Chapter 2: Welcome to Trismegistus

"You want us to do what?" Will asked as she and her teammates glared at Agent Heston.

"It's a simple arrangement, Miss Vandom." came the reply. "If what I've heard about your exploits is true–"

"How'd you even learn about what we've done as Guardians?"

Heston gestured to a nearby Yan. "What grandmother doesn't boast about her grandchild's accomplishments to her friends?" he said.

"Wait, you know this guy?" Hay Lin asked.

"She saved my life back when." came the blunt reply. "Now, as I was saying, if what I've heard about your exploits is true, then you'd be just what we need on our side."

"Pull the other one." Cornelia snarked.

Heston's eye twitched behind his sunglasses. "Listen, you little brat– we're at war with more than just whatever ghouls and goblins manage to cross over from Meridian." he coldly said. "While you're protecting us from the threats from there, we're dealing with everything else– things like vampires, demons, evil witches and wizards, the odd mad scientist with delusions of grandeur, and whatever else the darkness throws in our faces."

"And you need us why?" Will replied.

"Because we're losing that war."

All five Guardians' jaws went slack. "…how?" Taranee nervously asked.

Heston sighed as he took off his sunglasses. "The forces of evil do a good job of playing the long game. Someone sells their soul at a crossroad in exchange for money or knowledge or power here; a vampire or a warlock or even some regular black-hearted person takes the reins of power there; rinse and repeat. They can afford to just let time and attrition wear us down until we're defeated." His expression lightened up ever so slightly. "You five, on the other hand? You've fought worse things, come out the other side, and saved the world from entities like Phobos, Cedric, and Nerissa."

"Continue…" Irma said, one of her eyebrows now cocked.

"Let me put it this way– are you bad enough ladies to take down guys like Dracula?"

"Hell yeah!" Will whooped, her earlier objections now drowned out by the fantasy of potentially fighting the vampire.

"And what if we change our minds about working with you guys?" Cornelia asked.

"Honestly, I don't think we could stop you if you did." Heston replied.

"Well, in that case– you've got a deal." Will said.

Trismegistus Field Outpost Lima, rural Connecticut– a few days after W.I.T.C.H's agreement

Mess Hall

"So, you're those 'Guardians' that the higher-ups won't shut up about."

Taranee practically jumped out of her skin as she heard the unfamiliar voice behind her, a quick glance revealing the source to be a six-foot woman with pale, sallow skin and a sour look on her face. "Hi?" she asked.

The woman rolled her eyes. "I don't do 'hi', kiddo. Just gimme your name, I'll give you mine, and then we can all move on with our lives."

"Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed." Irma stage whispered.

The woman glared at the Water Guardian. "If I wanted your opinion, I'd ask for it." She turned back to the other Guardian. "Now spill."

"Taranee Cook." came the reply, with the girl in question reaching out with her hand. "You?"

"Dorothy." the woman said as she reached out for Taranee's hand as if out of formality. As the two shook, Taranee couldn't help but notice that her new "friend's" hands bore a distinct deathly chill.

Armory and Motor Pool

"So, what do you think?"

Will and Hay Lin's attention shifted from the racks of weaponry to the agent guiding them, then to a Humvee with some kind of energy weapon mounted on the roof, and then back to the agent.

"…neat, I guess?" the latter said.

The agent inhaled through clenched teeth. "That's all you can say? 'Neat?' Young lady, you're looking at some of the best tools we have at our disposal." She gestured to the Humvee. "Thing on the roof? We call it the Ceraunius Cannon– before you ask, the powers that be have a thing for naming our stuff after things from Greek mythology. Don't ask me why, because whatever goes through those guys' heads is way beyond my pay grade."

"Can you please get to the point?" Will asked.

"It's a lightning gun." the agent replied.

An impish grin formed on Hay Lin's face. "Looks like someone's got competition." she stage whispered before giving Will a playful elbow to the ribs in a move that promptly earned her a dirty look. "So, how's it work?" she asked as she turned her attention back to the agent.

"Short version– the weapon fires an intense, high-frequency laser beam that ionizes the air before following up with an electric burst and thereby creating a lightning bolt. And before you ask, yes, it comes in a handheld form."

Our tax dollars at work, people. Will thought, sarcasm dripping from her brainwaves.

AUTHOR'S NOTES:

For any tabletop RPG fans out there, you'll have probably noticed that Trismegistus is markedly similar to Task Force: VALKYRIE from Hunter: The Vigil, albeit with the Norse mythological names swapped out for Greek ones. This is purely intentional, though in my defense, there's only so many ways you can go with the "government organization tasked with fighting the supernatural" concept. Also, keep a close eye on the details given for Dorothy, because they will be on the test later on.

And finally, I can neither confirm nor deny that Dracula will be making an appearance in any way, shape, or form in this fic.