30
More At Minus Nine
Barry marched through the hallway of -7, between the various administrative offices and lounging areas, until he reached the door marked with a red fringe. He pressed on the intercom.
“I have an update.”
“Please.” The hand pressed the button inside and the unlatching sound swung the door free.
The assistant opened the door to a Luna dipping tuna into a small reservoir of soy sauce as she placed it back on the empty cuboid of rice next to the rest of the platter.
“Sorry.” The red-band wiped her mouth clean before she took a sip from the bottle of bubble soda. “You had lunch?”
“I did.” He held out his tablet in front of him. The button was clicked and the screen faded in with a list of notifications.
“Where’s Kayla?” She flicked her watch up to read 11:25. “Standard lunch is in a few minutes.”
“Up there. Sleeping. James did a floor patrol. She hasn’t opened the door yet.” He checked his calendar. “We still have a few minutes, I think. Do you think we should just turn off the elevators for now?”
“If this is what I think you’re talking about, no need.”
“Okay.”
Luna looked at her plate, then at her watch.
“Let the kitchen now we will be pushing lunch back fifteen minutes. Issue those with medical cards exceptions.”
“Sure thing, Luna.” Barry spoke into the Bluetooth headset. He stopped talking and turned to her. “If you don’t mind, let’s get going.”
The elevator pushed down two stories until the doors swung open. Barry led Luna to where he at her behest planned for weeks, down a corridor and two rooms to the right passageway. The initial panel moved open for a card only the two of them were authorized to keep. The assistant placed his card on the reader as he shimmied it out of his pocket and moved the metal door away.
Inside the dimly-lit room was a small wooden table. On it was a flight recorder and two black cubes stacked on top of one another. The edges are chamfered away, glowing from the inside in blue pulses that occasionally flash red.
“One for East-to-West, the other the other direction for when you come home. The director said no touching for now. This device will be loaded onto the control plane in two days. Highly experimental.”
“And dangerous.” A figure’s voice materialized behind them.
“Project head.” Barry annotated vocally.
“Is this Miss Luna Syracuse?” The figure in glasses towered over her and offered a hand downwards.
“I would kindly refuse that handshake, my apologies.” Luna eyed the hand as it slinked its way back to the man attached to it. “To my knowledge you are Sean Hunter, director for dimensional?”
“You learn quick.” Sean smiled at her. “I’m just acting on what he requested, your immediate superior, of course. We all want to secure this invention—“
“And for what reason we have to do it?” The left hand with the red band went inside her pant pocket.
“It’s a gift meant for a special person that he wanted to have receive.”
Luna widened her smile.
“Of course we also knew that she would like you along.”
“My entire purpose is to ensure that Miss Ferrule’s life goes as smoothly as she would intend it.”
“Certainly.” He turned his back on her and walked a foot away from the table. “The future of Circle relies on you both, then.”
“Future?” The word can only be purred out of her mouth as most of the energy went up her head.
“If we can perfect our Fabric Softener, it would be scorched-earth for the rest of the guys. They would go out of business as soon as this thing launches. And human history will be made. With every invention there will be ceaseless tests, and every duty to perfect it. We’re almost done.”
“Paramount to realize your failure now would mean jeopardy for you in the immediate future.”
“Absolutely. Somehow it is not my choice. He wanted her to be in front of the cameras when it’s all said and done.”
“When it is her time to be glorified for everyone, I will gladly omit my name from the record books. Make no mistake, Mr Hunter.”
“The plane has been chartered for a trip to Los Angeles. In a few decades there won’t be much around. I wish you and Miss Ferrule well.” Sean turned and nodded.
“As you wish.” Luna’s smile quickly dissipated as he disappeared behind the doorframe.
The two leads of the staff team at the mansion stood in silence and waited for the footsteps to muffle themselves as Sean carried himself to the stairs.
“What do we do now?” Barry was the first to break the air.
“Have the receptionists upstairs hold him for breakfast, have the green bands move with the squad to check.” She paused briefly. “Sweep the entire building at thirteen hundred. Leave Kayla’s room itself undisturbed but check the fringes outside her door.”
“Anything else?” Barry looked at her.
“You got the ball in the mitt yet?”
“Yes, Luna.”
“Make sure we can see all the markings on that ball. Have it autographed too.” She looked back at him. He nodded firmly.
“There’s a chance that you might—“
“No, no, no.” Luna looked at her red band. “Have you talked to the producer of these ribbons recently, Barry?”
“I haven’t.”
“Call him. Protocol 3 must always be followed.”
Barry remained silent for such a length of time Luna had to prime him. He looked as if he had just received news that a family pet had passed away.
“Tell the entire team to fire up for lunch now. I’ll go wake up Kayla.”
Luna nodded at him, as he stayed behind in the room as the red-band passed him and left him in the background.