July 17, 2005

Camp Independence

Coalition Operating Base

Al-Anbar Province, Iraq

Sarah Walker awoke with a start, her heart racing and perspiration drenching her clothes from the nightmare she had just had.

Get it together Walker. She mentally chided herself, but she knew it would not be that simple. Despite her carefully constructed outward "enforcer" persona, a persona she had begun to build when Graham had recruited her in 1999, she was afraid.

Though Sarah had been in danger numerous times in her CIA career (and even before that during her teen years as her con-man father's partner), nothing had come close to what had happened to her and her partner during their captivity in Al'Qa'im.

During that time she had been subjected to abuse unlike any she had encountered in her career. Usually the adversaries she had briefly been held by in the past wanted information. Therefore, while they could and often times were, brutal and sadistic, they ultimately understood something that the CIA trained all its own interrogators about: pain and suffering was only effective up to a point. But the insurgents that had held her, Bryce, and the 5 other aide workers were different. They asked no questions; the violence visited upon the hostages seemed to be for nothing other than the pleasure and entertainment of the insurgents. As far as she knew, they hadn't even made any demands. Hell, until the shooting started two days ago, she wasn't even sure anyone knew they were still alive. At that thought, her anger rose further.

Damn Bryce and his ideas. I never should have listened to him. Sarah thought chidingly to herself.

The duo had just finished up a mission in Syria when they had found a source indicating that one of the leaders of the insurgency that the Marines had recently pushed out of Fallujah was in a refugee camp just over the Syrian-Iraq border. Bryce had convinced her that they could go across and quickly grab him and take him back in custody. Further, he had convinced her, against her better instincts, that the operation could be handled in a matter of days and therefore, there was no need to advise Graham before hand. So they had conned their way into a group of aide workers heading to Iraq and gone to the camp. It turned out to be a major mistake. No sooner had they arrived at the crowded camp when the group they were traveling in had been attacked.

Sarah sighed. She had done a lot of reflecting over the last few months. When she had first been partnered up with Bryce, it had been exciting and intoxicating. The two had seemed to compliment each other and they had quickly become one of Graham's most effective teams. And then Project Omaha had happened.

The whole concept of Omaha still seemed like something out of science fiction to her. Encoding information and skills into pictures and the "downloading" those images into an agent's mind where he or she would be able to near instantaneously retrieve it when needed had seemed to good to be true. Based on a test Bryce had taken when he was at Stanford, he had been picked for the first download. Unfortunately, it had not gone well. While the download itself had been successful, Bryce seemed to be unable to utilize it correctly or reliably. After six months, the powers that be had decided the project was useless, removed the download from Bryce and mothballed the project.

Bryce had taken it hard; in addition to being one of the rising stars in the CIA, he also had a rather large ego. The idea that he couldn't successfully take part in the program seemed to fall him. Since then he had become more ambitious and careless, constantly pushing himself and their partnership to limit. Almost as though he was determined to erase his failure.

And Sarah, despite her concerns, had done little about it. By all rights she should have reported his behavior but didn't. Part of it was because of the past track record of success they had, partly because she didn't want to have to get used to a new partner, and partly because of what she thought were her feelings for him. In the time in their captivity, however, Sarah had come to realize that her feelings for him were nothing more than the excitement of their lifestyle and the fact that that they spent all of the last three years together.

Besides, no matter how I feel or thought I felt about him, I've got to put a stop to this. She thought. Otherwise he's liable to get himself or others killed. Maybe I can make sure the damage is limited to his career. And mine. Damn you, Bryce, you really screwed me. At that thought a slight grin appeared on her face. At least I'm in good company there.

begin flashback

Sarah looked at Bryce and the Marine Staff Sergeant he had called Chuck. Since they were undercover, it was a shock to hear Bryce's name. They obviously knew each other, but from where? For the last three years she and Bryce had been in the field almost non-stop, with only brief respites in between. The Marine certainly wasn't anyone they had encountered; she would have remembered. Even if she didn't remember the face, she certainly would have remembered those intense brown eyes. But it was also clear that the Marine, from his expression was NOT happy to see Bryce. Other than that initial mutual recognition, neither man spoke to each other again.

Ten minutes later, the Raiders and the hostages were loaded onto waiting transports, making their way back to the coalition operating base. Bryce and Sarah were put into one of the medical transports, where Petty Officer Norris continued to treat their injuries. Bryce still had a shocked look on his face. It was one of the few times Sarah had ever seen him nervous or speechless.

"Where do you know that Sergeant from, Bryce?" Sarah asked. Bryce looked at her, pausing for a moment to gather his thoughts.

"We were roommates at Stanford together –" he began, but was interrupted by a hiss coming from Petty Officer Norris.

"You're the asshole who got the Sergeant kicked out!" Norris said accusingly. "And stole the girl he was going to marry!"

end flashback

To say the rest of the trip was tense was an understatement. Bryce tried to say that he hadn't done anything, that Chuck got himself kicked out for cheating, but the Petty Officer loyally defended his element leader. And the subtle tick on Bryce's face was all she needed to know the truth. Bryce had gotten him kicked, most likely to go after his girl.

Things got even more interesting when they arrived at the operating base.

begin flashback

After arriving at the Coalition operating base Sarah, Bryce, and the other hostages were taken to the medical section for treatment and rest. Several hours passed before they saw anyone other than medical personnel. Finally, around 0900 the next day, several Marines came to pay her and Bryce a visit. Sarah only recognized two of them: Captain John Casey and Staff Sergeant Bartowski. The others introduced themselves as Colonel Carelton Conners (the commander of the base), Captain Angela Marks (Intelligence), and Captain Mark Highway (the commander of the Marine Special Operations team).

"Mr. Larkin, Ms. Walker." Colonel Conners greeted them. "According to my Medical Officer, you both should make a full recovery. You'll have to stay here in medical for a few days but we'll be able to get you out of country by the end of the week. Now, mind telling us why two of CIA's best was in a group of hostages and no one notified us?" Sarah's eyes dropped to the floor. This was not going to go well.

"Sorry Colonel," Bryce started before Sarah could say anything. "I'm afraid you don't have clearance." A grunt drew everybody's attention to Captain Casey.

"Cut the crap Larkin." He growled. "Graham already passed the word that you weren't on any official mission". Bryce seemed to deflate. He might have been able to pull the "it's beyond your pay grade" act with the Marines, but John Casey was NSA, and apparently had already spoken to the CIA. Before Bryce could speak anymore, Sarah spoke.

"Bryce had intelligence that Kahlid Al-Sahim was in the refugee camp near Rabia." She said. "According to Bryce's intelligence, he had a minimal body guard contingent with him. He thought we would be able to get in and grab him and be out before anyone would notice. We knew it was against protocol to go without reporting in first."

"Fortunately that's not our problem. We've been instructed to keep you here, under guard until Friday. Then Captain Casey will escort you back to the States. Then you're Graham's problem. Until then, Captain Highway's men will keep an eye on you." Colonel Connors said. With that, he turned and left, along with Captain Marks and Captain Highway.

"We've got men on all the exits. At least one of us will be in here at all times." Chuck told Casey.

"Good work, Bartowski." Casey said. "I want them cuffed to the beds too. And make sure none of your guys get too close." Chuck nodded and started to walk away.

"Must be a dream come true for you, Casey." Bryce said. "Having me and Sarah in your custody, and a bunch of worthless Jarheads to order around. Not to mention that loser over there."

"Shut it Larkin, before I have you gagged. I always knew you were a loose cannon and would fuck up someday. Walker was a bit of a surprise though. Always thought she was too good a professional to let you drag her down with you." Casey said. "Then again, maybe her lady feelings just got the better of here. As far as the rest of your comments, I wouldn't say that again. In case you didn't notice, you're surrounded by Marines. One them, maybe even Bartowski there, might decide to mess up your pretty little face."

"Get real Casey. First, they can't touch me without getting into trouble. Second, even if they tried, I can take any pansy-ass Marine, especially Chuck." Bryce responded arrogantly. Casey just grinned.

"You're forgetting a couple of things, Larkin. First, the only witnesses right now are me and Walker. And I certainly wouldn't tell. And I'm just guessing that Walker realizes just how deep in the shut you are and th only way to come out of it even remotely clean is to stop covering for your worthless ass." Casey said. "And second, my money would be on Bartowski. I heard what you did to him in college; I think he'd be perfectly willing to kick your ass. I wouldn't blame him. But his personal reasons for disliking you aside, he's also one hell of a Marine and a Raider. I've worked with his team twice already. And he's worth ten of you, Moron!"

end flashback

To say that Sarah was shocked by Casey's words was an understatement. Not about his assessment of Bryce, the animosity between the two was legendary. No, what surprised her was the way Casey talked about Staff Sergeant Bartowski. In all the times she had crossed paths with Casey, this was the first time she could remember him heaping any praise or complements on anyone.

When I get back stateside, I'm going to have to look at Bartowskis file. Those two missions that Casey was involved in with him must have been doozies for Casey to heap praise like that. Sarah thought. Assuming of course I still have a job.

CIA Headquarters

Langley, Virginia

July 17, 2015

Deputy Director of Operations Langston Graham swore under his breath, cursing Bryce Larkin and Charles Flemming, as he was escorted from the Office of the Director of Central Intelligence in handcuffs. It had all been going so well up until a few months ago.

What the hell was Larkin thinking? One decision and he's undone more than 10 years of work! Graham thought. Graham had been planning his rise to the top of the Agency since he had been recruit nearly two decades ago. Key among his plan was to gather elite enforcers, personally loyal to him, to carry out missions that he choose…thereby ensuring he would get the credit. So when Fleming had contacted him back in 2001 that Larkin had pressured him to frame a potential fellow recruit for Project Omaha, he was pleased. He had known Stephen Bartowski and kept tabs on the family. While both father and son were brilliant, they suffered from what Graham described as terminal righteousness. While the son might be induced to take arms (as indeed he did by joining the Marines), Graham knew that he would not get the unwaveringly/unquestioning loyalty he needed. So he had ordered Fleming to go along with the plan. That had been his first mistake.

Despite his skill and desirable personality, Larkin proved unable to handle Project Omaha, and the program had to be scrapped. At the time, it looked like just a minor setback to Graham's plans. The pairing of Larkin and Walker, even without Omaha, proved to be very successful. Unfortunately he didn't notice until recently that Larkin had taken his failure in Project Omaha very badly and had begun taking very big risks in an effort to redeem himself. Graham didn't need Walker to tell him that.

And then the bastard goes off half-cocked on an unsanctioned mission! And manages to convince Walker to go along with it! Graham thought angrily. For a while it looked as though he had lost his best agents. And then word had came that they had been rescued during a hostage rescue mission by the Marine Raiders. It looked as though he would be able to salvage the situation.

But then that damn Fleming had to go and get killed. And in a fit of remorse, send a video file containing a recording of Larkin's meeting with Fleming and my conversation with Fleming to Harper. Graham thought.

Graham and Thomas Harper had never gotten along. Part of that was because Harper, being former military, still insisted that there should be rules and a code in what they did. Part of it was because Graham was furious that Harper's team had been given the latitude that they had, and reported directly to the DCI, instead of Graham. He knew that Harper had been looking for ways to embarrass him and push him out, but until Fleming's email, had been unable too.

Now Graham had been suspended and placed in custody pending a full investigation. Likewise, all his enforcers were being questioned. No matter what happened, Graham's career was over. The only question was whether he was going to go to jail or worse, have a sanction placed on him.