The morning sun came through the blinds of Cassian's apartment.
He had a closely guarded secret of having two identities, of which he had to balance very carefully. Today was no different.
Rising from the comfort of his bed, he steeled himself, knowing that being both an operative for TEC and the son of AU was not going to be easy.
Shower completed and clothes pressed, he left for work.
The headquarters was busy even at this hour. As he arrived, security personnel nodded at him with an understanding of the roles everyone played. He scanned his ID without thinking, knowing the drill well.
The vast, cavernous foyer was filled with doctors and scientists—workers dedicated to intelligence gathering and crisis management.
He made his way to the open cubicle office, where rows of desks formed. Keyboards typing and murmurs of conversation hinted at productivity.
Taking a seat at his desk, he logged onto his computer and navigated the interface.
Before he could delve into the logs for the day, he needed to file his report on the recent operations he had been overseeing. Hiding the truth wasn't as easy as the casual observer might think, especially when each entry could potentially expose the operations of the rebels he had vowed to lead.
Whatever he penned, it remained crucial that Magnus and Yara never learned of the real alliances he was forging in the shadows.
After submitting his report, he took a moment to relax before looking at the responsibilities that lay ahead.
He opened his task list and reviewed the notes from those ranked above him in AU. One glance told him the boring yet necessary duties awaiting him.
His first task for the day was "Interagency Coordination," a title so bureaucratic that it almost lulled him into a stupor. It was really a board meeting that would require him to engage with various government officials and representatives from several organizations.
Split between local, state, and federal levels, the session aimed to hammer out strategies for public health, environmental concerns, and transportation improvements.
There was no glory there, just a monotonous exchange of documents and discussions that felt predictable.
He moved to the more appealing task—networking.
Those interactions tended to involve a give-and-take he preferred far more than the suffocating confines of formalities.
Building relationships with key stakeholders was quite easy, and while he typically operated alone, another AU worker was assigned with him: a scientist who would be having a joint discussion with him.
Cassian leaned back in his chair, pondering that. Who in their right mind would assign him, of all workers, a task with a partner? Almost everyone in this building knew he preferred to work alone.
Someone had chosen this particular task for him.
Lost in thought, he didn't hear the sound of footsteps approaching until a familiar voice said, "Good ol' Cass!"
It was Dorian, who was now sitting at the edge of his desk.
"Dorian," he replied with an impassive demeanor. Dorian's enthusiasm was a bit too headstrong for the early morning, and it annoyed Cassian in equal measure.
"Congratulations on the recent achievements, my friend! Most couldn't do what you've done in such a short span. You're practically running circles around everyone else."
Dorian leaned against the desk, arms folded, as he looked Cassian up and down.
"Just doing my job," Cassian replied.
"Oh, come off it! You and I both know you're more than that. You've got talent, young man. Speaking of which… I was hoping you'd agree to a training session later."
Cassian's brow furrowed slightly, glancing at the time.
"Not now—later," Dorian emphasized. "It's gonna be great. I promise to take care of you."
"Alright, I'll consider it," Cassian said, deciding on the spot to indulge Dorian's wishes.
After all, a distraction to help him hone his skills and not fall behind would be welcome against diplomatic gyrations.
"Perfect!" Dorian said as he turned to leave, adding over his shoulder, "Have fun with the networking task! There's no one better suited for it than you!"
As Dorian walked away, Cassian couldn't help but feel a mild annoyance. Dorian was a well-meaning member in AU, and he certainly had a knack for inserting himself into Cassian's business—almost too perfectly at times.
Then it struck him: Dorian had set him up for the networking assignment.
Sitting back down, Cassian scoffed as he uploaded the calendar invitation for the tasks ahead. He would make the best of this situation.
The networking was meant to provide valuable connections; after all, the son of AU couldn't nurture an empire without fortifying relationships.
Pulling up the information on the scientist he was to meet, Cassian found himself intrigued. This was the same scientist that he had stumbled upon when he first acquired his Band: Dr. Elric.
Dr. Elric wasn't a prominent figure in environmental science. He was honestly almost let go of because they discovered a Band had gone missing in his department.
The second part of the networking agenda involved a random investor, whose connections extended into various governmental and non-governmental organizations.
This investor had been instrumental in many public projects. That might mean their meeting would revolve around support for TEC's initiatives.
The first half of the day crawled by with discussions droning on in endless cycles of exaggeration and diversion.
Cassian took notes, hoping not to distill any unnecessary thoughts in his mind. He remained observant, always on the lookout for opportunities to find leverage or sympathies as he moved through the agency reports.
When the time came to climb onto his motorcycle and head toward the meeting venue for the networking session, he was satisfied the first part of his day had concluded.
Arriving at the venue, a sleek, understated conference center, he walked through the glass doors, immediately hearing random notions of trade.
Participants milled around, cups of coffee in hand, casual discussions intersecting with the financial interests that drove their existence. It was good that AU's HQ wasn't like this.
He spotted Dr. Elric first. Clad in a tailored suit, he seemed deep in conversation with an acquaintance. As Cassian made his approach, he mentally rehearsed his introduction, focusing on if the doctor recognized him, he'd know what to do.
"Dr. Elric?" he inquired, offering a warm handshake as his attention shifted to him.
"Ah! You must be Cassian, son of the head," he speculated with a quick smile. "Everyone speaks highly of you."
'So he doesn't recognize me,' Cassian thought. 'Good…'
"Only the good things, I hope?" he jested with a practiced smile.
"Absolutely!" he nodded, glancing around the room. "We have some work today, don't we? Sustainable initiatives are simply a must. The environment is our responsibility, after all."
Cassian couldn't help but consider this man as a waste. The way he talked and viewed the world put a knot in his stomach.
"It's a delicate balance, though," he said. "I think stakeholders can actually push some long-needed initiatives."
Dr. Elric raised an eyebrow, intrigued while asking, "You have some ideas in mind already?"
"Let's just say I have a few contacts that might be interested in your research…"
As they spoke, Cassian engaged seamlessly about environmental stability and public health pressures within their sectors.
His knowledge came as no surprise, for he had to diligently keep track of AU's involvement for the rebels to move quietly in certain areas across the city.
Eventually, he ushered in the other participant—a sharp-suited and decidedly aloof figure, the investor, whose reputation was well-known in both business and political circles.
Thick-browed, the man held sway over a collection of wealthy businesses, the same sphere in which Cassian wished to destroy.
"Mr. Black," he greeted, his tone cool but not friendly. "I hear you're doing some exciting things with AU," he continued, sizing Cassian up with a quick appraisal.
"Thank you," Cassian said with a steady tone. "We're certainly aiming for some changes here and there. Your input in today's discussions will be important."
Every action here could either lead to opportunities or decline in sponsorship. Cassian knew that well.
As the three of them conversed, he subtly directed the dialogue to emphasize the stakes involved in their initiatives—highlighting the increased destabilization of their regions due to neglect and arguing for the necessity of their combined efforts.
Both Dr. Elric and the investor engaged willingly, each presenting their thoughts and building upon the proposal of unity with AU.
Amidst the exchange of ideas, Cassian felt bored.
What was he to care if the stakes had shifted from finances to collective strength? He simply couldn't savor the moment as he shared visions of potential growth.
Eventually, as their meeting concluded and they parted ways, he lingered for a brief moment, thinking back over the conversations that had transpired.
His foundation in TEC was slow compared to the transforming underfoot of the network AU held.
Pulled back into the reality of his dual existence, he considered his next moves carefully. Dorian had unwittingly nudged him toward this task, which he was sure had its purpose. Unless it was just to spite Cassian, then he did his job.
Before heading back to the headquarters, Cassian checked his watch, mulling over his additional commitment to Dorian's training session and other tasks with the rebels.
This dual persona had its potential to open new doors, and he didn't want to overlook the importance of sharpening his edge. While new opportunities were evident, that also meant the risks of being discovered were equally as high, if not greater.
As the sunset came, he eventually returned home, having completed his work as the son of AU.