[.第九.]

They would try to outflank him, but his rear was not capable of being flanked unless they wanted to jump into the bay's cold and storm-tossed waters attempting suicide. He focused on other spots and patiently waited for them to cross, perspiration cloaking his forehead and apprehension hugging his vein of thoughts. Nevertheless, the young male repeated his action again and again until they were within twenty meters of his location. He wondered why they were staying packed together.

Jimin's mind went over the situation, analyzing every detail of his surroundings keenly. Putting his application skills to use he thought, separating during the attack was standard tactics. If that method was put to use when he'd not be able to follow them as the groups would be aiming at him from all sides of the compass. But so long as they stayed together his focus need not be diffused. He was deciding whether to fire or not when his phone buzzed.

He was not inclined to answer, hell no, not with four bogies bearing down on his outgunned butt. His eyebrows furrowed, it could be Jeongguk calling bim. As corny as it sounded, this might allow him to say goodbye in a way that had not been possible before. And maybe he would go after Jimin's killers and slay them for him.

"Yes?" he said into the phone, keeping his shooting hand on his Glock and his eyes firmly planted on the forces coming for him.

"Please hold for DD Yang Seulgi," said the efficient voice.

"What the-" began Jimin, his pupils constricting.

"Agent Park, this is Yang Seulgi, the new deputy director of Central Intelligence. We need you to come into Hartley immediately."

"I'm a little busy right now, DD Yang " replied Jimin sarcastically. "But maybe you're already aware of that," he added, his already harsh voice becoming increasingly strident.

"There are four agents currently at your cottage on the farther cornered outlet where your cottage used to be. They are there simply to escort you to Hartley. Please do not think of engaging with them and perhaps doing them harm."

"And are they planning to do me harm?" snapped Jimin, a mocking tone rupturing through each word of his. "Because it's the middle of the night and the sun won't be up for hours. I have no idea how they even knew I was here, and they're acting quite furtive."

"Your reputation precedes you. Hence they are acting with care. As to your
location, we were determined you were nowhere else."

"And why do you need me to come in ASAP?"

"That will all be explained when you get here."

"Is this about a new mission?"

"That will be answered only when you get here, Agent Park. I can't trust that this line is secure."

"And if I choose not to come in?"

"As I told Agent Jeon-"

"You called Jeongguk in as well?"

"Yes. He's part of all this, Agent Park"

"And you're the new DD?"

"Yes."

"Do you know what happened to the last two?"

"The same question Agent Jeongguk presented to me."

Despite everything Jimin smiled. "And your answer?"

"The same as yours will be. Just get your butt in here."

The line went dead.

-漫~*'¨¯¨'*·舞~ - ~舞*'¨¯¨'*·~漫-

Hartley CIA Q 2020 February 03

☘☘☘

Hours later Park Jimin set foot in the driveway at Hartley. The sun was up, the rain had passed, but his mood had not enhanced in the least bit. He cleared the security tests and entered through the revolving glass doors of a building he knew very well. In some ways too well. The atmosphere held an absurd silence, lightning bellowing in the room while echoing a strange lull in the distance. He was escorted to a room where he found a familiar face already waiting.

"Jeongguk," he said curtly before sitting down next to him.

"Jimin," said Jeongguk, inclining his head slightly. "I take it you received the same invitation."

"It wasn't an invitation. It was an order. Did they send goons to bring you in?"

No

He shook his head.

"Then I guess they trust you more than they trust me."

"We trust you both the same," said a voice as the door opened and a
woman in her early forties, with shoulder-length brown, hair walked in carrying an electronic tablet. She was petite, about five-four and maybe a hundred and ten pounds, but lean and fit, and her wiry physique suggested a strength that belied
her small size.

DD Yang Sugi. She shook each of their hands while Jeongguk and Jimin
exchanged bemused looks."I must certainly thank you both for coming in so promptly." Jimin shook his head, "If I knew I had a choice I wouldn't have. The four guys you sent after me didn't provide any options," he argued counter replying.

"Nevertheless, your cooperation is appreciated," said Seulgi in a brisk tone while keenly observing them

Jeongguk pushed his messy soft hair back questioning, "I thought after the last mission we had some stand-down time?"

"You did and now that's over."

"So a new mission?" Jimin said wearily.

"Not yet," replied Seulgi "First things first."

"Meaning what?" asked Jimin.

"Meaning that you both need to be what I would term recalibrated."

Jeongguk and Jimin exchanged another glance. He said, "You recalibrate instruments."

"You are instruments. Of this agency."

"And we need recalibration why, exactly?" asked Jeongguk

Seulgi had not made eye contact with them before, even when shaking their hands. She had either looked down or over their shoulders. It was disconcerting, but the tactic was not unexpected by either Jeongguk or Jimin. Now Seulgi stared directly at them. And to Jeongguk she had the eyes of someone who had spent time behind a long-range scope at some point in her career.

"You want to waste my time and yours asking crap like that?" she said in a low, even voice. Before either of them could respond Seulgi said, "You both went rogue on us." She turned to look at Jimin. "You killed one of our analysts and my predecessor."She turned next to stare at Jeongguk. "And you aided and abetted her after being sent out to terminate her.

In the aftermath of that situation, we had the decision to terminate or rehabilitate. The decision to rehabilitate was made. I'm not
saying I agree with it, but I am here to implement it."

"I guess so much for our being awarded the CIA's highest honor," said Jeongguk mockingly.

"Congratulations," said Seulgi. "I have one in my closet too. But it's history. I'm concerned only with the present and the future. Yours. You've been given an unbelievable offer. There are some people here who desperately want you to screw up so other plans can be put into motion."

"I can guess who one of them is," said Jimin "Your boss, Daeshim."

"And there are others here who hope you succeed and become productive
members of this organization once more."

"And what camp are you in?" Jeongguk asked.

"Neither. I'm in Jeju. I will lead your rehab, but the outcome is entirely up to both of you. I don't care which way it goes. Up, down, or sideways," she said while pointing her index finger according to her words." It doesn't matter one iota to me."

Jimin nodded. "Comforting. But you report directly to Daeshim."

"In a way everyone here reports directly to him. But I can assure you that you will have a full and fair opportunity to be rehabilitated. Whether you are or not is up to you."

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Gawd I've never done such huge amounts of research for any topic. This broadly speaking is my baby in all senses. Also lmao the gif reminded me of how pleased I was to aim my arrow right at the center in the first go but like I also got a severely bleeding lip because of it.