*** Chief Counsellors Office * SB Unity ***
Rangi steeled herself, took a deep breath and sounded the
chime. She could well do without this meeting but it had to
be done.
"Come" a voice called from within.
Stephen Jacobs turned his head to see who entered, although
he expected her and knew she would not be late.
"Take a seat." he said indicating the sofa opposite to the
one on which he sat.
He made no effort to get up but remained as he was,
comfortably relaxed against the soft cushions watching her
cross the room towards him.
She sat down as he had asked, dropping her bag beside her
ankles and saying: " Thankyou." as she did so.
They looked at each other across the top of the low table
positioned between the sofas, she sitting upright on the
edge of her seat, hands folded on her lap and he with an air
of faint boredom.
"You look a bit stressed." he said at last and reached
forward to lift a cup of tea from the table, resting the
saucer on his knee and lifting the cup to his lips. " Why is
that ?" he asked and took a sip.
Rangis grey blue eyes could have frozen a boiling geyser but
Stephen merely placed the cup back onto its saucer with a
'chink' sound and set it back on the tabletop.
" I've spent the last eighteen hours being debriefed..." she
began coldly "...which is another way of saying
'interrogated'.
I have been prodded and poked in a thorough medical
examination and have been assessed in a battery of
psycological tests to determine the likelyhood or not of my
having divulged secrets, been brainwashed or to discover
whether I am indeed who I 'think' I am"
{...and now I'm here with you.} she added to herself, sorely
tempted to say it aloud.
" And the results?" he enquired.
"Pending." she replied flatly and a minute frown flicked
across her forehead when she saw a fleeting moment of
amusement touch the corners of his mouth.
" I wont be passing you fit for duty." he said, steepling
his fingers together and, seeing her stiffen as she sat bolt
upright in her place added:
" The outcome of this war doesnt depend on your presence in
the infirmary or whether you are behind your advisors desk.
You're not essential and can be replaced in an instant. Come
and see me when you think you're capable and I'll reassess
the situation."
Her lips parted and began to form a word but his steady gaze
silenced her before it was uttered.
" Very well." she said in as reasonable tone as she could
muster then added a chilly " Thankyou." for politeness sake.
She lifted her bag from the ground then stood and walked
towards the door, opened it and went out, giving his
secretary the briefest of smiles as she passed by.
Stephen remained motionless, only his eyes moving to watch
her progress across the room.
When she had gone, he reached for his cup and drained the
rest of his coffee.
*** End Log ***
Commander Rangi Summers
Med Adv 1st Task Force
CMO SB Unity
&
Stephen Jacobs
Chief Counsellor
SB Unity
(npc Rangi )
