The next day, Jonah and Vanessa were summoned to a different part of the Academy - one that felt more like a military base than a school. They stood in a huge hangar, the air had a sharp, metallic smell. A sleek, black transport sat in the middle of the room. Its engines were quiet but hummed with hidden power.
Seraph was waiting for them, dressed not in her instructor's uniform but in black combat gear. She looked sharper, deadlier.
"Welcome to the 'Anomalous Species Task Force,'" she said, her voice missing its usual sarcasm. "ASTF for short. I'm the commanding officer."
Three other figures stood near the transport. One looked curious. Another, doubtful. The third, totally disbelieving.
"Now let's get straight to business. Time for introductions," Seraph announced, gesturing to the oldest of the three. He was thin and tough, with a face that showed his hard life and eyes that had seen too much. His gear was practical, not shiny or new like Academy students.
