Getting back on track

"Ibuki won't be mad?" Sinne asked.

I put my hand on her head and stroked her hair before letting go again. 

"He won't be mad, only exaggerated. It is not necessary that I'm there. He is more than capable of getting the job done himself. It only looks better for the record if I attend." 

"Why doesn't he want the credit for the work?" 

"Some eyes better not lay upon you…" 

I took out a bottle of Cofein pills without saying another word, it doesn't replace my need for sleep. But it would do for now, ever and always. Sinne looked at me with pure disappointment but she would get over it. 

We rushed through the cityscape, ever upwards. Having a Meldier like Sinne made things easier; she pushed me up and from vantage, I pulled her up. The only hindrance on our journey was my stamina. It wasn't long before we arrived at the terminal to the military airfield. It was a tall building like a tower. Left and right from it were fences with barbed wire that made sure no one stumbled around by accident. 

Greeted as always I stood before the silvercoated automatic double doors. Which began to slit open by our approach, unfortunately, the side with less lighting is the one you can see through and my head slammed into something rock solid. 

I stumbled backward. Looking up I saw the towering presence of a Giant of a Woman, Head Commissar Sabine was wearing her Great Trench Coat open. The Insignia of the Sector Commissariat was emblazoned on her chest.

"I take it you took the term "ground crew" to literate, Sergeant. You may rise." She said in her slow, calculated tone; her eyes were ever watchful. None relenting. 

Commissar Sabine stood before me. She was truly a giant of a woman; my neck usually hurts when we are talking face-to-face. She rarely acted out of protocol. And her peanut brown hair ended in a ponytail.

"It is rare to see you take one of them along with you; you never take both." She looked down on me dispassionately. 

As always, she only extended her hand to help me rise once I made the effort to get up myself. Her stance never budged. Like the Directorate Principles as long as she can uphold them. 

"Thank you, Commissar," I said.

She pulled her hand away with such speed it made the air woosh. She walked down the hallways deeper into the building. 

"Your Flight has been delayed. There is still a report about why you failed that you need to fill out and lay on my desk and I believe you don't want to waste my time and convey it verbally instead of ink?" 

"Yes, Commissar." 

Her strides were enormous. Her shoes clicked on the floor with precision and purpose. 

"You must be pleased with all of your accomplishments, I take it you reward yourself with a satisfactory Ph-" She coughed twice with her fist before her mouth. "Excuse me. I take it, you treat yourself well "Kyle". There is rarely anyone within the Internal Police Forces with such an astonishing record as yourself. Finding the time to attend your studies and your duties is most exemplary." 

"I thank you, Commissar. Your words encourage me to reach for even greater heights." 

I looked over the Propaganda pieces as they slid past plastered to the wall to my right. 

"Indeed, Sergeant. The Central Office of the Commissariat has extended another recommendation for recruitment. A young man with your skills will surely make an excellent contribution to the Greater Directorate if you put your mind to it, I will convey to them a request for another uniform for our new colleague within our ranks." 

"No, Commissar. You won't." 

"I won't?" 

There was a sharp click as she spun around on her heels, but my eyes were fixed on a poster we had been walking by. It was a picture of me. Labeled beneath : Where Unity Crumbles He Will Find You. Stay United. 

An image of me walking away from the body of a bloodied woman flashed through my head. My palms began to tingle and my breath stopped dead in its tracks. It felt like I was suffocating. I felt so hot and cold. 

"Hnngh!" I looked at my right hand which began to hurt more and more, "Sinne! Ease up it hurts!" 

Her hands which were wrapped around it mine quickly let go. She looked at me with upturned eyes. 

"I'm sorry, I just…" 

"You will not, Sergeant." Sabine cut in before Sinne could finish her way of though.

"Your report demands your undivided attention. No other side errands. Oldenbourght prospers because of your efforts and your achievements are worthy of such recognition. You have a mission to conclude before you attend to any other matters. Am I clear, Sergeant?" 

"Yes…" I squeezed Sinnes hand back. "Commissar."