LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter Eight: Now Is The Time
Day 14
Science Wing
United Space Systems Vessel California
23:01 hours
Chief Engineer Theodore McAvoy strolls confidently down the hallway. The surrounding offices and laboratories are nearly devoid of personnel. Most of whom have gone off shift or are already in bed.
Private Daria Ogievich is seated at the security desk. She glances up as Theodore approaches, and makes a dramatic show of popping her chewing gum. The chief engineer appraises Daria approvingly. Whatever else she may be, rugged, colonial marine, possibly butch; Daria is still very much a woman. Her bright red hair and freckles belie the Russian heritage she touts so proudly. More like an amalgamation of blended blood, Theodore is almost sure.
“You’re up late, Mr. McAvoy,” Daria says with a sly grin. “Someone keeping you up at night?”
Theodore leans on the security desk and offers Daria his most cunning smile.
“Not tonight,” he says cryptically, drawing a finger along the edge of the desk. “Actually, I’ve got some work to do in Lab Twelve. Dr. Boyd says her programs have been glitching out again. Wants me to check the feeds. Make sure everything is running right. I’ve got a real busy schedule tomorrow and I don’t have time to be traveling halfway across the ship for a ten-minute checkup job. Figure I’d do it tonight and get it over with. Can you let me in? I have the pass codes to the inner lab, but you’ll have to let me in the main.”
Daria seems unsure at first. She looks at the intercom, considering whether or not she should call Dr. Boyd for confirmation.
“I’m not sure that I can…” Daria begins. Theodore cuts her off with a raised finger. He pretends to change his mind.
“Okay, I’ll come back when Dr. Boyd is here,” Theodore says with an exaggerated sigh. “I just thought the doctor would appreciate me not being underfoot. I know she doesn’t really enjoy my presence. I figured, I’d do the work tonight…And she can go back to business as usual tomorrow. Like I said, I have the codes already for the inner lab. I just need you to open the main doors with your access code. No big deal. I’ll just delegate some of my smaller jobs to Montel. I’ll make it work. See you later.”
Daria reaches out a hand and grips Theodore’s forearm to stop him from leaving. She smiles apologetically.
“I’m sorry, Mr. McAvoy—,” Daria says.
“Theodore…,” Theo volunteers with a wide grin.
“Theodore,” Daria says, returning his grin. “I’ll let you into the lab. Just give me a moment.”
Theodore places a hand over his heart and releases a dramatic sigh.
“Thanks, Daria. You’re a lifesaver,” Theodore drawls.
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Theodore enters Laboratory Twelve and quietly shuts the door. Grateful that Dayshadow is too cheap to continuously run more than a few lights on the ship’s decks, Theo does not speak the voice command for the lights to come on. He doesn’t need lights to see what he is doing. He crosses to Teresa’s computer and switches it on. Theodore lays his workbag on the desk. He removes a long cable, the USB scalping device, and a folding keyboard. Attaching the scalping device and the keyboard, to ports on the desktop; Theodore calmly feeds commands into the system.
A series of images fills the computer screen. Every single feed, showing the various stages of Judas development, is on the computer's display. Theodore punches another command and the feeds for containment cells one, seven, ten, and thirteen go dark. He enters yet another command and a computer access code prompt appears onscreen. Theodore simply inputs Bess’ access code.
“Thank you…Bess Trainor,” a computerized voice says. “Access granted.”
Theodore smirks and then continues his work. He modifies security perimeters to allow the rear hatches of the chosen specimens' holding tanks to open in thirty minutes increments. Long enough for him to be safely on the other side of the ship.
Theo laughs mirthlessly and pulls open a drawer of Teresa’s desk. He casually removes a protein bar hidden there. As an afterthought, he runs his hand around the drawer’s interior and unsticks a dessert cake that is taped inside. Corporate espionage is a hungry business; he’ll need to keep up his strength.
Once everything is complete, Theodore shoves the last bite of dessert cake into his mouth and exits Lab Room Twelve. Entering the main lab, he takes an exaggerated deep breath. Menace dances across his face as he considers the carnage which will soon throw the California into utter chaos. Across the room, one of the Judas bugs scratches at the glass front of its holding tank. Theodore glances in that direction with an evil grin.
“Maybe, now…Is the time,” Theodore mutters into the darkness.