Chapter 4
You walked out of the room confused as to what was happening, where was everyone? Out in the hall you saw your other agents and heard some mutter about you, before you ask what they were saying, Agent Hill came out of the suite followed by and older blonde man you didn't recognise.
" Thank you all for participating, we can only take one of you on to become a field agent and you all did extremely well and should be proud of yourselves. In the AI however, those of you who were killed in the field can leave now. That's Agents: Andrews, Bell, Carter and Davis." With this the four named Agents walked away. Eight to go your thought to yourself….
"Those of you who were captured can also leave. Agents; Allen, McKenna, Richards and Robinson" Another four walked away. Four to go….
"Those who did not complete all objective may leave. Agents; Smith and Walker." Two more left the hall…..
Oh my God, it's between me and Jones.
"Agents Gold and Jones, you both survived the mission, evaded capture and completed all objectives. It has been a tough decision between you two as you were both similarly matched in your academic tests. However, it comes down to who followed the orders most accurately. Agent Gold, locating and rescuing prisoners was not part of the mission. Following this path cost you considerable time. Jones, you stuck to the objectives and successfully completed the mission. Therefore it is the committee's decision that Agent Jones, you will be our next field agent."
Jones grinned and punched the air; "yesss! Thank you Agent Hill" and with a nod and salute to the unknown man; "Sir". " Report to Director Fury tomorrow at 0900 for further instructions" with a further nod Field Agent Jones strode away down the hall.
Hill turned her attention back to you, you couldn't believe your ears, you failed because you stayed to free other agents and allied forces? How was this a bad thing? " I know this is hard Agent Gold, but you did well, you can apply again in the future". Hill and the other man turned to leave, "Excuse me Agent Hill, I don't understand how freeing soldiers caused me to fail?" Hill and the man turned back around; "that was not your mission. How do you know what opportunities you missed because of the time spent in the lab? You may have been able to apprehend the Red Skull? Orders are orders Agent". Seeing your face she softened slightly, "I am sorry, Gold, that's the committees final decision".
With that Hill and the man walked away, you were stunned, you couldn't believe what had just happened, all that hard work, all those months, for nothing.
You collected your things from your locker and left work and automatically headed for the gym, as had nearly every day for 6 months. It hadn't sunk in; you failed…and failed because you saved men from certain death! You felt numb. What now? Maybe some boxing is exactly what you needed right now. You changed into your gym outfit; a white vest and skin-tight black 3/4 leggings. You bound your hands up and made you way to the punch bag, it was going to pay tonight!
You exhaled loudly putting on some loud music and popping in the earpieces, you loosened you neck and shoulders with a few stretches and took aim at the bag. Jab, jab, hook, jab, jab, uppercut, jab, jab, kick jab, double handed smash….the rage was building now, the injustice of it all hitting you hard. This was your dream, ripped away because you were a good person? Bullshit! Jab, jab, smash, Agent Hill was in your mind squeaking I'm so sorry in a mocking voice to you, you imagined punching her face, kick, uppercut, the words "final decision" echoed in your head; "arrrrrrghhhhh!" you cried out throwing everything you had at the bag, kick, jab, and with one final spinning kick you knocked the bag clean off its hook sending it skidding across the floor. You stood there breathing heavily, nothing left to punch, looking at the sad ruptured punch bag. You realised then you were crying, and wiped at your face with your bound hands, removing your earpieces as you did.
Joe saw you and had decided to leave you alone to work out your anger but on seeing this final smash he came over.
" I only know of one other person who tears through my punch bags like that" Joe shook his head looking at the bag… "….and he's 95"….
You laughed in spite of yourself. " yeah Joe, right. Who is the guy? Your grandpa?"
"No, it's me." Said a voice behind you, you turned to see….no…..oh my god…..Steve Rogers? Captain America? You mouth must have fallen open, he was stunning. You'd seen the footage of the Avengers in action and of the Captain in his Hey-Day, but they didn't do him justice. Steve had a small smile playing on his lips as his went to retrieve the wounded punch bag.
Joe chuckled and walked off back to his office.
