Chapter 15: The Lab Partner

The next morning, as Casey walked to her lab, she was intercepted by Harold. Without greeting, he barked, "Follow me."

Based on the Alliance meeting, she felt she knew they were going to see the President, but didn't want to give anything away, so she asked, with a surprised tone, " Where are we going?"

“The President wants to see you,” he said, his voice leaving no room for further questions.

As she followed Harold, she thought if the President was about to say what she thought he was, it would confirm the Alliance’s intelligence. It would also mean that powerful members of the Alliance were much closer to the President than she could have imagined.

When she stepped into the President's office, her palms were clammy. Her hands shook, but she didn't mind—if anything, she felt it made her appear more surprised and less prepared for the meeting. The President looked up from his desk as she entered, his casual demeanour at odds with the weight of the moment.

“Casey,” he greeted her with a nod. “Thanks for coming.”

She thought, "what choice did she have" but didn't say it. Instead, she gave a tight smile and nodded.

“I’ve been thinking about your request, and about how you’ve already taken the initiative with the lysoid issue. You’ve already made some solid progress, and I think it’s time to make a few changes.” He spoke casually, but the words made Casey's heart race.

Trying to sound surprised and pleased, she responded, “Does this mean I’ll be working with the Taskforce? I think I can be a real asset, but... managing both the Taskforce and my current work could be tricky.”

He smiled at this, giving Casey a feeling of comfort that he wasn’t aware she already knew about the changes. 

“Don’t worry about that,” he said, his tone turning formal. “I’ve already arranged for someone to support you in the lab. You’ll work half the day in the lab, and the other half with the Taskforce.”

She didn’t miss a beat. “That’s wonderful news. You won’t regret it,” she replied, managing to sound sincere despite the chaos swirling inside her.

“When you return, your new lab partner will be waiting for you,” he continued. “He’s been briefed on the work and comes highly recommended. Start your mornings in the lab, and from tomorrow on, a Taskforce member will pick you up in the afternoon.”

"I can't wait to get started," she said with an outward appearance of joy and an inward feeling of uncertainty of what was to come.

When Casey returned, she was shocked to see Martin Gins, the guy who helped her transfer the USB content. He walked quickly toward her and said, "Oh, you must be Casey; I'm Martin." She took this to mean they had never met before, so she acted accordingly. She shook his hand and said, "Nice to meet you, Martin. I believe you are my new lab partner."

If someone observed the interaction, they would think this was the first time they had met, and neither of them let on otherwise for the rest of the day. Casey showed Martin around the lab, explaining how it operated and some of the key issues, such as the lysoid deficit. She also explained how she was going to start working with the Taskforce tomorrow. Although she doubted anyone else would notice, she could tell from the look in his eyes that he already knew, which comforted her.

At the end of the day, Martin asked if he could walk with her, Casey told him that she had a special place she liked to visit when she wanted to destress at the end of the day, and maybe he would like to join her there. Martin quickly agreed.

As they walked, a thousand questions rushed to her mind. She barely held them in check until they reached the small, secluded park she favoured. Just as she opened her mouth to speak, Martin raised a hand, signalling her to be quiet. He pulled a small note from his pocket and handed it to her.

It read: Turn off your Airplay. Disconnect your security pass.

Trusting him, Casey tapped her wrist to deactivate her security pass, then turned off her Airplay chip. Martin mirrored her actions with his own devices.

When done, he simply said, "Okay"

Taking this to mean she could ask her questions, she took a deep breath, trying to gather her thoughts. “How did you get the job in the lab?” she asked, but before he could answer, a flood of other questions tumbled out. “Who are you? Why are you here? Are you with the Alliance? Why were you in the fruit shop?”

Martin placed his hands gently on her shoulders, hoping she would calm down. “Slow down, Casey. I’m here to help you,” he said, his voice soothing but firm. “I’ll answer as many questions as I can, but I won’t be able to answer all of them. You’ll need to trust me.”

Casey hesitated, but the sincerity in his eyes helped her relax. She nodded after a long moment.

“I know you’re under a lot of pressure,” Martin continued. “You haven’t been able to extract all the files yet, and I’m here to give you some breathing space. You need to focus on the intelligence, and I’ll make sure you have support in the lab.”

"But how did you get the job?" she pressed again.

He hesitated before answering, his expression turning cautious. “That’s something I can’t explain. The less you know, the better for everyone involved.” She didn't like that answer, but she didn’t push further as she already had too much to deal with. For now, knowing that she had someone she could rely on felt like a small but crucial comfort.

Martin shifted the conversation. “I studied water generation and purification in another Calberra, in what was California. My parents sent me there when I was young. I was a protégé of a brilliant scientist. A few months ago, they felt it was time to return and get closer to the President and help the Alliance. So, here I am.”

Casey’s brow furrowed. “You don’t know what’s ahead either?”

Martin gave a small smile. “No, I don’t. But it’s time to make a difference. Just like you, I’m trying to gather intelligence and play my part. That’s why I’m here with you.”

She smiled back, though it felt more like a shared understanding than a reassurance. “So, we’re partners in the lab... and outside the lab?”

“I guess so,” he replied with a wry grin.

His tone turned serious again. “My job is to support you, Casey. You’re the one with access to the Chemical Manufacturing Plant, the Taskforce, and Percy’s files. You’re also close to your father.”

Her heart skipped at the mention of her father.

“What should I do next?” she asked, trying to focus on the task at hand.

Martin thought for a moment. “Extract the CMP files. There’s intelligence there that could help you ask the right questions when you meet with the Taskforce. But be careful. You don’t want to raise any suspicions.”

“Got it,” she said, her resolve hardening. “I’ll start tonight.”

They walked on in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. As they parted ways, they shared a brief, firm hug. Casey felt relief knowing she wasn’t entirely alone in this. The battle was just beginning, and having Martin by her side might be the key to surviving it.