Division
"Michael has just informed me, that Alex arrived in Mystic Falls without incident," Amanda said in her usual almost robotic tone. She stood with her fingers lightly laced in front of her waiting for Percy to turn around to speak with her. "May I ask what this mission is about? Sending Alex out so soon doesn't seem wise,"
Percy turned around in his chair and looked up at his power hungry associate. "We've finally located him," With that, he slid a file across the desk, landing in front of her, allowing her to look. Picking it up, Amanda opened it with a sense of confusion she wasn't use to feeling. She thought of herself as someone that was privileged to knowing all of Percy's secrets, but that was becoming less and less true with each day that passed.
"Who is this?" Amanda asked looking at a photo of a dark haired man with piercing blue eyes. He was rather attractive, a face anyone who met him would remember, yet, she'd never seen him, or even heard Percy say anything about him before. Yet, his tone suggested otherwise. Bizarre.
"His name is Damon. We've been tracking him for several years now," Percy watched her as she read about the man that had eluded him for so long. "We learned about him during an operation in Russia where he killed five of our men," He stood from his chair buttoning his sport jacket. "Since then, we've sent several of our agents to retrieve him, but they either end up dead or found with no memory of ever coming in contact with him," He watched for her reaction. Of any indication that she, herself, remembered him, but there was nothing. She still didn't remember the man.
Percy seemed to be looking for something from her, but she didn't know what. He was tip toeing around her questions and being vague ."Why are you so interested him?" Amanda had only seen this once from Percy and that was when he was creating and securing his black boxes. Was this Damon that important to him? If so, why send Alex?
Stepping around his desk, Percy leaned against it, crossing his arms over his chest. "The last operative we sent after him has recently had a very unusual side effect due to events that have taken place and we believe it's because of him," He could see the red head's wheels turning trying to figure out which operative. Something she'd never figure out and would never believe even if she saw them with her own two eyes.
A few moments past and she couldn't figure it out. "Who and what kind of side effect?" She finally asked which was hard enough considering her personality.
Amanda had that determined look in her eyes. The look he'd seen countless times before when she was interrogating prisoners. "It's not your concern," He told her seeing the annoyance in her expression. The woman really hated being in the dark, but that's where she was going to stay till he knew more about Damon and how he effected others. He had enough information leaked from Division due to Nikita actions, he didn't need another.
It was clear on Percy's face, he was keeping something back from her. "Now, if you'd excuse me, I have a meeting in fifteen I have to prepare for," Amanda left the office feeling less then pleased. Something was going on and he was keeping her away from it. What event had recently happened? What had set this hunt in motion? As she walked down the long hallway to her office, passing the recruits, she couldn't help glance over at them. Suddenly it hit her. The event. It wasn't possible though. If it was, what did that mean for them? Amanda continued to her office to review her files to see if her hunch was right.
Mystic Grill
Upon entering the place, Alex immediately wanted to exit. There were a lot more people then she'd expected and it was a little overwhelming. Probably the only place in town to get a drink, Alex guessed as she searched for a pay phone or someone who might lend her theirs. She had her phone, but it was Division property and she hadn't gotten a chance to find where to get a burner in this town yet. Using her training, she surveyed the room to mark the exits and find the most likely subject for her objective. Bartender was the best bet. You can do this. It was just like every other one of her missions. One step at a time. Taking a deep breath, Alex headed to the bar.
Sitting at the bar, Damon ordered his usual drink, "requesting" the bartender to leave the bottle. He couldn't take this humanity thing anymore. Rose was dead. Not because of anything she did, no, because of his stupidity and his ignorance. If he'd just been smart about things, she'd still be "alive". He took a gulp from his drink, trying to let the alcohol take away some of the guilt. What the hell was wrong with him? He didn't use to feel this way. He did whatever he wanted, not caring who got killed in the process. That was the way he was suppose to be. Stefan was the good brother and he was evil one. Why was he trying to change that? Because of her. Ahh! He needed to just forget Elena. She wasn't his and she never was going to be. The sooner he accepted that, the better he'd be. Damon finished his drink getting the usual thirst he got whenever he got upset. He needed a drink. A real drink. He filled his glass again, at first not noticing the young woman leaning on the bar. She was trying to get the bartender's attention. Perfect.
"Excuse me?" Alex asked shouting a little across the bar to get the employee to turn around from stocking the bottles on the shelves to look at her. When the man made no indication he heard her, she tried again. "Excuse me!" Still nothing, causing Alex to become a little annoyed. Giving up on the guy, Alex started to look around for any sign of another employee that might be able to help her when she spotted a guy sitting a seat down from her giving her a smug look. Perfect. She smiled at him, giving her usual innocent girl smile, Nikita told her she was so good at.
"You looking for a drink?" Damon offered turning the bottle enough so she could read the label. She was a new face which likely meant no ties, just passing through, type of girl. His favorite kind. There was no one to miss her. This was his lucky night. It was always great when food dropped into someone's lap on it's own accord.
As much as the offer was tempting, she couldn't let herself go down that path again. Alex was sober, not having had a drink since that first mission with Mirko Dadich weeks or maybe months, ago. She needed to stay on the straight and narrow when it came to drugs and alcohol if she was going to help Nikita. "I'm good, thanks" She said trying to be as nice as possible. "But do you happen to have a cellphone I could barrow?" A stranger at a bar was almost as good as a pay phone when it came to untraceable calls. "Mine's dead and I'm suppose to check in with my sister,"
Damon knew how to play this to his benefit. If she was on a road trip all he had to do was find out what car she drove and make it look like an accident. That way the town still believed it was "save" from vampires, he wasn't blamed for what happened, and he got to feed. Everybody wins...except her of course. Reaching into his pocket, he quickly checked it for messages and battery life before handing it to the young beauty with blue eyes. "Here," He gave her his charming smile. "Maybe after?"
Taking the phone, she began to dial the number knowing she was one or two minutes late. Something she was probably going to get hell over. "Maybe" She replied back to the man. Alex still didn't understand why just about every male hit on the female gender while sitting at a bar. Not that she was knocking it tonight, tonight it was helpful, but it was something that always puzzled her. Placing the phone to her ear, a few rings went by before she got the answering machine.
Sighing, she gave the most information she could without setting off any alarms. Something Nikita and Division had taught her in case anyone intercepted the message. "Hey, it's me. Just checking in and letting you know I made it to Virginia. Hope everything's okay at home," She paused for a quick second before finishing the message. "I'll call you in a few days, bye" With that she clicked the end button before handing the cell back to the stranger. "Thank you,"
"Not a problem," He placed the device back into his pocket. "So...how bout that drink?" Damon pushed his glass forward for her to drink from after taking a sip himself to show her it wasn't roofied. Something he'd learn to do while staying around a college one year. Women where increasingly nervous about ending up drugged and raped. A fear that needed to be put at ease when with a vampire.
"I appreciate the offer," She told him as politely as she could. "but I think I'll just stick to water," Alex made herself as comfortable as she could on the bar stool catching the bartender long enough to order a water before he continued stocking and ignoring his customers. She didn't have any idea what to do now, having been expecting to receive orders from Nikita. Before she had left Division, Michael told her to blend in, get to know some of the people. as long as it didn't disrupt her cover.
Damon wasn't expecting her to decline his offer, but he wasn't discouraged by it. In fact he found it quite amusing. "Water it is," He raised his glass as if to toast before taking a sip from it. "What brings you to Mystic Falls, if you don't mind me asking?" To him, the conversation didn't matter, but he did need to get her alone, so the best way was seduction.
Make conversation, make friends. "My parents sent me here to start over," A lie, but a lie that would work. She'd have to let Michael know if he came to visit. "They figured a new scenery would help," She took a sip of her water, watching him. As they began to talk she got a sense of familiarity around him, but couldn't place why.
"Bit of a trouble maker?" This was getting more and more perfect. For once something was going right and if he hadn't been so desperate to get his drink, he might have taken a closer look at the situation.
Alex actually gave a small almost non-exciting laugh at him. A year a go he'd be completely right. She did anything for a hit so she could forget what she'd been through, but Nikita had changed that. It was weird to think about, considering where she was now. "You could say that," She took a sip of her water, placing it back on the bar, watching the water settle again. "How bout you? What brings you here?"
"The truth?" Damon asked which received a settle nod from Alex. Finishing another double shot, he turned to her. "Lost the love of my life and now helping to protect my brother's love, who I'm in love with," He started to laugh at the ridiculousness of what he just said.
"What are you laughing at?" This guy was starting to turn into someone that she wasn't sure she wanted to be around, but there was something...familiar about him that made her feel...safe? Was that the word? Whatever it was, it was there and Alex didn't know why.
"Just..series of events..." Damon poured himself another drink. "The fact I'm saying this to you, a complete stranger, like you actually care,' He downed his class again, finishing off half the bottle.
Out of all the people in the bar, she had to meet probably the most damaged while he was getting drunk. Nice going Alex. "Well, sometimes a complete stranger is the only one you can talk to" He looked over at her and Alex smiled at him.
"What is your name?" He asked suddenly realizing he was having an actual real conversation with a human.
"Alex" She said simply. "And yours?"
"I'm Damon,"
"Have we met before?" Alex asked having this eire feeling about him. The name seemed very familiar to her, but she couldn't place it. It was like there was something there in her mind but she couldn't access it. Maybe she'd met him when she was high? That would explain why she couldn't place it.
Damon looked at her more closely, but considering how drunk he was beginning to feel his memory was getting a bit fuzzy. "Nope," Everyone he encountered that was as beautiful as her was dead, he'd seen to that personally. Her eyes were mesmerizing though. "I'd remember someone like you," They smiled at each other and Damon was about to make his move when he heard a voice he didn't want to hear.
"Damon!" Damon let out an annoyed sigh, turning to see Alaric coming toward him. "We have an emergency,"
Of course they did. "I'm not in the mood Rick," Damon said turning back to the bar and pouring another drink.
Alaric was about to state the situation they had with the werewolves, but realized Damon had been talking to a woman there who was probably listening to him now.. "Ah, Stefan needs help with Caroline.."
"Do you not see I'm trying to have a drink here?" He glanced at Alex to give Alaric his full meaning. Damon was in no mood to go anywhere, especially for vampire barbie.
"He found Jules," Alaric stated knowing that would get Damon's attention.
