Symbiotic Agent

Hearing Daisy's suggestion, Holm closed the report in his hand and shook his head. When Daisy looked at him with a hint of confusion, he explained, "This is a meteorite, and an unusual one at that. Who knows if it's emitting radiation or if there are other hidden dangers?"

"Even the police officer from earlier had enough sense to stay clear of it, so why should we risk going down there now?"

Daisy still looked puzzled, so Holm continued. "Look, we both know this meteorite is strange. We should call the higher-ups and get them to send a team to study it properly. They'll have the equipment to measure for radiation and other dangers. Once we know it's safe, then we can think about going down there."

To Holm, this was a job, not something worth risking his life over. He had worked hard to climb the ranks to become a level 6 agent, and dying unnecessarily due to recklessness was the last thing he wanted. Holm wasn't about to repeat the same mistakes that had cost him dearly in his previous life.

He had learned that it wasn't worth taking unnecessary risks, especially for something like this. This time, caution was going to be his main priority.

"But didn't the young policeman go down there already?" Daisy pointed out, still not fully convinced by Holm's reasoning.

Holm nodded and replied, "Yeah, and you heard it yourself—he's young. Youth tends to make people reckless and prone to making rash decisions."

"We're not much older than him," Daisy remarked, her voice filled with doubt.

Holm smiled and shook his head. "But we're agents. And as an agent, you still have a lot to learn. This job isn't about rushing in. It's about being cautious and strategic. Only fools and soldiers rush in without thinking."

Holm's words carried the weight of someone who had learned from experience, and he was quick to use his knowledge to craft a more philosophical lesson for Daisy. It was a mix of his agent expertise and a lesson he had learned over time—the importance of being careful in their line of work.

Daisy, listening intently to Holm's explanation, nodded in agreement. She felt like she was receiving valuable advice, and his words sank in deeply.

Seeing that she was taking his words to heart, Holm handed her the small telescope he had been using. "Take a closer look. The longer you observe this thing, the more off it feels."

Daisy accepted the telescope and peered through the lens. As she looked at the meteorite, she noticed the slow, rhythmic rise and fall that Holm had mentioned earlier—almost like it was breathing. The sight made her uneasy, and she found herself agreeing with Holm's assessment. There was definitely something wrong with the meteorite, and rushing in without a full understanding of the situation could be dangerous.

Holm was right: as an agent, she still had a lot to learn. With that thought in mind, Daisy felt a sense of respect for Holm growing. His attitude toward her had changed significantly over the past few days, and he had just given her some invaluable advice.

Lost in thought, Daisy found herself staring at Holm, her mind filled with questions. She wondered why his attitude toward her had shifted so dramatically and what had caused the change. Her brown eyes, filled with curiosity and confusion, rested on Holm, and she didn't realize how long she had been looking at him.

"Why are you staring at me like that? I'm not a meteorite," Holm said suddenly, catching her off guard.

Daisy blinked, startled by his comment, and quickly looked away, feeling a bit embarrassed. She hadn't expected him to notice her staring. To cover up her embarrassment, she asked, "So what are we supposed to do now? Just stand here and watch until they arrive?"

Holm, still observing the meteorite, replied calmly, "Exactly. It shouldn't take too long. They're usually pretty efficient when it comes to things like this."

Daisy nodded in response and continued observing the meteorite through the telescope, though she remained deep in thought. The quiet between them grew as they both focused on the strange object before them. The only sound was the rustling of the wind in the trees and their own breathing.

Holm noticed the doubt and hesitation in Daisy's earlier expression. He had a pretty good idea of what she had been thinking, and he knew he needed to address it. His recent change in attitude toward her had undoubtedly confused her, and he couldn't blame her for being curious. The truth was, his attitude had changed, but that was only because his outlook had shifted. He couldn't go back to how things were before, but he also needed to explain himself.

Taking a deep breath, Holm broke the silence and said, "I'm guessing you're wondering why I've been acting differently toward you lately."

Daisy, surprised by his sudden question, looked at him and hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yeah, I've been thinking about it."

Holm sighed and rubbed the back of his neck, a look of self-reflection crossing his face. "Honestly, it's a bit embarrassing to admit, but I think my previous attitude was mostly out of jealousy. You're a newcomer, but you've got incredible connections, and opportunities just fall into your lap—things that most people would have to fight tooth and nail to get."

He paused for a moment, then continued, "But after working with you for a while, I realized I had misjudged you. You're hardworking, you take things seriously, and you're constantly learning and improving. It reminded me of how I used to be when I first started out."

Holm gave her a small, apologetic smile. "It made me realize that I had let my own negative emotions cloud my judgment. I'd become the kind of person I never wanted to be. Thankfully, I woke up before it was too late. Now that I've seen the real you, I can admit that I was wrong, and I'm sorry for how I treated you before."

Daisy's expression softened as she listened to Holm's explanation. His words had been honest and heartfelt, and they filled in the gaps of confusion she had been feeling. The apology felt genuine, and she could see that he had done some real soul-searching. Holm's former coldness had been replaced with understanding, and she appreciated his openness.

Just as their conversation was wrapping up, something strange began to happen with the meteorite. The slow, rhythmic rise and fall that had given the impression of breathing came to a stop. An almost imperceptible sound followed, and from the center of the meteorite, a thick, black liquid began to seep out. The viscous substance oozed from the cracks, sinking into the ground beneath the meteorite.

The change was so subtle that neither Holm nor Daisy noticed it.

As Daisy's mind continued to process Holm's apology, her previous doubts faded away. Holm's explanation had resolved her confusion, and her perception of him had changed. She no longer saw him as just another agent; he had become more real, more human, and their relationship had shifted from mere colleagues to something more trusting.

Little did they know, the meteorite was beginning to stir with even stranger phenomena.

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