[Memory Excerpt from the File of Finnegan “Finn” Walsh, Candidate for Transfer]

  — Agent file #6869551224

  Finn sat trying to keep his excitement under wraps. It wasn’t often that the State Department started recruiting students so early in their degree program. He was only a sophomore, partway through the fall semester. But the man on the phone asked after his dad, making Finn wonder if his old man had called in some favors. His dad, who had decided being a professor was better than being in charge of the analyst desk jockeys, was very proud to have a son following in his footsteps.

  He had been very excited about Finn being ‘tapped’ to serve and protect the people of the United States. It would only be during summer breaks until he got his degree, but Finn was pretty sure none of his classmates had been approached.

  After the interview, his dad was taking him to lunch at that Asian bistro they both liked. Free lunch there was almost as awesome as getting his dream job. And working in the same field as his dad did was big.

  He had shown up early at the Federal Building, wanting to make a good impression. After he had gone through security, the man at the desk directed him to a small room where he had been waiting ever since. When the time for the interview had come and gone, Finn started to worry that something had gone wrong. Had he made a post on social media at some point that was now offensive or against policy? He couldn’t even check, as they took his phone for security reasons.

  The door opened, and an attractive woman in a business suit walked in. She looked little older than he did, but had an air of authority that made him sit up straighter.

  “Thank you for coming in, Mr. Walsh. I’m Simone Ashton. You must be—” she glanced down at the file on her tablet. “—Finnegan? May I call you Finn?”

  “Uh, yes, ma’am! Please. And thank you for this opportunity!” he replied nervously.

  “Right. Let me get straight to the point. This isn’t an interview,” she said, sitting across from him, eyes flitting over something on her screen.

  Finn’s heart dropped. He had been so sure that they wanted him. Heck, the guy on the phone said it was an interview. Didn’t he?

  Glancing up at him, she made sure she had his attention before going on. “This is a job offer. We already know you fit the criteria and you could be useful now. If you take this offer, you’d get a standard entrance salary for my division, FS-7, and would need to take a hiatus from school along with everything else.”

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  “What–is that what all those tests were for?” he asked. It was too much for him. Not only was she offering five figures, but it was strange to be offered a job without a degree. The money would be nice, but something was off. Finn didn’t know exactly why he was reluctant to take the offer, despite his gut feeling. Besides, there was so much he had to learn, to do in college, before taking such a big step.

  Simone sat down across from him, a half smile on her face. “Yes, this division needs to have as much data as possible before even considering a candidate for any position. As it stands, you are one of only five candidates we are considering for onboarding. Usually, college students aren’t considered for even an intern position in my division, but your scores were pretty high. Higher than the majority of applicants,” she replied. She had looked back at her tablet and had been looking through something while talking. She turned it around and slid it across the table to him.

  Finn hesitantly picked it up and scrolled through a twenty-page employment contract. His jaw dropped the further he went. Most of his information had already been filled in, but there was a lot of legalese he had no basis for understanding as he skimmed it. He recognized the NDA, but not much else. Then he came to the end of the document and just stared at the signature line.

  The division head sighed, somewhat annoyed. “Look, I think you are ready. You’ll be provided with all the training you need on location. I can’t tell you where, of course, but you’ll have as much time as you need to get your affairs in order before you are on assignment.”

  Finn grimaced at the oddness of it all and how she was pushing him to accept. “My affairs? Like you said Ms. Ashton, I was expecting more of an internship through college before I signed up full time. Something closer to home,” he replied.

  The division head laughed, a bitter sound that did little to help Finn relax. “You wanted to be a part of the State Department and didn’t think you would leave home on assignment? I’m sorry, but didn’t your father explain how it all works?” she said, no mirth in her voice. “Usually you’re right. Candidates like you are groomed and prepped for a year or three while in school and rarely leave the country, depending on skill set and the needs of the department. You, on the other hand, meet the criteria my division is looking for now. And you can start immediately.”

  Finn frowned as he thought about it, running his hand over his face out of habit. Rule number six: always be presentable. His dad’s rules always relaxed him, and he squared his shoulders with more confidence. “Ms. Ashton, I’m not ready for this. I haven’t finished college, and this is not even what I was expecting. I’m sorry, ma’am, but I am going to have to decline,” he said, slightly worried this might nix his future chances.

  She was quiet for a long moment. “I can understand your… trepidation. But this is for the security of the United States. Our country needs people who are willing to give everything,” she said.

  With a nod, Finn slid the tablet back to her side of the table. “I want to, but when I have finished my degree. But I don’t know shi–anything yet. I’m sorry,” he replied, feeling like he had failed.

  She slid a business card across the table. “This is a number you can call if you change your mind. Otherwise, it was nice meeting you, Finn. I hope in time you will choose to serve your country,” she said, done with him.

  “Thank you, ma’am,” he replied. She barely even glanced at him before standing up and going to the door and flagging someone down.

  “Can you take this young man back to the foyer? Thanks,” she said to someone before leaving the room herself.

  [End Memory Transmission]

  There will be more of these intermittently, and trust me, they serve a purpose.