SLD-159 (Book 4 Chapter 30)
Milton Keynes August 1974
In the monitoring room, Jonathan adjusted his headset and microphone. "Comfortable, Anna?"
"Yes, Jonathan."
"You'll hear a series of stories. Some will overlap with the knowledge areas related to your mission. Feel free to react. This is not a pass or fail test. It's all about active listening and learning."
"Understood."
"I need to check sound levels on your microphone. In a normal tone of voice, please count back from thirty slowly," said Jonathan.
Anna began to say, "Thirty … twenty-nine … "
Jonathan flicked a switch and a recording of Jonathan's voice instructing Anna to clear her mind and sink into a relaxed state began to play.
"Sneaky, Jon," said Sean.
Jonathan grinned. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"… twenty-five … twenty-four …"
Francine added, "Hypnosis is practical for our purposes. The sodium pentothal not only relaxes the subject but increases their receptivity to the power of suggestion. Even the most psychologically hardened individual can potentially be cracked with this combination."
"I can testify to that," said Jonathan. "Sean, this isn't meant to be cruel to anyone. Anna has passed everything so far based on ability, knowledge retention and determination. She simply doesn't seem to know when to quit. However, we know from experience that EVERYBODY has chinks in their personal armor. Most of us learn to ignore those issues when in the field. Some issues though should not be ignored. Issues that could cripple an agent in the field."
"Nineteen … eighteen ..."
"Such as?" asked Sean.
"Deep-rooted issues that in my opinion are Anna's particular Achilles' heel. Issues like abandonment, persecution and low self-esteem," said Jonathan.
"I would agree with abandonment after her orphaning but I don't with the rest," said Sean.
"Fourteen … "
"I've been observing her through all the testing. We're all high achievers here but Anna has this … this need to prove herself that's burning inside her like a bright torch. I can see it in her eyes. It drives her far more than she realizes. She'd probably never admit it either," said Francine.
"That's also called ambition and initiative," said Sean.
"For most people but in her case I think it's something that could prove dangerous to the mission and herself," said Francine.
"Dangerous?" asked Sean.
"Her drive could make her deaf and blind to things she shouldn't ignore. For example, she stays her ground when a bit of caution would be best. The absence of fear results in recklessness. Her youth makes her intrinsically susceptible to-"
"Ten …"
"Or it could lead her to get results that no one else could," said Sean. He looked sternly at his subordinates. "The mission I've given her is … unique. Her selection and training has been to prepare her for said mission. While I appreciate your thoroughness, it is overkill in this case."
"Who's blind now?" asked Jonathan.
"Hardly and I'm nowhere near senile," said Sean.
"Then you're afraid she'll fail the test."
"Five … "
"Nope." Sean crossed his arms across his chest. "The weaknesses you've mentioned will ensure she doesn't fail. But I realize that no matter what I say the two of you won't be convinced by anything but your own results. Go ahead with the test then." He sat down in an armchair. "I'll sit here and imagine the many, many ways I'm going to say I told you so."
"Two … one."
In the test room
"One."
Anna felt like her body had gone to sleep while her mind was left alert if relaxed. She couldn't feel the restraints. The seat seemed to have formed around the contours of her body. Stories Jonathan had said. She laid back receptive and ready.
A pleasant woman's voice began a lilting rendition of a poem that made Anna smile. She whispered the words surprising herself on how many of the verses she recalled from childhood.
Old Mother Hubbard
Went to the cupboard
To get her poor dog a bone;
But when she got there,
The cupboard was bare,
And so the poor dog had none.
She went to the baker's
To buy him some bread;
And when she came back,
The poor dog was dead.
She went to the joiner's
To buy him a coffin;
And when she came back,
The doggy was laughin'.
By the last stanza, Anna was in a carefree mood. Awareness of where she was and why she was there had shifted to the edges of her mind.
She went to the cobbler's
To buy him some shoes;
And when she came back,
He was reading the news.
The next thing she heard jolted her out of her bubble of contentment.
"Mum?" said a little girl uncertainly. "I'm cold, Mum. Mum?"
The sound of rustling cloth was followed by the closing of a door.
"I'm sorry, Mummy," said the little girl. "Please come back. Mum?"
In the monitoring room
Francine studied the graphs being noisily spat out by a dot matrix printer. Her eyes instantly identified the telltale signs of distress.
"Heart rate has increased. Basal temperature, too," said Francine. "Breathing is even."
"Not the strong reaction I was hoping for but it's something," said Jonathan.
"No physical movements," said Francine looking at another print out.
"The session will get to her I'm sure of it," said Jonathan.
"What is she hearing?" asked Sean.
"Just a story about a little girl," said Jonathan. "Something she can relate to based on her personnel file."
"Alice in Wonderland? That was listed as one of her favorites," said Sean.
Jonathan shook his head. "Not a bit like it."
In the test room
The story had piqued Anna's curiosity. She liked mysteries after all. Her ears strained to catch every detail.
The sporadic rattling of window glass overshadowed the girl's shallow breathing and muted sobs.
"Mum, please. I don't like this place," said the girl. "I can't get warm."
The bed creaked. The bedclothes were moved about. The door opened on rusty hinges.
A female voice whispered, "You are here because of what you did."
"I said I was sorry," said the girl.
"Remember what you did?"
"I didn't mean to!" wailed the girl. "I'm sorry!"
"Always remember for I do."
A set of keys jangled. The door closed. A bolt slid into place.
Minutes passed with only the sounds of the girl's sobs and repeated apologies.
The girl whispered, "I want to go home. Mum, please. Please find me."
Anna gasped. Her hands jerked in the restraints.
In the monitoring room
"Breathing rate has increased," said Francine. "Temperature up. Movement positive."
Jonathan grinned in triumph. "Yes! Got her!"
"You wanted a reaction and you got one. Hooray," said Sean with dry sarcasm.
"Human beings bury the things they don't want to be reminded of deep in their psyche. It's an unconscious thing but perfectly natural. A purely defensive mechanism," said Francine. "Our training strengthens our mental barriers but the best medicine is to deal with the issues."
"By force and blatant manipulation?" asked Sean.
"You sound worried," said Jonathan.
"I draw the line at cruelty and torture. You BOTH know that," said Sean. "Do not EVER go there with me."
"We do have ethics, Sean," said Francine.
"But do you remember where you've put them? Blur the lines, sure, but never in the original charter for this group have I ever said the phrase ethics be damned," said Sean.
"She's your candidate, Sean. Our job is to prepare her in the best way we can. That means seeing if she can stand the fire now while we can catch her. She won't have a net out in the field. If she withers from the power of suggestion, she may not be the right person for this or any mission," said Jonathan. "Let us do our job, Sean. One of YOUR rules is that sometimes the end does justify the means. Has that changed?"
In the testing room
Anna's heartbeat mirrored the fast footfalls filling in her headset. A door creaked on rusty hinges.
"Help me! Help!" yelled the girl.
"You are a naughty girl," said a faint voice. "Return at once!"
"No!"
"You know what happens to naughty children?"
"No!" The footfalls became faster.
"You are a wicked girl just like your sister," said the matronly voice.
Anna's arms jerked hard against her restraints. Her jaw locked shut stretching her cheeks taut.
"Blood pressure approaching fight or flight levels," said Francine. "Breath rate increasing. Same for pulse rate."
"Make or break time," said Jonathan. "Here it comes."
A vein pulsed at Sean's left temple. He said nothing but he watched Jonathan and Francine closely.
In the testing room
The strident voice was louder. The little girl's breathing was labored.
"Stop this childish behavior! Stop!" yelled the woman.
"Mum! Help me! Mum! Please!" cried the girl.
"You live here now."
"No!"
The woman's voice turned into honey. "I'll take you to your sister. Don't you want to see her?"
Anna's head jerked left and right. Her mind screamed her sister's name over and over drowning out all the voices. A familiar trusted voice made itself heard through the babble.
It was Gabriel reminding her of some hard-earned wisdom. "The only advice I can give you is to believe only in the absolute truth even if you're the only one who believes in it and to tell only the lies that you can stomach."
A short phrase reverberated, "Absolute truth. Absolute truth."
Anna's lips moved silently saying, "This is false. False. Do not believe. Be calm. Let it pass. Stay true."
In the monitoring room
Francine ripped the printout from the printer. "All metrics are decreasing. Rapidly returning to basal standard."
"What?" Jonathan rushed to see the printouts himself.
Sean could feel his spine relaxing just a tiny bit.
"She's fighting the conditioning?" asked Jonathan out loud.
"Maybe or maybe not. I'm not sure," said Francine.
Jonathan waved the printouts in the air. "She should be falling apart by now. I deliberately seeded that bit about a sister in the story. What is going on, Francine? Is she putting herself in a meditation state to escape the test?"
Francine shook her head. "Readings are all at normal rest levels. She's not in a trance."
"How is she beating the sodium pentothal?"
"I don't think she is," said Francine. "She's listening but not reacting. She's denying her issues."
Sean's eyebrows rose at the psychobabble. "In layman's terms, she's found a way to pass your test. Right?"
After dinner, Anna made an effort to waylay Sean. She led him to her quarters. Despite the late hour, Anna did not seem tired. In fact, her eyes were bright and alert.
"I thought you'd have an early night, Anna," said Sean. "Today wasn't pleasant."
Anna bit her lower lip. "It did touch a nerve or three."
"You've proven to Jonathan that you're the right woman for the job. Further tests at this point should be a snap," said Sean. "You wouldn't tell him how you beat Test Four. Few can beat biochemical manipulation when matched with real weaknesses. Would you tell me?"
"I'm surprised you haven't guessed given recent history. It was Gabriel. I remembered some advice he gave me about seeing the truth and only the truth when in the field," said Anna.
"Truth of what?"
"Of myself, the situation, the mission. In this case, it meant stay true to the operation no matter what," said Anna. "What I was listening and feeling wasn't the truth so why should I pay attention to it? Why should I let it affect so?"
"In one ear and out the other?"
"Something like that," said Anna. She took a deep breath. "I didn't want to know too much before but I've changed my mind, Sean. I want to know more about my assignment. I want to know as much of the truth as you could tell me and I want it now."
"You said you were doing it for Gabriel and that's all," said Sean taking a seat on the couch. "Why the curiosity now?"
"Sean, please, for myself I need to know for certain that what I'm going to be doing is for the right reasons," said Anna. "You don't have to tell me everything but you can't lie. Promise me you won't lie."
Sean nodded. "I promise. Let me get the brief in my room."
Sean returned carrying a thick manila folder. "Well, get comfortable. I have a story for you. It's about a man named Cesar Faison."
"Cesar?" asked Anna sitting on the edge of her bed.
Sean passed a photo to her. Anna gazed at the grainy picture in her hand. It was a side view image taken from a considerable distance.
"An unusual name for an unusual man," said Sean.
"Not that unusual, I knew, um, Faison? Is he French?"
"Details about his past are sketchy. It's not important where he came from. If we do our job right, we won't have to worry about him past this mission," said Sean. "He's the target but he tends to work through third parties. Only when he's really interested does he get his hands dirty as it were."
"All right." Anna studied the grainy picture. "He doesn't seem dangerous."
"When it comes to Faison appearances are VERY deceiving. It's what's in his head that's dangerous," said Sean. "Don't ever mistake his physical looks to be a sign of inferiority. He's the smartest, most cunning man I know. Bar none. You have to watch every word, every action, every second. You can't relax when in his presence."
"You make him sound omnipotent."
"He's only a man and you're going to use that against him," said Sean. "You have to become your cover in every way. That's why this immersion training is absolutely vital. I know that this is EXACTLY what you need."
"I'm going to do my best, Sean, for you and Gabriel."
"You have to find some motivation for you, too."
"It's a job. It's not personal. Isn't that what you're always telling me?" asked Anna.
"You're too good of a student."
"I think this is going to be challenging," said Anna. "What makes him so dangerous?"
"He's the golden boy of the DVX. He's gone up the ranks like a rocket. All his pet projects get funded just like that," said Sean.
"Sounds like you," said Anna.
"I have scruples. He doesn't. None that I've seen anyway," said Sean. "Faison's influence in the DVX is growing. He may even get the top job someday."
"So putting him out of action in some way will disrupt the DVX? Absolutely?" asked Anna.
"It would be an enormous win for the good guys," replied Sean.
"That would be us?"
"Naturally. Don't you imagine yourself with a white hat on?"
"Obviously not as often as you do."
"Then start practicing," said Sean. "We're the good guys, Anna. Sometimes our methods are questionable but the reasons for why we do what we do are always for the best of intentions for our country and the Bureau. Derailing the DVX's progress by taking Faison out of the equation is a strategic move not a tactical one. Meaning that short term results are meaningless. We're thinking long term, very long term."
"Months? Years?" asked Anna.
"Maybe or maybe never," said Sean. "This is the ultimate of secret missions. You have to be prepared to take it to the grave like I will be. The two people in this room are the only ones who know about this operation. That's the way it has to be."
"Fine with me. Turn the page and move on."
"Your personal philosophy?" asked Sean.
"I suppose because I've moved from relative to relative that it's a habit I've gotten used to," said Anna. "Don't get too close. Don't trust too much. Be prepared to pack at a moment's notice."
"I'm sorry, Anna."
Anna's eyes flashed a mixture of annoyance and real anger. "I don't want or need your pity. It is what it is. It's in the past. I don't need to think about it or overanalyze. It won't change if I do so what would be the point?"
"Francine would say you're in denial."
Anna laughed. "Accepting the truth isn't denial. I told the WSB psychologist the same thing. I lost my family. I lost my sister. In a sense, I lost my country. Those are facts. There were times that I wished and wished that my life could be different but it's not."
"We can't forget our pasts. None of us can."
"I don't forget but I don't want to think about it much either."
"Too painful?"
"Not anymore." Anna stood up and began to pace. "The what-ifs used to keep me awake at night. What if my parents hadn't died? Or if my sister had been able to keep me with her. Or if my aunt hadn't died then my sister and I wouldn't have had to live with … with other people. Many things would have been different. I doubt that I would be here now."
"I'm glad you are," said Sean.
"So am I. Working with you feels right," said Anna. "This is my present and future. I have a job to do. My past stays in the past where it belongs."
"Someday you'll have a family again," said Sean.
"I don't see that happening, Sean."
"Why not?"
Anna laughed. "Because I'm not the maternal type. I don't have any talent for things domestic like cooking, party planning or decorating or stuff like that. What kind of mother would I make not having any memories of my own? I like children but having my own isn't a dream of mine."
"Never say never. The future has a way of blindsiding a person," mused Sean.
"Speaking from personal experience?"
"Yes. You think I dreamed about doing this job? I wanted to be an astronaut then a fireman then a soldier," said Sean. "Life is funny. It's best to run with the wind instead of against it."
"And easier," noted Anna.
"Oh, sometimes it harder but it's all about getting to where you need to go not how you get there," said Sean. He gave the brief to Anna. "I want this back in the morning. Tonight, read about the man Cesar Faison. You'll see why we think he's a threat. It's not an easy read but it should answer your questions."
"Is it fitting for me to know so much about him this early?" asked Anna.
"It's nothing much about the man himself other than observed behavior. This isn't going to get you inside the man's head," said Sean. "That's going to be entirely up to you."
"And if I can't?" asked Anna. "You said failure isn't an option."
"Between the two of us, we can crack the puzzle that is Cesar Faison. I know we can," explained Sean. "That day at the diner when I observed you I had a feeling that you were the one I needed. That feeling hasn't changed. In fact, it's only gotten stronger."
Gem HQ, Milton Keynes Present Time
Anna gently banged the back of her head against the wall. "Yeah, we solved the puzzle but we lost ourselves in the process." She buried her face in her hands.
The sound of loud arguing voices pulled Anna out of her memories. She listened for a while recognizing the voices of the female scientist and the head of security. From their tone it seemed that the scientist had won the battle and the war. The security head and his team left the testing area with their tails between their legs.
"Go girl power," murmured Anna. "Time to get out of here. I've seen all I need to see." She got to her feet. "Turn the page. Go forward. Repeat until you get it right. The story of my life."
It took some time dodging the security team but she traced her steps back to the closet. She emerged in the hallway close to Chase's office. Nonchalantly, she headed for his office. It was with some satisfaction that she witnessed Chase's dumbfounded look once he saw her.
"I have a few recommendations to make about security," said Anna.
"Where? How?" spluttered Chase rushing towards her. "Where have you been?"
"I have enough to file my report with Sean. I'll be on my way," said Anna. She led Chase towards reception. "I trust I won't have to visit again?"
"No, of course not," said Chase. "Um, where exactly did you get to?"
Anna raised an eyebrow. "You mean I wasn't on surveillance the entire time?"
Chase flushed. "Um, er, yes, you were. I … I wanted to ask that's all."
At the main door, Anna turned to Chase. "I didn't want to come back here but I had no choice. I don't EVER want to come back for ANY reason whatsoever. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
"Yes. Everything," said Chase. "We will stay out of your backyard. Promise."
"Robert and I will hold you to that. One more thing. If you have any further questions, I strongly urge you to ask your father Jonathan about me. It could prove illuminating," said Anna. She left without a backward glance.
The receptionist waved and got Chase's attention. "Chase, there's a large email in the info box. Eyes only I think."
Chase rubbed at his forehead. His headache had reached migraine territory. He was seeing spots. "Put it in my review folder. I'll get to it maybe tomorrow. Tell Willie I want to see him in Arn's office right now."
He returned to his office muttering about lax security and devious elusive women.
The Court, Milton Keynes, England
In the port cochere of the mansion, Anna leaned her head on the headrest of the car. She regulated her breathing forcing her mind and body to relax. "Forget the secrets. Forget."
A rapping on the driver side window made her open her eyes. It was Robert looking concerned.
Anna got out of the car. "Hey! All done with your lessons?"
"I was looking for you. Where'd you get to?" asked Robert. "I couldn't find you in the stables."
"I went for a drive to clear my head," said Anna.
"You do look less stressed."
"I got things off my plate I guess. Doubts mostly."
"Anything I can help with?"
"Ops stuff. I got it." Anna hooked her arm about his. "Dinner's bound to be a sumptuous calorie bomb. How about a walk?"
They set off towards the parklike drive.
"There's something I did want to talk about," began Robert.
"What's that?"
"Keeping secrets," said Robert. "Our no secrets pact isn't going to work."
Anna kept quiet willing Robert to continue.
"I don't have a choice here, Anna. Abelard's main job is keeping and making secrets. That's all I've learned today. Secrets here. Secrets there. Secrets everywhere," said Robert. "I understand why Jacques always seemed so cryptic. He had no choice either. So, I'm asking to dissolve the pact between us." Anna's silence made Robert repeat, "Anna?"
"Just thinking," said Anna. "Jacques could be … unreadable."
"I won't be as bad. Elyot says he'll train me only to a certain point. Not everything," said Robert. "Anyway, you only have to look into my eyes to know what's on my mind. This is only temporary. Once I've found someone to take this off me, I'll get rid of it fast. Promise." As if to emphasize his point, he made an X mark over his heart. "Double promise."
"No. Don't promise me anything," said Anna.
"But-"
"We know how things work. Who else knows better?"
Perplexed, Robert asked, "What does that mean?"
"It means I'm taking the rules off. No more pact for either of us," said Anna. "We both have roles and secrets to keep. It wouldn't be fair to hold them over each other. Maybe our pact was wishful thinking."
"Best intentions and all that. I'm sorry, Anna."
Anna wound her arms around Robert's waist. "Don't be sorry, Robert. Never to me. I know. I understand. We'll adjust and we'll be fine."
Robert looked down on his wife. "We'll put all this behind us someday. We might even laugh about it. Keep the course for a little while longer. One more push to finish off Faison. That's all."
Anna paraphrased a line from Shakespeare's Henry V, "Once more unto the breach, dear Robert, once more."
"Then I'll stock up on beach chairs and mai tais for years and years," said Robert. "We'll retire to sunsets and spoiling Emma. You'll see. I'll make it all right. For us."
"We'll make it right for our family." Anna embraced Robert close. "We'll look forward to that right, partner?"
"Right, partner," said Robert leaning in for a kiss. "That is MY ultimate goal. Count on it."