Another day, another meeting, but I had to admit, the swivel chair was an upgrade. It almost made up for the fact that I’d been threatened into an illegal crime syndicate. Almost. I’d also been given a bunch of free stuff this time around, and I was a sucker for free stuff. Some of which included this super dope chair (that unfortunately had to stay at this meeting space, lame), some neat fingerless gloves meant for fighting, boots with soles so soft they don’t make a sound when walking (totally gonna sneak up on people in the library next week), this weird gadget thing which I figured was a recording device, honestly I wasn’t sure, I wasn’t really listening when they were talking about it, a communication device that’ll give me coordinates for stuff and all that jazz, and only I can open it ‘cause it has some DNA lock thing, and I think that was it. 

“Crimson Bullet, are you listening?”

“Huh?” I stopped spinning in my chair and looked to Rusted Venom, who’d been talking. “What?”

“As to be expected,” he sighed. “We were discussing some pertinent information.”

“Oh, sorry.” I paused, then continued with what was more important. Spinning in this chair. “Thanks for this chair, you guys, this is great!” I added some big twirls for emphasis.

Pointed Storm turned her gaze on me. “If you wish to keep this special chair of yours, may I recommend paying attention?”

She stared me down and then Rusted Venom pitched in, “You do know the chair isn’t yours, don’t you?”

“Says who?” I crossed my arms and spun back and forth saucily.

“The people in charge here… us.” He gestured at the three of them like it was obvious.

I mean, yeah, who else would be in charge in this room. It’d be cool if it was me, ‘cause then we could just spend our time binge watching movies and chowin’ down on some good ol’ fashioned popcorn. Maybe we’d even have our own popcorn maker installed in that corner over there, like the ones they have at concession stands and stuff. Oh, the smell would be heavenly.

I sniffed. “Well, whatever you say, but I’m still claiming it as my own. Who else is gonna sit in it besides me?”

I swear, all I did was exhaust that man, which was all fine and good with me, if a woman’s being honest. And I wasn’t even doing it on purpose. Mostly.

“The only reason we even have that chair is because you wouldn’t sit in the other one that we already had,” Rusted Venom grumbled.

“See?” I gestured with my arms. “You got it just for me.”

He groaned, pulling a hand down his stupid, saggy face. “Can we just get on with the meeting?”

“Yeah,” I said all perkily, “I’m down for that.”

They resumed their conversation about a guy named Senator Juan Costello AKA Vermin Blue. He’s the head honcho of the Syndicate group the Blue Gills, from a neighboring city that’s about two-hundred miles west of us. He’s considered to be quite dangerous, partially because of his status within the government and his lethality in the Syndicate. He was so powerful that it was no threat to him that his true identity was known outside of his own circle. But he’d been causing some trouble for the Red Pathways and the rest of the Syndicate groups in our city recently.

Jade Hornet had spotted him making deals with another group in town here that had been, and was currently, in league with the Red Pathways. They wouldn’t be for much longer if the Red Pathway’s suspicions were correct. 

One thing I’d figured out in my time here, was that being involved with the Syndicates was a tedious business because you’re dancing this fine line between obscurity and criminality. I guess you could call us villains, but not all of us do bad things or things that are against the law.

Like, take Moonlight. She singlehandedly destroyed the child trafficking problem that had started up due to the major highway that ran through town. The media painted her as a hero, they’ve even got a billboard of her in her get up welcoming people to our safe city. And who’s to say everything that Moonlight did was aligned with the law?

But if you asked me, and I know you’re not, I think in order to be a real hero you can’t always follow the law if you want to do what’s right.

It just so happened that I got wrapped up in the more villainous and money making factions of the Syndicates. Woopsie doopsie. But it hadn’t been so bad. Aside from doing some of that more… violent stuff to me in the beginning, which I really just preferred to forget, the Red Pathway’s weren’t so bad. I mean, they were cranky, and a little unstable emotion-wise, which is kinda funny if you thought about their side profession, but they were generally alright people. Would I play frisbee with them on a perfect summer day? No. Definitely not. But would I warn them before stepping in a pile of dog poop? Yeah, I think so.

“That is where Crimson Bullet will come in.” Hearing my name jolted me back to reality. Jade Hornet was looking at me like she’d just won first prize on her grandma’s pecan pie at county fair. She continued talking, “I think it’s time she went on her first mission.”

My eyes bulged. “Wait what?! My first mission? No one said I’d be going on missions. Why do you need me on missions anyway? The only reason I’m here is to help you guys catch Nightmist. Nothing in our contract insinuated going on missions.”

None of them looked too perturbed by my protest, more like they’d just sat down at a sidewalk café in Paris and knew exactly what to order. I think what I’m trying to say, is that they were unconcerned with my concerns.

“There is nothing to fret over, Crimson Bullet,” Pointed Storm said calmly. “You have been trained for this. Albeit in comparison to most, you are quite inexperienced and know absolutely nothing. But while training you these past few months, we have studied you and have come to the agreement that you need experience in the field in order to get the information we need.” She glanced at her co-Pathways. “We also feel that you are ready.”

“Okay.” I wasn’t quite convinced of this so-called logic she was spewing. And I wasn’t sure if what she was saying was a compliment or something else entirely. I took a few seconds to really think about it. How deep into this was I willing to get? And where would it leave me if I said no? Probably laying in a ditch somewhere without a diploma. I sighed inwardly. But everything still made me nervous. Just why did they want me to go on missions if that wasn’t my original prerogative? Experience, I guess, but still, it was a perplexing conundrum. One that I’d have to bypass if I wanted to reach my goals. Lucky for them, I was willing to do that. “Yeah, okay. But before we seal the deal on this, I’ve got a few questions.”

“When don’t you?” I heard Rusted Venom say under his breath.

Something inside of me snapped. I bolted up and slammed my hands on the table. “You got a problem with me old man?! Bring it on!”

He stood too. “How dare you speak to me in such a fashion!”

I made a pouty face. “Oh, did I hurt your feelings? Now I feel really bad. Though if you wanna talk about fashion…”

He started climbing over the table. The punk. Surprised he didn’t throw out his back with that move.

“That is enough!” Pointed Storm ordered, her tone furious

I sat down, eyes locked on Rusted Venom. I did not trust that man. Sometimes first impressions were wrong, but not this time.

“My apologies, Pointed Storm.” I said plainly. She gave me a nod in response. Then she turned her icy eyes onto my lovely compatriot.

He held my gaze a little while longer before turning to Pointed Storm and apologizing for his ungentleman-like behavior. Honestly, that man was more childish than me. Gentleman my arse.

With a flick of my head, I tossed my hair to the side. “Can I ask my questions now?”

“You may,” Pointed Storm acquiesced.

“Thank you. First question: Is this mission stuff going to take up more time during my week? As in time outside of our already scheduled meetings and training time?”

“It is.”

“Figures. But okay. Second question. Why do I have to go on missions when that’s not even my job?”

“Look at it as an extended part of your training, so you will be better prepared for your own personal mission.”

“Vague, but fine, I’ll take it. I guess. And finally, my third question,” and I paused here for nothing less than artistic flair. “What if I said no?”

A dark expression swept across Storm’s already dark face. “That would not be wise.” 

I put on my game face, one that had won me many races, and looked out under my furrowed brow. “Why am I not surprised?” But immediately I perked up and slapped on a judgey smile. “That’ll be all my questions, so I guess sign me right up for that mission thing of yours. Wouldn’t want to miss out on an opportunity like that.”

Her expression cleared into one of neutrality. “Very good choice, young Crimson.”

“Cool. So now that that’s over. I do have a tinsey-tiny request for you guys.”

“What is it?”

“Could we make an amendment to our meeting and training schedule? I would really appreciate it if we did more of the heavy physical training on Mondays for the weeks that I have meets, so then I’m not so exhausted and sore for competitions. And this way, my coaches won’t get so suspicious, especially since I’m telling them I’m getting special training from a personal trainer, and a personal trainer wouldn’t jeopardize my performance just to get in extra training.”

They looked at each other and sorta shrugged.

Pointed Storm replied, “That will be fine, however, you will still do your training as planned tonight.”

“What? Oh come on.” I turned back into the whiner they knew and loved. “Cut me some slack. Can’t we just do the stuff that isn’t so physical tonight and skip all that other junk?”

Jade Hornet sighed. “Have it your way. The training is more for you than it is for us, anyway.”

“Oh heck yeah!” I pumped the air with my fist. “Now that’s what I call progress.”