NOVEL NEXT Chapter Nine: AWOL
Day 15
Science Wing
Laboratory Room 12
United Space Systems Vessel California
08:51 hours
“Bess…What’s going on with the feeds?” Teresa says in a frustrated voice. “I can’t see inside holding tanks one, seven, and ten…No, make that thirteen as well. They’re completely black. I don’t have visuals on any of the subjects inside the cells. No life signs…Not even so much as a single methane gas production readout. It’s been this way since I came in this morning. I really need to see inside those tanks, Bess.”
Bess scrolls through several menus on her tablet, trying to assess the problem. Finally, she gives up and shrugs.
“I don’t know, Dr. Boyd.” Bess says. “I can’t find the problem. Nothing appears to be wrong with the system. Everything seems to be fine. The computer states all programs are running properly.”
“Obviously not,” Teresa retorts. “I can’t see inside the damn tanks!”
Teresa whirls in her chair to face Bess. She regards her slightly younger lab assistant with suspicion. Bess has been acting rather squirrely since her rumored hookup with the Chief Engineer. No longer hanging around the labs, to spend secret quality time with Harold. Leaving at odd hours. Avoiding meaningful conversations. Whatever is going on between Bess and Theo; it doesn't bode well for their project. As lead scientist, it is Dr. Boyd's job to get to the bottom of it. And fast. Things are already spiralling out of control.
“Where’s that engineer boyfriend of yours? McAvoy?” Teresa fires off. “Maybe he can figure out what is going on?”
Bess’s blushes and presses her tablet computer to her ample bosom. She avoids making eye contact with Dr. Boyd.
“He’s not my boyfriend, Dr. Boyd,” Bess says in a soft tone.
Teresa whirls back toward her desk, her fingers flying over the computer keyboard. She opens several folders and skims over the executable files; searching for any and all clues to what is hindering the system.
“Oh…Come off it, Bess,” Teresa says. Her tone has a bit of an edge now. “You’ve been seen all over the ship with him. Including near your quarters. I really don’t care what he is to you. Who you date is your own business. I just want him down here. Now! I need to know what’s going on in those tanks. Do you have any idea where he is?”
“Theodore is on leave for the next two days,” Bess replies.
“Oh…He is?” Teresa replies. “So just how much money do you think it would take to get him off of leave? I can’t operate blind. Money is no object. Tell him…I’ll pay him double wages. I just need him here as soon as possible. Can you do that, Bess?”
“Yes, Dr. Boyd,” Bess say. “I’ll see if I can find him.”
With that, Bess swishes out of the laboratory—in search of Chief Engineer Theodore McAvoy. Teresa shivers at the thought of having him near her again, but she doesn’t know what other option she has. Theodore is the best engineer, and IT specialist, on the ship.
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Bess arrives back at the laboratory an hour later. She is out of breath and clearly rattled. Teresa climbs from her seat and moves toward the younger woman.
“Bess? What’s wrong?” Teresa inquires, taking the young woman by the shoulders.
“Theodore…Chief Engineer McAvoy…,” Bess stammers. “He appears to have left the ship. All of his belongings are gone. No one has seen or heard from him in almost twenty-four hours.”
Teresa’s mouth twists into a frown and she sucks on her teeth. Suddenly, she has a really bad feeling about the whole situation. Teresa guides Bess to a chair and makes her sit down.
“Just relax, Bess,” Teresa says reassuringly. “Just relax. I’m sure, he’s fine.”
A loud alert from the speakers of her computer causes Teresa to turn back to her desk.
“Loss of visual in holding tanks four and six,” a computerized voice said. “Loss of pressure in tanks two, three, four, six, and nine. Containment failure imminent. ”
“What the hell?” Teresa says and races to the computer. She presses numerous keys, trying to get everything back online. Nothing works. Running into the main lab, Teresa uses her right elbow to break a glass partition and throw the large switch hidden behind it. A klaxon sounds throughout the ship.
“Warning. Unknown lifeforms detected on decks two and seven of the habitat wing. Casualties reported. All passengers and personnel shelter in place or return to quarters to await further instructions. Repeat. Unknown lifeforms detected on decks two and seven of the habitat wing. Casualties reported. All passengers and personnel shelter in place or return to quarters to await further instructions.”
Teresa turns to Bess with frightened eyes. Everything now makes perfect sense. Damn Chief Engineer Theodore McAvoy. Damn him to hell.
“You asked what would happen if things went wrong, Bess?” Teresa exclaims. “Well, I think things are about to go really freaking wrong. If these bugs get out and breed. We’re all dead. We need to find Security Chief Crews…Now!”