The Guardian Weres

Chapter 1: A Job Offer

Chapter One: A Job Offer

Rick left his latest job interview with no real hopes of getting the job. He had been out of work for months now and he still couldn't find a job. With only a high school education his options were limited and most of the jobs he was applying for were going to high school kids that were about half his age. At 37 he wasn't in the best of health having some problems breathing and almost always tired. He would have gone to the doctor to see if anything was wrong but he didn't have insurance and didn't have the money. So he had to live with it until he could get the money but he needed a job to get the money and that wasn't looking likely at the moment. He shook his head wondering if he would be able to get another job.

"Hi Rick," Carrie StCloud called out from across the street. She had been Rick's friend since sixth grade. She always had a sunny disposition and very rarely would you see her down. When she smiled there was a twinkle in her ice blue eyes. Her shoulder length blond hair framed her face enhancing that twinkle in her eyes.

"Hi Carrie," Rick called back as she came across the street. His mood brightened just seeing her. Once she had crossed the street they hugged each other for a few moments.

"How have you been?" Carrie asked once they broke the hug.

"Well not so good," Rick said sighing a bit. "I'm out of work and haven't been able to get a job so far. I'm almost always tired and I tend to get short of breath at times."

"Oh I'm sure you'll find a job," Carrie said with a little smile giving the impression that she knew something.

"What are you doing back in town?" Rick asked as they started walking. "I thought you were out in California."

"Funny you should ask that," Carrie said her smile getting bigger. "I'm here looking for someone to bring into the organization and I think you'd be perfect."

Rick looked around to make sure they weren't going to be overheard then leaned close to Carrie and whispered, "I thought the organization was a secret government operation."

"It is," Carrie whispered back.

"Then why..." Rick began to ask but Carrie cut him off.

"Don't ask why just accept that you won't have to worry about money if you accept," Carrie said. "I can't tell you what it entails until you accept and sign the necessary nondisclosure forms."

"Will it be worth the secrecy?" Rick asked trying to find out anything that could help him decide if he should join Carrie's secret organization. He was a bit skeptical about all this. Here he was starting to get desperate for a job and one practically drops in his lap. It was a little too convenient for his taste.

"I've found it to be," Carrie said with a shrug. "I think you'll find it worthwhile though." She smiled again giving the impression that she knew more than she was telling. Of course she probably did and couldn't say anything.

"I just don't know if I should accept," Rick said sighing. "It's just a little too convenient you showing up and offering me a job when I haven't been able to get one for months."

"You're right about that," Carrie said looking down. "We've been watching you for awhile and we know you've been having trouble finding another job. There's more but I can't tell you anything else unless you decide to join."

Rick looked up at the sky thinking. He did need a job and his prospects were bleak here. Carrie seemed so sure that he would be able to get the job she was offering him. Perhaps she approached him now because they had already decided to hire him. He didn't know how secret government organizations hired people so this may be how they do it. It wasn't as if they could put an ad in the paper advertising the job. Of course he didn't know what the job was or what he would be doing in it but was that such a bad thing? It probably was but he may need to take the risk. How bad could it be anyway? "Alright I'll join," Rick said following Carrie into a parking garage.

"I thought you'd say that," Carrie said smiling and unlocking her car. "Get in and we'll get started." After both of them were in the car she retrieved a briefcase from the back and opened it. Taking out a stack of papers she said, "These are the nondisclosure forms. If you sign them you agree to never talk about what you'll see to anyone outside of the organization even if you leave the organization. If you do you will be arrested and tried. If you're found guilty you may be imprisoned for life or executed."

"What about the person that I tell?" Rick asked having a horrible feeling.

"That depends on the person," Carrie said frowning. "They may be able to continue with their lives, they could be executed, or anything in-between. Now I want you to be sure that you can keep quiet about what you'll see before you sign. If you're not sure then tell me now and you'll be able to go back to your life."

Rick was sure that he could keep the secret so he signed the nondisclosure forms. Once he was done he asked, "So are you going to tell me what I just signed up for?"

"Not quite yet," Carrie said smiling again. "Once we get to the base I will. In the meantime just relax."

Rick took her advice and relaxed. He relaxed so much that he fell asleep. When he awoke he noticed that they were in a forest. He was surprised to see that the trees and bushes were moving off to the sides to allow them to pass. He looked behind them only to see the trees and bushes moving back into their original positions. There was no way anyone was following them in a vehicle. He turned back around just in time to see a clearing with a few buildings come into view. Carrie stopped in front of a blank wall and keyed in a passcode on a screen in the dash. After a few moments he noticed a rectangular hole appear in the wall and grow. Once it had grown enough to allow the car through Carrie drove inside. It turned out to be a parking garage that only had a couple levels to it. "How did the trees move and how did that hole appear in the wall?"

"The trees were being shifted using an energy field that moved each atom of the trees individually," Carrie said getting out. "Even though the atoms were being moved individually they were moved in sync giving the illusion of the whole tree being moved. As for the wall the atoms were just moved aside. If all the space between the atoms in your body was removed you'd be no bigger than the head of a pin. The same principle was used with the wall."

They came to an elevator and stepped inside. Neither of them said anything as they started to descend. Rick was thinking about the technology needed to move individual atoms like that. He had to wonder if they had transporter technology too. Once they stepped out of the elevator an alarm sounded. Carrie looked at Rick and said, "Follow me." Without waiting for a reply she ran down the corridor and Rick followed quickly becoming sort of breath. He hoped they didn't have to go far.

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Well I'm hoping that you enjoyed reading this first chapter of my story. Be honest with your comments and tell me what you think.