While Sarah's VIP status helped, it still took their convoy a while to get through the heightened state of security at Edwards as everyone was signed in, ID's were checked and vehicles inspected. She was pleased that ID badges and parking placards were ready for Chuck, Bryce and Carina. She didn't think they would need to use them very often, if ever, but it would save time if they did.

Once they'd run the gauntlet of security precautions, they had an escort lead them to one of the main administrative buildings for the base. From there they were quickly taken to a large meeting area, almost comparable to a small gymnasium, where General Wallace, his aide, and a few dozen other officers were assembled. Sarah was pleased to see all the officers from her Flight were standing together in a group.

As they entered the room, their group naturally spread out a little in the large space, looking around and getting their bearings. There was a long table setup against one wall with an impressive array of pastries, muffins and bagels as well as coffee, orange juice and other assorted beverages.

There was a quiet hum of conversation in the room and a palpable sense of excitement mixed with no small amount of anxiety from the personnel gathered, most of whom were talking quietly in small groups. It was also impossible to miss the fact that everyone's ABUs were immaculately cleaned and pressed, and every boot in the room gleamed with fresh polish. A person would have to be completely situationally tone deaf to not realize that an important event was imminent.

Sarah had told only Coburn about the impending Presidential visit, and he'd simply grunted in response, completely unmoved by the information. All of the FBI personnel that had accompanied them moved to surround their boss to see if he knew why all the officers were assembled, and what had them so on edge.

Sarah heard him grunt and give them an annoyed look before he muttered, "Just keep your eyes open and your mouths shut."

Chuck gave her a "what the heck is going on" look and discreetly motioned around the room, to which she just gave him a brief smile and shook her head slightly. He shrugged and nodded, then pointed at the table of treats and gave her another look to ask if she wanted anything. She shook her head again and silently mouthed, "No, thank you." She wanted to blow him a kiss but was able to restrain herself.

Carina immediately tugged on Sarah's jacket and gave her an accusing glare. Bryce wasn't far behind her but his expression was more confused. The two detectives were also picking up on the charged atmosphere but obviously didn't know what to make of it. None of them had expected a gathering of officers this large.

"What haven't you told us, Walker?" Carina hissed. "There are too many people here and there's no way everyone's this uptight because of Graham. General Beckman may have a fierce reputation but it doesn't justify this!" Carina waved a hand to indicate the tension in the room.

Sarah saw General Wallace approaching her, along with Captain Dunham. She had to suppress a smile when she heard Carina's low growl at her unanswered question as Sarah moved to meet the General and the Captain.

"Good morning, Agent Walker," he said politely as he extended his hand.

"Good morning, General," she replied, shaking his hand. "Captain." She nodded at the Captain who gave her a tight smile, obviously still nervous about the impending visit.

"What's our timeline looking like, General?" Sarah inquired.

"Wheels down in about an hour," he replied. "A group of senior officers and I will go out about ten minutes prior to greet everyone. It should be a pretty low-key thing, quick handshakes and then we'll hustle inside. Obviously there's no media as this was an unscheduled trip." The General looked around to be sure no one was within eavesdropping distance and lowered his voice. "I wasn't sure if you wanted to be part of that group, but of course you're welcome. This is your party after all."

Sarah gave the General a slight smile and said, "I suppose it is, but it's an unexpected one."

She looked back at her team, noting the fierce look she was getting from Carina and the still somewhat confused expressions from the rest. "I actually have a plan. I'd like to be there and my team as well, but I'd like them mixed in with other personnel, not actually with me or even necessarily grouped together. After you greet the President, I'd like to hold off on introductions until we get inside."

The General tilted his head to her. "As you say. But be forewarned, the man has been known to move to the beat of his own drummer at times. It's possible he may not stick to the script you have in mind."

Sarah smiled. "I understand and so be it if that's the case. I'm hoping he'll be a little impatient to get started." She couldn't help but grimace a little at her next question. "Speaking of getting started, is there a specific protocol that needs to be followed as it pertains to the commissioning process?"

The General either ignored or didn't notice her discomfort. "Not really. Just so you know, I've already spoken to him this morning and as I expected, he's on board. You'll be escorted to a room we have set aside for that purpose. If you'd like, you'll have the opportunity to change into a set of ABUs beforehand. You'll be sworn in first, then the President will read the commissioning statement and you'll receive your rank insignia."

It seemed rather anticlimactic to Sarah. "That's it?"

"Pretty much. At some point in the near future, you'll need to attend a Direct Commission Officer Indoctrination Course," the General admitted. "The question becomes if you'd like to get the ceremony done right away, before your meetings, or afterwards."

It had always been her habit to get done first the things she least wanted to do and saw no reason to change that pattern here.

"I suppose let's get it out of the way so we can move on with our meetings," Sarah sighed. "And it feels appropriate to me to wear ABUs for the ceremony."

The General nodded his approval. "I'll have an aide get your measurements for your uniform. Is there anyone you'd like to attend the ceremony? Members of your team?"

Sarah smiled and gave him their names and asked that Captain Dunham be present as well, given that the commission was his idea. The Captain, who'd been listening quietly, smiled and nodded at her.

"Ok, expect an aide shortly to take you aside to get your measurements for your uniform," the General tilted his head as he stepped away.

The Captain gave her an apologetic shrug and said, "Sorry if I made your life more complicated than it probably already is."

Sarah shook her head. "Don't worry about it. Let me introduce you to the rest of my team. I haven't told them about the impending visit." The Captain nodded his assent as she led him over to where the five of them had their heads together. They looked up as she approached with the Captain.

"Guys, this is Captain Dunham. He is the officer in charge of the Flight I've assembled here at Edwards." Sarah could tell that both Bryce and Carina were shocked to get that last bit of information, but they kept their surprise hidden from Chuck and the detectives. She introduced them each in turn and after a round of handshakes, Mike spoke up quietly.

"Captain, I don't suppose you'd be willing to share what it is that has everyone in the room so on edge? Cut a loud fart in here and half the room would drop and take cover."

Chuck and Bryce snorted as Ronnie punched him in the arm. Sarah saw the tight glare directed at her from Carina and knew she'd figured it out. There was only one person who's visit could engender this much anxiety and anticipation from senior military officers. Sarah was pleased that the Captain kept an even expression when he answered.

"There are some very senior officials from Washington on their way here, one of whom is a two-star Air Force General with a fearsome reputation. I know I'm nervous to meet her."

Mike nodded at the answer but didn't seem totally convinced.

"Agent Walker, can I have a word with you?" Sarah was impressed at how Carina's tone was simultaneously perfectly respectable and scathing at the same time.

"Of course, Agent Miller," she replied innocently as the two of them stepped off to the side of the room. She wasn't surprised when Bryce took it upon himself to join them, though he didn't look upset, more just curious.

When they were far enough away from anyone who might overhear, Carina expressed her concerns in a quiet but intense tone. "Sarah, why didn't you tell us that the Commander-in-Chief was coming to meet with you today?" Sarah thought that Carina's tone sounded more hurt than angry.

Sarah held up a placating hand. "Look, I just found out yesterday morning. I didn't want to share this kind of information over the phone because I'm still not sure how much I trust our supposedly secure CIA equipment. I didn't really have an opportunity to tell you until last night because I didn't want to tell Ronnie or Mike. I also didn't want to pull you aside and tell you because I didn't want them to feel like they're being cut out of the loop on their first day. By the end of our meeting, honestly I was just exhausted and didn't want to deal with it. I apologize for letting you get blindsided like this."

Bryce asked, "Why didn't you want to tell Ronnie or Mike?"

"Because I wanted to see how they would deal with an unexpected event. Will they roll with it, or will it throw them off? Will they maintain their situational awareness or will they get nervous and fidgety? This was a low risk way to assess their ability to adapt to an extraordinary circumstance that's out of their control."

Bryce shrugged and said. "Ok. You don't owe us an explanation, but that makes perfect sense." After a few moments, Carina nodded her agreement. Bryce simply tilted his head at the two of them and made his way back over to Chuck and the detectives.

Carina gave Sarah a somewhat apologetic expression. "Sorry. I guess I just felt like you not telling me about this was somehow an indication that you didn't trust me. I know it's stupid but it pissed me off."

"Carina, I trust you implicitly, which you know is saying a lot given our backgrounds," Sarah observed. "But even so, there are still going to be things that I don't share with you or the group, not because I don't trust you, but simply because it has little bearing on your activities. For example, I didn't tell you about this Flight that I appropriated."

Carina held up a hand to stop Sarah's explanation. "I get it. You're right. It's your name on the EO and I wouldn't want to trade places with you."

Sarah smiled wryly and said, "There's something else that's going to happen this morning you should know about."

"Something to do with the General?"

"No, something to do with the Flight. I need authority that I don't have as a civilian," she said quietly. "When the President gets here, one of the first things that's going to happen is he's going to give me a direct commission. He's going to induct me as an officer in the Air Force."

Carina's eyebrows tried to climb into her hairline. "Are you fucking serious?" she hissed, getting a nod in reply. "Holy shit!"

Sarah frowned and said, "I know, tell me about it."

"How is this going to affect the task force?"

"It's not," Sarah insisted. "It's only necessary to give me authority over military resources. It's basically an end-run around Posse Comitatus."

Carina shook her head slowly and said, "Jesus Sarah, how is it that you aren't running around with your hair on fire? I'm freaking out and it's not even happening to me!"

Sarah shrugged and was starting to feel like that was becoming her go-to response. "Honestly, I am freaking out a little," she admitted. "But I knew this task force was going to require a high level of commitment. If this is what's required, then so be it."

Sarah felt rather than saw someone enter their bubble of space and turned slightly to see who it was. A young Second Lieutenant stepped up with an apologetic expression.

"Agent Walker?" she asked deferentially.

"That's me, Lieutenant Sharp," Sarah affirmed after glancing at the woman's name patch.

"I was asked to get you sized for a uniform. Can you come with me?"

"Of course, Lieutenant. Can you give me just one minute?"

"Certainly. I'll be waiting at the main entrance where you came in." The Lieutenant gave a single nod of her head and walked away. Sarah turned back to Carina who looked even more shocked than she had a moment earlier.

Carina sounded a little breathless when she asked, "Does it feel to you like we're caught in a maelstrom of events over which we have little or no control?"

Sarah thought about the question for a moment then shook her head. "No, but I can see where it might feel like that," she said. "But this was a choice. I could have gone a different route but it might have had unintended consequences on the lives of others. They are the ones caught in the maelstrom. I at least have some control over the direction we take."

"I hope you're right, Sarah," Carina confessed.

Sarah smiled and looked back at Chuck, who was in an animated discussion with Captain Dunham. She turned to face Carina and asked, "You can give Chuck and the others heads up regarding what's coming. I imagine the detectives will be fine, but can you help Chuck not to freak out? He's going to be pretty excited about all of this and the poor guy has no training on how to maintain his cool."

Carina grinned, her normal provocative attitude returning in full. "Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on Boytoyski for you, Blondie. I'll hold his hand and make sure he looks both ways before crossing the street."

"Fuck you, Carina," Sarah groaned, but couldn't help a chuckle as she walked to meet the Lieutenant at the door.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The group of officers that had assembled on the tarmac was much larger than Sarah would have liked, but in the end it helped her and her team to blend in. With all of them being dressed in serious business attire, they stood out a little among the officers in their ABUs, but they could easily be taken for FBI or even Secret Service from a distance.

Sarah looked around at the buildings not too far distant and hoped her plan with the Security Forces would bear fruit. Being out in the open like this had its risks, but it was unavoidable and she could potentially use it to her advantage.

Since it was too far to walk from the main runway to the administrative building, there was a bus that had carried all the officers to the designated waiting area on the tarmac, and a special van that would carry the VIPs and appropriate security personnel from the plane.

Sarah noticed that Ronnie seemed to be handling the information regarding the impending visit just fine, but Mike seemed more than a little anxious, his eyes darting around like a prey animal who sensed a hungry predator stalking nearby.

To his credit, Chuck also seemed to be handling things well, except for the goofy grin he couldn't seem to suppress. Unfortunately, his grin stood out more amongst the stern faced officers than did Mike's nervousness. It didn't help matters that he was several inches taller than everyone around him. And was incredibly handsome in his new suit. She had to shake herself out of admiring her boyfriend.

Sarah watched the small dot in the sky to the east quickly coalesce into the distinctive two-tone blue and white of Air Force One. It was a plane she'd ridden on several times and she couldn't deny that it was an impressive sight as it touched down in what looked like a feather-soft landing and taxied near to where the group was waiting.

As soon as the giant aircraft came to a halt, a large truck with a three story staircase rushed in and aligned itself with the main door. As soon as support struts on the airstairs had been engaged, the main door of the aircraft opened and the assembled soldiers snapped to attention.

Several Secret Service agents were the first off the plane, quickly setting up a perimeter around the stairs. Sarah studied closely each of the men in dark suits with no-nonsense expressions and breathed a quick sigh of relief that while a couple of them looked vaguely familiar, she didn't recognize a specific Secret Service agent.

The Secret Service agents were followed shortly by the President, then by General Beckman and DCI Graham. Sarah noted that both General Beckman and her former boss were carrying titanium Halliburton briefcases. They made their way down the stairs and started the short walk to where General Wallace was waiting, standing slightly apart from the other officers.

As the President approached, General Wallace made a show of saluting and the President grinned as he returned it.

"At ease, General Jackass," the President crowed loudly, earning some muffled snickers from the assembled officers. It was well known among the senior officers that the two men had been friends for decades, having been in flight training together in the late sixties.

"Welcome to Edwards, Mr. President," the General answered with a grin. The two men exchanged a brief handshake, after which, General Wallace saluted General Beckman, who outranked him.

Even though she'd been forewarned, Sarah was still surprised at how diminutive the red-headed General was. She knew the minimum height requirement for service in the Air Force was four-foot-ten, and while she was sure the tiny General cleared that exceptionally low bar, it couldn't have been by more than a few inches. She also noticed that General Beckman did not look particularly pleased with the exchange between the two men.

"General Wallace," she intoned as she returned his salute, her voice lacking any trace of humor.

Sarah knew that General Beckman was 66 years of age and had received deferral of mandatory retirement from the Air Force when she'd been confirmed as the head of the NSA two years earlier.

She'd enlisted right out of college in nineteen-sixty-three but women had been blocked from serving in aviation related fields at that time, so she'd joined the intelligence side of the service and excelled. By the mid-seventies, having risen to the rank of Major, she had been assigned as an Air Force liaison to the CIA and started running covert ops out of Eastern Europe.

Her service hadn't been from behind a desk either, but rather in the field alongside experienced clandestine service officers where she more than proved her mettle. It had been during the height of the cold war and word was that she'd been as deadly and merciless as any field operative of the time, often underestimated by the enemy due to her small stature and attractive looks. There were even rumors that she'd befriended and been mentored by the legendary Virginia Hall, who at that time was retired and living on a farm in Maryland with her husband. Sarah was pulled from her contemplation of the General's storied career as the DCI stepped up and shook hands with the General.

"General Wallace, it's a pleasure to meet you," Director Graham said.

"You as well, Director Graham," the General replied.

General Beckman seemed to be losing what little patience she had with the niceties. "Mr. President, we have a number of important items to get through. Perhaps we should let our host guide us to where we need to be so we can get started?" Authority seemed to radiate off the woman like high-voltage power lines and Sarah couldn't help but be impressed.

The President looked a little startled at the command that had been couched as a request, and seemed unable to resist compliance.

"You're absolutely right, General. Important items to discuss," the President muttered, then gestured to his longtime friend. "Lead the way, Randy."

Sarah was immensely relieved that the President did not have the opportunity to go off script and start demanding introductions from her or any of the other personnel nearby. After General Wallace and the three VIPs climbed into the van, they were joined by several Secret Service agents who placed themselves in the front and rear of the vehicle. It then promptly sped away while the remaining personnel boarded the bus. As she sat down, she took a breath to steady herself and mentally prepared for the events to come.

She looked over at Chuck, who was sitting by himself across the aisle from her and one seat back. He looked surprisingly composed and at ease. She saw him move his lips.

I love you. You got this.

She gave him a smile but had to turn away quickly as she didn't want him to see the tears that sprang up unbidden and unexpected. Maybe she was freaking out more than she realized.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Sarah looked at herself in the full length mirror on the wall of the women's restroom they had commandeered as her dressing room. She was wearing the new Airman Battle Uniform (ABU) the Air Force had adopted earlier that year, in place of the old Battle Dress Uniform (BDU). The pantsuit she'd been wearing was folded and hanging in a garment bag that would apparently be part of the kit she was being provided as a new officer inductee. She realized that meant that direct commissions happened often enough that they had officer inductee kits in a storeroom somewhere on the base.

The induction oath she'd just taken to protect the constitution was similar to the one she'd taken as a new CIA recruit ten years earlier. Now that she was officially an inductee, it would be appropriate to wear the standard ABU when she received her commission.

The Lieutenant had offered her some pointers on how everything should line up, and wished her luck as she left the room a few minutes earlier. She took another look in the mirror as she straightened the gig line running from her collar, down past her belt buckle and continuing with the fly of her pants. As she smoothed out the non-existent wrinkles on the uniform, she realized she was hesitating and in her world, hesitation got people killed.

She still didn't want this. What she'd told the General the day before about not having earned the rank and ensuing responsibility had been true, but it hadn't been the full truth.

The truth was that she was starting to feel it. The weight of it. The weight of the Executive Order. The weight of the power and responsibility that came with it. The expectations. The herculean task looming in front of her and leading the team assembled to take it on. The colossal burden it represented and the unimaginable consequences of failure.

And now this. She'd brought it on herself by requesting the Flight be mobilized, but that didn't help offset the additional burden it represented.

She'd been talking a good game with Chuck, about being used to pressure, able to handle whatever came her way, and she'd believed it at the time. But the truth was, this was more than even she was used to. As she thought of Chuck, she thought of his silent words to her on the bus.

I love you. You got this.

It was his unwavering faith in her that led her to what she needed. She felt a click in her mind reminiscent of the click she'd felt in flight training those many years ago. Chuck had been telling her versions of the same thing for weeks and she hadn't really understood. She silently let the tears flow that she'd suppressed on the bus.

The tears were because she understood now, and that understanding was mixed with a lifetime of both joy and sadness. Joy for the love that she'd so unexpectedly discovered, but also sadness for the woman who'd never thought it was possible. Love that had been there all along, but that she couldn't recognize for what it was.

The deep and abiding love she'd always had for Carina as one of her only friends, from the first days they had worked together. Love for her deeply flawed and damaged father, love for the mother she'd abandoned. Love had been in her, a part of her all along. Chuck hadn't taught her how to love, he'd merely opened her eyes to the fact that she already did love, and had yet more to give.

She also understood that she wasn't a collection of separate personalities; the grifter, the killer, the spy, the lover. She was all these things, and so much more.

The question that had haunted her was how could she truly know herself through all the layers of aliases and missions and seductions and cons. She'd played so many parts in life, starting as a mere child, playing the roles dictated by whatever con she and her dad were running. The CIA stepped in and honed those skills to razor sharpness, and added a slew of new ones to her repertoire. Where was 'Sarah' in the mix of all that?

She understood that this question would haunt her no longer. She felt a powerful sense of who she was, her hopes and dreams, her fears and desires. She'd somehow been able to hold on to her core self and that person felt the shame of the acts committed by a child looking for her father's approval. She felt the horror of the acts she had perpetrated in the name of the greater good. She knew she would likely carry that shame and horror with her for the rest of her life, even if she could, someday, forgive herself for it.

She understood that the woman who could pull a trigger and end a life was as much a part of her as the woman who could love a man and, if not know, then at least hope that she was worthy of his love in return.

But the most important thing she understood, something she'd recognized at a surface level, but hadn't fully comprehended its fathomless depth, was that she wasn't alone any more. And it went deeper than Chuck and Carina and the rest of the team. While they represented a real and tangible support to help her carry this burden, it went beyond that.

She'd actually had the thought the day before and it seemed so natural she didn't recognize how important it was in the moment. She'd wondered if she could be friends with Captain Dunham and at the same time she'd recognized her burgeoning friendships with Elle and Devon. She could even add Rebecca Wright to the list. Such a simple thing with such profound implications for how much she'd changed in the last few weeks.

Friendships had always been equated with exposure and vulnerability. And while that was still true, they also represented connection and support. The risk it represented didn't seem as insurmountable as it once had. She was a woman who could have friends and a life beyond the confines of the mission.

Maybe even a family of her own, one day. Yes it was terrifying, but not in an existential way; rather it was terrifying in an exhilarating, life affirming way.

She understood it all. She wasn't alone and that made her stronger than the Enforcer could ever have been.

After a few minutes, the tears stopped and she washed her face. She spent a few more minutes cleaning up her makeup, then smiled at herself in the mirror.

I love you. You got this.

"I love you too, Chuck," Sarah whispered to herself, feeling it in every cell of her body.

Her smile faded and her features hardened.

"And you're goddamned right I got this," the Ice Queen declared with conviction.