Space-Time of Death: an Al Squires of the Protectorate Novel

Ch.16.2: When We FINALLY Use What's Missing to Find What's Missing.

Unlike the rest of the facilities in Ouroboros' HQ, the Morgue had a more updated look to it, especially among the fixtures, instruments, and equipment. Of course, it appeared more modern than futuristic; circa late 2010's for the most part if I wasn't mistaken. Honestly, I expected it to look like this: Considering how medical practices only started advancing during the 20th and 21st centuries, it only made sense that Ouroboros would have their medical facilities to resemble the more advanced points of those eras. And their Morgue was no exception. I'll leave it to your imaginations to fill in most of the details, dear Readers. I will mention that three covered corpses were out in the open and not the numerous cubbyholes that covered at least two of the walls opposite the door. You can guess whose bodies were those.

Although the Morgue looked spacious enough to have more than one person working there, there was only one person who was waiting for us: a man of intermediate age, wearing light blue surgical scrubs and hat, latex gloves, a plastic face-guard visor, and a white lab coat. He had a mostly nondescript face, save for a neatly trimmed dark black goatee with flecks of grey in it. While he was white, but my Cyber-lenses told me that his features showed that he was also of Eastern-European descent; Czech, Romanian, even Russian. Despite the fact he was the only one here, I could tell this was Ouroboros' Chief Medical Examiner. Not because of his outfit but by his body language as well: the way he held himself told me that this man was a natural leader, or at least loved to boss people around.

The ME was standing over one of the three covered corpses as we came in; his eyes fixed on whatever was on the clipboard in his hands. A moment after we entered, he took his eyes off his notes and over to us, his eyes widening in surprise behind his protective visor. "Col. Bainbridge-Smythe," he greeted professionally, his accent containing traces of Eastern Europe. "Good day! I have been expecting you."

"Good day to you as well, Dr Zelenka," the Lt. Col. said, just as professionally, before looking around the Morgue. "I take it that your being alone is not coincidence?"

The ME, Dr. Zelenka, nodded. "The message I got from the Director told me that this meeting was on a 'need to know' basis. My underlings did not need to know, so I told them to take an extra hour off for lunch for us to have this meeting. They were suspicious, of course, but nonetheless grateful for the extra hour." His gaze shifted around the rest of the group. "Forgive me, but when you said that you'd wouldn't be coming alone," he said with an awkward chuckle, "I didn't expect that you'd bring an entire entourage with you." His eyes stayed on some of the members of Team P that stood out more. "Let alone...people from outside Ouroboros." He looked over at Mik. "No offense meant," he quickly added to hir.

"None taken, honey," Mik said with a dismissive wave and a wink. Zelenka appeared to have blushed for a moment, but then shook it off.

"I can assure you, Dr. Zelenka," the Lt. Col. said to the ME, "these agents are our allies and have been briefed to the situation. In fact," he then pointed to me without looking at me, "this agent has information that requires our presence here." He gave me a sideways glance. "Why go all the trouble instead of telling us outright, I don't know," he added dryly before looking back at Zelenka. "Anyway, I need you to humor him for during this demonstration, or whatever it is."

Zelenka hesitated. "I-if that is what your request," he begrudgingly said, "then I will allow it."

"Jolly good," Bainbridge-Smythe said before looking over at me. "The floor is yours, Squires," he said. I took a step forward before he stopped me. "Remember what I said before we came in," he said in a low voice "I can't stop you from being theatrical. Just don't overdo it." I nodded as confirmation, and he let me by.