Celine maintained a pose, swords in hand, another woman walking side to side. “Remember, maintain your focus. Only when you maintain your focus, can you keep balance, both outside, and inside of you.”
Celine took a deep breath. Shifting her left foot a little, Celine quickly made a series of cuts and slashes in the air with her weapons. The woman smiled. “Good, you maintained your focus. You performed that technique perfectly. Nathan would be proud to see it.”
Celine nodded and smiled. “That will be all for today. Enjoy the rest of the day. Nathan will be here to continue your training tomorrow.”
Celine smiled and grabbed her belongings, quickly checking her communicator. “No new messages...”
Celine sighed. “I’m just being paranoid. Something work related must have come up. Maybe he’s busy interrogating that assassin.” Celine nodded and agreed with her thought. As she downed a tall bottle of water, Celine walked into the Liberator facility.
Cedric Zerux raised his communicator to his mouth. “Liberator Four, come in.”
Releasing the button, Cedric only heard static. This isn’t good…
Cedric unsheathed his sword and walked down a road, soon arriving at the open gate of the mansion. “Where are the guards?”
Cedric walked forward and into the mansion plaza. “Libera—“
Cedric noticed the body of a dead guard on the ground. “N—n—no…”
Cedric sprinted into the mansion, seeing a bloodbath in the lobby. Rushing through the hallway, Cedric eventually reached the door of the Minister’s bedroom. “L-Liberator Four?”
Cedric walked into the room, immediately noticing the bodies of the five guards. Looking to the left, he noticed another body. Walking up closer, he recognized the face of the corpse, Nathan. “N….no…this…this can’t be…”
Cedric collapsed on the ground. “This…no…”
Malcom walked into a heavily guarded facility, showing the head guard his identification. “Welcome back Enslaver Seven.”
“Good to be back.”
Malcom walked into the facility and into the command center. “Grandmaster, I am here to report I have successfully returned.”
The Grandmaster turned to face Nathan. “Good, now, enjoy the rest of the day. Tomorrow…we have a long-term mission we need to discuss.”
“Yes sir.”
Malcom saluted and walked away. Reaching his bunkroom, Malcom yawned. “Man, what a day. Finally got an exciting fight for once.”
Malcom walked over to his dresser and pulled out the bottom drawer. Picking up a worn picture, he stared at it. There, staring back at him, was a younger Malcom, along with his mother, father, and older sister. “Guys…I’m getting closer. I’m getting closer to getting revenge for those who killed you.”
Malcom scratched his nose and put the photo back in the drawer. “I wonder what my next mission is.”
Liberator X, also the leader of the Liberator program, walked into the command room. “Why did you call me in here for?”
A woman sitting at a desk raised her head. “We…received a report from Liberator Ten…you…should sit down for this.”
Liberator X sat down in a chair. “What did he report?”
“Liberator Four…Nathan…is…dead. Minister Gerrett also is dead, along with the rest of the security detail.”
Liberator X was silent. “Are…you sure about this?”
“I’m sure. Liberator Ten tried to check the security cameras, except they were wiped. We have no idea who the killer is.”
“Then is seems the Organization must have found their ‘killer assassin’ then.”
“I agree. We’re…going to have to let the other Liberators know…”
“Especially Celine…Sir…Nathan and Celine were in—“
“A romantic relationship, yes. I’ll…give her the news before everyone else.”
The woman nodded. “Should I schedule a meeting with everyone tonight?”
“Yes…”
Celine sat down at a bench in the only park in the facility. Looking up at the sky, Celine smiled. “The sky looks so blue today..”
“Celine.”
Looking up, Celine saw Liberator X. “Ah, Liberator X, how are you today?”
“I’ve…been better. Anyways, may I sit down next to you?”
“Sure.”
Liberator X sat down next to Celine. “Celine, I need you to stay calm.”
Celine gave a curious look. “What do you mean?”
“Earlier today, we sent Liberator Ten to Minister Gerrett’s mansion to relieve Nathan of his guard duties. However…what he found…”
Celine looked concerned. “What…did he find?”
“Celine…Nathan was killed.”
Celine blankly stared at him. “W-what?”
“Nathan was killed trying to protect Minister Gerrett…”
Celine slowly looked down. “S-stop lying…N-Nathan promised he would live…that he would come back.”
“I’m sorry Celine...I wish I was lying…but I’m not.”
Celine started tearing up. “I…I…” Celine immediately started crying. “No! It can’t be! It can’t be!”
Celine clung to Liberator X, who sat there in silence.
During the meeting, Celine was absent. The whole room was shocked to hear the news of Nathan’s death.
The next day, Malcom walked into the Organization’s command center. “Grandmaster, I’m here to report for the next mission.”
The Grandmaster turned around in his chair. “Enslaver Seven, please, sit down.”
Malcom sat down in a chair across from the Grandmaster. “Malcom, I thank you for the information you’ve given us concerning this…’Liberator’ program the government has funded to stop us.”
“Thank you for your praise Sir.”
“However, what we know about the Liberator program is spotty at best, but, we have a plan to rectify the situation.”
“And I’m a part of that plan?”
“Yes…you are. Malcom, you are to go to the city of Nevarre. Once there, you will find a recruiter for the Liberator program.”
“You want me to capture and interrogate him?”
“No, the opposite in fact.”
“What do you mean?”
“I want you to impress him, let him recruit you to be a Liberator. There, you will be trained to be a Liberator. Earn their trust, and let us know about their secrets. Where their training facilities are, how many they are, how strong they are.”
Malcom was silent. “You want me to go…undercover?”
“Precisely! However, you are to not, under any circumstances, reveal you were at any point a part of our organization, or reveal your true abilities. Hold back your abilities even while impressing the recruiter. Can’t make him too suspicious of your abilities and how you got them. Understood?”
“I…understand…Sir…”
“Good. Pack up a few of your belongings. You will need to change from a proud Enslaver to a lowly commoner.”
Malcom nodded. “I’ll…get started on it…right away sir.”
