the Garchomp simply drew another roll of tobacco, lighting it with an elegant flame which he summoned with a snap of his claws, before leaning back in his chair as he began to smoke his second cigarette.

"Well, Chairman Blackwood? It's not like you to have not thought about this already." He turned towards the Torterra, flashing him a crafty grin. "Why don't you tell us what you really want to do with her?"

Earnest, who had been silently watching the frantic madness of the conference room so far, slowly grinned back. "You know me too well, Director Weiss."

Lowering the Glaceon's report sheet back onto the table, he eyed the conference room with a commanding glare, intent on announcing his decision.

"I will be assigning Miss Kiteki Schwarz the role of a dual-purpose agent." Though the same suggestion had caused an uproar when introduced by Director Weiss, nobody dared voice their protest upon having the Chairman announce it; a true testament to the respect and power that the Torterra wielded within his organisation.

"So, a Cerberus agent?"

"Only in name, Director Valkov. As per your request, Miss Schwarz will be assigned to Command as a Hex class Operative and will be under the leadership of Predator class Operative Yuri Jaeger in Squad 17."

The Aggron, despite the reservations he held over the reinstatement of the Cerberus project, simply nodded, having found little else about the Chairman's order that caused him concern.

"Understood, Sir."

"As for your concerns, Director von Cannon, Miss Schwarz will also be delegated the role of a Class Four Delta Researcher."

The Staraptor faltered, the unusual designation that Earnest had assigned giving her a moment of pause.

"Class Four Delta, Sir?"

Earnest nodded. "Operative Arthur Schwarz's material is only accessible to Class One personnel, correct? Therefore, until a time when its analysis is complete, I am granting her Delta level authorisation so that she may gain access to all data and information associated with Arthur Schwarz's research."

The rest of the room nodded. Given that all agents of the Bureau operated in a four-tier system regardless of the branch they were assigned to, it was easy for everyone to get a clear understanding of the positions and ranks that each agent held. Even those outside of the Department of Research's jurisdiction could see that the position Earnest had assigned was sound.

Even Director von Cannon, judging by the look she was giving, seemed to be on board with the Chairman's decision. Seeing this, Earnest gave her a reassuring, if not mischievous, smile. "See to it that she completes her father's research without issue."

"Understood, Chairman Blackwood." Her reply was firm and disciplined. "Would you like her to operate alone or in a research team?"

Earnest thought for a moment, maintaining his grin as he leaned in against the table. "A Cerberus agent would best be supported by another Cerberus agent, wouldn't you agree?"

"Yes, Chairman Blackwood."

"Fortunately for us, it appears that Miss Schwarz is already familiar with Agent Victoria Lancaster. Have her assist Miss Schwarz with her research."

"Chairman Blackwood, Agent Lancaster is a Class Two Researcher-"

"Which is why I am also granting her Delta level authorisation." He paused, making a show of his authority as he gave the Staraptor a gentle but firm look. "Do you have any problems with that, Director von Cannon?"

After a lengthy silence, the Director of Intelligence finally surrendered in full, shaking her head as she did so.

"No, Sir."

Earnest smiled. It had been decided.

"Very good."

Stubbing out his cigar, he stood up, gesturing for his secretary, a familiar looking Salazzle, to collect his stack of papers as he readied to bring the meeting to its conclusion. The other staff present, following his lead, promptly stood from their seats as well, their straightened faces masking any and all indications of exhaustion from having followed such an unusual and unexpected turn of events. With what had been decided over the past few hours, they began to steel themselves, weary as they braced for the unforeseeable future that was sure to come.

"That, fellow board members, concludes our meeting for today. I will be expecting great things from your departments in the months to come. Dismissed."

---

. . . . .

Coming soon, on Fearless: Wrath of an Empire:

Chapter 15

Spark

. . . . .

…But instead, things had taken a turn for the worst.

For starters, the shock of seeing just how much she changed had caused their reunion to be anything but smooth. Gone was the tiny and adorable Eevee that he had once known, her body now having transformed dramatically into a slender and graceful, albeit petite, Glaceon. And it wasn't just her appearance that had changed. The sweet and shy personality that he had known her to have had seemingly vanished over the years they were apart, replaced entirely by a cold and unfeeling emotionlessness that had taken over her. Quite frankly, when they were first reunited prior to the day they departed for Winteroot, she seemed almost entirely unrecognisable.

Things only got worse after the two of them had been sent back to Winteroot to retrieve her late father's research data. In an attempt to prove himself to her, and in turn clear the sense of guilt that had plagued him for the past three years, Clay had placed his mind dead set on the mission they were assigned, making it his number one priority to see that their mission ended in a success. But, in a moment of catastrophic carelessness, he had unwittingly turned a blind eye to the Glaceon's feelings, and ultimately went ahead with a plan that, while effective, tormented his childhood friend with an endless barrage of humiliation, anguish, and suffering. Upon the realisation of the extent of damage he had caused to his old childhood friend, Clay had found himself fraught with worry over the possibility of having lost her for good.

But that wasn't the case anymore. Kiteki had made it perfectly clear during her graduation ceremony just a week ago that she had forgiven him entirely for the events that had taken place during their mission in Winteroot. And though it was undeniable that she was no longer the same meek and helpless girl that he had known her to be, now that he had gotten over the shock of her startling metamorphosis, Clay had to admit that he wasn't particularly upset by her change in any way. By all means then, there was no reason for him to be so anxious; no reason to be so nervous about her finally moving into Squad 17's dormitories tonight.

'So then why can't I get her out of my mind?'