Eutopia (Lloyd Hansen AU)

1

"You wanted to see me Sir?" Autumn asked as she was shown into Denny Carmichael's office, the message that she needed to be summoned there only coming in just fifteen minutes before.

To say she was nervous was something. In all her seven years as an Agent for the CIA, not once had Autumn ever been called to Denny's office. Now she was going over various scenarios and reasons in her head that could tell her why.

Had she fucked up in her paperwork? Not specified the right things within her accounts? Had he been watching her moves and had found a part where she'd fucked up specifically? She couldn't have...

Autumn never had once fucked up to her knowledge, but now she was doubting herself.

"Autumn? Yes, come in and take a seat". Denny now said from behind his desk and gestured to the chair that was the other side.

Her heart began to race as he now pulled out her file and stuck his glasses on so he could read it. "Been with us for seven years now? An exceptional agent" He smiled, however it did nothing to calm the ever-building anxiety of the situation.

"Thank you, sir..."

"Always following the rules..." He now went on, flipping idly through the file. "Paperwork always in working order..."

Autumn nodded. "I like to be organised sir".

"Good, good..." He nodded to himself and chucked the file onto the table. "Because I'd like to give you a promotion".

She blinked at this. "A promotion sir?" Was she hearing this correctly? Autumn knew a few other agents who had been promoted lately, and though it did seem like a few, she didn't expect herself to be one of them.

Denny sat back. "Yes. I'm putting together a more 'privatised' sector to the CIA. Codenamed Project Eutopia. All confidential of course. I'm selecting only the best that we have for this. I need agents that I know that I can depend on". He now looked to her. "Of course, this would mean giving up your position here and relocating to where we will be based..."

"I see, and where would that be".

"Like I said, confidential, however there is housing on site for everyone". He explained further. "You and other female agents would be in charge of preparing new arrivals for training, teaching them how to grow as agents..."

Autumn nodded. "It all sounds great Mr Carmichael".

"It is, it is - it's taken us a long time to get to where we are, but the Project itself is proving to be a success already, hence why I'm offering more chances of promotion. Denny told her. "And you? I think you'd be the perfect fit in with our community that's growing".

Getting up, he poured himself a whiskey and offered her one. "Would you like some time to think about it? I can only give you twenty-four hours though, I'm sure that you can understand why".

Autumn took the whiskey that he passed her and sipped at it. "How long would it be until relocation sir? I'd need to sort out my flat and moving my things..."

"We can take care of that; a few other agents had the same concerns however I have contacts that have helped us with transporting goods. If you need to see I could put you in touch with someone..."

"It's just my landlord that would need contacting".

"Then we can do that, obviously as you'd be agreeing and signing a new contract for your role, then we'd need you to relocate asap...and if you have any outstanding rent then we'd be happy to cover the cost if it meant you joining us sooner rather than later".

Autumn was a little taken back by the generosity but nodded all the same. "I see, well that all sounds very reasonable Mr Carmichael".

He smiled. "Would you need some more time to think on it?"

"I mean I'd love to. I'd just need to know where it is I'm relocating to".

"And you know that we can't tell our agents that until they're there. Like I said, confidentiality. It's what this organisation is about. I can't be telling agents the location in case of a breach within our security".

Autumn nodded in agreement. "Of course, yes - Sorry, that was stupid of me to question".

"Not stupid, you're anything but that Agent Miller". Denny replied. "Tell you what, I'll give you time to think it over. I can see that you're still unsure".

"I just, don't really want to let you down sir. What if you've selected me and I can't live up to expectation".

Denny smiled. "Believe me agent, you will live up to it, and you'll most certainly rise to the challenge - you forget I've seen you in action, got your files. The perfect agent, and that is just what we're seeking for the Eutopia Project".

Autumn sat there for a moment and then looked to her boss. "Well...it's certainly sounding like an offer that I can't refuse. Training future agents is something I could do, pass on my techniques, things I've learnt somehow..."

She pretty much babysat all of the newbies to the CIA anyway, so this? It would be familiar territory in some respects.

"For sure. So, you'll accept?" Denny asked curiously. "Like I said, you have some time still to consider..."

"I accept". She replied cutting him off. "I mean, it's very generous of you Mr Carmichael, and I'm sure there are others here who won't have the same opportunity to show their skills".

He nodded. "Like I said, I'm only selecting the best, and you came up on the radar as one of them".

Standing up he now shook her hand. "Congratulations Autumn, it's great to have you on board".

"Thank you, sir".

He saw her out. "I'll have someone start processing your paperwork and whatnot, and we'll go from there. I may see you again when I come and see how everything is going, but until then? Good luck".

"Thank you, Mr Carmichael" Autumn smiled and headed off back to work, stepping into the elevator.

She felt a little giddy at the fact that she'd risen up within the CIA and now was being recognised for her efforts. To hear it come from Denny Carmichael was something else.

The elevator went down, and the doors opened as it stopped on another floor. Donald Fitzroy now stepping in and waiting until the doors closed again. Once the elevator whirred into life, he looked across at her. "Agent Miller?"

"Yes?"

"I'm Donald Fitzroy". He said, "And I need to speak with you about the promotion that you've just received".

Autumn frowned. "I see? What about it?"

Fitzroy said nothing for a moment and then looked at her so seriously that it almost scared her. "I have my suspicions about the Eutopia project...and I need someone to confirm those to me so as I can shut it down before it goes too far".

"You think it's suspicious sir?"

"I think it's more than suspicious Agent, I think it's dangerous..."