Token of Esteem

"You’re a lot of help," said Pook to the computer as he searched for options, trying to ignore the fact that he was enclosed with a dead person in a small room. He found a list of date-coded files in a history folder. Everything about the rats ought to be in them, he reasoned. Surprisingly, the files were empty. Whoever erased them left the titles to tantalize the next researcher with their names. Rat One, CP4 Test, Changes, Rat Two, Amp Test, Field Test, and Defense stood out in bright lemon letters on the dark-brown plasma screen.

"I guess I’m supposed to think the army went on defense as soon as it met the rats outside," he said to the green walls. "Is this some kind of joke?"

Pook double checked to make sure there were no hidden or encrypted files. When he was certain the data was missing, he looked more carefully around the room. There was a white, mylar bulletin board on the wall opposite the console. One word stood out clearly in red acrylic because of its size. D E F E N S E. Underneath were crossed out four other words, including ‘remotes’, ‘sonics’, ‘CC’s’ and ‘irons’. The word ‘none’ was written at the bottom and the final ‘e’ dangled as though the writer scrawled it hurriedly. Pook couldn’t help but think of it in negative terms.

"Fuckin’ A. Now I’m supposed to think this place is indefensible. Somebody usin’ me for a carnival ride? Lookin’ for jollies? Shit!" These words were spoken rather loudly into his helmet’s transceiver.

"This is HQ. Who’s on call?" interrupted a voice.

"Corporal Pook, sir," he answered with relief. "Jason Pook, just arrived."

"This is Lieutenant Budge, corporal. You can bag the shit on duty, soldier. The medicos will be there in a minute. I’m sending a replacement for Private Mully, but you’ll be on your own for at least an hour. Try not to mess things up any worse than they are."

"Yes sir. Sorry, sir. Got carried away."

"Keep the com active. Call me if they start again."

"Sir, I haven’t got a clue as to what is goin’ on. I just got here."

"No time now, corporal. It’s all in the computer," said Lieutenant Budge, who promptly hung up. For a moment, the words floated, then fell into silence.

Pook felt like bait, expendable and replaceable. Then he heard the medicos arrive in their fancy lifter. He unsealed the portal for them. They came in fast and removed Mully. They cleaned the floor, removed the dead man’s meager possessions and bio-checked the post for Pook, verifying that no other life forms were present. Pook thought they were thorough and efficient, but less than slabs at customer relations. He frowned behind his darkened faceplate.

"It’s clean, soldier," said the last medico, preparing to leave.

"Hold on a second," Pook choked out before the man exited the sentry portal. "How did the man die?" The two faced each other, helmet to helmet.

"Don’t know exactly," conceded the young, bearded tech, "but he has a big stomach wound. His weapons are cold. No heat blooms."

"He was listening to music at the time," offered Pook.

"Like I said, I don’t know exactly. We’re taking him to Lab. We’ll look."

"Would you let me know when you find out?"

"Yeah, I can do that," replied the medico turning around to exit the portal. Pook was disturbed by the man’s haste.

"Just a minute," he said, grabbing the man’s shoulder. "What’s your name?"

"Oh. Zeke. Call me anytime. Look, I’m in a rush, OK? I’ll get back to you."