Xenotober 2022 07 Exploration
a/n: The prompt is ignored because Lila and Avery are ready to present!
Editing? No. Today's excuse: No Man's Sky.
All the good things belong to Monolithsoft.
For the second time in a single week, Lila Brown had abandoned her scuffed work boots and well-pocketed and protective coveralls for spindly heels and a skirt that didn't even think about reaching her knees. She wasn't too flustered by it: business suits were their own type of protective uniform. If she braided her hair more carefully, a French braid that ran smoothly down along her neck, and applied a slightly brighter lipstick, this was just so much more armor.
Avery wasn't at BLADE tower when Lila arrived at 0840 as agreed. Lila didn't enjoy waiting, trying to avoid curious eyes. She stood right beside the doors, unwilling to go inside. If Avery had decided to stand her up...
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry." She could hear Avery's apology before she could see her. The younger woman climbed the steps unsteadily, burdened by a sealed box maybe half meter on all sides. It seemed heavy enough to trouble her, or perhaps it was because Avery was worried about damaging it.
"You look like the box is full of angry bees," said Lila. "Is that your prototype? Do you want me to carry it?"
It was too big for Avery to clutch to her chest, but she did hold it a little tighter. "No. I mean, yes." Avery released a bright short snort, not quite a laugh. "I mean: yes, prototype; no, I can carry it." Her face lost some of its shine. "I didn't sleep at all. Then of course I dropped off right at the end. I slept through the alarm. All three of them."
They stepped through the entrance together, then stopped, unsure what to do next. They weren't left alone for more than a moment. Another figure, as neatly dressed as they were, wearing heels even higher than Lila's and carrying a white box larger than Avery's, swooped down on them.
"Lila! So nice to see you! And this must be Avery. Ms. Johnson, this is quite a big day for you, I'm sure you realize. Now if you'll just place your sample in the protective case, we can continue." She set the box on a convenient counter and lifted the simple flat lid.
Avery took a step back, shielding her prototype. "I'm not ... I'd rather not."
"What's with the case?" Lila poked it. The surface squeaked faintly, like a cheap styrofoam beer cooler.
"Anti-espionage measures. We've been having problems keeping every area clean of scanning technology." Eleonora's voice dropped to a whisper and she nodded to the back of the atrium. "Especially the elevators."
"And this..."
"The case will prevent any illicit scans. Eventually the Orphe will apply the principle to skells, or at least so we're hoping, but in the meanwhile we're using it to make the Ganglion's lives a little harder. So?" She looked at Avery expectantly.
"I don't want anyone else to carry it," Avery said.
"It's all yours," Eleonora said with a sweep of her arm. "If things go well, we'll probably insist that you keep it."
The inside of the box was as smooth and white as the outside. Avery managed to set her precious prototype in without jostling it, then sighed as the lid was set on top. "I don't see a latch."
"No latch needed. But do carry it carefully. This thing is made to block, not to cushion. Come along."
Eleonora led them to the elevators. A set of doors opened immediately after she had waved her comm device over a sensor. The ride was longer than Lila expected, as the elevator shot up to the very top of the building. The three women remained silent.
They were guided down a narrow hallway dotted with infrequent doors. Eleonora topped at the far end and waved them into their destination, a windowless conference room. Inside was a long table surrounded by chairs, mostly unoccupied. A bulky Interceptor was snoozing at one end, seated next to two Outfitters with heads bent over a single comm device. They were both tapping feverishly at the screen, failing to look up as the trio entered. Probably playing flash chess, Lila grinned to herself. No turns, all moves.
Avery looked around for the projection area and chose a seat nearest that. Lila was about to sit next to her when Eleanora gave an embarrassed cough. "Lila, dear, the Commander asked if you could talk to him before the meeting?" The question didn't feel much like there was a choice of answers.
Lila twitched her shoulder blades. She couldn't hide the mulish expression that had dropped on her face.
Avery leaned over and put a protective hand on Lila's wrist. "You can say no."
Lila's huffed a deep breath. "No, it's fine. It's fine. Good practice being an adult, right?" She looked down at Avery. "I hate to leave you."
"It won't take a moment, really," Eleonora added brightly. The other two women ignored her.
"I need to review my slides," Avery offered bravely.
"Fine. It's fine," repeated Lila. She headed for the door, then stopped and turned to Avery. "Remember. Even if I'm not here, I'm on your side." With that she sailed out the door, Eleonora in her wake. The room was very quiet once the door shut behind them.
Outside in the corridor, Eleonora sprinted past Lila, with only a shouted explanation. "Elevator. Now."
a/n: Cliff hanger. Reminder that Lila and Vandham had a thing and then it ended. Multiple times, each time worse. Someday I will organize all of it.
Next up: Protection, which fits surprisingly well.