November 1st
Keith
The guard looks at both of their IDs and scans them in as he scrutinizes both Keith and Drake. “I didn’t expect a couple’a kids to be comin’ by so late, but you’re in the system. My shift just started a few minutes ago, and of course, Jerry didn’t leave a note or anything for me,” the guard mutters.

“You guys know where her office is?” he asks, looking up at them.

“No sir,” Drake replies.

“Take a left right when you walk in and follow the wall all the way to the back of the building. That’s where the editors’ offices are. She should be back there.”

Drake thanks the guard and walks through the doors to the main floor of BSJ, which is filled with desks, computers and several large TVs overhead. He takes a left, following the guard’s instructions until they come to a frosted glass office labeled Natasha Balinski, Editor.

He knocks on the closed door. The two of them hear a few noises of papers being shuffled and a chair rolling before the door opens.

Natasha smiles tiredly at the two of them. “My escort has arrived, I see. Thanks for coming by. Come on in. I have one more thing to finish. Ten minutes or less, I promise,” she says, waving them into her office.

The inside of her office is modern and neat. Her desk is covered in careful stacks of papers, not unlike Seraph’s desk back at base. Out of the wide glass windows, the sluggish streets and the dark water of the Iron River are visible. Natasha sits back in her office chair again with a sigh and gestures at the two chairs that face it.

Drake quickly inspects the structural integrity of the furniture and shakes his head. “I’ll stand. Thank you, ma’am.”

Natasha quickly smiles apologetically at him as she goes back to typing on her laptop. “I forget. Sorry Drake. You can drop the formality, by the way. It’s just Natasha to you two.” She looks over at the other hero. “Keith, right? How has your week been? I know I saw you Saturday, but we didn’t really talk all that much.”

John
Harbinger listens carefully to John’s explanation and lets out a deep sigh. “I can’t believe that I’m about to allow a thrice damned Greater Demon to be summoned.”

He gives John a hard look. “You’ve ‘come to like’ him? Just remember that he’s still a demon. The only thing protecting him here is that thing on your hand,” the angel growls.

He takes another breath, calming himself again. “James and I have a lot to talk about while we’re on patrol tonight. One of us will let you know if we come up with a better idea,” he says. The angel turns to leave, pulling his ragged wings tight against his back.

It is a crazy idea, John, Emi replies as Harbinger walks away. But so far your ideas have worked out. It doesn’t mean I’m not worried about you though.