York walked the halls between the training rooms and the sleeping quarters. He could hear distinct shouting coming from ahead of him in the locker room. It sounded like South and Carolina were going at it. North's voice of reason could be faintly heard trying to get any word in between the two, but as soon as he spoke, even more shouting overpowered it. South's loud and obnoxious 'fuck you' rang through the bulkhead as she came storming out in full armor, her pink and blonde hair bouncing as she shouldered through York. He finally rounded through the doorframe and saw Carolina hunched over, still in her sweats, her knee bouncing and deep red hair draped over her face. York looked from her to North, the questions piling in his head, but he was silenced by a hand on his shoulder. North was also clad in his purple armor and he slipped on his helmet before following after his tornado of a sister.
Looking back at Carolina, it did not take much for York to realize she was crying. He knelt in down in front of her on the bench and rested a hand on her shoulder. She instantly shrugged it away. He reached back out and put a hand on her chin, lifting her face so he could look into her eyes. Emerald green red rimmed and puffy from the number of tears she had streaming down her face. His hand moved from her chin to caress her cheek and wipe away a stray tear. She answered by placing her own hand over his, the black and blue band plainly visible on her left ring finger.
"Thanks," she said shakily. It threw him off to see her so vulnerable.
"Of course," he said. "What happened?" She shrugged.
"It's a long story."
York looked up at the digital clock hanging on the wall. "I've got time before I need to hit the training floor."
"South is pissed, so is CT, but she doesn't care if it means more points for the leaderboard. North and Maine could care less."
"About what?"
"Assignments. They've been paired to do some of my solo runs in the lesser systems. North and South are on their way to Iridium while CT and Maine prep and debrief for Chronos."
"What does that mean for you?"
"Bench duty," Carolina sighed. "I'm supposed to be observing the new guy's run at the training courses."
"Washington?"
"Yeah…" she shrugged and leaned back on the bench.
"May they have mercy on his soul." He pulled himself up to sit next to her.
Carolina shot him an angry glance. "And what's that supposed to mean?"
"He's got number one judging his every move? I'd be pretty tense. Granted, I also have an in with the woman judging." York nudged her shoulder with his own.
"Shut up," she said between suppressed chuckles. York could not help but join her in her laughter.
He looked sideways at her. Her hands gripped the edge of the bench in front of her and her red hair had drooped again over her face as her back heaved from laughing. The once cool and collected war machine now being defined as a simple woman with feelings and emotions all of her own. As much as The Director wanted to, there was no simple task in numbing the mind to the point of brainwashing out everything that makes someone human.
"Do you think they know?" York asked after a moment. "About you, I mean."
Carolina shrugged. "Maybe, but I wouldn't bet on it. As far as South is concerned, it's just The Director playing favorites again."
York nodded. "Fair point. North might suspect something, but if he does, I doubt he'll say anything." He put his hand over hers. "Just have to play it out until we can't."
"Yeah…"
Agent Carolina, please report to the training floor.
"I'm on my way, Filss."
York stood and helped Carolina to her feet. "Come on, we can't have you meeting the new guy in sweats. Let's get you suited up. I can help you with…"
Agent York? The Director's voice came crackling through the locker room intercom.
"Sir?"
Please report to the bridge in gear.
York sighed. "Yes, sir." He looked at Carolina and she put a hand on his shoulder.
"Go," she told him. "I'm not completely helpless yet."
"No, you are not." He leaned in to her and was a hair from brushing her lips with his before…
TODAY, Agent York!
"Coming, Sir," he said exasperated. "Good luck. I love you."
"I love you."
York quickly left to the armory to get geared up.
The Director was waiting on the bridge facing away from the holo-table when York came bounding in at a light jog. The Councilman stood next to him but was facing towards the door when York entered. York stopped just five paces short of the table when he saw a white armored hologram disappear into it. He ignored it and looked at the back of The Director's head.
"You wanted to see me, sir?"
"I have an assignment for you," The Director said, the tone in his voice was flat and emotionless. "Observation on a distant planet called Requiem."
"Requiem," York asked. "Isn't that in the Gamma quadrant? That's a two-week trek alone just to get there…"
"You will be granted access to a pelican equipped for deep space missions as well as more than enough rations to survive the trip there and back."
"What exactly am I observing?"
"Anything. We need a place suitable for a new stationary facility, and you are the only option not already on assignment."
"How long will…"
"Four months, Agent. Not only will you observe, but you will also direct teams in the construction and ground breaking for the new site."
"Four months," he parroted. "But what about…"
"Agent, Carolina," he added angrily. "Will be fine in your absence. You leave immediately departing from hangar two. You are dismissed."
"But, sir…"
"You are dismissed, Agent York!"
York shook his head. "Yes, sir." He turned to leave and heard the conversation the continued in his departure.
"Director, if I may? York's elongated absence may adversely affect Agent Carolina and cause many issues in both her mental health and her ability to perform."
"Agent Carolina will learn to deal as she always has, regardless of her… present condition."
I am back! Kind of... I want to try to keep up a weekly update on this story, or at least a bi-weekly update. I will admit, it is hard trying to find the motivation sometimes, but I will do my best.
As always, let me know what you think!
RvB and its characters are owned by Rooster Teeth Productions
