Author's note: This story belongs to me - please do not reproduce without my permission or claim it as your own work. Constructive feedback is always appreciated. :D

Orion Guardians, Inc. (Location classified) – 4067

“A Brekken?! Our fourth member is a Brekken?!” yelled Cara. She stood up, knocking her chair to the ground, and pulled out her laser gun, pointing it at the newcomer.

“Agent Ryder! Put the gun down!" Harkow shouted sternly, slamming a fist on the table, the sound echoing in the small room. "Helios has been cleared by intensive security measures, and plus, he wasn’t raised in the Brekken territories. His father was a respected Orion Guardian agent and informant years ago before he passed on.”

“I don’t care. A Brekken is a Brekken.” Cara said through clenched teeth, her grip on the gun tightening. “It’s in their blood to pillage and kill innocent people.”

“Regardless, he has been cleared by security, and we think...no...we KNOW that he will be an asset to your team.”

“‘We?’ Who’s ‘we?’ I don’t want him on this team! I make it a point not to work with people I don’t trust. And if our job is going to be as difficult as you say, I’m going to have to put my life in the hands of my teammates, and he is not going to be one of them!” she shouted, moving towards Helios.

Harkow blocked her, his reptilian eyes flashing. “Agent Ryder, as your superior I am ordering you to stand down. This is not your decision. If you continue down this route, I will be forced to recommend your relocation and possible termination, is that clear?”

Cara’s green eyes flashed in anger, but she controlled herself with great effort and moved away from Helios. Sitting back down with a huff, she threw him a glare that could curdle Droghta milk.

Helios raised one dark eyebrow before moving to stand in the back corner, his arms crossed and his golden eyes wary. His jaw clenched at the tension in the room. So…this is going to be harder than I expected. He couldn’t help discreetly looking Cara over. Looks like kitty’s got claws.

Tori looked curiously at this interesting display of human behavior, her mechanical brain processing each person’s heart rates, bio info and brain waves. She looked over at Aiden, who uncomfortably squirmed in his seat as he tried to appear busy with the video display in front of him. Occasionally, he looked over fearfully at Helios, but most of the time he avoided eye contact with the angry people.

When he looked at her, Tori smiled, knowing that humans often found it a reassuring gesture. However, Aiden seemed to grow even more uncomfortable. I assume he has never seen an android before.

Aiden meanwhile was trying desperately to blend into the background, while surreptitiously glancing at his companions from time to time. His face flamed when he saw the android smiling at him. Man, she’s hot. Just like those girls in the Old Earth Playboy magazines… He looked away, squirming in his seat.

Seeing that the room had finally settled into silence – albeit a tense silence – Director Harkow smiled and returned to the head of the table. “Well, if we’re finished now,” he looked pointedly at Cara, “I shall continue with your mission briefing. In the future, if you have any problems with the mission or your fellow team members, file a report and schedule a private appointment with my secretary.” He returned to the VPD, where a 3-D map appeared.

“One of our undercover operatives – Agent Lennox – was able to deliver this map of a Brekken military base on Terra V before he was unexpectedly terminated. This data has been verified by another undercover operative – Agent Hwang – who has since dropped under the radar.”

“Dead?” Cara asked, tensing.

“Status unknown. Your job will be to recover the missing operative as well as gather as much intel as opportunity presents to you. Cara and Helios report to Section 5 for mission prep. Aiden and Tori come with me to the Tech lab. Everyone dismissed. ”

Harkow, Aiden, and Tori exited quickly.

Helios gestured for Cara to go first through the door, but she stood back stubbornly, her arms crossed. He raised an eyebrow. “Is something wrong, Miss Ryder?”

“Don’t you dare say my name, Brekken. I don’t trust you, and unlike the others, I’m not fooled for one minute. I’m only doing this job because I know the operative, and this is a big promotion for me. But the minute we get back from the mission, I’m filing to have you transferred. And by the way, there is no way I’m walking out that door first with you behind me.” She shook her head. “No, you go first, and I’ll keep my eye on you. And that’s a promise.”

Helios, his face set in stone and his jaw clenching, nodded sharply and walked through the door. Cara followed closely behind.