Maria waited for her uniform to finish its cleansing. After every mission they needed to return for a deep cleaning of the material, which required heavy steam and heating treatment. During this the batteries of the control medal, the star of the badge, were topped off or replaced as needed. She was changed into a casual black uniform with red highlights, the usual dress of off duty Agents.

She would have left if they had been damaged. While they were repairable, it was an ordeal that took a few hours at minimum, owing to how unused to the technology the support crew were. But due to the mission going without a hitch, she knew it wouldn’t take long. Sure enough one of the orderlies appeared, presenting her with a briefcase. Sleek, black, with sterling silver latches and no identifying marks.

It was heavier than it looked, but that was expected. Now she needed one more stop before she could return home. If she hurried, she’d be back before Jordan was done with school. The office of Supreme Commander Ethan McFree was centered in the building, something done for security reasons. The thinking was that it was far enough away from any major entrances, so only an act of God could directly harm it. The building was secured against hurricanes and earthquakes both. God would have to get creative.

The room was built within a chamber of steel and concrete, a pillar running through the center of the skyscraper. Stepping up to a full body scan, she waited as the heavy doors hissed open. Metal and heavy plastic slid away, revealing the interior. It was shockingly boring, stone floors and bare walls. Screen lined desks scattered across the room, showing different teams and operations. Ethan was a white man with heavy lines across his face and graying hair. He glanced up at Maria from his paperwork.

“Enter.”

Once she crossed the threshold, the doorway closed behind her. A separate oxygen supply kept the chamber livable, as otherwise even a flood wouldn’t have gotten through. It would have seemed insane years ago, but now she wondered if it was secure enough. Maria snapped into a salute.

“The new Agent, what are your opinions of her?”

Maria relaxed, physically at least. Mentally she remained tense. “Difficult to say without having seen her in the field. Agent Itsuki was remarkably familiar with her which I found strange. Her attitude also struck me as off. Very talkative, probing. I’m surprised we recruited someone from the German MP like her.”

McFree sighed. “You’re very astute, Maria.”

“Sir?”

“We did not recruit her.”

Maria paled. “Meaning…?”

“She lied to you. Her paperwork will show her from the Military Police, impeccable record included. She’s not. She’s high-level KGB.”

“How do you,” Maria stopped, shaking her head. “What is going on?”

“Christine is a wolf among the sheep. I only learned of it due to my sources in the governmental arm.”

“I don’t understand,” she said. “Why is she here?”

He did not immediately reply, staring down at the paperwork he was reviewing. She spoke his name, his head dipping slightly.

“What we’ve been doing,” he said finally. “What we’ve done, it would violate every treaty we have with existing powers. It’d give them a case to dismantle us if they received it. Especially since,” he tossed the paperwork in her direction. “We’ve been appropriating existing S.U.N. bases and technology to do so. Especially certain individuals.”

Maria scanned the papers. “Some of these researchers, I recognize them.”

“As well you should.” He agreed. “Things have been razor thin, and Terra Sung has noticed. Those are her people we have dragged into this. And you know how possessive she is of her place in the S.U.N. hierarchy. If she’s come to realize what we have planned, in her jealousy she could destroy everything. It’s why her lap dog is here to investigate our work.”

She looked over the paperwork, her mouth dry. Her own missions were simple compared to the others. Extortion, assassination of foreign powers, working with known gangs and terrorists. Distasteful, indefensible. Necessary.

“We have done what we must to safeguard our future. There is no sin grave enough to dissuade us from our duty. Maria Arnaz, the future is in our hands. Nothing has changed since the day I brought you into the fold. If we do not take control, our species is over.”

Maria felt a mixture of shame and anger burn through her. “What do we do?”

“Nothing. We cannot impede her, and we cannot let it slip that we know what she is. So long as we keep smart and do what must be done, she will get nothing and leave empty handed.” He leaned back in his chair. “Worst comes to worst, I can arrange for a mishap on the field. Something Terra Sung cannot tie back to us. Operatives Blackwater, Fulgurite, and Spaniard will be informed when they return from their current operations.”

“We must be careful here, Arnaz. Itsuki is not aware of our actions and I fear he would not be sympathetic to them,” he continued. “If Ritter discovers our machinations, we’re through. Everything we have been working towards for the good of humanity, everything we have sacrificed, our ranks, our lives- your son-, all of it will be lost.”

Maria’s eyes widened. “She suspects me. Itsuki must too. She knew I had a son and claimed he told her.”

“That’s not proof she’s working with him. She could be lying,” he said.

“It was the way they were acting,” she continued. “He absolutely knows.”

“That complicates things.”

The room was quiet, only the faint noise of the air conditioner could be heard. Maria remembered the boy she shot earlier. Flashes of grey eyes and messy hair came to mind. Within her heart she resolved what she needed to do.

“I request an immediate promotion to command class.”

As a Commander, she would no longer be required in the field unless she chose to be. She would also be exempt of certain regulations and allowed specific perks, including being able to retire with full clemency for all she could have done. She could relocate her and her boy anywhere she liked.

“I can’t,” he began. When she started to open her mouth, he raised his hand. “Please, listen. Right now, I can’t. It’s impossible. If you’re already on their radar, promoting you right now is only going to raise suspicions further.”

“How long does she have,” Maria needed to think. “How long until her investigation ends?”

“Three weeks, maybe three months,” he said. “I don’t know. It’s hard to say. Until she gives up or the council that commissioned this brings it to a close. We wouldn’t have known at all, but we have some friends on the authoritarian side of things. This is supposed to be done in complete anonymity so the S.U.N. can excise its own house keeping without dragging in outside powers.”

“So,” it seemed simple to her. “Suspend all related missions for the near future. Scuttle whatever is happening now. If she can’t find anything, that’s that. She can’t question you directly or look through your papers, and none of us will talk.”

“I’m not so certain,” he said. “But, regardless, I cannot. While all active Agents are recalled, I need you to do one more mission.”

Maria frowned. “Sir, with all due respect…”

“I know, I know. But you need to play ball. There’s one last shipment of eggs, coming from the Middle East this time. Otherwise, it’ll be the same as the last. We need these eggs.”

“It’ll be four days from now. After that, you’ll get your promotion.”

Maria closed her eyes. Four days would be while her boy was gone on his trip. She could do that. If she got the promotion after, that meant her options opened as well. And, in the back of her mind, a voice whispered. She could always make a plea deal with Christine Ritter. Get clemency that way. One more mission. She would do that. Her allegiance belonged to one.

“Fine.”