by Ben Wolf
Justin glowered at them until the medbay doors whooshed shut behind them.
Carlton Andridge sat at his desk in his private quarters. To his left, an expansive, shielded window displayed the Liparulo Nebula, arrayed in the splendor of its vivid blues, pinks, greens, and oranges.
Another one of the benefits of owning his own fleet of transport ships—he could make his own schedule, plan his own routes, and enjoy the best scenery. He smiled and turned back to his handscreen.
As he sorted through his notes for a speech he was scheduled to give at the commencement ceremony for Nietz University on Rzasa Prime, the comms chimed three major tones. His assistant Jamie’s voice spoke next.
“Mr. Andridge, sir,” she said, “you have a call from Mr. Bartholomew Morgan and Mr. Laithe Gerhardt.”
Carl didn’t even look up from his notes. “Tell them I’m busy, please.”
“My apologies, sir. They’re saying it’s urgent.”
“ACM has channels and protocols in place to deal with such matters. Refer them, please.”
“F-forgive me, sir, but what they’re telling me is unprecedented,” Jamie stammered. “I wouldn’t even begin to know which protocols to refer them to.”
Carl set his handscreen down on his desk, and his eyes narrowed. “Bartholomew Morgan, you said?”
“Yes, sir. And Mr. Laithe Gerhardt.”
Carl could’ve cared less about Gerhardt. He’d never heard of him before, but the name Bartholomew Morgan teased his memory. He couldn’t place how he knew it, though. “Where are they calling from?”
“ACM-1134, sir.”
Carl’s eyes widened. He knew that mine. His company owned thousands of mines across the galaxy, but he’d never forget 1134. That’s how he knew Bartholomew Morgan.
Each mine operated with loosely the same structure, always with one executive at the top to make final decisions. Bartholomew Morgan ran ACM-1134.
“What do they want?”
Jamie hesitated, then said, “I think you’d better take the call directly, sir. I’m at a loss for explaining it.”
Carl sighed. “Very well. Put them on the big screen.”
Across from his desk, the far wall of his office brightened with the images of two men. The man on the right seemed vaguely familiar to Carl, but with hundreds of millions of employees spread throughout the galaxy between ACM and his other companies, Carl couldn’t possibly keep track of everyone he met.
He recognized the bald-headed man on the left as Bartholomew Morgan, a man he hadn’t seen for three years. Not since the incident.
They’d long since buried that issue, though. Literally. What could be so pressing now that Morgan would disregard protocol and contact him directly?
“Bartholomew, good to see you.” Carl stood from his chair and started toward the screen.
Morgan nodded his shiny head. “Good to see you as well, Mr. Andridge.”
Carl grinned. He should’ve adjusted to decades-older men addressing him formally by now, but he still enjoyed it nonetheless. ACM had passed from generation to generation uninterrupted for almost 200 years now. Ten years prior, upon the death of Carl’s father, Eugene Andridge VI, Carl had taken the reins at age 23.
“I’ve been told your call is exceedingly urgent,” Carl said. “So urgent that you chose to bypass our usual channels and authority structure.”
“Yes, sir.”
Carl squinted at Morgan. “And how did you acquire my personal contact information?”
“You gave it to me, sir. At the memorial service after the incident three years ago. You told me I was to contact you if anything else happened here at 1134 in Sector 6.”
Carl searched the Liparulo Nebula again and sighed. That did sound familiar. “What is it this time?”
“We’re very sorry to bother you, sir.” Morgan glanced at the man in black, whose name Carl had already forgotten. “But Mr. Gerhardt’s our Director of Security here at ACM-1134, and he has something to tell you.”
That was it. Gerhardt. Though Carl still couldn’t remember his first name. “I’m very busy, gentlemen. Please get to the point.”
Gerhardt nodded. “Someone took down our security, temporarily, and someone got into Sector 6, the place where… you know…”
“I remember.”
Both Morgan and Gerhardt had been working at ACM-1134 when the incident happened. Gerhardt hadn’t proven particularly useful, from what Carl recalled, but Morgan trusted him, so that was good enough. Carl would never deign to get involved in something as rudimentary as human resources decisions.
“Well, anyway, the guy who got in there almost got himself killed, sir.”
“So?”
Gerhardt and Morgan glanced at each other.
“We’ve also had at least one new employee go missing, and another recently died of complications from an injury.
“What is your point?”
Gerhardt’s mouth hung open, and Morgan sat there, blinking.
Carl rolled his eyes. “I don’t mean to be terse, but our mines, for as safe as we try to make them, are dangerous places. We lose tens of thousands of workers every year to injuries and, occasionally, deaths. What’s unique about this one?”
“Well, sir,” Gerhardt swallowed, “it happened in Sector 6. The same site where—”
“I’m aware of what happened.” Carl stared at Gerhardt. “You said someone took down your security, and someone ended up in Sector 6. Wasn’t it the same person?”
“We’ve interviewed the survivor,” Gerhardt continued. “From what we can ascertain, he wasn’t involved with the security breach. He was just dumb enough to end up in Sector 6 at 3am. He got caught in there with some phichaloride gas and almost died, but we managed to get him out before he sustained any permanent damage.”
Carl walked over to the bar against the wall to his right and poured himself a whiskey and water. “So you’ve got a security issue to resolve, obviously, and this happened at the site of a previous incident. Why does any of this concern me?”
“Well, we figured that since it happened in Sector 6, you’d want to know.”
Carl sipped his drink, and it went down his throat smooth. Dad had taught him how to identify the good booze a long time ago. Aside from passing Carl the company upon his death, teaching him about quality alcohol was about the only nice thing Dad had ever done for Carl.
“Gentlemen, so far you’ve only succeeded in bothering me. Either you’re not telling me something, or you’re actually wasting my time. Either way, I’m about to end this transmission.”
“Wait.” Morgan held up his hand. “Sir. Please. Sorry.”
Carl waited.
“Go on, Gerhardt. Tell him the rest.”
Gerhardt stared at Carl. “The employee claims he saw a ghost. A glowing green ghost.”
Carl grinned and shook his head. No wonder Jamie didn’t know what to tell them. He’d have to ask her to order Andridge’s corporate HR department to form an “idiotic claims” protocol.
“Are you hoping to open a haunted mine?” Carl taunted. “Maybe you could invite children from neighboring planets to tour the mine and get a good scare? We can pass out radioactive candy, too. Thank you for calling, gentlemen. I’m hanging up now.”
Carl reached for the handscreen on his desk.
“He said the ghost had a jagged scar on the right side of his face,” Gerhardt said.
Carl stopped short, frozen by Gerhardt’s words. He set his whiskey and water down and squared his body with the big screen. “Are you sure?”
“That’s what he said, sir.”
Carl’s fists clenched. “I’m across the galaxy right now, but I’ll be there within three weeks’ time or less. You aren’t to say a word of this to anyone. Do you understand me?”
Morgan and Gerhardt both nodded.
“What do you want us to do with the employee?” Morgan asked.
The connection they were using to communicate was secure, but Carl didn’t want to risk anything. “Ju
st watch him.”
Gerhardt cleared his throat. “That’s, uh… that’s it?”
Carl glared at him. “We run a professional company, Mr. Gerhardt. Don’t get any stupid ideas.”
Gerhardt scowled but nodded. “Sorry, sir.”
“Like I said, I’ll be there within three weeks. Seal off the sector again, figure out who or what caused the breach, and handle it. I want weekly updates, or more often if something happens. Crystal?”
Morgan and Gerhardt nodded again, and they said in unison, “Clear.”
“Good day, gentlemen.” Carl picked up the handscreen, tapped it, and the big screen went blank. He tapped another section of his handscreen, and Jamie answered over the comms.
“Yes, Mr. Andridge?”
“Have the captain redirect us to ACM-1134 immediately. Cancel all of my in-person meetings for the next forty days unless they can come to us.”
“Right away, sir.”
He tapped the handscreen again, and his connection to Jamie severed.
Carl picked up his glass, downed the rest of its contents, and hurled it at the Liparulo Nebula. The glass shattered against the window.
12
Three days later, Dr. Handabi cleared Justin for release and granted him permission to return to light duty the next workday. In the bathroom adjacent to his medbay room, Justin changed into a set of clothes Keontae had dropped off for him.
When he stepped out, he found himself face-to-face with Oafy from HR.
He sighed. He’d been expecting this visit ever since he’d overheard her conversation with Dr. Handabi.
She gave him a forced smile and extended her hand. “Good afternoon, Mr. Barclay. My name is Ofelia Dunham. You may recognize me from your first day here.”
Justin shook her hand. “Yeah, I remember.”
She tilted her glasses lower on her nose and looked him over. “Had I known you’d be so mobile, I would’ve invited you to my office instead of coming all the way down here.” She gave him another artificial smile. “Would you please have a seat with me in the waiting area?”
Justin folded his arms. “What’s this about?”
Oafy motioned toward two chairs in his examination room. “Please. It’s Saturday, and I only need a few minutes. I’m sure we both have other things we’d like to be doing right now.”
Justin eyed her. Saturday or not, she’d dressed more or less the same as the first time he saw her: all business. Perhaps she was just comfortable in white-collar clothing.
As he sat down, his muscles protested with dull pain. Oafy sat in the chair next to him, absently patted the top of her bun of graying red hair, and produced a handscreen.
“Dr. Handabi has granted your return on a probationary basis. You’ll be relegated to light duty only for at least a week, and your supervisors will reassess your capabilities before you’ll be permitted to return to your normal duties. I’m here to make sure that you understand how heavily scrutinized your actions will be from now on.”
Justin leveled his gaze at her. He’d never liked dealing with HR at other companies, and ACM was shaping up to be a comparable experience thus far. “I’ve heard all of this before. Director Gerhardt made it clear that I wasn’t to go anywhere near Sector 6 ever again or discuss what happened to me there.”
“That is correct. Even so, I’m here in an official capacity on behalf of ACM-1134 to inform you of the consequences should you do so.”
Justin leaned his face on his left fist as Oafy detailed how he’d be fired, sent away, charged with criminal trespassing, and summarily burned at the stake—his metaphor, not hers—should he venture into or near Sector 6 or any restricted area again.
“I’d like to remind you that you’re still a provisional employee as it is, and with this incident on your record, you’re lucky we didn’t terminate your employment then and there.”
“Yeah. Good thing I almost died, right?”
Oafy scowled at him. “I’m not going to dignify your absurd question with an answer.”
“Look.” Justin held up his hand. “I get it. I can’t screw up again. But I didn’t mean to screw up this time, either.”
“Then it appears we’re on the same wavelength.”
Justin thought back to Dr. Handabi asking her for a salary increase. “But frankly, you ought to be commending me.”
She looked at him over her glasses again. “I beg your pardon?”
“I inadvertently exposed a massive security flaw to your company. No one died, and I’m making a full recovery. It couldn’t have gone much better for ACM.” Justin stared at her. “Instead of threatening to fire me if I expose any more of your mine’s issues, maybe you ought to put me in for a raise.”
Oafy frowned at him and stood. “I think we’re done here. Enjoy the rest of your weekend, Mr. Barclay. I sincerely hope our paths do not cross again.”
That makes two of us. He gave her a smile just as fake as the ones she’d given him. “You too.”
She stormed out of the medbay, her heels clacking with each punctuated step.
Justin collected his things and headed over to one of the medbay androids. Since it was Saturday, Dr. Handabi had the day off, and the androids maintained the medbay in his absence. “I’m ready to head back to my room.”
“I will accompany you, as per medbay protocol,” one of the androids replied.
Justin nodded. “Yeah. I’m aware. That’s why I came over.”
Its chrome, expressionless face didn’t change, nor did its glowing white eyes. It just walked toward the medbay doors and said, “Follow me, please.”
They made their way back to the dormitories, and the android led Justin directly to his room. Justin typed in his access code, and the door whooshed open, but Keontae wasn’t there. Justin stepped inside and turned back, and the android stood in the doorway only a foot behind him.
“Whoa, easy.” Justin held his hands up. “I think we’re good now, don’t you?”
“I must go over the exit protocols with you regarding your medication intake and your work restrictions.”
“Look, no offense, but Dr. Handabi already went over all of that with me yesterday, plus I got an earful from HR ten minutes ago,” Justin said. “I think I’ve got it covered. I’m going to get plenty of rest, and that starts as soon as you leave.”
Justin walked toward it, and the medbay android moved backward to accommodate his advancement. He backed the android into the hallway.
“Thanks for your concern, though.” Justin touched the screen on the inside of the door to close it.
As it whooshed shut, the android lurched forward and jammed its hand into the edge of the door with a slam. The impact bent the lip of the door, and it stopped closing.
Justin staggered back, his eyes wide.
The android forced the door all the way open again, and the door’s motor whined in protest. Then it stepped back into the room.
The pseudo-attack by the kitchen android replayed in Justin’s mind, and his heart hammered in his chest.
The android stopped its advance and extended its left arm, palm up. Its wrists glowed with soft, white light. “Forgive the intrusion, but I am required to see that all medbay protocols are met.”
Intrusion? This went way beyond an intrusion.
A compartment on the android’s left forearm opened, and a small bottle of pills arose from within it.
The android rattled off the name of the medication and the specs on how often Justin was supposed to take it, but Justin didn’t process any of it. Instead he alternated stares between his busted door and the android.
“And remember, extreme physical exertion may leave you feeling more depleted than normal. That is one of the toxin’s known side effects, and it is, in part, why you are relegated to light duty for the time being. Thank you for your cooperation. On behalf of the entire medbay staff, we wish you a full and complete recovery.”
Then the android turned, walked out, and headed down the hall.
Justin followed it into the corridor and watched it stride toward the corridor exit. The damned thing had just vandalized his door and left.
He wanted to call out to it and accuse it, but then it might come back. Justin didn’t want to risk it.
Just as the android opened the corridor door to leave, Keontae tried to walk in. The android pushed past him without so much as a word.
Keontae, however, had a few. “Hey! Watch where you’re goin’, chrome-assed bastard.”
Justin blinked and shook his head. I can’t believe that just happened.
He turned back to his door and tried to get it to shut, but it was bent and jammed. He gripped the edge and yanked on it. The door wobbled a bit, but it didn’t shut. His muscles ached with strain, and he gave up.
“You’re back. How you feelin’, bro?” Keontae smiled at him from down the hall—until he made it to the room. “What the hell happened here?”
Justin pointed past Keontae. “That android wrecked our door.”
“What? Why?”
“It escorted me back from the medbay, and when I tried to tell it to leave, it wedged itself between the door and the frame and bent it all to hell.”
“That’s bogus.” Keontae bent over and looked at it. “Damn, he really wrecked it. You make him mad or somethin’?”
Justin raised his eyebrows. “I thought they weren’t supposed to get mad.”
“Beats me, man. This one sure did. Here. I’ll grab the bottom, and you grab the top. On three, we pull.”
On their second try, the door jarred loose, and they managed to shut it. It still reacted to commands from the screens, but it wouldn’t shut all the way without significant encouragement. They did, however, manage to get it locked. Using the screen on his desk, Justin put in a maintenance request to have it fixed.
Inside their room, Keontae extended his hand. “It’s good to have you back, bro.”
“Good to be back. Glad I’m not dead.” Justin took Keontae’s hand, and they embraced.
Keontae released him. “It’s Saturday night, JB. You feel up to headin’ out to the spaceport? They got all kinds of stuff there. Booze. Ladies. Better food than what we got here.”