Chapter 5
"That's it," the hotel desk clerk says as Edward hands the key card over. Checking out of the hotel per the Colonel's instructions proves cheaper than expected. "Centrally billed account," the clerk adds. "We hope you enjoyed your stay."
Edward nods with a smile and exits. He wears a polo and khakis, in lieu of the uniform.
Damn, he thinks, eyeing the blood-stained jacket in his trunk as he stows his luggage. His primary concern after the previous night's revelation, his acceptance of his new position, isn't what other potential horrors he will face. It's not if he will be capable. Edward's primary concern is if he can get the blood out of his jacket.
He slams the gas and exits the hotel parking lot, heading back to the field and the compound. A mile down the road, he feels his cell phone vibrate in his lap. The text from an unknown number simply reads, "Get cash."
"Okay," Edward sarcastically says aloud, tossing his phone into the passenger seat.
The afternoon sun flits into his eyes as drives west, forcing him to don the Aviator sunglasses sitting in the cup-holder. After twenty minutes, halfway to his destination, he turns into a Starbucks.
The drive-thru speaker cracks with a young woman's voice. "Welcome to Starbucks, can I take your order?"
She sounds cute. "Yeah, I'll have a grande, low-fat white chocolate mocha. No whip."
"Thank you. Please come around."
Edward does so. The barista is just as attractive has he expected, with brunette hair and bright blue eyes.
"Hi, how's your day?" the barista asks.
Edward fights the urge to strike up a conversation by saying he kicked a bear last night. "Good." He hands her his card.
She disappears around the corner for a moment, and comes back with a frown.
"I'm sorry. Your card didn't go through." His drink sits on the counter under her hand. "Do you have any cash?"
Edward's face flushes with embarrassment and rage. "No, could you try it again?" From the seat beside him he hears the soft hum of another text message.
The barista flashes a sympathetic smile and nods before disappearing. Edward grabs his phone. Again, it simply says, "Get cash."
The girl comes back and hands over the drink and his card. "It took that time. Connection must have timed out."
"Must have. Thanks."
"My pleasure. Have a good day."
"You too," he says quickly as he drives off. He stops at the first gas station he sees, and withdrawals $200 from the ATM inside.
Is this it? he thinks as he continues out of the city. Has it already been twelve hours like the Colonel said? Are the last moments of my existence checking out of a hotel and a sugary coffee? The realization of his decision pisses him off.
He chucks the half-filled mocha out the window into oncoming traffic.
"Fucking bear," he says, the Mustang's engine roaring with its acceleration.
A half-hour later, after most of his anger subsides, he pulls into the parking lot. Ten cars of various makes and models huddle near the front of the lot.
"Some secret," he says, parking in a far corner.
In the bright afternoon sun, he is struck by how perfectly clear the walls of the shelter are. From a distance, it looks likes nothing more than a small pavilion: four legs and a roof. For the first moment since leaving Starbucks, he thinks about just how impressive the position is.
If anybody can do this, he thinks, it's me.
Even expecting it, the disappearance of the field as he steps across the threshold of the small building surprises him. He steps onto the red tiles in the center of the room.
Nothing.
His phone buzzes. Another text. "Stand by." A moment later, the device loses power and the floor begins its decent.
"Great." After the texts regarding the cash, Edward doesn't look forward to what they're doing to his phone.
Alice and Colonel Cullen are waiting for him in the lobby.
"What did you do to my phone?"
"The contact information is being cleared," the Colonel, "And it's being reprogrammed."
"You're bricking it."
"No, sir," Alice says. "It's still a phone. It just connects to us."
And only you, Edward thinks.
"It will power back on when it's ready," Colonel Cullen says. "I'm sure you've realized that, because you accepted last night, our twelve-hour protocols have taken effect."
"I can't say I've verified my existence," Edward says, following the two down the hallway toward the conference room, "but locking my bank account was an interesting experience."
The Colonel nods. "It's a transition, absolutely."
"Where are the two from last night?"
"Jacob and Emmett?" Alice asks.
"Griefs and Vejo?" Colonel Cullen says quickly, correcting the young Sergeant's wording.
"Whoever."
"We will do formal introductions with your team after a short welcome brief," the Colonel says as they arrive in the conference room. They sit in the same arrangement as the evening before. The thick binder remains unmoved.
"Just so you're aware, Captain Masen," Alice says as soon as they're comfortable, "Before you leave this evening we will confiscate all identification. You will be given new, untraceable IDs and credit cards. All of your finances have been transferred to our system. You will also get keys and directions to your house and be-"
"House? I get a house?"
"Oh, right," Alice says with a laugh. "We didn't get a chance to discuss this part last night."
"All of your personal belongings have been moved to a new location," the Colonel says. "It's your house, completely non-descript and secluded."
"It's under heavy surveillance, isn't it?"
"You get used to it," Alice says. She pushes the binder across the table to Edward.
He opens the cover. The first page reads in simple block letters:
LILIM DIVISION
TS: LDM
UPON TURNING THIS PAGE
YOU ACCEPT THE POLICIES AND
REGULATIONS SET FORTH BY THE
LILIM DIVISION.
Edward takes a breath and turns the page, seeing a wall of text titled "Lilim Division History."
Colonel Cullen immediately begins to speak. "The Lilim Division was established in the aftermath of World War II after the Department of Defense discovered the existence of supernatural creatures. Our mission is to contain and eliminate specific threats to the American way of life. Many of these threats are of a supernatural origin that cannot be dealt with through traditional military means. That is either because a creature is too powerful or because revealing such creatures to an unprepared populace would be too dangerous."
"Dangerous?" Edward asks.
"How did you react to what you saw last night?"
The question surprises Edward. He allows it to ring in his ears, searching for an honest response. When he finally realizes it, the inherent truth in the Colonel's statement becomes apparent.
"Violently," he says.
"Exactly. The creatures in the Lilim Division are identified assets willing to protect the secret of their existence by serving with the organization. They are vetted and closely monitored."
"How many creatures?"
"The total number and nature of creatures in Lilim is not authorized to team leaders. There are multiple facilities such as this. Each facility houses at least two teams. Those teams will consists of at least four creatures."
The additional layer of confidentiality annoys Edward, but he decides not to pry. He turns to Alice.
"Agent Adele."
"Sir?"
"What are you?"
"The specifics of the creatures in your team can be discussed later," Colonel Cullen says. "Agent Adele serves as intelligence and support for Gamma Team. Suffice to say, she is basically a psychic."
Edward nods. "Sir, I understand the need for these procedures. But after last night, I would like to just meet my team."
The Colonel doesn't like the request. "There's a lot of information that must be discussed, Captain."
"Yes, sir. And it will. I'm much more interested in my team, though."
Colonel Cullen weighs the idea before agreeing. "We'll meet them in the Pen," he says, standing. "They should be there."
Alice talks as they walk. "Typically, new team leaders are given a couple of days to read about various creatures before officially meeting or seeing the team."
"And last night ruined it," Edward adds.
"To say the least." Alice bops her head to the side, her professionalism fading away as she grows more comfortable around the Captain. "I'm excited."
"Did you predict what happened last night?"
"I saw you fighting Emmett."
"Ever play the lotto?"
"That's not authorized," Colonel Cullen interrupts. He stops at the repaired double doors from last night. "This is the Pen; the primary training area." He opens the door.
"It's really impressive," Alice says.
They enter the massive cavern lined with brushed metal paneling. Wider than a football field and just as long, the ceiling hangs at least fifty foot up. Gears and hydraulics peak out from between sections of the wall, allowing variations in the room's structure and layout.
"Holy shit," Edward mutters.
"It needs to be big with the nature of things." Colonel Cullen's voice seems to disappear in the huge space.
"Am I leading a team or a battalion?" Edward asks. It's the biggest room he's ever seen.
"You will be leading three creatures in the field." The Colonel reaches up and presses a finger just below his ear. "Agent Eliz."
"You'll get one," Alice tells Edward. "It's an implanted radio for inter-team communications."
"Fun."
"They make life easier."
The sound of a side door opening echoes as the team, Bella, Emmett, and Jacob enter. They all wear black utility pants, boots and tank tops.
Colonel Cullen introduces them by their code names. "Agent Eliz. Agent Vejo. Agent Griefs."
As the three walk across the open floor, Edward's attention is immediately drawn to Bella's confident smile and the strength in her step. He can't help but smile.
"Afternoon, Punchy." Emmett makes the statement flatly, immediately drawing looks of disdain from Bella and the Colonel, and entertained surprise from Jacob and Alice.
At the comment, Edward switches and his instinctive response as a captain, a leader, in the Army takes over. His head tilts forward and his eyes meet Emmett's with an intimidating glare.
"Hey," he says. He strides forward, straight at the smirking Emmett. "I'm glad you're enjoying this. Keep it up, and I'll knock you out again." They stand within inches of each other, Edward looking up at the bored Emmett. "I don't care if you're a witch, a vampire or a fucking alien, you will give me the respect I deserve as your team leader."
"Another agency deals with aliens, sir," Jacob volunteers.
Edward ignores the comment, keeping his eyes trained on Emmett.
It's a long, tense moment before Emmett hisses out an insincere, "Yes sir."
"Gamma Team, I'll be in my office," Colonel Cullen announces as he exits the Pen. The doors slam shut behind him, leaving Edward as the only human in a room full of creatures.