Retirement

"Are you sure you want to do this, Nero?" the CEO asked, looking over the already completed paperwork. "I mean, we can't ask you to do this forever of course, but ever since Flel retired you've been unquestionably our most successful agent. I'm not sure you've ever failed a mission. You easily have years left in you, and you've seemed to enjoy your work as far as I can see. Are you sure it's time to retire?"

Nero was as stiff in that chair as he ever had been - not for fear or nervousness, but simply because the rigidity of his muscles helped him to keep himself together. That was one of the downsides of having such total control over his body - letting it relax frequently made things like his body temperature and heartbeat go out of control. And especially when he was facing such as his boss, he wanted to be a figure of intimidation - not one to be pitied. "I have completed the work which I came here to do. I have no reason to continue in this line of work."

The CEO tapped his fingers against the desk, looking Nero over. "You know, I only ever heard you talk about that a few times," he said, "and you never actually explained what it was that you were trying to do. All you ever said was that being here would enable you to do it. Now that it's over, can you at least spare the details?"

The visions from all those years ago were still fresh in his mind. The pain. The torture. The fire and the blood. The look of hatred in those men's eyes as they destroyed what little he had ever known. People torn limb from limb, discarded like trash, some violated until they passed out and thrown in the flames. Those men had been insane beyond any definition of the word. They had had no regard for human life, and were training others to think as they had. They tried to do the same with him. But he had escaped, and sworn to himself that he would kill every single one of them, so that they would never repeat what he had seen again. Kill them, their followers, and everyone who they had ever been on good terms with.

Fortunately people like that were frequently targeted by organizations like this one.

Nero pushed himself up and out of his chair, though he did not step towards the CEO. "It has been a pleasure working with you," he said calmly, "but it is time I take my leave. I trust that you will ensure my record vanishes."

"...But of course."