Chapter 4: Chapter 4
I felt the blood drain away from my face. My heart was about to bust out of my chest, I think I might pass out.
The agent approached me and held me steady. I looked over at my mom, her face was as pale as mine if not more.
"You're kidding, right?" I asked, hoping this is some sort of joke.
I saw Agent Miller raise an eyebrow behind his glasses, "Does it look like we're kidding?" he asked, as he raised his hands and gestured around to several of the agents keeping watch.
I shook my head, accepting the truth. "Then, whats going to happen to us?" I asked, while holding my gaze on the most important person in my life.
Agent Miller's voice worked like a magnet to bring my eyes back to him, "There are a number of routes you can go, Mr. Larouge. For starters, you can accept and go with them. You can decline and stay here in the states, under our protection."
"Mr. Foldiun, who claims to be the leader of the fleet, says you and your mother may be in danger. With Galia being one of the stronger countries on that side of the barrier, that means they have many enemies. He has reason to believe your life may be in danger."
My mom fell to her knees, the concrete scrapping the smooth skin protecting her muscles.The agent beside Miller ran to help her up, to no avail. Her legs won't stop shaking.
"Is this true? Is my boy really in danger?" She asked, glancing up at the agent trying to assist her, then shifting her gaze towards Agent Miller.
The agent nodded briskly, "We have a safe house for him currently on the edge of town. Lord Foldiun will be meeting us there in a few days, where he will provide you with more details and get you answers if you have any questions. There is also a large squad elite of Galian soldiers already at the house, with another team en-route. They will help protect you."
Mom looked at me, I could see the worry lingering in her eyes. I understand where shes coming from, I'm the only family she has left. Grandpa and Grandma died years ago, leaving us alone in this world together. We've been with each other ever since.
"I'll come with you guys, but I don't know if I want to become this Emperor person. This is so much bigger than me." I said, looking at Agent Miller, trying to make eye contact but his sunglasses prevented that.
Agent Miller nodded, "Understandable, this is perhaps a large burden on anyone, and you're young, only about fourteen?"
"Fifthteen, sir." I corrected.
He nodded. "Alright, do you have anything you'd like to bring from home?"
"Perhaps my computer with internet access?" I asked half-heartily, kind of already guessing the answer I'm going to get.
Agent Miller shook his head, "I'm afraid not, son. We can't allow you to have access to the internet at this moment. The signal could be traced and the enemy could be down on our position in no time. I'll also have to request you turn off your cell phones if you have one."
I sighed and pulled my phone out, then I pulled the back out and grabbed the battery, pulling it from it from its resting place. I noticed mom pulling hers out with shaky hands, and turning the phone off.
"Alright, now are you close with anyone else? We need to make sure that anyone close to you is secured as well, we can't afford anyone using leverage against you." The Agent asked.
I dipped my head in thought. "Perhaps my best friend Allen, he stays over often and rides to and from school with us everyday."
"His life is in potential danger too then," Miller turned towards my mom, his face softening slightly, "Would you be able to check him out and bring him here?"
My mom nodded, and with a little effort, managed to get up and walk back to the officer with the other agent's help.
Me and Agent Miller stood there in awkward silence. Minutes later, Allen, my mother, and the other agent emerged from the office.
Allen's face was scrunched up in confusion, it would have been entertaining if not for the situation.
"What's going on?" He asked as he approached us.
"Due to a few circumstances, we'll need you to come with us for a few days." Agent Miller said simply.
"Circumstances? What kind?" Allen asked, his eyebrow reaching out slightly.
Agent Miller sighed, I guess Allen wasn't taking the hint, Miller probably didn't want to reveal everything to Allen for his own protection. I also think Miller realized he wasn't going to get away with a single description.
"Your friend, Sebastian, has been chosen by the Empire of Galia, which is the nation that the fleet that showed up belongs to, over the weekend, to be their next Emperor. We are moving him, his mother, and hopefully you to a safe location on the outskirts of town until Lord Folduin can arrive and talk with Sebastian."
Agent Miller turned, and headed towards the parking lot, which there was noticeably quite a few black SUVs parked.
"Well, if you're getting me, are you getting my parents too?" Allen questioned.
Agent Miller stopped, then turned towards Allen. "A separate team will gather your parents up and take them to a separate secured location."
Allen nodded, looking satisfied.
"Anymore questions before we embark on the road?"
"Actually, how do you know where my parents work. They may be at work by the time you guys get there. They're always working." Allen said.
Agent Miller sighed, "We're the government."
That's the only reply Allen got.
I followed Agent Miller, I heard shuffling feet behind me and assumed it was Allen, Mom, and the other agent.
I noticed the other agents around the school yard started following us towards the black SUVs.
Agent Miller opened a door once we arrived, ushering us into the middle of one of the black SUVs. The vehicles looked brand-new, there wasn't a single stain or speck of dust that could be seen on the outside or inside.
I got in first, followed by Allen and then mom. I looked through the windows, seeing other agents jumping into the remaining SUVs.
The driver and passenger side doors opening brought me back from my little sight seeing trip. Agent Miller got into the passenger seat, while the Agent that assisted Mom got into the drivers side.
Moments later, an SUV pulled out, and then another, our driver pulled out and followed behind the second one with one more SUV behind us.
I turned to Allen, "You don't seem as surprised as I was when they told you why they were here."
"I'm pretty surprised, truth be told. I've just been thinking about it for the last few minutes, but you're an amazing guy, Sebastian. You have your flaws, but so does everyone else. Nobody is perfect." he said.
He released a sigh, turned his round eyes on me, and continued, "I don't know man, I just think you'd be a better choice for it."
I felt my face flush slightly, "But you need to quit playing those real time strategy games, major flaw there bro." He added.
I punched him lightly on the arm, he and I let out a soft chuckle.
I looked over at mom to see a small grin plastered on her face, as she watched us. "I agree with him, son. I think with some training, you could be great. They just need to teach you all about that new world over there."
I frowned slightly, "Mom, Allen," I started, my tone serious, "I don't think I'm going to accept their offer."
I looked ahead just in time to see Agent Miller tilt his head slightly left.
I guess they would be listening, considering they're right in front of us.
I turned towards Mom and Allen again. Allen's face was just a scrunched up mess of bewilderment. Mom was smiling her benevolent smile. Her eyes sparkled, was it pride?
Agent Miller turned slightly in his seat towards me, "I think you should listen to what Lord Folduin has to say and offer, at the very least."
"I'll hear him out, but that's all I'll promise."
***
We were traveling in for about twenty minutes, when Allen suddenly spoke up, "Why don't you guys just bring us to an army base or Area 51?"
"Well for starters, Area 51 may not be safe currently. Many bullshit people are talking about storming it. And another reason is we're trying to keep this down low for right now. There is a possibility that the enemy may have spies in the military or other organizations controlled directly by the government. Only a select few know of who Galia wants, I can count that list on my fingers and toes. That's excluding the group of us that are guarding you, of course."
Allen shrugged and simmered down. I had wondered similarly why I wasn't going to the White House or a more prestigious location beside some random safe house.
The convoy turned down a side road, a large forest of oak trees littered both sides of the road with a variety of flowers painting more to the already serene and beautiful scene. Now all we needed were a few different varieties of wildlife and the painting would be complete.
Within minutes, the road turned into a driveway and split off and then came back to reconnect later, forming a large O driveway. It reminded me of the type of driveways that those rich people have, as seen in movies.
An iron fence linked to a gate surrounds the driveway, a large house, and what appears to be the front yard.
A beautiful fountain spraying out water stood sentry in the center of the driveway with several bushes forming a perimeter around it, and a bench on each side, facing towards the fountain.
A pair of agents stand guard at the gate. The lead SUV came to a stop. The agents move forward towards it.
One of the agents moved from vehicle to vehicle, he makes it to ours soon enough, and makes a request for identification from Agent Miller and our driver. They pull out a white card with a navy blue trim on it, and pass it to him.
He passes them back a few moments later after inspecting it, then glances in the backseat.
Without a word, he moves onto the last SUV.
"What are those cards for?" I ask.
Agent Miller tosses me his card, "It's for Operation Emperor Galia, a whole new security level was created for this mission. These cards identify us as members of the mission."
The card had Miller's photo ID on it, as well as a variety of other information that I didn't understand.
"I think maybe you guys are over exaggerating this." Allen said, glancing slightly at the card.
Agent Miller turned and pulled his glasses off, exposing his chestnut eyes. They gave the impression that they pierced straight through Allen.
"Half of that Galian fleet alone has the power to conquer our world." Miller said, his eyes glued to Allen.
"The combined forces that surround that fleet will possibly not even scratch it. I'm going to give you a quick lesson." He continued.
Our driver looked at Miller, "Agent, you do not have that authority."
Agent Miller turned and looked at our driver. "If this boy is going to be involved, then I'm going to let him know what he might be involved in." Agent Miller turned and locked his piercing eyes on me, ignoring our driver as he clicked his tongue.
"The other side of that barrier is chaotic. There are hundreds of nations, all as advanced as Galia, which are decades if not centuries ahead of the United States, Russia, or China in terms of technology and science. They have access to new minerals over there that we don't. They have new ways of altering their bodies, new technology of shields and weapons, new types of Artificial Intelligence you wouldn't even dream possible."
There was nothing but stunned silence in the truck. I glanced over at my mom, her face had gone paler than snow. It looked like she was going to cry, her eyes teared up.
"The worst part about that, is there are dozens of different types of cultures over there. There are leaders over there that would make even Hitler look tame. Folduin will explain more once he arrives. He opened up our eyes. Galia is one of the few countries that shields others from harm, they haven't had an Emperor in years. They're desperate, and they need you, Sebastian. Give it some thought."
Agent Miller turned around, having said his due. Our driver glanced over at Miller, I couldn't tell if he was disappointed or unhappy by Agent Miller's breach of protocol.
Mom bit her lip, while her legs raced at several miles per hour. She always moved her legs, kinda kicking them when she was unsettled, and after hearing that, I can't blame her. Allen hasn't said anything either, so all of us sat there in awkward silence.
I expect me and mom will have a talk later to discuss this.
All of this mess is just so much to swallow, I don't think I can do it.
The guards at the gate waved us forward, the gate slid open and the first SUV moved into the small estate.
I could feel their gazes on me as our SUV took its turn through the gate.
They SUV convoy drove through the driveway. The yard surrounding the beautiful concrete was filled with lush beautiful trees and a huge variety of colorful flowers.
I would love to live here peacefully.
If only the world wasn't out to get me, I thought.
My attention was brought to the bottom of the stairs, which lead up to the house. The sight set my heart pounding.
Standing at the bottom of the stairs was a group that I could only assume were the Galian soldiers clad in the armor and weaponry shown in the video with Folduin. They faced towards our approaching convoy.
Several held spears, others held what looked like a snow white bow, with a sapphire lining decorating several parts of the bow. There were also a few rifles thrown in the mix, all of which more refined and looked more powerful than our own.
Like in the video, the soldiers have a sheath with a sword inside strapped to their waist on the left side.
The men--and women, it appeared--waited patiently for the convoy to come to a halt.
Our vehicle stopped right in the front of the path that led up to the soldiers standing at the bottom of the stairs.
Agent Miller turned around and looked right at me. "Standing at the bottom of those stairs is a small squad of Galia's Royal Guard. They are responsible for the protection of the Emperor. They will be protecting you for an indefinite amount of time."
My mouth hung open for what seemed like an absurd amount of minutes.
I sat there speechless, and glanced at my mother. It looked like a little bit of color was restored to her face on hearing that news.
"So my boy will be protected?" She spoke up and asked.
Agent Miller turned to her. "Yup. These men are the shields of the Emperor, at least that's what Lord Folduin has told us. They will be with him at all times."
I could see the relief in my mother's eyes. That made me feel better.
Wait...
"I haven't even agreed to accept, yet." I said, looking from my mom to Agent Miller. The Agent nodded.
"I remember, this is just information to help soothe your mother and her worries."
I accepted his reply with a nod of my head. Allen stayed quiet during the whole exchange.
"Well, if that is all done, I believe we should stop making Captain Zurlian wait." Agent Miller said, as he opened his door. He paused as he started getting out, and turned back towards me. "The Galians are anxious to meet you, Sebastian. I've had a chance to talk with them, and they aren't too different from the rest of us. Give them a chance."
I nodded slightly, and with that, we all began exiting the vehicle.
I couldn't help feeling a little excited, this was a kind of adventure in its own way after all.
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