| "The Loan" | ||
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June 9, 2008 Section One 0730 Hours Footsteps echoing in the cold hallways, Jaime made his way to the perch, home of the head of Section One, Michael Samuelle. Meeting with Michael didn't have the same kind of ominous feel to it that going to the perch used to, when it was the domain of Operations. Whether it was because Jaime had known Michael before his ascension to head honcho status or if it was because Michael's presence didn't have this aura of impending doom about it, he wasn't sure. Nor did he really care. Looking around the place that had been his home�of sorts�for the past few years, Jaime noticed more than usual the lack of operatives that were still around from when he had first become a part of the Section world. Jaime often wondered where all the operatives had gone. Rumour in the trenches said they had been reassigned to some other organisation, or that they were simply dead. Following the disappearance of Paige he had tried to find out where she was, if she was alive, what she was doing. But all the evidence he could find pointed to the one answer he really didn't want to hear�Paige was dead. Pulling his now-dark hair out of its ponytail and resecuring it, Jaime stood outside the door to the perch and waited for the door to open. He didn't have to wait long. As the metal slab slid quietly aside he entered the room, glancing down at the activity on the main floor. "You're late" Jaime took his gaze from the main floor to look at Michael. He hadn't changed much in the past few years, the hair was a little longer perhaps but he was still the same old Michael, cold and distant. "Yeah, I know." The response was obviously not what Michael wanted. He paused slightly before continuing. "Where's the report for Albania?" Jaime reached into his jacket and pulled out a datapad. Without speaking he handed it over to Michael. Michael accepted the pad and looked it over briefly. Without looking up, he continued to speak. "You're being reassigned. You are now on loan to the United States Federal Government. As one of the top marksmen in the world you are being sent to the sniper school in Virginia, USA�to teach." "I'm going to be a teacher?" The surprise was evident in his voice. "The school is a cover. You are to be made available to work for either Section One or the Security Intelligence Agency when the need arises. You are not free of Section. Any attempt at running or betrayal will be met with cancellation" Jaime smiled slightly, "When have I ever tried to get out of here?" Michael just stared blankly. "You have one hour." Jaime nodded and started to leave. Reaching the door he stopped and turned to Michael. "Oh, this�Security Intelligence Agency. Anything I need to know about them?" "No." Jaime smiled knowingly and left the perch, thinking about his new assignment. Teaching at a sniper school. Should be interesting, teaching those government fellas how to handle a rifle properly. Musing quietly to himself, Jaime packed his gear, got changed into a business suit, and headed for Transport. New York City, 1500 hrs The car pulled up outside�a club. Jaime looked out the window at the sign above the front door�The Baha Bar. This was going to be interesting, to say the least. Opening the door, Jaime stepped into the warm Manhattan afternoon; glad he had decided not to wear his coat over the suit. Patting the driver's tinted window with an open palm, he pushed open the doors and stepped inside as the black car drove away. The place was empty. Should've figured it would be, being 3 in the afternoon. He looked around the place; it wasn't too shabby. Nothing too flash and glary�the kind of place he might go to socialise. There was a guy, middle aged, behind the counter. "Hey," Jaime called out to the guy, who was busy wiping down the bar for what was probably the hundredth time that day. "We're closed, can't you tell?" Replied the guy without looking up from the bar, a slight smile on his face. "And here I thought I'd got here in time for Happy Hour." Jaime quipped and moved over to the bar, leaning on a Fosters coaster. The guy finally looked up at him, a thoughtful look on his face. "Section One?" Jaime smiled, "SIA?" The guy nodded back and extended his hand, "Gray." Jaime shook Gray's hand, noticing the quiet strength in the man's grip, "Jaime." "So, you're the loan." "That's me. You're the tour guide?" Gray smiled, "Something like that, yes. Let me show you around." Jaime nodded and followed the man through a small passageway and into a small office. Swiping what Jaime assumed to be a security clearance card, Gray stood as a door opened in the wall and he stepped through into a larger, more richly appointed office, Jaime following closely behind. "Please, have a seat" Jaime looked around the office, sitting in one of the chairs in front of the large wooden desk as Gray sank into the high-backed leather chair behind the desk. Tapping lightly on the keyboard of the computer terminal in front of him, Gray looked over what Jaime had to assume was his dossier. "Jaime Marsterson, Section One. Level 2 Field Operative. Area of expertise?" Jaime smiled slightly, "Sharpshooter." Gray nodded and tapped the keyboard some more, probably making notes Jaime thought. "That wasn't in the file already?" Gray looked at Jaime as if peering over the rim of a pair of glasses, "No, it wasn't. Unfortunately this file is not nearly as complete as we would have liked. It says here you were used, on occasion, as a Valentine Operative." Jaime nodded, "That's correct, yes" "Were you a successful operative in this area?" "My performance evaluation reports should be included in the file, you can see there that my missions were, for the most part, considered successful." Gray turned the chair slightly to face Jaime rather than the computer screen, "Oh yes I've read the reports. I want your opinion on the matter." Jaime sat back in the chair, thinking, "I believe that while I was successful in my missions as a Valentine Operative my skills are more properly assigned to combat missions." "Good, we agree with that assessment, and is the reason we have organised to have access to your abilities should the need arise. Now, if you'll follow me, there's someone else you need to meet." Jaime nodded and preceded Gray out of the office and into a cream-coloured, brightly lit tunnel. Following Gray down the tunnel, Jaime paused as the older man swiped the card again and led him into an elevator. Once inside the elevator, Gray once again swiped the card and the elevator began to move. Once the elevator had reached it's destination Jaime once again preceded Gray into the next area, what looked to be some kind of foyer or waiting room. Gray moved to a door to their right and knocked lightly. Upon hearing a gentle "enter" from the room Gray opened the door and entered the room, expecting Jaime to follow as he didn't indicate either way whether he should or not. Upon entering the room Jaime noticed two things: one was that this office was less plush than the previous one, and the second was the older yet attractive woman behind the desk who stood to greet him. "Welcome, Jaime. My name is Rebecca Dorta, Director of the Security Intelligence Agency." Jaime shook the offered hand and smiled, "Jaime Marsterson. Operative on loan." "Indeed you are, Mr. Marsterson, although you won't be going by that name so long as you are working for us. For security reasons, when working for us or at your cover job at the sniper school in Virginia you will operate under the surname of Warner, is that going to be a problem?" "No, no problem." The Director of the SIA nodded curtly, "Good. Now, usually at this point we give our operatives a Psychological exam and then they are taken for a physical assessment session. Given your...special circumstances, I think we can dispense with these tests." Jaime nodded sincerely...he had no particular wish to be examined by some head shrinkers and then run through an obstacle course. "Is there anything else I can help you with?" He asked. Rebecca nodded, "We have a mission going out in a few hours. We could use your support and experience on it." "I will be briefed with the other operatives or separately?" "I think being in the same briefing will benefit both you and the team. The briefing is in 10 minutes." Jaime smiled, "Good thing I'm already here then." Return |
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