The Company Man (10) Part 1

The elevator announced their arrival in a robotic monotone drone.

          ‘Level ninety-six, prepare for identification.’

          Nic and the fat bureaucrat waited as a camera positioned above the shining steel doors directed a blue ray of light slowly across the fat bureaucrat’s face from top to bottom. The fat bureaucrat’s bulbous eyes reflected the light and Nic watched as he didn’t even blink. His face looked empty, like one machine was scanning another. 

          ‘Level ten clearance, accepted,’ the computer confirmed, ‘access granted.’

          The camera flicked sideways towards Nic and the blue light flashed across his eyes. He did everything could to maintain his composure. He’d never experienced such a scan before and was determined to hold his veneer of indifference. In the days before his awakening, the old Nic wouldn’t have flinched an inch. He would have done whatever he had been ordered to do, especially if his reward was a meeting with The General. The blue light wasn’t invasive as such, but it was strain to hold his eyes open. He couldn’t be sure if the fat bureaucrat was aware of his discomfort.

          ‘Clearance rejected, access denied,’ the robotic monotone deepened and became more aggressive, ‘stay in position and await judgement.’ Two mini-turrets emerged from the upper corners of the lift and trained in on Nic’s position. The red dots of their laser sights converged over his heart, which Nic felt jump into his throat. He stood tall, regardless, stiffened his pose, and focussed all his energies into maintaining the calm expression on his face. Nic could feel the stare of the fat bureaucrat burning through his façade. Then, without warning, a different voice rolled out of the speakers.

          ‘Override, clearance alpha one,’ the soft honeyed voice echoed around the lift and each syllable was enunciated slowly and deliberately, ‘welcome gentlemen, you may proceed.’

          The turrets whirred back into their slots and the doors slowly opened. 

          ‘At ease, Lieutenant,’ the fat bureaucrat said as he stepped out of the elevator, ‘follow me.’

The top floor of Company headquarters was certainly a spectacle unto itself. Nic looked up and saw that the entire ceiling was a magnificent dome composed of glass. Giant hexagonal panels curved across the whole roof. It was thirty meters high at its peak and Nic could see the faint red hue of the energy shield glistening in the night sky above. He struggled to keep his mouth from the floor. There were two drop ships, the same drop ships he had seen on top of the hill, sat atop launch pads to the left of them. He scanned the room as he marched closely behind the fat bureaucrat. Mind-boggling technology was scattered everywhere. There were any number of indiscriminate machines and computer panels that dazzled Nic with their flashing lights and buttons of all shapes and sizes, yet there was not one person on the floor. The humming of the machines seemed to echo off the glass dome in eerie silence. They walked passed a giant control centre that consisted of an array of monitors two meters high and arranged into a U shape atop a set of panels whose buttons flickered in an array of oranges and reds and yellows. The screens were blank and the cushioned chair that sat in the centre was empty. 

          The fat bureaucrat strode past it, and as they rounded yet another unrecognisable piece of technology, they came to a viewing area that appeared to be at the front of the building. There were no walls as such, just rectangular glass panels that extended about three meters straight up at the edges, before transforming into the magnificent geodesic dome above. From the outside it was nothing but a dull grey speck a hundred storeys high, but through this one-way glass there was a panoramic three hundred and sixty-degree view of the entire city.

          Nic suddenly felt his heart-rate increase as he saw the man himself just a few meters in front of him. The General was standing with his back to Nic beside two ornate leather armchairs and a small table between them; his arms were crossed behind him, and golden insignia on each shoulder gleamed under the starlight. He was staring out of the window at the scene unfolding below. Beside him, emanating iridescent blue light, was his great prize. The ovoid energy case that contained Odessa. 

          The fat bureaucrat stopped abruptly. Nic stopped behind him and stood to attention. He gripped the EMP ever more tightly.

          ‘General, Sir, I have here the Lieutenant whom you wished to meet,’ the fat bureaucrat said in his most obsequious tone.

          ‘Yes, yes, comrade. I’m aware of our guest.’ He didn’t turn around.

          ‘General, Sir, he informed me that the Doctor is dead, Sir…’

          ‘Pity,’ he interjected, ‘he was a loyal servant.’ He paused, and then under his breath, ‘and most effective.’

          ‘… and that he has crucial information regarding the insurrection. Are we still to proceed with our arrangemements?’ The fat bureaucrat sounded nervous.

          ‘Why, yes of course, comrade.’ The General turned and grinned. ‘Inform the others that the Grand Visigoth himself will be joining us.’

          ‘The Grand Visigoth, General, Sir,’ the fat bureaucrat’s eyes widened at the prospect, ‘of course, Sir.’ He bowed his head.

          ‘Now, leave us,’ The General turned and looked at Nic, as the fat bureaucrat briskly tottered towards the lift. ‘Welcome, Lieutenant, you’ve had quite the week, I hear.’ His silky voice oozed charisma. 

          ‘General, Sir,’ he saluted and stomped his foot on the ground, maintaining his rigid stance. Fortunately, he hadn’t forgotten the rigmarole involved in a formal greeting along with his conditioning. ‘It is my great honour to be granted such an audience, General, Sir. It is the dream of all loyal servants to be in the grace of your presence.’ 

          ‘Yes, yes, thank you, I appreciate your service, Lieutenant.’ His voice was as smooth as fresh honey; he waved away Nic’s fawning comments and approached him. He was taller than Nic, yet sleight in his build. His swarthy complexion, pointed features, and shining blue eyes gave off a familiar appeal. Nic almost felt at ease just being in his presence. ‘Please sit.’ He motioned towards the two armchairs and sat down. 

          ‘It would be my honour, Sir,’ Nic fawned, as he followed his lead. The leather creaked as he sat and the soft cushions absorbed his weight. Nic almost gasped as the supple material moulded to the curves of his body. A mere Lieutenant could never know such luxury. 

          They both sat at an angle to the window so they could see one another and admire the majestic view at the same time. 

           Nic saw the black void of the tunnel stretching far into the distance. From their elevated position, they were at least four hundred meters high, the mountains of rock that were piled high on the other side looked magnificent, their great peaks a testament to the labour of the masses. The smashed corpses of the comrades that littered them momentarily slipped from his mind as he turned and looked into The General’s eyes. He saw shades of blue and green swirling together under their shiny glazed shells. It reminded him of images he had seen in his youth. The once turquoise seas of the world before had slowly darkened into the irradiated oceans of the present day. Nic broke eye contact and suddenly remembered Odessa and her power to transfix him.

          Careful, now, he thought. Remember your mission, not the conditioning. He clenched the EMP and focussed.

          ‘Now what of this dreadful news, Comrade?’ The General leant forward and lifted a patterned china teapot from the table and poured two cups of steaming yellow-green liquid. ‘Please, drink.’ He took a cup for himself, leant back into his chair, and crossed his legs as he silently sipped. Nic remembered the conditioning serum, but he couldn’t risk not following his lead. He took a cup. The herbal fragrance was light and fresh, unlike anything Nic had ever smelled, it was a world apart from the sludgy brown liquid served in the mess hall.

          ‘The rebels are manoeuvring into position, Sir. They are planning an attack imminently.’ Nic said as he sipped the divine liquid. He felt its sweet warmth flow over his tongue and descend all the way down his gullet. 

          ‘Green tea.’ The General said, grinning from ear to ear. ‘Delightful, isn’t it?’ He seemed to ignore the news.

          ‘It truly is, General, Sir. I feel unworthy of such a drink.’ He tried to sound as servile as possible.

          ‘Nonsense, comrade,’ he reassured, ‘and what of the Doctor?’

          Focus, Nic! How could I forget my own ruse. Nic could feel himself losing control. His memory of his own mission was becoming hazy, and he felt an overwhelming urge to drop to his knees and beg forgiveness. An image flashed through his mind. It was a picture of three red suns setting over the smouldering skyline of Odessa’s home planet. 

          Odessa! He concentrated and remembered. Come on, Bagon, bring on the show. Nic wasn’t sure how long he could keep up his facade. It was already beginning to crack. 

           ‘Dead, Sir. I awoke in the chair to a filthy rebel standing over his corpse. He was spouting nonsense of liberation and revolt. He was under the impression I had betrayed the Company, Sir.’ Nic shook his head a spat on the floor in disgust. ‘I played along with his charade in the hope he would reveal their plans, Sir. There were hundreds of them, heading down into the depths of the building. He brought me to the elevator, Sir, and told me it was time for me to play my part. Luckily, the Troopers intercepted us there and I made my escape…’

          ‘But, why didn’t you inform the Troopers, Lieutenant?’ The General interrupted gently.

          ‘General, Sir, as mighty as your forces are, they were just two men. No match for the legions I saw flooding the stairwells.’ Nic looked directly into the General’s glazed blue eyes. ‘I would never betray the Company, Sir. Since we apprehended that devil woman,’ he nodded towards the ovoid case behind them. ‘I had hoped we could get back on track with the search. Having my recovery interrupted by such beastly creatures engendered an opportunity to learn yet more about what they were planning. An Officer is forever at his post, Sir.’  

          ‘Of course, Lieutenant,’ The General soothed, ‘please do continue.’

          ‘The rebels revealed themselves to me with great candour, Sir. They are deluded. They spoke in riddles of the end of the world and a great conspiracy to destroy our very planet. They mocked the search. It was all I could do not to vomit, Sir. Such sacrilege should be punished with death. They revealed a plan to attack this very evening. Your audience with the masses. I think it would be prudent to cancel, Sir.’

          ‘Nonsense!’ He exclaimed. ‘We have nothing to fear, Lieutenant. See for yourself.’ He stood and walked to the window. ‘Let us marvel in the wonder of our cosmic friends and the gifts they have bestowed, just for a moment.’ 

          Nic followed and positioned himself between the General and Odessa’s glowing tomb. It was just two meters away now. He held his hands behind his back and awaited his chance. 

          The General removed a communicator from his pocket. ‘Frontal display formation,’ he barked, and he peered upwards. 

          Nic looked up, and to his horror, he saw through the soundproof glass dome that four of the Grand Visigoth’s warships were silently descending to the front of the building. The blue flames that scorched from their jet boosters were practically licking the windows. They positioned themselves so their noses were pointing towards the crowds below, and the contours of their angular jet-black fuselages reflected light in shades of red and silver. Nic saw the reflection of the building looking back at him, a dull gray dome that hid the technological wonders within it. 

          ‘Fully automated, Lieutenant.’ The General sounded gleeful. ‘And voice controlled.’ 

          Nic gulped. He knew whatever Bagon and his friends had organised, they’d be no match for one of these attack ships, let alone four of them. Nic had seen what they could do in Odessa’s visions. ‘A truly wondrous gift, Sir,’ he finally managed, ‘I’ve never seen such a craft.’ His voice had almost dropped to a whisper, the lie barely concealed.