Watching and waiting, the Malthusian visitors from the Moon orbit the planet. Their mission: Conquer Earth. Of course, that’s the easy part…
Like most successful people, Captain Rollhagen appeared to have no personality at all. Bland, handsome, he stood behind a one-way mirror. He saw you. But you couldn’t see him.
It didn’t always work. Skeptics, outsiders, those left off Jennifer Eastman’s after-prom party list, could often interpret even the most guarded personality.
Outsiders like Ensign Megan Bremer, for instance.
“Hello Ensign,” the Captain called cheerily.
Megan entered the bridge with the day’s operations updates. She had wangled this job away from another newbie, Carl DeLarosa. It wasn’t hard. Carl was terrified of authority.
“Here you go, Captain,” said Megan. She handed him the folder, glancing at the navigation screen. Then she looked out the viewing bubble. “It appears we are charting a very accurate orbit. As usual.”
Compliments seldom work with the powerful. Not that it isn’t worth a try.
Megan was slow to leave. She preferred her not inconsiderable attractiveness to have its full impact.
“Ms. Bremer, just a moment.”
Bingo.
“Why yes, Captain?”
“I was just wondering. Do you have a mentor?”
“A mentor?” Megan furrowed her brow. Playing dumb is a favorite trick of the underling. A boss can’t do it.
“Yes,” said Rollhagen. “You know. Someone who can guide you in your career.”
“Umm…” Megan stalled. The captain’s little finger twitched. Almost imperceptibly.
Ah.
“Let’s see, Mr. Rollhagen. A men… A men…”
“A mentor. Because if not, I could help.”
“Why, thank you!” Megan enthused. “But I believe I have one.”
Rollhagen, bland, inquiring. “You do?”
“Mr. Kern.”
Again, the little finger. Commander Kern was a friend of his. And rival. “Well I’m certain he’ll be quite helpful.”
“Oh, he is.”
“You can trust him implicitly. You can also trust me, should the occasion arise.”
“Doubtless, Captain.”
“Good day, Ms. Bremer.”
“Good day, Captain.” She walked off the bridge. Megan suspected the suave, very single Mr. Rollhagen was after more than a mentor. A love interest, perhaps?
She knew just the person, and it wasn’t Megan Bremer. She wanted much from the captain, but successful people don’t do things themselves. They find others to do it for them.
Richard Donnelly lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Classic flyover land. Which makes us feel just a little… superior. He publishes a weekly column of essays on the writing life at richarddonnelly.substack.com