1 comments/ 15693 views/ 7 favorites Cloak and Dagger By: bbmaniac2002 Ava groaned when she heard the alarm clock erupt in its obnoxious announcement that another day was yet upon her. Reaching over to silence it, if only for a few precious moments, she pondered the monotony of her everyday life. Each day, she made her way to the CIA headquarters in Langley...only to occupy the same desk and perform the same mundane tasks. She reflected on her wide-eyed dreams of becoming a full fledged field agent and longed for that first big assignment. The alarm sounded again, jogging her mind from her thoughts, and urging her to get out of bed and repeat the all too familiar routine of readying herself for work. On the drive in, she remembered with great trepidation the training she'd received, and how intense it had been. She laughed a bit when she thought of the movie, 'The Recruit,' knowing how much of the actual training was left out. Sure, she'd learned to deceive others in order to gain the information she needed, and she had mastered an unequaled ability to gain the trust of any 'mark.' But the mental and physical training she endured had tested her resolve...almost to the point of making her forget her life-long dream of being a bona fide, lethal weapon for her country. She had a few 'flings,' but they didn't satisfy the deep seeded need for a relationship...a true relationship, one of love, respect and trust. Of course, the secretive nature of her job didn't allow for much social interaction outside of her fellow agents, and that left her with an emptiness in her heart that desperately wanted a companion...someone she could share her life with. She knew her affinity for women wasn't looked upon kindly...even in this 'enlightened' age, and that only served to amplify that longing within her. She was attractive, standing 5-6 with an athletic figure...although she knew how to dress and behave like a lady. Her eyes were nothing less than stunning, leaving anyone...both male and female...to look upon her with desire. Alas, her job kept coming in the way of her love life. As she approached the outer security check point, her mind immediately returned to business as usual. She plodded through another day of gathering general intelligence and meetings, and another tedious day finally came to an end. She gathered her belongings and went through the exit security checks before heading to her car. Before she could even open her door, her cell phone rang loudly. "Hello?" she answered. "Agent Sinclair," the voice on the other end began, "I have an assignment for you. Please report to the second level intel office immediately. "Yes sir, I'll be there shortly," she replied and heard an abrupt 'click' from the other end of the line. While excited about potentially receiving her first 'real' assignment, Ava found herself slightly aggravated at being pulled back into the building when she thought her day was done. Nonetheless, she did exactly as she had been instructed and made her way back through security to her destination. She was greeted by several agents with ranks far above that of her own, and for a moment felt somewhat intimidated...surprising, given her usual confidence and assertiveness. She was offered coffee and a seat at the large, brown conference table where several grey, unmarked folders lay awaiting inspection. No one in the room had to wait long before a senior agent entered the room and called the meeting to order. "We have a top-level, priority situation that needs immediate attention," he said gesturing to a large projection screen hanging from a central wall. Ava couldn't help but be more than awed by the enormity of the situation. Fear and anticipation fought their battles within her, and she found herself feeling again unsure of her abilities. "It seems that some North Korean militants have set up shop in New York. We don't know what their plans are, but since our relations with them haven't been cordial as of late, we need to find out all we can." A surge of excitement coursed through Ava's body in anticipation at the whole scenario. While she didn't like the fact that our government needed to keep such close tabs on the activities of others, she knew that what she had trained for was of utmost importance to the safety of our country. She anxiously awaited instructions to dive into the ominous folder before her, and she wasn't disappointed. "If you will all please open your assignment folders," he began, "You'll find the details for your individual part in this operation." Ava tore through hers with an urgency that caused some of her more seasoned colleagues to snicker a bit. Inside her folder was a picture of a North Korean woman known only by the name of Cho Min...which she found out meant beautiful and clever. Ava's task was pretty straightforward...she was to set up surveillance on her first 'mark' and wait for further instructions, while reporting daily as to the routine of Cho Min. The meeting concluded, and Ava was immediately put on a plane for New York. She had a small team of assistants, but the operation was pretty much hers. She now had the task of delegating the various aspects of the operation to her team. Holding a bulky folder in her hands, she began to look over the different jobs that needed attention. Sitting in her private quarters, she sorted through the information that Langley had been able to gather. Her perusal came to an abrupt stop when she came across the picture of Cho Min. Her eyes found not the portrait of an enemy, but, rather, an angelic face...surrounded by dark hair serving to highlight the piercing eyes that Ava found herself engulfed in. Knowing that it was her job...no, her duty to look upon this situation with complete objectivity, she struggled to not let her body and its needs take over the situation. She saw something delightful in the face of her enemy, but knew that she'd have to put her feelings aside. Deciding that she'd pondered the task at hand long enough, she put the folder aside for the night...knowing it would be waiting for her in the morning. Cloak and Dagger Pt. 2 Morning came too soon for Ava, as her sleep had been consumed with dreams further illuminating the exquisite qualities of Cho Min. She knew that objectivity was the key, but be it a deep-seeded need for female contact or a simple fascination, Ava found it more and more difficult to maintain any kind of impartiality. Everything about this woman...even though Ava knew nothing of her personality or even her real intentions, militantly speaking...left her with an almost undeniable urge to pursue this 'enemy.' After showering and getting dressed, Ava got to the business of assigning jobs to her team. She sent one team to set up surveillance at a restaurant that was a well-known gathering place for Cho Min and her accomplices. Another team was to shadow Cho Min's vehicle...noting every stopping point and looking for any sort of pattern in movement. The only job left was to send an agent to infiltrate Cho Min's faction. Ava saved that job for herself, even though she knew it was not only risky, but probably against her better professional judgment. The other team members went about their assignments, while Ava contemplated her strategy in gaining access to Cho Min's group. Since not all the members were Asian, Ava had a good shot at getting in. Obviously, she had no idea what Cho Min's sexual preference was, so choosing an outfit, approach...everything was complicated. After much deliberation, Ava came to the conclusion that gaining Cho Min's confidence was the most crucial thing, and her appearance didn't necessarily have anything to do with that. Her job, as she reminded herself, was to get inside and figure out what Cho Min and her militants had in mind. Ava had to admit that her training never prepared her for such a situation. Although, in retrospect, she wasn't surprised. The CIA was and always has been somewhat of a 'boy's club.' Still, a certain amount of uneasiness crept within her...she was beginning to doubt whether she was really ready for this, especially given the circumstances. She waved off those fears, knowing that there was indeed a job to do and that she must not disappoint her superiors. ------------- While the other members of her team were on their assignments, Ava prepared herself for her encounter with Cho Min and her entourage. She decided that the best approach would be for her to represent herself as someone who could provide extra security, using her obvious athletic and fit figure as an advantage. She knew that the group would be at the restaurant they seemed to call home and decided it was the best venue for her 'proposal,' since it was public and offered her a good sense of security. She dressed herself as if she were ready for a workout...perpetuating the idea that she'd make a good security assistant. Entering the restaurant, she took a seat at a table for one, allowing her to observe and draw attention to herself at the same time. She made sure that her table was close to that of Cho Min, so as to be able to overhear any conversation. As she nibbled on her lunch, Ava was able to hear that Cho Min did indeed need extra security. She played the usual CIA nonchalant role...waiting for the perfect moment to offer her services. Finally, a lull in the conversation came about and Ava wasted no time seizing the opportunity. She walked casually over to Cho Min's table and said, 'I couldn't help but overhear your discussion of your security predicament, and I would be interested in helping you out...that is, if you'll have me.' Cho Min looked over Ava with those intense eyes, almost causing Ava to become weak in the knees. Noting that Ava appeared to be American, Cho Min asked if she had any problems being associated with an anti-American group. Ava quickly answered, saying that America hadn't done much for her throughout her life. Cho Min grinned, and commented that Ava appeared to have what it would take to protect her. With that, Ava was 'inside.' Now she would be able to get a better idea of what exactly Cho Min had planned. The question remained, however....could she maintain her cover given her attraction to her new 'mark.' Ava resolved that she would have to or risk her life in the process. Cloak and Dagger Pt. 3 Cho Min wasted no time in utilizing Ava's services. Her group had some errands to run, so to speak, and Ava was immediately put to work providing her security assistance. Knowing that a team of hers was going to be shadowing Cho Min's every move made Ava feel more comfortable with the whole situation...even though she still felt an uneasiness that exasperated her. The entourage made its first stop at an army surplus store, furthering Ava's suspicions that Cho Min had more than diplomacy on her mind. They purchased some camouflage clothing, and made their way to the second stop...a secluded hut where they discussed some of the details of their plan. It was here that Ava discovered that Cho Min was in fact planning an attack on New York's subway system. Unfortunately, no specific information was divulged at this meeting, so all Ava knew was that something was in the works. Cho Min had exhaustive maps of the subway system, and gestured to several points on them...points that Ava tried to make note of. While her job was to provide extra security, Ava intended to gather as much information as she could. The group left after a rather lengthy meeting and headed back to Cho Min's 'headquarters.' She instructed one of her assistants to prepare quarters for Ava...nothing spectacular, just a bed and the expected amenities. As Ava got ready to retire for the day, she heard a disturbing noise from the main room. She immediately ran to see what was going on...after all; it was her 'job' to provide security. Upon entering the room, Ava saw that a rival group was in the process of attempting an attack. Ava and the other security officials moved Cho Min to safe quarters before taking on the attackers. Amongst gunfire, Ava rolled across the floor avoiding bullets before grabbing one of the shooters by the throat from behind. She caused him to drop his weapon, and then snapped his neck...removing him as a threat. The other security agents were acting in similar fashion, and the attack was soon over. Cho Min was brought back into the room and she surveyed the carnage before instructing her subordinates to incinerate the bodies so as to leave no trace of what had transpired. Ava found herself in an awkward position, knowing that destroying evidence of a crime was illegal. Thinking quickly, she managed to make sure that the others did the 'dirty work,' thus removing that burden. Once the job was done, Ava returned to her quarters. She wanted to rest, but she was still preoccupied with torrid thoughts of Cho Min. She told herself that she shouldn't feel the way she did, given Cho Min's obvious destructive plans, but she couldn't help reflecting on her desires. Cho Min appealed to everything that Ava looked for in a woman, and she wanted so much to pursue some kind of a relationship with her...any relationship. Ava finally relaxed enough to sleep, although...once again...her dreams were completely consumed with various scenarios involving her and Cho Min. Ava had no real idea what she was going to do, but knew that she would have to fulfill her assignment in spite of her feelings. She began to wish she hadn't given herself this assignment...she'd had no idea how difficult it was going to be. Cloak and Dagger Pt. 4 Ava was awakened suddenly before dawn, being told that Cho Min needed to meet someone. Disoriented, Ava gathered herself and accompanied the group to the same secluded hut they'd visited the day before. This time, an unknown individual was there waiting for Cho Min's arrival. He was very tall, maybe 6-8, and weighing at least 275...enough to inspire trepidation in even the most seasoned security aide. Ava and the other security people stood back while Cho Min and her accomplices talked with the mysterious stranger. Again, they were examining maps of the New York subway system, but they seemed more certain of their plans this time. Still, Ava had no clue what those plans were...she was trying to ascertain what exactly Cho Min had in mind. They went from the hut to an obscure warehouse, where Cho Min and the others had what seemed to be yet another planning meeting. All of a sudden, a pair of federal agents burst in, stating they had a warrant for Cho Min's arrest. Again, Ava found herself in an awkward position. She opted to allow the other security officials to handle the assassination of the feds and deal with the disposal of their bodies. The bunch then returned to their headquarters for the day. Cho Min began to take note of Ava's reluctance, and summoned her to her private quarters. Ava thought that she had certainly bought herself a death warrant...that Cho Min had pinned her as some kind of outside agent. When she arrived, Ava found out that Cho Min just wanted to question her reluctance to 'jump in,' on the two perilous incidents. Scrambling for some rational explanation, Ava told Cho Min that she thought the others had the situations under control without her. Cho Min seemed to accept that reason, and went on to comment that she thought Ava was an extremely attractive woman. Ava had no real idea where Cho Min's sexual preference lied, but she suddenly had that uneasy feeling again. If Cho Min knew what had been going through Ava's mind...well, who knows what would happen. Ava thanked Cho Min for her compliment and went to her own domicile. She found it more than difficult to focus on her assignment, but she was able to make a covert report to her superiors...noting the maps of the subway system, and Cho Min's obvious plans to carry out something insidious. Her report having been made, Ava lie back on her bed and contemplated her situation. She was a federal agent who not only had a job to do, but also had witnessed the assassination of some fellow agents. Then, there was her attraction to Cho Min...an attraction that now seemed to be mutual. An overwhelming sense of inadequacy began to creep in, and tears started to flow from Ava's eyes. She began to believe that she was indeed in over her head, but didn't know how to rectify the situation. Ava's tears were forced to be short-lived, because she heard a knock at her door. She went to answer it, only to find Cho Min on the other side. Without a word, Cho Min leaned in and planted a kiss on Ava's lips that could only be described as mind-blowing. Ava's questions about Cho Min and her intentions toward her were now put to rest, as Ava gave into the kiss...choosing to hold Cho Min's face as they kissed. Cho Min broke their kiss, only to say good night. With that...she left, leaving Ava to wonder what was happening She already had more than an affection for her enemy, and this incident only made her confusion that much stronger. She closed the door to her room...letting herself linger on the passionate kiss she and Cho Min had just exchanged. Whatever was happening between the two of them remained to be seen, and Ava knew that she would be forced to make some decision regarding her relationship with Cho Min. Cloak and Dagger Pt. 5 Although she had been lost in a confusing barrage of thoughts, Ava's Blackberry communication device caught the corner of her eye and she remembered that she would need to make another report. The Agency fitted all their field agents with these wireless, handheld gizmos, but Ava's had a few extra 'bells and whistles.' Along with its compact design and wireless capabilities, hers was equipped with an almost undetectable earpiece which allowed her to receive alerts without notice. She also had an optional mouthpiece that enabled her to verbally connect with the Agency if needed. It was a very subtle blinking light that drew her eye to the device and pulled her out of the haze of thought in which she'd been absorbed. When her earpiece wasn't in place, the blinking light was used to make her aware of the Agency's communications. She picked up the device and quickly accessed the message awaiting her. An indescribable feeling of complete panic began to rise within her as she took in the meaning behind the simple black characters before her, and Ava knew without even looking that her face was most likely ashen. The message read, 'Be advised...Key nuclear components found missing at nearby military facility. Cho Min's involvement not confirmed, but highly suspected. Confirm if possible.' Suddenly, Ava's mental focus had found a new target...and those mysterious maps of the New York subway system took on new meaning. She fought to put aside the panic she felt and gathered herself to formulate some plan. Her mind went over the layout of the building she was in and she opted to somehow sneak out of her room and try to gather some intelligence...without being seen. She picked up the Blackberry device and sent a message to Langley, explaining what her next move would be. ----------------- In a secluded room within the CIA headquarters in Langley, three men sat discussing the entire situation with Cho Min. Any observer would have easily picked up on the tenseness of their body language without hearing the heated conversation that was occurring. "Henderson, you said this wasn't going to be a problem. You said you had the situation under control!" shouted one of the agents. "That's right, Henderson. We both had your word that you had the perfect agent to assign to this thing..." shouted the other agent before being interrupted. "Simmons, shut-up, and Cooper sit down!" Henderson insisted. "I told you both that Agent Sinclair was the perfect choice because she's 'green' and, well, I think we all know where her 'preferences' lie." Cloak and Dagger The men shared a knowing laugh at Henderson's statement before Simmons continued, "It just looks as though she's pursuing the case, when you were sure she'd be too distracted to focus and actually do her job." "You know what we've got riding on this deal, Henderson. We can't afford for this agent of yours to bust up the operation or to figure out what's really going on," Cooper added. Henderson rolled his eyes and said, "Do you really think I don't know what we all have at stake here? Both of you need to relax. I don't think that Agent Sinclair will be able to see our little forest for the 'tree' we've planted her with." Simmons and Cooper still felt uneasy with the situation, but Henderson had managed to allay their concerns for the time being. Their conversation had to stop there when an assistant entered the room with news of an incoming update from Agent Sinclair. ----------------- Ava opened the door to her room quietly and checked the hallway for any wandering group members or security personnel. In truth, she shouldn't have much trouble explaining being out of her room, but she didn't want to put any more attention on herself than was necessary. The hallway clear, Ava made her way out toward the main meeting area...where she hoped she'd be able to find a few threads of evidence that she could weave into something that would make sense. As she approached the room, she could hear the voices of two of Cho Min's associates. She stopped after being able to identify their voices as Cho Min's closest assistant Kyung Soon (which meant 'honored and gentle') and the man they had met earlier that day at the hut. Kyung Soon was rarely far from Cho Min's side, in fact, part of Ava's confusion with Cho Min's kiss had been just this...she already seemed to have a woman who, for all intents and purposes, appeared to be more than just an assistant. Kyung Soon was a beautiful woman and she had a protective quality that Ava figured Cho Min found appealing, even though she had never seen anything occur between them to confirm her initial suspicions. In listening to the two talk, she heard Kyung Soon refer to the mysterious man from the hut as Sergeant Lopez...obviously affiliated with the military, but she wasn't sure if he was one of ours or what branch of the military he was with. Remaining as still and quiet as possible, Ava continued listening to their conversation, and noticed it taking a sudden tone of familiarity. "You were able to get the materials, Ron?" asked Kyung Soon. "I got everything on the man's list...with this uniform, it was easy," Sergeant Lopez replied, "We're completely on schedule and this whole ordeal will be over for us soon." Ava crept a bit closer to the edge of the wall leading into the meeting room and was able to see the two exchange an almost fevered, but brief kiss...bringing into question both the exact identity of Sergeant Lopez and the relationship between Kyung Soon and Cho Min. As she pondered these questions, she felt a tap on her shoulder. Trying not to jump completely out of her skin, Ava turned quickly to see Cho Min standing next to her. "Are you lost?" Cho Min asked. Ava gathered herself and tried to respond quickly without making it seem like she was trying to come up with an explanation. "No, I thought I heard voices and decided to investigate...but it was just Kyung Soon," Ava answered confidently. Since even Cho Min didn't seem to know Sergeant Lopez at their meeting earlier, Ava thought it best not to mention his role in the conversation. After all, Ava needed to find out who he was, and, for that matter, who Kyung Soon really was before she could do anything. Cho Min nodded and asked if everything appeared to be alright as she reached out to take Ava's hand. Ava nodded and Cho Min tugged at her hand, pulling her closer to the incredible beauty before her. Ava's mind ran with the knowledge that she needed to get to her Blackberry device and make a report as soon as possible, coupled with the sensations she got as Cho Min reached up to caress her cheek. She knew that running away now would cast more than a little suspicion on her, and she felt herself giving in again as Cho Min leaned in and brushed her lips against Ava's. Soon, they were engaged in another intensely passionate kiss that had both women so preoccupied that they didn't notice Kyung Soon as she rounded the corner. Kyung Soon had other things on her mind as well, and ended up bumping into the couple, breaking their kiss and giving Ava a chance to excuse herself...appearing to be embarrassed by being caught in a 'compromising position.' She went straight to her room, waiting a few moments to see if she'd been followed before sending a message to Langley requesting information on both Kyung Soon and Sergeant Ron Lopez. ------------------ Henderson took the message from his assistant and motioned for him to leave, taking his seat very slowly. "From the look on your face, Henderson, I take it this isn't good news," Simmons commented. Henderson remained quiet, just staring at the piece of paper that he held in his hand. "For God's sake, Henderson!" Cooper shouted, "What the hell is going on?" "Agent Sinclair has become aware of Sergeant Lopez and has suspicions about the identity and motives of Kyung Soon," Henderson announced with a slight tremor in his voice. "My God, she's going to figure this out! We're all dead, Henderson!" Cooper yelled in a panic. Simmons tried to hold everyone together, and summoned for Henderson's assistant. When the assistant arrived, Simmons asked "Has this message already hit the operation's central intelligence headquarters yet?" Three pairs of very anxious eyes looked upon the young man as he answered in the affirmative. The room remained deathly still and all Henderson could manage to mutter was a very weak, "That'll be all," as he again motioned for his assistant to leave. Cloak and Dagger Pt. 6 Ava found herself hovering outside Cho Min's room...debating whether to knock on her door or forget the desire she felt and return to her own room. Eventually, she raised a tentative hand up and rapped lightly on the door. Within seconds, Cho Min opened her door and donned a grin that showed the satisfaction she felt in drawing Ava to her. She stepped aside and opened the door wider, allowing Ava into her room. The door closed, and Ava sensed that Cho Min had moved in close. She could feel Cho Min's breath on her neck, followed closely by the feel of her warm face nuzzling in from behind. A sudden shiver surged down her spine as she felt Cho Min's lips planting feathery kisses along her neck and shoulders, and Ava allowed a soft moan escape her lips. She could feel Cho Min smiling as she continued to cover the nape of her neck with gentle kisses. Turning to face Cho Min, Ava found herself gazing into her eyes with a hunger that she hadn't felt in such a long time. She leaned in and pressed her lips against Cho Min's, drawing them into a slow, lingering kiss. Another moan could be heard as Cho Min's tongue sought out Ava's mouth. The next several minutes were a flurry of hands, as Ava allowed Cho Min to undress her and lay her upon the bed. She felt those warm, succulent lips mapping out her neck and chest as Cho Min made her way to her breast. Ava took in a sharp breath as her breast was engulfed, then let out a groan. While attention was being paid to her breasts, Ava began to hear a voice, 'Agent Sinclair,' it said. 'Agent Sinclair,' the voice repeated, and Ava was suddenly pulled out of Cho Min's reach as she returned from what seemed to be a dream. Gathering her senses, Ava realized that she was hearing her name being called through her earpiece...meaning there must be an incoming message from Langley. She sat up and collected her Blackberry device, still attempting to shake the dream that had seemed so real. She shook her head and told herself to get a grip, as she settled in to retrieve her message. ------------ Doug Carpenter sat in his office looking over various memos and reports when he came across a confusing report from Agent Ava Sinclair. It was clear that she was involved in some sort of operation, but he knew nothing about it and knew he hadn't authorized it. As the director of the CIA, it was his job to approve every mission...although he knew that there were those who managed to circumvent his authority. He turned to his computer and pulled up Ava's records, only to discover that she was a fairly new agent and was certainly not ready to orchestrate any field operations. Immediately, Carpenter called for his assistant and instructed him to conduct a detailed investigation into the mysterious operation. Not only did he need to know the exact objectives for the operation, but also who was behind it...who would have had the audacity to assemble and carry out a mission without going through the proper channels. Unsanctioned missions almost always spelled trouble for the agents involved, and he didn't want to see such a young agent caught up in someone else's underhanded exploits. ------------ As she logged in, Ava still had visions from her vividly explicit dream swirling about in her mind. Cho Min was becoming more and more of a distraction at a time when Ava needed to be completely focused. She hated the fact that her thoughts had been consumed with her attraction, and that those thoughts left her with an indescribable feebleness. Trying again to shake off her intense dream, Ava retrieved her message from Langley. It read, 'Be advised...Kyung Soon and Lopez are not your concern...Remain focused on Cho Min.' Ava was suddenly confused. She had tried to make it clear in her previous message to Langley that she suspected Kyung Soon and Lopez were involved in the planning of the subway attack, and that their involvement seemed to be deep. Why she was being told to disregard that...she didn't know, but she was incredibly uneasy about the whole thing. Something wasn't right...she couldn't put her finger on it, but she knew that something was wrong. Cloak and Dagger Pt. 7 Washington – One Year Ago Closed door meeting involving two members of the Congressional Intelligence Committee and CIA agents Henderson, Simmons and Cooper. ------------ "I don't understand why we've been called to this meeting," Henderson started, "It seems we should be meeting with the entire committee." Congressman Dean, a career politician from Ohio, replied, "If what we had in mind for you was above board and legal, we would be meeting with the whole committee. But since this is something of a 'black op' we decided it was best to meet privately." Henderson looked over at his colleagues then asked, "Are you saying that you intend to involve us in an illegal operation?" Dean's cohort, Congressman Carlisle, another career politician hailing from New Hampshire said, "Since the President is unwilling to take care of the problem, we've decided to force him into it." A very perplexed Simmons asked, "Exactly what is the problem you want handled, and why are we being asked to help you?" "We might as well just cut to the chase," Dean began, "As you know, North Korea has developed a rather sophisticated nuclear program and has been threatening South Korea as well as several other countries in the area. The President has exhausted all of our diplomatic capabilities, but is unwilling to send troops in to neutralize the threat." Carlisle added, "Yes, and a nuclear North Korea means economic problems for us and for our allies...who've already stated that it's their wish that we attack." Cooper replied, "The CIA has already given the President a report on the extent of North Korea's capabilities, so I'm not sure..." Henderson interrupted him, "If I understand you correctly, you want us to orchestrate an unsanctioned mission to somehow force the President into attacking North Korea." "That's it exactly," Dean replied. Cooper laughed and said, "That's preposterous! How in the world are we going to pull that off?" "I want to know what's in it for us," Henderson said, "I mean, you don't expect us to engage in such an endeavor without some form of compensation." "You can't be serious, Henderson! There's no way we can do this!" Cooper replied. Simmons jumped in and said, "Cooper, shut-up and listen to their offer! We can do the job if the price is right." Carlisle presented the three men with folders outlining the details of the mission. As they looked over the information, he explained, "We are prepared to introduce a bill that will dramatically increase the CIA's budget and we will support your nominations to the Homeland Security Department...if you succeed, that is." "We'll leave you three to look over all the details and make a decision," Dean said, "and that decision will be needed today, gentlemen." With that, Dean and Carlisle left the room, leaving Henderson with the job of convincing the others to acquiesce. Simmons seemed to be on board, but Cooper's entire demeanor shouted uncertainty. Henderson was able to calm him somewhat when he pointed out that the whole mission had been meticulously planned...leaving them to hand-pick the operation's personnel. They studied the game plan before them, and discovered that the main objective was to assist a North Korean militant group in carrying out an attack on the New York subway system. It was thought that such an action would leave the President with no choice but to attack North Korea and root out the terrorists while defusing the nuclear threat. The committee knew that two of its operatives were, in fact, double agents working for both North Korea and South Korea. The first step in launching this mission was to meet with these operatives and essentially blackmail them into cooperating...If North Korea were to learn of their double agent status, the punishment would be immediate execution. "My God," Cooper said, "If we get caught in this, we're dead...You know that, don't you?" Simmons answered, "We don't have any intention of being caught, and this plan is so perfect, I don't see how we could be caught." "Besides," Henderson added, "A spot with Homeland Security would be a giant step up, not to mention being responsible for additional CIA funding. We'll be seen as heroes in the end." Cooper sighed and said, "North Korea is a threat, and we do need to do something about it...I just wish there were another way to go about it. This is going to cost many innocent people their lives in a city that's already had more than its fair share of terrorism and death." Henderson jumped in and said, "Well then, it sounds like we're settled...Right, Cooper?" Cooper hung his head and nodded as Henderson picked up the phone and called Congressman Dean's office to inform him of their decision. ------------- Langley – Present Day Office of Doug Carpenter, Director of the CIA -------------- Carpenter's assistant entered the room bearing news of his preliminary findings in his investigation of the apparent unsanctioned mission. "Sir, I've been able to determine who assigned Agent Sinclair to this operation...It appears that the order came from Agent Henderson's office," the assistant explained. Carpenter shook his head and replied, "Henderson, huh? That son of a bitch will do anything to get promoted or draw attention to himself." "What do we know about the mission?" Carpenter asked. "Very little, sir, except that Agent Sinclair inquired about two of our operatives in South Korea...The two that we found out were working with the North Korean government as well," his assistant answered. "Kyung Soon and Sergeant Lopez? What did she ask about them?" Carpenter asked. His assistant flipped through a few pages of notes and found the transcript of the communications between Agent Sinclair and Henderson's office, "It seems they are involved in the operation, and she is suspicious of them," he said. "With good reason, I'm sure," Carpenter replied, "I'm trying to get a handle on this. Henderson organized a covert operation without the Agency's approval and placed an agent with no prior field experience in charge...Am I getting all this right?" "It appears that way, sir, but we still don't know what the mission's objective is. Since Agent Sinclair seems suspicious of two of the players, it's probably safe to say that she's not completely 'in the loop' as far as vital information goes," his assistant added. Carpenter shook his head again in disgust, "Henderson plucked her out of her office and right in the middle of something that could get her killed. When we get to the bottom of this, I want his head mounted on this wall," he said, gesturing to the wall behind his desk. ------------ Ava went about the routine of accompanying Cho Min and her entourage on their various excursions, while waiting on something...anything that might explain the strange comments made by Kyung Soon and Lopez. The tension between she and Cho Min was extreme, and Ava found herself wishing that Cho Min wasn't an enemy. With the day completed, Ava retired to her quarters. As she entered the room, her eyes were immediately drawn to the subtle blinking light on her Blackberry device. She quickly logged in and found she had a message from the CIA Director. Puzzled, she read the message, "Possible foul play involved with this mission...Henderson responsible...Direct all reports to my office and advise me about any further messages from Henderson." Ava drew in a long breath and released it as she tried to wrap her mind around what she'd just read. "My first field assignment," she said to herself with a bit of sarcasm, "and it's an illegal, unsanctioned mission. This is just great!" Cloak and Dagger – Pt. 8 In pondering her current predicament, Ava realized that she never got a straightforward response to her question regarding Kyung Soon and Sergeant Lopez. Since it appeared that the entire operation was anything but straightforward, she wondered whom she could trust. Working in the company of spies, where people deal in lies and manipulate situations to fit their own agendas, was proving to offer very little to bank on in the trust department. She started to send another message to Henderson, asking her question again, reiterating her reasons for suspicion...but she remembered something about Director Carpenter's message that stopped her and made her rethink her next move. It was clear that Carpenter suspected that something had gone awry, and that Ava might be in harm's way...a fact he didn't have to make her aware of. Ultimately, though, it was that very fact that acted as the deciding factor, and Ava prepared a message to Carpenter's office detailing what she had seen and heard regarding Kyung Soon and Lopez. She decided to add a further inquiry into how she should handle messages from Henderson's office. If she were to ignore his messages, Henderson may begin to question her loyalty, putting her in an even more perilous situation. She sat down and worked out her message to Carpenter, making it clear that she would need to know how to respond to Henderson, as he was sure to be contacting her soon. Ava was startled a bit when she heard an abrupt knock at her door. Opening the door, Ava was face to face with Kyung Soon. It was probably her imagination working overtime, but Ava was suddenly very nervous...part of her wondered if any of the other staff had been able to figure out who she really was. She managed to mumble, "Can I help you?" Kyung Soon replied, "Cho Min wants to see you...something about going over tomorrow's schedule with you." Ava thanked her and made her way to Cho Min's room...over-thinking the situation as she walked. On the one hand, she was excited that she was going to be with Cho Min...even if it were for just a few minutes. On the other hand, her 'Secret Agent' mentality was shouting for her to be extremely careful...there was no telling who was involved in whatever was going on. Just before she reached Cho Min's door, she said to herself, "Maybe if I'd enrolled in a convent the day I decided to be an agent...Ugh, this assignment has seriously clouded my thinking." Cloak and Dagger She shook her head and mustered a slight laugh at herself as she knocked on the door, waiting for Cho Min to answer. ----------- Back in the secluded meeting room within the Langley headquarters, Henderson met with his cohorts Simmons and Cooper. While it was obvious that they had a problem, Henderson felt confident that the mission's objective had not yet been compromised. "Have we heard anything else from Agent Sinclair?" Simmons asked. Henderson seemed to be searching for the words that would convey the confidence that he wished he felt, if only to mitigate the palpable fear that hung heavily in the room. Cooper grew very impatient, "Henderson! We have to know what Sinclair knows and if she's been in contact with anyone else...if we don't..." Simmons cut him off. "It's only a matter of time before Carpenter's office will find out that something is going on...if they haven't already," Simmons added. "I understand what both of you are saying, but what we need right now are cool heads and some focus," Henderson stated, "Do we have anyone in Carpenter's office who we can trust?" The three men thought for a few moments, but came up empty. Cooper became more and more agitated as the reality of what was happening began to sink in. Finally, he spoke up, "I think the time has come to abort this mission. I don't see how we can safely continue under the circumstances." Simmons became livid, "Abort?! We can't possibly abort now...we have way too much invested in this little project and a huge paper trail to boot." Henderson jumped in, "Besides that, if we don't follow through on this and get Carlisle and Dean the results they want, we won't get that promotion they promised." "A promotion?" Cooper started, "You're worried about your precious promotion? At this point, we'll all be lucky if we're not publicly executed for this!" He shouted. "You're being melodramatic, Cooper," Simmons interjected, "Henderson has a good point...if we can't handle this, Carlisle and Dean will never trust us with anything else." "So we go back to being the ordinary agents that we were before we agreed to this...what's so bad about that?" Cooper asked. Henderson stood up and slammed his fist against the table, breaking up the argument between Simmons and Cooper. "This isn't up for discussion!" he shouted. "We're seeing this mission through and we're going to make sure that no one in Carpenter's office interferes with..." Cooper interrupted him. "And how do you propose to do that?" he asked. "We've already established that we don't have any allies in that office." Henderson's anger was clear as he said with a clenched jaw, "Then we'll make an ally...but we will not abort this mission!" Exasperated, Cooper stormed out of the room leaving Simmons and Henderson both fuming and anxious about Cooper's loyalty. Henderson called for his assistant. "I want Cooper followed. I want every phone he uses tapped and I want updates on his every move," he ordered. His assistant nodded as he noted everything Henderson wanted and left the two men. "Should I be concerned, Henderson?" Simmons asked. "Not yet," Henderson answered, "We'll get an ally and we'll keep a close eye on Cooper for now. If Carpenter has gotten any information, he won't know what to do with it. All of our communications with Agent Sinclair have been cryptic enough to keep him guessing for a while." -------------- Cho Min opened the door and stepped back, allowing Ava to enter. There was a mountain of unopened mail on her desk and she was obviously working on tackling it. "You wanted to see me?" Ava asked. Cho Min motioned for her to take a seat as she continued to open her mail, "Yes, Ava, I told Kyung Soon that I wanted to discuss tomorrow's schedule with you, but the truth is that I just wanted to see you," she said, glancing up to gauge Ava's response. Ava sat almost motionless in her chair, searching for something to say. Cho Min had an undeniable hold over her, and hearing those words seemed to render her speechless. She was temporarily rescued when Cho Min continued her thought. "I'm very interested in being with you," she stated, and Ava again felt the gravity of Cho Min's simple words. Her mind was still trying to come to grips with the situation, but she was finally able to put together a thought. "I'm not sure that it would be a good idea for us to be involved, my being one of your employees," Ava explained, betraying all the signals her body was sending. Cho Min went on attending to her mail, pausing to meet Ava's eyes. Not mere words, but paragraphs could be read in those eyes, and Ava felt tormented. She so wanted to explore a relationship with Cho Min, but found herself fighting a losing battle with her more rational side. Cho Min came to a large manila envelope, and mumbled something about it's having no return address. She noted several stamps on the package and surmised that it must have come from North Korea. She opened the package, emptying its contents onto her desktop. Both women gasped in horror as their eyes were drawn to a single human finger lying on the desk. The finger was accompanied by a note which Cho Min snatched up immediately. Ava watched as she read the note and sank into her chair. Cho Min began crying and babbling, but Ava was able to make out what she was saying. She was repeating herself, saying, "They promised to leave my family out of this." Ava stood up and took the note from Cho Min's hand. A single sentence in block lettering read, "Your mother suggests you speed up the operation." Cho Min acknowledged that the finger bore a treasured family heirloom...a ring which had been in the family for at least two centuries. ----------- Cooper sat in his office contemplating his options. He could go along with Henderson and Simmons, but he believed that would only end up in disaster. His only other option was to get to Carpenter and somehow tip him off about the operation. He was suddenly filled with guilt over having involved Agent Sinclair, and instantly knew what choice he would have to make. He reached for his phone and talked with his assistant, "I need you to get Carpenter's office on the phone for me," he said. "Yes, sir." Replied his assistant, and he made the call...but not before calling Henderson's office and informing him of Cooper's move. Cloak and Dagger – Pt. 9 After receiving Agent Sinclair's reply, Carpenter knew that he and his staff were going to be battling against Henderson's staff in the race for information. He called in his assistant for an update. "Tell me that we know something new," Carpenter said. "I'm afraid not, sir," his assistant replied, "But we're still working on it. We have a tap on Henderson's phone and the intelligence headquarters has been alerted, so we'll be advised of any communication immediately." Carpenter rubbed his temples and continued, "Send a message to Agent Sinclair, telling her what we know about Kyung Soon and Lopez." His assistant stopped writing and asked, "Are you sure that's wise, sir?" "I have no choice. If we're going to find out what this operation is all about, we'll have to provide her with every bit of information we have," Carpenter replied. "And how should she handle any further communication from Henderson?" the assistant asked. "Advise her to play along with Henderson for now. I don't want to put anyone in danger, but I have to know what role Henderson is playing in all this as well as who else is involved," Carpenter answered. His assistant took down his instructions and then remembered Cooper's call to the office earlier. "Sir, we received a call from Agent Cooper requesting an off-campus meeting with you," he explained. "Cooper? Did he give any clue as to what he wants to meet about or why he wants to meet off-campus?" Carpenter asked. His assistant shook his head, but then added, "The only thing he said was that he had information that he thought you might be looking for." Carpenter never liked these covert meetings, but felt he had no choice...especially if Cooper had information about Henderson's activities. He told his assistant to set the meeting up for later that afternoon, and to schedule a briefing with the President. ------------ It suddenly became clear to Ava that Cho Min was an unwilling participant in this mission. She knew that she would have to reveal the fact that she was a CIA agent; if only to give her some hope that her family would be rescued. She walked over to Cho Min and embraced her as she continued to sob almost uncontrollably. Fearing that the room might have 'ears,' Ava whispered in Cho Min's ear, "I'm an agent with the CIA, assigned to investigate your operation." Cho Min froze and fear began to fill her teary eyes. Ava scrambled for some paper and a pen, and she wrote a note begging Cho Min not to be afraid...that she knew she was being forced to participate. She saw Cho Min begin to relax and wrote another note asking for all the information she had and promising to do everything she could to rescue her family. Cho Min took the pen and a fresh sheet of paper and, with a shaky hand, outlined the details of Henderson's plot for Ava. The sudden realization that she was in the middle of such a devious and destructive plot filled Ava with horror, and she felt as if she might vomit. She caught a glimpse of the concern that flashed across Cho Min's face and forced herself to pull together. She took the pen back and wrote, "I will stop this, and I will get your family back." She offered the reassuring note to Cho Min with a smile that she hoped would provide the comfort that her so-called adversary needed so desperately. Still shocked by the circumstances in which she found herself so completely engulfed, Cho Min managed a slight nod, and began scribbling another note. Ava read that Cho Min and her family used to be involved with the North Korean militants, but had recently defected safely to South Korea. Cho Min was abducted by a group of disenchanted South Korean soldiers who were in cahoots with certain congressional leaders and, by extension, Henderson and his cohorts. She met Henderson and the others as well as Kyung Soon and Lopez at a hastily thrown together meeting where they were told of the plot. Cho Min was told that if she declined, she would be sent back to North Korea...a certain death sentence for her. Kyung Soon and Lopez were told that their double-agent status would be revealed to the North Koreans...another certain death sentence...if they refused to cooperate. Cho Min reiterated in her note that her family had never been mentioned by any of the conspirators. Ava suddenly felt the pain that Cho Min must have been feeling. It was strange, the connection she seemed to have with this woman, but she was able to see the thought process so clearly. Cho Min had been careful not to mention her family to anyone, hoping that if she just went through with the plan (the end result of which would be favorable for South Korea), she'd be reunited with them and they'd all be just a little safer. In her wildest dreams, she never imagined that her family would ever become involved...especially not to the point of being kidnapped and tortured. Ava knew and instantly understood the panic and terror that she saw in Cho Min's eyes. With all being clear now, Ava met Cho Min's eyes and offered a look of empathy. Cho Min held her gaze with Ava, trying to remain her usual strong self even as her eyes filled yet again with tears, and her lips began to quiver. Ava wrapped her arms around Cho Min again; whispering calming words in her ear as she gently stroked her hair, and encouraged her to let everything out. When she sensed that Cho Min was calmer, Ava whispered, "My word is solid...I will get your family back. For the time being, we both have to play along and act as if none of this has happened...just until Langley decides how we should proceed." Still in Ava's arms with tears rolling down her face and onto Ava's shoulder, Cho Min nodded in understanding. Ava stayed and held her tenderly as wave after wave of fear, anger and grief seemed to wash over her. While she continued holding her and whispering sweet, calming words to Cho Min, Ava felt an anger...no rage...building up from the pit of her stomach. She wanted to have a part in making the conspirators suffer. ------------- Henderson's assistant came flying into his office waving about a piece of paper and shouted, almost breathlessly, "We've got a tip, sir!" Henderson, somewhat taken aback at the abrupt entrance of his assistant, motioned for him to sit. "What have you got for me, son?" he asked. "We just got a call from George, uh...I mean Agent Cooper's assistant...and it seems that he placed a call to Carpenter's office and asked for an off-campus meeting on Cooper's behalf," the assistant explained. Henderson sat up sharply in his big leather desk chair before asking, "Do we know where and when this meeting will take place?" His assistant gestured toward the piece of paper he'd been flailing about earlier and said, "I got a printout of Cooper's schedule for the next two days. I thought..." Henderson interrupted him. "Let me see that please," Henderson said as he leaned forward to snatch the paper from his assistant's hand. He surveyed the schedule before him and then slammed it down on his desktop in frustration, "This doesn't tell me anything about a meeting with Cooper...You were supposed to bring me information I could actually use." As Henderson rested his head in his hands, his assistant tentatively began speaking again, "If you'll look again, Cooper has a one hour block scheduled for something off-campus. We're not sure yet where he's going, but we do know when." "Have we secured an ally in Carpenter's office yet?" Henderson asked. His assistant nodded in the affirmative and added, "We're waiting for confirmation from our link in Carpenter's office. It's possible we'll have the location identified soon." Henderson nodded and motioned for his assistant to leave. He reached for his phone and called Simmons. When Simmons answered, Henderson began, "I think we have a problem with Cooper." Simmons stammered for a second but was finally able to speak, "H-H-How do you mean?" he asked. "He's set up a meeting with Carpenter...we don't have all the details yet, but I'm working on it," Henderson replied. After a long pause, Simmons began shouting, "You're working on it? What the hell does that mean? For all you know, he's already spilled his guts to Carpenter and some glorified desk jockey is already preparing the warrants for our arrests!" Henderson tried to calm Simmons, but he found himself getting another earful, "Clean this up now, Henderson...or we'll all hang!" Simmons shouted and slammed the phone back on its receiver. Henderson sat back in his chair, attempting to hatch some foolproof way of getting out of the obvious mess that he and his associates were in. This wasn't the way he'd planned for the operation to proceed...in fact; it had seemed so simple, so perfect. Still, he was in a jam and needed to find some way out...and soon. ------------ After spending several minutes calming Cho Min, Ava whispered that she needed to make a report immediately so Carpenter would know the full extent of the plot. Cho Min pulled away and nodded in understanding as she watched Ava jot down another note. She read Ava's instructions to continue with the day's plans and looked back up at Ava with a tentative nod. That incredible empathetic feeling Ava experienced moments earlier flooded over her again, and she reached up a hand to caress Cho Min's cheek. She moved in closer and kissed Cho Min...initiating the contact for the first time. It was a gentle kiss that she hoped conveyed at least a modicum of the feelings she had for Cho Min. She broke the kiss and wiped the tears from Cho Min's eyes before going to her room to make her report. Since Carpenter had already sent some information to Ava, she found her Blackberry device blinking wildly at her as she entered her room. She logged in and read what she already knew about Kyung Soon and Lopez, and she was relieved that her reflex advice to Cho Min about going along with the plan was exactly what Carpenter had in mind. She settled at her desk with the notes she'd exchanged with Cho Min and put together an elaborate map of the plot and most of the players involved. As she reflected on the gravity of the message she'd just constructed, Ava felt consumed with anger and fury. She only hoped that the information she provided was going to be good enough to help Carpenter and the others diffuse the situation. Cloak and Dagger Pt. 10 Henderson was still reeling from his explosive conversation with Simmons when his assistant buzzed him, saying that Congressman Dean was on the line. Panic immediately filled his mind as he tried to compose himself. He reached for the phone and answered, saying, "Yes, sir...uh, what can I do for you?" No amount of effort could cover the obvious trepidation in Henderson's voice, and Dean was quick to notice it, "What's the problem, Henderson? You sound as though you're about to jump out of your skin over there," he commented. Henderson cleared his throat and began, "A problem? Oh, no sir...uh, well we have sort of run into..." Dean interrupted him. "Glad to hear it, because you will be meeting with us in an hour for a status update," he explained, "The usual meeting place...see you there." With that, the conversation ended...leaving Henderson in an even bigger panic. He frantically called for his assistant and instructed him to employ the use of a 'sweeper'...in his mind, the only thing he could do to save the operation was to wipe out Cooper. Sweepers were agents trained for one reason...to take out any threats and 'clean up' any messes. Henderson's assistant was dumbfounded, "A sweeper, but sir...they're only used in the most dire of situations," he explained. Henderson sat wordlessly for a moment, seemingly digesting what his assistant had just said...but then responded in an almost nonsensical manner, "Cooper has to be stopped or the operation will fail. Then, what would I tell Dean and Carlisle?" "Sir, with all due respect, I really don't think that Dean and Carlisle are who we need to be worrying about right now," his assistant replied, still completely befuddled by the train of thought (or lack thereof) of his boss. Almost sarcastically, Henderson replied, "You're not paid to think unless I tell you to...Just get a sweeper assigned now!" "But sir...Carpenter's office will..." his assistant tried to warn him, but was cut off by a wave of Henderson's hand. He walked out of the office and completed his thought under his breath, "Carpenter's office will be the first to be alerted when a sweeper is activated." He shook his head and made his way back to his desk to carry out Henderson's order. ------------ Carpenter's office was hectic with activity as Ava's report, including all the details she had gleaned from Cho Min, was being thoroughly evaluated. Ava had provided them with enough information, including a diagram of the facility she was in and a weapon's breakdown, that a counter-offensive mission was rapidly being pieced together. It was while Carpenter was assembling the personnel and protocol for this mission that he received the 'sweeper alert.' Given the information he had, Carpenter knew that Cooper had to be the target. Their meeting wasn't for another hour, so Carpenter immediately dispatched agents to collect Cooper and place him in protective custody. If Cooper was going to die, Carpenter wanted the honor of killing him...after he got the information he needed, that is.