Even though the executive meeting room, located in the heart of the Bureau of Empowered Investigations, had some of the plushest seats in the building and proper air conditioning, it didn’t stop its current occupants from shifting in their seats and sweating profusely.

 

Having a terrorist attack occur in the middle of one of the largest empowered campuses in the country was bad, but finding out that it had been assisted by bureau staff was a disaster. Even with the lockdown in place, several videos of the rampant Ruptures around campus had gotten out, and the fact that the special response team had been on site meant people wanted answers.

 

Most departments had been working around the clock trying to come up with answers, and after a week, most had more questions than answers. So it was understandable that most of the Section heads jumped in their seats when the door was smashed open.

 

“Sit down,” Director Hamilton snarled as he marched past his subordinates. “It’s been a week since this debacle occurred, and the media is still breathing down my neck, so you'd better have some answers for me.”

 

He sank into a big leather office chair at the head of the table and took a moment to loosen his tie before finally turning back to the table. “Spencer, tell me what you’ve found,” he barked.

 

A slightly balding man in a disheveled suit slowly rose to his feet. He adjusted his glasses. “Forensics has completed our analysis of the water, and we’ve confirmed that the terrorists may have been using water as a delivery device, but it was not what caused the problem. Somehow, they managed to create a custom protein that captures Prosch particles and keeps them suspended until they come into contact with a living thing. Once it did, the protein broke down and released the particle.”

 

“Thank you for reiterating what you said a week ago,” Director Hamilton growled. “Do you have anything new to report?”

 

“It can’t be released into the public water supply, not in its current state,” Spencer replied. “The protein breaks down extremely easily when exposed to most solvents or even excess agitation. It wouldn’t survive a trip through most municipal pipes. That’s probably why they were passing it out in bottles.”

 

“Finally, some good news. That should alleviate some of the public concern,” Hamilton muttered.

 

“Well, partially. We still have no idea who discovered this process or how they trapped the particles inside. The bureau has been trying for years, and we’ve been unable to contain Prosch particles in any way,” Spencer said.

“Well, now you have something to build off of, lucky you,” Hamilton said, before turning to the next person in line. “Fergason, how's the investigation going?”

 

“Badly,” the woman replied. “Most of the people we have in custody seem to have been recruited on campus, and have no idea where the water came from. It seems that most of this was orchestrated by one of the security supervisors, an admin manager, and a gym teacher.”

 

“And those three nearly pulled one over on the entire bureau, shameful,” Hamilton grunted. “Continue.”

“The ring leaders claim they don’t know who orchestrated this entire thing. They were contacted through dead drops, provided with both the money and the credentials to get hired, and finally given the water and instructions on how to test it,” the woman said.

 

“Test?”

 

“All three were very clear; their letters used the phrase ‘test the water’ on the students,” Fergason replied.

 

“Have they given a reason for staging the attack yet?” the director asked gruffly.

 

“They haven’t needed to,” Fregason said. “All three have arrest records. Two of them lost family members during Ruptures, and the third has a history of violence against Empowered people.”

“If that’s true, how did these people get hired on campus? Don’t we have screening procedures?”

 

“We do, extensive ones. However, the process was compromised. All three are listed as passing the background check. We’re still investigating how and why,” Furgason replied.

 

“Find out by the next meeting,” Hamilton ordered. “Gardner!”

 

The skinny man at the opposite side of the table jumped slightly, “Yes, Director? I thought this meeting was to go over the security concerns on campus. I didn’t expect you to want a breakdown on all the entities that broke through during the turmoil,” he said.

 

“I don’t!” the director snapped. “But it has come to my attention that several of your agents have been skulking around campus, making trouble for the other departments.”

 

“My agents were just doing their jobs,” Gardner sputtered. “We received reports of Entities defending students during multiple Ruptures, and we were investigating. A loose Entity running around campus could pose a serious threat.”

“And that gave your agents the right to not only surveil a student, but break into their house without a warrant?” Hamilton asked coldly. Gardner shrank back slightly.

 

“We were doing an investigation, and we had multiple reports of that student being in or around the Entities in question. I had a reasonable belief that they might have been trying to protect her, and would hang around her residence,” Gardner explained.

 

“Even if that’s the case, you should have followed procedures instead of causing repeated disruptions on campus, interrupting the investigation. Not only that, but authorizing your agents to break into a private residence was borderline illegal! The only reason why you and your agents haven’t been suspended is that any campus residents have to sign forms allowing the BEI to inspect their residences at any time, in case a rift Entity escapes the perimeter,” the director said. “I know you have some powerful people backing you up, that’s why you get a pass this time, but know this. If you ever try and pull that shit again without a warrant and the proper paperwork, I’ll shut your little play club down, got it?”

 

“Yes,” Gardner muttered.

 

“Beg your pardon?” the older man barked, leaning forward. “I didn’t quite make that out.”

“Yes, director!” Gardner declared, much louder this time.

 

“Good,” Hamilton replied, before leaning back and jumping to his feet. “Now, I’d like to hear what the rest of you have to say, but I want to pass the forensic findings onto the public as soon as possible. Spencer, as soon as you get out of here, I want you to send your results to my office, so we can start drafting a proper announcement. Everyone else, I want a summary of your findings on my desk first thing tomorrow. Got it?”

 

When no one replied, the director straightened out his suit and headed to the door, “Good. You’re all dismissed.”

 

After everyone else filed out, Gardner stayed in his seat, and as soon as the door closed, he jumped to his feet and flung the tablet sitting on the table in front of him at the wall in rage. “Just try and fire me,” he hissed at the door. “We’ll see who goes first. Maybe it’s time for a regime change around here.”

 

After a couple of seconds, he seemed to calm down and brushed his hair back. “Time to make some calls.”

 

—

 

“Are you sure this is the place? I thought Tyberius said it was the greenhouse,” Crackle said suspiciously as the tiny red fairy darted back and forth.

 

“He did, but maybe he got the number wrong,” Zap, the yellow one, replied.

 

“He’s not you, Tyberius knows his numbers,” Frost declared.

 

“Stop arguing! It doesn’t matter whether the number is correct or not; what matters is that we found Tammy again!” Sprout declared as they landed on the window.

 

Just beyond was Tamera, with half a dozen other humans, all laid out over the furniture, and each other, laughing at the giant moving picture box mounted on the wall. As they watched, Tammy jumped at something, spraying popcorn everywhere and causing the others to laugh.

 

“Why did Tyberius need us to watch her anyway? Why couldn’t he just stick around like before?” Frost asked.

 

“I dunno, he said something about absorbing too much power, and bringing her trouble,” Zap replied. “As he could ever be trouble for her, he cares too much.”

“I still don’t know how he knew where we were,” Crackle grumbled.

 

“Nothing gets by the old man,” Sprout declared. “He must have known we were gathering back at the park occasionally to share our findings. I feel bad that we weren’t able to fulfill our promise and figure out how to help Tammy make friends, but I’m glad she managed to figure it out on her own.”

 

“So now what? Should we tell her we’re here?” Crackle asked.

 

“That would be awkward. What are we supposed to say? ‘Hey Tammy, long time no see! Sorry, we were never able to fulfill our promise, but we’ve never been that far away! Frost said. “I say it’s better that we stay hidden for now, and reveal ourselves when the time is right!”

 

“But… Hairy, Angelica, and Tyberius just left. Wouldn’t she want to know we’re looking in on her?” Zap asked.

 

“Look at her, she finally found some human friends. We’d just get in the way,” Sprout said sadly. “We’ll tell her, eventually, just not now.”

 

“If you say so,” Crackle muttered, before taking a seat on the windowsill.

 

“Even if she doesn’t know we’re here, we’ll keep her safe,” Frost declared. “We promised!”

 

“Of course we will,” Zap replied, before taking a seat beside their siblings. “For now, we watch.”