Nighthawk: A Superhero Story (closed for Siobhancan99)

[Halcyon638]

A light breeze dissipated the heat a bit. Both girls’ hair fluttered softly as it passed. “Wow,” Shay said. “I’m…sorry about your boyfriend.”

The brunette glanced over at her car. “Umm…normally I’d invite you to hang out at my place or hit up a bar or something, but I should probably head back. I told my boyfriend I was hanging out with a friend and he gets weird if I don’t get back on time.” She rolled her eyes ever so slightly.

“Thanks for coming. Next time we’ll grab a beer.”

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica smiled, knowing that at least Shay didn't have to worry about a jealous boyfriend in the way most women did. "Reach out any time. Questions or whatever. Even if you just need to talk to someone who knows what it means to be different." She stood up and put her helmet back on "I'll be around."

Climbing back into the sliver, she headed back, showering and getting into bed. TOmorrow would be a long day, after flying back from Baltimore.

 

[Halcyon638]

Gabi texted Monica on her way in to work.

GABI: Good morning, Princesa Hermosa Any chance you could come home this weekend?? I get done at 8 on Friday and then I’m working 4-9 on Saturday, but other than that, fam stuff is pretty light!

When Monica arrived at Vigil headquarters and made her way through the metal detectors, a security guard walked over toward her, a serious expression on her middle-aged face. “Good morning. I’m going to ask you to take a walk with me down to Conference Room 117.” The woman’s tone was almost apologetic. None of Monica's other coworkers were in sight.

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica, catching the guard's expression, assumed that she might have all the time in the world to visit Gabi, maybe sooner than she'd have liked. She nodded. Wondering what was up. Someone had made a joke about that exec wanting to fuck her. Was this that? Was she going to get some ham fisted "I know you falsified your time card but if you just put my little dick in your mouth I'll look the other way" bullshit? She'd see. For now she just nodded. She inhaled, then let out a slow breath and made her way towards the room with the security guard.

 

[Halcyon638]

The room was bright, airy, lined with windows giving Monica a view of the building’s courtyard. The large table was empty. “Now, I’m going to ask you to just grab a seat and sit tight for a minute, okay? There was a security incident here yesterday and we’re just trying to get everything settled so you all can go back to work.” She smiled and walked toward the door of the room. “And I’ll just need to ask you not to text your friends, okay? Your coworkers. It’s protocol. Can I get you anything? Coffee? Muffin?”

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica arched an eyebrow. Something was up. That meant someone on the team was suspected of doing something bad. "I can turn my phone off if you like" She pulled it out and turned it off, showing the guard and put her phone face down on the table. "I'm good on coffee or a muffin. Thank you."

 

[Halcyon638]

“Thank you,” the woman said at Monica’s offer. “You should be fine to keep it on.” She nodded and smiled, then left.

A couple of minutes passed. Then five. Nearly a full ten minutes passed before the woman returned. “Sorry. Shouldn’t be long now.”

A few minutes later, the door opened again. Russell Katis stepped in. “Ms. Bergenson.” He made room for another person, a tall African-American man who looked to be in his 30s, with closely-cropped dark brown hair and wire-frame glasses. He wore a dark polo shirt emblazoned with the Vigil logo and khakis. “This is Isaac Claypool, our Chief of Security.”

The man’s expression was neutral but there was something folksy about his tone. “Nice to meet you, Ms. Bergenson. Do you mind if I grab a seat?” He placed his hand tentatively on the back of a chair directly across the table from Monica.

“He’s just here to ask you a few questions about yesterday,” Katis said, sounding casual.

“That’s right. And—spoiler alert—they shouldn’t be all that hard to answer.”

 

[siobhancan99]

"It's your conference room" She laughed and gestured at the seat. "Fire away. I mean, nothing really remarkable seemed to happen so." She shrugged, apparently unconcerned but honestly curious. She had a bet the project leaked and they were looking to pin it on an intern. Was that the case? or had someone decided they were perfect patsies? Time would tell. She sat up, leaning in a little to show attention to the questions.

 

[Halcyon638]

Claypool grinned. “As Jodie probably told you, there was a security incident yesterday. The details aren’t important right now. We just really want you to focus on answering as best as you can, okay?”

He folded his hands together neatly on the table. “You said you nothing really remarkable happened yesterday. Do you remember anything strange? Doesn’t have to be remarkable—just anything a little odd, or a little ‘off.’ Any of your coworkers seem a little off? Just acting out of the ordinary in any way?”

Nothing stood out in Monica’s memory as she’d referenced earlier. “You’ve spent a lot of time with these four. I understand you even hang out outside of work together. Have any of them ever talked to you about personal problems? Money problems, maybe?”

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica shook her head "honestly? If you review the security footage you'll see that I basically had my face in my computer from 9 to 2. I ate at my desk. There's a heat problem and marketing doesn't want the venting we proposed because of the aesthetics. I get shit like that cause I'm the freshman." She hmmmed, thinking "Um. No. Honestly. Wendell just listens to his music all day. Ishani's weird but she's sweet and smart. Never mentioned any problems really. Nelly has no money issues as near as I can tell." Though Nelly WAS girl crazy so she might sell company secrets to get some sex. She had the tact not to bring that up. "Ethan is a riddle wrapped in an enigma."

She thought back to Nelly. She had broken her leg. Maybe she had medical bills. "So nobody said anything about a security incident but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out you think one of us stole something."

 

[Halcyon638]

“Well, I don’t support that,” Katis said in a light-hearted tone as Monica discussed eating at her desk. “That’s a state of the art dining hall we’ve got here, Ms..”

Claypool arched an eyebrow a bit. “ ‘A riddle wrapped in an enigma’? Can you say a little bit more about Evan?”

Katis’s phone chimed. “Excuse me.” He stepped out of the room, phone pressed to his left ear.

“What about after work yesterday? What did you do with yourself?” the Chief of Security asked casually.

 

[siobhancan99]

"Dude just does not talk about himself with me at all. I try to draw him out but... I dunno. he went to Penn. Maybe he thinks his shit doesn't stink or something. Ivy league you know? I know he's got a girlfriend and he goes to Penn. That's it. Those are the total two facts I have about him." She shrugged "Might be he's just private. Not everyone's as fabulously extroverted as I am. "

She tried the truth when asked about her night before "I had an uncomfortable conversation with the daughter of a family friend who uh. Well let's just say after 20 years of not knowing, she got to find out who her dad was. So yeah." She shrugged and laughed. "I'd honestly rather have been in this room."

 

[Halcyon638]

Claypool listened carefully, but there was a note of sympathy on his face as Monica explained what she’d been doing the night before. “Well…I’m sorry to hear that.” He stood and offered a cordial smile. “You’ve been very helpful, Monica. I hope you have a good day and a little less drama when you get home tonight.”

“Thank you,” Katis said to her as Claypool left the room. “If you could just sit tight here for a couple of minutes, Jonah will have some updates for you.”

This time, the wait was as short as expected. Her internship coordinator looked apologetic. “Unfortunately, due to the incident, you and your team are in a bit of a holding pattern today. We’re hoping we can get this all cleared up by early next week so everybody can go back to what you were doing before. In the worst-case scenario, we might need to talk about reassigning you to a different team. I’m hoping it won’t come to that, but if it does, we’ll work really hard to assign you to a team that’ll fit your interests and skills. In the meantime, you’ll be paid as usual and you don’t have to worry about this affecting any letters of recommendation or your resume or any of that. Okay?”

 

[siobhancan99]

"So what do I do in the meantime? Do I go home? Do I come sit in the cafeteria?" Monica assumed she was to go home, but she didn't want to just do it and then be told that she wasn't a go getter or whatever. "As far as the team obviously I'd prefer to stay with them, but... you know if someone isn't going to be around any more well. That can't really be helped can it?" She had a feeling something was rotten about all this, but it could be one of them did do something. Or none of them did but it was something they all had access too. She'd have to see what was up as people got cleared. "Just tell me what I need to do."

 

[Halcyon638]

A sheepish expression crossed the 30-something’s face. “You’re technically on paid leave today, so…we are sending you and your team home for the day. They have to, uh…make sure the situation is resolved before we, uh…restore your access.”

Jonah winced. “Sorry about this. Everyone wants you all back as soon as possible. Hopefully tomorrow, but hopefully early next week if not.”

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica nodded "look I can just go home and see my dad tomorrow and be back Monday if that's easier for everyone. Or I can be here bright and early and ready to work. You all just let me know." She made her way out, glad she didn't have to provide proof of her whereabouts the night before. Weaponized honesty, she could tell the truth had made the guy uncomfortable. She now was left to contemplate whether or not there was a legit traitor on her team.

 

[Halcyon638]

Jonah thought for a moment. “So, I would plan to work tomorrow, but also be ready to not. That’s really all I can say at this time.” He apologized again, and then Monica was on her way.

It was another scorcher of a day. When she arrived at her apartment at a quarter past ten, she could hear Elise across the hall having a bit of a meltdown and could faintly hear Sid trying to calm the girl.

A text came in through a group thread of the interns:

WENDELL: Well, this was unexpected.

EVAN: This is so crazy. Like who’s going to try to steal data as an intern?

ISHANI: I am seriously freaked right now.

As Monica fired up her air conditioner, another notification sounded.

GABI: Good morning, Princesa! Missing you bad again already.

 

[siobhancan99]

Texting Gabi she let her know that there was work drama, but unless it turned into nighthawk work drama she would e coming up for sure, "Love you so much cant wait to see you "

Texting in the group chat she gave her address "anyone who wants to stop over is welcome." The lack of text so far from Nelly was concerning but she might just be late to the party like Monica.

Monica then changed into a white sundress with blue flowers. company might strain the ac a bit and she wanted to be comfortable. She also headed down to the corner store for beer and snacks.

 

[Halcyon638]

Wendell texted back shortly after.

WENDELL: Sounds good. Bitch sesh at Monica’s. I’ll grab some beer.

All four of Monica’s fellow interns, including Nelly, indicated they’d be there. As she arrived at the sidewalk outside of her building, she spotted Sid and Elise coming from the other direction. The girl’s long dark hair was damp.

“Hi, Monica,” the girl said. “We went swimming.” Elise's words gave Sid a moment to recover from the slightly dazed look that had appeared on his face when his eyes had first registered Monica in the sundress.

“Well, don’t rub it in,” Sid said, lightly palming the girl’s small shoulder. “There is a decent public pool two blocks from here.” Noticing the beer, he said, “That is also a good way to cool off.”

“Do you like swimming?” Elise asked, tone hopeful.

 

[siobhancan99]

Chuckling, Monica moved the beer a bit of of view "I'm having people over as there is an unexpected day off." She looked down at Elise, who was as cherubic as ever. It made her want to have maybe a kid with Gabi some day. Well. Gabis kid shed adopt. Her genes maybe shouldn't continue. "I loooove swimming." she nodded seriously "I was a silver medalist at Butterfly in the state competitions my Junior and Senior Year." She could have easily had gold but... always had to be no better than second. Don't evefr let the humans know...

"maybe if you're a very good girl and your dad says it is ok my girlfriend and I can take you to the pool some weekend so he can go on a date or something."

 

[Halcyon638]

Elise’s little face lit up hearing Monica describe her interest in swimming. She looked up at her father expectantly as Monica floated the possibility of a pool trip. “Daddy?”

He smiled. “I think that sounds pretty cool, Lisey. And very nice of Monica.” He tousled her hair. “But don’t forget about the ‘being really good part.’ Think you can handle that?”

“Yes,” she said, rolling her eyes. Sid smiled.

“Enjoy your day off and your, uh…day-cooling down,” he remarked, taking his daughter’s hand.

Evan was the first to arrive, followed shortly by Ishani. Nelly and Wendell arrived about 15 minutes later.

“So, this is some fuckery,” Wendell stated.

 

[siobhancan99]

"See you soon Lisey." She waved to the girl and smiled at Sid as they went home.

Monica had her suspicions about what might have really happened, but she wanted to get what happened to the others from their own mouths before leaping to any conclusions. "So did Kaliss sit in on your interviews too or just mine?" she sipped at her beer and looked around "and did they ever give any of you any specifics or ask any real hard questions? or did they just vaguely allude to a problem and ask you what you got up to last night?"