Chapter 40: A New Hope

"Why is it you're going in to work early today?" Nikki asked as Ethan drove.

He responded "They've called a general IT Staff meeting to discuss some important changes. With the recent significant downturn in the economy, I expect there to be significant budget cut discussions. Maybe we'll have to start rationing air to save money."

"How would that even work?"

Ethan thought for a second. "I would imagine that we'd be issued diving gear and allocated an air tank every certain number of hours."

"Ah but everyone knows you can't wear air tanks before Labor Day. You'd be committing like one of the ultimate fashion faux pas."

Ethan nodded. "I know, but you know how things go, they don't consider those sorts of concerns. Well we're almost there, I'm going to need you to stay out of trouble while I'm at the meeting. You think you can find something to do?"

Nikki smirked. "I think I'll manage."

Ethan parked the car near one of the campus buildings and hurried in to catch the beginning of the meeting. People were still getting drinks and cookies from the back table when the CIO stepped out in front. "Welcome everyone, please grab what you need from the back and have a seat."

No sooner did he finish saying that, one of the guys that works in networking walked back and pulled the table cloth out from underneath all the snacks and stuff it in his jacket. Another guy pulled the blinds off the wall and piled them on top of his briefcase. At least another two people picked up a chair and walked out with them. Ethan commented to the person next to him "Times really are getting tough, aren't they?"

After the room had settled down once again, the CIO continued. "As you know, we've been targeted by budget cut after budget cut from the state government because apparently they've caught wind of our no learning policy. We looked at the possibility of cutting some jobs but we're really interested in keeping as much of our staff as we can. As a result, we in the leadership committee decided alternative sources of income would be preferable. We've decided the best course of action would be a merger with another company that is still seeing profits and development opportunities even in these oppresive times."

He took a moment to let things sink in before continuing. "Effective immediately, we'll be merging with a company called the Galactic Empire and providing IT installation and support on their flagship project, the PBU Initiative. Here to tell you more is the director from GE in charge of the PBU Initiative, Dr. Vader." The CIO walked over to a boom box by the door and hit play before opening the double doors.

Ominous march music eminated from the boombox as the room was filled with people in white plastic suits of armor with funny looking helmets. Then a man dressed in an all black business suit entered the room. He too is wearing a funny helmet, but also has a pair of glasses on over top the helmet.

"Krzzt, Thank you krzzt. We're attempting to build a krzzt sattelite shaped like a giant eyeball. Initial designs krzzt included it having the ability to blink and the pupil would dilate in krzzt the dark, but some of those really neat features krzzt had to be scrapped due to a budgeting snafu. This sattelitte, called the Planet Blower Upper krzzt would bring peace and harmony to the galaxy and certainly not involve krzzt anything sinister or evil. Thanks Mr. CIO for giving me the opportunity to krzzt speak to all the new members of the team, which is what we all are, krzzt one big team. Remember my door is always open and the chances I'll krzzt strangle you to death with my mind are minimal at best krzzt."

The CIO steps back up to the front. "Thank you for your presentation Dr. Vader, we have such hopes that this merger and the PBU Initiative will be a sucess. That reminds me of another policy change effective immediately, my title will be changing from Chief Information Officier to the Emperor." He then pulled a hood up over his head concealing a good portion of his face. "Two more things on the agenda, heh.. heh.. heh, each of you should take a standard issue energy saber from the buckets near the door. Heh.. heh.. heh, and concerning the meeting with library leadership later today, heh.. heh.. heh. Strike them down ..... All of them ...... heh.. heh.. heh. "

The emperor then started to shoot lightening from his fingers at one of the hourly employees in the front row. The meeting dispersed, leaving just Ethan, the Emperor, a charred hourly employee and a couple of other stragglers. Ethan walked up to the Emperor and asked "How did you shoot the lightning?"

He responded "Static electricity I've been building up for weeks heh.. heh.. heh. You show much promise in you Ethan, heh.. heh.. heh.. strike down an hourly employee and take your rightful place at my side as my new apprentice."

Ethan smiled. "I may just do that, but maybe later. I've got to get over to the lab to start my shift."

The emperor laughed. "Heh.. heh.. heh.. I can sense the IT flowing through you is strong, remember my offer.. heh heh heh. Now go and do my bidding."

Ethan left the meeting room to head off to the lab. On the way Nikki caught up. "How did your meeting go?"

"It was alright. They were giving out these things as door prizes, some sort of energy saber. But would you believe it? One of the more uneventful staff meetings this year."