A/N Seriously, does anyone ever wonder what her first name is? Vinyáya, I mean.
Here's the one I promised way back in Number 2. :P
Wing Commander Vinyáya sat at her desk filling out e-forms regarding the demon population in her charge. She was glad that most of them had at last adjusted to life in the Lower Elements. They certainly seemed a lot happier, in her opinion. She shook her silvery head, wondering for the thousandth time how those poor demons had managed to remain sane living on Hybras – underground on Earth was bad enough. In all fairness, she supposed, a lot of them had not, in fact, been sane. She was happy to report that the therapy sessions were going successfully.
Just then, Vinyáya's computer beeped. She looked up and saw that she was receiving a call from the main LEP Ops booth. Foaly wished to speak to her? How interesting. She accepted the call without hesitation – it was a wonderful distraction from the exceedingly dull e-forms.
The centaur's hairy face filled the screen, wearing his usual smug expression.
"Yes, Foaly?" Vinyáya asked.
"Commander, ma'am, I've just upgraded the Neutrino line to a 5000 version, but they won't replace the old 4000s for a couple of months, at least. Every officer under the world will want one, but it'll take a while, as I said; The LEP budget is no where near as good as Section 8's." He paused to grimace. "So, if I can get some Section 8 assistance, you guys could all have the 5000s by next week. The design is brilliant, really. My own brain surprises even me sometimes." Foaly wiped a false tear from his eye.
"Yes, yes, Foaly, you're one smart pony," said Vinyáya impatiently. "How much do you need, exactly?"
Foaly opened his mouth to answer eagerly, but Vinyáya saw an elfin hand jab him in the ribs. "Hurry up!" the owner of the hand hissed.
Vinyáya smiled. She knew that voice very well. Captain Short. One of her favorite students and people in general. Reminded her of herself, Holly did.
"Oh, alright. Wing Commander, do you mind giving Captain Short permission to go topside for a few hours? There's a full moon in Ireland tonight, and Holly needs to perform the Ritual."
Vinyáya was puzzled. "Why are you asking me?" She asked. "Commander Kelp is the authority over Captain Short, correct?"
Foaly nodded nervously. "But Trouble, that is to say, Commander Kelp is off duty this weekend for a well deserved break, after the Koboi incident."
Vinyáya almost snorted. If anyone deserved a break after that it was Captain Short and the human, Artemis Fowl.
Realization hit the Wing Commander like a rock. What a coincidence that Holly would wait for Ireland's full mood to complete the Ritual. Artemis Fowl lived in Ireland. One and one made two. "Oh!" she exclaimed.
"Oh, what?"
"Nothing, nothing. Captain Short may, of course, go complete the Ritual." She paused. "I take it, Foaly, that this line is secure?"
The centaur chuckled. "Are goblins as stupid as they look? Well, no, that's not a good metaphor, seeing as their stupidity actually excels their looks. Of course the line is secure."
Vinyáya nodded. "Put Holly on, if you don't mind."
The screen widened to include the female captain. It struck the Wing Commander again how much in common she had with the younger elf.
"Captain Short, you are to complete the Ritual and come right back. Officially." Vinyáya lowered her voice. "Unofficially… make it a quick visit, alright? Frond knows you don't need anymore trouble with the IA office."
Holly was greatly surprised. "How did you…"
"Let's just say that I've made some excuses for things in my own time."
Holly nodded. This made perfect sense to her. She saluted her superior. "Thank you, Wing Commander."
"No problem." She waited until Holly left the room, sure that Foaly would want to pass off a last wise crack. She wasn't disappointed.
"Nice of you, to let her," he said conversationally. "It is their anniversary, after all." He gave off an amused whinny.
Vinyáya raised an eyebrow. "Anniversary?"
"Yeah. When he first kidnapped her. The day's of great sentimental value nowadays. I hear it's the romantic craze right now."
She rolled her eyes. "We'll speak about the Neutrinos another time. I have e-forms to fill out. Goodbye, Foaly."
Link terminated, Vinyáya went back and tried to concentrate on the forms, but she couldn't. Holly had always reminded her of herself, but now it had more of an edge to it.
She closed her eyes, suddenly tired. She knew only too well the feeling of having to sneak around, trying to steal happy moments – however short – with the person one loves. Vinyáya herself had done it for countless decades, until recently, when her sneaking around had been cut short by tragedy.
Julius' death hit her chest with an infinitely heavy bang – as heavy a weight as it had been when she first found out. A part of her still could not believe that the only man she had ever loved, the one she'd loved since the beginning of her career, was gone, and was never coming back. And what was worse was that they had never been able to live out their dreams and hope for their future.
Unchecked tears streamed from Vinyáya's eyes as she acknowledged for the thousandth time since his death that it was her fault they had never been able to experience a free relationship in which no hiding was necessary. Julius had agreed, of course, but it was she who had first suggested that their relationship be kept a secret from everyone but themselves.
Politics, she thought bitterly. It had always been about politics. She had never wanted to appear like one of those trashy morons who slept their way through promotions. When she made it to the Council, she didn't want her voice to count as anything more or less than her own, as opposed to what the male in her life had to say. She had always refused to be treated with less respect because of her gender, and it paid off when she got promotion after promotion, finally achieving the rank of Wing Commander and Council member.
The downside, of course, was that she always hid a huge pert of herself from everyone except for one person, and it was he himself. Julius had his own reasons for keeping it quiet, she was sure. But it didn't make her feel any better. They'd wasted precious time pretending for the cameras. If only she'd known how dearly it would cost them in the end.
Vinyáya wiped her eyed and cheeks with the heel of her hands. There would be quite a lot of time for crying and regrets at home, once she finished her duty. Julius would have wanted her to stay strong, and she intended to do so. I love you, she thought. She sniffed on last time, and that was it.
Perhaps I'll invite Holly to sim-coffee one day, she thought. We really should discuss her partner choice, and her options.
With that thought, Wing Commander Vinyáya turned her full attention to the e-forms in front of her.
A/N Well, you gotta love her. And Root. Because they're cool.
Much love to Nikki (FirexAtxWill) for betaing this. She's epic and wonderful, and all that good stuff. :D
