It was a known fact around the cannery that Maya was due to show up with her sister Kirsti for her interview. Valmont sat in his office going over some paperwork, occasionally glancing at the clock. The Enforcers lounged around in the common room, Finn and Chow draped over each end of the sofa and Ratso in the recliner flicking through channels on the TV at an alarming rate. Finn rolled his eyes as Ratso kept going, even after having gone through the entire selection of channels already. Hak Foo sat at the small dining table reading the comics in the newspaper.
Finally, Chow had enough of Ratso's channel surfing. The small man grabbed the remote away from Ratso with no resistance. Ratso glared at the Chinaman and tried to take the remote back.
"Forget it man, you keep it on a channel for about five seconds, how are ya supposed to see what's on." Chow had tucked the remote under the pillow he was laying on.
"Come on Chow, I don't wanna watch CSI." Ratso tried to pull the remote out.
Chow laughed and sunk deep into the cushion, making it now impossible for the remote to be unburied without Chow getting up. Finn looked over at the two men and told them both to shut up.
"They're about to find out who the killer is," He stated.
Hak Foo looked up from the paper and let out a soft snort. Remind me why I am working with these morons he thought to himself.
Everything they were doing though came to a sudden halt when they heard a car pull up and shut off. Moments later, the door to the cannery opened and revealed their co-worker and friend Maya. She smiled at them and turned back towards outside and said something they could not hear. Maya turned to face them again, stepped over the threshold, and led another young woman into the room. All eyes in the room came to rest on her and one pair in particular. Luckily, Chow had his ever-present trademark glasses on; otherwise, he would have been embarrassed about the amount of staring he was doing.
Holy crap she is hot Chow thought.
Maya could tell that her sister was starting to get uncomfortable with all the staring, so she cleared her own throat to get everyone's attention back on her.
"People this is my big sis, Kirsti. Kirsti, these are my friends. This is Finn, Chow and Ratso; and this is of course Hak Foo. Just call him Foo if you want." Maya looked around at the Enforcers during the introductions.
Everyone gave a quick hello in response and waited for any additional commentary. Seeing as how she promised Maya that she would try to be social, Kirsti gave a polite nod and small wave as she removed her sunglasses. Maya hoped Kirsti would be more than what she was, but it didn't surprise her for six months before she left Pittsburgh, Maya and the rest of the family noticed Kirsti was withdrawing from society. Three months before Maya left, Kirsti had drifted from the couple of friends she did have. It was always the same excuse that Kirsti felt as long as she did not make friends it was no big deal if they died or betrayed her because nobody was close anyway; therefore, she could not be hurt. Now as much as it's normal for someone with PTSD to become withdrawn, trust very few or even nobody again and to develop such an advanced sixth sense he/she would know when a fly defecated, Maya felt she owed it to Kirsti to protect her from society. Maya failed to realize in doing so she was making things worse. Foo who himself never had PTSD or fought in a war, but had experience in the field and could tell by looking at the soldier she had given up on living a normal life so she was now hiding behind her uniform. He also knew this was a person who expressed her emotions mainly through hooting and hollering, never laughed, smiled or cried, no social interaction due to zero trust and after hearing about loosing her husband he figured she refused to have a relationship. Kirsti was a cold piece of metal already full of hyper-awareness and nervousness that was escalating as she stood with The Three Thousand Yard Stare1 not speaking a word, but looking at every door and window in the place. Finn asked a question, but Kirsti ignored it.
"Where does that door lead to?" Kirsti asked Maya.
"To Mister Valmont's office," Maya replied. "Listen, we need to get in to see him, so Ill talk to you later guys." After giving a quick hello kiss to Foo, Maya ushered Kirsti towards the direction of Valmont's office.
"Hold on where's a Shit can2 and I have to use The Head3." Kirsti walked and looked around.
Everyone except Maya and Foo looked puzzled at the military slang Kirsti had mentioned. Maya took Kirsti's candy bar wrapper and showed her where the trashcan was then pointed her in the direction of the bathroom. After that, the trio knew what Kirsti mean by Shit can and The Head. Chow curiously asked if Kirsti always talked in military slang; Maya said she did. From the corner of his eye, Foo noticed Kirsti wasn't using the bathroom, but had the toilet lid tank off checking inside. To avoid a scene he asked Maya to help him with something as a diversion. Maya knew immediately when Foo pointed out what Kirsti was doing that she was checking for traps.
We need to talk later." Foo whispered. "If she was seeking help and taking her medication during those six months she shouldn't be in this stage."
"There's nothing to talk about, she was doing all that." Maya insisted. "She just made some personal choices we regular civilians can't comprehend."
'Although I think the person she used to be died in the war.' Maya thought.
'Her spirit has ¾ died and is continuing to die.' Foo thought. 'That uniform is its coffin!'
Maya entered the bathroom, guided the lid in Kirsti's hands back onto the toilet and reassured her there were not any traps in the facility. Kirsti then started asking why there were not any fire or radon gas alarms in the place. Then she asked about water testing kits and about where a couple other doors led. Maya tried to assure Kirsti that she was in a safe place, but being unsuccessful Foo stepped in and reassured Kirsti there was nothing to be afraid of especially after informing her even with all the skills he had she still outranked him because she knew the illegal martial arts and death moves he only heard of. Truthfully though as trained killers they were equal rank, Foo was just doing what he felt he had to in order to be his gal's sister's friend. Still Kirsti did posses skills taught only in the military and she would in time, teach him and whoever wanted to learn. Now calm enough to proceed with the interview, Maya lead Kirsti to Valmont's office
"Listen, don't be nervous ok. Just answer the questions he asks the best you can and explain what it is that you can offer the Dark Hand. However, between you and me, you are probably going to get the job. So don't worry, ok," Maya said, stopping in front of the door to knock.
"Enter." Valmont's voice sounded through the door.
The girls looked at each other once more before entering the spacious office. Maya directed her sister to one of the vacant chairs in front of Valmont's desk. The British crime lord read over the file laying on his desk before focusing his attention on Kirsti.
"Tell me a little bit more about your specialties and how they might come in handy while working for me," Valmont said, leaning back in his chair.
"Yes sir! Well when I was serving in the marines, my field of expertise was demolitions. If I have the floor plans to a building, I can take down any wall or obstacle in the way. Or I can take down the whole building with enough explosives if needed." Kirsti answered calmly.
The interview continues and about halfway through, Maya notices that her sister has become agitated and nervous. She discreetly placed her hand over her sister's to reassure her. Valmont was so intent on listen to Kirsti that he did not catch the movement. Kirsti continues to tell Valmont about her previously activities, including spying on people and how she has no problem at all with spying on the government.
"I am trained in all sorts of Asian martial arts and illegal hand to hand combat moves as well as how to live off the land and survive. I am skilled at making homemade weapons and lock picking as well." Kirsti concluded her monologue.
"I don't' think we will have a problem at all with hiring you. You are more that qualified for the job and I would like to extend a warm welcome to you. Please, if you have any questions feel free to ask me or any of the other Enforcers." Valmont stood to signify the end of the interview and walk both women over to the door.
Maya and Kirsti thanked the Brit before following him out of his office and back into the common room. Valmont explains to her how things are going to work as far as her being a new Enforcer. Kirsti avoids conversation immediately by informing Valmont she has to be at the Marine Reserves base in San Diego to talk to the captain in assigning her to the base since she transferred from out of state and that someone would have to give her lift to their apartment. Valmont understands and Maya offers to drive her.
"By your leave4 sir," Kirsti asked.
"Permission granted, just be back at 6:00 for preparation!" Valmont replied slowly
"Sir, yes sir, I'll be able to get the Poop5 while I'm at the base." She said before waling outside to wait for her sister.
"Ewww why do we need that it stinks!" Ratso whispered after Kirsti left.
"Not that kind of poop." Maya explained. "It's military talk for information."
"Oh." Ratso nodded.
Finn brought up the question why she needed to be in the reserves when she was already discharged from the service. Maya explained that it is to keep her active so she does not get rusty and although she had been discharged, she is not officially out of the service because if the country was to go to war again she could be called to duty
Kirsti, tired of waiting for her sister, put the keys in the ignition when she went dizzy. She looked in the mirror, her eyes turned a screaming yellowish and her straight face split by an evil smile.
"I finally have what I want." Kauket laughed from inside Kirsti. "I like this body much better, even if its mind is harder to grip. It will be easier stomping out humankind with your knowledge and at least I will not be in close contact with the troll your sister calls suitable mate! What in the name of Abydos6 does she see in him? No matter they will pay for----" A telepathic message suddenly interrupted her thoughts.
"I have the talismans and The Stone of Set. Shall I take them back to the apartment?"
"Put the talismans under the floor board where I have the book and other things." Kauket telepathically replied. "Take the knowledge I have given you from Kirsti to create a fake stone then take the real one back to my temple. By the time the mortal wench discovers the stone is a fake the talismans and I will be gone. The next step is, well let us just say they will be expecting me to be at my temple with them. I will remain here and there will some 'presents' there in my stead!"
With every time Kauket spoke through Kirsti, she had flashbacks and they were worsening with time.
(Flashback: The front line was full of all the normal sights and sounds of war. Communists charged at the platoon. Kirsti was a wild animal with her M-16. One of her teammates abducted until, the soldier jumped on the driver whacking his teammate's head off and using all her combative hand-to-hand tactic on the other two. She untied her teammate in time to fight off others charging them and blow up a couple of jeeps. She had also taken down a couple of sneaky tankers.)
"Fucking Rag Heads7, I hate them, I hate them all!" Kirsti shouted pounding her fist on the side door panel. "I wish they'd all die!"
(1): Three Thousand Yard Stare: Hyper vigilance (2): Shitcan:A trash can or to remove a person from his or her position. (3):Head.Latrine or toilet, from the naval term.
(4): By your leave... A phrase spoken by a junior when overcoming a senior prior to passing. Also a request to be allowed to depart. Usually followed by "sir" or "ma'm".
(5):Poop. Information, as in straight poop, bad poop or poop from the group.
(6)Abydos: the holy city of Osiris, who was buried there himself, as were many other pharaohs.
(6):Raghead. Gulf War, Iraqi Freedom)(Not PC) Any Arab person. Refers to the common headdress of the region.
