Chapter III : March 25, 62 ANDW

At Hex's main Intercommunication Bureau in Paris, old France, the corporation's aristocracy was gathered to discuss the recent changes in the world. Only the seven most prestigious members were allowed to meet by themselves. Generals Eira, Aane, and Kaal met along with Brigadiers Onst and Feoral. The two highest ranked officers in Hex, Majors Quera and Delon, had the most influence on this conference.

The seven members contemplated on the current events surrounding The Hex Organization. Topics spanned from money consumption, climate control, and trade regulations. There was, however, one matter that stood out above all others; the sudden appearance of an unidentified Next.

It was General Eira who was the first to bring up the Next issue. Over the course of the day, the topic came and went from within the council. Everyone knew that some sort of action was needed to eliminate this threat. The council could only try to predict where the Next would attack. In doing so, the council decided to upgrade defenses in those possible areas.

This convention was not just for these seven people. All seemingly important Hex figures assembled in Paris on March's twenty-fifth to discuss matters on trade and weapons advancements. It is more of a social event if the council members are disregarded.

"My apologies for the short notice," Élise read aloud from her laptop computer, "but there is an extremely important task for you. Tomorrow, on the twenty-fifth an important meeting will be held in Paris, old France. A close colleague of ours will be attending this meeting. I am leaving the task up to you to enhance her security. We all know that the missions regarding the weapons bases are tiring, exhausting, and harsh on your mentality, but we could not find any other means to provide our friend with security. As you may suspect, she is not well appreciated among most of the Hex personnel. Please take the next flight out of Seattle and head to Paris. Further details will be provided on your arrival," ended the mission notice. "Man, I cannot get a break. I just completed three missions in a single day, and I can't even get twenty-four hours of rest. This lady better be worth my time."

Within the next few hours, Élise boarded a cheap third class passenger flight to Paris, old France. She used the several hours of plan flight to catch up on any sleep that she may have missed in the past few days. Nearing the end of her flight, a new message demanded her attention. It read, "the name of your target is Suika Dermetov. She is currently two kilometers south from the downtown airport resting in a café. Please make sure that you are presentable. Once you pick her up, do not let her out of your sight until the convention is over." In order to withstand the long flight, Élise wore comfortable outerwear. Once the plane touched down, Élise's first order of business was to purchase proper apparel for an upper class party. The outfit merely consisted of a woman's suit and tie. Once properly clothed, Élise made way toward the downtown café.

It was awfully early in the morning for Élise due to the long plane trip. Her mental stability, however, did not falter. She was alert and energetic. At approximately 04:32, Élise arrived at the café to meet Ms. Dermetov. Walking in, she noticed the lack of early morning costumers.

"Hello, what may I do for you," asked an employee.

"I have a meeting with Ms. Dermetov. Is she still here?"

"Oh yes, Suika. She's sitting around the corner." Élise calmly made her way to the lady's table and took a seat.

"So, you're the one who's ensuring my safety this evening? A little girl?" She sighed. "Well, those guys wouldn't have sent you for me without having confidence in you," she started. Her voice was somewhat unenthused.

"I assure you, ma'am, that your safety is my utmost priority until I am dismissed. You will be safeguarded, I promise you."

"That is a bold statement coming from such a young child. Why should I entrust my life to you just because your superiors asked you so?"

"It is because my superiors requested my presence around you that I am here and that the job is mine. You should have faith in my abilities."

"You're too pretty to be a body guard."

"Excuse me? I appreciate the compliment, but I am not here for flattery."

"Of course. If I recall, your name is Élise, is it not?"

"Yes ma'am."

Suika hunched over to Élise's ear and whispered. "I know what you are, and I feel that I must pity you. But even so, your life is much more important than mine; regardless of length. In a life or death situation, I would be the one dying for you. Remember that."

Élise responded, "Ma'am, neither of us will die this evening, and you can trust me on that matter. My current job is to ensure your security and nothing else." She moved away from Suika's ear, and sat back down in her seat. "Now, shall we attend this convention?" Smirking, Suika agreed.

"Moving on to a more pressing matter, let us contemplate the recent appearance of Next technology in Southwestern Asia and Northwestern North America. First of all, how could we have let this happen? All AMS compatible humans were eliminated, and all companies ceased making Next parts," addressed Eira.

"Whatever the cause, the fact that it is here makes no difference. The only thing we can do now is find it, and destroy it along with the pilot. Quarreling over the appearance will do nothing to enhance the war effort," argued Delon.

"He's right. According to the resume of this new figure, the prototype weapons bases are being attacked more frequently with trade bases as a second. There were recent casualties in the old British Columbia region. The nearest prototype weapons forts around that area are in Southern United States and Mexico, while trade bases range from Northern California across to Maine. I can only imagine the threat going south," informed Onst.

"Is there no alternative? Why can't we seek this thing out and take it down," questioned Kaal.

"Why should we waste our recourses finding this thing? We will let it come to us, and with our superior military strength, we can take it down. The general idea will be to upgrade defenses on the Southern American front as well as Mexico. The public would be stirred if defenses were enhanced at a trade site, so there isn't much we can do there," stated Delon.

"I agree. This seems to be the best action toward the Next issue."

"What if we dispatch Normals for guard duty instead of MTs?"

"Normals would be more efficient in terms of attacking."

"The pilots would be aroused by the sudden sortie, though."

The members of the meeting quarreled over the issue for several hours.

"And you are," asked an attending bouncer?

"Suika Dermetov. I'm the intelligence and communications manager from Osaka."

The bouncer glanced up and down the list looking for her name. Eventually, he ran across it under the Japan Restoration Team. "Okay, you're in. But who's this lady?"

"My guest. I am allowed two, aren't I?"

"You are. She can go with you as long as she doesn't stray."

"I don't plan on letting her out of my sight."

"Very well. Enjoy the rest of the morning, ladies."

The convention couldn't take place in a building due to all of the members, so it was positioned in an open garden area in uptown Paris. Suika conversed with several other members of Hex while Élise stayed quiet, keeping a watchful eye on everyone around her. The morning sailed into the afternoon. No mishaps had occurred during the party so far, and people wanted to keep it that way. For the efficiency of the meeting, refreshments and comestibles were circulating around the garden. Even with small snacks and quaint drinks, the members decided to eat out for a full meal. Several guests left after the noon hours and would return later in the evening. Only a few groups of people remained mingling in the large garden area.

"Ms. Dermetov, it has been a while since we last spoke." Both Suika and Élise turned around to see the man approaching them. Instantly, Élise's eyes glared and she reached for her handgun. Within half of a second, the man that was nearing the two had a gun to his throat. Élise saw him clearly. This was the man that she had detained during her mission in Hong Kong.

"Élise calm down. This is a friend of mine. No hostilities are necessary, dear," requested Suika."

"Élise? So that's your name," replied Mr. Thomas.

"You bastard. I should have killed you when I had the chance. I won't make the same mistake twice." Élise was a fraction of a second away from pulling the trigger when Suika carefully pulled her arm down.

"I take it that the two of you know each other," asked Suika?

"He should never have met me in the first place. I thought we agreed that you would quit the job and you would never see Hex again," Élise argued.

"That was never my job. My job is as a Commander for this Organization. Commander Thomas Howards, you see. And I must say that after almost a week, I was beginning to think that I would never meet you again, Élise, was it? That is a pretty name, y'know. I am so glad that I know of it now," said Howards, flaunting his knowledge.

"You are so lucky that I didn't kill you. The moment that my job here is done, I will hunt you down, Commander, and bathe in a puddle of your blood."

"I think that it is more of fate that we have met again, much less of luck. Unfortunately, I have no business with you at the moment, Élise. I came over to speak with Ms. Dermetov. Please, converse with me about your Restoration Project."

The two spent hours speaking with one another. Élise could only think to herself. "Dammit, now he knows my name. With enough perusing, he can figure out who I'm connected to thanks to Ms. Dermetov. He's a Commander; surely he has control over a wide area of land. He will have several resources trying to find out who my superiors are. I should have killed him! How could I have been so clumsy?! No, it isn't over yet. He doesn't know that I have AMS compatibility. If anything, he can only assume that I'm a mercenary doing whatever job pays well. It is only a matter of time until he finds out, though. I need to eliminate him before he speaks with higher ranked officers. Dammit."

"But the target of the Next is weaponry, not resources!"

"How can you be so sure? It has attacked both weapons and trade bases. We might as well say that it's after both."

"Where were the most recent attacks? Canada? I suggest we up our defenses in the western and southern North America."

"What if that's the Next's plan? What if it decides to bomb our New York nuclear plant, huh? This thing has no route or schedule! There's no way to predict the way it's going."

"What are we going to do then? Sit back and let it tear the company apart? I think not!"

"People, ladies, gentlemen, there is a solution to be found in all due time. I admit there must be some action. There will not, however, be a dramatic increase in security. The Organization is founded on principles that will allow it to stand strong in a case of turmoil such as this one. We need more information. Data needs to be collected, and we can act from there. Until then, the simplest course of action is to just keep all bases on alert, have infantry on stand-by, and keep a watchful eye on any sort of enemy movement."

The black, shadowy night covered overhead as the members waltzed back into the garden. Music was played, and people danced. It was starting to be more like a party and less of a meeting. Élise kept her guard up around Howards, but tried not to pay strict attention to him. She made sure that he was unarmed and kept his place. The night slowly began to crawl to an end.

"Well, Ms. Dermetov, it was wonderful speaking with you. I now have a renewed faith in the restoration project. And it was quite enjoyable seeing you again, lady Élise." Howards turned toward the exit and left the party accordingly.

Élise and Suika stayed for another hour before feeling the chill of the night. Suika sent a full report to Élise's superiors, stating that the evening when by without a single difficulty.