Dark Empathy by Archibald Bradford (inspiring books for teens TXT) 📕

at the rendezvous location outside Algrade late in the afternoon; the hope being to avoid tipping off their quarry by having a number of Aegis personnel flood the city.

There they met up with Lilly and her pack, some two dozen hungry eyed Wolfen, who had practically sprinted to Algrade from parts unknown when Miranda contacted the Aegis a few days prior.

Along with the pack there were nine other Aegis operatives and their monster girls, pretty much every agent that was close enough and experienced enough had been summoned to take part in this operation.

Once they had all arrived Miranda whistled to get their attention.

“Listen up! You’ve all been briefed by the council, but here are the finer details. You’ll all probably remember when Booker’s Undine got burned and Yana skewered the one responsible? Well it turns out the bitch survived. Bethany Sinclair, alive and kicking.”

Nameleess’s jaw fell open at the startling revelation, but someone else spoke before he fully processed the implications.

“Not if I have my way. If my sister knew she yet lived...” Kala trailed off for a moment as dark thoughts filled her mind, finally she drew in a breath and finished her thought; “I will slay this wretched coward on her behalf.”

“Or take her alive. You know, like we’re supposed to. Whichever.” Jan remarked drily.

But Kala didn’t look dissuaded in the least so her bond-sister gave a shrug.

“Cross that bridge when we come to it I suppose.” The Wolfen muttered.

Miranda largely ignored the exchange, choosing instead to concentrate on continuing her briefing.

“As I said, our target is Bethany Sinclair. Believe it or not the sneaky bitch has been using her real name as an alias for her operations abroad. Within Algrade she goes by ‘Carol Reindel’. She grew up in the slums, so she knows the underbelly of this city better than any of us.”

She took a beat to look around and make sure everyone was paying attention.

“She’s operating out of a sketchy machine shop on the edge of one of the shanty towns. The location is remote enough that I don’t expect a lot of people to be around that don’t belong there, but all the same watch out for civvies once the fun begins. We’ll be linking up with a Hornet hive and a few more of our people in the city. Remember, our goal is to not let this shit-storm spill out into the slums or the city proper! But these fuckers nearly cooked me and mine back in Oakridge so don’t doubt they’ll be willing to do the same here.”

She had to take a second to draw in a steadying breath when she got to the next part.

“We also have someone on the inside. A Lapine courier, her name is Rebecca and she is one of the best people I know. She’s just a regular civilian that stepped up, which makes her one of ours. We found her roommate dead this morning. Since she wasn’t with her we have to assume her cover was blown and she was taken. We extract her at all costs. Benjamin, I want your team on that.”

One of the agents in the field, a sturdy-looking man with salt and pepper hair who was flanked on either side by a pair of pointy eared Spriggin, nodded in affirmation.

The elfin monster girls adjusted their bows on their shoulders in agitation as their master acknowledged their role.

A distant cousin to the Dryads, the four foot tall Spriggin were quick, with supernatural reflexes and unerring aim with their little arrows. Unlike their cousins, the Spriggin wore clothing, simple tunics in forest hues.

They observed the world faster than everybody else, even now their eyes were darting around like hummingbirds while they took in their surroundings, as such they could survey a room and zero in on their targets before anyone had a chance to even see them.

If anyone could spot a lone Lapine in a crowded machine shop it was them.

Miranda continued, if anything her words more dire than before.

“These people have been linked to Jonathan Pym and the Chimera Evadne, so keep an eye out for Tenebrae. Take them alive if possible, get them to Volka and Cadet Armstrong.”

She nodded her head to gesture to Nameless and the Valkyrie, at which point there was a bit of shuffling and rustling as most everybody in the clearing turned to look at them.

More than a few frowns greeted the attendance of the white-uniformed tainee in such an important operation, so Nameless did his very best to look like he belonged beside the ancient warrior angel.

Whatever concerns they had were quickly put to rest by Volka’s serene presence and once their curiosity had been satisfied they turned back to Miranda.

She looked around at all the solemn faces.

“The ones we are up against are highly organized and armed to the teeth. They will have no compunctions about putting any one of us in the dirt. Nina, where are you?”

Nina lifted her arm in the air, but was simply too short to be readily spotted in the crowd.

Miranda rolled her eyes.

“Just stand on a stump or something would you?”

The Gigas let out a few curses but did as she was asked, putting her hammer on its head and hopping on top of it so that they could all see her.

Miranda pointed to the diminutive Gigas and the assorted Aegis personnel again turned to look at her.

“Nina is the tip of the spear, or more of a brick really. She goes in first, hard and fast to get their attention. Once the shooting begins, and make no mistake people, there will be shooting. Go lethal on anyone holding a weapon once she announces us. We give them one chance to throw down arms. If they ignore that chance, be fast and don’t hesitate. She can