The motorcycle rider strolls casually towards the park bench as Lee remains amused to see both sides are decimating one another.
“Gang wars sometimes are fun but not good to watch.”
“You can say that again, Lee.”
“I know that voice...Marshall, how have you been?”
“I am good, thanks.”
It was Marshall Law, famous Chinese Martial Artist whom too like Paul and Hwoarang have decide to move to Sydney to make a new start of their life. He takes off his motorcycle helmet and then takes his seat on the park bench beside Lee.
“My, that’s quite an outfit you have there?”
“Well, I was managing the place and when I got a tip from one of my own guys. I decide to come and check it out and left my son Forest to holding down the fort until I get back.” replied Marshall as he was dashed out in a black business suit with white shirt and tie.
“I see...How is you son, by the way?”
“He’s fine...Moving to Sydney was at first hard for him but I reckon he’s starting to get the hang of the place.”
“That’s good to know.”
The two then observes as both Paul and Hwoarang’s gang was all lying down on the road with only the leaders still standing but were breathing hard and panting.
“Well, well...Some brawl we have today.” uttered Paul brushing the sweat off his forehead.
“Yeah, probably one of the best I have had.” replied Hwoarang as he too brushes the sweat off his forehead and eventually he and Paul laughed and laughed. Bryan, Craig, King and Miguel scratch their heads with them in a bewilderment of why would Paul and Hwoarang be laughing over this.
“What’s with Paul?”
“You got me, Craig.”
“Grrr...Grrr.” (Come on, let’s help our boys.)
“Good idea, amigo. Hey, you two...Let’s go help our boys.”
“Oh...Let’s do it.”
Paul and Hwoarang continues to burst with laughter while Bryan and the others help their injured men as Hwoarang’s guys help each other as well. Eventually, the two gang leaders stop laughing and very quickly both turns back into their serious game faces.
“Okay, Paul...It looks like this was a draw.”
“So, it would seem, Hwoarang.”
“Next time, one side will triumph over the other.”
“Yeah, mark my words, Paul...You mad dog.”
These particular words anger Paul as he hates it when behind call him ‘Mad Dog’.
“Don’t you dare call me that!”
Hwoarang smirks as he taunts him further.
“Oh, what are you going to do...Bite me in the ass?”
“Grrr...I will, I will...” began Paul as he doesn’t know what to say to insult Hwoarang back so Hwoarang then taunts him instead.
“What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue?”
“I will roast you alive over a slow fire, Hwoarang...I will pull out one hair at a time and stuff them down your throat, glasses, suit, shoes and all.”
“Ho ho...Look who’s talking. To be honest...I find your insulting to be quite less offensive and more amusing.”
“Oh, picture this...The reason you are here is because you didn’t get your chance to get even with Jin Kazama.”
Immediately, Hwoarang’s heart was in full rage as he grips his fists tightly. Paul notices this and it was his turn to smirk back at Hwoarang.
“Oh, careful now...You might pop a blood vessel.”
“How dare you say his name? Mad Dog!!!”
“Says you...You, pathetic anti-Kazama dumb head.”
Paul and Hwoarang then wrestles with each other again with Marshall and Lee watching. Bryan and Miguel rushes to them while Craig and King help their injured and badly beaten guys off.
“Paul, get a hold of yourself.” uttered Bryan sounding quite serious.
“Yeah, amigo...Cool off.”
“Wow...Their rivalry sure is quite an intense one as time passes.”
“Figure it is time for the middle man to do his part?”
“Of course...It is time.”
Marshall then stands up and gently breaks the fight between Paul and Hwoarang by separating their hands.
“Guys, guys...Allow me to be the middle man.”
Bryan and Miguel pulls Paul away while two to three of Hwoarang’s guys who only suffered minor bruises pull back their leader.
“Hey, Paul...Let’s allow Marshall to have his right of say.”
“Yeah, Miguel...I think so.”
“Boss, Mr. Law is here so you reckon we should allow him to have his say?”
“Yeah, of course...Okay, Marshall. What proposal do you have for us this time?”
“I must say...You guys fight just for some territory here in Sydney. Man, I reckon we can all get along if you guys just learn to see the bigger picture.”
‘What bigger picture, Marshall?”
“Glad you asked Paul...I reckon it’s time to mark the boundary between your two turfs. To avoid further problems and all.”
“Okay, that’s a good start.”
“Indeed...Hey, Paul. Why don’t we mark College Street as our boundary borderline?”
Paul immediately disagree to this as it would shrink his own turf and allow Hwoarang’s turf to expand, which without a doubt it’s something he cannot accept.
“In your dreams, dickhead...That means you have more turf and I will have less turf.”
“Okay, what do you propose?”
“George Street shall be our boundary line.”
“WHAT? That would mean you would get a lot of good places on your side of the street.”
“Hey, if I recall...You have the George Street Event theatre as well as the QVB. You can do with them whatever you wish.”
“Oh, Paul...But you have the Capitol Theatre, the Japanese Kinokuniya Book Shop as well as Dymocks, the HSBC banks, Hyde Park, State Theatre and...”
“Yes, yes...No need to continue. I know how many good places I have on my side of the proposed boundary line.”
“So, fellows...Can we come to a compromise?”
“Well?”
“I think...”
“George Street be the boundary that separates between the two of your turfs.”
“Well, all right.”
“All right.”
“Then you guys have an accord with one another?” asked Lee as he was standing right beside Marshall Law himself.
“Yeah.” replied them both with them looking at each other for a split second before folding them arms in sulk.
“That’s good...I like it. You are both my blossom buddies.”
“Excellent.”
“On one condition.”
“What condition might that be, Hwoarang?”
“I also want to have the Star City Casino and the Fish Market.”
“Done.”
“Done.”
“Paul, you have no problem with that?”
“Why should I, Marshall? I have the whole eastern Sydney area to myself.”
“Of course...The Paddington Markets, Bondi Junction, Vaucluse and all.”
“Yes, I know.”
“So, you both happy?”
“I am happy.”
“Yeah, me too.”
“Good...How about we all go to my place and enjoy a nice mutual dinner together?”
“Well, I think that is quite a good idea.”
Hwoarang thought about this for a moment. Having dinner with his rival Paul Phoenix but to refuse an invite from his good blossom friend, Marshall Law would be kind of an insult to him.
“Oh, all right.”
“That’s good...At least the two of you can behave like civilized people.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“Whatever you say.”
“Excellent.” replied Lee with a sly smile on his face and saying his catchphrase again.
“I think Hwoarang might be interested to hear of the proposal that I am about to make.”
“What proposal, Lee?”
“Lee, you are not going to tell him about...”
“Paul, I am a legitimate businessman and I am in the middle or you could say neutral much like Marshall Law is...Right, Marshall?”
“Yes...Yes, of course.”
“I think Hwoarang too has a right to hear of what I am about to say.”
“Yeah, go ahead, Lee...I am listening.”
“I think I will head off and prepare dinner for all you guys...See you all there in a short while then.”
Marshall Law therefore heads back to his motorcycle and puts back on his helmet.
“Tally ho!”
Marshall rode off like there was no tomorrow back along the all quiet Darlinghurst Road and turns right up William Street and heads back to Chinatown.
“Well, Hwoarang...I hope you are going to like what I am about to propose.”
“Yeah, yeah...Out with it, Lee?”
“I was talking with Paul earlier...About I need five hot and beautiful girls for myself and my foster brother Kazuya.”
The moment Lee mentions Kazuya’s name, Hwoarang himself instantly became interested but why remains unknown.
“Go on.”
“There are girls I want from this particular school called: ‘Milson’s Point Grammar Academy’.”
“Yeah, I know the place...Got a grudge or two with a student or two there.”
“Then would you like me to send the webpage of the class rosters of the girls that I want.”
“With boys in it?”
“And girls, Hwoarang...Don’t forget that.”
‘Fine, fine...Send it to my email and by the way...”
“Yes?”
“What’s the reward money?”
“Paul, would you like to tell him?”
“Fine...The reward, Hwoarang is 10,000 for each girl and...”
“Hey, Paul...I believe it was 20,000.” replied Bryan remembering the moment Paul negotiate the price with Lee while he and the others were present.
“Right, 20,000 and another 5,000 for each additional one.”
“I see...That’s quite a good bargaining price.”
“That’s right, Hwoarang...But you know we will get them first.”
“Maybe not.”
“Gentlemen, please...How about we do this without fighting. I propose we let Paul and his group do it first...”
“WHAT? Why?!” bellowed Hwoarang sounding shocked.
“Why, Hwoarang? Because I went to them first and therefore by definition they have the handicap to do it first.”
“Right, you went to them first and blah blah blah...” grumbled Hwoarang sticking his tongue out slightly at Paul who instantly turns his back on him as their rivalry was quite deep and funny at times.
“Even by chance Paul and his guys fail to do it then you and your boys have your turn to give it a try.”
“Well...”
Hwoarang thought about this for a moment and knew if Paul and his guys succeed in capturing the girls. If by chance Paul and his guys succeed however, he has a backup plan and therefore pretends to agree with Lee’s terms of allowing Paul and his gang to have the first attempt to capturing the girls.
“Okay, Lee...Paul and his band of hoodlums can have their first try.”
“Done...Anything else you want to add, Paul?”
“None whatsoever.”
“Excellent...Now let us be off to Marshall Law’s place. I wager he doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”
“Right, let us go, boys!”
“Aye, big brother!”
“And Paul?”
“Yeah?”
“See you there...Buddy!” replied Hwoarang in a most venomous tone, which made Paul more angry on the inside with his heart burning with rage and fury but he replies to Hwoarang in a more normal tone instead.
“Yeah, I will see you there.”
“Paul, you okay?”
“I am fine, Bryan...Come on, let us get probably dress and meet at Marshall’s place.”
“You don’t think Hwoarang and his boys would...”
“Worry not, Miguel...I wager they would cause violence at Marshall’s place.”
“I mean as we go there, amigo...Into Hwoarang’s turf?”
“Well, we will go on bikes then.”
“Right...I will prepare them right away, amigo.”
“Yes, you go and do that...Come on, boys. Let’s go and have some quality time with our friends and rivals.”
“Yeah!”
This was apparently the latest change to Sydney with Paul and Hwoarang leading their two gangs to gain superiority over the city itself thus causing the people to be scare and timid. Because of their actions it had cause the city itself to change slightly and the people to be on more alert and such. However, all was not lost as a secret defense force was established not too long ago to keep an eye on the gang activity and keep the people safe. The main facility itself was on the other side of the Harbour Bridge in the Milson’s Point area close to Luna Park. It was the recently built new school academy known as ‘Milson’s Point Grammar’, which was founded by famous entertainment sponsor and businessman Jolyon Wagg, the millionaire who never laughs, Laszlo Carreidas and the former president of San Theodoros and well-known and revolutionist General Ramon Alcazar. The three of them built this school right close to the beautiful harbour and they welcome any students with the desire to learn and study. Wagg took his position as the school principal, Carreidas as deputy principal and Alcazar as the discipline and general co-ordinator of the school. In secret, they had assembled a navy and intelligence defence force that consists of a large handful of students with most of the teachers aware of this. In addition, an internal security team was established to guard the school grounds that were Alcazar’s men, the famous Picaros. There were many students within the school range from year 7 to 12 giving a total of 4,500 to 5,000. It was about half past two in the afternoon, where the students are in the lesson of the sixth period, the last period of the day and just before afternoon homeroom period. In the 12th storey tall red brick school building block two, which was the classroom building for year 10 to 12 students, it consists of mostly classrooms and a large storage facility at the first level and basement. The year 10 students were destinated on the fifth, sixth and seventh floor with the year splitting into twenty-two classes from 10A to 10Z (There’s no class I, O, Q and Y) with the year 9 students on the second and third floor with the remaining floors as the staff room area. The top and outstanding class was 10A and the most numbers of the year, 32 consisting of 16 boys and 16 girls. Everyone of them were paying their utmost attention to their English teacher, Tintin, former famous reporter and now employed as a teacher at the school along with his good friend, retired Captain Archibald Haddock. He once served in the merchant service and now a renowned history teacher who has just got his degree in history, a Masters degree at Cambridge. Even his distinguished and sometimes absent-minded Professor Cuthbert Calculus got employment at the school as well as a science and physics teacher. There were at least twenty to thirty teachers in the school but despite not many they were proved to be most acquainted and dedicated to their jobs.
“So, about feature articles...They are not very long but are written to catch the viewer’s attention by using key words.” explained Tintin as he hasn’t changed much since his younger days and dressed in a white business shirt with tie and black business trousers and leather shoes. His trusty companion, Snowy was on the desk looking at all the outstanding students with the white dog itself smiling and wiggling its tail as a friendly sign.
“For homework, I will all of you to write up a 500 word feature article based on the subjects of the following that I am about to give you.”
Tintin then opens up one of his manila folders with the named: ‘Feature articles Year 10’ open and he gets out a pile of worksheets from the folder. Afterwards, he walks from his desk and hands a couple of sheets to each front student desk.
“Take one of each and pass it down.”
The students did exactly just that by taking one and passes the rest to the back and eventually, the class representative Samuel Wong gathers the leftover sheets and heads back to the front and hands it directly to Tintin.
“These are the leftover sheets, sir.”
“Thank you, Sam.”
Samuel strolls back into his seat, which was located right at the back of the classroom and he sits apparently back himself like another of his fellow classmate. Samuel was the class representative of the class as well as in other clubs such as ‘The Basketball Club’, ‘ The Reading Club’, ‘Library Club’ and ‘Music Club’. He was a kind and mature looking young man with brown neatly cut hair and wore the traditional ‘Milson’s Point Grammar’ winter uniform. The winter uniform for boys consists of a white long sleeve shirt with dark blue trousers, gray tie and green winter blazer completed with polished black leather shoes. Whereas for the girls, their uniform was slightly different with them wearing the same white long sleeve shirt but had to wear a green ribbon on their collars, green short checkered skirt with long black stockings and leather shoes.
“Now remember...That this assignment is due next lesson, which is the day after tomorrow on Thursday’s lesson so you have more than enough time to complete it. If you wish to see me about your own choice of topic to write your feature article assignment you can see me now.”
“Sir!” uttered a girl in the middle with her hand raised high.
“Yes, Kathy?”
“Can we start on it now?”
Tintin showed a friendly smile as he was always pleased to see the enthusiasm of this class and gives a nod back at Kathy.
“Of course, Kathy...We still have five minutes or so and I do not see any reason why you cannot.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Kathy was a girl with an energetic and enthusiastic attitude, she wore her uniform in good form and she had a rather cute and serious face with dyed dark brown hair. She happens to be a member of the cheerleading squad of the school as well as being a member of the philosophy club. The other students were quite keen to get a head start on their homework as well with one girl in particular being hardworking as well as elegantly beautiful. This girl had brown fair long hair with a blue headband and wore her full winter uniform in fine form as she looks at the worksheet handed by her teacher again closely.
“Write a 500 word feature article based on the following topics: Public Transport, Traffic congestion, Ferries, Luna Park and so on and so on...”
This girl was called Sophie Barkman, a calm and collected schoolgirl who is generally friendly but not quite sociable but although she does try to hang out with friends from time to time. She was consider the most beautiful girl in the school with a beautiful and elegant face and was trained in various martial arts by someone who was eventually close to her age and was raised up by that same person who had trained a few others whom were also in her class.
“I can get this done and...”
Sophie’s specialized digital watch, which doubles as a page caller that vibrates as she looks at it and reveals a three digital number of 777. It meant that the discipline/general co-ordinator wants to see them after school and a few of the students in the class whom too wore them also gets the same thing. Apparently, Alcazar is the commander of the defence force with him in charge of missions and specialized assignments with Wagg and Carreidas as advisors and they handle the political and internal side of things.
“The code numbers: 777...The general wants to see me after class...I wonder what does he want this time? Must be something of great importance.”
Sure enough, the school bell rings indicating the end of the lesson as he was still talking to one of the students that goes by the name of Eunice Rodeiguez, who was a girl with slightly darker skill with slightly long and smooth brown hair. She happens to come from a Brazilian background possibly from Sao Paulo was a quiet and quite hardworking student. She was a part of the ‘Volleyball club’, ‘Literature club’, ‘Manga club’ and ‘Catholic club’ to which she was a nun of the chapel and was an Eucharistic minister in training. Tintin reminds the students again of the assignment that he had handed out to them earlier on a few minutes ago before the end of the lesson.
“Remember, everyone...I expect all of you to complete your feature article assignments and handed to me next lesson.”
Eventually, one of the male students puts up his hand and Tintin responds by asking.
“Yes, James?”
“Sir, are we hand it at the beginning or by the end of the lesson?”
“The beginning of the lesson, on my desk.”
“Uh...Understood, sir.”
James Ardasinski was a smart student of the class with fair brown coloured hair and he was kind of a nerd when it comes to politics and stuff, which he grew fond of. It makes sense of him being active in the ‘ Debating Club’ and ‘Current Affairs Club’, which was pretty much the same as Mock Trial but James could not join that club until year 11 because it was part of the school curriculum policy.
“Okay, class...Good afternoon and have a good day.” said Tintin as he packs up his stuff with Snowy leaping off the desk and onto the ground beside it.
“Good day, sir!” replied everyone in the class as Tintin heads to the door with Eunice.
“So, you wish to write your feature article based upon the Catholic Church?”
“Yes, sir...It’s a topic that I am very into and all.”
Tintin then shows a genuine smile on his face.
“Very well, you have the green light.”
“Thank you, sir...Afternoon.”
“Afternoon...Come on, Snowy.”
“Wooah Wooah!”
Snowy then follows Tintin out of the classroom and head to the stairs and makes his way back up to the staff room area on the upper floors. Samuel and as well as deputy class representative Josephine Houston (She likes people to call her ‘Joey’), announces to the rest of the class to start packing up and be ready for homeroom. Joey herself was a tall girl with two neat pigtails and dark brown hair. She was also into the ‘Equestrian Club’ and the ‘Flower Arrangement Club’, which are essential part of the school flower festival. She and Samuel are close friends and have grown an attraction to one another but decides to keep their relationship strictly on a professional level.
“Come on, everyone...Let us get this place in fine order.”
Everyone in the class including Samuel and Joey gets the place in good order and eventually their acting homeroom teacher arrives and it was none other than General Ramon Alcazar himself dressed in a gray suit with his ID badge visible pinned to the front of his gray blazer.
“Afternoon, everyone...Please, take your seats.”
“Understood, general!”
All the students quickly get back into their appointed seats while Alcazar himself strolls to the teacher’s desk and gradually sat down in the teacher’s chair with him opening up the class’s roll book.
“Okay, let’s mark the roll then...Susan Smith?”
“Present, sir!”
Susan Smith was a cute and beautiful girl herself with dark brown hair and two white Chinese buns. She was very intelligent and witty especially when it comes to science and chemistry and has a lab of her own located in the lower levels of block one known as the main administrative building that consists of 16 science labs. She literally also enroll herself in an eight session course in the MCC (Macquarie Community College) in the course of Certificate IV of Occupational Health and Safety. She was allowed to this eight-session course on Saturday with the deputy principal pulling a few strings and the board of the community college had good relations with him. She also had another duty as part of the school’s secret defence force that was established by General Alcazar to combat crime and terrorism.
“James Ardasinski!”
“Here, sir.”
General Alcazar then continues to mark the roll while the students of this upstanding class talk quietly amongst themselves as Alcazar finishes marking the roll.
“Well, everyone...I trust you all had a good day today.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Absolutely, general.”
“Okay, you all have a good day and remember to do your homework.”
Alcazar then looks at some of the students, the ones whom were equipped with the specialized digital watch, which doubles as a page caller. Those students know that the general would like them to stay in class when the school bell rings. Eventually, the school bell rings and most of the students stands up, tuck in their chairs and head out of the classroom door with their bags and stuff. Eventually, only a few students remain and one of them was Sophie as Alcazar tells them to get some rest for about an hour or so.
“Okay, agents...Go and get some rest and do your homework. At precisely, 1600 hours report to the reception area. That is all.”
“Yes, sir!”
The secret agents of the defence forces, which consists of both boys and girls head out of the classroom. Sophie was the last one out as Alcazar calls her over.
“Sophie, one moment, please.”
“Yes, sir?”
“Are you doing okay?”
“Uh, yes sir...I am.”
“That’s good...I know you have been working hard lately so don’t overwork yourself.”
“Your point, sir?”
“Take a break of patrolling this evening...Just go and get some rest, do your homework.”
“But am I allow to...”
“Train yourself? My dear Sophie...Of course you can.”
“I can.”
“Yes, you can use the sporting facility tonight...Come to my office if you like and I will write you a permission slip so that way if any teachers or prefects see you there then show them this.”
“I understand, general.”
“Very well, come with me then.”
Therefore, Sophie accompanies Alcazar to the administrative building where his office was located. They first must take the elevator down to the ground floor and stroll over to block number one, which was the administrative building. Thirteen floors, which includes the principal office, the deputy principal office, the discipline master office, a staff room and an office all located at level 5 of the building. There are eventually 48 classrooms for Year 7 and Year 8 students located 8 floors above level 5 itself. The floors below level 5 are recreation areas for staffs. There is a tearoom in level 4 and a staff recreation area on level 3. The ground floor was the reception and waiting room area whereas for levels 1 and 2 are science labs for science subjects, which is also where Susan Smith has her lab. There were also 4 large computer labs located at the top floors of the building with all the PC computers fitted with USB 3.0 and with two floors using Windows Vista while the remaining two floors use Windows 7. Sophie and General Alcazar heads straight to the Admin building as the school grounds was filled with students all some making their way back to their school dormitories, some to head back to their families’s homes. However, they must first sign out at the reception area where at that very moment, deputy principal Carreidas was there. He as there as students who are heading out of school and back to their families’ homes signs themselves out. This allows both he and Alcazar can have a record of who’s staying back in the dormitories and who is not.
“Afternoon, sir.”
“Afternoon, Mr. Carreidas.”
“Yes, good afternoon...Take care now.”
Carreidas was strict and at the same time friendly and easy going to students as it was part of his job. Alcazar and Sophie strolls pass him as Carreidas greets them both with a simple hello.
“Hello, Ramon...Hello, Sophie.”
“Hey, Laszlo...I will see you later, amigo.”
“Hello, Mr. Carreidas.”
“See you later, Sophie.”
“Yes, sir.”
After a small greeting with the deputy principal, Sophie follows Alcazar to the elevator as Alcazar once like before when he used the elevator inserts his security staff pass and once he swipe it the elevator then comes down from the top floor and down to the ground.
“So, Sophie...I trust you are doing well in your club activities, yes?”
“Uh, they are going quite nicely, sir.”
“That’s good to hear.”
Once the elevator had arrived both Sophie and Alcazar strolls into the elevator with Sophie carrying her schoolbag and thing while Alcazar holds his own school and admin files as well.
“Sophie, would you be so kind to...”
“Of course.”
Sophie graciously presses the button number five on the elevator floor panel and after that she presses the close doors button and the elevator doors closes before them. It wasn’t a long trip as the two of them have arrived at the offices of the principal, deputy principal, the discipline master/general co-ordinator. There was also a staff room, a second small reception area and waiting room so that in the event a student wishes to see any member of the staff the receptionist can call for them. This new and second small reception area and waiting room was recently constructed as in the past students had to page for teachers from the ground level and the staff themselves had to stroll down from level 5 to the ground floor. It was not so much of a present way to go up and down the stairs or elevator so the decision was made to built another small reception on level 5. In the large staff room and office desks, there was also a conference room for staff meetings. Students are not allow to go to the staff areas from levels 1 to 4 unless otherwise or in the event of an emergency. Only level 5 was perhaps the only level allow for students to go since they will need to see either the three heads of the school or go to the second reception to see a teacher. Sophie follows Alcazar back into his office as Alcazar first inserts his own staff security pass and then has to insert a four digital code of his own while Sophie turns around to avoid looking at it. After Alcazar has finished he can open the door and the alarms on the door hinges have been deactivated.
“Come in.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Eventually, when Alcazar leaves the office and closes the door behind them the alarms are activated. So, in the event of breaking down the door or a student trying to insert his or her card into the panel or entering illegally on the code pad then the alarms will sound and they will be swiftly caught and send directly to the deputy principal or principal’s office.
“Please have a seat, Sophie...Would you like anything? Tea or water?”
“Uh, tea would be just fine.” replied Sophie casually as Alcazar puts his stuff back on his slightly messy office desk.
“Of course...With milk and sugar, yes?”
“Yes.”
Sophie then sits down in the chair in front of Alcazar’s rectangular desk as it was filled with files and sheets of paper. The office itself was quite large with one single window, air conditioner, a small fridge and combination safe. There was also two of his favorite picture frames that he hang on his wall, the picture of himself as of his past days as dictator of San Theodora and the others was a group photo of him alongside his best amigos, Tintin and Captain Haddock. Alcazar then finishes making milk tea for Sophie and hands her the cup that consists of her hand-made milk tea.
“There you are.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Now, let me get my things in order first.”
“Of course.”
Alcazar then tidy up his desk a bit and open one of his desk drawers and gets out a permission slip. He then closes the drawer and then grabs one of the pens on the table and gives it to Sophie to have a quick read.
“Read it, Sophie and then sign at the student box.”
“Of course, general.”
Alcazar at the same time hands Sophie one of his ball point pens on his desk as Sophie promptly signs it after reading it word from word.
“Done.”
“Good. Now, it’s my turn to...” began Alcazar as he signs the bottom part, which was where he was meant to sign. Once he had finished, he hands it to Sophie.
“Okay, make sure you carry that with you at all times.”
“Understood, sir.”
Sophie then drinks another large sip of her milk tea first before she folds up the permission slip and puts it inside her blazer pocket.
“May I ask something from you, sir?”
“Ask me anything, Sophie.”
“What’s the assignment for the others tonight?”
“Well, nothing big...Just routine patrolling and keeping the streets safe from the two main gangs in the city.”
“The ‘GFH’ gang led by Paul Phoenix and the ‘Hwoarang’ gang led by the Korean Takwendo warrior, Hwoarang, correct?”
“Top marks, Sophie...Anyway, I am sure your companions can handle themselves without you there.”
“I reckon so, sir. But...”began Sophie as Alcazar puts up his hand and made Sophie stopped speaking.
“I know, I know...You want to keep an eye on them. I will inform Shirley, that she will be the acting team leader of tonight’s patrol. Fill her in on the details, which no doubt she already knows.”
“I am okay with that, sir.”
“And I want you to take a night’s rest from patrolling...You have worked quite hard in the past few days. Not to mention one time you have been working 24 hours straight without taking a breather.”
“Yes, that was on a Saturday.”
“Well, then there’s no reason to take a night off of patrolling...This is an order.”
Sophie showed a small smile and quickly switches her mood back to her usual calm, emotionless and collected face.
“Understood, sir.”
“That’s good...Afternoon then.”
“Afternoon, general.”
“Don’t worry, Sophie...I will keep you in the loop.”
“Much appreciated, sir.”
Therefore, Sophie heads back from the main admin building to the girl’s dormitories destinated block number eleven, which was the dormitory building for year 9 and 10 girl students. There were six buildings on the campus with three buildings for boys and three buildings for girls. Each of those buildings is 20 storeys high, with air conditioning systems with a maximum of no more than two students that are allowed in each room. The room has one balcony, one kitchen and one toilet. There are also recreation areas located at the lift lobby or the courtyard on each floor for students to use. Sophie walks casually back there and takes the elevator up to the twelfth floor where she and her fellow classmates and other year 10 students stayed. She makes her way back to her dormitory room destinated room: ‘1204’.
“Whew...I feel kind of tired and all after today.”
Sophie then takes out her security pass and promptly uses it to unlock her room door. Once she has she opens the door and heads into her cozy dormitory room where she finds none other than her fellow room mate and best friend, Shirley Nguyen.
“Shirley, I am back.”
“Hey, Sophie.”
Shirley was a girl with middle long orange hair with an orange headband that she wore over her head. She’s very smart and a nerd with her in a couple of clubs and most surprisingly, she was the writer/editor/publisher for the school newspaper and newsletter. She writes articles of the school from main major events to small-time cases. Once she has completed her story by finding out the facts or interviewing she publishes them and they are display in places around the school campus. Shirley herself was also an agent of the school’s secret intelligence defence force with her skills and intellect second only to Sophie. Generally, she was a nice and easygoing but at times very alluring when she interrogates people or finding more details of the big scoop she’s into such as people acting suspiciously and such. At this moment, she was dead set on doing her homework on her own desk.
“So, the general asked you to stay behind for...”
“Oh, I guess I will tell you the truth.”
“Great...There’s a reason I like you, Sophie.”
“What is that?”
“Your modesty or I should say your honesty.”
“Right.”
Shirley smiles happily as she likes people telling the truth instead of lying or come up with excuse to hide of they really wanted to say. Shirley herself was a person with the spirit to find the truth behind any mystery things from minor stuff to big time crime and conspiracy.
“So, what’s the truth?”
“Well...”
Sophie then looks at Shirley as she was out of her school uniform and wore her casual clothing, a dark blue T-shirt and white tight shorts. Sophie was in awe of the way Shirley was dressed as she was truly indeed a beautiful and ravishing girl.
“You look great.”
“Thank you...So, you were saying?”
“Well, the general told me to go with him, you see...” began Sophie as she puts her things down on her desk that was located in between their three-seated sofa and bunk beds. Afterwards, she loosens her ribbon and collar and walks over to the sofa and sat herself down taking a breather.
“So, did he tell you something special about what he wants to discuss with our team of agents tonight?”
“None whatsoever.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“The general has told me to take tonight off patrolling.”
Shirley didn’t seem surprised by this as in the past few days Sophie has made a number of commitments of catching criminals and saving lives without rest or the normal hours of sleep that a person of her age should have.
“Oh, let me guess...He’s worried about you working too hard.”
“You guessed correctly.”
“Well, I don’t blame him...Truth be told. I reckon you could do with a night off.”
Sophie smirks as she rarely does so and looks at Shirley with a casual smile.
“Now you sound much like the general.”
“Do I?”
“Yes...Except for the Spanish foreign accent.”
“I guess so...So, if you are going to stay here and take the night off then...”
“He told me that you will be the acting team leader tonight.”
“Did he say that?”
“Yes.”
“Well, I will do my best in your place, Sophie...I won’t let you down.”
“Of course...You have always been a good friend, partner and rival.”
Shirley smiles as she felt rather touched herself.
“Much appreciated, Sophie...So, tell me what are you going to do besides homework and rest?”
“Uh, I might continuing with training.”
“Training...You mean in the sports facility building?”
“Of course...You think I will do exercise and training in here? Of course not.”
“My bad...I was just joking.”
“Yes, I am sure you are.”
Sophie therefore heads to the bathroom to wash her face and hands while Shirley was doing the homework from all the lessons that was set today as well as the feature article assignment that was given to them by their English teacher as well as Shirley’s reporter mentor, Tintin. She was right into it as Sophie decides to start on her homework as well to get it out of the way and then afterwards she can proceed with her own training.
“So, can I ask you something?”
“Ask away, Sophie...Ask away.”
“You got any big scoops on anything?”
“Well, not really. Nothing big.”
“And you still hang out with Simon.”
“Simon?”
Sophie was referring to the boy in the other class 10B, a young handsome boy with slightly straight up hair and Shirley’s love interest. She and Simon have gone out with each other for a year or two now and Shirley really does like him and he too likes her. So, hopefully one day he will propose to her, which of course will make her very happy.
“You like him, don’t you?”
“Well, you can say that.”
“You both still hang out?”
“Only on weekends...We are just ‘friends’. Like you and I.”
“I um...I see.”
“Anyway, I will not let you down tonight. I will lead our fellow agents like the way you do.”
“Glad to hear it.”
“So, what do you say we have a spot of tea together?”
“If you insist.”
Meanwhile, in the Library building destinated block number three, one of the male top students of class 10A was doing his homework in one of the seminar study rooms. It was none other than the hot-headed and strong swordsman, Andrew ‘Andy’ Zhang but his friends and almost everyone else always call him ‘Andy’ except by that special someone or two. He was a young man with blonde neatly groomed hair and a tough attitude but does have a softer and kinder side especially to his friends and superiors finding General Alcazar to be an amusing discipline master. He was into sports and martial arts clubs of the school and has a passion spirit for cooking where he and a good friend of his opens a night cafe afternoon school that was located just near one of the entrances to the school.
“Oh, well...I reckon I might start on this feature article stuff...500 words. Now that shall be a piece of cake.”
Andy then decides to head out to look at the books based on the topic that he has chosen: ‘Ferries’. He wastes no time heading straight for the non-fiction section to look on books based on ferries and knew he had to write a feature article about them.
“Boy, these place sure has some interesting books.”
The Library Building was built in 1970 and it has 5 floors of collections of books, folios, DVDs, CDs. It has 1,500 study desks, 500 seminar study rooms and 1,000 computers for students to use. There are 2 photocopy rooms on level 2 and level 3 of the library building. The library is using Library of Congress Classification System. There are 24 classrooms located above the Library for Year 9 students, which benefits them as when they need to use the library they only need to head downstairs. Andy then grabs a few books on ferries/ships and takes them back to the seminar room.
“Okay, let’s see the criteria on how I do this...”
Andy reads it as sure enough, two more people comes in to join him and they were none other than his two best friends, Michael Mendez and Alex Choi.
“Andy, how are you, buddy?”
“Michael...Alex. Glad to see you guys.”
“So, you are fully set on doing your English feature article assignment?”
“Of course I am, Alex...I am doing one on ‘Ferries’, you know, passenger boats that travel on water.”
“Yes, Andy...I know. No need to simplify it too basic for me to understand.”
“My bad.” replied Andy sarcastically as Michael and Alex grab a seat on the table and get out their school things from their bags and decides to get cracking on their homework of the day. Alex literally puts two folded up newspapers on the table as well.
“You brought something to read, Alex?”
“More or less, Andy.”
“Yes, it will help us with what we are doing.” replied Michael with a smile.
“Right, Alex?”
“Absolutely.”
Michael was a young man with neatly combed brown coloured hair as he like his best friends wear the full neat winter school boy’s uniform. He was into quite a number of clubs from sports to chess, boy scouts and eventually music. He also works alongside at the night cafe that was located just near one of the entrances to the school during afternoon school hours. The other good looking young man was Alex Choi, who too had neatly combed hair but coloured light blue and he literally wears reading glasses. He eventually was so good and handsome looking that almost every girl on the school campus (excluding the ones in his class) have their eyes on him with one student from class 10B forming a fan club with his name on it. Alex finds it all too much and tries to avoid them as best as he could. Alex was smart like Andy and Michael being the top three students of the year and eventually Alcazar and Carreidas calls the three of them, ‘The Three Musketeers’.
“Say, Andy...You know we have to get to the night cafe and get everything for...”
“I know that, Michael...Besides we don’t have to get there until 5 since the place opens only from half past five to half past nine, which gives us half an hour to clean and pack before going back to our dormitories.”
“Even if it is over the time that we are suppose to go to bed?”
“Don’t worry, the general and the prefects know about this so they’ve given us fifteen minutes extra time.”
“Oh, like a tied score soccer match.”
“Precisely...Say, what topics did the two of you picked for the feature article assignment?”
“Well, I picked the topic of ‘traffic congestion’.”
“Oh, I see...That shouldn’t be too hard. What about you, Alex?”
“Now that you mention it...I’ve got a few samples of newspaper from the newspaper rack just near the library doors. There’s feature article examples so it will help us with writing our own.”
“No kidding...I knew there was a reason you brought them in, but why didn’t you say it clearly to me when you and Michael first came in the first place?”
“Oh, I don’t know...Probably just want you to figure it out why for yourself instead of me telling you.”
“Ha ha...No need to be all that cryptic with me, Alex.”
“Come on...I thought you like mystery things, right?”
“Sometimes...Come on, let’s get cracking at it. Once finished we can relax for the rest of the day.”
“Okay.”
