Prologue

'How long has he been sitting there?' Mitch Anderson asked as he stared at the young man through the mirror screened glass.

Mitch Anderson a tall built man with receding close cropped hair and grim facial features had been newly promoted and transferred to this division. He had been hoping to get a better position, but once he found out what this division was he understood why he was chosen to succeed its predecessor. He never really got involved with the details of operations, but only gave the go order and did the dirty work for the higher ups when they requested it done. This recent mission however had ended in disaster with his chances of promotion gone. Seven months on the job and everything had fallen apart, the entire division was no longer existent. Not that it ever did officially exist, but now he had to clean up the mess that threatened to expose everyone.

Pressured from his superior he had no choice, but to lockdown the division until further notice. Everyone would be vetted and he himself face an inquiry to see if he made the right choices. As of right now though he wanted answers.

'Since his debrief Sir,' said a soft female voice full of sympathy. Mitch turned away from the glass to look at her and he noticed the sadness in her eyes. Esther was her name and she had been here a lot longer than him. Her records were sealed as to how long she worked for the division, but he knew she had been here most of her life.

'You care for him don't you?' he asked her, turning back to look at the young man. Young man didn't feel right. He was still a boy.

'Of course Sir. He's just lost everyone he's ever loved.'

'We all lose someone in this line of work. He needs to learn that and it's good that he learnt it early.' Mitch said in an uncaring tone that sounded angered also.

'No' Esther objected. 'He's just a boy and he shouldn't have to experience loss like this. I feel we might have pushed them all too far and now he's the only one left.'

'He's not the only one and he yes we did push him. Perhaps now that the boy has finally died the man in him will be born,' he said like a college professor educating her on life. 'Now we need to see what state he is in. What was the medical and psych report?' he asked turning back to her and she passed him the file to read.

'Healthy as always, but the wound to his shoulder might cause him pain for a few weeks. Psychologically he's damaged and hurting.' She had memorised the report and briefed him the notes as he read them further.

'It says here he was non responsive for a while, but then passed the psych test when he took it?'

'Yes I know, but that still doesn't mean he's capable of continuing what he was doing before.' Esther protested and stepped forward to look through the glass at him. 'He's emotionally broken and Doctor Buckingham left it in his notes that he could become unstable at any moment or break into grief. He's holding it in, but if he keeps holding onto it then it will be worse when it all comes out. He suggested he take time to heal.'

'Well he's going to have time.' Mitch said and closed the file over.

'The Boss is letting him have time off?' Esther asked sceptically.

'Either that,' he paused and turned to her. 'Or we terminate and start over.'

Hey I have the plot ready and I should have Chapter 1 up later today. Enjoy and leave a review thank you.