IMAGINATION'S PLACE
FICTION
CHANGE OF COMMAND
By: Speaker Gerald A. Polley

NATHANEAL GREEN stood looking around his office one last time. His personal effects were all packed and loaded on a cart, ready to be rolled out to the van that would deliver them to his home. It would seem so strange not coming here every day, for it was very rare some emergency had not called him into the office, even on the weekends. He could not remember EVER having had a vacation, except for a few days here and there returning from some assignment. His thoughts were interrupted as his successor Catherine White, entered the officie, a maintanence worker pushing her cart behind her. "Ready to take command?" Nathanael asked.
"Hardly!" his old friend answered. "Nathanael, I've never even MET them! You've spoken to the prime subject on untold occasions. I never have. Am I going to be able to build the rapor with them you've had?"
"Of course you will," Nathanael assured, "of course you will! Now, I'd better get these things out to the van and get down to the cafeteria."
Catherine looked to Nathanael's cart. "Er, could I, er..." she stammered, "could I have J. Edgar? He's been such a part of this office. It would not seem the same without him."
Nathaneal looked to the bust of the old FBI director on top of his cart, smiled, lifted it, and returned it to its spot on the shelf where it had sat for so many years. He patted Catherine on the shoulder, grabbed his cart, and without another word, departed. When he reached the cafeteria everyone was already gathered. They applauded as he entered. He was motioned to the head of the refreshment table, where his chief field agent, Bill Morganfield, stood nervously. "Well," Bill began, "everybody knows why we're here. The boss is leavin'. The new boss is gonna be great, but we're sure gona miss the old one. We wish him a happy retirement. We know he didn't need a watch, he's got more pens than Custer had arrows! So we all got together and had this little placque made. It says 'To the greatest dividison chief the bureau ever had. From all of those who worked with him so many years. Oh, what memories!' Of course it's got the dates on it, and ll that. Just something to remember us by."
Nathanael took the placque and admired it. "It will be trueasured," he assured, "thank you, everyone. Now, let's serve the punch, cut the cake, pass out the ice cream, and reminisce."
Everyone clapped in approval. Nathanael's superior walked up looking nervous. "I've heard a rumor, Nathanael," he began, "about manuscripts. Nothing that's going to compromise security, I hope."
"Of course not!" Nathanael answered, "just some whimsical stories about some FBI agents back in the 50s and 60s, who had some strange experiences with a mischievous magical being that helped them on their cases...purely nonsensical stuff, that no one would ever believe."
The director looked terrified but only nodded. Nathanael noticed the closet door open and a man come out. Several in the room immediately noticed him and went over to greet him. He made his way through the crowd to Nathaniel, Catherine and the Director.
"Catherine," Nathanael remarked, "This is Prime One. Thank you for coming, sir! I know how busy you are."
"Wouldn't have missed it for anything," the man remarked. "Mrs. White," he continued, taking Catherine's hand, "I am sure you and I will develop the same relationship that I had with Nathanael. I cannot stay too long, but I just wanted to drop by and assure you I approved of Nathanael's successor."
"Thank you! Thank you!" Catherine managed. "You look and feel so real!" Catherine muttered.
Nathanael and the visitor grinned. "I wish I could see...well, you know!" Catherine continued, "but I understand that wouldn't be proper."
The visitor got a mischievous look and looked around the room. All the others there were grinning. "Well," he remarked, "everybody here has seen me as myself. What to heck?" He backed off a couple of paces, turned around. As he did so a golden light surrounded him. When he turned back to Catherine he was a beautiful Winged Being! The wings were big and leathery. He was covered with soft, plushy fur, except for the palms of his hands and around his face. He wore a simple tunic-like garment. "Wow!" Catherine gasped.
The Visitor turned around again and became human. "Well, I really MUST be going!" he insisted. "But we will converse longer, Mrs. White, at the first opportunity."
"Certainly," Catherine agreed. The Visitor made his way back to the closet, stepped inside, and shut the door. The Director swallowed. "Matthew," he finally managed, "about those books. We really must talk about those books." Everyone in the room burst into laughter that took a considerable time to die down...a considerable time, indeed!

THE END

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