Frank, Klaus, and Johnykin walked out without another glance except at the floor. Chris stayed on his heels. The news wasn't too much of a shock. He knew it was coming. It was the next part that bothered him.
“Hey, Erik.”
“Hey, Chris.”
“Ha. I need to talk with you.”
“Go right ahead. I'm all ears. What's going on?”
“Um. This job. It isn't what I expected.” Chris wanted to continue and to explain every thought and feeling he had about his time spent at the lab, but he looked at Erik's face. Erik didn't care. Slightly bulging eyes shifting from the computer screen to Chris and everywhere else in the sparse room. Chris understood. “I'm quitting. This is my two weeks' notice. I'll type up a letter and give it to you before we leave for Syria today.”
Erik's eyes stuck out of his head even more, but that was all the emotion he would show towards the announcement. Chris turned and walked out of the office before Erik could spit out a reply.
Down the hallway with his blinders on, Chris bumped into Carla. “Hey, stranger,” said Carla. “That's such a silly phrase, but it's like we never see each other. Crazy rumors around here about you guys leaving for a big mission.”
“Yeah, I don't know if we can talk about it. Screw it. Sorry. We're going to Syria for a peacekeeping mission.”
“Wow. Exciting. Well a little scary too. You guys are all so busy lately we never get to see you around much anymore. Art knows a great little brewery in Dublin. We should all go after work.”
“That would be great, but we're leaving today in a couple hours.”
“Oh no. We can do it when you get back.” Her eyes grew shiny and she lunged towards Chris for a hug. They didn't really know each other, but her arms squeezed his back with genuine emotion. “Have a safe trip out there.” Carla removed herself from Chris then went in for another hug. “This one's from Art in case you don't run into him. He talks about you guys all the time.”
“Thanks, Carla.”
She took off down the opposite hallway with a smile and a few loose tears on her cheeks. Chris moved slowly towards the direction of the lounge, trying to decide if he should call Sadie first or write up his resignation.
Once inside the lounge, he still didn't have an answer and now had to face a third option; Johnykin.
She hunched over the computer with her face way too close to the screen. It was an awkward position coming from someone Chris never remembered ever looking awkward.
“Did you forget your glasses?” asked Chris.
“Huh? No,” said Johnykin, without looking away from the computer’s glow.
Chris moved his way over to see what was so captivating, but Johnykin escaped from the screen she was on before he could peer over her shoulder.
“What were you looking at?”
“Nothing. What are you going to do for the next couple hours? Did you call your wife yet?”
“Not yet. I will. I should first write... I'm...”
“What? Why are you acting all weird? Spit it out.”
Chris frowned and wanted to hold out against Johnykin's instructions, but gave in.
“I'm quitting. I need to write up my resignation.”
“Right now?”
“Yeah, I should type it up before I call Sadie.”
“No. I mean, you're quitting today? You're not going with us to Syria?”
“I'm still going. I'm just putting in my two weeks starting today.”
“How do you know we're only going to be there for two weeks? Did Erik tell you something?”
“I don't know how long we'll be there, but it's a job. I can put in my two weeks. This isn't the army.”
“Uh-huh. You're sure? What did Erik say?”
“Nothing. I left before he could say anything.”
“Before Erik could say anything? That doesn't sound right. He always gets in some word. I can't believe you're doing this. Where are you going to go? What about your family?”
“We've been saving money from each paycheck. It couldn't last forever. This is best for my family. I want to be around for my family and not... dead.”
“Don't be so dramatic. You're not going to die. We're too valuable.”
“Maybe you won't, but I'm just a guy. I don't have your powers, remember. Sidekick.”
Johnykin shook her head and fixated on a point on the wall. Chris could tell she was thinking about what to say next because he looked past her to do the same.
“Okay,” she said. “Write up your resignation. Call Sadie. I'm going to go work out.” She stood immediately after that and walked through Chris to get to the door.
He didn’t know how to respond and shouted the first thing that popped in his head, “I don't need your permission!”
Johnykin held the door open. Her back tensed and Chris imagined more than saw the tiny hairs on the back of her neck rise up with the storm he provoked.
“No you don't! But I’m your fucking partner and you better damn well be considering that when you write up your little sob story to Erik. You aren't just leaving this job, you're leaving me! So do whatever the hell you want Chris. Just be ready to fight for it.”
The door slammed behind her. Chris pictured in his head that if it was glass it would have cracked and shattered into a thousand pieces like in a cartoon. It just stood there. He just stood there. Then the door popped open and Chris jumped back in fright. Frank rushed in.
“You're quitting? You're such a fucking idiot,” said Frank.
“Holy shit, is everyone going to attack me about that today?”
“Why not? It's a stupid ass move. What are you thinking?”
“I can't fight. I can't die out in a war. Why do you give a shit?” This was supposed to be the right thing to do, thought Chris. Why is everyone attacking me for it?
“You think we're just going over there to fight and die? Yes, I give a shit. We came in here together. This a fucking amazing job. You can't just give up on it.”
“I can't give up on my family and this is not an amazing job for me. I was supposed to be writing things. You were supposed to be creating programs. Now we're running around to save the world like Captain America clones.”
“That's awesome. This shit is a once in a lifetime. Do you know how many people are jealous of what we get to do? We're hanging out with Supers and fighting bad guys. I know sometime in your life you wanted to be a superhero, just like Gerry did and maybe still does. He has a fucking superhero for a dad. You can't beat that.”
“He has a sidekick for a dad that can be shot and killed and he’ll never see again. We don't have powers and I'm not ready to not see Gerry or Louise or Sadie anymore because I went on a stupid fucking trip around the world acting like I was something that I'm not.”
“Okay,” said Frank. He put his hands on his hips and then folded them across his chest.
Chris never sat down since he first came in the room and now took the opportunity. His body was thankful. The two heated encounters took more energy than he thought they could.
“If you think this is right —“
“I do,” said Chris, and then moved to turn on his computer. “I have to write it up and then call Sadie so...”
“Yeah. I'm out of here.” Frank walked out, but didn't slam the door like his predecessor.
The computer whirled to life, Chris opened a Word document, and then stared at it. He was drained. He thought of taking a nap, but knew he wouldn't finish everything in time if he did. As he put his hands to the keyboard the lounge door opened again.
“What!?” said Chris.
“Hey Chris,” said Klaus. “Sorry to bother you.”
“Oh no. I'm sorry I shouted. I didn't know it was you.”
“Have you seen Johnykin? I need to talk to her.”
“She left a few minutes ago. To workout.”
“Thanks. I'll see you later.”
Chris relaxed. His eyes were back at the computer screen. He hovered the mouse over the
internet browser wanting to distract himself from writing, but he didn't click it. Another minute passed looking at the blank page. Finally, he wrote.
It didn't take nearly as long as he thought it would. The phone call to Sadie was shorter than he imagined too. He could tell she was crying a little, but the news didn't have as much an impact today as she explained. He told her about writing the letter but that was all. They said 'I love you' three or four times and Chris promised to call as soon as he got there. After that was done, Chris checked the time on the computer. He had another hour before they would leave. He moved over to the couch, lied down, and fell asleep.
Chapter Fifteen
“Wake up jerk. We're leaving,” said Johnykin, as she kicked the couch repeatedly.
“I'm...I...” said Chris.
Johnykin swatted him in the head. “Get up!”
“I'm up. Geez!” Chris sat himself up as quickly as possible in case she didn't believe him and swatted him again. “What time is it?”
“Time to leave, like I already said. Everything you’ll need’s packed in the car. They're waiting on us.”
Johnykin gave Chris another second to stand and then zipped over to the door. Chris hurried after. The SUV's engine rumbled as always at the curb. Klaus had the front seat with his arm hanging out the window and sunglasses on. He gave Chris a nod. Johnykin opened the passenger door and waited for Chris to get in. He would be squeezed in the middle of her and Frank. Chris stopped himself from groaning at the obvious blocking.
No one talked on the ride over. Chris almost blurted out the most obvious question of which airport would they take, but held it in. He would find out soon enough and when they took the exit for the Oakland airport it was pretty obvious.
“We used to always fly out of SFO when I was a kid,” said Chris, to nobody in particular and received no answer in turn.
Except the driver, who couldn't help himself, “This isn't going to be anything like that.”
He drove them past all the gates with the commercial airlines and around to a chain-link gate that was pushed open by a security guard. The driver put his hand up out the window in acknowledgment and passed right through without a second look. They cruised over to a sleek white jet dressed in grey embellishments that smirked expensive.
No red carpet led up to the steps, only a customs' agent double checking their passports, which Chris found conveniently tucked into the side pocket of his pre-packed luggage. The last one into the jet, Chris took a quick look back out to make sure what they were doing was okay or even legal. It was ridiculously easy and fast and as he thought about how he would tell Sadie about the experience, he saw what looked like pilots talking to their driver. Chris watched the men in impeccable blue suits wrap up their conversation and then, with such quickness he wasn’t sure he saw it, salute the driver that jumped in the SUV and screeched away.
Chris pulled himself inside the jet to avoid talking to the pilots who were briskly coming up to the steps. The jet was small, but the elegance of the outside continued inside with four plump, grey, leather seats facing each other. Klaus and Johnykin sat in the seats with their backs to the cockpit. A hallway of sorts separated them so they could each look out a window. Frank sat facing across from Klaus, but again there was plenty of space between them that even if they both stretched their legs out in front they wouldn't come close to touching. Chris took the remaining chair and looked up at Johnykin. She had her eyes fixed on the armrest that acted like a small cabinet for any electronic device hookup you would need.
The pilots ducked into the jet, smiled, gave a brief hello, and crouched into their own seats in the cockpit. There was no door or screen separating them from the passengers, but they still came over the intercom system to announce instructions. “Good afternoon and welcome to your flight to the beautiful Mediterranean, the home of the Parthenon and Plato; Greece. Our time in the air will be around twelve hours so I recommend getting plenty of rest as we chase the past.”
'Greece?' thought Chris. He wanted to ask, but as soon as the pilot's brief speech ended Klaus pushed his head back and closed his eyes, Johnykin slipped on headphones, and Frank opened up a laptop. It was for the best. They wouldn't have answered, anyways.
They were in the air almost as fast as they had boarded the plane; another benefit of private aircrafts. The turbines hummed smoothly, Chris was ignored, and even with his previous nap Chris was out after watching the sky pass by for less than thirty minutes.
Chris remembered waking up once to awkwardly use the bathroom that was a door just behind his own seat and then stumbling back. It was pitch black outside the windows and everyone was out so he did the same when he sat down again.
The next stretch of sleep was marred by nightmares. Falling off rooftops, bullets zooming overhead, death. All his worries brought into a visual fright with no ending except a punch in the arm.
Frank woke him up. It was still dark. “Eat something. We'll be landing soon.”
“Already? I slept that long?”
“Eat,” said Frank again.
“What are you serving? Chicken or fish?” asked Chris.
Frank just pointed to Chris's bag. He’d forgotten about the mysterious pre-packed bag with supposedly food and who knows what else waiting inside. Chris unzipped it. On top was a laptop identical to the one Frank still had out in front of him. Also clothes, his Super suit, and to the side a plastic bag full of pretzels, granola bars, an apple, two bottled waters, and a turkey and cheese sandwich.
After the mystery was solved, Chris looked up to see what the other half was up to. Johnykin and Klaus quietly finished their nutritious meals with full ignore mode on. Then the pilot spoke again, “We're starting the descent. Please stay seated and fasten those safety belts.”
Chris gobbled down his sandwich and jumped on the pretzels as the plane began to lean to the left and nose down.
They left Athens International Airport as quickly as they did SFO. Another customs agent with a pen hardly made them pause on their way to a new, but identical black SUV. Their driver didn't say a thing after a quick, “Welcome to Greece,” and sped them out onto the connecting highway.
Chris wasn't sure what to expect looking out the window, little cottage houses, marble pillars, elegant water fountains. These weren’t real expectations he realized, just clips from movies of an imaginary ancient place. The highway resembled many he drove on back in California. Industrial buildings sporadically popped up, but mostly it was agriculture or land waiting to be developed into something more.
Chris could also tell from the passing scenery that their general direction was north. A border patrol posed only the slightest slow down before more commercial buildings sprouted up on the sides. Eventually they hit the first distinctive town, Oinofyta, and were just as quickly passing it. Another similar town came up, but with nothing new to add. The same highway continued on and on. The only new revelation was a lake. Chris imagined the beaches and relaxing; the way he should be seeing Greece for the first time.
The somewhat varied scenery didn't last and soon more agricultural fields streaked past the windows. Chris told himself to stay awake and take in the new experience, but the monotony won out and he was still exhausted. Compounded with the silence of his fellow passengers, Chris dozed off.
Chris didn’t need a punch in the arm to wake up this time. Saltwater air cleansed his sinuses along with a violent sneeze. Johnykin whispered, “Bless you,” while continuing to gaze out on to Alexandroupolis.
Off the main freeway, the low speed limit gave them an easy view of the streets. Mopeds puttered in every direction or were parked up on sidewalks at small shops. Beyond the Greek mixed with small amounts of English peppering the buildings and signs, to Chris it felt like a slightly more glamorous Monterey.
Soon the driver brought them along to a street looking out over a harbor. Small personal boats crowded the water space, but before they could get in a good look the SUV stopped.
Chris
tried to peer around Johnykin to see their destination. All he could make out were glass doors on a simple concrete building that could belong anywhere.
Klaus stepped out first and the rest of them followed eagerly to stretch their legs even for the short distance to the hotel lobby. Chris looked up into the afternoon sun to barely make out the rest of the structure. A few balconies wrapped around the concrete on the upper levels and a sign read ‘Hotel Erika.’ Nothing fit the exotic forms in his imagination. The driver hurried along in front. He spoke to the receptionist in Greek to speed up the process and then directed them to their rooms.
Four keys for two rooms, the driver handed a pair to Klaus and Johnykin and the other pair to Chris and Frank. Klaus and Frank led the way into the neighboring rooms and Johnykin and Chris followed inside. The room was modernly furnished; a flat screen TV, earthy tones, brushed metal fixtures, and thankfully two beds. Frank tossed his bag on the bed closest to the door, then flipped on the TV and surfed for sports.
Chris had enough of the waiting game. “What are we doing here? I mean, no one has said anything and last I checked this is not Syria.”
“Are you serious?” said Frank. “Do something for yourself. Why are you still expecting someone to just come up to you and tell you everything? I don’t give a shit if you’re quitting or not, but you need to do your job still. You want someone to take care of you like a baby. It’s fucking ridiculous.”
“I don’t want to be treated like a baby. I just want some kind of communication. Like an adult.”
“Then be an adult and open the damn laptop in your bag. If you weren’t sleeping the whole flight and ignoring everyone during the drive you would know that’s where the mission log is. Shit. Just cause you’re asking questions doesn’t mean you’re actively doing something. You can find this crap out on your own.”
“Oh…”
Frank turned away and watched a replay of an old soccer game. Chris pulled the laptop out violently and slammed it as best he could on to the cushioned bed. He didn’t know who he was angry at, but more than ever he felt out of place.
Just Another Job Page 13