[center] [h1] Erin [/h1][/center]

The coffee was bitter. Tannic. Erin sipped from the cup disdainfully, one hand braced on the worktop as she begrudgingly swallowed it down. The whirs and hums of the scarce office space were all that could be heard for a moment and Erin embraced the silence. As did Dr Price, which she noted and appreciated.

[quote] [i]“You did use the descaler,”[/i] Ellie observed, warmth threading her voice. “[i]That’s a good sign.”[/i]”[/quote]

Erin shot the Doctor a brief smile, acknowledging Dr Price’s request with a knowing look.

[quote] [i]“Now we just need to figure out how we can make this black sludge taste like [b]actual[/b] coffee…”[/i] she mused, taking another sip at the cup. [i]“Though we’ll soon be busy with other mysteries to solve. Deemed more important than the office coffee machine, sadly.”[/i][/quote]

Then, entered Avalon. The force to be reckoned with. The Agent whose reputation preceded her. That infamous smart mouth already dismissing the descaled yet doomed espresso machine, Erin permitted another smile to pass her lips. She sighed. 

[quote] [i]“Ava, I can think of a better use of your valuable time than a Starbucks trip…”[/i] the Rogue Row director made her way to the “Briefing Room” - The half-arsed attempt at one, anyway.[/quote]

Stood over the desk, she clicked in her login details and watched the desktop computer blink to life. It was the only machine wired up to the projector screen mounted on a rickety stand before a small circle of chairs. The Briefing Room was exactly that. A projector, a computer and a handful of foldable chairs. Erin looked up from the screen at the two agents stood before her. 

[quote]”[i]Dr Price, Avalon. Avalon, Dr Price-“[/i] Erin’s introduction was curt and somewhat dismissive. She nodded at them both, signalling that this team building exercise was drawing to a quick close. No ice breakers. No warm-up “Get to Know the Secret Agent” games.[/quote]

Gesturing to the chairs staged before the projector, Erin motioned for the Agents to take a seat. 

[quote] [i]“You’ll have to excuse the arse-numbing chairs provided,”[/i] Erin said faintly, her fingernails clacking against the keyboard as she typed. Then, she added with a roll of her eyes, [i]“Perhaps the threat of piles is designed to force us to solve matters quicker.”[/i][/quote]

The projector obediently whirred to life, flooding the blank screen a couple metres away with their first assignment summary. Right-wing extremists kidnapping the children of migrants. MI5 really did want Rogue Row to clean up the mess of the MET. Erin eyed the projector screen carefully, scanning the text that was displayed. 

[quote] [i]“Welcome, both of you, to Rogue Row,”[/i] Erin began, her spine straightening and chin raising as she addressed the two agents before her. [i]“I’ll save us the illusion of this resembling anything like what you experienced at HQ during your tenures. Rogue Row is a covert, off-site branch. There’ll be no red carpet rolled out for us when we complete this assignment. Nor will MI5 give us pats on the back. Rogue Row assignments will be carried out, and completed, in total secret. This is a department whose existence is unknown to even the more senior MI5 agents. We’re going Rogue. On MI5s payroll.” [/i][/quote]

The projector clicked. The target’s images flashed on the screen. Their pixelated eyes stared out at them all, haunting and ominous. The Homeland Brother’s summary and the headlines of the recent kidnaps were detailed, Erin scrolling with the handheld remote as she spoke. Her voice carried through the Briefing Room, a commanding and informative tone. She moved from behind the desk, still gripping the remote in her hand, giving the Agents time to absorb the information on-screen. Her Prada heels crunched into the worn carpet beneath her as Erin paced in front of the projector screen. The lights illuminated her face, washing her in the warped projections of the Homeland Brother main subjects. 

[quote][i] “This is our first official assignment… The Homeland Party - What can you both tell me about them?”[/i][/quote]