Post mission meeting

A few hours later, despite a wholly inadequate amount of sleep, you drag yourself into the office and report to your supervisor, Joe MacKinnon, for debrief. Joe is a ruggedly handsome man in his fifties with silver hair. Right now, you’d rather not have to see him. He undoubtedly knows everything you went through the night before and you can’t help but feel somewhat humiliated. You don’t give a fuck about the opinion of most people but Joe was one of the few you mattered to you. He’d been a damn legend before the Agency had **** him to retire from field work a few years ago and your mentor since you became a high-level field agent. Ishikawa, the judgmental bastard, was in with you as well, which didn’t help your feelings of embarrassment.

“So...” Joe begins. “All in all, that went pretty well. There were a few hiccups at the end but mission accomplished.” He gives you a quick glance when he says that last bit and your face begins to to burn. “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 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 sitting 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 narrow-minded. You weren’t sure how you would get along with him if you had to work together again.

“The pleasure is ours, Ishikawa, I assure you,” Joe responds smoothly. “You did good work yesterday. Even when you got a unlucky, your quick thinking salvaged the mission. That’s the kind of talent we look for.” Joe turns to you. "You accomplished your part of the mission and the willingness you had to rush into danger without hesitation was noticed and appreciated.” That was a tactful way to put it. And kind. Your guessing that the higher-ups weren’t so pleased with you. Joes face turns grave and he says, “Which is why it pains me to have to deliver such bad news to you.” 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 feel like you’ve been punched in the gut. “Are...are you serious?” you finally **** out.

“I’m afraid I am,” Joe says with a sigh. “We have people on it. I promise to keep you in the loop.”

“In the loop?!” you shout. “That’s my body! I should on the case.”

Joe shakes his head. “That isn’t your department. Or your skillset.” You slump in your seat. You want to argue more but it is hard for you to oppose Joe. “However, the Agency has forwarded me a mission that I think you and Ishikawa would be perfect for,” he says brightly. Now isn’t that convenient. You wonder how much a priority they are going to put on finding your body. After all, you’re pretty useful to them as is. Well, fuck. At least this next mission can’t be as bad as the one I just did. Can it?

To be continued.