Chapter 1: Reassignment
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    The streets of Albrook were packed with people rushing from one
location to another.  From business to business, house to house, and inn
to inn, people flowed in an endless tide of humanity.  In the north
side, among the marketplace of the Flocking Chocobo, a seedy tavern that
was indistinguishable from any other.  It wasdented from hundreds of
bar-fights and absolutly reeked of the smell of alcohol.  The man who
entered through the battered wooden doors looked no different from the
other regulars.  He was an inconspicuous man who could easily be
overlooked in a crowd.  His brown hair was flecked with dust from the
streets and his clothes were well worn with abundant patches and rips.
He lurched drunkenly into the tavern out of the hot noon air, brushing
by the bar as he passed.  Slowly, he slumped into a bar stool, missing
it in his first two attempts at seating himself.  With one shaking hand,
he waved for the bartender to slide a mug of ale over, and with his
fumbling fingers, managed to drop the coins somewhere near the bar.  his
hand came around and grasped at the mug, grabbing the handle on his
second attempt.  The shaking hand and arm managed to spill more beer on
the man than that which got down his throat, but he looked happy as he
stumbled up the staircase to his rooms.  In the common room, those who
were more sober laughed at the drunken man while ordering and drinking
more mugs of the rough beer as he made his way upstairs.

    It only took him three attempts to open the door and lurch inside
his chosen room.  The door clumsily followed as the man leaned heavily
upon it.  Then, he seemed to miraculously recover from his ailment.  He
straightened himself up and dusted off his clothes as he passed from the
enteranceway into a larger room.  Inside, the curtained window filtered
out most of the light attempting to enter the room.  Sitting in a chair
behind a desk, was a large fat man who was guarded by two men with
crossbows.

    "I came as I was requested." the first man said simply.  "Now may I
ask why I got such a urgent summons when I nearly had discovered my
target?"  The man was furious but his face revealed no hint of emotion.
The man sitting behind the desk stood up and walked over to face him.

    "Leon, you may be the best agent we have, but you are just that.  An
agent.  you are expected to obey orders explicetly and without question.
 You have been recalled because I have orders to do so, and those orders
carry the full weight of Spymaster Garek's power behind them."  The fat
man poked his fingers against Leon's chest.  "Remember that you are
still subject to the empire no matter how good you may be."

    The man known as Leon tried again.  "But there is absolutly no
reason for such actions.  My origional orders were to discover who was
slowing down the arms shipments to the new Vector.  Why are they being
changed just as I draw near to solving the problem?"

    "Another Black hand operative will be assigned to that case, there
is another that you are to take care of."  Leon ground his teeth.  Weeks
of delicate work had just been wasted and he wasn't very thrilled baou
it.

    "Ok, Reginio, what is so urgent that weeks of word had to be
disturbed at the critical moment?  Some general wants to know what the
Narshean elder had for breakfast?"

    The man ignored the bite in the comment.  "This matter is too
delicate to be discussed in this area.  You are to report to the docks,
warehouse twenty two in two hours at oh-two hundred time.  There, an
operative will hand you the documents explaining what needs to be done.
And I expect you to be there."

    Something didn't quite feel right about this situation.  Leon knew
that the tavern was secretly owned and operated by the New Empire.  This
should have been the most secure place to discuss delicate matters, but
he needed to know what was going on.  "Very well, I will be there at the
appropriate time.  Make sure that your man doesn't get lost.  The man
known as Leon Regonus turned from the room and walked towards the door.
As soon as he reached it, he stumbled drunkly out towards the
lavatories.  The man named Regino pulled out a handkerchief and wiped
his brow.  Leon was dangerous, very dangerous, but the gamble had paid
off.  His assignment had been fulfilled and he would at the least be
recieving a promotion from Garek.  At such happy thoughts, Reginio sat
back down on his desk and began to whistle as he worked throught the
papers stacked neatly there.  `What was that tune again?  Oh yes, The
Fool and the King.'  The whistling perfectly matched the rhythem of the
papers as he waited for news of success.