Joell gave her a sympathetic pat. “Welcome to the big leagues, kid.”
Katie’s head was still resting on the table, hoping for the sweet release of a dreamless sleep, when Joell snapped her fingers, sharp as a whip crack.
“Assignments. We need to move fast.”
She pointed at Lioness and Crystal. “You’re on Katie’s crash course. Defense, offense, survival. Think Hogwarts meets boot camp.”
Lioness cracked her knuckles. Crystal grinned and nodded, disturbingly eager.
Joell swung her attention to Rayna and Brianna. “You’re researching everything we have on parasitic entities and shapeshifters. Wards, spells, charms… If it’s ever worked against a mimic, I want it copied, laminated, and duct-taped to Katie’s ass.”
Rayna saluted with her coffee mug. “I love a research project.”
Brianna just smiled serenely like she hadn’t just heard the wordslaminated to Katie’s ass, remembering when she was in her shoes.
Joell turned to the screens. “Victoria, Magda, Sahara, dig through your networks. We need early warnings if any other Grays pop up, anywhere. If they start moving in packs, I want to know before we’re hosting a live-actionAlienreboot.”
Victoria already had her fingers flying over a keyboard. “On it.”
“G’day and good luck, everyone,” Magda said, then popped a grape into her mouth.
Sahara just gave a dust-covered thumbs-up.
Finally, Joell looked at Major Payne. “You’re lead on external threats. If any military sites report anomalies, strange power outages, or unexplained disappearances, I want you to bring us in on it.”
Major Payne gave a grim nod. “Roger that.”
Katie lifted her head just enough to ask, “And what’s my assignment? Besides not dying?”
Joell leaned down, resting both hands flat on the table like she was about to deliver either an encouraging speech or a death sentence.
“Learn fast. And don’t screw up.”
Katie sighed. “Inspirational.”
Crystal slapped her lightly on the back. “Don’t worry, luv. By the time we’re done with you, you’ll be kicking villains in their metaphorical bollocks.”
“And if they don't fall down?” Katie asked.
“Then we’ll get creative,” Lioness said, already opening a duffel bag full of what looked like magical assault gear.
“So, Hogwarts boot camp. Nut-kicking. Creative solutions… And I’m totally not gonna die?”
Brianna beamed at her. “That’s the spirit.”
12
The following morning, Katie tugged at the sleeves of her hoodie like it might hide her from her past, her future, and the new barista at her old job. “I know this is all critical life-or-death stuff,” she muttered to Rayna, “but I also left my entire life in this café, meaning my coat and purse, and my dignity.”
Rayna held the door and ushered Katie in with a sweeping motion, like she was ushering a queen. “You can retrieve the first two. The other thing isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.”
Katie made her way to the counter, where her boss Larry, middle-aged, constantly sweaty, and permanently overwhelmed, spotted her with a mix of shock and annoyed relief.
“Katie! You’re alive! Where the hell have you been? You ran out mid-shift, and we had a line out the door!”
Katie winced. “Yeah, sorry about that. There was a… spiritual emergency?”
Larry squinted at her. “Is that like food poisoning?”
