The water felt hot on my skin and steam was rising, sticking to the walls and ceiling, to later drip down once the room cooled down once more. Sabine applied shampoo to my hair and held the showerhead over my back. With her rough hands, she massaged it into my scalp and through my hair.
"Uh, thanks, Sabine, but I can do it myself." I said.
"That won't do Miss Ackebrueck, your accomplishments deserve recognition and appreciation." With that, the water turned freezing cold. I yelped and felt her hand brush over my head and through my hair. The water followed her hand in its wake. Until it reached my neck and spine. My body moved instinctively alongside her movement.
Until the water turned back to its comfortable lukewarm state. My breath was ragged, it felt like I couldn't breathe when it was that cold! "I take it you forget yourself, Miss Ackebrueck. One in your friend group already lives a modest life where he overlooks himself. You can't prosper as an individual if you follow someone else's folly." She stated.
One more move over my hair stretching it long she turned off the shower. "Time is of the essence and the Directorate waits for no one." Sabine said, standing up and already turning away.
I stood up and hurried after her, she opened the door where one of her aides was waiting with a towel and a tablet on her other hand. "The Major General staff is assembling the after actions report and possible theories how the nightmares managed to slip past our advance warning system. Both the Major General and Lieutenant General have declared they are preparing their case and stand censure alongside you at the people's congress." She read off her tablet.
"Tell them to stay down, the directorate will stand firm in theyre stead. They dont warrant censure for fulfilling their duty perfectly. She swiped it over her body and handed it to me. I took an breath and started to rid the water of my skin. I looked at the locker where my clothes where in and found in their stead a Military Uniform.
"The Technocrats have offered to increase their auxiliary forces. Additionally, they have presented several proposals aimed at offering reparations and making amends to the civilian population. These include expanded access to public studies and recreational activities previously restricted to their group of interest as well as increased availability of their medical care and educational programs."
"Make sure they employ their Doctors and don't let their members staff they're medical centers, having them AI supervised makes them able to deal with anything non lethal put public trust might plummet if we hear from to many cases where Construction Engineers and other Academics are staffing the Medical care." Sabine said slipping back into her uniform after she dressed up.
I held the uniform in my hand, the though of putting them on felt repulsive. "Miss Ackebrueck, I take this time it will be to your Satisfaction." It was, it felt comfortable and fitted me perfectly. It wasn't the oversized Jacket that I always chose, but still it had its comfortable warmth to it.
"Commissar, if I may inquire regarding how we maintain plane-"
"You may not. Inform Clyde that he's to handle it and make sure he'll take it seriously." Sabine cut her aide off. She turned to me. "The peoples are the Directorates good, remind yourself of that when you hear they're pleads." With that she left.
I was left standing in shock until the aide pushed me towards the door. And I began to sprint after her. "What do you mean with that Commissar?"
"When you look upon them, know they'll look for your counsel and guidance. They will demand comfort and safety. And that yesterday. But they don't know what they do in anguish and insecurity. You may not judge them for that." Left the building and one of her aides. opened the door for us.
We went inside with me first and Sabine in the middle. "The Militia already guarantees the safety within the people's congress and around. They're speaker has already requested that the Military personnel to abstain alongside the Technocrats, Techguards, and other auxiliary forces."
"You did well to head their demands," Sabine said, looking forward. The aide went inside, and the door went shut behind him and the engine sprang to life. He reached out and offered me a cap and lower face half mask.
"You do well to cover yourself," he said. I held it close to my face and breathed through it. The air tasted like freshly cleaned fabric through it. I fixed it in place and put the cap, which covers most of my view. "Knowing who you are in private is going to have consequences if the people remain agitated for a long period of time."
"Thanks..:" I dont even know what I was doing here myself. Letting myself get dragged into all of this. I looked into the back mirror and saw my reflection in shool uniform.
"You're an sorry sight to behold."
"You're not helping me either." Sabine and her aide looked at me. "Sorry, nevermind. I was thinking out loud."
Both eyed me for a moment longer before they started to discuss topics before hand and analyse informations they can volunteer to the people. "Who is theyre elected speaker this time?" Sabine asked.
Her aide brought the file up. "Profesor, Doktor, Sir, Maxwealth Striker."
"Hes a good one," She commented. "Hes reasonable, civil and the people already trusted him repeatedly to represent them." The car started to slow down as we came closer and closer to the people congress and hundreds of them filled the streets.
The Militia was already spread out and forming a perimeter. Sending hovering drones into the air with attached screens and loudspeaker to broadcast the Technocrats setting up the stages for the speaker and running they're test. A brawl already must have occurred because one of their members laid on the ground with a toppled chair next to him…
With strained expression Sabine tried to look surprised. "Be this as it may, consider me surprised." She said after noticing me look. I nodded in response.