phonemes would do the trick. I thought I had started o pretty strong with "It's not me, it's you" and other thinly veiled insults, but when those failed to make Spencer disappear I tried the usual "It's not you, it's me". Soon, I was reduced to o ering forced compliments.
"A master's degree in engineering from MIT!
I'm sure people are lining up to hire you."
"But money is nothing to me! I'm made of
money!" Spencer pointed to his expensive pressed shirt and his luxury wristwatch. "No, Sam! Look at the time. Everyone in the "Not at all." Yolanda pointed to another line. "What dashing looks! Any woman would Doom Room already went to lunch. We "Oxygen ow is normal, too. False alarm?" want you. Yolanda, sic 'em." might be the only ones seeing this alert." "Guess so. I'll have it checked after lunch." Yolanda whacked me upside the head. "I'm in "Shouldn't they all receive it no matter where a loving, committed relationship." "I wouldn't wait if I were you." they are? I thought all our employees got push "How about vacation days? You'll do it if I noti cations on their phones." I whipped around at the sound of a familiar give you vacation days, yeah?" voice. "Spencer! How did you get in here?" "What do most people do with noti cations?" "Wait, how many are you—no, wait—" Damn. I left the door open. "Well, of course this week I have them "Dr. Keller." Spencer stepped closer and turned—oh, I remember now. Not giving a Spencer pointed to the brain tank. "While dropped down on one knee. "I would forsake shit is normal for all y'all." I jutted my chin at studying the blueprints, I found a design the entire fairer sex for your tutelage." Spencer. "Scram. I'm locking up." failure in the emergency life support. If the — Errand backup reader goes out of service, the reserve "Hey, that's actually kinda mean. I'm still a supply starts feeding into the tank. The O₂ girl, you know. Also, it's not Dr. or Keller—" concentration should start ticking up." He "Sam! That's enough." Yolanda bowed her "So, should I be worried that you feel the need stepped forward. "By the end of lunch, the head apologetically. "Mr. Forsyth, please to tag along instead of having lunch?" resulting hyperoxia might lead to seizures." understand the director's position. It is Yolanda shrugged. "I just wanted to ride your I planted myself between Spencer and the unlikely that she will change her mind." private elevator." When the doors opened, we console with a scowl on my face. "The oxygen "Dr. Clement. Surely you, an esteemed data stepped out together, our synchronized concentration is completely normal. Please scientist, can understand that the expected footsteps echoing out through the empty leave the building before I call security." value of my persistence is too great! There is hallway. Soon, she spoke again: "Trust me, Master. Let me help." nothing I want more than to be her disciple! "If the rising oxygen levels are directly being If there is any chance at all, I shall press on!" He took another step, and this time I fended caused by the increased activity, then we might have a problem on our hands. It's against him with all my might. Soon, I was I kicked my legs o my desk and rolled back in probably nothing, but if it is something—" standing behind him with my arm around his my o ce chair. "There's absolutely no chance. neck. "Don't let him touch anything!" I yelled. Now get lost. Yolanda, show him out." I clicked my tongue. "Didn't you say we didn't have to worry about the surges?" "Got it!" Yolanda stood in front of the console "Please, Master! Accept me! I will never—" with arms outstretched. Fighting for air, "Shh. Do you guys hear that?" "They're almost de nitely unrelated! Almost." Spencer pried at my arms. Breaking out of my chokehold for a second, he exclaimed: The three of us fell silent. I strained my ear to At the end of the hallway, Yolanda stepped hear what Yolanda was referring to. "The aside as I approached the authenticator. After "Dr. Clement! The oxygen concentration!" sweet sound of silence?" tapping my ID and scanning my eyes, the door slid open. As if doing something wrong, Yolanda turned her head to look at the "Christ, are you deaf?" Yolanda pointed to a Yolanda tiptoed into the so-called Doom display. "Sam! He's right! It's going up!" As monitor by the window in the o ce. Room as I followed closely behind. A large she pointed to the screen, Spencer lurched "Something's coming from there." circular platform surrounded a huge tank of forward, knocking her o balance. Stumbling clear liquid holding an isolated container with backward, she caught herself with her right We gathered around the monitor. Up close, I twenty-four brains in a red uid. A mess of hand, which landed right on a large button. A could make out a faint beeping in sync with wires and tubes connected each brain to the loud boom rang out as a large tube labelled the warning ashing on the screen: supercomputer housed in the oor above. MAIN OXYGEN SUPPLY detached from Trying not to look at the grotesque display, I the tank. The three of us all stared. TANK OXYGEN LEVELS DROPPING. marched up to the central console and "Fuck," we said in unison. "I guess I'll try leaving it to the techs." I turned inputted an override command. A long list of parameters and values popped up on a — Misstep around and headed back to my chair. "I'm sure they're good for something." display. I pointed at one line. "Does that look like low oxygen levels to you?"