[b][center][h3][color=6ecff6] Adalia [/color][/h3][/center][/b] [hr] [b][color=6ecff6]Location:[/color][/b] Entrance of the Tower [b][color=6ecff6]Interactions:[/color][/b] Rokkit [@Lucius Cypher] [hr] It took a hundred thousand years for Adalia's mind to finally admit that she was in fact, at the Tower. The next hundred thousand years was then spent trying to convince the rest of the body to acknowledge the same. The Tower. [color=6ecff6][i]The Tower.[/i][/color] Next to her, a couple of security officers sauntered by at a pace of a century per step. Oh no. They were just walking at a normal pace. It was just Adalia who was stuck in this strange protraction of time within herself. And by the time she could get back to real time, she realized that time indeed did not wait for her - marching quarter of an hour ahead of her and leaving the paralyzed cat on the stairway. [color=6ecff6][i]C'mon Adalia! You're going to be late![/i][/color] She thought to herself, fiddling with her inhaler within her pocket. She didn't need it quite yet, but to Adalia the feel of the smooth plastic; the option of using the inhaler, was comforting enough to develop a habit. [b]"Agent Rosenthal?"[/b] An unfamiliar voice rumbled next to her. [color=6ecff6]"No - sorry!"[/color] Adalia squeaked, instinctively blurting out the first thing she could think of. For the second time in the last hour, her tail puffed up defensively, tucked firmly between her legs. Her nerves took a second to catch back up, though it did not stand to help, either. [color=6ecff6]"Uh, h-hello!"[/color] She forced her expression to be at least calm; and if failing that, at least attentive in case it was her new boss. Unwittingly, it came off as profoundly unnerved. Thankfully, the one who addressed her was a coolly dressed gentleman, who, if he noticed Adalia's uneven tone, did not show it. [b]"You are wanted in the vehicle bay. The elevator is to your left."[/b] Somehow it was even worse that the man didn't acknowledge Adalia's disheveled reply. Flushing red and numb from embarrassment, Adalia scurried off to wherever whoever the person had pointed her to. Adalia didn't really have the bandwidth to ask any questions. As soon as the rush of having to speak to an unfamiliar person left her system, a new flood of thoughts entered her mind, raucously derailing all other trains of thought. [color=6ecff6][i]I messed up I messed up I messed up I messed up I messed up The first day I didn't even start anything and I messed up What happens if [/i][/color] Such a ramble was only stopped by an abrupt wall - in her anxiety-ridden trance, Adalia had run straight into a masked lady. Not even knowing who she bumped into, she blurted out, [color=6ecff6]"Sorry! It won't happen again! Please don't fire me!"[/color] Alayna, previously having stood with her back towards the entrance, slowly turned around after what felt like a light breeze crashing against her from behind, followed by desperate pleading. The second in command’s eyes, including the ones on her mask, were darting around the room to locate the source of the noise. Each eye was looking in a different direction and not at all synchronously as would be expected of so many eyes. No, it was hard to imagine how disordered, rapid eye movement could possibly lead to a clear picture in Alayna’s mind- Yet in her mental eye Alayna now saw a perfect representation of the room, the inner workings of how that was possible were only known to herself. Once Adalia was spotted, Alayna’s eyes would all quickly focus on her, piercing the timid woman with her gaze. [center][color=f49ac2]”You’re late, Agent Rosenthal. Care to explain yourself?”[/color][/center] Alayna spoke with a stern tone while having her arms crossed, not pleased with the tardiness of Adalia. Under normal circumstances she’d be thrown out then and there, however, as per Nevyn’s request they would not go to such extreme measures [i]for now[/i]. Adalia's heart sank even lower. Explain herself? She didn't even know why she was here in the first place! Adalia's eyes were lost trying to figure out which pair of eyes was the 'correct' one to look at, eventually settling on looking meekly at the ground. No wait, it wasn't the time - her mouth had already hung open in a mid-stammer, demanding a response. Didn't she watch a tutorial on this?! What did the guy say? What did he say? No, no, that's right - it was one of: 1. Break down, screaming hysterically and retreat back to her home. Down an entire tub of ice-cream. 2. Pretend she didn't hear the question and hide in the toilet for the next 30 minutes. 3. Option 1, but scream louder. At the last second, some tiny corner of her brain managed to regain volition and force out a response before her fight or flight instincts pressed all three options at once. [color=6ecff6] "S-sorry! I, um, didn't, wasn't sure where the Tower was?"[/color] Her tone wavered, acknowledging itself that the truth of the situation sounded incredibly stupid. [center][color=f49ac2]”You… weren’t sure where the Tower was?”[/color][/center] Alayna replied, obviously being a bit taken aback by that reply. How could one [i]not[/i] know where the Tower was? This sky-piercing structure, reaching far beyond the clouds, was a beacon of light and safety for the citizens of the 2nd, visible from practically anywhere that wasn’t exactly where the outer borders of the 2nd Pillar were. Then again, Alayna had observed Aladia on the security cameras together with Nevyn, knowing full well that the naïve young woman had been here on time; She simply had not entered the building on time, for whatever reason. [center][color=f49ac2]”A-Anyways, we do not have time for this. You’re not expelled, nor thrown out or anything like that- But the Commander is expecting you in his office after your mission to have a word with you.”[/color][/center] Alayna replied after adjusting her posture. [center][color=f49ac2]”Speaking of which…”[/color][/center] She raised her right arm, pointing towards the large door to the left of Aladia with her long, boney fingers. [center][color=f49ac2]”Your first mission has already commenced, Agent Rosenthal. You’ll be briefed on the way there. Your colleagues are waiting behind that door where the locker room is. Please find your locker, grab your gear, and follow your fellow Agents as they have been instructed properly. Once onboard the vehicle, everything will be explained to you via your communication device.”[/color][/center] Adalia was both relieved and dismayed at Alayna’s assurance. Relieved, of course, that Adalia’s profoundly stupid explanation for her tardiness didn’t elicit immediate laughter. Yet it would surely have been easier for her to just get kicked out, and take the opportunity to reflect on her poor life choices? And to have to explain herself to the Commander... This sentiment was especially pronounced when Alayna ushered her toward the new locker room, mentioning a mission. A mission? It was her first day on the job! Wasn’t there orientation day? A meet and greet? Adalia did sign for being an Agent knowing full well it was to be a fast paced job (actually, scratch that, she was already out of her depth) - but the thought of handling both meeting strangers AND going out to what was undoubtedly a real life combat situation curdled at the pit of Adalia stomach. But Adalia had embarrassed herself far too much already to ask any questions. [color=6ecff6]“Thank you! Uh-”[/color] Adalia searched for a nametag, and found none. Address, address - Mrs. or Ms, out the question, getting the wrong rank was going to be disrespectful, or maybe it was - she was overthinking things again, just go with the default; [color=6ecff6]“Yes, um, Ma'am!''[/color] What did the lady tell her again? The instructions were lost among the mental din. But the word ‘locker’ and ‘teammates’ came up when she pointed, so Adalia simply scurried back across the room and through the door - and straight into yet another person, this time belonging to a giant green man. She bounced off it like a teddy bear thrown against a wall. [color=6ecff6]“AH! I’M SO SORRY!” [/color] As Alanya watched Adalia hurry towards the locker room, she couldn’t help but sigh and pinch the bridge of her nose. [center][color=f49ac2][i]”What on earth is he thinking?[/i][/color][/center] Alayna mumbled to herself as the tardy recruit disappeared behind the automatically closing doors. For now, however, it mattered not- There were more immediate things to take care of. Alayna turned her focus towards the support staff and confidently marched towards them, ready to help and instruct both them and the agents via communications moving forward.