Power Struggle
This has been a long fucking day.
The shadow of nightfall was creeping over the town, the time to rest for another day of work tomorrow, a wish that Machiko wanted more than ever. But the delay concerning the medical checks on the rhynth added more paperwork on her already full load, filing even when everyone else had gone to their families and eaten dinner. She sighed, holding her forehead by her bent arm on the table.
"Machiko? Are you in?"
The door slid open and she lifted her eyes to see it was Hiroki, narrowing his expression in a mix of disappointment and worry. She rolled her eyes and went back to work. Here comes the lecture.
"Machiko . . ." Hiroki sighed, "It's late. Even you need to rest or else you'll collapse."
"I will when this gets done. No one else is dependable enough to take care of boring paperwork." She flipped over paper and worked on the next work, cursing mentally when it was a petition to raise the bonuses for the ranchers and employees of Chigasa corporation for the first rhynth export as promised. For her, it was proving more of an obstacle than a simple favor, worse with Ackland's impatience.
She didn't twitch as she felt Hiroki lean on the side of the desk, his head tilting to get a better view, "I understand this is important to you but not at the cost of your health. Don't let Ackland's words get to you."
"But he's right . . . annoying as he is."
Machiko never liked him, always overstretching his authority in places that aren't his business and only caring if they further his and the company's interest, not that she didn't either. She had a job to secure when Hiroki retires as colonial administrator, her focus needed to remain sharp and vigilant, no distractions whatsoever. Still, the lectures from Hiroki didn't cease.
"Please, Machiko. If you still have a mind to keep working, you should spend it more connecting with the colonizers. Being cooped up in the office isn't the best idea."
He moved to pull a spare chair and sit next to her, putting up a sincere smile. Machiko took a glance, signed the petition and filed it before leaning back, looking to the ceiling, "You have a point but they don't like me and I don't really care."
"Machiko!"
"It's true," She tilted her head sideways and faced him, "Only my job matters. Emotions and having friendships are useless and more trouble than they're worth."
She can tell he wanted to persuade her otherwise but knew well enough that it would be useless. With a sigh, Hiroki moved away, standing up to exit the room, only to pause at the door, "There's nothing wrong with friendship and trust. You'll learn someday."
He smiled briefly before pushing the handle for release but as he was about to leave, something smacked right into him, sending both almost tumbling to the floor.
"Shit! I'm so sorry!"
Hiroki groaned, his shoulder sore as he looked to see it was a man wearing a thick jacket and torn jeans covered in dirt. Machiko rushed over, irritation clear in the man's eyes, "Newman! I told you to knock before opening."
The man shuddered, "I'm sorry, Ma'am."
"It's alright, Machiko." He faced Newman, "it must be something important."
"Yes, there is! I wanted to inform you that they returned."
"Who?" Machiko questioned as Hiroki dusted off his clothes, "The Lector? That is not anything new to me." She spat her words bitterly, much to Hiroki's disappointment.
"Well . . ." Newman's voice shakened, "that too but Keshar's group came back . . . and many of them didn't return. Those that did are seriously wounded."
"What?!" Machiko yelled with eyes widened, mostly out of surprise but the volume it echoed made both men jump.
"Wait . . . You didn't know?" Newman realized too late of his mistake, bracing for an angry Japanese female stomping toward him.
"I heard no such thing," She thought for a moment, putting the puzzle together in a mere second. Her face turned to stone but inside, she was boiling with frustration and rage, "Who told you?"
Newman had no choice but to answer, "Ackland. I thought you knew since he called Dr. Revna to set up an emergency clinic in the labs. It was unusual so I thought he got permission from—"
Machiko didn't want to hear anymore, pushing Newman aside like swatting a fly, ignoring the cry of shock from Hiroki behind. It didn't matter, their options weighed no value and to think so would only bring more trouble.
"Trust is for fools." She spoke under her breath as she left her office, heading out with a mission to set the hierarchy back in order. Her honor would accept nothing less.
Neera poked at the dead creature on the table, frustrated that she couldn't even make a dent. The skin of the spider was tougher than she thought, not even the sharpest of scalpels made a scratch. She cursed, unable to delve into its many secrets that it might be hiding in death. It wasn't good considering Charles standing over in worry, curious but for the wrong reasons.
"Could you cut it out and stop being a creep?" She said.
"Fine. Sorry." He raised his hands and went to lean on the wall, "Do you know what the fuck it is?"
"No but you talking is not helping either."
Charles sighed and walked to the other side of the room, most likely to find something else to look at, much to Neera's relief. Good. Silence is golden. She moved one of the legs with a tweezer but no good since rigor mortis had settled in. Groaning, she decided to check one more thing, turning the spider creature on its back. The belly is soft. Maybe . . ?
Neera grabbed for the sharpest scalpel and dug in, surprised that it managed to nick into the body. Her curiosity sated for the moment, wondering what kind of things she'd discover. But as soon as the green color of its blood ran, she smelled something burning, irritating her sinuses.
"What the fuck is that?" Charles came back, only for both to watch in horror as Neera pulled the scalpel away, heat and stream radiated throughout it and into her hand.
Shit!
She dropped it as quickly as she could, racing to the sink and running cold water. Thankfully, it was only her gloves but it felt like they were still on fire. She checked her skin, a little red and no damage. It should be a relief but it terrified her. Neera was mortified as much as Charles as they stared at the melted remains of the scalpel and sizzled marks on the table.
Neera's mind was scrambled for a few moments until anger fueled her to act. She stomped like an angry rhino at Charles and grabbed him roughly by the collar of his shirt, "What happened?"
"I don't—"
"What. Happened!? You brought me this thing, acting like a scared, shady lunatic going behind your boss's back, and now this. Tell me what the fuck this is all about before I break your jaw!"
Neera fumed as Charles flinched away, knowing there was more to this story than what was being told. It was one thing to stay silent if wishing not to get involved but it's another to bring her into the middle. If anyone found out about this, I would be the scapegoat and Revna doesn't need this.
She debated whether to throw a punch in his jaw when the door opened unexpectedly. Neera released her grip as a rush of people flooded the labs, some ordering to move stuff around, arranging them in such a rush, an invasion in her eyes.
"Hey!" She headed to the closest personnel, "What's the meaning of this?"
"Orders from the higher ups. We need to set up an emergency bay for the wounded." The others barely looked up as they piled beakers, tubes, and paperwork in such a mess.
Neera grunted in anger, "We already have an emergency bay and you can't barge in here without Dr. Revna's permission. If you don't stop, I'll have no choice but to report this."
"There's no need for that."
A voice called out just outside the door. Neera turned to see Ackland walking in alongside Dr. Revna. At first, she glared at him, never liking his aggressive policy to barge in without warning. She wanted to give him a mouthful and was about to open her mouth when she caught sight of Revna. The somber expression and heavy eyes looking to the ground spelled tragedy all over. This is not good.
"You should leave my men alone to take care of this," He paused as the first of the injured were carried in. Neera held her breath as she saw a survivor with his shoulder ripped apart with a huge claw mark. Her lips tightened, confused as to whether to continue her aggression toward Ackland or stay silent.
Ackland grunted, "This is not your concern."
That struck a nerve in her, "This is my concern and unorthodox! You can't just come in here and do as you please! Revna! Say something!"
Neera waited but the doctor refused to respond, her despondent face though said it all. Something happened alright. Her fists tightened, muscles tensed at the thought of punching his bearded face and relishing in the satisfaction of him decorated in bruises. He may be on an equal level as Machiko but that didn't give him authority to do as he pleased.
"What happened?"
It was a simple question but instead of an answer, Ackland dismissed her, "You have no authority to demand. It's between me and the doctor so leave us."
"The Hell I do! I'm not going to put up with your fucking ass telling me what to do! If you won't tell me then—"
Neera barely felt the sting and heat on her cheek as Ackland backhanded her. She stumbled back, stunned not by the fact he would pull it off on her but that he did it in front of everyone. Revna gasped in concern and everyone else stood still, unsure if they should continue their work. The silence was awkward enough.
"Know your place. You're nothing."
That was all Ackland said as Neera held her cheek, finally processing what happened. Her lips tightened and eyes squinted, her blinding rage struggling to break out of her chest and muscles. If looks could kill, she would have his head explode in a second. Bastard.
Ackland already moved on, tilting his head to the side to finally notice Charles hiding from sight, "What are you doing in here?"
"Sir, I . . . Umm . . ."
"And what is that on the table?"
Neera and Charles froze as Ackland walked around them, stopping when he saw the dead spider alien lying with its belly open and the scalpel melting slowly to a stop, "Who authorized you to bring this here?"
Charles stuttered, unable to get a decent explanation that might save some of his ass from further punishment, although Neera knew it would be unlikely. An argument broke out, mostly Ackland berating with Revna finally getting involved to calm the situation as things heated up,
She didn't care anymore, the words from Ackland hitting her hard. Know your place. You're nothing. Neera gripped her shoulders, the world around her shrinking and going quiet.
No . . . Not again. Her body trembled, the memories flooding back, threatening to suck the strength from her legs. She closed her eyes, hoping the dreadful feeling may fade in a short while.
Nei'hman-de . . .
Neera perked up, scanning in confusion. That voice again? She checked to see if maybe someone in the room said it but Ackland was still arguing with Charles and Revna, definitely not happy. The others resumed their duties of bringing the injured and treating them.
Nei'hman-de. Come.
She whipped around, noticing a shadow in the corner of her eye hovering above her, disoriented in its form so she couldn't tell if it was a person or a blob. Ignoring everything else, Neera followed the shadow as it whisked away as soon as she was at arm's length but reappeared farther away.
Where are you going?
It wasn't until they made it to the back of the labs that the shadow stopped at the door leading to the isolation room where special materials are kept. Neera stayed put, thinking it would disappear again. Instead, by some mysterious way, the door opened despite the extra security of entering a password and retinal scan. The shadow had gone inside before she could contemplate how it was done.
Hey!
Neera chased after it, twisting into the crack before the door completely shut, but wasn't prepared for what she found.
The shadow was gone but the room had stuff everywhere, the usual beakers and containers with potent liquids were disheveled everywhere, fridges and freezers pushed to the farthest corners of the room. She was in disbelief, sure that no one came through the labs to get in and even if they passed by unnoticed, only Dr. Revna, herself and any higher personnel would have access unless they got special permission from the back door, and that was for emergencies only.
This is a mess! Who did this?
Neera weaved through cabinets and tables, shaking her head at the possibilities of taking days to clean this up until she bumped into a table. She grunted and was about to shove it aside when she saw what was on it.
There were objects placed in a neat order, foreign and unknown and nothing she'd ever seen before. A staff of metal laid on one end, blades sharper than the finest butcher knife on each end with leather wrapped around the hilt, a wrist gauntlet with red lights blinking and pieces of hard plates that appeared to be part of some armor. For her, it was getting stranger by the minute.
Nei'hman-de . . .
Neera zipped her sights to the front, not seeing the shadow as expected but something else. In the very back, she saw something moving. She walked closer, getting a clear view of what it was.
She saw a being strapped onto a table by leather, its chest rising and falling in a steady but shallow pattern, tubes running alongside it and hooked to a machine. It had skin similar to reptilian skin but also soft, black spots decorated its limbs and had hands with sharp talons. As she moved her gaze up, it had a broad chest and abs like a male, no guess about that, with a deep scar still healing on the side. Fuck.
Her mind was scrambling with questions when she finally saw its face, elongated head with more spots that formed a V shape with tubes attached to the side and back like dreadlocks, mouth concealed by a mask where the tubes connected and eyes closed in a deep sleep.
Neera tilted her head. What are you?
Driven by curiosity, she walked closer to him, instinct moving her hand to reach out and touch. The voice ringing in her head louder and more intense in its design. Her fingers were inches away when the being slowly opened his beautiful, golden eyes.
Thank you everyone for the support! I apologize for the grammar and spelling issues you find. The heat and humidity is killing me! Lol!
Happy Hunting!