<strong><span class="bbc_u">One: The Gathering<span class="bbc_u"></span></span></strong><br/><br/>The room was small, brightly lit and sparsley decorated. A single desk dominated the room. Two side by side chairs sat in front of the desk and a series of documents lay there.  An old looking woman with long grey hair and features so lined with wrinkles that it gave the impression that her skin was made of cracked porcelain squinted at one of the files. She was frowning, a guesture that was brought into sharper relief by the wideness of her mouth and the thinness of her lips.<br/><br/>"I accept that the Ukranian and the Russian can be useful", the woman croaked. "Both have rather unique talents that can add to the team but this girl? She is an empath. We have plenty of empaths. And then there is your own talent."<br/><br/>Her companion was a man. Much younger than the old woman. His handsome features regarded the photo of the woman in the document with bright blue eyes that whilst usually expressive did not at this moment give away what he was thinking.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide</div><div class="spoiler_body">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/7/7f/Caleb-Lane-Handsome-Male-Model.jpg)</div></div><br/>"If you are referring to my aura reading ability, Marge, then that is not the same as empathy. An aura can tell you about the nature of a person or thing. It can give a general indication of their overall mood. It cannot tell you their intentions or hint at their emotional state."<br/><br/>"Nevertheless Sarah is a skilled Telepath as well as an Empath and..."<br/><br/>"Sarah is still undergoing her induction. She has a few more weeks to go before she's ready".<br/><br/>The woman looked the man squarely in the eye. Of all the people in the Agency, Marge was the only one who could do this and not have his large eyes affect her in any way. "Richard, what is your interest in her? She is young. Perhaps her life force..."<br/><br/>"Marge. Stop, O.K.? Just stop. I know what you're suggesting and frankly I feel more than a bit offended by it. Of all the others Mi deliberately sought us out. She shows great initiative. She also responded to the blood ritual better than anyone ever did..."<br/><br/>"See. It<strong>is</strong>more than a professional interest you show. Mi does have initiative and curiosity. She's also a loner. Distrustful of others. And lazy."<br/><br/>She sighed. "It's your call. Your team. You want her on it then fine. I would suggest we also take the shapeshifter which leaves us to decide on the others."<br/><br/>***<br/><br/>The following day found a series of text messages  being sent to various mobile phones. The recievers of said messages were given a time and location. They were all to gather in a disused warehouse near Bute Town in Cardiff. The time of gathering, three thirty A.M. That surreal otherworldy time in the morning when the veil between the sane and the not so sane grows thin.<br/><br/>Inside a series of makeshift sofas had been set up, along with a coffee machine. Richard sat in the larger of the two sofas, going over the series of files he had in front of him. All of the team were new, inexperienced. He hoped they would work well together. At least better than the last team. If they were really lucky they might survive more than a week.<br/><br/>