by G. E. Stills
She was in another warehouse filled with crates. There were more men here, but none had spotted her. Glancing around, Naa’dia spotted a small door a few yards away. Darting and crawling from crate to crate, she made her way to it. With a final peek, she saw than none of the men were looking. Naa’dia burst through the door and dropped prone to the ground on the other side. Bright sunlight blinded her for a moment after being in the subdued lighting of the warehouse. She saw a heavily wooded area to her left just yards away.
Springing to her feet, she raced for it and dove into a tangle of bushes. She lay there breathing hard not so much from exertion, but from release of tension. I’m on Teelan. I’m really on Teelan.
Naa’dia rolled over and peered out of the bushes. Her jaw dropped open in awe. Everywhere she looked people in strikingly bright fashions moved with purposeful strides along wide sidewalks. There has to be hundreds of them if not thousands. Cars with no wheels buzzed through wide thoroughfares at breakneck speeds. The buildings that comprised the city appeared far too few to house all the people. The warehouse building she had left was among the largest. In the distance, she spotted a vertical shaft that rose in the sky. At its base, it was huge and dwindled to mere threadlike diameter. At the end of the thread was a tiny disc. Digging in her pack, she fitted the binoculars to her eyes.
This can’t be real. My eyes must be deceiving me.
She recognized the object at the end of the thread for what it was. A space station. And a vertical tube connecting it to the planet? Even with the aid of my binoculars to be able to see it in bright daylight means it must be huge. She panned the sky spotting many more structures. I don’t need to wonder anymore. Teelan certainly has the industrial capability to build the large space fleets these humans have.
Returning her gapping stare from the havens, Naa’dia again studied the crowds of people. Now that she spent additional time, she saw that among those wearing the bright outfits there were a few dressed in the more subdued fashion of Earth. Not many, but a few. And better yet, the ones wearing bright clothing seemed to pay little attention to the others.
Her gaze shifted to the left. An inordinate number of plainly dressed people seemed to be exiting from that one building. I can’t accomplish anything hiding in the bushes. I must get out there and try to blend in. That building where the plainly dressed people are leaving from seems a good place to start.
Naa’dia shrugged off her pack, opened it and picked an outfit from her limited selection. She removed her harness and black jumpsuit put them in the pack and concealed it in the bushes. Standing up, she brushed the leaves from her layered blue skirt and sky-blue top. She peered around searching for an area where a sidewalk came closest to the woods where she hid. A place where she could dash out and join the throngs while attracting little attention. It was not hard to find. Some of the busy sidewalks came very close to the woods.
Naa’dia crept through the bushes to the nearest one. She waited for what she saw as the best time and stepped out joining the people already there. No one said a word. Naa’dia walked briskly away while edging toward her ultimate destination. Most of the people paid her little attention. The few that did courteously welcomed her to Teelan. When she neared the exit doors of her target building she stepped to the side out of the way of the bustling crowds of people. She noted that occasional groups of people exited through the double glass doors. None entered.
Hum.
Naa’dia moved closer until she was just a few feet from the exit. She joined the next group of people turning her back to the doors. Instead of striding forward though, she walked backward.
Once inside the building she dodged to the right. Naa’dia stood against the wall and waited for her eyes to adjust from the bright sunlight. No one paid any attention to her. Against the back wall was another black, hazy portal. Occasional groups of people stepped out of it.
That must be the other one. The one for people entering Teelan.
A man and women greeted the new arrivals and directed them to a screened in area on the right. Naa’dia moved closer and listened in on the snippets of conversation from those that exited the screened in section. Quickly she determined that the people must be undergoing some type of orientation in that area. From what she heard, she determined she must avoid that section.
Once orientated, the newcomers milled around in the building center as if waiting for a next step. A man seated behind a table stood. There was a woman seated on his left and a man on his right.
He cleared his throat. “Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention. Please form three lines in front of us. When it is your turn, you will be given an information packet. Among other things the packet contains your assigned work area and the location of your living quarters.” He took his seat.
The milling newcomers quickly formed lines. Naa’dia took a place at the rear of one line.
Well here goes.
She waited in silence, listening to the conversations around her. Soon it was her turn.
Without looking up the man said, “Your name?”
“Naa’dia.”
“Last name.”
Thinking fast she gave the first one that popped into her head. “Thompson, Naa’dia Thompson.”
The man was silent while he consulted a piece of paper he held. “Hum. Well, Miss. or is it Mrs.? Maybe you have other family already here?” He looked up at her for the first time and cockled an eyebrow.
“Miss., and no, I don’t have any family…here that is.”
“I see. Well Miss. Thompson your name is not here on the list.”
Naa’dia’s stomach churned and her heart raced. Caught. Damn, I’m caught.
The man continued, “Must be a computer error. It happens, not often, but it does happen. Lucky you’re the last in line. If you’ll follow me, we’ll get your information and make assignments.” Without waiting for her reply, he stood and strode briskly toward one of the doors along one wall.
She fell in behind him. The door he entered led into an office. He slid into a chair behind a desk. “Have a seat,” he said indicating one of the two facing chairs.
“So, Naa’dia, may I call you Naa’dia?”
“Yes, certainly.”
“My name is Jim. So, Naa’dia, what field are you an expert in?”
Naa’dia quickly answered drawing on her past occupation before becoming an agent. “Mechanical technician.”
“Very good.”
“Have you ever worked with robots before? Not that it is critical, most people from Earth haven’t.”
“I have. Not a lot, but some.” She added, “Mostly experimental models.” Don’t want to appear overly familiar. I never saw any robots on Earth.
“Very good.”
Jim consulted some papers on his desk. “Okay,” he looked up at her with a smile, “they need a robot technician at the Freedom plant. Take an elevator in the Tormel up to space station Liberty.”
“Tormel?”
“That’s the structure you’ll see right away. The one that stretches up into space.”
“Wow, okay.”
“When you get there, go to boarding gate F7. Get on shuttle 245. It will take you to the Freedom plant. When you get to the plant, ask to see Rhody, he’s the plant supervisor. Rhody will give you a tour, inform you of your new position and assign you living quarters.”
In desperation, Naa’dia tried to remember all the instructions.
Jim looked up and beamed a smile at her. “Don’t worry, Naa’dia, I don’t expect you to remember all the things I’ve just told you. Everything will be in the information packet I’ll be giving you.”
“So when I get to the plant I’m to see Rhody the plant supervisor and he will assign someone to show me around?”
“Almost right. Rhody won’t assign someone. He will be the one giving you the tour.”
“Yes, but if he wants you to know it, he’ll tell you. Naa’dia we’re pretty informal here on Teelan. We tend to refer to each other by first names.”
“Thanks…Jim.”
“I think this concludes my part of your orientation.” He stood and offered his hand across the desk. “Welcome to Teelan.”
Coming around his desk, Jim escorted her from the office and pointed to the exit. “Again, welcome to Teelan. You’re going to like it here.” Turning, he walked back toward the table.
Naa’dia left the building and walked purposely toward the Tormel carrying her packet. Several people along the way saw the packet and welcomed her. Absently, Naa’dia smiled and thanked them while deep in thought. These people are so nice. How can I possibly justify what I intend to do?
She rode up in the Tormel and through the space station in a constant state of awe. When she stepped from the shuttle into the plant, Rhody was there waiting. The mere sight of him made her nearly melt. Short, flame red hair, muscular build, rugged, but handsome face and piercing sky-blue eyes. Damn he’s good looking.
“You must be Naa’dia.” He stuck his hand out.
His deep voice sent tremors of pleasure racing through her. Her heart fluttered. How can a human affect me this way? Why do I even find him attractive? I am Men-gar. Theses are my sworn enemies.
She flashed him a smile. “That’s me. Naa’dia.”
As he gave her the tour, she tried in desperation to listen to his words and not think of Rhody himself. It was a struggle. She often caught herself gazing at him from the corner of her eye while he was pointing out something of note.
“We work in a type of shift. You will remain up here on Freedom for seven days. We encourage you to work for ten hours then sleep for a few then work another ten. You’ll get used to it. We want our people to be fresh and alert, but at the same time, we are in a war. Maximum production without making mistakes due to fatigue is very important. When your shift is over you will be off for the next four days and return to your quarter’s planet side.”
“Speaking of, where are my living quarters?” she asked. “On Earth? I haven’t seen any here. Certainly not enough to house Teelan’s large population.”
Rhody turned to peer at her. A slight frown came to his face. “You should have received that information at your orientation briefing if not before. No matter, I’ll explain. Coming to Teelan is a one-way trip. You will never return to Earth. There are a few exceptions. People whose work requires it. There are a number of reasons for this, but mainly it is a security thing. The people of Earth do not know Teelan exists. This is for their protection and ours. The living quarters on Teelan are underground. It saves space on the surface and creates less impact on the indigenous flora and fauna.”
“Oh, oh yeah, now I remember,” Naa’dia stumbled to recover her error.
“Naa’dia, do you wish to return to Earth?”
Damn I am so close to fucking up here. I’m treading on thin shale. I need to get away from this subject. “No, No I was just wondering and I forgot that part of my orientation. I think I’m just overwhelmed by so much information. So on the days off what does one do down on Teelan?”
“Lots of things. There a many fine places to eat, there are recreation centers, sporting events to watch or participate in, gyms, dancing, people do crafts, libraries.” Rhody cocked his head and smiled. “Shopping. There are many things to do. Naa’dia, I know we just met… Please excuse me for being so forward. You’re a very attractive woman. I’d be honored if you’d allow me to take you out to dinner and dancing sometime.”
From the knowledge ripped from her victims, Naa’dia knew what Rhody was asking. With effort, Naa’dia kept her jaw from falling open. Rhody, handsome, fantastically sexy, Rhody, was asking her out. “I’d be thrilled. When?”
“Would after next shift be too soon?”
Naa’dia beamed a smile. “Not soon enough to my way of thinking. You’re very handsome…Rhody.”
Rhody took her on a brief tour, showing her where her new work station would be then she followed him back to his office. He accessed the computer built into his desktop, made a few notes and handed the card to her.
“This is your apartment. It is in complex 6-A.”
“Thank you.” She looked at what was written.
“The next shift starts in two days. That should give you enough time to settle in and do a little exploring of the city. I have to do other things right now,” he grinned, “Management things. I’ll see you at seven sharp two days from now.”
Tongue-tied for the moment she could only manage, “Thank you.”
Rhody led her out of his office and into the hall outside. Just before they parted she said, “I’ll be here at seven and ready to work.”
“Good.” He shook her hand and tingles rippled through her. “Welcome to Teelan.” Turning, he strode down the hall.
Following the directions written on the card she held, Naa’dia made her way from the Tormel through the bustling crowds. She entered a glassed in building, one of many that were entrances to underground complexes. These complexes housed the over two million population of this city called Planar. The first hallway inside had smaller ones opening from it and each smaller hall had rows of elevators. She stepped into one. The control panel on one wall gave a choice of seven buttons. The first two, she knew, were shopping and entertainment levels and the ones below that were individual residences.
She pushed seven, being a recent arrival, her new home was located on the lowest level. This time she managed to keep her stomach from rising to her throat when the elevator began its rapid descent. The doors opened onto more hallways. She consulted her directions and selected one of them. She stopped in front of one of the many doors and entered the code on her instruction sheet into the keypad beside it. It slid open soundlessly. Giddy, Naa’dia stepped into her new apartment. She took two steps and stopped in shock. The sight held her riveted in her tracks.
“Beautiful, absolutely beautiful.”
The living room alone was larger than anything she had ever lived in on her home planet. It had plush tan carpet, a large couch and two overstuffed chairs. Beside and in front of each piece of furniture were small tables made of metal and glass. On one wall was an entertainment center with a large screen TV built into the wall.
“Unbelievable.”
The mechanical voice startled her.
“You must be Naa’dia, the person assigned these quarters. Nice to meet you, I am the house computer that controls this residence.”
“Um, nice to meet you…computer.” No matter how hard she looked, she could not find the hidden speakers. She traipsed, light hearted into the next room. This one was a kitchen, but not a very well equipped one she decided. A table with four chairs, a small sink and refrigerator.
“How am I supposed to cook,” she wondered aloud.
“If I may,” the computer said.
Again, she could not find any speakers.
“Go ahead.”
“On the back wall are three square apertures, two of them have keypads above them and the third a single button. The one on the left is for selecting food, the middle for beverages and the one on the right for disposal. You will see on the table a booklet listing available foods and drinks along with the four digit codes used to select them.”
Naa’dia glanced at the table. Just as the computer said, there was a booklet there.
“When you’re finished eating or drinking just put everything in the disposer’s slot,” the computer continued.
“Wow. I suppose there is maid service to clean also,” she said sarcastically.
Not even noting her sarcasm the voice went on. “Every three days a maidbot comes to clean, change bedding and remove anything
soiled. You clothing will be cleaned and returned.”
“And I could get very fat with everything done for me.”
“There are workout gyms located on level two.”
Naa’dia strolled on a cloud to the bedroom. The room contained plenty of dressers a full-length mirror, a large closet and a huge bed with nightstands on each side. The bed had four soft looking pillows and a pink coverlet.
“Damn, that’s my bed? To sleep alone in?”
“If the colors do not meet you approval you are free to request different ones.”
Another door lead from the bedroom in a large bathroom with double sinks and more mirrors. The walk in shower even had a seat.
“A few undergarments your size are in the dresser drawers. I’m certain you will have more once you have shopped.”
Naa’dia sat on the bed and removed her shoes. She started to unzip her jumpsuit uniform and stopped. She remembered she was supposed to be human and a little modest. “Computer can you see me?”
“No Naa’dia, I am not equipped with a video function. Only audio.”
Good, having unseen eyes watching me, even computer eyes, is just creepy to think about.
She finished unzipping and let the suit slide to the floor. Naa’dia flopped backwards on the bed, spread her arms and luxuriated in its softness for a long time.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Trevor paced impatiently outside the medical examiners operating room. Lance, as usual, was reclined on one of the couches. When the ME stepped out, Trevor swarmed him. “So?”
“I can’t explain it. I’ve never seen anything like it. The guy was killed by something that burned through his skull, but that can’t explain his brain.”
“What about his brain?”
“It’s like it has been scrambled and boiled. And I think that was done prior to being burned with whatever. The brain injury is not the cause of death, but…”
