Rusty had officially moved into his office early in the
second week he had access to it. Currently he was pacing back and forth and
trying to figure out a more efficient way to express his rage than punching
something. The door chime beeped.
“Go away Toll!” He yelled.
Carter’s voice was muted due to the door but he could still
hear “Open the door kid.”
Rusty growled, and begrudgingly pressed the button to let
Connor in. Rusty went back to pacing.
“Looking good Rusty.” He said entering the office.
“Feeling good Carter” Rusty grunted.
“I love that movie.” Carter said. Plopping himself into
Rusty’s office chair.
“What movie?” Rusty asked.
“Trading places, but that’s not important.” I need to have
estimates on how we can bring the ring system back online when everything is
all said and done. I’ll need graphs, time lines, and smart sounding science
words that stink of certainty.” There was no humor in Carter’s face.
Rusty stopped pacing and his shoulders slumped. “I honestly
have no idea how long it will take nor do I have the first bit of data to even
start dreaming of an estimate.” He sighed.
“Then put together a team and start working on one. You just
scared a lot of people, it’s time to start thinking about calming them down.”
Carter puffed on his nano stick.
Rusty sat on his cot. “Look I’ll talk to Toll tomorrow, just
–“
“I don’t care about Toll, you found the system reset
commands. Finder’s keepers, He who controls the spice controls the universe,
and other such platitudes that mean ‘responsibility sucks, get used to it’’
Carter stood up and walked over to the door. “We can’t just break the universe
and walk away kid. We have to put our toys back when were done with them.” He
pressed the keypad and the door slid open.
Rusty shook his head. “How are you always so flippant about
this stuff?” He asked.
Carter puffed on his stick. “Because what you’re doing with
the ring system is what I’m doing with human lives, difference is, human lives
can’t be reset like nothing ever happened. Being flippant with people I trust
is how I stay sane.”
Rusty nodded. “I’ll get my team together tonight.”
“Good” Carter stepped into the hallway, the door started to
close and Carter stuck his hand out to catch it. “Rusty?”
“Yeah?” Rusty asked.
Carter hesitated for a second. Rusty was looking out the
window at the fish. Carter knocked on the door jam “Watch trading places.”
Rusty looked at him and nodded.
“Yeah, yeah I’ll do that.” He said.
