Chapter 2: "Divison Doesn't Do Field Trips "

Michael was still standing in the conference room; he couldn't get rid of the feeling that he had been having since he found out what happened to Alex. Now on top of that he had two recruits to replace, and he was sure Percy would find more things for him to do. Not having the time to dewell on this any longer he walked out of the conference room to see what he could do about replacing the two dead recruits.

The recruits were training but whispering among themselves as well everyone was trying to guess what this was all about.

"Presidential assassination," Jade whispered.

Jaden rolled her eyes," Doubt it," she said," It wouldn't take team work from all of us for that. One or two agents could slip in and do that job with a team standing by." She practiced kicks and punches.

Alex walked into the hub and took her place on the treadmills and started to do a warm up jog, her mind still on everything. On this OP, on having to go talk to Amanda it was the last thing she wanted to do. She kept a steady pace jogging on the treadmill as it moved and wondered if she could get around visiting with Amanda, without Michael, Percy or even Amanda figuring it out. She knew though that whatever way she found to avoid it that Michael would find out and of course when she didn't show up for the session with Amanda that Amanda would say something.

"Mass suicide," Stone said quietly." He wants to wipe us all out and start over."

"Whatever," Jaden said." I don't know about you loosers but I do what I do well."

"Whatever it is," Thom said quietly," We need to be careful and make sure we have each other's backs."

"Then we aught to leave behind a certain someone," Jaden said shooting a glance in Alex's direction.

"Jaden don't start now," Thom said," We need everyone, we don't know what we are walking into."

"Oh please like Michael won't tell us. Michael and Amanda are supposed to give us information not just send us in blindly."

"We'll see," is all Thom said.

Michael walked into Operations and found Birkhoff sitting at his computer and doing some work.

"Birkhoff, I need some leads. Anything on suitable replacements for Sara and Robbie." The words were not a request that left his mouth but more of an order.

"That might take some time," Birkhoff said as he looked over at Michael." Percy has me compiling information for Operation BB."

"Yeah well Operation BB won't happen until I find two more recruits,get it done." He walked out of Operations not bothering to thank Birkhoff for his help.

"What the hell,"Birkhoff muttered as he punched in some information for ShadowNet to do its job, so he could find some leads for Michael. " Why would two new recruits have anything to do with this Op?" He tried to come up with reasons that they would be needed. " Percy what are you up to," he muttered to himself. There seemed something very off about things right now and he wanted to know what was going on.

Alex finished on the treadmill,the rest of the day was divided for the recruits with their normal schedules. All day Alex avoided talking to Amanda and thought she had almost gotten away with it until.

"Alex," Amanda said.

Dammit! Sighing Alex turned to face Amanda," Hey Amanda," she said.

"I'm glad I caught you," Amanda said. There was something super over the top about her voice. Like she was trying too hard to come off as normal sounding.

"Oh."

"Yes, why don't we take a little walk and have a talk," she said.

"Oh but I was going to the lab to work on some of the exercises from today's class. I need to make sure I'm on top of my game."

" You have time come with me," Amanda said.

Alex followed reluctantly this was not part of her plans today. This was going to have to be done as fast as possible and as painlessly as possible. They walked into Amanda's room.

"Please have a seat," Amanda said in what she probably deemed a soothing voice.

Alex hated that voice, the one that if you didn't know it you could easily mistake for kindness. As kind as python would be more like it, " Can we get to the point of this?" Alex asked as she lowered herself into the seat.

"Are we in a hurry today Alex? Somewhere you would rather be?"

"No but maybe I'll be honest and say this. This meeting is pointless."

"How so?"

"For one I'm fine. For two Divison doesn't do field trips so what are you really after by talking to me?"

"I'm doing my job. Michael seems to think it would be in your best interest to talk about what happened."

"With Robbie."

"Yes. It doesn't bother you at all?"

"What do you expect me to say? I'm not thrilled by it, nor am I going to let it stop me."

"Stop you from what? We only want you to be the best Alex, would we take so much time if we didn't believe you'd be great some day?"

Was she kidding? She was hardly a fan of me and wanting to see me succeed she was up to something. "Stop me from doing what needs to be done when it needs to be done."

"Well then this should be easy enough don't you think. All you need to do is talk about last week. How did that happen?"

"How did what happen? Robbie taking me hostage and shooting? I don't know I remember him being upset after you made him into a security guard. I suppose he just snapped."

"So he didn't have any real reason to take you and threaten your life."

"I was there, he got desperate."

"And what exactly were you doing there?"

"I was just talking to him, and it got out of hand. I didn't realize how far gone he was. I thought if I talked to him he'd learn to accept his role as a guard and I almost had him when Thom came busting over with some other guards and that's when Robbie flipped and took me."

"Do you believe that he would have really hurt you?"

"No honestly I don't."

"Hmmm." Amanda said after a moment studying Alex's face.

"What? You think he would have?"

"Well I think you believe he would have but can't bring yourself to state it."

"Really why is that?" Alex asked.

"You did go in with quick thinking so that you'd be prepared, am I correct?"

"Divison. You've taught us to think faster than things can happen."

Amanda looked startled as if thrown off my the words coming out of Alex's mouth. "That we have," she agreed." You are free to go now if you like. But I'd like to see you one more time before we actually start prepping for Operation BB."

"What! But that wasn't part of the deal!" Alex said angrily now. " The deal was I come and talk to you about what happened and as long as it doesn't hinder me you're supposed to clear me with Michael!"

"Well then I highly suggested that you come back one more time, try not to make this difficult Alexandra."

" Can I go now?" Alex asked.

"Yes go on," Amanda said.

Alex got up and walked out of Amanda's office and hadn't been more madder than she was right now. This! This was not part of the deal, Amanda was changing all the rules and it was not good not good at all.