Chapter 2: Tension Mounting
Anthony was awoken by the slowing of the tram at the Sector C Anomalous Materials Lab. The heavy cables holding up the platform moved ever so slightly as the tram came to a halt. He always hated when the cables swayed. It made him feel like the platform would fall out from under him and drop into the seemingly endless chasm below. As usual, his friend Pat O'Conner greeted him at the station platform.
Pat was the kind of guy everyone liked and was well-respected. He knew just the way to get someone to laugh even on the most aggravating or depressing day.
They had been acquaintances in high school and went on to college together becoming the best of friends.
"Good morning Anthony! " He said beaming. "Right on time today sir." "Say , the Decathlon is this evening. Who knows? You might meet someone there tonight!" Pat teased him.
"Very funny Pat. Just because you're in a stable relationship means that I get to be the butt of all the jokes "Murtaugh quipped back at him in a half-joking half-serious manner.
"Alright I'll make it up to ya" O'Conner started. " How 'bout you and I get a couple of beers and hang out tonight at the bar 'k?" Anthony pondered over it for a few seconds. "Alright man, we'll head over to the bar topside after our shift is over "
" See ya later " Replied O'Conner.
Pat entered the code on the access panel and let his friend through. He walked through the security door to the right of the main blast doors and into the brightly lit miniature lobby of the Sector C Security Branch.
Roger Thompson sullenly waited for the Corporate elevator to arrive to take him to his office in Sector D Administration. With a slight screech, the elevator arrived at the platform and Thompson stepped into the carpeted floor of the elevator. He pressed the button for the third floor in Sector D. Before arriving on the third floor, the elevator stopped at the second floor. A sense of uneasiness flew into the cramped metal corners. Then it opened to let a man in a blue suit and a briefcase get on the elevator. He looked like a proper man of influence, probably a lawyer, or a government inspector. He must be working for the EPA, Roger thought to himself. If the EPA found out about the radioactive spills near Sector C the whole facility would be shut down. They stood in silence before stopping on the third floor. Roger started to step out when he heard the man in the elevator mutter " niiice placce you have here. "he hissed. "sure would be...a sssshame if something happened!" With that the man disappeared behind the closing steel plated doors.
Thompson thought to himself for a moment. Who was that man? Whoever the hell he was he gave Roger the creeps. He hoped the rest of the day went smoother than the encounter he just had.
Anthony made his way over to the registration desk where Logan Koomer stood scribbling names and locations onto a notepad by his computer. "Early again eh Murtaugh?" Koomer greeted him. He seemed to hate how Anthony was always awake each morning while most of the security staff relied on coffee every ten minutes. "Same old same old. Looks like you're going to be stationed at the Sector C reception desk again. Hopefully they fixed that blue screen today otherwise you'll have trouble working" he said with a grin." Enjoy"
Murtaugh sighed. "Yeah, thanks."
Anthony went to the lockers and slipped into his gear minus one important item. "great someone stole my helmet again!" he groaned. "what am I going to need it for anyway" he whispered as he headed off to the Sector C Lobby.
Harold grew slightly impatient with the security system on the site. It checked over everything
more than 10 times before letting them through the clearance gate.
The security team meanwhile were trying to keep everyone calm while they wait for an IT person to debug the system.
A security guard was taking some heat from one of the scientists who was scolding him into oblivion.
Harold tried to listen in on what they were saying-
"I am telling you I am needed in the High Altitude Launch Center for an important analysis" The scientist was scolding him.
"I know sir we're doing everything we can but... we're only security guards not...shall I say...rocket scientists?."
Harold let out an inaudible laugh at the joke.
"Oh, You security guards are overpaid and over-hired. We don't need this much security in the facility. We pay far too much money paying you buffoons when we could be leading the whole world in higher technology by using money for more useful purposes. I doubt more than 1/8 of you guards even graduated from secondary school!"
This scientist sounds pissed Harold concluded. I wonder what is so important today anyhow?
"Looks like your pass is working now sir. Have a good one." He said reluctantly.
"You'll never hear the end of this Guthrie! Expect a letter demanding your resignation from the administrator when I arrive!"
And with that, the disgruntled scientist stepped onto a departing bus and left the terminal.
Harold approached the guard who he identified as James Guthrie.
"What's his problem huh James?"
"I'm not sure sir. It seems the longer they wait here the more they reveal their true feelings about their job attitude." He replied.
As he finished the IT person arrived.
"Sorry for the delay, I didn't miss anything did I?" He greeted.
"No of course not" Guthrie answered
sarcastically .
"Good. Now let's see if I can fix this."
