Missiles & Magic

Risa was sitting in a comfortable lawn chair, sipping tea and enjoying the view.
She loved how the Newcastle office's garden overlooked the sea, but today there was something else competing for her attention.
Elk (the local director) used the tea time break for practice. His body moved expertly through a series of perfectly coordinated motions, the harmony amplified by his tight fitting attire.
Almost like a dance, but deadly, if used right.
As he struck the last pose, Risa heard a giggle from one of the "outdoor education center" climbing structures and almost rolled her eyes.
Keep dreaming, ladies...

Wolf asked Lioness to try and describe as much of the ritual to him, as she could remember.
She closed her eyes, summoning every ounce of memory she could muster, but all she could get were flashes.
Light, sounds, emotions, magic. A colourful blur of things moving too fast to grasp or put into words.
"Did he use any artifacts?" the director prompted.
She was sure he did. But could she pinpoint their function, or at least recall their looks in any detail?
She didn't think it likely. But she needed to try.
A pencil in her hand started sketching.

Fox and Squirrel sat at a table in one of their favourite pubs near HQ. Tiger dragged Raven in, sat him down and put fresh pints in front of both of them.
"I heard your lady came back," Fox said with a wink. "She's got more lives than a cat..."
Tiger shot him a glare, but Raven just shook his head as he drained the pint in one gulp.
"I'm not sure she did come back this time," he gritted, but then clammed up again.
Squirrel clapped his shoulder encouragingly.
"Of course she did. Women change. That's what they do."

When Maddie finally came home, she was exhausted beyond belief.
"Mommy! You're back!" little tornado flew into her arms with a crushing hug. She smiled, hugged her daughter tight and set her down.
"Are you hungry?" she asked, racking her brain for the right "protocol" for coming home.
"Ummm..."
"Or do you want to play? Or..."
There was a trickle of dread, as she realized she has no idea how to relate to her child.
"How have you been, little bug?" she asked finally, feeling lame.
Fortunately, the toddler started to chatter excitedly.
That was at least something.
What's next?

21st Feb 2018

It feels weird not to feel, quite honestly.
My fingertips seem to remember there should be sensations to pick up on every page, but all they get is the soft rustling of paper and smoothness of leather.
In fact, all of my senses seem to remember more than they can actually get to. Every inch of me seem to be straining to break through a glass wall... that simply will not budge.
How DO people live with such limited information about what surrounds them?
I don't even know what to write... or to feel.
By myself.
Alone.

Of course Raven wouldn't say any more. And she had precious little to go on based off his expression. She looked to Swan, who in turn spoke up.
"It certainly looks like we all have our work cut out for us. Raven, could you make sure Tiger and his team are ready, when we make a move?"
The section chief nodded choppily and shot Lioness one last look before leaving the room.
"Now, Lioness, I have to assess your... new condition, do you mind?"
"Of course."
Lioness closed her eyes and let Swan see.
Her mind's garden burned to crisp.

Raven listened to the conversation between Lioness and Wolf, his face more and more reminiscent of a thundercloud. It made Swan switch her attention from Lioness to him. Lioness did not notice the change, until he spoke up.
"Would you really have done it, if it was anyone else then *him*?"
She turned to him, obviously surprised and confused for a second.
"What are you suggesting, Raven?" she asked coldly.
"Last time you were his mistress. And now? You let him make you his lab rat. You tell me, what I should think, Lioness."
"Are you... jealous?" she asked, unsure.

Swan, Eagle and Wolf were looking across the table at their agent with curiosity.
Before she could say anything, there was a knock on the door and in came Raven.
She smiled at him.
"...so, I thought it best to try to get as much information as I could," Lioness finished and shrugged.
"And how exactly did you do that?"
"I... let him perform the ritual."
"What?" Wolf's eyes darkened.
"I know it sounds borderline insane - "
"Borderline? There is nothing 'border' about it, Lioness. It's so far out, in fact, you can't even SEE the bloody line!" he interrupted, loudly.

The young receptionist stood up as she entered.
"I need to speak to Swan, immediately," Lioness told her. "And could you also let Raven know I'm back, please?"
"Of course," she nodded politely. "Please..."
"Yes, I'll stay here, I know the protocol."
"Right."
Lioness sat down in one of the armchairs, trying to project calm and confidence.
There was no way she'd be able to hide her... condition... from Swan.
But she didn't *want* to hide it.
She can still do her job.
She can even become a better agent than before.
She'll make everyone understand that.
She's strong.
Fearless.

Owl studied the map board's tacks, notes and crisscrossing strings.
"The problem is, we have too much data. And it will take us too far down too many rabbit holes."
Weta, running computer simulations, shrugged.
"We can crunch them fast enough."
"I could get closer to truth with just good ol' legwork."
"Every simulation points to her being taken."
"Of course. But where to and by whom? I wager they *want* us to look further afield than we have to."
"You'd win."
"...really?"
Weta pointed to the image from the camera outside HQ gate.
Lioness was just coming through it.