Sins Of The Past (Book 1)

~Mission Briefing Chapter 3~

Aria

The room was dimly lit and piercingly cold as we entered. Darkness filled the space as it normally did, the only source of light coming from a large screen at the front of our boss' office which illuminated the room. At the front of the room she sat at the table with a commanding presence. Professor Catherine Anderson was the top-notch boss, she was strict and ruthless. She had beaten and demolished anyone trying to steal her position, and nothing could get in her way. She served as a figure of authority, standing at the front of the room as the three of us assembled around the table presented to us.

Catherine was an elegant woman. She stood at a somewhat tall height, just a few inches taller than me, and had a presence that demanded respect. Her hair was a unique shade of brown, often pulled back in a tight bun, which framed her strong, angular face. Her hair, though brown, had hints of auburn when it caught the light. It was always magically styled, not a strand was out of place, and it seemed like she had never had a bad hair day in her life.

Her sharp, hazel eyes held a strong gaze that could pierce through any excuse or avoidance. They were framed by perfectly arched eyebrows that focused on her stern expression. She rarely wore makeup, opting for a natural look that suited her professional demeanor. The professor often dressed in a tailored suit, as she was now, that emphasized her authority.

Though her demeanor was strict and powerful, there was a sense of fairness about her that I respected. She was tough but always aimed for excellence, pushing us to achieve our best no matter the cost. Her presence in the office was a constant reminder of the high standards she held for herself and for all of us who worked under her watchful eyes.

As she began to speak, the weight of her words settled over us like a heavy cloak. She spoke of a dangerous mission, one that had the potential to alter the course of events in ways we couldn't yet fathom. The details that were provided were both intriguing and ominous, a puzzle that begged to be solved, and I was determined to be the one to complete it.

The gravity of the situation hung in the air as she outlined the mission's objectives and the challenges that lay ahead. The thought of the mission both thrilled and terrified me. The odds were stacked against us, but the stakes were too high to turn back. The room was filled with a tense energy, a mixture of determination and unease. The three of us exchanged glances, waiting for her to continue and break the unspoken tension.

"Ah, nice of you to finally arrive. We are running out of time so unless you plan on wasting any more of it I think that we should start the meeting." She spoke in a flowing tone as she repetitively clicked the tip of her pen against the surface of the table, its sounds filling the room. "Unless you have any objections?" She adds as we enter looking around at the empty seats.

Clearing his throat, Jessie takes a seat on the far left of the table, "Sorry Professor." He says simply.

Me and Leia sit next to each other, her next to The Professor and me closest to the illuminated screen. The screen flashed to the next slide as the boss stood up quickly, causing the chair she was sitting in to push back in an even tenser manner as she walked to the cabinet on the side wall gathering a handful of notepads and pens.

I exchanged a nervous glance with Leia, then back to Jessie. Even though we have had many meetings like this before, they seemed to come one after the other. But each time they were still as nerve-racking as before, never allowing a moment of relaxation.

This mission, in particular, was extremely important. Despite the lack of information, I knew that I would be doing my normal job of executing the designated target, who was not yet assigned. But a part of me could shake the feeling that Jessie and Leia didn't. But apart from that, I had no idea what to expect. I had been hearing rumors for the past month that this mission failing would mean the unfortunate undoing of the S.S.T.A. But nonetheless, I was excited to partake in this because these kinds of assignments were always a big deal around here.