Fragments Gallery
Operative: Recruitment
Shawn worked alone in his shop. He was mid-height with long grey hair tied in a ponytail reaching down his neck. He did not seem overly stocky but neither did he seem small. Even with his age his movements suggested he remained well toned. His eyes were ice amidst his harsh features as he regarded the mechanism before him. The mechanism which was the focus of his attention, illuminated by the single oil lamp in the workshop, was small and plainly delicate. Despite it seeming puny in the man's big hands he handled the pieces deftly, easily pushing the small parts into place.
An older man in a dark suit silently slipped through the door which rested outside of Shawn’s line of sight. Remaining silent he moved up behind Shawn, stopping a few feet from the other man.
There was a click and Shawn grunted in satisfaction and the mechanism began to spin. The mechanism slipped into a small locket and the locket snapped shut. Shawn placed the locket gently on the table and leaned back to admire his handiwork. He lifted a shop towel and began to clean his hands on it, his fingers leaving dirty smudges on the blue cloth. He began to speak, his voice a dry rasp.
"What do you want Nigel?"
The man behind him started and then responded, "You haven't lost your touch, even after all of this time. You always were one our best."
"So you say. But when you shut me down I was just a liability," Shawn tossed the cloth back on the table and turned to face Nigel, "Answer the question. What do you want?"
"I want you back on our team."
"What changed? Why now?"
Nigel sighed and stepped forwards, "Things have grown… complicated. I want a simple solution and I need our best on it."
Shawn stared at him impassively, snorted and then turned back to his work bench.
"Shawn I need you back, I can't risk sending anyone else on this."
Something in his tone made Shawn turn, "Why would I help you?"
"Your daughter has been placed in our system. We can ensure she is well taken care of. And it would be… regrettable… should anything happen to her."
"Are you threatening her?" Shawn growled.
"No." The single word seemed to echo in the silence that followed.
Shawn looked around the workroom. He had made his living here for years. Now this man dared to show up to coerce him back into service. And he could do nothing.
"Fine," Shawn spat the word out, "What is my mission?"
Nigel smiled at him; it was a kindly smile from a kindly appearing old gentleman, it made Shawn seethe inside.
"I need you to retrieve something for me. I will see you at headquarters this evening and when there I will have you briefed and equipped." Nigel nodded and then sauntered from the room. He hesitated on the threshold and turned back, “Please don’t disappoint me.” With that Nigel vanished out onto the street.
Shawn remained motionless as his anger slowly drained from him. Once he had calmed he went to a nearby bookshelf. He pulled on a red bound book and the mechanism behind it clicked. A painting hanging on the wall slid back revealing a safe. With a few quick twists of the knobs the locks clicked open and Shawn pulled forth his old weapon. It was a pistol. Small and concealable the blocky weapon had been his favorite tool for years. At least it had been before he was grounded.
Now it seemed he was back in.