CHAPTER 29
[THE CHILD ANOMALY IN THE WOODS...]
[SECURE COMMS — S.C.U.L.A.A.R.S OPERATIONS CONTROL]
Operations Control: "Agent Wraith, report."
Agent Wraith: "We've located the source of the anomaly. An abandoned structure in the eastern woodland sector outside Notash."
Operations Control: "Confirm divine energy readings."
Agent Wraith: "Confirmed. Readings are unusually high. Higher than any ordinary practitioner should be capable of producing."
Operations Control: "...Have you made contact?"
Agent Wraith: "Affirmative."
Operations Control: "Threat assessment?"
Agent Wraith: "Undetermined."
Operations Control: "Explain."
Agent Wraith: "The target bypassed my high-perception field completely. No detectable movement. No detectable approach. One moment the area was clear, the next the target was standing directly behind us."
[Several seconds of silence.]
Operations Control: "Repeat your last statement."
Agent Wraith: "The target appeared inside my perception radius without any warning."
Operations Control: "That shouldn't be possible."
Agent Wraith: "I'm aware."
Operations Control: "Description?"
Agent Wraith: "Male. Appears no older than thirteen. Possesses an extremely dense concentration of divine energy. Potentially the highest I've encountered."
Operations Control: "...A child?"
Agent Wraith: "The appearance may be deceptive."
Operations Control: "Agreed. Continue."
Agent Wraith: "The target demonstrates advanced control over environmental phenomena. Wind patterns, ambient wildlife, and surrounding conditions appear responsive to his presence."
Operations Control: "Any indication of affiliation?"
Agent Wraith: "Negative."
Operations Control: "Hostile intent?"
Agent Wraith: "Unknown."
Operations Control: "Unknown?"
Agent Wraith: "The target has had multiple opportunities to engage. He hasn't taken them."
Operations Control: "Then why haven't you moved in?"
Agent Wraith: "...Because I don't believe we're the predators in this situation."
[Silence.]
Operations Control: "Understood."
Agent Wraith: "There's more."
Operations Control: "Proceed."
Agent Wraith: "The target identified us immediately."
Operations Control: "Clarify."
Agent Wraith: "He knows who we are. He knows about S.C.U.L.A.A.R.S."
[Several seconds of dead silence.]
Operations Control: "...Agent Wraith, are you absolutely certain?"
Agent Wraith: "Affirmative."
Operations Control: "Under no circumstances are you to engage without authorization."
Agent Wraith: "Copy."
Operations Control: "Maintain observation. Gather intelligence. Reinforcements are being considered."
Agent Wraith: "Understood."
Operations Control: "And Wraith..."
Agent Wraith: "Yes?"
Operations Control: "Do not underestimate that child."
Agent Wraith: "...Too late for that."
A brief silence followed
---
Within Operations Control, the assessment algorithms reclassified the encounter in real time.
S.C.U.L.A.A.R.S engagements with anomalous entities were never governed by impulse alone. Every operative understood the doctrine embedded within their training structure — an unspoken hierarchy of response.
Containment was to be prioritized whenever viable. Capture followed where restraint could be maintained. Neutralization remained conditional. Termination existed only as a final contingency, authorized under extreme escalation parameters.
But this situation no longer aligned with standard classification thresholds.
The target was not merely resisting assessment.
He was observing them in return.
And in such cases, doctrine no longer prioritized elimination.
It prioritized evaluation.
---
Operations Control: "Continue threat assessment. Engagement remains authorized only if the target demonstrates hostile action. Maintain full observation. Over."
Agent Wraith: "Understood. Over."
Operations Control: "Maintain contact. If the situation deteriorates, report immediately. Do not engage beyond authorization. Over."
Agent Wraith: "Copy that. Over."
The three Agents of S.C.U.L.A.A.R.S, wore black special raid suits and each carried along with them special grade weapons as well. And on their heads they had on a visored helm to conceal their identities. It was a sleek metallic helmet that encased their entire head, its dark visor concealing every trace of a face beneath. The polished surface reflected the surrounding lights like liquid chrome. Agent Wraith's thoughts flowed through the neural-link interface embedded within his visored helm. The encrypted connection bridged his consciousness directly to S.C.U.L.A.A.R.S. Operations Control, allowing silent communication without uttering a single word.
It's an advanced S.C.U.L.A.A.R.S technology said to be a hybrid of technology and Ancient Arts. Through the neural-link, Wraith transmitted his observations. Operations Control received the report instantly, as though they stood beside him. But because the technology employs the use of an aspect of the Arts which is powered by divine energy — an extremely dense concentration of divine energy from an external source could disrupt the signal.
During the Wraiths report to operations Control, the divine energy surrounding the child caused static to ripple through the neural-link. Causing most of Wraith's thoughts to reach Operations Control in fragmented bursts.
The moment it became apparent that the child possessed knowledge of S.C.U.L.A.A.R.S. — a highly classified organization whose existence was known only to a select few within the Solarian government — and exhibited one of the highest concentrations of divine energy ever recorded, Operations Control immediately revised the mission parameters.
The objective shifted from the neutralization of a potential threat to intelligence gathering and threat assessment.
The revised directives were simple:
• Continue threat assessment.
• Determine the target's capabilities.
• Establish intent.
• Engagement remains authorized only if the target demonstrates hostile action.
These orders were in accordance with a long-standing S.C.U.L.A.A.R.S operational doctrine:
• Contain if possible.
• Capture if feasible.
• Neutralize if necessary.
• Terminate only as a last resort.
Officially, the doctrine existed to protect the interests of the Solarian government while minimizing unnecessary losses during encounters with powerful users of the Arts.
Unofficially, it served another purpose.
Individuals deemed exceptionally gifted were rarely eliminated outright. Instead, they were captured, studied, and evaluated for potential recruitment. Those who demonstrated extraordinary promise could be groomed into future Rank Of Behemoths. In exceedingly rare cases, a captured individual might even possess the potential to develop into a Calamity-Class Existence— an asset whose value to the Solarian government was beyond measure.
As for those who failed to meet the necessary standards, their fate was seldom discussed outside classified circles.
Agent Wraith stepped forward.
"Why are you here? And were you involved in what happened to Notash?"
Silence lingered for a brief moment.
The boy continued tracing meaningless patterns into the dirt with his finger before finally speaking.
"My presence here is of no consequence to the Solarian government..."
He paused.
"...At least, not yet."
The agents exchanged glances.
Agent BrimJaws narrowed his eyes.
"And what exactly is that supposed to mean?"
"If it eases your concerns, I had no involvement in the destruction of Notash."
The boy's finger continued moving through the soil.
"Because if I did..."
His voice trailed off.
He offered no further explanation.
Agent Lynx felt a chill run through him.
"He speaks like someone far older than he appears."
"Could he really be a Calamity-Class Existence?"
"If so, containment might be impossible."
Agent Lynx thought.
Moments later...
Agent Wraith's voice hardened.
"S.C.U.L.A.A.R.S. is classified information. How do you know about it? Speak!!"
The boy finally stopped drawing.
"I have learned many things throughout my existence."
He brushed the dirt from his fingertips.
"Gathering intelligence has always been one of my responsibilities."
A brief silence followed.
Then he tightened his grip around the hilt of the katana resting at his side.
"And one more thing, Agent Wraith..."
For the first time, the atmosphere grew noticeably heavier.
The air itself seemed to resist movement.
"I would advise you to be mindful of your tone when addressing me."
Agent Wraith remained still.
The warning was unmistakable.
Yet none of the agents moved.
They had prepared themselves for the possibility of confrontation from the moment they arrived.
Still...
"He knows my codename."
The thought lingered in Wraith's mind.
Knowledge of S.C.U.L.A.A.R.S. was one thing. Knowledge of individual agents was another entirely.
If the boy knew their codenames, then what other classified information had he acquired?
Agent BrimJaws broke the silence.
"Gathering intelligence for whom?"
The boy's lips curved into the faintest hint of amusement.
"I'm afraid I can't answer that."
He returned his attention to the dirt.
"That information is classified."
Agent Lynx: "You still haven't told us what you're doing here."
The child paused his idle scribbling for a moment.
The child: "You still haven't figured it out?"
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
The child: "How disappointing."
The agents remained silent.
The child: "My purpose here is simple."
He traced another line through the dirt with his finger.
The child: "I stand watch over this place."
The child: "And I eliminate those who attempt to pass beyond me."
Agent BrimJaws: "So we're trespassers."
The child: "You crossed that line the moment you entered these woods."
Agent Wraith narrowed his eyes beneath his visor.
Agent Wraith: "I get the feeling you weren't planning on letting us leave alive."
The child chuckled softly.
The child: "Never a dull moment when you speak, Agent Wraith."
The child: "Good. That saves me the trouble of explaining further."
A grin spread across Wraith's face.
Agent Wraith: "Then we're on the same page."
Agent Wraith: "Because I wasn't planning on walking away until I found out what you're hiding either."
The child's finger stopped moving.
Agent Lynx: "If your objective is to kill anyone who trespasses..."
Agent Lynx: "Then there must be something here you don't want discovered."
The three agents shifted their attention toward the dilapidated building in the distance.
Agent Wraith: "The divine energy readings led us here."
Agent BrimJaws: "And those clouds."
The three looked upward.
Dark masses churned overhead in slow spirals directly above the structure.
Agent BrimJaws: "That's not a natural formation."
Agent Lynx: "Something is happening inside that building."
Agent Lynx's expression darkened.
Agent Lynx: "And whatever it is..."
Agent Lynx: "...it can't be good."