Agent Johnson is in a bit of trouble. Of all the stupid "experiments" she'd been forced to take part in, this was by far the worst. Being told to find a specific stone somewhere in the park is as impossible as it sounds. There were acres of land to find, not to mention she had absolutely no clues as to its whereabouts. Her target might be buried in the dirt, or maybe hidden on a high branch somewhere. It could also be hidden in a public restroom or something.
At least the woman thought about asking Maggie what the stone looked like, but that didn't help much. It was a flat gray stone, oval, about as big as her hand. She had found a few people who looked similar, but none of them had the annoying girl's name on them. She still carries them with her in case she later discovers that the writing on them is very small, mostly transparent, or difficult to spot. The third grader was bound to do something like this, and she didn't think to ask those words until she had climbed all the stairs. She considered walking over again from head to toe to get more clarification, but then remembered the rules of this date. She won't come back until she finds her prey.
So AJ spent most of the morning painstakingly sifting through the dirt in a rigorous search pattern. Thankfully, it couldn't have been buried too deep, because the soil was only about fifty centimeters deep before it turned into concrete. The entire park is basically a glorified sandbox with synthetic plants, but no one really cares because they all look, feel, and smell like the real thing. AJ herself doesn't like virtual reality for the same reason she doesn't like virtual reality. It’s an illusion that ordinary people willingly accept just to make their lives seem less dull and meaningless.
Beyond that, the park is definitely public property, so the sight of an angry woman in military uniform digging the place didn't go unnoticed.
"I'm sorry, ma'am."
The soldier was buried knee-deep in the newly turned soil. He winced before turning to the familiar voice.
"Good morning, Officer Maloney," she said in a tired voice.
"Agent Johnson? The policeman raised his hat in surprise. "What are you doing out there?"
Her uniform was so soiled from digging that he didn't recognize her.
"Oh, just some, uh, military stuff. Super secret stuff. None of your business."
The man crossed his arms and raised his eyebrows.
"Do you really think I will buy it?"
"Is this... worth a try?" She made an embarrassed face.
"Look, I may not know why you're digging this place, but I have to ask you to stop. This is vandalism."
He pointed to the small patch of grass that AJ had sifted through with a shovel. The once orderly parkland has turned into a desolate wasteland, a sight you would only see on a war-torn planet.
"It's okay, my boss will take care of it," she ignored him.
According to paranormal expulsion agency and observer Magh'
An agreement between the athlak that the former would be responsible for cleaning up any mess left by the latter. This "experiment" may also be included.
"That may be true, but you're disrupting civilians. We got five calls and the exact words were, 'There's this weirdo with a shovel who's messing up the park.'"
"Oh. Oops."
AJ was so lost in her own thoughts that she didn't even consider how weird she looked in public.
"Yes. "You should be lucky that it was me and not my colleagues who decided to investigate, otherwise they would have arrested you. I can't imagine anything good coming out of this."
"No. No, it won't."
"I still want to give it a try, so why don't you, in the name of the Queen, tell me what you're doing?"
"Hey. This is an experiment," she shouted. "At least that's what the witch said."
She then describes her predicament simply and candidly, starting with her involuntary move to Maggie's new apartment. Maloney hadn't heard all the details about the soldiers being there, so her explanation answered some questions he didn't even bother to ask. Most importantly, he understood why the psychic was so irritable and accepted that she had every reason to be so. That's why he lets her let it out.
"She also shamelessly said this was an experiment!" Her tirade reached its peak, and so did her voice. "I swear, the only thing that witch is testing is my patience!"
"Maybe that's the point?" he suggested.
"Don't say that too!"
"Take it easy, Agent Johnson. There's no need to point fingers and yell at each other."
"No, it absolutely needs to be!" I'm tired of people thinking the abuse is good for me and acting like it's part of some big plan. She just likes to torture me and refuses to admit it!"
"But she can't lie, right?" If she was really bullying you, she would have told you so. "
"Bat. Like. She might have convinced herself that making me do all this hard work was somehow a legitimate experiment, when really her main goal was just to watch me squirm. You know what these third-rate bastards are What does it look like!”
"No, I don't know. I only know Miss Ou, and I know she is not cruel. Maybe heartless, but not cruel. Otherwise she would do worse things to the person who shot her. .”
AJ could do nothing but shout in response. This was another argument her teammates and bosses often made, and she hated it. Mainly because she didn't have a good retort.
"My point is, if she put you through this, there must be some underlying reason or reason behind it. Something more substantial than 'it's fun to bully humans.' Of course, even you can see that .”
"From where I stand, no," she remained firm.
"Well, you can think whatever you want. I'm not qualified to change your mind." He readjusted his hat. "But I must ask you to stop digging up the park."
"Do you have any better advice?" she asked sarcastically.
"You don't?" He turned around. "Seriously, you're a psyker." Is shoveling the entire park by hand your first resort? Can't you scan the rock?"
"I can't use electronic devices, remember?"
If she could, she would only have to look at the surveillance footage of Maggie's whereabouts to see where she hid the rock. That's probably why this limit was included, along with the "no help from teammates" limit. AJ could get around the rules by simply asking Maloney to review the footage for her, but it felt wrong for him to do so. Not to mention, cheating so blatantly would be tantamount to admitting defeat, which didn't sit well with this stubborn woman.
"No, not with a mineral scanner," the police officer clarified. "I mean, use your brain."
"Inanimate objects don't have minds, so I can't perceive them with my abilities," she says bluntly.
"But it's not some ancient rock, right?" Miss Ou signed it. her name. I think this is a big deal. It's bound to leave some kind of, I don't know, psychic fingerprint or something?"
Maloney's knowledge of psychic powers only scratched the surface. These issues are of concern to scientists, military and military scientists. Even if the police encounter a rogue psyker, standard procedure is to escalate the incident and call the armed forces. Or, if there's no time, evacuate the area and subdue the suspect with waves of mindless drones armed with guns. Therefore, he didn't know if the "psychic fingerprint" he came up with on the spot was possible. This seems to make sense, at least, considering that Mags has a way of "branding" others, including himself.
On the other hand, one can imagine how proficient AJ is in the subject of psychic energy. She recognized what Maloney called psychometrics, the ability to sense the thoughts and feelings an individual may imprint on memorabilia and antiques. Such a skill would definitely make her mission easier, but it has one major flaw. Psychometrics is a bunch of mumbo-jumbo invented by charlatans and perpetuated by works of fiction. This concept has no basis in reality. At least not in her real life. The Level 3 cosmic entity is known to exhibit a range of abilities that, while perhaps psionic in nature, are impossible for an ordinary person like her to imitate. The very existence of these things defied logic, so AJ felt that Maloney's suggestion might have some truth to it, even though it was ignorant.
"...Okay. I'm going to try."
She put away her shovel and sat on the edge of the hole she had dug. She reached into an inside pocket and pulled out a semi-collapsible mask with dark goggles and a respirator inside. She put it on, wrapping it around her eyes, nose, mouth, and ears so that it completely cut off all senses except touch. Now, AJ is free from most external interference, has sorted out his thoughts, and expressed them with his own thoughts. Within minutes, she was able to pinpoint every living, thinking creature within a kilometer using a form of mental sonar. It's the same technique Maggie uses all the time, though the difference in proficiency between her and AJ is like comparing an orbiting space shuttle to a gerbil tied to a firecracker.
Fortunately for Agent Johnson, she doesn't need that ridiculous perception because she knows exactly what she's "looking for." The presence of a Level 3 medium has a unique sense of being that is different from other beings. After living with Magi for so long, her name is practically etched into the psyker's skull. If AJ were asked to put this feeling into words, he would describe it as rowing through a storm while catching glimpses of the shadows of the mountains between lightning bolts. It evokes a mixture of helplessness, confusion, and fear, but there's also a terrifying allure that draws her in, even as it drags her down once she ventures too close.
Or at least that's what it was like when Ling Yun first met Malaslak the Watcher. Since then, she has adapted and learned to cope with its presence to the point where it feels more like walking into a room and forgetting why she went in. It still has the same basic elements, it's just a hundred times less powerful. It also helps that Level Three keeps its unfathomable spirit in its metaphysical pants. This makes living with Magus much easier than not doing so, despite some questionable experiments.
Yet AJ found himself wishing that the mental presence of the Level 3 students was still as dizzying as before. If such a strong imprint were placed on a stone, psychic energy would immediately find it. That is, of course, assuming these things are possible. As it stands, however, Johnson's special sonar found nothing special among a group of ordinary people in the park. She hasn't given up yet. If anything is found, it will be weak and minute. She frowned hard and narrowed her search, excluding civilians as well. After a few minutes of intense concentration, where her efforts and Maloney's ideas came to fruition, she felt a strange little "blip."
Surprised and inspired by her success, AJ quickly took off her sensory deprivation mask.
"Any luck?" the policeman asked.
"I think so."
She stood up and without saying a word, trotted towards the "light spot". Maloney followed, more out of curiosity than duty. The ginger-haired agent led him to the monument in the middle of the park. It was a towering stone pillar, on which sat a life-size statue of a heroic medieval knight in full armor, raising his sword in triumph. As the plaque at the base of the monument reads, the sculpture is a portrait of Sir Digby of Smeg. He became famous for bringing peace and unity to his homeland after a freak solar flare disrupted Earth's magnetic field and sent his civilization back to the Dark Ages. Without this man's bravery, intelligence, and dedication, the colony may never have been restored.
These events took place centuries ago, when humans were just beginning to colonize the stars. Records of that time and place are few and unreliable, so little is known about Smeg's Sir Digby. Still, he remains a modern symbol of enlightenment and perseverance. All in all, his monument is an oddly fitting place for Maggie to hide her prize. She tucked it into the gap between the statue's collar and helmet. AJ moved the stone away with a flick of her wrist and a telepathic push, and it fell into her open palm.
"Yeah! Fuck you, girl!"
When she saw the word "Maggie" clearly engraved on the stone, she couldn't help shouting proudly.
"Watch your language, Agent. You're still in public."
It was only after Maloney's stern admonishment that the soldier noticed that she was attracting a lot of attention. As you can imagine, the monument is a fairly popular meeting place, so there are a lot of people in the area. Their eyes had been attracted by the strange woman in dirty military uniform and the policeman who seemed to be following her. The way she cursed at the top of her voice aroused their curiosity and aroused their keen interest. Putting himself in the spotlight made AJ blush with embarrassment. Seeing her dumbfounded, Maloney thought he might be able to help her a little.
"Come on, guys!" he turned to the onlookers. "Just a training session! There's nothing to see here! And you, sir! I hope you don't tape this! Show some respect to Her Majesty's Armed Forces!"
The crowd's attention was focused on the policeman, and the panicked soldier took his chance and hurried back to her discarded shovel. Minutes later, Maloney dismissed onlookers and joined her.
"So, did you get what you needed?" he asked.
"Yes. Thanks to you, I don't have to dig up the park anymore."
"Glad to hear that. Do you want me to take you home?"
"No, it's okay."
"Are you sure? That's a lot of steps if you want to take the hard road."
"I'll be fine, really. I need to follow my instructions, even if I don't agree with them."
Riding in a flying car would certainly be considered receiving technical assistance and therefore a violation of Magi's orders. Opposing her in any way could void the entire agreement with the CIA. AJ isn't sure if things will escalate to that point, but if she dares to compromise on her contract, she'll be in trouble.
"I understand. As a soldier, you must be very strong." The policeman nodded sympathetically.
"Sometimes, but in the long run, it's worth it. And, Officer Maloney, you're not one to talk."
"Ha. Everyone in the station is too lazy to give orders," he chuckled.
"Now that you say so."
"Come on, at least I can accompany you to the skyscraper."
"...Why are you doing this?" She narrowed her eyes. "It's one thing to ask me to stop digging the park, but that has nothing to do with you."
Maloney was puzzled by her sudden, and in his view, unfounded skepticism. She seemed to be accusing him of having ulterior motives. Since this was indeed the case, the police decided to tell the truth.
"Look, I just thought something wasn't right last time when we started out. You threw me against the wall and I pinned you to the ground. You're pretty awesome by the way. You know, for psykers explain."
She softened her gaze and raised her eyebrows.
"You're not bad yourself. You know, for a cop."
"Hey, I bought it," he said with a smirk. "But yes, I have a feeling I'll be seeing you a lot because I like to visit Miss Ou's house from time to time and I want to make sure there's no animosity between us."
"You really don't have to try that hard," she sighed. "I mean, I hit you first because I wasn't using my brain, but you still did me a huge favor. If anything, I should be the one trying to make amends with you."
"Well, if that's what you think, how about letting me take you out to dinner tonight?"
"……are you serious?"
"absolute".
"I'm not sure that's a good idea."
"Give me a chance, that's all I ask. I can even book us the best seats at Leonardo da Pinch's," Maloney said. “I heard their Nebula lobster special is really good.”
AJ crossed his arms, considering the invitation carefully. She didn't seem to have any particular beef with Maloney. He was handsome and seemed like a decent guy, not to mention she could tell he wasn't interested in her just because she was a psyker. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't curious about him at all. The problem is, the intergalactic psychic force commando lifestyle doesn't leave much time or opportunity for romance. Dating within the team is strictly prohibited, AJ moves frequently, and long-term relationships with colonists are out of the question. Then again, her current assignment is more or less permanent for the foreseeable future. A casual date is a great opportunity to let off steam.
Last but not least, after seeing Maggie munching on that Nebula Lobster with a satisfied look on her face, she really wanted to try it herself.
"You know what? It sounds great. Let's do it," she decided.
"Great! Will I pick you up at eight o'clock?"
"That work. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go."
She had to climb a hundred flights of stairs and take all the showers. Afterwards, she needs to go buy a dress or something because she doesn't have anything suitable for a fancy place like Leonardo da Pinch. She wouldn't take this date too seriously, but she wouldn't take it lightly either. If Maloney was willing to ignore their initial conflict, she could at least put in a little effort.
As she walked back to her apartment, AJ couldn't help but feel a certain amount of excitement and joy. She had some reservations at first, but found herself looking forward to the evening. The thought did, however, cause some concern in her mind. That said, Maggie might come up with some new boring experiment to keep her busy and make her miss appointments. In AJ's mind, that girl was a total bully, so if her plans for the night were discovered, that seemed like a possible development. It would be even worse if she came back so early from what she was doing.
So she decided to kill time by wandering around for a few hours. She planned to wait until later in the afternoon to report her success. That would give her enough time to freshen up and get ready for the date, but it would be too late for the witch to give her more boring work. She might still try, but AJ feels like she can rely on Joe to let him dominate his magical girlfriend. Normally, agents wouldn't resort to such underhanded tactics, but she felt it was necessary in this case.
Unfortunately for Agent Johnson, it wasn't until she finally climbed those stairs that she realized she'd made two tiny mistakes.
That said, the Level 3 dinosaur doesn't say whether it hid more than one rock in that park, and "Maggie" isn't its real name.
