Eli

The door to Echelon headquarters closed with a dull thud. Eli entered the office, pulling off his leather gloves as he walked. His gaze immediately caught the seventeen-year-old boy sitting in the Director's chair. He was a couple of years younger, but he held himself with an icy calm that Eli had already seen on the agency's firing ranges. The black-haired operative threw his gloves on the table and glanced briefly at his boss with undisguised irritation. “Just don’t tell me that this kid is coming with me,” Eli’s voice sounded low and dry. "He's your partner," the Director snapped, not looking up. "I personally vouch for him. He's the best in ballistics and close combat, but I don't intend to send him on missions alone. He's too valuable a resource to risk without backup. And there's no better backup than you in the agency. From this day forward, you're a tandem." Eli clenched his jaw. Discontent simmered inside him, but he was used to trusting his boss's instincts. He was never wrong about personnel. Eli exhaled loudly, accepting the order, and gave the young man a heavy, assessing look. “Got it,” he said shortly, suppressing his pride. Eli turned towards the exit, throwing over his shoulder: "Get up. Let's go to Sector Gamma for some guns. Let's see why they're so hung up on you."