Phantasy Star: Mechanical Error Chapter 3
Written by Sarah Schoenlaub
Wren was right. Keri didn't like Laurie.
"Research? No one does research on their first day. You have to start at the bottom, like everyone else. Put your research materials in your cubby." Keri frowned. Why did they always insist on letting students start research immediately? Keri had to work her way up the hard way.
"But Wren said…"
"Wren may be in charge, but he's not in charge of the electronics unit. I am. And I say you're not doing research."
Laurie sighed. She didn't want to cause any trouble. She put her things away. "Then what should I do?"
"Here's a repair kit." Keri handed her a repair kit. "Go fix androids. There's one down in sector 3. And hurry up."
Laurie scurried off to find sector three.
She saw that it was only an Alpharen, with a minor malfunction. She finished the repair and was preparing to turn on the android when she heard Don's voice.
"Laurie, what are you doing?"
Laurie looked up. "I'm fixing an android. Keri said I can't research yet."
Don groaned. "Darn her, not again." He extended his hand. "Come on Laurie. Activate the Alpharen and come with me."
"I don't want to cause any trouble…"
"It's alright. She's done this before." Don took Laurie back to the electronics sector.
Keri frowned when she saw them. "Is that newcomer causing trouble?"
"No, you're causing trouble again, Keri. I told you many times not to do this."
"Don, it's my sector."
"And you're slowing this girl down! I sent you her test results. She scored better than you did on your leader exam. She's got more ideas than any of these others. Let her research." Don glared at Keri.
"Fine. Let the girl research. We'll see how far she gets." Keri looked angrily at Laurie.
"Laurie, go to the research area. Start your work there." Don smiled at Laurie.
Laurie nodded, removed her materials from her cubby, and went to the research area.
Don looked over at Keri. "You know, she'll probably replace you quickly if you keep that attitude up." He left the room.
Keri was furious. She stormed into the research room where Laurie was working. "Alright you little tattletale brat, listen to me!"
"Keri, calm down. There's nothing to get angry…"
"What do you mean there's nothing to get angry about?" Keri interrupted. "I will not be embarrassed by some smart little newcomer."
"I didn't mean to cause any problems…"
"You listen to me, if you ever do that again you will SERIOUSLY regret working here. Do you understand?"
Laurie lowered her head and nodded.
Keri peered at Laurie's materials. "An android design, eh?" She walked over to the table where all the work and blueprints were sitting.
"Yes, I started it a few months ago…" Laurie trailed off when Keri pulled out a knife, cut up the blueprints and the wiring on the CPU board.
"Looks like you'll have to start over." Keri grinned evilly at Laurie. She saw the tears in the young girl's eyes. "Aw, poor baby." She left the room, laughing at the damage she had done.
Laurie looked at her ruined work and collapsed into tears, seeing the work of many months destroyed so quickly and carelessly. * * *
"Feria, I found a job."
Feria didn't look up from her newspaper. "That's nice."
"I'm going to be selling weapons in the marketplace. I'll have a rent payment for you soon." Erick went to the door.
"Are you going to work already?"
"Nah, I'm going to go celebrate with the guys at the bar tonight."
Feria forced herself not to yell at Erick. "Alright."
Erick left.
Feria shut her eyes tight. When would Erick learn?
She went in her room and got ready to go to sleep. Hopefully it would all be better in the morning.
A sudden knock at the door startled Feria. She sat up and turned on the light, fumbling with a robe and slippers. She checked the clock. It was already almost midnight. What was going on?
An Aiedo police officer stood at the door. "Ma'am, your brother is charged with destroying some property at the Guild bar. He won't be released from jail until the materials are paid for. He claims that you'll pay the fine."
"He's wrong. Let him stay in jail, officer. I'll come help him when I'm good and ready to." Feria shut the door and went into the kitchen. She sat with her head in her hands. Why did Erick have to do this? * * *
Demi was bringing around tea for sector 7. She usually brought around warm drinks as the scientists went asleep. She also wanted to see how Laurie was adjusting. She seemed happy in the chemistry and biotech labs, but Demi just wanted to be sure she got a good night's sleep. Zelan was downright creepy in the dark, even with the dim safety lights.
Demi knocked and entered Laurie's room. "I thought I'd bring you some tea."
Laurie was fumbling with a mess of wires. "Yes, thanks," she said, refusing to look up.
Demi was a bit concerned. Laurie's hair hung down, concealing her face. "Are you alright, Laurie? What is that?"
"Nothing. I'm fine, don't worry."
Demi reached out a hand. As Laurie turned, ready to protest, Demi saw her face. It was tearstained and angry. "Something is wrong," Demi said.
Laurie sighed and tossed the mess of wires away. "It just hasn't been an easy day."
"But you seemed fine in the chemistry and biotech labs. Trisha said you loved observing the doctors in the medlab. That leaves…" Demi frowned. "Keri was mean to you, wasn't she?"
"Why do you have to be so nosy?" Laurie snapped at Demi. When Laurie saw the pure hurt in the artificial green eyes, she knew how much Demi really cared. "I can't tell you."
Demi looked at the ground. "Well, alright. But I don't want you to be sad here. If Keri did anything, I want to help." Demi walked over and picked up the jumble of wires. She looked at it, and saw knife marks on a microchip. Many of the wires connected to it had been cut. "Oh my goodness…" Demi looked up at Laurie. "Keri did this, didn't she."
Laurie hesitated, then nodded. "She's going to be so mad you found out."
"Not half as mad as I am at her. Don't you worry a bit, Laurie. I'm going to borrow this and this," she said, picking up the taped together blueprint. "I'll give you a sleep aid, and I want you to rest. Don't worry about Keri."
"I don't want to cause trouble my first day…"
"You're not. Just relax." Demi hugged Laurie. "Oh, you poor thing. Keri's an awful person. She's manipulative, conniving, power hungry… Oh, I shouldn't say such things, but she sends my emotional sensors into a frenzy. You sleep well."
Laurie nodded and accepted the tea and sleep aid. "Thank you. You are the most wonderful android I've met."
Demi left and went toward the main monitor room. Wren had to know about this. * * *
"Master Wren?"
Wren was busily doing the evening system scans. "Yes Demi, what is it?"
"It's rather important. Perhaps you should come take a look."
Wren walked over, reading a printout. Demi pushed the ruined microchip and wiring over the printout. Wren jumped a little, startled to see the angry knife marks. "What's this?"
"Laurie was working on an android design. Apparently Keri ruined it and threatened her. The poor girl is so sad and afraid. I can't believe Keri did this."
"This is certainly not good. I knew Keri caused problems, but I never anticipated this." Wren scanned the blueprint. "Looks like an interesting processor system, too. A modification of the Alpharen designation Wren-type." He looked at all the notes through the clear tape across the rips. "Hmm… We will have to address this in the morning. I'd like to talk to Laurie about this design."
Demi nodded. "Keri makes me so angry."
"She really angers you that much? It could be partially due to a sensor malfunction. Have you performed an internal scan recently?" Wren finally looked up from the blueprint.
"Yes, but I didn't notice anything."
Wren went back to reading the printouts. "I'll come check your system later. Go to the electronics lab at about midnight and we'll see why your emotional sensors are reacting so strongly."
Demi nodded. "Thank you, Master Wren. I trust that you'll do what's best."
"That's what I'm programmed to do," Wren replied with an almost smile. * * *
"This meeting will officially come to order," Don stated, sitting in his chair at the Thinkers' main meeting table. "This emergency meeting was called because of a bad situation that was brought to my attention by Wren this morning. I think I'll let him explain."
Wren nodded and stood, placing the objects Keri had ruined on the table. "Now as you all know, a young woman by the name of Laurie Johnson entered Zelan yesterday. She is very skilled in her work and was sent right to research, but as usual, Keri resisted." Wren stopped to glare at Keri. "Now we have evidence that she destroyed Laurie's android design. Not only has she rebelled against her superiors again, but she has chosen to ruin the first day of a new scientist."
Keri narrowed her eyes. "Those are pretty harsh allegations, Fuoren," she said, saying Wren's name like she was spitting it out. "How do you know it wasn't someone else?"
Demi stood. "We have a lot of proof. When you were destroying Laurie's work, you didn't even remember all the security monitoring devices in Zelan, did you?" Demi showed a quick playback through a monitor.
Don frowned. "This is highly against the rules here, Keri."
"Someone has to keep that little brat in line."
"Actually, I think you're the 'little brat' in this situation, Keri." Don almost continued, but Wren shot him a quick glance to make him stop. Insults would do no good.
"This is very serious, and I can only think of one punishment. You will be deported from Zelan today," Wren said in a firm voice.
"You can't do that. I'm on this government too, I have a voice!" Keri stood, and the guards ran toward her. Wren held up a hand, signaling them to wait.
"This matter has already been decided, Keri."
"Well who will run the electronics sector?"
"Someone more qualified," Don muttered.
Wren gave him another look. He didn't want this meeting turning into a fight. "Keri, you will pack your things and meet the shuttle back to Motavia today and noon. The guards will escort you."
"Fine! I don't care. I never liked this stupid place anyway. But wait till my father hears about this! You'll be sorry," she screeched as she was escorted out.
Don dismissed the meeting. "Finally, she's gone."
"She did make one valid point, Don. Who will run the electronics sector?" Wren asked.
"I'm nominating Laurie. I know you're thinking it's too soon, but she would love it. She'd be able to start great projects. I could teach her," Don said.
Wren was not quite convinced. "We'll give things a week or two. Then we'll see." * * *
Erick slammed the door and stomped into the kitchen. Feria was sitting there, casually reading the newspaper and drinking coffee. "What the hell was that for, Feria?"
"Erick, I'm not your mother or your babysitter. I'm not going to pay for all the stupid things you do," Feria said without looking up.
"I had to stay the night in jail. If it weren't for my friends, I'd still be in jail. That is so wrong of you, Feria. Do you even care?"
"You're just a tenant here now. I don't care what you do. I've tried to get you to listen to me, but you never do. I can't help you."
Erick pulled the paper out of her hands. "Listen to me!"
Feria jumped up. "No, you listen to me! Ever since you started acting up and causing trouble I've tried to help you, but you're hopeless. Only sixteen, and you're already a felon."
"You take that back, Feria Ashley!"
"I will not! You're disgraceful. You're lucky I even let you stay in this house. How can you even say you are a part of Chaz Ashley's bloodline?" Feria took the paper from her brother's hand and put her coffee cup in the sink. "I'm going to the Guild to get some work. Do whatever you want, but don't expect me to come and make it all better when you mess up."
"Feria, wait!"
Feria ignored him and left the house.