Atlantech: The Early Days Volume One

Chapter 26: Dark Days

FOUR DAYS EARLIER

"So why exactly aren't I allowed at this meeting again?" Justin demanded to know as he stood inside Lynne's office staring back at her while feeling rather insulted.

"Don't pretend you don't know the reason, Corporal," she replied sternly as she crossed her arms. "This is a serious matter and you are a valuable asset, therefore it's a risk we aren't willing to take."

Justin huffed. "For my protection then, right?

"It was a unanimous decision between Captain Grant and myself," she answered. "But you are correct; it is for your own protection and that of our future."

Justin growled under his breath as he plopped himself down into one of the chairs across from her desk while remembering the many times he'd been in this very same spot back when she used to chew him out over his insubordinate behavior. And for a brief moment he even kind of missed it.

"I'm not afraid of Morane," he scoffed. "I'm not afraid of him and I'm quite capable of handling myself you know?"

Lynne sighed and shook her head in disagreement. "No you're not, Corporal. And that is what I'm trying to help you see. I mean after all, it took six years for you to discover what really happened to that pilot, and if Morane was in fact the one behind it, then you know well enough what he's capable of. So don't underestimate him. I did and it almost cost me my life."

Justin could hardly believe what she just said now. "Wait a minute?" He eyed her questioningly. "What do you mean by that? What happened?"

"Plain and simple. I thought I could handle myself too," Lynne responded with a hard stare. "But in the end all I did was make things worse for myself and others around me." She lowered her head and sighed regretfully. "But the decision still stands, Corporal. You will not be permitted to attend the meeting."

"Whatever," Justin quipped as he threw up his arms in protest. "No point in arguing any further I guess."

She couldn't help but smirk at him now. "Well, arguing was never one of your strong points anyway."

Justin rolled his eyes then collected himself again when he suddenly remembered the real issue at stake. "Well I accept my defeat in this case," he sighed. "But I do have a favor to ask, if you don't mind?"

"A favor?" Lynne replied quizzically. "Well I suppose. That all depends on the nature of your request, but anyway go ahead and shoot."

"I want my laboratory privileges restored," he asked with a hint of urgency in his voice which she immediately picked up on. "Please, I really need them back," he begged.

"But why?" She wondered while staring back at him with suspicion. "Are the labs over there at Atlantech not enough to satiate your hunger for destruction?"

I can already tell it won't be easy to convince her, Justin thought now while realizing he needed to come up with something good and fast. "Atlantech is just too far," he suddenly blurted out. "I just feel like the lab here is a lot closer to home, that's all."

"I see," she narrowed her eyes at him. "Well I'm afraid I'm going to need a better reason than that, especially since you nearly blew up the entire building during your last experiment. Or have you forgotten already?"

Justin rolled his eyes. Okay that didn't work, he thought bitterly. Time for a more credible approach. And here goes nothing. "Alright you got me," he remarked. "The truth is I want to inspect the rest of the models for any traces of nitro. And to do that I need to be stationed here you see?"