Chapter 4

Sephiroth woke like clockwork every morning, and this morning was no different, despite the fact that he had gone to bed in the early afternoon the day before. He heaved himself up, setting his feet on the cool floor as he sat on the edge of the bed. There was a lingering soreness in his muscles, a taste in his mouth like something had died in it and his eyes felt dry, all very common symptoms after getting injected with one of the good Professor's concoctions. Despite feeling like roadkill, he acknowledged that it could have been worse. His head wasn't hurting near as bad as it usually did at this point, and he felt a little more rested as well.

He was in desperate need of nourishment and a long hot shower, he decided, and absentmindedly sank his fingers in his hair, attempting to run them through the hair's entire length only for them to snag only a few inches in. He blinked in surprise – his hair didn't tend to tangle no matter what he did, one of the reasons why he allowed himself to indulge in such long hair – and after a few searching touches found that his hair was braided. It was a loose braid, one that hadn't even been tied and was already coming undone, but why would his hair be braided? He frowned in confusion for a moment, and then a memory of a cool hand on his forehead, fingers combing his hair back and a clear voice singing popped to the forefront of his mind.

"Valkyria", he muttered as he realized who had been there. Who had taken care of him.

He was stunned. He didn't know what he was feeling. No one had ever actually gone out of their way to take care of him when he was suffering through the side effects of whatever Professor Hojo had inflicted upon him, not even when he had been young. In the recent years, no one had even seen him when he was unwell. He hadn't wanted to let anyone see him at his weakest. Oh he had no illusion, he knew Genesis and Angeal were well aware that he wasn't exactly fit for duty after most of his visits to the labs, but he had never allowed them to actually see him like that. And they had always readily given him space in such occasions.

So, for Valkyria to see him like this… It unsettled him.

But he could also remember how good the hand on his forehead had felt, how the fever had felt less as she sang to him songs he had never heard before.

His eyes dropped to the red orb of materia in the small one-slot bangle he was wearing.

Perhaps, it was alright to be seen in that state, if it was her. Somehow, he doubted she would see him as less than what she wanted to see him as, for showing a little weakness, a little humanity. One of the reasons he found so easy to relax around her was the way she had never seemed to see him as some kind of god, someone to be put on a pedestal high above what anyone else could reach. To her, he had always been nothing more than the General and her summoner. To her, he hadn't been untouchable. She didn't seem to have any expectations of him, just being himself had been enough.

Slowly, he took off the bangle, and set it on the bed-side table with care despite knowing he wouldn't be able to so much as scratch the materia even if he tried. His eyes lingered on the shiny red orb as he undid the braid, and when his hair was again the usual free-flowing waterfall of silver, he finally tore his eyes from the materia that held his assistant, and decided he had indulged in enough dawdling. It was time to have that shower he had promised himself.

O O O

The next day, Sephiroth summoned me as always. He greeted me politely and asked me if I wanted to work as his assistant today – as always. But there was a wall between us. A wall he had drawn up. A wall I couldn't see or touch, but it was there all the same.

He felt distant. I didn't like it.

It was for this very reason that I was running on a short fuse and well… All I will say in my defense is that it could have been a whole lot worse.

This is what happened…

I was right outside the VR training room, on my way to deliver a quick message to the General – when I heard one of the Turks regaling his Turk friends of what he had seen in the security feed the previous night.

" – And she never came out! Trust me, I kept a close eye on the feed after I saw her going in. It's a damn shame there's no video surveillance inside the General's rooms. Who knows what kind of freaky shit they got up to!" The red-haired man said.

While his bald, sun-glasses wearing friend was stoically silent, the curly brown-haired girl gasped in shock, "Reno! You can't say things like that!"

"What?" The man asked in affront. "I'm just saying what everyone is thinking. Sephiroth is all kinds of bizarre, the man barely even counts as human. It's not like anyone would be surprised if it came out he's using a summon as a sex doll. Why else would a summon that looks like that be going to his rooms for the night? They're screwing, trust me." He smirked. He actually had the gall to smirk, as he continued: "I'm actually a little jealous, 'cause let me tell you – "

He froze, having noticed the almost panicked expression on the female Turk's face, and then following her gaze he turned around. He twitched violently when he noticed me standing right there, bare inches from him. But he had enough self-control to halt the instinctive urge to take a step back.

I took a half a step forward, closing the distance between us so that I was lightly pressed against him. Gently, I stroked his jawline with my fingertips as I quietly asked him: "What are you jealous of, Reno?"

A flush rose to his face, his eyes wide like a deer in headlights and he stuttered, "I… That is… I didn't…"

"Did you have a little daydream of being in his place?" I kept my voice smooth and suggestive. Slowly, I brought my face closer to his, until we were breathing the same air, my lips almost grazing against his as I added: "Is this what you want?"

His head gave a slight, absent nod and he moved to capture my lips in the kiss I so obviously was offering him.

And then, the moment our mouths touched, the hand I had used to caress his face was around his throat and he was dangling from my outstretched arm, his toes barely touching the floor.

There was fire in my eyes, I knew, as I stared up at his panicked eyes. "Worthless piece of gutter trash!" I hissed. "You are not worthy of kissing my boots, much less having my positive attention." His friends both looked ready to attack me, but the hold I had on the red-head made it impossible for them to strike me without hurting him as well. So I paid them little mind, my attention all on the gutter-rat I had in my grasp. "You should think twice of what you say and where, lest someone stronger and meaner than you hear and take offense. After all, humans can be so very easy to – "

"Valkyria." My name practically echoed in the tense silence of the hallway. My expression turned from slightly manic to a pout and I released my hold on the Turk, letting him drop to the floor and on his ass. I let myself enjoy the sight of him desperately gasping for breath for a moment and then turned to the man approaching me in brisk walk. The man that was my summoner.

"General", I acknowledged him, keeping both my voice and face carefully indifferent.

He came to a halt next to me, took his time taking in the scene and then turned to me and said: "Every person you land in the infirmary means half an hour worth more of paperwork for me."

"And should they end up in the morgue instead?" I airily asked, and enjoyed the slight shudder that ran through the Turk at my feet.

His eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly. "What did this Turk do?"

"He was being… disrespectful", I replied. "His words were ill chosen, and needless to say, I was offended."

For a moment, it looked like he wanted to press the issue, to find out what exactly had happened, but then his shoulders dropped slightly and he said: "I suppose I should be grateful you didn't maim him."

I frowned up at him, "Have I ever given you reason to think me that blood-thirsty?"

"You have a temper", he said. "And I have yet to see you stand down voluntarily."

"You have always been quick to stop me", I pointed out. "You haven't exactly given me the chance to prove you wrong."

The corner of his mouth quirked up in smile. "Note that you didn't deny having a temper."

"Only when it comes to dealing with jackasses", I defended myself.

The red-haired Turk exclaimed in protest: "Hey!"

I shot an icy glare at him, "Silence, vermin."

The bald Turk decided it was time for him to step in and evenly said: "We will be filing a report to our superior for this incident."

"As you should", the General replied, and then turned to leave. "Valkyria", he said, and I obediently followed after him.

We were all the way to his office before he turned to me and said: "I expect better of you."

"I will not tolerate that kind of gross lack of respect toward me", I informed him. "Or toward you."

His green eyes bore into me. "And what exactly did that Turk say?"

"Something no one would ever even consider saying to your face", I replied. "Frankly, you are better off not knowing."

"And should I demand you tell me?" He smoothly asked.

I looked at him with obvious rebellion and said: "I would refuse."

He inclined his head. "Very well." He rounded his desk and sat down. "Should the Department of Administrative Research request you for questioning, I expect you to present yourself at their leisure and be on your best behavior."

That sounded far too condescending to my ear, so I looked at him with unveiled displeasure. I was tempted to ask what exactly was the reason behind this mood he had been in all day, but I swallowed the words and said instead: "Of course, General."

He nodded his head, signaling the matter closed. "Now, I believe you were looking for me?"

"Yes, I was asked to deliver a message to you from the President's office – "

O O O

Sephiroth blamed his lack of social skills for the way he had been practically ignoring his summon the whole day. The truth was, he didn't know how to behave around the woman that had seen him at his weakest and had cared for him. He had noticed he was slowly getting on her nerves and frankly, he hadn't been surprised when she had snapped. Of course, he would have expected the outburst to be against him and not someone else.

He was still unsure whether he had handled the situation correctly. Judging by her ire, he had not. He feared that she was regretting agreeing to becoming his assistant. That when he would summon her on Monday and ask her if she would like to help him with his work that day, the answer would, for the first time, be "No".

He was acutely aware of her when she strode into his office with a small pile of paperwork. So aware, in fact, that he completely neglected to listen to what his friend, Angeal, was telling him. He had never been this distracted by her presence before. In fact, she had mastered the art of being unobtrusive, despite the loud clicking of her heels.

He only snapped out of his distracted haze when she stopped and turned to his visitor and said: "I would be happy to serve as your apprentice's training partner in your absence."

Angeal blinked in surprise, hesitated, and then said: "I heard you sent Luxiere to the infirmary. I'm not sure the two of you should train together without supervision."

"I'm perfectly capable of making sure your young protégé stays in perfect health, I assure you", she replied a little sharply. Then she gave him a feral grin and added: "Unless, of course, he's an arrogant toerag. Then I make no promises."

He laughed nervously, "He is somewhat excitable and has a youthful sense of self-confidence, but I wouldn't say he's quite that bad."

"Then he'll be perfectly safe with me while you are away on your mission", she told him.

Angeal eyed her searchingly for a moment and then nodded his head in agreement. "Alright." He then turned to Sephiroth and asked: "If that is alright with you, Sephiroth?"

Judging by the look Valkyria was giving him, he really didn't have room to protest, so he said: "I have no objection." At least her making a commitment to working with Fair should guarantee her agreeing to continue working as his assistant. He just hoped he wouldn't be making apologies to his friend for his summon having landed the young SOLDIER 2nd into the infirmary after this was over.

O O O

It was a new day – Monday – and the air between me and my summoner was still heavy with tension. He had seemed oddly anxious when summoning me that morning, like he wasn't sure if he should. Or perhaps if I would want him to, I couldn't quite tell.

When the time for me to join Zack Fair in one of the SOLDIER training rooms arrived, I was relieved to leave the office. SOLDIER Fair was already in the training room when I arrived.

"Good morning", I cordially greeted him.

"Good morning, Ma'am!" He replied, giving me a rather informal salute accompanied by a cheerful grin.

I couldn't but return his smile with one of my own. "You may call me Valkyria, SOLDIER Fair."

"The name's Zach", he corrected, scratching the back of his neck with a hint of embarrassment. "None of that formal nonsense necessary."

I nodded, "Very well." Deciding to get right to business, I said: "I believe SOLDIER Hewley wished for you to practice using materia in his absence."

The man – if you could call him that, he was a teenager still, despite the rather impressive amount of muscle mass – scrunched up his nose in distaste. "Honestly, I'm not too into the whole casting magic thing."

I shot him a raised eyebrow, "Which is probably why he felt the need to specify materia as the main focus of these training sessions."

He pouted. I thought he looked remarkably like a puppy with those pitiful eyes of his. When I gave him no sign that I could be persuaded in this matter, he sighed, and asked: "So how are we doing this?"

"You are going to cast each of your materia at me until I ask you to switch to another one", I instructed. "This should both help you familiarize with each materia and stretch your MP reserves."

His face flushed and he averted his eyes in embarrassment as he muttered: "I'm not really all that good at the directing spells bit…"

And suddenly I had a better idea of why SOLDIER Hewley hadn't wanted Zach to train on his own. No doubt he was afraid the boy injure himself with a poorly directed spell. So I asked: "Do you have a cure materia?" He nodded. "Then we are starting with that one." I wasn't sure if I could absorb the magic of cure and reproduce it since no one had ever thought to try and cast it at me.

After almost an hour of work I found that yes, I could, in fact, absorb 'cure' as well any of the elemental magic cast at me, and while it was more difficult, I could also mold the energy I had into that of a cure spell. At the end of the training session I was brimming with energy – even having released all the excess – and confident in my skill to use my energy to heal people. Zach was sick enough of the spell that he swore to never get hurt ever so that he wouldn't ever have to cast the spell again. He was also begging that we would be working on something else in our next session. I chose not to tell him one way or another. His distress was rather entertaining, after all.

O O O

This has been my life for almost a month now, I mused as I watched the dark clouds above, the cloud cover that had quickly become a familiar constant.

Two weeks in the care of the darling Professor and then about a week and a half here, with the General.

My focus shifted from the outside view to the reflection on the window.

I still looked the same, exactly as I had been the night I died. Before I was hit by a car, that is.

I hadn't washed or brushed my hair since the night I died, but it wasn't filthy or any messier than usual. Just a controlled mess of curly black and purple hair. No greasiness, no tangles.

I hadn't reapplied my makeup since I had given it a small touch up at the bar about an hour before my death, and it still looked good. No, giving my face a closer look I noted it didn't really look like I had any makeup on. It was like the thick layer of mascara and rich red lipstick had become a part of me.

Frowning, I wondered if everything I had worn in death had become an irremovable part of me but a quick test of taking off my bronze pendant – in the shape of wings, my mother had given it to me – showed that it wasn't so. I wasn't about to start stripping at the office, so I decided to trust that my clothes were removable as well.

Leveling another searching look at my reflection I couldn't help but marvel at how strange it was that even though I was so clearly different inside, I still looked exactly the same as before.

But I wasn't the same.

I no longer needed sustenance. I needed someone to use the orb I was tied to just so that I could exist for a moment.

I had power, and I loved it.

It was strange, how I had never longed to feel stronger. Indeed, the thought hadn't even crossed my mind. But now that I was powerful, now that nothing could touch me if I didn't want it to… I liked it. It made me feel a new kind of confidence, and I had hardly been lacking in confidence before.

In fact, I had to acknowledge that I was bordering on arrogant now that I was like this, and I made a mental note to watch myself. After all, arrogance can be a very dangerous thing to have.

A smirk spread to my red lips as I decided that perhaps I shouldn't be too hard on myself. If dying once had taught me anything, it was that you never know when you might meet your end and I intended to enjoy my life until then.

O O O

It was Tuesday when I received the summons to a debriefing at the office of the Department of Administrative Research for the same day. When I went to inform the General, he nodded, but said nothing. It rubbed me the wrong way but I refused to let it show, instead meeting his lack of expression with a matching blankness.

When I got down to the Turks' floor at the appointed time, the lady at the front – not dressed like a Turk, but I would have bet quite a lot of money on her still being one of them – was quick to escort me through the open office area with several desks with a few Turks seated here and there. Reno was at one of the desks we walked past – facing away from us, though I was sure he was quite aware of my presence despite pretending the exact opposite – and I made no effort to resist the temptation to slide a gentle hand across one shoulder. To my immense pleasure, he shuddered. I couldn't have held back the self-satisfied smirk had I tried.

The lady led me to the large office at the back and announced: "The Summon Valkyria here to see you, boss." She stepped aside and I walked past her just as a gruff male voice replied: "Thank you." She left the room, closing the door behind her. My attention was wholly on the two men before me, however.

From the personnel files, I recognized the both of them, though I hadn't had the pleasure of meeting them until now, barring walking past them in the halls.

The man seated behind the desk I recognized as the Head of the Turks, Veld. He was a handsome man, with rich brown hair and a face that looked rugged. He was considerably older than any of the other Turks in the company and it only spoke of his skills. After all, the Turk line of work was practically a promise of an early grave. An old Turk was an exceptionally dangerous Turk. He didn't look very dangerous though – serious, yes, but not threatening – not until you saw his prosthetic gun arm.

The other one was Tseng, Veld's second in command. He looked young and almost pretty with his smooth features and lustrous black hair. He stood at Veld's right.

I felt flattered. Two of the very best the Turks had to offer, to question little old me.

"Miss Valkyria", Veld said, and gestured to one of the two armchairs before his desk, "Please, have a seat." I sat down and he continued: "As I'm sure you are aware, we have invited you here to hear your take on the incident that happened last Saturday, the confrontation between one of our Turks and yourself." I nodded, and he added: "How would you describe what happened?"

"Your Turk, Reno, said that the General barely counts as human. The words 'sex doll' were also used in reference to what uses I might be serving for my summoner", I calmly explained. "I took offense and I took action in hopes of… correcting your Turk's belief that it is alright for him to say whatever he likes about myself and the General."

"And how did you do that?" Veld asked. I had no doubt that he knew exactly how. There had been three of his Turks present, not to mention the camera surveillance recordings he had doubtlessly viewed.

"I wrapped my fingers around his throat and squeezed until he could breathe no more", I replied, tone more than a little blood-thirsty.

Veld nodded, and then asked: "And do you consider your actions a suitable response to his?"

"It would have been very easy – not to mention, tempting – to snap his neck. I showed far more restraint than can be asked of me", I told them.

His eyes flashed. "Can you not be asked to adhere to the same code of conduct as the rest of us employees here at Shinra?"

I smiled at him coldly, "I am not an employee of Shinra. I am a summon of the General. He is the only one that can even hope to give me instruction and expect it followed, and even then… I am no puppet."

"We cannot allow a danger to our people to roam free in our halls, I'm sure you understand", Veld said.

"Am I a danger?" I asked. "After all, your loudmouthed Turk is, perhaps a little a bruised, but otherwise perfectly fine. I'm sure he will have learned his lesson and keep his distance and hold his tongue in the future."

"And what of when the next unfortunate person offends you?" Tseng asked, taking part in the discussion for the first time. His tone was more accusing than Veld's. "What of when General Sephiroth isn't there to stop you?"

I huffed. "I'm not a mindless beast nor am I without mercy."

Veld was giving me an intent, considering look, I noted, and then said: "You are not a mindless beast, but a terror of another kind entirely: a woman scorned."

I laughed, genuinely amused and impressed by the words. "You are a perceptive man", I told him almost warmly. "The anger of a woman, it is a scary thing, is it not?"

He nodded, "Even that of one with no skill for battle. You… I wonder, does the General have any clue what he has gotten into?"

"I imagine not", I huffed and then suggested: "Perhaps you might offer him some advice, from one man to another? A man like you, I'm sure you are a well of knowledge on the matter."

"On women?" He asked, eyebrow raised. "What man is?" Then he asked: "Anything particular I should give him advice on?"

I narrowed my eyes at him slightly. He was fishing. "What goes on between myself and my summoner, remains between myself and my summoner. You wouldn't be trying to poke your nose into such private matters, would you?"

"I would not dare", he calmly replied. It was a lie, a poorly veiled one. He totally would, that was practically what he was paid for.

Still, I replied: "Excellent." Deciding I had had quite enough of this dancing around, I told them: "Now gentlemen, let's be frank. Clearly, my little scuffle with your Turk was just a convenient excuse to get me here. He's a twerp with a mouth that must be getting him in trouble all the time, there's probably even a pre-filled form for him to turn in, in cases like this. No, the reason I'm here, is because you have questions and you're hoping to wheedle some answers out of me." I gave them an almost challenging smile. "Ask your questions. Fortune favors the bold."

The corner of Veld's mouth twitched and there was appreciation in his eyes. It was strange. I would have expected the leader of Turks to have higher appreciation for subterfuge than for bluntness. Then again, perhaps it was the way I could see through their bullshit that garnered his regard.

"Frankly", Veld stressed the word, smiling slightly, "There is very little known about you. The General is hardly the most forthcoming of people, the Research Department is refusing to share at all. The Department of Administrative Research would appreciate you answering some questions."

I gave him a thoughtful look. "I don't much care about your Department, to tell truth." Then I smirked and gave him a blatant once over, "Now a charming fellow like yourself, you I would be happy to please."

There was a calculating look in his eyes, as he doubtlessly wondered whether I was feigning interest or if it was genuine, and if so, how he could use it to his advantage. I could see him reach a conclusion but what it was, I couldn't say.

Something suggestive flashed in his eyes, and though I had every confidence in my own appeal, I knew it wasn't out of true interest, at least not entirely. He was testing me, poking and prodding, trying to see where my strings were so that he could play me like a violin. Or a marionette.

"Answers would please me specifically", he replied, and when I gestured for him to go on, he said: "The General claims you are a summon created by Professor Hojo. Is that accurate?"

"The nasty little slime-ball would certainly like to think so, and I suppose it would not be entirely untrue for him to claim having created the summon Valkyria", I replied, tone carefully detached.

"And what were you, before?" The man pressed. It was funny that this man was the first one to question it. The Professor had not even once asked me a question about what I might remember from before, perfectly secure in his belief that my entire being had just mysteriously popped into existence because of whatever science he had performed.

"Why do you ask?"

"It is clear to me, from the little I have seen, that you have plenty more life experience than the mere weeks since your 'creation", Veld said. "It is not the kind of knowledge that can be created, definitely not just book knowledge. A true understanding of how people work."

"My, you have been keeping a close eye on me", I mused, amused and a little flattered.

His eyebrow rose as he gave me a pointed look, "Someone who can wipe the floor with a SOLDIER 2nd without breaking a sweat. That definitely warrants a closer look."

I gave him a flirtatious look, "I would be happy to give you as close a look as you would like, clothing optional."

"Perhaps later", he said, smirking. A girl could hope, but I wasn't holding my breath. "My question", he reminded.

"The Professor may have made me a summon", I revealed, "But he didn't make me. I was born, just like you, for a mother and a father, in a place far from here."

His eyes narrowed. "He trapped you."

I inclined my head thoughtfully. "Effectively, yes." He was looking at me with suspicion, and I made a stab in the dark: "I'm not bitter. In fact, I can't help but feel rather happy about the way things turned out. After all, it wasn't from my life that he tore me, but from my death." He looked surprised, and I elaborated: "I died. In a bizarre sort of way, he gave me a second chance at life. And while it is true, that I despise my freedom being restricted so, it could be worse. I cannot be harmed, I cannot be punished. I cannot be forced to do anything. And though it is true that I can only roam free as long as the General – or whoever is in possession of my materia – wills it, this existence isn't too bad."

"I see", he said, but I could see that he didn't really see it at all.

I told him: "It's funny, but I never felt as alive as I do now. It is a… heady feeling. Besides, I've always been a bit of a hedonist. As long as I'm having fun, everything's just dandy."

He looked at me blankly, and then his eyebrow rose. "You consider being the General's secretary 'fun'?"

"There's a certain satisfaction to be found in menial tasks", I replied. "Not to mention the little highlights here and there."

"General Sephiroth is known for going through secretaries like tissue paper", Tseng pointed out.

My eyes narrowed, "What's your point?"

"There have been reports of him being… hard on them", he carefully said. "The post is both highly sought after and notorious."

"I have been perfectly happy working with the General", I told him. "His expectations are high but hardly unachievable. His social skills may be lacking, but he is never deliberately inconsiderate. I very much doubt it has been due to any failing of his that his previous assistants have found themselves rejected."

"I see you hold him in high regard", Veld said, drawing my attention back from Tseng.

I huffed. "The man is not perfect, no man is. But I doubt I could be in better hands. It is why I insisted he become my summoner."

Now both of them looked at me in surprise. "You insisted?"

"Yes", I smiled, admittedly, quite smugly. "Surely you don't think the Professor just decided to hand me over to the General out of the goodness of his heart, because I assure you, he hasn't one. No, I gave that man exactly three options: To give my materia to the General, to leave the little orb to gather dust on a shelf somewhere or to keep having other people summon me for him and suffer the consequences, which I assure you, would have been costly."

Veld nodded in understanding and then said: "One question that has raised quite some discussion pertains to the nature of your abilities…"

Seeing no reason to try and hide it, I explained: "I can deflect or absorb all attacks direct toward me. The energy I have absorbed I can then use to retaliate in any way I see fit."

"In any way?" Veld pressed.

"Elemental attacks, physical augmentation, energy blasts, anything", I replied.

"No weaknesses?" Tseng asked, eyes sharp.

I gave him a sidelong look, "I certainly wouldn't tell you if I had any." And of course, I did. I could still get caught by surprise. I could still run out of energy if I wasted my reserves and no one helped me recharge by attacking me. I was a summon, I only existed out of my materia orb because Sephiroth desired it. Whether I could bleed and die, I didn't know yet. I wasn't in a hurry to test it either.

"Certainly not", Veld agreed, shooting an unreadable look at his subordinate.

"Any other pressing questions?" I asked him, tone telling them I was quickly growing bored with this little meeting, and that they should either figure out a way to keep me entertained or cut me loose.

"I am content for the moment", Veld said, and gave me an intent look. "I trust you won't mind if I come to you with new ones should I think of any?"

Leaning forward in my seat I told him: "You are always welcome to come to me with anything." Then I rose and with a more serious expression said: "We are finished here, I trust."

He nodded. "Thank you for coming. Tseng will escort you back to the elevators."

It wasn't like I could get lost, the floor plan was simple enough, but I could see why they might not want anyone wandering through their offices unescorted. So I inclined my head and followed the black-haired young man out. Reno wasn't at his desk anymore, I noted. Tseng left me at the elevators without a word, clearly as disinclined for platitudes as I was.

The General's door was open when I walked into the outer office and I took it as him wanting to see me upon my return.

His eyes rose to meet mine as soon as I entered. There was a moment of tense silence, and then he said: "I trust there were no problems."

"None", I airily replied.

He nodded. "Good."

Another moment of uncomfortable silence as we regarded each other across the room.

Eventually, I asked: "Was there anything else, General?"

"That was all", he replied and I turned and left, closing the door behind me. I allowed myself a huff of irritation, then shook my head in dismay and returned to my desk. I still had some work to do before I was to meet Zach for training.

Posted on January 6th, 2017.