Watcher Part 1

     I pulled off my long fawn coat and the white snow fell to the floor and disappeared. I walked over to my computer terminal and turned it on, rubbing my eyes while it booted up. I am part of the Watcher Division for Section One; we watch active and non-active operatives as well as scout for new operatives. Most of us are assigned to particular operatives, me? I do a bit of everything; I mainly look for prospective operatives as well as manage a few active low-level field operatives.

     Ali is my boss; we went through training at the same time. I worked in the field for a while, Ali came straight here. Section put me here while I was in abeyance, when they found out I was working out well here they took me out of abeyance.

    I look back at my computer screen and my mailbox is flashing, I click on my mail icon and sort through my mail. Mostly comments and gossip from other Watchers, seems Eric has been cancelled, everyone is talking about it. I knew he would mess up sooner or later; he just wasn't cut out for it here.
    I click on my monitors and I see Michael is at Nikita's apartment, he is quiet but she is yelling. Ooops, she threw a vase, not a good time for them. Everyone loves to keep tabs on them, I just check in every once in awhile. Poor things they have enough people watching. I look at my mail box and it is flashing again. I check it and another email is there.

    'Alyssa report to me. Ali' Short and sweet eh? I must have a new mission. Leaving my computer on I glanced at my monitor lined wall before exiting my office.

     "Mission Briefing?" I asked as I walked in to Ali's office. Ali looked up as she chewed on her thumbnail.

"Come in Alyssa." she replied, her short blonde hair following her head as she moved quickly to see her secretary in the doorway. I sit down and await further command. We're close but I always show her respect at work. Ali's secretary hands her a piece of paper and leaves. Ali takes a deep breath and shakes her head, her green eyes showing her irritation.

"I have profiles for you to track down. Trail them, find out everything, the usual workup for prospective ops. Madeline may want to go over the profiles with you so make yourself available.  Ali stood up and grabbed a thick 3 ring binder from the shelf behind her and leafed through it finding the page and looking up.

"Questions?" she asked.

"No." I replied getting up to leave, files safely under my arm.

"Alyssa?"

"Yeah."

"How's Jonathon?" she asked, I resumed my position in the chair I had recently vacated. Ali knew about my boyfriend, I knew she would find out so I told her. Watcher's had different rules to Cold Ops, they could have a somewhat normal life providing it never interfered with work. So far I had been seeing Jonathon for 3 months and it was working out okay.

"He's fine." I replied a little curious. I knew she was asking as a friend and not a boss.

"Good. Three years with us and you are finally starting to date, just be careful." she answered.

"I will. Ali, are you okay?" I asked.

"I'm fine." she replied shaking her head and going back to her file.

"Tonight. Seven o'clock, be there or I come looking for you." I replied when she smiled I let myself out of her office.
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    Walking back to my office I let the eight files fall on my desk, it was just more work that I had to get done. I clicked a few keys on my computer screen and watched my computer screen saver flicker to a window. Mark, a cold op I was assigned to, came on to the screen. He was in his living room, stretched out on his couch reading. I zoomed in to see the title of the book. Les Miserables; I smiled to myself. Mark had been a literature student in college before he was inducted. He tried to stop his friends from bombing a building and ended up killing them. The rest is history.
    I clicked a few more keys and another screen came up. This time the room was empty. I quickly picked up the phone and clutched it between my ear and shoulder and dialed Madeline's office. While it ringed I clicked a few more keys, Madeline answered on the third ring.

"Yes?" Madeline's soft, crisp voice came through the receiver.

"Madeline. Alyssa." Madeline knew who it was, we had a passion for photography and we spent many lunches escaping Section and hiding in photography.

"Codename Claire, is she on a mission? I can't see anything in my calendar." I asked, quickly checking my computer calendar. Every operative had an online calendar, if they were on a mission it was put on the calendar and updated every 15 minutes.

"Yes she is. Sorry, give it a few minutes, the technicians will update it." Madeline replied with a smile.

"Seeing as I have you on the phone may I request permission for a random search?" I asked, frequently we were permitted to search Operatives apartments to make sure nothing slips through our safety net. When Watchers left for a search they had to take with them a weapon and a search kit.

"Of course. Don't be late for the briefing 8am sharp." Madeline warned.

"I'm always on time am I not?" I replied with a smile.

"Of course let me know the results." Madeline hung up the same time as I did. I clicked a few more keys checked on my other operatives. Pulling on my coat I headed for the weapons arsenal. It was now 6 o'clock and I wanted to look over the profiles before the briefing.
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    "Hello Jack, where's Walter?" I asked, surprised to see Jack, the tall dark haired operative flashed his well-known grin, his blue eyes meeting mine.

"Aw, and this whole time I thought you liked me. You must have a thing for older men." Jack replied, I just smiled.

"Jack your becoming more like Walter everyday." I replied as I signed for my gun.

"Here's your usual piece Browning High Power. Don't hurt yourself." he stated as he handed to gun to me from his side of the counter. I slipped it in my holster and by the time I turned around my search kit was waiting for me.

"I'll be thinking about ya Jack." I replied picking up my case, I looked up to see his shining blue eyes. I started to walk away but I couldn't resist the urge. Jack cocked his head to the side and shot me a confused look.

"Jack." I whispered. "How old are you?"

Surprised he bounced back, "Twenty one sweetie."

"Guess that means I like younger men." Jack flashed a smile.

"Your evil." I laughed Jack and I were good friends and we always joked around. There was something about him that drew me to him, but we were in Section and well we all know that story.

Part 2