Young Writers Society

Ellipse had just flushed the toilet when the announcement came, loud and calm and tame, despite the subject matter. A deep voice echoed over the satellite-wide intercom, beginning with the usual drivel about everyone having a good day and working hard, which Ellipse ignored. She did not think Andra-Media had any right to ask if she was having a nice day, though if she ever met the announcer, she was sure he was probably a nice man.

“Finally, would Elliott please come to the dock atrium?” the announcer finished. “Thank you, and please forgive the interruption.”

Oohh, sweet.

“Any idea why I am getting called to the docks?” Ellipse called to the guard, who was probably just outside the stall, crossing her arms and twiddling her thumbs. Ellipse knew, of course, but she was feeling petty.

The guard grimaced as Ellipse shoved open the stall door and sent her an exhausted look. “I know nothing. All I get told is where you should be and when. And also when I get bathroom breaks.”

“Wow, you really are low on the pecking order,” Ellipse observed. She strolled to the sinks and whistled a siren poem about guppy sirens gnawing on coral.

“I think I liked quiet Elliott better than whatever you are now.”

Ellipse shrugged and lathered her hands in soap. “Your loss. I am much more entertaining like this.”

The bathroom was quiet as Ellipse finished washing up. She splashed a bit of water on her face and looked in the mirror. The reflection that stared back still looked too thin, but Ellipse thought her eyes popped a little more now. Hopefully trials on Earth would not make her revert back to being dull and tired.

Ellipse dried her hands on her pants and skipped out of the beautifully tiled bathroom. The guard followed after, fast-walking to keep up, and Ellipse headed for the satellite’s docks.

She sped through the hallways, enjoying the clip clop of her shoes and the guard’s boots as they hit the floor. Her feet carried her through turn after turn, until the hallways opened up into a great, domed room. The lady in white was there, with a handful of guards in black, and with her were a trio of men in military garb. They stood stark against the walls, all clean lines and solid colors against grey surfaces carved with curves and patterns.

The lady in white stood at the front of the group, right next to a giant man, imposing and stately in a clean, perfectly pressed military uniform. He gave Ellipse a friendly smile, and the lady in white immediately followed suit.

“Elliott!” she exclaimed, motherly and singsong. “The Bellevue crew is here to speak with you! Play nice with them, will you?”

Ellipse turned right to the man in the suit and offered a hand. She felt no inclination to respond to someone who confused kindness for acting like Ellipse was five. “Hi, my name is Ellie. I assume you came because of the leak?”

Immediately, the man dropped his smile. He took Ellipse’s hand and gave a firm handshake. “Indeed. I’m Lieutenant Jackson, the psychologist on the Bellevue. Given the news on Earth, I assume you know why I’m here.”

“Yes, sir,” Ellipse replied.

“Excellent.” He turned to the lady in white. “We will take her for preliminary interviews. Normally, the UN wouldn’t get involved in this sort of thing, but Andra-Media is such a big company, and the Independent Titan problems create some issues with sending US officials out here. And I won’t lie. We’re also here to investigate foul play in global stock exchanges and other violations of international worker’s rights laws.”

The woman scoffed. “Elliott is a performer, not an administrator. She has no information in those aspects.”

“And we have to start a list of witnesses somewhere. Might as well begin with someone who has clearly and publicly stated their position.” The lieutenant met Ellipse’s eyes, stepped to the side, and gestured for her to join him. He offered a weak smile and then pointed at the great double doors that led into the docking bay. “It’s already been agreed upon that you shouldn’t be on the satellite during the interview process. That’s the procedure, after all. If we decide, and I say this so we have our bases covered, that you aren’t in any danger here, then you will be returned.”

“Okay,” Ellipse said. That all sounded right.

“Right then,” the lieutenant agreed. “Let’s go.” His two men turned in perfect sync, and they marched in a perfect rhythm as they followed Ellipse and the lieutenant into the dock.

The Bellevue filled the bay, looming large and almost touching the walls. Well, compared to the Ink she looked like she was about to touch the dock walls. She was a giant vessel, almost the size of a barge, with a clean, sharp prow and seafaring ship windows. Her engines projected from the far end of the ship in two massive, shiny cylinders, and large rectangles were set into the hull, probably places where short range dogfighting vehicles docked.

Ellipse wondered if Tejal had ever been on a military spacecraft. His biological parents had been ambassadors, after all.

She followed the lieutenant up a thin gangplank that arced into a small opening in the hull, and glanced one more time at the door to the rest of the satellite. Hopefully she never saw it again.