Part XII: All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)
To: bsandburg@loft.cascade.wa.us
From: kit@hers.com
Subject: how goes?
Blair you still there? No word for a month, and I'm getting worried. How's Jim?
To: kit@hers.com
From: bsandburg@loft.cascade.wa.us
Subject: how'd you do it?
So-so. I'm tired, overworked and overstressed, but Jim's better. He's not giving me grief about the extra class, he's not asking questions about Adam Pierson, he's even doing better on not zoning out. What did you feed him? Can I have some? Even Simon has calmed down, and they're not going horn to horn every morning. BTW, I may go up to Seacouver to meet Dawson, no biggie, but Adam wants to introduce me around. Jim's still got this thing about needing space, and I can't say I like where he's going with it, but the Watcher business should give him more time alone and that may be what he needs.
To: kit@hers.com
From: captbanks@pd.cascade.wa.us
Subject: thanks
Don't tell me what you did, but it worked. Ellison's almost back to being himself. He hasn't harrassed me in more than a week. Keep up the good work.
To: bsandburg@loft.cascade.wa.us
From: dawson@nw.wtchr.org
CC: kit@hers.com
BCC: ROG@anonymous.remailer, captbanks@pd.cascade.wa.us
Subject: visit
Blair, I'm going to be going through Cascade next week, and wondered if you'll have time for lunch with me on Tuesday? Pick a good pub; it's on the company. I've been hearing great things about you and I'd like to talk with you about your future.
To: kit@hers.com
From: bsandburg@loft.cascade.wa.us
Subject: visit
Kit, it went so well, I couldn't believe it. Dawson's amazing; he's got a mind for the material like the Encyclopedia Britannica, and he answered a lot of questions almost before I asked them. He thinks Jim's important enough that I should stick close. If I need any information, he'll send it to me. (He even gave me a copy of the latest CD, in case I need to identify anyone. It's been customized for the region; overviews of all Immortals and depth studies on local ones, so I won't make mistakes. Wonderful research.) The only problem is, I can't tell Jim any of it, at least not yet. He waffled on how much I could tell him in the future. Guess I'll handle it when I get there.
To: kit@hers.com
From: ROG@anonymous.remailer
Subject: news or lack thereof
I didn't go to the lunch with Joe; he was staying at my place so we caught up on things later. FYI, he has an email link with Duncan, so no hurry unless the inspiration comes. Joe's really impressed with the kid, says he has a definite future. He and I talked about the future of the W.O. for hours; he thinks if the proposal with the British Watchers' Council can be ironed out the manpower problem will ease for a while. They watch other things than Immortals; some of it sounds crazy (slayer vampires? Or is it vampire slayers?) but who am I to judge? I'm enjoying the teaching gig, for the first time in years, though I'm still jealous as hell when the kid goes home at night. But he's not a kid, is he? He's traveled as much at his age as I did in my first century, and seen almost as much of life. I think underestimating Blair could be a real mistake.
To: kit@hers.com
From: nikita@the.underground
Subject: travel/training
Section's sending me to school for extra training in cultural anthropology, of all things. I need to know more about how certain cultures work, from the inside, to do a warm-op job. (Promotion possibilities? Maybe.) Walter said you might know someone who could help me.
To: nikita@the.underground
From: kit@hers.com
Subject: re travel/training
Yes, at Rainier University in Cascade, WA. Small town, friendly; contact Blair Sandburg, former anthropology graduate teaching assistant at bsandburg@loft.cascade.wa.us. Caution: his housemate is a detective, nice guy but he picks up on things really fast. This isn't the place for Section to do undercover work, believe me.
To: kit@hers.com
From: bsandburg@loft.cascade.wa.us
Subject: new student
Kit, Nikita showed up in the seminar next door to where I meet Adam; hers is on Mesoamerican cultural mores and basic linguistics. Gorgeous woman, very nice, seems shy. She doesn't seem to know me, or Jim he got a look at her and nearly fell out of the truck. What gives?
To: bsandburg@loft.cascade.wa.us
From: kit@hers.com
Subject: re new student
Don't know how much background you've gotten, but she's had a very hard life; be kind. She doesn't read much on the Net outside of her job, which is classified. Walter reads; whether he tells her anything is anyone's guess. Re dating, I've heard she's pretty choosy; if he wants to take his chances, that's up to him.
To: kit@hers.com
From: chiefbanks@pd.cascade.wa.us
Subject: suspected terrorist
I understand from various sources that a cop killer and terrorist known as Nikita has joined Sandburg's former department on your recommendation. ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR SKULL? How do you expect me to protect the people of Cascade when you don't even inform me of things like this? I WANT HER OUT OF HERE, NOW!!!
To: chiefbanks@pd,cascade.wa.us.
From: kit@hers.com
Subject: new student
1. Nikita works undercover for a classified section of the government. Her clearances are better than yours -- or Jim's -- by a long shot. As a government employee, she deserves your cooperation and she'd better get it.
2. She was framed for the officer's death by a drug dealer; if you want more than hearsay, see my report at www.kitworks.com/stories/../index.htm/daylife.htm. You realize, of course, that this information is top secret; you know the drill.
3. She is there strictly for job-related training, relevant to a future posting in Central America, and presents far fewer dangers to the people of Cascade than the secondhand smoke from your incessant cigars.
4. Whatever happened to giving a newcomer an even break?
5. If I kept tabs on everyone all the time, what would you do for a job?
To: kit@hers.com
From: ROG@anonymous.remailer
Subject: new student
Who is that gorgeous blonde?
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