The Raven's Apprentice - Third Interlude, part 2

TransWorld Office Building, Magnolia Promenade, 2000

"You do know that Bond films don't count as training videos, right?" Bella laughed. "For either agents or dating..."

"Yeah, but training videos are boring," Felix answered. "How's it going, Hans?"

"Director Bridges is expecting you," the director's administrative assistant said with a sigh. "Go right in."

"Agent Goth, Agent Light, take a seat," Director Bridges said cooly. "We need to discuss the current status of Operation Blazer. Your latest report is causing concern in certain quarters."

"There's no need for anyone to be concerned," Bella replied. 

"Your report indicates there have been dramatic spikes in psychokinetic energy at a Willow Creek residence... Duplantier House... and the start of these spikes coincides with the subject's activities there three nights ago," Director Bridges pointed out. "That's not cause for concern?"

"With respect, Director," Felix put in, "PKE spikes in Willow Creek are like earthquakes in San My... small scale events are pretty much daily, or in this case nightly, occurrences. In fact, there's a theory that the underlying causes are analogous... a kind of psychic fault line running through the town."

"I'm familiar with the theory," Director Brides replied. "I believe Agent Goth's husband is one of its main proponents, in fact."

"That doesn't make it less valid," Bella said calmly. 

"The opposite, in fact," Director Bridges nodded. "Research considers Mortimer Goth a respected expert in the field. None of that changes the fact that the readings you have recorded suggest these are not 'small scale events.'"

"Well, it's like earthquakes," Felix said. "Most you don't even notice, some you do, a few rattle the table."

"You want me to go back to the Committee with 'a few rattle the table'?" Director Bridges said skeptically. "They're going to want more than that. Was the subject involved or not?"

"Well, Director, we... uh... don't know for sure," Felix admitted.

"We didn't have eyes on the subject's activity on the night in question," Bella sighed.

"Why not?" Director Bridges said.

"I felt, and Agent Goth agreed, that a large black man peeking through the windows at a teenage girls' slumber party might be misinterpreted by the Willow Creek police," Felix smiled. "And I'm too pretty for jail."

"There are these things called cameras," Director Bridges suggested.

"We had placed several inside the residence," Bella said. "They all failed, which is not unusual. PKE disturbances routinely wreak havoc on electronics. Agent Light was monitoring from outside with infrared, but there is nothing unusual on the recording."

"Yeah, it was pretty tame," Felix said. "I was hoping for at least... you know...  a little woo if not the full hoo."

"That will do, Agent Light," Director Bridges said coldly.

"Yes, Director. Sorry, Director." Felix had the courtesy to look abashed.

"Do you have anything else to add to Agent Light's inappropriate comments, Agent Goth?" Director Bridges said.

"Agent Light may benefit from sensitivity training," Bella started.

"Not again," Felix groaned.

"But I specifically requested him for this op," Bella continued, ignoring him. "Not only is he a surveillance expert, he has one of the highest ESPer ratings outside of Section 6. If Felix says these PKE spikes aren't cause for concern, I trust his judgement and I would say so to the Committee."

"Alright," Director Bridges sighed. "Continue to monitor the situation. I want regular updates, especially if there are more significant 'tremors' around this girl."

The Raven's Apprentice - Third Interlude, part 1

TransWorld Building, Magnolia Prominade, 2000

To the casual visitor, should one be granted access, TransWorld's fitness room would probably seem surprisingly well equipped. That same casual visitor might also notice the general level of fitness and athleticism among the employees, especially the field representatives. Still, lots of companies encouraged fitness.

Bella wondered what that hypothetical observer would think should they learn about the "field reps" marksmanship scores. 

Her feet hit the treadmill in a smooth, tireless rhythm. Even among the field agents, she was considered exceptional. Enhancement had its advantages, including increased stamina...

Classified Research Facility, Undisclosed Location, 1978

"... increased strength and accelerated healing, which will likely be accompanied by increased longevity provided no other factors intervene," the medical technical was telling Doctor Key.

He was an odd one, the medical tech, Bella thought. The physical exam he'd given her had been so dispassionate that she'd deliberately tried to entice him, without much success. A flicker of interest but nothing more. Still, even that made him seem a little more normal than Key.

"Her health?" Key asked coolly.

"Frankly perfect," the medical tech replied. He'd called himself Smith, Bella thought with a scoff. "No sign of cancer or other abnormalities."

"Cognition?" Key continued.

"Excellent," Smith said. "She scores high for abstract reasoning and memory. Her ESPer score is within normal range for Natives, but on the high side. It's probably for the best. Almost all subjects with higher ESPer scores also showed significant mental instability."

"Subjects with physical enhancements showed a high risk for cancers," Key mused.

"Terminal within the first year, for 93.4% of subjects," Smith agreed, "but as I said, she shows no signs or precursors."

"A success for the program," Key said. "Even with the low ESPer rating." 

"I wanted to talk to you about that, Senior Researcher," Smith said hesitantly. "A stable hybrid of this quality is exceptional. The Pollination Board will want to examine the subject."

"Your superiors want to know what they did right," Key scoffed. "No. You're free to show them your results and I will provide a reasonable number of samples on request, but the subject is mine."

"I imagine they will insist," Smith said.

"Imagine? An interesting word, PT9553. One might imagine you were going native," Key mused. "As for the Pollination Board, remind them that the Leadership has given me complete authority over Section 6 and its... members. I have designated Bella Bachelor as a Section 6 member. That is the end of the matter."

TransWorld Office Building, Magnolia Prominade, 2000

 A deep rich voice called Bella back to the present.

"Bella. Hello, Bella. You in there?"

"Sorry... thinking," Bella said. "You should try it sometime, Felix. A change of pace can be good."

Felix chuckled, "Why mess with what works. The boss wants us in her office, ASAP. Grapevine says our latest report's getting attention... the kind we don't want."

"Damn," Bella breathed.

"Tell her assistant we'll be up in 15," Bella continued, climbing off the treadmill. "I'm grabbing a quick shower. Bridges wants to see me, not smell me." 

"You need any help washing your back?" Felix leered amiably.

"At ease, Agent Light," Bella smirked.