Julie was starting to notice a pattern and if true the implications could be dire.
The first night on the ship the Noridians had demonstrated just how advanced they were, and by comparison, just how insignificant our culture was compared to them. Culture shock is a type of paradigm shift and it was the following morning while everyone was still somewhat susceptible that Jaki’s universally watched interview with Mark introduced the offer of Noridia to ‘embrace’ earth and protect us in our transition—and spelled out the possible catastrophic consequences of not accepting that help.
Yesterday, the Noridian’s had taken 2nd Platoon on a tour that forced everyone on the mission to face the stark reality that human-type civilizations could and in fact did exterminate themselves—just as Jaki had claimed. It is one thing to intellectually know that your species is not immortal, it’s quite another to have any pride or self-confidence ripped from your heart with in-your-face evidence.
Another paradigm shift and now another follow-up selling the Noridian message; or at least that is how it was starting to look to Julie as she watched Dr. Helmer, Colonel Memphis, and their cronies circulate amongst the team.
The selling was subtle; a hand on the shoulder here, some comforting words there. To Julie it was starting to look more like proselytizing the ‘religion’ of Noridia than anything else.
There was a lot going on and there was a lot at stake. It was possible that these events were innocent in and of themselves and it was only the fast pace that they were happening that made them seem orchestrated but Julie was starting to strongly suspect otherwise.
You’re only paranoid if they’re really not out to get you.
These are the thoughts Julie was contemplating as she tracked down Dr. Sullivan. She could have called him but again she didn’t want to possibly call more attention to herself than she needed to. Much better if she just ran into him.
And run into him she almost did; as she neared the end of the hallway leading into the HQ Hub Dr. Sullivan turned the corner just ahead of her. They stopped short, facing each other just inside the hallway. As Julie had noticed before the hallways had a strange noise deadening effect that seemed especially pronounced just before the hallways met the hubs. It was disconcerting enough that most team members would naturally pause their conversation for a beat as they walked through these connection zones.
As Julie greeted Dr. Sullivan he started to step back into the hub to clear the zone; until she reached out and lightly grabbed the front of his tunic and said, “Please, let’s talk right here.”
Dr. Hilbert Sullivan was no trained agent of the government but he had risen through medical and governmental politics to the number two position at the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta; he was no stranger to political intrigue.
“Hilbert please,” Julie said. “I need to ask you about how General Nesbit is doing and I need your candid assessment even if it’s somewhat speculative.”
After a considered moment Dr. Sullivan responded, “I’m concerned Julie. I go three times a day to check on him but there’s nothing to see. They still have him sedated and claim that it’s perfectly safe. They say the only reason the process is taking so long is that they’re worried about other arterial weaknesses in the same general area.”
Julie looked Dr. Sullivan in the eyes and said, “Do you believe them?”
Dr. Sullivan let out a deep breath and raised his hand to his forehead. “Julie, I just don’t know. I want to believe them but what they’re saying just doesn’t make sense to me. There’s no sign of arterial expansion or weakness on the medical view screen and his blood pressure is consistent with his medical history—the high side of normal. I would think if they were really concerned about arterial weakness they’d be trying to lower it.”
Julie was digesting this new information when Dr. Sullivan said, “Talk to me Julie. What do you know?”
“I don’t know anything Hilbert,” she responded. “I think the timing of his affliction is another coincidence in what is becoming a string of coincidences. What are you hearing from the HQ staff?”
“Julie, that’s the other thing. It’s like HQ lives in another world; everyone here is happy and confident about the future with no worries. When I get out to the platoons, however, it’s just the opposite. Except for maybe the diplomatic platoon, it’s like there’s a giant disconnect from what everybody else is experiencing. I’ve been trying to sound the alarm but Helmer and Memphis aren’t listening. I’m not really sure what to do anymore.”
“Hilbert, I’ve got a favor to ask; two really.”
“What do you need Julie?”
“First off I need to ask you to keep our conversations private; and I mean private from everybody. Can I count on you for that?”
Dr. Sullivan quickly considered and then nodded his head. “Yes, of course.”
“The second thing is that I need an excuse to spend time around the HQ staff; especially Helmer and Memphis. Do you think you can come up with a plausible reason to have me around for a few days?”
Again nodding slowly Dr. Sullivan said, “I’ll have to think up something but I’m sure I can manage. Would tomorrow be soon enough?”
“Tomorrow is perfect.”
Right before they moved on Julie said one last thing. “Oh, and Hilbert as a personal word of friendship; stop raising the alarm. Keep your eyes open but don’t get pegged as a discontent.”
Most of the team had developed the habit of ordering lunch from their room dispenser and then carrying the tray out into the common hub area. It was a convention that Julie understood thoroughly; after all we are a social species.
She hadn’t been sitting for long when Hiromi sat down beside her. Even though she was pretty sure it was Hiromi it didn’t stop her from looking at her uniform.
Good thing she double-checked; the nametag said Ito so that was no help, but the squad patch was red meaning this was Kamiko.
As usual, the captain didn’t start the conversation so after a few minutes Julie said, “Do you and your sister ever feel you can read each other’s mind?”
After thoughtfully chewing on her food Kamiko responded, “Not really. We usually find it easier to figure out what other people are thinking.”
Julie half laughed and said, “I really wish I had your ability. Right now it would make my life so much easier.”
“Then let me loan you mine. The answer is yes, he has feelings for you.”
“Whoa,” Julie exclaimed. “I was talking about the mission; I so need to understand who’s who.”
“No, my friend Julie. You weren’t just talking about the mission and the answer stays the same; he does care.”
Julie actually felt herself blushing. She hadn’t blushed in… years!
“Kamiko, I don’t know what you think you know but I can assure you…”
Kamiko interrupted with, “Julie, you cannot even assure yourself as hard as you try. You have a large responsibility on your shoulders and you think that leaves you no time for personal feelings but you cannot schedule your emotions. As a psychiatrist you should know this.
“We have a saying,” she continued. “I don’t know if it translates well but it states that your war is big enough already without adding new fronts to battle. Maybe you should think about giving in to some of those feelings; it might make the rest of your burden easier.”
As Julie sat silent, thoughts in turmoil, literally not knowing what to say Kamiko said, “Would you like my orange juice?”
It was too much. Everything happening all at once was just too much for any one person so when Toni had suggested that what they really needed was a girl’s night out Julie immediately agreed.