Vicious Memories

Chapter 63 - Eva

66 Months Ago

Eva hated winter. Such an ugly season.

An involuntary sneer curled her lip as she watched fat flakes of snow drift down from iron clouds. They spattered the concrete patio beneath her feet with a sad futility, melted into simple rainwater after a single moment. An absolutely uncontrolled time of year - delays, closings, accidents.

She wondered if somehow Liam had known how much she would hate waiting out in the cold - she was sure the government had an extensive file on her at this point - and that was why he had requested they meet here.

In the summertime the courtyard in the center of their research compound was a hidden oasis, comfortable furniture and a wealth of round tables to work at, surrounded by gleaming glass windows on all four sides. It was a way to catch a few minutes of sunshine without straying too far from the labs. Now, though... now it was just cold, drafty, and forlorn. Malicious.

"Where the hell is he?" The Doctor asked. He looked around as if he expected Liam to appear from thin air. "I can't feel my fingers."

Eva shot him a look and smiled despite herself, his steady stream of muttering entirely in character. It was like he couldn't help himself - every silence had to be filled. He had been withdrawn at first. But once they had each gotten used to the other's presence, once they had recognized that their partnership actually worked, he had opened up completely. Now she couldn't get him to shut his mouth.

"Your gloves are thicker than my coat," she said.

"Doesn't mean I'm not cold."

"Doesn't mean complaining will help."

The Doctor huffed in annoyance and shifted away from her, looking in the opposite direction.

The first time they had met, Eva had immediately taken control of the conversation, introducing herself, expressing her excitement, listing the immediate next steps they could take. At the end of her short tirade she had asked him what he thought of it all: "Anything you'd like to add, Mr. Vidette?"

"It's Doctor, actually," he had said.

The response had reminded her so strongly of her earlier conversation on the difference between psychiatry and psychology that she laughed.

"My apologies, Doctor."

The joke had stuck and, thinking about it now, she wasn't sure she had ever called him by his real name.

A noise in the courtyard brought Eva out of her reverie. She turned to find a nondescript man with a medium build walking out to meet them. Wavy hair, freshly shaved chin, black-rimmed spectacles. Looking beyond his features, she was immediately struck by how comfortable he looked, a fact that was almost unthinkable given that he was only wearing black fatigues and a thin black jacket. The cold should have hit him like a slap.

Instead he marched straight up to her with a smile, perfectly at ease. When he stopped a mere foot away she got her first good look at this eyes and immediately decided that she disliked what she saw. Set in an easily forgettable face, they were as gray as the clouds overhead, sharp and calculating, with something emotionless and predatory resting behind, just out of view. Those don't belong in a human face, she thought wildly.

"Dr. Margal," he said in greeting. "Liam Donahue."

When she took his hand in hers she was shocked to find that it was ice cold despite the fact that he'd just come from inside. Perhaps that was why the temperature didn't bother him - he radiated a chill all his own.

He looked to his left. "Dr. Vidette. A pleasure."

"You're twenty minutes late," Eva said, chafing at the inefficiency.

"Am I?"

"Yes. You are."

He shrugged, as if to say agree to disagree, and looked around at the courtyard, interested.

"Well, it's good to finally be here," he said. "I'm sure you both already read the brief from the director detailing my responsibilities?"

"Security and logistics," Eva said.

"Yes, yes. And, of course, detailed reporting. Anything required to make sure the operation runs smoothly."

"I look forward to reading your reports, then. And we'll let you know what we need to keep everything on track."

Liam looked at her as if she'd just shouted at him in another language. He glanced at The Doctor, as if to let him in on some joke, and broke out laughing. The sound was harsh and guttural, echoing off the glass walls so sharply that it sounded as if there was a whole chorus of Liams standing there with them. The hair on the back of Eva's neck stood on end.

"Oh, no," he chuckled. "No, no. Did the director not say? I'm not reporting to you. Oh, wow. No, not at all. I'm reporting to his department directly. But as you say, I will be sure to let you know what I need to keep everything on track."

Eva could sense the distaste rolling aggressively off The Doctor. She looked over and saw the way his eyes narrowed, the small forward shuffle he took, and quickly moved next to him so that their shoulders touched, hers slightly in front.

"I'll be sure to check that with the director," she said.

"Please." Liam bowed graciously. "Be my guest." He looked around again, as if there was no limit to how interested he could be in the glass walls on every side. "Now, to the matters at hand, and the reason I'm finally here. With the first tests on the horizon we can finally start preparing. At some point we'll have to decide which of us will want to be boots on the ground, but that can wait until later. First things first, though, with all the progress over the last six months, how long do you think it'll be until you're ready?"

"Another six," Eva said. "Perhaps more."

"Make it three."

"Make it six," The Doctor growled, and Liam laughed again.