Location: Hidden

Agents: Classicus, Novum, 7 others

Section: Six

Tap, tap, tap. "So this is debriefing, huh?" snorted Novum, leaning back in the comfortable office chair. She watched the other agents hurry back and forth across the office, printing, copying papers, and yelling at each other for not getting out of the way faster. It really was a miracle they completed any missions at all.

"Not normally, no." argued Ignis, leaning to put his elbows on the table. "But the agency is in a bit of an uproar at the moment, so you aren't exactly seeing them at their finest."

Novum snorted again, laughing. "Uh huh, okay. Whatever you say Ignis, whatever you say." She sighed again, chuckling before standing and getting herself a cup of water. Sitting back down, she gladly accepted the case file Conge presented her.

"The most updated version," she got informed, watching Conge sit cross legged on the table. "The paper is fresh out of the printer and copy machine. Ignis is right, you're seeing the agency at a rather low point. Not that we would let anyone know that, of course."

"Course, makes sense. My old group was like that too. Very prideful," agreed Novum, looking down at her water again. She knew what to expect, she had gone through it before. The interrogations, the questions that would be raised because she had mentioned the 'old group'.

She went to speak, to explain, but Ignis cut her off. "We don't care about pasts here. You're now Agent Novum, Level Unum. Congratulations, this is now your new life. Anywho, getting past that, let's talk the case for a moment."

"Yes, let's," agreed Novum, opening the folder. "I don't like how you guys run your missions around here. I can read about the mission and it's objectives, but I can't know about the people involved or most of the agents because it's classified?"

"Did it state a level?" questioned Conge curiously, trying to tug the file back. "My copy was un-restricted."

"Level Quattour, actually. That explains it." Mused Ignis, reading the file over Novum's frustrated shoulder. "My copy was unrestricted too."

"Can I read it?" asked Novum eagerly, sitting up straighter, giving an award winning smile to the two agents. Almost happily Conge shook her head no, handing back the case file.

"There are levels for a reason. If you aren't that level, you can't read it. I suppose that you'll be getting some of the information anyway, seeing as you are going on your mission." Here Conge shrugged, putting her elbows on her knees. "As for who the agents are, it's us three, plus a couple others. They're actually good friends of ours, and they'll be here in a few minutes."

"Is it a big mission then, to have so many people joining?" Novum shot back, a plucked eyebrow raising.

"Yes, well, hm," began Ignis, resting his right ankle on his left knee. "How should I explain this without giving away restricted information? Conge, any ideas?"

But the cold girl wasn't there anymore. She had vanished into thin air, reappearing at the door to great two more agents. One was tall and lanky, her dark braided hair and beautiful bone structure made her a stunning model; the other was a man, dressed in at least four different colours, with hair in three different shades of neon purple.

Upon hearing her name, Conge turned back to the table and walked to resume her seat, the other two following her. They stood expectantly at the end of the table and Novum rose, feeling Ignis behind her.

"Hello, I'm Agent Novum," she greeted, sticking her hand out to the woman first. The lady smiled, a large, pure white smile that made Conge feel all warm and fuzzy inside for.

"Agent Furvus. I've been watching some of your initation tests, and Conge told me the good news. Congratulations! I'm so psyched that I get to be on your first mission! Oh, do you know who your Dux is? Who did you choose?" The woman bounced back and forth on questions, forgetting for a moment to breathe. Ignis seemed to realise this and cut in smoothly, taking advantage of the first break the woman gave them.

"She'll have to get back to you on that Furvus. Novum, this is Agent Vestimenta. He's also going to be working with us. Forgive him, he's a little quiet until you get to really know him." Ignis explained, waving a hand over Novum's shoulder at the short man in front of him. He too gave her a smile but quickly sat down, pulling out his copy of the case file from the briefcase to most likely read it over.

"Has debriefing started? I know they told us to be here a half hour ago, but I had to wait for Vestie since his sister wouldn't let him leave until she was sure she had packed everything, and I left my room late in the first place! Please don't tell me it's started." Stressed Furvus, dropping into a seat at the table as well and lifting a hand to her forehead in exaggeration. Conge snorted, shaking her head as she planted her butt back on the table. Novum and Ignis sat as well.

"No, don't worry," soothed Conge, handing her friend a water and a banana. "And eat, you haven't had anything all day. Don't give me that look," she advised her friend, who began to give her a death glare, "I know you haven't sat down all day and you know it too. Eat."

Furvus rolled her eyes but complied, ignoring the rather questioning looks the table was giving her. No one had time to say anything, however, for the Classicus walked over, followed by the other two agents who had been running back and forth cursing at each other not moments before. The group at the table, though already silent, switched into 'teachers in the room now be quiet mode'.

"Thank you, agents, for waiting for me to finish compiling the most recent case file to brief you on. Congratulations, by the way Novum, for completely initiation, albeit in a rather short, unusual way." Novum blushed and nodded, looking back at the table. "Now, let's get to this. We need you prepped and set out as soon as possible. So, first up, we need to go through the objective. You are going to be stationed in Alton, a large, urban city. I need eyes, eyes that can examine and take note of anything unusual. There is a conference in one of the main hotels in the city that's our newest lead. I need you guys to check it out. Conge, Novum, and Ignis, you'll be working the field, posting as conference attendies. Furvus I'll need you on teach support for them, and Vestimenta you'll be working clothing, and head case manager. I've already got your rooms booked and your new identities, as well as most of the tech gadgets you'll need. They're set up in your rooms. Unfortunately, we don't have enough agents for a connector here at base, so you'll have to be one your own."

"What do you mean, on our own?" Interrupted Novum, furrowing her eyebrows. "Isn't that, like, dangerous?"

Ignis and Conge shot her a glare for interrupting the important speech of the Classicus, but she cut in smoothly before they could reprimand the young girl. "Ignis, Conge, it's fine. She's merely curious. Yes, it is dangerous, seeing as you won't have anywhere to turn to incase things go south and you need an exit. However, you will be with four of our best trained agents, and longest field agents in the group. You'll be completely fine, I can tell. Now, I'm going to send you off to your rooms, where I need you all to change into the clothes laid out, and check over the suitcases in the room for you. Be down to the car and plane dock by 2 pm, which is in an hour."

The five nodded and stood, heading to leave the room. Vestimenta and Furvus disappeared within a second, merely a small wisp of smoke hovering where their bodies used to be. Conge and Ignis waited for Novum, who hadn't moved since she stood. "Classicus?"

"I know what you're going to ask," the Classicus replied, giving the young girl a smile. She flipped her long hair over her shoulder, composing her thoughts. "It's not top priority right now, but once we have this mess sorted out, consider it done."

"Thank you," replied the young girl quietly, looking back down at the table. She looked up again, into the clear blue eyes of the Classicus who waited patiently for Novum to finished her statement. "And the rest of them?"

"Safe, I promise."

A/N: 1459 words