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The torrid air of Oasis filled Moira’s office, sunlight pouring in from the large, blindless windows facing south and sticking to her skin. She huffed heavily and took a napkin to dab at the sweat on her forehead for the fifth time in thirty minutes, picking up again the dissertation one of her students sent to review, but the heat made it impossible to focus. She closed the document, checking the time: it was noon, she could afford a break.
She got up, gathering her stuff to head to the university dining hall when her office intercom rang. She bent over her desk, trying to balance the various papers and documents in her arms, and pressed a small, blue button next to her keyboard to answer.
“Layla,” her tone was harsh, every word filled with irritation, “please, if it’s maintenance finally coming to fix the air conditioning, tell them that I’m heading out for lunch so they’ll have to wait for me to come back ‘cause they’re three hours late, and I won’t waste any more my precious time for them-”
“I’m sorry, Professor O’Deorain,” her assistant interrupted her, her voice shaky. “It’s not staff, it’s - you have a visit.”
“A visit?” Moira asked, confused. She got her tablet out, checking her calendar. “I haven’t scheduled any appointments for today -”
“No, it’s… an old friend, he says,” Layla cut her off once again, voice growing more uneasy. “And, uhm. He has a gun, ma’am. That he’s, well… he’s holding it. Right in my face. Uhm. Can I let him in?”
Moira stood there, shocked for a moment.
“Yes, Layla. Thank you,” she answered, as she reached for her top drawer, looking for her own gun. But before she could find it her office door slammed wide open, and as the mysterious visitor came through she let out a sigh of relief.
“Wow, Moira,” the Reaper said, “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“You’re an idiot Reyes,” Moira fell back down on her chair, scowling, as Gabriel Reyes glided through the room, sitting on the other chair in front of her desk. “You know we can’t be seen together in public! It’s too risky!”
“Don’t worry, I don’t think anyone noticed me.”
“Except for my poor assistant, who has probably alerted security already.”
“Well. We have to be quick then.” Gabriel said, shrugging nonchalantly. He then straightened his back, crossing his arms and giving her what could be described as a piercing look, if his face wasn’t covered by his mask. “Overwatch’s little stunt in Paris got the Council’s attention, they want to see you.”
“What?” Moria rubbed her hands tiredly on her eyelids. “I thought we had agreed on a meeting for next week, what happened to that?”
“You can probably see how the situation requires some urgency.”
Moira sighed once again.
“... I guess my presence must be mandatory?”
“Yes,” Gabriel answered coldly and raised from the chair, gliding out the room.
“Nice seeing you again, my friend,” he waved at her from the hallway, and disappeared in a cloud of black smoke, as Layla and a couple of security agents reached her office, running.
“Ma’am!” Layla screamed, barging in the room looking apologetic, “I’m so sorry he - he had a gun and I came as fast as I could but… where is he?” She looked around in confusion.
“Don’t worry, he’s gone,” Moira said, getting back up once again and straightening her Minister uniform, as she once again picked up her bag, heading out.
“Layla, I won’t be in office for the next week, please apologize to the administration on my behalf.”
“What? I mean, sure Professor but - that man, what happened? Where is he? You have to tell us-”
“See you next Monday!” Moira yelled out, quickly walking down the corridor and turning left, disappearing from their sight. Exiting the University campus, she got her small tablet out, sending an email explaining to her student that, regretfully, she wouldn’t be able to finish her revision before the end of the week as she had promised. She sighed once again.
It was going to be a long week.