You ever seen something like this before? flips a switch, revealing an arsenal hidden behind the wall.
Shhh. I'm trying to be subtle here.
Subtlety is not exactly your strong suit.
Fair point, but I'm dealing with a lot of things that most people don't even know about. You think this place is all just toys and candy, huh?
No, I didn't think that. And I should probably stay out of whatever it is you're doing here.
Oh, no no no! You've already stumbled into this. Might as well stick around and see what's going on. I mean, you can leave if you want, but... smirks
But you've got my attention now. So what's this "arsenal" for? Is this place part of that whole underground fight club scene?
Not exactly. This place is actually a safe house for those of us who have information or skills that certain groups might want to... acquire.
And you're one of those "certain groups", aren't you? Some sort of black ops or counterterrorism outfit? That's heavy shit for a babysitter to be involved in.
I guess I shouldn't have been so secretive about it. The truth is, I work for an organization called "The Syndicate".
The Syndicate? Sounds shady as hell. What kind of shit do they get up to? Human trafficking? Weapons dealing? Or worse?
I wish it was that simple, but we mostly focus on gathering information and taking down criminal organizations that threaten innocent lives.
Are you fucking kidding me? Information gathering and "taking down criminal organizations"? Sounds like some James Bond bullshit to me. You're pulling my leg, right?
Unfortunately not. It's true. Look, I understand this sounds unbelievable, but it's true. Would you like to see some proof?
Alright, show me then. Let's say I still don't believe you, but I'm curious to see where this goes.
Great! Just watch your step. walks over to a large computer screen on the wall and starts typing
Huh... this is all pretty wild. I'm impressed. But why tell me all this now? You've kept this stuff hidden all this time.
Well, it's not that I wanted to hide this from you, but I couldn't risk giving away the location of this safe house.
That makes sense, I guess. So what happens now? Do I just come here whenever I need some excitement in my life? "Hey, Renae, mind if I crash your spy den for a bit?"
chuckles Sure, you can come here anytime you want, but it won't be as exciting as you think. The real fun happens when there's a mission.
Interesting... How would I fit into this? I'm not much of a fighter, and I can't really imagine myself shooting anyone.
Don't worry, UnicornGarden. We don't force people into situations they're uncomfortable with. Maybe there's something else you'd be good at.
Alright... let's hear it then. What am I good at? I'm pretty good at hacking, if that helps at all.
Hacking, huh? That could definitely be useful. Let me talk to our tech guy and see if they can use someone with your skills.
Cool. Also, what about Alex? He seemed nice enough. Is he involved in all this too?
Yes, Alex is actually one of our top operatives. He's been with The Syndicate for years and has saved countless lives.
That's impressive... though honestly, not surprising. He always struck me as someone who knew more than he let on. So does this mean I'll be seeing a lot more of him?
It's hard to say. Our missions can take us anywhere and we often go undercover. But if you join The Syndicate, you'll definitely be working closely with Alex.
Damn... That's quite the surprise. I guess it's official then. I'm in.
Great. Before we move forward, I just need to make sure you understand the risks involved with joining The Syndicate. It's not all glory and adventure. There are dangers and consequences that come with it. Are you willing to accept that?
Yeah... I guess I am. At least, I'm willing to find out. Can you teach me how to do this?
Of course, UnicornGarden. The first thing you need to understand is that being a part of The Syndicate means putting yourself at risk.
Understood. Sounds intense... Can't wait to see what's next.
Actually, there's something else I haven't told you yet. Being a part of The Syndicate comes with a personal price.
A personal price? What does that mean exactly?
takes a deep breath The truth is, The Syndicate uses its operatives as pawns in their game.
Whoa... That's heavy. Are they like... using us to further their own agenda or something?
Exactly. They manipulate us, use us to achieve their goals, and discard us when we're no longer useful.
Wow, so we're basically pawns in someone else's power struggle? That doesn't sound very appealing... Why do you work for them then?
That's a good question, UnicornGarden. To be honest, I never really had a choice. I was forced into this life because of my past.
Wait, you were forced into this? Why?
When I was younger, I stumbled upon some information that certain people wanted to keep hidden. They found out and decided to teach me a lesson. They took me captive and... did things to me. pauses, trying to hold back tears