A call from the boss...
Disclaimer: none of the characters are mine, but belong to Impossible Pictures™.
Note: spoiler alert.
Corporal Merryweather was bored. Working for Lt. Leeds was proving to be more chaotic and unpredictable, than anything else: her current superior, for all of his lack of organization and also of backbone, was also very hard to control and to pin down for all of her attempted flirting. The good corporal could understand as to where colonel Hall was coming from, she really did, but this did not make it any easier, adjusting to life with Leeds.
And in unrelated news, her new archenemy – some lady friend of Leeds, it seems – has... given up. Not so long ago she called Merryweather and threatened her with a hacking attack...and nothing happened ever since. True, Merryweather did contact the colonel about this new development, but she also knew his character well enough to doubt that this lack of activity was due to his actions, and that was...disappointing. The corporal was not spoiling for a fight, really, but right now even that would be better than just scanning the news for any latest time anomaly manifestations...
The phone rang. Mechanically, Merryweather picked it up. "Yes?" she spoke into the receiver.
"Corporal?" the responding voice was clearly masculine and very familiar, unfortunately for her.
"Sir? Yes sir!" Merryweather gulped, as she had recognized the voice of her superior.
"Corporal Merryweather," the colonel's voice did not promise anything good. "Do you know where your superior currently is?"
"Sir, no sir!" the corporal gulped. "Sir, he has left several hours ago, as was in the report-"
"Yes, and the officer on duty has passed it on. Corporal, what was your assignment?"
"To assist the lieutenant with his duty and to, um, keep his maverick ways to a minimum?"
"And have you done that?"
"Not yet, sir – Lt. Leeds is a very private man, actually, we have barely begun to make contact-"
"Corporal. After the recent debacle with a horned dinosaur, when a valued member of the scientific community has absconded in the depths of time and space and Lt. Leeds had been there, you should have stepped up your game. Instead, the last report I had from you was a complaint that Leeds' girlfriend or someone, to quote you, threatened to ruin your online reputation so some assistant is that required. Corporal, are you a member of Her Majesty's army or what?"
"Sir?"
"Corporal, you have failed to keep your superior under control – do you know, for example, where he currently is?"
"No sir."
"Incarcerated, after interfering with major Douglas' mission, to put it lightly. You were supposed to keep him from doing that, and you failed. Yet when someone appeared to have threatened you, you have reacted quickly enough."
"Sir."
"Merryweather, this is your last chance," the colonel exhaled. "Find me what Leeds has been up to, or I strongly suggest that you resign and find a career more suited to your personality. Are we clear?"
"Sir yes sir!" Merryweather said frantically, as the colonel hanged up. Her fingers were already entering the new password... only to discover that Leeds has gone up on her here as well, by turning the tables and locking her out as well.
Merryweather was a military corporal, but right now, she felt like crying. Outmaneuvered by Kenneth Leeds – this was the end for her.
TBC