Chapter 4 Dwindling Curiosity
They made their way to the meeting room traveling in two groups. First Haku, Nikki, Zabuza and Willow, then Joran, Derrick, and Flores. Haku took the time in the meeting room to fully see what Willow and Nikki were wearing, hoping their clothing choice reflected something about them. He also hoped questions before the mission didn't count and asked "Where' Gaia?"
Nikki pushed her glasses back. "She's in class now, she might be here after our mission." She was black and blue. Black leggings, belt, ballet flats and a short sleeve shrug with a cyan and white chevron striped shirt, bright blue arm warmers, matching long streaks pinned with pale blue roses with a yellow and dark blue diamond patterned headband that extended to her shoulders. Most of the hair that wasn't draped over the right side of her face, or pinned by a rose was in a bouffant ponytail. The jewelry and glasses help make a unique look, which to Haku was fun and dizzying. Willow chose a striped white and lilac tank top, white skinny jeans tucked in mocha riding boots, a matching watch, dusty gold bangles and oversized sunglasses as a headband with an oversized gold chain necklace. Her hair has a small middle part, with loose curls that went a little past her arm pits.
Haku inquired further "I see, but why are you not in class as well?"
Nikki said "Night and online classes, plus we're still on break."
Zabuza was not at the meeting but also had questions, how deep in this mess were they in for one. "And what do you plan to do after high school? I mean what are you 18?" He remembered that was the minimum age and she seemed physically to only scrape by despite her curves. Willow giggled, Nikki was like her little sister but it she still thought the mistake was funny.
Nikki was slightly embarrassed. "I'm in college, and 20… my mom and I were thinking of opening a daycare." This happened more frequently, her shortness and babyish face made people think she was 16 at the most. Clothing hardly made a difference. The age didn't seem to phase Zabuza, before his age change Haku could pass for much younger too. The rest of the gang walked in with Ambrosia behind them and sat down ready for Joran's presentation. Ambrosia, in a fuchsia, elbow length blouse that had puffy cuffed sleeves, necklace and headband of gold leaves, a knee length white skirt tapered and matching sling back heels, greeted the company and introduce Haku and Zabuza to the scouts.
"Good Morning gentlemen, these are out scouts, Joran our data analyst, Derrick our medic and supernatural anthropologist, Flores our Natural Studies specialist and Willow our Private Investigator and Economist. They gather the information for cases and can be contacted if you need more information." She clapped to turn out the lights and sat down. The scouts remained standing to make their presentation.
Flores seemed to have an athletic style, dark green retro track shorts with white stripes on lime leggings, Keds shoes in mint, a jersey shirt that said "Cloud 09" in salmon with white lettering, and a matching salmon and white woven headband on top of her braid. Derrick had sweat pants in forest green with long black cuffs at the bottoms pulled to his shins, a letterman's jacket in white and green, a purple shirt with a white dragon, and Adidas in white with the logo in navy. Joran wore a navy turtleneck with deer, brown loafers and grey slacks. He stood in front of his laptop on a podium that wasn't there yesterday. On the screen from yesterday was a picture of a somewhat bland and run down town. Derrick began the presentation.
"This town called Dwindlings has been experiencing burglaries ranging from a pen set and family documents to baby teeth and guitars, but the items seem to disappear after the victim sees a group of 3 children. Population, human and mostly unaware of other dimensions." The screen then showed a class photo that, judging by the clothing the children wore was pretty dated.
"The children seem to be from a local school, Anthon Junior High some time ago, the city and police records weren't open to us, and there weren't any school records after 7th grade, even for their families." Willow followed, when she was done a picture of a new building surrounded by trees appeared.
Flores continued "The school's symbol, plum trees are seen in the green house at the edge of town. The gardener went missing suddenly and whenever anyone asks, they say he's on vacation with no way to be reached."
Joran concluded "Our mission is to find the meaning why then return everything to the owners and their families."
Ambrosia clapped to turn the lights back on and stood while the scouts sat down. "Your base will be with the small school of science at the edge of town. While they were able to contact us and passed our interview process their views are seen as…..unfounded by the town." Her hand rolled in a circle sideways to find the right word. "If the mission succeeds and the town is ready then B.I.I.S will begin to possibly enlighten and integrate the town. Miaken University's staff and the detective working with them are the only ones to know of where you actually are from. To others you are reinforcements from another town to help solve the burglaries with police assistance."
Haku Zabuza and Nikki confirmed their understanding with a "Yes Mam" and went in a teleporter.
Nikki hooked her communicator to the side of the teleporter and used it to call Miaken university "Hello, this is Operatives of Ouroboros. Permission to land?"
"Yes, please! Everyone our visitors are coming through!" said a feminine voice from the communicator. Nikki took her communicator and pinned it inside the teleporter to type in the coordinates for today's mission.
To break the silence Zabuza spoke. Haku was happy because he wanted to consider his questions carefully, Gaia might take over their post mission meeting. "So what is that B.I.I.S Ambrosia didn't tell us about?"
"Bureau of Interdimensional Integration Services. They take isolated paranormal dimensions, ask people like us to help clean up supernatural crime, then try to make dimensional networks."
"Gotcha" Zabuza said. He took the time to look at how Nikkia and his weapon, Haku interacted with each other. He was suspicious that they were alone three times already in their short stay in the Operatives of Ouroboros headquarters. Zabuza hadn't even explained more in depth the trouble of being a man especially when attraction was involved, since his five year age skip. Sure he uncomfortably gave Haku "the talk" including gruesome details about pregnancy and diseases, but the conversation evolves a little when your older, less of the science but more of the substance that's surrounds it.
"So, enjoy your first night here?" Nikki asked.
"It went well, thank you". Haku actually was fretful. There was no time to ask his question. The teleporter took them to a large lab with cluttered papers on the tables, diagrams on interdimensional theory and a small crowd surrounding the teleporter. After getting out they were led to a cleaned table by the dean and a detective. The others seemed to sit and observe, much to Zabuza's annoyance, Nikki's discomfort, and Haku's worry.