The elevator descended slowly. At least it seemed to be slow to the lone occupant. It was the first time Tag had been in it in weeks. Not since he had been released from the infirmary, once he recovered from his wounds suffered in the battle against Athanatos. He had taken something of a vacation. Not that he went anywhere. By the end, it felt more like he was just wallowing, something his partner pointed out numerous times. And she was right. Of course, it was not like he was a full agent. Technically, he was still just an outside resource for Noxumbra.
Tag looked up as the elevator made a soft ping to signify its arrival at his destination. The doors slid open, and he saw the now familiar site of the main lobby. Though an unusual sight was there. A snake, one he knew. "Oh, hello, Tebeshi."
She gave him a wide, fanged grin. "Ah, Tag. You're back."
He nodded. "Yeah. Got some things to talk about with the director." He suddenly noticed that the reptile was not wearing the typical guard uniform, but instead in more mundane clothing. "Uh... you heading home?"
She shook her head. "Nope. I just got approved as a field agent. Got my first mission and everything. Just waiting on my new partner."
Tag winced. "Ah..." Steven, the fox that had been her partner, was one of the 27 members of Noxumbra that had died during the battle with the lich. He knew that Tebeshi and Steven were close. "I didn't know you wanted to be a field agent."
She gave a kind of shrug to him. "It didn't, but we're hurting for them after so many fell in that battle you led us into."
He looked away, casting his eyes a bit down. "Yeah... we lost a lot of good people..." He still felt guilty about a lot of it. The whole plan for the attack had been his idea.
It was the snake's turn to wince this time. By the end, it was no secret that Tag and Rachel were an item. Everyone knew her death hit him pretty hard. "Ah... sorry... I didn't mean to accuse you of-"
"Sorry!" A young black lab came rushing down the hallway, panting as he came to a halt and holding up a hand. "S-sorry I'm late!" He took a moment to catch his breath before standing back up, only to end up staring at the tall jerboa. "Oh! You're Tag!" he held his hand out to shake. "I'm Kyle! I heard all about you! Good things, I promise!"
Tag just stared at the hand, not reaching out to take it. "Good to meet you, Kyle." The canine looked like hew as barely old enough to be out of high school.
When Tag didn't shake his hand, Kyle looked a little awkward. Tebeshi nudged him. "Psychic touch, remember?"
The young man gasped, flinching his hand away. "OH! Right! Sorry!" He laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. "Still great to meet you!"
Tebeshi nudged him again. "You'll have plenty of time to talk another time. We have a mission to go do. And I'm sure he's busy." She turned to Tag, who gave her a grateful smile. "It was good to see you. We should have some drinks some time. You take care." She slithered her way into the elevator. "C'mon, Kyle!"
Kyle cleared his throat. "Right! Uh... yes, also good to meet you! Take care!" He rushed into the elevator to join his partner, the door closing a moment later and leaving Tag alone again. He chuckled despite himself, shaking his head as he turned and moved down the hallway.
Tag made the short trek from the main entrance to the director's office with no haste. He was actually tempted to swing by the library and see Dr. Mind and Bill. But he really shouldn't keep his mother waiting. He held up his hand to knock on the door, only for it to seemingly open on its own. "Of course." He stepped inside, closing the door behind himself. "Hello, Mom." He blinked as he turned back to see Ginny was also in the room. "Oh. Hey, Ginny." She gave him a polite smile, but it was obvious she was happy to see him.
Beatrice also gave him a smile, one a little more warm than her usual professional courtesy. "Victor. Glad to see you're a little more back to yourself." She motioned to one of the seats in front of her desk. "Have a seat. Ginny and I were just discussing the results of the latest tests on her... unique existence."
The rat waved a hand. "Short version: they have no more idea than I do. I'm still undead, but not a lich, zombie, or ghoul. No blood thirst, so not a vampire. I'm physical, so not a ghost or wraith, but I still have a soul in here, too." She thumped her own chest. He was not surprised by that news. She had one before, and Rachel had used her own spirit to revive Ginny, a piece of it now a part of the rat. "There was one suggestion, something from old slavic folklore called a Fext. It fits, I guess, but I still think I like revenant better, even if it's not accurate anymore."
He dropped into the seat beside her. "So you're still an oddity. No surprises there, then." She chuckled. He turned to his mother. "So, you said you had something new for me?"
Beatrice nodded. "Yes. But first, I wanted to ask you if you considered my offer. Of being a full time member of Noxumbra?"
"I have. And I'm still not sure." He took a breath and let it out slowly. "That said... I'm not sure I can do normal private detective work anymore. Not without basically being a spirit detective or something, and... well, that's pretty much this, right?"
She smiled. "Pretty much. How about trying it out as a probationary period? If you want to go back to just being an offsite consultant, then you can."
He shrugged. "Sure. Sounds like that could work."
The older woman clapped her hands together. "Good. Well then, as your first assignment as an official member, I'm sending you to France."
He flinched as if she'd punched him. "FRANCE!? What the hell am I going to France for!?" Ginny just giggled.
"We've gotten a report of a possible mage. Apparently at some underground tournament, some Koala has been seen possibly using magic of some sort, but most described it like a fireball. I admit, the reports are vague, but this person is apparently American, so the local French branch has asked for agents to be sent over."
"Okay, but... why me?"
Ginny spoke up. "Oh, it's actually because of me." He looked at her. "So, this tournament thing is being held just outside of the city of Troyes."
He nodded slowly. "Okay... but why-" He suddenly remembered the woman's full name, something he had only ever heard twice. Genevieve Isabeau Marie Duval d'Troyes.
She nodded to him. "Yup. I'm going home for the first time in over 500 years." She grinned wider. "I can't exactly introduce you to my folks, since they've been dead almost as long, but... maybe we can go on a date while we're there? I could show you my grave." Somehow he wouldn't be surprised if she actually thought of that as somehow romantic. "It isn't too far from Paris, as European cities go, and I hear that's supposed to be a romantic thing to do these days."
He frowned a little. "You know this is a trip for business, right?" There was also the fact that they hadn't quite figured out their relationship yet. He hadn't gotten any father than admitting he did have feelings for her, but he still wasn't quite ready to say more than that.
She shrugged. "And? No sense going all the way there and not having a little fun..."
Beatrice smiled at her son. "It is also entirely possible that this is just a rumor and won't pan out. If that's the case, you're welcome to spend a little time there until you come back. Not too long, of course. As you said, this is still a business trip." Somehow he suspected this whole thing was her idea.
He looked between both women, both of them giving him an expectant grin. He felt like he had somehow walked right into a trap. Eventually, he let out a sigh. "Alright. When do we leave?"
His mother smiled wider, though Ginny's grin was wider still. The director informed him. "I can have a flight ready for you by this afternoon."
He sighed again. "Alright. Guess I should go home and pack my toothbrush." He ran a hand through his hair, brushing one of his long ears back over his shoulder. "And let Christa know to hold my calls for the foreseeable future." This could be good for him, though. A new chapter in his life. Though knowing how his life had gone lately, probably just the start to another wild new adventure. A part of him was actually excited for that.
The end of the story. A few weeks have passed since the events with the lich Athanatos, and Tag is returning to Noxumbra after taking some downtime. He and Ginny have not quite figured their relationship out, but are still partners. And they'll have plenty of time to figure it out, as the director has a new mission for them in... France?
This has been one wild adventure, but I'm not done with this series just yet. For one, Noxumbra will be back in other stories. But there is something more! I have a special announcement! See this journal for more info!
