Ten.

Danielle walked through the Academy with brisk steps, the clacking of her high heels echoing through empty corridors. Although her expression was calm, there were a number of slight cues to her emotional state: The speed of her steps, the twitch in her eyes, the way she fingered her document viewer as she walked. She was upset.

Christmas Planet. An exploration, not a mission so much as an adventure – what a chance! But now... Now really wasn't the time. There were far too many factors to consider, far too many things that could go wrong: The galaxy needed her, and she knew it. All the same...

She stopped outside a small door, unlocking it with her palm. It was made to look old-fashioned with fake wood panels, and she actually had to push for it to open. As it did, a large, rather comfortable office came into view, with a leather armchair and a small fireplace, rather anachronistic in this day and age. She hurried inside, sighing in exhaustion as she sank down into her leather armchair, opening the digital dossier. There was so much to do.

She barely had time to relax, though, before she froze up again. Something was wrong: There was someone else in the room. She heard quiet breaths from behind the curtains. Slowly, cautiously, she reached for the lasgun in her desk drawer – there was no reaction. She got to her feet, turning around slowly, and approached the curtain.

Steeling herself, she reached for the heavy cloth. One, two, three!

The curtain was yanked aside.

“You!?”

“Long time no see, Danielle.”