by Caroline Tigeress

Created on: December 01, 2009

Called on the Carpet
04 February 2067 07.45
Waiting room of Major Sheldon Hunkel's office.
Mutant Military Corps Complex, Helena, Montana.

FirePower wondered what had happened. She had been awakened with a priority alter to be in Major Hunkel's office at 07.45. The message had been delivered to her at 07.30 and en route, she had tapped on Karl's door, but got no response.

She hoped he hadn't done anything stupid.
Resignating to her fate, she had dressed in her stock uniform, and found the Major's door open; no Ensign. She missed the tell-tale hiss of the Serithot as the Major called out, "enter."
The Serithot coiled up, her hood flared, "I want her gone."
Firepower cocked her head.
"Stupid, puerile mistake. She doesn't deserve to be a trainer, much less a hero. This is a rookie mistake. I have to go clean up after it. Major, if you'll excuse me, I have a patient to attend to."
In the pulse of a heartbeat the Serithot coiled, sprung and slipped past Elaine in the span of a heartbeat.
Elaine took a deep breath. She knew something had gone down, but she didn't know what.
The Major stood.
Elaine thought to herself, 'oh shit.'
"Have a seat, Lieutenant."
She sat.
"You've made a mistake. An unfortunate, yet critical mistake." He said.
She blinked her eyes.
"I need you to take me back, about the recruitment of Karl Lamphere."
She started to talk about his time in the bar, his job, his attack, her defending him, her confronting the local Law Enforcement Officers. He listened patiently.
"What medications, if any, did you deliver?"
FirePower blinked.
"None, sir." She responded.
"This is your first post incarnation extraction is it not?" The Major asked.
"Sir, yes, sir." She replied. Her heart fell from her chest to her stomach.
"It is also your first Apprentice, is it not?" He followed up, pressing her.
She closed her eyes. "Sir, yes sir." She felt her entire life, since being abandoned by her parents drifting away.
"I am an Artificial Life Form, as you know. I make mistakes. So shall you. One thing I have learned from Crone, Phil, and Charlie is that mistakes happen. I ask you one question. What will you learn from this?"
Elaine's eyes glazed over.
She bit her lips.
"Our acting CMO would like for you to be removed from the training program."
Her eyes grew wide.
"I have no intention of doing so. I merely wish to point out to you that you have made a mistake. A very, very unfortunate mistake. You did not consult the medical section before you made your approach. You barely

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