agent 99 - h.s.

six

When Harry and Violet stumble into the conference room, the rest of their usual group is already there, sitting at the table with downcast eyes. Bolton stands at the head, sharing in the team’s expression. He perks up at their entrance, as does the team, but his features remain solemn.

“You might want to sit down before I tell you.”

Neither challenges Bolton’s suggestion, his tone of voice preventing them from doing so, and they follow orders, settling in across from Zayn and Iris, next to Niall.

Bolton leans his weight against the table with an exhalation. “Italy has fallen.”

Violet blanches at Bolton’s words. Harry’s jaw clenches, and the adrenaline from their tango at the Eye streams easily through his nerves again.

Harry struggles to keep his voice calm. “How could we let this happen?”

Bolton meets Harry’s piercing gaze, but it proves too much for him, and he stares at the Agency insignia in the middle of the table. “I received word from Italy around a week ago that Victor’s forces were gaining power. I sent Agent 71 there to assist the branch of operations in Rome, but they were much stronger than we expected.”

“Liam?” Violet clarifies. Bolton nods.

“Where is he now?”

A chilling silence follows Harry’s inquiry, and Harry searches Bolton’s eyes for a definite answer, but the man doesn’t move his eyes from the table.

“He won’t be coming back,” is all Agent 3 says on the matter.

Violet covers her mouth with her hand to suppress her gasp or hold her breakfast down; she isn’t exactly sure which yet.

For the first time since becoming an Agent, Violet recognizes how impermanent and fragile the job is, and as Bolton changes the subject, she is sure to add impersonal to that list.

“We can’t allow any more European countries to fall. As a result of your efforts here, England is not in immediate threat of being overthrown by the Revolution. France, on the other hand, is. If this mission goes as planned, you’ll be setting off for Paris soon after.”

‘If this mission goes as planned.’ The words echo in her mind until she becomes numb.

In terms of death and dying, the Agency dances around the subjects, severing emotional connections and labeling the casualties as just another mission gone awry. Bolton couldn’t even call Liam by his own name, Violet notes. He had chosen to use his number to report the tragedy. It’s degrading, she thinks, how her and Iris and Zayn and even Harry are just numbers in the grand scheme of things. Violet wonders if that’s all they’ll ever amount to.

“Your mission tomorrow will involve another Agent,” Bolton continues. “Agent 58.”

“That Tomlinson prick?”

All eyes fall on Harry at his comment.

His eyebrow creases as he meets their gazes. “What?” He points to Zayn. “You, of all people, know what I’m talking about.”

“He just likes to have a good time, is all,” Zayn defends with a slight shrug.

“A good time all the time,” Harry quips.

“I know you have history,” Bolton says, glancing to the boys. “But that doesn’t mean working together is impossible.” He pushes off the table and begins pacing around the room. “As you know the Tomlinsons are a wealthy family.”

Harry scoffs. “He might have told us once or twice.”

Bolton ignores his remark, saying, “Mr. Tomlinson also works in Parliament. He’s no Governor but if an associate were to get to him, the results are unimaginable.”