“Not bad for her first flight, huh?” Jess finally said.
Bain relaxed into his seat, and exhaled. “Indeed.” He commented. “Been a very educational day.”
**
Dev was content to stick to Jess’s side as they all entered a wide, low room with comfortable looking chairs. She took a seat next to Jess as she listened to the rest of them chatter, glad to be able to participate in what was evidently a positive experience.
The other agents and techs ignored her. That was all right, from her perspective. She was satisfied that Jess and the man with the gun were happy with her and she was looking forward to the moment when she could go and get in the wet thing and maybe have a chance to read a page or two of her book.
She wondered if she could find Doctor Dan, and ask him what he thought about the mission. She knew a lot of the programming she’d been given was his, and she was curious if it had turned out as he’d expected.
“Dev?”
Dev looked up. “Yes?” She reached up in reflex and took the glass she was being handed, her eyes darting to Jess’s face in question. “Thank you.”
“You ever had booze?” Jess inquired as she watched her sip at the contents.
Dev blinked and moved the glass away. The drink was a very strange mixture of fruits and something that fizzed and something else that burned as she swallowed. “If that’s what this is, then definitely not.”
Jess chuckled.
“So, how far are you going to take this?” Sandy asked, indicating Dev. “Obviously you’re sucking up to Bain but for how long?”
“Are you really that much of an asshole?” Jess responded.
“Takes one to know one.” Sandy shrugged.
“Then I’m going to take this all the way.” Jess steadily met her gaze. “Dev can go as far as she’s able in this place as far as I’m concerned.” She leaned back in her chair and extended her long legs out. “And at least I’m not sucking up to someone who got his brains blown out for being a moron like you were.”
“Hey c’mon.” Jason gave them both a look. “We just had a successful mission here. Let’s not act like jerks.”
“That was Bricker’s idea!” Mike pointed at Dev.
“She.” Jess corrected him. “Was Bricker’s idea. But no one here can say why.” She took a swallow of her drink. “Bain’s reason for wanting her here might be a whole other thing.”
“Bricker just didn’t buy into your bullshit mystique.” Sandy was unrepentant. “At least I don’t pretend to like you, Jess, or kiss your ass for any reason unlike everyone else apparently.”
Dev was listening, her head swiveling to regard each speaker. At this last, she turned and looked at Jess, then scanning down her long form to her seat, then back up to her face. Her brow creased in confusion. “You have a lot of unusual customs.” She commented mildly. “Programming definitely didn’t cover that one.”
Jess started laughing, and Jason did too, and after a long, frozen moment the rest of them reluctantly started to chuckle.
“Shit, it.. “ Mike caught Jess’s sharp eye. “She’s got a sense of fucking humor. “ He grudgingly conceded.
“Look.” Jess said. “She’s a one off. Just go with the program.” She leaned her arm on the chair arm next to Dev’s. “So much shit’s going down right now who knows how it’s all going to end up. “
“One off?” Mike asked warily.
“I’m an experimental set.” Dev spoke directly to him. “I don’t have crèche mates.”
All of the agents in the group seemed to relax just a little.
“There isn’t a dozen of her back there waiting to take over.” Jess clarified. “So chill out. Go yell at Bain if you want to for her being here. It’s not her fault.”
Dev took a drink from her glass. She was not at all sure if she liked it, but everyone else seemed to so she was willing to give it a try.
It was very strange and a little difficult being here with all the other people.
The outer door opened and Stephen Bock came in. He stopped to grab a drink from the tray that had been set up near the grouping of chairs they were in, and sat down in an empty one. “So.” He looked at them. “You all done sniping at Jess and being rude to her tech?”
“Fuck you Stephen.” Sandy said.
‘You want to be put on report for that?” Stephen asked. “I had to put up with your attitude when I was an agent, Sandra. I don’t have to now.”
“You don’t have the balls.”
“I do.” Stephen clicked his commset. “Please send a recorder down here from ops.” He said. “I have a disciplinary action to execute.”
Sandy stared at him. “You bastard.”
“Guess it’s different now that your sugar daddy got his head blown off, huh?” Jason produced a brief smile. “We all know that wasn’t his ass you were kissing.”
“You all can go to hell.” Sandy got up, and her partner Todd did too. He hadn’t said a word the entire time they’d been in the room, and followed her in equal silence as she left the lounge.
“We’re going to go get cleaned up.” Mike also stood. “C’mon Nappy.” He glanced at Jess. “Thanks, Jess. All bullshit aside.” He extended his big, muscled hand. “You put it out there for us.”
Jess returned the clasp, then released it. “Anytime.”
“Anyway.” Stephen looked tired. He looked over at Jess, who was sitting next to him. “Bain wants to see you in a bout an hour.” He said. “We’ve gotten some interesting intelligence he want to review with you.”
Jess nodded. “I’m going to go grab some grub then.” She stood up. “Interested, Dev?”
“Yes.” Dev responded immediately. “That would be nice.” She put her cup down on the tray and stepped aside, as Jess came around her chair and headed for the door.
“We’ll go too.” Jason stood up. “Been a long time since breakfast. Stephen? You up for chow? Been a damn long day.”
They walked together through the hallways towards the dining hall, as Stephen came along with them. Dev stuck close to Jess, but then, out of the corner of her eye she saw Doctor Dan come out of a doorway and spot her.
His eyes lit up. He crossed the hallway and intercepted them, the group slowing as he approached and watching him warily. “Congratulations.” He nodded at them, then turned to Dev. “Excuse us.”
The group moved on, leaving them behind. Dev did however, catch Jess looking back at her, the tall woman’s eyebrows slightly lifted. “I’ll be right there.” She said, with a little half wave.
Jess waved back, and pointed at the dining hall then ducked inside.
Dev turned back around. “Hello, Doctor Dan.”
“Hello, Dev.” Doctor Dan leaned forward and gave her a hug. “I just wanted to take a minute to congratulate you for your work today.”
Dev smiled. “It was difficult.”
“I just bet it was.” Doctor Dan chuckled. “I saw the recorder. You did an amazing job for your first flight.” He put both hands on her shoulders. “Really good, Dev. Everyone thinks so.”
Dev glanced at the now dissappeeard group. “I don’t’ think everyone does, Doctor Dan, but the person I was the pilot for was very pleased with me, I believe.”
Doctor Dan’s gray eyes warmed as he looked at her. “Jess is very pleased with you.” He said. “And she’s got a good reason to be. You achieved a very significant thing together.” He glanced casually around, but they were alone in the hall. “I’ll be going back to the crèche tomorrow, Dev.”
“I won’t be?” Dev felt a little, excited thump in her chest.
“No, you’re staying here.” He squeezed her shoulders. “Do your best.” He told her. “You can trust Jess Drake, and you can trust Alex Bain.”