Marcy

I tapped the metal table I was sitting at nervously.

Inside, I was freaking out. What was going to happen now? Diana and I had been separated once we arrived. I didn't even know where we were. I was alone in a small room. There was a door to my left and a chair across from me. Above hung a plain lamp.

Before I could have a full blown panic attack, the door opened. I looked up at the man who walked in and sat down in the empty chair. He had light sandy blonde hair and no unique facial features. He wore the same suit and sunglasses as everyone else in this place.

"Miss Wiles," he said calmly, "I'm Agent Donev. I'm here to make you an offer."

I allowed my curiosity to drown out my anxiety. "What kind of offer?" I asked quietly. I noticed the corner of his mouth twitch slightly.

"We need someone of your expertise, Miss Wiles," he said, pulling out a manila file. "We've run a full background check on you. Congratulations on the new little brother, by the way."

"Uh, um, thanks?" It was extremely off-putting to have him say that.

"We also have been looking into your research," he continued, seemingly oblivious to my discomfort. "It's amazing how much you were able to uncover about personified nations without us knowing. It begs the question; just how much could you learn if you had our support?"

I thought I knew where he was going, but I didn't speak up. He was gonna have to spell it out for me.

After a moment of silence he continued, "I'll get to the point. We want you to befriend and study the Personified Nations and report your findings back to us. You'd have to keep your research a secret from them. The nations will be under the impression that they are responsible for you and your friend, as you both are the only current civilians aware of their existence. You'd be sworn to secrecy and paid well."

Another moment of silence.

"What's the alternative?" I asked carefully.

"There isn't one."

Well, when you put it that way...

"I accept," I said a bit quietly.

Agent Donev smiled, "Good to hear. There's still some paperwork to do, but after that, you'll be free to go."

He picked up the folder and left the room, presumably to go get the paperwork. For some reason, this didn't sit right with me.

I suppose it doesn't matter. I don't have a choice after all…

xxxxx

Diana

I pressed my forehead against the cool metallic table with a sigh.

I had been sitting in the same small room at the same small table for hours. Marcy and I had been separated once we had reached… wherever we were. Now we were separately awaiting our fates.

Although at this point, I was wondering why it was taking so long.

The door opened. I peeled my forehead off the table and sat up. Auburn hair and an unreadable expression stepped through the door, a file in his hand.

"Miss Diana Rogers," He read from the file darkly. "Only child of Caleb and Sara Rogers. Twenty-one years of age. Graduated a year early from Dallas Tech, cum laude. Currently interning in D.C. with Sterling Art. Place of residence—"

"I get it," I said dryly, crossing my arms and sitting back. "You're in charge."

Pete gave me a dirty look, then continued. "Decent credit score. No felonies. A couple speeding tickets, though…" He glanced up at me with a snide look. "Couldn't wait to get to the rodeo?"

I rolled my eyes.

Pete slapped the file down on the table. "Miss Rogers…"

"Yes, Pete?" I smiled pleasantly.

He gave me a dark look. "Miss Rogers, I don't think you understand how delicate your situation is."

I felt my stomach churn. I raised my chin a bit. "I don't believe I've done anything wrong," I said confidently. "So unless you're going to charge me with something, I think I'll be going."

I didn't move, though.

"That would be true," Pete said, "If this were about a crime." He put his hands on the table and leaned in. "But this is a matter of national security."

My eyes narrowed. "National security?"

"Yes, Miss Rogers," Pete straightened and began pacing the room. "You have seen something you shouldn't have."

"So just wipe my memory already," I said blandly.

Agent Pete looked at me in surprise. "You want to lose your memories?" He asked guardedly.

"If it means getting back to Marcy." I glared up at him unapologetically, my tone ice.

He studied me a moment, forming his opinion of me.

Sitting down in the chair opposite the table from me, He opened my file and began flipping through it. He settled on a page, then looked up at me.

"Miss Rogers, can you tell me exactly what it is you saw?"

"I saw a blond-haired, blue-eyes young man survive getting a car wrapped around him while he was saving my life."

"I see. Anything else?"

I set my elbows on the table and folded my hands in front of my mouth.

"The young man had unusually high strength and endurance. He also had a very high metabolism. He was familiar with the Secret Service and knew at least you by name. He also knew about your investigations into my friend Marcy's work, which was on superhuman creatures known as National Personifications. Oh, and incidentally," I smiled, "he called himself America."

Agent Pete closed my file. "I see."

My smile fell. I stared keenly at the agent. "So, are you gonna wipe my memory now?"

Pete smiled a bit slyly. "I don't think that will be necessary. Miss Rogers," Pete stood. "The Secret Service would like to request your help with something."

I didn't move, still hiding behind my folded hands. My eyes followed him though, questioning suspiciously.

"It seems that the young man whom you spoke of has taken a liking to you and your friend Marcy. As you have no doubt surmised, it is normally the duty of the Secret Service to keep an eye on him—"

"Alfred."

Pete hesitated. "…Yes. Alfred… is normally our problem. However he seems much more interested in keeping the two of you company than listening to anything we have to say, so the powers that be have proposed a… slightly unorthodox solution."

"Powers that be?" I asked, surprise creeping into my voice. "As in… the President?"

Pete smiled slightly. "You, Miss Rogers, would be basically acting as a surrogate agent, keeping tabs on Alfred and making sure he stays out of public knowledge."

My hands were still covering my mouth as I stared intently at the table.

"Oh, and there is one other thing…"

I looked at him with a raised an eyebrow.

"The 'powers that be' I referred to are not exclusive to our nation."

I squinted at him. "What?"

"You may be called upon to monitor multiple other nations as well, as their governments so require."

My eyes went wide. My hands fell as I shook my head. "No. No way. There's no way I could do that."

Pete smiled knowingly. "I understand it sounds overwhelming, but you'd have Marcy's help. And ours, the second you needed it."

"I… this is ridiculous!" I looked at Pete desperately. "I'm an art student from Texas! I… I'm not ready for this!"

"You're a very intelligent young lady who very quickly and efficiently made a living for herself. You've proven your skills of reason and observation, as well as resilience. Oh, and we do have your IQ scores…"

I blushed slightly, ducking my head.

"What about Marcy?" Pete questioned.

I hesitated.

"This would be the opportunity of a lifetime for her. Spending all her time with the very subject of her life's work?"

"You make it sound like she isn't eighteen," I said a bit darkly. I sighed, running my hand through my hair. "She would be allowed to keep her memories?"

"And she would be encouraged to continue her work."

I glanced at him, suspicious. "Would she be compensated?"

"Of course. As will you. This will be your job from now on, more or less."

I nodded slowly. "Just one last thing…"

"Yes?"

"How the hell am I supposed to keep an eye on multiple personified nations, when the entire Secret Service can't keep track of one?"

Pete chuckled. "Ah, that's the beauty of it. Alfred and the other nations will be under the impression that they're responsible for watching you." Pete smirked. "Alfred's price to pay for 'saving' you and Marcy."

"Clever," I said with a dark smile.

"Oh, and in our defense," Pete added, "Alfred is one of the most…chaotic of the national personifications."

I nodded, he memory of him effortlessly hauling around Marcy and me around still fresh in my mind.

"Can I talk it over with Marcy?"

Pete nodded, standing and heading for the door. "I'll go get her."

As he left, I thought of how Marcy would react to the idea. I could picture her face lighting up. I knew we had details to hash out, but in the end...

We were going to say yes.

xxxxx

Peter

Peter Franklin had had a long day.

He pulled his briefcase from his locker and loosened his tie, very ready to get home and take a long hot shower. He nodded to his colleagues going on shift as he passed, heading for the entrance of the secure facility. A few nodded back, but most just stared in surprise.

He was one of the highest ranking Secret Service agents after all.

He finally got down to the lobby, and was making a beeline for the front doors, when a small gathering of agents off to the side caught his attention. He paused, then cleared his throat. The agents loitering about looked up, saw who he was, and immediately scattered to where they were supposed to be.

The small crowd dissipated, and Peter got a glimpse at what they had been watching.

There in the lobby, somehow stretched out over three chairs while still sitting up, was Alfred, passed out and drooling happily.

On either side of him were the two girls he'd been fighting for and whining about all day, out cold like him. Marcy was curled up next to him tightly, still wrapped in the large letterman jacket, her head resting on his chest. Diana was lounging like Alfred, leaning against him with a slightly satisfied look on her face. His arms were around them loosely, and they all looked perfectly comfortable.

Peter turned and headed for the front doors. As he stepped out into the cool night air, he couldn't help smiling to himself.

That was the most peaceful he'd ever seen Alfred.