Since I have some time right now I can put out another one.

Enjoy everyone ^^

And like always feel free to comment me.

One question thought. Since you know I used some german parts in earlier chapters. Somebody wrote that it might be better to translate those parts into english too.

My question is if any of you want that. [just write in the comments and I'll translate them in the chapters.]

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It seemed so easy, though I didn't know if Liam felt the same way. I concentrated on everyone in the room and tried to think of my vision as of now.

Everyone looks around disoriented for a moment then quickly seem to get used to it.

Karen lifts up a cup with water and toasts at me.

"Seems like it does work. This can come in quite handy to be honest. But it should not dominate any usefulness you two have. I mostly wanted to know if anything went wrong but since it didn't I'll leave the rest to you guys. Some of our superiors are getting uneasy about us doing nothing. Though I'm probably just going to shut them up for as long as A3 is incomplete."

Rose raises her cup too and answers jokingly.

"Amen, see you later captain."

With a dubious look on her face Karen walks towards the hallway.

"Keep the routine up everyone, I don't want anyone slacking off. I'm giving you enough freedom but please use that accordingly."

Then she waves her hand at us and leaves the room with a last "Dismissed."

I was surprised to find out that nobody except Liam was interested in how we were able to create this supposed miracle. Of course they were happy about us succeeding but not more.

I turned towards Liam who seated himself on my right side.

"So you where originally a SWAT? And here I thought everyone was from a military force."

He answers me with a surprised look.

"SWAT might not be the same as the military on paper but we pretty much did the same thing. We fought in literal wars too. Also none of us were recruited due to the force we served."

Rose looked at us and seemed to follow his story closely.

"Let's just say she did not look for the absolute elite or none of us would be here today. What she was looking for was spirit if you will. None of us had the best aim, it was good and it became better with the gear. You want to know why she recruited me?"

A barking laugh escapes his throat.

"You already saw why. I was one of the few people that didn't flinch in any situation. I survived the ordeal that you saw. My wounds were not that bad to begin with. My marksman Connor did too, thought he could never recover fully and had to retire.

But that's not the point here. What impressed the captain was that I had taken a flash bang without covered eyes and still kept holding the same position while being robbed of both my sight and hearing. This kind of talent was what she was looking for."

Interestingly enough, he did have a point.

"So, do you still have contact with any of your colleagues? I've never seen you leave the complex during the time I was here to be honest."

Liam and Songe seem to fidget around a bit looking quite uncomfortable. As a result I felt responsible and sad.

"Sorry... not sure if I should have asked if it makes you uncomfortable."

Ignars low voice comes in quickly.

"No, Alexis. Don't worry about it, but you need to know another thing about A3. We're not that... visible to public. You saw our equipment, we're the faceless military squadron that does mostly dirty work. Many know of us but nobody knows a lot about us. And then there of course is the problem if anyone found out our identity. As such none of us have any real family left. I myself will turn 48 in some time. My parents have already died of old age and I don't have any children I could leave behind."

He points at Liam with his thumb.

"Same with his colleagues. Officially everyone of us is marked as KIA [killed in action]. So-"

Liam interrupts him with an annoyed expression.

"Nah don't worry about it. I'm glad that we're not endangering anyone we've left behind. Oh and if you're interested that is actually another condition to becoming a member of A3. My mother died at birth and my dad sadly had a heart attack during a robbery. Everyone here has some kind of story with their parents."

Since I was genuinely interested I asked towards Liam.

"Was that the reason you joined SWAT in the first place? Because of your dad?"

His expression becomes absent.

"Yeah, probably guessed I wanted to stop things like this in the first place. Then after my eleventh mission Karen found out about me and recruited me. Everyone thinks I died on that day. I'm even considered a hero in Los Angeles."

He laughs once.

"I don't regret anything, I would make the same choice over and over again. I was in many ways limited in SWAT. In A3 we are quite honestly only doing the most important missions the US army has to offer. We've helped this country more often than we can count.

Ah whatever."

With a joking gesture he motions at Rose and Songe.

"Come on, I've told them my recruitment story. What about you guys?"

While winking at him he dismisses Ignar with one hand he adds "And forget about the old guy, his story is boring."

This time it's Ignars turn to lift his glass and say "Amen"

"Haa, fine whatever, I'll do it. I'll tell you the story, thought it's almost as boring as LIAMS."

Almost shouting Rose sends a mocking look towards Liam. He only leans towards the wall and smiles back.

"Well, I don't have any family left either like all of us. Mine where soldiers, both of 'em. Stupidly enough both of them died in the same mission. Karen just found me during a training with the Seals and decided to recruit me. Nothing much to say about that."

A clacker interrupts her.

"You serious?"

It was Songe who looked at her in mockery.

"Don't listen to this liar Alex. She beat up seven of her comrades at the same time while laughing at her superior who clearly wanted to humiliate her."

I looked at Rose in surprise.

"I though most of your battle prowess came from your power and the gear?"

"Pffft, that gear only makes us better. Now I am the best, during that time I was just another good trainee."

"She's still doing it. You're so modest, that's not how we know you."

This time it was Ignar to say something, I found it true though. Pretty much since I first met her she seemed to eradicate the air of a superior being. One shouldn't misunderstand she was by no means arrogant, she only seemed to state things that were considered facts by everyone.

Like her being the strongest soldier alive right now... Though I wasn't so sure if that was true counting all the unknown espers in the world.

"Fine I trained like shit to get to that point and that supervisor? Ya know what he did? He freaking tried to force me even further although I knew my own limits better than him. Doesn't matter.

I too did not leave anyone behind. I did have some friends that I miss sometimes but we can all cope with this."

Because it seemed like something she did not want to talk about I did not press the matter about her parents even though I was actually interested what mission they had lost their lives in.

"So why did she recruit me?" I silently asked everyone around the table while letting my head lean down.

I was confused, yes I might have some talents and I technically did not have anyone left in my life. But it still bugged me. Why would she take me in?

Songe leans forward and flips me up by my chin with his hand.

"Same as with me. Ha."

"What do you mean?"

"Well.. mostly the same anyways. Think of it that way. You were perfect absolutely perfect. Your family? Most likely dead, you yourself? Already marked KIA by the military itself. Good power and what seems to be a honest goal. With the story you told us you finally showed us your sincerity.

I personally was an almost identical case. I was on a leave after a mission in the south of Africa. That was some really messed up stuff. Me and my family wanted to visit a water park."

His face seems to turn a bit distant while pulling out a folded piece of paper. He hands it over to me. On it I can see a younger version of Songe with a small boy on his shoulder. He's accompanied by an older looking woman smiling into the camera.

"Well, we got into a crash and I lost every limb except my left leg. Due to my deeds to the military and my special circumstances Karen recruited me."

Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

Sighing he smiles at me.

"Although Karen probably will not admit it there was probably another reason for recruiting you. Next to the levelheaded reason she also pitied you. I'll only tell you one thing, you'll have to ask Karen if you want to hear the whole story. Ok?"

I honestly did not know where this was going. To be honest I expected part of those things. It was just too good to be true but that did not mean I thought that they were just using me.

I nodded to him.

"I'll ask her myself. I promise."

Rose starts laughing.

"You don't have to promise anything Alex. We just respect Karens privacy. If you don't want to ask her then don't. There is no need to."

Songe motions her to quiet down.

"It's like she said. But it's not really a secret either. Anyways, like us Karen too doesn't have any family left that knows of her, but that hadn't always been that way. Ignar here-"

He points at Ignar.

"knew Karens last remaining family member. She had a younger sister that lived here on the grounds. She wasn't one of us though. She was simply here because she wanted to live with her big sister and you Alex, look a lot and I mean a lot like that little girl.

You don't need to be a genius to figure out what happened but like we said, if you want to hear everything ask Karen directly, she'll most likely tell you."

"Don't think too much about it. I seriously doubt that you're simply a sister copy for her. Karen was the first and longest member of this A3. After Martin, someone from the other half joined she started acting very friendly towards all of us."

Ignar seems like he's thinking about times long gone.

"She started to dissolve this cold professionalism that dominated during that time. She knew we would almost never deal with anyone else than our colleagues. And now look at us."

He stretches his arms motioning at everyone.

"Yes we will finish the mission even if it costs one of us our lives, that we own to the citizen of the USA. But nobody will get left behind. We work more efficient and quickly than any other force we know of. Even the esper squadrons inside of the military aren't that good."

"You're boasting again old man." with a bored look on her face Rose looks at everyone then stands up.

"Anyone want a beer? We still got some stuff in the fridge....Let's say to celebrate Alexis' and Liams success?"

Dead silence answers her before Songe raises his hand.

"I could use one... Just take some from the kitchen and put them on the table."

Rose smiles again seeming as if she had gotten exactly what she wanted.

"What about you Alex? You want one?"

Hu? Beer.... ehm...

Baffled I stutter back at her.

"I....I..I'm not allowed to drink."

For a fact I haven't drunk alcohol once in my life... Zoe said I wouldn't like that stuff and that it wasn't worth it.

Confused Rose tilts her head.

"Why's that?"

Ignar answers for me while shaking his head.

"Jeesh Rose she's not 21 yet... Legally she's not allowed to-"

The red haired woman simply interrupts him.

"Ah shut up. That's legally, do you really think we're going to have consequences if we let her drink one beer? Come on it's not even the heavy stuff."

Since I felt left out of the entire conversation I decided to step in.

"I'm turning 21 this year so don't treat me like some child please. I'll try one though..."

Ignar shakes his head again while Rose walks into the kitchen.

"You've done it again Rose, if it's like this I'll take one too.", then more into my direction. "Just do me a favor and only drink one for now ok? Karen might rip us a new one if she finds out that we let you drink."

"PFFT." a mocking sound is heard from the kitchen.

"Karen would probably drink one with us dude. And you do realize that in many other countries teens are allowed to drink waaaay earlier?"

"This again...." Liam covers his face in his hands.

"What was that Liam? Got anything against those laws?"

With six bottles in hand she comes back onto the table.

"Nonono, I don't Rose I don't."

She hands everyone a bottle but keeps two for herself. It's a beer I haven't seen before but that doesn't amount to much since I didn't know any to begin with.

"Want to see something sweet?"

Like a small girl that found a new toy Rose sets her thumb onto the crown cap and forces it off by simply pushing. Then she proceeds to laugh in an extremely happy way.

"I wish I would've been able to do this in the past."

Everyone around me does the same...

I feel lost, I've opened soda before...

"How do I open that?"

Liam grabs for my arm and puts my hand into the position they had used to open the bottle.

"Just push your thumb up it's easy."

BANG!

Without thinking I had pushed as hard as I could, knocking the cap through the entire room where it hit the wall.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA!" Almost tumbling over Rose laughs her heart out.

Liam assuringly pats my shoulder.

"Don't worry about it. Even Rose messed up at first."

The woman we spoke of simply put up her bottle for a toast.

"I'm just glad I can finally take a drink again. To A3?"

It seemed more like a questions than a toast but everyone seemed to agree and put their own bottles up, I followed their lead.

"To A3."

After that everyone drank a gulp and so did I.

Meh...

Bitter, but interesting enough to not stop.

Again I heard Rose laughing.

"Did you see that face? I love you guys this is awesome."

The another question coming from what seemed to be Ignar.

"Rose? Why did you get the German beer? [has a higher average alcohol percentage] That was supposed to be for something special."

Then Rose answering.

"But it is special. Alexis just drank alcohol for the first time."

After drinking half of the bottle I start feeling a bit cozy.

"It's good." was the only thing I said towards Rose and the others.

"She's tipsy. From half a bottle.... Jeeesh Rose really?"

She doesn't seem to care about the accusation and simply sits next to me putting her arm around my shoulders.

"Isn't it Alex? It's awesome, though some of the rest has other tastes this one is still the best-"

Then louder almost shouting towards Songe. "Isn't it SONGE?!!"

He simply waves his hand at her.

"Yeah whatever Rose."

One bottle later I felt warm. Interestingly I did not feel how I though being drunk would feel. My motions where still clean and without unsteadiness. When I had finished my first and last bottle Rose was already empting her second.

"We oughta go to bed now. Karen is going to kill us if she finds out."

Probably Ignar voicing his thoughts.

"NAAAAAAAAAH! I'm doing way too great right now. Do you have any clue how long it's been since I drank a good beer?"

Rose...definitely Rose. Wouldn't have guessed her to be so into drinking.

It took the other three to convince her to go to sleep but we accomplished it.

Afterwards I lied in my bed feeling warm and cozy again. That hadn't been too bad. Why did Zoe say it wouldn't be worth it?

Don't care. I feel way to good right now. Thinking about a German beer logo I fall asleep.