Post by HappyTuesday on Feb 8, 2004 0:55:51 GMT -5
Night and there he stood, sneering icily into the moonlight, his profound features cast among the shadows, threatening anything that dared to approach. It was a precautionary thing really, the whole never turn you back on the enemy sort of fixation, the kind of paranoia that came with both the territory and the job. But for Brian these were one in the same; he worked where he lived and he lived where he worked, just another one of those simplistic yet volatile paradoxes that came with being a representative of the government so to speak. At least that's what he was forced to call himself these days; a government official ha! Why didn't they call him what he really was, a murder; a cold blooded killer relentless and efficient, even if it was for the soul purpose of preserving existence. Being forced to destroy life in order to give it, wasn't something that came easy, even to an agent as competent as Brian Lockhart, just another fact of epoch one became accustom to when leading the cloak and dagger type life style. Ten years.ten whole years since Brian left his family and friends back in Salem; It was after his senior year of high school; no longer able to sustain the anguish that bellowed with in him; all the fighting all the madness, he just had to get away; and so he turned his back on those who he held so dear in order to make a new life. But at the time Brian was young and naïve maybe even a little adventurous he didn't know any better, the world was a big place, however running from your problems never made things any better just delayed the inevitable. A lesson he would learn much later,
After his rapid departure from Salem the Lockhart family fell aloof his Mom and Dad divorced and his younger brother and sister were always caught in the middle of their feuding parents. As for Brian, he moved to Los Angeles and got a job as a data annalist for the CIA, slowly but surely he advanced through the ranks becoming one of the best field agents the bureau had ever seen. That's how this integral mess first began with the cold and secluded, agent Lockhart intaking a simple phone call from one of the senior successors at the agency.
***
"Hey Bri, how was Venice?" Chase Edmunds Brian's friend and college inquired as he entered the building were they both worked, "Oh the usual old routine; gathered some basic resonance dossier on our friends the Italians and disarmed a bomb all before breakfast." Brian replied with that same smug yet cocky grin he so often wore, as he snapped a key identification card through the lock on his office door. "Ha sounds like your really liven' it up, If Murdock let me run even half the assignments you get a year I'd be one happy agent, but noooo it's always Chase get me some coffee or Chase where's that Intel report I wanted it on my desk yesterday, He drives me nuts!"
"Um. well Chase maybe if you actually did the reports then you would have half the assignments I get"
"Speaking of assignments what has to be so god damn important that Murdock wanted us in here at 4AM! Doesn't this guy ever sleep?" Brian quipped
"Coffee?"
"No thanks I had my caffeine quota for the morning."
"But it's only 4AM"
"I've been here since 3:30!"
Brian just had to laugh at this, Chase reminded him so much of his sister Mimi, back in Salem her convivial go lucky attitude was really one of a kind at least what he had thought until he'd met Chase that is, he was an odd one that's for sure but some were along the line they had become the best of friends.
"Good morning gentlemen" Samuel Murdock's cold collaborated articulation infiltrated Brian's train of thought, "If you'd join me in the conference room the briefing about to begin"
Brian set down his now chilled cup of coffee and navigated his way to the far side of the CIA bullpen were the conference room was located, a large screen enraptured the wall showing Intel from all around the world, accented by a large oak table with many chairs positioned neatly around it. At the head sat Special Agent Murdock along with agents Ivers, Clarke, Bauer, Dessler, Almeida; and of course Edmunds. He took his place with in the long line of respected agents as Murdock cleared his throat to signify it was time to begin.
"You're probably wondering why you were called in here at such an hour, Well. it has come to our attention that a terrorist group by the name of second wave have taken control of a nuclear device and are threatening to detonate it on American soil." Murdock winced.
"Do we know where?" questioned Ivers
Sam seemed to stare at Brian, hunched over in the corner of the small room, a distance look in his eye.
"Salem Massachusetts. I wanted all of our resources dedicated to finding this bomb and no one is to know about it, for we don't want to cause a panic if the information is flawed. This means no calling home to talk to family or friends on till this is over. That will be all, God speed everyone."
"Agent Lockhart may I have a word with you in private?"
Chase gave him a rueful glace as he exited the conference room.
"Brian, look I know how hard this must be for you." Murdock began as he watched the distained look of worry on Brian's face grow heavy "but I need you to concentrate on finding this bomb and push other well. matters aside, You are by far the most culminating agent we've got, so I'm telling you this not only as your superior but as your friend and college don't trust anybody not even your own people. Terrorists have the ability to corrupt and in doing so ones values and sense of morality are obsolete. Anyone maybe a target"
Brian wasn't really sure what to think after Murdock's attempt of advice starting to seep in, hell he still hadn't gotten over the fact that his friends and family were in grave danger, he had to go but leaving meant facing his past, the past he'd run from for so very long. Things change people change but if.no when he did go back would they even recognize him, would they be able to forgive him for leaving but most of all would he be able to forgive him self.
Well that's the first chapter please tell me what you think, just something else I wanted to try, my wrist is feeling much better and I can type again lol!
So I should have the next chapter of Crimson Tears up tomorrow.