Sleep.
The joyous moment one can rest from the events of the day, the moment that allows one's mind to wander and the imagination to take over with dreams. The moment that...
Cue annoying cell phone ringtone
"Por favor, me diz que não é telemarketing... Er, oh, right, English. Yeah, that meant 'Please, tell me it's not a cold call'... What can I do for you? Yeah, Hawkins called me. No, I won't tell anyone. I don't know, you wanna reward me? I got what I need in terms of cash... Wait, meet me? Really? Well, okay, I'm not doing anything today. Yeah, I can go. Yeah, I can get to DC through the Cafe. And, well, through other means too. Yeah, see, that right there, THAT is where I have got to learn to keep my yapper shut. Anyways, how will they know it's okay for me to enter? I'm a nobody. Yes, I'm a nobody that saved the world, but I still don't have clearance or anything. Right. So, you'll tell them 'an angel of vengeance with a mouth is gonna come visit me' and I'll give them your name and so on? Fields, right? Kay. So, an hour? Sure. Can I bring someone? She's cool, and she knows, yes. Cool. Okay. Laters!"
To be sure, Lucas was a bit more awake this time. Also, context, etc.
"So, we'll go to Washington?" - Said a surprised Cass.
"If you want. Y'know, sightseeing. Lincoln's Memorial, the White House, meeting the top brass of a secret agency, taking a look at the Washington Monument and making snide remarks about what it reminds us of. The usual." - Said Lucas.
"Right..." - Said Cass - "You know, you're trusting them a lot more now..."
"What can I say? Hawkins is a cool guy. Plus they sorta know we have GODS on our side, so they'd not really mess with us, even if they were so inclined, which I doubt." - Said Lucas.
"Point." - Said Cass - "I'm in."
Cecilia was doing damage control online while Hawkins talked on the phone. Talk of the "Missing Sixteen Seconds" was getting more widespread, and, if Cecilia couldn't well cover it up, she could at least try to spread rumors that would steer the conclusions where she wanted.
The truth is too out there for my tastes... - She thought idly.
Hawkins finally hung up.
"How are we doing, Cecilia?"
"I don't think they'll link anything to us or to magical girls... The problem is trying to prevent panic now..." - Said Cecilia.
Hawkins nodded.
"And how are we doing on this front?"
"Pretty well, actually. Most people who believe this are actually taking this in stride. It's almost as if the Sun changing and transforming people was weirder than a time lapse few even noticed..." - Cecilia smirked, dryly.
"Good. I hardly think Lucas will tell anyone about our little expedition. The brass actually called her over to the agency. They want to offer her a job..." - Said Hawkins.
"She uses the word 'freelance' at a hundred and seventy-three times the rate of a normal person, Inkface. I doubt she'll accept a job..." - Said Cecilia.
Hawkins nodded.
"I informed them that the most they will be able to get will be her aid as a sort of mercenary. And that's IF she agrees with the goal of whatever mission it is."
"And the brass?" - Said Cecilia.
"They were pretty okay with it. And I do believe Lucas will grow quite fond of Director Fields. She is, after all, very much the antithesis of what Lucas despises about our line of work, though she is not as... chaotic... as Lucas by any means."
"Nobody is as chaotic as Lucas. And I say this in a world where some people likely turned into chaos elementals." - said Cecilia, smirking.
"Touché." - Said Hawkins, pensively.
