Common Ground
Do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. Even the very wise cannot see all ends. ~Gandalf, Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring July 8, 2008 Outside of Galice, Oregon 0700 hours "So, you want to tell me what's up?" Paige continued to stare at the laces of Jordy's boots. This was going to be very difficult waters to navigate because she liked Jordy, as both a teammate and a friend, especially as a friend. Unfortunately, her objectives and goals were more important then that friendship and in the end when it was all said and done…Paige would be saving all of their lives. "There's nothing to tell," Paige looked up to her finally. Jordan's big doe eyes looked back clearly reflecting her doubt. "It's not like you, Paige, mouthing off like that in the middle of a mission…not only in front of the hackers….but in front of Declan as well. And about Section!" She shook her head in frustration. Paige sighed, "it just got away from me for a minute." "Got away? Things just can't get away like that," Jordy criticized her. Paige fixed a glare on Jordan, "how can you stand there and say you agree with this shit? Huh? You know what those kids are in for." Jordy tilted her head, "I don't agree with this shit. I haven't from the beginning but right now our lives are hanging at the end of a very thin string and it isn't the SIA holding the other end. So, we either do what we're told or we go back…do you get that?" Paige snorted, that's what she was waiting for, a chance to steer the conversation right into Him. "Joshua makes it a point to remind me of that every time I see him." Jordan twitched the slightest bit at just the mention of his name. "How?" she whispered. Paige dropped her eyes again and shook her head, here is where the foundation would be built on common ground and she had to be very careful. "He is so…in my head. He tells me things, says things, threatens me…makes me do things for him." "What kind of things?" Jordan said again very slowly. Paige had the feeling Joshua was into Jordan as well though she couldn't be sure. What she was sure of was that Jordan hated the man with an intensity that rivaled her own. That kind of hate didn't just come from casual encounters. "You know about the Directory…and lately it's been mission things…drops…stealing intelligence…and that's not bad…it's what he says to me…to make me do things." "I know," Jordan said putting her hand on Paige's shoulder. "He made me do things." Paige looked up with narrowed eyes, "I guessed as much." "He made me steal data and give it to him, threatened Section and such." So, the foundation was there, common ground on which both could stand firmly on, a mutual hatred for the beast Joshua, and another ally for Paige. One of a caliber she desperately needed. "We need to take him out of play," Paige said softly staring intently at Jordan. "Or he's going to kill us." Jordan's eyes widened slightly and her mouth dropped open the tiniest bit. "Do you know what you're saying?" "If we planned it carefully, secretly…" "Paige, he's Oversight for christ's sake." "That doesn't make him invincible…or protected…especially when he's here babysitting us." Jordan took a deep breath, "This is too much…" then she looked at Paige and tilted her head. "You already have a plan." Paige nodded her head slightly, "there are others." Return