The marble courtyard fountain blossomed brilliantly with hues of red, orange, yellow and silver at twenty second intervals. Precision mixed with beauty. That was the overriding precedent that swallowed the entire courtyard. Ornately carved benches stood flanking the fountain at all four major directions with walkways extending towards different parts of the complex that was the Spatio-Temporal Service(or Agency as some refer to it). As the silvery droplets turned blood red, Igusuki or "Iggy" Kichirou removed his right arm from the full glass pane window, wiping away the smudge that his suit sleeve had left with his other sleeve only to make the smudge worse. A snort of laughter came, dark brown irises examining the now opaque spot on the window and acknowledged mentally that this could have been interpreted as a microcosm of how things had gone the past few months. He rolled his shoulders back, suit jacket bunching up momentarily before settling on the broader than average(but not too broad) shoulders of his almost six foot frame(by an inch!) and adjusting the monocular HUD situated about half an inch in front of his eye. Other than a report of rain in the lower right hand corner of his HUD that disappeared as quickly as it appeared, his surroundings remained largely undisturbed as he took a seat in an overstuffed leather chair that crinkled audibly upon his sitting in it.
"Sometime soon..." He mumbled the words that the STS general's assistant had told him when he was ushered into the room forty five minutes ago. This waiting did nothing but prolong the churning from within his gut, fully aware that a meeting with Kyle "Brickwall" Vance normally was for either disciplinary reasons or an assignment that was top level clearance, First Circle's eyes only and all that. Not that everyone knew the second purpose of Vance's meetings, but he got familiar with the latter a couple of times thanks to an affiliation with a few operatives who had helped him climb the ranks.

Well, former operatives.

Shaking off the potential wallowing that threatened to envelop him(again), he blew out a sigh, mentally commanding his HUD to run a news stream. A manicured and coiffed Nancy Yu delivered more successes across the Terran Galactic Empire. Thwarting alien pirates, smuggling and traffic across the Main Square were all topics that Nancy covered expertly and quickly, two traits that those within the Empire valued almost above all others. There was, however, one report that he flagged for later about reports of slight tremors occurring outside Galaxity walls, but for citizens to not be alarmed and that it was normal "tectonic" movement. Igusuki would see if-

"Kichirou! Sorry for the wait." The barrel chested man rolled into his office, suit buttons jangling as he sat behind the massive wooden desk that dominated the eastern part of the room.
"You wanted to see me, sir?"
"Indeed I did." A slight twitch of his grey mustache.
"Something has come to our attention. Something very...strange." The general didn't normally sound frightened, but Igusuki thought he could hear a trace of the foreign emotion creep into the older man's voice.
"Wha-"
"The team you were sent back with to the 1920's to apprehend Buloxi, the smuggler turned fanatic? You remember?"

Every night.

"Yes."
"One of our mission control teams received a distress call from a STS transmitter. Code zero two one, which is a call for recon." Clearing his throat, Vance leaned forward, stocky arms weighing on the desk as he continued:
"Putting you on that mission was a mistake. A stupid one on my part, but you were the one that came back alive with a mission report that stated ALL of your team was wiped out. I need you to go back and make sure that's the case."
"I'm sorry?"
"I'm sending you back to the 1920's to investigate the distress call."
"I thought I was stripped of my field license...sir."
"Consider it temporarily reinstated. And I'm not sending you back there without someone competent to make sure you don't screw this one up either. She'll be coming in to introduce herself in a minute."

The sound of a solid piece of metal clunked onto the paved road, which filled the morning silence in the 7th district of Zign. The plant Zign hadn’t been the most promising planet the government had set into terraforming. There were several issues with the flora development which resulted into criminals with enough chemistry knowledge to take advantage of the illegal plants growing there. You’d think such practises would be located long before there would’ve been any drug on the market, but sadly the information only arrived within headquarters a few weeks ago. The result: a heavily armed and organised group of outlaws had set up camp within a few clicks of the greenhouses and had a fully operational production of this highly addictive drug. Naturally, somebody had to shut them down and Adaline Ellis seemed just about ready for a real mission.

Adaline's mind had been set on field work ever since she had joined the army. Years of training later, she finally had been assigned on what seemed like an easy starter (disassemble and report) but ended up being a real pain in the ass. The amount of security and weapons were badly calculated and surely extra ammunition, gear and aid were needed. Although the severity of the mission, Adaline finally reported clearance and requested a transfer back to HQ. An approved message came back with an unusual extra note: a man named Kyle Vance, usually in charge of the trainees, had set up a meeting after she would arrive at the Agency. 

She assumed it would involve another mission and hadn't given it a second thought.

Heavy soldier boots soiled the entrance panel that had opened up in the back of a HUB shuttle. Small LED-lights dimmed as the panel slowly was set into motion again to shut with a sizzling sound. A few clicking sounds confirmed that the shuttle was firmly locked. With a deep sigh Adaline dropped a black bag packed with necessities, patched poorly together with grey stitching, on the ground in the loading area. Housework had never been her strongest skill and would probably never will, given her choice of employment. A broad metal panel slid up as she moved towards the control room of the shuttle. With a moan, she started peeling off her thick combat suit which stuck to her athletic body. A thin knife had clearly punctured through the abdominal area. When finally freed of the tight jacket, slightly dried up blood oozed through her white tanktop just above her right hip. After closer investigation, the wound was only a cut and had not damaged any organs. It would leave a nasty scar though. Adaline opened up a cabinet next to the smallest kitchenette that they could fit in a shuttle this size and started collecting all the ointments and bandages she had memorised from her training. Applying them without a few squeaks and curse words were not so easy. “No more solo work, that’s for sure..” she mumbled in between her teeth whilst cleaning up the remnants and heading towards the shower.

The Agency, a glorious building making every creature in this vast universe jealous. At least, if extravagant was your preferred style. A rather tight, dark blue suit squeezed Adaline in all the right places as she walked inside. Her long, blonde hair tied together in a ponytail swept from side to side as she headed towards the assigned room. A light knock reverberated though the empty hall in which she stood. Only now she began to feel her heart beat against her chest, a very unwelcome anxious reaction. What if her review was so bad, she would be taken OFF the field?

“Ah, there she is. Kichirou, may I introduce Adaline Ellis.”

The natural light in the room illuminated Adaline’s bright blue eyes. The small cuts and bruises on her cheek and nose did not seem to cover the few freckles she had gained during the many hours in the bright sun of Zign. Her expression remained calm as she laid her eyes onto Vance in front of her. With her arms straight next to her body, she slightly nodded towards the duo.

“Sir." Her eyes slowly slid towards the soldier in front of him.
"Nice to meet you.”

The woman identified as Adaline stood stiffer than the strongest drink he had ever consumed, her militaristic training obvious in the way she stood, the way she looked down at him with stoic curiosity(or so he assumed), the dutiful tone in which she greeted Vance. She appeared to be the perfect soldier, someone who would follow their orders to the ends of the Empire and beyond because it was their solemn oath to do so. The assumptions that ran through Igusuki's mind were thrown aside when Vance spoke after her curt greeting to the Quality Control officer(bah):
"Kichirou is now caught up to speed on the op report I just sent you. I'll need you to get him down to the training room and up to speed on the latest traveling protocols." A dark brow rose in confusion.
"Has traveling changed that much since I left?"
"Things change faster than the speed of light when it comes to the STS. Thankfully you'll have one of our best guiding you through the changes." He leaned forward, elbows resting heavily on the desk as he continued:
"You make sure, Adaline, that you take care of business and then leave. This should be a clean recon. No engaging enemies, no screwing with the time-space continuum, not anything that could remotely put us in hot water with the Circle. We have them breathing down our necks as it is and we don't need any other trouble brought to their attention." The last bit of that statement was rushed, piquing the reinstated field agent's curiosity. He wouldn't have a chance to ask nor would he dare to inquire.
"Get back there as soon as you can. I'll expect a report from you both in the next two days appraising me of your progress." With a wave of his massive hand, the duo were dismissed back into the waiting area.
"So..." Igusuki trailed off with an awkward half-smile.
"Apparently I don't know how to travel any longer. Care to show me what updates have been put in place? I'd like to know what I'm getting myself into before plunging back into field work all over again."

While the duo made their way out of the door, Adaline’s eyes moved from side to side reading up on the report Vance had send her beforehand. The mission seemed rather vague but under direct orders she did not dare question the specifics the report lacked. With a blink the memo bleeped out of her sight and into the folder named ‘1920’ which her monocular HUD had already prepared. Now with a clear view of the hallway and her new rookie partner, Adaline noticed how his lips curled upwards whilst waiting for a reply. It took her a moment to take in every direct detail about this soldier and automatically her HUD projected his general information provided by the Agency. Name, date of birth, height, general GPA,.. But no intel about his previous partners and their proffesional relationship. The annoyance was hard to hide when she once again filed the report. Suddenly having a partner seemed to scare her a little. What if their work ethics were drastically different and they had to call it quits? “What have you been doing the past 6 months if I may ask? Not to be rude, but I need to report on all the required knowledge to launch this mission.” Her calm attitude remained as she walked past him and entered a few coördinates in her genetic arm pad. “This way.”

The training area seemed about as empty as it could be. Many of the soldiers were either at the Acadamy or working out missions of their own anyway. And here she was.
The large room covered by a enormous dome of glass was neatly divided by eliminated strips on the floor, showing as much as 4 main area’s. A row of individual pods were humming with electricity keeping them up to date on the latest flight simulation software. An oldschool boxing ring with a few benches and loads of sports equipment stacked upon metal shelves on the other side. Various guns and lasers attached to a thick cord showed the VR section and last but not least: a library.

“I see on your latest evaluation report that your fighting skills are exquisite. Do you need a moment to refresh your memories?” Adaline turned around for a moment, lifting her brow and letting her eyes briefly search for his more noticeable muscles. The amused sparkle in her eyes left as fast as it came and she quickly turned her view away from her new partner. “I’ll send you a few protocol through your HUD number, read it through when you have a moment please.”

When she asked him what he had "been doing", he couldn't help but chuckle slightly.
"Forgive the laugh. The question isn't crazy, it's just that my work has been very...well, boring, for lack of a better term. I've been working in data management on the top floor. You could practically feel the silence smothering people's dreams up there." A morbid metaphor, but one that felt apt given the circumstances he had been exposed to the past six months.
"And I think that my 'activities' over the last six months should be in your report already, right? I mean, not to say that my field record would be accessible, seeing as the last time...well, I can talk to you about that as the situation calls for, I suppose." He didn't know this woman nor was he interested in sharing the experiences he endured with a stranger. Igusuki had purposefully bottled those experiences for his own private consumption rather than share it with anyone else. Why bother? They couldn't understand.

It didn't take long for them to arrive at the training area, the sterilized stench of bleach intermingled with sweat wafting through his nostrils. Still hadn't improved the scent. One would think that living in a massive technological empire would at least enable one to eliminate unpleasant odors or-

Right, she was talking.
"Exquisite?" He laughed, shaking his head before responding:
"I doubt that adjective highly and whoever affixed that label obviously hasn't seen me in actual combat. You can do really well against simulators, but the real thing tends to make one's fighting skills look rather poor." He turned his head to face her, catching a glimpse of her eyes moving quickly over his shoulders and arms as she informed him of protocols being sent to his HUD. Was she...was she checking him out? No, no, probably just regular eye movement. Right? Cause that would be weird. Flattering too.
"Give me a minute here..." He flitted through the protocols, noting the highlights aloud:
"So Vance wants a report every twenty four hours now....the STS will deny any accountability for our actions if we somehow screw up the time-space continuum(that's nice)...no travel back to the Jurassic period?" He looked over to Adaline with a quizzical expression.
"Who's going back to the Jurassic period? Can't exactly transport a triceratops to present day." With a slight chuckle, he wrapped up the info packets before telling his new partner:
"Look, I know I'm going to be rusty, but I want to get this over with." He quickly added:
"No offense to you, Adaline, it's just...I didn't want to do this. I was content with leaving the field and to be thrust back in like this is a bit disorienting. Nice to know I'll at least have someone who's way more experienced than I coming with me." There, a little flattery should help ease any tension that might have emerged from his perceived icy behavior(at least he felt like he had been a bit icy).
"Wouldn't mind a review of firearm mechanics. I assume you've got a lot of experience firing guns." He offered her a teasing glance as he walked towards the firing range.
"And I want to see your skills in action. Vance wouldn't just send anyone to accompany a lout like me. Target practice, maybe? First to twenty headshots buys the other coffee?"

Whilst her new partner explained his latest work experiences, Adaline let out a small huff. He either did something completely against the rules or what has happened on this mission has yet to be identified. Some soldiers get thrown off the field when their reports don’t add up with reality and this makes sense. Why would the Agency hire and pay military that don’t keep their facts straight? What’s right or wrong if that would be the case? It was true Adaline was a bit of a goodie-good girl and always followed every order to the detail, and so far she managed to keep her record clean. But Igusuki’s nonchalant attitude made her tense up a little as he wouldn’t share any information about 1920. Adaline’s gut ached a little when he waved the topic away.

Though, when he started reading through the protocol, her fear slowly ebbed away, taking her back to what pleased her the most: guidelines. The way he grinned at her in total confusing when he reached the final statement made her smile a little too. “I think they added that to every basic protocol when some higher rank tried to inhabit a unknown planet with Velociraptors and Tyrannosauruses. Something about battle of the century I.. think?” She elucidated whilst taking off her gloves and putting them on the table in front of the shooting range, right next to Igusuki.

His attitude suddenly shifted. There was no way around it: he didn’t want to talk about the only mission he had ever had nor did he want to go back to the location where it had all happened. Still, the Agency trusted him, and apparently herself, enough to complete it. “I don’t know what they have told you, but I am quite the rookie myself. I just finished my first solo mission and the board has only just now approved a partnership on my next.” Adaline picked up a long riffle and activated the keypad with her gene code. Immediately, the type of weapon appeared on her HUD together with the amount of ammo and her latest scores. “So like it or not, for now, your waggon it attached to mine.” With a smooth clicking motion, she reloaded her gun and pointed it towards the large screen in front of them. With one finger on the trigger, she softly released her breath and with a fluent motion she aimed for the first moving target. A headshot. “I could go for a cup, thank you.” She turned her head a little to check out his reaction before reloading again.

—

Meanwhile, on the other side of the compound, Vance’s freshly polished combat boots entered the IT department. A tiny man dressed in a dull grey shirt tucked in a way too large pants stood up from behind his desk and walked over towards him. “Did you prepare it?” he softly mumbled under his breath, wiping away a few specks of sweat that had appeared on his forehead. The man nodded quickly, making his huge spectacles slide down his nose:”Y-You just have to activate the this little device once they board the spacecraft. With this pad you can log in to follow up on their secured internal lines.” Vance looked down at the equipment the man shoved into his hands and nodded. “Vocals and messages I assume?” And once again the man nodded vigorously. Vance seemed pleased with this information and packed away his new toys. “No word, understood?” She said sharply when turning and walking towards the door. Before entering the hallway he turned his head sideways:”Or you’ll know the consequences, Benjamin.”