Cloud Association: Pretty Boy Psycho

Hackney

Today I nominated myself to check in at Cloudy HQ to see if there's a job for our team to do. Sunshine's not supposed to come into the building with me but there was no time to stop him. Before I closed the door he half nudged himself through. Logistics members who pass me in corridors are unimpressed. We get real dirty looks on our way to the office where job specifications are stored. The clerical crowd have nothing but smiles. I'm on the corridor by Courtney's office and the receptionist called Penelope comes directly over to me.

"This must be Sunshine. Wow. Did you really finish a B-grade job?"

"Totes yeah." It was a shambles but we got the job done and Geordie is making like we went into camp real smooth and out without problems.

"A lot of the girls on clerical are all for Geordie but I like you best Corey. It's still all about Cain mind, and Ashley is turning a few heads."

"Five days," shouts Jordan from within a study room. "I'm out the country for five days and you're dolling out B-grade jobs trying to get them killed."

"All field agents run the risk of being killed," snaps Hanna.

"Not at high risk level. You're supposed to let new teams work their way up so they get experience."

"Look they're two years in. Not my fault they weren't at Cloud High for those two years. You need to stop shielding them and concentrate on your own team. Perhaps you ought to reread your Cloudy Handbook."

"I brought Corey here."

"Cain found him and you don't see him in here shooting his mouth off. I'll give Team Geordie whatever assignments we feel fit. We must concentrate on the full picture not tiptoe round dead weight."

What a fierce exchange. I press my back up against the job assignment office door as Jordan makes for the HQ exit. I've never seen him lose his temper before; always seems shy.

"Don't worry about my team," I say to Jordan who rages by without seeing me. "Focus on yours."

Jordan doubles back. "Oh, you heard that?"

"You were shouting."

"Living in the wild. Setting camps on fire. You'll be killed."

"Later rather than sooner. Geordie was amazing at setting tents on fire. He really does keep us safe." I lower my tone. "Besides we want as many high grade jobs as they'll give us."

"Being a field agent isn't a game."

"It is. We'll survive. You do trust me?"

"Yeah but that doesn't stop me worrying. Captain Yuki hasn't forgotten about you despite you keeping a low profile. Be careful she's yeah..." Jordan carries on his way and I carry on mine. Sunshine stands on the spot blinking after Jordan; doesn't move till the guy's out of sight.

At home I sit out on the veranda thinking about that look Sunshine gave Jordan. Something's wrong. No idea what. Our assignment sits in my lap. Geordie's soon to snap it up.

"Boring a perimeter check round Lundune this evening."

A C-grade job. I don't fancy flying round Lundune checking Thunders amongst other gang members aren't bothering regular city dwellers. At least we could use the area to our advantage. "If we want to take down Captain Yuki Lundune is the place to be."

"Come again?"

"The Plaza that's their base."

"We can't just fly onto the Plaza, that would be suicide. Even Cain won't venture there unless absolutely necessary and he'd go under-cover."