Psychic Company: Case 01 - Athena Pt.3
"They say the artifact is bound to you, becomes your true soul in a sense. Keep it safe because more than just your life may depend on it."
Office 2, located near downtown Lisbon along the coast, was a tall glass building that offered a sweeping panoramic view of the city and the surrounding landscape. Its very foundation blended cutting-edge technology and magical protection. All entrances were covered in several wards to repel malicious magic, as well as a pair of enchanted stone lions sent from Office 9 at the main gate. Their entire network was managed by Ana, the best technomancer in the world, and allowed staff to quickly detect, analyze, and respond to magical phenomena in record time.
When compared with the capabilities of Office 2, Office 3 was severely lacking in manpower, funding, and technology—but, this was how Willoughby wanted it. Leaning hard on Office 4 in Chicago was how he preferred doing things in order to keep his little office family safe.
Team Rooster and the Office 3 field team stood in the amazingly clean and modern main foyer, in the middle of saying goodbye to each other.
"Next time, call that thing out earlier," Ines joked, pointing at the little lantern pendant the Lantern of Gabriel had turned into. Emily laughed.
"If I could've called upon this thing sooner, trust me, I would have," she replied.
Kain groaned. "Come on, show some respect. This thing, that thing. It's the Lantern of Gabriel! Call it the Lantern of Gabriel!"
"If Emily is the Keeper of Gabriel's Lantern, does that mean you're going to start worshipping her, too?" Charles said playfully. Everyone laughed.
"Of course not! But..." Kain suddenly stuck his hand out at the woman. "I didn't get the chance to say it while we were in recovery, but I respect you, Emily. When I first heard that we were getting a field captain, and that they were a complete newbie, I was furious. Almost as furious as when I heard about what Jules did to cause this whole situation. But anyway, I want to say thanks. I look forward to working with you to capture the rest of the escaped otherworlders."
Emily teared up and, ignoring Kain's outstretched hand, wrapped her arms around him in a big hug. "Thank you! I'm so happy to receive your approval! I look forward to working with you, too!"
The others cheered for them, saying how encouraging it was for the field captain and the team lead to be on good terms. They talked a bit more until Emily got a text message that said their van had arrived.
"Your ride's here? We'll help you with your things," Ines said and Team Rooster picked up some luggage and helped carry it out front.
"Thanks," Emily said. "It was great working with you guys."
Ines smiled and said, "Come back anytime for a visit. You know where to find us."
With Willoughby in tow, Emily placed the jar that held Pallas Athena's miasma onto a shelf in their vault.
"Thanks," Willoughby said and locked the vault door behind them after they left. "The retrieval team will be here tomorrow to relocate her."
"It was fun," Emily said with a smile.
"I asked Dr. Agassi to wait for you before going home so remember to check in with him before heading out."
"But Vasquez already cleared me."
"I know," he said and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I just want to make sure you're okay." He looked down at the lantern pendant around her neck. "The Lantern of Gabriel... You must have been in truly dire straits to be blessed with the Lantern when you did."
Emily suddenly felt embarrassed, like he had just made a jab at her work performance. "I guess."
Willoughby picked up on this and adjusted his suit jacket. "Or it could be something else. Gabriel favors postal workers, and you were one previously. Also, they say that he and Athena were once lovers—can you believe that? An angel and a Greek goddess? Perhaps some benevolent aspect of Gabriel yet wanders and took pity on the corrupt Pallas Athena." He chuckled. "Anyway, I hope you have a good evening. Don't forget to see Dr. Agassi." He patted her on the back before heading off.
Dr. Agassi's medical wing was the same as she last remembered it. The doctor was sitting at his desk reviewing a file and looked up when Emily came in. "Ah, the Keeper of the Lantern returns!"
Emily blushed. "Please," she said, "don't joke like that."
Dr. Agassi chuckled. "My apologies." He set the file down, stood, and guided Emily over to an examination bed. "I was just looking over what Vasquez sent over."
"You had quite the face. That bad, huh?"
Dr. Agassi smiled as he joked, "Oh yeah, terrible." He withdrew his stethoscope and listened to her heart and lungs and felt around her throat. He took a sample of her blood and quickly scanned her magic levels. "Everything looks good." He eyed the lantern pendant and said, "I guess it has some minor healing properties. You should be in worse shape than Charles. I'm surprised you can even speak."
"The Lantern can heal?"
"Not directly, no. My guess is it's like a passive regeneration booster—but it's hard to say. The Lantern is one of those rare artifacts that disappear and reappear through the ages, as needed. It's taken on different forms depending on its Keeper, but all accounts about its primary abilities are similar: it emits a shining, calming light, reveals hidden things, and purifies corruption." He poked it, pressing it into her chest and continued, "They say the artifact is bound to you, becomes your true soul in a sense. Keep it safe because more than just your life may depend on it."
Emily wrapped her hand around the pendant, suddenly feeling the weight of what she so proudly showed off around her neck.
Dr. Agassi returned to his desk and started packing up his things. "I'm heading home. You got any plans? Would you like to join me and my husband for dinner?"
"I got something. Thanks, though." Emily shoved off the examination bed and added, "You don't live in the dorms?"
"Nope. I'm married, and don't have any powers. Our condo is pretty close, anyway. Not like Michael's house all the way in Kits. But, he has a car, and he has a daughter, blah blah. All I hear is privilege because he's Office 3's admin." Dr. Agassi smiled sadly. "But, I think he definitely deserves to have a safe place away from here." A silent moment passed and his expression snapped back to its usual grin as he reminded Emily to turn off the lights, said goodbye, and quickly left.
Emily closed up like she was asked and returned to the office area, where she gathered her things while chatting with Jules. She told him goodnight and took the elevator down to the foyer, where Oliver was just coming in from the rain.
"Oh, good, I caught you," he said, shaking his umbrella.
"What's up?"
"Jules and I are headed to the Old Spaghetti Factory for dinner. You wanna come?"
Emily smiled. "No, thank you."
Oliver scratched the back of his neck in embarrassment. "I see."
She couldn't help but laugh. She thought it was cute how easy he was to read. "Don't look so dejected. I'm having dinner with my dad. Someplace not at the house."
Oliver instantly cheered up. "That's great! You were so against it before. What changed your mind?"
"After what happened in Europe... Well, I gave what you said a little more thought. I was told in training that I'm allowed to tell my immediate relatives about work? So I'm going to tell him about my powers, about this world, and how I've changed as a person. I want things to be different from now on, so I'm going to try to make that happen."
"Hearing that makes me really glad. So, rain check on dinner?"
"Absolutely. And thanks. If it weren't for you, I would have erased my last living parent from my life." She placed a hand on his shoulder and gave him a peck on the cheek. "Have a good dinner."
Stunned, Oliver watched as Emily stepped out into the rain, opened up her umbrella, and walked toward the skytrain station.