I was escorted to a black limousine waiting by the curb.
What a welcome.
It was the sort of reception I wasn't used to at all. Police work usually meant cramped stuffy patrol cars. Being guided into a sleek limousine by two men in suits felt… wrong somehow.
Like I'd wandered into someone else's life.
I slid into the back seat—the door shut softly behind me. The car pulled away from the curb almost immediately.
For a few moments, I just stared out the window.
Then curiosity got the better of me.
I pulled out my phone and typed three letters into the search bar.
MEI.
If I were going to meet these people, I needed to know who they were first.
Several articles appeared almost instantly.
The Ministry of Extraterrestrial Investigation (MEI) is an international institution with bureaus situated in numerous countries. The current head branch is located in Rengappon in response to the most recent alien invasion in the city.
I kept scrolling.
The organisation was founded by former Okopan Head Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tosin Oladeji. Oladeji was present during the first confirmed sighting of extraterrestrial activity on the outskirts of the Okopan capital: Angira. Since that incident, he raised the issue numerous times in the Okopan Parliament but received little to no support.
However, he gained influence from several powerful foreign diplomats who shared his concerns.
On October 21st, 2023, he officially announced his newest project, MEI, to the United Nations Security Council. The proposal received support from 132 out of 187 countries. Each country agreed to establish at least one MEI bureau, mostly within their capital cities.
Their mission was simple on paper.
Research the alien threat.
Develop defence mechanisms in case of future attacks.
According to the article, they were already studying the crashed alien ship discovered in Okopo.
Meaning progress had already begun.
I slowly lowered my phone.
So… MEI was a pretty big deal. And somehow, I'd been personally invited to join them.
The limousine eventually pulled up outside a massive glass building that seemed to stretch endlessly toward the sky.
I craned my neck as I stepped out of the car.
"Wow…"
The two suited men escorted me inside.
The main foyer was enormous. Cafés lined one side of the hall. Small pop-up shops and diners filled the other. People in suits moved between elevators that seemed to stretch endlessly across the walls.
It felt less like an office building and more like a miniature city.
"This is the Rengappon Corporate Centre," one of the men explained.
The world-famous business hub. I'd heard about it before, but seeing it in person was something else entirely.
So this was where the MEI bureau was located.
"Would you like us to get you a drink?" the man asked.
He turned toward me with a wide, friendly grin. Despite the dark suit and serious appearance, he reminded me more of a big teddy bear than an intimidating agent.
"Just a coffee would be great," I said. "Any kind is fine."
We managed to find an empty table outside a small café. Honestly, I was surprised we found seats at all with how busy the place was.
While we sat there, the two men began explaining what would happen next.
"So we're taking you to meet the head director," one of them said. "Tosin Oladeji. He'd like to ask you a few questions before your induction begins."
I nearly dropped my cup.
"Tosin Oladeji…"
The same man I'd just been reading about.
"He wants to talk to me?"
The agents nodded, shining wide grins.
Before I could process it properly, the man on the left pulled out his phone.
"Oh, here we go."
He answered the call.
"Hello? … Yeah, we've got her. We're in the foyer right now… He's ready now? Perfect. We'll be up shortly."
He hung up and finished the rest of his coffee in one quick gulp.
"Right," he said, standing up. "Drink up. Don't want to keep the boss waiting on your first day."
I quickly took a few more sips before standing and following them toward one of the elevators.
"For future reference," the man said, pointing to the elevator panel, "this is elevator 2B. It's the one that takes you directly to the bureau."
Inside the elevator, he pressed the button marked 34.
Next to it, a small LED screen lit up with the words:
MEI Bureau
"That'll make it easier to find," he added.
The elevator began its slow climb upward.
"We're on floor thirty-four," the other man said. "If you ever get lost, ask the front desk downstairs. They know this place better than anyone."
The ride felt strangely long.
Maybe it was the height.
Or maybe it was the awkward silence.
They spoke to me casually, like we were already colleagues, but I had no idea what to say back. Eventually, the elevator doors opened.
"Hello, is this Miss Suzuki?"
The receptionist greeted the two men as soon as we stepped out.
They spoke briefly before one of them turned to me.
"Just take a seat in the waiting room for a moment."
I nodded and walked inside.
It reminded me of sitting outside the dentist's as a kid.
Waiting quietly, I tried not to think about what was coming. At least the chairs were comfortable, there was even a coffee machine in the corner—made me wonder why they'd bothered taking me to the café downstairs. Probably just being polite.
After a few minutes, one of the suited men stepped into the room.
"He's ready for you."
I stood up immediately.
Before I could leave, the man extended his hand.
"It was nice meeting you, Himiko Suzuki. I hope to see you around the office sometime."
I shook his hand.
"Nice to meet you, too, Mr Suit."
He laughed.
"Call me Nagita."
"I hope I see you around too, Nagita."
The receptionist pointed me toward another associate, who guided me down a long hallway.
My heart started beating faster the closer we got to the director's office.
The sound of keyboards echoed through the halls—matched the rhythm of my heartbeat. There was a thick smell of paper and printer ink.
The woman stepped up to the director's office: a large mahogany door surrounded by a thick sheet of glass. The interior was hidden by a set of blinds.
The assistant knocked quickly.
Knock, knock, knock.
The voice that answered was deep, authoritative.
"Come in."
Not the kind you usually hear in Neppon.
But his Nepponese was good—local even.
Part of being head of international affairs, I guess.
The associate opened the door.
The office was huge.
A massive desk sat in the centre of the room in front of a large window overlooking the Rengappon skyline. Papers were stacked everywhere.
To my right sat a small glass table surrounded by cushioned chairs. A tea set rested neatly in the centre. In the opposite corner stood a record player surrounded by shelves filled with vinyl records.
Jazz.
R&B.
Even heavy metal.
Whoever owned this office clearly had a broad palette.
And standing beside the desk was the man himself.
Tall,
Dark-skinned,
Confident,
Tosin Oladeji.
The moment I entered, he stepped forward and extended his hand.
"It's good to finally meet you, Miss Suzuki. I've heard a lot about you."
His handshake was firm, but his smile was warm.
"Please, take a seat."
He guided me to one of the chairs at the glass table before sitting across from me.
For a moment, he simply studied me.
I fidgeted slightly with my hands.
"Have you heard about our organisation?" he asked.
"I did a little research on the way here," I said. "You're Tosin Oladeji. Former Okopan Minister of Foreign Affairs, who founded the Ministry of Extraterrestrial Investigation after the first alien sightings."
He leaned back, chuckled gently.
"Good. You did your homework."
He folded his hands.
"MEI is my will. My way of protecting the people I care about."
His gaze drifted toward the window.
"One year ago, I witnessed something I never thought I'd see."
He paused.
"A ship appeared out of nowhere. It scanned me with a beam of light, almost like it was studying what I was."
Then he smiled faintly.
"And then he appeared."
I knew who he meant immediately.
"The purple spirit?"
He nodded.
"He came down like an angel. Destroyed the ship. Then vanished without saying a word."
"I saw him too," I said quietly.
His eyes widened slightly.
"It was during the invasion," I continued. "A giant monster was about to kill me. Then he appeared and took it down."
I raised my fingers.
"He even did this peace sign thing."
"Like this?" Oladeji mirrored the gesture.
"Yes."
He leaned back thoughtfully.
"Interesting… So he understands human culture."
He paused for a moment.
"We have a few theories about him… but we'll discuss that another time."
The giant leaned forward again.
"I want to explain why you're here."
"You were recommended to us by someone who knows you well. I'll let you find out who later."
He smiled slightly.
"She told us you're dependable. A hard worker who runs toward danger instead of away from it."
My stomach tightened.
"We need people like that here. You've also encountered extraterrestrial threats directly."
He paused.
"Himiko Suzuki… would you accept a position within MEI?"
My mind immediately drifted back to something Superintendent Isamu had said.
What does Himiko Suzuki want?
Was the police force truly my dream?
Or had I only joined to make my father proud?
Maybe it was time I chose something for myself.
I looked up.
"Yes… It would be a pleasure to join."
A warm smile spread across his face.
"I look forward to working with you."
He stood and shook my hand again.
"We'll handle the paperwork and notify the Rengappon police department about your transfer. Welcome to the team."
I bowed slightly before leaving the office.
The moment I stepped outside, I heard a familiar voice.
"It's good to see you again, Himiko."
I turned.
"Superintendent?"
She smiled.
"Not anymore. I'm Head of Special Operations now."
Realisation dawned on me.
"You recommended me?"
"Of course I did," she said. "You're one of the most dependable officers I know."
I smiled shyly.
"I'm proud of you." She said as she placed a hand on my shoulder.
Proud.
Would my parents feel the same way?
"Come on," she said. "There's something we need to show you."
She led me outside to the parking lot and into a grey sedan.
"You can't drive, can you?" she asked.
"…No."
She sighed.
"We'll fix that."
We drove toward the industrial district near the docks. The smell of smoke and solder leaked into the car through the open windows. The clanks and crashes pounded like a heartbeat, drills hissed, and ships moaned in the distant waters.
Eventually, we stopped outside a massive warehouse.
Inside was a small reception area.
Two doors sat opposite each other.
One read Research.
The other Special Operations.
She greeted the receptionist and guided me through the research door.
We passed several laboratories before reaching a large room labelled:
Aethesium Research Centre
Inside was a huge white hall filled with scientists. Computers hummed. People scribbled notes.
"This," she said, "is where we study the energy source of the purple being."
"We call it…"
"Aethesium."