Paranoia

 

Betelgeuse 5

He looked at the dark building. Why had they called him in? Not a transfer, he hoped. His Sector was busy but he liked it there, especially since Steve, the new mutant, had arrived. Steve always tried to outsmart the local gamblers, but he was hopeless.

"Next," someone shouted. The implant reader confirmed his ID. "Room 3, Terminations." Terminations? The door opened and there was Steve.

"OMG, Steve, am I fired?"

"Yes, you are." Steve smiled.

"But why?"

"I need someone paranoid enough to be my shadow."

The relief washed away his paranoia.

But he didn't tell that to Steve.

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