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“Nice of you to join us, kid,” Sangster said from where he was sitting at the glass table where Armstrong and Carerras were sitting as well. Carerras at the head of the table and Armstrong on the right sitting across from Sangster who, of course, was on the left.
“You’re the one that gave a ten-page book report,” Alex shot back as he took his usual seat at the table, a slightly annoyed look in eyes, but otherwise his expression was bright and happy if not a little smug.
“You only have to write five pages,” Sangster said, rolling his eyes slightly as he looked at his student as he shook his head slightly at his words.
“Yeah, five pages front and back which equals ten,” Alex said to his literature teacher/mentor knowing he was right because even though Alex wasn’t the best at math sometimes he could still add as most could.
“He’s a got a point,” Armstrong said from where she was sitting as she stared down at the tablet in her hand which she was currently using to order the new weapons they had for Alex to be brought in.
“He’s got no point,” Sangster said before stopping and looking at Armstrong with a playful offendedness washing across his face. “And who’s side are you on?” He asked a hand on his chest which showed just how dramatic he was being.
“Clearly mine,” Alex started with a laugh as he did a victory pose, making Sangster roll his eyes and groan while Carerras smiled slightly and Armstrong laughed.
Honestly, what was Sangster expecting? They were dealing with a fourteen-year-old boy and like all boys his age he was a bit of a goofball, which was a word Armstrong never thought she would use to describe an agent of Polidorium.
“Okay, now that we’ve established that I’m right,” Alex said with a smile on his face, which made Sangster roll his eyes once again and mutter something under his breath. “What did you guys need me for?” He asked, a bright look in his eyes as he waited for them to speak. “Whatever it is, I’m ready to help,” He promised, and not for the first time the other three people in the room believed he looked somewhat like an excited puppy.
“Well, It’s nothing serious but they will be useful to you,” Armstrong said as she placed the tablet back down on the table giving her full attention to the two men and the young man that was in the room with her at the moment.
“They?” Alex asked in a confused tone, wondering if he was being assigned to a fresh team or something. That thought instantly sent a feeling of worry through him since even though he knew that the four of them weren’t really a team, he still enjoyed being around them for many reasons. One of those reasons being that they actually treated Alex like he knew what was going on instead of treating him like some stupid kid.
Before Alex could any more questions, the doors of the room opened, and in walked an agent carrying what looked like an everyday backpack; in fact, it looked almost like the one Alex already owned except the one he had was green and black while the one the agent was now sitting on the table was red and blue.
Without saying a word and giving a slight wave to Alex which the young hunter returned, the agent left, closing the door behind him as he went. It always surprised him how nice some of the agents were to him. He honestly expected them all the three before him included to barely tolerate him, but they were mostly patient and a little worried when it came to him.
“What’s this?” Alex asked, turning his head back to face his three trainers once more just in time to see Armstrong now standing and opening the backpack.
“These are your new weapons,” Armstrong said as she began to pull out a few items that had been inside the red and blue backpack.
“My what?” Alex asked, slightly confused since he already carried a small roll of vampire hunting gear in his usual backpack already.
“Your new weapons,” Armstrong said again as she sat them all in the order she wanted them in.
“They’re for school and such,” Sangster explained, knowing that Alex must be confused at the moment. “They’re disguised as daily supplies in case you feel unsafe at any moment but don’t want people to see your knife or polibow which, of course, would send others into a panic,” He kept explaining as Alex nodded his head showing that he understood.
“What kind of daily supplies?” Alex asked as he leaned forward, trying to get a better look at the items that were spread across the table.
“School supplies and everyday supplies,” Carerras explained, earning Alex’s attention. The man was usually so quiet and calculating that Alex sometimes wondered what he was thinking about. Alex knew that being the one who ran the Geneva division of the Polidorium couldn’t be easy so, of course, the man had his respect.
“Like what?” Alex asked, waiting to see what they had for him since it was clear that they had made these weapons especially for him.
“For one,” Armstrong spoke, making Alex turn his head to face her as she held up one of the items. “This silver ruler,” She explained, holding it out to where Alex could see it better. “It’s made of pure Hawthorn wood and it’s covered in silver,” She said while running her finger over the silver weapon. “And is heavy enough that it won’t break,” She said, though Alex didn’t need her to explain much more knowing that she meant it wouldn’t break if he lodged it into a vampire’s heart during a fight.
“Cool,” Alex said as he watched the bag the pulled closer to Armstrong as she placed the ruler back inside. “What else is there?” He asked, leaning a little forward even more as another item was picked up.
“Pens also covered in silver,” Armstrong explained, holding up three pens so Alex could see them. Alex smiled at these since they were small, but they were useful and they would be great in an emergency.
As the ruler before them, Armstrong carefully slipped the pens back into the bag, placing them in an area where Alex could find them.
For the next hour or so Armstrong pulled out the weapons they had made for Alex and told him what each of them were and what they could be used for. With each weapon, Alex paid close attention, knowing that these could possibly save his life one day, especially in his line of work.
When they were finally done going over the weapon Alex was sent home with the new backpack to keep close at hand and he was told to finish his book report, which he groaned at the idea of.
When he finally got back to his and his roommates’ and his best friends’ dorm he put all of his school supplies into the new bag and placed it on his desk chair where he could reach it in case it was needed.
Alex couldn’t help but smile that night as he finished his book report and curled up in bed, knowing that his trainers cared enough about him to give him weapons that he could use to defend himself and to defend others in times of trouble.