Operation FIVE
Entry ONE
Snow Days Aren't Always Cold
UNION Military Base: Codename DESMOND HEIGHTS
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
January 2nd, 2307
Snow was a fragile element of nature; only single pieced to a never-ending puzzle. Even alone, if one piece is out of place, then the entire puzzle gets thrown off-kilter. Thus, a disturbance in the force is created.
Billy leans over his desk and props his elbows on the edge, his chin cupped in both palms as he stares out the window of his office. He wishes the heater would work in his department, but the repairs were still in progress for Finances and wouldn't reach his building until next week. For now he settles with a thick blanket that lays askew on his shoulders.
Outside, the snow falls neverendingly. Billy has to squint to see the midway point of the launch track, and even then the faded gray lines only blearily indicate where the road ends and begins. Down below, like black and orange specs, are the mechanics attempting to bring in the last of the Flags before the snow causes any damage to the delicate mechanisms under the steel armor.
For some reason, he chuckles to himself. It was his first time in Canada this year, but it already felt like a millennium had passed since he last set foot on Canadian soil. More than that, snow was considered something of a miracle anywhere below Las Vegas, which was where he'd been spending most of his time fine-tuning the Flags and rushing from base to base on call twenty-four seven. There was no rest; there was always work to be done.
But for now, it was silent. For some reason, the spectacle-wearing man found this fact slightly disturbing. Even the far-off hum of electric drills didn't soothe his soul, and so in his impatience he raises himself from his chair briskly and makes a beeline for the door.
The halls of Desmond Heights were always teeming with life – even the Finance Department had its share of humerous pranks now and again, even in the dead of winter. The Research Facility was no exception to the hive of activity taking place. As Billy enters the maze of cubicles, heads poked up from cubicles to yell something out to a colleague concerning schematics, and another set of researchers avidly whispering about remodeling this and that, while another walked briskly to his supervisor with plans to renovate the Flag hangers. They were all so young and bright eyed and bushy-tailed and very, very eager to please. Billy strides past them, his shoulders held high and, much to his surprise, turns heads every which way. His ponytail even manages to sway in an professional way, putting girls to shame left and right.
Billy exits the Finance's building and makes a quick stop at a Plexiglas map, then continues on his way. He silently curses why the hangers were so far away from the Research Facility, but in his mutterings he almost slams head-on into Graham while turning a corner.
The blond stumbles back uncharacteristically surprised, and for a second Billy catches an expression he's never seen Graham wear before. Just as quickly it is replaced with a stern, pinched-brow look that signals authority from every individual nearby. He speaks, low and urgent, "Watch where you walk next time, Katagiri."
There's a hint of embarrassment in his voice, Billy notices with a small smile; he can tell with the way the words were rushed from the ever-careful mouth of the Ace. Billy chuckles and shifts his clipboard into his other hand.
"Where are you heading to?"
"Finance."
This surprises Billy. He presses further, "How come? You're not usually the one to deal with those things. I am."
Graham looks taken aback and his eyes shift to look out the window. The blanket of white prevents anything beyond the hangar from being seen.
"I'm meeting someone there."
To this, Billy raises his eyebrows. "A woman?"
"Yes."
The brunette laughs, a throaty sounds coming out that even startles himself. "Really! Goodluck in the hunt, then."
Graham gives Billy a long, long stare. Then, one laughs and the other follows. Warmth pools in both their abdomens.
"Thanks for the gratitude, I suppose. See you tonight at the briefing." Graham strides smoothly around Billy, giving a short salute with a wink as he passes. Billy can't help but snort.
"Some dedicated pilot he is."
Outside, the snow falls endlessly. Billy pauses in thought, watching Graham stride away and into the beehive cubicles in search of his mystery woman. Indeed, a disturbance in the force has been created.
To see what it creates is half the fun, Billy thinks to himself.