Grace Feckterhight

Chapter Ten

I froze, staring at him. This changed everything.

I regained my composure rather quickly. "Are you considering?"

"M.A.S.K. won't.. let me leave. With war coming, I'd rather fight for the side I believe in, not for the side I'd been forced into."

War. It was subconsciously on every agent's minds, like an ever present promise of death. It's coming. The reminder was like a sting to the delicate moment of peace.

"So you're just going to slip over?"

"I really want to escape the M.A.S.K. agent's fate."

Wow. He seems to be pretty into this.

I narrowed my eyes. I still stood on the edge of the brick building. But can I trust him? This could all be an act.

I dropped down to the sidewalk. His eyes followed my movement. He needs a test.

"Why do you want to switch from the white side to the black side?"

He looked down, his expression changing from desperation to relief. Probably because I was giving him a chance. "To be honest, I'm not happy here. No one is. Under supreme dictatorship, there's no room to mess up. The weak die at M.A.S.K. I don't want to be a part of that.

"Also, I've seen your.. color."

I smiled. It was hard not to. Our color.. it's such an enchanting thing about us. I'd be surprised if M.A.S.K. didn't notice it.

"Our color?"

"Yes.. what you do with it. You dye your clothes and make it a permanent part of you." He paused, as if thinking.

"And.. your community. M.A.S.K. members envy what you have."

It's true. We have a certain.. social element. We care for one another, like a massive family, with "Momma Chief" as our agency mother. Alka was cute when she called her that.

"I can see that." I took a cautious step towards him. Recite the questions. See if he's being truthful. "Are you willing to bear the color black?"

"I am."

"Are you still loyal to M.A.S.K. by any means?"
    "I am not."

"Are you prepared to take on B.L.A.D.E.'s rules, history, and way of life?" Another step.

"I am."

"Are you ready to fall under Chief's direct command without question?"

"I am." He looked increasingly confident the more he spoke. I began to have a sense of pride in him, that he'd been able to convert to the right side. I just prayed he wasn't playing games.

"And are you absolutely certain in your decision?"

"I am."

"Then, agent." I looked him in the eye. "Your next step would be to meet Chief. She will determine your sincerity." I usually took the agents into her office, where she'd question them and learn of their intent. If she deemed them worthy, the former M.A.S.K. agents got accepted.

To be honest, my heart rate was spiking at the thought of converting a M.A.S.K. agent. This was only my third time. I wasn't exactly sure how to determine intent. It was usually Chief's call. She always made sure I put my trust in the right places.

Now, my job was to get him to Chief.

And to leave my beloved color market behind. I'll visit you soon, Color Central. Just don't fall into the wrong hands. I'd hate to turn the corner of that alleyway and discover that my favorite color market had been obliterated. The thought made me shudder.