Chapter 2
He looks around the garage and an eerie feeling washes through his body. "How does Kristine always know what will get to him?" he thinks as he heads into the garage of Credit Dauphine for his first day of work. He knew, and apparently so did she, that he wouldn't be able to turn away if there was any possibility that he could find out more about his father's death. That's why he took the job at SD-4 years ago, because he thought it would bring him closer to the truth; but all that experience brought was horrible memories that still plague his mind on restless nights.
He never told anyone about what happened. They made him see the Agency shrink, but even at those sessions, he never gave full disclosure. On a few occasions, he wanted to tell Kristine, but didn't want to burden her. She isn't just his handler to him; he likes to think of her as a friend even though there are strict company rules, not to mention that her father has the title of Senior Director.
He quickly shakes the feeling away. Telling himself that it's just another assignment. Just another, hopefully not too long, assignment. As he steps outside the elevator door, his pocket starts to vibrate. He takes out the phone and brings to it to ears, " Hello," but there is no response. He looks down at the screen of the phone to find two flashing words . . .Good Luck . . . That brings a smile to his face and eases his nerves. Because he is busy staring at the phone, he doesn't see a man carrying a box of gadgets come bumping into him from the side.
" Oh my . . .I . . .I am so sorry . . . sorry," the man immediately apologizes as he drops down to pick up the pieces that fell out of the box.
" Oh no! It's okay," Vaughn stoops down to help him with his things.
" Sorry, I don't always look where I'm going. I have never seen you around. Have I? I don't think so. I'm not particularly good with . . . with faces. Well, except for those people that I see often, like on a daily basis. Like my family for example. Well, not everyone in my family. My Uncle Steve lives in Japan. So I don't see him often, just on holiday occasions, " the man continues.
" Uh hi," Vaughn says out of politeness even if deep down he doesn't know what to think about the "interesting" man. " Yes uh. I am new. My name is Michael Vaughn . . .you are?"
" Marshall Flinkman. But people just call me Marshall. I'm the op tech guy here. Nice to meet you Mr.Vaughn. Or is it just Vaughn. Or Agent Vaughn. Or even casual Michael. Did you . . .did you know that Michael is the second most common name parents name their son? After John that is. John's number one . . . Marshall isn't a very common name. Neither is Flinkman . . ." This guy could continue forever if someone didn't stop him.
" Anything is fine. People usually just say Vaughn. Because like you said, um Michael is just too common," he gives Marshall a smile and an outstretched hand. He thinks to himself that this place definitely has some unique characters. Marshall is very amusing to him. At least he won't be bored here. He wonders what other people around this place are like. " Marshall, do you by any chance know where I can find the director. I am suppose to meet him today."
" Oh Sloane. Yeah. In fact I am going to the meeting room right now. You can follow me. You must be the new guy that's going to work with Agent Bristow. You're really lucky. . ." Marshall says with a shy smile.
" Really? Why is that?" he thinks to himself. Bristow. Bristow. Vaughn says the name a few times in his head. Sounds like a guy with a lot of experience. He guesses he's lucky to be working with someone who knows a lot. "Here we go, no turning back now," are the finally prep words he gives himself.
* * * * * *
She can't believe she is sitting in the briefing room again. The seat next to her is empty and so is the seat she's sitting in because she feels like a ghost. She is not fully present even though her body is here. Across from her sits the man who has been more of a father than her own ever has. But he disappointed her last week by mentioning that Dixon would be replaced.
" Sydney. I'm glad you're back," Sloane says as he moves closer towards her. " The place just isn't the same without you," he gives her a sly half smile.
She keeps her head down. Sometimes she gets uncomfortable around him. She can't explain it. Most of the time, she looks up to him and respects him, but sometimes she feels uneasy. It's probably just because he's her boss. No one is ever completely at ease with their boss.
" Dixon would have wanted you to move on with your duties. For this country," he likes to play the patriotic card. Then moves right on to business, "There is an agent from SD-4. I have looked at his records and most of it is quite impressive. But of course you will need to take on a superior role to show him how things are done."
" I don't think I am the best person to teach a new agent how things are done."
" But you are. You are one of the best we have Sydney."
" I would really like it if . . ." all of the sudden the door opens and Marshall is there with a load of tech things and a man following behind.
" Ah, you must be Agent Michael Vaughn. I see you have met Marshall." Sloane, pretending to be a wonderful boss, stands up to greet his newest agent.
" Yes sir." Vaughn is surprised at his own timidity. This boss gives him the creeps, which he was not expecting. Just thinking about what the Alliance does and to know that the man in front of him was in charge of numerous of those operations made him a little sick.
" I read your records at SD-4. Good work."
" Thank you sir." To hear anyone say what he did at SD-4 was good makes him angry.
" But of course at SD-6, we have our own ways that may be different than what you are used to. But Agent Bristow will be here to guide you for the beginning," Arvin Sloane may be a small man, but has great presence. So big in fact that Vaughn did not even notice that there is another person in the room. Of course, that other person has been trying desperately to be invisible.
Vaughn turns his head to see a young brunette dressed in a matching suit and skirt. Her hair hangs down a little past her shoulders. Professional yet shows her young age. Though the suit doesn't accentuate anything, he can tell she is very fit. She is sitting down, but he knows she is very tall just by glancing down at her long legs. He wants a better look at her face, but her head is turned away. That is Agent Bristow? He didn't know what he was expecting, but he certainly wasn't expecting her.
" I need to take a call in the other room," Sloane's words quickly bring Vaughn out of his serious study of the woman. " You two should get acquainted. Marshall, I need you to come with me."
" Yes Mr.Sloane. It was nice to meet you Agent Vaughn."
" You too Marshall." Vaughn follows the two to the door. Even though she tried very hard not to, she turns her head to see who this new agent is. From the back, he looks quite tall; maybe that's only because she's sitting down. He turns his head back to her and like a reflex, she immediately turns her head away coolly. Vaughn doesn't know how to take that.
" Uh, hi. I'm Agent Vaughn." He walks towards her and she suddenly lifts her head to give him a hard stare. For the first time, he sees her beautiful face. Though her features say she is quite young, still in her twenties, her eyes are much older and sadder. She has an air of confidence. He can't explain it. It is a little intimidating.
" Um . . ." what is it with the people in this company? He thinks. Why do they all make him speechless?
" Look," she finally says something. " I don't know what Sloane might have told you. But I don't want another partner," she says quickly and coolly.
" I see. Um, I heard about your partner. I understand that . . . " he tries to be friendly and he is surprisingly genuinely concerned.
" You DON'T understand. You wouldn't. He is not going to be replaced by someone who . . .I don't mean to sound rude, but who doesn't have his experience."
Her words sting him a little. More than he cares to admit. " I can understand that your partner meant a lot to you. I am not trying to replace anyone," he starts to get a little defensive. He is a little taken back. She hasn't even given him a chance, and she probably isn't going to.
" I don't know how to make this clearer. I don't NEED anyone else. I can handle missions by myself. I will request solo missions from now on."
" I've been on solo missions before, it's very hard not to have back-up . . ."
" Look, Mr . . .Vaughn. I don't know how much you think you know. I've been here for seven years, and I know my own capabilities thank you."
" I'm just trying . . ."
" Maybe you shouldn't try so hard," she retorts. She doesn't know why she's acting the way she is. She doesn't feel or want to try to be Mary Sunshine when all she can think about is how much she misses Dixon.
" Maybe," he states firmly with a hint of disappointment.
She sees this and wishes she wasn't so harsh. " Sometimes some people are just not meant to work together. "
" You're right. I just thought that that realization usually comes AFTER those people have given working together a chance," he is out the door before his words settle with her. After he is gone, she slumps down into her chair and starts to cry again.
He looks around the garage and an eerie feeling washes through his body. "How does Kristine always know what will get to him?" he thinks as he heads into the garage of Credit Dauphine for his first day of work. He knew, and apparently so did she, that he wouldn't be able to turn away if there was any possibility that he could find out more about his father's death. That's why he took the job at SD-4 years ago, because he thought it would bring him closer to the truth; but all that experience brought was horrible memories that still plague his mind on restless nights.
He never told anyone about what happened. They made him see the Agency shrink, but even at those sessions, he never gave full disclosure. On a few occasions, he wanted to tell Kristine, but didn't want to burden her. She isn't just his handler to him; he likes to think of her as a friend even though there are strict company rules, not to mention that her father has the title of Senior Director.
He quickly shakes the feeling away. Telling himself that it's just another assignment. Just another, hopefully not too long, assignment. As he steps outside the elevator door, his pocket starts to vibrate. He takes out the phone and brings to it to ears, " Hello," but there is no response. He looks down at the screen of the phone to find two flashing words . . .Good Luck . . . That brings a smile to his face and eases his nerves. Because he is busy staring at the phone, he doesn't see a man carrying a box of gadgets come bumping into him from the side.
" Oh my . . .I . . .I am so sorry . . . sorry," the man immediately apologizes as he drops down to pick up the pieces that fell out of the box.
" Oh no! It's okay," Vaughn stoops down to help him with his things.
" Sorry, I don't always look where I'm going. I have never seen you around. Have I? I don't think so. I'm not particularly good with . . . with faces. Well, except for those people that I see often, like on a daily basis. Like my family for example. Well, not everyone in my family. My Uncle Steve lives in Japan. So I don't see him often, just on holiday occasions, " the man continues.
" Uh hi," Vaughn says out of politeness even if deep down he doesn't know what to think about the "interesting" man. " Yes uh. I am new. My name is Michael Vaughn . . .you are?"
" Marshall Flinkman. But people just call me Marshall. I'm the op tech guy here. Nice to meet you Mr.Vaughn. Or is it just Vaughn. Or Agent Vaughn. Or even casual Michael. Did you . . .did you know that Michael is the second most common name parents name their son? After John that is. John's number one . . . Marshall isn't a very common name. Neither is Flinkman . . ." This guy could continue forever if someone didn't stop him.
" Anything is fine. People usually just say Vaughn. Because like you said, um Michael is just too common," he gives Marshall a smile and an outstretched hand. He thinks to himself that this place definitely has some unique characters. Marshall is very amusing to him. At least he won't be bored here. He wonders what other people around this place are like. " Marshall, do you by any chance know where I can find the director. I am suppose to meet him today."
" Oh Sloane. Yeah. In fact I am going to the meeting room right now. You can follow me. You must be the new guy that's going to work with Agent Bristow. You're really lucky. . ." Marshall says with a shy smile.
" Really? Why is that?" he thinks to himself. Bristow. Bristow. Vaughn says the name a few times in his head. Sounds like a guy with a lot of experience. He guesses he's lucky to be working with someone who knows a lot. "Here we go, no turning back now," are the finally prep words he gives himself.
* * * * * *
She can't believe she is sitting in the briefing room again. The seat next to her is empty and so is the seat she's sitting in because she feels like a ghost. She is not fully present even though her body is here. Across from her sits the man who has been more of a father than her own ever has. But he disappointed her last week by mentioning that Dixon would be replaced.
" Sydney. I'm glad you're back," Sloane says as he moves closer towards her. " The place just isn't the same without you," he gives her a sly half smile.
She keeps her head down. Sometimes she gets uncomfortable around him. She can't explain it. Most of the time, she looks up to him and respects him, but sometimes she feels uneasy. It's probably just because he's her boss. No one is ever completely at ease with their boss.
" Dixon would have wanted you to move on with your duties. For this country," he likes to play the patriotic card. Then moves right on to business, "There is an agent from SD-4. I have looked at his records and most of it is quite impressive. But of course you will need to take on a superior role to show him how things are done."
" I don't think I am the best person to teach a new agent how things are done."
" But you are. You are one of the best we have Sydney."
" I would really like it if . . ." all of the sudden the door opens and Marshall is there with a load of tech things and a man following behind.
" Ah, you must be Agent Michael Vaughn. I see you have met Marshall." Sloane, pretending to be a wonderful boss, stands up to greet his newest agent.
" Yes sir." Vaughn is surprised at his own timidity. This boss gives him the creeps, which he was not expecting. Just thinking about what the Alliance does and to know that the man in front of him was in charge of numerous of those operations made him a little sick.
" I read your records at SD-4. Good work."
" Thank you sir." To hear anyone say what he did at SD-4 was good makes him angry.
" But of course at SD-6, we have our own ways that may be different than what you are used to. But Agent Bristow will be here to guide you for the beginning," Arvin Sloane may be a small man, but has great presence. So big in fact that Vaughn did not even notice that there is another person in the room. Of course, that other person has been trying desperately to be invisible.
Vaughn turns his head to see a young brunette dressed in a matching suit and skirt. Her hair hangs down a little past her shoulders. Professional yet shows her young age. Though the suit doesn't accentuate anything, he can tell she is very fit. She is sitting down, but he knows she is very tall just by glancing down at her long legs. He wants a better look at her face, but her head is turned away. That is Agent Bristow? He didn't know what he was expecting, but he certainly wasn't expecting her.
" I need to take a call in the other room," Sloane's words quickly bring Vaughn out of his serious study of the woman. " You two should get acquainted. Marshall, I need you to come with me."
" Yes Mr.Sloane. It was nice to meet you Agent Vaughn."
" You too Marshall." Vaughn follows the two to the door. Even though she tried very hard not to, she turns her head to see who this new agent is. From the back, he looks quite tall; maybe that's only because she's sitting down. He turns his head back to her and like a reflex, she immediately turns her head away coolly. Vaughn doesn't know how to take that.
" Uh, hi. I'm Agent Vaughn." He walks towards her and she suddenly lifts her head to give him a hard stare. For the first time, he sees her beautiful face. Though her features say she is quite young, still in her twenties, her eyes are much older and sadder. She has an air of confidence. He can't explain it. It is a little intimidating.
" Um . . ." what is it with the people in this company? He thinks. Why do they all make him speechless?
" Look," she finally says something. " I don't know what Sloane might have told you. But I don't want another partner," she says quickly and coolly.
" I see. Um, I heard about your partner. I understand that . . . " he tries to be friendly and he is surprisingly genuinely concerned.
" You DON'T understand. You wouldn't. He is not going to be replaced by someone who . . .I don't mean to sound rude, but who doesn't have his experience."
Her words sting him a little. More than he cares to admit. " I can understand that your partner meant a lot to you. I am not trying to replace anyone," he starts to get a little defensive. He is a little taken back. She hasn't even given him a chance, and she probably isn't going to.
" I don't know how to make this clearer. I don't NEED anyone else. I can handle missions by myself. I will request solo missions from now on."
" I've been on solo missions before, it's very hard not to have back-up . . ."
" Look, Mr . . .Vaughn. I don't know how much you think you know. I've been here for seven years, and I know my own capabilities thank you."
" I'm just trying . . ."
" Maybe you shouldn't try so hard," she retorts. She doesn't know why she's acting the way she is. She doesn't feel or want to try to be Mary Sunshine when all she can think about is how much she misses Dixon.
" Maybe," he states firmly with a hint of disappointment.
She sees this and wishes she wasn't so harsh. " Sometimes some people are just not meant to work together. "
" You're right. I just thought that that realization usually comes AFTER those people have given working together a chance," he is out the door before his words settle with her. After he is gone, she slumps down into her chair and starts to cry again.