“Oh, I don’t have any family missing me,” Kalliopi assured her.“In fact, it’s actually nice being on assignment and away from the empty house.”
“You don’t travel to see them?”
“Can’t travel where they are.”Kalliopi offered a tight smile while she considered how to elaborate.She hated the outpouring of sympathy people gave when they learned of all her misfortune, but she also got the impression that this young woman would continue to press until she knew the truth.“I lost my parents and older sister a while ago.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry.It’s hard to celebrate when your family is gone.I lost my mother when I was little…” The woman looked sad for only a moment before her face lit up with an idea.“You should come to our place for the holidays.My dad loves to go all out.It’s kind of his way of trying to make up for me having only one parent, so you see, there’s plenty of festive joy around our place to share with others, like yourself!”
Kalliopi smiled.It was nice of the girl to invite her, but it wasn’t necessary.And were they all this friendly in British Columbia, holidays or not?
“Thanks, but I’m sure I’m going to be plenty busy.”
“Well, if you change your mind, come find me!In the meantime, we’ll have to grab a cup of coffee and chat.”
Kalliopi lifted a brow.“Why would you want to hang out with an old folk like me?”
Jewel chuckled before responding.“I want to learn all I can about Milos and your program there so I can best help the new cadets.Not that I can’t figure out their quirks on my own… I’m going for a psychology degree on top of training to be the best FUC I can, after all.But it doesn’t hurt to get all the information I can.”
“Why psychology?”
“I want to go into behavioural science and find out what makes people like Zagan tick.He and people like him have hurt so many shifters, and I hate that.I figured if I understand his twisted mind, I might help take operations like his down for good.”
“Yeah,” Kalliopi said as she slowly nodded and gazed down the hall.“People like him killed my sister.”
“I’m sorry for your loss.This is the exact reason I want to become a behavioural criminologist.I understand I can’t save everyone, but if I can prevent even one of these crimes from happening to someone, I’m doing my job, you know?”
“I do, and that sounds very noble.”
“Thanks.I get it isn’t much, but it’s like a calling at this point.”
Kalliopi palmed Jewel’s shoulders.“It’s more than enough, and you know it.”
Kalliopi noticed one of the MILFs approaching them.“What’s up?”
“Sorry to interrupt, but my laptop is running really slow.”She turned around the FUCN’A-issued device to show what she meant.
“Usually, you’d need to put in the rec yourself, but since it’s the first day, I’ll run it down and pick up a new one for you, all right?”
The cadet nodded and thanked Jewel before bounding off.
“Would you like to walk with me and get a little tour of campus as I check out this laptop?”Jewel asked.
“Sure,” Kalliopi answered.
They began walking, with Jewel pointing out notable rooms along the way.“So, I’m telling you lots about here, but now you have to tell me something about where you’re from.Like, what’s your favorite thing about Milos?”
“I love my morning runs along the Sarakiniko Beach the best.I start my run just before sunrise so I can catch the rays illuminating the rocks.There’s nothing like it, and that’s definitely a treat after my five-mile run.But a close second is the Catacombs of Milos.I love going there to soak up the culture, and I find the place serene enough to meditate.”
“I love those kinds of places myself,” Jewel said as she opened the door to the administration office.
6
Jewel barreled into the administration office, looking like she owned the place, while Kalliopi could only assume she was looking around for a tech person.Kalliopi glanced at her watch.Her meeting with Richard started in five minutes, and she wondered if she’d run into Stan.The mere thought made her heart pitter-patter.
“Are you looking for a tech?”Kalliopi asked, wondering how she could excuse herself from the young and eager RA.
“No.I need a COC for the MILF.”
“A COC?Well, I’m not sure what a COC is, let alone how to find one, but I guess I should leave you to it.I’m supposed to see Richard in five minutes for a meeting.”
