The Social Welfare Agency, Rome, Italy [Sunday morning]
Triela sat at the table in the center of the room she shared with Claes. She didn't have anything to occupy her hands with since all of her stuff was packed in anticipation of returning to Fandom.
Even though she had no indication that she'd be making said return.
Claes turned the page in whatever book she was reading today and glanced up. "You're getting very good at hiding tension," she announced. Triela, of course, scowled, which made Claes laugh softly. "But not your displeasure." After another moment Claes marked her page and set her book down. "Is it really that nice, being away from us all the time?"
With a shrug Triela looked over at her roommate. "Not being away so much as... being elsewhere. I miss you, of course, and Rico and Henrietta and Angelica, but things are so different there. Never... routine."
Another laugh. "You love routine," Claes countered. Then, slowly, smiled. "Or you did. Maybe you're growing up."
Triela rolled her eyes. "We don't grow up." She drew breath to add something else when a firm knock sounded at the door, the sound was immediately followed by the door opening and Hilshire, expressionless as usual, striding in.
He took a moment to survey the room, then nodded. "Good, you're packed." Triela worked hard at controlling her expression, keeping herself calm in the face of an effective announcement that she was returning to Fandom.
Hilshire gave her a moment to compose herself before setting a metal briefcase on the table. "There are additional protocols you will have to follow." He didn't bother adding 'for safety' since they both knew that wasn't what the Agency was worried about. The case was opened and he turned it so that she could see inside it. "You will take a blood sample every evening. It will accompany your daily reports. Additionally, you will find three people with whom you have regular contact on the island and have them provide weekly reports on your behavior. You will not change your routine: participate in all of the activities which you did last semester, with one exception. In the event of any additional invasions, you will participate aggressively. Run as many operations as you can in as short a time span as is possible. Understood?" He paused, eyes narrowing, waiting for a response.
And even though he phrased it carefully, Triela understood what he meant. What he really meant. The Agency didn't want another liability like Angelica in the field. Having some sort of system failure during a mission could have catastrophic results. Far better to risk such failures in situations which couldn't affect the Agency's operations. Which meant they were sending her back to Fandom because it was dangerous, and that meant they could still get data about her effectiveness in combat situations.
Typical Agency logic, and the fact was that she couldn't fault it. Except that it potentially put her friends at risk.
"I understand," she answered with a firm nod.
Hilshire's expression changed. "Good." It wasn't like he would apologize, or say he wished things could be different, but... Triela understood what he meant. What he really meant. Hilshire walked back toward the door, turning at the last second to look over his shoulder at his charge. "Your portal is scheduled in fifteen minutes. Be ready to go."
Triela nodded. "Yes, sir." It wasn't like she could say thank you, or offer him a smile, but... Hilshire understood what she meant.
[Shut up! I bet I'm not the latest to post something that should have happened, like, last week!]
Even though she had no indication that she'd be making said return.
Claes turned the page in whatever book she was reading today and glanced up. "You're getting very good at hiding tension," she announced. Triela, of course, scowled, which made Claes laugh softly. "But not your displeasure." After another moment Claes marked her page and set her book down. "Is it really that nice, being away from us all the time?"
With a shrug Triela looked over at her roommate. "Not being away so much as... being elsewhere. I miss you, of course, and Rico and Henrietta and Angelica, but things are so different there. Never... routine."
Another laugh. "You love routine," Claes countered. Then, slowly, smiled. "Or you did. Maybe you're growing up."
Triela rolled her eyes. "We don't grow up." She drew breath to add something else when a firm knock sounded at the door, the sound was immediately followed by the door opening and Hilshire, expressionless as usual, striding in.
He took a moment to survey the room, then nodded. "Good, you're packed." Triela worked hard at controlling her expression, keeping herself calm in the face of an effective announcement that she was returning to Fandom.
Hilshire gave her a moment to compose herself before setting a metal briefcase on the table. "There are additional protocols you will have to follow." He didn't bother adding 'for safety' since they both knew that wasn't what the Agency was worried about. The case was opened and he turned it so that she could see inside it. "You will take a blood sample every evening. It will accompany your daily reports. Additionally, you will find three people with whom you have regular contact on the island and have them provide weekly reports on your behavior. You will not change your routine: participate in all of the activities which you did last semester, with one exception. In the event of any additional invasions, you will participate aggressively. Run as many operations as you can in as short a time span as is possible. Understood?" He paused, eyes narrowing, waiting for a response.
And even though he phrased it carefully, Triela understood what he meant. What he really meant. The Agency didn't want another liability like Angelica in the field. Having some sort of system failure during a mission could have catastrophic results. Far better to risk such failures in situations which couldn't affect the Agency's operations. Which meant they were sending her back to Fandom because it was dangerous, and that meant they could still get data about her effectiveness in combat situations.
Typical Agency logic, and the fact was that she couldn't fault it. Except that it potentially put her friends at risk.
"I understand," she answered with a firm nod.
Hilshire's expression changed. "Good." It wasn't like he would apologize, or say he wished things could be different, but... Triela understood what he meant. What he really meant. Hilshire walked back toward the door, turning at the last second to look over his shoulder at his charge. "Your portal is scheduled in fifteen minutes. Be ready to go."
Triela nodded. "Yes, sir." It wasn't like she could say thank you, or offer him a smile, but... Hilshire understood what she meant.
[Shut up! I bet I'm not the latest to post something that should have happened, like, last week!]