1 Initiation

"Normally, I would be more than happy to promote you. Your record is stellar, there hasn't been a mission you haven't been successful in, and you can think fast on your feet and engage just as quickly." Lacey Tremaine, Director of the CIA is standing ram rod straight at her desk with her hands clasped together. "However...."

The Agent across from her is Agent Conroy Dagger. He thinks he's the bees knees and rightfully so. He is after all considered a legend in his own right. Starting in the Directorate of Digital Innovation he has proved himself a decent hacker. However, his real passion and love is more clandestine. Well, sort of clandestine. He has left some bruises on his targets so he isn't completely a ghost. Still, he grew up in the type of household where he was taught to excel or else. Naturally, he never shook those lessons. It will be his downfall, surely.

"However, what?" he asks her. "What more do I need to prove?"

Director Tremaine sighs as she opens a file with his name on the outside of it. "In order to lead a unit in Joint Special Operations Conroy, you need to also prove you can work well with others." She slaps his file down on her desk and faces the file towards him so he can read the highlighted passage under a category in bold letters: Personality Traits.

"Doesn't work well with others?" he asks her incredulously. "Who gives a shit if I can work well with others if I get the job done in the end?"

"Because, working well with others is how we defeat the bad guys, Agent Dagger. Teamwork is something the CIA or it's partners cannot risk being in short supply of." She pulls the file away from him and closes it shut in front of her. "However..."

Agent Dagger straightens up his posture in the chair he's been sitting in. "However?"

"I will give you a chance to redeem yourself, Agent. There's another Agent who is actually accustomed to working in groups and she's currently not on mission right now. I can reach out to her..."

"Wait, her?"

"Is there a problem?" asks the first female Director of the CIA.

"N-no, there's not."

"It's either you make an effort to work as a dynamic duo with this Agent in question or I won't take your desire for a promotion seriously. Are we clear?"

"Crystal," replies Agent Dagger with a smile in his voice. "Who will my partner be?" he asks as he takes a sip from his cup of coffee. It's Americano with two sugars; his favourite kind.

"Have you ever heard of Agent Ayla Cloak?" At mention of her name, he spits out some of his coffee. "Are you sure about that? She's a great agent, don't get me wrong..."

"She's has a better hit record than you."

"Yes, but that being said...I'm certainly not at her level. Maybe she needs to be teamed up with someone who can shoot just as good as her, you know."

"I can't agree more." Agent Dagger smiles and breathes a sigh of relief. "Unfortunately, there's nobody else free at this time to team up with Agent Cloak so you're it." Director Tremaine smiles triumphantly as she sees Agent Dagger squirm. "You're not afraid of her are you?"

"Of course not. I can take care of myself against an expert marks woman. It's just...I heard she can be a bit over-friendly."

Director Tremaine smirks as she says, "Maybe it would be a good opportunity to not only hone your own marksmanship skills but also exhibit a less closed off personality." She stands up from her chair as she adds, "You see, it's good to grow!"

As Agent Dagger exits the Director's Office, his face says differently. Still he says, "I can't wait to meet her."