I opened the folder as Jon opened his own, revealing a detailed report on four teenaged individuals, each with a name and what appeared to have been an alias as it was in quotations. With them, were computer generated age progression photos of each person. I found it strange that I could not look through any of their eyes but figured that, whoever they were, they must have been out of my range.
"A little over twenty years ago, we encountered the four teenagers you see in the file in front of you." serious, Alpha began. "They had called themselves the Problem Child Gang."
I rose a single eyebrow. "They were real!?" surprised, I thought. "Did they fight the Agency!?"
"At first, we viewed them as nothing more than a minor nuisance as they were fixated upon Sykes, a long time enemy to our cause." frowning, Alpha continued. "However, Sykes led them to believe we were his employer and their attention was shifted onto us."
"They did fight the Agency." awestruck, I thought. "They fought, survived, and escaped."
"Something on your mind, Tommy?" noticing my expression, Alpha asked.
"I am impressed, sir." softly, I said. "To lock horns with the Agency and survive..."
"Actually, we were impressed as well." flatly, Alpha said. "However, two of the members of that group were the children of the most wealthy and influential families on Earth." he frowned. "To take them then would have been too much of a risk and we let them go."
Alpha then turned to a professionally dressed tall and muscular woman with long black hair and green eyes. "Beta will take it from here."
"Thank you, Alpha." politely, Beta said. "Tommy, you will call me ma'am or mistress at all times, understood?"
"Yes, mistress." quickly, I replied.
Beta nodded. "Around the time the Agency had first encountered this Problem Child Gang, we were working on a child soldier project, of which you are a part of, Tommy." looking at me, she said. "We had considered making them a part of that project but, as Alpha explained, it was too much of a risk."
I raised my hand and she gave me the permission to speak. "Why is the Agency interested in the members of this group after twenty years?" curious, I asked. "They are all in their thirties by now."
"It is not them we are after, Tommy." with a deadly stare, Beta replied. "We want their children."
My eyes grew wide, hearing that as Beta continued. "I heard you are reading the graphic novel series, based on that group, is this correct?" she asked. I nodded. "Where are you in this series?"
"Book eight." softly, I replied. "The road to Rome."
Beta nodded. "That is the last book in the series." she explained. "However, that was not the last mission of the Problem Child Gang." she turned to Alpha, who nodded, then continued. "The group had a mansion headquarters, here in Europe, Sykes and his men burned it to the ground, leaving clues that we were responsible in case they had survived, as they did the trap in Rome."
"Oh man, she spoiled the end of the book." trying not to pout, I thought.
"You haven't finished reading it, I take it." with a slight smile, Beta said. she then turned serious. "You are now living the story; the Problem Child Gang, despite their injuries, came to us in retaliation."
She turned to Alpha who then took over. "Our headquarters was originally a modern castle, built in the cold and fog shrouded northern Ural mountains." serious, he said. "The Problem Child Gang used powers we had never expected to see out of anyone, especially those as young and injured as they were." frowning, he added, "They completely destroyed the castle as Sykes destroyed their mansion, setting us and our plans back twenty years!"
"So this is a matter of revenge." feeling a cold chill run down my spine, I thought. They want their children, if any, to use in their child soldier project or use them as bait to destroy their parents."
"We need you to find them, Tommy." after getting a nod from Alpha, Beta said. "We have narrowed the search down to the New England states in America, searching news and police archives for unusual events and occurrences."
"That's not going to be easy." pressing my lips together, I thought.
Just then, a muscular man, who looked to be in his mid twenties, entered. He was of average height with light brown hair, and blue eyes. "Forgive my tardiness, Alpha." politely, he said. "My flight ran late."
I turned to the man, curious, then saw all of the adults from the file in his mind. He had not only seen them, he had made contact with them in the last twenty four hours. "They were right under their noses all this time!" impressed, I thought. "This group is truly worthy of being superheroes."
"Welcome, Max Hagen." frowning, Alpha said. "Take your seat." he then turned to me, seeing my hand raised. "Speak!"
"I have found them, sir." flatly, I said.
"Perfect track record." with an impressed look, Alpha said. "You've trained him well, Jon."
"Thank you, sir." showing pride, Jon replied.
"Tell me where they are and I will grant you one wish within my power."
"Waterfront City, New York State." again, flatly, I replied.
"Locate this Waterfront City and send a scout team!" parked Alpha to his team. he then turned to me. "Name your reward for this service."
My lips trembled slightly before I replied, "Freedom."
Alpha chuckled darkly. "You wish for freedom, do you?" looking amused, he asked. I nodded, not knowing that Jon was touching the handle of his sidearm. "So be it."
This surprised both Jon and myself as Alpha then turned to Jon. "Tommy and Aura Winters are no longer your property but your apprentices." firmly, he commanded. "Their price for failure is the same as your own."
It was not what I wanted but it was a step closer. I was no longer a prisoner but an 'employee'. "Well played, Tommy." after we were dismissed, Jon said. "You are now one of us."
"For now, Jon." nodding silently, I thought. "Just for now."
Jon smiled. "Now that you and Aura are employees and not property, you may see your sister."
My eyes lit up as if every birthday had come at once. Little did I know I was playing right into their hands as I was only being taken deeper into the complex...
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