8781/The Unofficial Agent

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The Unofficial Agent
Date of Scene: 22 November 2021
Location: Commander May's Office: Triskelion
Synopsis: Cael comes clean about her ghost-problem. Sara gets a promotion, Cael gets a mild reprimand, and Alis is... hired? Sorta.
Cast of Characters: Cael Becker, Sara Pezzini, Melinda May, Peggy Carter




Cael Becker has posed:
    Cael is nervous - the sort of nervous she wants to fix using the flask she often keeps tucked into her jacket's inner pocket. The familiar weight is currently missing, however, as she made a very deliberate decision not to bring that particular crutch along with her. She arranged for a meeting with May, explaining that it was about an 'urgent potential complication to operational security.' Which was both perfectly true, and sufficiently vague.
    She arrives outside of May's office several minutes early, trying to work up the nerve to knock. It was probably too late to worm her way out of this, wasn't it? Fixing a carefully neutral mask onto her expression, she finally lifts her hand - rapping firmly on the office door.

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Sara is not nervous, she doesn't have a reason to be, but she understands why Cael is. She is there for two reasons, one as Cael's partner and support for the situation, and two, well... that one will likely come up later.

"It'll be fine Cael," she offers just before the woman knocks. "May's not as horrible as everyone says she is. She even forgave me for losing her in Hell."

Melinda May has posed:
May can't help but smile a little as she senses the nerves outside her door. She lets the pair wait until almost the appointed time. Then, she speaks a soft word and the door to the office opens of its own accord. "Becker," she greets. "Pezzini. I understand you wanted to see me?"

Her desk is neat. Whatever she was working on earlier -- if she was working on anything (she must have been, right?) -- has been tucked away. She's made the window overlooking Ops opaque for this, mostly because she's not certain what this is all about.

Cael Becker has posed:
    "Yeah," Cael admits, as she steps into the room. She stops in front of one of the two chairs - but doesn't actually sit until she gets permission from May. "There's been- well. Something has recently come to my attention, and it has the potential to affect missions. If I'm being completely truthful, it already has affected one mission - so I can't really ethically keep it to myself. But the whole thing's a bit personal. It's complicated, really," she explains - without offering any explination for Sara's presence at the meeting.

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Sara steps just inside the door so it can close, then leans against the wall by the door. It was Cael's business to talk about, if she was needed to add anything she would of course, other wise she would just be a presence of support.

She offers May a nod as she leans herself back, "Agent May," is then offered and she let's Cael get down to business.

Melinda May has posed:
May isn't, generally speaking, given to a lot of chatter. So as Cael's nerves are translated into a bit of roundabout speak, she arches a dark brow faintly. Glancing between the two younger women, she gestures lightly to the chairs. That's their invitation to sit, if they care to.

"Go on," she tells Cael simply, when it seems she's waiting for a response.

Cael Becker has posed:
    Cael drops into a seat, and takes a deep slow breath. Probably best to out-with-it. Besides, if she doesn't, Alis will probably just take it into her own hands - in as immature a way possible.
    "Alright, well, we're in the business sometimes of having to deal with some crazy-sounding things, so hear me out. ...but I recently learned I'm being haunted by spirit of my foster-sister, who died over seven years ago. She's apparently been there the whole time - which hasn't been an issue. But she's recently somehow acquired the ability to appear, and interact with the physical world.
    "...which she used during the recent mission to Freeport in Geneva to snatch something, which triggered a bunch of security alarms, and could have cost us the mission. So... yeah. Everywhere I go, the spirit of seventeen year old Alis Swain follows me."
    She lapses into silence then, her gaze studying May's features for even the subtlest signs of a reaction, as she tries to guage the woman's thoughts to this revelation. Maybe May'll just think she's gone insane? Who knows. She thinks that often enough.

Sara Pezzini has posed:
The whole time Cael is talking, Sara's eyes shift from looking at May to a space of nothing in the room near May. There is clearly nothing there, so it looks like Sara is staring off and not paying attention, but what she is really doing is watching the just mentioned ghost making faces at Cael while standing as close to May as she can get without touching her.

"This spirit," she offers to back Cael up and explain a little more. "Is now linked to Witchblade as well, for reasons that are entirely Cael's to explain. She is here, in case you were curious."

Melinda May has posed:
May is not quite like everyone else, however. She's experienced some very weird shit in her life. (And she's feeling older everyday -- especially given her birthday was two days ago.) She's also quite literally been to Hell and back. This tends to change a person's perspective.

She follows Sara's gaze to that spot in the middle of nowhere. For just a moment, she looks like she's listening, trying to pick up a distant sound. However, what's she's 'listening' for is actually the faint feeling of a different emotional signature. She *had* thought the guilt that comes through better than most anything else was Cael's. Now, however, she wonders.

She leans back in her chair. "I'm listening," she says, settling her gaze on Cael as Sara says there's more. On the bright side? She's not looking like she thinks Cael is crazy.

Cael Becker has posed:
    "She usually is," Cael agrees. "Which... I mean, is part of the reason I thought it best to bring it up. She's likely to hear all the briefings I hear, have access to all the intel I get - she's not going to deliberately screw anything up or divulge information, but... she's seventeen. She'll always been seventeen."
    She glances towards Sara for a moment, then back to Melinda as she adds, "Sara's the one who helped me to learn that she was still around. She used the power of the Witchblade - and somehow it's linked itself to Alis, now. I mean - I don't really understand things like that.
    "But the truth is that Alis could cause a lot of trouble if she wanted to. Leak sensitive intel, botch missions, put agents in danger - so it's not the thing I could ethically keep myself. But she wouldn't do any of that deliberately - at least in part because that would mean hurting me, or putting me at risk. She wouldn't do that."

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Sara's eyes move, following Alis around to stand by Cael, so Sara looks at Cael.

"The thing is Agent May," Sara finally says. "Witchblade considers Alis his property, I don't let him take it further then that, but they are linked. So the question now is a simple 'what do we do?' because Cael and I agree, Alis is not being 'sent on'."

Alis just appears there standing next to Cael and lays her hand on her sister's shoulder. "I'd never do anything to hurt you Cael," she says, then looks over at May. "Hello, I'm Alis. Can I work for you?"

Melinda May has posed:
May is not in charge of WAND. That's Pandora Peters' gig... though god knows May has had enough experience, she might as well be. But this sounds very much like a WAND matter. She arches a brow again as Alis appears to make her request. A heavy exhale escapes her. God, she hates magic. "Alis, I take it?" Given the heavy sigh, it's remarkable how gentle her tone is.

She turns her attention on Sara. The gentleness fades. "Why does the Witchblade consider the spirit of a 17 year old girl his property?" Because that's not creepy. Not at all. "I'm sorry, ladies. I'm going to need more details here." Creepy and *complicated*.

Cael Becker has posed:
    Cael's expression changes - from carefully cultivated neutrality and calm, to something more akin to apprehension and annoyance. "Property?" she repeats - latching onto the word. "Alis isn't anyone's //property//. Everyone keeps assuring me that she's real, that she's every bit the girl I knew. And if that's true - she's a person, not //property//. We made a decision about slavery as a society a while ago," she asserts firmly, her gaze flickering from her roommate, so the red gem on her wrist, and back again.
    She forces herself to return her attention to May - she probably shouldn't devolve into an arguement with her roommate in the middle of May's office, but that isn't a matter she's willing to budge on. "Yeah. This is my sister, Alis." She lifts her hand to rest on her opposite shoulder - on top of Alis's for a few moments, before she'll let it drop again. "I don't want to put her in harm's way - she's been through enough. But... if she's stucking going along for the rise anyways... If we get me close enough to locations we need to scout, Alis could go in, take a look, overhear conversations - try to get a look at pincodes or passwords... She can even grab things and take them with her."

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Sara sighs quietly, she's not getting into it with Cael right now about Witchblade's perspective on things being so far from reality at times that even she wants to smack him. She choose his word to explain to May, it didn't mean she agreed with it or would let Witchblade do anything to Alis, which really was the point. Witchblade considering Alis his, means he will do anything and everything to protect her and keep her in line.

"Cael, not right now, alright? We'll get into Witchblade's choice of thinking and words later," she says first, then looks to May. "I'll be the first to admit that Witchblade doesn't always think like a person, he's not a person, he's the son of a couple of primordial beings, he's a demigod, so...."

Now she changes the subject entirely. "Alis is a good kid, she's just been bored. She spent seven years unable to be seen or heard by anyone and /just/ started being able to interact. The fact that she can materialize and interact with people who don't have the Sight is new." She explains to May first, and since Cael avoided it, she goes right into the next part of it.

"Alis is linked to Witchblade because Cael wanted to speak to her, to know if she was alright," she says plainly. "I won't tell you why, but I will tell you how. Witchblade. I used his abilities to locate Alis and pull her through for Cael to talk to."

==============================================================================

Alis listens as everyone in the room talks about her, though honestly she was used to that, then she sits in the chair beside Cael since Sara didn't take the chair.

"I messed up," she finally says quietly, looking sheepish. "I risked the mission. I didn't know it would be a risk to the mission, but that's no excuse. I really do want to help if I can, being dead for seven years with nothing to do but follow Cael around and watch her was... well, BORING." She sighs again. "I want to /do/ something, to help, since I can. I mean I may be dead, but I can still be useful, right?"

Melinda May has posed:
May looks between all three of them. Oh, she's not discriminating against the ghost just because she's a ghost. She just expects that the agents have a better idea of what's going on than the ghost might -- particulary Pezzini, given it's her doodad that kicked off this party, as far as May can tell.

"Alright," she decides. "Two things need to happen here. First, you need to get connected with WAND." She looks at Alis. "I'm not going to say 'no' *yet*, Alis. But this isn't as simple as you all seem to think. I want someone in WAND to look at this and evaluate both the risks and the potentials here. Yes, I can think of several off the top of my head, but I'm not an arcane expert. Second... We need to talk to the Chief, too. This impacts operational security on a big level." Again she glances to Alis. "I believe you when you say you don't want to hurt your sister, that you want to help. But if the bad guys can't sense you and we can't sense you, then all of our top level secrets are at risks. I can't pull the trigger on this. It's got to be Carter or Fury -- and they're going to want Peters' assessment." In addition to May's no doubt. She knows Peggy will go with May's gut. She's not sure about Fury, but she does know he'll appreciate the idea of an asset no one can touch.

Cael Becker has posed:
    Cael responds to Sara with a nod. Hell - she doesn't even touch the subject of 'demigod' yet - that's how well she's behaving at the moment, though there's a flicker of disbelief on her features.
    Instead, she returns her attention to May, listening to her in silence. "I don't at all imagine it's simple," Cael replies seriously. "And like I said - I know this situation is a huge security risk, so..." She lets out a sigh. "As much as I wanted to keep this to myself, as much as I hate talking about my past - I knew I couldn't keep this to myself, and I apologize for not coming forward sooner. None of us meant to endanger the Freeport mission," but that is, in fact, the result of Cael's silence. "I'm fully prepared to solely accept any consequences deemed necessary," she adds.
    Her gaze goes to her sister next, lingering on Alis as she adds, "We'll find ways so you don't have to be so disconnected and bored. We'll just have to wait and see if it's here at SHIELD r not."

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Sara frowns slightly. Cael's over protectiveness is showing again, but she won't speak about it right now.

"However you feel you need to proceed May," she offers. "Just understand that this isn't anyone's fault, not even Cael's. It is what it is."

===============================================================================

Alis looks over to Cael for a moment, then back to May.

"I won't tell anyone anything," she says quickly. "I know all about the missions, and the people, but I haven't told anyone. You can't fire Cael because of me, her work is her life and the FBI isn't enough for her. I'll stay hidden if that's what's needed, but... I'm tethered to her, I can't not go. What can I do or say to prove I'll behave? Sure, I'm a kid, but... I can behave."

Melinda May has posed:
May nods. "I'll review the Freeport mission. We'll... take all this under advisement." She straightens, leaning forward. "You're smart to come forward with this. And better now than later." Again, her attention returns to Alis. "I believe you. All of you. But this is bigger than any of us."

A beat. Her shoulders fall. "Trust Carter. She's dealt with as much weird shit as I have." Just in a different era. "We'll start with her and go from there."

Cael Becker has posed:
    "I understand," Cael replies. "I know we all have the best interests of SHIELD and the world in mind, and I'll accept whatever decision is made." Cael glances at each of the the other occupants of the room, before pushing herself to her feet. "Thank you for your time, Agent May." She nods towards Alis for her to vacate the chair and head for the door, before she'll start that way herself.

Melinda May has posed:
After Becker and Pezzini left May's office, she picked up the phone and called Carter. She spent several minutes explaining what the women told her, telling her about the teenaged ghost, and what recommendations she'd given as a result. She also said something to effect of: "I hate magic." Again.

It took a little doing, of course. Peggy has her own full schedule, after all. But she's also good at clearing it. Especially when the words "operational security" are involved. Thus, May finds herself in Peggy's office, taking it upon herself to make a cup of tea -- because she and Peggy will both want it before this is over. Never mind anyone else.

A summons has been made for Cael and Sara. She has no doubt they'll be here soon.

Peggy Carter has posed:
Peggy has her own tea in hand already, pretty much living on the stuff nowadays, though she's switched from her usual gunpowder black to a preference for the sharp, spicy bite of ginger, and that's what she's drinking right now. She managed to clear her schedule fairly quickly once May laid out the situation. She knows the woman wouldn't have brought it up if things weren't dire.

"...Before they walk in here, care to let me know what your *personal* opinion on the matter is?" Peggy dares to ask her friend, though she knows they are short on time.

Cael Becker has posed:
    Summoned to the boss's office - won't this be fun. Cael responds to the summons promptly, though, closing and securing her laptop, and rising to her feet. She takes a few steadying breaths, then moves quickly through the halls towards the offices of the senior members of the organization. Once she reaches the small waiting area outside of the Chief's office, she resists the urge to pace the room by finding a bit of wall in dire need of propping up, her gaze fixated on the wall across from her. She has little doubt that she'll be called in when the Chief is ready for her - and so she simply waits, while trying to calm the thudding of her heart in her chest.

Sara Pezzini has posed:
The call did not surprise Sara at all, the fact that it happened so quickly did. Witchblade was still screaming in her head about a few hundred things related to Alis, but she was used to him screaming about something so just functioned as normal. Meeting up with Cael first, she then headed to the bossest of bosses offices... the only boss higher was Fury, whom she'd never met.

Reaching the waiting area, she takes a seat and watches Cael for a moment, then a bit of thin air, then back to Cael.

"Cael, it's going to be fine," she states confidently, as if she already knows the future. "Try to relax."

Melinda May has posed:
May selects a green tea for herself. Because that's actually her favourite. "Honestly? I think there are a lot of advantages. I think we're facing a lot of crap that could benefit from Alis' unique talents. But I also think she's going to need some controls. Pezzini can probably help with that -- her Witchblade seems to have taken a... 'protective' stance about the girl. And it doesn't change the fact the kid will be 17 forever. WAND needs to look at it. But I say our best approach is to interview Alis and the agents and then you go with your gut."

Maybe it's not a lot to go on, but it's honest enough. It's a risk, one way or the other. "If we can't see our way to including the ghost, we lose Becker." She's just one agent, though. "I don't know about Pezzini."

And then those two agents are arriving. May sips her tea and takes up a position by the sideboard. "They're here," she says, before Peggy is alerted through other means. "Becker's a bundle of nerves. Her job's on the line, and she knows it. Pezzini's pretty calm. Acts as an anchor to both of them." For what it's worth.

She gestures toward the door. Peggy can let them in when she's good and ready.

Peggy Carter has posed:
While May gives Peggy her rundown, the older woman keeps her face mostly closed off and serious. May might get the impression that what she said is pretty much what Peggy expected to hear, but she does appreciate May's input. More than the woman might ever realize. "Well then, lets get them in here and tear the bandaid off. No reason for the kid to sweat any longer." Yes, Cael was a full grown woman but to Peggy most of the younger agents felt like kids. Something about being 100 years old.

Then she's stepping around her desk and going to the door, opening it and giving the pair a little nod. "Come on in, there's hot water on for tea, if you'd like some. Take a breath. Relax. Sit. Probably in that order." Peggy cracks a bit of a reassuring smile to the pair of them before leading the way back inside and heading back to the opposite side of her desk.

Cael Becker has posed:
    "It's not your career - or your sister, Sara," Cael answers the other woman in a quiet voice. And though she knows, in the long run, things will work out one way or another - and that she isn't about to let anything happen to Alis against the teenaged spirit's wishes... It was still hard to calm her anxieties.
    "Ma'am," she answers the woman as they're invited in, pushing herself away from the wall, and making her way into the room. "I suppose some tea would be nice - thank you, ma'am," she says politely. She fixes herself a cup - glancing towards Sara to see if she wants one as well, and once that's taken care of, retreats to a seat - the cup of tea cradled by both of her hands. It gave her something to do with them, after all - and something to focus on.
    "I assume Agent May already brought you up to speed on what we shared with her," she remarks simply - giving the asian woman a nod of acknowledgement.

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Sara wasn't all that old, but Witchblade was, and unfortunately if you want one, you get both. Living with the memory of every prior wielder often made Sara feel old, but it was another one of those things she just lived with.

Standing up, she lets Cael head in first while offering the woman a reassuring nod, then follows right into Carter's office. The offer of tea is not passed up, bag into a cup, hot water over it, let it steep for a bit while staying out of the way. For the most part this was still Cael's rodeo, Sara was there to offer up the wisdom of Witchblade, or rather, let it be known that Witchblade backed the ghost girl.

As she moves away from the beverage area, one brow lifts and she looks around the room at Carter, May and Cael. "Alis wants to know if she should remain unseen or not for this meeting," she asks for the ghost-girl, which is actually an improvement as Alis normally would do exactly what she did in May's office. Seems she can be taught.

Melinda May has posed:
May gives Cale a light nod in response. "I suggest she materialize," she tells Sara. It's Peggy's show, sure, but May knows how these things go. "This has as much to do with her as it does Agent Becker. I think it's necessary Chief Carter meet her, too." Beyond that, though...

Well. It's still Carter's show, yes. May is here to answer what questions are put to her and to act as a secondary sounding board. That's about it.

Peggy Carter has posed:
As they both accept the offer of tea, there are plenty of options. Peggy is painfull British that way. Some bags, but mostly loose leaf and strainers. She gives a quiet, almost reassuring smile as she watches the two younger agents putting together a drink before they come to settle. Only then does Peggy fold down into her own chair, trying to set the most relaxing atmosphere possible.

"If she's willing to manifest, Commander May is right, she is a part of this and I'd like to speak with her. But no one is forced to show themselves, especially someone who isn't one of my agents. It's her choice. And yes, May told me what she knows of the situation... complicated, but we've managed worse."

Cael Becker has posed:
    Cael glances towards Sara, adding her own nod as well. She also doesn't see much point of Alis remaining in hiding for this conversation, before she returns her attention to Peggy.
    "I would never wish to put SHIELD's operations or any of her agents at increased risk, ma'am," Cael remarks seriously. "It's why I came forward." A wry smile crosses her lips as she adds, "That and - Alis seems determined not to remain a 'secret.' Which... can't really blame her for having a mind of her own."
    She takes a deep breath, letting it out slowly before she adds, "Ultimately, I'd like to stay and continue to help SHIELD and protect our nation, and our world - and I think Alis does, too. But... in the end that's not up to us. And I know this unique situation is sure to pose more questions and problems than I've even been able to think of, myself."

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Once the tea is ready, Sara adds a little sugar then moves over to stand by Cael. The tension in the room seemed a little less than she thought it would be, which was a good thing, but Cael was still freaking out. She may not look like it, but Sara knew her well enough to know she was. She got it, but the truth was, if they fired Cael over this, she'd leave too.

"Alis is just as nervous as Cael," she offers, watching the invisible girl move.

==============================================================================

Alis actually chooses to stand behind Cael when she appears. Being only five-two, she peeks around the woman at May and Peggy. For some reason she felt like she'd been sent to the principal's office, nervous as a result and still feeling guilty over getting Cael in so much trouble.

"Uh..." she manages first then sort of waves. Taking an unneeded breath she than rambles out, "I didn't mean to cause so much trouble. I can't help that I have to go where Cael goes, but I haven't told anyone anything I've learned and I never will. Please don't fire Cael. I'll help out any way I can, and there's lots of things I can do to help, just please don't fire her."

Melinda May has posed:
When Sara mentions how Alis is feeling, May gives Peggy a faint nod. She can feel the girl, albeit distantly. And she knows Becker is on absolute tenderhooks. She sips her tea, remaining quiet, now. That's not unusual. She watches, though. She listens. She evaluates.

It's inevitable.

Peggy Carter has posed:
A slow arch of Peggy's brows begins as Cael already lays out her case and then the strange, short ghost rambles out about the woman being fired. Peggy tilts her head to the side, reaching one hand up to neatly set her own mug of ginger tea aside and fold her hands calmly on the desk so she can lean a bit closer to the trio across her desk. "...Well, first off, I don't think anyone every mentioned the word 'fired'. Depending on how this talk goes, there might need to be reassignments, but I am not in the habit of firing for a single mistake. So you can all breathe a bit easier."

Dark eyes flicker over to May for just a moment, especially as Peggy catches the nod from the other woman. She gives a slight tilt of her head in acknowledgment, appreciating the emotional read the woman can get on the situation and not missing the implications. "...I am curious how long you knew about this before bringing it to Commander May... "

Cael Becker has posed:
    "Alis, it's okay," Cael says quietly, looking back towards her sister with a smile meant to reassure. I mean, sure it's a little forced - but she's trying at least. And when Peggy adds her assurances - a little of her own tension eases as well.
    Looking back to the woman she remarks in a wry tone, "That's a little more complicated than you might think. It's only been a few weeks since Agent Pezzini first helped me connect with Alis again. We'd neither of us realized that she'd even been around - we weren't even sure if the attempt would work. After Agent Pezzini made that connection - //she// was able to see and hear Alis, but I couldn't. And Alis would often leave, so we hadn't realized she was tied to me and couldn't wander far from me.
    "It wasn't until the red mist incident that Alis was able to start manifesting on her own, and affecting the world around her. I know I should have spoken up, then. But when she- well, when she triggered some alarms in Freeport, I realized I couldn't stay quiet. I apologize that I didn't speak up sooner, ma'am."

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Sara takes a small sip of the tea, listening to the conversation between Peggy and Cael, but she's watching Alis. She'd not seen the girl actually worried before, given there wasn't much a dead person needed to worry about.

"Up until that point, it wasn't anyone's business," she states simply. "Having a ghost sister isn't the issue, that she has to go where Cael does is, which none of us knew until Freeport. Tethering of this type is rare with ghosts, usually it's to an item or a place, not a person."

===============================================================================

The smile Cael offers Alis being forced is obvious to the ghost-girl who has been watching her for seven years, but she accepts the meaning behind it and gives Cael a pat on the arm.

"It's not okay, but thanks for saying it is," she offers, then looks back to Peggy.

"You should know, that even before Witchblade and the red mist... I was on missions. I've been tethered to her for seven years, every where she goes I have had to go. The distance I can move away from her is maybe half a mile," she considers a moment. "No, more like almost a mile, but that's it... and then I snap back to where she is like a sling shot. Not a pleasant experience at all, so I stopped trying. I've seen a /lot/ of things I shouldn't have, I know a /lot/ of things I shouldn't, but I don't repeat them, not even to Cael and she already knows them."

She glances to Sara for a moment, then looks back to Peggy, "I want to help. I don't want Cael to have to stop doing what she loves and that's missions, getting out there, making a difference, so please let me help. I'll take tests, and training, or anything else that's needed."

Melinda May has posed:
May knows they're telling the truth. She can feel it. If she hadn't been told that the girl has already effectively compromised their security, she'd be more uncertain about all this. But the ghost is already involved. And they know that HYDRA won't shy away from magic. Why would ghosts be any different? She's not happy about exploiting the kid, but she also figures... how better to protect her than making her part of the agency?

Peggy Carter has posed:
While Peggy doesn't like using May as a truth dowsing rod, in situations like this, she trusts the woman's advice more than anything. Dark eyes flicker over to May again, looking for any sort of indication they are being decieved, but it seems like everything on the table is still truthful. Peggy gives a slow nod, sinking back into her chair and crossing her legs. It's a bit more calm and comforting a position.

"Considering how unprecendented this situation... Is, and that you did come to us fairly quickly, keeping it quiet will be put as a minor reprimand in your file, but nothing more needs done. We know now. I believe Alis could be quite a valuable asset -- if you are both willing to work together. Working with family can be... complicated." Peggy says, being married to one of the oldest SHIELD agents still around. "And that means, Agent Becker, far more working and training with WAND. They will have a better idea of where to start training Alis than anyone."

Cael Becker has posed:
    "I hadn't really allowed myself to realize all the implications, ma'am," Cael explains. "And- well. Alis has been through so much," she admits, glancing back at her sister once more. "My first instinct was to protect her. I don't want her experimented on, and I didn't want her used, or put at risk, but... Some of those decisions aren't mine to make. I guess it took me a little while to get that through my head - so I appreciate the leniency."
    As for working with family, she glances back at her sister for another moment, then back at Peggy to add, "I don't see how I really have any choice. It's either give up my career and become a used car salesman or the like - or accept that I'll be working with Alis in the field. I mean, just knowing that she has a range of over half a mile... That gives us a lot of recon options, just on its own."

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Sara sets the tea down for a moment, head canting slightly as she looks at Alis. There were a number of things she could teach the ghost-girl, strengthening what she could already do, and helping her figure out her limits. Did that count as training? Probably, but she could also full on train her.

"You can still protect her Cael," she offers her partner, roommate and friend with a smile. "But you also have to let her choose what she wants to do."

She looks back to Peggy, "In regards to studying or experimentation by WAND, Witchblade will not permit it to happen. You have to understand that ninty percent of the time I can control him, but in some situations... his wants are /so/ strong I can't control what he does. In this regard, he feels obligated to protect Alis, because she is linked to him now."

Now that she's sure she got Witchblade back in his place, she picks the tea back up. "I can help train her. When I first join SHIELD I was made part of WAND, though I rarely have much interaction with them. If there is someone else you'd like Alis to see as well, we can arrange that."

===============================================================================

Alis finally steps out from behind Cael, letting the whole of her self be seen, a bit of a sheepish smile on her face.

"Thanks for not being to mad at Cael," she offers. "She'd make a horrible car sale woman, I mean really horrible." Not the time Alis. "Anyway, I'll train hard so she's doesn't get in any more trouble and I'll be helpful, I mean... I have some awesome abilities now.... which may be why the Freeport mission almost went south but let's not dwell on that!"

Melinda May has posed:
May snirks now. "WAND field training is largely useless," she tells Peggy. "But these two are already competent in that regard." She regards Sara. "Tell your Witchblade that we're not intending to experiment on Alis. But she will need training. And we *will* need to learn the extent of her abilities."

She lets out a small sigh. "I understand just how daunting that sounds. But even I had to go through that sort of testing." With her empathy. Jemma was gentle, however.

Peggy Carter has posed:
There's silence from Peggy for a few heartbeats, dark eyes shifting between the trio of young women (well, young woman and ghost). She smirks, nose wrinkling a bit at the car salesman comment, "That is not... not going to be necessary, Agent Becker. There is a reason we have Wand, though..." Her gaze now turns back heavier towards Sara, some deeper thought behind her gaze. "You've been nothing but a stellar agent since joining us, especially at such a hard time. Considering your... blade's protectiveness, and your experience, assigning them to you would make a fair amount of sense. Though, that would require you be a slightly higher level agent. A promotion long over due." Peggy smiles. "But May is right... the testing and training is necessary. We probably should get the same logged for yourself, Sara, with this...Witchblade matter, you know." Peggy has a feeling it's not been done, now that she thinks about it. ANd that makes her wince.

"...but wait. What exactly *did* happen with this Freeport mission that this went so badly? I have a feeling you all aren't... quite giving us the entire picture." Peggy's eyes narrow, her old spy instincts telling her there's a gap here, somewhere.

Cael Becker has posed:
    "Witchblade hears everything you say," Cael remarks. "Which I use to torture him and Sara, at times. I'm loving that way." The fact that she's back to wise-cracking (even with her rather odd sense of humor) shows just how much she's begun to relax. She gives gives Sara a nudge, adding, "Hey, congrats."
    She's finally taking a sip of her tea with Peggy levels that look on her, and she can't help but respond a slightly uncomfortable, "Uhhh..." before launching into a real response. "Well. Alis was exploring the various secure storage rooms, when she came upon a lost Imperial Faberge egg and she... took it, setting off all the alarms. We're in the process of figuring out the best plan to anonymously surrender the egg to the care of the MOMA, now that we have it."

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Sara stares at Peggy for a moment, slightly wider eyes than normal, then just accepts with a soft sigh. It was what it was... a promotion and being responsible for Cael and Alis being trained for WAND. In a way, she had already been doing that with Cael in proving that magic was real, but now it would be all official.

"If that's what's required Director, then so be it. I would have done it either way," she offers, then winces at the thought of the answer to that question.
    Glancing to Alis a moment, then over to Cael, yeah they could handle that. She hadn't known until after the fact, way after the fact.

==============================================================================

Alis oooohs, grins huge and nervous like, and slowly steps back behind Cael.

"I... didn't know it would happen," she offers from the safety of behind her sister. "I didn't know if I could even do it and then I did and then it was too late and..." she peeks out at Peggy. "I'm sorry. It couldn't stay locked in that vault, it's the Royal Danish Faberge egg, one of the lost ones... can't stay lost, and it's not any more, but it will be given back to the world where it should have been all along. I freed it, that's all... but yeah, it set off the alarms and for that I'm sorry, really sorry. I promise, I swear, I will never do something like that again without it being /part/ of the mission."

Melinda May has posed:
Seems to May that this is mostly settled. Peggy's made her decision. "Congratulations, Agent Pezzini," she says, the faintest smirk on her own features.

Her gaze settles on Alis. She can apparently move objects through walls? It's not the craziest thing she's encountered. She sets her cup down, however. "Congratulations to all of you. Or, perhaps, condolences. You've got a lot of work ahead of you."

Peggy Carter has posed:
The news that Alis has stolen something makes Peggy's brows both arch. "Being able to physically interact with things and remove them from areas, while.. an unwise idea at that point in time, is incredibly useful. All the more reason we need to figure out all of what Alis can do under trusted supervision." Peggy nods towards Sara, the woman clearly going to be that trusted supervision.

"I'll start laying out a training schedule and I'll expect weekly reports on the matter. A reprimand note is going in your file, Becker, for keeping pertinent information away from SHIELD, but nothing more will affect your career and if you don't do it again, it won't ever matter that it's in your file. Once those first few reports come in, Pezzini, we'll make your promotion official. But I want to see how you all work together until this is fully on record. Understood? I expect my first report in a week. Otherwise, you are all dismissed. Go relax, take a breath... Celebrate not being a used car salesman." Peggy smirks, giving them all a small nod out the door and then sinking back in her seat. "Never a boring day..." She mutters to May, as they fall into handling other work.