Three days have passed since the Redwood mission. Casualties consisted of 43 Outer Circle agents. The four Inner Circle agents were able to return from the mission albeit with severe injuries. As time was strict, the agents were brought into the nearby research facility and laboratory for immediate treatment.
Harley's leg was fully healed after an hour of maximum output healing performed by Eva. He was sidelined indefinitely for the past three days so that he may fully recover. Today was his first day back for field work.
Rina who was lucky enough to not sustain any injury was given the day off the following day at Sebastian's request. Any mission that would have been assigned to her had she been at work was also done by Sebastian who volunteered for it, informing Benedict of his decision beforehand but also asking him to not let Rina know.
Ghost who was presumed dead by everyone on the scene at the time of the mission was in fact very much alive, to everyone's surprise. While the agents were still outside and while Eva was still performing first aid treatment on them before they decided to relocate into the nearby lab, Ghost promptly walked up to them, perfectly fine and no sign of damage aside from his suit which had a large hole from when Wendy's beam hit him, revealing his black under armor which was apparently made out of nanobots without a single scratch. No one had any idea how Ghost survived as they saw with their own eyes how Wendy tore a hole in him. They couldn't ask or get any answers from him as the mysterious assassin has always been seemingly incapable of communicating. They all just assumed that the only possible explanation is that the silent killer is a transcended and was also capable of regeneration.
The unfortunate Kristoff was the only one to have suffered a long-term, permanent injury. His injury was outside the boundary of Eva's healing ability. The arm that he had lost in the battle is permanently gone.
Eva's ability has two capabilities. The first is creating a mysterious positive energy that wards off any matter or substance with harmful properties. An example of this is the coating that she applied and Sean requested to be put on his fists on the Amazon mission. The second is enhancing the natural healing process – her actual "healing" ability. Contrary to what it seems like, her healing ability doesn't actually "heal" by the sense of the word. She doesn't create cell and tissue from thin air, the body does this on its own and all her ability does is enhance the rate and capability of which the body can do this.
Although to a certain degree, this ability is able to push the body's capability to its limit. Harley's injury was "healed" perfectly, it was as if it wasn't damaged in the first place. There was no scar, no marks, it looked just like his leg before half off it was blown and melted off. By the definition of Eva's ability, this shouldn't be possible as there is no way for the body to heal itself to this extent. However, at maximum output, she is able to push the body's natural capability to an extent that is theoretically impossible. Her enhancement prowess becomes so powerful that it enables the body to regenerate and grow to its full extent, the "full extent" being what it once was, this is the case with Harley's injury.
But as impressive as it is, it still has its limits. Harley and even Sebastian's previous injury were large and severe but even so, this was mainly just a matter of muscle and tissue regeneration. And even then, this was already a difficult task. In Kristoff's case, she would have to enhance his body's capability so much to the point that it would re-grow an entire limb. It was leagues above what is considered "impossible". At the most, she would probably be able to re-grow a set of fingers. A hand, even, but only if she were to spend a minimum of 24 hours working on it. An entire limb was simply too much.
Since coming back from the mission, no one has seen Kristoff. Eden has given him an indefinite time off to rest and recover physically and emotionally and he has been locked inside his workshop since the tragic incident.
The events that transpired in the Redwood mission forced the Circle's management to make some changes regarding the approach for S-rank missions. These missions are widely known as being extremely difficult and at times, have a certain degree of unpredictability. An S-rank mission being a straightforward venture and going as planned was very rarely the case as evidenced by even the recent Amazon mission. But even so, this was still not the worst possible case.
In the past two years, there have been two notable instances where the mission went haywire, eventually causing a large amount of casualties. One of which is the recent Redwood mission. The other is the Red Square mission, the last mission Sebastian participated in before retiring. Eden and Circle were intent on not letting a third incident occur.
Upon Benedict's suggestion and with the Director's approval, the Circle has abolished the Inner and Outer Circle sectors. Instead, all of the agents will be categorized in three classes namely Third, Second, and First-Class. The responsibilities for each will practically be the same as before but with a slight change. Third-Class agents will be bestowed the same duties and responsibilities as the previous Outer Circle, only handling C-rank and below missions. Second-Class agents will now only handle B and A-rank missions. The S-rank missions will be reserved for the First-Class agents – six, special individuals who are deemed clear-cut standouts from the rest. This system change was to take effect in the present day, three days after the Redwood mission.
Despite the exclusive reservation, First-Class agents may still participate in A-rank missions granted only two of the six are allowed at each time as there needs to be vacant agents to handle the S-rank missions shall one comes up at all times.
Additionally, First-Class agents are also still allowed to participate in S-rank missions in the condition that there is at least one First-Class agent also participating. This will now be the case for group S-rank missions.
This new system ensures that the level of success for S-rank missions will be higher and the risk lower.
"I don't know about this new 'class' system," says the ranting Harley, now fully recovered and back at HQ, hanging around with his fellow agents at the lobby – their usual hangout place, all waiting for a call.
"What do you mean," queries Marko.
"I mean, 'second-class'? Really?" Harley explains. "I don't know what to feel about being categorized as 'second-class'."
"You're lucky to even be categorized as anything but 'deceased' after the last mission," Rina who was walking in, joining them, butts in.
"Hey, I wasn't the only one who nearly died there," Harley reasons out. "Plus you're just lucky your prince charming came to save you conveniently."
"Aww, jealous?"
"Shut up."
"I can't relate, I'm never not awesome," Sean chimes in.
"Oh right, you're First-Class," says Harley.
"Of course I am, haven't you see me out there."
SHHOOM
Another one of the newly-appointed First-Class agents joins them.
"Yo," he lazily greets everybody before finding and taking a seat with them. "What's up"
"Harley was just complaining," Marko answers the general inquiry.
"Again? When is this jackass ever not complaining," says Sebastian, taunting his fellow agent like usual.
"And I had to bail your dumb ass again, don't think I forgot," this time his comments directed right at the man. "Second time I had to bail you out in one week, you owe me big." Harley responds by firmly showing him his raised middle finger.
"He's whining because he got assigned second-class," Rina answers the Sebastian's previous question.
"Second cl—Oh, right. That new crap Ben came up with," Sebastian was clearly not interested with the new system.
"Finally, I'm not lumped in the same category as this idiot," he says while pointing at Harley.
"You actually looked at the list?" asks Rina, slightly surprised that Sebastian seemingly is in the know on things which he rarely ever is.
"No, I just assumed I was First-Class because there is no way I wouldn't be."
Everyone groans in unison.
"Who else is First?" he asked.
"You two," Harley answers, pointing at both Sebastian and Sean.
"Nice," Sebastian high-fives Sean who was sitting on the other couch across the small table.
"Who else?"
"It's in your mail," Marko answers.
"It's in everyone's mail," Rina adds.
Sebastian grabs his phone and opens his mail that he hasn't opened since before he retired, curious to see who else got placed on the same pedestal as him. He opens one of the mails with the subject of "First-Class Agents".
[The following are appointed First-Class Agents:]
[Francis, Linus]
[Graham, Sean]
[Isaac, Sebastian]
[Miller, Joe]
[Rozanova, Yulia Vasilievna]
[Vanderwood, Cade]
"What's Joe doing here," Sebastian asks. "I thought that guy was at fucking Pentagon or something."
"Yeah, he is," Rina answers. "But he's still kinda part-timing here."
"'Part-time', half of those names are basically just part-timers now," Harley rants again.
"That weirdo Linus I haven't seen in like two years, but I don't really mind 'cus that guy's a wackjob," he continues.
"The Russian chick I haven't seen here in MONTHS. I mean, she's hot and all, hotter than you," he says, referring to Rina, "but come on, at least appoint someone who's actually here and working."
"And by 'here and working', you mean you?" says Rina.
"That's not what I'm saying, but yes, you have a point," answers Harley. That was exactly what he meant.
"Eh, who cares," Sebastian puts his phone back in his pocket. "I work alone anyway."
"Have you guys heard from Kristoff?" Rina makes an inquiry about her teammate on the Redwood mission who has been under the radar since.
"Nope."
"Not a single word."
"I'd be depressed, too if I lost an arm," says Sean.
"You really think that's it?" Rina was genuinely asking.
"What else could be the reason," says Marko.
"Maybe he's just jerking the pain away," Rina looks at Harley with a disgusted face after what he said.
"How, he's missing his arm," the insensitive Sebastian piles on.
The two proceed laughing at their jokes like eight-year old kids.
"You guys are pricks," Rina disapproves of the two men's behavior.
"You guys get a raise?" Marko asks the two First-Class agents.
"Don't know, but we should," Sean answers. "First-Class and all."
"Damn straight," says Sebastian, high-fiving each other again.