Author: Midnight
Title: Marshall Flinkman 007
Summary: Marshall's never considered himself to be the 'secret agent' type, even if he did work for SD-6. Things change however as a sudden trip to London shows everyone, including himself that he has more promise than even the deadliest of agents. Will he give up his life as an 'Op Tech guy' to become a field agent? Or will he remain as he always was? Double-agents, assassinations, elegant parties, beautiful women, The Truth, and more, are all that await him.
Rating: PG. . .for now.
Author's Note: I seem to be getting the chapter's out pretty quickly, although I'll probably begin to slow down pretty soon. In this chapter...Marshall deals with the initial shock of learning The Truth, as well getting ready for his first mission...
E-mail me at: varzideh@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: All Alias characters and related material does not belong to me, but to J.J Abrams.
~~~~~
"Huh? What?! No!" Marshall said, trying to get out of the device he was sitting in. Then, with a sudden change, he started laughing. "This is some sort of joke r-right? Wait...I know, this is some sort of testing procedure or somethi-" he said with a slight tone of desperation, before being calmed down by Agent Briggs.
This couldn't be happening to him. He had spent years working for SD-6. There was no possible way that SD-6 was well...evil.
"You're lying..." he said, shaking his head as he held it in his hands.
In the meantime, McNeilly, who had been watching from afar, came in and took a seat next to Marshall.
"Please understand that we had no other option but to tell you the truth Marshall. Things are getting bad, despite all that's being done to prevent SD-6 and The Alliance from gaining power. The information that you have alone, would be enough to severely cripple the organization" McNeilly said calmly, as he laid a pile of documents down on the table.
"I understand that it's quite a blow to take, and that you may feel that we're being false as it were. But I've gotten clearance to show you, what I hope you will consider proof of our words."
Everything McNeilly said went through one ear and out the other. It all seemed hazy to Marshall, as if he was in some sort of dream...that had little by little turned into a nightmare.
How could people, who he had worked with for so many years be bad? Dixon...Sydney! He couldn't believe that they were bad people. Heck, he had even met Dixon's wife and kids once! Not to mention that fact that he and Sydney had saved his life.
Lifting his face out of his hands, he realized that he was alone in the room. He hadn't heard either McNeilly or Agent Briggs leave him to his own. That was about two hours ago.
Marshall considered himself to be a trusting person, but what they had just told him was impossible for him to believe without some sort of proof.
'Proof...' he thought to himself as he looked over at the pile of documents that McNeilly had brought in.
He spent the next three hours reading through every single piece of information that was presented to him. Deals with terrorists, government assassinations...he couldn't believe what he was reading.
Standing up, he slowly made his way over to the door, which opened before he could even touch the handle.
McNeilly was back.
"This is...this is just...I can't believe this. Even after all I've read. Everyone I've worked with....they can't be bad." Marshall said, he eyes pleading with his new boss.
Motioning for Marshall to take a seat, McNeilly sighed and rubbed his forehead with his hand. Clearly, he really hadn't enjoyed doing what he had just done.
"Just like your situation, none of the employees of SD-6 or any other division, are aware that they are counter-working against CIA. Only head members and directors are aware of the truth, and even then it's strictly kept confidential. There are however, a few employees amongst them that work for the CIA...but of course, I cannot talk about that any further..."
Marshall didn't hear the rest. He just hoped beyond hope that one of those few employees was Sydney. She was sweet, and smart, and didn't deserve to work for an organization that was responsible for destroying so many lives, and keeping everyone in the dark about who they worked for. But there was one thing he still didn't understand...
"Wait wait...hold the phone" he said, in a way not unlike his usual self. "But you're head of SD-4. You were talking with Sloane. I-I mean..I was there. And there've been countless times when we've contacted you guys for help on things. How do you explain that, eh?"
"The CIA was able to finally infiltrate The Alliance, by eventually making SD-4 a covert branch of the operation. We still of course have to do what is ordered by The Alliance to keep our cover, but we do provide various counter measures against missions assigned to us. The head members of the Alliance, which are comprised of SD section leaders themselves, are constantly being watched and monitored. Since not all SD section leaders are head members, they are not monitored to such an extent, so therefore, I am able to remain head of this section" McNeilly explained.
Getting up, McNeilly went and opened the door. "Your car is waiting to take you back home Marshall. We'll talk more tomor-"
"When you say home, do you mean 'home' home, or the enormous mansion?" he said uncertainly.
McNeilly smiled a bit. "I believe that the answer to that question would be 'the enormous mansion."
And with that, McNeilly left the room, but not without one last question.
"Mr. McNeilly sir...c-can I call my mom? She's used to me calling her every twelve hours. If I was back in the States, I'm sure the National Guard would be out looking for me..."
"You may call your mother. But no one else. See you tomorrow."
As McNeilly left, so did Marshall. He really did regret coming to London, despite knowing the truth. He had been happy as a naïve technical operations officer. Now he felt as if he'd been flipped over and had no idea which way was up.
As Marshall got in his car and headed home, the day was not over for McNeilly or the rest.
***
"This is ridiculous! Why did we have to tell him! I've watched him for a long time now McNeilly, and frankly, I think this was a bad move" Agent Fenyvesi said angrily at her superior.
"It was my call, Leila" he said calmly, trying not to lose his temper. "Arvin Sloane now considers Marshall to be too much of a risk factor. He knows that Marshall has the ability to single handedly take down SD-6 and possibly other cells. I know that you've been assigned his case for the past year, but now is the perfect time for us to take him in. You've seen his psychological evaluation...I've never seen anyone that intelligent, and that's saying something."
"But he's Marshall!" she exclaimed, as if that would explain everything. "How can you possibly think of keeping him safe here! He's not an agent...and he's never had any combat training. It would only be a matter of time before things start looking...odd."
"I wouldn't worry about that. Since Mr. Flinkman already has extensive knowledge in a variety of areas, it won't take long to have him achieve field clearance. He'll be an agent sooner than any of us think."
***
Lying in bed, Marshall wasn't able to sleep. He did feel better after talking to his mom, despite having not really being able to get a word in edgewise, as she yelled and scolded him for not calling sooner.
He kept thinking about all those people that he had worked with for years...all those people had no idea that they were the bad guys. And himself! He couldn't shake the guilt that came over him when he realized the truth. His inventions...his technical skills...they aided SD-6 in achieving their goals. 'Well not anymore' he thought determinedly, before giving up to the sleep that overcame him.
***
SD-4 Headquarters 10:15am
Jet lag beginning to lose its hold on him, Marshall was back at SD-4 feeling much better than he had been yesterday. Sadly, feeling physically better didn't mean that he was a better emotional state. He hoped that he'd be given something to do, otherwise he'd probably go back to thinking about everything he had been told. Keeping busy was the solution.
As Marshall walked into SD-4's main quarters, he was in luck as McNeilly approached him.
"Hello Marshall. I trust that you feel a bit better this morning" he said sincerely. "At least, I hope you are since there are things that we need to discuss."
Very unlike himself, Marshall's eyes narrowed at McNeilly. "N-not meaning any disrespect, but what the hell is there left for you to tell me? I think we've pretty much established that my life has taken a three-hundred and sixty degree turn" a usually shy Marshall said somewhat angrily.
Either Marshall didn't seem to give the impression that he was angry well enough, or McNeilly chose to ignore it as he asked Marshall to follow him into the conference room.
Again a sense of deja-vu came over him as the interior was identical to the one back at SD-6. Five chairs were positioned in front of five computers on each side, plus one chair at each end of the table.
One of the chairs was occupied however, as both McNeilly and Marshall entered. Agent Fenyvesi, as Marshall remembered her telling him, was seated at the far end of the table, and if he was not mistaken, she seemed well...pissed off.
As McNeilly took a seat at the other end of the table across from Agent Fenyvesi, Marshall sat down between them.
"Let me cut right to the chase Marshall" McNeilly started in a serious tone "you have the highest IQ on record at the CIA as well as SD-6, not to mention a photographic memory, demolitions expertise, and frankly I could continue to list everything else that you excel at, but I think we'd be sitting here for quite a while if I did so" he said a bit jokingly, as if trying hard to lighten the mood.
All it seemed to do however was make Agent Fenyvesi glare even more at McNeilly, and served to make Marshall very uncomfortable. There had to be a point to all of this.
"Considering the fact that you have more expertise in areas that are required to be a field agent, the CIA believes that with a few months of combat and firearms training, you'd be one of the best agents we have" and with that, McNeilly leaned back in his chair, watching Marshall intently.
The room was silent for several minutes as Marshall stared open mouthed, and wide eyed at McNeilly.
"I-I'm sorry...but you must think I'm crazy!" he suddenly exclaimed "I had my share of spy work the last time I was in London, and to tell you the truth, I don't really like how that one almost ended! Firearms training?! Heck, my mom wouldn't even let me own a toy gun at all when I was a kid! I-I don't even know which way to hold one!" he said as his voice got louder and louder.
Agent Fenyvesi seemed like a fly on the wall, as she made no comment or sound. Frankly, she agreed with Marshall. It was ridiculous to put someone like him in the field. Besides, she knew just by monitoring him that he wouldn't haven't in him to do many of the things that being a field agent would require him to do.
"Marshall, try and understand; in only a few months, maybe even as little as three, you'll be a full fledged field agent with all the clearance you could possibly wa-" he was cut off again by a frantic Marshall.
"Clearance?! I-I don't want clearance! I'd be happy not knowing half the stuff that the CIA does. Just g-give me a nice office so I can do my job as a technical operations officer...please?" he added meekly, hoping that somehow he'd get his way.
"Sloane wants you dead, Marshall" McNeilly said bluntly, and continued without paying attention to his reaction. "Now, it is in your best interest to undergo field agent training...for your own safety mainly. And I am not saying that you will be constantly traveling or on assignment. On the contrary, you are much more valuable as an op tech specialist" he added casually " but there will be certain occasions when your personal assistance in an assignment will be very valuable to its success."
Looking over at Marshall, who now seemed more composed after hearing McNeilly's speech...especially the bit about Sloane wanting him dead.
"W-what exactly do I have to do?" he asked his superior cautiously.
"You'll undergo training for a few months. A monthly evaluation of your progress will determine how long it will take for you to receive field clearance. It can range anywhere from two months to two years. Of course, with your natural acceleration at anything you put your mind to, I'm assuming you'd be nearer to the 'two month' category.
Training starts tomorrow. Until it's over, you most likely won't have any need to come in to the office. Your days will mostly consist of going from your residence to the training grounds, and vice versa. We'll be in touch. I suggest once again that you go home early today, as you'll need all your strength tomorrow" McNeilly finished saying, as he smiled.
With that, Marshall got up, looking a bit lost, and left the conference room, heading back down to his car, which had apparently been told to wait for him.
He had no idea what he was in for...and he knew it.
***
For the next three months, Marshall spent six days a week training in a large airplane hangar at London City airport. At first, he had no idea how he was going to learn everything that no doubt Sydney had learned, and even then...learn it in a fraction of the time. But it seemed that once he got over the fear of actually hurting his instructors (and himself), it was no surprise to anyone (except Marshall) that he quickly excelled at various combat techniques.
Firearms training was slightly different as he really didn't even like to be near them, let alone touch them. It took him a month to learn how to clean, re-load, and aim a pistol, and frankly, that was all he wanted to know. Unfortunately for him, there were a vast number of firearms that he needed to become acquainted with.
Other than firearms and combat training, he surprisingly had to study theatre arts along with various other 'useful' techniques. This seemed to prove most difficult, as for example, during various mission simulations in which he was supposed to be speaking with a French dialect, he would unconsciously switch from a French accent, to a Cockney accent, and back again.
The only good thing that Marshall thought came out of all this, was the fact that he had actually gained some muscle. When he was not working out during training, he was required to spend at least an hour or two working out in his gym at home.
Thankfully, exactly at the end of the three-month mark, McNeilly paid Marshall a surprise visit.
"I see that you've been quite busy." McNeilly said pleasantly. "Meet me at headquarters tomorrow morning around ten o'clock."
"A-Alright" Marshall said nervously. Despite all that training, the one thing that hadn't seemed to change was his personality. He could act if he needed to, but in general, he hadn't changed at all.
Wondering what he was being called in for, he continued with his training until finally heading home.
The next day, SD-4 Headquarters 10:00 am
Marshall felt better than he had in a long time. He hadn't been near a computer for the past three months (as there were none with internet access at his house), and he really felt as if he was going through computer withdrawal.
He hoped against hope that he was going to be told that he could resume his position as op tech specialist, and get back to tinkering with his inventions.
"In here Marshall!" he heard McNeilly say from the same conference room...which had sentenced him to his doom three months prior.
He braced himself for what was about to happen. The only other time he had felt so nervous was right before Aunt Ruthie showed up for Flinkman family picnics. He shuddered at the thought.
"Good news Marshall...you're training is now fully complete. The only thing now is for you to actually test your skills in an actual setting" McNeilly said as there was a knock on the door.
"You wanted to see me sir" a female voice which Marshall seemed to remember even though she had only spoken about three words to him in total.
"Ah yes...come in Leila." McNeilly said, motioning for her to take a sit next to Marshall.
She eyed Marshall quickly before turning her attention back to McNeilly. She seemed much more calm and relaxed than she had been the last time that Marshall had seen her. He didn't have time to think much more about it, as McNeilly seemed to be speaking to him.
"The Alliance has spent nearly a year trying to acquire all Rambaldi artifacts, and despite their success in this area, (more specifically SD-6's success in this area) it has come to our attention by looking ever so briefly at Rambaldi's history, that while he had no siblings, he was indeed very close to his cousin Victor Giannini. The Alliance believes that throughout the course of their lives, both Rambaldi and Giannini worked together on various projects...more than anyone thought existed."
"So what exactly are you saying? That they traded secrets?" Leila questioned.
"In a way, yes" McNeilly continued. "Their relationship seemed close enough as to make us certain that they told each other everything. That however changed. Historical sources state that they had an argument later on in their lives as they both tried to take sole credit for an invention they both worked on. What that invention is, we do not know. But what we do know, is that because of this feud, they both divulged each other's secrets in some of the many pieces of literature that they wrote towards the end of their lives. Intel indicates that a long roll of parchment that is said to have been written by Giannini, has many of the secret inventions and observations that Rambaldi tried hard to keep secret."
Despite Marshall keeping relatively quiet throughout McNeilly's briefing, he was thankful that Leila (as Agent Fenyvesi had been called), seemed to be asking the same questions that he himself wanted to ask.
"So where exactly is this said scroll?" Leila asked, wondering where it could be that it was obvious that discretion would be key to obtaining it.
"That's where you both come in. It's located in La Saint Chapelle cathedral near Paris. The KGB have somehow been made aware of this scroll as well, so instead of risking being seen by KGB members, you're both going to be playing tag-along. An insider source tells The Alliance that two of the KGB's field agents will be going in as French government officials who have arrived as if to see whether or not it should be one of the cathedrals that the Pope should visit when he comes to France next month. By the time you arrive at the cathedral, they'll most likely be two-steps ahead of you. Ask for Paul DeJeune and Edith Cole, those are the alias' that the agents should be going by. Follow their trail and acquire the scroll. Unfortunately we are not sure of the exact location of it, so we're going with the assumption that the KGB has an idea of where it's located. Marshall?" McNeilly asked him suddenly.
"Huh...what?" Marshall said, having been so focused on what McNeilly had been saying.
"Here's where you'll probably enjoy your job the most. You'll have the full briefing of your mission on your desk by the time we're done. Based on that, anything you and Leila will need to disarm the KGB agents and obtain the scroll, falls to you. I'm trusting your expertise in this area to come up with everything and anything that you'll need to complete the mission. You both leave for Paris in four days."
"Wait...while that's all fun and...fun, with the whole gadget part" Marshall started "do I really need to go along?" he asked nervously.
"Unfortunately, your photographic memory is the key reason you're needed this time Marshall. While it would be much simpler to just take a picture of the scroll, there has been much speculation as to whether or not taking a picture of it would result in its destruction. Rambaldi seemed to have been able make his pages so sensitive to light that any flash of a camera would make the words fade right off. We do not want to take that same risk with Giannini's."
Standing up, McNeilly held open the door for them.
Marshall and Leila stood up simultaneously and together walked towards the door. As they exited, they couldn't help but hear McNeilly advise them to get better acquainted since they were going in together on this one.
"I couldn't help but hearing your name is Leila. That's a very nice name..."Marshall said as he tried to make conversation as they walked down the hallway. "Aren't it's
origi-" he was cut off as Leila make a quick right turn and went into her office.
Of course, she couldn't help but turn around and smirk.
"See you in Paris, Marshall" and with that, she closed the door.
Title: Marshall Flinkman 007
Summary: Marshall's never considered himself to be the 'secret agent' type, even if he did work for SD-6. Things change however as a sudden trip to London shows everyone, including himself that he has more promise than even the deadliest of agents. Will he give up his life as an 'Op Tech guy' to become a field agent? Or will he remain as he always was? Double-agents, assassinations, elegant parties, beautiful women, The Truth, and more, are all that await him.
Rating: PG. . .for now.
Author's Note: I seem to be getting the chapter's out pretty quickly, although I'll probably begin to slow down pretty soon. In this chapter...Marshall deals with the initial shock of learning The Truth, as well getting ready for his first mission...
E-mail me at: varzideh@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: All Alias characters and related material does not belong to me, but to J.J Abrams.
~~~~~
"Huh? What?! No!" Marshall said, trying to get out of the device he was sitting in. Then, with a sudden change, he started laughing. "This is some sort of joke r-right? Wait...I know, this is some sort of testing procedure or somethi-" he said with a slight tone of desperation, before being calmed down by Agent Briggs.
This couldn't be happening to him. He had spent years working for SD-6. There was no possible way that SD-6 was well...evil.
"You're lying..." he said, shaking his head as he held it in his hands.
In the meantime, McNeilly, who had been watching from afar, came in and took a seat next to Marshall.
"Please understand that we had no other option but to tell you the truth Marshall. Things are getting bad, despite all that's being done to prevent SD-6 and The Alliance from gaining power. The information that you have alone, would be enough to severely cripple the organization" McNeilly said calmly, as he laid a pile of documents down on the table.
"I understand that it's quite a blow to take, and that you may feel that we're being false as it were. But I've gotten clearance to show you, what I hope you will consider proof of our words."
Everything McNeilly said went through one ear and out the other. It all seemed hazy to Marshall, as if he was in some sort of dream...that had little by little turned into a nightmare.
How could people, who he had worked with for so many years be bad? Dixon...Sydney! He couldn't believe that they were bad people. Heck, he had even met Dixon's wife and kids once! Not to mention that fact that he and Sydney had saved his life.
Lifting his face out of his hands, he realized that he was alone in the room. He hadn't heard either McNeilly or Agent Briggs leave him to his own. That was about two hours ago.
Marshall considered himself to be a trusting person, but what they had just told him was impossible for him to believe without some sort of proof.
'Proof...' he thought to himself as he looked over at the pile of documents that McNeilly had brought in.
He spent the next three hours reading through every single piece of information that was presented to him. Deals with terrorists, government assassinations...he couldn't believe what he was reading.
Standing up, he slowly made his way over to the door, which opened before he could even touch the handle.
McNeilly was back.
"This is...this is just...I can't believe this. Even after all I've read. Everyone I've worked with....they can't be bad." Marshall said, he eyes pleading with his new boss.
Motioning for Marshall to take a seat, McNeilly sighed and rubbed his forehead with his hand. Clearly, he really hadn't enjoyed doing what he had just done.
"Just like your situation, none of the employees of SD-6 or any other division, are aware that they are counter-working against CIA. Only head members and directors are aware of the truth, and even then it's strictly kept confidential. There are however, a few employees amongst them that work for the CIA...but of course, I cannot talk about that any further..."
Marshall didn't hear the rest. He just hoped beyond hope that one of those few employees was Sydney. She was sweet, and smart, and didn't deserve to work for an organization that was responsible for destroying so many lives, and keeping everyone in the dark about who they worked for. But there was one thing he still didn't understand...
"Wait wait...hold the phone" he said, in a way not unlike his usual self. "But you're head of SD-4. You were talking with Sloane. I-I mean..I was there. And there've been countless times when we've contacted you guys for help on things. How do you explain that, eh?"
"The CIA was able to finally infiltrate The Alliance, by eventually making SD-4 a covert branch of the operation. We still of course have to do what is ordered by The Alliance to keep our cover, but we do provide various counter measures against missions assigned to us. The head members of the Alliance, which are comprised of SD section leaders themselves, are constantly being watched and monitored. Since not all SD section leaders are head members, they are not monitored to such an extent, so therefore, I am able to remain head of this section" McNeilly explained.
Getting up, McNeilly went and opened the door. "Your car is waiting to take you back home Marshall. We'll talk more tomor-"
"When you say home, do you mean 'home' home, or the enormous mansion?" he said uncertainly.
McNeilly smiled a bit. "I believe that the answer to that question would be 'the enormous mansion."
And with that, McNeilly left the room, but not without one last question.
"Mr. McNeilly sir...c-can I call my mom? She's used to me calling her every twelve hours. If I was back in the States, I'm sure the National Guard would be out looking for me..."
"You may call your mother. But no one else. See you tomorrow."
As McNeilly left, so did Marshall. He really did regret coming to London, despite knowing the truth. He had been happy as a naïve technical operations officer. Now he felt as if he'd been flipped over and had no idea which way was up.
As Marshall got in his car and headed home, the day was not over for McNeilly or the rest.
***
"This is ridiculous! Why did we have to tell him! I've watched him for a long time now McNeilly, and frankly, I think this was a bad move" Agent Fenyvesi said angrily at her superior.
"It was my call, Leila" he said calmly, trying not to lose his temper. "Arvin Sloane now considers Marshall to be too much of a risk factor. He knows that Marshall has the ability to single handedly take down SD-6 and possibly other cells. I know that you've been assigned his case for the past year, but now is the perfect time for us to take him in. You've seen his psychological evaluation...I've never seen anyone that intelligent, and that's saying something."
"But he's Marshall!" she exclaimed, as if that would explain everything. "How can you possibly think of keeping him safe here! He's not an agent...and he's never had any combat training. It would only be a matter of time before things start looking...odd."
"I wouldn't worry about that. Since Mr. Flinkman already has extensive knowledge in a variety of areas, it won't take long to have him achieve field clearance. He'll be an agent sooner than any of us think."
***
Lying in bed, Marshall wasn't able to sleep. He did feel better after talking to his mom, despite having not really being able to get a word in edgewise, as she yelled and scolded him for not calling sooner.
He kept thinking about all those people that he had worked with for years...all those people had no idea that they were the bad guys. And himself! He couldn't shake the guilt that came over him when he realized the truth. His inventions...his technical skills...they aided SD-6 in achieving their goals. 'Well not anymore' he thought determinedly, before giving up to the sleep that overcame him.
***
SD-4 Headquarters 10:15am
Jet lag beginning to lose its hold on him, Marshall was back at SD-4 feeling much better than he had been yesterday. Sadly, feeling physically better didn't mean that he was a better emotional state. He hoped that he'd be given something to do, otherwise he'd probably go back to thinking about everything he had been told. Keeping busy was the solution.
As Marshall walked into SD-4's main quarters, he was in luck as McNeilly approached him.
"Hello Marshall. I trust that you feel a bit better this morning" he said sincerely. "At least, I hope you are since there are things that we need to discuss."
Very unlike himself, Marshall's eyes narrowed at McNeilly. "N-not meaning any disrespect, but what the hell is there left for you to tell me? I think we've pretty much established that my life has taken a three-hundred and sixty degree turn" a usually shy Marshall said somewhat angrily.
Either Marshall didn't seem to give the impression that he was angry well enough, or McNeilly chose to ignore it as he asked Marshall to follow him into the conference room.
Again a sense of deja-vu came over him as the interior was identical to the one back at SD-6. Five chairs were positioned in front of five computers on each side, plus one chair at each end of the table.
One of the chairs was occupied however, as both McNeilly and Marshall entered. Agent Fenyvesi, as Marshall remembered her telling him, was seated at the far end of the table, and if he was not mistaken, she seemed well...pissed off.
As McNeilly took a seat at the other end of the table across from Agent Fenyvesi, Marshall sat down between them.
"Let me cut right to the chase Marshall" McNeilly started in a serious tone "you have the highest IQ on record at the CIA as well as SD-6, not to mention a photographic memory, demolitions expertise, and frankly I could continue to list everything else that you excel at, but I think we'd be sitting here for quite a while if I did so" he said a bit jokingly, as if trying hard to lighten the mood.
All it seemed to do however was make Agent Fenyvesi glare even more at McNeilly, and served to make Marshall very uncomfortable. There had to be a point to all of this.
"Considering the fact that you have more expertise in areas that are required to be a field agent, the CIA believes that with a few months of combat and firearms training, you'd be one of the best agents we have" and with that, McNeilly leaned back in his chair, watching Marshall intently.
The room was silent for several minutes as Marshall stared open mouthed, and wide eyed at McNeilly.
"I-I'm sorry...but you must think I'm crazy!" he suddenly exclaimed "I had my share of spy work the last time I was in London, and to tell you the truth, I don't really like how that one almost ended! Firearms training?! Heck, my mom wouldn't even let me own a toy gun at all when I was a kid! I-I don't even know which way to hold one!" he said as his voice got louder and louder.
Agent Fenyvesi seemed like a fly on the wall, as she made no comment or sound. Frankly, she agreed with Marshall. It was ridiculous to put someone like him in the field. Besides, she knew just by monitoring him that he wouldn't haven't in him to do many of the things that being a field agent would require him to do.
"Marshall, try and understand; in only a few months, maybe even as little as three, you'll be a full fledged field agent with all the clearance you could possibly wa-" he was cut off again by a frantic Marshall.
"Clearance?! I-I don't want clearance! I'd be happy not knowing half the stuff that the CIA does. Just g-give me a nice office so I can do my job as a technical operations officer...please?" he added meekly, hoping that somehow he'd get his way.
"Sloane wants you dead, Marshall" McNeilly said bluntly, and continued without paying attention to his reaction. "Now, it is in your best interest to undergo field agent training...for your own safety mainly. And I am not saying that you will be constantly traveling or on assignment. On the contrary, you are much more valuable as an op tech specialist" he added casually " but there will be certain occasions when your personal assistance in an assignment will be very valuable to its success."
Looking over at Marshall, who now seemed more composed after hearing McNeilly's speech...especially the bit about Sloane wanting him dead.
"W-what exactly do I have to do?" he asked his superior cautiously.
"You'll undergo training for a few months. A monthly evaluation of your progress will determine how long it will take for you to receive field clearance. It can range anywhere from two months to two years. Of course, with your natural acceleration at anything you put your mind to, I'm assuming you'd be nearer to the 'two month' category.
Training starts tomorrow. Until it's over, you most likely won't have any need to come in to the office. Your days will mostly consist of going from your residence to the training grounds, and vice versa. We'll be in touch. I suggest once again that you go home early today, as you'll need all your strength tomorrow" McNeilly finished saying, as he smiled.
With that, Marshall got up, looking a bit lost, and left the conference room, heading back down to his car, which had apparently been told to wait for him.
He had no idea what he was in for...and he knew it.
***
For the next three months, Marshall spent six days a week training in a large airplane hangar at London City airport. At first, he had no idea how he was going to learn everything that no doubt Sydney had learned, and even then...learn it in a fraction of the time. But it seemed that once he got over the fear of actually hurting his instructors (and himself), it was no surprise to anyone (except Marshall) that he quickly excelled at various combat techniques.
Firearms training was slightly different as he really didn't even like to be near them, let alone touch them. It took him a month to learn how to clean, re-load, and aim a pistol, and frankly, that was all he wanted to know. Unfortunately for him, there were a vast number of firearms that he needed to become acquainted with.
Other than firearms and combat training, he surprisingly had to study theatre arts along with various other 'useful' techniques. This seemed to prove most difficult, as for example, during various mission simulations in which he was supposed to be speaking with a French dialect, he would unconsciously switch from a French accent, to a Cockney accent, and back again.
The only good thing that Marshall thought came out of all this, was the fact that he had actually gained some muscle. When he was not working out during training, he was required to spend at least an hour or two working out in his gym at home.
Thankfully, exactly at the end of the three-month mark, McNeilly paid Marshall a surprise visit.
"I see that you've been quite busy." McNeilly said pleasantly. "Meet me at headquarters tomorrow morning around ten o'clock."
"A-Alright" Marshall said nervously. Despite all that training, the one thing that hadn't seemed to change was his personality. He could act if he needed to, but in general, he hadn't changed at all.
Wondering what he was being called in for, he continued with his training until finally heading home.
The next day, SD-4 Headquarters 10:00 am
Marshall felt better than he had in a long time. He hadn't been near a computer for the past three months (as there were none with internet access at his house), and he really felt as if he was going through computer withdrawal.
He hoped against hope that he was going to be told that he could resume his position as op tech specialist, and get back to tinkering with his inventions.
"In here Marshall!" he heard McNeilly say from the same conference room...which had sentenced him to his doom three months prior.
He braced himself for what was about to happen. The only other time he had felt so nervous was right before Aunt Ruthie showed up for Flinkman family picnics. He shuddered at the thought.
"Good news Marshall...you're training is now fully complete. The only thing now is for you to actually test your skills in an actual setting" McNeilly said as there was a knock on the door.
"You wanted to see me sir" a female voice which Marshall seemed to remember even though she had only spoken about three words to him in total.
"Ah yes...come in Leila." McNeilly said, motioning for her to take a sit next to Marshall.
She eyed Marshall quickly before turning her attention back to McNeilly. She seemed much more calm and relaxed than she had been the last time that Marshall had seen her. He didn't have time to think much more about it, as McNeilly seemed to be speaking to him.
"The Alliance has spent nearly a year trying to acquire all Rambaldi artifacts, and despite their success in this area, (more specifically SD-6's success in this area) it has come to our attention by looking ever so briefly at Rambaldi's history, that while he had no siblings, he was indeed very close to his cousin Victor Giannini. The Alliance believes that throughout the course of their lives, both Rambaldi and Giannini worked together on various projects...more than anyone thought existed."
"So what exactly are you saying? That they traded secrets?" Leila questioned.
"In a way, yes" McNeilly continued. "Their relationship seemed close enough as to make us certain that they told each other everything. That however changed. Historical sources state that they had an argument later on in their lives as they both tried to take sole credit for an invention they both worked on. What that invention is, we do not know. But what we do know, is that because of this feud, they both divulged each other's secrets in some of the many pieces of literature that they wrote towards the end of their lives. Intel indicates that a long roll of parchment that is said to have been written by Giannini, has many of the secret inventions and observations that Rambaldi tried hard to keep secret."
Despite Marshall keeping relatively quiet throughout McNeilly's briefing, he was thankful that Leila (as Agent Fenyvesi had been called), seemed to be asking the same questions that he himself wanted to ask.
"So where exactly is this said scroll?" Leila asked, wondering where it could be that it was obvious that discretion would be key to obtaining it.
"That's where you both come in. It's located in La Saint Chapelle cathedral near Paris. The KGB have somehow been made aware of this scroll as well, so instead of risking being seen by KGB members, you're both going to be playing tag-along. An insider source tells The Alliance that two of the KGB's field agents will be going in as French government officials who have arrived as if to see whether or not it should be one of the cathedrals that the Pope should visit when he comes to France next month. By the time you arrive at the cathedral, they'll most likely be two-steps ahead of you. Ask for Paul DeJeune and Edith Cole, those are the alias' that the agents should be going by. Follow their trail and acquire the scroll. Unfortunately we are not sure of the exact location of it, so we're going with the assumption that the KGB has an idea of where it's located. Marshall?" McNeilly asked him suddenly.
"Huh...what?" Marshall said, having been so focused on what McNeilly had been saying.
"Here's where you'll probably enjoy your job the most. You'll have the full briefing of your mission on your desk by the time we're done. Based on that, anything you and Leila will need to disarm the KGB agents and obtain the scroll, falls to you. I'm trusting your expertise in this area to come up with everything and anything that you'll need to complete the mission. You both leave for Paris in four days."
"Wait...while that's all fun and...fun, with the whole gadget part" Marshall started "do I really need to go along?" he asked nervously.
"Unfortunately, your photographic memory is the key reason you're needed this time Marshall. While it would be much simpler to just take a picture of the scroll, there has been much speculation as to whether or not taking a picture of it would result in its destruction. Rambaldi seemed to have been able make his pages so sensitive to light that any flash of a camera would make the words fade right off. We do not want to take that same risk with Giannini's."
Standing up, McNeilly held open the door for them.
Marshall and Leila stood up simultaneously and together walked towards the door. As they exited, they couldn't help but hear McNeilly advise them to get better acquainted since they were going in together on this one.
"I couldn't help but hearing your name is Leila. That's a very nice name..."Marshall said as he tried to make conversation as they walked down the hallway. "Aren't it's
origi-" he was cut off as Leila make a quick right turn and went into her office.
Of course, she couldn't help but turn around and smirk.
"See you in Paris, Marshall" and with that, she closed the door.