The Turn: Chapter Fourteen

The Turn

Chapter Fourteen

~And So It Begins~

Three Years before the Turn

Sirius walked into work nearly a week after the assessments. He walked into the glass building casually, his son Kaiba not too far behind. Lori, the front desk secretary, handed him his daily cup of coffee. She gave him a smile while he nodded his thanks in return. Kaiba was always more of a tea personality and was very specific with what type of tea so he would just get his own.

The interior of the Tower was glamorous to the first timer. For Sirius, it was just another busy day at work. He walked over to the elevator, greeting people as he passed them by. He made an effort to learn as many names as possible as to have a more personal relationship with his employees.

In the elevator, Sirius pulled a card from his pocket, scanned it in a scanner, and typed a pass key on a nearby screen. Only after that did the elevator move to the uppermost floor. When it opened, there was a single hallway. Two large desks lay in its own inlet on either side of the hallway. One belonged to Kaiba, the other to a woman.

She looked up at Sirius and Kaiba. Her hair was short and black. She had purple eyes that had the slight slant of Asian descent. She wore a sleeveless kimono top colored purple with black hems tied at the waist with a black cloth. Her black pants were form fitting and her heels were the same color purple as her shirt. Her face was emotionless as she waited for Sirius to say something.

“Hello, Kiri,” Sirius smiled.

She looked down at her computer and typed away at the key board, “Voice sample confirmed. Hello, Sirius.”

“Hello, Kiri,” Kaiba said as he settled into the desk across from Kiri.

Sirius looked back at Kaiba, “It still astounds me that you were able to create her. She looks so real for a robot.”

“Humanoid, father, she’s supposed to look human,” he said as he turned on his system.

“I am right here,” Kiri said, still typing away at the computer.

Sirius dipped his head in an apology, “Where are my manners? I’m sorry about that, Kiri.”

“Apology accepted,” Kiri nodded.

Sirius looked over at Kaiba, “You know, he’s practically a genius but he can’t get a girl friend.”

Kiri smiled at the comment. It looked like her cheeks had reddened a little.

Kaiba sighed, “I don’t have time for a girl friend.”

Sirius shook his head as he walked to his office at the end of the hallway, he swiped another card different from the first one and the electronic sliding door opened, “If I had said that when I was your age, I wouldn’t have meet your mother.”

The door closed before Sirius could hear his son’s response. The room was large with a small lounging room to one side next to his desk area. The whole room was the shape of half a circle. Widows lined the outer wall except a small section to the left where the private bathroom lay. The floor was covered in white carpet.

Sirius walked to his desk. Already there were papers stacked on it. He sat in his chair and readied himself before diving into the paperwork.

“A lot happens in a week,” he muttered to himself.

He looked though the first stack of papers. Apparently there was a robbery in a U.S. plant where all that was taken was a type of metal. He skimmed though the file quickly but other that it was a rare metal that was taken, it didn’t require much action. He pressed a button on his desk phone.

“Kaiba,” he said.

“Yes,” came the response.

“Put a watch on kirilium sales on the black market, please.”

“Sure thing.”

Kirilium was a special metal made from titanium. It was only used for the new spacecraft’s that could now be used for flying people places and was only used in space programs. It was a strong metal and dealt with heat very well. Most importantly it was light but unfortunately, it had to be created scientifically so there wasn’t a lot of it. The only reason that someone would want to steel kirilium was to sell it to someone else. It depended on whom that someone else was and what they would use it for that bothered Sirius.

“Should I put a notice on private sales too?” Kaiba asked.

“That would be great,” Sirius placed the stack of papers to one side, “You named our dear humanoid after a metal? Have you no taste?”

“Try being an intruder some time,” he muttered, “You’ll get a taste of her metal.”

IOIOIOIOI

Zara had made sure that her best outfit had been laid out the night before but somehow there were wrinkles in it that were not there before. She wore it now but that odd wrinkle seemed to ruin the whole outfit: a sleeveless black shirt, black pants and high heels with minimal but noticeable heel. With a sigh, she packed a gym bag with her weapons inside. She grabbed her keys and left.

Zara walked out of her complex to a surprise. Puppetmaster stood there leaned against a black convertible. He stood there in his coat, hatless, and barefoot. The smile on his face was inviting.

“What’s that?” Zara asked.

Puppetmaster shrugged, “A car.”

“I know it’s a car, but what are you doing with one?” she asked, “I haven’t seen you in anything other than those sandals you wear.”

Puppetmaster nodded in agreement, “That’s true. It’s how I stay fit, you know. You on the other hand, are commuting. How many commuters ride bikes all the way down town?”

Zara’s mouth dropped open, “That’s not—”

Puppetmaster tilted his head slightly, “It’s yours. I figured black would be a nice color. Did I guess wrong?”

She ran up to Puppetmaster and threw her arms around him. He laughed joyfully as she thanked him repeatedly for the unexpected gift. His arms wrapped around her lovingly. Zara was the one who broke the embrace, remembering that she was now a professional and had to maintain appearance. She whipped the tears from her eyes.

“Where did you get the money for this? I doubt thousands of people ran to your store in the past week.”

Puppetmaster opened the passenger door and motioned her to get in, “Let’s just say I ran into some easy money.”

“Easy money?” Zara smiled, “You mean gambling. I didn’t take you for the type.”

He closed the door and walked around the car to the driver’s side, “I only partake when I know I can win.”

“How often do you win?”

“All the time.”

Zara looked skeptical, “Really?”

“I don’t gamble all that much; only when I need the money,” he started the car, “For some strange reason, luck favors me. I feel bad for the gentlemen I win from. That’s why I don’t partake often. I made sure that the fellows I played against to get the money were well to do.”

“You cheat,” Zara laughed.

Puppetmaster looked at her from the corner of his eye, “It isn’t cheating if you don’t get caught.”

Zara scowled a moment as the car left the curb, “Your dolls wouldn’t have anything to do with your ‘luck’ now, would they?”

“My innocent little dolls? I’m appalled by what you’re suggesting!” he tried not to but that signature smile spread across his face, “They can hide it rather obvious places, now that you mention it.”

“You’re terrible,” Zara rested her arms on the edge window and laid her head down.

Puppetmaster raised a finger, “Insane. There is a difference.”

IOIOIOIOI

Puppetmaster dropped her off in front of the large building. Zara suddenly felt weak-kneed. She had come so far from where she had started in her aunt’s home. Nervously, she leaned forward and backward on her feet. But then she felt that familiar feeling that she was being watched.

“Chaud, stop sneaking up on me,” she said.

“I wasn’t,” Chaud walked up alongside her.

“Oh, so you just happen to be everywhere I am?”

Chaud nodded, “Coincidences happen.”

“They seem to be happening a lot more often than coincidences should,” Zara eyed him from the corner of her eye.

“Hey, y'all,” Deontay walked up from crossing the street.

“Hey, Deontay,” they said in unison.

Deontay looked up at the tall building and whistled, “Seems a whole lot taller today.”

“Actually, it’s true. During the summer things expand slightly,” Chaud stated in a matter-of-fact manner.

Both Zara and Deontay looked at him. Sometimes Chaud could be a real nuance. Zara raised a hand and hit him in the back of the head.

Chaud flinched and sighed. The three other members in their group walked up just then. Vicky looked as nervous as ever while Hina wore a smile on her face.

“I would have loved to known what that was all about,” she stated.

“He probably said something stupid…or smart…either way the result is the same,” Naru put in his view.

“Thanks, Naru, for the vote of confidence...” Chaud’s voice was thick with sarcasm.

“Anytime,” Naru responded.

It got quiet as they looked up at their future. They stood there on the sidewalk for several minutes. Vicky was brave enough to say something.

“Won’t we be late?” she said quietly.

At that, Zara took the first step up the stairs. She felt the others following her lead. The handles to the door felt cold under her touch. A rush of cold air hissed out as Zara pushed the door open. On the inside, people were rushing to and fro, always having a place to be. In the center of the lobby, a secretary sat answering calls. Zara approached.

“Hello, this is the Tower, hold please; hello, this is the Tower, hold please; hello, this is the Tower, hold please; hello…” the secretary chimed in rhythm. She was surrounded by phones that were ringing off the hook. Piles of folders were stacked up on her circular desk. Computers also were spaced evenly apart. Some looked like they were being used.

“Hello, there!” she said as Zara stood awkwardly in front of her, “One moment. Hello, this is the Tower, hold please. Now how may I help you!?”

“We’re—”

“Oh, you the new recruits aren’t you! One moment!” she picked up a nearby phone and pressed a button. She kept her smile on her face as she waited patiently, “Hello! Sorry to bother you sir, but the recruits are here. Where shall I send them? Uh huh, uh huh, yeah, oh I know where that is! Yeah, yep, mhmm, I see. Totally. Yeah, alright, bye. Wait here,” she told Zara and the others before getting straight to work again.

“Shouldn’t you have some help?” Hina asked the girl.

“Oh, I know! But they all got in trouble when they used the computers to update their social status,” she smiled widely.

“When was that?” Zara asked.

The girl shrugged uncertainly, “Well, I think Sirius fired them about an hour ago. Hello, this is the Tower, hold please.”

“Wow…” Deontay muttered.

“We’re leading a global operation over here. If you’re distracted a lot tends to happen,” the secretary nodded, “One of the girls was even texting. Can you believe that? I mean can’t you wait at home? Hello, this is the Tower, hold please. Hello, this is the Tower, hold please…”

The door opened behind then and a group of girls walked in. They were awestruck by the building’s interior. As a group they walked up to the secretary’s desk. The secretary clicked something on her computer.

“Oh, you’re the replacements! Have you each read and signed the contract?”

The girls nodded.

“Then get to work ladies! The Tower doesn’t stop for anyone! There are hundreds of people who would love to take your place! Chop, chop! Hello, this is the Tower, hold please. You! Take calls 1-36. You! Take 37-49. 50-78 belong to you! Do I have to tell you all everything!? Get it done! We have almost 600 calls to answer! Hello, this is the Tower, hold please.”

Zara quickly looked around. There were people walking toward the exits with a box of their things in their arms and a sad look on their faces but at the very same time, there were people with new suits and shoes walking in with the biggest smiles on their faces. If you were too slow or hindered the well-oiled machine of the Tower in any way, you were replaced. There was no funny business in the Tower.

“Are you the six we’re expecting?” a woman with black hair and purple eyes said. Zara nodded, “Then please follow me.”

They walked through a labyrinth of hallways and doors. Eventually they made their way to a type of medical wing. The woman sat them down in a room and waited with them. A small boy in a science lab coat; no older than 15 years of age, walked into the room with a tray of tiny chips. He set the tray down then pushed up his glasses.

Not too far behind him was the doctor that had seen to Naru. Dr. Jekyll walked in to the room. His clothing was similar to what he had worn almost a week ago. When he came in, Naru seemed to fade into the wall. He walked over to the tray and pulled out a long cylinder device. He inserted one of the chips into the device and walked over to where Zara sat.

A sharp pain shot up her arm as he set one end of the device on her shoulder and pressed a button.

“Ouch!” Zara glared at him, “What was that?”

Jekyll didn’t answer. Instead he pulled out another device. It was the size of a small camera. It beeped approvingly when he hovered it over the painful area.

“ZU3492 activated,” he muttered loud enough for the woman to hear.

She nodded.

After that, he went down the line; loading the chips into the cylinder device, giving the kids a nasty surprise somewhere on their bodies, activating the chips and then moving on to the next. When he was done, he simply walked out with the boy close behind him. By the speed he was going, it was safe to guess that he had somewhere else to be.

The woman stood up and walked in front of them.

“My name is Kiri. Welcome to the Tower. If you will follow me, we have a contract to sign upstairs.”