SFSD-X Smackdown Challenge ✔️

'I Was Made To Love You' - Part II

Though the mess hall is also hyper modern, the food is just as dreadful as in the MI6 canteen. Truthfully, it should not have come as a surprise, considering that there are only very limited sources of nourishment left on earth which are all grown in greenhouses across the globe. Most animals have been extinct two decades ago, leaving meat substitute, vegetables and legumes our main source of nutrition.

I guess I had hoped that an agency primarily responsible to travel into the past to correct minor historic events also had ways to bring some of the former delicacies back into our world. Yet, my mistake becomes obvious as soon as Colin places a tray in front of me, the bland aroma of a soy burger with mushy peas killing my appetite. I start to take small bites, glancing around the cafeteria which is filled with light chatter, a slow version of 'She's On The Rag' by Steel Panther playing in the background.

When Rykar enters, most conversations around the room halt for a moment when she passes by the tables. Her lips are pressed together in a thin line as she steers towards the food counter.

"She looks mad," I comment, wondering what could have upset her.

Colin glances at her. "No, that's just the way she is around most people. She can be a little bit bitchy."

Who would have guessed? "What's up with her anyhow?" When Colin frowns, I decide to get more specific. "I mean, she is awfully young to be special operations director."

"Well, that." Colin avoids my gaze and squirts a red sauce on his potato mash that has the taste of former ketchup. "The head of the agency is her mentor and she has time jumped since she was sixteen. She actually is really good at what she does, though there is a nasty rumor that she was promoted because she's dating Patrick McCain. I wouldn't bring that up if I were you – she will probably take your head off if you do."

I let out a low whistle. "Patrick McCain as in the Global Security Advisor."

Colin gives me a pained smile.

My eyes drill into Rykar's back – she really is very pretty. Her long, honey brown hair falls in soft waives halfway down her back and her ass is just big enough for a man to easily cup their hands around it. Her waist is tiny, yet her body is toned with muscles that flex under her t-shirt. I would pay big bucks to see what's underneath.

She joins us at the table and starts picking at her food with as little enthusiasm as myself.

"I swear this grub gets worse by the day," she complains.

Colin smirks. "The day after tomorrow, you and JB will be able to feast on real food. Don't forget to bring me back a candy bar like you promised."

She shoots him a dark look. "You know we're not supposed to bring anything back. It's against agency regulations."

The evil eye he returns is just as vicious. "Since when are you a stickler for rules."

Her gaze lands on me. "Since the agency decided I needed a chaperon. I can't believe I am expected to babysit a rookie."

I gasp in protest. "Hey, I'm an experienced agent."

"Really, Mr. Bond?" Her voice drips with sarcasm. "Then why don't you tell me what you know about time travel?"

If she thinks she can ridicule me with lack of knowledge, she picked the wrong guy. "It started after the war as a way of correcting historic events. Founders soon found that the possibilities were actually very limited because of something they called the ripple effect. Every change in the past results in future changes, and if those changes are significant or uncontrollable, changing the event could actually endanger our way of life."