Gears and Pistons | | Bayverse | | Book 1

Chapter 11 | | This is New | |

"The stars that are noticed first are often false, satellites sent into the sky by mankind."

★☆★☆★☆★☆★

When Toby said that the whole ordeal was going to involve a lot of paperwork, she hadn't been expecting the amount that had accumulated on her desk through the week. And she was expecting a lot.

The week had passed relatively quickly, though likely due to the fact that the young woman never once stepped outside, it was a relief to both the medic and ex-mechanic. There had been countless meetings and a list of people a mile long who wanted to shout at them. Very few were willing to allow the pair to go through with, or even plan the procedure, but Robert Epps and William Lennox stood beside them through every step. Of course, their opinions changed slightly when Toby started speaking to Figs in Spanish.

"¿Tienes más papeleo para firmar o leer?" The young woman tiredly looks up at the soldier, head in her hand and food untouched.

"Doc bot te necesita," he smiles, patting her on the shoulder before sitting down with his tray of food.

The others in the group, members of Lennox's team in Qatar, groan dramatically at the use of the language. Robert especially shoots his niece a glare.

"Do you have any idea how long we've been trying to make him stop speaking spanish?" The sergeant demands, pressing his agitation with a pointed finger.

"¿Más largo de lo que puedo imaginar?" She smirks as he facepalms, and rubs her eyes to rid them of exhaustion before turning to the bilingual soldier. "Did he say when?"

He shrugs, ignoring the relieved sighs of his teammates. "Right away, I guess."

"M'kay," she glances at Robert as he devours his burrito like an animal. "Can I borrow your radio, uncle?"

Seeing that he's unable to respond, Lennox takes the radio off his friend's belt and hands it to the woman with a smirk, earning a glare from him.

"Thanks. Also, uncle, aunt Monique would be disturbed by your table manners," she grins, taking her time to adjust the channel on the plastic device.

With the final adjustments made, she lifts it to her mouth. "Hey, Piston."

"~Don't call me that~" the men at the table laugh at his reply, making Toby roll her eyes.

"Sure thing, Piston. I've been told that you need me?"

"~Yes~"

"Right, well, what kind of thing is it? Because if it's a meeting, I'll smarten up, but if it's just more documents I won't bother."

"~Just come to the med bay~"

"Oookay," she says slowly, brows furrowed in confusion. "I'll see you in five."

The woman hums as the connection crackles out, quickly returning it to her uncle before abandoning her dinner. Lennox sends her an encouraging smile, while Robert just continues to stuff his face.

"Could one of you boys take my tray when you're done?" Figs sends her a thumbs up, just beginning to eat his bowl of gumbo. "Oh, and uncle," the sergeant glances at her briefly, "gators do have the most succulent meat."

The table erupts in groans and choked fits of laughter, and the ex-mechanic carefully turns away, using a small joystick to direct both wheels. NEST soldiers and workers alike all clear a path for her as she exits the mess hall, most sending her unreadable looks.