The Bureau of Time by Brett Michael Orr Page B

practically non-existent. Whatever she did, or claims to have done on that night, we don’t have any proof that she can replicate it. She’s a liability.”
    The disappointment in his voice cut deeper than any knife. Her heart dropped and she slouched against the wall, her legs failing her.
    “I know Cassie,” Natalie interjected, speaking for the first time. “She’s adaptable and determined. You just need to give her a chance.”
    The agent’s voice sparked something in her heart, a flickering flame of hope – but hope for what? She wanted to prove herself, wanted to believe that she was strong and capable – that she could finally belong somewhere; but at the same time, she was terrified of being put with proper soldiers on a mission.
    “I agree,” Lehmann said, his deep voice rumbling. “Doctor, you’ve had the girl for over a week and produced no results. We’re fighting a war against the Adjusters. I need Timewalkers who can use their powers, and more importantly, I need a soldier I can trust.”
    “She’s a teenage girl, not a marine,” Amita snapped.
    “She’s a human weapon, ” Lehmann growled, his tone dangerous. “I have jurisdiction here, Doctor. She’s under my Directorate’s control now. And I say that we need to put her in the field, give her real experience with Clockwork.”
    “She’s been here a week, ” Amita argued, pushing her point. “I’m just asking for more time—”
    “We don’t have time! ” Lehmann shouted. Cassie flinched, startled. There was a pause, then the General added, “In a perfect world, I’d let her complete basic training for six months, like I did with Briars. But you’ve seen Eaglepoint’s data. Temporal Spikes are occurring in greater frequency than ever. The Adjusters are getting more active, and we’re finding less Timewalkers than ever. The ones I do have, I want to use. A week has been long enough.”
    Nobody spoke for a moment.
    Then, Natalie: “I’d like to come along. I – I think it would help integrate her better. I’ve had field training with Whirlwind before.”
    “Fine,” Lehmann grunted. “The next Temporal Spike we find, I’ll be adding you and her both to Clockwork. Briars – think you can handle her?”
    Cassie tensed, a mixture of emotions storming through her mind. I’m going on a mission, she realized. A hollow pit of fear opened in her stomach, and she felt sick. I’ll see them again. The Adjusters.
    Shaun’s words reached her ears, emotionless and flat. “As long as she doesn’t slow us down.”
    “She’s just there for field experience,” Lehmann said, with a dismissive grunt. “It might trigger her Temporal powers, it might not. It’s a risk I’m willing to take.”
    Slow us down. The words were a knife to her heart. Her eyes burned, and she realized she had squeezed her hands into fists, crumpling her letter. There were loud noises from the office, and the door swung fully open. Desperate, Cassie darted back around the corner, randomly choosing a direction and slipping down a darkened service corridor.
    General Lehmann walked past – a tall, broad-chested man with gray hair. Shaun followed behind him like a loyal dog. Then came Amita, huffing to herself and muttering about ‘jarhead marines.’
    Cassie took a deep breath, her hands shaking. She wanted to go back to her bunk, curl up under the sheets and forget about everything – but she still had her letter. She drew herself up, wiped away the tears, and went back around to Natalie’s office. The door was open this time, and the young agent was busying herself at her desk.
    “Cassie!” Natalie looked up sharply. She glanced at a clock on the wall. “It’s almost curfew – I was just finishing for the night. Some last-minute paperwork.”
    What a rubbish lie, she thought. But at least she stuck up for me.
    Natalie’s office was crowded with stacks of paperwork in various trays, with a heavy filing cabinet on one wall. Her computer monitor