CHAPTER 9: UNEXPECTED SKILLS

“What’s with that outfit?” Chris grimaced. Damien is wearing an oversized sweater, and large eyeglasses. Damien placed the laptop bag he’s holding at Chris’ study table and quickly retaliated, “You don’t have any fashion sense in you so don’t you dare critique my outfit.” Chris rolled his eyes but he’s curious to what is up.

Damien pulled the laptop out and casually sat beside Chris on the bed. Chris crossed his legs and waited for the demon to settle. He still wonders where the demon gets all of his things but Chris knows that the demon wouldn’t answer decently so he won’t bother asking. He doesn't want to induce more stress to himself.

“What are you doing?” Chris asked as Damien opens the laptop. He is too curious to wait patiently.

Damien pulled out the flash drive he stole from Fantasia, “We’ll check the flash drive now.” Damien answered and plugged the flash drive.

“I have my own laptop you know.” Chris answered and pointed his laptop placed on the study table.

“You know what, I really thought you’re a brilliant child since you’re good at academics. Has wrath eaten your brain cells?  Do you think they don’t have any security measures installed in their devices? Plug this in your laptop and they would know by seconds who stole this flash drive. Good luck on explaining how the hell you manage to steal this in the first place.” Damien said as he open some sort of software that Chris isn’t familiar with.

“And you, what would you do then?” Chris challenged. He’s bothered with Damien’s words, what if they really get discovered? He wouldn’t be able to explain or formulate an alibi at all.

Damien didn’t answer him and started opening the files inside the flash drive. Chris’ eyes widened when the screen started to glitch, but he’s more surprised when Damien started typing fast and one last click turned back the screen to normal.

Damien clicked his tongue, “That’s lot weaker than I expected.” he expected more from Fantasia's security system.

“Where and when did you learn all of that?” Chris asked. His mouth is slightly gaped out of wonder.

The demon grinned, “How do you think we are able to survive through the years, of course we need to cope with humans and I have a lot of time.” Damien answered in a smug tone and fixed his glasses like some genius (a nerd, Chris whispered) in a movie.

“What a show off.” Chris mumbled.

Damien started checking the documents inside the first folder. The demon’s smile widened, “I got the right file,” Damien stated and Chris’ eyes immediately went to the screen. The document currently flashed in the screen is the data about the agents in his parents’ team.

Name: Leila Forbes

Expertise: Stealth

Other information about the woman flashed in the screen which he couldn’t catch because Damien quickly scrolled through the data.

"I haven't seen the other info yet!" Chris complained.

The demon completely ignored Chris' complaint, “This is about their recent mission, on how they would infiltrate the company and gather data…” Damien summarized as he read through the document.

Name: Eugene Lee

Expertise: Hacking

“So that kid is a hacker,” Damien mumbled and Chris swore that he saw Damien’s eyes burned with competition. Why is he suddenly getting competitive?

"He's the newest member, he joined the team 1 year and a few months ago."

Name: Troy Ivan

Expertise: Combat

“This guy is expert at physical combat," Chris doesn't need a confidential info to see that, Troy's ripped body is a telltale, "Should I also teach you how to fight?” Damien looks at Chris and was quickly discouraged.

“Nah, it’ll take hundred years,” The demon didn’t give him time to argue and continued scrolling.

Name: Fidel Elrod

Expertise: Analyst

Chris took note of the information he could see about Fidel. He’s the most suspicious for Chris. He doesn’t have a solid basis but it’s what his gut feel tells him. 

“Seems like they are a fix team and they were together until their last mission with your parents.” The demon concluded, not removing his eyes to the screen. Damien opened the other folder and there are several documents in it.

“I think this is the summary of the data they gathered so far… that company is manufacturing a new type of narcotic for the black market,” Damien said and scrolled further, “they even have the schedules of shipment to other countries…” Chris couldn’t help but to worry. He could be facing a whole illegal organization.

“What’s with that face?” Damien asked with a bored tone. Human acts like these are obviously to satisfy their greed for money. He have seen humans being slave for money in hundred years, it’s getting annoying for him.

“What would I do if the people who killed them belonged in that organization? They are for sure, huge personalities. It would be near impossible then…” Chris trailed off.

“Are you underestimating me?” Damien answered with a straight face, “I never failed before, if you’re going to ask.” Chris didn’t answer, he doesn’t know if he should believe Damien.

“Before you bother in trivial things, focus on what you currently know. That group, you need to get closer to them if you want to get more information. You already have this,” Damien showed the flash drive he already unplugged from his laptop, “Use your brain before it rots.” The demon pushed his glasses up and put down the laptop.

Chris stared at the demon for a moment, Damien stared back.

“What, are we going to stare at each other and wait for your revenge to fall in the sky? I’m telling you, the heavens won’t help you.” Chris sighed and took out his phone. He already saved the group’s number and he’s now trying to decide on whom to call.

“Hello?” The person on the other line responded.

“This is Chris. If you have time, can… we meet?” Chris is getting anxious, he’s still shy to talk to people.

“Of course,” Leila responded, “Let’s head out for lunch if you want.” Chris looked at Damien and glared at the demon who’s busy laughing.

“Okay…” he trailed off. He didn’t know how to go on with the conversation anymore.

“Then I’ll pick you up at 11:30.”

“Okay. Thank you.”

“No. Thank you for contacting me. We really wanted to help you get through this Chris. Fidel and I are actually planning to invite you out, you did us a favor.” The woman laughed, Chris didn’t know what’s funny but the demon is laughing along, for a different reason.

“Guess you got yourself a date.” Damien said after Chris ended the call. The demon even patted his shoulder to tease Chris while still laughing like a mad man.

His phone notified that someone messaged him. He thought it was Leila again but it was Kurt, asking if how he is and if he’s free after class hours. He replied that he’ll have to meet his parents’ co-worker today and he didn’t know what time he could go home.

“So many people wanted to meet you today.” Damien said after he grabbed Chris’ phone and read Kurt’s message, “they all pity you.”

“You really see my life as a comedy aren’t you?” Chris scowled.

“Bingo! And you should continue entertaining me.” Damien’s eyes glistened for a second. Chris suddenly felt chills crawling down his spine.

Damien lightly threw Chris’ phone on the bed, “Oh well, enjoy your date.” The demon said before going out of Chris’ room like nothing happened.

Chris sighed, why did he put himself in this situation?

--

A car is parked outside Chris’ house at exactly 11:30 am. Chris shut the curtain of his window and immediately went down.

“Hi!” Leila greeted from the driver’s seat while Fidel is in the shotgun seat.

“Hello.” He politely greeted and get into the back seat after Fidel gestured him to.

“Thank you for granting my request.” Chris said.

“We actually wanted to meet you long time ago but we’re all busy and your parents didn’t want to expose you to our line of work so we never had a chance,” Leila answered, “It’s unfortunate that we get to meet you this way.” Chris couldn’t answer.

“Oh, Troy and Eugene wanted to say sorry. They wanted to come too but they both have important things to do.” Fidel added.

The whole ride isn’t quiet because Leila is trying hard to keep the atmosphere up. Chris wanted to appreciate their effort to cheer him up, if only he wasn’t suspecting that one of them did this to his parents.

They arrived at the restaurant. Chris suddenly realized that he hasn’t eaten with his parents in a long time. He couldn’t even remember the last time.

“You really resemble your father.” Fidel suddenly said which stopped Chris from eating.

Fidel smiled, “you look surprised, I know you resemble your mother physically but your personality is very much like your father.”

“I do?” Chris answered. He never really thought about it.

“Christopher is very soft spoken and shy but he’s always calm which is why he’s our leader.” Fidel gave a sad smile. Christopher is a very good friend to Fidel, he could say that he’s his best comrade.

Chris became curious, it’s a side of his parents that he didn’t know. He wanted to learn about them.

“Can you tell me how’s my parents at their work? I wanted to know, if it’s okay.”

Fidel nodded, “When our team is formed, there is only me, Christopher, Melissa and Troy. Leila followed two years after then Eugene came about a year ago. I was supposed to be the leader of the group-” Leila laughed and continued, “but he’s too strict and impatient.” She said while chuckling.

Fidel smiled, “yes, that’s true. Things didn’t work out in our operations and I was very frustrated back then. Your father is the one who always tries to console me, saying that we are still a new group and that we just need to understand each other’s differences and temperament.

That is when I realized that I wasn’t the perfect fit to be the leader. I asked Mr. Henry to make Christopher the leader instead, because I saw how accurate his perception is. I also saw how he handled a case with much rationality while I’m busy being frustrated that we messed up. He initially didn’t want to be the leader, saying that he doesn’t fit to be but I insisted. That’s how he became our leader.”

“Didn’t you feel any bitterness when you passed your position to Christopher?” Leila started intriguing Fidel. Chris waited for Fidel’s answer, he shouldn’t be swayed by their good talks about his parents. There should be a big reason why the culprit killed his parents and he will make sure to figure it out.

“I would admit, it hurt my ego at first but I should do what’s best for the team. Besides, everything became fine when he became the leader.” Fidel gave a hearty laugh as he reminisce, they are a team 7 years ago. They’ve been to near death situations numerous times already. They owe their lives to each other, that is how strong their bond is.

“Aside from being even-tempered, Christopher is basically a genius in executing plans. Your parents is a great duo, there’s no doubt to that.” Leila added before she continued eating her pasta.

“What about mom, what does she do in your team?” Chris asked. He already got a chance to ask. He wouldn’t waste the opportunity.

“Melissa is our master planner, her deductive skills is remarkable, which is why I said that they are the perfect duo. Your mother does the planning and your father facilitates the execution.” Chris nodded. Everything he is hearing fascinates him.

“Can I ask another question?” Chris asked.

“Sure.”

“You mentioned in my mother’s eulogy, that my mother helped you when you’re at your lowest. May I know the reason why? If only you’re comfortable in speaking about it of course.”

“Melissa saved my life.”