Chapter 3
New York City – SHIELD Offices 2009
"First, I'd like to welcome every one of you to the Strategic Homeland Intervention Enforcement and Logistics Division, or SHIELD for short. The work that you will do here will directly impact the lives of people around the world. In addition, you will become part of sixty years of history. SHIELD was created in the wake of World War II as an independent intelligence organization to defeat HYDRA and protect the world in extraordinary situations. So far we have stuck to that mission and continue to be a leader in the intelligence community."
Lucy tried to engage with what the speaker was saying but looking at the slide above the HR person's head with pictures of Peggy, Howard and Col. Philips was hard. She had read everything Director Fury has given her and done some simple research on her own. This orientation thought reminded her so much of her first day at the Naval Building in DC, a day that felt like a lifetime ago.
"Before we continue, we have a special guest who would like to say a few words before we move on to taking your badge photographs and the benefits presentation." The HR person stepped aside and allowed Director Fury to take the podium. The other new hires around Lucy gasped in awe. Lucy shook her head. Of course, he'd make a special appearance at her orientation. She was starting to wonder if he was personally invested in her new life.
"Some of you may know me, some of you may not," he said taking the mark behind the podium. "My name is Director Fury. I would say welcome to SHIELD, but the lovely Ms. Pearson has already had that honor. Instead I'll keep this brief, SHIELD picked each of you for some reason, it may be your intellect, it may be your service records, or it may be that you are really good a knocking other people out." Chuckles rose from the group. "Regardless of why you are here, you are now an agent of SHIELD, so I wanted to give you all some advice that I've given to every agent I have ever met. Do not trust anyone, and always keep one eye open." Director Fury stepped back and walked off stage.
There were a few claps, buy Lucy guessed that most people didn't know how to react to Fury's words.
"All right everyone, time to get those badges made," Ms. Pearson said stepping down from the small stage and leading the group out of the room.
"Its going to be a long day," Lucy mumbled to herself hoping no one else heard her.
"So, Lucy, tell me a little about yourself. Fury told me a little, and your file was enlightening, but I wanted to hear from you," Jason said. Lucy and her new boss were sitting across from each other in a small restaurant a block away from the SHIELD. Lucy thought back to the file that Fury had given her to study trying to recall all the information.
"Well, I'm an only child. My mother died just after I was born of the flu. So, it's just been my father and I for as long as I can remember. He was a commercial fisherman and raised me on his boat. We did homeschooling until I got my GED, and we talked about college but it didn't seem feasible. We didn't really have money for higher education, a computer, or even the internet," Lucy said, "So instead, I started helping him more. We were able to grow the business just enough that we could afford a laptop and some college courses. From there I fell in love with codes, coding, and security and the rest if history."
She looked down at her plate of food. Jason had insisted this was the best Thai food in the city and was elated that Lucy had never tried the cuisine. He'd recommend the Pad Thai for a newbie. She had gotten it with chicken unsure of what the dish was. When a plate of translucent noodles in a brown sauce with vegetables and chicken was a surprise. It wasn't half bad, but Lucy was too nervous to eat.
"What drew you to counter-intelligence specifically," Jason asked. It was the logical next question, but Lucy didn't think this would be an interrogation.
"My grandmother was a WAVE during WWII. She worked in at the Navy Building in DC on JN25 and Purple," Lucy said, "Or so the family stories go." That wasn't too big of a lie. It was mostly true, but its not like this man would have the clearance to find out.
Jason seemed a little surprised as her forthrightness. Apparently, the story of the women codebreakers was still new to people as their work had only been recently declassified.
"Huh, very interesting. Did your Grandmother ever talk about the code," Jason asked.
"No," Lucy said, "she took the vow of secrecy more seriously than the 10 commandments."
"Well then, forget I said anything. Do you have any hobbies," Jason asked?
Lucy relaxed as the discussion moved away from her background and on to inane topics. After much picking, she lifted her fork to her mouth and tasted the dish. It was probably the best thing she'd ever eaten. She made a mental note to research Thai food when she returned home. She needed to learn how to make this herself. It beat the pot roast and roast chicken recipes she'd been making by a mile.
"Hobbies? Does it make me sound old fashioned if I say cooking and knitting," she asked? Jason shook his head and smiled at her, "not at all…"
The pair continued their lunch in a more enjoyable manner all the shop talk left behind.
As they walked back to the office, Lucy couldn't help but think she was going to fit in here just fine.
Washington D.C – 1942
Another city, another train station. Lucy stepped off the train in her Navy whites into the cavernous space that was Union Station. While it wasn't the overseas post she was hoping for, the sense of mystery her posting exuded couldn't be shaken.
Dot had received her orders to. She was also at the Naval Building, but in the less secret role of clerk. The pair had agreed to try and find an apartment together, since they'd already become accustom to each other's presence, and they'd heard that the temporary housing situation in DC was less than ideal.
They are heard of an apartment complex, Fillmore Gardens, in Arlington that was renting to women in government service and hoped that there was still a place available for them. So, Lucy's first order of business was to high tail it to the complex and secure an apartment. Dot would be arriving in a few days and Lucy had promised to have housing sorted by then.
The trip to Arlington was uneventful and Lucy was amazed at how the suburb seemed to teem with people.
Fillmore Gardens was a new apartment complex that had sprung up to house all the people pouring into DC for government work.
Lucy looked over the red brick buildings and the young women coming and going from the various buildings.
The management office was centrally located among the buildings and of the same red brick.
As she entered, Lucy survey the few empty desks and a small sign saying the manager would be back soon. Lucy sat down in one of the cane back chairs and waited.
The manager, an older woman that reminder Lucy of a stern school mistress, returned to the office about 15 minutes later.
"Sorry to keep you waiting," the woman said in a nasaly voice, "How can I help you?"
"It was no bother ma'am. I'm looking to rent an apartment," Lucy said standing up and offering her hand to shake.
The woman looked over Lucy's hands with a critical eye. "Government girl? Living by yourself?" the woman asked.
"Yes and No. I have a friend from training camp who will be arriving in a few days," Lucy said. The women's nose wrinkled.
"Another government girl," Lucy clarified. "We can make do with whatever is available."
The women nodded curtly. "Let me check to see what's available." She walked back to one of the desks and consulted a paper there.
"We have a 1 bedroom that's available today. Its $200 a month. It that something you can do?"
"Yes, we can manage that," Lucy said. $200/month, that would be a stretch for the pair, but they could always find another roommate. They'd been told about the housing crunch in DC and were prepared to make sacrifices to get the job done.
The women nodded and pulled a piece of paper out of her desk. "I'd like as much as you can spare to hold the place. I know you won't get paid for another couple of weeks so our normal first and last months rent is a bit of a stretch. Fill out this application and bring it back to me. I'll see if we can get you keys today."
Lucy sighed with relief and sat down at the desk to complete the application. That was one road lock down. Now to start this mystery job
Later that week.
"Ladies, I would like to welcome you OP-20-G, or the 20th Division of the Office of Naval Communications- Communication Security. The work you have been chosen to do is critical to the war effort and has already saved thousands of lives. Over the next few weeks you will be trained in the art of cryptanalysis. Once you're training is complete, you will be assigned to a watch and a unit working on deciphering messages from around the world. Your assignment will be based on your aptitude for certain types of cyphers and languages. The nature of this work means that we require absolute secrecy regarding your work, schedule, even the building you work in. Any loose lips will result in immediate court martial," the older man in a captains uniform said looking at the room full of women.
The women, Lucy included, looked at each other nervously. Work that was secret? Work they had to be specially trained for? Sounded like fun.
June 15, 1942 Washington DC
Dear Steve,
Thank you for agreeing to be my soldier. Most of the girls I'm working with are writing to three, four, or even five men at a time. Apparently writing keeps the men's hope alive and some have found either life-long friends or husbands out of the mix.
I hope this will be a friendship for a lifetime.
I guess I should start with a little bit more about myself, since we didn't talk much about ourselves at the dance hall. I'm from outside Williamsburg, VA. My father is a fisherman on the James River and the bay. I'm an only child. Dad says that I look like my mother, but I don't remember her and there aren't any pictures of her. She died when I was little, the flu. Sometimes, I feel like my forgets I'm a girl and thinks I'm the son he always wanted. I used to help him with the work when I was younger. I can't count the number of times I've put a hook through my thumb. He stopped letting me help once I got to high school. He said the sea was no place for a girl of good stock. Needless to say, he was angry with me for joining the WAVES, but he came to see me last weekend and couldn't have been prouder.
I wish I could talk about what I'm working, but everything is really hush hush. Just mentioning what building you work in can lead to a discharge. One of the girls here refused to let an Admiral into the office the other day because he didn't have the proper clearance papers. You should have seen the look on his face. He wanted to explode at the girl, but had to keep a straight face, and ended up thanking her for her dedication later that day.
Do you have any hobbies? I've been struggling to find one. I tried cross stitch and knitting, but I don't think I'm really good at it. Dot, my friend who lives with me, just laughs at my attempts. I can play the piano, but I haven't found one around that would fit into my apartment.
But enough about me. I want to hear everything about you. I want ot you feel like you can tell me anything.
Hoping for a letter soon,
Lucy
Steve had been waiting for a letter from Lucy. He was near desperation, to the point he considered stalking Mr. Beavers, the elderly mailman.
"What's got you twisted?" Bucky asked from the couch. The pair had just returned from lunch at the Barnes family residence where Bucky's family fawned over Steve like a lost dog. They'd tried to give him money to go back to art school, but he couldn't accept it. Rebecca's wedding was fast approaching, and Steve couldn't take money from them that could go toward something happy.
"Just waiting for the mail Buck," Steve said pacing the small living area.
"It comes at the same time every day punk," Bucky said a smirk on this face, "why do you want the mail so much? Is it about that dame from a few weeks ago?"
Steve look away from Bucky trying to hid the redness in his cheeks.
"So, it is about the dame," Bucky said, "I guess I'll let you know if any letters that smell like perfume arrive."
"Eat shit Buck," Steve shot back.
As if on cue, the soft clunk of the mail slot signaled the arrival of the mail. Steve was there looking through the envelopes before Bucky to even start to lift himself form the couch.
There it was amongst the bills they didn't have money to pay just yet. A small crème colored envelope with his name on the front in small neat script. The return address indicated the sender was Lucy Bryne. It was finally here.
Steve bolted for his room so far, Bucky was worried he would give himself an asthma attack.
"Happy Reading Punk," he called jokingly as the door slammed shut.
Safe in his room Steve carefully opened the letter and began to read.
June 20, 1942 Brooklyn
Dear Lucy,
Thank you for your letter. I was worried that you were joking about writing to me.
It sounds like you had a very interesting childhood. I've never been on a real boat before, unless you count the Staten Island Ferry. Bucky, my best friend, and I took it once for a day trip. I may have spent most of the trip sea sick.
Everything about me huh? I'm not exactly sure where to start. My never-ending list of medical conditions or all the fights I've lost?
I guess we should start with something simple. It was just me and my mother growing up. My father died in the Great War from mustard gas before I was born. So, we have that in common. My mother died about five years ago from TB. Now it's just Bucky and me in tiny apartment. We've both lived in Brooklyn all our lives and have been best friends almost as long. You sort of met Bucky at the dance hall. He was the tall dark soldier dancing with your friend.
We tried to join up together. Bucky is a Corporal now, and my asthma means I'm stuck in Brooklyn. He could be shipping gout any day and all I want is to go with him. He keeps saying I'm lucky to not be going, that I can still do my part at home. Don't tell anyone, but I'm going to keep trying to enlist. They'll have to let me in eventually.
Hobbies? I love to draw. I took some art classes at the local college before mom got sick. Before the war, I drew for a comic. It was reasonably popular, but with the war there isn't much work. I've included a sketch I did a few days ago. I'd love Let me know what you think?
I'd like to write more, I'm about to be late for my paper run.
Looking forward to your next letter.
Steve
Author: Another Chapter Down! Let me know what you think.
