CHAPTER 3: ALL SUITED UP FOR SOME DRAMA!
The mission had been a successful failure.
To Alaister at least. He was seated at the dining table of his small apartment.
The living room and the dining room shared the same space, but the place was actually well furnished.
A cream carpet sat at the centre of two sofas. On one side were wall-to-ceiling windows that led to the balcony. At the front was a flat screen TV and a small countryside painting above it. In the dining room, where he was seated: there lay a rectangular mahogany table with four seats surrounding the exterior. Up on the white wall was a basic wall clock that ticked a sound every now and then.
The kitchen wasn't that spacious either; with a gas oven, a utensil rack, a sink, a bunch of cupboards and a fridge. The only bedroom in the apartment had a single bed, a lamp perched beside the bed, a sideboard at the front of the room and a wardrobe to the left.
Alaister was shirtless, with only a pair of black trousers holding his frame. His body wasn't particularly massive, but he was definitely muscular.
He leaned forward, his elbows resting on the table as he went on to clasp his fingers. His eyes gazed at the closed navy blue curtains, though his mind couldn't be further away.
He could still remember it; the way the ghouls tore apart those civilians like each of their souls was significant. He wasn't particularly saddened...however, those were still people who had hope they were going to make it back home, back to their families. But they didn't.
He completed the mission, and to other hunters, they'd most likely tap themselves on the back and call it a job well done. Not Alaister, that mission would have gone better, and he knew it. So how? How did it go so south?
He knew it was Nilli to blame for the miscommunication, her job as his mission analyst is to give him a detailed report before he proceeds to handle a reported rifter case. She didn't. However, Alaister didn't believe she was at fault, after all, she didn't even know.
The ghouls he'd been informed about were your usual low-rank creatures. But what burst through those doors was anything but low rank.
He was certain, those were ABNORMAL GHOULS.
Abnormals, are creatures that have the capability to manipulate their essence. When a creature escapes through the spatial tear and enters the human world, it obtains the name Rifter, which is derived from the word, Rift. Scientists, through investigations and experiments, found a way to help hunters establish the kind of Rifter that was going to come into the world.
With the use of the technology, the association was able to determine which hunter would be most efficient to send and subjugate the Rifter, increasing the success rate and reducing the death count.
Then came Abnormals. Creatures that could drastically shift their power level and bypass the system that was set by the humans. In simple terms, the Rift could be determined as a low level, and so a low-level creature is expected to step out. However, Abnormals shift that dynamic since they can step out of low-level rifts, yet they could be of high rank.
What didn't make sense to Alaister, was how the ghouls had been out for the past 21 hours, and Nilli didn't seem to have a clue. On top of that; she didn't even know where they were going to be and what rank they were.
In 2027, the world leaders had gathered and seen it fit that satellites should be sent into space in order for the hunters association to be able to: know where a rift was going to open, and where the Rifters were at all times. Alongside that benefit, people would be informed in case of any Rift or creature-related danger.
But last night, Nilli wasn't even able to give him this basic data. If he were a weaker hunter, there's no doubt that he and all those people in that club would be just a pile of corpses.
So...was there a chance that he was set up?
Alaister sighed." All this thinking has got me hungry."
He got up from the seat and headed to the kitchen. Cracking a couple of eggs, slipping some bacon and sausages into a pan, he fried himself some breakfast. After chawing down the meal, he went on to take a shower, and before long, he was at his wardrobe.
He picked up his custom-made hunter uniform and donned it. It was a black suit with some red highlights around the blazer. He wore a slick black pair of trousers, black boots, and the custom overcoat; its shoulders were streaked with red outlines with four crimson stars on its left.
The 4 stars implied his ranking as a hunter. The hunter association ranked its different hunters using three aspects of data...
ONE: How many Rifters have been subjugated by the hunter throughout his term of service?
TWO: How many Rifts the hunter has been able to successfully shut throughout his term of service.
THIRD(Most considered.): What essence level is the Hunter?
Once these three have been examined, the hunter is given a star to represent his capability and rank in the hunter association.
There are seven colour stars, representing the different ranks of a hunter:
1. Lowest Rank: SILVER STARS.
2. Lower Rank: RED STARS. (Crimson)
3. Medium Rank: PURPLE STARS. (Violet)
4. High Rank: GOLD STARS.
5. Great Rank: BLACK STARS.
6. Honoured Rank: WHITE STARS.
7. Worshipped Rank: DIAMOND STARS.
On top of the colour variations, were the number of stars that a hunter has throughout that rank. There were 4 in total. Once a hunter has been adorned with all 4 stars, the fifth one they receive is a promotional star that enables the hunter to receive another ranking and colour star variation.
Alaister may be pretty low in the ranking chart, but at least he wasn't at the bottom of the barrel.
He fixed his body camera and headed to the door.
Leaving his apartment wasn't the easiest thing, mostly because he was kinda lazy and would much rather binge a series than be out in a world that was busy attacking him with supernatural entities.
'I guess praying that my shift ends early today is a bit delusional.'
He locked the door behind him and headed down the flight of stairs.
*
*
Alaister casually walked around the busy streets of the city. The sun radiated a bearable amount of heat as the tall skyscrapers cast tall shadows along the paths. Cars zoomed as people bumped shoulders going about their day.
Alaister could confirm that this was the usual chaos that he'd grown accustomed to.
He stopped, having finally reached his destination.
Across the street; was a tall, broad building. It had a medieval aesthetic. With its stone walls, strategically positioned towers and wall-to-ceiling windows. At the summit of the towers, were the Hunter association flags.
'I honestly laugh when someone asks me for directions to this building. Like seriously, how do you miss it when it literally appears like a castle made in the 1800s?
He smirked and walked over to the entrance before slipping through the tall, mahogany doors.
Inside was a complete contrast; there was a magnificent chandelier dangling over the lobby, slick sparkling tiles covered every inch of the floor, on the right was a counter where two secretaries were typing away at computers, and above them was the Hunter association banner in navy blue.
Alaister felt a sense of nostalgia being here, after all, he'd only been a hunter for one year. He felt as though it was just yesterday; when he came in after completing his initiation at the Chapel. There were several men and women in suits walking around with faces glued to tablets. Back then, there was a big rift rupture, so nobody really had time to pay attention to him.
The secretary didn't even give him a glance when he introduced himself, she just pointed him to a seat and didn't say a word after. He sat there, for a couple of minutes, watching as Red Star Hunters walked past him with stern and determined looks. He admired their bravery, and back then it felt as though receiving their rank was impossible.
After what felt like an eternity to him, a girl finally came up to him and introduced herself as his Mission Analyst. That's when he first met, 'Nilli.'
Alaister's smirk sharpened as he headed up a flight of stairs and down the corridor where the Analyst offices were.
The Analyst debrief room was more the size of a hall than an office. There was this long cobalt blue table that cut across the room with dozens of seats placed around it.
Usually, when an urgent situation or a message to be passed on arose, they all sat there and discussed the situation at hand.
On either end of the hall were these work cubes that were separated from each other. Most of the Analysts had already reported in, with some chattering in their earpieces as they handled missions.
And the wall to the right delivered magnificent lighting to the space. Alaister dropped down here at least once a week, but the regulation called for hunters to make a daily check-in at their division, he just wasn't much for rules.
No one paid much mind to him as he walked past the different work cubes, but no one failed to notice him...After all, he was the only person with remarkable white hair.
He entered a work cube where a girl was busy scrambling through disorganised papers.
She was chocolate-skinned, with long black curls that matched her eyes, she had diamond earrings perched on her ears and was dressed in a black suit that held her like a second skin.
" You look like you're having an eventful morning." Alaister quirked.
Nilli raised her head to glance at him for just a second, before dropping her gaze back down." You're late."
Alaister sat at the edge of her workspace." You say it like it's the first time."
"I'm glad you can still smirk at a time like this, because the chief wants to see us." She held up two documents, looked at them, before dismissively stashing them.
"Wow. Really? I think this is the third time this month I'm going to that senile dog's office. Did we earn a medal?" Alaister asked.
She organised the remaining papers and picked up a file, she straightened as her gaze went to his." More like earned a lecture. He stopped me this morning, talking about how the mission was a failure and it's all your fault."
'I wonder how he came to that conclusion.' He thought.
"Sounds like fun. I was actually hoping to hear what his view was on that mission." Alaister grinned.
"Take this seriously, Alaister. Our jobs are on the line here. You may not like yours, but I do." Nilli said, her tone serious.
Alaister gave a delighted scoff." Well, I have a brother on the coast. If things go south and we get fired, then he could totally hook us up with some fishing jobs."
She growled and began walking off. Alaister followed.
They left the Analyst debrief room and waltzed down the corridor.
"First of all Alaister, you don't have a brother." She paused." And second, no one is getting fired because you are going to let me handle this."
Alaister scoffed." I'm not just going to stand and let that dog bark insults at me."
Nilli stopped and grabbed his arm. Alaister glanced at her hand before looking back into her eyes.
"Yes, you are. Because we both know that the mission would have gone better, people died, Alaister. That blood is on our hands."
Alaister's smirk dropped an inch." You're letting that old dog enter your head. What happened last night is not our fault. And putting those people's blood on your hands isn't fair."
Nilli exhaled, her gaze breaking from his before she stared back." Alaister, you almost died."
His smirk rose again." Almost."
She rolled her eyes and walked off again.
"Besides. I'm like a fox, and you can't kill foxes." Alaister followed her.
"Ah, yes you can... one got stuck under my tyre just last Christmas." Nilli flashed him a smile.
Alaister frowned." You're heartless."
Shortly, they stopped before an office door.
Nilli turned to Alaister and began fixing his tie." Remember, you're letting me handle this."
Alaister just smiled.
Nilli ran a couple of fingers through his hair and brushed the city dust off his coat." I got some data that should at least give us some ground against the chief, so please don't mess this up." She paused."You ready?"
"You know, the two of us would actually make a good couple," Alaister responded, smugly.
Nilli tilted her head." Stop being so delusional."
Alaister raised his hand in mock surrender." Hey, I was just thinking out loud"
Nilli turned and knocked on the door.
Alaister casually slid his hands in his pockets. He was already certain that things weren't going to turn out the way Nilli expected them to. However, what he was sure of, was that the chief wanted him, not her. She was more of an audience than a participant.
He glanced at her. Shoulders high and stiff, her breaths deep as if she was barely getting enough oxygen.
'Should I make a joke to lighten up the mood? You know what, probably best if I didn't.' Alaister thought.' She's got her A Game face on. It's too bad though...'
"Come in." Came a voice from inside.
Nilli took a breath as she proceeded to turn the nob. Alaister followed her inside quietly.
"Well. Well. Well. If it isn't the most incompetent hunter in this division." The chief spoke, mockery lacing his tone.
Alaister's smirk sharpened.