The Archer's Star

Chapter 6

Information assaults my brain and it's making me lightheaded. I take a deep breath. Full panic mode has begun.

I think the med-ibot is completely robotic, but it's so hard to tell between the part-human bionic residents and the completely artificial robots. I don't see any blood or bones sticking through her skin. I'm afraid to look too closely.

Every fiber of my body wants to shut the closet door and run from the lab as fast as possible. I should never have opened it.

Why did I open it?

Where is Dr. Nera? She should be here, by now.

Whispered childhood rumors of assassins, murderers, and homicides, roll through my head. They were only fairy-tales told in the dark under the covers between friends, not real life. The people in Saiph are orderly and governed fairly. Our food is modified to supply moderate levels of endorphins and keep people happy. This type of thing didn't just happen.

Pressing my fingertips to my temples, I close my eyes. The mantra I remind myself of begins... deep breaths, deep breaths, deep breaths.

Bile is creeping up in my throat and my heart is racing. If someone comes into the room right now, I don't know what this would look like to them... likely very bad.

I consider calling Si on my text-prompt. I could use his sensible advice. Would he know what to do?

I should find someone immediately. Or run from the room and close the door acting as if I've never seen it. But I know that they would know. They would check and see who opened the door. Would they be able to tell who put this met-ibot in the closet?

The ticking continues, and I see her twitch over and over again. I can't watch it anymore. I close the closet door, quickly scanning my wrist over the scan-lock and speaking the word, "close."
I'll find somebody. I'll tell them what's inside of the closet.

Jogging toward the lab exit, an alarm begins to sound. A shrill beeping emanates from overhead, loudly ringing out in the suite. I put my fingers in my ears and look around in horror. Is this because of the met-ibot?

What is going on?

I run from the room pressing the button on the exit to the corridor as the pocket door slides open. People are beginning to come out of the other offices and lab rooms slowly, methodically. We've been taught not to overreact in an emergency, but my nerves are so shaken from what I've just seen. It's hard for me not to run as fast as I can from the room and down the hall.

I restrain myself from weaving through the crowd and try to walk slowly with the others. We've all filed into a carefully organized line, and are walking toward the suite's exit.

The woman in front of me is carrying her cat. The orange and white tabby fur has been shaven in a couple of spots, and I know it probably recently had surgery. Poor kitty. I meet its eyes and feel a heavy surge of anxiety and sadness in the pit of my stomach.

A gray uniformed security officer has appeared at the exit to the main corridor. He is calmly ushering everyone out into the inner corridor away from the Med-Vet Suites.

"Keep it moving. Let's go, keep a-walking. Nothing to worry about, let's head back to our apartments now until you're called back." He touches me on the shoulder as I pass and sweeps me out the door. No one is stopping me from leaving. Nothing to worry about?

I want to turn back. To stop him; tell him what I've seen in the closet. But... I don't. I'm scared they'll think I've done it.

I need to find Si. I'll ask him what I should do. It's 8:20 am and he's probably at his apartment getting ready to go to work. I hop into the nearest lift that will take me to our rooms. I sit on the seats and wait for the door to close. Several people in this lift were in the Med-Vet suite.