The Maximum Fun Chamber

[arvg]

Commissar Katzs office was a cheerful, slightly untidy jumble of strange objects, piles of books, and bizarre artefacts. Clippings of newspaper articles and magazines peeked out of desk drawers stuffed full to overflowing. Bookshelves stood against the walls, and all of the shelves were packed with books or charts. In fact, books were everywhere: they were stacked on the red carpet at the base of the huge golden statue of an angel defeating a demon, some sat on the iron spiral staircase that led to the upper level, others covered the Commissars desk, and still more were piled beside the railing around the edge of the second floor of the stateroom. A fire crackled cheerfully in a metal dish over in a corner and the wooden furniture glowed warmly in its light.

Commissar Katz sat at his desk reading. The beads of the rosary wrapped around his wrist gently clacked together as he turned the page of the book. Without taking his eyes from the page he picked up his teacup and drank the steaming liquid it contained. He set it down again and pushed his glasses up to rest on the bridge of his nose so he could get a better look at the words on the page he was reading. He shifted slightly in his chair to get comfortable.

Volkova.

It all boiled down to Family.

Katz opened his eyes and looked down at his desk and the book he had been reading. Beside his book, his teacup was still half full. He picked it up and took a sip, and then grimaced slightly. His tea had gotten cold while hed been reminiscing.

He set the cup down and glanced towards the young woman that was sitting in the chair opposite his desk, silent since she had been brought in. Master Chief Byk standing over her with a rather intimidating shotgun, indicating that she wasnt to move.

The piano piece by Philip Glass playing over the sound system was reaching a crescendo.

A melancholy piece that sounded so haunting and seemed so fitting.

Katz removed his glasses, you are being reinstated to fight status and ordered to report to Gold Squadron Ones flight ready room for combat training. As for the interrogation, it seems all that there needed to be said was said. You are dismissed Lt. Volkova.

He leaned back in his high backed chair, rubbing his eyes as he picked up his tea, watching her leave.

Times were hard, ever since the rebellion, and the Commissariat couldnt afford to take chances. Better to be safe than sorry.

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