Difficult Decision
Even though it was late in the evening it didn’t take long for Steve to answer the doorbell of his Washington D.C. home. After living here since returning to the OSI four years ago he knew of only three people who would come to his home this late unannounced. His surprise showed on his face at the sight of an unusually nervous Rudy Wells. The doctor entered and Steve offered him a drink, looking like he needed it. Rudy declined and sat himself on the edge of the couch, a folder carefully placed in front of him on the oak coffee table. Steve followed him into the living room and leaned his denim clad frame against the entertainment center, arms folder across his chest and a concerned look on his face.
“What’s up Rudy?”
Rudy took a deep breath before jumping right into it, “Steve are you aware of how the OSI hires its top people?”
Steve shrugged, “I never gave it much thought why?’
“Well it’s similar throughout all agencies from the CIA to the NSB, including the OSI. Obviously they cannot advertise in classifieds so they send people to actively locate and recruit people.”
Steve nodded he was following the story.
“OSI has been in search of my successor for the past 3 years without much success.” He paused wondering how Steve would take the news.
“Are you retiring Rudy?” The doctor nodded negatively. “You aren’t sick are you?” Rudy nodded again. “Then why is the OSI trying to replace you?”
Rudy smiled, “They want me to educate and train the person who will take my place, hopefully years from now.”
“I see.” Steve brow was furled as he was trying to anticipate where this was leading when his friend continued.
“Anyway the computer compiled a list of the top 10 prospects in the country. Seven didn’t make it past the intensive background check. The three remaining will be contacted in the next 48 hours.” He took another deep breath. “I need your input before we contact them.”
Steve was confused, “Rudy you don’t need my recommendation on your successor just because I’m the prototype.”
The scientist replied in a stoic voice, “I’m afraid I do.” He handed Steve the folder as his friend raised a curious eyebrow at him.
Steve opened the file and instantly sunk into the closest chair. There was no mistake. At the top of the OSI recruiting list in black and white was the familiar name.
Dr. Jennifer Marie Austin, Age: 24
Yale University School of Medicine
Specialties: Neurology and Trauma Surgery
Master’s degree: Electrical Engineering
Bachelor of Science Degree: Chemistry
Steve felt all the air suddenly leave the room, unable to breathe from the weight of the information he was choking on. Rudy’s voice broke into his frantic mind.
“I’ve asked Oscar to delay contacting her for 72 hours. I have to be honest Steve she is their top candidate and they are ready to offer her the world to get her on board. I know I would love to work with her but this is a very delicate situation.”
The silence hung stagnant in the room until Steve finally found his voice, “So they haven’t contacted her yet?” He continued to stare at the name.
“No and one word from you and I will somehow find a way to remove her name from the list.”
Steve thought for awhile. He knew his daughter better than anyone and felt she would jump at this chance. The doctor continued to provide his friend more information, “Steve you know if she is chosen and accepts you will be the subject of study since you are the only successful cyborg. I mean she will read the information we have on the others that didn’t have a positive outcome but you are the one that sets the standard.” Rudy remembered back on others they tried to rebuild over the years, one committed suicide and two died of bionic rejection. He added, “She will know all about your plane crash, your suicide attempt, the bionic surgery, references to your OSI assignments and the events surrounding Jessica’s death. She will have full access to your detailed medical records, photographs, video tapes and psychological reports…everything.”
Steve stood quickly and began pacing the floor trying in vain to catch up to his racing thoughts.
Rudy needed to give him the rest, “There’s something else that needs to be considered.” Steve stopped his trek and stared at his friend as he finished in a low tone, “If for some reason I am incapacitated or unavailable she would be the one to treat you. Under normal circumstances a doctor or surgeon cannot treat a close family member but considering the unusual situation and the fact that we are talking about the OSI it could, in a rare occurrence, happen.”
Steve resumed his pacing in silence, his face unreadable by Rudy. After several minutes Steve returned to the chair and leaned forward his elbows on his thighs, his hands clasped at his chin. Rudy was getting concerned as Steve had yet to utter a word.
“Steve?”
He let out a heavy sigh and quietly spoke, “There are only three things I have ever kept from my daughter, my bionics, the true nature of my work with the OSI, and the circumstances surrounding her mother’s death.” Silence fell again as Rudy let Steve struggle through the problem. He was surprised when he saw a small smile cross his lips. “You know Rudy she would love your job, the medicine, the engineering, not to mention the challenges.” Rudy nodded in agreement. Steve’s face became serious again as he asked, “Can you offer it to her but keep my name out of it?”
“Of course. They don’t reveal too much detail on the first meeting anyway for security reasons. They might imply there are bionic experiments but that’s it.”
Steve took a deep breath and decided, “Go ahead and I’ll see to it that I talk to her soon after. I want to see if she would consider accepting the offer before I ‘spill the beans’ so to speak.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, I’m sure.” Rudy knew by the weakness of his reply his friend was anything but sure. He stood and called Oscar anyway with the specific instructions for the recruiter.
Steve stood leaning against the fireplace mantle adorn with framed photos of him and Jen his gut twisting with anxiety, teetering on panic. He tried to control his breathing as a myriad of thoughts assaulted his mind all at once, a sheen of perspiration forming on his face. A brief moment of false hope this afternoon pacified him that he was way off base thinking Jen would be interested in the OSI.
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At daybreak Rudy phoned to inform him that the recruiter was meeting with Jen at 8:00 a.m. Steve never got the chance to contact her to setup a time to talk, she was already on her way to D.C. to see him. He could hear the excitement in her voice when she called from her car phone. Now his daughter sat behind him on the couch enthusiastically telling him of the morning meeting. He didn’t realize she had stopped talking a few minutes ago, waiting for his answer to a question he didn’t hear. As his gaze fell upon a photo of his three-year-old sitting atop his shoulders tears began to form in his eyes knowing in a few minutes she would never look at him the same way again.
“Dad? DAD?” The loud tone yanked him back to reality. “Are you alright?” She was now at his side with her hand on his back. One look into his watery eyes told her something was terrible wrong. “Dad, what is it?”
He successfully held the tears at bay, “I’m sorry Jen I guess I got distracted. You were saying an OSI recruiter met with you today?”
“Yes.” She began repeating her earlier words with much less enthusiasm than before not breaking eye contact with her father. “They want me to work for them. They feel I have much to offer to their bionics program to rebuild human beings. I understand Oscar oversees the department.” Since her college days she dropped the ‘uncle’ and now referred to Oscar and Rudy by their first name.
“Dad what’s wrong? You’re scaring me.” He forced a half-smile to comfort her before taking her hand and leading her back to the couch.
“Jen are you really interested in working for the OSI?”
“It’s an incredible opportunity. I suspect I could do more things through the government than I could do in the private sector. The thought of providing amputees with normal lives would be extremely rewarding for me.”
Steve nodded before standing and beginning his aimless trek in front of her. “So what you’re saying is you want the job.” His eyes searched hers as she answered affirmatively. Looking at her he knew there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do to make her happy, he loved her more then life itself. That thought propelled him into his confession.
“Jen there are some things you need to know before you make your final decision.” He watched her return his gaze with confusion but pushed onward after a deep breath. “Jen you know I would never lie to you.” She nodded. “However there have been times, three to be exact, that I haven’t told you the whole truth to protect you or, selfishly, to protect me.” At this point Jen gut twisted wondering what could possibly be so painful it had to be buried. Usually she and her father could talk about anything.
“You see I knew about the OSI meeting today. Rudy came and asked my permission to contact you.”
“Why?”
“Because the position they want you to take is as Rudy’s successor. He has been involved in successful bionic experimentation since 1971. In fact he would be considered the father of bionics.” Steve realized he was trying to avoid the task at hand with a history lesson and forced himself to stop beating around the bush. He turned to lean on the mantle again, unable to make eye contact with his only child, searching for the appropriate words.
Jen inquired, “You said ‘successful’ experiments. Does that mean there are cyborgs walking around?”
He looked at her over his shoulder and responded with a nod, “Just one.” He said in a low tone.
Jen watched at him as he turned to face her, his eyes meeting hers as he choked out, “I’m the one Jen.”
She stared at him in disbelief. “But that can’t be.” She said softly.
“It’s true Jen. I’ve been this way since a plane crash in 1971.”
She blinked twice and broke off his eye contact. Steve stood stone still feeling extremely vulnerable. Jen stood and began pacing, the information slowly sinking in.
She stopped to ask, “How much of you is bionic?”
He looked at her, “Both legs, my right arm and left eye.”
She went back to moving until she stood in front of him. Suddenly she took him into a tight embrace and whispered, “Why didn’t you ever tell me?”
He replied returning her hug, “I guess I thought you would see me differently.”
She stood back, “Did Mom know?” He nodded. “May I?” He nodded again as she took his hands in hers, the same hands that lifted her onto her horse, the same hands that caressed her cheek as she fell asleep, the same hands that held her when she was frightened. She studied them unable to see a difference. As she did she asked, “What other things have you kept from me?”
Steve exhaled slowly telling himself the worst was over. He told his daughter what he really did for the OSI, not only retrieving items for Oscar but on occasion doing what some would consider spying with the unfortunate taking of human life in the process. He did his best to assure her it was only done in self-defense.
He then shared his talk with Rudy Wells and the obvious concerns with her taking the position. Steve explained that since she would have detailed knowledge of his past she needed to hear all this from him, including the details surrounding her mother’s untimely death.
Jen sat and listened intently to her father’s words and the deep emotion behind them. She saw him fight back the tears when retelling of the violence that took his wife and almost killed him. She suddenly understood why he never remarried and why he tried to talk her out of her trauma residency. He no doubt worried the same fate would befall his daughter.
Many hours passed as father and daughter spoke candidly about the ramifications for both of them should Jen become part of Dr. Wells’ team. After sharing tears and laughs they were emotionally drained when they went to bed, a final decision still not made.
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The next morning while making breakfast together Jen assured Steve she had no ill-feelings towards him for withholding the information he did. He in turn told her it would be awkward but if working with Rudy at the OSI was what she really wanted he would support her 100%. They ate the morning meal in relative silence and after cleaning up Jennifer asked her father if he would accompany her to Oscar’s office to officially accept the position. They each grabbed their coats and headed out feeling their relationship was stronger than ever.
Two Weeks on the Job
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