Agent Johnson is in a bit of trouble. Of all the stupid "experiments" she was forced to participate in, this was by far the worst. Being told to find a particular rock somewhere in the park is as impossible as it sounds. There were acres of land to be found, not to mention that she had absolutely no clues about its whereabouts. Her target may be buried in the dirt, or it may be hidden on some tall branch. It's also possible that it's hidden in a public toilet or something.

At least the woman thought about asking Maggie what the stone looked like, but that didn't help much. It was a gray, flat stone, oval-shaped, about the size of her hand. She had found several people who looked alike, but none of them had the name of the annoying girl. She still carries them with her, in case she later discovers that the words on them are very small, mostly transparent, or difficult to spot. The third-grader would have done such a thing, and she hadn't thought to ask for those words until she had climbed all the stairs. She considered going through it all over again from head to toe in order to get more clarification, but then remembered the rules for the date. She won't come back until she finds her prey.

As a result, AJ spent most of the morning, painstakingly sifting through the dirt in a rigorous search mode. Thankfully, it couldn't have been buried too deep, as the soil was only about fifty centimeters deep before it turned into concrete. The whole park is basically a landscaping sandbox with synthetic plants, but no one really cares because they look, touch, and smell like the real thing. AJ doesn't like virtual reality for the same reasons she doesn't really like. It's an illusion that the average person willingly accepts, just to make their lives seem less dull and meaningless.

Other than that, the park is definitely public property, so the sight of an angry woman in a military uniform digging the place has not gone unnoticed.

"I'm sorry, ma'am."

The soldier was knee-deep in the freshly turned dirt, and he winced for a moment before turning to the familiar voice.

"Good morning, Officer Maloney," she said in a tired voice.

"Acting Johnson? The policeman raised his hat in surprise. "What are you doing out there?"

Her uniform was so dirty from digging that he didn't recognize it.

"Oh, just some, uh, military affairs. Super secret stuff. It's none of your business. ”

The man crossed his arms and raised his eyebrows.

"Do you really think I'm going to buy it?"

"This ...... Is it worth a try?" She grimaced in embarrassment.

"Listen, I may not know why you're digging this place, but I have to ask you to stop. This is nothing short of vandalism. ”

He gestured to the small patch of grass that AJ had already sifted through with a shovel. What was once a well-ordered parkland has been transformed into a desolate wasteland, a sight to see on a war-torn planet.

"It's okay, my boss will take care of it," she ignored him.

According to the Occult Expulsion Agency and the Observer Magh'

Athlak, the former will be responsible for cleaning up any mess left by the latter. This "experiment" may also be counted.

"Maybe so, but you're disturbing civilians. We got five calls and it was, 'There's a weirdo with a shovel who's making a mess of the park.'" ”

"Oh. Ah. ”

AJ was so immersed in her own thoughts that she didn't even think about how strange she looked in public.

"Yes," ah. "You should be glad that it was me, not my colleague, who decided to investigate, or they would have arrested you. I can't imagine anything good. ”

"Nope. No, it won't. ”

"I'd like to give it a try, so why don't you tell me what you're doing in the name of the Queen?"

"Hey. It's an experiment," she shouted. "At least that's what the witch said."

She then describes her predicament simply and candidly, beginning with her unconsciously moving to Maggie's new apartment. Maloney didn't hear all the details about where the soldiers were, so her explanation answered some questions that he didn't bother to ask at all. Most importantly, he understood why the psychic was so irritable, and accepted that she had every reason to do so. That's why he let her vent to her heart's content.

"She also brazenly said that it was an experiment!" Her tirade is at its peak, and so is her voice. "I swear, the only thing that witch is testing is my patience!"

"Maybe that's the key?" He proposed.

"Don't say the same!"

"Don't be nervous, Agent Johnson. There is no need to blame and shout at each other. ”

"No, it's definitely needed!" I'm fed up with people thinking this abuse is good for me and acting as if it's part of some big plan. She just likes to torture me, and she won't admit it!"

"But she can't lie, can she?" If she really was bullying you, she would have said it a long time ago. ”

"Hit the ball. It seems like. She might convince herself that letting me do all the hard work was a legitimate experiment in some way, when in reality her main goal was just to watch me cramped up. You know what these third-class bastards look like!"

"No, I don't know. I only know Miss Ou, and I know she's not cruel. Maybe it's heartless, but it's not cruel. Otherwise, she would have done something worse to the person who shot her. ”

AJ couldn't do anything but shout in response. It's another argument her teammates and boss often make, and she hates it. Mainly because she doesn't have a good rebuttal.

"My point is that if she made you go through this, there must be some underlying reason or reason behind it. Something more substantial than "bullying humans is fun". Of course, even you can see it. ”

"From my position, no," she was still determined.

"Well, you can think whatever you want, I'm not qualified to change your mind." He rearranged his hat. "But I have to ask you to stop digging the park."

"Do you have a better suggestion?" She asked sarcastically.

"You don't? He turned. "Seriously, you're a psyker. Is shoveling an entire park by hand your first resort? Can't you scan this stone?"

"I can't use electronic devices, remember?"

If she could, she would only have to look at the surveillance footage of Maggie's whereabouts to see where she had hidden the rock. That's probably why this restriction is included, as well as the "no teammates help" limit. AJ could circumvent these rules by simply asking Maloney to check the footage for her, but it didn't feel right for him to do so. Not to mention, such blatant deception is tantamount to admitting defeat, which is not appropriate for this stubborn woman.

"No, not with a mineral scanner," the police clarified. "I mean, use your brain."

"Inanimate objects don't have thoughts, so I can't perceive them with my abilities," she says bluntly.

"But it's not some ancient rock, is it?" Miss Ou signed it. Her name. I think that's a big deal. It's going to leave some kind of, I don't know, psychic fingerprints or something, right?"

Maloney's knowledge of psionic abilities is only scratching the surface. These issues are of concern to scientists, the military and military scientists. Even if the police encounter a rogue psyker, the standard procedure is to escalate the incident and call the armed forces. Or, if there is no time, evacuate the area and subdue the suspects with waves of brainless drones armed with guns. Therefore, he did not know if this "psychic fingerprint" that he came up with on the spot was possible. This seems plausible, at least, given that Maggs has a way of "branding" others, including himself.

On the other hand, AJ's mastery of psionic energy can be imagined. She recognized what Maloney called psychometrics, the ability to perceive the thoughts and feelings that individuals may have left on memorabilia and antiques. Such a skill will definitely make her task easier, but it has one major flaw. Psychometrics is a bunch of gibberish invented by charlatans and perpetuated by works of fiction. This concept has no basis in reality. At least not in her real life. It is known that the third-level cosmic entity exhibits a range of abilities, and while it may be psionic in nature, it is impossible for an ordinary person like her to imitate it. The very existence of these things defies logic, so AJ feels that there may be some truth to Maloney's suggestion, despite its ignorance.

“…… All right. I'm going to try. ”

She put away her shovel and sat down on the edge of the pit she had dug. She reached into her inner pocket and pulled out a semi-collapsible mask with dark goggles and a ventilator inside. She put it on and wrapped it around her eyes, nose, mouth, and ears so that it completely cut off all senses except touch. Now, AJ is free from most of the outside world, clears his thoughts, and expresses them with his own thoughts. In a matter of minutes, she was able to pinpoint all living, thinking creatures within a kilometer of a mental sonar. It's the same technique Maggie has always used, although the difference in proficiency between her and AJ is like comparing the orbital shuttle to a gerbil strapped to a firecracker.

Fortunately for Agent Johnson, she doesn't need that ridiculous perception because she knows exactly what she's "looking for." The existence of a third-level spirit medium has a unique feeling that is different from other creatures. After living with Maggie for so long, her name is almost etched into the psyker's skull. If AJ were asked to put this feeling into words, he would describe it as rowing through a storm while catching a glimpse of the shadows of the mountains between the lightning. It evokes a mixture of helplessness, confusion, and fear, but also a terrifying temptation that draws her in, even if she drags her down if she ventures too close to it.

Or at least that's how it was when Psychic first met Marasrak the Observer. Since then, she has adapted and learned to cope with its presence, to the point where it feels more like walking into a room and forgetting why she went in. It still has the same basic elements, only a hundred times less in strength. It also helps the third level to maintain its unfathomable spirit in its metaphysical pants. This makes it much easier to live with Magus than not to do so, despite some dubious experiments.

However, AJ finds himself wishing that the spiritual presence of the Level 3 students is still as dizzy as it once was. If such a strong mark is placed on the stone, the psionic energy will find it immediately. Provided, of course, that these things are possible. However, as things stand, Johnson's peculiar sonar doesn't find anything special among a group of ordinary people in the park. She hasn't given up yet. Even if something can be found, it will be faint and tiny. She struggled to frown and narrowed down the search, while also excluding civilians. After a few minutes of intense concentration, her efforts and Maloney's ideas bore fruit, and she felt a strange little "spot of light".

Surprised and encouraged by her success, AJ hastened to remove her sensory deprivation mask.

"Any luck? The policeman asked.

"I think so."

She stood up, didn't say a word, and trotted towards the "point of light." Maloney followed, more out of curiosity than responsibility. The ginger-haired agent led him to a monument in the middle of the park. It was a towering pillar on which sat a life-size statue of a valiant medieval knight in full armor, triumphantly holding a sword. As the plaque at the base of the monument reads, the sculpture is a portrait of Sir Digby of Smeg. After an anomalous solar flare destroyed the Earth's magnetic field and sent its civilization back to the Dark Ages, he brought peace and unity to his homeland and became famous for it. Without this man's bravery, wisdom and dedication, the colony might never have been restored.

These events took place centuries ago, when humans were just beginning to colonize stars. Records of that time and place are few and far between, and unreliable, so little is known about Sir Digby of Smeg. Still, he remains a modern symbol of enlightenment and perseverance. All in all, his monument is a strange place for Maggie to hide her prize. She tucked it into the gap between the statue's collar and helmet. With a flick of her wrist and a telepathic nudge, AJ removed the stone, which fell into her open palm.

"Yes! you, girl!"

When she saw the word "Maggie" clearly engraved on the stone, she couldn't help but scream proudly.

"Watch your language, agent. You're still in public. ”

It was only after Maloney's stern reprimand that the soldier noticed that she had attracted the attention of many people. As you can imagine, the monument is a fairly popular meeting place, so there are a lot of people in this area. Their eyes were drawn to the strange woman in the dirty military uniform and the policeman who seemed to be following her. The way she scolded at the top of her throat aroused their curiosity and made them intrigued. Putting himself in the spotlight made AJ blush with embarrassment. Seeing her stunned, Ma Hongsheng thought that he might be able to help her a little.

"Let's go, guys!" He turned to the onlookers. "Just a training session!" There's not much to see here! And you, sir! I hope you don't record this! Respect Her Majesty's army!"

The attention of the crowd was focused on the police, and the panicked soldier seized the opportunity and hurried back to the shovel she had discarded. A few minutes later, Maloney dispersed the onlookers and joined her.

"So, got what you need?" He asked.

"Yes. Thanks to you, I don't have to dig the park anymore. ”

"It's good to hear that. Do you want me to take you home?"

"No, it's okay."

"Are you sure? If you want to go the hard way, this is a lot of steps. ”

"I'll be fine, really. I need to follow my instructions, even if I don't agree with them. ”

Riding in a flying car would certainly be considered as receiving technical assistance and therefore violating Maggie's orders. Opposing her in any way could lead to the annulment of the entire agreement with the CIA. AJ isn't sure if things will escalate to that level, but if she dares to compromise on her contract, she'll be in trouble.

"I see. As a soldier, you must be strong. The policeman nodded sympathetically.

"Sometimes, but in the long run, it's worth it. Also, Officer Maloney, you're not a talker. ”

"Huh. Everyone in the station didn't bother to call the shots," he said with a chuckle.

"Since you say so."

"Come on, at least I can accompany you to the skyscraper."

“…… Why are you doing this?" She narrowed her eyes. "It's one thing for me to stop digging into the park, but it's none of your business."

Maloney was bewildered by her sudden, unfounded skepticism. It was as if she was accusing him of ulterior motives. Since this is indeed the case, the police decided to confess it all.

"Listen, I just don't think we were right in the first place last time. You threw me against the wall and I pinned you to the ground. By the way, you're pretty good. You know, for the psykers. ”

She softened her gaze and raised an eyebrow.

"You're not bad yourself. You know, for a police officer. ”

"Hey, I bought it," he said with a smirk. "But yes, I have a feeling that I will see you often, because I like to visit Miss Ou's house from time to time, and I want to make sure that there is no enmity between us."

"You really don't have to work that hard," she sighed. "I mean, I hit you first because I didn't use my brains, but you helped me a lot. If anything, I should be the one who tried to make amends to you. ”

"Well, if that's what you think, how about letting me take you out to dinner tonight?"

“…… Are you serious?"

"Absolutely".

"I'm not sure if that's a good idea."

"Give me a chance, that's what I'm asking for. I was even able to book us the best seats at Leonardo da Pinch's restaurant. Ma Hongsheng said. I've heard that their Nebula Lobster specialties are amazing. ”

AJ crossed his arms, carefully considering the invitation. It seems that she doesn't have any particular grievances against Maloney. He was handsome and seemed to be a decent man, not to mention that she could tell that he wasn't interested in her, just because she was a psyker. If she says she's not curious about him at all, she's lying. The problem is that the lifestyle of the interstellar psychic force commandos doesn't leave much time and opportunity for romance. Dating within the team is strictly forbidden, AJ moves frequently, and long-term relationships with the colonists are impossible. Then again, her current assignment is more or less permanent for the foreseeable future. A casual date is a great opportunity to release stress.

Last but not least, she really wanted to taste it for herself after seeing Maggie munching on that Nebula lobster with a satisfied face.

"You know what? Sounds great. Just do it," she decided.

"Great! I'll pick you up at eight?"

"That work. Now, excuse me, I have to go. ”

She had to climb a hundred floors and take all the showers. After that, she needed to go buy a dress or something because she didn't have anything for an upscale place like Leonardo da Pinci. She doesn't take the date too seriously, but she doesn't take it lightly either. If Maloney is willing to ignore their initial conflict, then she can at least put in a little effort.

As she walked back to her apartment, AJ couldn't help but feel a level of excitement and joy. She had some reservations at first, but found herself quite looking forward to the evening. However, this thought did cause a certain concern in her heart. That said, Maggie might come up with some new boring experiments to keep her busy and make her miss appointments. In AJ's mind, the girl is a complete bully, so if her plans for the night are discovered, it seems like a possible development. It would have been even worse if she had come back from what she was doing so early.

So, she decided to spend a few hours hanging out around the neighborhood to kill time. She plans to wait until late afternoon to report on her success. That way she'll have plenty of time to freshen up and prepare for the date, but it'll be too late for the witch to give her more boring work. She might try it again, but AJ feels she can rely on Joe to let him dominate his magical girlfriend. Normally, the agent would not resort to such a despicable method, but she felt that it was necessary in this situation.

Unfortunately for Agent Johnson, it wasn't until she finally climbed those stairs that she realized she had made two small mistakes.

That said, the Level 3 dinosaur doesn't say if it hid more than one rock in that park, and "Maggie" isn't its real name.