Vending Machine Lunch

by Roadbloc

"Yes control that is correct over."

  Another pause. The thought of Jaimie attempting to make a decision amused Johnston's mind. There was usually some sort of hiccup or query at the start, and you could tell that poor Jaimie was uncomfortable in making a decision when they occurred.

  "Okay Jan, we would like you to continue as normal, just without that particular lever, it isn't that essential to tonight’s trial over."

  "Understood Control. Jan out."

  And that was the nights small problem out of the way with.

  "Control to all Deimos Facility staff. We shall be commencing trial forty-six after a count of ten. After the count of ten the trial run of the Deimos Facility mark forty-six shall begin and the transmission barriers shall be in action. This trial is estimated to take the usual time of around sixty to one hundred and twenty, depending on result collection progress. Please remember all safety regulations whilst the trial is running. Please prepare for countdown. Over."

  Johnston sat up in his chair, coughing slightly as he did do. Breathing deep, he leant forward and inspected his control desk quickly. Everything seemed to be in the right position. Looking out of his room's window, he noted that the staff he was supervising were also in the right positions. Everything was good at his end.

  "Control to all Deimos Facility staff. Countdown commencing. Ten..."

  Johnston flicked a small lever on his control desk. A few more lights illuminated.

  "...nine..."

  A small humming sound began. The facility was beginning to start.

  "...eight..."

  The blue light from the inner chamber intensified.

  "...seven..."

  Johnston checked his panel again. Can never be too sure.

  "...six, insert nymphet rods..."

  Johnson began pushing down on one of two cylindrical rods on his control desk. They were the nymphet rods, without them inserted, his side of the facility wouldn't be enabled, thus, the entire facility being unable to boot out of stasis mode fully.

  "...five..."

  He began pushing down on the second rod. Johnston hated how they were so stiff and hard to push in.

  "...four..."

  Johnston's second nymphet rod was still being pushed in.

  "...three..."

  His second nymphet rod was now successfully down. He slumped back into his chair.

  "...two, power fusion phase deconstructions..."

  The humming grew to a higher pitched whine. Numbers and graphs began to dance on Johnston's CRT displays on his control desk.

  "...one, activate resonance sequence..."

  Something caught Johnston's eye, outside his control room, in the chamber. It hadn't been much, just a sly shadow. It had appeared near the top of the cylindrical resonance protector in the centre of the room. Just a small shadow, there and then gone with the blink of an eye. Johnston thought nothing of it.

  "...zero, activate Deimos Facility. Transmission barriers up in half. Best of luck guys. Over and out."

  As soon as Jaimie had got off the com-link, the facility turned green. Every blue light now shone green, dazzling Johnston for a while as his eyes slowly adjusted.

  "Sierra Alpha Jacob to all interior staff, the transmission barriers are now active. Control will not be communicable until the trial has been completed. As you all should know, in this trial we are taking the resonance chamber to one hundred and ten percent, to be sustained for sixty to one-hundred and twenty. We shall start at a level of sixty percent to begin with. Over and out."

  Johnston flipped a few switches which enabled his staff to take the resonance level to sixty percent. How he hated Jacob's smug voice, as though he was in control of everything. Johnston felt like slapping him. Or punching. Or even knifing...

  The humming intensified. Johnston kept a keen eye on the CRT screens in front of him. It seemed more interesting than the CRT evening casuals he watched back at his flat. The figures, climbing upwards, the graphs growing upwards, the green light reflecting off Johnston's face.

  "Sierra Charlie Johnston to Sierra Alpha Jacob," said Johnston over the com-link, "Charlie unit at sixty percent over."

  "Received and understood Johnston over. Sierra Bravo Josh, E.T.A of sixty percent please? Over."

  "Let me just check that Jacob, we are going a little slow over."

  "Well yes, I can see that Josh thanks," said Jacob over the com-link, sounding irritable as though Josh was patronising him.

  "Sierra Bravo Josh to Sierra Bravo Jeb, why are we taking so long to get to sixty? Over."

  "Sierra Bravo Jeb to Sierra Bravo Josh and Sierra Alpha Jacob, we are having a small problem with getting the electromagnetic radiation to a decent level of stimulated emission for the optical amplification unit. I think Jaiden can provide some more detail over."

  Johnston internally chucked as he coughed. Thank goodness his side of the facility was running fine.

  "Uh... yeah, Sierra Bravo Jaiden here. I believe it may be due to the lack of lubrication on the unit. Things are drying up pretty fast here. I don't think the engineers put enough lubricant on the units."

  There was a pause, as everyone thought their own thoughts in their own brains in their own positions.

  "Sierra Echo Jemma to all Sierra Bravo staff and Sierra Alpha Jacob. We have put plenty of lubricant on all the equipment requiring it. I refuse to let myself and my team get scapegoated again. Every maintenance job was completed today and- and were double checked. Might I ask which optical amplification unit you are having trouble with? Over."

  "Never mind that Jemma," Johnston could tell Jacob was getting annoyed, he was disregarding any sort of formal radio speak and his voice was in a fast and irritated manner. He just seemed desperate to get to the target for the trial as soon as possible, "Sierra Bravo Jaiden, is it possible it continue? Over."

  "I confirm that it is. It's just going to take a little while longer over."

  "Do we have an E.T.A on that?" the irritable voice just got a bit more irritable.

  "Half. One at most. Over."

  "Sustain sequence. Jacob out."

  There was another pause, as everyone waited for Josh's side to reach sixty percent resonance. It didn't take long, as Jaiden had estimated.

  "Sierra Bravo Josh to Sierra Alpha Jacob, the Bravo unit is now at sixty over."

  "Understood Sierra Bravo Josh. Sierra Alpha Jacob to all interior staff. We shall now increase the resonance level to one hundred and ten. Over and out."

  "Sierra Charlie Johnston to Sierra Alpha Jacob. Are you sure that is wise considering the situation in Josh's unit?" said Johnston into his com-link ear piece, not quite understanding why Jacob was wanting to continue so eagerly, "Should we not resume stasis mode and resume the trial when the equipment has been correctly serviced? Over."

  "I assume by Josh's unit you mean the Bravo unit. Negative Johnston. Over and out," was the answer.

  "Sierra Bravo Josh to Sierra Alpha Jacob, looking at our equipment readings I don't feel that it is-"

  "I don't care. Everyone sustain the sequence to one hundred percent."

  There was an oppressive pause. Johnston saw his staff begin to work. He had no idea whether Josh's staff were following suit.

  "Sierra Bravo Jeb to Sierra Bravo Josh and Sierra Alpha Jacob. I personally do not recommend sustaining the sequence-"

  "Listen! Listen to me! If we sustain the sequence, will we have a meltdown? Huh? Tell me Jeb."

  "Sierra Bravo Jeb to Sierra Alpha Jacob. That is unlikely, however we could-"

  "Exactly. Thank you. We shall be sustaining sequence. Over and out."

  Johnston paused and then spoke, "Sierra Charlie Johnston to Sierra Charlie and Bravo staff members. Disregard any previous orders and keep resonance at sixty percent. I repeat, disregard previous orders and sustain the sixty percent resonance. Over."

  "Sierra Alpha Jacob to Sierra Charlie Johnston. You are disobeying a direct order. I suggest you take that command back over."

  "Negativ
e Sierra Alpha Jacob. You are not above me and neither am I below you. We are both regulators and I don't deem it suitable to continue. The chance of a meltdown is very unlikely, but it could result in some serious damage to the equipment resulting in money we don't have being spent on repairs. We need to take care of our equipment. The trial can continue at sixty percent over and out," said Johnston through the com-link, not really feeling anything in regards to Jacob.

  "Sierra Charlie Johnston, might I remind you that this order not only comes from me, but this land's highest authority. Since continuing with the planned trial will not cause any imminent danger to anyone, I suggest we continue."

  "Negative," said Johnston again, "Unless our land's highest priority fancies pumping more money into this facility thanks to something that could easily be avoided, which I doubt very much, I suggest you tell him to go and suck it. We take this trial at sixty percent resonance, which is higher than our last trial. We commence one hundred and twenty in the next trial. We will still be advancing faster than the original trial schedule like our leader wishes, without pointlessly breaking equipment. Over and out."

  "Sierra Charlie Johnston, I'm declaring you unfit to work. After this trial you will commence paid leave. Sustain sequence for one hundred and sixty percent. Over and out."

  "Sierra Charlie Johnston to all interior staff, disregard last order and sustain sequence at sixty percent," said Johnston furiously, "Sierra Alpha Jacob, I'm declaring you unfit to work. After this trial you will commence paid leave. See, Jacob? I have perfect authority to do it as well."

  "Since you have just been declared unfit to work, your orders are nullified. Sierra Alpha Jacob to all interior staff, disregard any orders from Regulator Johnston. Sustain sequence at one hundred and ten percent. Over and out."

  "Sierra Bravo Josh to Sierra Alpha Jacob. Negative, we shall be sustaining sequence at sixty percent over. Sierra Bravo Josh to all Sierra Bravo staff members, disregard Sierra Alpha Jacob's orders and sustain sequence at sixty percent over."

  "Sierra Alpha Jacob to Sierra Bravo Josh, you have no authority for such an order. To all Sierra Bravo staff members, you are to disregard any order from Maintainer Josh. Sierra Bravo Josh, I'm declaring you unfit to work. After this trial you will commence paid leave."

  "What!?"

  "Sierra Charlie Johnston to Sierra Alpha Jacob," said an annoyed Johnston, "What you gonna do? Declare every staff member unfit to work? Because no-one is listening to you. No-one cares about what you have to say. Now we can either do the trial on how it was meant to be run before the stupid reschedule, and reduce the risk of damaging equipment and still get some trial results. Or we can do what you're wanting to do, but it is entirely on your head be it. No-one else but you, Jacob, will be held responsible for anything that occurs. Agreed?"

  "Agreed," Jacob's voiced sounded sullen and partially upset.

  Johnston breathed deeply. Whatever happened now, it wasn't his fault.

  "Sierra Charlie Johnston to all interior staff. We shall be sustaining the resonance sequence to one hundred and ten percent. Let's hope for Jacob's sake that nothing goes massively wrong. Personally, I'm disgusted by such folly. Over and out."

  Everyone Johnston could see got to work. The argument was now over, but he still had to let Jacob win. He was annoyed at his own weakness, however, still the fact remained that if something went wrong, it would be entirely on Jacob's head now.

  He watched the figures slowly rise on his CRT screens. They were getting higher than he'd ever seen them before, it just didn't feel right doing such a courageous trial. It left an uneasy taste in his throat. Johnston coughed. He wanted some tobacco, however, it was not permitted in the interior of the facility.

  Slowly, something shuddered, making a metal creaking sound. Johnston looked around him. It was the entire facility shuddering.

  Josh had heard it too. "Sierra Bravo Josh to all interior staff, did you just hear that? Over."

  "Sierra Charlie Johnston to Sierra Bravo Josh, I did over."

  “Sierra Alpha Jacob to all interior staff, I’m certain that was just the metal expanding as it cools over.”

  Nobody argued back. Johnston tried to think back to when it had happened before. After several minutes he come to the conclusion it hadn’t. Why would metal be cooling in the first place? Perhaps due to the misty rain outside? The coolness of the night? Johnston had no idea. The uneasy taste he had, hit his stomach as the facility creaked again.

  He checked the statistics and data on his CRT screens. Everything looked fine, well within acceptable levels for the increasing resonance. He trusted Josh felt the same.

  Coughing, Johnston blamed his nerves on tobacco addiction. He himself had noticed a rise in his consumption, well above the government’s advisory intake. Not that he cared less what the government said. He wondered if anyone did.

  Another creak shuddered its way through the facility, actually causing a significant tremor that time. Johnston looked around nervously, waiting for someone to say something over the com-link. No-one did. The resonance level was now displayed at one hundred percent on the CRT screens.

  "Sierra Bravo Jeb to Sierra Bravo Josh, our troublesome optical amplification unit has totally seized up. We are unable raise the levels any higher. Might I also add that there is a fire risk over."

  "Sierra Bravo Josh to Sierra Bravo Jeb, understood. Sierra Alpha Jacob, please advise on next course of action over."

  "Sierra Alpha Jacob to Sierra Bravo Josh and Sierra Bravo Jeb, sustain sequence at the highest level possible. Sierra Charlie Johnston, sustain sequence at one hundred and ten percent over."

  "I hope you know what you're doing here Jacob," said Johnston down the com-link, totally disregarding the com-link etiquette.

  "Remember the com-link rules Sierra Charlie Johnston over," came the predictable reply.

  Johnston coughed irritably. He was far from happy. He just wished to get out of the place and have a stick of rolled tobacco.

  “Sierra Charlie Johnston to Sierra Alpha Jacob,” said Johnston, fear beginning to rise in his voice, “Charlie unit at one hundred and ten percent over.”

  As soon as Johnston said the word ‘over’, the entire facility seemed to just die. Everything seemed to power down, lights, CRT screens, everything which relied on power turned off.

  “What the-?” someone said over the com-link.

  Johnston was both confused about the abundant lack of power, but relieved that the com-links were still online. Without reaction, he sat in his chair.

  “Sierra Delta-”

  The facility shuddered, power flickered back on with a bang, the CRT screens sparked making Johnston jump out of his chair. The facility interior glowed red.

  “Oh boy! We have a problem here! Sierra Charlie Unit to-”

  The com-link fuzzed out, like it had just gone out of range. Johnston made his way backwards, slowly. His CRT monitors were flickering crazy statistics, the entire facility still red. His back made contact with the metal cupboard. He slid down it into a crouching position, coughing as he did so.

  “-....valve leak in sector six. Appears to be caused by- OH MY GOD!”

  Screams of pain made their way down the com-link.

  “Oh, Christ! What the hell is this!? They’re alive! They’re alive!”

  Another person interrupted the com-link with a series of bangs and screams of pain.

  “Sierra blah blah to anyone out there! Delta labs have been compromised! We’re- aaaaaghhh!”

  The red light flickered. The entire facility banged and shuddered again. Terrified, Johnston forced himself to breathe. He inhaled oxygen in and out like a wheezy old vacuum cleaner that had never been emptied.

  There was another bang, louder than the rest, and Johnston’s office was plunged into darkness. Only the flickering and sparking CRT monitors were to be seen.

  “...awww! What the hell is going on-”

  Another bang, Johnston's office trembled, many shelf items falling
to the ground. The CRT monitors flickered surveillance camera images of the staff in the resonance chamber. Johnston distinctly saw one employee violently attacking another with his teeth and hands, clawing and maiming him like a wild dog.

  “-we have no access to control! I repeat, we have no access to control-”

  “-my God! Please help me! Please help me- aggghhhh!!”

  “-Urthgurl has still not yet left cyberspace-”

  “-It’s insanity down here! We need backup now! I repeat, we- oh God-”

  The com-link was screaming into Johnston’s ear as he sat by the shelf, terrified and in darkness. He had literally no idea what had just hit him.

  BANG! A third bang and tremble made him almost wet himself. A figure, something, slammed up against the window of his office from the outside. It looked like a person, blood dripping from their hands and clothes. Terrified, Johnston scrambled up, and searched the metal shelf cabinet for the emergency weapon.

  “Make it stop! Someone for Christ’s sake make it stop!”

  “-some... sort... of... invasion-”

  A fourth bang, and Johnston’s office was reintroduced with the red light that previously possessed it. Johnston ripped books, manuals, bits of machinery and files of logs from his shelf to access the emergency weapon attached to the back. His heart was pumping, his veins pulsating as though they had never been used before. Adrenaline surged around his body for the first time in a long time.

  Behind him, he heard the door slip open, the hydraulics making the usual whine. Red light poured into the room, Johnston felt it refracting off his back. He grabbed the weapon, a shotgun like thing.

  “Oh jeez! Someone help me, oh God please, don’t do this to me, oh- agggggh!”

  With the com-link still screaming peoples deaths into his ear, Johnston heard squelchy footsteps from behind him. Slow, but gradually getting closer, with deep, grunty breaths. Johnston’s fingers were shaking as he tried to put the shells in the emergency weapon. But he managed it.

  Deliberately slowly, Johnston turned around to face whateveritwas that entered. He recognised who it was immediately, as his eyes scanned the figure that had entered the room. It was Sierra Bravo Jaiden. But he had changed. His skin had become almost translucent, his eyes misted over and lifeless. His work clothes were saturated in blood and there was a massive chunk from the side of his neck missing with entrails hanging out. As he stepped closer, Johnston noticed there was what looked like a bullet wound in his leg that prevented him from moving quickly.