Veridis Quo

Chapter 7 - Three of a Kind

"I hate you."

"You know you don't mean it."

"I do..."

"..."

"... maybe..."

"..."

I sighed, raising my hands in surrender, "You got me. Doesn't mean I'll enjoy this."

"You're doing me a big favor, I swear they wouldn't get off my back the entire week!" Her volume fell to a whisper throughout, rightfully so.

After the little incident last week, a lot has happened. Well, that's oxymoronic. A lot happens all the time! Specifics, Johnny!

Right. Somewhen on the third day in the medbay, Miya exposed me to something she shouldn't have, though it wasn't the first time. For whatever reason, the all-knowing, all-powerful and all-righteous, top-of-the-pyramid schmucks decided that I just had to continue the task at hand. The very same task that shut down my brain program and landed me in a hospital bed. My knees were still sore from a lack of use! But I didn't make it known, Miya had enough on her hands.

Obviously, I wasn't too keen on the idea. And I had made it known! No secrets between us. After everything I've seen and pieced? Management can shove it up their arses! I like that word, arse, so very sophisticated. But they had to know. They tasted the forbidden fruit, only this time a human was the whispering vermin. Does that make sense? Probably not. I digress, an hour was all it took for her to break my resolve.

"For the greater good!" she said, "That's what they want," she said, "I know this is... ah, forget it, it's bullshit. And there's nothing I can do," she said, "Please, one last time, I swear on my lo- career it will be the last..." I didn't catch the end of that one.

So, there I was. Back in the conference room, correction, projector room. It wasn't novel or formal enough to be anything more. The memes killed the star, no regrets! Miya surprised her superiors and got me to agree to further damage my psyche!

Under three conditions. First; no visuals. I had enough eye cancer for the next few years, I'll have to see if their internet was as bad as ours. Second; no trauma. Was I asking too much? Was I being greedy, wanting some peace of mind in this particular, ending month? I bet some would take it at plain value and answer incorrectly. Third; per the number of conditions, only three files. Only those of utmost importance were allowed to face me, I will not be defeated again! It was time to even the score.

What the fuck am I even saying? I blinked, the always present pressure around my head pulsing with phantom pain. Around us were half the researchers from last time, three or four new ones. This wasn't like me.

Miya was conversing with the closest one who happened to be setting up the audio player, likely explaining what I had listed previously. I averted my stare down to my lap, turning my palms to me. Flexing my fingers, I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and let it out.

„Let's get this over with."

"Did you say something?" Miya addressed me, pausing the conversation with the other animal.

"Nah, just thinking aloud."

She returned to her the original one, nearly a debate at this point. The technician claimed he wasn't informed of the terms, Miya countered that his bosses knew. He fought back with ignorance, she pressed her point, insinuating consequences for disobedience. As much as I liked her, she can be scary as hell when she wants. Makes me appreciate her patience with my sorry ass.

In the end, she won, and the loser had to pick out the best trio out of the pile of spam I knew with all my heart would've burned hours of my life, hours I would never be able to get back. I really can't thank her enough for going above and beyond, though I sometimes wonder an innocent fantasy; why?