Goddess Rising Chapter 2

As Tigra walked towards the main OCC building she felt one of the guards urging her forward. None of the guards at the OCC were armed but with the presence they had it was not needed. Misbehavior, real or otherwise, was strictly punished. This came about because shortly after the 21st century the greater population of children in the world were orphans as a result of the war, and minor misbehavior at that time was considered a small riot. Since most of the Centers were established around that time they still resembled prisons more than childcare facility. The main building was an impressive structure, towering 20 floors above ground, and Tigra also know there were half as many underground. It was an imposing brick structure that had little to make it aesthetically pleasing. A ten-foot high reinforced chain link fence surrounded the property, making her feel more like a prisoner.

Tigra picked up the pace as the guards urged her on, sifting Starla's weight so that she would be easier to carry. Starla was waking up but still did not know where she was. Tigra was led into the lobby of the main building and up an elevator to the 19th floor where the Center Directors office was located. He indicated for her to take a seat, and she set Starla down on one of the chairs before pulling up her own.

"Hello again girls" George Dalcastle, director of the OCC for as long as Tigra and Starla had been there, said as he turned his chair to face them. He was a man who looked more like a weasel. He had black hair that was greased back to cover a bald spot and brown eyes. He was an egotist and thinks himself very important though he only got the position though political brown nosing. Generally most everyone who met him disliked him. "You two have been very bad. Weren't you supposed to report back here as soon as you graduated? Wasn't that our deal? But one of my incompetent secretaries lost your information and it has taken us this long to track you down. We were just about to pay you a visit when we got your call. You two are too fragile of health to be out there on your own. Look what happened to Starla in that short time out. So as a service to you girls we are going to keep you here to protect your health."

"So your still into slavery then." Tigra remarked.

"Is that any way to treat an old friend? I'm hurt. I've talked to your doctors and the best thing to do is to keep both of you here. We can help you here and keep you safe."

"For how long?" Starla asked weakly.

"Until we no longer need to be concerned about your health. There is no need to thank me for being so worried about you two, it is my duty to care. This is all for your benefit. I have also found you positions within the staff comparable with the positions you were doing before. But first Starla, we must make you well. Boys." Dalcastle said and one of the guards helped Starla into a wheelchair.

"Where are you taking her?" Tigra asked.

"Just to the Infirmary. That is what you called us for, to make her well. The other gentleman will take you to another doctor who is waiting to take a look at you, and then you will be taken to your rooms. Your work assignments will be waiting for you there. You are dismissed." Dalcastle returned back to his paperwork, ignoring Tigra's presence. Tigra was angry that everything had been progressing this way, but this was what she expected. Tigra followed the other guard out of the office and back to the elevator.

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Hours later and it was evening before Tigra was finally escorted to her room. When Dalcastle had said rooms, she had thought that he meant they would get one small room to each of them, but was surprised when the elevator opened up to the suite on top of the building. It was an apartment that spanned most of one floor and was usually reserved for the director, but Dalcastle preferred his house further away from the city. It was vacant of everything but the most basic furniture and everything was covered in a layer of dust. The interior of the apartment was done in scarlet with gold ornamentation, the colors of the OCC. It had deep, plush carpets and though it was sparsely furnished what it had was obviously expensive. There were several bedrooms in the suite, two bathrooms, a kitchen, living room, and an office. As work is a quick way to pass the time, Tigra set about straightening up. It was into the late hours of the night when she finally stopped. Starla had not been brought up to the room yet and Tigra was a little worried. Too tired to worry herself out of sleep, she practically fell into bed.

A few days later started her work assignment. Tigra was working maintaining the building and servicing robots that did menial labor. She was given free roam of most of the building, though she could not get the elevator to go to the ground floor or lower, and the staircase doors below ground level would not open to her. She was trapped in the building with little to occupy her. It wasn't till more than a week later that Starla finally came back. For a while she looked even worse than she did when Tigra brought her in, but then rapidly over a few days she recovered. She could not recall where she had gone from Dalcastle's office or what it was that had cured her. Starla was glad she was better, and her first thoughts were to find a way out.

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Shortly after Starla's recovery Director Dalcastle assigned Starla to be his secretary. Starla was almost happy to be occupied, a change for her boring recovery. The only thing she was not happy about was that she was working for Dalcastle.

"Don't be so glum." Dalcastle commented, "Just do as you are told and everything will go well for you. You actually have it pretty good, this is an easy job to do. If you do it well you will be rewarded." Starla found it easy to do as she was told, and she settled in quickly. Within a few weeks the job became routine and boring. Tigra and Starla eased a bit in their confinement, but were still watchful for a means to escape.

On day only a few weeks after becoming Dalcastle's secretary Starla made an interesting discovery. While filing some papers she saw two files that peaked her curiosity, one labeled her name and one labeled Tigra's. Seeing that no one was around, she slipped out her file and opened it up. The file was a multi sectional folder with all of her personal information secured to the flaps. One part seemed to be newspaper clippings and reports, the top one of the story that ran in the newspaper after her family was murdered. Sometimes I wonder why I did not die with them Starla thought.

Another part seemed to contain her legal papers and profile, the next an abbreviated medical history. The last section was what interested her the most though. It contained correspondence concerning Starla. The first was dated April 10th 2233, and the paper looked old. As Starla was about to read it she heard Dalcastle's voice behind her.

"Don't dally too long Starla, after you finish filing I have other things for you to do." Starla hurriedly put away her file, but resolved to look at it again later. Her thoughts kept straying as the day wore on, and normal tasks took longer than usual. Dalcastle approached her desk just after quitting time.

"My it still seems like you have a lot to do. Is something wrong today?"

"No sir." Starla replied.

"Better got get checked out at medical anyway. After you finish your work here I mean. I am already done for the day, and I will see you tomorrow." Starla rushed through the work she had left. Today was a Friday and there was some extra paperwork but it was done easily. She locked up the office and went to her room.

"You're a little late today Starla."

"Just some extra work at the office." Starla replied and sat at the table where her dinner was waiting. "I hate working overtime, especially for him, but I did find something interesting."

"What's that?" Tigra asked, looking up from the screen she was reading.

"Well Dalcastle can remove personal files from the clerk's room, and today when I looked in his cabinet both of our files were in there." Tigra shrugged.

"I doubt there would be anything important in there if he left them out where you can see it."

"I actually took a look earlier today, and it seemed there were a lot of interesting pieces of information. There were a bunch of news stories and letters in my file. Maybe the information in the file says whether they found the person who killed my family. I know I shouldn't, but I just have to see that again. Today is a Friday and no one will be there until Monday, so since I have a key to the office I want to go take a look later at night. Are you going to come with me Tigra?" Tigra thought about it for a moment. While she was anxious to see if they found her family she was wary of Dalcastle's presence. It was imposing, even if he was not there. She did not want to risk getting caught, but it was a big temptation.

"Tigra please!" Starla asked, "I don't want to go by myself."

"Oh alright, I'll go. When do you want to go?"

"I want to wait till really late so we do not risk getting caught."

Several hours later Tigra was leading Starla down the hall. Tigra was more suited to seeing in the dark, and followed Starla's directions down the hall so they did not risk a light. Most of the people on the office floor had gone home but there may be a straggler and often the cleaning robots were out at night. Both were hazards to be avoided since they did not want to be caught. Tigra led them to the office and in the dark Starla opened the door and they went in. She went straight into the file room and the cabinet she was in earlier. There were the two files. She removed hers and handed Tigra hers, and sat down to read it.

The news stories were the same ones she had seen herself, and she was not interested in her profile or her medical history. She opened it directly to the back and started to read the letters there. The first was a letter to Dalcastle dated shortly after her admittance to the center.

George Dalcastle,

Congratulations on your promotion to the director of the OCC. I am sure you will rise to become a political figure to be reckoned with. Concerning the young niece of mine. She is to be treated well. Try and see if she can be adopted by some nice family. A political life is no life for a child, as you can see by her family's tragedy. I regret that, and I want her to be well treated, cared for, and comforted in her time of need.

Sincerely,

(Illegible)

Starla puzzled over this, but could only vaguely remember having an uncle. It is true for a while they did try to get her adopted, but to no avail. Just when a good prospect had come along she had been proclaimed too sick to be adopted out and sent to the medical wing. The second letter was dated about a year later, around the time she went to medical.

George Dalcastle,

Much has happened and I need you to hide my two "Secrets" for me. If anyone should find out about those two I would be in trouble and it would ruin my career. If this is done to my acceptance I will assure that you will rise from your current station. Please see that this manner is taken care of in the proper way.

Sincerely,

(Illegible)

This puzzled Starla a bit but she moved on to the next letter. It was dated roughly one year after the previous letter and Starla can remember very little about that time. She got vague images of pain and loneliness, but could not remember anything clearly.

George Dalcastle,

I know I told you to take care of those two, but I did not think you would even dare to do what you did. That was unacceptable! I have assured that they will have two spots open at the Chadwick Community School. Make sure they get there and are safe and comfortable as possible.

I have also seen to it that you will not get that promotion or the raise you put in for. Your career is finished, you will never be more than the pathetic man you are now. And if I ever here something like this happening again, it will be your head, not just your job.

Signed,

(Illegible)

Starla was interested in reading more and turned the page to read the next when the door opened, and there stood George Dalcastle.

"I knew you two could not resist the temptation. I put those there on purpose. Now he cannot tell me what to do with you, your in my control." Dalcastle ordered the guards through the door and they grabbed Starla and Tigra. Tigra tried to fight against them but the guards were stronger then she was, and definitely stronger than Starla was.

"I want you to take them to see Dr. Nother. He will know what to do with them." The guards led them away, down the corridor. Starla did not remember who Dr. Nother was, but that name sent a shock of fear through her.