Evaluations

Tapping. The hallway soon became an office. The scene was set, Loren reclined in a chaise longue with a rather severe looking individual sat in a similarly comfortable chair opposite. She tapped her pen against her clipboard while the two of them sat in silence.
“Okay, seems as you have neglected to start this interview, I will. I understand you dislike these talks however they’re a necessary part of procedure after spending an extended time in Suspended Time.” She started; she was about to continue when The Hologram paused her.
“As she’s already said, after every extended stay in an STA, it’s required that all Guild members are checked over and receive a psychiatrists note showing their fitness for work. This was the second interview.” The Hologram resumed the playback.
“It’s my understanding that you are now back in a relationship with Crait. How long were you in there before that occurred?” The Interviewer asked, looking at the blank boxes on her sheet in dismay.
“We were in there for nearly five months before I accepted their apology, seven before we restarted our relationship.” Loren spoke. “And if I hadn’t accepted, we may never have made the break in the project we needed to get The Slider’s into prototyping.”
“So it was a means to an end?” She scribbled on an adhesive note to check her pen was working before starting to note her observations.
“No.” Loren shook their head. “I believe that they want to do things better and I want to be a better partner for them too.”
The Interviewer nodded her head thoughtfully. “And what sort of things do you think you need to improve on?”
There was a significant pause before Loren spoke again. So much so that Lore thought that the memory had been frozen. “I didn’t handle her… their transition very well.”
“Is it because they’re a null?” The Interviewer looked up from her page.
“Actually no. I have no problem with that…” Loren’s eyes narrowed. “It was more their transition from female to male. I really didn’t and still don’t understand it really and, I think, because I don’t get it myself, I resented he… them for it.”
The Interviewer leant forwards in her chair, clearly intrigued. “What ‘didn’t you get’?”
“I don’t understand why she’d want to be more masculine. I mean, I understand the utility of it but the hair is one of the worst bits and that’s one of the things they were most excited for.” Loren shrugged. “I don’t understand how, but it makes them happy so I’ll try and be happy for them.”
“That’s rather mature of you.” The Interviewer jotted her theories in the boxes.

The volume decreased as the session continued. Eventually, both parties stood and Loren left. The Hologram returned in his stead. “That was the second and final of the mandatory sessions however, Loren started seeing her semi regularly partially out of his own curiosity and partly because he thought it might be useful to maintain his relationship with Crait.”
Lore took a moment to think how the two would correlate. “How did that work?”
“Quite effectively. They only had one major argument after he started these sessions. Two if you include their spat after Lore’s arrest but that information can be found in the Context cube.” The Hologram moved over to the desk and removed the lanyard that was draped over the corner. “Loren would discover, four sessions in, that his ‘therapist’ was in fact a researcher that filled in for the actual therapist he was supposed to see. The therapist was a bit of a drinker and called in a favour after a particularly bad hangover.”
“I’m guessing we’re going to skip to the end of their sessions together then?” Lore was wondering why these memories had been included.
“Of course. Before their trial, the researcher had to hand in her notes on Loren.” The Hologram clicked its fingers.

The cosy room was replaced with a far less appealing one; grey floors, grey walls and a black, polymer desk. A pair of chairs sat either side of it and on those chairs, Loren’s ‘therapist’ and an annoyed looking official in a black and red military uniform.
“You’ve been dragging your heels on this.” The Official grumbled. “Any reason why its only now I’m getting your report?”
“I’m sorry sir. It’s taken me a while to compile my notes on The Head Inquisitor and condense them into a sufficiently succinct statement.” Her tone betrayed her nerves.
“Former Head Inquisitor.” He corrected. There was a pregnant silence. “Deliver it then!”
“Sorry sir.” She flustered, flicking through her papers. “Inquisitor…. former Inquisitor Loren… Lore, The former Inquisitor, formerly known as Loren, appears to exhibit mild anxiety, symptoms of autism and confusingly both an inferiority and superiority complex; this balance, in practice, is seen with them being extremely confident in their abilities yet highly critical of their performance and achievements, humbling themselves far past the point of self-deprecation.” She paused to catch her breath. “This confidence comes across well in their work as, regardless of the situation and their feelings, they remain in control and emotionally detached. Operatives they have commanded before have noted this detachment, coupled with their awkwardness in conversation, conduct and lack of eye contact is effective in maintaining the air of intimidation expected of an Inquisitor. It is my opinion that their recent actions can be explained by their strong sense of justice.” His reaction spoke volumes, she dare not continue. Without a word between them, she left the papers on his desk and vanished.
Lore listened to the profile, wondering how similar they were. They weren’t sure they wanted to be the Lore she reported on. They didn’t have time to linger on that thought as, once again, the memory vanished and was replaced. Toys.