Walking down a corridor inside of a discrete office building for the bureau, Nathan walks along with his commanding officer, a black man named Ryan Brown, late to mid 50s. Around them it’s relatively quiet as few people are walking around to where they need to go.

“Over the course of twenty four hours, you’ve compromised our position on several assets in the field. All for the sake of gaining the trust of a few untested field operatives. Is there anything that you’d like to say?” Ryan says as he glances over at Nathan.

Ryan glances over at him then away as he shifts around.

“Sir, with all due respect, finding two former delta force operatives and a former navy seal are quite the catch if I say so myself. I’d be pressed to find someone more qualified and experienced for this type of role in the Bureau.”

Ryan closes his eyes for a brief moment and looks down before glancing towards Nathan.

“I know that. But what about the rest of them? They look like common criminals and street thugs. How do you know they won’t compromise our position? Taking a risk like this... It won’t just end with two operatives dead.”

Nathan opens a file he’s carrying as he hands it to him.

Ryan stops as he looks inside, his face changes as he reads the contents inside. Condor Security Services, along with the names and faces of its members. Quickly looking through them, he spots various pagers with the labels classified on them.

“Huh, former military contractors for the UMS until they were red listed. Any idea what for?” Ryan says looking over at Nathan standing next to him.

“My guess is that they were burned. The current team consists of only minorities, while the existing team they were a part of still seems to exist in one form.”

Ryan thinks to himself.

“You sure a team like this would want to work with a government organization after that?”

“To me it looks like he’s been trying to get his record clean for a while now. It’s probably the golden ticket they’ve been waiting for.”

“And the others? The civilian factor.”

“It’s a small cohort, a street race and her brother, and a netrunner.”

“Any history?”

“The racer is pretty well known on the streets, you’d be hard to find anyone that knows them better than her. Her and her brother are generational racers, parents were likely a part of the first generation of racers in the area. As for the netrunner, he’s got a clean record too, found his application to the bureau, recent graduate, only thing of note is he’s an institution baby. As far as I’m aware, no known links to any criminal organizations.”

Ryan looks up at Nathan.

“Good job.” He says.

Ryan continues to walk along as Nathan follows him.

“Don’t disrupt the flow and just let it continue naturally until we have more intelligence.” Ryan continues, he stops in front of a door, turning to Nathan.

“Then? What should I tell them to do?”

“Business as usual.” Ryan says while opening the door. Inside, a team of military contractors can be seen looking over at Nathan and Ryan as they walk in. At the front getting ready to give a presentation, Mason is standing waiting for them.

----------------------------------------

“So they told you just to continue as usual? That’s it?” Jamar says.

“Look, I’m telling you. That’s it.”

“First day on the job, and I’m going back to patrolling, huh?”

Laying on his bed, John is on the phone with Jamar, the news places on the television as a microwave can be heard running as well. He stands up as he facepalms.

“Listen, I’ll tell you if something comes up. My phone’s been hot all day.”

“Look at you, going from Mr.Nobody to the talk of the town.”

“Right, you should probably take Ben out with you. His dad called, said he was getting lonely.”

“What the fuck? Do I look like a babysitter to you?” John shouts.

The microwave beeps as it finishes as John gets up from his bed, stumbling along towards the kitchen area, we see a few new additions to the place, a new updated surround sound setup as John opens up the microwave taking out a burrito.

“Listen, I’m just saying, he could be useful for some jobs. Besides, he’s part of the team now. As team leader you’re going to need to figure out how to work with him.”

He accidentally drops the plate as he tries to take it out as he shouts.

“Hot. Hot.”

Taking the plate out, he leans onto the phone.

“You know, I never agreed to this. This team leader thing, honestly I’m not a good fit. And besides, we're all good at different things.”

“Oh yeah? And who do you think should be the leader instead? Me?”

John scoffs.

“Nah, I was thinking Anya, got the brains for the operation.”

“Yeah. I think so too. But what we need is the face of the operation.”

Sitting at a table, John begins to laugh as he eats his food.

“Seriously? Someone like me? Yeah, I can see it now. A soon to be bald faced head of the Cali Cartel.” John jokes.

“Being bald isn’t so bad. Think about all the disguises you can wear.”

“Hah, you’re kidding me right? Can you imagine me in drag?”

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Jamar doesn’t respond.

“Ah, you’re a fucking asshole.”

“You know, lots of guys wear makeup right?”

“Gay guys, sure.”

Jamar sighs.

“Listen, I gotta go. How about we talk about this more later?”

“Yeah, yeah. Good luck.”

“Thanks you too. And don’t forget, at least talk to Ben, okay?” Jamar says as he emphasizes the last bit.

“Yeah.” John says as he hangs up.

“This guy can’t be serious.” John sighs as he looks around his studio apartment. It’s relatively clean, few clothes are beginning to pile up next to the bathroom as his eyes stop on the television screen. On it we see a familiar face being escorted by police outside of a corporate office, it’s Elliot Anderson.

“What the hell?” John mutters.

The screen updates as a headline appears at the bottom of the screen. Former Red Hat Employee, Elliot Anderson arrested for charges of corporate espionage. Along with moving into a correspondent room.

“Breaking news, a former Red Hat employee has been arrested on charges of Corporate Espionage by authorities in regards to last week's attack on a Yasuda Corporate Office. At the scene we have correspondent Perry Chang.”

The television updates again going back to the scene as an Asian American man can be seen standing in front of the Red Hat Corporate Office holding a microphone. He walks up towards the officers who are escorting Elliot along.

“Hello, Officers. Is there anything that you would like to say?”

They try to push Perry aside as he continues along with them. Walking almost side by side with them as they make their way to a patrol car, he leans in and continues to harass them.

“Elliot? Elliot. Would you like to make a statement?”

Perry is shoved to the ground by an officer as the screen switches back to the anchor desk. The reporters who are staring off, immediately focus back on the camera.

“More reports on violence in Neotokyo’s streets have been increasing, as crime rates have risen over the last year-”

John turns off the television as he gets up.

“I should get ready for the day.” John says to himself.

Walking towards the doorway, he puts on a light jacket while he puts on his shoes.

Heading outside, he puts up his hood as he begins to lightly jog.

Jogging along the street for a while he looks at his phone as he starts up an answering machine that starts to play.

“Welcome, you have 32 new messages.”

Beep.

The answering machine begins to play as John jogs around.

“Hey, it’s the guys from Club Verde. Heard what you did for the guys at Amor, hell of a catch you pulled off, listen if you’re looking for a job, give us a call.”

“Not bad for a rookie, if you’re looking for gigs, we got plenty up your alley.”

“Can’t say I’m not impressed, why don’t you stop by for a talk?”

John begins to grin as he makes his way towards a gym. It’s a little run down but still isn’t half bad, heading inside of it, he scans a card as John walks past an automated clerk. The door opens as John looks around to an almost empty but giant gymnasium.

More recording play as John makes his way towards the lockers. Putting his stuff away he walks out as he looks over at the regulars who are disproportionately sized, it’s obvious they’ve been abusing something. Even the more regular ones are larger than most.

Seeing John walk up to the smaller weights they ignore him.

Around him, people lift ginormous weights, averaging almost half a ton, putting a few plates onto a barbell, he begins to bench 325.

He gets a few sets in as he waits in between sets.

“If you’re even in the neighborhood, come check us out.” Another advertisement rings.

John sighs.

“Delete message.” He says to himself.

He makes his way over to the squat rack. A larger gentleman walks up to him, the rack clearly too small for his frame as John looks over at him.

“Need a spotter?”

“Sure.” John nods.

“How much do you squat? Saw your bench, 325. Not bad.”

The man lifts up 45lb plates with ease helping John put them onto the bar.

“About, 425.”

He nods his head.

“Want to try 450?” He asks.

“Ehh… Sure, why not?” John replies.

Setting the plates, John gets under it as the man spots him. John get’s on his knees as he powers through the first one, struggling a bit on the second,

“Come on. Come on. You got this.” The man says.

His body trembles as he does the third. The man helps him move the bar onto the rack.

John begins to violently cough as he looks over at the man.

“Never seen you around. This your first time here?”

“Yeah.”

John turns around to look at the man, who puts his hand out, John takes it as they shake.

“Well, it’s good meeting you. Name’s Adil.”

“John.”

“Good name.” Adil says as he begins to walk off.

“If you ever need anything, just let me know.” Adil says to him. John watches as he walks away, looking back at the squatting rack, he continues through the rest of his reps after taking off the extra weights.

Walking out of the gym, John wipes his forehead with a towel.

He begins his journey back home as he walks along.

“You have one new message.”

“Play it.”

John looks around on the street as it’s better maintained than the ones in other areas, no homeless people in sight and a few trees and plants surrounded by concrete.

“Hello? Is this John Fray? You… probably don’t remember me, but. We met at a club, you were with my parent’s friend, Jamar. Heard from some others that you’ll take any job, and was wondering if you could help me out. You can reach me-”

John stops as he takes out his phone.

Opening up his voicemail, he stops at the most recent caller. John stares at it for a bit.

Pressing call, he puts the phone next to his ear as he begins to walk again.

The phone rings for a bit as it disconnects.

“Huh.” John says to himself.

About to put away his phone, it begins to ring again, he checks the caller id. It’s the same. He gives it a good look as he picks up.

“Hello?” John asks.

“Can you help me find my friend?” A distraught voice asks.

“Excuse me?” John replies.

There’s no response on the other end but a clear faint breathing noise can be heard.

“Your name’s Destiny, right? Are you in trouble?”

No response.

“Listen, if you’re in danger. Go to the authorities, it’s not something I can handle.”

He sighs.

“If that’s all, I’m going to hang up now.”

“Wait.” Destiny says.

John seems to subconsciously stop.

“Go on, I’m listening.” John says.

He waits patiently as Destiny seems unable to form words properly, stuttering an emotional mess.

“I need your help.”

“Sure. Just tell me what you need.” John replies.

“I can’t- can’t say it over the phone.”

“Is there a place you’re comfortable meeting?”

“Yeah.”