Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight

 

The next fourteen days passed like the longest, most terribly boring period ever known to the Cavaleri siblings.  The only reprieve they had from the monotony was their desk work, but that was almost more torturous than the tedium.  To Irin’s immense relief, she was only forced to spend two days sorting reports before she and her brothers were moved to terminals on the top floor - only to find out their new assignment was worse than the last.  They spent several hours each day researching and handing out assignments to other agent teams �" assignments they would have had if they weren’t on probation.  It was its own unique form of torture, but at least they were together and allowed to interact with the other people on the floor. 

 

Irin couldn’t remember there being another time she had gone this long without Weaving since she'd learned how, and it was making her go stir crazy.  It was like there was all this energy itching just on the peripherals of her brain, and she wasn’t allowed to reach out and scratch it.  She could tell her brothers were feeling it, too.  As agents, they thrived on action and their ability to do some immediate good, and they were trapped in a punishment of their own making.  The guilt of that knowledge weighed heavily on all of them.

 

For Irin, though, her guilt was amplified on the first day of punishment when her cell chimed due to a Company-wide alert.  She opened the message and clicked the link it contained.  A video filled the screen, showing the Commander sitting at the table in the War Room.  He was in front of the projector screen, which was displaying the Company logo. 

 

“Fellow Weavers,” the Commander’s voice rang out with authority, “Events from last night have led to a precarious situation for the Company.  During a routine mission, one of our teams came in contact with a Weaver who has no known association with the Company.  While he has yet to show aggression, his presence at an important mission leads us to believe his intentions toward us may be less than honorable.  A task force has been formed to deal with this situation.  I ask that you keep your eyes open as you go about your daily activities, especially those whose jobs take them out of the present.  If you see him, attempt only to detain him unless your life is in imminent danger.  Any sightings are to be reported at once to the task force, and a link has been added to the Company homepage, which details how to do so.  Lastly, I urge you to remain calm and cool headed.  We are in no imminent danger.  Please go about your lives normally until further notice.  Thank you.”

 

Irin’s heart plummeted as the screen went blank once more.  This is exactly what she had been afraid of since the moment she encountered the rogue Weaver.  When the Company felt someone was a threat, their policy wasn’t innocent until proven guilty �" it was guilty until proven innocent.  The policy may have served the Company throughout the centuries, but more than a few innocent people had been caught in the crossfire.

 

And so the days passed, full of torturous boredom until day fifteen, when Irin’s eyes opened the moment she felt herself waking.  She felt different, lighter somehow, because she knew today was the day: they were finally off probation!  She was purposefully ignoring the fact that they weren’t officially free until the Commander signed their paperwork - he had to!  They’d been goddamn saints for two weeks!  She dressed quickly, rushed through her morning routine and then ran to pound on her brothers’ door.

 

A bleary eyed Lance answered with his hair all askew.  He blinked at her for a few seconds before grumbling, “What the hell are you doing up so early?” 

 

She thought about that for a second and realized she had no idea what time it was.  “Actually, what time is it?” she asked, watching Lance stifle a yawn. 

 

He looked at her like she was an idiot.  “It’s 5:30 in the goddamn morning.  We don’t have to be up for another two hours at least,” he griped at her. 

 

Irin felt a little ping of surprise at that, seeing as she wasn’t a morning person in the slightest, but she brushed it away.  “Whatever, don’t you know what today is?” she asked excitedly, even clapping her hands once for effect. 

 

The “you’re an idiot” look he was giving her got more pronounced.  “I won’t even be able to tell you what year it is until I’m more awake,” he told her, covering another yawn. 

 

“Today’s the day!” she practically squealed, and he recoiled in pain from her high voice.  “It’s day fifteen!  We’re off probation!” 

 

His wince lessened as he slowly processed what she was saying.  Suddenly his eyes widened, and he looked remarkably more awake.  “Holy s**t, you’re right,” he exclaimed.  “It’s about damn time!” 

 

Irin heard a faint thwap and Lance’s responding curse as a flip flop dropped to the floor behind him.  Apparently Jace wasn’t taking their early morning loudness very well.  Lance picked up the offending shoe and chucked it back at his brother’s sleeping form.  “Get up, you dipshit!  We’re off probation!” he crowed in delight, and Irin smiled.  It felt good to be free. 

 

After explaining what day it was to a very much still asleep Jace, it was only ten minutes before the three siblings were dressed and taking the elevator to the top.  The doors opened on a fairly sedate scene since there were no imminent expeditions or missions.  Still, the Company was a twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year sort of gig, so there were always people milling about and tapping away at keyboards up here.  The siblings gave brief nods to a few of the workers they passed on their way to the Commander’s office.  The light was on so they had no problem knocking on his office door before 6am. 

 

The door was yanked open a few seconds later, accompanied by the Commander’s exclamation of, “What?”  He glanced at the three people outside his door.  “I should have known it’d be you guys,” he grumbled mostly to himself.  “I suppose you want me to sign off saying you’ve completed your probation.”  They all smiled and nodded.  “Alright, get in here,” he instructed and stood back so they could enter his office. 

 

They all stood in front of his desk while the Commander retook his seat.  Following his ritual of not speaking until all his papers were organized just as he wanted them, it was a moment before he addressed them.  “I must admit I’m surprised I haven’t heard one complaint out of you three over the last two weeks.  That better mean you have learned your lesson and aren’t about to repeat your mistakes,” he glared at them sternly, and they each nodded in affirmation.  “Good, then I’ll sign these forms and put you at the top of the rotation starting tomorrow,” he declared, tapping the papers in question.  “But so help me, if you screw up like this one more time, you’re going to wish you’d woken up one day to find out you were one legged court jesters instead of Weavers.  Am I clear?” 

 

“Yes, sir!” they all responded. 

 

“Then we’re done here,” he dismissed them, but they all lingered, glancing at one another.

 

“Actually, sir,” Irin was the one who spoke, and the Commander looked up at her, “we were wondering if there might be a mission or expedition or anything we might get in on today.  We haven’t Woven in over two weeks, and we’re about ready to go insane,” she pleaded with him, and her brothers shared similar looks of eagerness. 

 

The Commander eyed them for a moment as if assessing them.  “There are two expeditions going out today that need security detail.  I was going to call up some of the newer recruits, but you guys can have them if you want.  You’re far overqualified, but if you want into the field that badly, they’ll get you there,” he offered with a look that clearly indicated he thought these jobs were unsavory. 

 

The siblings, however, were ready to take whatever they could get.  “Sounds great!  We’ll take them!” Irin exclaimed after looking to the twins for confirmation. 

 

“Suit yourselves.  There’s a team heading to 545CE Constantinople to document some churches at 0900.  That could use one extra person.  Then there’s another team heading to 1895 Moscow to investigate worker conditions at 1300.  That could use two extra people.  Take your pick, but make sure you’re back up here for the briefs a half hour beforehand.  Now, get out of here so I can get some work done,” he commanded gruffly, and the siblings didn’t need to be told twice. 

 

Irin was practically skipping as she and her brothers headed back to the elevator.  “Well, now that that’s settled, I wouldn’t say no to some breakfast,” Jace commented as they stepped inside. 

 

“Sounds good to me.”

 

“Same here,” Lance said, and he reached out and pushed the button for the second floor. 

 

As soon as the doors opened, the three were hit with wonderful smells like eggs, bacon, waffles and French toast wafting from the cafeteria, and their mouths began to water.  The each filled a tray with steaming hot breakfast foods and then headed for the large seating area filled with round tables sporadically populated by various Company personnel.  Since it was still really early, it would be a while yet before it became the hive of activity it was known to be at mealtimes. 

 

Irin took a cursory glance at the various people present before she made her way to the back right corner of the room.  By some unspoken agreement, this is where she, her brothers and their friends always ate, and boy did it feel good to be heading back there today.  As part of their social activities ban, they hadn’t even been allowed to eat in the cafeteria, instead having to take their food back to their rooms. 

 

Irin claimed the seat in the very back corner, giving her an unobstructed view of the entire room, and it wasn’t long before Jace took the seat on her left and Lance the one on her right.  They ate in silence for a few moments, simply enjoying the feeling of being free again. 

 

“So,” Lance spoke up as he speared a piece of sausage, “security detail later today.” 

 

Irin just shrugged.  “Sure, it’s not my first choice, but after these past two weeks, I’ll take it.  I need to make a web and hold a weapon again so badly it’s not even funny,” she complained, and her brothers commiserated.

 

“Yeah, no s**t.  I’m willing to babysit a few anthropologists for the opportunity to get out of this place,” Lance agreed. 

 

“So who’s taking which detail?  Personally, I’m not too keen on churches when it comes down to it,” Jace told them. 

 

“I don’t really care either way.  It’s all the same to me,” Lance shrugged.

 

“Well, if you guys don’t mind, I’d rather avoid Russia if possible.  The first thing I associate with Russia is cold, and I’d rather not chance it,” Irin explained. 

 

“I guess that settles it then.  Irin, you take the morning detail, and Lance and I can take the afternoon.  Sound like a plan?”

 

“Sounds good,” Irin and Lance piped up together. 

 

They slowly made their way through all of the food in front of them, and afterwards, none of them was inclined to move.  Instead, they all leaned back in their chairs and took in the ambiance of the cafeteria. 

 

“Hey, guys!” a deep voice shouted from across the cafeteria, and they all turned to see a group of three guys making their way toward their table.  “’Bout time you were let out!” the one in the middle continued as he set his tray down across the table from them. 

 

“Hey, Tom,” Jace greeted him.  “Chris, Hans,” he nodded to the other guys with him.  These were some of the guys that trained with the twins.  Tom and Hans were lone wolf or rotating agents, meaning they supplemented whatever team needed them and didn’t have a permanent group like the Cavaleris’.  Chris had gone another route and now was one of the combat instructors for the current students, and Irin helped him out when she could afford the time.  They were all a little rough around the edges, like her and her brothers, but they were good people. 

 

“So, are we going to be seeing you at the training ring any time soon?” Chris asked her. 

 

“Definitely,” she assured him, “either tomorrow or the next day.”  She was quite looking forward to that prospect. 

 

“You should be warned, their mastery of those moves you showed them last time has flailed in your absence,” he stage whispered as if it were a secret. 

 

Irin laughed.  “I feared as much.  Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to set them back on track.” 

 

The six of them continued to talk and joke around for the next hour or so until Irin had to leave.  She stood to make her goodbyes, gathering up her tray in the process.  “Alright, I’m off to get ready.  I don’t know if I’ll see you before you leave, so be safe,” she wished each of her brothers. 

 

“You too,” they both intoned, and she could feel the sincerity in their gazes. 

 

“Wait, wait, where are you off to?” Hans’ accented voice spoke up.  He’d transferred in from Germany during his training years. 

 

“I’ve got security detail in an hour.  300s Constantinople as far as I know.”

 

“Security detail?” Tom asked, scrunching his face in distaste.  “Whose puppy did you kick now?”

 

“Actually, we asked for it,” Jace explained, and Tom and Hans looked at them like they’d all grown extra heads.

 

“Why would you do that?” Hans inquired.

 

“We haven’t been out of this godforsaken place in two weeks, and they couldn’t get us into the rotation until tomorrow.  Security detail is the first ticket out, and we’re on it!” Lance exclaimed, slapping the table for good measure. 

 

Irin shook her head at her brother’s antics as she waved bye and headed out the cafeteria door.  Half an hour later she was geared up and ready to go, taking the elevator back to the top floor.  There was a definite spring in her step as she made her way to the War Room in the back and snatched an apple from the corner table’s fruit basket.  Since no one had arrived for the brief yet, she took up residence at the far end of the table, leaning back in her seat with her feet propped up on the table. 

 

That was how the expedition team found her, munching away at her apple, as they slowly trickled in.  She glanced at her watch and saw it was already five after the brief start time, and everyone was still milling about as one or two more arrived.  Clearly expeditions did not operate on the same strict time schedule as missions, she mused. 

 

Finally a middle aged, balding man with thick rimmed glasses stood up to address them.  Irin zoned out as he went into detail about the types of churches they were going to be visiting and the imagery and measurements they would be taking.  The point of these expeditions was to document the past as accurately as possible to both appreciate the aesthetic wonder and learn from the mistakes.  The part she was interested in was the date and exact location of the expedition, so she knew what sort of setting to expect to be working in.  It was pretty hit or miss when it came to expeditions running into trouble, so she had to be prepared just in case.

 

She was in the process of trying to figure out the likelihood of them encountering trouble in ancient churches, when a voice broke her train of thought.  “Not a big fan of ancient architecture?” 

 

Irin turned toward the source of the voice, which happened to be the young man sitting next to her.  He was olive skinned with dark brown hair and eyes, and he spoke with some variation of a British accent, but it wasn’t quite right.  She squinted at him, positive he looked familiar to her, but after a few seconds she realized he had asked her a question.  “I’m sorry, I didn’t catch that,” she told him honestly.

 

“Oh, I was just saying you must not be a big fan of architecture.  You look pretty bored,” he clarified with a smile, but it faltered when he noticed she was still looking at him critically.  “Um, is everything ok?”

 

“Do I know you from somewhere?” she inquired bluntly.  “You look really familiar, but I can’t place you for some reason,” she told him, and her frustration was evident. 

 

“Well, I did my third year training here, but the rest of my training was done overseas.  I just transferred back here six months ago.  I’m Jared �"”

 

“Jared Answari!” she exclaimed, glad to have figured it out.  “You were in my ancient history class third year.”  The resulting silence permeating the room made her realize her outburst had been noticed by the whole table.  “Sorry,” she muttered sheepishly, and they went back to their brief.

 

“Smooth,” he made fun of her good naturedly, keeping his voice to a whisper.  She just rolled her eyes.  “So,” he continued, “now that you know who I am, how about you?” 

 

“Irin Cavaleri.  I’m running security for this expedition,” she whispered back.

 

“Irin, Irin,” he muttered, racking his brain for why that sounded so familiar.  “Wait, are you the same Irin that kicked everybody’s a*s in the swordsmanship ring?” he asked in astonishment.

 

“Yeah, I guess you could say that,” she replied with a chuckle.

 

“Oh, wow,” Jared laughed, “I remember that one fifth year who saw you practicing and challenged you to a duel.  I will never forget his face when you beat him in six moves.  What was his name again?”

 

“Hans,” she murmured with a smirk.  He had been one of the guys who couldn’t handle her being better than him.  Luckily he’d gotten over it pretty quickly �" after she beat him so easily and so publicly. 

 

“I can’t even remember why he challenged you in the first place.  You weren’t even in the same year,” Jared continued.

 

“He saw me practicing moves above my year and thought I was trying to be cool,” she mused.  “He wanted to prove I wasn’t as good as I thought I was.” 

 

“Bet he changed his mind pretty quickly,” he said confidently. 

 

“You could say that,” she responded, her smirk growing wider.  After she had defeated Hans, five other fourth and fifth years had challenged her one after the other, and she managed to defeat each one, even with no breaks in between.  Clearly they had all forgotten she had two brothers in their year who had no qualms over practicing hard with her.  She’d spent most of her spare time training and dueling in order to compete with them, thus bringing her well above her actual year. 

 

“So,” Jared began, changing the subject, “You really did become an agent.  Do you normally do security detail?” 

 

“No, pretty much never.  I paid my dues fifth year and the first couple of months after graduation and became a fulltime mission agent.  I volunteered for this gig since I was off duty for a while and itching to get back in the field,” she explained.

 

 “That’s cool.  Welcome to the team,” he offered with a smile. 

 

“Thanks,” she smiled back.  “So, I take it you are into all this architecture stuff?”

 

“Yeah, I love it.  Architecture’s always been my thing, but I specialized in ancient religious sites.  The structures are all different, but there was always so much time and effort that went into them,” he explained, and his passion was clear on his face. 

 

“I’m not going to lie; I know next to nothing about architecture, but I can appreciate a good looking building when I see one,” she joked.

 

“I suppose that’s something,” he retorted, chuckling with her.  He opened his mouth to continue, but people started standing up around the table.  “I guess the brief’s over,” he said instead, standing up as well. 

 

Irin got up and followed him out, tossing her apple core in the trash can on the way.  It didn’t take long for them to make it to the Weave Bay doors.  “Good to go?” she asked her companion. 

 

“Ready when you are.”

 

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