Reconnoiter || Guns N Roses, David Bowie, Bon Jovi

Reconnoiter: Four

"I don't see how you enjoy this," Cap said as I approached the long table at HQ the next morning, having had to stay at the RUG's base camp until the wee hours of the morning, answering all these prodding questions about my skill set. "That Sergeant is so rude."

"They're okay, I guess." I sat beside him with a sigh, grateful when he pushed half a grapefruit and a spoon my way. I wanted to eat it, but everyone was looking at me so expectantly. I cleared my throat, clasping my hands. "So.... what do you want to know?" I asked calmly. There was a split second of silence before I was bombarded with overlapping questions from the advisers.

Cap but both his hands up to silence them. "Alright, alright! One at a time now, she can't hear you!"

They quieted at once, and he pointed to Stocky short man to give the first question. "Larson?"

"I'd like to know what kind of technology we're dealing with here," the man wheezed, taking a sip of water. I wanted to say what I saw didn't really impress me, but Cap's intense gaze kept me from doing so. He was expecting a certain level of professionalism. "Well, they've only got one computer, for starters. I know they've got some pretty technical firearms, but... other than that... a microwave?"

They all exchanged glances and a few whispers. "You mean... they don't have any automated defense systems? GPS, to know the exact location of enemies?"

"They might, it would have to be inside of their computer. They come off as a bit rag-tag to me, there were only six men down in their base when I was there. I think they have more men, they must... or else their organization would fall apart, you know?"

"And this... Sergeant is in charge of it all?" I nodded, "But we already knew that. He's rude... and cold, but his men respect him. Sometimes I wonder if he even feels, because he looks so... I mean, I've spent several eight-hour periods with him, it's not like I know everything, but he's unfeeling, you know what I mean? Weirdly attractive, in a weird way-"

"God, Callie." Cap gave me a piercing glare, and I shut my mouth immediately. Did I just say... 'attractive'? That had to be a lie, because every part of his barbaric personality was a complete turn-off. So where the hell did that come from? I shoved my mouth full of grapefruit, chewing slowly. "Sorry."

I answered a few more questions, before Cap came around to the fact that I'd mentioned him inadvertently. "He asked you to 'finish your story,'" Cap pointed out, watching as I devoured the grapefruit's tart flesh with gusto. "Yeah, I figured I shouldn't," I said after swallowing. Talking with your mouth full is extremely unladylike, Cap says.

"No, you should, try and knock down that barrier of his. Tell him everything he wants to hear, excluding my choice of work." Using my spoon I dug shapes into the empty peel of my grapefruit, shrugging. "I don't think he wants to hear anything else, Cap." He simply snapped at me to stop playing with my food, and stood.

"Go home, sleep. I'm sure they'll want you back tonight, perhaps we'll learn enough to piece together their plan." I wanted to just ask them what it was, but Cap said that might seem suspicious. I took his word for it and went up to the car waiting for me out front.

Upon arriving home I stripped down immediately, leaving my clothes in a heap near my door for the maid to take. I rewarded myself with a long steam shower, a nice shampoo and plenty of lotion.

I knew my clothes wouldn't be done by the time I had to leave that night, and I was in a quandary over how to go about that. There was no way I could wear any of my normal clothing, they had Bergdorf's written all over them. I bundled myself in a bathrobe and wandered to the elevator. I was sure Cap had to have something, at least a white t-shirt.