Gods and Monsters [Helena]

[Avian Morrison]

In the land of gods and monsters
I was an angel
living in the garden of evil
Screwed up, scared,
doing anything that I needed
shining like a fiery beacon
-Lana Del Rey, “Gods & Monsters”

9/11 Memorial
Manhattan, New York
19 September 2014

Driving with headphones on was probably not the wisest of choices. Wearing headphones while driving a Vespa Primavera was probably even worse. Avian Morrison really did not care. She was aware enough of her surroundings already, and she could hear just fine when it mattered. She just liked having her music to accompany her as she rode.

Her parents would have been proud. Two out of three, at least. Her mothers would have commended her badassery, while her father would have shaken his head at her lack of safety. But Avian had grown up dangerously; being the daughter of bank robbers seemed to lead to that. Funny, then, that she should follow the career path she had chosen. Law enforcement, the other side. One might have actually argued that this gave her insight into how the minds of criminals worked. Perhaps it did. Avian had never quite settled on that.

She was always armed, however. There was the switchblade stiletto she always carried on her, caring not at all for any laws to the contrary. She was also carrying her go-to handgun, a Sig Sauer 226. Night was falling, and one never knew what one would find when the dark settled in. Even a woman as well trained as herself had to have something to keep her safe.

Her travels this evening would take her to the 9/11 Memorial, where she would meet her Company co-director, Helena Rahal. Avian knew the Memorial well. It was one of the most peaceful places in the city, in a city that never stopped moving. The waterfalls, especially, were stunning; that was where she had told Helena to find her.

After parking as near to the rendezvous point as she could, Avian alighted and dusted off her jacket and pants. An easy gait took her to where she needed to be. Thin heels clicked against the path as she strode confidently to the pools. It had taken Avian many years to grow used to her body, but no one today would think so; her posture and demeanor carried a strong, demanding presence, not the one of the shy, scared girl she once had been.

With her hands folded behind her, Avian slowed her pace and gazed down at the names that surrounded the pools. This was the sort of injustice she had chosen to fight - September 11 - April 4 - October 4 - and that was why she was where she was that day - appointed to one of the two highest seats of American intelligence. She had the world at her fingertips, and nothing now could stand in the path of her plans and dreams.

[Helena Rahal]

But if you close your eyes,
Does it almost feel like
Nothing changed at all?
And if you close your eyes,
Does it almost feel like
You've been here before?

Helena felt unsettled as she prepared to meet the mystery woman who was her new co-Director of the Company. It still made her feel awkward to have been elevated to that position, co-Director of the largest American Intelligence Agency. Was it because for fifteen or so minutes she was technically a traitor, having decided to assist the Dominion in the Second Battle of D.C. before Lillith showed up? It could have been seen as ill begotten gains from the spoils of war, of being on the right side when the dust settled.

Helena wanted to believe that was not the case, that she was elevated to this position because of her long serving tenure with the organization. That she was a suitable replacement for leadership when their leaders had all resigned or gone dark for long enough that protocol dictated their replacement. Grace Harper, Frank Rook, the list went on and on, all resigned or M.I.A. So that left her and what other tenured agents to be the candidates... hopefully it was her resume and skills that had been tipping point towards her selection and not who she knew or what side she had been on.

The mantle of leadership brought forth a great amount of power, a great opportunity to do the most amount of good. Helena had told Gabriel that fated day that she she was only doing the right thing, this seemed to be a continuation of that. As one of the two leading figures within the organization, she could lead them towards something more... perhaps continue on the lasting vision of Grace. Former director Harper... she had seen a vision for the Company that not only was an intelligence agency but also one that assisted Specials in just living their lives.

Whatever direction the Company was going to take, Helena was going to make sure that it continued to be the right thing. The obstacle though would be maintaining at least workable relationships with sister agencies, her own allies, and dealing with whoever this Avian Morrison was. It was almost as if the woman had appeared out of thin air, it was a name that Helena had not come through the Company files before. When Helena had discovered things that the Company had wanted secret or kept from their lower agents, she still had never come across this woman's name.

The rendezvous point was a somber one and a reminder of why the Company needed to continue to be vigilant and needed a more righteous direction. How many lives could have been saved had the Company acted upon information gathered from agents and assets about that day, about any of the tragedies that had come since? To think that an intelligence agency of the Company's caliber and with the utility of Special, especially precogs, didn't know about any of those events was laughable. This had to change, this was going to be her Company.

Helena pulled tight on her gloves and jacket as the breeze picked up. Her eyes scanned the area and watched as the woman she was here to meet looked at the names inscribed into the memorial and wondered what it was that her new co-director felt. "These memorials are the result of our failed past, we need to do better. Wouldn't you agree Ms. Morrison?"

[Avian Morrison]

Anybody’s got the power
They don’t see it
‘Cause they don’t understand
Spin around and run for hours
You and me, we got the world in our hands
-Alesso, “Heroes”

There were so many memories connected to the memorial that Avian found herself lost in her thoughts. She did not know anyone who had been in the Twin Towers at the time of the attack, but she had been in a nearby building, and had felt the shocks of the crash as they happened. She remembered having been evacuated, having been given an oxygen mask as the debris created thick clouds of smoke and silt, and waiting out the day with almost no information in a two-story office building far away. She felt herself shudder at the images in her mind, and pulled her jacket tighter even though she was hardly cold.

Her gaze drifted to the two pools, lit up s the night settled in. She considered what she knew about her new partner. Helena Rahal was married with two children, twins. She resided in New York, generally. She was a Special, and a particularly powerful one at that. Excellent. As a civilian, she had no abilities, and relied on her self-defense training and her weapons. She had been, especially, since the April Fourth incident.

Ah, April Fourth… that was another disaster she recalled. That day, for the roughly four and a half minutes, she had gained the ability of flight, and had been in New York at the time. She had been able to rescue a few people from a building which had been partially been destroyed by a cut through it diagonally. Four people, after having adjusted to flying. That was not bad, considering she could only carry about her much in weight.

She wondered where Mrs. Rahal had been. As a Special, she had had control of her own abilities. But what she had used that for. To help in the disaster? If so, how? If not, how could she have simply stand by and watched as the world burn down? Avian was curious about this, and considered asking the woman once she knew her better. It was a bit of an intrusive question.

Her gaze returned to the list of names below her. The backlight had turned on, giving them a slightly eerie gold light behind them. What about that Halloween disaster that wiped out the entire city of Phoenix, Arizona? Well… her associates had been behind that. Looking at the larger picture, she understood why, to some extent. She would have done it differently, perhaps a toxic gas or somesuch that would have left the city standing rather than razing it, so that the city might see some use again someday. But the radioactive traces meant that the area would never be used again for the next several generations, if at all. It was like the still-frozen Costa Verda. That had not been her associates’ doing.

A less observant person might have missed Mrs. Rahal’s approach, but Avian felt it long before the woman came to a stop beside her. She barely glanced up, though. Not until the woman spoke did Avian look up.

The woman made a quite poignant comment on preventing such attacks in the future. That had been, in general, part of Avian’s thoughts. “We do,” she said, briefly giving Helena an appraising glance. Yes, she would do. She seemed and felt strong. Perhaps a little unsure, but that could be remedied.

Unlike Avian, Helena had actually been part of the Company previously. To balance that, Avian had been hired - or, rather, appointed by the new administration. It reminded her of the “one of us, one of them” approach the Company had once taken. That had more or less gone out with the “bag and tag” doctrine, one the former directors had put an end to. Avian highly approved of that.

“We do need a better approach,” Avian answered slowly. “A much better one. But that is what you and I are here for.” She gave Mrs. Rahal a small smile. Then she extended her hand, in greeting.

“Avian Morrison. Pleased to make your acquaintance.”

[Helena Rahal]

I think with my heart and I move with my head
I open my mouth and it's something I've read
I stood at this door before, I'm told
But a part of me knows that I'm growing too old

Helena was surprised that there was a quick agreement from her new codirector at her bold statement. How much of the failures, of the success did Ms. Morrison know about the Company? What of it's trouble, shady, and very often conflicting past actions and inaction had she already been made privy to, which agents and cases had she read up on? The better question was how much of it she had known before accepting the position that she had been appointed to and how much she learned in the time since.

Helena had wanted to be prepared to meet with Avian, to know who this woman was and what her motives might had been. The records were blank however before her appointment and there had not been enough time to in between to have one of Helena's allies to properly vet her. This meeting had been a leap of faith, a show of good faith on her behalf, that she was at least willing to cooperate in the beginning of this relationship.

Avian slowly elaborated upon her prior agreement, her words striking that fire of a partnership of equality. What Helena could feel though, or perhaps it was the lack therof, was that unique energy that Specials seemed to give off. While she could not detect all powers, she had been ability to pick up a few, particularly strong ones. The mere recollection of the power she felt from Lillith sent an involuntary shudder through her body and nearly had her tear up. Sparrow and Reggie had both lost their lives to the woman, her former partner and the president's daughter. And not a single person from the battle seemed to have any idea what actually happened to Lillith in the aftermath...

Helena had her doubts whether it would indeed be a "pleasure" to be an aquinatance, a partner with Avian. Time would tell whether they would be able to work together to steer the Company towards that better direction. For the moment though, Helena forced a small smile and took Avian's hand as they greeted one another. "Helena Rahal, nice to meet you."

Helena cast her eyes around the memorial, the chill and darkness of the evening sinking in, the glow of artificial light coming to life. How many times had she protected this city, this nation, a people from unseen or terrible dangers? She had lost count... had even forgotten the last time someone thanked her about her efforts. Not that acknowledgement was what she was after, it was simply the right things to do in every situation, but in the moment, it made things feel too cyclical.

"We need to break the cycle." Helena muttered under her breath before looking back at Avian, giving her a purely platonic look. "I am not going to beat around the bush, not going to try and butter you up. This organization, our company, has had cruel leaders, it has had benevolent ones, and its history is as murky as one can get." They still had power negation cells...

"I do not care if they think me cruel or kind, I want them to know that I am prepared, that I am smart, that I am doing the best that I can." Perhaps her best would not be enough but it would have to do, given the lack of alternatives. "And at the end of the day, I want this organization to be doing everything in its power to prevent events like 9/11, April 4th, and any of the other numerous tragedies that have come about."

Helena reached up and pulled a strand of her hair back behind her ear, looking Avian in the eyes. They were intense and fierce, but not challenging, they showed the amount of passion that Helena felt. "We are obligated to ourselves to always be tirelessly pursuing the right course of action in any and all situations. To our own selves we must be true. I care not for the politics or politicians that may try to interfere with our work, we answer only to ourselves." It was a double meaning, they each were accountable to one another, but to their ownself at the end of the day, when the lights were off, and they were alone with their thoughts.

"And in order to do all of this... I am going to have to trust you, and you I." The problem with that though was trust was earned and not given out freely as if a sample from the grocery store. "So I will ask you this one simple question, you do not have to answer it if you do not want to, but I would appreciate it if you did." An answer or her omission not to would serve Helena well in any regard.

"Who are you, Avian Morrison?"

[Avian Morrison]

A political call
The fall guy accord
We can’t afford to be neutral on a moving train!
-System of a Down, “Deer Dance”

Things started off smoothly, with an exchange of pleasantries and a sort of bonding moment over the memorial. Avian thought this was an excellent way to build a working relationship. They would be co-directors, after all, doing their best to improve the state of the nation - and the world - side by side.They needed to have at least respect for each other, to be able to cooperate.

The softspoken phrase from Helena did not miss Avian, but Avian made no indication that she had heard it. The rest, though, earned a nod from Avian. She was glad to see how straightforward Helena was, and expected that this woman would take no shit from anyone. Excellent - Avian was the same way. She had been called a “cold-hearted bitch” for it, but she did not care about anyone’s opinions on her behavior or choices or demeanor. There seemed to be a similarity there with Helena.

That was interesting. The woman had an unassuming appearance - beautiful, but not looking particularly strong physically. Yet Avian suspected the woman could and would crush anyone who dared to harm anyone or anything she cared about. That, she hoped, included the Company.

Indeed, Helena had lofty but reachable designs for the Company. Avian was well aware of the Company’s history, from its inception to its present. She would never have agreed to hold the position without that information. She wanted to know what she was getting into. She wanted to prepare a vision for the future. Hers was quite similar to Helena’s, in at least the broad strokes. They would have to see how they settled on the actual decisions.

“We have access to a wealth of knowledge and resources,” Avian said. “There is nothing we can’t do. We only have to choose what we think is best for the Company and, more so, the public at large. I’m sure you and I will be able to hammer out the path we want to take.”

Trust was earned. So far, Helena was doing a fair job of doing so. She watched the woman carefully. She knew how to read people. It was a skill she had needed in her first… profession. The woman was extraordinarily sincere. That included the odd and unexpected question she posed after painting her ideas for the Company in dialogue.

Who was Avian Morrison? There were so many answers to that question, and none of them quite fit.

I am the daughter of two infamous bank robbers. That, of course, would never do. The “Money Mavens” had never been caught, and to reveal their identities just to explain who she was would have been careless. Besides, that would have identified herself as a criminal, and, although the statute of limitations was up on just about all they had done, she was still not keen to take the risk.

I am the former “fat kid” in school. She had been; but “fat” had turned into “blessedly endowed” and “beautifully plus-size.” She was proud of her body, now. Before, not so much. Part of it was because she had not been in shape, as she was now; the rest was because society had taught women that they needed to look as much like Barbies as possible. No thigh gap? No acceptance by society. That was how it always would be. She’d just had to teach herself that her opinion was the only one that mattered.

I am no one. That answer would hardly satisfy. Her past had been intentionally wiped from many records to protect her from close scrutiny. For certainly the media would be interested in the two new Company co-directors. They would be celebrities, temporarily. That was how the media worked; they showed interest in one subject, then, when that one grew stable, moved on to another. Christian Moynahan seemed to be the only exception to that, but then again, the man was never quite stable.

Avian looked at Helena and pursed her lips for a moment. “I was born in Australia, and moved often in my childhood,” she said. “Finally my family settled in the United Kingdom, where I earned a Master of Studies in criminology at Cambridge. At the time I was traveling between the UK and New York, and I settled in New York City after I graduated. I worked as a criminology expert, primarily, before I earned this position.” She gave a slight nod. “Is there anything you would like to tell me about yourself?”

[Helena Rahal]

I'll stop the whole world
From turning into a monster,
Eating us alive

Helena closed her eyes as Avian finished off her answer to the question that Helena had posed to the new codirector. It was an answer and though what she said spoke well enough, what she had left omitted spoke further volumes. Avian it seemed was guarded and that sincerity and trust was going to be the currency of the realm in an economy that was in a recession. That was fine, Helena had worked with people she could not trust before, in saving the nation even, this was hardly a stumbling block

Avian had told Helena of what she had done and accomplished but not who she was. So few people were able to hone in on the difference, they saw the questions as one and the same. Avian however knew the difference, Helena knew the difference, and the resulting answer spelled out what Helena needed to know for the moment. Perhaps in time the vault to Avian's guarded secrets would be cracked, the lockdown lifted with no alarm bells going off. Helena would work with what she had and let the chips fall where they may in the future, even Maurelle and Gabriel never could tell the exact future...

"There is much that I could share with you, a life's story in just a few short years. You will find that life submerged completely into the Special world travels at a whirlwind, and be careful not to pick a fight with one who could send you off in one." Most Specials were just normal people, like everyone else, trying to live their lives however they could. The problem was those who were the bad apples were gifted with abilities that no petty criminal would have... thus the need for the organization in the first place.

"I am the hidden heiress, the scorned lover, the petulant child, the remorseful sinner, the traitor, the hero, the villain, I am all things you could ever think of. I am human, which means I am as flawed as anyone else behind my masks, broken sometimes behind the exterior like everyone else." Special, civilian, they all bled red, they all had to deal with the stresses of living their lives. It had been a message she had preached in a former life, a life that had gone through a metamorphosis to breathe life into the new one she lived out.

"I'm human, I make mistakes, I get emotional and lose my logic and reasoning. However I am a Special, I am an agent of this organization, the codirector, which means when I screw up, the consequences are heavy." Which said nothing of those decisions that she took up in her personal life, of the ties she had to the Johessmans, to Maurelle's organization, and the powers that be. Gabriel Constant, Lucius Kilvayne, Christian Moynahan, she was connected to them all or had worked with them all at some point for some goal, they helped get her to where she was now.

"At the end of the day, I am merely a woman who is trying to do what she thinks is right, whatever that may be."

[Avian Morrison]

Breathe in the light
I’ll stay here in the shadow
-M83 and Suzanne Sundfør, “Oblivion”

When Helena closed her eyes, Avian knew she had not answered the question to the woman’s liking. She had been hoping Helena would not notice how she had dodged the question. But apparently either she was too transparent or Helena was very observant; that, however, was irrelevant. She had probably just given off a poor impression to start with. Ah, well.

Helena spoke of what she was and that she was human. As she spoke, Avian nodded slightly. Avian, of course, was just as human, but she had a harder time admitting to her faults and worries and flaws. Those she had been trained to hide. Any one misstep would have landed her and her mothers in jail.

Avian considered the answers she could have given. I’m a bitch, she might have said. I’m a stranger. I've seen the world and still don't know myself. Would that have told Helena what she wanted to know? At the very best, they were things Helena would find for herself in time.

Would they work well together? Time would tell. But they would have to, for the sake of the Company and the public at large. So far, Avian thought well of Helena, but what the other woman thought of her was a different matter entirely.

As for being human… was she? Not every human could control tides, or change one material to another, or do any number of the powerful things Helena could do. That was not to say she was not a person - certainly she was, with an ordinary job and a family of her own - but human? No, to be human was to watch as the slightest minority of those around you had the ability to stop the world. To be human was to fear that the next Special-caused catastrophe would happen in your own backyard. To be human was to wish you could fly, that you could disappear, that you could walk through walls. These days, that was what it meant to be human, and there was no way Helena could claim to understand that.

She said nothing of these thoughts, however, knowing that they would only lead to arguments and distrust. They needed to be on the same level if they were to run the Company together, even if they did share a difference of opinions. That difference could even give them different perspectives, different ways of viewing the same problems the Company would face. They could use that to their advantage. They could work together. They could be an effective team.

Nevertheless, Avian decided to change the topic. "You seem to be a very forward-thinking person," she said. "I am interested in hearing what ideas you have for the Company. Having been in the center of things for years now, I expect you have a much different view than I do, and I think that will help us work well together.” She gave Helena a tiny smile. “The Elite as well. We still have them at our disposal.”

[Helena Rahal]

Afraid to lose control,
Caught up in this world,
I've wasted time, I've wasted breath,
I think I thought myself to death

Helena managed to smirk a little as Avian commented on her being a forward thinking person. It was not always this way, her moods were as wild and untameable as the storming seas. Yet those troubled waters sometimes parted and gave way to the individual that she wanted to be all the time, not just in the rare instances where emotion was not in control. The beauty of being so empathetic, the terror of thinking to much, it was so easy to get lost and lose yourself to some string...

"If you are not moving forward, then you are getting left behind in the wake of others dust. The world, the universe, stops for no one. If you can not progress, if you can not change and adapt, you will be left behind to become nothing and fade into the footnotes of history."

Helena folded her hands together in front of her and thought of the person of whom inspired her and this vision she had. It was in truth a borrowed vision, one born not from her own mind, but of her inspiration, her very predecessor to the position she now held. Grace Harper's ideas of a multifaceted Company had been groundbreaking and visionary, but the tragedies of the times and her own disappearance had never lead them to being fulfilled in the way they could have, should have been.

"Very well prepared you are for this meeting Miss Morrison, I am impressed. If you vetted our organization that well in such a short amount of time, then I wonder what the limits of what we can achieve really are." The knowledge of The Elite were limited to a few dozen, maybe two hundred individuals on the entire planet as far as Helena was aware. That team... it needed addressing soon, it needed many things, things to which Helena was going to see to personally.

"With as much knowledge as you have already, then I am sure you know of Director Harper's last known agendas for the organization. For more than a few reasons and stumbling blocks along the way, those were not fulfilled. I want not only fulfill them, but make them better."

Helena paused once more, thinking of the safe houses, of the training facilities, and then the outing of selected members of the organization. It was all to procure good will for Specials and to show that the likes of the Registration Strike Force and the tyrannical anti-Special laws that had been put into effect were not needed. They had won the PR battle, with the RSF folding in on its own corruption, the underside of the Company however... it had fallen apart without any sort of leadership.

"Our public outreach programs need to continue, we can not risk Specials becoming a danger unto themselves or those around them. The training facilities and safe houses need to be staffed and supplied, the populace educated. The fear of the unknown needs to be dispelled and Specials need to be able to control their powers, lest we have another Phoenix or Costa Verde happen."

That was all straightforward though, more doing what they were already doing, maybe just doubling their efforts or bringing in fresh faces. What to do with the other side however... where was the line between freedom and security in the balance, what side of the line did she need to waver on?

"As for our other... operations. I do not want to go into detail here, but suffice to say, we will need boots on the ground. Intelligence is the key to every situation. All the greatest minds in history have seen that, from Sun Tsu to Gaius Julius, never declare the war that has not already been prepared for. Although they said it more eloquently than I have, preparation is the watchword, intelligence... so vital and such a dangerous game."

And for those most challenging of missions... "I suppose that's why our new President has elevated us so, we have all the best pieces in all the best places on the board." The Elite... they were the ultimate trump card in any matter of peril, provided they still wanted to fulfill The Company's mission.

"It is simple in design and seemingly straightforward, but these are only words spoken and ideas of what could be. A small plan... and no plan is worth its weight in salt if it can not be adapted, for life never goes according to plan." It was Avian's opening, if she choose to take it. Helena wondered if the new codirector would or would merely agree to these simple but arching goals that Helena had set forth.

[Avian Morrison]

Why is it so pathetic?
kakujitsu ni taika shiteru wake
It's so obvious
What can we do to change it?
kagirareta jikan no naka de
Have you thought of that?
-Meisa Kuroki, “THIS IS CRAZY”

The young woman spoke as though she had seen much in her relatively few years. Avian gave her a small smile. Footnotes of history… she had already done her part to earn a few paragraphs in an encyclopedia somewhere, but Helena needn’t know that.

Her lips twisted slightly as Helena congratulated her on her studiousness. She would hardly have stepped into a position over an organization she knew nothing about, no matter how persuasive Gabriel Constant was. “Yes, I always do my research,” Avian said with another small smile. “I would hate to find myself in a job I hated, or - more importantly - a job that hated me.”

She gestured for Helena to walk with her. There was little sense in having a meeting at the Memorial if they did not take it all in. There was so much history, so much meaning, so much purpose to be found here, more than enough to inspire reverence. And a raison d’etre for the Company - the tragedies of this particular event had not directly involved Specials, not as anyone was aware, but it stood for the others - April Fourth, October 31st, Hell, Costa Verde, Phoenix. Some of those were so hazardous that is was no longer safe to walk through them. And those, those had been caused by Specials.

They were walking time bombs, specials. One never knew when a pyrotechnic might take an idea to set fire to a building - and do it right then and there. No one would know it if a Special phased through some doors, invisible, and walked out of a bank with bags of cash. There could be a disaster at any moment - and sometimes the Company could stop it, and sometimes all they could do was heal the wound-

“My personal objective is to prevent disasters of any kind. Before they happen.” Avian glanced at Helena. “Director Harper’s goals were admirable, and lofty. The error was in the approach. I hope to correct that.” Avian had plenty of respect for Director Harper, bur she did not have the sort of bond Helena did. That, she felt, gave her a more objective view.

“That being said, I don’t think there’s any reason to change the Company’s overall purpose. We’ve been assigned a role to play, and it’s essential that we play it.” She nodded. “You’re right. The safe houses and training facilities should be looked after immediately. Since it has been some time since anyone has been directly in charge of them, they may be in need of attention.”

She tucked her hands into her pockets. “We - you and I - have some of the greatest technology, the greatest resources, easily within our reach. I imagine there’s nothing we can’t do to reach our ends. I suggest organizing a meeting of the Company and our Elite to gather opinions, and go from there. All decisions are ultimately ours, however,” she added, “and I fully intend to take responsibility for mine.” Nodding toward Helena, she said, “And I’ve no doubt that you’ll be accountable for yours.”

*Why is it so pathetic?
It’s because certainty is degenerating
It’s so obvious
What can we do to change it?
In the restricted time we have
Have you thought of that?

[Helena Rahal]

I've got a lot to say to you
Yeah I've got a lot to say.

There was something about the demeanor of Avian that disturbed Helena as the woman motioned for them to move through more of the memorial. As she spoke, that ill feeling continued to grow, there was something quite... off kilter about the way she was speaking. Helena could not put her finger on it, perhaps it was just intuition, but she could not help but feel as if there was words being spoken while unspoken in Avian's speech. The discord created by the lack of trust... perhaps, but perhaps not.

"I assure you that I own all my decisions and the consequences that they reap in the process." For good or ill, they had all been a learning process, had been a step in the growth of her as a person. Every step along the way shaped her to be the woman she was now, every decision had set the spindle of fate into a new direction or affirmed the one she was on. Even the decisions that she hid or when she tried to be elusive to the consequences, each had shone a light for her.

Friend of foe, adversary or ally? What was Avian in truth, was she the tale and prerogatives that she spun or was that all just a masquerade to keep the wool over the eyes of the Company? Preventing disasters before they happened... that sounded way too much like the premise for Minority Report the way that Avian had phrased it. It was one thing stopping criminals and terrorists from committing crimes based on investigation and evidence... but... it did not feel right.

"I will be traveling soon to ascertain the exact sitrep of the Elite and determine its future. In the meantime, I suggest we get started on the other objectives, perhaps get you settled into your office and let the agents to get to know you. If you want them to follow where you lead, they need to know the person leading and are not leading them in some fool's errand... We lost too many agents already because of distance."

Trust, loyalty, those were things that had to be earned and not given. Helena was in the same boat, she needed her fellow agents that remained to now see her as the leader of the operation, the captain of the ship, not just another agent. That and she was going to bring the Company back into the path that it was supposed to be on, perhaps not exactly the straight and narrow, but the path where they could do the most good.

"Good luck Avian." Your going to need it, I think Helena thought to herself as she gave her codirector a soft smile and offered to shake her hand. Afterwards, she started walking in a random direction, she would not go directly home, not until she was sure she was not being followed. The safety of her home and loved ones... that was the utmost importance, and now she was a target, and all precautions had to be taken...

FIN