[color=lightpink][b]Cori Woods[/b][/color]
[justify][indent]Everything was about to change.

Men and women eyed her curiously as she jogged through the hall, an occasional whisper or giggle. It didn't go unnoticed, but the bitterness and jealousy of others had ceased to bother Cori. She was an excellent agent, and she was always striving to be better. Agent Woods took initiative when others hesitated, and she was comfortable taking charge. She had also learned to ignore the gossip and bitching from others, putting energy into bettering herself instead of wallowing in self pity. It was all this and more that her father greeting his pride and joy with a smile, even as she barged into the office and closed the door behind her. 

"Cori, your face," he realized, the smile falling as he furrowed his brows at the woman. He looked her up and down. "Your, uh, everything. You're a mess. What happened?" He started to stand, but Cori was quick: she was at his desk, insisting he stay sitting with a gesture and shake of her head. Damon Vaughn was a large man, his hair silver and a nasty scar across his tan face. He was a walking example of experience, authority, and intimidation: he had a history and reputation as an agent who came from nothing and rose to the top. Still, his daughter had a presence that softened him. He chose a position to keep an eye on her safety, and ensure that other agents were being trained to expectations.

"[color=lightpink]I know, Sir, I know. It's that case I've been working on. I need you to take a look at this,[/color]" she said quickly, clacking the flashdrive down in front of the man. Her expression had softened since arriving at the office, there was something vulnerable about it now that she shared the room with someone familiar.

He couldn't help but laugh as he took the drive to plug into his computer. "I'm your father, Cori. Call me Dad," Damon said lightly, eyes flickering about the screen as he loaded up the documents. As he did, his smile faded and his gaze hardened. Cori watched his expression: his age showed as the frown lines on his face tightened. He straightened up and leaned into his monitor. Tension hung in the air, the only sound in the office the tick of the clock and click of the mouse or keyboard as Damon investigated. Then, finally, his clear blue eyes looked to her crimson ones. "Who else knows about this?"

Cori found herself hesitating. Jace had been involved on a fluke, but she didn't believe he [i]knew[/i] anything--he hadn't even gotten her name. But Kieran's face flashed through her mind. "[color=lightpink]No one. Just you and me,[/color]" she replied coolly. "[color=lightpink]It explains the storm two and a half weeks ago. It confirms the rumors of people committing superhuman feats. Sir--[i]Dad,[/i] I saw a man take a hail of bullets to his body without any armor and protection. He survived without a single scratch. These people are all over Earth, causing all this death and-and we need to stop it. We need to stop the superhumans and Coalition--they are willing to kill for the information we have now. I need you to put me through to the top, so I can organize a force against this national--no, this [i]global[/i] threat.[/color]"

Damon was silent, his attention refocusing on the screen. He was torn. On one hand, Cori was right and--as far as he was concerned--her initiative against the crisis meant she deserved to continue her mission. On the other, she was his only daughter. She had returned from a [i]retrieval[/i] mission bruised and injured, and every fatherly instinct was screaming against the very idea of sending her deeper into this mess, into this danger. Why didn't she pick up the fortune left behind for her ten years ago? She could've been living a comfortable life, away from this shit storm. But, Cori was stubborn and sought to do good in the world. It was a choice she made at a young age, and looking at her now, Damon could still see that determination in her hard eyes. 

Maybe this wasn't one the most difficult decision he had ever had to make, but it certainly felt like it. His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed, his voice rough. "You're right, Agent Woods. I couldn't trust anyone else to handle this. And I'm here to advise you as you need it." 

For the first time that day, a genuine smile came to Cori's face. Had the desk not been a barrier between the two of them, she might have even hugged her own father. Might have. "[color=lightpink]Thank you so much, I won't let you down,[/color]" she said, voice higher with excitement. "[color=lightpink]You do your phone calls, e-mails, whatever. I'll keep gathering intel, I already have so many leads, just give me the drive back when you're done-- Just, do your thing, Sir. And thank you again![/color]" As she spoke, she backed up toward the door, suddenly animated with anticipation and excitement. 

The door closed after her and Damon sighed into the silence, a mix of dread and pride swelling as he heard Cori Woods dart down the hallway. 

[hr]
Cori sat down at her desk, the mugs cleared as she had requested from Raymond. She wasn't [i]supposed[/i] to smoke in the building, but it had been one hell of a day. She had nearly died multiple times, and she needed to get to work. So, she opened the window behind her, lit a cigarette, and sat down to get to do it. First, she started with documenting her field experience--conveniently leaving the clash she had with her...[i]contact[/i] out--and that's when she paused, remembering she had ignored a text and a call earlier. Annoyed to be interrupted in her work, she sighed as she punched in her passcode and opened the message--it was from the same number who left a new voicemail. 

It was a picture message: Kieran taking a selfie, but upon opening the picture full screen, she saw men passed out--or she hoped they were passed out--on the ground behind him. She squinted against the screen, as if she might see something else. What was the point? Was there more coded into the message? Who were the men? They looked like civilians, maybe criminals. Was this some sort of threat? Scowling, she tapped, "[color=lightpink]??? Why?[/color]" and sent the short message before taking a long drag of the cigarette. Then as an after thought, she added, "[color=lightpink]I gave you this number for leads and emergencies.[/color]"

It wasn't until [i]after[/i] she sent the rude texts that she decided to actually listen to the voicemail: [i]"[color=0076a3]Cori  listen there is trouble. A super just recently got into a huge fight in  the city, and it didn't end well. I am going to investigate. Call me  when you get this.[/color]"[/i] 

Cori texted, "[color=lightpink]Oh. Just got the voicemail. Disregard those, I'm calling you.[/color]" 

As she placed the phone between her ear and shoulder, cigarette between her lips, her curiosity return to the computer screen. After a few clicks and a glance at her office door, she typed in his name: Kieran Hishamie. As he suggested, he was in the system, but there wasn't a lot of information. And attempts to dig further were restricted at her access level. Well, that wouldn't be an issue much longer.
[/indent][/justify]