The Drone Keeper: A Dystopian Crime Mystery Thriller (Watch the Wreckage Book 1) Read online

  THE DRONE KEEPER

  WATCH THE WRECKAGE, BOOK 1

  A. R. SHAW

  APOCALYPTIC VENTURES

  Copyright © 2021 by A. R. Shaw

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  For Adam & Heidi

  With all my love…

  When something is important enough, you do it even if the odds are not in your favor..

  ELON MUSK

  CONTENTS

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Also by A. R. Shaw

  CHAPTER 1

  In the blackness, their bodies were muted against the night sky. No detection or reflection of bouncing lights off lakes or oceans gave away their position. Not that there were any bodies of water nearby for miles. There once was. Or at least that’s what the researchers indicated when he’d taken over the deserted observatory. In fact, in the exact spot Steve Glenning stood, there once was a body of water that was filled with giant prehistoric sharks that had a conveyor belt of razor-sharp teeth for a lower jaw. He’d seen the digital semblance and the Helicoprion was a thing of utter nightmares. Some animals needed extinction, there he’d said it or at least he thought it. That was all right by Steve, because the thought of swimming in the same water with those guys, gave him the heebie-jeebies.

  A quick little shudder ran through him at the thought as he stood on a rocky ledge with only a digital topographical readout to keep him from dropping off into oblivion. He listened for any sounds from the test run above but heard nothing. Not even a whir. He’d welcome the hoot of a desert owl or a cry of a bobcat or even a coyote, animals once in numbers there, but now there were none. They’d long become history like the nightmare shark. The crickets, however, were still abundant and cockroaches; you could never quite get rid of those guys. Some would say man had a way of eliminating all great things but kept the annoyances. But not him. Steve knew it wasn’t only man’s fault for the dying planet. Sure, they had a part, but it was just the evolution of the planet itself. No one wanted to talk about that reality though. Just like man ages, so too does a planet, a universe…even cockroaches died of old age after a certain time. But that explanation left no one blameless and guilt was a commodity that had too much use to give away. Without it, there was no power over others. A simple fact of the way the world works, Steve’s father taught him years before. And because Steve wanted nothing to do with politics, he chose a career that kept him as far enough away from such things as possible and instead found acceptance among the creatures he’d created instead of the ones he’d longed for.

  “Glenning…are you still out there?”

  He hated it when Anabelle used the breakthrough call. What if he was in the bathroom or making out with a beautiful woman? Chuckling to himself over the last thought, he answered, “Yes, five more minutes.”

  “I’m not your mom. Don’t give me five more minutes.”

  “I…just a few more minutes and I’ll return. I must go through a few more calibrations. There’s a slight wind from the east. Where’s it coming from? Do you see that on the radar?”

  He could see her in his mind checking the screens, whipping through them. Barely a second spent on each one and yet her mind flew through the data until she spotted the culprit.

  “There’s a windmill 5.98 kilometers southeast, but you knew that. I saw you enter the data before you left.”

  And though she couldn’t see his face at the time, he closed his eyes and shook his head silently. “I…I know.”

  “Then why did you ask the question?”

  He swallowed even though his mouth was dry.

  “Because, when I left it was 4.3 knots and now it feels like 5.2 at least according to my readings and if that’s the case then it’s possible there are more turbines turned on since I left in similar locations? Have we checked with the farm down the road? They’re supposed to alert us, it’s in the contract.”

  “They get annoyed. They were here first. At least that’s what they say.”

  Letting out a breath, Steve gave the return order and closed his readout, folded the screen, and slid it into his jacket pocket and began walking back to the office. “Be that as it may,” he gave a slight smile because he’d succeeded in his diversionary tactics this evening at least, “you still need to make the effort. We’ve talked about this. We must build the relationship before they trust us. You know how this works.”

  “They’re farmers, Steve. It’s not like they’re social beings either. Or they wouldn’t be out here just like us.”

  “I think it’s just one guy, airing his crops on a sensor. It’s not a big deal, just a minor correction. You’re not out here either, technically, by the way.”

  She paused on the screen. Staring into camera without expression. “I concede your point. Now please return before you need supplemental oxygen like the last time. I don’t want to have to call you in.”

  Darn. He wasn’t as successful as he’d thought. Rolling his eyes, he walked through the door. “Already beat you too it, hard ass. I’m in.”

  “Fine. See you tomorrow.”

  He didn’t bother to say goodbye or see you too, because like always, she just hung up with the abruptness of an earthquake. Steve entered the airlock door and once it sealed behind him with a swoosh, a charged silence ensued.

  He stood there…wading in it like a swimmer in the deep end of a pool, at times he thought he could do this forever. The not moving in the absolute silence but then something reminded him he was human and not nothing. His stomach growled and since it was past 1900 hours he realized if he wanted to avoid another breakthrough call from Anabelle tonight, he’d better check his oxygen levels and eat something.

  Setting down his pack, he flipped his wrist and checked the pulse oximeter reading and noted that 92 wasn’t exactly bad considering but not great either. Still, he felt fine. Then he opened the cupboard and grabbed the meal of the day. They tried varying them to keep food fatigue at bay when you were deployed for long periods of time without dining facilities. But despite their best efforts, when Steve ripped the top off the mylar bag, he pulled out the chalky white 3D-printed biscuit made of insect flour and groaned. “Not you again.” But he took a bit anyway. It was more like a beehive looking ring and he wasn’t sure why they made them that shape but assumed it was easier to transport that way. Who liked eating broken insect biscuits? He flipped the package over while he munched and wondered just what kind of insects were pulverized in the bug protein flour but as his finger scanned the ingredients it came to rest on insects au gratin. Nice. At least it’s not the lab grown meat this time because that stuff tastes and smelled like dog f
ood despite all the marketing. He made a face and shook a little and then opened his newsfeed shaking head wishing he hadn’t and then checked his email instead.

  At the top of the list, he saw the one he’d been expecting for days, hoped for at least. But without touching it, he took another bite of his biscuit and leaned back in the chair, letting it hold his weight in the darkness for the time being. The news within that digital folder might change things forever. He wasn’t sure he was ready for a career change. Change was rather hard to deal with and who volunteered for such transitions especially when politics were involved. But then he thought of Anabelle and knew she wasn’t the only one who struggled with the rest of them. That’s how he thought of the populous…the ones that were left. There was him, and then there was the rest of them. And it was his job to take care of the drones. It was not his job to deal with the living world and that was how he liked his life. Just him, the drones, and the occasional disembodied voice of Anabelle. And that was all…but he reached out a finger and let the scanner read his print anyway to open the email.

  CHAPTER 2

  The bright white lights looked like the overhead beams he’d once seen at a baseball game when he was a kid. Even approaching the field from the road felt as if he was walking into a stadium and found himself anticipating whiff of beer and sausages soon but instead, he saw a short man in cadet blue overalls and a white hard hat standing in the middle of several raised beds, some crop lush and green growing all around him. And oddly, there was something like bird netting enclosing the crops, but Steven wasn’t sure if the netting was to keep something out or something in. He might ask that question if he ever got the audience, he was trying for, for days. Instead, he’d decided to take an evening stroll and meet them for himself.

  “Hello,” Steve yelled but the man did not turn around. Then finally Steve realized he was moving oddly. The guy began swaying his blocky hips one way and then the other in an odd gyration and finally his right arm raised above his head, and he twirled it around in the open air keeping an awkward rhythm with his lower half.

  “What…sir, can you hear me?” Steve said a little louder with his hands cupping his mouth.

  The movement ceased abruptly and then the little man turned around pulling something from his right ear with his right hand and with his left hand he held a meter.

  “Oh, I guess you didn’t hear me. I’m…Steve from the observatory…down the road…I thought we could meet since we’re neighbors?”

  But the man stood there, his mouth a straight line, not unlike those Lego men his nephew once played with when he was young. Blocky and poignantly unemotional.

  Steve was pointing behind him…indicating the position he’d come from but then, the mood had yet to change, and he wasn’t sure if he should just walk away or…maybe try again?

  Deciding instead to split hairs he said, “Well, I see you’re working. Perhaps I should come back another time?” he turned, his hands buried deep in his jacket pockets then he heard, “Kevin, my name’s Robert Kevin.”

  Steve turned around again his eyebrows raised because he could swear the voice, he just head did not come from the stocky man in the blue overalls and white hard hat before him. He was convinced someone else had said those words. A man with the voice box of a giant. So, he looked around staring but tried not to be too obvious about it.

  “Do you want to come in?” Robert Kevin said.

  “I…sure. I can’t stay long…”

  “The net opens up over there,” Kevin said.

  Steve nodded and pulled the black netting back at a Velcroed edge and slipped inside where he entered, and without warning, sprayed with something gassy that smelled suspiciously like raspberries but wasn’t raspberries at all or at least not the kind that they sometimes got into their food rations with the gummy oatmeal.

  “It’s decontaminate. It happens every time someone enters. To keep any viruses or molds away.”

  “Ah,” Steve managed and confirmed that indeed, the voice was coming from Kevin’s mouth though it was still difficult to get used to and more so, he wasn’t sure why it bothered him.

  “You’re the new guy down the road at the old observatory. We were wondering when they’d utilize that space. So much wasted there.”

  With his hands remaining in his pockets, Steve followed Kevin when he waved him through the beds of growing things. “Yes, we’ve finally settled in. And you…how uh, long have you been here?”

  “Oh, only a few years now. You’re the Drone Keeper,” Kevin said and lifted one corner of his mouth when he said it.

  With a chuckle Steve said, “Yes…that’s my job. They keep me busy.”

  With a little more animation than before, Kevin said, “I can see why. Tell me, are they going to fix up the old place? I got to take a tour of the facility about six months ago and it’s in bad shape. The tiles were falling in…ruble everywhere.”

  Steve nodded. He knew exactly Kevin’s concern. “Yes, actually it’s mostly restored. We’re still awaiting approval for some repairs. The missing shield glass, however, works in our favor. Living quarters are sufficient. The rest is delivered as I’m sure it is the same for you these days?

  “Of course…everything’s delivered by the Company.”

  “Tell me, I’m curious, what is the netting for?”

  Kevin looked beyond him and then back and said, “Birds. We can’t have them carting off secret crops.”

  Steve tilted his head one way as if he didn’t understand the joke.

  Kevin suddenly laughed then, “Come on, follow me. I’ve got a few coveted beverages in the back. Shh…don’t tell anyone.”

  They left the outside enclosure and headed into what looked like a lab when the lights flicked on before them and off as they walked farther on. They went through and down another hallway where Steve saw the glow of what looked like the blue ambient light of a computer screen but when they rounded the corner, he saw that it was a tank of water embedded into the side of the wall. The blue light casted waves against the far wall.

  “What is this? It’s beautiful.”

  “Aquatic experiments. Of course, I’m under NDA’s as you likely are, and can’t share all the exciting research,” he said with raised amber eyebrows.

  It was true for Steve as well. So much going on and nary a soul to tell.

  Steve only nodded.

  Kevin put something cold in his hand that stung, and Steve said, “Seriously? Beer? Where’d did they get the hops?”

  Kevin tilted his head to one side and shrugged his shoulder, “It’s simulated but it’s still tastes great. I have QD rations, so I’ve been saving them up for occasions like this.”

  Steve marveled at the cold steam pouring out the top of the bottle. “Smells like beer.”

  “Well let’s toast to neighbors. May we get along in this lonely world without fencing.” They tapped the metal bottoms together and took a swig.

  Ignoring the double entendre, Steve focused on the cold faux beer. Too cold to enjoy the first sip, but Steve smiled anyway like it was perfect and leaned against the counter as the stung the inside of his hand. “Is this the dining facility or a lab?” Steve said looking around.

  “It’s ah, both,” Kevin said and began closing screens on the wall in a rush.

  “Don’t worry, I wasn’t…”

  Kevin made a noise, “Ahh…best to shut those down anyway. No need to startle the gods.”

  “The gods…yeah, that’s one way of putting it,” and to change direction Steve asked, “So you’ve been here for…?”

  “Five years now.” He nodded.

  “That’s a long time for deployment? Do you take vacations?”

  Steve made a laugh shaking his head and took another chug of beer. It was a joke. No one took vacations. “I was supposed to transfer out about six months ago, but my replacement needs a replacement.” He said with raised eyebrows. “So, I’m here indefinitely. I don’t mind it though. You know? Not too many people around.
The Company is good. You can’t beat that. It could be a lot worse. We could be there.”

  Steve looked out the window at the place Kevin pointed. The simulated world. He nodded, his mouth a straight line.

  He tried to keep his opinions to himself. And when it came to the new world, he was indifferent.

  “I know we’re not supposed to talk about it,” Kevin said. “It’s okay.” He took another swig.

  “No. I don’t have a problem talking about it. It’s controversial.” This time Steve took a sip of the frosty brew. It didn’t taste any better the second time.

  “So, since I brought it up. Are you…going?”

  This conversation just went from inappropriate to dangerous. Steve looked around and put his beer on the counter that he wasn’t sure was either a kitchen or a lab and it did make a difference.

  “I really can’t say.”

  “Hey, don’t worry. We can change the subject. Take your beer, come on. I can show you what I’m working on,” Kevin waved him through to another room moving his beer in a circle as they went.

  “Mostly what I do here, I can talk about. We’re regenerating lost plant species. Like the broad beans you saw coming in. And these little guys are, carrots.”

  “But…don’t they need bee pollinators?”

  “They do but we’re able to simulate some of that action. Honestly, it’s not going well. Even with recent advances. It’s like, we’ve studied them all these years and reenacted the exact same pattern and still, we get poor results. Half an acre takes off great and yet the other half is a total crop failure. I don’t know what they’re thinking. You can’t build a world on half-ass results. But they factor in their loss percentage.”