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Patience on Intake Day

Patience on Intake Day
Originally Published by Jason Cochrane on May 30, 2016 at 08:19 AM


A card was turned and then placed. Another card was turned. And another. The second was placed.

Archard Cole was methodical. Turn. Place. His delicate ebony hands worked with precision and speed, much like his mind. The cards were quickly placed in four piles. He scooped the cards together and deftly shuffled.
Turn. Turn.

“Special Agent Cole?” It was an inquisitive voice. Female. Polite. Archard did not turn towards the speaker. “Shouldn’t you be getting ready Sir?”

Place. Turn. Place.

“I am ready.” His melodic voice was calm and carried little emotion.

“Are you okay Sir? You seem… withdrawn.” The unseen inquisitive woman continued.

“I am very much okay. Some might say salubrious.” Archard continued to lay cards.

The woman paused. “I’m sorry Sir. I don’t know what that word means.” She moved into view. The speaker was large, heavy set. She had a strong jaw and defined features. While many with a like physique might have given to excess the woman was well defined, powerful and toned. In many ways her build was not unlike a female version of Special Agent Hooper.

Special Agent Archard Cole smoothly swept the cards into a single deck and beckoned the woman to sit opposite him. She sat and Archard read the name tag “M. Freeman”. As he read a pale Moon Monkey dismounted from her back. It had a torn ear and a white collar upon which a name tag read “Bubbles”.

“Salubrious means I am healthy and pleasant. Why the concern Agent Freeman?” Archard’s brilliant white smile contrasted beautifully with his dark skin. He moved the deck of cards to the hand furthermost from the monkey.

“Sorry Sir. It’s none of my business.” The woman seemed embarrassed. Archard maintained eye contact, ducking his head slightly. His smile continued. She carried on. “The Prestige is attending today’s Intake Day. That’s your old team isn’t it? Before you joined AEGIS?”

Archard knew where this was going. It happened often. Once Archard Cole was the billionaire industrialist head of Cole Conglomerate. It was a lifetime ago. An assassination attempt by the time honoured defenestration lead to Archard discovering his mastery of air and from their becoming Aeolus – founder of the corporate super team The Prestige.

When founded the Prestige were unique: a team backed by corporations, for corporations. All the while with Aeolus at the head.

But that was another life. Archard let his attention slip. His focus shifted from running his corporation to his heroic life. Ultimately he had to choose: business or helping others. Cole Conglomerate quickly collapsed. Leaving Aeolus, and the Prestige without a home.

While Archard swallowed his pride and joined AEGIS, the Prestige sought out new sponsors and for many years had prospered. Aeolus has been succeeded by Peerless the perfect man.

Now. Finally. Inevitably. The Prestige had come to the Spire to suckle at the teet of AEGIS. Many thought this would trouble Archard. They were wrong. It didn’t. Archard was simply, as he always was, ahead of the game.

Archard smiled. “Yes, Agent. They are my old team. They still are my friends.”

“Doesn’t it… weird you out?” Agent Freeman enquired.

“Why would it? The Prestige have always followed the resources. Frankly I’m surprised it took them this long to work it out.”

“Work what our Sir?”

“To work out that AEGIS holds all the cards Agent.” Archard elegantly stood, unfolding his long form from behind the table. “Time to go. Let’s see what hand fate was dealt them.”

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