Hobbs was drumming his finger on the pressboard that called itself table and tried not to look too annoyed. Keeping a stoic face was one of the skills he learned quickly in his line of work. It was better not to let the enemy know what you thought by simply glancing at your face. No instead of taking a gander they should at least try to torture it out of him.
There was, after all, an essential etiquette to follow when dealing with your foes. A quick bitter chuckle came over his lips thinking about etiquette. Letting someone wait for 20 minutes in a confined space actually made to interrogate criminals and other scum wasn't the kind of demeanor he had expected from his old acquaintance. But then again, Hobbs had seen the agency he was helming, and this didn't shock him.
It was a bunch of uncoordinated, barely supervised, or capable bunch of so-called crimefighters. Hobbs had called it a disgrace but these people probably were below that level. He had never expected Herbert to stoop so low as to end up here. However, it had been 30 years since he saw him last time, maybe Dumbrovski wasn't the guy he remembered anymore.
Hobbs looked up straitening his sitting body as a dog walked in, white fur, big black nose. He handed the general a paper cup filled with coffee. Although Hobbs presumed that it was just hot water with food color in it given the state of this silly named agency.
"The chief needs a few more minutes." The dog said tonelessly. Hobbs looked at him sternly. The man looked tired and barely interested in a conversation. Bad for him that Hobbs and his boredom did not care about that.
"Chief Dumbrovski seems to be extraordinarily busy." He stated in a way that it sounded like an accusation.
"Yes, he's drowning in work." Sighed the dog who had been half way to the door. "We all do… We have a lot of heists lately, you heard it on the news probably."
"Yes yes… these D.O.O.M. fellas." The general nodded. "So, I assume you are one of the field agents?"
"I haven't introduced myself, have I?" The dog walked back and extended his hand offering a handshake. "Agent Puppy."
Hobbs stood up straight and replied with a firm handshake. Eying the dog more closely he remembered a few news reports that stuck to his memory.
"Agent Puppy, the name rings a bell, the nuclear reactor a few years ago… that was you?"
"Yeah, I…" Agent Puppy almost seemed a little coy as Hobbs mentioned his deeds. "Old stories."
"A humble man, I like that." The General smirked and then sat back down.
"Oh, you know I just do the things I do…" The dog shrugged and then looked at his watch. "I am sorry to just leave you standing there but…"
"The duty calls?" The general grinned but Agent Puppy suddenly looked at him as if he just told him that his mother died.
"H..How do you know?" He stammered and stepped back.
"Well, you are a busy crime fighter."
"Ah, that! Yes!" Agent Puppy suddenly started laughing. "I better get back to work. It was nice meeting you."
The dog left the room and entered the hallway while Hobbs looked at the space he left. "What a weird guy."
The general took a sip from his coffee and shuddered as his expectations became reality. He put the cup down as far as he could from him and stared longingly at the open door. This was getting ridiculous. How long would he have to wait? He had already waited two months for his body to heal to a degree where it was reliable again.
People would probably say at that point 'What are 30 minutes after two months?' and they all were wrong. Every second counts when facing this kind of foe. To tackle an extraterrestrial being of such power the preparations needed to be done thoroughly, quickly, and with an eye for detail.
Hobbs promised himself and the ones lost to this Advisor monstrosity that it would be in shock about what a bunch of primitives could do. But doing so needed the mentioned thorough preparation. One of these was already brought to what was left of the facility.
And if the experts were right, they might finally have an actual weapon to use. Ecstatic was a word too weak to describe how Hobbs felt about the idea of pulling the trigger on that thing. Seldomly, he felt so right about making the world a better place by firing a gun.
"Andrew, long time no see." Chief Herbert Dumbrovski, a crocked teeth flea wearing a trench coat, jumped on the table and greeted him with a salute.
Hobbs stood up straight and saluted back. "Just 30 years Herbert." He said casually.
"I would say that too if time had barely grazed me." The chief laughed and the laughing turned into a cough.
"You are too nice as always." Hobbs grinned and then pointed towards the door. "Would you mind closing it, we need to talk about something of the highest confidential manner."
"Oh, is it that official? Fine." The chief hopped off the table and closed the door. "So, what's the matter?"
"I don't want to steal your precious time Herbert, you seem busy."
"I am, crime never sleeps." The flea stated and then stretched his cracking limbs. "And so, I don't too."
Hobbs nodded approvingly, Herbert still seemed to be the same tough nut he knew from back then. Probably he was the only reason this dump wasn't falling apart.
"Well then let me come straight to the point. You may have heard about what happened at the high-energy research compound?"
"My clearance might not be high enough, but my network is still strong… also my agents were first responders."
"Figures, anyway, I am lacking a lot of personnel after this… incident. To be straight with you, I need new agents, and I don't mean foot soldiers. I need people for my top ranks." Hobbs started to pace around the table circling his old friend. "I don't need much, even one would be okay, but he needed to be thorough, quick, and with an eye for detail. A no-bullshit guy, you know what I mean."
"I do…" Herbert looked pensively towards the ceiling. "I am barely able to spare someone, Andy. Especially not someone of that caliber."
"As I said one would be enough."
"The one I'm thinking about is worth ten." The flea murmured and then fixed his eyes on the pacing General. "How good of a career opportunity are we really talking about? Will, whoever I sent you, be burnt afterward?"
"If he does good, all doors are open." Hobbs meant and stopped pacing at his seat resting his hands on the backrest. "I am talking monthly board meetings with people like the secretary of defense. Invitations to the white house. Shaking hands with the president. These things."
Herbert obviously impressed, whistled through his teeth. "The big deal huh… Well… That might hurt but I have someone for you. It hurts to let her go but I can't deny her this chance."
"Her? I thought you might suggest this Puppy fella."
"You asked for a specific set of skills and Agent Puppy, as much as I like him, does not fulfill these."
Hobbs began to grin and straightened up. "Well then, bring your agent."
Herbert grabbed his smartphone, and it took a few minutes until a tall tanned cat with black hair entered the room. She wore a jumpsuit with white boots and white gloves and seemed a little surprised seeing Hobbs as she entered the room.
"Chief, what's wrong." She said and looked at Hobbs.
"Ah Kitty, allow me to introduce, General Andrew Hobbs. He wants to make you an offer."
"Uhm… sure." Kitty shook Hobbs's hand who seemed very eager to do that. "Kitty Katswell," she said introducing herself.
"A pleasure to meet you." Hobbs smiled. "I will also go straight to the point here, I have a job offer for you, Mrs. Katswell."
"A job offer?" Kitty seemed even more surprised now and looked at the chief.
"Listen to him… I can't deny it is a great opportunity." The chief hopped off the table with a defeated expression on his face. "We'll talk later Kitty." He closed the door leaving the two alone in the room.
Again, Hobbs nodded in approvement, even if everything around him had given it up, Herbert still knew the etiquette.
"I represent an agency called D.E.U.P. We are called when it comes to events that normal people can't explain anymore. I can't go into detail but… You might heard what happened at the research facility outside the city."
"General, I was the one who called the ambulance for you." She meant and Hobbs finally understood her surprised look.
"Ah, then first of all thank you for saving my life!" He shook her hand again this time even firmer. "And second, you probably have a slight idea now what we are doing."
"I have, kind of. What does the acronym stand for?" Kitty asked baldly which made Hobbs smile even more. He needed someone who asked questions.
"Department of Extraterrestrial and Unnatural Phenomena." He stated.
"Are we really talking about a government-funded agency here?" She retorted skeptically.
"If you don't believe me, why don't you ask the president at our quarterly white house meeting."
Kitty's eyes went wide in astonishment. "I never heard of this agency."
"We are a secret agency, and we are trying to emphasize secrecy. And I rather keep it that way."
"Well, that's a little sparse to make me…"
"I can provide additional information, just not before you join us." He said and then got a piece of paper out of his pocket and wrote something on it. "Also, the career chances from this point are ample." He put down the piece of paper and then slid it over to Kitty. "And if you are afraid about the monetary compensation, we are paying well, at least in my eyes."
Kitty grabbed the little note and looked at it. Her eyes grew even wider, and she put the paper back on the table.
"That's significantly more than I earn now." She gasped unintentionally.
"It's actually the monthly amount." The General grinned and Kitty looked at the paper once more in disbelief.
"You are joking, right?"
"I don't. The agency knows secrecy has its price." He nodded and handed her a business card. "Think about it, and when you've made a decision, call me."
"I… will consider it," Kitty replied and what followed was another handshake and then the General striding out of the room leaving Kitty alone staring at the business card.
She finally held it in her hands, the opportunity of a lifetime. Something she sometimes fantasized about but never dared to ask from life. This was her ticket up the ranks to something higher than the chief of T.U.F.F., even higher than a place in the supreme command.
She got out of the interrogation room and slowly proceeded to her office where she flopped down in her chair still clinging to her card like her life depended on it. Where would she end up if she followed the path? Maybe in Washington? Somewhere in the staffs of people that made the big decisions? It was exciting to fantasize about.
But with the fantasy growing into a possible reality a voice in her was reminding her of all that she would leave behind. Her mentor, her friends even parts of her family. And would Dudley follow her to wherever she had to move? A bittersweet feeling raised its head in her when she thought about him.
Their relationship over the last two months hadn't been easy. She kept on pressing the matter about his activities, following him even to places she had never expected him to go. Night clubs, weird caves in the woods, biker bars. And he kept denying and obviously lying to her which made every situation into a new powder keg that was ready to be set on fire.
She hated fighting with him, and what was worse than the fighting was that they didn't reconcile after it. The fight was basically just interrupted by sleep or by talks about the mundane. And speaking about sleep, after an especially big fight half a month ago, Dudley has moved to the couch. Kitty missed him lying next to him.
Everything would be easier if he would just come clean. Since when was he so persistent in his stubbornness? Usually, she had gotten everything out of him, given enough time. What were these secret missions? And why this secrecy towards her?
The longer she thought about it the angrier she got. A fit of anger that led to a decision.
"If he can have his secrets, so can I." She said, stood up, and stomped to the chief's office.
Inside Dudley was standing with the chief discussing something.
"Are we sure that the prison guards are not secretly working for D.O.O.M.?" The dog asked as he covered his face angrily with one hand.
"It surely seems so." The chief groaned. "Well, you know what to do, get Kitty and… ah great, she's already here."
"Chief." Kitty meant and gave Dudley a quick but frosty glance. "I have decided to take the General's offer."
The chief stared at her dumbfoundedly for a moment before clearing his throat. "Uhm… I didn't expect you to decide so quickly but… If this is your decision be sure, T.U.F.F. will always welcome you back with open arms."
"I know chief, thank you, for everyhting." She smiled and the chief and her were about to hug as Dudley interjected.
"Hold up, can someone please tell me what's going on?"
"Kitty has decided to leave T.U.F.F." The chief explained. "She received…"
"Yeah, I got that." The dog placed himself between Kitty and their boss. "So, I won't be at least informed about this decision?"
"You just were." She said baldly. "And it's not that you would have a hand in that."
"Maybe not but a little FYI from my girlfriend would have been nice, wouldn't it?"
"Oh" Kitty said and put her hands on her hips. "So, we ARE sharing secrets then?"
"Seriously, this again? I told you what I can, can't you leave it be?"
"I just did the same, why are you mad now?" She retorted and couldn't hide a little grin. Dudley's answer was just a face that was close to tears. He turned on his heel and left the office slamming the door behind him.
"That was… awkward." The chief commented sheepishly. "I think… we better celebrate your farewell another time."
"I… agree." Kitty looked at the door and couldn't feel anything but a little guilty. That was more than she had asked for. "I better go after him."
"You do." The chief said nodding.
Kitty ran down the T.U.F.F. building to the garages, she expected him to be there, after all, he had just got a mission from the chief. To the surprise of everybody who wasn't a workaholic like Kitty, Dudley really was down there bent over the open trunk of one of the T.U.F.F. mobiles.
"Dudley." Kitty panted as she had finally was close enough to him, so she didn't have to scream.
"What?" His voice sounded irritated as he forcefully closed the trunk.
"I just wanted to apologize… I didn't want to hurt you."
"Actually, you wanted to say: 'didn't want to hurt me that much'." He corrected her and got to the driver's side.
"N-no that's…"
"Keep it to yourself, Kitty." He angrily said and opened the door. "I don't want to hear it right now."
Kitty got to the passenger side of the car and got inside with him. "Dudley please, I didn't mean to…"
"Does this have a future, Kitty?" he suddenly asked before she could finish talking. "Because I don't like where this is going."
Kitty swallowed, even if she had thought about that lately she hadn't expected Dudley to start this conversation.
"I don't know… but I see the tendency…"
"I still love you Kitty… like with all my heart but this…" He sighed and spoke the words slower so he didn't choke on them. "… this is destroying me."
"I just can't…" Kitty felt panic rising in her. Of all the ways she had expected this to go, this was the worst outcome. "Listen I just hate this secrecy… I don't want to lose you Dudley… I love you."
"I need to think Kitty." A suppressed sob was noticeable and echoed through the car like thunder. "Give me some time."
Kitty understood and as she hesitantly got out of the car, she asked herself if that had been the right decision. Maybe the etiquette had demanded such an action, but wouldn't it have been better to stay in the car and not watch him drive off? She didn't know the right way to behave, this was no etiquette she was too familiar with.
-Ouch things seem not to go too well for the two of them, but let's see if they can make up. As always folks, thanks for reading. Tell me what you think in a PM or review and, of course, stay tuned :)-