Chapter Three: Engraved Memory

Kevin looked down at his watch in irritation. Ten more minutes until the meeting started, and the newest (and youngest) member of his team was nowhere in sight…

Look, doesn't my word count for something?

So sure, he'd gone and looked at her file properly after that argument, this Shion Uzuki certainly had lived up to the Director's praise, he had been right. A few months, and she'd be as experienced as any regular First RD Division employee, but he still suspected "other" means had been used to get her in his project…

"Excuse me?" The gentle voice jolted him out of his thoughts. "Are you…Kevin Winnicot?" The blue-haired man snapped to attention.

"Yes, I…" H looked up, seeing a pair of green eyes focusing on him. "am…" His breath slammed out of his lungs, he knew those eyes…memories assaulted him, crashing into him like a tidal wave, he could never forget the day when he had first seen them…

He rounded the corner, several computer pads piled in his arms, despite his genius I.Q. and being the assistant of a renowned scientist, he still had to do grunt work occasionally.

"Dr. Mizrahi? I found the…" He trailed off, seeing his mentor speaking with another man. Mizrahi turned his head slightly.

"Just put them on the table." Kevin obeyed, his eyes never leaving the two men. The second one looked upset about something…he moved slightly to the side, showing Mizrahi something hidden behind him. The doctor crouched down, his voice a gentle murmur.

"There now…don't be so frightened…" The "something" moved, and Kevin was able to see what it was. A small brown-haired girl, she could be no more than seven or eight, buried her face in the second man's clothing, her brown hair a sharp contrast to the paleness of her dress.

"Darling, look at the doctor." The second man ordered. The girl reluctantly obeyed, small fingers tightening in her father's clothing, green eyes wide behind the lenses of her glasses. Kevin stood transfixed, never had he seen such eyes before. So gentle, yet a hint of wariness in their depths as Mizrahi spoke to her, innocence personified…she closed them again, and pressed her face into her father's side. The gray-haired scientist laughed, patting the girl on the head. Then he stood up, and the two led her away…

But this was the here and now. The memories were shoved to the side as reality set in, and the little girl started to morph and change…turning into the teenager that he saw before him.

"I'm Shion Uzuki." She bowed. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Like…likewise." Kevin stammered out. Shaking his head, he struggled to get a grip. "The meeting is about to begin. Shall we?"

Wilhelm watched thoughtfully as Kevin led Shion inside the room, his reaction was exactly what he had expected from the blue-haired man.

He should now be able to figure out just why she was placed there and use her accordingly. While he did not doubt Kevin's genius, Shion's own input would be quite helpful, and it was necessary for her to be in close contact with KOS-MOS. A small smile of satisfaction crossed his lips and he opened his eyes, leaning back in his seat. All the factors are starting to assemble…

"You'll be assisting me on this project." Shion nodded, and Kevin barreled on. "I don't have time to be holding your hand; the military will be breathing down our necks on this one."

"I understand."

"Right now we're working KOS-MOS's initial OS. We'll be doing this for several months, and I'd like to get a good majority of the programming done while the Dammerung's in dry dock."

"That's two months, right?" The brunette asked.

"Yes. Here." Shion started in surprise as a pile of computer discs were shoved towards her. "Go over all of these programming codes and memorize them."

Whoa… "Um…okay. Anything else?" Kevin pinned her with a glare.

"Excuse me?"

Oh oh… "Um, I wanted to know if there was anything else you wanted me to do." Shion said weakly.

"Since you're new to all of this, I'll tell you…and then I don't want you to ask me ever again, got it? Check them over for glitches and if there are any repair them, and if any modifications are needed, do them." Shion flushed in mortification.

"Yes sir." Quietly, she picked up the discs and left the room. Dummy, you shouldn't have asked him! Behind her, Kevin sighed and pressed his right thumb and forefinger against his sinuses, closing his eyes.

"Damnit."

"It's not her fault she was placed here." The calm voice had the blue-haired man nearly jumping out of his seat, head whipping around.

"You!" Unruffled, Voyager fixed his red gaze on the younger man.

"I can assure you, you won't get very far with that attitude." Snarling, Kevin stood up, crossing his arms.

"I have things under control; you don't need to concern yourself with this matter."

"On the contrary. The military…"

"I have that under control as well." Kevin interjected. "I know what I'm doing!"

"I hope you do." Voyager replied, fading from sight.

After being introduced to the rest of the team, Shion left for the rest of the day, planning on going over the computer discs in the privacy of her room. Everyone had been more or less been very kind to her, but of course, there had been the side glances, the whispers behind hands…

Well, today was quite the first day. Sighing, she leaned back in her chair, shooting a glance out her window. But at least I got all this work done… Her green eyes narrowed, she glared at the pile of computer discs on her desk.

"You think he would have been a bit nicer at least." Inhaling through her teeth sharply, she shook her head. No…if I'd interned and gotten into the First Division fairly, he probably would have been nicer. But… She shook her head.

"No, no, don't think like that." I've been looking at computer readouts for too long. Getting out of her seat she grabbed her jacket, pulling it over her shoulders. Some fresh air should do me some good…and I can pick up dinner and bring it back here! Now in a more cheerful fame of mind, she grabbed her wallet and left her quarters.

And then afterwards I can mess around on the Net a bit… A smile on her face, she secured her wallet strap around her wrist and headed for the large bank of elevators at the end of the hall. It'll be fun to check out the Vector message… Her footsteps stilled as a feeling washed over her. Senses that had been fine-tuned by years of intense training and discipline came screaming to life, warning her that she wasn't alone… Shion whipped around, staring down the hallway.

"Who's there?" She demanded. No reply. "I said, who's there!" To this, Kevin made no reply, staying within the scarce shadows that were present in the corridor. After several seconds Shion sighed, shaking her head.

"Jeez…talk about overactive imagination…" She turned and got on the elevator. "Damnit, not even one week into work and already I might need a vacation?" The doors closed, and Kevin stepped out of the shadows, heading forthe younger woman'sroom.