Sequel to Pals and Partners...
Thomas did not completely trust his new partner. Sabrina was no more or less trustworthy than any of his partners, before Conner. Thomas could trust her to complete the mission, nothing more. That was how it should be. Sabrina was cold and effective. The parts of her file that weren’t redacted would have chilled Thomas to the core if he didn’t know that his own file was five or six times worse.
“What are you doing?” Sabrina hissed through Thomas’ earpiece. Thomas slipped through the shadows of the hallway.
“I’m minimizing casualties.” He muttered as he used the card that Sabrina had hacked to let him bypass security on the doors. She was very good with the computers; he wondered what it was that made people Sabrina and Conner’s age so tech savvy.
“We’ve already completed the mission. You should be getting out of there!” A shadow of a grin flickered across Thomas’ face as he recognized the tone and sentiment he’d used so many times on Conner.
“We’re supposed to avoid civilian casualties if possible.” He said. “That’s what I’m doing.” Thomas would have been growling in frustration if Conner said that to him. Sabrina simply lapsed into a stony silence.
Thomas stole a suit jacket off a chair in the office and slipped it on. He strode purposefully in to the sweatshop. Thomas spotted the foreman in an instant. Thomas jerked his head in an impatient beckon. The foreman hurried over to him, head bowed in a submissive politeness Thomas knew he only showed to superiors.
“Get these people out of here.” Thomas ordered impatiently.
“But we haven’t met our quota,” the foreman began. Thomas pinned the foreman with his eyes. He cowered before Thomas.
“We don’t want them here now.” Thomas’ voice was equally dismissive and irritated. It rejected questions and implied a greater purpose to his command. The foreman nodded and began shouting harsh orders to the workers. Thomas slipped away. Easy enough. The bosses rarely ventured down to the sweatshop. They were deeply involved in their meeting, so they probably wouldn’t even notice the sweatshop was empty.
“Are you done, or did you want to give the rats a head start also?” Sabrina asked sarcastically, a puff or two of static coming through with her voice. Thomas shook his head slightly as he left the building. It was strange to be the partner who cared about lives. He and Sabrina didn’t say anything to each other until after Thomas cleared the blast radius. Then Sabrina spoke; her voice was tight and cold in anger. “That was stupid. Don’t do it again.” Thomas smiled grimly. Sabrina was nothing like Conner. They were unlikely to become friends.
That was just how Thomas wanted it.
Thomas did not completely trust his new partner. Sabrina was no more or less trustworthy than any of his partners, before Conner. Thomas could trust her to complete the mission, nothing more. That was how it should be. Sabrina was cold and effective. The parts of her file that weren’t redacted would have chilled Thomas to the core if he didn’t know that his own file was five or six times worse.
“What are you doing?” Sabrina hissed through Thomas’ earpiece. Thomas slipped through the shadows of the hallway.
“I’m minimizing casualties.” He muttered as he used the card that Sabrina had hacked to let him bypass security on the doors. She was very good with the computers; he wondered what it was that made people Sabrina and Conner’s age so tech savvy.
“We’ve already completed the mission. You should be getting out of there!” A shadow of a grin flickered across Thomas’ face as he recognized the tone and sentiment he’d used so many times on Conner.
“We’re supposed to avoid civilian casualties if possible.” He said. “That’s what I’m doing.” Thomas would have been growling in frustration if Conner said that to him. Sabrina simply lapsed into a stony silence.
Thomas stole a suit jacket off a chair in the office and slipped it on. He strode purposefully in to the sweatshop. Thomas spotted the foreman in an instant. Thomas jerked his head in an impatient beckon. The foreman hurried over to him, head bowed in a submissive politeness Thomas knew he only showed to superiors.
“Get these people out of here.” Thomas ordered impatiently.
“But we haven’t met our quota,” the foreman began. Thomas pinned the foreman with his eyes. He cowered before Thomas.
“We don’t want them here now.” Thomas’ voice was equally dismissive and irritated. It rejected questions and implied a greater purpose to his command. The foreman nodded and began shouting harsh orders to the workers. Thomas slipped away. Easy enough. The bosses rarely ventured down to the sweatshop. They were deeply involved in their meeting, so they probably wouldn’t even notice the sweatshop was empty.
“Are you done, or did you want to give the rats a head start also?” Sabrina asked sarcastically, a puff or two of static coming through with her voice. Thomas shook his head slightly as he left the building. It was strange to be the partner who cared about lives. He and Sabrina didn’t say anything to each other until after Thomas cleared the blast radius. Then Sabrina spoke; her voice was tight and cold in anger. “That was stupid. Don’t do it again.” Thomas smiled grimly. Sabrina was nothing like Conner. They were unlikely to become friends.
That was just how Thomas wanted it.
So it would seem that Conner wasn't successful in his efforts to convince Thomas to reconsider. So... Where is Conner? And how is he doing without Thomas? Stay tuned for Coworkers to find out.
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