On Notice

Date/Timing: 4 January 2019
Setting: Equerry's office, The Shed; Vaucluse, NSW, Australia
.
Chantell props her elbows on her desk, her chin on her hands, and sighs.
Major Harry the Decorated Drop Bear offers silent encouragement from beside her monitor.
Chantell offers a wibbly smile. "Thanks, buddy."
The intercom chimes.
""Incoming call from Charlotte Darling,"" announces AGNIS, ""Drift Science Grump, Anchorage Drift Science.""
"Not cool, AGNIS." 
""Yes, 'cool', AGNIS. The current temperature in Anchorage is minus eighteen point three degrees Celsius. Will you accept the call or not?""
"Yes, please."
""My code has yet to receive a patch capable of distinguishing inclusive and exclusive 'or'. Please try again.""
"I would like to accept Officer Darling's call, please."
""Transferring.""
Chantell sits up straight, takes a deep breath, and schools her face to neutrality. 
Chuck's image swims into focus.
"Marshal Thomas Nguyen's office, Chantell Nguyen, Equerry, here. How may I help you, Officer Darling?"
""Officer,"" Chuck replies, pokes something off camera. ""Doctor Lightcap wants to know if you've processed the temporary transfer requests for Officers Riley and Egan yet.""
"I will find out." Chantell taps away. "How's Anchorage?" 
""Cold. The files should be at the top of the queue."" 
"I'm looking~" Tosses her hair. "Tablet's being slow. Gotta love the future, 'm I right?" Laughs. 
Chuck sips her tea. 
"Let's see .... Are you talking about the temporary transfers that arrived five minutes ago?"
""Yes.""
"I'll take care of it right away. Is ... are they okay?"
""They're fine. Doctor Lightcap wants another look at their 'unique and probably harmless neural pathways'.""
Chantell's eyebrows rise. "'Probably harmless'?"
Chuck shrugs.
Chantell does. not. shudder. "While I've got you, Officer ... are there any updates on the ... 'cases of interest'?"
""I'll send you the file."" Chuck attends off-screen.
"Thank you." 
""You're welcome."" 
Chantell makes herself relax. "So, Sydney's good. Had a couple of electrical fires but nothing the crew couldn't handle so we're on schedule for a Drift test in the sim tonight and the scan'll need a priority review when it comes in a few hours from now."
Chuck's face closes. ""We'll get to it first thing in the morning with the other high-priority scans. Thank you for the advanced notice, Officer—""
"You are /more than welcome—"
""Have a pleasant evening.""
The screen goes black.
""Call disconnected,"" says AGNIS.
Chantell exhales shakily, gathers Major Harry, and hugs him to her chest.
Category:Ficlet
Category:Skeleton Key
Category:Chantell
Category:Chantell (ficlet)
Category:Chuck D
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Category:Conversations via video
Category:AGNIS
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Category:Caitlin (mention)
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