Barely an Inconvenience

Posted on Wed Apr 29th, 2020 @ 9:00pm by Commissioner Bishop Hooks & Captain Ash Shultz & Civilian Ron Steinbeck

Mission: It's... A Bus Station
Location: MaxTech Private Jet
Timeline: May 2nd, 2020- 1325 Hours

New postings made most people anxious. This was no different for Ash. What made things even more stressful was the fact her former boss Bishop, and a young tech genius named Ron Steinbeck were sitting in luxurious tan-leather recliners two rows up. Talking low. Ash debated for a moment on if she should investigate while she stroked the back of her pet dachshund, Dilla.

With a quick rake through her short shock of brown hair, Ash unbuckled her seatbelt, kissed her dog on the top of the head, motioned the dog to stay put, and stood up. Ash strolled casually to the seat beside Bishop. Both of them were wearing black suits and ties. Dress to impress MVPs and all that jazz.

"We moved forward while you were napping," Bishop explained with a natural smile, then pushed his black-rim glasses further back on his nose, and gestured to the younger man. "Mister Steinbeck did not want to disturb you."

"Clearly," Ash noted dubiously and flagged a flight attendant, then pointed to Bishop's glass of water as if to imply that's what she wanted.

"The Founders told me about some of your busts in Gettysburg," Ron spoke. He did not dress his best. Tan slacks, a blue polo with white stripes. "Shame FBI covered a lot of them up, but D.C. is like that."

Ash did not know what to make of Ron. She spent five minutes talking to him after takeoff about various apps and programs. Then she nodded off. All she knew of him was that his MaxTech smartphone and holographic technology was making a fast rise in popularity. Second only in the US to the iPhone. Apple was having to play catchup with them, now. So this new advancement of technology was why the press hailed Ron as the next generation's Steve Jobs.

"Still don't get why you wanna invest hundreds of millions into an organization the government has worked hard to keep out of the public eye," Ash spoke with complete confusion, then took the glass of water from the flight attendant that had walked by.

"It takes one who has seen a ghost, to believe others claiming the same," Ron answered simply. "If there are bad ghosts running amuck, I want to support the people that combat them - and I want to fund organizations who study them."

Ash sipped on her ice water, then began to suck on an ice chip as she mulled over his reasons.

"MaxTech has also helped with pushing out recruiting ads across the states, Canada, and most of the Common Wealth," Bishop added. "The Founders plan to open stations in England, France, and Germany in the next five years."

"So we're going to get applicants from around the world?" Ash half-smiled. "The Miami station is likely to have a strong Latin American presence so that will work out well."

That's when Ash noticed a non-verbal conversation happening between the two men.

"About that..." Bishop scratched the back of his neck.

"You said I was getting Miami," Ash accused as she pointed a finger at Bishop's chest.

"The Founders decided at the last second, that Raleigh would be better for you," Bishop informed while he pilfered through his briefcase. "You know the state's history, you know the politics and the culture. That makes you the best qualified to run the station."

Ash hesitantly accepted the nilla file and immediately dropped her jaw, "...A bus station?"

"MaxTech is giving us funds to fix the place up and set you up for the first three months. It'll barely inconvenience you, once the floor is finished," Bishop added assuringly.

The last place Ash wanted to return to, was North Carolina. Yet here she was, on a plane to a destination she thought she'd never had to set eyes on again.

"So this is the only station The Founders are willing to give me?" Ash asked in frustration.

"Yes... but if you succeed here, then you'll be set to run Taskforce Spectre," Bishop spoke as if he were waving a delicious treat in front of Ash.

"I could care less about leading multiple stations," Ash sighed and shook her head. "Guess I'll take Raleigh... But a bus station?!"

"It's roomy. Maybe not as ideal as a firehouse or police station, but it will do the job," Ron smiled.

As Ash looked out the window of the plane, she could not help but feel like a dark shadow was creeping upon them. Nothing about her new posting felt right, and she had no other choices to take. As much as she loathed being back in the Carolinas, she would have to make the best of things.