Intimidate

Date/Timing: July 2016
Setting: Sydney Mini 'Dome, Hong Kong Shatterdome; Tsing Yi Island, Hong Kong, China
Inspiration: Suddenly, Prompts!
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[As] she checks her satchel for the fourth time, someone squeezes her arm. Emere startles, looks up.
"You've done this before and you're /awesome at it," says Chantell. 
"But-but—" Emere breaks off with something that probably qualifies as a whimper.
Chantell bops her shoulder. "You could've drawn the Jones brothers, you know. This'll be a walk in the park compared to that."
Emere scrunches her nose. "Good point. I think I'll be thankful I got the quiet, professional ones." Sighs, "This time."
"What was—"
""Someone maligning my Rangers?""
"More like pointing out how crazy you are, Jamie."
Jamie snorts into his coffee. "They're not so bad once they realize they're outclassed." His eyes twinkle.
Chantell snickers. "That spoon thing was /epic, by the way."
"That was just a warning shot: I've got much, /much worse up my sleeve if either of 'em /really gets outta line," Jamie smugs. 
"This'll be fun to watch."
"Planning on supplementing my income selling tickets."
"No, you won't," says Chantell. "That would be a violation of the 'conflict of interest' clause in your contract."
"Mine doesn't have one of those."
"Of course it—" Chantell presses her lips thin. "Wha'did you do, Walker?"
"Negotiated with HR." He rocks on his heels.
Chantell's mouth opens and closes soundlessly a few times.
Emere laughs. "Why aren't you a lawyer, Jamie?"
Jamie puffs up a little, sniffs, "Because I have ethics and morals."
Chantell sputters.
Emere giggles.
"On that note—" Jamie bows extravagantly. "—I'll take my leave." He saunters off.
Emere turns to Chantell. "No offence, but why doesn't he have your job?"
"None taken." Chantell's mouth turns down. "Because he's too valuable to waste on straight-up admin." Grins. "And nepotism."
"I'm really glad he doesn't. Have your job."
"Yea, that kinda power might go straight to his head."
Chantell's tablet pipes up. 
AGNIS: Please refain from wasting anymore time, officers. 
"Thank you, AGNIS," Chantell says dryly. Offers a smile. "Ready to officially meet your Rangers?"
Emere swallows, nods.
Chantell squeezes her arm again and they head back to the Marshal's offices.
.
"Team Triton," says Marshal Nguyen, "meet your Handler, Officer Emere Seccombe."
Emere bows. "Rangers."
"Officer," Rangers Parata and Davies say together as they bow.
"I leave you in Officer Seccombe's very capable hands, Rangers." The Marshal bows and strolls from the conference room.
A small eternity of silence.
"You've already had your tour, yea?" Emere hazards.
They nod.
"Been shown your quarters?"
Nod.
Synchronized.
Caden and Meadow nev— 
"Gotten breakkie?"
Nod.
Christ, that's unnerving.
"So, is there anything you'd like to ask me or have me do for you?"
"No, thank you, Officer," says Ranger Davies.
"I need a few meetings scheduled, Officer," says Ranger Parata.
"Of course, sir," replies Emere, reaching into her satchel—
Pen's not where it should be.
Fishes a bit.
No pen.
Digs.
Pen!
Emere applies it to datebook.
Nothing.
Out. Of. Ink.
Ranger Parata's frowning.
Emere all but sticks her head in the satchel.
There had to be some sort of cosmic conspiracy, preventing her from being able to find a pen that worked on this of all days.
She huffs, seizes her mobile, opens the texting app. Voice level, "Go ahead, sir."
"Where's your tablet?" he asks.
Emere does. not. cringe. "I prefer working on paper, sir, and entering my notes into the system during my prep periods. I've found the increased accuracy to be worth the extra step."
Ranger Parata grunts.
"What would you like me to schedule for you, sir?"
"Get me into the dentist's ASAP and find me a spot on the Head of Recreation's calendar."
Emere taps away. "What shall I tell Officer [needs-a-name] you wish to discuss?"
"Preparations for alternative celebrations for Commonwealth Day."
"Thank you, sir." Emere sends the text to herself. "Is there anything else?"
They shake their heads, push to their feet.
"Thank you, Officer," says Parata and he strolls out the door.
Davies bobs her head, stops just inside the threshold, turns back to Emere with a slight smile playing around her mouth.
"Ma'am?"
"Don't let him scare you. He's a little intimidated—" Her smile solidifies. "—by you."
"/Me?" Emere squeaks.
Davies nods. "You've done this before and he hasn't. He doesn't want to look like a fool."
"Oh."
"Thought you should know." Davies turns back to the door. "See you after workouts, Officer." And she's through and gone.
Emere blinks at the empty doorway, shakes her head, then hops up and marches to the Quartermasters' for a box of ballpoints.
Category:Ficlet
Category:Characters in need of Names
Category:Sydney Mini 'Dome (setting)
Category:Emere
Category:Emere (ficlet)
Category:Chantell
Category:Chantell (ficlet)
Category:Jamie
Category:Jamie (ficlet)
Category:Caden (mention)
Category:Meadow (mention)
Category:Nguyen Family
Category:Nguyen (ficlet)
Category:Iorangi
Category:Iorangi (ficlet)
Category:Elizabeth
Category:Elizabeth (ficlet)
Category:AGNIS
Category:AGNIS (ficlet)
Category:Jones brothers (mention)
Category:Ficlets with tweaks
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