Priority Code Red

They’d smuggled some Barbie dolls through CAFE security.

Honestly, they were surprised that Cate hadn’t gotten rid of them. But the first thing they’d done was split up and scout for Cate’s old toys. Once they found one box, they’d found them all. After that, it was simple to slip a couple Barbies into the billowing white silk of their robe and get them past security. No one was quite so eager to pat down the Lamaea, after all.

The guards on their first trip through security had scarabs crawling out of their hair for hours afterwards.

They simply did not appreciate getting touched. And they especially did not appreciate getting their belt touched and prodded at.

And so the Lamaea had spent its morning on the ground of Cate’s office, quietly playing with the girl’s--woman’s--old toys. They didn’t notice Cate’s whispering, as they were much too entertained with their play (and they were used to her whispering to herself), but when she spoke they perked up.

“We’ve been called to a meeting. It’s high priority; Chief mentioned in the email ASAP. It concerns me that something is amiss, but I suppose we will see.”

ASAP? They murmured amongst themselves until Robert cleared it up. As soon as possible.

The swarm gave a collective “ahh” of mental understanding and the Lamaea scrambled to their feet, dropping the toys and a few spare scarabs flying up to rejoin their main body, following obediently behind Cate. One scarab stayed behind, tucked underneath a desk, in case something should happen in the office. That, and having a scarab in the office would make it so much easier to play with the dolls should the meeting turn out to be boring.

“Chief did not let her know what the meeting is about, then?” they queried as Cate closed the door and locked it behind them. They watched her use the key, noting which one it was on her key ring. “We do hope it is nothing large. And that we have not caused it.” They tilted their head to the side. “We do not enjoy creating trouble… at least not of that kind.” They grinned a little at Cate. She might not catch their meaning, as they had stayed innocent around her in the past and it was fairly vague anyway.

But they gave no indication of the meaning behind their statement, instead smiling innocently and following Cate along--at least, until Beasley showed up and scowled at them.

“Inspector Sharpe.”

“Inspector Beasley. I saw the email was sent to you as well. You are heading to Room B now?”

And he wasn’t replying to Cate? Rude, rude, the swarm decided. Stepping around from behind Cate, the Lamaea curled their body into an elaborate bow, sweeping one arm out to the side.

“Inspector Beasley,” they greeted him. “We are the Lamaea.” Coming out of the bow, they stepped closer to the Inspector, smiling as his jaw clenched. It highlighted his jawline perfectly. “And we are most pleased to meet a fine gentleman such as yourself,” they continued, leaning in, still smirking slyly.

It was then that Beasley whirled and marched off. “Yes, as the Chief wished to meet with us posthaste. We mustn’t keep him waiting.”

They watched Beasley go, the smile still on their face. One hand is gracefully laid across their chest. “Oh, dear. We hope we did not offend,” they sing-songed with a mockingly apologetic tone.

Their smile turning less mischievous, they turn to watch Cate, noting the slight frown. She started after Beasley, and the Lamaea sauntered after her, contentedly swishing their silks about.

The Chief was seated on one side of a table. Three chairs are situated opposite, and Beasley gives the Chief a nod as he stands by the one furthest from the doorway.

“Ahh, Catherine.” The Chief takes a moment and examines Cate, his gaze unreadable. Finally, he nods and smiles, the crow’s feet at the edges of his eyes crinkling. He turns to stare at the Lamaea. “And… you.”

The Lamaea grinned. “Us,” they affirm.

Another nod. The Chief gestures to the chairs. “Why don’t you all sit down? Close the door behind you please, Cate. We’ve got much to discuss.”

“I doubt you caused it, as Chief wouldn’t have asked for a third party in, I don’t believe.”

A third party? They whispered amongst themselves for a moment, confused. Was there another person being involved? One of the blue-hand--researchers? Or did she mean the Lamaea? But that didn’t make sense with her statement of doubt. They had to agree, if they were the ones causing trouble, the response would probably be heavily armed guards dragging them back to the box, involving the Chief, Cate, and themselves at the most. So Cate must’ve meant that someone else was coming along.

That was interesting information, but more important was what Cate’s words implied. If another person was a third party, that meant the first was the Chief, and the second was Cate and the Lamaea. Which meant… she thought of them--herself included--as a single functioning unit, did she?

We could make that a reality, they noted. But… we must respect her wishes. Still, they would pose her the offer sometime. She would be given an exalted position among them, they decided quickly. Perhaps even as exalted as the quiet one.

“...What kind of trouble are you talking about?”

They hushed their discussion as she spoke again. Blinking a couple times, they muttered amongst themselves as they attempted to remember what she meant. Ah! Oh, they had been being sly, had they? No need to break that. They simply smiled mischievously.

That smile remained for their interaction with Beasley, and even afterward, despite his rude response.

“They’ll just have to get over it.”

They nodded. “Perhaps we could devour one. Just one,” they offered. “Then we will be able to understand them better. It would be helpful to everyone involved.”

Of course, they said that in a low voice, and shut up as soon as the Chief was in eyesight. They didn’t dare express such thoughts in front of the Chief. He did not take kindly to such things, and they could understand why, but he also didn’t listen much to their requests or explanations. Even though they accompanied his daughter once again, they doubted that would change. Cate might’ve let them out of the box, but to everyone else, they were still a prisoner.

“Sir, the email was vague, for good reason if this is such a high priority. What is this concerning?”

Email? What is-- They drew breath to speak, but Robert quickly interrupted with an explanation, so they sank back in their chair to listen.

“And you are not involving any other Inspectors or agents? May I ask why?” asked the grumpy one. He was ignoring them, they noticed with a little grin. They had gotten beneath his skin.

The Chief sighed and sat down. “The reason for such security is that we cannot allow this assignment of yours to reach the rest of the organization,” he began. “From now on, this is Rank Six Classified. Do you understand?”

They frowned, watching the Chief. He had aged much since they first saw him. His face was the same, though, and they could see what bits Cate had inherited.

Once the agents had responded, the Chief nodded and pulled out a file from a briefcase beside him. “Good. I trust your discretion.”

They couldn’t help but notice that he didn’t look at them or acknowledge them in that statement. He was acting as if they were a child--present, but oblivious. Their eyes narrowed. Certainly, they did not mind being invisible, but… he was well aware of what they could do, wasn’t he? He probably simply had the debriefing to deal with.

Spinning the file around, the Chief pushed it towards Cate and Beasley. “Half an hour ago, Executive Arbuthnot was found, dead, beside a building. CCTV shows that no one was up there with him. It appears as if he committed suicide.” He paused, then repeated, “Appears.

“Many things are not as they appear in our world. And I know Arbuthnot. He would not have ended his own life willingly. I need you two to find out what’s fishy--without alerting the rest of the organization.” He glanced between the two inspectors. “Got it?”