Behind Enemy Lines
Chapter Three
Perfect
Day Three.
Division Headquarters, Amanda's Office. 11:00 AM.
Organization, it was the one of the many things Amanda needed to be perfect. Everything needed to be in its set place, everything needed to be kept on record, and more importantly everyone needed to be on time. Amanda had arranged to see new recruit, Katherine Quinn at ten o'clock on the nose and not to her surprise, Katherine never showed. The tea she had made was forced to go cold, and the tape on the recorder hidden under the table was filled with nothing but white noise and the click of Amanda's heels against the floor as she got things in order. Having to push all of her other appointments backs, Amanda now took her time getting ready as a new pot of tea boiled. Brush by brush; she straightened her tools on the vanity table top, being careful not to let them roll off the table's edge. She then looked through the makeup bag she had put together for Ms. Quinn. Was the foundation a match for the young woman's complexion? How would the eye shadow compliment her blue eyes? Was this the right shade of lipstick?
A gentle knock on the door drew Amanda from her thoughts. She places the teal makeup bag labeled Quinn, back down on the vanity before looking into the mirror. She smoothed her dark auburn strands, ran her fingers over her smooth cheeks and chin before checking her slight pout and applying her lip gloss. The corners of her lips curled up slightly as she backed away from the mirror and approached the double doors to her office. The click of her heels against the tile floor echoed off the concrete walls but they quickly drowned out by the opening off the doors. Her green cat eyes fell on the petite figure of the recruit on the other side of the door. "Hello Katherine, nice of you to join me." Amanda's voice sounded in a pleasant ring. "Please, come in." Amanda stepped back from the door, and Katherine slowly makes her way into the room. Her feet dragged against the floor, her shoulders slouched with poor posture and she looked almost sick from the withdrawal.
Katherine cocked her head to the side as she took in the room in front of her. At first it look relatively small with the back wall covered in florescent light panels but judging by the echo, the walls could be opened or pushed back to reveal a private quarters. A vanity was off to the side, opposing it was a rack of clothes and mannequins dressed in the top fashions of Amanda's choice for Katherine's body shape. Each tailored to fit Katherine like a glove, highlighting her thin waist, strong shoulders and long legs. Katherine's eyes then fell on a white couch, coffee table and chair. The scent of sweet tangerine green tea drew her towards it. The aroma was relaxing and seemed to ease the jittering of her hands. "Take a seat if you like," Amanda offered; "Have a cup of tea or two." She continued. "Maybe we could talk."
"I'm not much of a talker." Katherine spoke weakly as she watched Amanda poured the transparent, orange liquid into an intricately detailed ivory tea-cup. Amanda offered the steaming cup and Katherine took it cautiously, remembering the last time she drank the woman's tea it had caused her to black out. Katherine sat down slowly on the lush sofa and rested her hands cupped round her tea on her lap.
"I'll start," Amanda smiled slowly as she took her own tea-cup in her hands, sat in her throne and crossed one leg over the other in a lady like manner. "My name is Amanda," She introduced herself casually before sipping her tea. "You'll find that I have many jobs here at Division, much like everyone else, but right now my job is to help you get clean. Be your friend."
Katherine's shadowed featured smoothed over into a humored expression at Amanda's words. A half-hearted smile formed on her dry lips as she looked up from her tea to look at the older woman in front of her. Friend, the word was a joke to her. Anyone she had come to trust, hurt her. The pain sunk deep into her chest, an almost sick feeling taking over. "I don't need friends." She spat out before placing her cup of tea on its saucer.
"Katherine," Amanda spoke softly, "you can trust me."
Katherine stood quickly her lips pulled back in an hysteric grin. Her fingers knitted in her blond hair as she began to pace. "Trust you?" She queried slowly as she looked down at Amanda. Another series of chuckles escaped her lips. "I don't trust anyone anymore and I sure as hell don't need any friends. I don't need anybody!" Katherine shouted as she began to jitter again. The withdrawal worsened as she grew aggravated and stressed. She clasped her hands together trying to control the shakes and shut her eyes tight in attempt to settle.
Amanda stood slowly after putting her tea aside. She approached Katherine slowly and placed each of her hands on her shoulders. The contact caused Katherine's eyes to flash open in an instant, and with sluggish movements she pushed Amanda away. Amanda drew her hands back, running her hand over her left wrist where Katherine's sharp nails had left a scratch. "Learning to trust is one of life's most difficult tasks," Amanda quoted Isaac Watts her voice laced with wisdom and her superiority. She watched as Katherine shut her eyes once again from the threat of tears burning her eyes. Amanda slowly placed her hands on Katherine's shoulders once again, this time more cautiously than the first. Katherine's hand reached up to grasp one of Amanda's gently as she slowly tried to regulate her breathing, trying to calm herself and the feeling inside her. She was sick, and the only cure was to forget her past. Amanda was going to help her do that for her.
"Everything is going to be alright," Amanda spoke softly as she slowly ushered her towards the vanity and sat her down on the cushioned stool. She slowly pulled Katherine's blond hair down and began to brush out the tangles. She reached over to turn on the curly iron before looking up at their reflections in the mirror. "You may not need us yet Katherine but Division, it needs you."
Division Headquarters, Computer Lab – Tech Class. 1:45 PM.
Bead of perspiration dripped down Seymour Birkhoff's brow as he become frustrated with the group of new recruits in front of him. How could they be so incapable? He had made the exercise so simple, much like a stupid armature video game and they still continued to strike him with their stupidity. "Alright everybody take five!" Birkhoff barked as he ran his fingers through his long hair. He made his way to his desk before sipping his can of lukewarm Red Bull quickly. "Newbs." He groaned before pinching the bridge of his nose. Footsteps filled the room and he groaned, "Who told any of you-" He started as he turned around expecting to find someone leaving, but instead he found a recruit walking in. "You're late Barbie." He told her taking note of her blond hair; makeup kissed face and thin build.
Katherine nodded slowly as she moved to tuck a loose stand of hair behind her ear. "Yeah, sorry," She apologised slowly as she took a seat at a free computer. "I was with Amanda." She explained slowly, almost hesitantly. Birkhoff seemed strict, his words as quick as a whip, but he didn't seem dangerous.
"I don't want to hear your excuses..." Birkhoff muttered before taking another swing of his Red Bull, polishing off the can. He tossed it a side into the near recycling bin before sighing, he didn't like working with these recruits but it had to be done. He returned his deep brown eyes to the group before speaking; "Alright, let's try this again, you've got ten minutes. Go." The clicking of the keyboards filled the room; it was like music to his ears. He could see their frustration growing in their face, displayed by the redness in their cheeks. He looked over each of them slowly, and was impressed when some of them seemed to figuring it out. On the other hand, there was Barbie. One hand was knitted into her blond curls while the other typed viciously at the keys. Her brows knitted and she chewed her bottom lip as her blue eyes scanned the screen. "Nine minutes!" he counted down occasionally to remind them that they would be working under pressure. He then watched at Katherine retracted her hands from the keyboard and relaxed in her seat. "Given up already Barbie?" He taunted slightly.
Katherine gave off a slight shrug before smirking; "I'm done."
Shock over took Birkhoff's face as he looked over Katherine slowly. She had arrived late, missed the demonstration in which he completed in less than sixty seconds. How could she have finished already? He rounded her desk and looked over the screen in disbelief. "Congratulations Barbie, you've beat level one." She told her. Before she could tell him her real name, he made his way to the back of the room to look over the other recruits. "How is it possible that the blond that wasn't even her for the demonstration can complete it faster than Amanda can buy shoes?" He voiced loudly as Michael entered from the front entrance. "You're all dismissed." Birkhoff tells the class before making his way to meet Michael.
Michael looked over the fresh group his hazel eyes in a slight glare, leaving his emotions illegible with his clear slate of a mask. He nodded towards the few familiar face before speaking. "How did the lesson go?" His voice was velvety smooth as he crossed his arms over his chest. He could tell by the annoyed expression Seymour wore that class did not meet with his standards of computer competence.
"They seem to get even more stupid every time a new batch comes through." Birkhoff huffed before opening a new can of Red Bull with a crack. He took a long sip, but held up his hand to Michael, he wasn't finished. "There was this one recruit, took just over one minute to complete the task, impressive for a newb." He pointed out before looking over the recruits that had yet to disburse.
"Who was it?" Michael asked as he looked over the crowd.
"Barbie over there." He pointed out Katherine with his thumb. She had remained seated at the small desk staring at the computer screen with her large blue eyes framed with long wispy lashes. "She made it look like child's play. What exactly did she do to wind up here?" Birkhoff asked slowly. She didn't exactly look the computer nerd type all done up thanks to Amanda; in fact she looked almost completely out-of-place sticking out like a sore thumb. The reason you could tell she was meant to be there was the recruit uniform and the overhang of her withdrawal.
"Ms. Quinn?" Michael asked slowly with his brow raised, making sure to keep his tone low it was not over heard. "She killed both of her parents, they kept her drugged and locked up in the basement for three years." Michael explained briefly before looking over at the young woman who looked around the room like a lost puppy. He then returned his eyes to Birkhoff who carried a semi-confused look on his face. Though Michael didn't show it, Birkhoff was not alone in that state of uncertainty. Ms. Quinn was not all that met the eye, but Michael knew very well to expect the unexpected.
