We judge the future by the past. Achieving success is one's ability to look at yesterday, cease today, and capture tomorrow's opportunity. -- Gregory Kerber
Calm down, she told herself mentally. It's going to be okay. They do this all the time.
Lobita stared down at the messy visage that only moments before had been her neatly organized desk. A tremor made her entire body shudder with anger. Her list was gone. Her daily list that organized her entire day into a simple to-do list that she only had to read the instructions to know what to do at any moment of the day... She thrust her hands into her hair, defeatedly. But it was only a gesture. She was listening closely. She knew someone had taken it as a joke. It was only a matter of time before she figured out who...
She stood straight up suddenly, sending her rolling chair into the side of her cubicle. Now she could see the entire office space and all of the people who were currently in it. Most of the men were at their desks apparently doing paperwork, but more probably looking at internet porn. Lobita let her dark green eyes; they fell on a trio of men standing by the watercooler. She sighed. It was three of her yearmates: Davis, Juler, and Thermopolis. They had more of an air of suspiciousness around them than usual. The three men were the best Task Squad Retreival Officers in the world, getting all the top bounties. They seemed to feel it was their sacred duty to get to the only female on the force.
Lobita strolled over to where the men were standing. Their talking stopped abruptly as she cut right into the middle of them to reach the water. She got her little paper cup full and stood up to drain it. She let out a theatrical sigh of contentment and smiled brightly at them. "Ah! I was parched! Never miss my waterbreaks! Ten-thirty-five... I think that was what time I was supposed to get water... I'll check my list..." The girl patted her green peasant skirt (which were conspicously void of any pockets) and feigned confusion. "I could have sworn I had my list! Did any of you see my list this morning?" Juler squirmed under her gaze. She'd always thought of him as a twitchy sort.
"Suarez!" a voice barked from across the office. It was Commander Root. "My office, pronto!"
Lobita gave a little wave and trudged across the room. What could he want now? When she entered the Commander's private office, he beckoned that she close the door. After she obeyed, the Commander sat at his desk with a sigh. He was a heavy sort, with a rather squat head and very little neck. He had an unlit cigar stub clenched between his teeth even when he spoke.
"Have you been harrassing my boys again?" he growled out, his voice like gravel against sandpaper. "They need to be on top of their game!"
"Sir, they took my list," Lobita tried pathetically. She knew the Commander's opinion on her and her lists.
"I'll not have you here taking up my precious time with nonsense. Now, you need to stick to your paperwork."
"But sir, I just want a chance! I know I could pull in bounties just as big as those guys! I would stake my career on it!" As soon as she saw the evil glint in Root's eyes, she knew she'd just signed a death warrant.
"Really? Well, I'll take your bet, Suarez." He pulled out a manila envelope and threw it on the desk in front of her. "You catch this guy and his accomplice, and you can have a big fancy office with your own secretary and the whole nine yards. But, if you can't, you'll be out on the streets, jobless."
Lobita sighed. She couldn't back down.
"Alright, Commander. You have a deal."
Lobita stared down at the messy visage that only moments before had been her neatly organized desk. A tremor made her entire body shudder with anger. Her list was gone. Her daily list that organized her entire day into a simple to-do list that she only had to read the instructions to know what to do at any moment of the day... She thrust her hands into her hair, defeatedly. But it was only a gesture. She was listening closely. She knew someone had taken it as a joke. It was only a matter of time before she figured out who...
She stood straight up suddenly, sending her rolling chair into the side of her cubicle. Now she could see the entire office space and all of the people who were currently in it. Most of the men were at their desks apparently doing paperwork, but more probably looking at internet porn. Lobita let her dark green eyes; they fell on a trio of men standing by the watercooler. She sighed. It was three of her yearmates: Davis, Juler, and Thermopolis. They had more of an air of suspiciousness around them than usual. The three men were the best Task Squad Retreival Officers in the world, getting all the top bounties. They seemed to feel it was their sacred duty to get to the only female on the force.
Lobita strolled over to where the men were standing. Their talking stopped abruptly as she cut right into the middle of them to reach the water. She got her little paper cup full and stood up to drain it. She let out a theatrical sigh of contentment and smiled brightly at them. "Ah! I was parched! Never miss my waterbreaks! Ten-thirty-five... I think that was what time I was supposed to get water... I'll check my list..." The girl patted her green peasant skirt (which were conspicously void of any pockets) and feigned confusion. "I could have sworn I had my list! Did any of you see my list this morning?" Juler squirmed under her gaze. She'd always thought of him as a twitchy sort.
"Suarez!" a voice barked from across the office. It was Commander Root. "My office, pronto!"
Lobita gave a little wave and trudged across the room. What could he want now? When she entered the Commander's private office, he beckoned that she close the door. After she obeyed, the Commander sat at his desk with a sigh. He was a heavy sort, with a rather squat head and very little neck. He had an unlit cigar stub clenched between his teeth even when he spoke.
"Have you been harrassing my boys again?" he growled out, his voice like gravel against sandpaper. "They need to be on top of their game!"
"Sir, they took my list," Lobita tried pathetically. She knew the Commander's opinion on her and her lists.
"I'll not have you here taking up my precious time with nonsense. Now, you need to stick to your paperwork."
"But sir, I just want a chance! I know I could pull in bounties just as big as those guys! I would stake my career on it!" As soon as she saw the evil glint in Root's eyes, she knew she'd just signed a death warrant.
"Really? Well, I'll take your bet, Suarez." He pulled out a manila envelope and threw it on the desk in front of her. "You catch this guy and his accomplice, and you can have a big fancy office with your own secretary and the whole nine yards. But, if you can't, you'll be out on the streets, jobless."
Lobita sighed. She couldn't back down.
"Alright, Commander. You have a deal."
