“Do you think this flute actually has magical powers?” Inquired Agent Ambition, as she sat among the rocks to break Lilith’s silence. Lilith herself always expected small talk from this particular agent – it was in her nature to ask questions rapid fire, most of them of the rhetorical variety. Truthfully, she thought the idea of a magical flute was ridiculous, almost too ridiculous since the whole mission was a sham. But after the abilities she had been granted and the things she has witnessed, perhaps a magic flute was not so strange after all.
“It better,” she said, feigning irritation. “I didn’t come to this hot ass plateau for nothing.” She sighed and fanned herself, wishing this place had a cave of some sort. Unfortunately, this area was meant to serve as an open battlefield. Isolated, quiet, and easy to dispose of evidence. Her comment drew a laugh from Agent Ambition. “What, you’ve never wanted to visit the beautiful Colorado Plateau?” She asked playfully. Lilith shook her head in response. It was definitely not on her bucket list.
“Where would you go?” She continued to pry, yet Lilith wished she could sit in silence. At this very moment, an agent was dying for his betrayal. It was a grim thought that she couldn’t distance herself from, especially since it was about to become a reality for these two. Or herself, if she failed. Positive thoughts, Lilith.
Before she could think of a proper response, she heard footsteps. Assuming it was Agent Trident, she tried not to stand up too abruptly. “So…” She started, prepared to ask about the perimeter as part of the act. Agent Hraun stiffened nearby, the first to notice Agent Pulse’s absence. Lilith could only feel relief. Good, he was successful.
Now it was time for phase two. All they needed was a convincing lie before they scratched two more names off of the enemy list. “Hold up,” she said, tone steady but worried. All part of the presentation. “Where’s Agent Pulse? Did something happen?”
Despite knowing how much was riding on these next few moments for both he and Agent Malforce, his mind would not come up with a good enough explanation. It seemed like it had already forgotten what he had just done and instead was focusing on the challenge that still stood before them. His blood was flowing and the adrenaline coursing through his veins was making it difficult to think straight.
It seemed like he was just going to have to come up with an explanation on the spot, there was going to be no delaying the inevitable because he was sure that the other’s had already spotted him in the distance. The distance between him and the group seemed to decrease faster than it had taken him.
Xavier jogged the rest of the way and stopped beside them. He feigned trying to catch his breath by placing his hands on his knees and miming asking for a second. “You guys weren’t ambushed?” He breathes out looking between the other three agents. “They had a guy who could teleport and they took Agent Pulse before I could do anything about it. I rushed back here because I thought it was a trap.”
Agent Trident wipes his forehead with the back of his hand. “I didn’t know there were other people with powers. Did you guys know anything about that?” He wonders, worrying his bottom lip between his teeth.
