Young Guardian Trilogy by Lady Adellandra Dratianos (read aloud .txt) 📕

my own special duties with Chips." Shadow replied, rolling his eyes.
From the look on Shadow's face, Derrick could tell he didn't like Chips that much. Derrick simply shook his head and laughed to himself. "What's wrong with Chips?"
"You'll see when you meet him." Shadow replied. "Come on, before we're missed."
Shadow led him inside and Derrick was amazed. Walking the many corridors made him dizzy, but soon the two were at the room marked "Main Computer Lab." Shadow was true to his word as he left Derrick alone at the double-doors.
"See you around, Derrick!" Shadow called over his shoulder, saluting.
Derrick returned to the double-doors, still amazed at the renovations of the once grand university. He rapped on the doors and headed inside when he heard a female voice say, "Come in, it's open."
He opened the door cautiously. "Shannon Ryan?" Derrick guessed, staring at the chestnut-haired beauty tapping away at a computer. He stepped inside and closed the door behind him.
The woman smiled as she stood to shake his hand. She had a sophisticated grin that was mysterious in itself. "Nope. Name's Big Guy." Big Guy introduced with a slight New York accent. She pointed to the door in the corner with Shannon's name on it. "Right over there."
Big Guy giggled at the scared look on his face. "Don't be afraid. She won't hurt you. Go right in; only knock first."
Derrick smiled a little. "Thanks." He replied, heading to the office door. He turned to see Big Guy back to work on her computer. "By the way, I'm Derrick Reading."
Big Guy waved a hand at him. She nodded her head with a mischievous smile. "I know."
Derrick was about to say something, but a hand touched his shoulder, making him jump, frightened. "Stop gawking and get in here, Derrick!"
He turned and saw a college-aged young woman smiling at him. Why did everybody smile around here?
He couldn't find the words, but after a second, out popped a stupefied, "Hello?"
"Name's Shannon Ryan." The young woman laughed, her brown eyes sparkled with delight, shaking his hand before leading him inside.
Derrick noticed the French braid in her dark brown hair. It made her look older.
"Take a load off.” Shannon grinned. “Have a seat."
He sat in a nearby chair, watching Shannon as she shut the door behind them before taking a seat behind a desk. He dropped his bag on the floor with a soft thud.
"Before you go any further, what am I doing here?" He asked as he watched her put her feet on her desk.
Shannon was confused. "Didn't Shadow tell you?"
"He told me what this place was, but left the explanations to you.” Derrick replied.
"Well," Shannon began, "the reason you're here is to be saved from your hellish existence, as you so bluntly put it in your dreams, and begin anew."
She took a pack of gum out of her pocket and offered him a piece before popping one into her own mouth. She chewed for a few seconds.
"How did you know about me?" Derrick asked.
"I've been keeping an eye on you since we found you." Shannon replied.
Derrick was confused this time. "Found me? I didn't know I was lost."
Shannon laughed. "I mean, ever since we found out about you." She glanced at him, and saw the look that still held his face. "Let me explain. When I first found you via your Dream Realm, I knew you'd make the perfect new recruit. I began to investigate you more, watching you as you lived your life. I started to notice how you would benefit from our services. I must say, you surprised even my expectations of you."
He thought for a minute. "What expectations?"
"I know about how your father is, and your mother, and even about your siblings. I knew that if I didn't butt in soon, you'd die of depression." Shannon said cautiously. "I don't want to upset you, Derrick, but that life you had been living was leading nowhere. When Luna told me of you and three others, I knew I had to hurry and get you here."
"Who's Luna?"
"She's your first partner. She and I have grown up together, and I think she's pretty cool, for a kid." Shannon replied. She smiled. "You're full of questions, aren't you?"
He smiled. "I just want to know what this place is."
"I thought you'd never ask." Shannon grinned. She told him the same story Shadow had. "Aunt Dixilynne came up with it when she was only sixteen. Later, Dixie and Uncle Theodore bought the old Shore Point University and started the System. Their good friend, Michael McNathaniels, had ideas of his own and formed the Network, a rival agency. Today, both the System and the Network are combined as friends."
"This is all very fascinating, Ms. Ryan." Derrick started.
"Please, call me Shannon."
"Okay. Shannon, but what about me?"
"I was getting to that." Shannon replied. "Just let me explain. Anyway, we've been working together since Nick, Michael's son, and I decided to call a truce between our agencies."
Shannon blushed, and Derrick smiled, deducing that Shannon and this Nick character were more than friends.
She cleared her throat, returning to Derrick and the conversation after seeing he was watching her. "Some time ago, Aunt Dixie was in charge. She had to go back to the Dream Realm to live with her mother and be safe from the Dominionite Master's clutches. I was told, trained, and soon became Chief." She paused, staring into space. She shook her head and came back to life. "That was all years ago, and I've been that ever since."
Derrick stared, thinking of what Shannon just said. Two words clicked in his head: Dream Realm. He had heard it from his Dream Girl shortly before arriving at the System. "Go on." Derrick replied, leaning in. He pushed his glasses further on his nose and waited. "Tell me more about the Dream Realm."
Shannon was shocked, and didn't know what to say. She hadn't expected him to say that. She half-expected him to be skeptical about it. "This is where you come in. Luna’s a clairvoyant, and told me one day her dreams and visions." Shannon replied, watching his reaction. He sat there, listening intently. "I went into your private Dream Realm and gave you the idea to run away. Neither Luna nor I would have wanted you to stay in that house one minute more. It was your time to flee from what you've been through."
Derrick looked at his lap, thinking. "Yeah, I agree." He said softly. He rubbed his hands together nervously and took a deep breath in order not to start crying. Derrick looked up at Shannon and said, "Then I ran off, met Shadow, and here I am, sitting in front of you."
Shannon nodded. "You got it, slick."
She stood and walked to the door. Opening it, she poked her head out and called to her friend, "Big Guy, get Lu for me, will ya? Thanks."
Shannon then took her seat in silence until a few minutes later when a young woman barged in the office.
"You wanted to see me, boss?"
Derrick turned to see the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. Her long reddish-blond hair shined and accented her face. Though her hair was pulled up in a ponytail, she looked very pretty. She had gorgeous ocean-blue eyes, and he thought she was the one. Derrick couldn't help staring at her. She smacked her gum as she chewed it, but that was the beauty of her. Difference in every sense of the word. He cleared his tightened throat and stood to greet her.
"Come right in, Lu." Shannon replied with a smile.
Luna closed the door behind her for privacy. "What can I do for you, cousin?"
Shannon cringed. "Aluna."
Luna shrugged. "Sorry."
Shannon frowned. "Agent Derrick Reading, meet your partner, Agent Aluna Sister."
"Known as Lu-Lu." She replied, giving Derrick a playful smile and a wink once noticing he was staring at her. "But when we're in our quarters, you may call me Luna. You know, like the moon goddess?"
"Luna." Derrick managed to choke out. He blushed terribly and swallowed before saying. "Okay."
"I like him." Luna teased. "He's silly."
Shannon ignored her and replied. "Lu, his codename is Reading. Now, being the first NRM of this gig, you know what to do after he drops his things off at Fourth Floor."
"You mean I get to live with him on the famous Fourth Floor, across the hall from Shadow?" Luna asked with a dreamy look in her eyes.
Derrick didn't hear Shannon's response, for he was in his own little world. As he stared at the mystery of Aluna Sister, he couldn't help getting the feeling he'd seen her somewhere before. She looked like an angel beside him, but a little devil survived in her demeanor.
He stared at her for a long time, completely oblivious to the world around him. Then the realization finally hit him hard. He'd seen her in his dreams! Of course! He'd often dreamed of a girl this pretty, just waiting for him to rescue her into his arms and call her his own. Night after night, he dreamed, and day after day, he searched. The only girl that had come close to Luna in looks was Adrienne. He shook his head, coming out of his daze.
This is going to be perfect, he thought. She and I are going to be the best team here.
He just couldn't wait to see what happened next. He was excited to be with his Dream Girl -- finally.
Derrick sighed, and followed her to her quarters, wherever they were.
This was it, he thought. He definitely had an honest-to-goodness crush on Aluna Sister. Nothing was going to stop him from making her his.
He felt warm inside for the first time in his life. Too bad she didn't know how to read minds. She'd know exactly what was on mine and make the first move.
Derrick smiled in a daze as he stared at the back of her head, planning his approach.
Too bad for him, he didn't realize just how much of a mess he was getting himself into dreaming about his partner, Luna.
He never knew she had other plans.

Chapter Three:
Partner Crush: Act I

Luna and Derrick headed down the corridor to their new living quarters. It marveled Derrick to see what this place was all about, and couldn’t wait to snoop around and get to know it better, just in case.
It didn't look very bad, and all he could do was mind his own business for now. He'd investigate the System later, and maybe even find a few secret places to call his own.
"Uh oh," Luna replied with a giggle. "I can tell you've already found ways to pass the time."
The beauty of her face and voice enchanted Derrick. Luna's voice rang out like a bell. "Yeah." He managed to choke out in a weak voice.
She led him to Fourth Floor, whatever that was, and to a room. When he didn't say anything for a while, she asked, "Don't let old Shannon get to you, Derrick. She’s not that bad."
Derrick was staring into her big, blue eyes, not paying attention.
"Hello? Is anybody home?" Luna asked. When he didn't answer, she quipped sarcastically, "What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue?"
Derrick came out of his daydream to answer, "Huh? Oh, no."
She giggled. "Don't talk much, do you?"
Derrick wanted to hide his embarrassment, so he asked, equally sarcastic. "Is that all you know how to do is ask questions?"
"It's about time you said something." She cried, giggling. "Now." She began. "Since