Comments: Another day at
the office. And its been a long one... Then again; things aren't always
what they seem.
Disclaimer: ALL CHARACTERS
BELONG TO ME and me alone! Show some respect and
ask if you're going to use
them!
*** CHAPTER 01b : D.A.V.E ***
Saka gladly chewed on the sandwich before him as he and Toki took their fifteen minute break. After what he'd seen this morning Saka was amazed he could stomach anything at all. Toki, as always looked completely at ease. It was amazing what that man could be put through and still not blink any differently.
It was no secret that Saka admired Toki. They'd gone through training camp together, they'd been put through every ordeal as partners and always came out on top. Even in their class they'd been the highest marks; of course Toki was higher. Then, Toki had been withdrawn and secluded. Perhaps it was the way he felt about his apperance. His eyes, red irises and rest black were indeed strange; not to mention he had a little more strength than the normal human and he had aqua blue hair. He was a different person all together now though. After training camp Toki broke through the shell and loosened up.
Surprisingly, Toki seemed to be the center of attention when it came to women, which was fine by Saka. The only problem was that Toki had no idea he was being admired and was way too modest to admit it. It seemed he just lost all never whenever a creature of the opposite sex approached him, if it wasn't so annoying it'd be funny.
"Ready to get back?" Toki said breaking through Saka's haze of thoughts. He nodded and stood carefully grabbing his muffin and mug of coffee. Toki left everything behind and headed for the glass elevator level only a few stairs up. The platform still made Saka uneasy, at anytime a person could look down and see the happenings of the floor below him. Very nerve-racking. Especially when the people being watched had no idea. Saka was starting to feel as he he was always being watched by someone above him.
The buzz alerted them to the arrival of a free lift up and they stepped aboard followed by two giggly girls and a secretary who could not see over the pile of files in her arms. Toki leaned over and took them from her with a smile. She blushed and grinned back sheepishly pushing her glasses to the bridge of her nose.
"Your shoe is untied. Now would be a good time to do it up." He stated simply turning a bit around the ears. Saka groaned and he gave him a pointed glance. The woman straightened and took her files back before the doors slid open and revealed the fiftieth floor.
Only twelve to go... Saka thought miserably as they shot upward again.
Carefully he reached into his pocket and fumbled for a moment before producing a piece of gum and popping it into his mouth. A bad habit formed when he was a child Saka never was without a piece of gum to chew; mostly to act as a stress relievant and partly because it tasted good Saka chewed like a smoker smoked.
Speaking of smokers...
"Howdy y'all!" A thick rich voice announced. Two woman entered the already crowded elevator. One tall, dark skinned, with curly black hair pulled away from her face a thick pink and white printed bandana. She had beautiful almond shaped honey coloured eyes and a beauty mark on the left side of her thick-lipped mouth. The other woman, shorter and rather bulky with tanned skin and choclate brown hair that covered the right side fo her face. She had a red hankerchief tied around her neck and a headset attached to her head which created wings of hair that shot up and spread amusingly.
"Hi Mariah." Toki responded to the tall girl who laughed and slapped him on the back and gave Saka the finger. Saka responded kindly by returning the gesture with a smirk. "Hello Anya." He said to the woman who had settled herself in the corner and was puffing on a cigarrette. "How are you feeling?"
"Shouldn't you be home?" Saka quiried. She glanced up and smiled.
"Nah, I'll be okay. You guys would be lost without me anyway. I'm the communications officer afterall right?" She said but everyone doubted her statement.
"Aw she's bullshittin' y'all know that right?" Mariah spoke, her voice laden with a heavy southern drawl. "Ah mean, if she were okay she'd pro'lly be tellin' us just how great her skills in hackin' are!"
"Shut up Mariah." Anya growled. Mariah smiled, to every male in the room she was the very object of beauty, and with long legs and a very slim waist it wasn't hard to understand why. Most women just cut their losses and left whenever she entered a room. Anya however had decided long ago that just because you've got beauty doesn't mean you've got brains and tried to outsmart Mariah. Problem was, Mariah was both beautiful and smart.
The elevator came to an abrupt stop and the doors slid open. As they all piled out the computer voice told them to have a nice day. And Saka told it where to take that nice day and stick it.
They entered D.A.V.E office space where a bunch of cubicles and information panels had been set up for the officer workers and the field agents who weren't out blasting some rougue virus. A few interns called their good mornings which earned gruff and expected remarks from Saka. As they finally arrived at the conference room a large cat-like woman, not unlike Akiko greeted them. She wore a purple vinyl cat-suit with one thick strap on her shoulder while the other remained bare. A black leather vest which covered only her chest and black leather boots accented the outfit. Her hair was cut in a boyish style and curled around her large ears.
"Good Morning Daphne." Anya waved and sat down in a vacant chair with her feet up. Toki nodded and collasped into a chair putting his face into his hands and closing his eyes almost drifting off to sleep. Saka hit him first before grabbing a seat beside him and he jumped. Mariah took her spot and nodded.
"Alright." Daphne began. While Toki was the leader Daphne was the intelligence and usually headed the briefings. "There's been a recent increase of Chiharra activities in the following sectors..." With the tap of a button a hologram emerged in the middle of the table and spun slowly. She highlighted a few areas. "The shopping district has been hit recently. And the fifth sector is again being destroyed."
"Yeah, we had to go out this morning about a strange murder in that sector." Saka chipped in, Anya went pale.
"What ah don' understand is why the Chiharra are suddenly kickin' up a fuss! Until now they've been quiet and undisturbin'. Now they're runnin' around lookin' for any trouble they can find." Mariah said leaning back in her chair.
"We're beginning to suspect that the Chiharra are involved in the murder today. They're was evidence left at the scene that might prove it." Toki said and stiffled a yawn.
Saka whipped around to face him. "What evidence? I wasn't told about any evidence!"
"Obviously it was on a need to know basis." Toki responded curtly.
"Obviously..."
"What evidence?" Daphne inquired.
"A few samples of the Chiharra make-up mostly skin cells and blood." The group was cowed.
"Blood? But how?" Anya inquired.
"We believe there was a struggle between two competeing males for dominice over the kill. A fight ensued and one was wounded leaving behind the samples."
"Damn..." Mariah muttered. "But ah didn' think the Chiharra killed anythin' just kinda floated around."
"They've been increasingly more violent lately." Daphne cut in. "It seems someone or something is controlling them. Our sources in CRACKED have come up with the idea that an Alpha male has emerged, however no actually proof has been given."
"So what're we s'pose to do 'bout it?" Mariah piped up. Daphne nodded and continued with the briefing.
"We've been instructed to destroy any viral entities in these regions and make observations of the actions of the Chiharra, then report to CRACKED and the chief."
"Just another day at the office." Saka muttered snapped his gum.
"Okay then." Toki said loudly standing up. "Let's get to it. I for one want to go home and sleep tonight. An the quicker we get this done the faster I can do that."
"Here here." The other followed.
"Let's get suited up. We'll see ya later Anya!" Mariah called over her shoulder.
"Try to get killed Mariah!" She called back and waved goodbye.
"Ah'm not goin' anywhere sugah!" Mariah bantered. "Ah've been promoted to tactical! Yah'll are stuck with me till they move me out!" Anya's jaw dropped to the floor.
"You're staying?"
"That's what Ah said sugah!" She grinned.
"Yeah well we'd better get moving then."
***END FILE***