PftA Book 2 - Interlude 3

Interlude 3 – A False Sense of Privacy

A short while earlier.

Special Agent Rodney Jones glanced at the seemingly normal people enjoying their meals around them. It was unnerving to know that any one of them could kill him with minimal effort. Not only was he unarmed, his issued sidearm would do him no good in a facility run by magically enhanced alien infiltrators.

The last weeks had been… enlightening, to say the least. When his father had assigned him this task, he’d initially thought it was some form of punishment detail. He’d been shocked to learn the game everyone was so enamored by was little more than a training device to prepare the humans of Earth for what the aliens called ‘reintegration.’

He’d taken part in some training scenarios through his agency and found the technology to be mind-boggling in its realism. To find out that it was magic all along? He couldn’t even form coherent thoughts to express himself properly.

His father had told him to cooperate with the aliens, but he’d found himself unwilling to sign their ‘contract.’ Rodney knew how easy it was to manipulate contracts into something nefarious, and there was no way he would willingly enter into anything of the sort with people who weren’t even from Earth.

For all he knew, they weren’t people at all! They could be demons in disguise or something!

The fact that they’d hit him with a system-enforced geas only supported his belief that the aliens weren’t to be trusted. But his opinion didn’t matter. He had a job to do. Thankfully, the aliens didn’t appear to be holding his initial resistance against him.

The alien who’d forced the geas on him, though… she had a look that screamed she could see through him. Every time he met her eyes, it felt like she was staring into his soul, peeling away his protections to judge his very being. He hated it, so he made it a point to avoid the woman whenever possible.

His father really should have found some way to fill him in on what was happening before throwing him to the wolves. There had to be some way to get around the geas. Rodney doubted his father had willingly agreed to their ‘contract.’ It was much more likely he was being forced into silence, just like Rodney was. Once he figured out how to overcome it, he’d let his dad know. The world shouldn’t be kept in the dark about something so critical.

That wasn’t true. Special Agent Jones knew the general population would react poorly to the knowledge, likely causing more problems than ignorance would have. It was likely the reason for the geas in the first place – if their claims were to be believed. But the government needed to know. Only informing a few key people wasn’t nearly enough.

At a minimum, the proper agencies should be informed. How was he and the rest of his agency supposed to protect the country if they were being kept in the dark? It didn’t bode well for the aliens’ true intents.

After casting a Sphere of Silence, Rodney looked at the two assets he was assigned to liaise with sitting across from him at the table. Having a meeting like this out in the open would have bothered him immensely before, but with magic to prevent eavesdropping…

“Report,” he ordered, not bothering to lower his voice. The testing he’d done before coming made it clear the sphere was functionally immune to all but the strongest efforts to listen in. If someone were to break through, he’d know.

The Homeland Security Agent, Xavier Armsfield, was the one to speak. “After weeks of surveillance and attempts at meaningful contact, we were able to connect with the last potential asset yesterday. As expected, the individual showed little promise.” The man glanced across the room. Rodney restrained his urge to follow the other man’s gaze.

“Is she not being provided the same opportunities as the rest of us?” he asked. “I find it hard to believe the aliens would hire an Earthling and then neglect them.”

“She doesn’t appear interested in delving at all. From what we’ve gathered, she’s a crafter through and through. Even within the game, she spends most of her time attending classes or playing tourist within the Junction. Her regular attendance with a private trainer is the only indication she has any potential beyond possible support capabilities. Since her lessons are private, I haven’t been able to determine what kind of training she’s getting, but it seems likely to be basic self-defense, given her gender, age, and disposition.”

“And the other one?” Rodney asked, disappointed at the news. “You mentioned additional insights.”

Agent Armsfield nodded. “Yes. While Specialist Johnson is a functional enough Healer, observing her interactions with the other female revealed a lack of maturity beyond what I am comfortable with. I do not recommend reading her in on any significant projects at this time.”

The liaison nodded before turning to the other government asset, Daniel Brown – an NSA Analyst chosen for the Alpha Group program not because of his familiarity with gaming – as was the case for several other assets, but because he was wickedly smart and often saw things others often overlooked.

“Do you agree?”

“Not entirely,” the stoic man replied, causing Agent Armsfield’s face to harden slightly.

“Explain.”

Mr. Brown glanced in the same direction Agent Armsfield had moments before as he gathered his thoughts. “The potential asset is wary of us in a way that she doesn’t appear to be with Specialist Johnson. It could be because we are men and they are young women, but I get the sense there is more to it. She is smart enough to be offered a regular position with the Alliance – a feat nobody else has accomplished since their appearance on Earth. If she were simple, they’d likely have little interest in her. For that reason alone, I feel she is worth recruiting. Her brother is a member of Beta Group, and she comes from a military family. It is highly unlikely she harbors anti-American sentiments. More likely, there is something else going on.”

Agent Armsfield shook his head. “I disagree. Most of that is wild conjecture based on impressions rather than facts.”

Wanting to stop any potential disagreement before it started, Agent Jones raised a hand. “What is the girl’s level?”

“She’s still level two. She hasn’t progressed since she began working here,” the annoyed Agent replied tersely. “She likely obtained her levels through skill acquisition since there is no indication she’s stepped foot into a rift outside the simulation.”

Rodney nodded slowly and signaled to remain silent before dropping his privacy spell and casting one that would allow him to listen in on the two women’s conversation. By all accounts, the topics were mundane and superficial. Neither woman seemed to care much about the threat to the world.

Reinstating his Sphere of Silence, Special Agent Jones addressed his two subordinates. “Maintain friendly relations, but pull back the human resources you have assigned to the girl. Standard electronic surveillance should be enough. She should already be marked as a priority target.”

The last part of his comment had been directed toward Brown, who’d been assigned to assist him on the special intel project. Not only were they monitoring every Alpha and Beta Group member, but they were also attempting to identify and monitor all beta testers. Officially, they could only monitor things within their borders, but unofficially…

“Our delve is scheduled for 19:30. We’ll meet at the helipad at 19:00. Make sure the Healer is present,” he said before pushing his chair back and standing. The other two followed his lead. He quickly glanced toward the table with the two girls – even though one was an Airman, she was hardly old enough to be considered a woman. They were both barely old enough not to be considered children.

He’d leave her behind if it didn’t put him and the others at risk. Children had no place on the battlefield – whether literal or figurative.

= = =

Rhona smirked as she watched the egotistical Earthborn leave the building as his subordinates returned to their group. It amused her to see people with so little understanding of reality behave like they were in control of the situation. The man’s sound barrier meant little when every table was enchanted. Even if they had been in a field, Rhona’s senses could have easily penetrated the weak barrier without the man having a clue.

She shook her head at the trio’s arrogance. The analyst wasn’t bad, actually. He’d been more insightful than she expected, especially for one with Lighting and Fire affinities. Those guys were usually a lot more hot-headed. Perhaps he was one of the oddities who had opposite personality traits.

Jones, though… that guy had his head so far up his own ass that it was a surprise he was able to see where he was. The fact that he’d held the meeting in the middle of Atlas’ North American Headquarters proved he didn’t realize where he was. It was like he still believed he lived in a mundane world, even now.

And his mind had practically screamed out his thoughts the whole time. Even from the opposite side of the dining hall, she could easily ‘hear’ what he was thinking. It was rare for her to get a message so clearly from anyone without Mind magic… she really did have a weak affinity, no matter if it had technically grown to be just within the lower threshold for what could be considered ‘Standard.’

She was glad that Agents Armsfield and Jones had largely dismissed Emie as a person of any importance. She really didn’t want to disrupt the girl’s life any more than it already was. She probably should have demanded a different liaison before awakening the fool man – she’d immediately been able to tell the guy would cause problems. The fact that he was that idiot politician’s son had been enough to warn her of that fact.

But it didn’t matter now.

Rhona had to admit that sensing the man’s ridiculous notions about Alliance personnel was amusing. It was almost like he couldn’t decide if we were evil space nazis or demons come to take over the world. But as entertaining as his imaginings were, she didn’t like supporting someone actively working against her, nor did she like providing them with the means to get stronger.

It was why they were only allowed to delve a brand-new LT1 rift once a week. It was enough for them to get a sense of progression and accomplishment without gaining any true power.

Emie, on the other hand…

As if sensing her attention, Emie glanced around the room, pausing when her eyes landed on the older woman. Rhona smiled and waved.

Emie had potential. It practically oozed off her. Elder Kairos would have been crazy not to want her as a disciple. It didn’t stop her from being annoyed that she’d lost a potential asset. Rhona would have been able to support her almost as well as the Sect could… but only almost.

But she’d do what she could to support the girl while she was an official ‘Atlas’ employee. Emie's impact went beyond her actual work – which had amassed a decent number of contribution points. She was remarkably insightful, especially for someone so young.

The ideas she’d presented for the newest game – Apocalypse Earth – had the potential to improve players’ readiness, though she doubted there was still time to implement such things. Rhona had sent a message to the Enchanters involved in the simulation’s creation, but she wasn’t optimistic.

Still, it had been a good idea. Hopefully, something might come of it.

The goal really was to help the people of Earth prepare for reintegration. Anything that aided that objective was worth considering.

With a tired sigh, Rhona picked up her tray and placed it with the rest of the dirty dishes. She had a lot of reports to read and messages to send. She’d need to log into the simulation if she wanted to finish in time. Unlike Time Mages, Rhona couldn’t just whip up a Time dilation field around her office, and formations to do the same were ridiculously expensive.

Maybe she could get Emie to make something for her…