X-COM Cafeteria
1930 Hours
Ayame Kasagi takes a seat by herself. She has a tray with a small piece of boiled chicken, some carrots, and mashed potatoes. She looks at the food hesitantly for a full minute before finally lifting a fork and knife and cutting off a piece of chicken. She chews the piece slowly, a disappointed look crossing her face. A young man takes a seat across from her, chuckling and saying, "I'm guessing by that look the chicken's a bit bland."
Ayame shrugs, saying, "What I wouldn't give for a bit of soy sauce."
The man chuckles again, saying, "Yeah, I guess keeping everyone healthy doesn't included using a few spices. The best we can hope for is bit ketchup." He picks up one of three small cups of ketchup and offers it to Ayame. She hesitantly dips her pinky in it and tastes it. She gives an approving nod and takes the cup, dipping her chicken in. The man says, "Makes me wish I was here when you guys had that whole party thing."
Ayame glances at his lab coat, saying, "Don't you lab and engineering guys usually eat together, apart from the soldiers?"
"Yeah, but I was hoping to have a chance to have a chat with you." The man extends his hand towards Ayame. "I'm Dennis, by the way." Ayame reaches for his hand. "Dennis McAfree."
Ayame jerks her hand away, a sour look crossing her face. "So what do you want?" Ayame says curtly. "To curse me out? Petty revenge? Let me guess, the ketchup had something unpleasant mixed in it?"
Dennis laughs loudly, drawing the eyes of those around him. He takes a piece of his chicken and dips it into Ayame's ketchup, putting it in his mouth and chewing it. "I actually expected a much harsher reaction. Like, you jumping across the table and pounding my face in. And I'd except it. After all, you didn't get a chance to do it to Charles."
Ayame raises an eyebrow. "Sooooo.....you're not pissed."
Dennis smiles, saying, "Quite the contrary. I'm glad someone put that windbag in his place. You know, I always had to try and live up to his example. The wannabe little doctor always trying to be half as good as his big brother. I always said, though, skill isn't much if you don't have a good personality to go with it. And, for the most part so far, I was wrong."
Ayame relaxes a bit, realizing she had been holding her utensils like weapons. She puts them down and folds her hands, asking, "What do you mean, you were wrong? You don't believe that anymore?"
"Weeeeell, there were times when I had my doubts. His pushiness and general asshole-itude seemed to get him ahead while my general sense of morality actually seemed to hold me back. This was especially made evident when he was chosen for the X-COM project over me. He is better at the craft then I, but I had hoped my better attitude would have won out. I guess "the best of the best" only meant the skill."
Dennis smiles widely, continuing, "But you, my fair lady, proved to him that maybe it doesn't always pay to be a lecherous prick with delusions of grandeur. Hopefully, when he gets out of prison, he'll be a better person. I doubt it, but I can always hope. I, on the other hand, was chosen to take his place. So, in short, I'd like to thank you, as well as that other unfortunate woman who had the displeasure of meeting him." Again, Dennis extends his hand. With a smile, Ayame excepts it.
"So," Ayame says, continuing her dinner, "What made you want to join X-COM."
"Well, I'd be lying if I didn't share my brother's desire for getting his name in the annals of history, but I think I have something else that is a bit more important then that." Dennis reaches into his pocket, pulling out a wallet. He takes out a picture, handing it to Ayame.
The picture shows an attractive young woman with long blond hair. In her arms are two healthy young children around ten years of age, one a boy resembling Dennis, the other a girl resembling the woman. Ayame examines it carefully, asking, "Is this your family?"
"Indeed it is. The two perfect little tikes are pride and joy, Alexander and Jennifer, and the gorgeous angel holding them is my better half, Beatrice. I am here because the only thing I want more then being by their side is helping to protect them from our nasty alien foes."
Ayame hands him back the picture, saying, "Well, I'll make you a deal. You keep researching all the goodies we keep bringing back, and me and my fellow soldiers will use the fruits of your research to win this war."
"Deal," Dennis says, and the two stand up, both having finished their meals. As the two return their trays and exit the mess-hall, Dennis says, "I hope we can have another meal together some time." He looks at her hopefully. Ayame nods in agreement, and the two go their separate.
