Chapter One: The Assignment

They try not to mention me.

I was a failure in their eyes. I knew I was. That was why I was glad when they opened the door for me as I walked out of their lives forever, two suitcases in tow. They wanted me gone…and I wanted away as well. I was tired of being the child they tried to depend on, but the fact that I strived for more than they could wrap their heads around forced their hands in releasing me to the real world. I was smarter than the two of them combined plus some. That may be why they hated me so much. You should never show up your parents.

That was when I moved in directly with a coworker who needed a roommate for her apartment. It was not my favorite option, but I got used to sleeping with blaring music as my roommate would have her boyfriend over almost every night. Why they would not stay at his place will always mystify me. Oh well.

While at work one day, something strange happened. Working at a fast food joint like McDonalds won't get you far in life, I'm aware of that, but it pays the rent and eventually college tuition and loans. I want to be an engineer, so both smarts and schooling get you far. Anyway, I was working register that day. I hated that position with an intense amount of passion. While I was on my last few minutes before my shift was over, I took the order of a younger-looking man. I remember him distinctly because of his eyes. They looked like they were looking for something…or someone.

Upon seeing me, something seemed to register in his mind and his eyes softened a little before giving his food order. I had though he was on his own until the last bit of the order chimed a little like "…and a salad for my old man."

I felt my face had twisted a little in confusion as I heard that. Placing the order, I rang him up and he then paid for his food. Within minutes the order was complete and he was on his way to eat food with his "old man." The lines filed down to nothing and my shift was over. I was glad for this, mainly because I had worked nine hours and there was a really screamy kid in the main part of the restaurant. Before I could leave, however, my boss pulled me aside.

"We have had a complaint about you. May I see you in my office for a moment?"

"Oh? You know me well enough—"

"Just get in here. We have to settle this."

I walk into the office and find the guy from earlier…plus his "old man." The older man was nearly in his fifties and wore a really nice suit. Like the kind the president or senator wears…like someone with big bucks. I don't believe I pissed these guys off, so what the heck were they doing in here?

"Miss Williams, I presume?" the old man asked.

"Yes. I'm Kelsey Williams."

"My name is Rodger Nichols. Your manager has done what he was asked, so he may now exit this office," he said, glaring at my boss. When there was no movement, the younger man took his arm and escorted him from the room.

The door closed and silence went all around.

"Do you know why I am here?"

"Dave said something about a complaint. I didn't realize I had done something to make you upset—"

"No no. That was just an excuse to catch you before you went home. It was an assignment of mine to have this conversation with you this afternoon. Tell me, do you have any idea what I will be telling you?"

I pause a second. Do I be honest and say he reminds me of a giant creep? Or do I say something mild like a scholarship to a university somewhere. Either way, this was awkward, and getting worse by the second.

"To be honest, I do not know why you are here. If it isn't a complaint, then I am lost for ideas, Mr. Nichols."

"Good. You remembered my name. Already a good start."

My bewilderment brought upon silence.

"Miss Williams, I have told you my name. I also have to warn you that this conversation is very confidential and only you and I are allowed to hear it. Do you understand this?"

The nodding of my head indicates for him to continue. "I am the chief recruiting officer for the United States sector of the C.I.A. We have been tracking your financials and life through a great deal of paperwork and I would be honored if you were to accept my offer of joining us as our youngest agent?"

Air lodges itself in my throat. The C.I.A. wants me? The C.I.A. wants me, the disappointment of a family and the loner in school because of my exceptional mind? This was way too coincidental to be true.

"Are you sure you have the right person? I mean, I'm smart, but—"

"Your test scores were higher than any we have seen in the country. You were recently removed from your family's home because of reasons we could not fathom. Records show you as cosigner of the current rental agreement with a one Kathy Lakeland. When we questioned teachers from your old school they state that you were not socially acceptable both for grades and your interest in many things international. You are an outcast among your peers and your family. The only true family you have is your grandparents on your mother's side. No one would really miss you if you went off the grid—"

"You forgot my pen pal in Sweden, but I digress."

"Ah, yes. Little Sofia. I had forgotten about that."

"So what, though? Why do you want to recruit me for government work? Can't you find anyone else?"

Rodger shook his head. "I'm afraid you are the perfect person to join our organization. No one would suspect your work with us if you leave for time on end. We would deal with your manager and make sure everything is in order with your finances. During times off, you will have the opportunity to become the engineer you have always dreamed of being."

I thought hard about that last part. Like the military, if you served, they paid for your schooling. I knew if I became part of the C.I.A. that I would want to leave as soon as I could. College would be on hold for a while, but that would be the small sacrifice I would make. They most likely will find me a place in the industry…

"I just have one question. Do I have to go through ant military training or boot camp or anything?"

Rodger smiled. "We can maybe work around that."

They try not to mention me.

I'm not even supposed to be in their employ. Technically, there aren't even supposed to be agents my age. For some reason, completely beyond my control, I was offered a place in the C.I.A. Only nineteen and not even in college, I was given the honor to train and become a secret agent. I have assignments and the like, but I still get looks of skepticism from others around me. My partner is the only one who shows me any kindness. Might it be because I have to watch his back and he was afraid to anger me in any way as to protect himself from my friendly fire? No matter. He was pretty cool anyway.

Nate Breslin was the coolest twenty-four year old I knew. Some of it may have been that he was the one who was there when I agreed to join the C.I.A. A lot of it, in the long run, was the fact that he helped train me and was like the older brother I wish I had. I knew of one on my father's side, but I've met him and liked him, but we seemed to be someone who didn't want anything to do with the rest of the family. Nate would give it to me straight; none of that "Well this and that and other things, too" crap I get from the other instructors. Overall, there was a mutual respect between the two of us.

One thing I have to say about my new job is that the pay is astronomically better than where I used to work. Though I have more money than I know what to do with, I still budget it well enough to say that sixty percent of my income goes for necessities while the other forty gets split between savings and spending on my silly nonsense. I even bought myself a brand new computer with everything I will ever need—space for music videos and software for facial distortion in case I need it. That type of stuff. This allows me to still keep in touch with anyone I might have ever known…even though that pretty much only meant Sofia in Sweden.

After five months of grueling training and studying, I was at the level that many of the recruits much, much older than I was. Though many of them hated the fact that I pretty much showed them up in the comprehensive tests, some took the satisfaction of my at-par physical abilities in the physical tests and looked at me as more of an equal. I'm glad of that; if everyone hated me, then I'd be screwed if I needed to move partners.

It didn't take long for me to get an assignment.

Nate found me in the break room, sipping coffee. I had been up late with downloading more programs for my computer…and other random assortments of music…but I really needed them. The coffee was helping just a little, but I just wanted to go home after my round of paperwork for the day. Screw it, I'm skipping the gym.

"Welcome to the big-kid world," he said as he dropped a file onto the table in front of me.

"Wha?"

"Your first assignment. Or rather our first together. It looks easy. Shouldn't be one of those assignments where we need weapons."

"When do we leave?" I ask as I open the file. I knew he had most likely read it thoroughly.

"You leave tomorrow," I heard a different voice behind me.

Turning around, I find Rodger Nichols leaning in the doorway. It's been eight months since I've seen him and he looked rather rugged with age. My shock preceded me as I wondered why the chief recruiting officer was talking to my partner and me.

"I wanted to see your reaction to getting your first case. Looks like I over-anticipated."

"I'm tired and confused. Is this one like a beginner course?"

"Almost. There was a reason I recruited you, and this is one of the many cases you will get based on your age and appearance."

Knowing not what I will find, I open the file and instantly dropped my head in defeat. There was a picture of a man about my age. According to the file, we had to escort a one Jenson Carter back to the United States in efforts to help his father become a more reliable witness in an international drug ring in Europe. The mission was to get him here safely and into the care of his father before the bad-guys get him for ransom.

"Are you serious? This is why you recruited me?"

"Looks like you get why you are here," Rodger chuckled and walked back to his office in another part of the building.

"Pack your bags, Kelsey. And dust off your Swedish. I'll be at your door at four in the morning sharp."

I sigh as I drain the last of the coffee.

~~Oooooh! This is my first story where romance is NOT a major factor. Yeah there might be, but it won't revolve around that. I like to think of this one as something for those girls who aren't feeling like reading a story about "lovey-dovey romance and fighting for true love." I kinda like this one. I'll keep working on it for ya guys. Ciao!