Storm after the Storm

I opened the door to my condo, expecting silence. Instead, I was met with Mindy's furious glare. She stood in the living room, her arms crossed and her eyes blazing.

"Where have you been?" Mindy demanded, her voice low and menacing. "I've been worried sick about you. You just disappeared for days almost without a word. No calls, no texts, no nothing. Just a stupid message I can't wrap my head around."

I winced, my eyes darting around the room as if searching for an escape route. Damn, this was just my second day back. I thought I'd get the chance to visit her first before she visited me.

"Hey, Mindy, I—"

"Don't 'hey' me!" Mindy cut him off, her voice rising. "You vanish, and I'm left wondering if you're dead or alive. What were you thinking?"

I shifted uncomfortably, my eyes fixed on the floor. "I can explain—"

"Explain?" Mindy's laughter was laced with venom. "You'd better explain. You'd better have a damn good reason for putting me through this hell."

I hesitated, my eyes flicking up to meet hers. I saw the rage and worry etched on her face and winced. "I'm sorry, Mindy. I didn't mean to worry you. It was an emergency and I got caught up with some stuff."

Mindy's anger boiled over. "Emergency? And you went alone? You're not some kind of lone wolf, Clarke. You're my best friend. I care about you. And you just disappear without a word? That's not okay."

I flinched, my eyes dropping to the floor. I knew I'd messed up. I could feel Mindy's anger and hurt radiating off her like heat. I took a step back, my hands raised in a calming gesture.

"Mindy, please—"

"No, you please!" Mindy's voice cracked. "You please tell me what's going on. You please tell me why you'd do something so reckless and stupid."

I sighed, my shoulders slumping. "I was planning to eventually tell you. I just got caught up in some stuff, and I didn't think. I wasn't thinking about anyone but myself."

Now I was literally just saying what I thought she wanted to hear. it didn't work though.

Mindy's expression didn't soften, but her voice lost some of its edge. "That's the problem, Clarke. You never think about anyone but yourself when you are in haste. You never think about how your actions affect others."

I looked up, my eyes meeting Mindy's. I saw the hurt and frustration there, and my heart sank. I knew I'd let her down.

"I'm sorry, Mindy," I repeated softly. "I really am. I was stupid, and I made mistakes. But I promise I'll make it up to you."

Mindy's gaze lingered on my face before she turned away, pacing across the room. I watched her, my eyes fixed on her tense shoulders.

After a few moments, Mindy stopped pacing and turned back to me. "I need to know what happened," she said, her voice firm but controlled. "I need to know what you got yourself into."

I nodded warily, my eyes locked on hers. I knew I had to tell her the truth, no matter how hard it was. I took a deep breath and began to explain, hoping that Mindy would listen and forgive me.

*

As we stepped into the warehouse, my best friend, Mindy, stood tall, a hint of pride in her voice. "Welcome to our base materials storage facility, sir. I've organized everything according to category, with specific considerations for each material's unique requirements."

I nodded, my eyes scanning the rows of shelves and containers. This was the business I’d planned on starting with Mindy before the emergency mission to Varganna.

When I returned I’d quickly gone about preparing the materials by using my Morphreversion power to make good use of abandoned junk yards and machine graveyards in the states.

I’d mostly proceeded with the work so quickly to distract Mindy from getting annoyed with me for keeping such an important secret as being a Bastion from her and going into a battle zone without having her act as my overwatch. My reassurances of VIS competence had only angered her more.

Thankfully, after she calmed down and started thinking of how we could use my powers in our fight against Stiff, she immediately hit it off with M, who she gave complete access to her systems. I didn’t have complete access to Mindy’s systems.

Frankly, I don’t know what I’d do with such access.

I brought my attention back to the warehouse and nodded again. "Impressive, Mindy. Thank you for this. Having produced all these, I'm, of course, familiar with the inventory, but I'm eager to see how you've chosen to organize it."

Mindy led me to the first section, where steel alloys were stored. "We have various grades of steel, including stainless, carbon, and alloy steels. Each type is stored in sealed containers to prevent moisture and contamination. The containers are labeled and color-coded for easy identification."

I examined the containers, noting the humidity-controlled environment and the desiccant packets inside to maintain a dry atmosphere. "Excellent work, Mindy. Steel can be notoriously prone to rust. What about the high-temperature alloys?"

She gestured to a nearby shelf. "Those are stored in heat-resistant containers with ceramic coatings to prevent thermal shock. We also have a separate area for the more exotic alloys, like titanium and Inconel, which require specialized storage to maintain their properties."

As we walked, Mindy pointed out the plastic storage section. "We have a variety of polymers, including ABS, PVC, and nylon. These are stored in airtight containers to prevent degradation from UV light and moisture. The containers are also labeled with the material's specific properties and recommended handling procedures."

I nodded, impressed by the attention to detail. "What about the silica and glass storage?"

Mindy led me to a climate-controlled room, where shelves were lined with sealed containers filled with various types of silica and glass. "These materials are sensitive to moisture and temperature fluctuations, so we maintain a consistent environment with minimal humidity. The containers are also shielded from direct sunlight to prevent degradation."

Next, we visited the chemical storage area, where she had implemented a strict organization system based on compatibility and reactivity. "We have separate sections for acids, bases, and solvents, with secondary containment measures in place to prevent spills or leaks. Each container is labeled with the material's properties, hazards, and safety protocols."

I examined the containers, noting the secure locking mechanisms and the ventilation system designed to prevent the accumulation of hazardous fumes. "This is outstanding work. Chemical storage can be particularly hazardous if not managed properly."

I’d been learning a lot of science from M to have a better understanding of the mechanics behind what I’m doing when I use Morphreversion.

As we continued the tour, Mindy highlighted the gold storage area, where the precious metal was kept in a secure, tamper-evident container filled with inert gas to prevent oxidation. "We also have a separate section for rare earth elements, like neodymium and dysprosium, which are stored in shielded containers to prevent radiation exposure."

I smiled, impressed by Mindy's thoroughness. Not that I’d ever doubted her competence. "You've really thought of everything. What about the more... unusual materials?"

She led me to a section filled with exotic materials, including superconductors, nanomaterials, and advanced ceramics. "These materials require specialized storage to maintain their unique properties. We have custom-designed containers with precise temperature and humidity control, as well as shielding to prevent electromagnetic interference."

As we neared the end of the tour, I turned to Mindy. "I must say, you never stop impressing me, Mindy. Your attention to detail and understanding of each material's requirements are exceptional. You've created a truly world-class storage facility."

Was I laying it on a bit too thick, maybe. But I didn’t want her made with me again.

So I was glad when she beamed with pride. "Well, we both know you can’t do anything without me. For this project, I wanted to ensure that our materials are stored safely and efficiently, while also making it easy for our team to access and utilize them."

I nodded, my eyes scanning the warehouse once more. "This is beyond amazing, Mindy. This facility is a testament to your hard work and dedication. I'm confident that our business will benefit greatly from your efforts."

As we exited the warehouse, I felt a sense of accomplishment, knowing that our work here would contribute to the success of our plans and future. My praise and recognition were not just to reinforce Mindy’s confidence, and make her look forward to continuing her work in the warehouse, ensuring that the base materials were always stored and handled with the utmost care. They were absolutely sincere.

As we headed to a car she’d newly gotten, after locking the warehouse up, Mindy asked me if we could stop by my condo.

“Why?” I asked. She was only supposed to drop me off at home and head up to her sister’s, today was her nephew's birthday after all.

“M and I managed to finish the preparations just this morning,” she said, getting into the driver’s seat.

“What preparations?” I asked, calling shotgun.

“Preparations for our next plan against Stiff.”