Debrief

Later the next day, you find yourself in a small office with Joe MacKinnon, your direct superior, and Ishikawa. You’re so humiliated by what happened with Ishikawa that you can’t even look at him. Crying? Seriously? I think the last time I sobbed like that was my first day of kindergarten. You can’t wait to get out of this woman’s body and away from all of its annoyances. Even sitting is unpleasant after what happened to your ass yesterday. The doctor who had examined you said that your butthole would be fine in a couple of days. Well, not my butthole. My butthole is just fine. I hope they do Yozora a favor and wait for her body to heal up before they wake her.

“So...” Joe begins. “All in all, that didn’t go so badly.” He glances at you and you look down at your lap. Joe is in his fifties with graying hair and a worn but handsome face. He had been an absolute legend as a field agent, passing up promotions to stay out there until some terrorists had captured and tortured him a few years back. The Agency had put him mostly back together but they had finally insisted he take a desk job. He’d been your idol when you’d first started so having him as your supervisor was amazing. Except for right now, when you’d gotten yourself captured and **** like a rookie. You rarely felt the need to impress anybody but you hated looking weak or foolish in front of Joe. “Yoshida and most of his cronies have been arrested. Thanks to your work, the NPA should have more than enough to put them all away for a long, long time. This will hurt the zaibatsu and the yakuza and remind them that the Japanese government still has fangs for those that get too out of hand.” He smiles and drums his fingers on the desk. “In addition, this mission served as something of an informal evaluation for you, Ishikawa, and you exceeded expectations. We’re happy to accept your transfer into the Agency.”

“You honor me greatly, MacKinnon,” Ishikawa says in passable English with a bow. So he’s transferring, is he? You’re not sure how you feel about that. He was a clever and competent field agent but was kind of narrow-minded. Plus, every time you saw him you were going to be reminded of something you’d rather never think about again.

“The pleasure is ours, Ishikawa, I assure you,” Joe responds smoothly. “You did good work yesterday. Putting yourself at further risk to rescue a comrade is just the kind of bravery and initiative we value here.” Your face heats up at his words. Joe turns to you and his satisfaction is replaced by gravity. “However, the news I have for you isn’t as good.” You eyes widen and your throat dries. You weren’t expecting bad news. You messed up yesterday but the mission was a success, wasn’t it? Are they really going to demote me over that? After everything I’ve done for these bastards?! “You know Doctor Rosa Serrano, right?”

His unexpected question throws you for loop but you cautiously say, “Yeah?” How could you not know her? Rosa Serrano was neurological specialist with CIA who had been part of the team handling the brain transfer. You’d also gone on a date with her a few months back that could have ended in her place if you hadn’t bailed after getting a pretty weird vibe from her. Since then, it seemed like she was always around when you were at work despite being in completely different departments...

“Well, last night, right about the time the operation started, we’ve since learned, Doctor Serrano, she...well, she absconded with your body.”

You blink slowly and then shake your head. “I don’t think I heard that right? What did Doctor Serrano do last night?”

Joe looks pained. “She got entry to check on your body by claiming to be checking on the status of Yozora’s brain...as you know, we were keeping her brain in a medical coma and there is danger with that sort of thing. Then she managed to rope the two guards into helping her remove your body by claiming something was terribly wrong and it was life or **** for your body to be removed to her lab...the two are undergoing a disciplinary review of course.” Your eye twitches. Well, now I feel better. “After your body was loaded into her car, she disappeared.” Joe uncomfortably adds. “We don’t have any leads at the moment."

You shoot up out of your chair. “Are you fucking kidding me?!”

“Now, now," Joe says, putting his hands up. “Don’t get hysterical on me.” You **** at his off-handed sexist remark. Oh my god, is this my life now? “She won’t be able to stay hidden from us for long.”

“I want on the case! I’ll find that bitch!”

“That’s not really your department,” Joe says coolly. “We’ll keep you in the loop, of course.” Keep me in the loop? you think hollowly, sinking back into your chair. “Now, now. Don’t give me that hangdog look. Just think of this as an extension of your mission. Because the brass just sent me something I think would be perfect for you and Ishikawa.” You glance up at him in surprise and he gives you a wink. Lord help me. You get the massively uncomfortable feeling that Yoshida’s baseball bat sized dick up your ass is going to be nothing compared to what the CIA is going to put you through.

To be continued.