*Knock-knock-knock!*

Glancing up from her documents, Buzzard was surprised. Only when her eyes were drawn to the time did they dawn in instant recognition. Adjusting her glasses and brushing down the creases on her black coat in haste, Buzzard swiftly opened the door.

Poking her head out, Buzzard was greeted by Enterprise. The Grey Ghost donned a friendly smirk at her arrival. "Been busy? I was wondering where you were when I arrived."

Buzzard pinched her nose in embarrassment. "Apologies, I had quite the paperwork to sort through. I can't believe I lost track of time. I had meant to be down at the docks to welcome you in."

"It's alright," Enterprise assured. "We intended to have our discussion take place in your office anyways. And since I'm here…"

But rather than step aside, Buzzard obstructed her entry with a hand. "Hold on. I'd like to take care of some arrangements first. Excuse me for a moment." And without waiting for a response, the door was slammed shut on her face.

Enterprise looked at the door in dumbfounded silence. Only brown unmoving oak sat in her view, depriving her of the world within Buzzard's office. But while she was left without a glimpse inside, it was not long until her ears picked up activity within.

Faint sounds of scuffling paper… Grinding of drawers… More grinding of drawers and cabinets… Furniture scraping over carpet… Muted wiping of a cleaning rag… A vacuum cleaner?

Silently, Enterprise waited by the door, content to stand by outside. As much as it intrigued her, she was almost… concerned with what was going on inside. All this just for her visit.

Finally, after several minutes the noises ceased. Silenced reigned until Enterprise was surprised by the door handle swinging to life. In the gap, Buzzard's face reappeared.

"Okay, all done. Had to sort away and organize everything for the visit."

Enterprise was flabbergasted. "I… You didn't have to go that far for me."

"Nonsense! As a host, I should give my all in welcoming my guest, even if I had already cleaned my office for the third time today!"

The Eagle Union carrier sagged her shoulders. "Understandable. Over at Eagle Union, I'd think about doing the same, to ensure I make and maintain a good impression. (...Hold on, third time today?!)"

Composing herself, Enterprise readied to be allowed entry but again found her passage denied by Buzzard. "Er, is something the matter?"

Buzzard narrowed her eyes toward Enterprise. Or more accurately, to what rested on her shoulder. Enterprise followed her gaze to find that they rested on Grim Reaper, nestled docilely.

"No pets please. I'd rather not have to deal with them ruining my office."

Enterprise turned serious. "Grim is my close companion. He won't be a problem."

Buzzard's eyes remained sharp and unconvinced. "He'll leave behind feathers."

"He's already past his molting season," Enterprise reassured.

But Buzzard remained persistent. "Will he behave himself? Not interrupt us with his calls?"

"He is well-behaved and disciplined. He'll be still as a statue if necessary."

"Is he toilet-trained?"

The cat nearly caught Enterprise's tongue. "Er, y-yes! As I've said, Grim is well-behaved. I promise he won't make a mess, let alone be a nuisance. Grim is special, I assure you! He knows to listen, to read the room, he's even my personal chauffeur!"

Now it was Buzzard's turn to look quizzically. Her pursed lips tightened in deliberation before she finally relented with a shrug. With her stepping aside, Enterprise walked in.

Entering, the carrier found herself in a pristine world, of mirror-like glass, shining furniture, a spotless floor, and with a grand window through which the blinding sun gleamed. The world's technologies found themselves home here, Buzzard's wide desk featuring a wide but almost sliver-thin monitor that belied its sophisticated prowess and a small but pronounced paperweight-like device from which today had been quantified and projected as a hologram; a broad flatscreen was mounted on the wall, the lack of outward controls hinting to its intricateness; even the drawers and cabinets, upon closer inspection, were touched by futuristic influences, possessing a certain subtlety in their appearances and gleaming aluminum frames.

But what took Enterprise back was how homely and relatable the office was. Deep down, it was not dissimilar from those from home, reminding her of the Commander's office.

Presented with a seat, Enterprise's visitation as a guest was now complete. Its luxurious comfort only complemented her expectations she had upon entering. By the time she looked back, Buzzard had already occupied the seat across from her.

"Now then. To what pleasure do I owe in welcoming the Eagle Union representative?"

The carrier cleared her throat. "To begin, I would-"

A faint clunk. Both heads turned upward, the vague direction of the source. The droning of air conditioning, which Enterprise had not consciously acknowledged, had ceased. Already the atmosphere was becoming stifle.

"Oh what is it now?" Buzzard grumbled, nudging her frames in annoyance. Prodding her desk, the surface awoke with light, runes, and information. Glossing over it with familiarity, Buzzard's nose only wrinkled further.

"An obstruction in the ventilation? What on earth…" Rising from her seat, Buzzard sighed. "My apologies."

"It's fine," Enterprise reassured, rising up to meet her peer. "Things happen. If you'd like, we can postpone this another time-"

"Please. There is no better time than now for your visit," insisted the bespectacled ship. "Besides, you went through all the trouble coming here. Perhaps, if you must wait then we can head down to the common area where we-"

Reaching the door, Buzzard nudged the handle. But to her surprise, she found it uncharacteristically stiff. She wiggled it again, but her confusion only grew when the results repeated. She quickly scanned for a lock but found none. The door handle was simply stuck.

"That's… ugh." Turning away, Buzzard stomped back to her desk. "I must find out what is going on. First the anomaly in the vents, now a malfunctioning door…"

Enterprise wasn't sure what to make of it herself but couldn't draw any conclusions when her eyes darted to the side. On her shoulder, Grim Reaper had perked up. Eyes no longer ahead in idleness, his gaze turned razor-sharp; the look of utmost alert.

A small bead of sweat trickled down as she recognized the sign of omen.

Before she could say anything, Enterprise picked up more unusual sounds. Faint, muffled… but quickly growing in crescendo. Not a growl, but a low… gurgling? Something swirling…

She looked up in shock but it was too late. From the vent covers - the origin of the first suspicious sign - a deluge of water streamed through. It swiftly gathered in strength, a current throttling through the slits like an open floodgate.

"W-what the?! Where's this water come from?!"

Buzzard heaved a bitter sigh. To the Grey Ghost's astonishment, the sight did not faze her in the slightest. "Let me guess… Vulture's latest ambitious handiwork."

"The room's going to be filled!"

Buzzard sighed again as she calmly stood up from her seat, finding herself already wading through the water already past her knees staining her stockings. 'Vulture you little twerp of a younger sister… You no doubt had something like this in the making for quite some time. With the disturbance in the ventilation and my door being stuck, you had certainly picked the best time to pull this prank of yours. Again.

'Of course, try as you like, there is certainly one avenue you would not have considered. You may have blocked the exit but have you blocked all potential exits?'

Trudging through the water steadily climbing higher and higher, Buzzard made her way to the windows. 'But unfortunately, you're not like your dear elder sister. Were I in your shoes, I would most definitely have anticipated my victim to try the windows! Everybody who had the mind to study such situations would know this. Mine may be of solid composite alloy glass capable of withstanding the greatest of pressures but not the latches! I'll just open them and-'

She yanked the lever but found herself only pulling hard on her own arm. Testing the latch again, Buzzard quickly realized that it too was stuck. Or at least, not by mechanical misfortune, as by leaning close she finally noticed the faint trace of rubber cement clogged in the gears. Traces of it all along the window sill, imperceptible enough that she must had overlooked it when deep-cleaning her office.

The carrier fumed, imagining the sound of laughter in her head. '... Well played, Vulture. Well played…'

The water level swelled, turning the office into a whirlpool of paper, debris, and everything within the room that was not anchored from the flood. Despite her efforts, Enterprise floundered in the waves while her pet circled the air above the surface though from his urgent squawking it was becoming clear that he was only delaying the inevitable.

"Buzzard!"

The carrier in question only resigned herself to the outcome. She returned to her desk, not caring that it too was now beginning to be lifted off its foundations as it joined the swimming mess.

"Just give a minute…"

*Bzzz! Bzzz!*

Out by the tranquil gardens, Kestrel was startled to hear her phone's ringing. Fishing out her device, she picked up the call.

"Hello?"

"Rbrbrbrbrbrbr." ("Kestrel, it's me.")

She looked at her phone in surprise. "Buzzard?!"

"Brbrbrbrbrbrbrbrbrbrbrbrbrbrb." ("I need your help. Locked in my office. Another one of Vulture's pranks.")

"U-understood! I'll be there."

"Rbrbrbrb." ("Thanks.")

Kestrel barely returned her phone to her pocket before she took off. Urgency gave her feet wings as it manifested in the form of her rigging. Right as soon as it materialized, a Tomcat was hastily launched. It shot forward, afterburners on max as it rocketed towards the main building. Through its eyes, the carrier zeroed in on Buzzard's office on the upper level of the headquarters, the view from the open window coming into startling clarity. Her sister's room, like one of many, turned into a bizarre aquarium as she caught sight of Buzzard and her guest suspended in water, swimming alongside what used to be her orderly workplace.

The Tomcat zipped overhead before it slammed onto its airbrakes, circling back around. Kestrel already had a plan and she needed to line it all up.

The black bird soon finished its loop, returning to the same perspective it had when arriving. Now on a more controlled approach, Kestrel took aim.

Through its viewpoint, she captured her sister and Enterprise on her HUD, their legitimacy recognized in neon-green. But what was not were the surroundings, regarded as unvalid targets to her missiles. Though she could release one unguided, she had a more precise option.

As the Tomcat neared the office window, a burst of light ripped from the side of the fuselage. A spray of hot tracers denoted the point of aim, splattering on the window frame. Though the machine gun was a primitive implement in a world defined by smart munitions, it proved more than enough to dislodge the structure. Now deprived of its solid foundations and coerced by the pressure of water inside, the windows burst out and with it so did Buzzard and Enterprise's imprisonment.

By the time Kestrel arrived at the scene, wrenching open the door to her sister's office, she was nearly swamped by the remaining flood-water as it deposited Enterprise and her soaked pet eagle right out of the door. Her black coat drenched and her white blouse stained, her blank expression was shared by her pet in light of their messy predicament as neither paid the Silver Star Idol a mind. With one person (and bird) accounted for, Kestrel hurried inside.

"Buzzard! Are you okay?"

Dripping from head to toe, her hair a tangled mess and her clothes sopping wet, Buzzard was already at work tidying her room back together. With everything strewn about, her efforts proved more symbolic as everything had become drenched. Documents, once in regimented stacks, had become soaked and unrecognizable; the carpet and furniture, once warm and groomed, had been ruined by stains; high-tech amenities now had their lives called into question. Nonetheless, she was determined to put things together without uttering a word or even noticing her sister.

Kestrel took a tentative step forward. "Um, Buzzard?"

"Do you know where our dear sister Vulture is?" her sister asked without even sparing her a greeting.

Kestrel looked aside nervously. "Um… she might be… by the gymnasium last I checked."

"I see." Even in a bright sunny day her tone was ice-cold, sending shivers down Kestrel's spine. She gulped in anticipation for what would happen next.

Later…

A dark room. The only light came from one that glared like a flare by the table. Angled low, a singular person was presented in the spotlight. But this was no theater in which the actor wished to be on stage.

Not that Vulture minded.

From the shadows, her interrogator continued. "Did I hear that right?"

"What do ya mean by that?" the tomboy carrier replied, still feigning ignorance.

"The drowning part, Vulture. Do you accept responsibility for that incident?"

She was unable to hold back her smirk. "Yeah."

"So it was another one of your wild-brained pranks, was it?" her captor hissed.

"Nah it was just water," the carrier joked before bursting out laughing. Laughter filled the air but she was alone in her comedy.

But it was worth it.

Sitting across from her, cast in shadow, Buzzard could only glare in incensed silence. She was not amused.

"You are so dead, Vulture…"

AUTHOR'S NOTES:

HistoricHippos:

Yet another Max0r reference, this time from the Grun Squadron part in his "Incorrect Summary of Ace Combat Zero".