Outside Casa Bartowski
Echo Park, CA
May 10, 2006
Chuck sighed as he listened to another of his sister's female doctor friends hit on him. He loved his sister dearly, but she had become obsessed lately with him finding a girlfriend and since he was home on leave after completing OCS and The Basic School, she had decided to throw a party. Officially it was to celebrate the first time in five years that he had been home and his commissioning as a 2nd Lieutenant in the USMC. But it was quickly apparent by the nearly 3 to 1 ratio of female to male invitees that she was trying to hook her brother up.
How many times do I need to tell her I'm not interested in relationship right now? Chuck thought to himself. It wasn't that Chuck found the woman unattractive, but Chuck didn't do one night stands and with his career in Marine special operations, it was highly unlikely that a relationship with someone in Burbank would last. And frankly, he had seen the life of being a Marine take a toll on too many of his fellow Marine's marriages and relationships.
At least this one didn't ask me a bunch of stupid questions, like "how many people did you kill." Chuck thought. Like all combat veterans, he was reluctant to talk about his experiences with civilians.
"Chuck, buddy!" a voice shouted, bringing him out of his thoughts and interrupting the woman flirting. He looked over to see his best friend since childhood, Morgan Grimes, come walking over towards him.
"Morgan! How's it hanging?" Chuck said, excusing himself from the woman and walking over to Morgan. The two friends embraced in a hug, and then separated.
"Oh, you know, same old, same old. I'm Assistant Manager at the Buymore now." Morgan said, grinning. "Needless to say, Jeff and Lester are thrilled." Chuck laughed; he was all too familiar with the Buymore's resident slime balls from his time there during and after college.
"Congratulations." Chuck said earnestly. "I always knew you had it in you."
"Well, you know. I figured if my best bud could go and join the Marines to save the world, the least I could do was grow up a little and start taking things more seriously." Morgan replied. "Besides, with my new salary I can actually afford a place of my own. Now I don't have to listen to Big Mike and mom getting it on."
Chuck grinned. He still remembered the shock and horror when Morgan had discovered that Big Mike had been dating Morgan's mom. It had made for a very uncomfortable few weeks at the Buymore.
"Glad to hear it." Chuck said. "How's everything else going? Seeing anyone?" Morgan shook is head slightly.
"Not really; there's this new girl at the Orange Orange that seems pretty nice. We've talked a few times while I was in there, but right now we're still just acquaintances. Though Alexis is hot, and pretty easy to talk to. I wouldn't mind if it went further, but I don't want to rush it and scare her off. It's bad enough she has to put up with Jeff and Lester leering at her during their lunch breaks." Morgan answered. "So Ellie said you're only going to be here until the 22nd. Where are they sending after that? Back to Iraq?"
"Nope, at least not yet. I've got orders to return to Quantico for special assignment. They haven't given me any details though." Chuck said. With my luck it'll be some damn rear echelon assignment which is not what I want. I need to get back in the fight.
CIA Black Site
Undisclosed Location
May 22, 2006
Bryce Larkin cursed his life for what seemed like the thousandth time. He had been one of aces of the CIA at one time; now he was nothing more than a detainee. He had spent the last year cooped up in this godforsaken place, wherever here was.
And all because of that bastard Fleming. Bryce thought. He couldn't believe he had so misjudged the man. He was sure that once he had coerced him into sabotaging Chuck's scores, Fleming would be the typical weak-willed academic, too afraid to make waves and come clean. Unfortunately that notion proved incorrect as soon as he and Sarah were "escorted" back to Langley. It was a shock to see that Fleming had recorded their conversation. Not only that, but afterwards he had tried to sell out Bryce to Graham and recorded that call.
Then there was Sarah. She was another one that he and apparently Graham had misjudged. According to her psychological profile, her pre-CIA life (parents divorced, living for years as an accomplice wither con man father, thereby not being able to form normal attachments) along with the method of recruitment and her young age and Graham's unique training program, should have made her very her not only an effective enforcer but very loyal to Graham and by extension, Bryce. The psychiatrists were sure she was so desperate for acceptance, a father figure, and male companionship that she would do anything to protect them. And for a while, it seemed they were right.
The first cracks in this theory started to appear just after the Project Omaha debacle. She began questioning his actions a decisions, and as time went on, he could tell she was becoming more and more unsure about him, their partnership, and their relationship. That was why he had set up the last mission. He suspected that she was approaching the breaking point and would attempt to have him pulled from field operations. So he had used one of his contacts in the insurgency to set an ambush. When they got to the camp, the insurgents were supposed to kidnap the women in the aid worker party, and kill Sarah. He would escape and then report the sad news that his partner had been killed. Instead, his contact had double crossed him and captured all of them.
As if that wasn't bad enough, during his captivity in Iraq, Fleming had been cornered by Fulcrum and instead of just dying, he had sent the recordings of his conversations with Bryce and Graham to the CIA's in-house Boy Scout, Thomas Harper. And then to cap it off, Sarah had submitted a brutally honest report to the new DCI. Before he had even made it into the building, Bryce was arrested and interrogated.
Fucking Bitch. He thought. A noise outside his cell brought him out of his thoughts. He looked up to see a tall, well-built and black haired man that he had never seen before standing at the door to his cell. The man turned and whispered something to the guard. A moment later, the door opened and the man stepped in.
"Looks like you're a little down on your luck, eh, Larkin" the man said with a slight grin.
"Who are you and what do you want?" Bryce asked.
"To offer you a job. And a chance at revenge." the man replied. Suddenly he whirled back towards the guard, a silenced pistol in his hand. A moment later the guard dropped dead with two bullets in his chest and one in his forehead. He then turned back to Larkin.
"Who are you? Who do you work for?" Bryce demanded again, as alarms sounded around them.
"The names Shaw...Daniel Shaw." He said in a bad imitation of James Bond. "Fulcrum would like to offer you a job."
CIA Headquarters
Langley, Virginia
Office of Thomas Harper
May 25, 2005
Sarah took a deep breath as she tried to steady her nerves. It had been almost 10 months she she had been placed on administrative leave and ordered to see a CIA vetted psychiatrist to work through her feelings on her captivity, as well as the revelation of how Bryce and Graham had used her, and the lingering issues stemming from her father. Not being one who liked to talk about her feelings, it had been a rough go for a while. Finally, three months after starting, she had started to make progress, and within another four months had reached a point where her the psychiatrist felt she was able to return to duty. Of course she couldn't go back in the field right away; per the Director's orders, she was required to go through a three month evaluation/refresher training at Camp Peary. That had ended three days ago and she had been ordered to report to Thomas Harper for assignment.
"Agent Walker, please come in." Harper said as she walked in the door. "Please take a seat." She walked over and sat down in front of his desk. He was glancing at a folder.
"Well, according to Dr. Engel and your evaluators at The Farm, it looks like you're ready for duty." he said. "Do you agree? Any outstanding issues?"
"No sir." Sarah responded, shaking her head. "I'm anxious to get back to work."
"Good." Harper said, putting down the file. "As you know, this unit is tasked with helping prevent another 9/11 here on American soil. We accomplish this through a variety of means, and I dare say our record speaks for itself. You are one of the best field agents the CIA has. I'd really like to have you on the team."
"Thank you sir. I'd be honored." Sarah replied.
"Don't thank me yet, Agent Walker." Harper said, grinning a little. "While I'd like you on this team, there is another project I would equally like you on, one that I myself will be stepping down from my current post to oversee. I'm afraid I can't go into details here, except to say that it does dovetail with this unit's current mission but also goes beyond it. And that might prove to be the most important national security effort in the last 30 years. I can also tell you that it will be a multi-agency and multi jurisdictional assignment."
Harper pushed a business card over to her. She took it and looked at it.
"It's your decision, agent. If you want to join that operation, be at that address at 0900 sharp, the day after tomorrow. If not, call me and we will have you assigned here." Harper said.
NSA Headquarters
Fort Meade, Maryland
"You wanted to see me, General?" Newly promoted Major John Casey asked.
"Sit down, John." Major General Diane Beckman, a diminutive redhead, said. After Casey had taken his seat, Beckman continued. "I have a new assignment for you. It's strictly voluntary however."
"What's the assignment?" Casey asked.
"Unfortunately I can't give you much detail here. All I can tell you is it involves counter-terrorism, and that it will be a multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional operation." Beckman answered. "If you are interested, be at the address on this card by 0900 the day after tomorrow. I completely understand if you don't want to take the assignment given how little information I've been able to provide. But understand this Major, if you decide to show up, there will be no backing out."
DEA Headquarters
Arlington, VA
"Dammit Miller! You're one of my best agents, but you're too unpredictable! This is the fourth partner that's requested a transfer in two years! And the 2nd operation you almost blew because you couldn't keep it in your pants!" Director Lawrence Montag shouted at the red-headed agent in front of him. "Do you know the kind of pressure I'm getting from the Attorney General and the Columbians to fire your ass?!"
DEA agent Carina Miller winced at the Director's words. She knew she was a loose cannon that thrived on the adrenaline she got from the job, but deep down she also knew that what she did was important and made a difference. Thus far her success rate was enough to offset her wild way of doing things. But from the tone of the Director's voice, it sounded as though that time was coming to an end. She honestly didn't know what she would do if she couldn't be a DEA agent anymore.
"I'm sorry Director." she said earnestly, sensing that her usual flippant and comedic way of interacting would be the wrong approach right now. "I know that I'm a loose cannon and a major pain in the ass. I'll try to do better." The Director stared at her for a few moments, then let out a sigh.
"Agent Miller...Carina." he began, "The truth is we're partly at fault as well. You're record of success has been so exemplary that we choose to ignore the problem, instead focusing on results. But as I said, you are my top agent, despite your faults. It's for that reason I've resisted the pressure to fire you."
"Thank you, Director." Carina said with a slight smile.
"Don't get feeling all comfortable and relieved yet, Carina. You're being assigned to a new project; it's technically volunteer-only, but I will say that you're only other choice right now is a stint in the analysis section for the time being." he said. Carina made a face of displeasure at that thought. "I thought so. I can only tell you a little about the project here. It is a multi-agency/multi-jurisdictional task force directed at combating terrorism. If you want in, be at the address on this card by 0900 day after tomorrow. But understand, Carina, there is no changing your mind. If you take this assignment you're there for the duration, unless they want you gone. And if you get yourself canned from the task force, there will be no additional chances. Your career with the DEA will be over."
Various locations across the Metro Washington D.C. Area
At various locations across the city, similar conversations were taking place. In each instance the individual was asked to volunteer for a joint task force and little information was available to them concerning it. The most common denominator between all were that each one did not hesitate to volunteer, and they were some of the best in their fields.
