Chapter 5: How One Feels
Heavy panting; save from such clunky vibration emitting itself from those crimson sandal soles, it proved to be the only sound the young Supreme Leader could hear, even as she felt herself continually running through the stretched corridor. Her legs were wobbly, her breath sounded hoarse, even her chocolate eyes spoke of panic. Though truthfully, it seemed all she could do to avoid kicking herself as she finally found herself reaching her destination; a pair of twin purple doors. It lit her eyes with relief, relief which consumed her even as she felt herself run through the door, stopping only momentarily to catch her breath after all this time. Upon catching her breath, the young blonde's view became occupied by two familiar looking people; a confused looking Herbie, while a confused looking Fanny stood beside him.
" Oh, Good morning Numbuh 65.3, Numbuh 86. I apologize for being so late, but my space shuttle arrived much later than anticipated", Rachel replied, her tone sincere yet very apologetic.
"I don't know why you still take that shuttle; thanks to them, you're already late by 4.5 minutes. But, it's your call Sir. Oh also, your paperwork is sitting on that desk over there", replied Herbie, or Numbuh 65.3 as he walked away, his snooty tone and delivery enough to transform the young blonde's face into one of annoyance.
"Thanks Herbie", she replied, her tone much less blunt and angry sounding as her red-headed friend observed.
"Let me guess; ye' want te' punish him to the Amish sector for a week, don't ye'", asked Fanny, her question resulting in a small chuckle from her blonde friend and superior.
"Good Morning to you too, Fanny", the young girl calmly replied as she made her way towards the desk her fellow operative had mentioned previously.
"Oh come on; ye' know you'd resist if ye' had the chance", the Irish girl replied in her usual cocky delivery, following her friend in pursuit.
"Maybe, though I'd probably hand the reins to you if I were given such a chance", she replied, though never once did her irritated looking friend respond in any manner. "Now, about my work schedule-"
"I wouldn't get yer' hopes up lass; most of it's paperwork", her Irish friend bluntly stated, making the young blonde sigh in aggravation, her eyes becoming moist with aggravation as well.
"Wonderful; even on slow workdays, the grip of paperwork never seems to allude me", Rachel said in a rather sarcastic manner, her tone almost blunt sounding as she took the check board into her hands, beginning to skim the items on the list carefully before a familiar item caught her eye.
"Oh, look at that; it appears that you have an assignment today", Rachel said, her chipper tone, enough to catch the attention of her aloof looking friend once more.
"What", Fanny screeched rather loudly as she checked the paper over, feeling her curiosity being shot the instant she read the task at hand; delivering paperwork to Hoagie Gilligan of Sector V. "Oh great!"
"Oh, don't be so negative; I'd be honoured just to be nominated for an assignment if I were in your shoes", the young girl calmly explained to her sour puss looking friend.
"I'd rather eat dog food than deliver paperwork te' that dorky slob! Of course, bein' Global Tactical Officer does have its advantages...", the Irish redhead replied, her devious smile enough to indicate the dark wheels turning in her head.
"Right...", replied the young Supreme leader, her face a clear sign of being weirded out by such an odd remark. Though reluctantly, she could only choose to ignore it as she returned her attention to her schedule sheet.
It only took so long after that before Fanny felt the silence that had overcome their conversation, yet where her fair young superior was currently occupied by material, she in stark contrast could only feel herself slipping into mild boredom even as she watched her friend overlook her assignments for today. Though only shortly after did a peculiar sight manage to raise her eyebrow inattention; shy and timid Bartie conversing with the loose and spunky Virginia. Though in truth, his timid demeanour was nothing new, especially if Virginia was involved. No, what caught her attention was their very discussion concerning the ZERO incident itself; they both seemed to stutter, even have trouble just opening their mouths to even speak a single word to one another. Truthfully, it was a sight that could only bring disgust to her already unsettling face. Yet could only bring mild concern to the face of her blonde friend as she began to eye her friend rather intently.
"Fanny, is something wrong", asked Rachel, her concerned tone unfortunately not enough to erase the darkened expression upon her friend's face.
"Don't ye' think it's disgustin'", asked the angered sounding Fanny, confusing her friend even further.
"Disgusting", she asked in deep confusion.
"How people are talkin' about the ZERO incident; talkin' about it like it's some BIG ordeal", the Irish redhead complained, punctuating the word big as she did so.
"That's because it was a big ordeal for some", the stern blonde replied.
"Oh really? And yet everyone's talkin' about it like they stole a couple of bucks from their mom's purse or somethin'! It's pathetic", she complained, her harsh tone angering her blonde friend with each passing second.
"Has it occurred to you that perhaps some people aren't quite as persistent to discuss their feelings on the matter", the young girl asked, her chocolate eyes now filled with a budding anger as she stared her friend down.
"Yeah, but don't ye' think that if everyone's bothered by it they should just say it and get it over with", she asked, her frustration now as clear in her voice as a bell's chime.
"Fanny I wish it were that simple myself, but you're just going to have to accept that some people aren't as willing to discuss their feelings", she tried to explain, her stern tone unfortunately not enough to diminish the stone faced look upon her friend's face.
"Bah, why would anyone be so stupid", she angrily retorted, annoyance still clear upon her face and even in her body language as she crossed her arms and turned away from her stern looking friend.
Yet in turning away, she could not bear witness to Rachel's expression; it was stern, yet clearly anger had settled upon her delicate features as she opened her mouth to speak.
"Not everyone can express their feelings in such a simple manner, you and I should that better than anyone", replied the young blonde, her tone stern and commanding.
"And if memory serves, you don't exactly have very good memories of today yourself", she sternly replied, unable to notice Fanny glaring in silent intent before turning to face her once more.
"Well, if I'm such a hypocrite, then you can probably lump yourself in with me as well", she replied rather harshly, watching her friend's face turn into one of shock as she did so.
"Excuse me", she asked in an angered tone.
Yet she could only watch as the Irish redhead walked away, leaving her answer less even as she took the files with her. Though, this itself was not merely enough to stop the stubborn young blonde as she rose from her chair, walking her friend in hot pursuit as she did so.
"Fanny, I order you to finish your thought", Rachel commanded as her friend began to make her way through the electronic door, watching her hesitant briefly before pressing her back up against the door.
"I'm not stupid ye' know", Fanny replied rather intently.
"What", Rachel asked, confusion clear in her voice.
"I saw that look in yer eye; those "sad puppy-dog" eyes were on ye' the minute ye' walked in here", she explained as her friend stood her ground and listened to her observations.
"Your point being", she asked rather sternly.
"Let's here it then; what's on your "pretty" little mind today", Fanny asked, her tone curious yet intent.
Yet such a simple question was enough to send the young blonde into shock, shock that seemed persistent even as she attempted to regain her stern composure.
"I...I...I don't think I can say...", she remarked, her nervous tone enough to deeply anger her redhead friend.
"Always actin' reserved...Just say how ye' feel dammit", the stubborn Irish girl screeched as she turned to face her nervous looking friend completely.
"Well, you see Fanny...I would love to discuss my feelings with you...But I'm afraid that some of them, even more personal ones...well...I fear that not even you could understand", she attempted to explain, her nervous demeanour clear within her chocolate eyes even as she spotted her friend beginning to tense up.
"Is that so...", she began, tensity, even controlled anger clear in her tone as she felt her body shake in frustration. "Fine then; wallow in yer' own self pity!"
Yet quickly did the door divide them before Rachel could even say anything. Instead, the only thing she could do was stare pathetically at the floor; her chocolate filled with regret as her mind remained on how she had handled such a situation. Yet little did she know that her stubborn Irish friend too felt brift with regret, though not as obvious considering the scowl which permeated her face.
"Honestly Rachel...I wish ye' wouldn't act like such a wallflower at times", she thought to herself, though clearly her tone was one of frustration, even as she made her way towards the docking bay.
End chap. 5
