Signing the contract with the Department of Anomalous Phenomena (or DAP, as they preferred to be called, probably to avoid the awkwardness of explaining their acronym at parties) was only the beginning. Sera quickly discovered that dealing with interdimensional bureaucrats was somehow even more convoluted than dealing with sentient fire hydrants.
There were forms to fill out in triplicate (across three different dimensions, naturally), background checks that involved proving she wasn't a time-traveling squirrel in disguise, and a surprisingly rigorous physical examination that included having her aura analyzed by a device that looked suspiciously like a disco ball.
"Remind me again why I agreed to this?" Sera muttered to Bartholomew, who was currently being subjected to a series of blinking lights and humming noises.
Bartholomew, looking slightly perturbed, replied, "The promise of knowledge, my dear Sera. And the uniform. You must admit, the uniform is rather dapper."
He was referring to the standard-issue DAP attire, which turned out to be less "snazzy" and more "practical with a hint of futuristic flair." It consisted of a dark gray jumpsuit with reinforced seams, a utility belt that seemed to defy the laws of physics by holding an improbable number of gadgets, and boots that, according to Agent Thorne, could "withstand the gravitational pull of a miniature black hole."
Sera had to admit, it wasn't terrible. It was certainly more functional than her usual jeans and t-shirt combo, and the utility belt did come in handy for storing her ever-growing collection of anomalous artifacts (including a particularly talkative pebble she'd found near the library ruins).
Once the paperwork and physicals were out of the way, the real training began. Sera found herself immersed in a crash course on anomalous phenomena, interdimensional travel, and the proper way to address a sentient teapot without accidentally triggering a temporal paradox.
The DAP agents were a diverse bunch, each with their own unique quirks and specializations. There was Agent Miller, a gruff but kind woman who could communicate with plants, Agent Chen, a tech whiz who built gadgets that could bend reality to his will (sometimes literally), and Agent Ramirez, a stoic but surprisingly funny individual who had a knack for predicting anomalous events.
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Sera learned quickly, her inherent abilities and her growing understanding of the shadows making her a natural. She mastered the art of navigating unstable portals, learned how to identify different types of interdimensional entities, and even developed a surprising proficiency in operating a device that could translate the language of sentient dust bunnies.
[Skill Leveled Up: Interdimensional Navigation (Novice to Apprentice)! (Unlocked by successfully traversing a series of increasingly unstable portals)]
Bartholomew, surprisingly, adapted well to the DAP environment. His demonic cunning and inherent understanding of chaos proved invaluable in dealing with some of the more… unpredictable anomalies. He even developed a grudging respect for Agent Chen's gadgets, particularly a device that could generate miniature rifts for quick escapes.
As Sera's training progressed, Agent Thorne remained a constant presence, a calm and collected figure who seemed to know more than he let on. He often observed her training sessions with a quiet intensity, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of curiosity and… something else. Something Sera still couldn't quite decipher.
Finally, the day came when Sera was deemed ready for her first official mission. Agent Thorne summoned her to the DAP food truck, which was now parked in a slightly less conspicuous location, disguised as a "Gourmet Galaxy Grub" vendor.
"Ms. Moon," Thorne said, his voice as smooth as ever, "your first assignment awaits."
He led her to the back of the truck, where a large, shimmering portal pulsed with an otherworldly light. It swirled with colors that didn't exist on Earth, and the air around it hummed with a strange, almost musical energy.
"This," Thorne explained, "is a stable rift, leading to a dimension known as Xylos. It's a relatively low-risk environment, perfect for your initial foray into interdimensional exploration."
He handed Sera a small, handheld device. "This is a Dimensional Scanner. It will help you map the environment, identify any anomalies, and communicate with us."
Sera took a deep breath, her heart pounding with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. This was it. Her first real step into the unknown.
"Alright, Agent Thorne," she said, her voice firm. "Let's see what Xylos has in store for me."
With a final glance at Bartholomew, who gave her an encouraging nod, Sera stepped through the shimmering portal and into a world beyond her wildest imagination.
