“This is my good friend and amazing technical writer Chris Byrne.”
“Hi, there. Erik Lee. Nice to meet you.” Erik’s brown eyes traced every inch of Chris before their quick handshake was over.
“Nice to meet you too,” said Chris.
“You a mind reader now Frank, because I was literally told this morning about positions opening up,” said Erik. He led them down the hall with the conversation. Beyond the main hallway, a large open room with white tiled floor and white walls made up Chris and Frank’s introduction to the labs. Or rather the labs connected to the main room. Glass doors allowed an easy view into the experiments the scientists performed on a daily basis. But the main room housed the desks and computers for the personnel to record data. “Keep your name tags pinned on at all times by the way. I won’t be held responsible for you getting kicked out on your first day.”
“I thought you would have contacted me if I could read minds,” said Frank.
“How is this our first day?” asked Chris.
“It can be your last if you like,” said Erik. “We need to begin now. If you two pass this test of fire today, you’re in. CIA is telling us that China and Russia have been running tests on the local population since the news broke. We have to stay ahead of the competition.”
“China and Russia? Are we back in the Cold War?” said Chris.
“If this is all too fast for you, drop the badge and leave. You should be taking notes of everything I tell you. All of this is going into the tech journals you’re responsible to create,” said Erik.
A pad of paper rested on a nearby desk. Frank scooped it up and shoved it into Chris’s hands along with a pencil. Chris cut out the humor in his tone.
“Is that the official term, Supers?” asked Chris with pencil ready.
“No, we’re working on it but that’ll due for now. As of today there are ten American Supers. We have two with us in the labs. I am acting head of this division and you along with the rest of the team will report directly to me. I’ll give you information as needed and will expect that information to be recorded and input into a shared program that the rest of the team may access. That’s where you come in Frank.”
“I’ll have something up and running after lunch.” Frank nudged Chris.
“And everything will be input within an hour of the software launch,” said Chris.
“Good answers. Now let me show off our team,” said Erik.
They reached the end of the main room to a double glass door. Before they even entered it was evident this was the largest lab, but once inside the size exceeded all expectations. The lab dwarfed the main room. An army of fighter jets and missiles could have been put into a corner and forgotten about.
“What? You have a tank in here?” said Frank.
“Obviously,” said Erik, as an M1 Abrams sat on their left. “We’ve brought in military grade vehicles and weapons for defensive testing and need as much space as possible. I convinced them to give us the A1 lab that we’re standing in right now. Your workstation will be in here for now too so there is less time wasted going back and forth to the main room.”
The walk continued past mounted machine guns, rocket launchers, hand grenades, and any other powerful artillery Erik seemed capable of acquiring for his team. None of the team members appeared interested in the fire power in the room at that moment, but instead surrounded someone in a chair. Five white coats blocked Chris and Frank’s views as they stepped up to the congregation.
“Alright, quit pretending to work,” said Erik to the back of the white coats. The five scientists turned around quickly in attention. The man in the chair stood up as well and towered behind the scientists.
“Hey, you stopped that semi from squashing my truck today,” said Frank. The tall man stepped forward to take in Frank’s admiration more directly. “That was amazing. Thank you.” Frank shook his hand fiercely.
“It was nothing. All in a day’s work for me now,” said the tall man. “By the way, the name is Klaus Miller.” Along with the height, Klaus was the perfect mold of a superhero: blonde hair, brown eyes, and a chiseled chin taken straight from the classic leading men of yesteryear.
“Yes, introductions should be made,” said Erik. “Our psychologist, Neal Decarlo.”
A slim man with slicked, long black hair stepped forward smoothly to shake hands with Chris and Frank.
“A pleasure to meet new members. Please do not allow the title bestowed upon me to interfere with our working relationships. I promise to be forthright in all observations and discussions amid our tenure together,” said Neal.
“Thank you, Neal. He likes talking more than I do,” said Erik.
“I’ve got some work to finish. I’m Alex Perez, genetics. Nice to meet you. Bye,” said a pale man with a blank round face as he disappeared to another section of the giant lab.
“Alex will warm up to you. I think. He hasn’t warmed up to any of us yet either, but I’m sure he’ll come around. I’m Carla, Carla Eisner,” said a slight woman with black hair and an alien like beauty. Her wide-set eyes beamed up at another scientist almost as tall as Klaus Miller.
This man bent to firmly shake Chris and Frank’s hands. “Art Eisner. Obviously my wife Carla. I’m sure you fit that together. She forgot to mention she specializes in cells, a cytologist. Generally speaking I’m a physicist. Different fields of study, I know, but we met at graduate school. We see the world very differently, but that brings us closer. You see what I’m saying. Kind of an opposite attraction, which is very powerful in nature –“
“That’s enough, Art,” said Erik. “And the last of the brilliant minds, Carmen Sienkiewicz.”
With a gentle touch, Carmen shook Chris and Frank’s hands. Her soft smile brought out the two men’s own genuine smiles. “Oh, well yes, I’m a biologist. I mean that entails a lot, but that’s generally what I do.” She shrank away after the brief greeting.
“We’ll all spend much more time together than we’re comfortable with, I’m sure,” said Erik. “Chris, Frank, you two will be over there. You’ll do better together for the time being.” Erik pointed to a table with two computer monitors back to back of each other. “Lunch is in two hours. You promised me ‘up and running’ after that.”
“Consider it done,” said Frank. Erik waved them off with a doubtful look and sped away.
Chris sat down opposite of Frank and looked panic stricken. “There’s no way you can program that fast. We’re going to be fired the first day,” said Chris.
“I already have a program designed.” Frank pulled out a thumb drive and jammed it into his computer. “Give me an hour to debug and run some tests. You better start typing up those notes. We can upload before lunch and shove it in Erik’s face. What do you think so far of the team?”
Chris relaxed and then tried to process his impressions of the team. “I don’t know. Okay, I guess.”
“That psychologist bugs me. It’s like he’s playing a game or something already.”
“Yeah, I can see that.”
“Alright, quit bothering me. We have work to do. I told you we’d get a job.”
The day ran smoothly enough for Chris and Frank. Erik held back a suspicious attitude long enough to congratulate them on fulfilling their promise. Chris could tell Erik liked to get the better of others and not be got himself, but the work was done and more than satisfactory. The rest of the time involved watching the team do their jobs while Chris frantically jotted down notes. By three nothing was left to do so Chris typed more notes into the new program, and Frank browsed the internet. While they worked, Erik snuck up behind them.
“Good start, but you’re just wasting time now,” said Erik. “Pack it up and I’ll see you tomorrow at eight.”
A quick glance around the giant lab showed Chris a loss of activity. The only one who looked remotely busy was the geneticist Alex, hunched over a clipboard scribbling notes. Frank took off for the door to the main room and Chris hurried to catch up.
“Bye guys,” said Carla. “I can’t wait to see you again tomorrow. This place is so exciting. Oh, oh, don’t forget to wear sunscreen. The sun’s ultraviolet rays are supposed to be very strong tomorrow. Bye, again.”
“Bye,” said Chris and Frank as they stepped out of the A1 lab.
At home, Chris surprised his family who didn’t know if they should have expected him back early or late. It was just after four.
“This is a time I could get used to,” said Sadie. “But it would be nice to get at least a text message to let me know what was going on.”
“It was busy,” said Chris. “We had to jump right in. You said you would call me.”
“It’s official?” asked Louise.
“For now. Nothing happened much. I’m just a technical writer. I take notes for everyone and Frank is going to be a programmer I guess for any software they need. I’m not really sure,” said Chris.
“What does it pay?” asked Sadie. Chris shrugged in response. Gerry ran into the kitchen to join in the questioning.
“Did you meet the superheroes?”
“Yeah. I actually met him twice. Once on the way – he saved Frank’s truck – and then at the lab. There was supposed to be another, but I guess he wasn’t there today because we didn’t see him. Let me out of the kitchen already. I’ll tell you more during dinner. I’m starved. What’s for dinner, Sadie?”
“Whatever you’re making,” said Sadie, happy at the news so far.
Chapter Six
“Welcome to day two. Here are your contracts, outlining salaries, work schedules, sensitive information embargoes, and so on and so on,” said Erik, as they entered the A1 lab. “You have till the end of the day to read, sign, and turn them in to me. If you have any questions keep them to yourself. Just kidding, but not really.” He walked off with his white lab coat billowing behind.
Neal popped in front of them, “I would read that with a particularly keen eye. I haven’t studied much law, but words can be deceptive. What we thought we saw, might be something entirely new when brought into a different light by experiences. By the by, I need to set up an appointment for our first evaluations. It’s a part of that contract you will inevitably sign. The first psychological session is relatively long, but the preceding ones shorten drastically unless I perceive a need to extend said meetings. Check your email for my invite.”
The next greeting came from Carla and Art. “You’re back bright and early and – oh – Chris you remembered. I can smell the sunscreen. I’m so glad you took my advice. Be careful when you go outside today, Frank. If I don’t see you again, have a wonderful day,” said Carla.
“She really is excited to have you two on the team. There are lots of parts to a successful team. Whether you’re playing basketball with a forward, guard, and center or experimenting on a new species, which I don’t really know because that’s Carmen’s field of study, a team of individuals working on a common goal can achieve great things. You see what I’m saying?” said Art.
Chris nodded while Frank gave a quick smile and walked off. Art waited for a more definite response so Chris said, “Oh, uh-huh. Everyone is a piece to the larger puzzle. Did you play basketball Art? You’re tall and tall people play basketball… I think… Sorry.”
“A long time before, but we’ll talk later about that. I’ll let you get to work,” said Art.
With the way clear, Chris headed for his desk next to Frank’s. As soon as he sat down, a shadow appeared over them. Frank took notice first.
“Morning, Alex. Any breakthroughs in the genetics department today?”
Chris swiveled around to see a cluster of papers clenched in white fists.
“Possibly,” said Alex, and placed the papers on Chris’s desk. “Please return those when you’re done. I need the originals for my research.”
“I’ll get right on it,” said Chris and switched on the computer. Alex turned away.
“Have a good one,” said Frank. Alex walked off without any acknowledgment. Frank looked at Chris. “Anything top secret in there?”
Chris rifled through the papers, trying to discern anything. “Maybe. But I don’t see ‘Top Secret’ stamped anywhere to make it easy. Take a look for yourself.”
Frank grabbed them with a confidence that waned with close reading. “Holy shit, that’s confusing and I was good in science. Type it up. We’ll figure it out later.” Frank threw the papers, scattering them across the two desks and ground.
“You jerk,” said Chris, and crawled over and under to pick them up. At the same time, Carmen came over.
“Hey guys. Um, Frank… Erik sent me to ask you if you could check the simulation programs. He doesn’t trust the data output.”
“Yep. Show me the way,” said Frank.
“And Chris, Erik wants you over to the Fun Room,” said Carmen.
“The what?” asked Chris.
“It’s in the northeast corner. It’s labeled. You’ll see it,” said Carmen.
“Sounds fun. Ha, ha. Bring your notepad,” said Frank, as he walked and talked with Carmen in the opposite direction.
Just as Carmen described, the ‘Fun Room’ was painted in bold red letters across a glass door in the northeast corner. Inside, the meaning behind the name slapped Chris across the face. Dumbbells of outrageous size, medicine balls with one thousand stamped across them, running hurdles of increasing height, and every other training device known but set to exaggerated proportions filled the large space.
Chris’s eyes widened at the impressive scene. Then a smile took over as he thought about the jealousy that would be etched across Frank’s face after hearing about this place. They hadn’t worked out yet this week and Chris knew it was eating Frank alive. Chris’s daydreaming hit a wall when a voice echoed from a speaker, “Chris. The control room is on the other side. Don’t hurt yourself on the way over, unless you’ve signed your paperwork already.”
Chris followed the voice from the speaker. Inside the control room were Erik, Klaus, and an unfamiliar woman. Klaus and the woman wore matching athletic one-pieces that could have doubled for swimsuits from the thirties. Sensors monitoring every bit of physiological activity possible clung to their bodies, which appeared in stunningly perfect shape. Besides being a foot shorter than Klaus, the woman’s posture gave the impression she could be just as powerful as her counterpart if not more so.
“Hi. Chris, right? I’m Johnykin Claremont. The other Super,” said the woman.
“Hi,” said Chris, shaking her hand just a moment too long. Johnykin was gorgeous with a sharp square face, auburn hair pulled back in a ponytail, and grey eyes Chris couldn’t look away from.
“Now that you’ve had your chance to gawk over her, Chris; Klaus and Johnykin are going to start their training,” said Erik.
Chris fumbled for words and ended up just blushing instead. The two Supers strode out of the control room so Chris could take in the full view of where he was. A large slanting desk connected to a wall made up almost entirely of glass took up most of the room. Erik sat down by the desk and motioned Chris to do the same. They could see the entire Fun Room through the window. Erik touched the desk and immediately it sprang to life. The desk was a giant touch screen computer that illuminated the room. Chris felt like a music producer as he watched Erik deftly maneuver around the controls.
“Pretty f-ing awesome, huh?” asked Erik.
“F-yeah,” said Chris.
Erik frowned at the response, not fully knowing Chris’s intentions. Then Erik quickly swept his hand to different parts of the computer/desk. “Heart rate monitors, lung capacity, sweat index, muscle density, ligament analysis, temperature gauges. Plus we have sensors all across the room to pick up speed, force of impact, and a million other things that may or may not be useful.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“What you’re supposed to. I’ll start giving out instructions, you copy it down, and also any visual responses you feel are important put in writing as we
ll. We can’t have enough notes.”
“Got it.” Chris scribbled down the date and time as Erik tapped on a speaker icon for the Fun Room.
“We don’t want to hurt ourselves, so let’s begin with warm-ups. Slow jog around the track.” Erik tapped a control and an oval track lit up on the ground of the Fun Room. He turned to Chris. “Watch their speed.”
Chris looked down at the desk where ‘five m.p.h.’ pulsated in rhythm with the Supers’ steps around the track. He jotted it down.
After one lap, Erik spoke into the speaker again. “Pick it up.” Johnykin bumped her shoulder into Klaus while they ran to direct his attention to the control room. They both smiled at Chris and began running faster. The tracker blinked to seven and then ten M.P.H. Erik looked at Chris. “Do those numbers look accurate? Write it down.” Chris quickly obeyed and Erik returned to the speaker. “Alright, the data looks good. Now it’s time to impress me.”
Johnykin winked back into the control room at Chris and Erik as the Supers’ feet moved them to a full sprint. Fifteen flashed on the desk and then twenty. Erik watched Chris as if that would be more entertaining and said, “Usain Bolt can get up to twenty-three. Wait till you see their max.” Even without this information, Chris didn’t dare look away. Johnykin and Klaus looked like they had barely broken a sweat and moved fluidly and easily round and round the track.
Erik tapped in a few places across the desk. “They’ll have to slow down for the turn, but watch them on the straightaway now.” Erik spoke into the speaker again, “Stop playing around. Loser buys lunch.” At those words the Supers’ arms and legs blurred with motion. Thirty, forty-five, fifty. “Last lap.”
Their speeds dipped around the turns like Erik said, but with a max of fifty it was an awesome sight. With the announcement of the last lap, Erik pressed another button on the desk that generated a holographic finish line. The next moment was hard to discern. Chris tried to keep his eyes on Johnykin and Klaus, but the blinking desk distracted him. And out of nowhere on the last turn Klaus dipped his body slightly, which made him stumble. Johnykin took the lead with ease on the straightaway, while Klaus continued to try to correct himself but was too late. His hands braced for the ground. It didn’t matter, because the momentum sent him skidding and then rolling across the Fun Room. A set of dumbbells looked like they would end his trip, but he plowed straight through them. The only thing left to stop him was the wall on the far side and with the cracking of concrete it did.
Just Another Job Page 4