Zteel

Nyota, Sage, and Kilo arrived at the central regional police precinct where Noriko's office was located.

They checked in with the front desk, then they were escorted to her exact location.

They were led down a corridor by security, at the end stood two large metal doors where security input a code. When the doors swiftly slid open, there she sat in a swivel chair on her same elevated platform.

As expected, Sergeant Major General Elwin stood at ease to her side, his attentive gaze focused on Nyota.

Noriko turned and stood, peering down from above the new agents. "Warrant Officers! Nyota Atar, Sage and Kilo Hikari! How are you?"

The three stood awkwardly and tense in Noriko's presence before promptly kneeling down and bowing their heads in greeting, unsure of what to do next.

"Please," she gestured up the flight of stairs to her platform. "Come! Don't be afraid."

Together, Nyota and the brothers did as they were told. Once they reached the top, they sat in swivel chairs that had been erected from the platform's floor.

A waiter who stood ready nearby offered tea and other refreshments to them, all of which the three politely declined.

"Basilisk!" Noriko sat down again, clasping her hands and crossing her legs. She leaned forward into them. "It's a pleasure to get to speak with you again, this time, exclusively. I'm excited. We have much to debrief.

Please, tell me more about yourselves. How'd the year go? How was the tournament? Are you excited about having become newly promoted Warrant Officers?

Usually, cadets are very ecstatic about the new honorable status. I know I'd be.

Enlighten me, what are some of your plans and aspirations going forward?" She reached for a drink that rested on a delicate stand to the side of her seat.

Nyota swallowed. "Firstly, it's an honor to be here, Director Tachi.

The past couple of semesters went well. As you can tell, I've built tremendous chemistry with my allies here, the Hikari brothers. The academy experience is one that I'll remember for many years to come. It's treated me well."

"Not to mention the tournament," Sage added. "What an honor it was to partake in the first of many, soon to be implemented all throughout the ever-expansive District at every single campus."

Noriko nodded before taking another sip of her drink. "Yes, and achieving the level you did after only one year at the academy—even if you were positioned as single-year cadets from the start—is quite impressive.

The three of you were some of the cadets who partook in the internship opportunity earlier this year in the southwest, correct?"

They nodded their heads. "The Big Three, as well."

"Ah, I see! Not so much a coincidence, I suppose. Lieutenant Newman does have a knack for locating talent, doesn't he?"

She turned to Kilo, momentarily catching him off guard. "And you?"

Sage and Nyota looked at one another before turning to Kilo, just as to express their mutual concern without verbally speaking.

"Oh! Uh—" He cleared his throat, trying to maintain his composure. "Yes, Director. I'm simply excited to have finally become an EPSA agent. I look forward to climbing up the ranks as soon as possible.

I believe in our ability to do so. When Lunanova calls on the best of the best, best believe I'll be there." Kilo smiled ardently, and Sage and Nyota sighed subtle breaths of relief.

Noriko turned to look up at Elwin before slowly nodding her head, much more to their satisfaction.

However, her next words would quickly put them on edge again.

"I'm very pleased to hear this.

Let's just hope this isn't all for show and that you mean what you say.

But as talented and mature as the three of you seem, I'm sure we won't be having that problem, right?"

She smiled at them, a fervent, daring and almost mocking look written about her face.

Nyota replied on their behalf. "Of course."

"Anyway," she continued, standing from her seat to view the many security monitors displayed throughout the expansive room from above. Their bluish lighting reflected off of her as it contrasted with the darkness of the room.

"This meeting shouldn't take long. I'd simply like to congratulate and commend you on your accomplishments thus far. I'm sure you're aching to know your new ranks."

She swiftly turned back to Nyota, Sage, and Kilo.

"Kilo Hikari, my reports tell me you're quite bull-headed. That can be both a complication and a strength. You've been placed in high-tier B-Class. Congratulations!

I'm also a fan of your tendency to prioritize close combat over all else. I'm surprised you didn't choose to become an assassin.

Sage Hikari, your intelligence quotient is reportedly a rarity. I reviewed your squadron's exam scores, and time and time again, you always scored the single highest.

We could definitely use that in the police force and within EPSA. I've placed you within A-Class.

And finally, Nyota Atar," Noriko laughed. "I just… I don't know. There's just something about you. I can't quite put my finger on it, but then again, I can.

Anyway, I'll just chalk it up to your unique Modus as well as the skillful way in which you use it.

You've showcased a relentless will to win, too, like no other that I've seen before. It's like you fight with a purpose," Noriko paused for a moment. Outside of her view, Elwin rolled his eyes in contempt.

"That'll certainly go a long way.

You, too, have been placed in Class A, though within its upper echelons. Admittedly, the only reason I didn't place you in 'S' is because of your youth and lack of experience.

With practice, time, and more development, you're sure to get there eventually."

"Thank you, Director," Nyota and the brothers mindlessly intoned.

"Of course," she smiled. "And I think that's all I have for the three of you. Do you have any questions, wonders, thoughts?"

Nyota and the brothers nodded simply.

"Great! Once again, congratulations on a great year. I should give Lieutenant Newman a friendly notice. He did a great job instructing and teaching the three of you."

She looked off to the side. "As a matter of fact, the two of us have a few things to talk about."

Elwin chuckled. Noriko's final words struck fear in the hearts of the three young officers, sending chills down each of their spines.

"Alrighty then!" Noriko clapped. "That's all I have. You may be dismissed."

Quickly, the officers stood from their chairs and saluted. "Thank you, Director!" They turned around at an axis, departed down Noriko's platform staircase and were escorted out of the room.

When they were gone, Elwin spoke. "They're full of shit," he sharply remarked, crossing his arms and shaking his head.

Noriko laughed. "You think so?" The two chuckled some more. Noriko's expression faded from amusement to fixed vexation.

"Yeah, no… I know. May they take my words as a warning."

Meanwhile, Nyota Sage and Kilo continued to make the journey back to campus to speak with Jora about their meeting.

"She's onto us," Nyota concluded.

Sage nodded. "She was warning us, daring us to try something."

"I've got this bottomless sensation in my stomach right now," Kilo added. "I can't explain it."

"I'm right with you," Sage replied. "I'm scared, too."

--

Idalia, Enki, and Tatius arrived at the central regional police precinct.

They, too, were escorted to Noriko's exact location. They greeted her, and she invited them to have a seat, Elwin still present.

"I'd just met with the officers from Squadron 1-B, the three you faced off against in the final round of the tournament.

They're great agents, and they certainly have a future in the forces. Nonetheless, it's great to speak with you all one more time."

"Yes, Director!" Idalia started. "It's a pleasure to sit down with you for the first time. With all humility, we're humbled to have this opportunity."

"Ah, well it's what you deserve when you put on a dominant display of fierce combat televised to the entirety of the nation. Consider this a gift, if you will.

This meeting shouldn't take longer than half an hour or so. I just wanted to touch base and congratulate you on your tournament win, as well as transitioning from young naive cadets to the lowest rank in the military: Privates.

With that being said, I'm sure you'd love to know what your new ranks are. You've all achieved the high A-Class status, with relative ease, at that."

The former cadets rejoiced among each other. "Thank you, Director Tachi!"

Noriko continued. "I'd put you in 'S,' but you just need some experience first. So, congratulations.

I did have one concern, however." Her face grew earnest, Idalia, Tatius, and Enki listened in.

"When you're out there fighting your opponent, you should have no remorse. No mercy, especially as members of our military force.

I watched how you fought out there. You could have ended them, but you spared the life of those 1-D cadets. If they happened to lose their lives, that wouldn't be on you. It's on them.

In this business, you should be prepared to do just that, to execute or be executed.

Considering you know Nyota and those brothers fairly well, part of me wouldn't even be surprised if you were holding back against them. I'd just hope that wasn't the case."

Idalia, Tatius, and Enki remained quiet. They reflected on their tournament battles, Tatius almost taking Raphael's life and having hospitalized Khafra.

They thought about the hypothetical possibility of doing the same to Nyota, Sage and Kilo, three fellow young servicemen they would call both rivals and fairly close comrades.

But, perhaps, there was some level of truth behind Noriko's words.

After all, how were they to become the best they could possibly be if they spared the lives of those they called "enemy," even if the title was only intended to be temporary?

"Am I understood?" Noriko finished.

"Y-Yes, Director," they replied softly, at which instant she raised an eyebrow.

They exclaimed instead. "Yes, Director!"

Elwin grinned, seeing the young militants nod their heads and affirm their allegiance to Noriko would make his day.

"Great!" She smiled. "I'm glad we could come to a mutual understanding. Now, I do have some work to tend to, so if you have no questions or final thoughts for me, then you may see yourselves out."

After quickly bidding farewell to Noriko, the three paced themselves down the staircase and out of the room. When they left the premises, Noriko's daunting words remained at the forefront of their minds.

"Do I really care about those kids?" Enki sighed to himself. "I mean, I can't say no, at this point, can I?

Whatever, there's no reason for me to fight them now, bragging rights aside of course."

"I was holding back, huh?" Tatius questioned. "I hardly noticed. I guess I'll try not to next time."

"I did have questions," Idalia thought. "None of which I think would've been appropriate to ask.

It's crazy. To an extent, it's almost like I have to bite my tongue around here. I'm all for being strong, but I can feel my moral compass breaking.

When someone feels like this, what are we to do?"