Mockingbird: Take Flight

[Mir]

Sweat was nothing new to Rowan Chapman.

As she ran along the Potomac River, her noise canceling headphones strained to keep pace with her. She breathed in the crisp spring air. Her running outfit was in good shape so far, a dark orange leggings and sports bra combination along with a dark gray sweatshirt crop top cover. Her little reward for herself for completing her training at the Farm. Rowan was hoping that with the premium she’d paid for the outfit, it would hold up longer than some of her other sets. Money wasn’t tight, not with the salary the CIA paid, but that still didn’t mean she wanted to waste her money.

Not when she knew what she had to do to earn it.

She was awaiting news she wasn’t looking forward to receiving. But she knew it was something she was going to have to face at some point. Her scores in training and the reviews from her trainers had basically spelled it out.

She wanted to succeed. She wanted to excel, but she wasn’t sure if the cost was something she was willing to pay. Rowan slowed down as her phone buzzed, and she felt the vibration against her thigh. Sliding the phone out of the thigh pocket, Rowan looked at who it was and she sighed.

She had a feeling it was time to pay the piper.

The Director was setting up an appointment.

Putting the phone away, she turned around and started running in the opposite direction.

As she ran, the sweat came down into her eyes and she blinked. She wasn’t sure if it was the sweat or the worry. Rowan kept running though. She’d known.

She’d known what was going to happen from the moment she had signed her name on the contract. It was different though from what she had gone through in her life though. She had competed in wrestling in high school, against the boys sometimes and she had won. Rowan had been a champion in a lot of things. But nothing was like this.

You only got one shot at this and you had to get it right. For a reason. They had to know they could trust you. Otherwise you could be a field agent, but there were limitations on what you would be allowed to do.

It was time.

Time for the infamous red test.

Rowan had to kill.

==-==

Rowan shook hands with the Director as she walked into his office. She’d gotten back to her apartment and had changed, quickly. Being late wasn’t something she wanted to do during a one on one meeting with the Director.

“Rowan, thanks for coming in.” He said, gesturing at one of the seats. She sat and he walked over to the bar but she shook her head and he walked back to his seat behind his desk. “I think you know why you’re here.” He said and she nodded. “That’s good, we can get straight to business.”

He pulled out a folder and opened it. She took that moment to cast a glance around the room. The office looked a lot like she thought it would. The decor kind of reminded her of M’s room in the Bond movies. She brought her eyes back to the Director as he started speaking.

“We have a company that we use for different contracting jobs. Sapphire Development. Sapphire does a lot of different research projects for us. One of their researchers, Logan Hall, has appeared to go rogue. He stole a bunch of research and is attempting to sell it to the highest bidder. The transaction, the auction is taking place in Madripoor. Your job is to get in there and get back the research.” He said. “In the process, we want Dr. Hall terminated.” He said, finally looking up from the folder.

“What is the research?” She asked. “What should I be looking for?”

He leaned back in the chair, steepling his fingers. “That’s part of the problem. We know what he took, but we’re not sure of the exact form. There’s two components. The first part is pretty straightforward. Vials of a serum. The second is more complicated. Data files. The data files could be in any form. You’ll have to ask him when you see him.”

“Ask him?” She asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Politely, of course.” He said, giving her a small smile. “Rowan, you’re one of the most promising prospects we’ve ever had. Your test scores are some of the highest out of the Farm that I’ve seen during my time as Director. I’m placing a lot of trust in you and I know you’re going to reward that.” He said. “Do you have any further questions?” He asked, closing the file and holding it out to her.

She rose herself, accepting the file. “I don’t think so. I’ll review the file and let you know if I do have anything.”

“We have reliable intel that the auction is taking place in one week.” He said. “You have some time, but we really do need this data back in our hands.”

“I understand.” She said as he now extended a hand.

They shook.

[Mir]

“Jordan is looking forward to it. He got to meet my parents when they were in town, but he wants to see Goose Creek. I think my dad likes him, which is big, you know? My mom is just happy I’m with someone as long as they treat me right. When do you think you’ll get a chance to get back home…Row, are you listening to me?”

“What? Of course, I’m listening, Nora.” Rowan replied.

She was in fact barely listening to Nora, one of her childhood friends. She had Nora on speaker phone as she sat in a chair on the balcony of her third floor apartment in Georgetown. Nora was telling her all about her planned trip back to Goose Creek, where they’d grown up. She was leaving in a few days. Meanwhile, Rowan was going to be leaving in a few days herself, to Madripoor.

She had the file that the Director had given her on the glass table in front of her, next to a glass of lemonade. It was open and she had been reviewing the information that analysts had provided. There was a lot to cover and she had to know the contents of the file backwards and forwards.

“Well, when do you think you’ll get a chance to get back home?” Nora asked.

“I don’t know. I don’t have the freedom you have with your job as a fashion designer.”

“Hey, I had to get a lot done to get this trip arranged.” Her friend replied, laughing. “Besides, just the flight from National City to Goose Creek is going to burn a whole day. You’re in D.C., you could make the drive in a a few hours.”

“Eight. I know from experience.” Rowan replied, pulling a leg up on to the chair with her and wrapping her arms around it. “That was a fun trip.”

“Hugh didn’t go with you right?”

“No, he was busy with some legislative meetings.”

She sighed, inwardly. She understood his job was busy but there never seemed to be time for anything unless it was the things he wanted to do. Understandable, but you couldn’t make time one time to be able to see her hometown? It was still a bit of a sticking point, so she didn’t want to dwell on it, but she knew Nora was going to push a little bit. Her friend wasn’t being a dick, it was more her personality.

“I want to meet him.” Nora replied, her tone a mixture of needling and envious. “Jordan’s great and all, but you’re dating someone in Congress.”

Rowan had to laugh now. “I am not dating ‘someone in Congress’. Hugh’s a senior aide to a junior senator from Nevada. That’s hardly someone in Congress.”

“It’s closer to it than you and I are.” Nora retorted. “Speaking of, what are you doing these days with the CIA? Or are you sworn to secrecy? You have to know such interesting people between Hugh and the CIA.”

Rowan eyed the file on the table.

“I’ve got a few things I’m working on. But it’s nothing exciting, trust me.” She stated, hoping Nora would drop it. There was one way to play defense and that was to go on offense. “So things are getting serious with Jordan then?” She asked.

“I would say so.” Nora replied, as Rowan sipped from her lemonade. “I think we’re going to move in together when our leases are up.”

She almost bobbled the lemonade. “You’re kidding, that’s awesome. Are you ready for that?”

“I’m the one pushing for it more than him.” Nora said. “I really think he’s the one, Row.” She said.

Rowan smiled. “That’s amazing. I’m so happy for you, Nora. You know what, maybe I’ll see if I can head out to National City in a few weeks and I can meet this magical guy.” She said.

“I’d like that. Listen, Row, I gotta go. I’m getting a call from Kenzie.” She said.

“Kenzie…Sanders? The model?” Rowan asked, a bit incredulous.

“Yeah, she needs some information about a fitting we’re doing for an ad campaign. Luckily, she lives in National City so maybe I can get her into the office later. I gotta run, love you babes.” Nora said, before hanging up.

“And she says I must know interesting people.” Rowan said, out loud, chuckling. She drank more of her lemonade and remembered that she still had the preparations for this op to complete. Nora's phone call had been a nice break from reality but that's all it really was, a break from reality.

Time to get back to work.