Automnicon: The Intern

By Beth Crane

All Astatine has ever wanted is to work for Automnicon. It's cost her countless friendships and relationships but still, she's persevered. And now, years after her first application, she has her chance to join them: she's finally been offered an internship. But can she prove herself to her new boss and to Automnicon? Or will she fall at the first hurdle?

A book set in the world of the We Fix Space Junk podcast, Automnicon: The Intern is the first in the Automnicon series, stepping away from the main story and exploring the lives of the characters on the fringes of the main story.

Battle Bird Productions are the company behind award-winning sci-fi podcast We Fix Space Junk.

Automnicon: The Intern was written thanks to support from our patreon and released to celebrate We Fix Space Junk's first anniversary.

www.battlebird.productions

Content warnings: Mature language, themes, violence, mild gore, scenes of a sexual nature.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Beth Crane
• Release date: Mar 19, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463703250

Beth Crane

Beth Crane writes award-winning sci-fi audio drama We Fix Space Junk.

Book preview

Automnicon: The Intern

By Beth Crane

The Intern is dedicated to Hedley Knights. We’ve spent the last year working like mad on Space Junk and it’s been just brilliant. I also want to say thank you to our Patrons, our lovely Discord and our amazing, supportive group of Audio Drama buddies, as well as everyone who has listened and supported us over the past year. Thank you for taking notice of our little show! It’s been really life-changing and we hope to keep working on We Fix Space Junk for years to come!

First published in 2019 by Battle Bird Productions

Copyright © Beth Crane, 2019

www.battlebird.productions

www.battlebird.libsyn.com

For more information, get in touch at [e-mail].

ONE

She was here. She was finally here. Walking through those hallowed doors.

It might have taken four years of continuous applications, but Astatine was about to begin the first day of her internship at Automnicon.

At approximately the same time, Mr D was about to end his last.

Lionel… Have him put down.

Lionel, listening on his implant, nodded almost imperceptibly. Mr D, sitting at his desk, was watching him the way a rabbit watches a cat; not in total fear, but in wary silence. Lionel’s eyes narrowed and Mr D felt himself shrink.

Mr D stood up, began the long walk from office to bathroom, hoping to rinse the fear from his face. But as he stepped, his quick, neat little footsteps growing in urgency, he heard the quiet, carpeted pad of Lionel’s feet behind him.

Lionel never walked fast. His pace was, if anything, languid. But then Lionel was one of nature’s stalkers, not sprinters. He never stopped.

Mr D may have thought he was getting away, that the man following him wouldn’t catch up, but as he turned a corner, somehow Lionel was there.

The last things that went through Mr D’s mind were, in order, strong hands grasping at his collar and his belt, the ding of the lift, the wind rushing past him at a great speed and then, with some finality, the lift itself.

Inside the lift, Astatine jumped at the sudden thump. The lift continued its path upwards.

Lionel was, she decided, going to be a firm friend. He had one of those faces you trusted instinctively. He was there waiting as she exited the lift. He seemed a little surprised to see her, but nonetheless pleased. She introduced herself, they shook hands. His hand was gigantic, smoothed by time and work. Hers felt miniature in his grasp.

He was older, softened in a way you don’t often see in offices like these, where everyone has a polished, cold quality. There was something a little sad about him, about the quiet way he walked about in his washed-out grey-black suit. Almost like a monk, padding about silently so as to not get in anyone’s way. He directed her to Ms Lamb’s office, sat down at one of the two desks outside the door and gestured for her to sit at the other.

The seat was still warm; the technician had presumably been setting it up mere moments before. She opened her eyes wide for the iris scanner. They paused while they registered her for the first time, drying out her eyes and leaving her blinking. After this came the standard tests: the tongue scrape, the fingerprints, blood analysis, genetic analysis, various brain scans and so on. Two hours later, her profile was ready. Lionel was still watching her.

Ready?

Ready.

She stood up and followed him through the door to Ms Lamb’s office.

She wasn’t sure what she was expecting, but Ms Lamb wasn’t it. She was short, attractive, with dark, lively eyes and mismatched eyebrows.

Astatine. Welcome.

She shuffled a file on her desk. Astatine was surprised to note that she used real paper, which was somewhat of a luxury in the world outside. Lionel left, the door clicking shut behind him.

It was a large office, bigger than any single room she’d ever been inside before. The walls were panelled with fossilised wood; occasional flashes of opalescent colour reflected in it as she passed. Ms Lamb’s desk was a semi-circle of dark