I Have A Bad Feeling About This - Ellen (25)

Virgil could be described as an acquaintance from days gone by. Of course, he could just as easily be described as a screwed-up bastard with a sexy accent. The accent is always sexy. Don't get me started on this. But, up until he oh-so-casually approached me in the street, I had thought that the most accurate description of all for Virgil would be "dead."
That bastard was supposed to be dead! The newspapers said he was dead. The government said he was dead. The Agency said he was dead. Everyone said he was dead. And here he was, walking around, not dead! You have to be a real bastard to walk around not dead like that. And Virgil was one.
If it wasn't for that damn accent...
I'd never heard of any agency that required its members to fake their own deaths. Not any legitimate ones, anyway. I'd never heard of recruiters being watched. I'd certainly never heard of "shall we say, other recruiters." That sounded most suspicious of all. Yes, I was extremely suspicious of Virgil. I'd have been a fool not to be.
Greg was suspicious, too. He'd never liked Virgil. The accent didn't have the same effect on him. And Virgil did have this way of... oh, making you feel inferior. From "Hello, Ellen" onwards, I could feel him laughing at silly little Ellen and her silly mission. Scarlett and Gillian trying to hide in the bushes didn't really help matters. Greg even seemed willing to forego the fact that he probably thought I was a little silly, too, in order to distract Virgil's attention and keep that patronizing tone out of his voice. It didn't work, but it was nice that he tried. Nice that he tried to hide that he was angry, too. For the most part, only other recruiters can tell when a recruiter is angry and doesn't want it to show. There's a little edge in the voice. Unfortunately, Virgil and I had both been recruiters.
I hoped Greg was more angry at Virgil for having the nerve to be alive than at me for having a semi-conversation with him. I would need Greg to help me keep an eye on that screwed-up bastard. Pardon me, acquaintance from days gone by. I didn't know what he was trying to pull, but all in all it was better that he come along, because it would be much more difficult for him to pull it with both Greg and me watching his every move.
The recruits, on the other hand, would have to be kept in the dark. Virgil would be just another recruiter. I couldn't think of any other way to handle this. I didn't care that they weren't quite buying it. Bully for them.
"But you said he's dangerous," Gillian pointed out. Both of my passengers were scowling, arms crossed, eyes narrowed.
"I said he could be dangerous. Everyone could be dangerous. That's why you do what I tell you. It's a lesson. An allegory. A... Zen thingy."
"A Zen thingy?" Gillian asked.
"Yeah. Problem?" I shot them a glare in the rearview mirror. They both grumbled variations on the theme of "no."
Silence followed. Terrible silence. Awkward silence. Damn it, Virgil, I thought. This was not the best way to start a mission.
"Sooo..." I drawled, terminating the gaping black hole of a pause, "Who likes car games?"
Scarlett brightened a bit. "I do!"
Gillian rolled her eyes.
"Then why don't you play one, Scarlett, while I tell Gillian that I'm sorry I snapped at you guys, but I was sort of acting on instinct."
"Which game?" Scarlet asked.
"Pick one."
"What do you mean?" Gillian ventured cautiously.
"I can't afford to look even a little bit like an idiot in front of Virgil. Virgil and I go way back, and... how shall I put this delicately?" Bastard. "I don't like him much at all."
Gillian nodded. "I don't even know him," she said, "and I don't either."
"Liked his accent though," Scarlett put in.
Glancing in the rearview mirror, I could see the nondescript design of the Facade following Mustang Sally. A feeling was beginning to creep over me that led me to truly understand, for the first time, what they mean in certain movies when they say, "I have a very bad feeling about this."

Just like old times - Greg (24)

This update is also dedicated to Erin in honor of her birthday. Yay Erin!!!
Virgil was what you'd call an old friend of mine. Well, except for the friend part. So basically, he was old. Well, he wasn't really any older than I am. Well, a year or so. Y'know, I'm gonna start over.
Virgil was what you'd call an acquaintance from days gone by. He was with us on that first mission; another recruit. It's a long story to tell and I don't need to go into it, but the fact is he was always suspicious old Virg. He wasn't sure that the recruiters were saving the universe like they said. And after the mission, when the rest of us kept in touch in little ways, Virgil dropped off the map. Even with the resources of the recruiters, Ellen and I couldn't find him. In fact, the government had declared him dead. Car crash.
So you can imagine how surprised I was to see he and Ellen talking. Naturally I rushed out to join them. Marcus was a little confused. I didn't mention - Marcus wasn't on that mission. He joined up about a year later, but that's another story. So he didn't know who this guy was, he'd just heard us talking about him, but he decided to keep his mouth shut and let me check it out, which I appreciate. I imagine it was some kinda compensation for treating me like a recruit this whole time; I really think he felt bad about it.
So anyway, there I was walking up to Ellen and Virgil just chattering away. And I says, in my best recruiter voice,
"Virgil, It's good to see you again." I held out my hand, and Virgil hesitantly took it. "What brings you here?"
"As I was telling Ellen," he replied in his oh-so-smooth British accent, "I've locked my car keys in the Facade. I happen to know that yours will work just as well."
"But you're dead," said Ellen, backing away, "And what are you doing with a facade anyway?"
"I've joined up with, shall we say, other recruiters. They required that I be considered dead. But you needn't worry. I've been watching you for some time, and if I wanted to harm you I would have. As it is, I just need your help, and I'll be out of your hair."
While he was talking I noticed Ellen's eyes stray to behind him. Following her gaze I saw Gillian and Scarlett behind the bushes! For some reason I decided I didn't want Virgil to see them. I slapped him on the arm.
"Well, alright Virg, let's go get my keys," I said quickly and tried to turn him toward my car, but he had sensed what was going on. He was good at that.
"I think your recruits need some training, Ellen," he said, "Or did you order them to try whatever they're trying?"
"I'm afraid you were right with the first one," Ellen said candidly, "What were you guys planning anyway?"
Scarlett and Gill stood up uneasily and came out with a chorus of "I just thought-"s and "We wanted to-"s that kind of puttered out.
"This guy could have been dangerous. Could still be. From now on, when I say stay in the car, stay in the car."
"Ok."
"Yes ma'm."
"And you probly want to head back there now."
"Oh no," Virgil broke in, "By all means let them stay. We have lots to discuss. I'm sure they'd find it edifying."
"Unfortunately," I said, "We've got a plane to catch, so I'll just let you into the car and we'll be off."
"That won't be necessary. I happen to be booked on the same flight, so if you'll help me get my things, I'll ride along with you."
Well I wasn't sure about this at all. Like I said, I didn't trust Virgil. Well maybe I didn't say it, but it's true. Especially with these "other recruiters." Then again, it might be better to keep an eye on him. I yielded to Ellen's judgment with a questioning look in her direction.
"Go ahead, take him," she said, "We'll straighten this out at the airport, and if he tries anything, tell Marcus he's authorized to use nonlethal force if necessary."
"Well," replied Virgil sarcastically, "It's good to see you again, too."

Hmmmm... --Gillian(23)

When we headed out to the cars, Scarlett (surprise, surprise) went for Ellen's car and hopped in the front, dashing all my hopes of having a chat with Ellen in the front of her car. I slowly got into the backseat and waited with Scarlett for Ellen.
Only, she didnt get in right behind us. I looked around for her and saw her talking to some guy near the car. She looked tense. I was surprised to hear Scarlett say something right by my ear. "She looks tense," she said.
"Yeah," I agreed, somewhat surprised, "who is he?" I thought out loud.
"I don't think he's an ex," Scarlett answered, "but not a family member either. Looks like a ghost from her past, if you ask me."
I couldn't talk for a minute. Scarlett actually had logic under all that red hair. Plus I was starting to feel sorry for her. She was only a kid, sixteen at most I guessed.
I was shaken from my reminising when i saw Greg get out of the black car and walk toward Ellen and the strange guy. He had his mask-face on, as usual but he looked like he was straining to keep it there. Greg said something and held out his hand. The stranger looked at his hand, then hesitantly took it. You could cut the tension in the air with a knife.
I noticed Ellen inching away from the group. "What is she doing?" I asked. This time my question was directed at Scarlett.
"I don't know, but I'm going to help." Scarlett said and started openning the door of the car.
" What are you doing?!" I hissed at her, "are you crazy?"
"Come on Gill," she said, "hurry up."
Surprisingly, I didn't object. I just slipped out of the car behind her.
I felt amazing. I was being reckless. I hadn't been reckless ever before.
I followed Scarlett around the car and along the line of bushes that separated us from the group. The stranger had his back to us. "What are we going to do?" I asked Scarlett.
"Well we can't do anything this far away. Let's get closer." she suggested.
We continued along the bushes until we were a few feet away from the group. Ellen looked over and saw us. She suddenly looked really worried. Greg noticed where Ellen was looking and saw us too. He suddenly slapped the stranger on the arm said something. Ellen furiously mouthed 'GET TO THE CAR' but it was too late.
"I think your recruits need some training, Ellen." the stranger said in a smooth voice.