Grunt Work

A drink

'It sucks we can't go,' Johnnie complained. 'I've got family in Boise.'

'Boise,' Katya corrected him.

'That's what I said. Boise.'

'Boise.'

'Boise.'

'Boise,' she huffed. 'Nevermind.'

'Yeah, it sucks,' I agreed, trying to change the subject. I hated it when they bickered. 'But it's too far inland for Beastforce One. Mr Huggles doesn't like it when he's too far from the water, so we have to stay at the base. Sorry, peeps.'

'What happened to Beastcoast?' Johnnie asked. 'Bollocks to it. I'm even calling us that, now.'

'Going with the air theme, since they're off doing the whole campaign trail at that air force base.'

'Mountain Home sounds too nice for a military base, though,' Theo said. 'And I'm sure it's a lot more lively than this place.'

'True that,' said Manish. 'But there's something I don't get. I didn't know he's American?'

'Who?' I asked.

'The Kaptain.'

'Oh he's not,' I told him. 'He's one of ours. A Kiwi,' I added, realising that only me and Theo were from New Zealand. 'But we don't let something like that stop us.'

'And it's not even an election year?'

'They will make it an election year,' Katya said vehemently.

'Uh huh,' I nodded, not at all sure how American politics worked. Or Kiwi politics. Or politics. 'Anyone want a drink? I'll buy.'

We headed over to the The Abyss. I ordered drinks at the bar while the others took a table. Theo was right. Looking around, I noticed it was pretty empty. Only a few tables had occupants, mostly filled with scientists and technicians - no front line grunts, save for us, were there.

I did see Billy the security raccoon, sitting at one of the booths. And though I couldn't see the other two, I did see a robot hand disappear into his trenchcoat. And then I saw another hand trying to reach into one of the pockets. A human hand, reaching over from the booth next to theirs. A hand that belonged to-

'Paula!' I yelled happily. She probably didn't hear me because she didn't react, so I went over to her. 'Hey, Paula!' I said again.

This time she did look around, sitting back in her booth, scooching low into the leather cushions. 'Oh hey Kaia,' she said. I noticed her cheeks were a bit flushed.

'It's nice running into a friendly face,' I smiled, gave Billy a nod, then called to the bar to tell the waiter to send the drinks over to my friends, who were giving me odd looks. I turned back to Paula. 'Mind if I join you?'

'Uh,' she paused. 'Sure. But let's get another booth. Maybe that one in the corner.'

'Sounds good,' I agreed as she led me there. It was the darkest booth in the place. I felt a bit pleased that she'd want to sit with me in one of the most private places in the den. 'How've you been?' I asked as we settled in. Snuggled up close.

'Doing good,' she said, then looked back at Billy.

'Oh, you've met Billy, have you? I saw you were trying to pet one of the others.'

'One of the others?' she asked, looking at me strangely.

'You know. Izzy and Ginny? The other raccoons in there?'

'There are others,' she buried her head in her hands, then looked at me through her fingers. 'Thank you.'

'For what?'

'I was about to do something stupid.'

'Nah, you weren't. They're a nice bunch, once you get to know them. Ginny's nice. Loves nuts.'

'Nuts, huh?' she asked, then brought out a pen and piece of paper, scribbling something down. She stared at it, then shoved it angrily into her jacket. 'Still no closer.'

'Hey now,' I said quietly. She was pretty clearly upset, so I leaned in closer and rested my hand next to hers, palm up. She hesitated, then placed her hand in mine and I swear my whole body jolted. 'What's wrong? Want to talk about it?'

She looked at me with wide eyes for a long while, her brows crinkly. 'I'm just having some trouble at work,' she said. 'I'm not really sure I can say much.'

'Hey, I understand that,' I told her, nodding. 'This place is full of secrets. I know we can't talk about our work.'

'I'll say,' she let out a big sigh. 'I'm having trouble getting access to certain areas. But my job is in those areas. So, problem.'

'Ah yeah,' I agreed. 'That sounds bad. Is that why you were trying to pet the raccoons?'

'Something like that.'

'Would you like me to have a talk with them? We're pretty tight.'

'You'd do that? Wait, no. I can't ask you to do that. I don't want to get you into any trouble.'

'No trouble,' I started to stand to head over to them.

'No, Kaia,' she said pretty forcibly, and I sat back down, feeling a bit rejected.

'I'm sorry,' she said quickly. 'I didn't mean to upset you. I just - you know how things can get around here. I got myself into this mess, and I need to get myself out of it. I can't put you in danger like that.'

'Oh, yeah. Of course. I understand,' and at least I did understand that. People had a tendency to disappear here. I appreciated her looking out for me. We sat in silence for a bit. The bartender came over to give me my drink. Paula ordered another glass. As the waiter left, she looked over to the entrance with a frown.

'Who's that?' she asked. 'Something's off about that one.'

I looked over to see two scientists stepping into the den. 'Oh that's my friend Baran and me-eee other friend, Alice. Just a friend.'

'Why are you saying it like that? Like I see they're holding hands. Unless you're a throuple? Or - ah. Are they an ex?'

'No!' I said quickly. 'Well, maybe. Kind of. Something like that.'

She nodded, her eyes softly sympathetic. 'I get it. Working with an ex - it's hard,' she sipped the last of her drink. 'Wait. I recognise the one with the hijab. She's working on the Thunderbird project.'

'Oh yeah, I think so,' I nodded. 'She was saying something to me about that the other day, but,' I shrugged. I couldn't even attempt to repeat the words she was using. 'Did you want me to introduce you to them?'

Paula bit her lip. She looked back to Billy, then over to Baran. She fidgeted in her seat, holding her empty glass close to her, staring into the depths. Then finally she looked up at me. 'Could you?'