Agents Observations: Intake Day
Originally Published by Jason Cochrane on Mar 25, 2016 at 05:57 AM
Agent Sergej Seager ran his hand through the stubble on his head and his chin. He had drawn bird 16, the "Cadmus". It was fine enough. It was essentially the same as every over Interceptor that Outreach had. No, it wasn't the Cadmus that bothered him. It was the usual pilot of the Cadmus that bothered him.
Gritting his teeth Sergej strode up the gangway and almost collided with a stocky man testing straps. The other man had a name tag on his flight suit marked "A. Martin". Inwardly Sergej groaned but forced a pleasant expression.
"Good morning Aaron." It sounded neutral.
"Sergej," grunted Aaron Martin as he continued tug on straps.
Sergej knew he would regret asking but did so anyway. "What are you doing?"
"Testing the harnesses. Making sure they are good and strong."
"That's maintenance's job. I'm sure they will be fine." And so it begins Sergej thought.
"I dunno man. If they aren't up to code, I'm grounding this bird." Aaron made it sound lofty and noble. Sergej knew otherwise.
"Aaron, we both know you hate Intake Day. Why didn't you request a rostered day off?"
"Used 'em all." Aaron yanked one last time. The strap held. He dropped it in disgust.
"Poor planning is no excuse for you to be surly."
Sergej went to the cockpit and ran basic checks. He wouldn't put it past Aaron to have made efforts to ensure the Cadmus did not fly with the rest of the fleet. Noting some "oversights" Sergej made the necessary adjustments.
Aaron flopped down into the pilot's charge next to Sergej.
"I don't get it. Most of these slubs won't make the cut yet they get a free ride in a $10 billion jet and a party bag to die for." Aaron was starting to warm up. "It's my taxpaying money is what it is."
Sergej was tired of hearing the various iterations of these protests and ignored Aaron.
"It's not like they're real heroes like the Freedom League or the Sentinels or the Atom Family. I don't see why they can't just make their own way here or why we don't send a Moon Monkey for them..."
"That's enough!" snapped Sergej. His patience was gone. "We send Interceptors because it is prestigious. We want these heroes to be impressed. We want them to join Outreach. That is why you will be civil to our guests."
"Right... right." Aaron admitted defeat. "No need to get your panties in a twist."
Blessed silence. And then it was gone.
"So I hear the Director is going to put our new star attractions to the test."
"Aaron, what are you babbling about?" Sergej hadn't head the forthcoming complaint before but he was already sure he would not like it.
"You know? Those ex-NeXt Gen people. The pair of Claremont Teachers. Don't know why we don't use real Agents."
"Aaron," Sergej bit his words, "If you are referring to Special Agent Hooper and Special Agent Breen then you are completely out of line."
"I'm just saying..."
"No. You are not saying. Hooper and Breen are both celebrated heroes. They both graduated the Academy - both Claremont and AEGIS. They are full Special Agents," Sergej started to fume. "They have both earned their place as liaisons."
"Well, yeah," Aaron did not know when to quit. "That's the problem right there ain't it. You said it. They graduated from Claremont. How do we know they aren't spying for that creepy old Headmaster?"
Sergej gripped the chair arms so he wouldn't wrap his hands around Aaron's throat. "Director Thorne has vouched for them. Senior Director Powers has vouched for them. If you want to voice an opinion on their credentials and loyalties I will be happy to write them into my next report. Otherwise stow the crap and get this bird ready to fly on our call."
"Fine, fine," Aaron Martin finally realised he had gone too far. "I won't say another word."
Originally Published by Jason Cochrane on Mar 25, 2016 at 05:57 AM
Agent Sergej Seager ran his hand through the stubble on his head and his chin. He had drawn bird 16, the "Cadmus". It was fine enough. It was essentially the same as every over Interceptor that Outreach had. No, it wasn't the Cadmus that bothered him. It was the usual pilot of the Cadmus that bothered him.
Gritting his teeth Sergej strode up the gangway and almost collided with a stocky man testing straps. The other man had a name tag on his flight suit marked "A. Martin". Inwardly Sergej groaned but forced a pleasant expression.
"Good morning Aaron." It sounded neutral.
"Sergej," grunted Aaron Martin as he continued tug on straps.
Sergej knew he would regret asking but did so anyway. "What are you doing?"
"Testing the harnesses. Making sure they are good and strong."
"That's maintenance's job. I'm sure they will be fine." And so it begins Sergej thought.
"I dunno man. If they aren't up to code, I'm grounding this bird." Aaron made it sound lofty and noble. Sergej knew otherwise.
"Aaron, we both know you hate Intake Day. Why didn't you request a rostered day off?"
"Used 'em all." Aaron yanked one last time. The strap held. He dropped it in disgust.
"Poor planning is no excuse for you to be surly."
Sergej went to the cockpit and ran basic checks. He wouldn't put it past Aaron to have made efforts to ensure the Cadmus did not fly with the rest of the fleet. Noting some "oversights" Sergej made the necessary adjustments.
Aaron flopped down into the pilot's charge next to Sergej.
"I don't get it. Most of these slubs won't make the cut yet they get a free ride in a $10 billion jet and a party bag to die for." Aaron was starting to warm up. "It's my taxpaying money is what it is."
Sergej was tired of hearing the various iterations of these protests and ignored Aaron.
"It's not like they're real heroes like the Freedom League or the Sentinels or the Atom Family. I don't see why they can't just make their own way here or why we don't send a Moon Monkey for them..."
"That's enough!" snapped Sergej. His patience was gone. "We send Interceptors because it is prestigious. We want these heroes to be impressed. We want them to join Outreach. That is why you will be civil to our guests."
"Right... right." Aaron admitted defeat. "No need to get your panties in a twist."
Blessed silence. And then it was gone.
"So I hear the Director is going to put our new star attractions to the test."
"Aaron, what are you babbling about?" Sergej hadn't head the forthcoming complaint before but he was already sure he would not like it.
"You know? Those ex-NeXt Gen people. The pair of Claremont Teachers. Don't know why we don't use real Agents."
"Aaron," Sergej bit his words, "If you are referring to Special Agent Hooper and Special Agent Breen then you are completely out of line."
"I'm just saying..."
"No. You are not saying. Hooper and Breen are both celebrated heroes. They both graduated the Academy - both Claremont and AEGIS. They are full Special Agents," Sergej started to fume. "They have both earned their place as liaisons."
"Well, yeah," Aaron did not know when to quit. "That's the problem right there ain't it. You said it. They graduated from Claremont. How do we know they aren't spying for that creepy old Headmaster?"
Sergej gripped the chair arms so he wouldn't wrap his hands around Aaron's throat. "Director Thorne has vouched for them. Senior Director Powers has vouched for them. If you want to voice an opinion on their credentials and loyalties I will be happy to write them into my next report. Otherwise stow the crap and get this bird ready to fly on our call."
"Fine, fine," Aaron Martin finally realised he had gone too far. "I won't say another word."
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