Many Years ago...
Chapter Seven: Visits and Conversations (Day 1: Part 1)
Well I walked through the halls of the ship, hoping that I'd be able to be allowed to visit the…patients. Wyoming and Maine…their in the hospital for a week because of us, Carolina and I. At first those two were what she thought about most, but then as Texas started interacting with us more, I noticed that a rivalry between the two. I don't know girls as much, but I know about making enemies. I think I may have a few in the program already…it doesn't matter. I'll think about that later.
As I walked the halls, I stopped by to talk to pilot 479ner for a moment. She was the one that transported the wounded out of the city after all. Maybe she could give me some information. But then again, I don't want to deal with her sarcasm right now. I mean she's cool overall but right now I don't think her witty remarks will make me feel better. Well, here goes nothing.
I decided to start off with a relatively normal icebreaker. "Hi 479ner. I uh…I see that the Pelican is looking a lot better now. Guess that's good progress."
"Like hell it is. This baby isn't flying on any missions for a while. Those damned anti-air cannons nearly fried the engine and shorted out the controls."
And she was correct. The back door on that pelican was completely removed for reparation, the windows were cracked, some of the seats were torn out to make room for the wounded, there was a lot of char, etc. I could go on and on about what was wrong with it, but I could also point out…
"Well it could be worse."
"Don't jinx it!...But yeah, I guess you're right. I'm just glad this things still alive. Oh and I forgot to say thanks about those cannons when I picked you guys up. We wouldn't have gotten nearly as close to the ground if they were online and…you know."
That meant that she owed me a favour when she says thanks. I hope to use that favour for what I wanted. "Yeah, I know…so about that favour…"
"What do you want?"
"When you picked us up from the extraction point, that includes th…"
"The wounded. Yeah I know. And if you're asking about his condition, well, you're out of luck. I'm no medic, and it's been some time since I last saw his condition."
"Please, if you have any guess I'…"
"Why don't you visit the doctors?"
"Because they might not allow visitors!...sorry, I'm just not in a good mood for now."
"Still thinking about being the director's lapdog?"
"I wouldn't be a 'lapdog' as you would put it. The director simply trusts that I would remain loyal to him no matter what."
"Like a dog."
"479ner!"
"Sorry. I just had to get that in there. It just seemed appropriate at the time."
"Normally I'd enjoy your smart remarks, but really, I'm just not in the mood for anything positive."
"Wow, someone seems to be a bit of a downer."
"Well you try getting two men wounded under your command of the best squad. It doesn't feel good when you see a friend down, more so when it's on you."
"Yeah. I can understand that…so you wanted to hear about the Wyoming and Maine?"
"Yes please. I know what happened to Wyoming, how he got wounded. But I don't know what his condition was during the Pelican ride. And I don't know anything about Maine."
"Well I don't know about now. But as far as I could tell during the ride back, North, C.T. and York used all of the medical supplies packed on board to treat his wounds. Last time I checked he was cracking knock-knock jokes as he went into unconsciousness."
"Well, that's a good thing in this case. He always loved telling knock-knock jokes."
"And I heard from a fellow pilot that Maine was shot in the throat nine times, so I doubt he'll be speaking again. Other than that, he's relatively stable. At least for someone like him."
"Thank you, 479ner. It makes me feel better knowing that they're at least alive and able to be recovered."
"Remember that this was during the Pelican Ride back to command. I wouldn't know anything about their current condition." I knew that part already, but at this point I don't care.
"I agree. Hey uh 479ner?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you mind walking with me to the hospital? I could use the company."
"You do realize that I got a lot of work to do on my Pelican right?"
"Yeah…I guess that it was a stu…"
"Well I suppose I could use a little bit of a break. I've already been working hours on it nonstop. A break could give me my second wind, yah know?
"Yeah I can understand. Thanks."
"No problem."
So we walked to the hospital, everything seemed a bit quiet, maybe a bit too quiet. Although that might be because I woke up at five in the morning, two hours earlier than the earliest freelancers are usually willing to wake up, except for on missions. I had hoped that maybe I could sneak past the security guards and have just a moment with the guys. I mean, I'm wouldn't be doing anything major to disturb the doctors, right?
Well, while it was nice to finally have some company, that conversation took longer than I expected to finish, because now the guards are now showing up. Damn it. I hate the two guards, Bustak and Shasta. Those A-holes are no good to anyone. They are the worst people ever. Of all time, and the only reason why they're still hired is because they're pretty damn good at keeping people away from packages of extreme value. They're that annoying. Well, I'm going to have to try to get past them anyways…
"Well hello, 'Privates' Bustak and Shasta. I am freelanc…"
"You're that wuss Cal guy people keep talking about. That guy who's also some kind of mutt, am I right Shas?"
"Yeah, and I heard that he don't even get shit done right an…"
"First of all, the proper insult is 'lapdog' which I am not. And secondly, I may not be the best freelancer on the entire ship. But you can be damn sure that I get my 'job' done."
"Ooohh them fighting words ain't gonna get you no-where, eh Bus?"
"You got that right, the only reason why you even are on the leader-boards is cause you get special treatment."
"I do not ge…"
"You're the director's son ain't yah?"
"…Yeah. What is it to you?"
"Yeah, you're causing lots of trouble. Cause of that we can't let you enter the hospital wing."
"Look can I just see my men please? I will not change anything, I just want to see if they're okay."
"Okay? They're probably dead by now cause you botched the mission."
"I salvaged the mission! And such matters are the concern of freelancers and freelancers alone."
"Look do you want to do this the easy way, or the hard way?"
"Oh, look what we have here Shas, not only a washout freelancer, but a who…"
"Finish that sentence and I'll make sure that you two get thrown off this ship before you can even pack your bags." Thank god HE was here. I was going to threaten to tear them apart piece by piece. And I recognized that voice as well.
"Yes Dr. Harvey, we'll get back to work."
I'm just glad that they had to leave now before this got any uglier, though while they walked away, I heard one of them mutter some menial insult to me on the way out. I didn't care, I was just thankful that the Dr. was here.
"Well Agent California, I hope that those nin-com-poops didn't cause you too much trouble, relatively speaking."
"I'm just happy you arrived when you did. Things could have turned out much worse."
"I suppose I'm glad too. But unfortunately they are correct in one regard at least."
"Which regard?"
"I can't let you in."
"What, but doctor I.."
"I know that you're the director's son but normally I wouldn't care about that. Still normally I'd let you in to see how freelancers are holding up. But these are serious treatments. Protocol dictates that patients must be at least 75% treated before they can have visitors. And these patients are at a rather dangerous 65%. I can't let you in."
"Not even with special clearance."
"I don't know! Look you can come back within two, maybe three hours at the most. They will have patched up well enough by then. But until then…well…"
"I see…do you mind if I check for special clearance?"
"No, I don't mind. And even if you do get it, and you get in, just promise me that you'll be careful around the patients."
"I will."
As we parted ways for the moment, 479ner told me she had to get back to working on her Pelican, so parted ways for a while. I went to a nearby terminal to contact the Alpha, since he was the smart A.I. of the ship. If anyone could get me anything, it'd be him.
"Alpha A.I., this is special Agent California, do you copy?" I contacted him the way I normally do, but all I got was static though. Which was odd, since he usually is always quick to give me a smart remark. Something highly unusual must have happened to him. I suppose I'll have to talk to the director as soon as I can about this matter. For now, I should probably contact the next best AI, FILSS.
"Hey, FILSS, do you report?"
"Affirmative. Hello Agent California, it is a pleasure talking to you."
"It's a pleasure talking to you too. Hey have you talked or even heard from the Alpha AI recently?"
"If you could define recently…"
"FILSS…"
"I am just kidding. Opening up recent connection with AI program: Alpha….strange, the Alpha has not reported any signs of activity within the last month. It is clear that he has either gone missing or has been taken by the director."
'Taken? What would the Alpha be taken for?"
"I am sorry, but that information is a level-zero classified information. So classified that even I was not allowed to have any knowledge in this regard."
"I'll have to worry about that later."
"Acknowledged."
"FILSS, can you pull up any of the directors reports, or verifications or anything for that matter? Make sure you pull up most recent!"
"Beginning search for most recent command…here. Seven hours ago, Director Leonard Church gave Special Agent California direct permission to enter the otherwise following unauthorized areas: Training Room, Counsellor's office, Databanks storage facility, Hospital's wing, the command brid…"
"Wait! Back it up. You said hospital wing, right?"
"I did, didn't I."
"Well, can you send this report to all staff members stationed aboard this ship?"
"Already sending to all members…report and copies sent. All staff members will now give you special permission to enter otherwise unauth…"
"That's fine FILSS. Thank you for your service."
"You are most welcome."
"Yeah, I guess I am."
After I ordered FILSS to resume her normal duties, I went back to the Hospital Wing to hopefully be able to get in this time.
When I came back, it appeared that Dr. Harvey was already opening the doors for me. I guess that report came through after all. "Hey Dr. Harvey, I see that you have received the news about my new clearance."
"Yes I did. And while all of this seems rather odd, I have decided to let you in. And I have also received contact from the director himself about some more interesting news."
"Well what is it?"
"He said that he ordered another Agent to wait for you in the hospital wing, where Maine and Wyoming are. I wasn't at the front door at the time, so I don't know which Agent he sent."
"…How odd. Well, I suppose since the directors being pulling off some unusual acts, maybe I should…you know what screw it, I'm going to enter and find out."
"Well…I wish you luck for your company."
"Yeah. And thank you for looking after them. Maine and Wyoming."
"If it is of any comfort to you, they will recover, though I'd imagine that you'd feel more comfortable hearing that from themselves."
"Yeah, I would wouldn't I…well I suppose you can get back to what you were doing while I was visiting."
"Yeah, I guess we'll meet again."
"We will."
As I entered the hospital, I heard a voice. It wasn't a male voice, but female. It couldn't have possibly been my sister. She's been in the training room for hours, with the permission from the director of course. And if it wasn't C.T…
Well, I looked closer and closer until I saw a familiar suit of black armor. Until I saw…
"Agent Texas!"