Gunslinger Girl: Echoes Chapter 1: Cops and Robbers I, a gunslinger girl fanfic

Disclaimer; Gunslinger Girl belongs to Yuu Aida. What limited reference to The Handsome Men belongs to Person With Many Aliases. I'm just borrowing them.

Note; This story is entirely fictional. Any resemblance between anything featured in this story to actual people and institutions is entirely coincidental.

Cops and Robbers I

4 April 20XX

'It's not everyday that something so extraordinary happens that everything just grind to a halt. Today was such a day. How often is it that someone attacks a WTO assembly…, and actually succeeds? Not very often, I'd wager. And on top of that, CNN had front row seats to see the building go up in a ball of fire.

The office is swamped with calls. Can you believe it? The attack happened on the other side of the pond, and we're the ones getting phone calls all the way London .I haven't a clue what's going on other than the fact I'd been called back on duty at one in the morning after pub night.

And of course that nobody saw who bombed the building.

No one attacks a WTO assembly and gets off Scott-free. It just isn't supposed to happen. Well, for some odd reason, I'm being sent over to the Americas to help sort out that mess. Don't know why the requested me though, there are other blokes in the force better than me at this sort of stuff.'

18 May 20XX

"…and so to sum up today's investigation, we are no closer to finding out the perpetrators to the attacks than when we first started." Saul Wiggins, head of the investigation, sighed. "Any suggestions on what we should do tomorrow? I'm all ears people."

"How about we the blood samples by the forensics again?" One tried.

"That was one of the first things we did." Another replied. "They all belonged to those of the victims." It was as if whoever carried out the attack had disintegrated himself. They'd tried everything in the book, and nothing was working. Fingerprint analysis, ballistics analysis, everything had come back to naught.

Without even a starting point to begin with the investigation was at an impasse right at the starting line. The frustration in the room was evident. With the pressure from the press and the public, the weight bearing down on the investigative team was immense, and they were feeling it. Over a month had gone by, and the team had yet to make even the slightest progress into the matter. Despite the fact several of the best minds in law enforcement were gathered in the room, this case was making a mockery out of all of them.

"So what do we do gentlemen?" Wiggins sighed. "At the rate we're going, I'll be announcing that the investigation failed by the end the week's out."

"How's about we ask the boy?" Foster jabbed a hand in Will's direction. "I remember him muttering something about having it all figured out a while ago."

Wilfred Sheppard, commonly known as Will to his friends, was a young man. At five feet five in height, he was considered rather short, especially for an Englishman. His diminutive stature, shaggy unkempt brown hair and round glasses made the young detective seem studious, and some may argue this was rightfully so.

Many of the investigation team were less than receptive on having him on the investigation, for good reason. While the rest of the team were made of old drizzled veterans, Will was 'the kid', the young novice upstart from England who happened to get assigned to the investigation. His small stature and weak personality did little t help his credibility.

"Okay, I suppose that's better than sitting around watching the hands one the face move." Wiggins decided. "Okay Sheppard, do you have anything to add?"

All eyes in the room settled on the twenty five year old detective. The young man gulped. "Well I… Um…" he stuttered. He started to sweat as he fumbled at his tie. "Well… there's this thing…"

"Speak up boy!" Someone, probably the German man going by the name Zimmerman, shouted.

That obviously didn't help things. "Err… um…"

Wiggins sighed. "Take a deep breath Sheppard."

Some in the room burst into laughter. Will felt his face turn red hot with shame. How embarrassing.

Taking a deep breath, Will steeled himself for what he knew was going to happen and said with all his conviction to his assembled audience…

"I think the United States government is deliberately sabotaging our investigation."

Much later, in a bar far from the Hotel room where the investigative team were discussing further options, Will sat himself down on one of the bar stools and sighed. As expected, he was thrown off the investigative team. Joy.

Soon drinking a galss of his favorite cocktail,Will shook his head. He merely reached the logical conclusion. After the forensics test had come back negative, Will had begun to suspect that the information that the team had been receiving was being doctored.

He watched as all the team's inquiries were shut down by lack of conclusive evidence, shortfalls in manpower and unfortunate 'circumstances'. The CIA, strangely in charge of the investigation, while very polite and seemingly accommodating, often took them on long unnecessary trips that were ultimately fruitless.

Why was the CIA even barging in on this case anyway? Wasn't this the jurisdiction of the FBI? Something smelt like a pile of dung, and it wasn't the stuff on his shoes.

Will wasn't a believer in circumstance, so he reached the only possible conclusion.

Still…

"Why did I have to go and say that?"

The United States Government, THE United States Government, was hampering a high profile police investigation to a terrorist attack on their home soil? Ridiculous! They'd have taken him more seriously if he had went and said that he'd found the cure for cancer!

Will felt a migraine coming back on. "When I get back to Cardiff and the lads hear of this, am I going to be the laughing stock of town…"

"That is assuming you do go back to Wales."

Will paused in surprise. Someone had taken a seat down beside him on the bar counter, an old man dressed in nondescript clothing. The stranger signaled to the bartender. "Two glasses of your finest please."

"Who…?"

The stranger cut him off. "In three days time a previously unheard of religious fundamentalist group affiliated with known terrorist circles known as the Crimson Justice will claim responsibility for the crime. The group itself is fictions, it does not actually exist. It is a fabrication by the Central Intelligence Agency as a front."

"The investigation will be called off, and the public will have a face to put on the enemy." The man spoke in a soft but clear voice, his nonchalant voice sending tingles down Will's spine. "Do I have your attention yet?"

Will glanced nervously around. The patrons in the bar were oddly disinterested in the conversation. "Who are you?"

"Not the average bloke on the street." He took his glass off the counter and raised it to Will's face. "Drink? I'm paying for it."

Will shook his head slowly. Something was very wrong with this man, he could feel it.

"Pity. Out of an investigative team of twenty of the best investigative minds in the world, only one of them had the sense to realize the United States Government was sabotaging an international investigation, much less say it in public." He snorted. "And you would think after being shoved all that shoddy forensic evidence they'd have wizened up."

Everything about the man in front of him screamed 'spook'. And not just any 'spook'. One of the big fish; the guys who called the shots. Will started to become very frightened. "Why are you telling me all this?"

As Hollywood movies went, at the rate this was going it wouldn't belong before the scene where Will would be face down in a ditch for 'knowing too much'.

Will made a mental note to stop watching all those gangster flicks.

"Simple. Job offer." The stranger placed a small envelope in front of will on the bar counter. "Out of twenty prospective candidates, handpicked candidates, you were the only one who passed my test young Mr. Sheppard."

He never said hat the job offer was or what he was even testing. As for how he got Will's name… that was kind of expected anyway.

"Airline ticket. All expenses paid. Geneva airport where a chauffeur will take you to Charmonix. As for the job, it'll only be explained when you get there" The man explained. He looked the young man up and down. "You look like you need a drink."

Will finally took the glass on the counter and drank.

"Why should I even consider this?" Will said completely overwhelmed. "I'm a detective. Scotland Yard. I'm no American. What does the CIA want with me?"

"And I'm not from the CIA. Just look at the offer." The stranger replied, leaving a very large tip to the bartender and getting up from his seat. "I'm sure you have a reason, Young Mr. Sheppard. Good evening."

Wilfred watched the man leave with his two things with trepidation. His mind was reeling. What the hell just happened? His attention slowly drifted to the envelope.

Will regarded the small brown object with deliberation before he caved into his curiosity and opened it. Shuffling the contests in the letter like a set of cards, Will was initially amused by the contents. Inside was an airline ticket to Charmonix, several colorful brochures of something called the 'Institute of Children's Advocates, Rights and Education', even more brochures of Charmonix including a skiing discount coupon, and finally a business card.

It was the business card that caught Will's eye.

Impossible.

For a moment Will just sat there, eyes wide disbelieving at the small white card in his hands. Right underneath the fancy crayon sunflower and smiley face I-CARE logo was the name and phone number of a man he had wanted to meet face to face for the last seven years.

"Davion!"

Will bolted out of seat, startling several of the other patrons, and bolted out the exit. Rushing out into the streets of nighttime Manhattan, Will tried futilely to catch a glimpse of the man he should have recognized the moment he had laid eyes on him.

Jonathan L. Davion, former head of the United Kingdom's Military Intelligence Division 5 and the only man who could tell him the truth of the 'Chelsea Power Station disaster' was sitting right next to him, and Will was too much of a douche to notice. How could he not recognize his brother's old boss?

As expected of the old spy master, he was gone like a ghost. "Shit!" Will said under his breadth. No way was the former head of Mi-5 a member of some I-CARE outfit.

Seven years he had wanted to question the former head of Mi-5. Tonight the man was right in front of him, and he was gone before Will could even realize…

"Shit!" He cursed again.

Was Davion playing with him? Will didn't know. All he wanted… Will looked down at the airline ticket, the one that Davion had provided him, clutched in his hands.

The empty street before him silently mocked him.

"Charmonix it is then."

21st May 20XX

"Could you move? I'm in the window seat."

Wilfred's eyes rose to meet the young girl standing beside him. "Uh, sure." Wilfred quickly unbuckled his seat belt and moved out of the way, allowing the young girl to squeeze into the cramped space to her seat.

The girl quickly moved herself pat him and sat herself down all the while muttering darkly to herself, clearly furious at something. Will glanced around the aisle, but could see no sign of her guardians. Was she a lone traveler? She looked no older than her early teens.

"Excuse me miss, are you alone?" Will asked curiously as he sat back into his seat and unfurled his newspaper.

"My guardian is in a company paid trip on Business Class." She answered sourly. "I'm capable of taking care of myself."

Will took note she used the term 'company paid', but took no further heed of it.

"Right then…" Slightly taken aback by the girl's distant behavior, Will returned to his seat. "You fine by yourself?"

"I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself!" She snapped with much annoyance. "How many times do I have to repeat that?"

"O… Okay." Will awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck. What a temper.

"The nerve of that girl!" She continued seething quietly to herself. "Ten months since I last saw her and the first thing she does is… ooh!" She suddenly glared at him, and will felt himself feeling the need to shrink into his seat and disappear. "Some people a really need to be taught some manners!"

"Uh right." Will tried not to point out her hypocrisy, but he really wasn't up to arguing with this girl. "Whatever you say."

Her voice wasn't so quiet anymore, and she was beginning to attract some attention from the neighboring passengers. "Gloating over her business class seat… I'll wipe that smug smile off her stupid face! So what if she gets to have a better seat than me? Nicholas is just more frugal than Max! It's the recession, so every little bit counts!"

Aren't you acting a little jealous? Will didn't know who she was raving about, but all his common sense was telling him to stay the heck out of this.

"Excuse me miss, but could you please try and calm down?" Will said nervously. "You're disturbing the passengers." Namely himself.

It was as if a switch went off in her head. Suddenly the irritated girl realized that she wasn't quite alone and she was making quite a scene. A young couple in the center role were pointing at them, the young toddler in the seat fin front of her had popped his head over the headrest to see her embarrassing tirade… no less then five people had turned to witness the fit. Turning to look at Will, the girl's jaw opened slightly and her entire face turned red with embarrassment.

"Um, I think it'll be a good idea if we try to stay quiet for a while" Will tried to be casual, but he couldn't help but feel the numerous eyes on them.

They probably taught she was his sister or something.

"Oh my god…" She buried her face in her hands and crouched low, trying to avoid their gazes. "Quiet. Quiet is good."

Ah teenagers.

Following that, Will and his travel mate understandably attempted to make themselves scarce.

22nd May 20XX

After takeoff, Will had eaten the unsurprisingly bad airline dinner they had provided him before joining his neighbor in sleep. In fact he probably would have slept through the whole flight if an excited squeal from beside him hadn't woken him up.

"I can see it! I can finally see it! Europe!"

Will rubbed his eyes sheepishly as he was roused into the waking world. "What now?" he murmured with annoyance.

The adolescent traveler beside him was once again making a fuss. This time she was in far better spirits and was looking out the window. The bright rays of the sun were shining into the dimmed cabin through her open window... which would be nice if the cabin wasn't dimmed and the majority of the passengers asleep.

"Window… bright…" Will muttered as he adjusted his glasses and too his embarrassment, quickly wiped the small line of drool that was coming down his mouth. Around him, quiet murmurs of disgruntled passengers could be heard.

"Oh!" She realized, quickly pulling the window blind back down to shut the cabin back in darkness.

"Bloody hell." Will sighed. "People are already annoyed with us from earlier."

She began twirling her long hair with her finger and bit her lip. "Sorry."

Knowing him, it would be a cold day in hell before he would be able to get back to sleep. Well, since his traveling companion was giggling about Europe, it likely wasn't worth it anyway. "Well I guess I'm awake now."

Her cheeks turned red with embarrassment. "I'm really sorry about the way I was acting earlier."

"Rough day?" Will chuckled.

"Met an old 'friend'. Found out she was going where I was going." She grumbled, the distaste evident in her tone.

"It's alright." Will said. "It's doubtless going to be time for breakfast soon… I would have had to wake up then at any rate."

"Oh." She smiled weakly. "…thank you."

"You are welcome, Miss…"

"Miss Victoria, Victoria McDouglas."

Fortunately, most of the passengers had either managed to get back to sleep, or were sleeping so soundly they hadn't woken up in the first place.

Having nothing much to do on the plane, the in-flight movies being quite a bore, they decided to talk to each other.

Her name was Victoria McDouglas, eleven years old. She was quite tall for her age, and from their conversation, quite intelligent and well mannered as well. She had light brown hair that reached her waist and wore a conservative black dress, something which struck Will as quite odd for a girl her age.

She was with her father, whom she didn't name, on a holiday to the Alps. As it was her first time to Europe, Victoria was very excited, so much so that when she realized Will was a goodness to true Englishman, she questioned him ever so courteously about the places he had been.

Fortunately for Will, breakfast arrived just as he had predicted, and the topic soon moved off her badgering of what his home town of Cardiff was like.

"I've always wanted to come to Europe." She said when she had finished her food, setting down the knife and fork at the perfect five thirty position on her plate. "I've never been out of the States' before."

"So what are you panning to do for your holiday?" Will asked, before chomping down another helping of pancakes.

"It's not polite to eat with your mouth full, Will." Victoria giggled. And she had good reason to, Wilfred was shoving food into his mouth so quickly he seemed like he was inhaling his breakfast.

Contrary to popular opinion, the ordinary English person on the street was a far cry from the stereotypical English gentry and ladies of old. Will should know, as a detective he'd witnessed his share of pub brawls when the Arsenal and Liverpool fans went to war back In his academy days. The sheer number of people in a city like London meant being polite all the time would be a huge inconvenience.

"Oh err, sorry about that!" Will felt his cheeks turn red hot with embarrassment.

For shame, Wilfred Sheppard, fine example of an Englishman you are.

"It's okay." Victoria giggled again. "My father was planning to take me skiing. Charmonix is famous for its slopes this time of year. It's also supposed to have breathtaking views. I've always wanted to go to Charmonix." Victoria explained. "Have you ever been to Charmonix before Will?"

"Charmonix? I'm sorry but I haven't." Will habitually rubbed the back of his neck. What a coincidence, he was going to Charmonix as well, except for a very different reason. "Many of my colleagues at work have been there, but I've always been too busy to go there.

"Have you been skiing before?" Victoria tried again.

"Err, no."

"Camera? Photography?"

Will rubbed his neck. Unless forensic photographs of very grisly crime scenes could be considered to be photography… "Um, no."

"Oh." Victoria deflated ever so slightly.

Will made a point in his head to get off his workaholic bum and go see the world more.

"But I'll be going there though." Will continued. "It's supposed to be really nice all year around. I'm sure you will love it."

"You're going to Charmonix as well?" Victoria said, slightly invigorated.

"It's a delightful coincidence isn't it?"

"That's right!" Victoria clapped her hands together with excitement. "So you're planning to go skiing or mountain climbing?"

Will rubbed his neck. He couldn't ski OR mountain climb. "More or less. After I take care of some business, I'm planning to take some time off. Skiing and the like." Taking skiing classes more like it. Was his bum going to be sore after this trip.

"Business?"

"I've been invited to see this I-CARE philanthropy. It's being run by an old friend of by brother's and I thought I'd drop by to see the opening…"

Victoria began to study him just as his words left his mouth. Will fidgeted uneasily under her gaze. "Um, Victoria?"

"Will, what was your occupation again? I'm sure you mentioned it earlier when you were talking about Cardiff."

"I'm a detective." Will said. "Scotland Yard."

"Aren't you a bit young to be a detective?" Victoria leaned in closer to Will. Convexly, Will backed off from her. It wasn't everyday he was being probed. Her hazel brown eyes were so close he could see his reflection in them like they were glass…

For some reason, alarm bells started going off in the back of his head. Will didn't know why, but suddenly his intuition, his detective intuition, was telling him something was off.

"Victoria…?"

"Never mind, I guess I'm just being too hopeful." Victoria sighed. "You might be one of the real guests anyway."

"What?"

"Hey Will, what were you saying about Edinburgh Castle before breakfast arrived? Something about it having dungeons?"

"Wow, I never knew Britain could be so interesting!" Victoria giggled. "I never thought that Cardiff was such a weird place!"

"You'd be surprised at the kind of things that happen there on a daily basis." Will continued. "I swear that place is a magnet for all kinds of trouble. I should tell you about the notorious pacifier thief a few months back. By god that was a weird one. Had a half mind to throw him in a mental facility that one."

"Is it true that weird stuff happens in London on Christmas day?" Victoria asked.

"Only on Doctor Who…"

"Hey Dweeb!" A new voice interrupted them, "I was completely bitch'in up in business class, then I thought of little ol' you. So I decided came back here to see how you were hanging out."

Leaning on Will's seat was another girl who was around the same age as Victoria. She was a striking girl, her long shoulder length black hair red highlights done in a tight ponytail with and wore a bight red jacket over a fashionable sleeveless turtleneck shirt and denim jeans.

Victoria glared at her counterpart angrily. "Iris." She growled.

"I was expecting you to be so totally bugged out since you're like, so poverty. Instead you're flirting with Barney here! I'm totally grossed out."

"Um, my name's not Barney…" Will began.

Victoria glared daggers at her arch-nemesis. "If all you did was come back to insult me, I'm not amused."

"What-ever." Iris waved. "Your handler so totally threw up on one of the stewardesses earlier. Spazzed out after having too many drinks. He's like completely stoned right now. Max is like completely sketchy about what we're going to do since we're so close to landing."

"Nathan you idiot…" Victoria sighed. "Okay, I'll take care of him when the plane lands. Happy?"

"Fer sure. Later, bitch." Iris sauntered off, waving lazily behind her as Victoria glared venomously at her retreating back.

"Friend of yours?" Will asked curiously as he shifted in his seat to make room for her to move into the corridor.

Victoria snorted. "Hardly."

Geneva Airport

Will suppressed a yawn as she stepped through the arrival gate. Now he gets sleepy. Well bugger all. Stretching his arms, Wilfred wondered where Victoria and her valley girl 'friend' had gone off to. After the flight had landed, she had bid him farewell before disappearing completely. He didn't even see her at customs.

"Strange girl." Wilfred concluded. Stifling another yawn, Wilfred decided to quickly locate his chauffeur so he could quickly get to Charmonix and get some shut eye. Geneva airport was a rather small terminal when compared to Heathrow or other high profile airports, so it was little trouble locating the person Davion had graciously sent to pick him up.

It wasn't hard to miss the man, especially with the banner he was holding with Will's name on it. He looked like a big thug from those action flicks Wilfred watched back in the academy. The man was built like a heavyweight boxer, and in that white polo shirt and slacks, Will suddenly realized how small he really must be.

Will cautiously approached the large man and held his hand out. "Um, would you happen to be the man Davion sent to pick me up?"

"You the new guy?" The large man asked bluntly. "You're shorter than I thought you would be."

"New guy?"

"Oh yeah, you're not with us yet." Theo admonished himself. "Names' Theobald McReady. Call me Theo. Sorry about the way I'm dressed. A friend spilled some vodka on my suit this morning. I'll take your bags, those spindly arms of yours look like they'd break if I touched them!"

Will didn't doubt that one bit. "I can carry my bags on my own…"

Theo easily accosted the two duffel bags from the young detective and walked towards the car park chuckling all the while. Will ran after him. "Hey!"

"I'll let you handle your own stuff when you put some meat on those bones." Theo chuckled. "I'm not letting those little kids one up me again!"

"Wha-?" What kids?

"All in good time pal, all in good time." Theo assured the younger man.

So this was the boy that Davion was so 'excited' about. All brains and no brawn. "The old man sure knows how to pick 'em."

"I can't believe you messed up so badly!" Victoria said crossly at her handler as they walked out past immigration. It had been some time since the civilian passengers had disembarked, Victoria and her guardian had a slight complication in getting through immigration.

Their check in baggage, the ones with their 'equipment', had been picked as a random check. It's should have been a simple matter in showing the right documents to the immigration officer, but lo and behold, Nathan had forgotten to pack them.

It had taken a call from the airport directly to the U.S. Embassy and then to Interpol to finally confirm to immigration that yes, all those Berettas were legal.

"Well, at least I have my darling Viccy to take care me as always." Nathan teased.

"This is why I said I should be the one to pack our bags." Victoria fumed. "We're now very late. I hope the driver didn't leave without us."

"Of course he won't."

"This is Max and Iris we're talking about here." Victoria said. "They know us all too well. I wouldn't put it past them if they got fed up waiting for us and told the driver to just leave."

"If it comes to that, I'll just call I-CARE and arrange another pick up."

"You're impossible." Victoria sighed.

Nathan shrugged carelessly and walked ahead of her, leaving Victoria to push the trolley with all their bags loaded onto it along. How had this ass become a handler again? She'd never understand Nathan.

Wheeling the trolley along, Victoria looked about the arrival hall for anyone carrying a signboard with their names. No sign of them. Figures, Iria and Max had a long time rivaly with them, and Victoria knew they wouldn't suffer for Nathan's idiocy.

Her eyes drifted to the large doors of the airport. Beyond those doors, there was a whole different world before her. She smiled.

"I'm finally here…"

Charmonix was a small village situated in shadow of the French Alps, very close to the French-Swiss border. A quiet peaceful settlement, the village had since become one of France's premier tourist locales, the natural beauty of the mountain being its strongest attraction.

One particular resident of the village was having a bad day.

She was just minding her own business when the inconceivable happened. Halfway between the relatively short trip between her apartment and the place of her work, her trusty Vespa scooter stopped working.

"What the…?!"

Moving over to sidewalk so as to no impede what sparse traffic might be waiting behind her scooter. Dismounting from her bike, the young woman groaned as she bent down to inspect the problem. "Damn it, I'm a hacker, not a mechanic Jim."

Sighing, the young woman produced her cell phone from her salmon pink jacket and dialed... just as her battery died on her. Elisabeth frowned darkly.

Her Vespa never broke down. Why…?

A shiver ran down her spine.

"This can't possibly be a good omen."

"So what exactly does I-CARE do?" Will asked now that they were cursing down the highway in a black sedan.

Theo shrugged. "Institute of Child, Advocates, Rights and Education. What do you think we do?"

"It's not the kind of outfit that you'd expect the former head of Mi-5 to associate himself with." Will pointed out.

"Listen kid, this is serious spy stuff. I don't k now what the boss was playing at when he openly showed himself to you, but this sort of knowledge could get you killed." Theo lectured.

Will wanted to point out that Theo himself was being awfully cavalier about this secrecy stuff, but wisely kept his mouth shut.

Well, the secrecy part wasn't the only thing the large man was being careless about. "Could you please slow down?" Will murmured uncomfortably as they blew past another law abiding citizen at a fast speed.

"Pah, says you boy-scout. I have a deadline to meet." Theo said.

"At least put your seat belt on. I'm a detective you know. I've seen my share of road accidents…"

Theo's phone rang. Despite being the driver, Theo casually took one hand off the wheel and answered the phone. "McReady here. Neville? What's up?"

Will's jaw visibly dropped. One hand on the wheel, not paying full attention to the road, speeding… recipe for disaster. Tightening his hold on his seatbelt, Wilfred prayed to god he didn't become a statistic with this maniac at the wheel.

"I'm on my way… yeah I have the new kid. Scrawny British guy. Yes… What? Go back to the airport? What about Cortez? Wasn't he supposed to pick them up? …Bullshit. Geez, and I just came from there… Okay. Stupid troublesome dolls… Right. See you soon too." Placing the cell back into his breast pocket, Theo turned to look at his passenger. "I take it you're one of the 'ten under the speed limit' type of drivers aren't you?"

"Eyes on the road. Please."

"This place is… rather posh isn't it?" Will said as he strode into the lavish lobby of the mansion that was I-CARE's headquarters. He couldn't help but feel that he'd stepped back in time.

To say the lobby was impressive was an understatement. The red carpet was literally rolled out on the stylish stairs that lay in the center on the chamber. Many paintings adorned the hall and the intricate woodwork on the walls seemed to radiate glamor and prestige. There was even a glass chandelier hung low over the stunning interior.

"Actually, we're expecting visitors today." Theo explained. "I-CARE's formal inauguration is today, and lots of big names are going to show up."

"Somebody has quite a bit of money to throw about."

"What, you think we rolled out all this for you? Anyway, the boss wants to see you A.S.A.P." Theo chuckled. "Someone will put your stuff in one of the guest rooms until we decide whether to stick you."

"You seem pretty confident that I'll take the job." Will pointed out.

Theo grinned. "Call it a hunch. I've got to get back to the airport to pick up some… equipment, so in the meantime just wait here until one of my colleagues shows up to show you about."

Willfred didn't miss the slight discomfort that Theo had when mentioning 'equipment'.

"Okay, I'd better get going." Theo finished. "See ya kid."

"Right." Will replied as the big man left. "Just wait here, in this big empty lobby all by myself."

Will wandered around the lobby for a while before noticing a set of very expensive looking chairs. Deciding there wasn't much point standing around while waiting for something to happen, Will plopped himself down on one of the chairs and, seeing as he had nothing better to do, began to run through everything he'd turned up about the agency in the short time he'd known about it in his mind.

I-CARE. As the name suggested, it was an international child welfare agency dedicated to advancing the rights of impoverished, exploited and abused children in countries around the globe. Created with the support of the United Nations, numerous and was primarily funded by numerous first world countries and several notable multinational pharmaceutical and biotech companies. Headed by renowned philanthropist Dr. Richard Greene, I-CARE looked to be as innocent as the Red Cross. Davion's name wasn't listed on their staff list. Still…

Will didn't know why he smelt something off about this place, Davion's involvement not withstanding. Perhaps, like Theo, he had a hunch.

"Excuse me."

Will was shaken out of his thoughts by a girl who looked to be about fourteen. Will did a double take. She was dressed in a long grey trench coat over a formal work suit. Her darkened skin and blond hair in twin pigtails made him uncertain of her decent.

"You must be Wilfred Sheppard right?" The girl greeted. "I'm Triela Hartman."

"One of the children here?" Will asked as he shook her hand.

She frowned slightly. "I'm older than I look." Triela quickly regained her warm smile and continued. "I was asked by one Jonathan Davion to come 'fetch' you."

It was then Will noticed her discomfort, a slight hesitation and aversion at something. Perhaps it was his clothes?

"Lead on." Will jumped to his feet.

Triela led him down a pretty straight forward jaunt through the corridors of the massive four story mansion that was the I-CARE headquarters. It was a pretty straightforward building, all based in one large building with a north and south wings that contained most of the offices and dorms annexing the central building.

Once out of the lobby, Will could easily see the preparations for the grand opening in full swing. People, presumably servants from their attire, were rushing about frantically making last minute preparations.

His guide was silent the entire time. Feeling rather awkward Will tried to start a conversation.

"You live here?" Will asked her.

"I work here." Triela answered stiffly.

Will blinked. "I thought I-CARE opposed child labor in all forms."

"Did you get that from the brochure?" Triela snorted. She stopped outside a set of doors that led into the south wing of the compound. A sign over the door stated 'Authorized Personnel Only' in about six different languages. Triela swiped a card, presumably hers, on the nearby card reader and promptly opened the door. "This way please."

"Authorized personnel? You?"

"Yes, me." Triela said with a little pride. "This way please."

"So how come this place has so many security doors?" Will asked curiously.

"… I'm not even going to answer that." Triela said as she swiped her access card through another card reader.

"How much security does this place need?" Wilfred said. "It's a philanthropy right?"

Triela rolled her eyes before walking up to the eye reader to open the nextsecurity door.

"Is this what I think it is?" Will pointed at the elevator door that had suddenly opened where a previously inconspicuous wall had been.

"Of course it isn't a secret elevator." Triela said sarcastically. "It's our extremely big and expensive garbage chute that doubles as a secret elevator."

"Right…"

"And now an underground facility. I guess this means I-CARE isn't an ordinary child welfare agency." Will surmised aloud.

Beside him, Triela resisted the urge to pound her head against the side of the corridor. She settled on massaging her temples. "If this is what Ferro used to do on a daily basis, no wonder she's so uptight…"

"He's in here." Triela sighed with relief as they stopped outside all metal door that reminded Will of an interviewing room for prospective employees.

"That was a very fancy tour you gave me Miss." Will stated.

"We don't normally have it here, but the south wing is currently undergoing… renovations, so in you go." Triela opened the door. "All further questions and quires please direct it to my boss."

Will walked into the room. Behind him, Triela let out a relieved sigh and closed the door. How did Ferro do all this so often?

The room itself was fairly nondescript, resembling a standard office Will would expect to find in a regular workplace, save there were no windows.

And seated at the table was Jonathan L. Davion himself. "Hello Wilfred. Please take a seat." Davion motioned to one of the fold up chairs across from him.

"I apologize for having to meet you here instead of my usual office." Davion explained as Wilfred cautiously seated himself across from the daunting man. "For the duration for the official opening of I-CARE, I cannot afford to be seen. Especially with all the guests that are arriving. Bad form you know, with all the work that we put into keeping up appearances and all."

"So you do work with I-CARE after all." Will said, more for himself than anything else.

Davion leaned forward in his seat until his elbows rested on the desk and his fingers, locked together in a triangle obscured his mouth. The round spectacles the old man wore glinted dangerously in the light.

Willfred shivered. Where had he seen this before?

"Let's get down to business Mr. Sheppard. I'm sure you already know who I am. I'm sure Triela showed you enough of our facilities to tell you we are indeed a secret organization."

"Who do you work for?" Wilfred asked, then quickly shut his mouth. Did he just interrupt a spy master in the middle of a monologue?

"I'm getting to that." Davion said with slight amusement. "And to that answer, our organization is affiliated with Interpol, with funding from the several of its member counties. Now as I was saying, we are a secret service founded to combat a certain arms trade. A new type of weapon has flooded the underground arms market recently and it is I-CARE's job to control if not eliminate it."

"Aren't you revealing a little too much?" Wilfred warily pointed out. Will needed to know if the option to decline did not include leaving the building in a sealed body bag.

Davion smiled knowingly behind his hands. "Actually Mr. Sheppard, I haven't even begun to tell you anything yet. Now…" Davion lowered his head so the glare form his glasses disappeared. His eyes locked onto Will's.

"This is where I hand you the two pills. I want you to join us Mr. Sheppard. However, you are a good man and you are still a British national. I can only tell you more if I can join us."

"And what would happen if I refuse?"

"You can leave, and you will never hear from us again." Davion stated. "Except of course, if you try and use any of the very limited knowledge you have gained here to carry out your own investigation, at which you will be paid a visit by my counterpart in the North wing." Will could have sworn Davion smirked. "He will be… less accommodating, than myself."

"Bugger. I get it." Willfred sighed. All this cloak and dagger stuff was tiresome. "Well, this is all well and good, but I just came here to ask you some questions…"

"About Richard?"

Willfred froze.

"I-CARE's mission, our mission, actually is a consequence of what happened in the 'Chelsea Power Station' eight years ago." Davion stated. Will had to visibly make and effort to stop his fists from shaking. Whether they were shaking in surprise in anger, Will could not tell. "So, unless you want the truth about your brother's last mission, I'd take the red pill if I were you."

Will lowered his eyes and bit his lip. Damn him! It was more effective than a gun to his head, Davion had him under duress!

"Of course, there are the other benefits of an additional salary, free room and board…" Davion continued as if rubbing it in.

"That's pretty low of you, you know that?" Will whispered.

"Like I said…" Davion removed his hands. The coldest most ruthless smile Will had ever seen came into full view. "I really want your services."

Wilfred Sheppard felt like screaming. But what else could he do? If he wanted to get the answers he had searched for these last eight years…

"Fine you sodding bastard. I'll take your bloody red pill."

Welcome to the firm, nice to have you with us...

A/N

I'm actually studying for my exams right now and my stress level is sky high. So when the proofread version of this came in (Thanks a million Wileama, you kick ass), I was really really happy. Just posting this is making me giggle like a mad man. Months of planning. MONTHS and finally some result! Okay, time to get some shut eye.