Adhara's Sonder by Mark Alexander McClish

Author:Mark Alexander McClish
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Curious Corvid Publishing
Published: 2021-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

The inside of the plant was filled with the deafening roar of rushing water and droning pumps. Adhara led Cyrus up through the main platform then into the central control booth. The plant was fully automated—no Acryogen Industries employee wanted to make the journey for service calls. And just like the rest of the city, the neglect had taken its toll.

“Wait,” said Cyrus before Adhara could touch the controls. “Let me try. I’m experienced in mechanical, computer, and chemical engineering, and given the responsibility you say I have…I want to see if I can figure it out myself.”

Adhara smiled and stepped back.

“This kind of stuff is actually a lot like my undergrad job,” Cyrus commented as he pulled a chair up to the interface. “Did you know that?”

“I did not.”

“And this looks like standard Acryogen tech too, so I’m betting…yep, it’s the same.” Cyrus typed deftly, navigating the system with ease. “But anyway, yeah, when I was an undergrad I worked as an I.T. diagnostics and repair technician—which is a fancy way of saying I told biologists and chemists how to work their computers. Sometimes fixed them, too. And I always started...just like this, see?” he gestured to the screen. “Troubleshooting scan. Easiest way to find issues. Why nobody will learn the simple fixes is beyond me.” He tutted as he read the screen. He traced his finger down the computer’s list of complaints, reading each one under his breath.

“I’m no plumber, of course.” He leaned back in his chair. “But at a quick glance, I’d say the only thing here worth worrying about is that…flow capacity is down on almost all of the main inlet AND outlet manifolds.” He brought up pump diagnostics. “The pressure is normal, but water flow is way too low. No indication of leaks…that makes me think something is blocking the pipes?” He turned to Adhara.

“Lead the way,” she nodded.

Cyrus, pinnacle of independence, found a map of the facility in the computer, and led the way to the inlet manifold, which was a low room at the base of the facility where a cluster of pipes drew water from deep underground. Cyrus chewed on his lip for a few moments, regarding the manifold which was much larger than he had anticipated. He decided finally that they would have to shut off the flow to the whole facility before servicing anything. Adhara, relieved she would not have to interfere with his independence for the sake of his safety, cut the power while he ruminated further. As the pumps died down the facility fell into eerie silence.

“We have approximately forty-five minutes before Hudson City residents will notice an interruption in their water service,” Adhara informed him. “This will in all likelihood alert Acryogen Industries to our presence here.”

“Then I had better get to work!” he exclaimed, climbing a ladder attached to the pipes. He wrenched a service hatch open by its wheel, poking his head inside the manifold before sliding in completely.

“Don’t turn the pumps back on!” he shouted from inside.

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