One of them noticed him, and waved. He waved back, and all three smiled a little, glad to be paid attention to by a doctor they knew held high status in the crèche. “Have a good session, lads.”
“Thank you , Doctor Dan.” The one who had waved spoke up. He stood then, and led the other two into the gym as the door opened and chimed green, leaving him alone in the hall.
Dan sighed. Then he caught motion in his peripheral vision and turned his head to see Dev emerging from the gym, fastening her badge to her coverall pocket. He smiled in reaction, proud of his meticulous work that was so evident in Dev’s attractive features and well made body.
He supervised many sets. But Dev had been one of his personal efforts. “That was fast.” He stood up. “Let’s go get something to eat. I bet you’re hungry.”
Dev smiled, a little bashfully. “They worked me hard in the gym today.” She admitted. “And it’s cycle end. I think we were going to get some extra tonight.”
“Well, don’t worry about it.” Doctor Dan led the way through the halls. “We’re going to the little place we working scientists eat, so you will get fed, absolutely.” He triggered the door to the grav lift and stepped in, waiting for Dev to join him before he pointed up with his thumb, and they both kicked off.
The tubes were pretty empty, and they drifted upward through the clear glass, as the stations rotation brought then to aphelion, and they were faced with a vast star field overhead.
Dev enjoyed the sight immensely. She didn’t usually get the opportunity, since most of the crèche areas she was accustomed to were down lift. “They’re so pretty.”
Dan had been looking up also. “They are, aren’t they?” He said. “Savor them, Dev. You won’t get to see them downside.”
“That’s what they said.” Dev agreed, as they reached the top and she followed the doctor through the hatch. They were now in one of the upper residential areas, and she turned her head from side to side looking at the plush carpet, and woven tile walls. “Only clouds.”
“Only clouds.” Dan led the way to an entrance, where a bio alt was standing, manning a small desk. “Hello, Ceebee 245.”
The bio alt, dressed in a black jumper with silver piping, looked up. “Oh! Hello Doctor Dan.” He glanced at Dev, but didn’t address her. “Would you like a table?”
“Yes.” Dan said. “For two, please. My friend Dev here is joining me.”
Ceebee 245 looked briefly at Dev, then he half bowed, and indicated the door behind him. “Of course Doctor. Please come this way.”
Dev felt very out of place. She followed Doctor Dan inside, and found herself in a bubble that held several dozen tables, about a dozen of which were occupied. She knew the people in the room were all looking at her, and she had some idea that her kind weren’t allowed.
Doctor Dan, though, seemed oblivious to this. He pulled out a chair for her at the table they were led to, and sat down himself. “Ceebee, please bring us two fruit punches to start with.”
Ceebee 245 nodded in acknowledgement, and disappeared, heading towards the service area.
Doctor Dan leaned on his forearms. “Dev, I know this seems very strange to you. But I’m doing it for a reason. “
Dev looked around. “I’ve never been here before.” She agreed. “It’s very pretty.”
The doctor smiled. “Yes, it is.” He said. “You know, the assignment we’re sending you on, I think sometimes you might end up in places like this, with your natural born partner.” He added. “And you might even be wearing clothing that will make people think you’re not a biological alternative.”
Dev remained silent, listening to him intently.
“So I wanted you to just see what this was like, before you went downside.” Doctor Dan looked at the pad on the table. “But I think I’ll order for both of us, if that’s okay with you.”
“Okay.” Dev agreed.
He keyed in an order, then turned his attention back to her. “They’ve given you a lot of programming this week, haven’t they?”
“Yes.” Dev was relieved to be talking about something familiar to her. “I had two sessions. The first one was very long. It was all tech, really hard.” She said. “Then I had lab.”
“I saw your lab results. You did very well.” The doctor said “The programmers were really pleased with how you took the program, too.”
Dev grinned in response. “Thank you.”
Doctor Dan smiled. “I’ve seen the programming. What did they actually tell you about this assignment, Dev? What did they say you were going to do?”
Dev was a little confused. Wouldn’t Doctor Dan know that? “Well.” She said. “Doctor Doss explained there was some problem that they wanted me to try and help with. He took me to meet a man called Bricker, who said I would be working with them to try and solve the problem.” She paused. “They didn’t say exactly what I would do, but the programming was a lot of tech, so I guessed I would be working with that, and with something to do with security.”
Long speech. Doctor Dan regarded the young, serious face across from him. “Does that worry you?”
Dev considered the question. “I don’t know.” She answered, finally. “Should it?”
Ah. Doctor Dan waited as two plates were delivered to them, and the server silently left. He watched his dinner companion study the contents, then pick up the implements on one side and put them neatly to use.
That, at least, they’d given her. “They must have told you what Interforce does, didn’t they?” He sliced up his protein and took a sip of the fruit juice.
Dev shook her head, chewing thoughtfully.
Figures. “Well, Dev, you’re right that you’ll be doing something with security.” Doctor Dan said. “Interforce sends people to do things that make the lives of people who are on our side better, and prevent people who aren’t on our side from hurting us.”
Dev swallowed. “That doesn’t sound so bad.” She hesitantly offered.
“Well, it doesn’t, if you just look at the surface of those words.” Doctor Dan said. “What that really means, Dev, is that you will be doing some dangerous things, and it’s possible you could get hurt doing them. You could see other people hurt. “
“Oh.” Somehow, though, Dev had known that. Something in the programming had told her, she reasoned, since she felt no prickle of surprise at the words, nor dread hearing them. “I”ll do my best to be safe.” She said.
Doctor Dan smiled again. “I know you will.” He said. “When I put you together, Dev, I tried to give you the ability to adapt, and to handle difficult things. This assignment is going to be difficult, but I think you can do it.”
Dev produced another tentative smile at the compliment. “Thank you.”
“What I am going to warn you about though, is about how people downside will feel about you, about what you are.” Doctor Dan’s voice gentled. “There are other bio alts in Interforce. But none of them will be doing what you will. Some people might not like it.”
Dev nodded. “Like here, when they don’t like it when someone else gets higher skills.” She said. “They want it too. Or they think they should get it.”
Impressed, Doctor Dan regarded this product of his making. The insight was more than he expected, and showed a self awareness he hadn’t quite anticipated. “Yes, that’s it exactly.” He said. “Have you had trouble like that much here?”
Dev shrugged. “A little.” She admitted. “I think its also mostly because I’m .. “ She hesitated. “There’s no one else in my set.” She explained. “So everyone else has someone else who is just like them, and it makes them stick out less.”