A new problem arises...
Another day, another example of the destruction the fetid and animalistic demon population of Sunnydale could and did wreak. I had put the call to assemble out early, letting the troops know that new orders were coming down, and to get their affairs in line. Taking a long sip from the still steaming cup of coffee I held, I remained seated as they all fell in line.
The Initiative. My Initiative. My troops.
No man alive had devised such a group. No, it took me, a woman and a civilian, no less, to dream up this little revolution. My thoughts temporarily drifted by to my meeting with that lawyer, that Ms. Morgan. The neat and well put-together file she had given me was in the locked top drawer in my office, beneath the false bottom. My TAs were a curious bunch. No taking chances. I had much bigger things in mind than just our little installation.
Looking up once more, I saw that all could be accounted for. Right. I set my coffee aside as I stood, moving around to the front of the table and in front of them. "Good evening. First, I would like to commend you all for your swift work on recovering the hostile responsible for the deaths on campus. The last thing we need here at UC Sunnydale is a bodycount. But, I would like to extend our efforts above and beyond the boundaries the school presents. Sunnydale itself is a hotbed of hostile activity. Always has been, back as far as recorded history can date. In recent years, there is no more visible evidence of this than the repeated demises of the owners of local occult shops."
I stopped, realizing just now I was pacing before them, like a general. Appropriate, but entirely unnecessary. I planted my feet, holding up a copy of the most recent campus newsletter. "I'm sure you've all seen this, and if you haven't, let me take this moment to remind you of your requirement to read all local news publications. The most recent owner of the Magic Box is the victim. Sunnydale's finest in blue are, of course, clueless as always. They believe it to be a robbery gone awry. We were able to intercept the corpse on its way to the morgue, and determine that his death was indeed, highly suggestive of demonic activity."
I tossed the newsletter down on the table, the pages skidding across the surface before coming to a halt in a heap. "Also, the student health center has informed me that a highly unusual number of male students have been admitted, some even sent to the hospital in town for further treatment. They are all ages, races, body types. Different dorms, dining halls, class schedules. No commonalities between any of them, save for sexual activity the night before and the symptoms. Lethargy and a general malaise. We're looking at the possibly of a succubus having been summoned and released upon the student population. The creature is to be tracked, tagged, and brought back here for further study. Do not kill, under any circumstance."
I looked into the crowd of them, not meeting the eyes of any. Good little soldiers, every last one. "Teams Charlie and Delta will be investigating the death of the shopkeeper, and patrolling Sunnydale proper. Teams Alpha and Bravo will be following the succubus. All female members of Charlie and Delta have been reassigned to Alpha and Bravo units for the time being, and the appropriate number of men have been swapped out for them. We're not taking more unneccessary chances than needed, people. Charlie and Delta, you're dismissed."
I waited quietly, watching as the two groups broke rank and turned away, heading for the other rooms. The remaining agents tightened their numbers, drawing in closer for further orders. "The succubus leaves behind an energy trail, from victim to victim and place to place. She thrives off the energy she drains from her victims, and uses it to lure in the next target. An energy signature scanner has been developed, with enough sensitivity to successfully track the creature." I nodded to the two techs who appeared, laying the device out on the table behind me. "You will be patrolling highly populated areas, looking for any suspicious behavior and activity. Streets clothes will be required for this, and a cover has been provided." The techs returned, handing each agent a typed sheet of paper. "I'm sure you're all familiar with scavenger hunts, so, no need to explain there. Both Alpha and Bravo will fall under the command of Agent Hayes. She is the end-all and be-all for this mission. And men, if she feels that you are being swayed by this creature, or have become enthralled, she will send you out. Keep your heads clear and your minds focused. Be careful out there. Dismissed."
The Initiative. My Initiative. My troops.
No man alive had devised such a group. No, it took me, a woman and a civilian, no less, to dream up this little revolution. My thoughts temporarily drifted by to my meeting with that lawyer, that Ms. Morgan. The neat and well put-together file she had given me was in the locked top drawer in my office, beneath the false bottom. My TAs were a curious bunch. No taking chances. I had much bigger things in mind than just our little installation.
Looking up once more, I saw that all could be accounted for. Right. I set my coffee aside as I stood, moving around to the front of the table and in front of them. "Good evening. First, I would like to commend you all for your swift work on recovering the hostile responsible for the deaths on campus. The last thing we need here at UC Sunnydale is a bodycount. But, I would like to extend our efforts above and beyond the boundaries the school presents. Sunnydale itself is a hotbed of hostile activity. Always has been, back as far as recorded history can date. In recent years, there is no more visible evidence of this than the repeated demises of the owners of local occult shops."
I stopped, realizing just now I was pacing before them, like a general. Appropriate, but entirely unnecessary. I planted my feet, holding up a copy of the most recent campus newsletter. "I'm sure you've all seen this, and if you haven't, let me take this moment to remind you of your requirement to read all local news publications. The most recent owner of the Magic Box is the victim. Sunnydale's finest in blue are, of course, clueless as always. They believe it to be a robbery gone awry. We were able to intercept the corpse on its way to the morgue, and determine that his death was indeed, highly suggestive of demonic activity."
I tossed the newsletter down on the table, the pages skidding across the surface before coming to a halt in a heap. "Also, the student health center has informed me that a highly unusual number of male students have been admitted, some even sent to the hospital in town for further treatment. They are all ages, races, body types. Different dorms, dining halls, class schedules. No commonalities between any of them, save for sexual activity the night before and the symptoms. Lethargy and a general malaise. We're looking at the possibly of a succubus having been summoned and released upon the student population. The creature is to be tracked, tagged, and brought back here for further study. Do not kill, under any circumstance."
I looked into the crowd of them, not meeting the eyes of any. Good little soldiers, every last one. "Teams Charlie and Delta will be investigating the death of the shopkeeper, and patrolling Sunnydale proper. Teams Alpha and Bravo will be following the succubus. All female members of Charlie and Delta have been reassigned to Alpha and Bravo units for the time being, and the appropriate number of men have been swapped out for them. We're not taking more unneccessary chances than needed, people. Charlie and Delta, you're dismissed."
I waited quietly, watching as the two groups broke rank and turned away, heading for the other rooms. The remaining agents tightened their numbers, drawing in closer for further orders. "The succubus leaves behind an energy trail, from victim to victim and place to place. She thrives off the energy she drains from her victims, and uses it to lure in the next target. An energy signature scanner has been developed, with enough sensitivity to successfully track the creature." I nodded to the two techs who appeared, laying the device out on the table behind me. "You will be patrolling highly populated areas, looking for any suspicious behavior and activity. Streets clothes will be required for this, and a cover has been provided." The techs returned, handing each agent a typed sheet of paper. "I'm sure you're all familiar with scavenger hunts, so, no need to explain there. Both Alpha and Bravo will fall under the command of Agent Hayes. She is the end-all and be-all for this mission. And men, if she feels that you are being swayed by this creature, or have become enthralled, she will send you out. Keep your heads clear and your minds focused. Be careful out there. Dismissed."