Tisis

Too close for comfort (N)

After my return to the bridge, my father lectures me about how the Vermin run most aspects of the ship for us and how vital their services are for us, because we simply do not have the numbers any more to run the entire ship all by ourself.
He also warns me, that they cannot be trusted and need to be observed closely, reminding me of their history of violence and conflict.

After he is done, he sighs, holding his head with one of his hands.

"Listen...I would like you to run an errand for me," he suddenly says.
"An...errand, father? Whatever could it be?"

My father sighs again, turns around and fetches a small envelope.
"I want you to take this to the overseer of block X and fetch me his reply."
"I...beg your pardon, father, but why aren't you using the communication systems of the ship? Wouldn't that be far more efficient than...this?"
"It would, however this exchange is highly confidential. I do not want anyone but those it concerns to know about it. The system is simply...not quite as safe as I would require it to be for this kind of communication. Now, please be on your way."
"But...father, I beg your pardon, but I have my own post to attend to. I need to..."
"I admire your dedication, however I have already told Thaxlamsho'm that you will be delayed because I needed to talk with you. Now go. That is an order."

I look up at my father in disbelief however after a few seconds I salute, "Yes, Jor. I shall be on my way at once."

I turn around, the envelope firmly grasped in my hand, and head over to the transportation terminal.
While the transport system shoots me towards the 'X' section of the ship, I look at the envelope. It is not sealed or anything and I cannot help but wonder what might be inside that's important enough to not go through the communication channel, but not important enough to seal it.

Then it strikes me, that my father may have wanted me to take a look at it.
Besides, nobody would be any the wiser, considering that there is no seal to break.
But should I really take a look?
Wouldn't that mean betraying my father's trust?
But if he really didn't want me to look at it, he would have sealed it, wouldn't he?
He could have sent anyone, but he did send me.
But he sent me, because he trusts me, didn't he?

While my head goes in circles, I consider just asking my father over the communication line, but then I shake my head.
That would be foolish, considering how this entire exchange is supposed to be secret.

I remember playing a game like this when I was a child though.
There would be a treasure of some sort hidden somewhere on the ship and various hints where to find the next hint and ultimately the treasure itself scattered all across the ship.
A smile creeps over my face at the thought of it.
Those were better days, indeed.

But I'm all grown up now. I have no more time to play silly games like that any more.

I decide that I will not betray father's trust and keep the envelope closed.

A few minutes later, the capsule stops at the terminal to block 'X', however when I get out, I immediately notice something being strange.

Usually the local comm channels are buzzing with the chatter of the guards, but as my implant tries to connect to the local block network, it notifies me, that it cannot get a signal.
To make things worse, the only source of light is from the transport capsule that brought me here.

We've had system failures like this before, but usually protocol requires sending someone to notify a technician to take care of the problem and to report it to the bridge, however father did not mention any of this.

I pull out my personal stun gun, take a deep breath and press myself against the wall, while I try to remember what exactly it is they are doing here.