Page 25 of Whoops-A-Mate From Outer Space
She shrugged. “I doubt that, but I’m glad he’s here.”
“That makes two of us.” I glanced over to where I had a calendar open on my screen. “Luckily, things are starting to get routine here, and I think that I can get into a consistent communication schedule. Though it still won’t be as much time interacting with everybody as I’d like.”
“Eh,” she shrugged. “I get it.”
I slid my glasses from my hairline to rest on my nose, then turned to my notes. “Did my proposed weekly meeting time work for you, or do we need to figure something else out?”
She sighed. “It works, though I’d prefer a morning slot if you have one.”
I shook my head. “Sorry, no can do. We have daily meetings in the morning here where we go over the results of the previous day, then chart out the tasks to be accomplished so that the computer is processing shortly after lunch.”
“Damn, they’re keeping you busy. Is it at least interesting?”
I tilted my head from one side to the other as I considered the question. Interesting was an understatement.
Breakthrough? Pioneering? We were among the first humans to see alien DNA, and no matter what we did, our research would be studied for decades to come.
Finally, I nodded. “I think interesting is a good word for it.”
She giggled. “I know you better than that, Doc G. Your face gave it away. But I understand you can’t talk about it. I’m just glad you’re enjoying the work.”
I smiled. “I may have been reluctant at first, but I’m glad I’m here.”
“Good!” she chirped.
I nodded and glanced at my notes again. “Ok, onto business. What are your current roadblocks, and what are your plans for this next week?”
“Well, I…”
Ashley was interrupted by a single knock at the door, then Eashai poked his head in.
“Gene?”
I was beyond grateful that the information security team had insisted that no cameras face the door.
“One moment, Ashley,” I stated, then I muted my microphone before she could hear any more of Eashai’s cadence.
I pushed my glasses into my hair again when I realized he was slightly blurry.
His eyes were wide as I held up a hand to stop him before he could come into view of the camera.
He mouthed something, but I couldn’t make out what he was trying to say.
“It’s ok,” I said. “I muted the mic.”
“Was I seen?” he asked, a slight squeak at the end of his question.
I shook my head. “No, the camera is facing me.”
He blew out a long breath. “I apologize. Floyd indicated that you were in here, and I did not anticipate…”
I laughed. “It’s ok, just a slight moment of panic. Do you need me in the lab?”
“No. I would like to discuss something else with you. But it can wait until you have concluded your work.”
“I shouldn’t be much longer. The student I had scheduled after Ashley had to cancel.”
“Ashley is a female?”
