Chapter Thirty-Two: New mission

Yozora stood amidst the aftermath, his heart heavy with disbelief. Another friend, another failure. T.LAC was gone, taken right before his eyes, and the weight of that loss was suffocating. As he looked around, the remains of the graduation lay in ruin. Graduates, once filled with hope and excitement, now lay scattered, some still breathing, barely clinging to life. The horror was overwhelming, but Yozora pushed it aside, forcing his mind to focus. Saving them is all that matters right now, he thought, clenching his fists.

Why did they take T? His mind raced. He’s not Zeroed, so the reason must be different.

Without hesitation, Yozora called Selene. "We need medical assistance at the graduation site," he said, his voice tight with urgency.

Selene’s voice came through the line, calm but with an undercurrent of tension. "I’m already aware of the situation. Medical teams should be arriving any minute."

Yozora’s frustration spilled over. "Why wasn’t S.T.A.R.S security here? How did this happen?"

Selene’s reply came with a bitter edge. "The security team was wiped out in the initial attack. It was another strategic move, one we didn’t foresee. We still don’t know the full motive or why Jezebel keeps targeting you specifically. But for now, Deputy Director Marcus Thompson is enroute. He’ll be taking you to Director Evelyn Blackwood. She has an urgent mission for you."

S.T.A.R.S Headquarters

Back at the S.T.A.R.S base, Yozora found himself standing in a massive office, its floor-to-ceiling windows offering a panoramic view of the city. The room was grand, its high ceilings casting long shadows, and at the far end of the room, a towering figure stood by the window, her back to him. The imposing figure exuded an aura of power and authority, and even without seeing her face, Yozora felt her presence fill the room.

Yozora glanced at Deputy Director Marcus Thompson, who stood beside him, arms crossed, eyes sharp. The silence was thick, and Yozora, unsure of what to do, shifted awkwardly. "Is anyone going to talk? Should I say something?" he whispered under his breath.

Thompson’s eyes remained forward, but he responded quietly, "Shhh. You don’t remember us, but we remember you. She hasn’t seen you in a long time."

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At that moment, the figure by the window turned around. Her eyes locked onto Yozora, and her face broke into a wide, tearful smile. "Zora..." she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "You’ve gotten so big. Oh, and less cold than I remember!" Before Yozora could react, she rushed toward him, pulling him into a crushing hug that made his spine crack under the pressure.

"Director... Director Blackwood," Thompson said cautiously, "let’s put the kid down before you break him, yeah?"

Yozora, gasping for air as the Director hugged him like a bear, struggled to respond. "I’m... I’m okay!" he wheezed, rubbing his back as she released him. "You’re, um, stronger than I expected."

Evelyn Blackwood chuckled warmly, wiping tears from her eyes. "Oh, I’m sorry, Zora. It’s just... it’s been so long since I’ve seen you." Her expression softened, and for a moment, the powerful Director seemed almost maternal. But her warmth faded quickly as the reality of the situation returned. "You don’t remember us, and that’s my fault. But we have more pressing matters to discuss."

Yozora straightened, the weight of everything catching up to him. "I understand I’m supposed to know you both," he said, his voice steady but filled with confusion. "But I don’t. I’m sorry. Right now, what matters is the mission. Do you have any intel on why T.LAC was taken? Where is he?"

Thompson stepped forward, his face grim. "We believe Jezebel was responsible for taking T.LAC. However, our latest intel suggests her team was intercepted by a third party. Which means—" he hesitated, glancing at Director Blackwood for confirmation.

"Which means," Blackwood continued, "T.LAC isn’t with Jezebel anymore. But we also don’t know where he is now. Our teams are working to locate him, but... we’re not sure who’s pulling the strings behind all of this. The situation is volatile, Yozora."

Yozora’s heart sank. Another mystery, another delay, he thought, frustration gnawing at him. "What about the mission Selene mentioned? What do you need me to do?"

Director Blackwood’s expression hardened. "We have a new lead. There’s a shadowy organization known as The Palm of the Gods. They’ve been causing Portal Gates to open all over the city. We don’t know what they’re planning, but it’s dangerous, and we need to find out why they’re doing it. This mission will be reconnaissance. We need you to infiltrate their ranks, gather intelligence, and report back."

Thompson nodded. "You’ve been out of training for some time, Yozora. That’s why we’re pairing you with Field Agent Alex Reyes. He’s our top specialist in infiltration, espionage, and intelligence gathering. You’ll be working under his command for this mission. You leave in two hours."

Yozora took a deep breath, his mind spinning with all the information. "I’ll do whatever it takes," he said quietly.

As Yozora turned to leave, something cold slithered across his senses—a presence he hadn’t noticed before. He froze in place, his instincts screaming danger. Slowly, he turned his head to the shadowed corner of the room. His eyes widened. There, barely visible, stood a figure cloaked in darkness.

"Who—?" Yozora began, but the figure was already moving, slipping deeper into the shadows, its form dissolving into the darkness like smoke.

"Who was that?" Yozora asked, his heart pounding.

Director Blackwood’s face paled, and even Thompson’s stoic expression faltered for a moment. "That,"Blackwood said softly, her voice tinged with fear, "is someone you don’t want to meet. Not yet."

Before Yozora could press for more answers, Blackwood held up her hand. "In time, Zora. But first... you have a mission to complete."

The door to the office slid open, leaving Yozora with more questions than answers as the shadows in the corner seemed to cling to the edges of his mind.