"It's been almost a full two days. They should be back by now."
"Don't worry, handsome. They'll be back soon."
"I hope you're right…"
Shadow and Rouge were in the Guardian Units of Nations's Commander office. Shadow was sitting in the big leather chair facing a computer while Rouge sat across from him in a slightly smaller chair.
Shadow leaned his head against his fist. "I should've sent more agents. Three is definitely not enough."
Rouge rolled her eyes. "Didn't I just tell you not to worry?" And then her face softened. "I'm sure they're all right. Leah might be a new recruit but Carmen and Spot are experienced veterans. They can look after themselves."
Shadow nodded. "Alright." He then turned to the computer in front of him. "I should keep an eye on the influxes of energy while I'm waiting for them to return."
Rouge nodded and stood up. "I better get going. I promised Omega that I would help him upgrade his flying boosters. I'll see you later." She kissed his cheek and left.
Shadow typed in a few commands, effectively pulling up the energy chart.
He frowned and examined it closer. This can't be right.
The last abnormal energy reading was the one that prompted him to send those three agents to do recon. It had exhibited double the energy that the other ones had, and it worried him. There shouldn't be any activity coming from the dead doctor's base anyway, but he had dismissed it.
However, there were no more energy readings following the high one. It had completely disappeared.
Shadow was torn between feeling worried and relieved. On one hand, this must confirm that nothing was going on in the base. However, on the other hand, why would the energy just stop all of a sudden? It didn't make sense.
Just at that moment, his door opened. He glanced up and found the three agents that he had sent on the mission.
"Welcome back, agents," Shadow said, not disguising the relief in his voice. "What's your report?"
The three looked at each other, and Carmen stepped forward. "Nothing to report, Commander. The base was completely silent when we scouted it. There was nothing to be found."
Shadow smiled. "That's great to hear. I guess the high energy reading was a fluke. You three are dismissed. Get some rest."
"Yes, Commander," all three agents agreed. They turned around and left at exactly the same time as each other. Shadow narrowed his eyes at their monotone voices and perfect synchronicity. They were acting like robots, which unnerved him. Leah was always chipper, but she was so quiet and calm today. That was highly unusual.
He shook it off. They were all just tired. They would all probably be back to normal once they went home and got some sleep.
He looked back at his computer with a smile. It seems like all was well…
…or was it?
Outside of the GUN building, Carmen, Spot, and Leah stood at attention in a perfectly straight line.
A fourth figure was standing in front of them. "Wow. I can't believe that he was fooled. If they're all like that, completing the next step of my plan should be easy…and fun."
Maniacal laughter ripped through the air, and the agents' voices joined in. Nobody heard them.
To be continued…
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