This is But One Fragment Five Hundred Words Long Constituting Part of Something Much Larger, With At Least One New Episode Per Week, And May Be What We Call A Serialized Novella.

The next day Ludek and Nusci stop by Building Three to check up on the progress of the new models. Ludek hasn’t worked with us in nearly two years, but it has been only a single season since Nusci was promoted right out of our lab and into a medium-level Voxing group in Building One. By some accident of administration Nusci and Ludek run the technical designs of the project overall and are sympathetic to our struggles.

There is little talk about Timo’s fumbling accident a few days prior and we all assume that the official report has long-since circulated and has become just another footnote in the Company’s history. Ludek confirms this with a vague comment to Timo about “not troubling himself too much, anymore” and this seemed to be the final affirmation Timo needs before settling back into his regular, light-hearted personality.

Whenever these kinds of inspections happen lately, I notice that Nusci lingers a pace or more behind Ludek as they informally survey our work. It is a strange realization for me because Nusci was always the one we admired in the lab, here, and it is curious to see her that submissive. Then, maybe that is deliberate — orchestrated. Maybe she’s become an apprentice, of sorts. Who knows how the Voxers run things?

There is a lot of casual talk and Ludek is polite when he suggests that the new clockings are coming along a little behind schedule, but admits the work so far is impressive — particularly for the demands of the new technology.

“Can I ask you something Mozari?” Nusci pulls me aside near the end. She addresses me by my full name, something people rare do, so immediately I’m on my guard. “Of course. But why so formal?” I say.

“Oh.” She seems to be checking her own thoughts, then says. “I’m sorry. It’s only we’re quite formal in the Voxing Group. I didn’t think…”

“What is it?”

She hesitates. “Were we close? I mean to say… would you have considered us friends? After all, there was only the three of us in the lab. And Nacks and I were never very close.” I’d never been bothered by the outnumbering by men of women in the lab, but Nusci had struggled with it as if it were some kind of burden.

I shrug noncommittally, and nod. “What’s it like over there?”

“Just me.” She say. “And nine men.”

“And?”

“It’s not like that.” She waves her hand, brushing the idea out of air in front of her. “Only… well, we need to do drinks sometime. Soon. And catch up.”

The tips of my fingers are nearly black from the grime of the clockings, so I slowly wipe my forehead with the back of my hand. “Drinks.” I can do that. “How about tomorrow then?”

Nusci visibly relaxes. “Excellent.” She grins. “Meet me at Dragon’s on the High Street after you finish here. I’ll wait.” And she rushes to follow Ludek out the door.