Powered Personnel: The Big Startup

by K. A. Maxwell

  Bridget stood back. "Um, no problem. I'm done, you can chill, Alina."

  The fairy flew forward and resumed her calm demeanor.

  "Before we finish, I wanted to point out that even though you've met only a couple of leaders today, we are also welcoming new leaders to GVU as well, three of them."

  Oh oh, Chloe knew where this was going. What was she going to do when her name was called?

  Alina read from her tablet computer. "Stand up, Skel Gruth. Skel is the new General Manager of Solar Suds. With beginnings at Mount Brews, he worked his way up from being an assistant brewmaster, to a master mixer. He is one of only three who are certified within our solar system to brew their flagship beer. Skel made sure that the fusion of over 330 ingredients matched its signature taste and met the highest quality standards using his unique palate. After ten years, he decided to make the jump to GVU to lead in the building of a new microbrewery from the ground up."

  "Cheers," he said.

  That wasn't so bad. Alina didn't ask for anything and all that Skel did was say 'Cheers.'

  "Where's Dr. Quhaltos? Calling Dr. Quhaltos. Can you stand up for me? There you are. Dr. Deron Quhaltos is our new Chief Engineer in our Research and Development department. His studies include nanotech, artificial intelligence, and space travel. He's already involved with a couple patents that let ships use a modified space bending drive utilizing a shape that increased faster than light travel efficiency by 10%."

  "Yes, nowadays there is a push for greener, more efficient solutions that save on fuel and will help to connect to more systems," said Dr. Quhaltos. "I'm gratified that the project I'm on has a large amount of seed money. Hopefully, by year's end, I can share more."

  "Looking forward to hearing about it. Lastly... Chloe Ceres?"

  Chloe stood up.

  "Umm… Hello," Chloe said. All eyes were now on her, scanning, inspecting, judging, and digging into her like information hungry wolves.

  "Chloe Ceres is... Director, Macmor Products. Ms. Ceres is known as the Project Management Warrior with a degree at the School of Business at Vynes University. It was where she and former Senior Sales Executive, now Director of Macmor Sales, Melinda Calanke, formed the Superhero Team, 'The Market Maidens?'"

  Chloe tried to put on a smile and kept herself frozen, hoping there wasn't much left. Someone made an audible snicker.

  "Being one half of the Market Maidens, as Ms. Money."

  The snicker grew into a light laugh. Alina paused and looked around before continuing. Chloe's body stiffened as she glanced at Jez who just shrugged and Bridget, who had glared at someone, and the laugh stopped. Bridget then turned towards her and gave a reassuring smile.

  "Ahem. Being one half of the Market Maidens as Ms. Money with Melinda as Ms. Dealbreaker, they used their business skills and abilities to uncover widespread fraud at a major retail company. It led to the destruction of a crime cartel that saved the city of Arval on Planet Rojam from going bankrupt. As a result, they graduated with top honors and were granted keys to the city. She then took on project managing jobs for three Wheel 600 companies, most recently as a Senior Project Manager at Puracorp."

  Alina paused, but this time there were murmurs in the group. Even Chloe could pick up words like "rumors" and "questionable practices." Chloe closed her eyes and clasped her hands together behind her back, focusing on her breathing.

  "Chloe has a mad passion for foods, reading, and interior design. At Macmor, she will be taking on our biggest clients with managing monster-sized projects."

  A pause. Was it finally over? She opened her eyes to the sight of a fairy face in close, holding a microphone.

  "So, Chloe, since you obviously are very experienced in leading the execution of excellence, what would you say to everyone in the room for inspiration?" asked Alina.

  Chloe leaned away and shook her head.

  "You sure?"

  Chloe nodded her head.

  "Not even one word?"

  Chloe glanced around the room. Everyone still had their eyes on her. She kept her shoulders tight, breathed in, and spoke. "Let's do our best," she said. She picked up her bag and jogged outside.

  Bathroom stall. Peace. Breathe. Have to breathe. Chloe twisted and turned as her energy shoved and surged through her. Her hands clenched and shook. Control. Control. She took a deep breath and released it slowly until the surge leveled off. She stretched before getting back on her feet. The quiet solitude of the environment was a welcome break, and it helped that the facilities were pretty clean too.

  "Ms. Ceres?" Alina's voice spoke from outside. "Ms. Ceres, are you okay?"

  "Yes, I'm okay. I just needed a moment," Chloe replied.

  "Bridget and I are going to enter. Is it safe? We want to come in and make sure you're okay."

  Chloe almost laughed at the prospect, but when she thought about it again and Alina's job, it seemed like she was being sincere.

  "It's safe," said Chloe, walking out of the stall.

  The bathroom door opened with the Searfae leading the Nyxazon who looked around the bathroom. When she reached Chloe, she stepped back at the sight as the changes were evident now, being at eye-to-eye level with her.

  "Wow," said Bridget.

  "I'm glad you're fine, Chloe. I know we didn't start off on the right track, but I was worried," said Alina.

  "I think Hilda was maybe a bit too excited when she wrote all those things about me," said Chloe.

  "Your boss is Hilda? By the Goddess, Hilda is a legend and a true Elder Warrior among Nyxazons. I grew up watching her when I was a girl," said Bridget. "She is a pillar of wisdom and taught me ways to refine my battle technique when I first started. For her to choose you means you must have incredible abilities and skills. So many questions about your past, and you must have so many stories of your battles as a superhero."

  "Commander," scolded Alina. "This is only her first day."

  "But it's exciting."

  Chloe snickered, and with a breath, she compressed and calmed her energy. Her eye line on Bridget lowered until it reached just below her chest level. "There, I think I'm normal again."

  "Do you need anything else, Ms. Ceres?" asked Alina.

  "What do you mean?" asked Chloe.

  "Don't take this the wrong way. I mean this sincerely when I say that we do have counselors on campus available if you need them, although they are often busy. Our health benefit plan also covers a portion of costs if you'd rather see external ones. I want to make sure your first day isn't too overwhelming."

  "I appreciate that, Alina, thank you."

  "Really, if I knew you were going to work with Melinda, I probably would have treated you better from the start. That's all I can do," Alina said, voice dropping.

  Chloe tilted her head. "What do you mean?"

  "She never told you?"

  "Told me about what?"

  Alina and Bridget looked at each other, eyes wide.

  "You should ask her what she does during her breaks," said Alina.

  "Goddess, it all makes sense with that Market Maidens story." Bridget folded her arms across her chest. "Her role is sales, right? But when there's security incidents on campus during the day, minor ones even, she's almost always nearby. Sometimes we get culprits arriving at security begging us to take them in because a very tall Puman with a tail and claws threatened to break their bones if they didn't surrender."

  Chloe clenched her jaw. That was Lin, all right.

  Alina sighed. "I didn't think I'd know anyone who was more bored than you, Commander."

  "I don't find fun in stalking people like a vigilante. I'd train at the gym instead," said Bridget.

  "But she means well, and she has hero experience," said Chloe. "Maybe she's just keeping her skills up for a time when she's really needed."

  "There's no point. I'm already here," said Bridget. "The rest of security is made up of high-powered officers. If she wanted a job in security, she should just apply for one. Chloe, she's not us."
>
  Alina snapped her fingers. "Ah, you know what I think, Commander, now that Chloe is here, maybe she'll keep Melinda occupied and out of harm's way."

  "That would be awesome."

  Chloe growled. "I think I should go now. Nice meeting you two."

  "Likewise, don't hesitate to reach out, Chloe," said Alina. "Just before you go, we also have your GVU Career Bag."

  "You mean the ones on the table?" asked Chloe.

  "Those ones are for the others. Directors get a different bag," said Alina.

  Chloe caught a giant bag half her height and stumbled back a few steps.

  "Good catch. You should train with me some time," said Bridget. She gave a thumbs up and walked back outside.

  "Good luck with Macmor and Melinda," Alina waved and followed the Nyxazon.

  Once the room went silent, Chloe leaned back against the sink and reached her hand up to massage her brow spikes.

  "Lin, what did you get me into this time?"

  Chapter 3

  "Ooooookay, Ms. Sir-ass. Stand up straight and look into the camera, good. Wait for the flash."

  Chloe winced, and her eyelids trembled.

  "This is just a photo, relax Ms. Sir-ass," said Zulmel.

  "It's Cere—" Click.

  "You blinked."

  Chloe growled.

  "Do you need help staying still Ms. Sir-ass?" Zulmel raised his fingers.

  "No, thank you. I can do this, see?" Chloe snapped both arms in-front of her and stood up straight, giving a solid, confident and professional pose.

  "That looks good, hold still."

  A blonde-haired woman with large ears on the top of her head peeked inside the door behind him, sniffing. "There you are, Lil' Greenie." Click.

  "You looked away," said Zulmel.

  Melinda Calanke bent under the door frame and slid her towering, tan-furred figure inside the room. "Posing for your mugshot, ain't ya?"

  "You are not allowed in here," said Zulmel.

  "Zully, come on, y'all know I'm never one for trouble."

  "Lies."

  "Since Hilda isn't here, I'm here on her behalf to validate Chloe."

  "The paperwork is already on the desk outside and please do not play with the blank ID cards."

  Melinda's tail brushed across the pile of blank security ID cards that sat on a counter next to Zulmel before wrapping around her waist. "Y'all worry too much." Her golden, slit-pupil eyes beamed at Chloe with admiration and anticipation.

  "Ms. Sir-ass, let's try this again. Stand up straight, look at the camera and wait for the flash."

  Chloe did as she was told and waited for the flash. Melinda leaned forward from behind Zulmel. Click.

  "There we go," said Melinda.

  "Peculiar. It has blonde streaks in it," said Zulmel.

  "Maybe your camera's busted, probably should get it checked."

  "No, it's your whiskers."

  "It is?" She leaned back and looked at the screen. "Well, I'll be, it is."

  Zulmel turned to look at Melinda and kept a stoic face. "Out."

  "Aww c'mon, Zully, I didn't mean to make things rough. Tell ya what, how 'bout I pitch in for an extra couple donuts at the next coffee break meet?"

  "Good idea, out."

  Zulmel raised his fingers and a pink glow appeared around Melinda's shoulders, ushering her out.

  "Hey, that deal was contingent on the treatment of the donut donor, ow, watch the door."

  "Ms. Sir-ass?" said Zulmel.

  Chloe looked forward, mouth open, "Y—" Click.

  "We're done. Come with me."

  At the security desk, Melinda handed the forms to Zulmel. He took the papers in his hands and sat reviewing them. Melinda eyed Chloe's GVU Career bag, whose handles were as high as Chloe's waist.

  "Is that what they give people at onboarding nowadays?" said Melinda.

  "Apparently only directors get these bags," said Chloe.

  "Almost makes me want to hunt around HR for one." She bent down and reached for the handle and pulled. The bag barely moved an inch. "Dang, it's like they packed a month's worth of groceries in there."

  Stamped with the GVU logo on top of a pattern of stripes in shades of green, it was dubbed the "customized for your career growth" bag that they gave all new employees, though for Chloe's position they made this one a bit more special. She pulled out a round container about the size of a mixing bowl, and when she opened it, the scent made her swoon. It was reminiscent of the early days of her childhood growing up in the ground where the soil was well taken care of and her parents would spoil the seedlings with thick and rich compost. It was dark brown in color, fine in texture, and had the consistency of thick pudding. She stuck a finger in the bowl and tasted it.

  "Mmm! It tastes great, and it's really healthy. Whatever this is, it has pure raw materials in it."

  Chloe turned to Melinda, who had her hands on her face.

  "Gawd Chloe, cover it up, cover it up," she coughed. Zulmel also had his hands on his face and soon, people around them began fanning their faces and coughing.

  When she placed the lid back on the bowl, the mass exhalation of air passed around her body. Zulmel stood up and Chloe's new security pass floated toward her.

  "You're good. Please, go now, thank you," he said.

  The photo of Chloe was a shoulder shot with her mouth open in her lips in an 'O' shape like a pet fish.

  "But, the photo is..."

  "Leave and have a good day." Zulmel's telekinesis surrounded the bag and the shoulders of Chloe and Melinda and ushered them away from the security desk. Afterward, he sat back and floated a book in front of his face.

  "What the heck was that? Did they give you crap?" asked Melinda.

  "No," said Chloe. "They treated me really well in onboarding."

  "Not what I meant." Melinda coughed.

  As they walked on the path toward the exits, people who had been taking their coffee breaks now had their hands over their noses or fanned away the lingering scent while a couple janitors who were mopping the marble floor had their cheeks puffed out as they rummaged through their carts for masks.

  "I guess it's been a while since I ate compost this strong," said Chloe sheepishly.

  "You don't get an upset stomach after eating that stuff?" asked Melinda.

  "It's high quality. Definitely no chemicals or pesticides in there."

  They left the building through a set of tall glass doors that led back to the emerald path and turned left toward a garden of trees with neatly trimmed clover on the ground. The clover lawn danced with radiance as the calm winds brushed through their stalks. Chloe stopped and brushed her hand through some of the plants. A rush of warmth made her stand up straight and gasp in awe.

  "Whew, fresh air," said Melinda. "I had wondered if it was kinda unusual for them to be moving like that."

  "Not really," replied Chloe. "They're very happy. They love the attention they're getting. Which reminds me, did you and Hilda write up that stuff about me for the onboarding? The Market Maiden stuff?"

  "They loved that, didn't they? It's one of those nice gems that people don't know, right?" said Melinda, standing up straight. Her towering, tan-furred, hourglass figure was dressed in a pair of long gray pants and a blazer that hid a v-neck light-brown shirt. She didn't wear any shoes today, so she walked with only her bare digitigrade paws with claws on end. "Prrroow. Can't wait ‘till we actually get to show our heroics. I think we still got it."

  Chloe groaned and brushed away streams of brown hair before placing a couple fingers on her brow spikes. "It was embarrassing, Lin!" She craned her neck so her gaze directly pierced through Melinda's golden eyes.

  "I couldn't take it and had to run out to calm myself," said Chloe.

  "Hey now, I had no idea you were that sensitive about it,” said Melinda. “We didn't mean to put you on the spot like that."

  Chloe reached and grabbed her bag, stomping past Melinda before stopping and sighed. "It was just that we did really
risky things back then, just for assignment marks and... never mind. Can we just get some coffee so I get my mind off this?"

  Melinda led Chloe down another trail that headed east from the main building toward a group of smaller ones. "You shouldn't work that hard today. It's a happy day and I'm proud to have ya here."

  “Also, did you actually break people's bones while on the job here?”

  “No, of course not. I mean, I might have moments with some bad guys here and there. But you know everyone has to take care of the campus, right? Who'd even suggest I would do such a thing?”

  “Apparently, you're famous.”

  “I was in the top five for sales in the company the past seven years.”

  “And how was security?”

  “Down thirty-eight percent since I upped my walks. As a bonus, I get into regular skirmishes with my long-term rival.”

  Chloe frowned. “You have a rival?”

  “Every hero has a rival. Remember Felina? Felina Gatti?”

  Chloe thought about it for a moment and shook her head.

  “You don't remember her? She's someone like me, but much shorter, black and brown mane with a chip on her shoulder. She had scrapes with the law a couple times. Used to train in my dojo.”

  “I don't think I've met her.”

  “She works here as a lieutenant now. She really cleaned her act up since back then but we still race to see who gets to the bad guy first on campus.”

  “You mean you still arrest people without clearance from campus security?”

  “A crime is a crime.”

  Chloe huffed and shook her head.

  “What? It helps keep the workplace safe and me in shape. People our age have to take better care of their health, right?” said Melinda. “Besides, ain't it better to have bone-breakin' Lin save you from the clutches of evil jobless monsters?”

  Melinda was right. After being let go from Puracorp, Chloe had hunted through the job ads on-line for three months without any results. It was only when she had a chance conversation over lunch with her that things changed. The giant bag alone was far more than what Puracorp gave on Chloe's first day, and Alina's and Bridget's reaction to her… sensitivities was more positive than she'd imagined.