HSBA Delta Branch: Where Paths Cross Again - CHAPTER 17

[HSBA Delta Training Camp Branch — Administration Building | Main Instructor Office | 9:13 A.M.]

The conference room doors closed quietly behind them.

Click.

Silence followed.

Unlike the room they had just left—

There were no emotional voices.

No crying.

No laughter.

Only the steady rhythm of footsteps.

Eight pairs.

Moving through the long administrative corridor.

At the front—

Instructor Faye.

Behind her—

Instructor Mark.

Instructor Landrieu.

Instructor Azhette.

Instructor Syndie.

Instructor Arch Jude.

Instructor Monique.

And finally—

Instructor Jonathan.

The corridor felt strangely empty.

The aftermath of Day Zero Test had finally begun settling across the branch.

Yesterday—

The entire branch had been overflowing with activity.

Today—

Most of the failed trainees had already completed their departure processing.

Most had already left the camp.

The successful graduates had finished their paperwork.

Finished breakfast.

Finished final clearance procedures.

And had been allowed to return temporarily to the trainee dormitories for additional rest.

For the first time since Day Zero Test—

HSBA Delta Branch felt quiet.

Peaceful.

Almost normal.

Almost.

The eight main instructors continued walking.

None of them spoke.

Not because they had nothing to discuss.

But because there was simply too much to process

Yesterday alone had felt like an entire month.

A mysterious new instructor had arrived.

Instructor Ravielle.

Personally escorted by Headmaster Gaius himself.

Her classified personnel file had been carried by Zachary, the Headmaster’s personal bodyguard.

That alone had already been extraordinary.

Then—

Only the seven instructors among Headmaster Gaius’s grandchildren—

Instructor Britney.

Instructor Sapphire.

Instructor Skyrish.

Instructor Amethyst.

Instructor Bailey.

Instructor Raphael.

Instructor Nexcialine.

—had immediately become strangely familiar with the newcomer.

As though they had reunited with someone they had known for years.

Before anyone could understand why—

Day Zero Test had begun.

Then suddenly, all eight of them—

The seven instructors and Instructor Ravielle—

Had suddenly disappeared in the middle of the most important evaluation of the year.

Without warning.

Without explanation.

Without even leaving a message.

Hours later—

They returned.

Bruised.

Bandaged.

Accompanied by five newly transferred instructors.

Instructor Sahm.

Instructor Patrick.

Instructor Blade.

Instructor Bryce.

Instructor Louie.

All equally injured.

All equally exhausted.

All clearly connected.

And somehow—

Every one of them behaved like a lifelong family.

Brothers.

Sisters.

Shared memories.

Shared habits.

Shared jokes.

Then this morning—

Those same thirteen instructors had unanimously pleaded for one failed trainee.

Trainee Kaycee.

Calling her—

“Our junior sister.”

Calling one another—

“Senior brothers and sisters.”

Calling Instructor Ravielle—

“Leader.”

Nothing about it made sense.

The silence stretched farther down the corridor.

Until—

Instructor Landrieu finally sighed and broke the silence.

“…I still can’t believe we actually made an exception.”

Several heads turned.

Instructor Mark quietly exhaled.

“It wasn’t pity.”

His voice remained calm.

Measured.

“It was the only decision that preserved both compassion and HSBA’s standards.”

No one disagreed.

Because he was right.

The probationary arrangement maintained fairness.

It preserved the integrity of Day Zero Test.

Yet acknowledged extraordinary circumstances.

Instructor Jonathan adjusted his glasses.

“And even then…”

“…I still have dozens of questions.”

Instructor Monique smiled faintly.

“Only dozens?”

Several heads turned toward her.

She folded her arms and looked at him.

“I’ve already lost count.”

“How could you only have dozens of questions in your mind?”

A few quiet chuckles escaped the group.

Small.

Tired.

Genuine.

Even Instructor Jonathan allowed the corner of his mouth to lift.

“…Fair point.”

Instructor Azhette rubbed her forehead.

“At this point I’m afraid to ask questions.”

Instructor Syndie nodded immediately.

“Every answer just creates three more mysteries.”

“Only three?”

Instructor Arch Jude muttered.

“Optimistic.”

More quiet laughter followed.

For a brief moment—

The tension eased.

Then—

The group finally arrived.

At the end of the corridor.

The Main Instructor Office.

The large wooden door stood closed.

The destination indicated by the urgent wristband notification earlier.

The eight main instructors stopped.

Instructor Faye studied the door briefly.

Then reached forward.

CLICK.

The handle turned.

The door opened.

And one by one—

They entered.

Instructor Faye first.

Followed by Instructor Mark.

Instructor Landrieu.

Instructor Azhette.

Instructor Syndie.

Instructor Arch Jude.

Instructor Monique.

And finally—

Instructor Jonathan.

The room was quiet.

Unexpectedly quiet.

Sunlight streamed gently through the office windows.

Waiting calmly near the center of the room—

Sat a man they had never met before.

He appeared to be around the same age as Instructor Faye and Instructor Mark.

Around forty-three years old.

Composed.

Professional.

Calm.

His posture immediately caught their attention.

Not because it was intimidating.

But because it carried the unmistakable bearing of someone who had spent years in structured service.

Years.

Possibly decades.

A brown envelope rested neatly in front of him.

The moment he noticed them—

The visitor immediately stood.

He offered a polite smile before bowing respectfully.

“Good morning.”

His voice was calm.

Professional.

The eight main instructors automatically returned the greeting.

“Good morning.”

The visitor smiled.

“My apologies for the interruption.”

He placed one hand against his chest respectfully.

“Allow me to introduce myself.”

A brief pause.

“My name is Jefferson M. Rodriguez.”

He smiled politely.

“But most people simply call me Jeff.”

The room remained attentive.

Then he continued.

“I am a newly transferred counselor from the Main HSBA International Headquarters.”

A pause.

“I have been assigned to HSBA Delta Training Camp Branch effective immediately.”

Silence.

Absolute silence.

Eight pairs of eyes blinked almost simultaneously.

Instructor Mark was the first to recover.

“…Another transfer?”

Instructor Monique looked genuinely surprised.

“We just received six new instructors yesterday…”

Instructor Azhette blinked twice.

“And now Headquarters sends us a counselor too?”

Counselor Jeff nodded politely.

“Yes.”

“My transfer became effective this morning.”

Instructor Faye recovered first and immediately stepped forward.

Despite her surprise—

She offered a welcoming smile.

“Then…”

“Welcome to HSBA Delta Training Camp Branch, Counselor Jeff.”

Professional as always.

Counselor Jeff nodded politely.

“Thank you.”

One by one—

The others offered similar greetings.

“Nice to meet you.”

“Welcome to HSBA Delta Branch.”

“We’re glad to have you.”

“We look forward to working with you.”

Counselor Jeff accepted each greeting graciously.

Then—

He gently pushed the brown envelope forward.

“This should contain my transfer authorization and personnel records.”

Instructor Faye accepted it automatically.

“Thank you.”

Then—

She opened it.

And froze.

Immediately.

The room noticed.

Instructor Mark frowned.

“What is it?”

“…Faye?”

She didn’t answer.

Instead—

Instructor Faye simply handed him the file.

Instructor Mark looked down.

Then froze too.

“…No.”

Instructor Jonathan immediately took it next.

Then froze.

“…You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Instructor Monique grabbed it.

Then blinked.

Once.

Twice.

Instructor Landrieu looked over her shoulder.

Then groaned.

Loudly.

Very loudly.

Inside the file—

Only a single page was visible.

The rest had been sealed.

Restricted.

Locked.

Exactly like another file they knew.

At the top—

Large black letters.

CLASSIFIED CONFIDENTIAL FILE RECORDS

Name: JEFFERSON M. RODRIGUEZ

Experience — CLASSIFIED

Skills — CLASSIFIED

Graduation Rank — CLASSIFIED

Operational Records — CLASSIFIED

Mission History — CLASSIFIED

Combat Evaluation — CLASSIFIED

Field Leadership Records — CLASSIFIED

Everything sealed.

Everything restricted.

Everything hidden.

Only one line remained visible.

“Counselor Jeff is authorized to serve as Counselor under HSBA Delta Training Camp Branch.”

Silence.

Absolute silence.

The entire room stared at the document.

Then—

Slowly.

Very slowly.

Every single instructor remembered another file.

A file that looked exactly the same.

CLASSIFIED CONFIDENTIAL FILE RECORDS

Name: RAVIELLE V. SANTOS

Experience — CLASSIFIED

Skills — CLASSIFIED

Graduation Rank — CLASSIFIED

Operational Records — CLASSIFIED

Mission History — CLASSIFIED

Combat Evaluation — CLASSIFIED

Field Leadership Records — CLASSIFIED

Everything sealed.

Everything hidden.

Everything classified.

Only one visible line.

“Instructor Ravielle is authorized to serve as Instructor under HSBA Delta Training Camp Branch.”

The resemblance was impossible to ignore.

Instructor Landrieu slowly looked upward.

Then toward Counselor Jeff.

Then toward the file.

Then toward the ceiling.

As if asking the universe for patience.

“…I don’t believe this.”

The room became perfectly still.

Instructor Jonathan slowly removed his glasses.

“…No…”

Instructor Landrieu stared at the document.

“…Again?”

Instructor Monique blinked once again.

Then twice.

“…You’re telling me…”

She looked from the document…

To Counselor Jeff…

Then back again.

“…Even our new counselor has a classified personnel file?”

Counselor Jeff merely smiled apologetically.

“I’m afraid so.”

Instructor Azhette slowly covered her face.

“…You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Instructor Syndie folded her arms.

“…Yesterday six transferred instructors.”

“Today one transferred counselor.”

“All from the Main HSBA International Headquarters.”

Instructor Arch Jude quietly muttered,

“…And another classified file.”

Instructor Mark looked toward the ceiling.

“…I’m beginning to think the Main Headquarters has forgotten what a normal personnel record looks like.”

A few tired laughs escaped the room.

Even Counselor Jeff chuckled softly.

“I’ve heard that joke before.”

Instructor Faye closed the folder carefully.

Then looked at Counselor Jeff.

“…I’m guessing we aren’t allowed to ask why everything is classified.”

Counselor Jeff smiled with the practiced expression of someone who had answered that question many times.

“I’m afraid the answer is the same one you’ve already received.”

A brief pause.

“…Classified.”

Collectively—

The eight main instructors groaned.

Instructor Landrieu leaned back dramatically.

“I knew it…”

“I knew today was going too smoothly.”

Instructor Jonathan slowly adjusted his glasses again.

“…Apparently normal people no longer transfer to HSBA Delta Branch.”

Soft laughter filled the office once more.

None of them realized—

That Headmaster Gaius had arranged it this way deliberately.

Just like Instructor Ravielle—

Counselor Jeff was a recently retired military counselor from the same military training camp.

A man who had once served alongside Ravielle, Britney, Sapphire, Skyrish, Amethyst, Bailey, Raphael, Nexcialine, Sahm, Patrick, Blade, Bryce, Louie…

And even knew Trainee Kaycee long before any of them had entered HSBA.

To protect both his identity and his former service—

His records had been sealed exactly the same way.

Leaving the eight main instructors with only one collective thought.

After everything that had happened over the past two days…

They had hoped—

Just hoped—

That the visitor waiting for them would be someone completely ordinary.

Instead—

Headquarters had sent them yet another mystery.

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