‘All of them except Tracey Spears Cook. She left the stage when she heard the results.’
‘Is that so?’ Fawn pressed her lips together and frowned at somewhere under her terminal.
‘First Lieutenant, could you run a background check on Tracey Spears? Financials. That kind of thing. It might show up any connection she might have to the Redwing Faction. It might not.’
‘And you want this kept quiet, of course. The ASF has not been called in for this case and I doubt the school wants us to be.’
‘I think that, if we can get evidence that Tracey Spears is connected to the Redwing Faction, Courtney Martell Garavain will contact the ASF to handle her arrest. Even if the school doesn’t want to involve you, the Redwing Faction is classified as a terrorist organisation. The SSF will have no choice.’ Nava paused and then added, ‘But I’d like to keep the search quiet in case it doesn’t find anything.’
Fawn nodded. ‘Since it’s the Redwings we’re talking about… I’ll be in touch.’
‘Thank you, First Lieutenant.’
‘Do I really have to ask you to call me Fawn again?’
‘Every time,’ Nava replied.
235/2/31.
‘It’s four in the morning,’ Nava said, her voice soft, ‘don’t you think you should get some sleep?’
‘Yes,’ Mitsuko replied, ‘but I don’t want to. It’s Sunday and things won’t take off until tomorrow. I think a lie-in is perfectly reasonable. I’ll sleep when I can’t stay awake. Until then, I want to celebrate.’
‘I don’t think it’ll work that way. Someone will–’
‘It will, because I say it will.’
Shaking her head, Nava reached for a long, thick, bright-red vibrator which Mitsuko had insisted on purchasing recently. ‘I guess we’ll see who collapses from exhaustion first, Madam President.’
Mitsuko frowned. ‘Don’t call me that, Nava. I’m still your– Yeee!’
‘But I like making Madam President squeal.’
‘You’re evil!’ Mitsuko said through the gasps.
‘You wouldn’t be the first person to call me that.’
235/2/33.
‘Mel, there’s something I’d like to ask you,’ Mitsuko said as the consumption of lunch began to conclude.
Melissa was, in fact, halfway through sucking yogurt off a spoon and had to swallow quickly to answer. ‘What would you like to ask?’
‘I’ll need to do this formally, but I wanted to sound you out before I officially ask you.’
‘Huh?’
‘Well, Vice President Darius Miller Fosse, Treasurer Marie Royce Sonkei, and Extracurricular Activities Committee Chair Leland Harlow Whitman are happy to remain in their positions on the council. However, Secretary Katherine Daniau Orlando is now a fifth year and found herself struggling to handle her studies and the council work last year. She’s an experienced council member and we’ll miss her, but she will be available to advise her replacement for a short time.’
Nava glanced at Mitsuko. Rochester frowned at Mitsuko. Melissa looked quizzically at Mitsuko and seemed to be the only person who had not figured out what was coming. ‘Uh, okay. What does that have to do with me?’
‘I want to ask whether you will become the new council secretary, Mel.’
Nava had never believed that people’s eyes could actually bulge from shock, but Melissa was giving a good impression of it. While Melissa was being indisposed due to shock, Nava decided she should intervene. ‘Are you sure about this, Suki? Mel’s shy. She may not cope well with a job like that.’
‘The principal role of the secretary is just to keep everyone organised. Mel, you’d keep the council’s calendar and make sure that any scheduling issues with individuals are noticed. Uh, there’s transcribing the minutes of meetings, but that’s usually handled using a Scribe spell. The most important thing is that you remind me when I’m supposed to do something. Me and the rest of the council, obviously. You can do most of that through the info-net messaging system.’
Mel was staring at Mitsuko like a frightened deer in the headlights of a monster truck. ‘W-w-w-why me?’
Mitsuko lifted a hand and started ticking off reasons. ‘One, and I can’t call this a minor reason, you’re on the support stream. Without that, the council will be heavily unbalanced. Marie is a second year in support, but the others are all combat. That includes Courtney, of course. She’s staying on as SSF captain. Second, I believe you’ll keep our feet on the ground. You have a straight-forward outlook and you don’t come from some powerful family in a powerful clan. I’ll be seeking your advice and I think, once they get to know you and you them, the others will do the same. Third, I like you. I know it’s not a really great reason, but it is a solid reason. I need people I can get on with.’
‘W-what about Marie Royce? She’s f-from your c-clan, so–’
‘I’ve met her twice. Once yesterday. What did you think of her, Nava?’
‘Wary,’ Nava replied. ‘She’s no more sure of herself faced with a Trenton Sonkei than anyone else would be. I think she’d warmed up a little by the time your meeting was over. And she reacted to me better than Darius Miller did.’
‘Yes. He’s… He’s a useful man to have around. He’s a third year, on the council since the latter part of his first year after the previous VP had to resign. He knows the ropes and he’s not in the least bit controversial as a choice.’ Mitsuko paused. ‘Still, I can get on with Courtney well enough, but I’d like someone else who I know I’m happy with.’
‘You need to watch him. The same goes for Leland Harlow. I wouldn’t trust either of them.’
‘I believe that you’re a suspicious woman by nature, Nava.’ Mitsuko was smiling, but the comment was not far from the truth.
‘I-if you think I can do this,’ Melissa said, ‘then I’ll…’ She clutched her hands together before her chest and leaned forward, eyes wide and earnest. ‘I have to at least try.’
Mitsuko
