Chapter 7
Agent After was not used to the desert. Before she died she was a relatively well known killjoy, but after all that, she grew comfortable with the climate and terrain of the afterlife. It was like she’d never seen sand before. There was no sand when you were dead, and now that she’s not, she has to relearn how to exist in the zones.
She got lucky. The killjoys came back in waves. For the longest time she didn’t think she’d get to see colors again. Newt had been so disappointed that Agent wasn’t coming back. Her first priority was to find her. Well, almost. Her real first priority was finding Dr. D. He knew everything that went on on the zones, he surely would know about Newt.
Agent walked for what seemed like days. It was funny, she used to be respected, nay, feared. Now here she was, struggling to find the most important place in the whole desert.
After about a day and a half of walking, she finally made it. This was a hard moment for her. She had so many conflicting feelings about the station. Dr D. was always helpful when she used to go there, but it was always bad news whenever she needed to go. She took a deep breath and walked through the door, taking in her surroundings.
Dr D. was in the broadcast room, giving a traffic update. Checker, trying to be helpful, went to receive whoever just came it. When she gets a good look at Agent, she stops dead in her tracks.
“Hey, where’s Dr-“ Agent starts, but is interrupted by Checker hugging her tightly.
“Woah, woah, hey… are you alright…?” Agent’s confused. She looks down at the rando kid that’s hugging her. She studies her face and furrows her brows. Agent has definitely seen this kid before, she just can’t place it.
Checker lets go of Agent, “What…? Agent, i-it’s me! Uh…” ‘Would she know her new name? No, no probably not. She… she was gone before then,’ Checker thinks, “I’m Newt…” her voice breaks slightly like she’s about to cry, “Remember…?”
Agent looks at Checker for a bit more. ‘God, she grew,’ Agent thinks, ‘I knew she’d look like mom.’
“Kiddo…” Agent pulls Checker into anotherhug. Her eyes unconsciously get misty. “I’m sorry, kid.” Agent closes her eyes, holding Checker close. Checker drops her crutch, fully leaning into her sister.
Dr D comes to investigate the conversation he heard, Cherri having taken over the broadcast. Agent was almost completely unaware of D. All that mattered to her was the person she was currently hugging.
“Checker?” Dr D interjects quietly. The younger one turns around.
“D, she’s back!” Checker beams, sniffling slightly.
D remembered Agent After. He remembered their first meeting when he helped a scrawny teenager with a sick toddler. He remembered her time as a runner, she made several trips to the lobby for him. He remembered reading her obituary, thinking about the kid she was always worried about. He had a hunch that Checker was her sister. He never brought it up, though. He assumed it would be a tough subject for her.
Agent waves and smiles slightly, “Double D,” The doctor smiles at the nickname.
“Long time no see,” D chuckles slightly. Agent lets go of Checker to hug him.
“You know each other?” Checker asks, cocking her head slightly.
“Dr. D knows everybody.” Agent laughs. Checker would have to ask later.
When Agent gets done hugging D, Checker goes right back to her, making her laugh. ‘She hasn’t changed a bit,’ Agent thought.
“I thought you were gone,” Checker mumbles into Agent’s shoulder.
“So did I, kid. So did I.”