A/N: This takes place before the movies and books and is a prequel to The Bourne Manipulation, though you can read either one without the other.
Chapter One: The Mission
"Good. It's done." Conklin surveyed the information the agents had just handed him. Give the order to come back to Berlin – I've got a new job for him."
- -
"What's the new assignment?" Jason asked. He stood tall and rigid in Landy's office. He had taken a direct flight from Tokyo to Berlin – and had not slept in days - but it didn't show. He was just as strong and prepared as ever.
"We've got a new addition to our project, and we want you to take over the training. You've proven yourself to be extremely capable. We're happy with your development."
Bourne's shoulders lost some of their posture.
"How long will it take?" He asked.
"We don't know. Possibly longer than the training you underwent. It all depends on how the subject responds."
"Where is he?" Jason asked. The sooner they started, the sooner it would be over with, and he could get back to being what they had made him – what he was about to make someone else.
"Room 202. They're working on some simple experiments now."
Grief. Hadn't they done enough experiments?
"Fine." Jason dropped the weapon of his most recent accomplishment on Pamela's desk, and turned on his heel.
He could hear the straightforward interrogation going on in German as he opened the door – but what he saw inside – was not at all what he had expected.
Sitting across from the interrogator was a woman. She was fairly young – maybe 27. He dark brown hair was pulled back in a long braid. She wore a simple uniform – a brown army shirt and camouflage cargo pants.
Wide brown eyes turned curiously toward him as he stood in the doorway. He was not gaping. His jaw remained locked firmly in place. The other agent stared at him for a moment, and then pushed his chair back – rising to his feet. The girl remained seated.
"Mr. Bourne – this is Elise Windham." He introduced them. Not bothering to reverse the introduction for the girl's sake.
"Thank you. I'll take over from here." Jason dismissed the man with a curt nod. He walked over to the table and sat down, looking over her file without speaking a word.
She had been Air Force, chosen for her fluency in Spanish, French, German and Creole. She had exceptional people skills, lack of family, willingness for the mission, and excelled performance history. She remained silent across from him – un-fidgeting.
"You've agreed to undergo this?" Jason finally asked – meeting her steely gaze.
"Yes." Her voice was confident.
"Why?" He had to know. If he was going to train her, he needed to understand what was going on inside her head.
"It's what I'm good at. It's my way of helping people." No emotion played across her face or fluctuated her voice. Jason still knew instinctively that she was not a strong, not as uncaring as she came across. She would need to be broken down and built back up. And that was what they were asking him to do.
"Get some sleep. We start tomorrow." He stood and walked out without any further explanation.
- -
Jason flicked on the lights in his apartment. It was good to be back in the familiar. Everything was just as he'd left it, spotless, all in order. He heated up the take out dinner and settled down to watch the news.
Noise. The noise was too much. He clicked the television off. The silence was comforting as it settled around him. It was all he needed for the moment – to disappear into the black silence – for his aching body and spinning head to blur with nothingness.
