Regù, Sartoria
"I doubt you fully grasp the severity of the situation, Parlatore. Your entanglement with the Eastern Security Service greatly risked the covert nature of our operations in Suderia, and this happened at a critical moment for our association. Your retreat to the local facility was another problem, when the agent who followed year nearly discovered the location of said facility. In a single night, you managed the endanger various assets, and we almost had to suspend the Basile operation because of your failures that night. Yet, you have the nerve to question our handling of the situation?"
Il Parlatore shifted uncomfortably while listening to the voice coming out of the speaker. He had been doing a lot of uncomfortable shifting lately, ever since the incident with the ESS. He had been recalled to the local facility, and everything appeared to be going well, until they had an unbelievably close encounter with the agent that had interviewed Tomalini. They managed to lose her and reach the facility, but the associates had found out, and to say they were disgruntled was an understatement. He had been grounded for nearly a month, debriefed several times and avoided by nearly everyone in the facility.
"As I reiterated in my latest debrief, the situation escaped my hands. My job was to confront Tomalini and discover what he knew; it was not to assess the security of the operation. My instructions were, and have always been, to let the parallel team handle that." He paused, containing his frustration. "I might add, signora, that my record clearly indicates that I am more than capable; a single encounter with the RESS is no reason to invalidate my career."
"Your capability is to be determined by us, not you. In any case, the purpose of this call is to let you know that, while your capability is still under discussion, your loyalty is not. You are to report with the local associate for further assignment."
"Am I cleared for active duty?"
A pause. Never a good sign. "You are not cleared for active duty. You will assist with the planning and preparation of certain operations in Regù, and you will follow the instructions of your associate to the letter. No questions asked. Is that understood?"
"It is."
He was still grounded then, doom to be a mere party planner for the foreseeable future. It could be worse, he supposed. At least they weren't questioning his loyalty anymore, which meant people would stop avoiding him, and above all, he would not longer have to recite the Seven Pains each morning, before being allowed inside the common area. Truthfully, that morning ritual, and the overall avoidance, those could qualify as the eighth pain. Still, that was all in the past, and he decided to make the most of what he had: anything to get his team back, and go out in the field. He had much to do.