DARK DUCK: FOWLed

CHAPTER ONE

PART 4

Security Invitation

"What!"

Drake got into the car. "Gosalyn." He breathed. "I've got a stomach bug. It's not that serious."
"Come on, dad." Gosalyn folded her arms. "Stomach bug or not, you've got to get this sorted out."
"Gosalyn, they laugh at the common cold in there and that Joss ... I don't want to be laughed at."

"Dad, you gotta learn how to quit arguing when you know I'm right. Unless you want me to have another go at driving." She glanced at him with a mischievous glint in her eyes, "I'm up for it if you are."
"Not a chance, young lady. I've barely cleared the repair bills from the last time you tried being the parent." He grumbled, turned on the ignition and then started the drive into town.

It took him and his empty stomach an extra minute before Drake realised that she'd tricked him again.

"I guess you have a point."
"I know I have a point, that's why I said it."
"Hamil Corp's medical facilities are impressive." Drake continued, watching the road, the scenery slipping past, "... they've amassed technology that Doctor Sara Bellum at S.H.U.S.H. has probably only ever dreamed of."
"You know, I think you should probably let that go, dad. I don't think Director Hooter really set out to get you. You've always said how nice he is to you. It just doesn't fit his profile."

"Never mind Hooter." Drake sighed, "I signed a piece of paper with these guys."
"But didn't you sign a piece of paper with S.H.U.S.H. too?"
"That wasn't a piece of paper, Gosalyn; that was a 225 page manuscript with my autograph on the back!"
"Well, my point still kind of stands. Everybody wants you, dad. Plus, I think you signed a piece of paper to get me too."

"Oh." Drake felt his heart melt again, "Now that's one piece of paper I'd happily sign a hundred times over, kiddo."

They got into town and Drake parked in the underground car park. They took the elevator down to the X level where Hamil Corporation's medical offices were located.

Drake looked down at the services officer seated, typing away at her desk.

"I'd like to see Doctor Anatra if he's available?"
"You'll need to fill in these referral forms." She held out a clipboard, but snatched it back before he had his fingers on it. "Do you have employee clearance to be on this level, sir?"
"Employee? No, but I've ..."
"Then you'll have to leave."
"But this is ridiculous; I'm ..."
"Security!"

A flock of vampire security officers had Drake and Gosalyn surrounded in a moment.

A minute hadn't passed before they were standing in the security offices, Drake's hands Velcroed together.
"Geez, dad, you've got a real knack for upsetting people." Gosalyn grumbled.
"Since I'd been to see Doctor Simon Anatra before, I didn't think there'd be a problem." He contemplated his bindings. "They really love their Velcro, these people."
"I suppose they have to do them in double loops or you could just pull to get them apart."
"I suppose," He upped her statement, "that if I thought we were in any real trouble that the pair of us could work our way out of them eventually."
"Yeah, it does seem a bit easy." Gosalyn giggled.
"I wonder why that is?" Drake pondered. "I mean Velcro is..."

Head of security, Lawrence Eider walked in the doorway, talking intently with one of the guards that had brought Drake and Gosalyn from medical. Certainly Eider was one of those plain looking sorts, but his public service record stretched right across the country back some fifty years.

"So I see; he doesn't ..."

"Eider?" Drake interrupted, "Do you mind telling me what I did wrong?"
Eider did a double take, looking at Gosalyn, then back at Drake. "Let him go."
"But ..." The guard shrugged and ripped the Velcro from Drake's wrists.
"It's just a misunderstanding, Drake. I'm really sorry about this. Perhaps you should head up to see Rattray? We have our old CEO back."
"I just came in to see the doctor." Drake disagreed.
"Believe me, you d-uh... you should see Rattray."

Drake frowned. Eider had been about to say something else. As in... Drake paused. As in 'you don't want to see the doctor'?

Into the elevator they went with Eider in the lead.

Gosalyn wasn't impressed, "We have to stand here? They got us up to the security floor in a blink."
"Would you prefer to walk?" Drake shot her a warning glare. "We're talking about twenty storeys here."
Gosalyn turned away from him with a grumble, "At least I'd know I was getting someplace. I mean, what if the lift just stops?"

"The lift is not going to stop anywhere other than where I want it to." Eider told her plainly. "Which happens to be here." The door opened.
"Great, thanks and all that," Gosalyn shot out ahead of Drake.
She doesn't like confined spaces?" Eider asked Drake.
"No, she just doesn't like waiting around." Drake answered.

Gosalyn was back and grabbed his arm, pulling him into action. "Come on, dad; let's go see the big cheese."

Eider led Drake and Gosalyn through the double doors just before the end of the corridor. The room had a pinewood finish to it and dull brown shag carpet on the floor. No books, no clock, just a big black blank screen to the right.

"Sir. This is Drake Mallard for you, sir."
"... On provisional payroll." Rattray blinked up at Drake, no recognition on his face. "What's wrong with his security clearance, Eider?"
"I'll have it fixed shortly, sir." Rattray watched Eider for a few moments, still hovering behind Gosalyn.

"So, uh, Mister Mallard. May I ask what your job description is? It wasn't attached to your employment agreement."
"I asked for it to be left off for a reason."
"The agreement itself simply says 'contract services rendered'. I can't say our accountants like the lack of specifics. Accountants like labels. Labels on where our money's gone. Labels that match other labels."
Eider cleared his throat. "You can allocate it to security, sir."

Rattray raised an eyebrow at Eider. "Indeed? I thought you could at least ensure that your own department had correct access levels issued."
"Well, Drake's only on contract, sir. There can be some delays in processing since updates only happen when the employee reports in..." Eider turned to Drake, "the next time if someone asks you if you're employed here, Drake, say yes."

"I'll remember that." Drake frowned at Eider's sad, apologetic face. He was really sorry about the situation, and it was hard for Drake to stay angry at him. Even though he wasn't really angry in the first place, just annoyed at all the waiting around they seemed to be doing. 'Huh?' Drake blinked and looked down at Gosalyn. "Bored, kiddo? I think we're nearly done here." He petted her head.

"Well." Rattray grabbed the bundle of papers and straightened them into a neat pile. It was about the only thing he had in common with Hooter... and probably every other paper pusher in the high-rise white-collar world above the streets of St Canard ... "That sorts out my question." He looked up expectantly. "Was there something specific you wanted, Eider?"

"I just thought you would ..." Eider made a small strangled sound. He rubbed his face. "No sir, sorry sir."

Moral/Overview: When you need quality, accept no substitute.