[center][h1] Kieran/ Cori/ Verdock [/h1][/center] Kieran looked at the server in front of him, resting on his desk. He sat in his swivel chair, uncharacteristically tapping his foot. Kieran went over the speech in his mind dozens of times on repeat. He would simply say he knew about the robbery because he had been monitoring CIA communications. He would pull up some bull program running on his computer that looked and acted real enough, so Cori would see believe he was monitoring CIA communications and security. He was living in a CIA safehouse, so it wouldnt be unbelievable that he could do that. Kieran would return the server, have his notes hidden, and be able to continue on with what he needed to do. He could track down the agents he had listed, and be able to work them over until he found ever coalition mole. Kieran would do all this and he thought how impressed Cori would be. Maybe she would finally trust him completely when he handed over every coaliton agent. Kieran shook his head. He wondered why he wa so hung up on trying to helpm her, no........impress her. The last friend he had.......well that didnt end well. She left, he left, it was messy. He had a few friends now even though he had not seen them but he knew they were well. Kieran sighed and ran his hands through his hair. [color=0076a3]"Calm down Kieran. You have lied before, you can lie again. This is for the greater good. If she knew what you did she would just arrest you. Literally she will send you to a supermax so secure not even you could escape."[/color] Kieran stood up and wiped his shirt and pants off. He had not changed out of his black dress clothes, and his hair was slightly in his face from all of his recent activities, the work he had put in. [color=0076a3]"I mean, yes it feels like she is your friend, but she is a law women to her core. Lawful good. Your.......chaotic nuetral at best.....no. Your evil plain and simple. You accepted this a long time ago. You take cash for lives and worse. Yes you have never killed or harmed children but thats been your only rule. She.....she would not accept you as you are. "[/color] Kieran sighed and chuckled. [color=0076a3]"I am getting worked up for nothing. Stupid me. Ever since I got these powers..........God its like everything has gone to hell."[/color] Suddenly kierans phone rang. Kieran picked it up and listened. [i][u] Listen I need to speak quick. I know what you did you moron. You almost pulled it off undetected, but you slipped. You have slipped ever since you took that contract with the CIA. And you have been slipping since you got your powers. Now I dont care what it takes, get your shit together. If you go down so many other things go down as well. there is a lot riding on you Kieran Hishamie. [/u][/i] Then the call ended just as suddenly as it began. Kieran narrowed his eyebrows in confusion. What the hell was that. Kieran pocketed his phone and sat on the edge of his desk. The Bentley pulled up in front of the safehouse, Cori feeling even more self conscious about her sloppy appearance but unable to place why. She killed the engine and paused, eyeing the house through her dark sunglasses. Despite Kieran's text--or maybe in spite of it--she couldn't help the feeling of paranoia in the back of her mind. Sighing, she get out of the car to approach the front door. "[color=lightpink]I'm coming in,[/color]" she warned before knocking a couple times and pushing it open. "[color=lightpink]Whattya got?[/color]" Kieran wasnt startled by Cori, but his chest became slightly heavier. Kieran sighed and like a dvd he rewinded himself so that he the same confident man she knew him as. Kieran faced Cori but still sat on the desk. He crossed his arms. [color=0076a3]"Hello. I am glad you came as quickly as you did. I seem to have something of yours."[/color] Kieran nodded his head towards the server next to him. Cori's brow furrowed and she took off her sunglasses to squint between him and the black box. "[color=lightpink]Is that the.. server box thing?[/color]" she asked, and immediately felt her face flush. [i]Server box thing.[/i] Yeah, she was a high ranking CIA operative. Kieran immediately relaxed for a moment visibly and slightly laughed. [color=0076a3]"Yes this is the......Server box thing...it is the one that was stolen from one of your warehouses a few hours ago."[/color] "[color=lightpink]I don't have my contacts in,[/color]" she defended herself under her breath before putting the sunglasses back on. Kieran picked it up, placed it in a backpack that was laying next to the desk, then zipped it closed and walked over to Cori. He stood maybe a little too close than people who were only barely managing colleagues should be, but Kieran didnt pick up on it right away. He offered Cori thr bag. [color=0076a3]"Here you go, undamaged."[/color] Cori frowned as she watched him pack it up, growing tense when he stepped just a bit too close. It had been stolen only earlier that day, and all the stress and anxiety she had been dealing with because of it...mostly melted away. There were still a lot of unanswered questions. She hesitantly reached out to take the bag as if she didn't quite believe she had it back already. "[color=lightpink]That's pretty impressive, Kieran. How'd you know where to get it? Who had it?[/color]" she asked. Kieran smiled. He placed his hands in hisn pockets, and stood up straight but relaxed. He looked into Coris eyes, well her glasses but he could see her eyes, and readied himself mentally. [color=0076a3]"It was rather simple for someone of my caliber. I....stole it myself."[/color] Kieran stopped himself and hid his own suprise. Fuck, he thought to himself. He meant to lie. Why didnt he lie? He did the opposite thing he wanted to do, he did it subconsciously. Cori blinked and waited. For what, she didn't know, but she found herself expecting him to explain who he stole it from. Or maybe to joke--he didn't take anything seriously, right? However, he left it at that, and her gaze narrowed at him. "[color=lightpink]What?[/color]" she said simply, her tone hard. Now she welcomed the closeness, and she eyed Kieran closely. Kieran almost took a step back but steeled himself. He thought to himself. "Ok close call, dont fuck this up man, seriously cmon. Your an elite espionage agent." Kieran steeled his eyes and looked Cori in the eyes again. He crossed his arms. [color=0076a3]"I stole it from the CIA."[/color] Kieran mentally face palmed himself and all his ancestors in their graves. He did it again. [color=0076a3]"Its funny actually, I had this whole speech about what I was going to say you know? Had a whole lie in my pocket so believable that your head would have spin and the president himself would have given me a medal."[/color] Kieran spun around and walked back to his desk. He sat on the edge and put his hands on his knees. [color=0076a3]"But for some God damn reason, for me it a little hard to lie to you. I dont know why. I dont know for how long. But.......I wanted you to trust me. I still do. I stole the server myself, broke into the CIA warehouse myself, knocked out plenty of guards, snuck into the sub level of the warehouse, and stole the server. I then caused a distraction by tricking your agents and snuck out. I needed some information you were not willing to give me."[/color] Behind the sunglasses, her eyes widened. Of all the things she expected, this wasn't one of them--and not with a full confession. As he spoke, her heartbeat in her ears nearly drowned him out as she struggled with the new information. [color=lightpink][i]I messed up again,[/i][/color] she thought, her fair skin going paler as she tensed further. She hired a freelancer exactly to [i]avoid[/i] putting other operatives in danger, and now he's turned around to steal from them. She had to drag herself out of that mindset in the moment, though; she had to deal with the problem in front of her. Cori drew in a long and much needed breath, her gaze refocusing on Kieran where he sat. "[color=lightpink]I couldn't--[/color]" she started, but stopped herself. She wasn't going to defend herself against him--she didn't do antyhing wrong. "[color=lightpink]What the hell kind of information did you need? You said you needed information on Coalition--I don't have anything you didn't already see.[/color]" Her tone was still hard but quieter, laced with anger. Kieran sighed and closed his eyes. [color=0076a3]"Well.......I have told you before I do the jobs normal people cant handle so others can work in the light. I realized that not everything was being shared,"[/color] Kieran said opening one eye to look accusingly at Cori[color=0076a3],"So I had to do what I had to do. Amongst the things I found I have a....slightly muddled...chart that can lead me to every coalition double agent planted in the CIA. The original plan was to obtain this data, and hunt them down."[/color] Kieran left out the part about finding out about CIA safehouses and caches, mainly because that part really did not matter. A white lie at most. He has borrowed from CIA weapon stashes before, they never miss the stuff.....usually. She glared at the passive accusation, her anger flaring. She would have argued there, but he admitted to finding Coalition agents--within the CIA. Although she hesitated, she remained quiet for a moment. That was rather convenient, finding information about Coalition stored within the CIA's own servers. Was he lying? It'd be strange to suddenly lie after spilling the beans so carelessly--and he had acted a little strange over dinner the night before. Cori licked her lips, unsure what to believe in that moment. When in doubt, call the probable bluff. "[color=lightpink]I want the names,[/color]" she demanded. Kieran shook his head. [color=0076a3]"I cant give you the names. Reason one, I dont have them entirely yet. Like I said I have a chart. Its.......a messy chart. I have to work the system. Reason two.......Cori your a good women. Your lawful. you will do everything right. And let them know your coming for them with enough time to torch everything and run. That is if they dont kill you first. No I need to do this myself, not just for me but for you too."[/color] Kieran stood up and walked over to Cori. He slowly and softly reached up and removed her glasses, letting Cori and himself look into each others eyes, gazing into the endless possibilites that lay before them in this very room pertaining to their situation. Kieran tried to relay how he truly did not wish to cause her harm just with his gaze. [color=0076a3]"If there is something I can do to ease any forthcoming pain in your direction I will do it. It why, I think, I told the truth instead of lying."[/color] Cori swallowed, eyes narrowing further. Partly because she was suspcious and partly because she was farsighted. Despite the tone of his voice and his body language, she wasn't sure she could trust him then. The server was stolen and he had already taken information from it. She was quiet, struggling to figure out her next step, and she glanced away, lips pursed. Why couldn't he have just lied to her? She could've gone on about business as normal without worrying about this at all. "[color=lightpink]Shit,[/color]" she muttered, feeling heavy as she looked back to Kieran. "[color=lightpink]I want the 'chart,' then. Coalition missed its chance to kill me, and I need to be ahead of them.[/color]" She, of course, didn't believe she was suddenly safe, but coming at her now would only convince Cori that there was more to learn. "[color=lightpink]This isn't about you. I can handle myself,[/color]" she added, reaching to grab her sunglasses back. Kieran hed her sunglasses in his hand, and while he allowed Cori to touch them, he did not let go yet. He looked her in the eyes and he spoke with a firm and solid determination that no man could challenge in this veyr moment. [color=0076a3]"That may be so. I believe you have survived them once. But what happens if one of these agents is as skilled as me? Or worse, is better? If you want the chart do what you should have done in the beginning and work with me completely. Dont hold back....."[/color] Kieran said this last part softly. [color=0076a3]"You have to at least be able to.....I dont know...trust me somewhat more. I understand having to arm one hand and extend the other, but just because I am a free lancer it doesnt mean......"[/color] Kieran stopped himself. Doesnt mean I am a horrible person is what I was going to say, Kieran thought, but I am. Kieran sighed. [color=0076a3]"It doesnt mean that I am the worst option."[/color] She wanted to argue that if Coalition had someone as good or better as Kieran, she'd be fine, but she found herself doubting before she could say so. So she just scowled at him as he spoke, irritated that he wouldn't return her glasses. "[color=lightpink]Trust you? You [i]stole[/i] from me. And I have no reason to believe that you're suddenly being honest,[/color]" she snapped. "[color=lightpink]I can't even fucking trust the people I work with, and you think I can just offer that trust to you instead?[/color]" Her foot stomped, attempting to release some frustration. "[color=lightpink]Who [i]I[/i] trust can mean life or death, Kieran, and you've done nothing to earn it. So give me the goddamn chart and get out of Atlanta before I put you in prison myself.[/color]" Kieran gave back the glasses and took a step back. He looked down, then looked back at Cori. He almost smiled, but was actually annoyed by this whole situation. She had a few points, good ones at that, and he did not know how to argue this. Working solo was so much easier. [color=0076a3]"Well.......I guess nothing else needs to be said."[/color] Kieran turned around and put his hands behind his back. [color=0076a3]"If wasnt for the fact Verdock promoted you, this would have made your career. Pretty lucky huh? Then again it seems like career is what you care about most so you were bound to get a break this good huh?"[/color] Cori blinked, brow furrowing at his actions. This wasn't the direction she wanted this to go: why couldn't he just give her the information? She glanced to the bag on her shoulder; she had a start now that she knew it was there, somehow, so why did he follow up on her demand like this? Cori watched him, waiting again for the joke to be over or something, but his words came instead--and a little harsh. "[color=lightpink]Fine.[/color]" He was right, though: she'd be returning with the server and the man who stole it--it was already more than what a lot agents would do in their career. Oddly, she didn't find much satisfaction in it. She put on her sunglasses and reshouldered the bag before grabbing her cuffs. "[color=lightpink]You're under arrest for stealing and tampering with CIA intellgience." Kieran scoffed. [color=0076a3]"If you ask me not much intelligence was there if a single man could steal it. Then again, I am not an ordinary man."[/color] She closed the cuffs a little too tight around his wrists and directed him out the door. "[color=lightpink]Right to remain silent. Consider it,[/color]" she said coldly, leading him out and into the back of her car. Kieran allowed himself to be cuffed and led outside to the car. Kieran got into the back seat, a little more forced than he would have preferred, and sat up straight in the car. Kieran waited until Cori got into the driver seat and turned on the ignition, and when she did Kieran brought his hands to his front with the handcuffs in his right hand undone. He tossed them into the passenger seat and laid his hands in his lap. [color=0076a3]"No offense but those were mighty uncomfortable. I think you can take me to your leader without them dont you? I mean you got to cuff me like a badass, so now you can take that feeling and keep it with you. In your pocket."[/color] Cori scowled at the cuffs as they landed beside her, but she refused to give Kieran the satisfaction of glaring back at him. Instead, she remained silent and drove. She was seething with anger and frustration, and she may have taken turns a little too sharp and braked a little too hard for a passenger. She was furious at Kieran, of course, but a lot of the anger was directed at herself, too. She felt like an idiot. "[color=lightpink][i]Just do your job,[/i][/color]" she thought, focusing on the drive back. Kieran felt every bump and turn Cori made, and with every bump it somehow felt more personal every time. Kieran was not usually one to get petty or even but for some reason he felt like if there was ever a moment for it now would be the time. [color=0076a3]"Cori, did you know that I thought you were probably the most beautiful women ive ever met? Seriously."[/color] Kieran narrowed his eyes. [color=0076a3]"Honestely I have traveled all over the world, been to countries whose name are litterally illegal to mention, and been to places beyond the word exotic, and for some reason no other women.....has ever stuck with me as you badly as you have."[/color] Kieran held up his wrists together. [color=0076a3]"Quite literally."[/color] Cori was calculated in her anger: and it was after a quick glance in her rearview--saftey first--that she slammed on the breaks so throw Kieran foward. "[color=lightpink]Okay, screw your right to reamin silent. I'm telling you to shut the fuck up,[/color]" she snapped, finally looking back at him. "[color=lightpink]This isn't a joke, so maybe take something in your life seriously for once.[/color]" She glared at him through her glasses for a few moments before picking up the drive again. Kieran looked as sheepish as possible. [color=0076a3]"You know I thought I was being serious when was contracted to stop terorrist from denonating a dirty bomb in washington dc, or this one time when I was so serious when I was contracted to stop a bunch of extremist from starting a public mass shooting in new york so that a full on civil war in the making could be averted."[/color] Kieran shrugged his shoulders. [color=0076a3]"Or maybe when I was so serious when I tried to stop you from working against me and tried to get you to work with me, but you know whatever right? Maybe I should have taken it as a joke, considering you think I will remain in any prison for more than 24 hours."[/color] Cori rolled her eyes. Why couldn't he just listen to her? She wasn't surprised, but it was only making her more frustrated. "[color=lightpink][i]Don't get into it,[/i][/color]" she thought, glancing to the building as she pulled up front. Without a word, she stepped out of the front and opened the backdoor to scowl at him as he got out. As Kieran got out of the car, hands in the air, Kieran spoke. [color=0076a3]"Let me tell you how this is going to go down. You could shoot me in the head right now save us both the hassle-"[/color]" [color=lightpink]Don't tempt me,[/color]" she interupted. "[color=0076a3]Or you will take me in, I will be put in maximum security for an hour in some random room while you call m-......your director. He will then give you an order. Order you to let me go and give me total CIA access, or offer me a job, In the CIA."[/color] Cori just stared at him, mouth in a straight line. The look behind the sunglasses was one of dull bemusement: like she couldn't quite believe someone was so cocky and stupid, and yet the evidence was right in front of her eyes. "[color=lightpink]Okay.[/color]" She left her words at that and lead him into the building. Inside, she was warmly greeted by two guards who sat by the tall scanner. "Who's your guest?" one asked as she dropped her phone and gun into the plastic tray. He eyed the bag she set down too. "[color=lightpink]He's not a guest, he's a criminal,[/color]" she explained plainly with a scowl at Kieran as she nodded for him to walk through the metal detector. Kieran walked through the metal detector grinning, making the metal detector go off like crazy. Kieran saw one look from the guards and Kieran took several steps back. He then began to unload. first he took out his silenced pistol he kept hidden in the back of his pants, then the knife sheathed underneath his pant legs on his right and left leg, then he rolled up his sleeve and unhooked the blade attachments on his arms, then when he rolled down his sleeves he took out another sheathed small knife from his pocket, then he took out another silenced pistol hidden in the front of his pants underneath his shirt, then he took out the small throwing knives in his back pockets. He placed all this on the ground and took another step throught the metal detector. The metel detector went off again and Kieran sighed. He took a few steps back and quickly unbuttoned his shirt. He opened his shirt to show a hidden stap underneath his right arm which led to a sheathed thin blade on his back. Kieran unhooked it, set it down, and walked through the metal detector without making it go off. [color=0076a3]"Happy now?"[/color] The two guards exchanged glances, eyebrows raised, and Cori stared on in annoyance. When he was finally through, Cori checked her watch as she took it off and stepped through as well. "[color=lightpink]If one of...[/color]" she hesitated and scowled at Kieran again as she recovered her items. "[color=lightpink]If [i]both[/i] of you could escort him to room 2-A, that'd be lovely. Have Raymond keep an eye on him so you can get back to work. I'll be there in a bit myself, I just need to take care of a couple things.[/color]" She snapped her watch back on and shouldered the book bag. "You got it, Agent Woods," he agreed, though the other guard glanced between Cori and Kieran. Maybe at least one of them sensed this was above their paygrade. Kieran walked off with the two guards to their destination. Turns out where they were headed was a small room with nothing but two chairs and a single table. Kieran was pushed inside, and it took all his will not to react physically. Kieran walked inside and sat down, closing his eyes and calming himself. He would be out of here soon enough. In the opposite direction, Cori took a seat at her desk and sighed. She looked to the bag, and tapped at her pocket, finding her pack of cigarettes still there. It had been one hell of a Sunday, and she'd have a ridiciulous amount of paperwork. "[color=lightpink]Whatever,[/color]" she muttered, closing her eyes and listening to the clock tick as she calmed down. Hopefully Verdock had already heard about the incident because she did not want to explain it, save for the part where she fixed it, of course. So she picked up the office phone and dialed his number. Director Verdock picked up the call on the first ring. He had been busy with a ridiculous amount of paper work, and while recieving a call from Agent Woods was not the first thing on his list of happy things he wanted to recieve, Verdock was happy enough to recieve the distraction. "Agent Woods, I trust you have a good enough reason to pull me away from my work?" Cori couldn't believe [i]she[/i] could say it to someone else: "[color=lightpink]You work too much. But, uh, yes--[/color]" She paused to quickly gather her thoughts before speaking again. It didn't sound like he heard the news. Of course. "[color=lightpink]We had a security breach, Sir. A server was stolen, but I've retrieved it and..caught the thief responsible. I was just calling to report and request a suitable team for his transfer behind bars.[/color]" Usually an operative would be swelling with pride, but Cori only felt a little sick. [color=lightpink][i]Fuck it[/i],[/color] she thought, pulling grabbing a Camel and her lighter. Verdock drummed his fingers on his desk and frowned. "Well good thing you plugged that, we have much more at stake than a simple secuirty breach. Was any intel stolen off the drive as far as you know? Also do we know who the thief is?" Verdock began looking through his desk, trying to find the correct damn paper work for this. Another damn report he was going to have to read. Verdock sighed. Being the director..........sometimes he wished he was still a field agent. "[color=lightpink]I'm going to have a team search the house in case anything was stolen,[/color]" she responded before lighting the cigarette. She found herself suddenly hesitating before handing the name over. Her gaze narrowed and she exhaled smoke, a bad feeling setting in. "[color=lightpink]As for the thief, he's a freelancer. Kieran Hishamie...[/color]" Her voice trailed off. Director Verdock Hishamie. She froze, and closed her eyes. Oh no. Verdock did indeed freeze, as soon as Cori uttered the name of the free lancer. For a full minute Director Verdock was speechless. Then his mind started to race. Why did HE have to be the one to steal the server? Why did he have to be there? And how was she able to arrest him? "How did you arrest him and bring him into custody? What was the body count?" She blinked. That wasn't quite the response she was expecting; it was a relief. "[color=lightpink]No body count, Director. The guards at the warehouse were only knocked out. And, I mean...[/color]" The fact that Kieran had just cooperated with Cori was probably not the response Verdock was looking for. "[color=lightpink]Well I had hired him previously, so, you see, he just kinda..came quietly--[/color]" She stopped. He was definitely [i]not[/i] quiet. "[color=lightpink]Peacefully, rather,[/color]" she decided. Verdock immediately stood up, spilling paper work evey where around him. "You fool! Do you realize how much danger you have put everyone else around you in? What kind of irresponcible agent are you to literally lead HIM inside your own base of operations? If he was cooperating in any way while you were ARRESTING him, it means he has you exactly where he wants you!" Verdock calmed himself and ran a hand through his hand through his hair then froze. She said his last name........shit. "Ok so here is what you are going to do, and this is an order Woods. Either let him go, and give him whatever he wants, or hire him. Not as a free lancer but as an official agent for the CIA." Cori flinched at the outburst, wincing into the phone as she dropped her cigarette. As Verdock yelled, she picked it back up to put it out, tension giving way to sudden anxiety. "[color=lightpink]I-I just--[/color]" she started, but she heard him pause and calm down before speaking again. Her mouth dropped and closed, then dropped open again. She pursed her lips and finally spoke, carefully though her tone was incredulous if low. "[color=lightpink]Sir, he [i]stole[/i] highly secured intelligence from us...[/color]" Verdock frowned and held the office phone close to his mouth. He did not like this at all, not only because of....well his [u][i] connection [/i][/u] to this free lancer, but also simply because this man was involved in any way. He truly wanted to shoot someone for involving him in the first place. Life was much simpler. "Exactly agent Woods, he stole from you. God knows what else he has done too. We need every assett we can obtain in our fight against the Empowered. You seem to think the Coalition is a threat as well, so dont you want more ammo against them? We need someone of this mans caliber and if we can bring him to our side, show him our values, he could be the greatest assett the CIA has ever recieved." Verdock sighed. "That [u]You[/u] ever recieved. Dont think you wont recieve credit for his capture and turning. So like I said, this is an absolute order. Do not call back we anything other than "He is with us"." Verdock angrily hung up the phone. Then he took out his personal cell and made a call. "This is Verdock. Yes it seems our attempts failed, and whats more Agent K seems to be in CIA custody........yes...n-no I am taking.....yes I understand....no....Yes he wont remain there for long.......Yes sir understood." Verdock hung up and sighed. Cori laughed, a shaky exhale, after being hung up on. "[color=lightpink]He's empowered, too,[/color]" she grumbled bitterly before slamming the phone back onto its reciever. She took off her sunglasses to absentmindely chew on the temple, finger tapping anxiously against the arm of her chair. The day had gone from stressful to worse, and her mind raced for a way out of this. But an order was an order, and Verdock made it clear he wasn't fucking around: lack of control on that anger and all. "[color=lightpink]Goddammit,[/color]" she muttered as she stood, replacing her sunglasses with her normal ones.There was nothing else to do but deal with Kieran, and she couldn't avoid it forever. She walked out of the office and took the halls to 2-A, where she would dismiss the operative at the door, draw in a long breath, and walk in to look at Kieran and his no-doubt smug face. Kieran did indeed look smug, eyes closed and a slight grin on his face. He stretched his arms and opened his eyes, then gestured for Cori to take a seat. Then his demeanor physically relaxed and slightly softened. He did feel bad still, he was......just being a prick about it because he felt hurt. [color=0076a3]"Cori.....I am sorry. I know you are just doing your job. And....I havent made it easier on you. I.....was kind of an ass on the ride over here....I get it your pissed. Just..know that I am in fact sorry."[/color] She glared at him as she sat down, leaning back and away from him, arms crossed. The apology didn't quite soften the glare, either. The anger had mostly passed, though, and her tone was cool. "[color=lightpink]So Verdock is your father?[/color]" she commented, unamused. "[color=lightpink]That explains the special treatment.[/color]" Kierans gaze immediately hardened, and he met Cori's eyes with a sudden steely gaze that he had never shown her before. He became physically uncomfortable as he sat up and crossed his arms. [color=0076a3]"While any other director by now probably would have killed me off, do not mistake The Directors orders as an act of special treatment. He is a cold and calculating man, never one to miss an opportunity. So no...he is not my father. Ive never met the man in person or even spoken to him over the phone."[/color] Cori blinked, continuing to watch him squirm a bit. "[color=lightpink]Well regardless of your lack of a relationship, you were right.[/color]" She hadn't quite figured out her next step until that moment: Verdock gave her an ultimatum to either let him walk or recruit him. She was tempted to leave it at the former and tell him to leave--[i]fuck[/i] the whole "give him whatever he wants" aspect. However, despite her pride and her feelings, she knew Verdock was right. Kieran could be an asset, and if he could be trained to actually work with the CIA, that'd be helpful against the Empowered and Coalition. She grimaced to herself, though: Kieran [i]was[/i] empowered, and that opened another can of worms. She sighed. "[color=lightpink]You walking or are you joining?[/color]" she asked, frowning at him. Kieran looked sullen. He expected this and tried to prepare himself the best he could, pretending like it didnt bother him. He had let himself be arrested, and he could break out of here. Killing everyone. But....that would complicate things. He would end up becoming one of the very monsters he saw on the news, one of the freaks that gained power and abused it. He had power, he had skills, well before he became an Empowered. Kieran grimaced as he spoke. [color=0076a3]"Well.......I will...join. Condition being you are my handler. I work directly for you, at least when it comes to ops regarding the coaltion and empowered. When I am not doing anything regarding them, then I will comply but I believe that for now I will be mainly dealing with them."[/color] Cori's eyebrows raised then furrowed. That wasn't quite what she expected--or wanted--but it'd make Verdock happy, she supposed. Well, here we go. "[color=lightpink]You'll comply anyway. There's a chain of command here, Kieran, and you're coming in fresh at the bottom.[/color]" Now she leaned foward to scowl at him, allowing some leeway. "[color=lightpink]You're right though. You'll be on the assignment under me especially considering your..condition.[/color]" Every inch of her was screaming against allowing an empowered so close to the operation, but she would have to juggle pleasing Verdock and keeping an eye on Kieran. "[color=lightpink]And if you put this operation or my men in harm's way, I will act as 'any other director,[/color]'" she said coldy as she stood up, clearly bristled if restrained. "[color=lightpink]You're free to go. See you Monday.[/color]" Kieran stood up and walked to the door. He was about to leave, but he had an ache in the pit of his stomach. He just felt.....wrong.......leaving like this. Kieran looked back at Cori. [color=0076a3]"See you monday......boss."[/color] Kieran left the room and then the building. He walked the entire way back to his studio apartement and when he arrived home he sat in his chair at his desk and went through his files. He still had work to do, even if Cori was pissed at him. He wasnt going to let anything harm her.