Read Online Office of Mercy (9781101606100) by Ariel Djanikian - Free Book Online Page B

team. The object of your mission is to (1) ensure the cleanliness and efficiency of the Crane sweep, (2) replace the sensors destroyed by the blast, and (3) document the site of the sweep for the Archives. As you know, a Recovery team would usually deploy within a week of the sweep. However, given the presence of the Pine Tribe in the field, this is impossible. The team will therefore await deployment until after the Pines have left the area, either by the Tribe’s own volition or, we hope, by the force of a sweep.
    Beginning tomorrow morning, you will stop your regular shifts in the Office of Mercy and report instead to Pod G11 in the Pretends for group training, both morning and afternoon-shifts.
    The members of the team are: Jeffrey Montague, Office of Mercy; Eric Johansson, Office of Mercy; Natasha Wiley, Office of Mercy; Alejandra Rodriguez, Extra-Settlement Engineering; Nolan al-Rashid, Extra-Settlement Engineering; and Douglas Truman, Office of Land and Water Management.
    Eternally Yours, Alphas/deptofgov
    â€œI’m going Outside,” said Natasha.
    â€œI can’t believe it,” said Min-he. “You and Eric too. You’re only Epsilons.”
    â€œI wonder if it posted to the maincomputer yet.”
    â€œOnly one way to find out.”
    Natasha had just pinched the last fastening of her shirt when a knock thudded at the door.
    â€œFinally!” Eric said, with a grin that threatened to leap from his face. “You saw the message then? Alpha believe it, I don’t regret the day we got assigned to Jeffrey’s team. Poor Yasmine, though, she always seems to get the short end of the deal. It’s her fault, I think. She doesn’t show the same dedication as you and me. Remember the time Jeffrey caught her playing Monkey-Go-Huntin’ during the nightshift?”
    â€œSo I guess we’re friends again,” Natasha said. She laughed, genuinely happy that she and Eric had made the team together, and not only because it meant that she was spared his indignation.
    â€œWhen weren’t we friends?” Eric asked. “Come on, I think I hear the elephant. They’re going to post upstairs any minute.”
    A small crowd had gathered in the Dome, drawn there by the rumor of an Alpha announcement. “I hear they’re upping the meat serving to three times a week,” Maria Chávez was telling a suspicious-looking Tom Doncaster, who headed the Farms. A huddled group of doctors were shooting meaningful looks at one another, as if they suspected the announcement indubitably had to do with their Department. The clock switched to 0730 and the morning bulletins came up on the screen. For a moment it was quiet while the citizens read an abbreviated version of what had appeared on Natasha’s wallcomputer—and then Natasha and Eric were being jostled from every direction; a swarm of their fellow Epsilons having converged upon them.
    â€œIt’s about time they gave us important assignments!” someone was saying near Natasha’s ear.
    â€œNot the babies anymore, are we? What with the Zetas coming—”
    â€œYou deserve it,” said Min-he, her round, friendly face flushed with excitement. She squeezed Natasha’s arm, and Natasha gave her a grateful smile.
    The anxious and jubilant faces parted to let someone through: Jeffrey. He looked both happy and complacent and Natasha beamed at him. He was the one to thank for all of this. For one wild moment, Natasha imagined taking a running step forward and throwing herself into his arms and telling him, really telling him, how it meant everything to her that he had brought this dream to life.
    â€œGood luck,” Jeffrey said, shaking Eric’s hand first. “The Alphas are behind you.”
    â€œThanks, Jeffrey,” Eric said. “Thanks a lot.”
    Jeffrey turned next to Natasha. He took her hand and she stepped as close to him as she dared, with so many people watching. As