Harper wakes to the light from the window, slithering through the cracks in the curtain. She sits up on the side of the bed, stretching her arms above her head. She checks the small clock on her bed table, which says "06:13".
"I'm up early today", she says to herself as she smiles. It turns into a yawn instead. She gets up. And puts on the clothes laying beside her bed in an unorganised pile. about 15 minutes later Harper is clothed and her hair quickly taken care of, having unwinded the worst of the mess it had been only a few minutes ago. she looks around her room. Empty, just like she knew Rachael's was.
Harper moved to the door. It was going to be another day of trying to pry the keys from Leon, so she had to first get Rachael up from bed.
As she opens the door, and steps out, she almost jumps away as Rachael stands there, beside the door, as ready as could be. Harper sighs at the sight.
"why doesn't this actually surprise me?" she says in a somewhat annoyed tone as well as with a tip of pride.
"Ready to continue the interrogating miss", she says in a neutral tone, none of the yesterdays feelings showing. Harper nods at her then.
"Good, let's get to it then." Harper reaches out a hand, and Rachael takes it.
They teleport to just outside the cell. Beside both the door to the observation room and the door directly into the cell. Harper turns towards toward Rachael as their hands part. Rachael keeps starring at the door to the cell.
"Are you ready?" She asks Rachael as a mom would her daughter before meeting the dad who left them.
"Can you control your emotions?" She deepen the question as Rachael continues to look at the door. Then she turns and looks Harper right in the eyes, shinning with determination.
"Yes," she answers simply and Harper nods her approval. Then Harper turns to the door and moves her hand up to a small green screen on the middle of the door. She holds a small chip -the so called key- which is black, indicating that it gives access to all doors.
The green screen does nothing but instantly there is a "click", as the door unlocks and opens inwards slowly on it's own. Rachael and Harper walk in side by side, both somewhat on their toes, even though Harper did a better job of concealing it.
Leon sits cross-legged in the middle of the room, a bunch of playing cards in his hands. It looks like he's sorting them. Already five other decks of playing cards are stacked beside him, and still a dozen other sets are mixed together on the floor. He doesn't look up from what he is doing as they enter, and Harper sees Rachael already looking a little annoyed. She quickly hides it again though, as they walk closer to Leon.
Leon picks up a final card, and places the deck next to the others. Then, as he starts another deck, without looking up from his work, he starts talking.
"you know," he starts, his voice unusually serious. It instantly puts Harper on edge, and Rachael notices Harper suddenly tensing, and acts accordingly, stepping a little closer to her, so she can quickly get them out of there. The door to the cell has already closed behind them.
Leon continues speaking; "when I need to focus, it really helps to be doing something simple and organized". Harper frowns. Rachael looks at her, looking really confused.
"What do you-" Harper tries to ask, but is cut off.
"Right now," Leon interrupts.
"Right now I feel like I'm forgetting something important, and so I'm pretty busy now." He still doesn't look up as he picks up the queen of hearts, and puts it on the top of the deck. Harper waits for him to continue, but he doesn't, and so Harper finally starts talking.
"What is that suppose to mean?" She asks carefully. Leon stops just as he is reaching out for the queen of spades. He rights himself, straightening his back, still not looking around at Harper and Rachael.
"It means," he says in an annoyed voice. Harper almost feel like she is threatened as it looks like he looks straight into the white wall in front of him.
"That I don't feel like bothering with you two today, so please leave." As he says the last part, he starts reaching for the designated card once again. Rachael snorts at the comment, and is about to say something, but Harper pulls up a hand to stop her. Rachael looks over at Harper, confused and annoyed. Harper keeps her eyes on Leon without showing any signs of explaining herself.
"besides, Harper. I think you'll have plenty to look after today." Suddenly Harper's careful gaze changes to one of fright. She does a good job trying to conceal it, but Rachael picks up on it.
"What is that suppose to mean!" Rachael demands as her annoyance is directed at Leon. Leon continues his work, and silence take up the whole room. It is about five minutes before Leon finishes the deck and places it beside the others. He sighs, and looks up at the ceiling.
"He'll tell you," he answers without any explanation and just as he finishes, the door to the cell opens up behind them. Both Rachael and Harper both jump at the suddenty and look away from Leon. Jeremy, the leader of the normal force enters, breathing heavily and looking anxious. He looks warily at Leon, then directs his attention to Harper.
"There is a huge group of kreosoans coming this way, and there are two irregulars with the group!" He says franticly and continues.
"Come quick!" Harper looks at Jeremy, then back at Leon. She grumps as she makes sign for Rachael to follow her as she moves quickly over to Jeremy and with him out of the cell.
Rachael follows, though resistantly.
-
Jeremy walks beside Harper and the girl right behind them. They keep a quick pace as the make it for the control room, where Harper usually keeps watch over all the missions.
"How many normals are there?" Harper asks hastily as they pass a few soldiers. Jeremy squints, as he tries to recall the exact number.
"It doesn't look good. We couldn't tell the exact amount but at least fifty," he answers sadly. The girl behind them gasps as he presents the number. Jeremy look back at her, and then at Harper. She made no sign of dismissing her, and so Jeremy assumed she was important enough to be allowed the information he was relaying. Harper's face harden as she gets the details. Already, one of Jeremy's squads of ten had been annihilated by the group of kreosoans, but not before they had informed the base about the enemy.
"very well. We will send the special force and the two best squads you have." She pauses then, and corrects herself.
"actually, make that the three best squads you have. I'll send someone with them who should be able to deal with the irregulars." Jeremy looks conspicuously at Harper, but doesn't ask any questions. Rachael behind does the same, but seem more tempted to ask more about the statement. Neither do, and they all continue through the halls towards the control room.
-
When they finally make it to there, they crash through the door, giving the people hard at work a shock. They all look scared and most sweating. Harper looks up at the big display in front of her, and stop in her tracks. The screen is completely filled with red dots.
"Report!" Jeremy orders and the woman sitting closest to the display turns around in her chair. She looks more calm than the others.
"We have all kreosoans in view and have estimated the amount to 63 kreosoans and two irregulars, one of which seems to be a juvenile." Harper feels relieved and at the same time like she is about to throw up. At least one of them was a juvenile.
"New plan," she says as she turns to Jeremy.
"Send all experienced troops you have together with the special force. I'll make sure my man is ready when they take off. I leave this to you now Jeremy." Harper waits as Jeremy looks at her, surprised. He doesn't say anything and Harper makes a fake cough to get his attention.
"R... Right!" Jeremy quickly answers as he snaps back into reality. And so, Harper quickly turns around to leave. Over her shoulder, she calls out to Rachael.
"You stay here, I'll be back soon enough. Assist Jeremy any way you can." She passes through the open door and turns right, down towards the sleeping quarters. Jeremy looks after her. Then turns around towards the display.
"Alright everybody, you heard her, call in all experienced troops. That is squad one, two, four, five and the special force. Let's get to work!"