Chapter 40 #2
“Time,” the girl says right as the doors burst open.
Sable freezes as she reaches down to pick up the next syringe.
“Please stop what you are doing and line up against the back wall,” says the man wearing the green jacket with the now legible letters: NHOS Inspector. Several others follow in behind him and fan out across the room.
James is exceedingly grateful for the personal protection hiding the sweat now beading across his forehead.
They know about you, the bank of refrigerators at the back of the room announces. You’re all but caught.
James ignores them, sharing a glance with Sable, while Avrel does as they instruct.
The inspector frowns deeply. “Today’s decommissionings were called off. We sent notifications to all senior-level personnel last night.”
“I didn’t see the notice,” she lies, sighing as if the inspector’s annoying her. “I just need to complete this procedure.” Her tone is firm and even.
“GROW is under investigation for a dozen suspected violations, ma’am.
Our official mandatory injunction authorizing our inspection states that all operations must cease until the recall is over and our inspection has been completed.
Keep your hands where we can see them and move to the wall,” the inspector instructs.
Sable moves her hand away from the tray and Nixon twitches. Will he wake up if the second injection isn’t administered? Before he can consider the consequences, James grabs the final injection and unceremoniously sticks it into the man’s arm, depressing the plunger.
The inspector marches over. “What do you think you’re doing?”
James turns to face the man. “Leaving this manupartner between injections could cause it unnecessary suffering. The Hippocratic oath I took—”
“The what oath?” the inspector asks, becoming increasingly irritated.
“As a physician, we take oaths—”
Sable cuts in. “He’s trying to say it’s unethical. And if either of us were caught performing unethical procedures, we could have our licenses revoked.”
“Right,” James says, coming to stand beside her.
The inspector’s eyes dart between them and Nixon, then he sighs as if he has enough on his plate already. “The three of you, follow me.”
As they follow, Avrel leans over toward him. “You don’t sound like Nixon.”
His nerves are so rattled all he can think to do is lean toward her and say, “I’m in the middle of a voice transition procedure.” He has no idea if that is a real thing, but Avrel perks up.
“Oh, I’ve always hated my voice, but I didn’t know I could have it altered,” she says.
He adds in a whisper, “Almost anything is available on BLACKOUT.”
The inspectors line them up with a dozen other GROW employees. “Please remove your protection gear so we can see your faces.” Then he leaves them in the large room to do as instructed.
Are any of the other GROW employees paying enough attention to notice that he isn’t Nixon? But he has no choice. He slips off the protective gear, hoping Avrel’s voice doesn’t ring out, accusing him.
His jaw flexes as he feels the young woman lean close. She sucks in a sharp inhale, whispering, “I guess your voice isn’t the only work you’re having done. Though it appears to still be in progress,” she says, tapping her nose.
James clears his throat, wishing their conversation doesn’t draw more unwanted attention. “Full tune-up.”
“How old are you again?” Avrel asks. Is she flirting with him?
“Two hundred and ninety-eight,” he says.
“Wow,” she replies, and he notes the awe in her voice. “I guess wrinkles are inevitable, eventually. Still, I need the name of your doctor.”
Over the next hour, different inspectors come in, delivering other GROW employees.
Sable’s shoulder bumps his drawing his attention. “What’s the plan if Viper is here to identify us?” She asks the question quietly, so Avrel won’t hear.
“Run?” he suggests.
Avrel angles toward them like they’re friends now. “What do you think they’re looking for?”
“No clue,” he lies, deciding it’s best to remain friendly with her.
The three of them take a position in a row toward the back and wait.
Eventually, three inspectors march back into the room, running through the lines of workers.
They make sure everyone has compliantly taken off their goggles and masks.
Then someone says, “This is everyone on this level. They’re ready. Show the inspectors in.”
James’s throat tightens, and beside him, Sable shifts.
They are going to catch you. You’ll be dead, and your friend who risked everything for you will get thrown in jail, the lights singsong.
If he survives this, he is going to get his head checked, or this irritating habit is going to drive him insane.
Sable whispers, “Isn’t that the owner of CHOICElover? I think his name is Res6?”
James studies the man in the cobalt suit from earlier who makes his way to the front of the room, followed by—
Oh look, Sable was right. It’s Viper! a melodic voice from overhead points out.
Fucking fuck.
“This is bad,” Sable mutters.
“Stay calm,” he urges, leaning closer to brush her shoulder reassuringly.
Viper’s platinum hair is down, brushing his shoulders.
He’s also wearing a smug grin as he stares directly at them.
That he sees them and doesn’t directly point them out confirms what James deduced about the man’s character.
Like a total sociopath, he wants to draw out the spectacle of the investigation.
“Quiet!” the lead inspector booms. The murmuring in the room grinds to a halt. “It is each citizen’s duty to come forward if they become aware of NHOS violations. As most of you are aware, GROW is being investigated for . . .” the man continues speaking for several minutes, but James tunes him out.
Res6 scans the rows of employees, looking for someone.
His gaze passes over James and as it pauses, it suddenly occurs to James where he saw the man.
He was hovering behind the woman with the long black-brown hair and, most notably, freckles in Z Quadrant before she darted into the hallway.
A look of recognition is shared between them.
The corner of Res6’s mouth twitches, though James isn’t sure if it’s to grin or frown.
Under his breath he tells Sable, “That man you say is Res6 . . . he’s a potential client. He brought a woman to a meeting with us, but they bolted.”
“The one with freckles you told me about?” Sable guesses, and he nods. “A trap?”
“I doubt it. The woman seemed genuinely frightened.”
“Hmm,” Sable hums.
Res6 leans over and converses momentarily with Viper, who nods vigorously, aggressively eyeing James. When Res6 glances back, Viper is scowling. Probably because he just confirmed their identity and Res6 is going to get all the credit for identifying them. James can only imagine the headlines.
MSP Citizen and CHOICElover founder identifies corruption at competitor GROW.
CHOICElover founder won’t stand for unethical business practices from competition.
NHOS discovers Citizen Hero in CHOICElover founder.
Res6 sees this as a marketing opportunity. Viper, instead of going directly to the authorities with his tip, must have sold it to him. Upon receiving such an opportunity, Res6 didn’t waste it. Clever—he has to give it to the man.
James tunes in to the inspector, who is finishing his monologue.
“. . . going down the rows of employees to identify the perpetrator, who may or may not be in this very room.” More murmurs break out, but louder, and the inspector shouts, “Quiet, please! Both identifying the guilty and clearing the innocent from suspicion hold equal importance. Once you’ve been cleared, we ask you to exit the room and not speak of today’s proceedings, as this is an ongoing investigation.
A notice from GROW detailing the status of your employment benefits during our investigation will follow. ”
A petite blonde woman steps up to Res6. James reads her lips as she says, “Let’s begin with the first row.”
The blonde woman, Res6, and Viper make their way down the row, clearing GROW employees, who file out of the room. James can’t help but notice the spring in their steps and he wonders if, like his first phone conversation with Jett months ago, this is an amusing break in the monotony of their lives.
His stomach twists as they move on to the second row, quickly making their way through it. Then the third, getting nearer and nearer to their position toward the back.
Shouting comes from outside the door, and he can barely make out the words, “I’m sorry ma’am, but this area is restricted to employees only.”
Has the dead reincarnate’s owner finally come for her? James shivers involuntarily.
Res6, Viper, and the inspector are one row away now. Sable shifts beside him, then his blood runs cold as he hears a familiar voice say, “But I still own him. I can pay—I have the funds!”
Sable reaches out, grabbing hold of his wrist, but as the men work their way down their row, she releases it. James risks a glance at Viper to see if he recognizes Kate’s voice. He doesn’t, moving steadily down the line, stopping before each employee to study them.
He leans over to Sable, whispering, “When they confirm it’s us, we run. Go straight to the bar Scraps in Z Quadrant. I’ll find you.”
From outside the room, someone calls, “Seize her. We can’t let her go in there while an active investigation is underway.”
Every fiber of his being hates Kate’s distress, but she might unknowingly provide the distraction they need to get away.
On the offense, Sable barks, “Is someone going to deal with that mad person, or shall I?”
The blonde inspector turns, staring right at Sable. “I’m certain the situation is being handled by the appropriate GROW personnel.”
They move to stand in front of Avrel. “Identify yourself.”
“F-Avrel-MSP-00034489,” she says, wringing her hands like she has something to worry about. The gesture highlights her youth, and he would almost feel sorry for the young woman if he weren’t so busy trying to keep his cool.
Res6 shakes his head. “Not a match.”
Tension flows off Avrel as she rushes for the exit. “I’ll wait for you guys outside,” she says over her shoulder before the door closes behind her. But as she passes through the door, he spots a flash of auburn hair and a delicate finger in the face of a burly security guard.
His heart squeezes so violently he nearly doubles over. The men step up to James next and he gives them his attention. Viper’s scowl is now a deep frown as he eyes him. James flicks his eyes to Res6, who is studying him.
The inspector says, “Identify yourself.”
“C-Nixon-MSP-00010672,” he says, repeating the numbers he memorized.
He doesn’t break eye contact with Res6 as the moment stretches on.
I know you have a reincarnate, he wants to say.
More like wants to threaten. With a subtle glare, he tries his best to wordlessly communicate the message You turn us in, I’ll turn you in.
And if I have to run, I’ll find you and bribe you, which will be worse.
Finally, Res6 says, “Not a match.”
James’s head spins, making him feel like he’s floating as he walks to the door. How he’s going to get outside without Kate seeing him, he has no idea.
“No need to wait for me,” Sable calls. “Take Avrel and go back to the decommissioning chamber. We have a mess to clean up.” Her gaze flicks to the personal protection he’s holding.
He quickly puts it on. “I’ll deal with that woman and follow shortly.
” He assumes she adds the last part for his benefit, which is mildly reassuring.
The inspector clears her throat. “If you’re quite finished, identify yourself.”
Sable’s voice follows him out the door. He can only imagine the frightening grin CHOICElover’s owner is receiving as she says, “E-Sable-MSP-00031475. A pleasure to meet you.”