The Internship by snow_squirrel

Inside, the office was decidedly bare. A lone file cabinet stood in a far corner covered in a thick sheet of dust, and the top of the desk did not have a single item of business on it besides a heavy paperweight that said ÒKnow Thine EnemyÓ on it - the Neopian Defenders catch-phrase. Sitting on a shiny leather chair behind the desk was a fire Scorchio with a terrifying look of complete despise in his eyes. ÒI donÕt care what it takes, we need the shipment out tonight! I think theyÕre onto something...Ó Then he saw the small Kougra cowering in front of his desk and clamped the small cellular phone in his paw shut immediately.
ÒErrr.. sorry about that. Top secret Defenders matters, couldnÕt get the silly Tuskaninny over at Tech to supply a mission I was hoping to send out tonight. Anyway... IÕm Sergeant Smithers! I have heard all about your heroic achievements at the Academy and wanted to congratulate you personally. In fact, I think you would be the perfect fit for my new intern... the other one seems to have dissapeared without a trace.Ó A small shadow creeped across his face, but a broad grin quickly took its place. Bri found herself faced with mixed feelings and decided to change the subject momentarily.
ÒHow did the Oppresors find the Academy? It was so well hidden, it should have taken them years to find it...Ó
ÒThat is simple, my dear. The Oppressors didnÕt find the Academy.Ó He noticed BriÕs uncomprehending expression and gave her a quick wink. ÒBy themselves, anyway. They were aided by Shadow.Ó
The Kougra shook her head and cried out in shock. ÒCertainly not Shadow! The great Colonel of the entire Neopian Defenders Recon? Why would he do such a thing? He must have been the hero of every pet at the Academy... he was our best chance against the enemy!Ó The Scorchio seemed to be taking all this information as a grain of salt. Certainly battle experience hadnÕt severed his emotions this much.
ÒApparently that wasnÕt enough for him... he wanted power over all the forces of Neopia. Of course this was not possible, for no matter how great a leader he was we must all work together as a team. If one person is allowed too much power, no matter their intentions, it can easily lead to corruption. And so this is how he came to join the Oppressors, IÕm afraid.
Suddenly a loud shriek came from outsided the door. ÒWha--Ó the Scorchio mumbled as he jerked the doorknob open and jumped into the hallway. A terrified Mynci was sprinting down the hallway. The Sergeant brandished his taser and clicked it to the stun setting.
ÒTheyÕve arri-Ó Tzzt. the poor pet was stopped midsentence as its body suddenly became rigid and it fell with a thunk on the ground. The Scorchio dragged the pet back into his office and laid it gently on a soft patch of soil in the back of the room.
ÒSorry about that. The Commander declared that everyone adhere to their duties as usual so as not to appear to the enemies that we have gone into panic. IÕm sure you wondered why nobody had been in the hallway before. We donÕt need this Private going through causing grief to everyone in this hour of importance. Ò the Scorchio shook his head and returned to the previous conversation.
ÒThey offered Shadow complete control over our world if he assisted them in the domination of the planet. He accepted. And now every millitary secret that resided in that small Usul head of his is property of those vicious beasts, and we have been left defenseless.Ó He seemed to have forgotten Bri during his tale, then noticed her again at its conclusion. ÒYou must think IÕm a monster for saying all this with a smug face. But there is one thing that Shadow did not learn before he left our forces. Something that was saved for generations until the precise moment something like this occured. So there is no need to be antsy. Everything will work out just fine.Ó
Bri nodded wisely. There were still some things that she did not quite understand, but common sense told her to let them rest. ÒSo, what will I be doing as your intern?Ó
ÒOh, nothing dramatic! WeÕll leave saving the world to those with more experience, eh?Ó The old Scorchio seemed please that they were back on a topic in which it held firm control. ÒRight now I need you to run a little errand for me. IÕd do it myself, but I need to call back tech. I hung up on them rather abruptly as you arrived. ItÕs right here in Neopia Central... though distance isnÕt really an issue when youÕre dealing with the Neopian Defenders.Ó With that he gave her a small scrap of paper with some coordinates, a signed, illegible note, and a verbal suggestion to look for a large leather suitcase.
Bri headed back down the hallway into the teleportation room. She noticed a small module outside the box this time, and quickly punched in the coordinates on the corresponding keypad. Then she hopped inside and pressed the switch. After a slight jolt, she found herself thrust onto a steamy sidewalk right under the scorching Neopian sun. In front of her stood a tall storage building with an open garage-like entryway. Jumping from foot to foot to keep from burning, she quickly moved into the shade of the entrance, then hesistated.
Something was wrong. Shadows crept across the large stock room creating obscure illusions on the cool, clean floor. Shelves filled with unknown artifacts lined the walls, shrouded in mystery. The only sound in the building was BriÕs racing heartbeat. And then she saw it, in the very center of the room. A golden shaft of sunlight crept through from the high ceiling onto a healthy brown case.
The Kougra looked around slowly. The building was empty. She crept up slowly on the suitcase, silent as a thief. Her paw grabbed onto its handle firmly as she lifted it off its pedestal. Her heart skipped a beat and a single, undenying thought branded itself in her mind: Run. Adrenaline pulsed through the KougraÕs veins as she bounded towards the exit.
ÒSTOP, THIEF!Ó boomed a voice from the shadowy depths.