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Performance Review — Description
Performance Review
31 Days after Sirse has been sent on Vacation.

Jennivien sat apprehensively, trying to look anywhere but at her employer who sat across from her. The desk separating them, an oak monstrosity that loomed before her with several files splayed out before him. He had not spoken sense she had sat down and that silence was slowly wearing a hole in her. Willing him to say something, anything, she dared a glance up.

‘Ah, Jennivien.’ Her employer smiled. ‘So, you do have eyes. I was beginning to wonder.’

Jennivien blushed.

‘Yes, sir.’

‘Are you ready for your annul review.’

Not really. No. She wanted to run from this room, at least until judgment had passed. Just give me the basic numbers, pass, fail. Just numbers.

‘Well then – lets start with how you handled the basic instinct and survival simulation.’

Jennivien groaned. That had not gone well. Not well at all.

Her employer’s gaze flicked over the files before him, finally settling on a single document which he extracted and with a brief smile began to read aloud.

‘The simulation was a simple one, you are at university of science office complex and without preparation or knowledge the office has a spontaneous dinosaur attack. Raptors run free in the halls, Several T-Rex have taken up residence in the parking lot. And an assortment of species, primarily carnivorous or with intense territorial instincts.’ Pausing to draw in breath, he gave her a side long gaze. ‘And to make matters worse, some of the scientists have takin it upon themselves to create a poisonous gas and intend to pump it into the primary ventilation shaft to attempt to stop the spread of the dinosaurs. Your task was to, survive and escape if possible.’

Putting down the file he gazed at her with a mixed expression of curiosity and amusement.

‘So, before we begin I would just like to state that yelling: ‘Help! They are going to eat me!!!’ while banging on a window was not the most dignified response to exiting the program.’

Face buried in her hands, Jennivien let her head fall back. Her face burning red with embarrassment.

‘And this segments nicely into the Titanic Mission Simulation.’ He filed through another set of papers and pulled one out. ‘The objective was simple, you have seven hours to save the Titanic from sinking.’

At the prospect of reliving that simulation produced another low groan. Wanting noting more than to sink into her chair and vanish Jennivien made no comment.

‘If I am reading this correctly.’ Her employer smiled. ‘You were recorded screaming: ‘I can’t swim! I can’t swim!’ before going into the water. The log also states that you attempted at least twelve variations that ended in, but were not limited too – being shot in the boiler room, attempting to hijack the ship at the helm, and of course running out of time.’

That’s it. Jennivien thought to herself, I’m fired. He’s going to send me back.

‘So, do you have anything you wish to say in your defense?’

Pulling herself together enough, Jennivien buried her hands in her lap, her sleeves hanging over her arms irregularly.

‘I – I –‘ She began. ‘It – how was I supposed to defend myself against a raptor attack? No one in that office was ready! Do you know what it was like to see people eaten by raptors up close! And, and that – That ship was done fore from the start, how was I supposed to stop that ship when no one would listen to me?’

The words tumbled out of her before she could stop them, only when she paused for breath did she clasp her hands over her mouth, eyes wide with horror. To her surprise, her employer merely smiled, apparently quite amused by her outburst.

‘I see.’

‘And – and – I am not a vanguard! I’m not Sirse – I don’t do field operations. I’m an accountant, I deal with numbers, not, not gun fights – raptor attacks!’ Slumping in her chair, she felt deflated. Exhausted. And perhaps a bit guilty.

Still smiling at her, her employer stood and waked over placing a hand on her shoulder.

‘I never expected you to be Sirse.’ He fixed her with those piercing eyes. ‘That is not what I recruited you for. Though I do need you to stand in for now. Sirse may be gone for some time, and I need you to fill in until she gets back.’

Groaning Jennivien looked up at him.

‘But –‘

‘There there.’ He muttered turning back to his desk and flipping the file closed. ‘I am sure you will do well. After all, you scored favorably on both those tests. Even though you did not succeed, you demonstrated several favorable characteristics. So, if you are worried about your continued employment, rest at ease. Now, go back to accounting and your numbers.’

Jennivien did not need to be told twice. She was about to flee when her employer held up his hand to stop her.

'And Jennivien.'

'Yes?'

'Do try to keep it down, down there.'

Flushing a brilliant red she quickly departed, back to the accounting files, back to her home, back to Krecker.