It took Clio a long time to find the JAG offices. People were helpful enough, but too often they sent her in the wrong direction. Nearly an hour after she landed on Earth, she finally found the right door and went inside, trying not to look too annoyed as she approached the front desk.
"How can I help you?" the secretary asked, not even looking up as Clio came close.
Clio smiled tightly, biting her tongue for a moment. "I'm here to see Commander Hutchins."
"Your name?"
"Eneas Clio. She knows I'm coming."
"I'll let her know you're here. Sit down and we'll call you when she's ready," the secretary said in a dismissive tone, waving Clio off as she wrote down a note for Commander Hutchins.
Clio narrowed her eyes a bit, leaning on the desk. "Look, I had a very long shuttle flight to get here, and Commander Hutchins said to talk to her as soon as I arrived. I would appreciate it if you cooperated because the Enterprise was more than two days out at the shuttle's maximum speed. This meeting is regarding a rather high priority case, so please stop intentionally delaying me and let her know I'm here now."
"You don't have an appointment, so you wait. Those are the rules. Doesn't matter how long your flight was or how important you think your case is. So have a seat, and we'll get to you when we get to you."
"Please tell me you're kidding."
The secretary finally looked up, giving Clio a cross glare. "No, I'm not kidding. Sit down and stop wasting my time; Commander Hutchins will be with you when she's good and ready."
"Marcia, I hope you're not giving Colonel Eneas a hard time!" a semi-familiar voice yelled from the back, and Clio relaxed, if only slightly. "Let the poor woman pass before she turns your desk over on you."
Marcia scowled and pointed toward Hutchins' office. "I guess she's ready then."
"Thank you," Clio said sweetly, giving Marcia a look that spoke volumes as she passed and went back to the office she'd heard the voice from.
"Grab yourself some coffee and have a seat. I'm just going to run to the bathroom for a minute, but I didn't want to leave you with Marcia." Commander Hutchins smiled a bit. "She can be so unbelievably rude sometimes. Excuse me."
Clio scooted out of the way to let Hutchins pass before going to inspect the coffee maker on the other side of the room. The coffee smelled decent, so she poured some into one of the paper cups and sat down in one of the chairs near the desk before taking a sip. It was bitter, but drinkable. Better than the shuttle's replicator coffee had been at least. Not sure how long she'd be alone, she occupied herself with looking at the few pictures on the walls while she waited.
“It’s not a vampire.” Marcy leaned forward between the front seats, still shaken and pale.
Adina yelped in surprise, nearly swerving into an oncoming car. “Damn it, Marcy! I thought you were still hiding on the floor.”
Marcy smiled weakly at her.
“Okay then.” Adina took a deep breath and drove past the office to give them time to talk. “What is it then? I’ve never seen you like that before.”
“Don’t lie. Yes, you have.”