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Part Twenty-Eight

Nick walked into the Disciplinary Committee office and spotted Cassandra having a discussion with Fred.

Fred did not look like he was sleepy today and the way he was acting was not like last time either. He seemed to be more professional.

“So you’ve decided to show up again huh newbie?”

Darren spoke to Nick while he was lazing around in the leather chair with his legs laid out on the table. In his hand was a black card that he continued to make appear and disappear.

“Well, I am a member. Why wouldn’t I show my face?”

Cassandra noticed Nick come into the room.

“Nick, come here for a second.”

She told him just as he was about to take his seat.

“Cassandra, do you need me for something?”

Nick asked as he arrived in front of her.

“Yes, it has to do with a few things. Fred, if you would.”

Fred tapped a button on the desk in front of him. From the center of the desk the top was split, and they moved towards the edge revealing a transparent board underneath.

“A virtual computer?”

“Yes.”

Fred moved his hands on the transparent screen, and a 3d model appeared on the screen.

It showcased a fairly large mountain range that was enclosed by a giant wall.

“This is Mt. Hessian. The student council has decided to divide the entire range into four quadrants. Each one will hold a mixture of students from different divisions. We don’t know what quadrant your class will be located in, but we will need you to meet up with us at the center.”

Fred moved his pointed at a location, and the coordinates appeared.

“Here, this is where we will meet up on the first day.”

Nick furrowed his eyebrows, why are they going when this camp is only for freshman?

“I thought this camp was only for freshman students?”

“The camp is, but do you think the school will allow students to roam around freely with no sort of protection in place? Four of us from the Disciplinary Committee has been tasked to protect the students from the shadows.”

Fred answered Nick’s question.

“The camp should be fairly safe, no?”

“Should be, but nothing can be too certain. Lately, there has been movement from certain organizations, such as AEU (Anti EXO User).”

AEU or Anti EXO Users was an organization whose goal was to kill off all EXO users from the face of the planet. EXO users while they are powerful that does not mean everyone uses their powers for good.

There have been many cases of EXO users killing ordinary people for their own goals. During war as well, EXO users are to be blamed for any sort of damage by these people.

AEU wanted to take the fight back to those who have harmed them and their families. They built themselves into a mighty empire that has been trained to take down EXO users.

While they want justice the way they are going about it is wrong, and they are considered terrorist.

“AEU? I thought they were being taken care of by the ATU (Anti Terrorist Unit)? Why would they target a school built to train EXO users? That is simply foolish.”

ATU or Anti Terrorist Unit is a specially designed group of elite soldiers mixing with both ordinary Civilians and EXO users. Their objective is to get rid anyone who commits terrorist acts on US soil.

“Because there will be no one to stop them if they get inside Mt. Hessian. They’ve been trained to take down EXO users, and a whole lot of freshmen students who have yet to develop fully are the perfect target.”

Cassandra gave him the answer.

Nick had to admit that this was a perfect target for such a group to strike. Kill them before they can bear their fangs.

“We’ve surveyed the area and narrowed down four possible points of entry, which just so happen to be separated by a large distance. It is impossible for a single person to cover all four entryways, and if you dispatch a small team to the four points. It will cause the students to worry.”

Fred spoke as he changed the 3d image to show four different entryways.

“And the student council president is allowing us to go knowing we’ll be a target.”

Nick didn’t understand how the student council president could put the students in danger. Her job is to protect and guide them, not lead them to their deaths. He couldn’t help but remember that face of hers, and she talked right to them knowing what was going to happen. She’s a cruel person.

“It was not like she had a choice in the matter, none of us did. It came from the chairman himself.”

“Terrific. So what is the plan?”

He wondered why the chairman himself would put them at risk.

“Locate and eliminate. We are working from the inside, but around the border, there will be various elite EXO users who will be waiting on standby. The moment you see anything strange, signal them and they’ll come rushing in. If everything goes as planned, none of the other students will know about this, and the training can proceed as it was meant to.”

“A pity we know nothing ever goes as planned. What is the chance for them to actually show up and how did they find out about this?”

Just because they were making preparations for AEU to show up does not mean they actually will. If they did show up then it would be a suicide mission, there would be no way they would be able to leave. However for there to be preparations means they have a high chance to show up.

“This camp is no secret; all the academies know we are going to Mt. Hessian to train our freshman. To put you all in danger was not what the chairman wanted or any of us, we are just being pressured.

Just when you think you are free from all restraints, someone comes and chains you down again. There is always someone with more authority than you; we just have to do as we are told.”

Fred explained why they knew about the existence of a camp. All of the academies knew about it and if they knew organizations that wanted EXO users gone, also knew.

What interested Nick more was the fact that someone had the power to pressure the chairman into making this decision. If such an influential person was the one moving the pieces around, he thought about who it could be. AEU while they are not a group to be taken lightly, it would not cause for one of the more powerful figures to make a move like this.

“And the likely chance?”

“Seventy-five percent.”

“Darren will transport two others with him. Travelling such a distance with two others will deplete him of his essence. This is to be kept a secret, be sure to keep it that way. You’re dismissed.”

Fred let Nick go; there was no need for him to stay. He was already informed of the matter at hand; now he just had to prepare for it physically and mentally.

“Well, what do you think?”

Cassandra couldn’t help but ask Fred his opinion.

“About?”

“The current status of our academy. To use our students as bait to lure in AEU is a bit uncalled for.”

Fred turned off the virtual computer, and the desk returned to normal. His facial expression darkened.

“I’m not even sure if we are going to be dealing with AEU.”

“Look on the bright side, at least this way you can see if the newbie is ready, right?”

Darren told them what he had to say. They wanted to know if Nick was able to join, and a perfect opportunity presented itself.

“This matter is not something to be taken lightly!”

Darren seemed like he was making a joke to Cassandra, so she could not help but get angry at him.

“So, who are we sending?”

Not minding Cassandra’s shout, Darren asked Fred a question.

“Roland, his skills will be needed, and I'll be going as well.”

“If you go, who is going to lead the other activities?”

“I think she is more than capable of handling those matters. She didn’t inherit the title ‘Queen’ for no reason.”

“It’s safe to assume we can take off the safety?”

“I approve.”

Fred nodded his head; there was nothing wrong with them taking the safety off their EXO weapons.

The phone in his pocket vibrated. He checked to see who it was, and answered it.

“Hello, chairman.

Yes, I've picked members as you’ve requested.

Nick Wilson? He is aware of the situation.

A transfer student? Now? Right… I'll be there.”

As he hung up the phone, a couple of members turned to look at him.

“I’ll return shortly.