Chapter 2
Thank you so much!!! I honestly didn't expect anyone to review, much
less like it. Anyway, I'm got to thank slime frog, becca8, Dragoness
fighter, radioactive bubblegum, Mage kitty.
Tuesday morning: LEP Headquarters
Captain Short walked in, relieved she was on time. A fact Commander Julius Root didn't seem to notice. His nickname was Beetroot because his face was rarely anything less than scarlet. Most likely because of his favorite thing to do, which was yelling. He was very good at that. He yelled Holly into his office. "Short! Get in here! You're late!"
"Yes sir." She sighed and stepped in. She saw that Trouble, the LEP's most enthusiastic officer, already in there.
"Actually, commander, Captain Short is a minute early." Trouble announced, checking his moonometer.
"Yes, well, whatever." grumbled Root. He continued in a louder tone. "As you should know, the LEP's 1823 anniversary is this Friday. All officers are required to attend with appropriate clothing. Do you know what I'm getting at, Short?"
"I think so, sir."
"Good. Then I expect you to find a dress of some sort. Clear?"
Holly almost groaned aloud. "Yes sir."
Root hesitated. "There's something else. You and Trouble are going together." Both captains' jaws dropped. They recovered their wits quickly.
"Sir, you cant force us to-"
"Honestly, commander, isn't it enough-"
"Just because-"
"I'll be wearing a skirt-"
Root exploded. "CAN IT! BOTH OF YOU! IT WASN'T EVEN MY IDEA! Blame the council. But you're going together, and that's the end of it!"
"But sir-"
"Do you need another reason to get kicked out of recon, Short?"
"No, sir."
"Then get back to work. Both of you!" glad he had made his point, he shoved them unceremoniously out of his office. They began walking quickly down the hallway. Holly turned to Trouble sheepishly.
"Sorry, Trouble. No offense meant. It's just that me, in dress, it just doesn't." Trouble nodded understandingly. "It's almost impossible to imagine you in a dress." He smiled. Holly glared at him icily for a moment, then burst out laughing.
"You're absolutely right. But better not laugh when you see me or else you'll be going to the party with a scorched behind." She wasn't even half serious, but Trouble definitely looked at little paler before laughing nervously.
"Heh heh. Um, right. I'll pick you up at 7?"
"Make it 6:30. And use the taxicabs. Traffic's horrible on Fridays, but the cab drivers can get you there in no time."
"Deal." He smiled as he departed to his cubicle. He was sort of glad he was going with Holly, because they were close friends so there wouldn't be a problem of not getting along. But the only thing Holly could think of for the rest of the day was how to irk Root subtly for forcing her to wear a skirt. Maybe she should talk to Foaly. He usually had something.
Tuesday morning: LEP Headquarters
Captain Short walked in, relieved she was on time. A fact Commander Julius Root didn't seem to notice. His nickname was Beetroot because his face was rarely anything less than scarlet. Most likely because of his favorite thing to do, which was yelling. He was very good at that. He yelled Holly into his office. "Short! Get in here! You're late!"
"Yes sir." She sighed and stepped in. She saw that Trouble, the LEP's most enthusiastic officer, already in there.
"Actually, commander, Captain Short is a minute early." Trouble announced, checking his moonometer.
"Yes, well, whatever." grumbled Root. He continued in a louder tone. "As you should know, the LEP's 1823 anniversary is this Friday. All officers are required to attend with appropriate clothing. Do you know what I'm getting at, Short?"
"I think so, sir."
"Good. Then I expect you to find a dress of some sort. Clear?"
Holly almost groaned aloud. "Yes sir."
Root hesitated. "There's something else. You and Trouble are going together." Both captains' jaws dropped. They recovered their wits quickly.
"Sir, you cant force us to-"
"Honestly, commander, isn't it enough-"
"Just because-"
"I'll be wearing a skirt-"
Root exploded. "CAN IT! BOTH OF YOU! IT WASN'T EVEN MY IDEA! Blame the council. But you're going together, and that's the end of it!"
"But sir-"
"Do you need another reason to get kicked out of recon, Short?"
"No, sir."
"Then get back to work. Both of you!" glad he had made his point, he shoved them unceremoniously out of his office. They began walking quickly down the hallway. Holly turned to Trouble sheepishly.
"Sorry, Trouble. No offense meant. It's just that me, in dress, it just doesn't." Trouble nodded understandingly. "It's almost impossible to imagine you in a dress." He smiled. Holly glared at him icily for a moment, then burst out laughing.
"You're absolutely right. But better not laugh when you see me or else you'll be going to the party with a scorched behind." She wasn't even half serious, but Trouble definitely looked at little paler before laughing nervously.
"Heh heh. Um, right. I'll pick you up at 7?"
"Make it 6:30. And use the taxicabs. Traffic's horrible on Fridays, but the cab drivers can get you there in no time."
"Deal." He smiled as he departed to his cubicle. He was sort of glad he was going with Holly, because they were close friends so there wouldn't be a problem of not getting along. But the only thing Holly could think of for the rest of the day was how to irk Root subtly for forcing her to wear a skirt. Maybe she should talk to Foaly. He usually had something.