I cross the room and quickly change out of my clothes, throwing them in the laundry shoot and curling up on my bed, satisfied with the events of today but completely exhausted. I fall asleep rather easily, barely giving a thought to the things that have been plaguing my brain for the past hour.
When I wake, I feel refreshed and ready for the day. I throw on the first clothes I see when I open my closet and trot down the stairs to see Van, my driver. We exchange the usual pleasantries and head straight to the car. The air is slightly damp this morning, but the sky is still dark, so I’m certain that will change when the sun's out.
It looks like the evening when we arrive at work, lamppost still glowing and moths stupidly diving into it. I thank Van and jump out of the car as he does his usual perimeter run. After I get inside, I notice something while walking down the hall. The lights in the work area are on, but I know I turned them off last night. As I walk through the door and the robotic voice welcomes me, I realize the answer to my question. I had turned the lights off last night, but Scout turned this on when she came this morning.
I check my watch to make sure I’m not late, but it’s telling me the time I think it is.
“How long have you been here?” I ask, and she turns around like she’s been expecting me.
“Since 3 a.m.”
“Holy shit, Scout. Why?”
“I got this idea.”
“And, naturally, being here at the usual three hours early wasn’t good enough?”
“Naturally.”
“Huh.” With a grin, I press my tongue to the side of my cheek and toss my stuff down by my desk. “What’s this grand idea?” I walk up to her and crouch down to look at the instrument on her desk.
“It’s an idea to make the stun-gun work. But, it won’t be able to interact with nerves on muscular response.”
“Okay?” I glance at her while she explains, but I don’t look back at the device as she continues because she’s truly beguiling.
“And this part…” she points to it, but I’m still distracted by her. She notices, glancing down at me. “Are you listening?”
“Huh?” I glance at where her finger is directing my eyes. A smirk crawls up the corners of her alluring lips, and I have to force my eyes to look at the device.
“Okay. So, this part is going to disperse on the pathway to the target. And then, this,” she points to what looks to be a little glass bead. “Will break into pieces that focus on the major nerve endings.”
“So, it’s like shards?”
“Exactly. And you’ll press this,” She points to a blue button on the back of the handle. “Then it will bring the pieces back magnetically, and the receiver should be at full mobility.”
“Damn.”
“A timed stun-gun.”
“Basically.”
“Scout, this next level.” I touch her hand, and she looks at it, making me question if I should have touched her in the first place. “I—” She turns to me before I can finish speaking.
“I like you.” She blurts out, and I try not to look so shocked, but I am. Nothing like this has ever worked out for me.
“I like you too!” I laugh, and she joins me.
“So…”
“So, do you want to go to an anime convention with me?”
“What?” She laughs, her bright smile making my brain go fuzzy.
“I— do you—”
“I heard you.” She grabs my shoulder and doesn’t let go. I love her hands on me, so I don’t dare move.
“Does that mean….”