GTS Agent Ch 19: The Places In Which We Come From

Over the weeks, Douglas had grown closer to Traci, something he hadn't entirely anticipated. Their time together at the store became a comfortable routine. Stocking shelves, managing the register, and occasionally dealing with the odd customer complaint felt less mundane with her around. It helped that she was in nearly all his classes too—a coincidence that still puzzled him. He joked about it once, asking if she was stalking him. Traci had only rolled her eyes and laughed, brushing off the question.

Through their growing friendship, Douglas began piecing together parts of her life. One slow Tuesday evening, when the store was quiet, he asked her about her hometown.

"I'm from Haven's Reach," Traci said, glancing at him while stacking cans of soup. "It's pretty far from here. You've probably never heard of it."

"Doesn't sound familiar," Douglas admitted. "What was it like?"

Traci sighed, pausing for a moment. "Hard. It wasn't the kind of place where you could relax, you know? People were... desperate. Everyone was trying to make ends meet however they could. My parents—" she hesitated, her voice faltering for the briefest moment. "They died when I was young. After that, I was tossed into the foster system. Stayed there until I turned eighteen and got out."

Douglas frowned. "That sounds... rough."

"It was," she said simply, but then she smiled, a small, almost defiant smile. "But it happened a long time ago. Whatever hardships I went through, they made me stronger."

Douglas returned her smile, though his heart ached a little for her. "I guess they did."

From that point on, their bond only grew stronger. Douglas admired Traci's resilience, even if she didn't always show it outright. But for all her strength, there were moments when she seemed distant or lost in thought, as though carrying something too heavy for him to see.

Their dynamic took on a curious twist whenever Lilith showed up at the store. Lilith had a way of turning every visit into an event. Dressed impeccably and always exuding a confident, teasing energy, she had a habit of making Traci visibly irritated. It wasn't subtle either—Douglas could practically feel the tension crackling between the two women whenever they interacted.

One evening, as Douglas restocked snacks by the counter, he glanced over to see Lilith and Traci talking in hushed tones near the storage room. Or rather, Lilith was talking, and Traci looked like she was trying not to explode.

"She really hates her," Douglas muttered to himself.

Lilith's visits always ended the same way: with Traci storming off to cool down and Lilith flashing Douglas a knowing smile, as if she enjoyed causing chaos. He figured he'd eventually get the full story, but for now, all he could do was observe.

That particular evening, the conversation between Traci and Lilith had taken a more serious turn. Lilith, leaning casually against the storage room wall, studied Traci with a calculating gaze.

"You've been stalling long enough," Lilith said, her voice dripping with both authority and mockery. "The organization has a mission for us."

Traci crossed her arms tightly over her chest, narrowing her eyes. "And what exactly does that have to do with me?"

Lilith smirked, clearly enjoying Traci's frustration. "Everything. There's a planet out in the Azerian Star System that's becoming... problematic for the organization. Intel suggests they've been developing weapons capable of challenging the Confederation's authority. We've been tasked with eliminating the threat."

Traci's scowl deepened. "Why me? You're more than capable of handling it on your own."

"Because, dear Traci," Lilith said, her tone patronizing, "this isn't just about brute strength. This is about strategy and precision. And whether you like it or not, you're one of the best agents we've got."

Traci scoffed, turning away. "I don't want to be part of this anymore."

Lilith's expression softened slightly, though her voice remained firm. "You don't get to make that choice. You knew what you signed up for."

Traci glared at her, jaw clenched. "Fine. But don't think for a second I'm doing this for you."

Lilith chuckled. "Of course not. Do it for the mission."

Meanwhile, Douglas was finishing his shift and wondering for the millionth time why Traci and Lilith's relationship seemed so strained. As he watched Traci return from the back room, visibly tense, he decided it wasn't the right time to ask. Instead, he offered her a warm smile.

"You good?" he asked.

Traci hesitated before nodding. "Yeah. Just... work stuff."

He didn't press further. But as they walked out of the store together, heading their separate ways, Douglas couldn't shake the feeling that there was something Traci wasn't telling him.

"Goodnight, Traci," he said with a small smile.

"Goodnight, Douglas," she replied softly, watching him walk away.

As soon as he was out of sight, Traci pulled a small earpiece from her pocket and inserted it into her ear. Her expression shifted, becoming colder, more professional.

"Agent 100 reporting in," she said quietly. "Subject is still not found. Reconnaissance will continue as advised."

Her voice, steady and sure, carried none of the warmth Douglas had come to know. As the night stretched on, Traci couldn't help but feel the weight of the double life she was leading—and the growing guilt that came with it.