CHAPTER 02
Edison looked up at the clock on the wall of the Control Room for the nth time. Finally he turned to his controller, Theora.
"What's on the news feed?" he asked. He couldn't wait any longer for Murray to come in and assign him a story.
Theora brought up the general news feed and began reading out their coverage options.
"Simon Peller's down in the popularity polls again."
"He can stay there," Edison told her, not impressed with how Peller often treated the Blanks. He had friends in that community. "Next."
"The Vu-Age Church is offering a half-price sale on Salvation."
"God gives it away for free." Edison remarked. "Anything else?"
Theora had an inspiration. "Why don't you go ask Reg if the Blanks are doing anything of interest? Like some kind of party or street festival. It would be a great human interest story."
Edison smiled. "Now, that would be a story I could really get behind."
He shouldered his camera and was turning to leave when Murray walked in, looking like the weight of the world was upon him.
"Afternoon, Murray." Theora said.
"Where were you?" Edison asked, any anger at his producer's tardiness was subdued by the look on said producer's face. "What's wrong?"
"You'd both better come into my office," Murray told them.
Theora stood up, exchanging worried looks with Edison. Both of them were wondering how bad it could be.
It was far worse than either imagined.
As soon as the door was closed, Murray let out the breath he'd been holding. He'd been trying all the way home to think of a way to break the news to them. He'd worked out several speeches, each one as useless and long-winded as the next. There was no way to soften the blow. No way to take away the pain he knew they would both feel. Bryce was their friend as well as their teammate. No, he'd decided in the end. There was no way to say it that would make it any easier for them.
"Bryce is dead."
Theora's face fell as she sat down, heavily. She'd like the teenaged genius as if he were a second brother to her. Tears welled up in her eyes and she swallowed back the lump that formed in her throat.
"How?" Edison demanded, hoarsely, collapsing into a chair. "Murray he was fine yesterday."
"No, he wasn't," Murray explained. "I don't know why he didn't tell us…"
"Tell us what?" Edison demanded angrily. "Murray, did Bryce kill himself?"
Murray shook his head. "It was euthanasia, not suicide."
"Why? And how did you know? When did you know?" Theora demanded. "Murray, why didn't you tell us?"
"I didn't know," Murray told her. "Rachel, my ex wife," he explained when he saw their confused looks, "called me to tell me our daughter was in a car crash. I went to the hospital to see them. The doctor said there was a donor. I should have gone to thank him, but I didn't want to leave Annie alone. If I'd gone, I would've known. I would have called you in to… to say goodbye."
"But why would Bryce…?" Edison asked. "What was wrong with him?"
"I don't know all the details. Just that he had some form of cancer and that he didn't have very long. He must've been hacking our info to keep his mind off it. I guess he found out about Annie and decided… " Murray fell silent, regretting how poorly he'd gotten along with Bryce while he'd been alive.
"I assume you had his remains moved to Gladhand Meadows?" Theora asked.
"After what he did for Annie? Yes," Murray told her, nodding. "That's the least I could do. I still need to tell Cheviot. I'm assuming he'll give you both some time to grieve. But just in case he doesn't, do you have a story in mind?"
"I was going to see what the Blanks are up to," Edison told him.
"Human interest story," Theora explained.
"Good," Murray told them. "That'll keep the viewers happy for a while. Why don't you go and visit Reg, Edison? I have the feeling after the news I just gave you, you'll want to talk to a friend."
"I think I will," Edison agreed, as he turned and left the room with Theora trailing behind.