The Seventh

Prologue – New Year's 1991

"Steve, I know that you have served the CIA loyally for years. I even remember when you chose to withdraw your name from the selection of a new director back in '87. However, do you really think you don't have a chance now? I've personally dealt with most of the backlash of the deal with Iran from that year."

"Cain, I truly appreciate all the support you have given me, but my role in that mess has me feeling like I will not be selected as the director ever," Steve replied to his good friend of many years, Cain Sunwoo.

"I think you are underestimating what the President thinks of you. I have a feeling that he will be the one to back you longer term," I wasn't lying either. The president and current director had asked me directly for who they think should succeed the post. They would have pegged me for the role if I wasn't only 26. They almost did still peg me for the role.

"I can never win arguments with you Cain," Steve shook his head. "Anyways, how is your current project going? I had heard something about a secret lab."

"I cannot tell you much right now. I feel like someone in the administration or intelligence community is tied to this lab," I could hear the frustration in my own voice. This had been bothering me for the past few months. I had found traces of links with high level officials and individuals in the intelligence community. However, there was nothing actionable nor was there a location of the lab. "Steve, I know you have a good grasp on the intelligence community. Can you do me a favor and try to find out if anyone has been funding a side job? I'm worried that this lab could do some serious damage longer term if we do not do anything to deal with them now."

"Sure. I'll try to feel it out. I know that this has been a stressful project as you haven't really had any agency support in tracking it down," Steve replied sincerely. "Don't forget that today is New Year's Eve. I know that you are a man who takes his work seriously, but you do need a break every once in a while."

"Haha! Don't worry. I have a flight in 2 hours to make it back to my family for the eve celebration like always. And, my older sister is due in a couple weeks. I might have to also be prepared to fly again at the drop of a hat to make it to see my first new family member in years. I even heard that my younger sister has a boyfriend that she wants introduce to the family," I winked at Steve. "Any suggestions on how to interrogate him?"

"Haha! I will tell you not to act like you do in interrogations with suspects. The poor boy would shit himself before you even finished a question!" Steve laughed. He had personally overseen my training as an agent. I had risen quickly in ranks and importance within the agency after my recruitment immediately after high school. I pride myself on my analytical skills, but I'm sure that dealing with what could have been the worst terror attack that America has ever faced certainly helped the CIA make their decision to bring me into the fold far before normal recruitment occurs. And their decisiveness had been met with success after success.

"I'm not going to put him through that. I'll try to be a bit more lighthearted. I'll only make him shit his pants after dinner!" I jested. I had been looking forward to this short vacation. I truly needed it. The frustration of my first true challenge since joining the CIA was taking all the time in the world to resolve. "Can you drive me to the airport?"

"Sure! When do you want to leave?" Steve asked me.

After prepping my bags for the flight and tidying up the apartment, I left with Steve to the airport. He also had plans for the night with his family. His first child had been born this past year and he was worried for their safety. CIA agents were mostly protected because they rarely used their real identity while working undercover. However, a director did not have a choice to hide his identity. He would be known publicly and any enemies of the state or even his enemies could target his family.

"Thanks for the ride Steve. I hope you have a great New Year's!" I thanked Steve. My flight was only an hour away from departure. I would be flying to Chicago and taking a taxi to my parents' house to surprise my family. They always celebrated at our parents' house and especially with Jess, my older sister, being due to soon, they would want to keep a close eye on them.

The flight itself was rather uneventful. I was able to take the time to go over some new information about the lab that had come in. There were whispers in the wind that they would be making a big move soon. I did not want innocent people to be caught up in the lab's schemes. It did not help that USSR's fingerprints were all over the intel surrounding the lab. I hope that no one had been bought over by the red dream and had been supporting this lab covertly and overtly. I grabbed the first taxi I could as soon as I landed at ORD. I did miss my family as my line work was truly lonely. I tried to date a coworker once, and it was a tragedy from the beginning.

I could see all the cars lined up outside my parents' house showing that the celebration was already under way. I got out of the taxi after paying my bill and slowly walked up the driveway while savoring the scenery. The snow that covered the ground was fresh and powdery. This winter in Langley had been very dry and it made me miss my city. As soon as I got to the door, I rang the doorbell. Immediately after I heard the tone of the doorbell, I could hear the familiar barking of Cameron, our family's yellow lab. He was getting slower in his older years, but he is always a part of our family. I saw the drapes on the small window next to door get pulled back as a familiar face of my youngest sister, Lynn, lit up upon recognizing who was at the door. She swung open at the door as fast as she could.

"Cain! We didn't expect you to be back for today! Didn't you say that you wouldn't be able to make it?" Lynn hugged me as soon as I stepped into the house. The smell of homecooked food could never be beat. Often, my work would make me eat simple meals or even vacuum-packed meals. Homecooked food was a true delicacy. After our hug, she stepped back to continue her interrogation, "Didn't you say that your work was putting you on a serious project that was going to have you working through today and tomorrow too?"

"My boss asked me to take a breather and I missed you guys a lot!" I replied earnestly.

"I'm sure that everyone will be happy that you are here today!" Lynn was ecstatic. Being the youngest, she was the one that we doted upon the most and I often complied with her whims the most.

"Lynn, who is at the door?" My mom yelled from the kitchen.

"It's Cain, Mom! He actually made it back for tonight!" Lynn shouted back. Cameron had also recognized me and if Lynn hadn't beaten him to the punch, I'm sure that he would have tackled me to the ground. I was petting him as I could hear the near stampede of people rush to the foyer.

"Cain! This is a surprise! I was planning on making some time to visit you next week if you didn't make it down for today!" My mom was the first to speak. Of all the people in my family, my mom is the one who knows the most about me. Since I was so young when I was recruited, they had to let my guardians know. Only my mom was home when they came to recruit me as my dad was traveling for work, so after learning the risk involved with my work, she decided to keep my work a secret from the rest of the family as well.

"I'm happy I was able to make it out myself. My boss asked me to take a break, so I booked my flight as soon as I could. However, I can only stay for tonight. I have a flight in the morning back to Virginia," I was upfront with them, so I did not raise their expectations needlessly. I spent the rest of the evening cheerfully with the family. I met Lynn's boyfriend, Anthony. I even grilled him slowly through the evening. I think I wasn't too hard on him, but his expression didn't seem so good as he left for the night, though somehow Lynn did not even bother me about I interrogated him. The next morning rolled around and I was prepped to leave for my flight.

"Jess, make sure to let me know when you are going into labor. I will make sure to drop whatever I am doing to be here to see my first niece. And you better pick a better name than Candy. I can't even believe you think that is an acceptable name," I berated Jess.

"Don't worry! I will make sure Tom let's you know," Jess replied. She knew that I always had my family in mind. "Have a safe flight!" Everyone told me to be safe on my way back as I climbed into the taxi that would take me back to my job. As I boarded my flight, I noticed that the door to the cockpit was closed. Normally, it would be wide open while the Captain and crew would greet passengers on entry. It was relatively unique now, but not unheard of, so even though I noted it, I did not do anything out of the ordinary myself. After finding my seat, I started to go through the intel again on the lab.

2 hours later, I had almost finished going through the intel when I found a new trail that I hadn't spotted before. Digging a bit deeper, I figured out that the lab had been speaking in code utilizing local newspapers to deliver communications. As I was engrossed in the material, I didn't even notice that the air in the cabin had slowly started cause people to fall asleep around me. When I did notice, it was when I could barely keep my own eyes open. As I was drifting off, I realized that this could have been the missing link, the big thing that the lab was gearing up to complete. The last thing I remembered before passing out was seeing a flight attendant walking around with a gas mask on.