Chapter 42: SSAs.

8:30 PM 12/24/2024
Chapter 42: SSAs.
The SAs exchanged glances of confusion before they all settled on Alexander for clarification. The SA by the name of Calvin Green stepped forward. "Agent Walters, apologies if this might sound like insubordination but everyone here already know that SSAs are child soldiers trained to infiltrate from a young age".
Alexander gave a knowing smile. "Those are rumors and we let them continue because there was no need to discredit them. But now that there are disturbing threats on the horizon, Madeline, Daphne and myself have decided that there is a need for new SSAs. As you all know, SSA stands for Special Shadow Agents. They are like SAs but the extra S is there for a reason. Like the rumor implies, yes, they infiltrate but they aren't kids.
There was laughter in the room. He waited a bit for it to die down before continuing. "Your missions are mainly about retrieving, surveillance, shadowing and the like but now you'll be infiltrating terrorist groups. Now beware, these threats are interconnected and if one of you fails, it is unsure whether the rest will succeed".
Murmurs arose in the room and this time Alex ended up snapping at them. "I will appreciate it if you let me finish. Thank you".
He drew in a long breath and silently prayed for patience. If you succeed in your respective missions, you will get to meet the leader. Yes, the leader is not a myth and as most of you has assumed incorrectly, I'm not the leader. You'll be astonished at how he's just like all of you". A wistful gleam entered his eyes before he blinked it away. "SSA is not a rank. It's just a position that you use when needed. Remember, the goal of these missions is to bring back information that will be useful in the taking down of these organizations. You are not going there to make friends or build relationships. Although those will be useful, just keep it as unattached as possible. It could compromise your mission. One more thing, you must return alive. Meeting's over"
Allison and Eleanor walked side by side, clearly processing information that Alexander just doled out to them.
"Apart from the mission part, all other information were basic agent information. Did he really need to give that speech? Allison?"
Allison turned to face her. "Huh? I heard you but that's just how Alex is. Give him some breathing space. I heard an agent died last week. It must have been getting on his nerves. He looked tired than the last time I saw him".

"If someone heard you, they'd think you were his daughter".

"I see him as my father so I think their assumptions are true".

"You can't be saved".
They laughed and decided to meet again at a later time. Making her way to her boyfriend's dorm, Allison noticed a lot of eyes on her. She knew she was pretty; three years at Shadow and the girl had grown more beautiful than the first time she came but there was something beneath all those admiring gazes, a tinge of sympathy perhaps. She waved it off and thought it was her tiredness talking.
She didn't know but instead opened the door. What she saw shattered her blissful world as she knew it.

Chapter end