That made her feel better. Jess stretched again, and then pulled the covers aside and got up, passing through her workspace as the lights reacted to her presence and brightened. She keyed the dispenser to provide some kack and touched the ops console com, nodding a little as the overhead speaker started to echo softly with the current ops chatter.
Nothing sounded out of place. Unlike the previous day, she could only hear standard reports, and the shipcom to two carriers that were on patrol.
Taking no chances. Especially since they had the induction tonight, and that meant a lot of dignitaries and newcomers around. Her com chimed, and she sat down, and keyed it. “Drake.”
“Jess, it’s Stephen.” Bock answered. “Listen, I know you really don’t want to hear me bugging you again about that speech but I really wish..”
“Okay.” Jess propped her chin on her fist. “I’ll do it.”
“Sorry, got a call. Anyway I really wi... wait. What?” Stephen said. “What did you just say?”
“I said I’ll do it.” Jess said. “Anything to keep you off my back.”
Stephen was silent for a minute. “Really?”
“Really.” Jess said. “Anyway, Dev thinks I”m so nice I should greet all the newbies so they feel at home.”
Another long moment of silence. “What??” Stephen repeated, more loudly and disbelievingly.
Jess heard a soft tap on her outer door. “Gotta go.” She cut the line off and went to the door, checking the sensor, a little surprised to see it was her pilot. She palmed it open. “Hey there.”
“Hello.” Dev had her arms full. “If you thought the mess was crazy last night you should see it this morning. I grabbed what I could. Want some?”
Jess smiled, and stepped back. “Absolutely. C’mon in.” She clapped Dev on the back as she followed her over to her workspace. “Can’t think of a better way to start the morning.”
Dev looked up from putting down her burden, cocking her head slightly as she regarded Jess with a faintly questioning look.
The agent winked at her, and grinned. “It’s gonna be an interesting day.”
Part 8
Dev regarded her reflection in the mirror, reaching up to adjust her uniform collar a little. She’d found this new one in her quarters and Jess had told her it was what she was to wear to the induction and then, to the party afterward.
It was more formal looking, and less comfortable. The fabric was heavier, and thicker and it had a lot of silver threads on it making sedate designs along the front of the jacket. She straightened up a little, pulling the sleeves a bit straighter and moving her head as the high collar tickled her neck.
The uniform was a sleeveless jumpsuit and this jacket that fit over it, and though it wasn’t entirely easy to move around in it, she sort of liked it. She studied her pale hair, caught back in a knot at the back of her head and nodded in satisfaction.
Her insignia were on the collar, and she touched it. There was also a metal bar on her chest that had her name engraved on it, a glitter of silver and black, the NM-DEV-1 crisp and clear.
Interesting. She’d never been labeled with her designation like that before. But natural born here did it. Maybe to point out how individual they really were?
She went over and sat down to pull her boots on. This pair were mid height, and shinier than her regular ones, and she fastened them as the inner door slid open.
“Ah.” Jess entered, fastening the collar on her own uniform. “I see you’re all set.”
“Yes.” Dev stood up. “That looks really nice on you.” She complimented Jess.
Jess stopped in mid step. “What?” She looked down at herself. “This?”
Dev took a step back and regarded her. “Well, that is what you are wearing.” She said. “So yes, that.” She watched the other woman’s eyes open wider, unsure really of why. The uniform outlined Jess’s tall body really well, and her dark hair was loose, framing her face. “Why is my saying that so surprising to you? Is it incorrect?”
Jess’s face wrinkled up in sort of a confused grin. “No, it’s... um.” She let her hands drop. “People don’t say stuff like that to me.” She said. “Usually.” She added in a low mutter.
It was Dev’s turn to be confused. “Why not?” She asked. “You’re very attractive. Why wouldn’t people tell you that?” She cocked her head to one side as she watched Jess blush. “In the creche, it was always okay to tell others compliments of that kind.”
“Um.” Jess reached up and rubbed her face. “Thank you.” She said. “It’s fine. Sorry I’m acting like a nitwit. It’s been a long time since.. “ She paused. “Anyway, if you’re ready, let’s go. We’ll meet the rest of the ops group near the big lift.”
“I’m ready.” Dev said. “Lead on.”
Jess turned and complied. They walked together through her quarters, and out into the hallway, which was now, thankfully, quiet and empty. “Everyone’s up there.” Jess commented. “We’re always the last ones to go.”
“Why?”
“Hm.” Jess studied the ground as they walked over it. “Tradition, mostly I guess. Everyone goes up in order of their... hm. Well, their ultimate importance I guess to Interforce.”
“I see.”
“So either you can figure we’re the most or least important.” Jess went on, in a droll tone. She scanned through out of the ops area and they were in the main halls, the sound of their boots echoing softly in the silence. “I like to flatter myself in thinking the latter.”
Dev was pretty sure that was the real truth anyway. She followed Jess as they turned the corner and then crossed the big rotunda and then entered a long hall. Ahead, she could hear low voices, and as they reached the curve in the hall and went through it, she saw a group of people standing next to one of the big lifts.
It was the other agents and techs, she realized as they got closer. They were standing together and as they approached, the voices stilled. Everyone was dressed like she and Jess were, and there were, she counted, sixteen of them including them both.
“About time.” Sandy snarked at Jess. “You stop to blow Bain or something?”
Jess ignored her. “We ready to go up?” She asked Jason. “Someone check in?”
“Almost.” Jason said. “They said give it five. Trying to get everyone seated.”
A moment later, the light on one side of the lift went on, bathing them in a gentle green glow. “Here we go.” Jason said. “Brent, hit the lock, wouldja?”
Brent, standing next to the doors, complied. He stepped back as the big portals opened, revealing a square, utilitarian gray box.
Everyone fell silent. It was awkward, and uncomfortable, and Dev felt like taking a step back from the crowd as they shifted a little. She could sense anger around her, and quite a few of the eyes watching Jess weren’t friendly. It was hard to tell though, what exactly the problem was.
After all, Jess was just standing there next to her, with no particular expression on her face, her hands clasped behind her back. She glanced at Dev, a look of droll amusement appearing as she scanned the crowd, and rolled her eyes a little.
Interesting, but extremely confusing.
Then Jason stepped back and to one side and cocked his head at Jess. “Go on, number one.” He said, in an almost anticlimactic way, waving her forward with a casual motion “Clear a path, people.”
The discomfort increased, but reluctantly, people moved aside as Jess started forward, some with resigned expressions, some with approving ones, some just angry.
“C’mon.” Jess indicated that Dev was to follow.
Dev didn’t need to be asked more than once. She stuck to Jess’s back as they made their way through the small crowd, and followed her into the lift, their boots making a faintly hollow ring as they crossed the metal floor.