S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Rhapsosdos Introductions: Agent Jasper Sitwell
Beta read by: Murasaki-me, Sypherianlp, and Mako Headrush (August 29th, 2014) HUGE kudos to them!I can't thank them enough for checking this on short notice.
Disclaimer: See chapter 1 for details.
Summary: When Sitwell sabotages a mission the US army is undertaking by General Ross' orders; he's shocked his target is a teenager. No one apparently passed a memo the army were chasing a kid: Genesis Rhapsodos. Moreover, what does Ross want from him? When Ross' records show human genetic enhancements for military exploitation, it's nothing good. 1st of Introduction Series. Chapter 2 of 2 (COMPLETE)
AU Notes: Now, before anyone protests of what happened to S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Rhapsosdos: Taking the Backseat Chapter 10, I'm working on it & it's already at 14k words (with one of my beta readers). At the rate I'm going at... it would be 21k roughly when I'm done with it. So expect a huge update on it when I get to updating it. I'm missing one beta reader here, and it's been very hard to find another who can stand my lengthy chapters (RL has been rather harsh on me and my beta readers). If you think you're up to the job, please PM me.
Thank you to A Midsummer (times two!), Mel, D, Athina na, HolleyS, Zorlia, Guest, and ThrilledGuest for taking your time reviewing this fic! It's probably the shortest fic I have (for now), but I'm glad to have some feedback on this. And to ALL my reviewers, followers, as well those who have made the fics on their favorite list (for the SHIELD Agent Rhapsodos series) you have my greatest thanks for your relentless support and patience! I'll try my best to get things up as soon as I can!
That aside, I present you the last chapter of this fic with about 12k words or so (without Author notes). Do note that I wrote this fic's 1st chapter way before Captain America: the Winter Soldier came out. However, there are hints (not too spoiler-ish) of Sitwell's fate with said movie at the end of this fic that I'll add to my universe of the series.
Enjoy!
~ Introductions: Agent Jasper Sitwell PART II ~
Real Name: Jasper Sitwell
Aliases: Jason Sitwell
Identity Status: SHIELD Agent, Level 5 Interrogator.
In the years to come, Ross' sabotage mission would be a lesson for me: a mission doesn't end until everything is wrapped up. Wrapped up, as in the mission was declared 'officially closed' by mission analysts, and not by logical reasoning. Reality wasn't always reasonable–and liked yanking the carpets under people's feet–which was the perfect description to my current situation.
I had let my guard down.
As I drove the car through numerous roads thinking that the chase was over from Ross' assailants, from the rear mirror I saw clearly two suspicious 4x4 vehicles tailing me. I knew immediately they weren't from my division or the military. One, they weren't uniformed; two, they didn't look exactly new; and three, it dawned on me these people who were chasing me are the other mercenaries that Agent Woo's team distracted momentarily.
"Jimmy?" I asked over the comm in slight panic, still keeping my eyes on road. "I got company; explanations?"
~( They've updated their frequencies. )~ my partner's voice said over line with dread. ~( I think they're the smarter mercs. We have people trying to scramble their comms–It's not working. )~
I took a sharp turn down the road. I was near to my destination, but circumstances forced me to go another direction.
"We won't be able to get to the rendezvous point or the base at this rate," I said, warning Woo. The last thing I wanted was to let them know where our ops were coordinated from. I briefly glanced at Genesis, and then back in getting away from our hunters, "Our target's silent." I didn't want to guess Genesis was alive or not. Not after getting so far.
~( I'm going in. )~ His voice had a finality tone to it. ~( Try to keep losing their tail. I'm getting a team to you. )~
What the hell was he planning?!
"Jimmy–"
~(Jasper, you can't get to our bases and our target isn't getting any better.)~ Woo said very hurriedly, in the background sounds of people mobilizing. ~( I'm bringing backup and the doctors to you–Stay alive for me? )~
At the same time, my luck goes from worse to utter desperation as two more cars join in the fray. "You're paying the tab when we eat out next time; it's going to be expensive," I breathed out, failing to keep my tone positive. "I got two more on me."
~( Deal. Keep living till I get to you. We're–)~ The comm abruptly cracks and goes quiet.
God damn it, not now.
My mind immediately told me the mercs were so good that they had our communications out. The only lucky thing I thought about this situation: there were so few people out that night. The way they recklessly drove through the streets (even as to take the sidewalks), I was very sure there could have been casualties. They tried to ram and lock my car into a capture formation a few times. Most of the attempts failed, only by very lucky timing. One car loses momentum in a sharp swerve through a tight alley and crashes into wall. There was no time to think what happened to it.
One down, three to go.
I wasn't sure when the next one was down–I was too focused on driving– but I was starting to feel relieved as black SUVs with eagle logos pinned one of the 4x4s and led it away from me. The new team Agent Woo promised was catching up. While I was thinking things were getting better, they weren't. Now that the mercs realized that they had people after them too, they were more desperate to get me. They sped up, abandoning any logical sense of safety and their cars speed up surrounding mine. Everything after, happened in a blink of an eye.
A forceful slam of the remaining 4x4 car in the left rear sends my car into a spin and everything blurs. This time, I hit the brakes and did what I could with the steering wheel so the car doesn't flip over. However, my car collides into the other smaller merc's car. That unlucky car crashes into a wall pinned by my car's front hood, cracked glass flies into the air, and out of reflex I cover myself. When things are silent, it takes me a minute or perhaps two to snap out of the daze. I check and move my body parts for sign of injuries, only to find I was spared with mostly scrapes and bruises. I pop the seat-belt open. My heart was still hammering in my chest and my instincts told me I still had a charge to protect.
Was the kid even still alive?
Time wasn't merciful with me now. At the same time I was thinking of Genesis' life, a merc is already at my car door. He probably thought I passed out since he was calmly going to open the door and I hadn't moved from my seat. It was my chance. Just as he opens it, I kick the door and he shrieks out loud, which buys me time to get the gun the merc has in his hand. Our fight was short though, whether out of stupidity or accident, during our scuffle to fight over his gun, he pulled the trigger and it hits his own neck. His body drops down soulless to the ground.
Still breathing hard, I look around me, glancing at the dead merc in front of me, then at his car. His 'partner' at the steering wheel was also dead, crushed by the collision beforehand. The last 4x4 car was strangely absent from vision. I shook my head out of the thought. The kid–I need to save him. I rushed to Genesis' door, opened it, and take him carefully out. I laid him down and gently shook him on his uninjured shoulder to get him awake. He doesn't speak, but I was reassured he was alive as he moans.
"Hang in there; we're getting out of this alive." I said, more so to convincing myself than the kid. Unfortunately, of all the convincing I did, bright lights beamed out behind me and the 4x4 is there with three people coming out and armed.
I cursed at myself for being distracted and stood between them and Genesis. Checking myself, I winced realizing my handgun was missing; I must've lost it back in the crash. I thought of getting the gun from the one who attacked me, but the idea was shot down. I remembered he emptied his bullet clip in the attempt to murder me. Backup was nowhere in sight, and communications non-existent.
'Sitwell, you're so dead,' I thought grimly, even if inwardly I swore to myself I wasn't going down without a fight.
.
.
Despite feeling weak and his body felt like someone tied metric ton weights on them, Genesis was partially conscious at some points of time. He couldn't actually see clearly–his eyes stubbornly refused to keep open due to sheer exhaustion–but he could hear his surroundings somewhat. He vaguely remembered Sitwell carrying him to a car and shaking him to make sure he was alive. Also while he wasn't sure, the loud noise of the car engine, breaks, and exploding crash gave idea things turned out for the worst. Genesis let out a painful weak moan when someone shook him awake again.
"Hang in there; we're getting out of this alive." Was Sitwell's voice, trying to reassure him?
Under normal circumstances, that reassurance would have given him hope. Instead, the Lifestream was giving cautionary signals like someone scraped their nails to a blackboard, painfully reminding him they were in serious trouble. Out of raw determination, the former SOLDIER opened his eyes to see the area was dark and blurry, but Sitwell stood defensively in-between the armed hunters. There was no indication Sitwell looked like he was going to give up. Genesis' heart felt cold as this scene looked painstakingly too familiar. At this rate, if the agent wasn't careful, Genesis would have another death on his hands.
Sitwell on the other hand was probably a good actor. The agent had led the mercs on false hope he was giving up without any signs of fighting back at first. However, given the chance the mercs closed the distance; the bald agent chose to fight his way out. One merc who had the tranquilizer gun on Genesis was speedily taken out of the fight in seconds; his weapon tumbled to the ground. It left the agent to fight with the last two mercs.
As the confrontation played out before him, Genesis swore he never felt so useless in his life. He was literally dead weight; with no magic and any energy his enhancements had were depleted. All he could rely now was what the Lifestream told him what was happening no thanks to his blurry vision. To Genesis' horror, Sitwell was losing. The agent was not only out-numbered, but out-matched and now fighting desperate mercs. The next second, Sitwell was on ground after getting a knee hit to his stomach reeling and gasping for life.
"Hurry up; we're going to get company at this rate. Get the 'cargo'", the taller merc said pointing straight at Genesis. When the other merc tried to approach the injured teen, Sitwell shuffled himself up and crawled looking very determined to get their attention off of their supposed cargo.
The shorter merc hesitates. "What about him? He might come from a rival group of our boss."
"I'll take care of him," the taller one growled. "He's good as dead." Not wanting to waste more time, he aimed his weapon at Sitwell and took aim.
As Genesis watched the events unfold, he searched frantically around of any way or anything he could use to help the agent with panic fueling him. The moment he spotted the object that gave the opportunity, he dove at it.
.
.
For not the first time that night, I thought I was going to die in the current mission. I even was already imagining my name plastered to the Wall of Valor on every large base that my intelligence division had. (1) I was in no position to run, Genesis was in no condition to move, and when my enemy aimed the gun at me I feared the worst.
A gun shot blasted and echoed.
I had expected pain and even blood, but when I blink, there's shockingly no pain. It's the taller merc who was about to shoot me collapses down unceremoniously.
'What happened back there?!' I asked in thought; my brain was still trying to catch up.
I got my answer when the other merc snapped at Genesis, who held a tranquilizer gun. "You fuckin' little shit! You're dead!"
Another sonorous bang echoes on the road, this time it spills blood. I was able to heave out my held breath as it was the last merc that tumbles down to the floor. Further down the road, Agent Woo's out of his black SUV with his gun out. For that moment, I felt like hugging and apologizing to the guy who I didn't always trust my life on the field. A few more cars join his, and it was clear the cavalry was here.
"You guys alright there?" Woo asks making his way to us looking disheveled. He stopped approaching me when we heard the click of an aimed gun which was coming from Genesis sitting on the ground. The kid looked delirious, tired, and even fear passes through his eyes despite keeping up a serious face. It was amazing he was conscious at all, but his aim was shaking. He wasn't sure Jimmy was really a threat or not. Perhaps he was running on instinct and adrenaline to the point of thinking anyone approached us were the people chasing him. If I were in his shoes, I'd pretty much be just as confused and scared, if not more so.
Looking sympathetically towards to Genesis, I tried to calm him down. "Genesis, he's a friend. He's my partner Agent Woo; the one I talked over the comm back at the hiding place I found you at. You can put the gun down."
The teen ignores me, and I was even more concerned he started to hyperventilate and his eyes wildly darted to those behind Woo, who were getting their weapons out as well.
Jimmy realized his mistake immediately and signaled for everyone to back off with their weapons. Thankfully, no one goes against his orders. He put the safety lock on his gun and tosses it at a good distance where Genesis could see it. "You're safe kiddo; we're the good guys. Those mercs aren't going after you again." His voice was calmer than I had ever seen him on the field.
"You're… a cop?" Genesis asks gasping heavily.
There was a slight pout and disappointment that Woo clearly let the teen see. He looked like he was going to say he was a formerly from the FBI but stopped himself. Genesis was certain proof of bystander who would mistake him for a cop even with a civilian disguise. I would have laughed if the situation wasn't so serious.
Jimmy slapped a hand on his own forehead, "As embarrassingly my partner has pointed out to me numerous times – yeah, you can say I am in a way."
The kid then tossed his gun away to everyone's relief, but his breathing intensified.
"Genesis?!" I shouted.
Woo immediately dove to his his knees and grabbed the teen's falling body before he hit his head on the tarmac. The teen's body broke into spasms. "He's in shock. Medical! We need medics, NOW!"
For the first time I've worked in my intel division I was shocked how I was rooted to spot. Never mind the medics that were racing around doing what they needed to do; somehow I didn't really register the people around me. I had my fair share of horrible missions, but this was the first time it felt personal. It was actually Woo that got me back to my senses. I released a breath I didn't even know I was holding. When I came to my senses, the medics were already moving the kid to our ambulance van. The rest cautiously guarded and got ready to escort it.
"How long did I clock out?" I questioned him, my voice feeling dry all of a sudden. My body felt like jelly as Woo had an arm around my shoulder, supporting me to sit upright
He passed me a water bottle looking worried at me. "One or two minutes, give or take." He doesn't ask, and probably knows better than to ask outright how I was feeling.
I gladly take the bottle from him and gulped down water twice before I spoke, "I… I can't really believe it."
My words make him curious and confused, "What can't you believe?"
"He saved my life twice." I said, emphasizing the last word. "Then the data we got from the hiding place… Those dead people who were killed by the mercs before… the kid doesn't deserve it."
Jimmy nodded looking a little furious himself over the situation. "The bastards are doing it for money anyway," he sighed. He gives a serious look at me that we weren't supposed to talk about the details here. "Come on, Sitwell. Let's get you in the car with me. You can check with doctors back at the base. I get the feeling you'll want some peace and quiet before the medical team hounds you."
Trust Woo to actually keep a level-headed attitude in a disturbing situation, I guess that was his strength. I guess he's seen so many bad things like this or worse when he worked for the FBI.
"Right," I agreed. Before I leave the area and the cleanup crew are due to arrive, I open the car door and grab Genesis' bag. There might be something we could learn about him in it.
Later… ~
Back at base, Medical went over me and cleared me that I was good to be still walking around on base. Woo eyed the bandages that covered my numerous small scrapes and wounds like a mother hen. He didn't comment on them, but I understood Jimmy was slightly frightened he could have lost me twice that night; and at one point he was nearly too late to help. I shook my head and waved him off giving the message my injuries weren't bothering me anymore. We still have work to do. We couldn't wait to know how Genesis was doing in the ER until the medical team lets us.
"Did you get anything from the system?" I asked him as he had dug information while I had my medical check-up.
On the large screen, Jimmy pulls out the files from their sources and enlarges it to the screen. "Genesis Rhapsodos, sixteen years old, and from Chicago, Illinois; no known direct family. Says here he's a street kid who wandered till he got accepted into a youth community for being really smart. Very 'recent' high school graduate, straight 'A' student." He then heaved, "He's filed in an acceleration program and is pretty successful he's got six Ivy League colleges who want him. We've got reports he's been missing about three months or so from his foster home. It's about the same time when Ross' activities spiked up and supports the fact he's traveled all the way from where he lives to where we found him."
"And the others?"
Woo lists off everything about Tina Brown, Edwards Marshall both also being exceptional genius college students and both reported missing the same time Genesis was. The last name I was surprised at was 'Dave', which Genesis only described briefly that he was murdered earlier this month.
"You mean the 'Dave' Genesis mentioned is actually Dave Robinson from the Daily Globe?" I asked very surprised. (2)
So the reporter who died was more famous than I thought. I was very aware the media was spreading the news he was killed off due to some conspiracy with those large corporates from something like Oscorp. (3) Dave was known to dislike their 'research' and wrote the bulk of protest articles in the Daily Globe. In the end the big company refused they had anything to with it. Since there was also a lack of any evidence to the crime, the case had been floating about with no answers.
"Well, there's no other 'Dave the reporter' that died this month here in New York," Jimmy pointed out. He then opened up more files on the homicidal reports. "I've checked with my channels, local police and asked around from friends back in FBI. The details are getting spookier now since the crime scene was very clean of evidences. I mean clean as in you need CIA level cleanup methods. It suggests what they're hiding had high stakes. So the questions are: why did they went into trouble chasing a couple of kids with high IQs or smarts and even killed a revered reporter? On top of that, why send in military personnel and mercs? It doesn't take a genius it is overkill for normal intel."
I didn't say anything to what the 'intel' truly had meant. I was very sure it was worth killing for; it had been since World War II anyway. There were a lot of people who would do anything to get their hands on another version of the Super Soldier Serum; government or otherwise. Other than that, Dave Robinson was known to be a very credible reporter where he got his resources for his writings. If he managed to get the story out, Ross' military career would have been done for.
"As for the people we captured," Jimmy said, getting my attention back, "they're up for interrogation, waiting in their cells as soon as we're good to go. We also have parts of the investigation team on the evidence we're cleaning up on the streets."
I blinked at the new information, "How many of the mercenaries do we have imprisoned?"
"Two," my partner muttered irritably. "The one you locked up in the shed, and the one Genesis shot with the tranquilizer. The others are dead."
"What? Weren't there more?" I asked puzzled.
"Some of them went suicidal before we got to them. Crazy bastards had cyanide capsules planted in-between their teeth! What is this?! World War 2?!" My partner scoffed as he ranted. "Those mercs were single specialists cocktail-ed together by General You-Know-Who. We don't have any records of them working with each other before." Woo explained. "That smart ass Ross. As long as nothing military is sniffed back at him, he's safe from us."
"What about the-"
"Military guys?" he finished my question and at the same time rolled his eyes. "They disappeared, probably ran with tails between their legs thinking we're another merc group who wanted a piece of the cake. The military communications line that Ross is using for his sketchy ops has gone silent–for now."
I sighed. "We're only going to get more questions than answers at this rate."
"Accurate conclusion, Jasper, but something tells me you know more than I do."
"Considering it's a Level 5 and perhaps over, I need to consult the higher ups for this." I warned my partner, seeing he had only a Level 3 clearance.
"It's that bad?" He asked me with an incredulous look. When I didn't answer him, Jimmy shrugs, "Maybe I'm better off not knowing."
I shook my head. "It's your case too. I'll need your help on this."
A knock from the door alerts us and when we answer it's the main doctor who was part of the medical staff.
"Doctor… Marge Francis?" Jimmy asks, as he read her name tag. "You have good news I hope?"
The elder doctor looked like she had run a marathon around New York, making me realize she most likely had just finished her work. She sighed, "He's stable, at least for now. We're going to keep an eye on him in the ICU until we're sure he's not going to the 'other' side. I'm not sure how he made it out alive, but he's a fighter. We were very afraid he wouldn't make it. He gave my staff and I a few scares."
"How bad was it?" I questioned. Quickly I added, "If you don't mind us asking that is."
"Well, besides the obvious gunshot wound, he has injuries suggesting he was beaten previously and they've partially healed. There are also signs of malnutrition; an indication he hasn't ate much in a long while. He's suffered from severe exhaustion and on top of it all off, blood loss." Marge said listing off the main things, but then she dropped the bomb on both of us. "I'm going to be blunt with the both of you. It's best to hold any questions off until Genesis is better and I mean a few days at least. It's miraculous he survived at all."
Jimmy looked perplexed. "You're saying like he died–"
"He flat-lined on my operation table three times, possibly topping the Division's record, Agent Woo," the doctor interrupted coldly. "We were on the verge of thinking he wouldn't make it."
My partner shuts up immediately looking shocked by the news. I took it upon myself to get her attention away from him. "Is there any information we can provide that can help his recovery?"
"You can send his medical files to me if you've found them. Also… does he have any emotional trauma we should be aware of?" She asked me, seeing I had spent a longer time with Genesis on the mission.
"Survivor's guilt is what I know of," I said to her. "The people who were after him have killed everyone else he was with."
"And they nearly killed you too, Jasper," my partner not-so-helpfully mentioned.
I was only glad Dr. Francis eyed at me and looked appeased as I was already treated for my injuries. Her body language still gave me a feeling she didn't approve I wasn't resting. Nonetheless, she had her priorities on Genesis' recovery first. Facing me, she questions me again, "How many?"
"Three."
She nodded solemnly and advised us to rest for tomorrow, leaving us in a haunting silence.
"I think we should give this case a rest for a few hours of sleep." Woo said as his raked his black hair back and tiredly scrunched his eyes.
I didn't disagree with his suggestion; my body and mind wanted that respite quite badly. "See you in the morning?"
"I think we'll settle it near lunch?" My partner pointed out it was 4:45 AM in the morning. Time flies very fast in a heated investigation.
"Near lunch it is," I said. We both were sleeping at the base anyway. There was no reason we wouldn't know if anything happened to Genesis. "I'm going to send an email to the higher ups to give you temporary access to what I have first." I told my partner.
He grunts in agreement. "Fine, I don't want to hear or even see you were near a computer after that." Soon after, Woo disappears out the door; but that's not without giving me a very stern look at me he was ready to drag me out of my office if I gave him the reason to.
.
.
That afternoon, things at the base didn't start quietly. To both the surprise of Agent Woo and I, Genesis was awake and didn't take it too kindly to being in a hospital bed and with doctors in his room. To sum things up, he had a rather rude awakening and the doctors were in a fight for a very violent patient. When we arrived, the hospital room was a mess with the furniture and object tossed around like some war zone. Most of the doctors were at one side, and in the corner of the room was the teen curled up on the defensive looking very tense and glaring anyone to keep their distance away from him. It was a good thing we made it to his room in time, Genesis seemed very determined to drag himself out of there if he needed to with a scalpel in his hand, despite his frail condition.
It's my partner that peels off of me and gets the doctors a slightly further distance away from the kid. I gave Jimmy a thankful look and proceed to approach Genesis by crouching, at his eye-level.
"Genesis?" I asked, keeping my voice low but enough he could hear me. The redhead looks at me, but he doesn't completely lose his sight on the doctors.
He noticed something with me he hadn't seen before. "You're… wearing… a suit?" He asks with tired voice. At a time like this, I was bewildered that happened to be his first question.
"Well, it's like you've guessed. I'm from an intelligence agency." I said keeping my voice casual, while at the same time I fidgeted with one part of my suit where a small recording device was and turned it on. Genesis' eyes though, were back to the doctors. I answered his inner questions,
"They're with us, and you have nothing to be afraid of."
His body language doesn't change nor does his let the scalpel out of his right hand. Still he looks to me in apology, "Sorry, I… had a bad nightmare." He breathes out trying to calm himself as if trying to shake of the fear he had in him. "I thought they caught me… you were dead… And I was… at their mercy…"
'I should have stayed here', I thought, feeling like an idiot. Understandably, Genesis was clearly in a position he wouldn't trust anyone after what he went through, and the violent reaction proved that. I needed to get him to calm down more and his thoughts away from the doctors. "When was the last time you ate?"
The teen blinked and hesitated. "I'm not sure… Tuesday, I think?" Genesis then wiped his eyes in trying to fight to stay awake and fend off exhaustion while giving paranoid glances at the doctors now and then. His body was trembling, still breathing irregularly.
"When was the last time you really slept properly?" I asked again ignoring my own inner turmoil at the fact the kid hadn't ate for three days before I met him.
Genesis showed no signs he was giving up on trying to avoid going off into unconsciousness, "Five days ago… I managed to get cat naps in-between. The mercs were merciless… they wouldn't let me sleep. They hunted me down with shifts."
"Do you want some rest?" I asked the obvious, but Genesis needed the reassurance I was the one offering it. My guess was right.
"Yes… but…"
"They're good people," I encouraged the teen. "How about I let know you who they are and you can rest easy after?"
He nods in agreement reluctantly and he lets go of the scalpel he has in hand. At the same time, when I try to help him get back on the bed he leans heavily on me. Woo is probably the only other person the kid lets come close to him. Another tense half an hour later, Genesis is on the bed thankfully his bandaged shoulder wasn't disturbed and the doctors are cleaning up. Unfortunately, the teen doesn't sleep even after I introduced everyone that was taking care of him. Dr. Francis hovers near us, but not near Genesis enough to make him feel uncomfortable or twitchy. It takes another fifteen minutes to convince Genesis was in good hands and that the doctors would give him a sleeping sedative to let him rest in a dreamless sleep.
"You can trust me too, kid." Woo said like he really meant it. "You saved my partner's life twice, and if you're going to get better, you need sleep."
"Dr. Francis is one of our best doctors around here." I added. I pointed out, "She's a close friend to one of my colleagues. If anything's wrong, she'll let me know."
With a weaker nod, Genesis doesn't resist to keep his eyes open this time around. Dr. Francis injects the sedative, sending the teen into a blissful sleep. "He'll be out for another few hours, or perhaps a whole day." She said to both me and Jimmy. She sighed as she tucked the kid's blanket carefully, "Although, I would not be surprised if he slept longer."
The three of us were silent for a while, until something came to my mind. "Dr. Francis?"
"Yes?"
"Did you find out anything about Genesis from his medical files; perhaps something out of the norm?" I questioned her.
She pauses over a moment rubbing her chin. "Nothing's wrong with it, and all his blood results don't show anomalies."
When I let out a sigh of relief, it makes Agent Woo curious. "What's wrong Sitwell?"
"Mostly everything we're handling regarding Ross," I replied. When I hear a beep from my pocket I flip it open to see the email I had been waiting for. "The good news is both of you and I have temporary Level 6 clearance for this mission alone," I showed Agent Woo and Dr. Francis my email from the higher ups.
Both of my colleagues were apprehensive to hear and see it. Dr. Francis didn't hide her anxiousness, since she probably heard that in the Strategic Homeland, Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division, it was a rarity for doctors or scientists to have such a clearance level. Even if there were special cases, that was because they oversaw government sensitive research or held medical records over people who had high ranking positions. Jimmy, on the other hand, probably had his own reasons. Unlike most of us who knew how things worked in the Division, he was mostly called in to do the technical works of the interrogation and investigation parts of specific cases as well as missions. He usually avoided anything to do with internal affairs if he had to, claiming he wasn't interested in the inner politics of our intelligence agency despite being held in high regard by Director Fury himself.
It's Dr. Francis that spoke first. "If the information is crucial to the survival and well-being of my patient, I'll be glad to help you, Agent Sitwell."
"Agent Woo?" I ask my partner.
My partner sighed a little, but his attitude changed. "Well, I owe the kid my partner's life. I suppose it's alright to know a little bit what's going on the inside, if it helps and closes the mission. We can expect some things to shock us, right?"
"I wish it was that simple," I said shaking my head. "You have no idea how crazy it really sounds."
For safety's sake, we moved to the doctor's office. It's in there that I took out the files that have been partially decoded by the data analysts on the chip that Genesis as well as the deceased risked their lives for. I explained to them about everything I learned that night at the abandoned flats; I told them about how Genesis became involved with military project that was trying to open a way to make the Super Soldier Serum again, but with a variant for people with positions as strategists and tacticians. I also stated that Genesis reacted the way he did to the doctors because he had thought he became what he had feared: a lab experiment.
Unlike Woo, who still trying to digest the part of Genesis nearly being caught and turned into lab rat, it's the doctor who spoke first. "I'm certain there isn't anything wrong with our patient, or else it should have been shown in his blood analysis. However, we can perform extensive tests later when Genesis stabilizes," she said and noted on her notepad. "Is there anything else?"
Woo was now back to himself again. He answered, "Drop the white coats for you and your staff, if you can, wear the green ones. I think Genesis reacted violently because he thought he was in a lab."
"Noted, Agent Woo."
"And also, Doctor, when Genesis regains consciousness later; please make sure either Agent Sitwell or I or even yourself is the first one present," my partner reminded her. "At least the kid won't feel as threatened and we can prevent things from getting too violent."
She nods again and then asked her last question, "Any final requests before you both go?"
"Nothing else," I answered. "Just give us updates every 4 hours on how Genesis is doing."
"Very well."
.
.
Hours later, I got out of the communications room and held a folder in my hands what the data analysts had found on the chip Genesis had provided with us. So far, what Genesis said was true, and the analyst team said they'd try to decode everything while Woo and I did the main investigating the old fashioned way.
The main investigation room was more like a warehouse of sorts. The destroyed cars and everything else we could provide as physical evidence was collected in one place with multiple small team of forensic experts working on them. I made my way through the hustle and bustle of agents to find Woo examining things that were inside Genesis' backpack.
"Well, Agent Sitwell, looks like we've got ourselves one heck of a tactician," Woo waved me over with what seemed to be very extensive doodled maps. "Take one look at these maps, and I think you'll see that they want the kid so badly… and the fact his scores can be higher than the average ops officer."
The maps left me stunned; I wasn't expecting the amount of detail was put into it. Potential places to hide, previous places he hid before, marked places where the mercs were spotted, different routes figured out to outrun the mercs, enemy communications posts, were just a few from many I could see at a glance. All in all, the maps had complicated plans I'd imagine to see on a war table by a professional strategist, not a teenager. This sort of work was something I expected from someone who worked in our intelligence division in our Operations department.
"It's definitely the kid's doing; we've found his fingerprints all over the map." Woo explained while I was mostly still trying to process what Genesis was capable of. He then opened a couple of windows on screen of a nearby computer station, "We've matched his handwriting from other sources."
While it did prove the kid was very resourceful, the situation still begged one question. "Woo, this kid doesn't have military history, much less military roots – at least of what we know from the system. How does he even know how to plan like this?"
My partner shrugged, "He's genius level kid?"
"Thank you for mentioning the obvious." I deadpanned. Sure, the world had its fair share of geniuses like Tony Stark or anyone from the Science and Tech Department, but military knowledge like this wasn't as open-sourced like science.
Jimmy sighs, "Alright, if that's not the case," he gestured to the maps, "then how about the kid is a genius and someone who's a mastermind in military tactics taught him… a historian?"
"Plausible, but we're not in the know who may be Genesis' teacher," I agreed yet I didn't really buy the historian suggestion. Learning tactics isn't exactly just taught straight from textbooks; there needed to be a mentor of sorts for that knowledge transfer; someone who had real hands on experience. "I'm gonna have to say his teacher was very good in the practical, since Genesis has shown how to apply his knowledge in a real life scenario. So sorry Woo, the historian theory is out."
At my statement, Woo blinked for a moment as if he came to realize something. "Say, I think I remember that the girl, Tina Brown, had a relative from the army." He opens up a file on the screen and searches through her family tree. "We've got a hit. Says right there: her uncle is part of the Army Rangers. His specialty is special reconnaissance. She has a personal website with numerous photos suggesting that she was close to her uncle."
"That only explains where Tina gained her knowledge of tactics from, which is good we have an answer to that," I said. "However, the scores that Genesis has from the EYECOM artificial intelligence analyzer program were recorded at the same time when the game convention started. It doesn't explain where he acquired his knowledge from."
Agent Woo grunted with disappointment at my valid argument, but kept scrolling down the details about Tina Brown. After five minutes of me shuffled through the papers on the desk on the subject of Edward Marshall, he poked my shoulder.
"What?"
"Sitwell, I'm very sure that attachment with the extra tab wasn't on her profile before. Even with sleep deprivation, I have a good memory of remembering what's on suspect profiles." Jimmy pointed out he had years of experience doing what he did in the FBI.
At his words, I took time to see what he'd meant. The tab he mentioned had a 'Level 5' text highlighted red and a letter 'R' next to it.
"Oh."
"So it means something to you?" Woo asked surprised, knowing I knew what it was.
The room suddenly felt colder even without the change of temperature; the mystery behind this sabotage mission was getting more eerie by the second.
"It means it's a recruitment tab. We didn't get this information before because the HR subdivision restricts recruitment files to our spy school or academy only to Level 5 personnel," I explained to him. (4) "Apparently, since you logged in with your credentials, the information didn't show up. Also, you weren't cleared with Level 6 clearance for this mission back then."
"So Ms. Brown over here was actually a potential to join the Operations department," he said rather disturbed keeping his voice down. Even so, Woo doesn't stop there, out of curiosity he clicks on Edward's digital profile of what the system has. To our shock there's also the same 'R' letter on his profile, only this time his profile was noted towards the Communications department.
My partner gave a concerned glance at me. "Do our enemies make targets of 'potential' recruits?" he inquired incredulously. Woo probably thought like I did, none of it made sense.
"Not that I ever heard of," I replied grim. "It's the reason why recruitment details are left to those with a higher clearance. As far as I'm concerned, these two haven't been notified or approached to say that our Strategic Homeland Intelligence Enforcement and Logistics Division exist. It states in the documents they're up for recruitment after they've graduated."
Jimmy slumped in his seat as even if we did find answers, we didn't find proper ones. He scratched his head, "Even if they're civilians, we've technically just lost two new potential recruits no thanks to Ross."
"It's not such a loss for the Academy of Communications, we have many hackers and analysts recruited in; plus the Communications department is our largest sub-division. It's people like Tina and Genesis who are rare potentials for Operations."
"That's if they get out of the Academy of Operations. I didn't join in like you did, but it still has the highest washout rate; right?" Woo snorted about the reputation of their Division's academies.
I shrugged. "That's not really the main point. If potential recruits keep on dying like this because the military is doing these things, well, I don't think that needs to be explained when it comes to how our Division will look like overall."
"Our Director's going to have a fit if he hears the killing of recruits keep on going."
"That's my point exactly."
After another few minutes of going over more papers on the victims of our mission, I wasn't paying attention to them. There weren't any more leads in any of the history they had according to what we found in the system. That only option left was to get it from the people involved. Genesis wasn't available at the current moment. The doctor had notified us in the middle of our investigations he was still unconscious, which made questioning not possible.
"I know that face when I see it," Woo interrupted my line of thought. He was smirking, "You're bored; you want a fresh interrogation victim."
"Are those two mercs we caught available?" I asked with a hopeful tone.
Woo laughed and opened the door, ushering me to get out. "I never thought you'd asked, J. This way."
.
.
As it turns out, the interrogation ended up being a disappointment. It wasn't a disappointment with the fact we got all the information we wanted, more so it wasn't the challenge Agent Woo and I sought for. After all the mercs that killed themselves to hide their information, the remaining two were just little scared minions without their superiors or backup. The two mercs who nearly killed me on the rooftop and in the aftermath of the car chase, basically cowered in their seats at the end of their separate interrogations. I thought the two would put up a good fight, but that never happened.
With the main interrogations over and done with, I holed myself back to my office to write out the general reports on what information we acquired from the mercs. Apparently, besides the fact that their mercenary group had killed a couple of civilians on occasions, they did have some histories of taking our own agents out. As it is, they probably never would be free according to our division's standards no matter how much they asked for lawyers. We didn't exactly give fair trials to people like them.
My partner on the other hand, made his way back to our investigation team support personnel to find out more on the mystery where Genesis had learned military strategy. It was probably something Woo figured to do that could heal the 'major interrogation letdown' frustration he had previously. In addition, he was possibly trying to figure out how he was going to approach Genesis later. Unfortunately, from what we heard from the captured mercs: the kid was still a very valuable target. The military wasn't going to let him go just yet. In conclusion, that meant Genesis was going to be 'hidden' by our division for an indefinite time - at least until we can give a nudge to the military we know and have evidence about one of their secret dicey projects.
With his injuries, Genesis wasn't going anywhere for now. In the long run, I felt sorry for the kid. It could be quite some time before he's free to go out in public again; and the worst scenario, perhaps never. Sure, the mercs didn't know Genesis was a teen, but there were still chances that if we let Genesis go too early, the military would pick up where they left off. We didn't need the military doing attempts of super soldier serum experiments on civilians; our division still had our own enemies to handle who were probably doing the same thing. The last thing we needed was a scuffle between internal government military divisions.
Another two days pass by, and Genesis finally awakened, even though he can't move much. Jimmy and I were scheduled to meet him after medical had finished an extensive check-up on him.
With the help of our code analysts, the chip that contained the project General Ross has been working on was passed to the top brass with our report I gave in yesterday. For now, the only reply and orders we've received was to keep hiding the kid. I wasn't sure how Genesis was going to react about being under our custody till we get more news. It was making me nervous how we were going to tell him. My partner on the other hand, when I walked into the investigation room, seemed to look chipper.
"You found something?" I asked the obvious. While I did most of the report to internal affairs, Jimmy had notified he went off on his own investigations about Genesis as well as the other victims.
He smiled. "Yes, and I wrapped up a few things as well." From his desk of evidences he pointed out items that belonged to the mercs as well as the victims. "Our forensics team has managed to get a lead what's left of the deceased victims and tie them to the dead mercs as well as those who are alive. They're going to be locked up for a long time."
"Were the families of the victims notified?"
"Yes, well, at least of what I can tell them. Plus, we've cooled down the press to stand down a little in regards to the Dave Robinson case." Woo said somber and not looking into my eyes. I nod in understanding the super soldier serum details were being classified, or bluntly said 'swept under the rug'. He then shuffled where he stood, "So, any ideas or news of what the higher-ups are going to do with the kid?"
At his question, I hesitated. "No idea, other than orders to hide him from Ross for now. I don't know how the kid is going to react when we tell him he's under observation and has to stay with us for some unknown time." Those records the kid got on the EYECOM simulator was reported along with case. Genesis wasn't going get out of the Division's eyes very soon if my hunch was correct.
"That's one way to look at it Sitwell; but I'm going to be realistic here," Woo noted, "We can't keep on hiding him like he is right now. The Division won't mind as long as he's injured; but after? I can't say. What I can say is that Genesis has been labeled dangerous to be left around not under the division's watch. It's too risky to have Genesis get caught by any enemy our division has."
I sigh shaking my head with pity, "You're right about that. Genesis' scores aren't helping him in this case."
This time Woo's expression turned curious. "Were they good?"
"Too good; maybe the better term would be 'unbelievably great.'" I breathed out, "The girl, Tina, was already projecting scores to pass the Operations Academy test for tactics and strategy with the EYECOM A.I. which is amazing in its own right."
"And Genesis?"
"He was projecting a score that defeated the current highest score in the Academy of Operations by at least 50%. It looks near impossible to achieve something like that if he wasn't taught by someone. That score should belong to an active strategy and tactical operative," I said trying to reason with myself about the real facts. If I hadn't seen Genesis' handiwork on the maps we had acquired from his bag, I wouldn't have believed it.
My partner at first gaped, but then he smiled, and then laughed.
I frowned at him with his sudden weird behavior. "Am I missing something here?"
Jimmy smirks. "Come on, Sitwell. Why do you think Director Fury dragged me in this division in the first place? You're missing on my awesome investigation skills."
At my partner's confidence, it clicked. "You've found where Genesis learned his skills?"
"Yeah," Woo nodded, and then waved me over to another table that had clear evidence labeled plastic bags. "What I found was actually a treasure trove. Check this; I found it in Genesis' bag, in between a Shakespearean pocket book called 'Loveless' he seems to carry around."
He shows me a crinkled photo and in it were three people. From Genesis' toga uniform it was obviously a graduation photo, but I didn't recognize the other two people in it at a glance. One was a girl, perhaps a college student? The other one was an old wrinkly man.
"Who are they?" I pointed out the other people besides Genesis.
Jimmy waved a finger at me. "The girl's just a volunteer nurse from what I've investigated on her. It's the old man in the wheelchair is the person you should be looking at."
Observing at old man again, I had a feeling I had seen that face somewhere, but it wasn't exactly the same. "I think I've seen him before."
"I suppose for you, you've seen his look-alike. As for me, I've met the old man personally." Agent Woo said in a mysterious tone.
"You knew him?" A nod. "So who was he?"
"Former CIA Agent, my dad knew the guy, was his superior for some time during his days working in the intelligence community, and was a family friend." he answered. Woo then said, "I went to his funeral not too long ago; only heard he died of an immune system disease."
"Who is he?" I asked again.
"Robert Coulson, but you know his son more. He's Fury's right hand man-"
"Agent Phil Coulson," I finished his explanation with a breath. "He's Agent Coulson's father."
Woo nodded and gave me a thumbs up. "Right, also," my partner added, "Agent Coulson Sr. was a liaison for the CIA to our Division since World War II and mostly the Cold War. Just like his son who now is one of our best operatives, so was Robert in his prime in the CIA. He was a legendary person in the tactical operations unit and known in the past as their most decorated field strategist."
Hearing his explanation, it was all starting to make sense. "So Genesis did learn from the best; it explains the ridiculous scores other than being a genius."
"It's also the reason why, we're going to give Genesis another option than staying with us doing nothing," Jimmy pointed out.
That wasn't what I expected my partner to hint at me. I raised the unbelievable question, "You're suggesting we recruit a minor?"
"He's technically a college student now," my partner deadpanned referring to Genesis' profile on the screen.
I disagreed. "He just turned sixteen this year, Jimmy."
Woo ignored my argument. "He doesn't have an official guardian or any family. If he goes back to normal public life, no one is going to care if the kid disappears. The truth stinks, but that's what happens to foster kids stuck in the foster system if they get into trouble. Our enemies who could find out about his talents without a doubt will take advantage of that. I'm suggesting Genesis joins up with us instead, rather than we suffer the consequences that he'll end up being our enemy one day."
"I'm not sure the Academy of Operations accepts anyone that young," I countered, "even if he has the score that far defeats the current record of the Academy of Operations passing grade in the AI program. They work differently than the Academy of Science and Technology."
Agent Woo shrugged his shoulders. "I'm not aware of how the recruitment goes for Academy students like you went through; but I think it's a matter of who is his Supervising Officer."
I knew who he was going to suggest. "You think Director Fury will agree Agent Coulson to be the kid's SO?"
"Not unless Agent Coulson meets the kid first and he agrees to take him in. You know how stubborn he gets when he spots someone with talent. He's a good judge of character." he replied calmly.
"Doesn't Agent Coulson have a protégé already?"
"I heard she declared herself of leaving the nest." (5)
I still wasn't sure of all of this. "You think Genesis will be okay with this?"
At my question Woo sighs heavily. "I think you know as well as I do that Genesis has limited options here. I'm just going to give him the best option." Heaving another breath, he added, "Agent Coulson's managed to handle Agent Clint Barton and he's now one the best operatives we have. Genesis should be in good hands."
"Since you're so sure about this idea, you're the one that's going to have to break the news to the kid." I said crossing my arms. While I agreed that Coulson did an exceptional job on Clint Barton, there was still another matter whether Coulson would want to take care of the teen in the first place. "Make sure it's a positive approach you're going with. It's the least I can pay to Genesis for saving my life."
"Leave it to me," Woo said confidently as he pats my back trying to reassure me. "I have a feeling we're going to change history somehow."
At that point I didn't believe Woo that we were doing any 'history in the making' event. Little did I know, the teenager I saved from sabotaging General Ross' mission would change the course of the future.
.
.
Genesis had learned very quickly he hated being trapped to a hospital bed again. Most of his limbs felt like lead, and severe exhaustion still lingered. His body wanted rest, but his eyes weren't going to close very soon, no thanks to sleeping for three days straight. Plus, with the very slow healing rate his shoulder and other bruises he had received during the rescue, he couldn't move around as much as he wanted to. Having food was okay, but he wasn't a fan of hospital food.
For safety's sake, he also kept his accelerated healing down. A few weeks of feeling pain was better than to alert the doctors to put him in a lab for examination whether he was an alien or not.
While on a general note he didn't have any problems in being in a hospital, being confined to a spot and having nothing to do was going to eventually drive him crazy out of boredom. He didn't have any luck in getting a book to read (apparently his LOVELESS book was stashed away as evidence) and there wasn't anything remotely interesting they could give him to do. The former SOLDIER reasoned that intelligence agency bases wouldn't have any sort of entertainment for their patients. He sighed and blamed it on the fact he rarely needed to get into hospitals thanks to his previous super soldier life. There were very few things that could get him injured enough. As for his degradation, he didn't stay long enough in ShinRa to get admitted into a hospital.
The red-haired teen was patient enough as Dr. Francis did an extensive check-up on him and in turn he was scheduled to meet the agents who saved his life the previous nights before. Out of sympathy, Genesis was later very glad that the good doctor had given him an empty notepad and pen to do what he wanted; whether he wanted to write notes or doodle in it. She hinted the fact that he could do what he wanted in it with the reality he was going to cope and live with the deaths of Tina, Edward, and Dave somehow.
At first, those three names had stung Genesis' heart then and there; but as quickly as it stung him, he buried it deeply in an instant. He wanted to mourn them, but he didn't want to mourn them too much when he was focusing on recovering his magical reserves. Without it, his chances to get out of something he faced like those nights ago were slim to none. The former crimson commander was taking precautions if he needed to escape again; despite the fact he loathed the thought of it.
Genesis wanted to trust the people who were helping him, but putting his life and freedom in the hands of a super-secret intel organization in his mind was questionable. His experience in ShinRa had been a wake-up call that it was important to always question people's motives; especially with organizations that had a lot to hide from the public. The ever calm flow of Lifestream that usually protected him didn't calm his nerves in the slightest. He knew it was leading him somewhere, but ultimately it was his decision that would change the course of everything.
After an hour of sketching, doodling anything that came to mind as to pass the time, the two agents entered his room. There was Sitwell, which he did recognize as the first person who reached out to him and rescued him from the mercs. The other agent who was his partner, Agent Woo, seemed to look happier than Genesis had seen him before. He wondered what was going on.
"You're awake, kiddo; how do you feel?" Woo asked as he took a seat next to Sitwell's that was beside Genesis' bed.
Genesis rolled his eyes. They probably won't stop calling him a 'kid' anytime soon. "Tired, some parts of my body feel painful, and I'm bored." he listed the obvious to Agent Woo. "I don't think I'm going to be walking anytime soon."
"Food sucks?"
"I don't like hospital food," the teen said truthfully, but paused and sighed, "but… it's better than not eating at all."
Sitwell easily gave Woo the 'look' that they needed to pass the pleasantries. The older agent obliged and nodded.
"Well, Genesis," the elder agent started. "We're here to talk about you. One part is about some questions as well as a recorded account on what you went through; but we'll get to that later. The main thing is… you're not going anywhere anytime soon."
Genesis didn't flinch but his demeanor turned guarded, "Fugitive, under observation, or useless baggage?" When both agents seemed to be shocked at his question, the teen explained, "I knew the consequences when I agreed to come along with someone from an intelligence agency. Nothing is for free."
"Smart kid; and we've checked you're more than that," Agent Woo said keeping a straight face. In his mind though, he was wrestling with the idea how calm the teen was accepting on all of this. "So, we're not going to go beating around the bush with you. You're under observation and our protection."
"For how long?"
This time it was Sitwell who replied, "Indefinite time; for all we know, Ross' military squad has retreated. However, there aren't any signs they have given up on trying to locate you."
At Sitwell's reply, Genesis laid back feeling more tired than ever on his bed and raked his messy hair back. "It's the scores I got, isn't it?"
"Right," the bald agent agreed, "and… we already know how you've managed to get that score, which shouldn't be possible under normal circumstances for someone your age."
At this, the former SOLDIER tensed. "I suppose it's not surprising you found something. What does that entail?"
"You're giving us an impression like it's a bad thing." Woo said with confusion.
There was a bitter chuckle from the teen. "It's hard not to ask about the bad things. I never would have thought a PC game would lead me to getting hunted by the military of all things. Also to face the facts I have three people deaths on my hands, and I nearly thought I had another one with your partner. Last but not least, I'm here at an intelligence agency which I don't think most of the population has heard of."
Agent Sitwell was the one to swerve the conversation back in the right direction. "We're actually offering you the best option you can take. Since you can't go out in public in the meantime, you're stuck with us. However, rather than waste time of weeks or perhaps months waiting for news, you can do something useful."
"What does that have to do with what Agent Woo said? All he knows is about how I have over average A.I. simulator scores." Genesis asked, not liking where this was going.
Woo shrugs innocently, "We're asking you to join us."
The teen blinked a couple of times. "I'm not hearing this in a drugged state, am I?" When both agents shook their heads, Genesis commented, "I don't exactly fit age-wise; I'd still be considered a minor in your 'classification' of work, strategy or otherwise."
At this opening, the eldest agent took out a photo from his suit pocket and laid it on Genesis' bedside. He chuckled, "I think that's a matter of whom you're acquainted with."
Genesis looked at the graduation photo, but said nothing and held a straight face. He wasn't sure he wanted them to know he was close to the old man who he considered like a grandfather.
"Well?" Woo asked again. When Genesis didn't speak, the agent chortled to his partner, "Not an agent yet, and the kid's already going on the 'silent defensive' mode. Come on J, help me with this." He was grinning like a loon as he spotted Genesis had good traits of a person who could put up a front in an interrogation room.
Sitwell this time rubbed his bald head with a sigh at his partner's antics. "Genesis, how close were you to former CIA Agent Robert Coulson? We're trying to solve a puzzle here regarding to your military tactical and strategy knowledge, your school records don't show you went to a military academy or any of the kind."
The former commander noticed quickly of the opportunity presented to him. For once, his relation to Robert saved him from the explanation he was a super soldier and on top of that, a general in his previous life. The Goddess Minerva seemed to like working in mysterious ways and he thanked her for that. It was the truth and better alternative than an asylum for the crazy.
"He was the one who taught me what I know." Genesis replied softly. He didn't want to give too much information away.
In a casual position of his seat, James Woo flippantly asked, "Say, when you were with him, did he still have a love for Choco chip, ginger, and chocolate cookies? Coin or quarter sized ones? He liked rolling them on his knuckles similar how you would do the Knuckle-roll with a coin."
That question though, threw Genesis off-guard; a memory flashed back to his mind of his first Christmas on Earth.
"What? How did you-"
"He was a friend of my father; a superior to him for some time too. Close to my family as well, at least before my own father passed away." Woo said easily. He shrugged at the teen's discomfort. "You don't need to hide anything from us. Well, you can, but Agent Sitwell and I are the best interrogators around here. Since you reacted to something that Robert made sure was part of his private life, I think we can agree you were much closer to him than we thought."
To the teen's observation, Agent Woo was a person who played his cards right. It was futile to go against an expert now. If he was healthier, he would have lasted a little longer; but then again, maybe that was wishful thinking. Robert had mentioned previously the 'Division' he was now stuck in, recruited the best of the best in the intelligence community. Genesis figured he was lucky to be anywhere than the interrogation room at the moment.
"How much information should I tell you?" the redhead asked first. "I did promise a few things he doesn't want anyone to know."
"Did he say about keeping secrets to the grave?" the eldest agent quipped.
"Those were his exact words more or less." Genesis ended up smiling despite he was tired.
"I'd say you can keep the most important ones out and give us the relevant information to your case." Woo nodded but then pointed out, "You haven't answered my initial question yet."
This time Genesis didn't hide his feelings. "He was like a grandfather I never had. I don't think I'd be here if he didn't teach me the things he did. Minus his flaring temper, moody outbursts, and big ego, he's a good man."
"Good, very good," Woo said approvingly. "With what you just said, I think I may know a person that could be your potential Supervising Officer."
At the suggestion, Genesis turned to Agent Sitwell, "Did he hear I haven't said yes or anything about joining your organization?"
"Whether you've mentioned anything or not wouldn't matter in the long run. I'm going to be blunt to you Genesis; your mission case is harder than it looks if you want to start over and walk in open public with no problems." Sitwell supplied diplomatically.
"Can't I think this over?" Genesis requested starting to feel dizzy. Maybe all this information was too much for him to grasp on the first day he wakes up from nearly dying on the operation table nearly three times. It's a good thing at that moment Dr. Francis hovers by the window of his room and gave the two agents the signs their visit was over.
"Yeah, take your time," Woo says as he stands from his seat and walks away. With Genesis' super hearing though, the teen heard him mumble, "So you were the one that visited Robert's grave; just like the hobos mentioned. I'm still making the call to your potential SO, kid."
The former SOLDIER was starting to question whether he let Agent Sitwell take him here and pass on the data was a good thing or not. The last thing he needed was to be caught in a mess that was something akin to being recruited for the Turks. Unfortunately, his options were what the agents had told him: he didn't have a choice in the matter.
Sighing and reluctantly accepting his current situation, Genesis decided he'd ask a few more questions, just to get an idea what he was in for.
.
.
Just as I was going to make way to the door, Genesis asks, "Agent Sitwell?"
"Yes, Genesis?"
The teen hesitated for a while but he questioned, "What do you think about this Division you work in? Do you trust it?"
I shrugged, "I think it's doing what it's supposed to do, protect people from the worst and unimaginable things. It's a reason why we exist, and there's a limit the public should know, at least until it's acceptable." At his second question my answer was by the book, "Trust the system, Genesis. It's been around since World War II."
"Even with all of those secrets that can make most people question their sanity on what's good or bad?" Genesis asked again. "The world's not exactly black and white anymore."
"I never had a reason to doubt our Division, and there aren't any reasons the Division has given me."
"I see." the teen muttered. "And if there was?"
That was one question I had no clue to answer. "I don't know. I suppose that will depend on what happens and there is a good reason for it."
Genesis was silent, looking like he was deeply thinking over it.
"You can't keep a distance to not trust anyone at all." I reminded him. "It's not healthy for you."
"It's a good at keeping me alive," the teen countered. He sighed, "Sorry, I got caught up with something in the past. I have trust issues."
"It's alright." I say waving him off but noted that something about trust shook Genesis' faith in most people. "You're still recovering and the military were after you for three months. It's natural you would have problems in believing us."
Genesis didn't seem like he wanted to let me out yet but Dr. Francis was already pointing to the clock. "One final question, before you go?"
I breathed out. "Make it quick, kid."
"Say if I joined your intelligence Division, and suddenly there's an internal war or political power struggle and we're on different sides. If someone gave you the order, would you kill me?" (6)
"I-"
"Yes or no would suffice," Genesis said hurriedly.
"No," I said very sure of myself. "I owe my life to you," I said as I stopped the redhead from interrupting, "You saved my life twice. So let's call the first one even with you now here." I let Genesis digest it before I continued, "I'll respect what you choose, but I'm not person who lets things go easily. You can expect me to fight you later on if it's required of me though. I'd rather follow what I believe in than die knowing of something I didn't."
The teen inclined his head, "Thank you for answering, Agent Sitwell." On his face he seemed to come to a judgment.
"You should rest and not think too much, you're still recovering." This time I left the room with Genesis lying down and closing his eyes to probably sleep.
A few short minutes I'm back in my office and Genesis' words actually made me think just what had happened to the kid; to make him question the system that was set in place for decades. People flocked the Strategic Homeland, Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division as it was a privilege to serve it. I shook my head to let my own thoughts aside. Other people's loyalties weren't my business at the current moment. For me, as long as I had someone like Agent Woo I can trust my life with, I didn't question the Division.
A buzz from a text message on my phone alerts me that it's from Agent Woo.
To: Sitwell, Jasper
From: Woo, James
Message: Hey Jasper, I got an appointment with Agent Coulson. I'll be absent for the next internal meeting and let you know how it turns out later. Wish me luck!
I chuckled at the text. At times I'm thankful on how positive my partner takes on things. Come to think of it, I wondered how Coulson was going to take on Genesis with his trust issues despite the kid could connect with Coulson Sr. That's if he did want Genesis as his next protégé. While Genesis didn't seem paranoid as Agent Barton was known for, it was a different type of distrust. While Barton's distrust was based on observation, Genesis' form of it came from asking the reasons and wanting answers.
I sent a message back to my partner he needed all the luck he could get. If he handled something Agent Coulson was privy with, it was only a matter of time Director Fury would have his eye on it. Jimmy had a good long way ahead of him if he was going to convince Fury of trusting a teenager with a tactical and strategy simulator score that rivaled active operatives. I wasn't sure how far his relations with Coulson's father would assure the director, but I trusted he could get the job done.
"Learning to trust is one of life's most difficult tasks." ~ Isaac Watts
~ End ~
The series continues in... Agent Rhapsodos Introductions: Agent Phillip J. Coulson
Notes/Trivia:
(1) The Wall of Valor is a memorial to fallen agents of SHIELD and the Strategic Scientific Reserve located at all S.H.I.E.L.D. facilities including the campuses of S.H.I.E.L.D. Academies. - Marvel Cinematic Universe Wikia
(2) The Daily Globe is one of New York City's main Newspaper agency that is in the Marvel Universe. Although not mentioned in any of Marvel Movies, it is the Daily Bulge's main rival. This news agency unlike its rival, often times have supported superheroes (i.e. Dare Devil) in the Marvel comics in contrast of the Daily Bulge's distrust concerning superheroes such as Spider-Man. – Marvel Wikia
(3) Oscorp Industries is Norman Osborn's company, located in New York City. Oscorp Tower was to be added to NYC's skyline in The Avengers (2012), becoming the first "team-up" between Disney and Sony franchise, but the model wasn't ready in time for it to be included. – Marvel Movies Wikia
(4) The SHIELD Academy is the name commonly used for the three academies where SHIELD trains its new recruits. The Academy of Communications is the largest of the Academies, its curriculum focuses on data analysis. It also interacts the most with the other two academies. The Academy of Operations on the other hand, has the most aggressive program, and has the highest percentage of washouts; it trains Operatives and Field Officers. Lastly, the Academy of Science and Technology is responsible for guiding many of the world's best and brightest scientific minds. All cadets require at least one Ph.D to enter the academy. – Marvel Cinematic Universe Wikia
(5) Akela Amadour is known as Agent Coulson's previous protégé in Agents of SHIELD (TV series) in episode 4: 'Eye Spy'. In 2006, she went missing in an awry mission that most of SHIELD had thought she was dead. Coulson kept her file case open, despite the investigation team's insistence there were no survivors. – Marvel Cinematic Universe Wikia
(6) Genesis' question where Loyalties and trust lie mirrors major events in both fandoms. In Genesis' case, he's questioning whether SHIELD isn't another ShinRa company. In Sitwell's case, a test of loyalties and trust was Captain America: The Winter Soldier's main political thriller theme.
Author Notes: First one done and complete! This chapter turned out way longer than expected (probably no thanks to The Winter Soldier). I'm leaving some things opened so when Winter Soldier does happen... well, we'll hear what has happened to Sitwell to H*** T*** (spoiler if you're not watched the movie).
As you might have seen, the fic was heavily inspired from the Agents of SHIELD TV series. So anything SHIELD related is canon to the MCU. Also, since Genesis is entering SHIELD, we'll see more of it when we get to where Genesis meets Phil for the first time (Phil's story is after I update my main fic, or when I get any inspiration to write it).
If you've noticed (I think a lot of people have), I haven't mentioned 'SHIELD' at all (abbreviation hasn't existed yet [at least till Iron Man comes out]), but 'the Division'. I have to admit it's funny and annoying at the same time when I was writing this fic. I enjoyed writing this two shot; and for the first suspense fic, I guess I did okay. On another note, this fic is chronologically placed after 'A Part that Remains'. So it's 'A Part that Remains', this fic (as well as future intro fics), then Taking the Backseat. Hope everyone enjoyed this installment!
Comments, opinions, your thoughts, are always welcomed.