Yes, they’re in her office. There’s just one little problem…

Ava slumped, sighing in relief as soon as she recognised the room. For a moment she forgot to cover herself, forgot Gary was there as she reached for her desk.

“I- uh…” Gary stammered, staring.

Right.

“Get out,” Ava said, covering herself again, now behind the desk.

“R-right away,” Gary said.

He hurried out the room. She tried to forget how much he’d seen.

She opened the bottom drawer on her desk, glad to see her spare suit was there. It was normally meant to serve as a replacement if her outfit was torn or stained, this time it was a little more urgent.

There wasn’t any underwear, but it was a pantsuit so at least she didn’t have to worry about glimpses up her skirt. Quickly, gratefully, she got dressed. Blouse on, pants, blazer…

Breathing a sigh of relief, Ava stood up straighter, did her best to act as though nothing had happened, and walked out her office door-

Only to see a different image of her naked body on almost every computer screen.

Some she was vaguely managing to cover herself. Mid-run, a toned thigh lifted and blocking a shot of her pussy; while others were from in front of her, the glimpse of her slit barely even blurred.

Sometimes her arms were crossed over her chest, sometimes just one arm, and others she was using them for something; running, scaling… And her tits were on full display, immortalised forever.

“What is going on here?” Ava said, loudly. She did her best to sound imperious, to sound as though she didn’t want to turn around and hide in her office again.

“Director Sharpe!” a senior agent approached her. “Apologies, we were just tracking your location; these were our best record of where you were. Now that we know you’re back, they can be deleted.”

Ava brushed her hair back, forcing her gaze back to the agent.

Her eyes kept darting sideways though. So much of her, so much of her skin on display. It had all been a blur; she didn’t remember some of those photos. Falling over a fence, sticking her ass out- god, was that her asshole that was visible?

“I’m just glad you found me so quickly,” Ava said. As she saw one computer-using agent seem to save an image she loudly cleared her throat, cowing them.

The agent talking to her meanwhile paused; something flickered across her face.

“I… yes,” she said. Slowly, she continued. “How long were you there, by your reckoning?”

“A few minutes,” Ava said. “Worst few minutes of my life, but at least they’re over now.”

“Right,” she said. “One moment.”

“Agent Vasquez?” Ava said.

Vasquez hurried to a computer, muttering something to a technician. A few seconds later and she returned, expression awkward.

“Um, I’m sorry ma’am, but there’s a problem.”

“Yes?” Ava said, impatient.

“We located you with reference to the image locations, time of day, any metadata we could establish. We knew you would be there, just…”

“Just what?” Ava said.

“All the images we’ve gathered span hours,” Vasquez said. “And we needed all of them to accurately piece together your location, with all observed landmarks. Where Gary picked you up is where you were, the best location we could find where the window wouldn’t be seen, just… a later you.”

Ava’s blood ran cold. Vasquez couldn’t be saying-

“There was a slight error with the coordinates,” Vasquez said. “I’m sorry ma’am but.. um…”

“You’re kidding,” Ava said flatly.

“I don’t- I don’t really know how to say it, but your being here now is a paradox,” Vasquez said. “Without you appearing in those later photos, we couldn’t have rescued you. And we can’t cause paradoxes, you know we can’t.”

No. No, no, no.

“There has to be some mistake,” Ava said.

“There isn’t.”

“Or some other way,” Ava began. She took a step back. “You want me to go through that again.”

“…Yes.”

“For HOURS,” Ava said, raising her voice.

“I’m afraid so.”

“There’s no way,” Ava said. She shook her head. “I’m not- I can’t…”

“Ma’am, you know the dangers paradoxes cause,” Vasquez said. “You have to go back, and soon. If the timelines set, that’s another change, it damages time itself. Former Director Hunter talked about a time demon-”

“Mallus, I’m aware,” Ava said.

She faltered.

Mallus was an incredible evil, one whose agents went up and down the timeline causing anachronisms, errors, slowly wrecking time. The more anachronisms built up, the stronger Mallus became, until he had enough power to break free of his prison and wreak havoc.

She’d sworn to do whatever it took to stop that. Even if it meant…

“What- what do I have to do?” Ava said.

Stupid question. She knew; strip down again, get dropped off on a random day, get seen naked by god only knew how many people, get photos taken of her that everyone she worked with would pore over…

“I shouldn’t have to tell you every location,” Vasquez said. “Your instincts should do it. But, um, it may be beneficial to be sighted near landmarks, notable sights, things that could help us locate you.”

“And things that’d be surrounded by people,” Ava said.

“I’m sorry, ma’am,” Vasquez said. “But you know as well as anyone the dangers of paradoxes. You need to go back.”