Their relationship had never been a model one but what little camaraderie they'd managed to cull had been stretched beyond its limit over the holidays. New Years Eve and 1993 just could not come fast enough.

Over her diet soda and with her eyes focused squarely on a chip in their booth table's lacquer, Gabriel finally spoke. "It's a miracle High Command didn't eliminate us both over that mess that -- I think -- was supposed to be Christmas."

"Mmm." Steelbeak didn't seem especially eager to open their downed lines of communication quite yet.

"You hear from Tegwen since. . . Um. . ." Gabriel's voice wavered slightly in uncertainty.

"Ha. No."

Though she couldn't make it sound the least bit convincing, Gabriel said quietly, "Sorry things didn't work out there." More like, she was sorry she'd been there to witness it blow up in his face.

"No yer not."

"Have you been debriefed by HC yet regarding our last --"

"No."

Gabriel scowled, slapping her palm painfully on the table. "Would you actually talk to me?!" She said through clenched teeth. "This lack-of-communication problem of ours very seriously could have -- may almost have -- gotten us killed! High Command seems dead set about having us work together so -- damn it -- we need to fix this!"

Steelbeak raised an unimpressed eyebrow at her. She was still unwilling to make eye contact with him and it spoke volumes.

"Talk," she barked.

"Fine, let's talk den!" He snapped. "What was dat top secret mission dey 'ad ya woiken on dat fer some reason couldn't involve me?"

Gabriel sighed, closing her eyes and rubbing her temples. "I suppose it doesn't really even matter anymore since it ultimately failed -- no thanks to you getting in the way." She paused. "It was the same mission they gave you."

"What? De only mission I was on dis month was ta get dose stupid toys!"

". . . Really?" Gabriel whispered.

go back | return to table of contents | continue