3. our best

Ian looked up from his computer. "Oh... I didn't know you two were going to be back so quickly." He self-consciously slid his empty beer bottle below the table.

"Ian, we've been gone for hours. And it looks like you haven't moved from that spot."

"Well, I think I've used the head a few times."

"That's probably a good thing," said Rene, looking in the fridge at the dent Ian had made in a six-pack. "Would you want the last of this beer?"

"Uh, yeah, man. Sorry, that's really good beer. No, I'm good for now."

Luna was smiling at the two of them. René caught her eye and shrugged while he uncapped the last bottle. "Anything for you?"

"Water, please," answered Luna. "How do things look, Ian?"

"Fine, boss. I mean, everything's fine. It's just that there's a lot of activity on the net at the lab and I'm not clear on all of it."

"Isn't that normal just before an operation?"

"I suppose. Asgoi says she's transferring something, but I've talked with her about it a hundred times... we should have everything locked down at this point. I don't like these last minute changes just before showtime. I think she does it just to piss... just to spite me."

"I'm sure she has her reasons. She's leading the operation and has more on her plate at this point than any of the rest of us."

"So she says. I think she thrives on chaos."

René chimed in. "An understatement. Do you need anything from either of us, Ian?"

"Nah, I'm good, boss. Listen, I'm going to work the gig from here tomorrow. Are the two of you good with that?"

Luna and René looked at each other. "I thought you took the lab offline before big procedures."

"Most of the time, yeah. But man, you know how she gets. She's already flying around the place on her broomstick."

Luna choked on her water.

Ian continued. "And she doesn't... me... I'm just IT in her eyes and I can get in on my VPN. Should be business as usual anyway...."

"Business as usual?" interrupted Luna.

Ian looked confused. "Yeah, uh, Asgoi said you've done this dozens of times."

"With chimps, Ian," said Luna. "Chimps. My god. You don't pay any attention whatever in staff meetings, do you. Always jacked in. René, can you do something with your boy wonder here? Wake him up? Have him walk the plank? Something? I'm going to take a shower."

Photo by Sophie Dale

Ian took a swig from his beer and let his mock confusion fall away to quiet amusement.

"You're playing with fire you know," said René.

"Yeah, well, I can't help myself. She's so...."

"She's carrying more on her shoulders than she lets up. There's a lot riding on tomorrow."

"Sorry boss, I thought we could all use a little humor... yeah, really, sorry. You most of all, you could probably use..."

"I'll be fine. But I need you on your game. We have the best and brightest involved at every station, yours as much as any other. I need you on your game. We all need to be functioning at our best."

Ian straightened up a little. "Yes sir, I'll be on my best. I think we'll all be on our best."