Day 0 0 1 #3
Some immediately, some hesitantly, raised their hands. Ana immediately added:
"Who's against? Hands up."
With a defiant gesture Tina raised her hand, glaring at the others. Ana nodded.
"Well, it's decided by a clear majority. Erik is the new head of security and is responsible for his actions before this council."
Someone applauded, which people took up.
A whistle of approval was heard too. Only Tina sulked off to the side, but no one paid attention to her drama.
Vlasta squeezed her husband's hand, calming him, because it was obvious he was uncomfortable.
Finally, Erik nodded, accepting the terms.
Ana meanwhile watched Nick, who nodded to her in confirmation and winked with a smile.
She noticed her chest filling with the pure love she felt for him.
He was like a brother to her, and for him she was capable of doing anything, just for that look and sign of confirmation that he agreed with her.
The only man in this world to whom she could allow everything and before whom she could be vulnerable.
And the only one who knew she had her fears and doubts, and who never once abused it.
She felt a small hand squeeze her forearm.
Dijana gave her a radiant smile, sincerely impressed by Ana's control of the situation.
Ana nodded and returned the squeeze. For now she felt safe.
Nick in front of her, and Dijana behind.
What could go wrong? She cleared her throat, demanding attention.
"We're not done, people. We still have the situation with maintenance. Who represents the technicians' guild?" she asked.
A burly guy spoke up, whose appearance betrayed a man used to hard work:
"I'm Ivan, and I was chosen with my colleague Denis as the representative of the guild of technicians and maintenance. Denis studies engineering, and I finished a vocational secondary school and worked in a car-parts factory in maintenance," he introduced himself briefly,
and his colleague nodded silently in greeting.
"Excellent, people with experience, that's what we need most. Nick?" Ana looked at Nick, handing him the floor.
"Okay, here goes, let me explain a bit. The shelter has seven levels. The first four have access to the large elevator you see behind us, and there's also a system of spiral staircases connecting all the levels."
Nick decided to omit the existence of the second elevator, at least for now.
"The first three levels are exclusively warehouse space and a few offices, then comes this level — there's not much to say here. Below us is the research laboratory, and the level below it is the residential part where a good portion of our population can be housed.
The last part is also the most important. The seventh section is where the generators, water pumps, and air filters are — basically, it's the heart of the shelter. And it needs a large group of people to check that everything works within normal limits.
Those can't be people without expert knowledge of electricity, plumbing, and the technical maintenance of various systems. The question is whether you can do it?"
Nick looked at Ivan. He returned a counter-question:
"How many people are needed down there?"
Nick thought for a moment.
"Fifty at a minimum, maybe more, I'm not sure."
Ivan answered confidently:
"We have enough people, and if someone doesn't know something, they'll learn."
Nick looked at him seriously.
"This isn't a situation where people can learn. If something breaks and isn't repaired immediately, we could all die."
Ivan looked at his companion, who only nodded silently. He addressed everyone:
"It WILL be repaired, you have my word. Just give me some time to show a few little things to people who've never worked. We have enough engineering students, as well as people with practical experience. All that's left is to teach people the finer points."
At that moment Denis spoke up, who until now had only been silent, letting his colleague speak:
"Which systems are used to generate electrical energy?" He looked at Nick.
But instead of Nick, Tomi spoke up:
"There are four geothermal turbines that supply eight main batteries. I don't know the power of the turbines, but it could be quite large."
Denis nodded.
"Geothermal turbines are easy to maintain, they work on the principle of steam that, under pressure, drives the turbine blades. It all depends on the size, but I'm convinced we won't need more than two turbines to power the shelter.
Which means we can use the other two in case of overhaul or breakdown. And the batteries can last a while, or at least until the laboratory manages to produce the acid used in the cells."
He straightened. "Give me about twenty people and we'll never have problems with power."
"That's settled, then," Ana concluded with satisfaction. "The only thing left is the question of communication between the guilds or floors."
Tomi spoke up again in his quiet voice:
"Every floor has a communication unit, something like an intercom. This morning I checked and switched everything on, it should work. The principle is similar to a telephone and there shouldn't be any problems."
"Excellent," Ana answered. "You'll explain to people where and how it works. Okay?"
Tomi nodded silently, confirming. Ana looked at the people around the table. People were growing restless, because they wanted to start on the work and tasks as soon as possible. So she decided to end the meeting.
"I think we've settled everything. I leave it to you to inform your team of the work plan. And everyone else who currently has no tasks" — she gave a meaningful look at Tina, who was intensely occupied with her lacquered nails — "they'll help move the population to the residential block."
Tina glared at Ana, who calmly returned the look.
"I'll help with the relocation and will try to make the distribution of living space fair."
She smiled at the people around the table, concluding the meeting. People began to disperse, and Ana, accompanied by Dijana, approached Nick, who was handing some cards to Erik.
"Remember the code I told you. The office is on the entrance level, I think you saw the stairs," Nick explained as he fiddled with the small pack he carried at his hip. Erik nodded. Nick closed the pack and looked his friend in the eyes.
"The surveillance system is quite easy to grasp, and if something isn't clear to you, feel free to call me and I'll explain." Then he looked at Ana. "I'm just explaining the surveillance and security system to him, he is the boss, after all."
"Oh, go ahead, I have to devote myself now to a crowd of people who'll have a million questions anyway. I just wanted to ask how you are?"
Nick smiled that disarming smile of his, went up to her, and hugged her tightly, planting a gentle kiss in the middle of her forehead.
"Better and better, now that I have your help, sis."
Ana returned the hug. At last she felt completely safe, now that she was near him again.
She felt that unpleasant cramp of panic inside her ease, calm, and vanish.
She sighed in relief. For the first time in this incredible day.
Now everything seemed possible, as long as the two of them were together again.
Dijana stirred behind her back, so Ana reluctantly pulled away from Nick and introduced them:
"Oh, I haven't introduced you. Nick, this is Dijana; Dijana, meet Nick. He's everything in the world to me."
Dijana came up and offered her hand with a simple: "Hi!"
Nick sized her up, but then understood, and a big smile spread across his face. He looked at them both, stepped back, and jokingly announced:
"Congratulations! I got a little confused beside such a charming lady, but I see she's already taken."
"Who do you mean?" Dijana bristled. Nick burst out laughing.
"Well, if I so much as got close to you, I'm sure Ana would hit me in a painful spot. She's rather possessive," he laughed.
Dijana calmed and let a smile show on her face. She moved closer to Ana and wrapped an arm firmly around her.
"And maybe I'm the possessive one, and I don't like sharing Ana?"
"Well then, dear girl, I think you'll unfortunately have to share her with everyone in the shelter. Ana is irreplaceable." He was still laughing.
At that moment Ana cut off the teasing:
"I come as a package deal with Nick, the two of us are inseparable and everyone has to accept us as such." She looked at him with visible love in her eyes.
Nick smiled at her, but noticed a flash of something dangerous in Dijana's eyes. The girl obviously didn't like sharing, and he'd have to be careful about that. Ana was completely unaware of it and went on smiling as she said cheerfully:
"What Nick and I have is a rarity, and I'm immeasurably happy to have him in my life."
Nick tactically decided to end the conversation before he created problems for Ana with her new girl. He knew Ana had far too much work to spend time arguing with her chosen one.
"Of course, dear, but I think they're expecting me to open the staircases so people can start on their tasks."
He bowed charmingly and turned toward the people gathering at the staircase. Ana followed him with her eyes and turned to Dijana, who greeted her with a smile.
"I'm glad you met Nick, he's more than family to me, and without him my life would be completely different."
"Now you have me to take care of you," Dijana replied, taking her hands seriously and fixing her with a piercing gaze.
Ana smiled at her and, holding hands, the two of them entered the room where the greatest clamor and noise could be heard.