Dr. Jenel Shelby didn’t look impressed with Charlie. The scientist barely glanced at her at all, ice-blue eyes focused on the screen as she flicked a finger on the thin data sheet, a frown knotting dark, glossy eyebrows. Charlie felt anxiety wash over her as she leaned forward just enough to see her profile on the screen.
Whatever she was reading on Charlie, Dr. Shelby didn’t look happy.
Thin lips pinched into a hard line as the woman sitting across from her finally set the glass sheet down and folded her hands on the table, running a critical eye over her. It was a disconcerting feeling, being weighed and judged on the spot, and it never got easier. No matter how much she tried to present herself well, she always felt like she failed to impress her supervisors on Earth, or in the colony ship.
A skitter of nerves ran up her back. This was her one shot at something remotely prestigious for her station, and one that wouldn’t demand hours of grueling labor.
“Charlene Wallace. Tell me, what do you know about caring for xenobiological lifeforms? Do you have any practical experience that can be applied to this position?” Dr. Shelby asked coolly.
Experience? Charlie had never left Earth. If experience was required, she was sunk.
Ignoring her sweaty palms, she met the scientist’s eye and dredged up a nervous smile as she racked her brain for anything that might qualify.
“I’m afraid I really don’t know much about it, but I was once assigned to a veterinary clinic for a few years where I was responsible for caring for the animals, especially those that were boarded for short stretches of time. I also have some experience tending to different plants. While I don’t know anything about xenobiology, I’m a quick study and will follow directions to the letter on whatever care you need for me to provide,” she said.
Dr. Shelby continued to stare at her, and Charlie felt her nerves spike. I’m blowing it. She was going to end up in the fields after all, just as Doug had suggested. A sigh burst from the woman’s lips, and she shook her head.
“I suppose you’re as good as we are going to get right now until we get more qualified professionals here. Don’t become comfortable in this position, Charlene. If you want to keep it, you are going to have to work hard to earn it. I suspect they will begin recruiting in two or three years once we have verified the sustainability and safety of the colony and have made sufficient progress toward widescale settlement. Even though this work is largely grunt work, it requires a delicate hand, and I prefer somebody with some experience. If you work hard and prove to be adept at your assignment, there’s a small chance we may keep you on. However, I won’t lie and say it’s my first choice. Even still, you are expendable. If you want to be here for the full term until your replacement gets here, I suggest you follow my every direction to the T. Fuck up at all between then and now, and you’re out. Is that clear?”
Charlie nodded hesitantly, disappointment simmering within her. Of course the position wouldn’t automatically be for a long-term assignment. She was merely a warm body.
She attempted to look on the bright side. Three years before they could comm Earth to verify planetary conditions and another three years before the new colonists arrived meant that if she worked hard, she would have six years before she really needed to worry about being replaced.
“I understand. I promise I’ll work hard and not let you down,” she said quickly.
For a moment, she thought she saw the slightest softening of the scientist’s expression, but it vanished as if it had been nothing more than a trick of light.
Dr. Shelby nodded sharply. “See to it that you do. Hard work is rewarded in the exploratory lab. Just keep that in mind. I need your biometric signature here,” she said as she turned the data sheet toward Charlie.
Charlie’s eyebrows rose as she looked at what appeared to be a lengthy non-disclosure agreement. “What’s this?”
“As I’m sure you’re aware, all information regarding Turongal is classified from the general public during initial colonization phases—to prevent misrepresented information from damaging later colonization efforts once we’re up and running. While that pertains specifically to the citizens of Earth, most information regarding the biomes of this planet are restricted to authorized personnel only.