Late Tuesday Night, Dorm Computer Lab

[multiplez]

To: anubiscruger@spacepatroldelta.gov
From: elizabeth.delgado@fandomhigh.net
Subject: Checking In

Sir,

I am taking classes in First Aid, Karate, and Scoobying, which seems to be a sort of slang term for teamwork. I hope these choices meet with your approval. I have met my roommate, who seems to be a nice young woman, and survived two weeks in cabins (They have mosquitos here, sir. It was terrible.).

Also, Cadet Carson is a ferret and I swear that this is in no way my fault. He's a very cute ferret, though. If that helps.

Sincerely,
Cadet Delgado

Comments

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker stopped by the computer lab to download some files Angelo had sent her-- knowing him, there might be a lot of useful stuff or a totally insane and annoying program in there, and she wasn't willing to risk her laptop. "Hey, Z. How goes it?" she asked, typing in her password.

[multiplez]

"Waiting to find out if I'm in trouble," Z admitted. She blinked at the link that popped up when she googled Syd Drew. She wasn't sure she wanted to know what an 'RPS' was.

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"For what?" Parker asked idly, then started laughing as Angelo's latest file downloaded.

[multiplez]

"Bridge being a ferret." Z cast a worried look at the screen.

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker got her breath back, then asked, "How can they possibly blame you for that? He was in the woods with his boyfriend when it happened."

[multiplez]

"Because why not?" Z asked, not really realizing this might reveal more about her than she wanted it to.

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker boggled at her a bit. "Because it's no one's fault, it just kind of happened? And I would assume your superiors would recognize that? I hope." Not everyone can run the world like the Centre is run, after all.

[multiplez]

"I don't really know my superiors that well. I just know I'm really lucky to have this chance and I don't want to mess it up, and now I have to be the one to tell Commander Cruger my teammate got turned into a small furry animal. And he can be like, 'Why weren't you paying attention' or something and I'm not going to go telling him Bridge was in the woods with his boyfriend, because what did Bridge ever do to me?" And then Z breathes.

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker blinked at Z for a moment, then said, "Right, then. In that case, you do the only thing you can: lie like a rug."

[multiplez]

"I'm pretty good at lying. I could tell Commander Cruger a wizard did it."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"It might even be true! Since Xander still has no idea what happened."

[multiplez]

"That works! Yay!"

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Yay!" Parker grinned, then snickered again. "Want to see something funny? Well, funnier if you knew the people involved."

[multiplez]

"Sure." Z leaned over. "What is it? It's not about Syd Drew, is it?"

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Who? And no." Parker hit the play button again, and then Angelo's twisted brilliance started up.

I'm on tonight
You know my hips don't lie
And I'm starting to feel it's right
All the attraction, the tension
Don't you see baby, this is perfection

Okay, so no-one at the Centre would dance in the middle of a hallway. It just looked like they did, thanks to the miracles of video technology. Dancing at the watercooler. Dancing in the lunchroom. And Mr. Raines, dancing in and out of an elevator with his oxygen tank.

Parker was giggling way too much.

[multiplez]

Z giggled. "Okay, I don't know these people, and this is kind of hilarious. Who's the creepy guy?"

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Mr. Raines. And yes, creeeepy. He's head of one of the research divisions at my father's company." Parker's still giggling. "A friend who sort of interns hacked all the security cameras, it looks like. And then decided to get editorial with the footage. God, I owe him CocoPuffs for this."

[multiplez]

"Go intern dude." Z blinked at her computer. She had mail.

To: elizabeth.delgado@fandomhigh.net
From: anubiscruger@spacepatroldelta.gov
Subject: re: Checking In

Cadet Delgado,

...a ferret?

Why are you still communicating in text-only medium?

Anubis Cruger
Commander, SPD Earth

Z hit reply.

Sir,

Yes, a ferret. I suspect a wizard did it.

Because I still don't have a computer, and Cadet Carson is a ferret, so he can't build me one.

Cadet Delgado

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Who's that from?" Parker asked, refraining from just reading over Z's shoulder. Even though she wanted to.

[multiplez]

"My boss." Z frowned at the computer. "I think he's a little forgetful, maybe?"

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"What did he forget? Oh, and you never said who Sydney Whatsherface is." Parker was making a copy of the video for her personal archive, just in case something happened to it. Because damn, she needed that laugh.

[multiplez]

"That I don't have a computer. Especially not a 2021 model. Sydney Drew's a pop star where I come from. And model. And star athlete. Also, she's apparently my teammate at SPD."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker blinked at the first part, then tilted her head at the second. "Okay, so, can she multiply herself the way you can? I'm not seeing how it's possible to be All That without it. And maybe your commander has Alzheimer's?"

[multiplez]

"Um, no, she can't. She's just...incredible, I guess. And Commander Cruger's all right, just absent-minded."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"At least he's not blaming you for Bridge, it sounds like." Parker shook her head. "Right. I'm going back to my room, and emailing the mad genius from there. Talk to you later, Z."

[multiplez]

"See you later, Parker." Z turned back to her computer and debated clicking the 'RPS' link. Maybe this was some achievement of Cadet Drew's she hadn't heard about before. And Z did need to be well-informed about her teammates...