Novel1Chapter 411 When Beck showed up, every pair of eyes in the room turned toward the sudden flicker of light-what looked like a giant screen materializing out of thin air.
Except it wasn't a TV or a screen at all. It was a full-on 3D projection, high-tech and a little eerie.
Miranda had gotten Beck's call only an hour ago. "Got a job. Need you here," he'd said. No details, just that cryptic message. But as soon as she arrived and saw the crowd that had assembled, she figured this wasn't just any assignment. You didn't call in this many heavy-hitters for something simple.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtClearly, everyone here was part of the sdivision. Beck had mentioned it to her before. His department's "special talents" were all top-tier, the best of the best, but there weren't many of them. The division broke down into three circles: The core group-people with abilities so strong, they could walk into HQ whenever they wanted. The middle ring-folks who'd shown spromise, maybe not as refined but definitely not normal. And then there was the outer layer: RapidForce's own private military.
That's what they called themselves-people like Miranda: the "Gifted," or sometimes "Evolved." Because what they could do wasn't just above average-it was above human. To them, it was the next step in human evolution. Like Homo sapiens 2.0. Every now and then, people would just call them "Outliers." It meant the sthing: people who stood out, people who were different.
"Now that you're about to assign the mission, I'll excuse myself," Elian piped up, quick on the uptake.
ShadowFox grinned. He clearly had the sidea. He gestured at Elian. "Right this way, Mr. Ashcroft. There's fresh coffee and cookies waiting in the lounge.' Elian didn't need to be told twice. He got up and strode off in the direction ShadowFox pointed, his boots thumping on the tile.
11 ShadowFox lingered for a moment, glancing at the monitors, his gaze resting a beat longer on Miranda before he followed Elian out.
That left the rest of them, and not much entertainment for the moment. With Mr. Ashcroft visiting, you wanted to be sure he felt welcome, not brushed off. Besides, ShadowFox had a few questions of his own about Miranda. Beck's eyes swept the group, finally landing on Miranda. He smiled-one of those sly, knowing Beck smiles. "Looks like we're all here. I guess you folks have already gotten to know each other." A few of the others shifted awkwardly the ones Miranda had, well, absolutely demolished when she walked in. "This is our newest member, Miranda," Beck announced, grinning. "And yeah, she's a knockout. But don't get any ideas-you wouldn't stand a chance." That joke broke the tension. No one could deny it: Miranda was gorgeous, but more than that, she'd taken them all by surprise. They'd pegged her for a pretty face, maybe a decoy. But then she'd wiped the floor with them.
Now everyone was on their best behavior, though Miranda could tell a couple of them were still stinging. They figured she'd caught them off guard, that they'd just underestimated her.
"Don't know them," Miranda said suddenly, cutting through Beck's speech. His smile froze on his face.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmShe flashed a smile of her own. "Care to introduce us properly?" Beck cleared his throat. "Right. Why don't you guys introduce yourselves?" Amelia jumped in first, bouncing a little. "I'm Amelia. Already said hi, but now it's official!" Next was the good-looking guy Miranda had interrupted earlier. He grinned wide, all white teeth and dimples. "Jacob. Nice to meet you." One by one, the rest chimed in: "Noah." "White Ghost." "Thomas." "James." "Silent Cat." "Zero-One." Miranda raised a brow. "Stage names, really?" Beck shrugged. "Hey, easier to remember. Like Zero-One here he was the very first one recruited to the department, so the nicknstuck." Miranda glanced at Zero-One. Average height, average build, nothing remarkable at first
glance one of those guys who'd vanish in a crowd. But she could feel it he radiated a dangerous energy, En.
more intense than any of the others.
Intros done, the pretty boy Jacob piped up, "So, Beck, what's the emergency? You didn't drag el out here just for a social hour, right?"
Amelia perked up. "Yeah, unless this is, like, sbig team-building m thing?" Honestly, she looked like she'd be into it. Beck rolled his eyes. "Alright, enough with the jokes. Let's get down to it." Miranda leaned forward, just as curious as the rest. What the heck was big enough to pull all these people together? Beck's voice went serious. "You all ever heard of Crow's Eye?"
The words landed like a thunderclap. Miranda, who'd been fighting offa yawn, suddenly straightened, wide awake: The others glanced at each other, tension flickering in their eyes. "Crow's Eye?" one asked. "You mean that mercenary group?"
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