Entanglement:
Birdman
The crinkle of the wrapping paper echoed along the silent marble walls of the lobby-it was too early for most of the workers to be arriving, though some were on their way home after most likely falling asleep at their work stations. Untangling the long stems of the fresh cut flowers from the rubber band took some maneuvering, it wouldn't do to damage the flowers when she'd gone through all the trouble of acquiring them in the first place.
"I just don't see the appeal."
Agatha was a primly dressed woman in her mid fifties-she wore tasteful jewelry and wore her hair in its natural steel gray as opposed to the expert dye jobs most women favored. Her mentor for the past three years, Agatha had been in charge of manning the front desk of the Kelvin Memorial Archives since it's inauguration some twenty off years ago. Her minimalistic style often clashed with Abigail's own eclectic collection of trinkets.
"Fresh flowers brighten everyone's day Aggie," the moniker earned her a rather pointed glare from the newly arrived woman but she continued to arrange the blossoms as if she hadn't taken note of it. "Even if all you can buy in the city are the genetically enhanced kind-the never smell quite right you know."
Tying a creme colored ribbon along the neck of the vase, tugging the bow into place, she fussed over the sunflower for another minute before accepting that it was as pleasing to the eye as it was going to be without her micromanaging every detail-she did enough of that during work hours as it was. Folding the wrapping paper before she tossed it in the bin to minimize space she inquired after Agatha's week. She had taken a few days off to resolve some custody issues she was having-since the death of her parents three years prior she had been named the sole guardian of her brother Elliot, a quiet fourteen year old boy-the state still insisted on performing schedule and random interviews and checks to make sure all was in order. She was grateful to see that they cared so much for the orphaned youth but it was more then a small annoyance to have to keep jumping hoops for them.
"-another Scientist has been brought in-engineer I think-Admiral Marcus has keep it quiet mostly but break room gossip is as effective at collecting information as a spy network."
Officially this was an Archive, unofficially and in actuality it served double duty as a research facility of some sort-her clearance wasn't high enough to warrant specifics but that much she had been made aware of seeing as it was her job to keep affair in order in the lobby. She dealt mostly with clearance and information and supply requests, it wasn't what she had pictured for herself but circumstances had left her with little choice.
"I always miss the excitement!" with a feigned huff she collapses dramatically onto her chair.
A slim brow is raised in her direction, the older woman had long since learned to take her antics in stride-when called for Abigail could be quite professional but she had her moments of childish fancy. While she did not think it was entirely appropriate in a woman of twenty-eight it was forgiven easily enough, hers was a personality that was infectious in its exuberance. Before a rebuke could come from her she noted the younger woman had righted herself and was smiling amiably but courteously at an approaching figure.
"Good morning, what can I do for you Mister-?"
Hands tucked into the pockets of a long leather coat, high collared with the lingering shine of newness, the man cut an interesting figure-avian in his length and sharp angles.
"Harrison, John Harrison-I've come to request supplies."
No greeting, no pleases, he addressed her in a clip tone with little room for her to wriggle in her usual pleasantries. While he stood but a few feet from her Abigail got the distinct impression even though he addressed her he did not actually acknowledged her presence. Wonderful, he was one of those types too involved in their own brilliance for lowly mortal receptionists. There was always a few of those walking around in this place. No wonder Agatha had mentioned the break room being abuzz with his arrival-nothing stirred the hive like a right bastard.
Without another word he slide a few pages of paper her way-which was surprising in and of itself. Furrowing her brows she lifted the papers and studied their content briefly before looking up at the man once more.
"I'm sorry Sir, I don't quite understand-"
"Is this not the place where one requests stock?"
"Well yes." her smile never faltered though his attitude was beginning to crate at her nerves, still she'd faced worse then John Harrison, "But why didn't you send it via a PADD? That's the usual procedure, especially for this sort of list-it needs to be categorized in the system so that all materials in use can be accounted for-especially the ones you've requested. After all, you never know when someone is going to be building explosives out of household items do you?"
Her little quip seemed to do it's job-it took a certain kind of person with a certain kind of knowledge to recognize the materials on his list for what they were-pieces of a puzzle which no doubt would yield a weapon, one if her theory was right would make a very big boom. His full attention was on her now and she was beginning to regret it immensely, those sharp featured arranged themselves into an unreadable mask-she felt much like an insect pinned and ready to be dissected.
"No. One does not."
Picking up his list Harrison turned his back to her and walked away in much the same way he'd arrived, quietly and quickly with long legged strides.
"Charming man." Agatha scoffs beside her, sharp blue eyes burrowing holes into the man's back.
"Extremely. Now, tell me about Nadia and Gilbert, did they really get caught in the turbo lift?"
She had all but forgotten the uppity man from this morning when she received a message from Commander Haywood, her direct supervisor, telling her that any and all request put in by John Harrison were to be executed without delay by direct order of Admiral Marcus.
"Someone went running to Mummy." A frown looked out of place in her usually smiling face, her muttering continued as she powered down her station "All I needed, an egocentric birdman to make life so much more pleasant."
-Author's Corner-
For those following this story I'd like to apologize-this is not an update but a revision. I will be coming back to this story and posting new Chapters. I would like to put out a sort of wanted Ad I suppose. I am in need of a Beta for this story. If any of the readers are interested please PM. I would be ever in your favor!