Phantom Ch. 08

Chapter 8: Thomas and Melody McMasters

Thomas McMasters died before his time. He was only 63, but was killed by incidental fire when a pair of illegal aliens from Haiti high on Anal Dissolve robbing a liquor store got agitated and started shooting up the place. Thomas McMasters, who was buying a pint of gin, was simply in the line of fire.

McMasters, an electrical engineer, had built Peaceatronics from the ground up, until it became the leading maker of Peace Guns for the World Government. Most civilized people accepted the dominion of the World Government. Why wouldn't they? The World Government brought happiness and contentment to everyone. Except, of course, for a few malcontents who didn't accept the World Government. But even if one percent of the population of the world irrationally rejected a lot of people, one percent added up to a lot of people on a globe full of twenty billion people. And sometimes, even more irrationally, it seemed that at times that even more than one percent rejected it.

And so Thomas McMasters introduced the brilliance of the Peace Gun. The Peace Gun never hurt anyone. When fired, it triggered the positive, loving neurons in the brain to activate. Whenever a protestor was hit with the Peace Gun, he would invariably smile and often actively say "Thank you" to the shooter.

The World Government loved the Peace Gun and couldn't get enough of it. Thomas McMasters built up Peaceatronics into a multibillion dollar empire. He had two children, Cameron and Melody, and had been grooming Cameron as his successor for many years. Cameron had gone to business school and Melody had pursued a passion for holographic art. Melody didn't make money, but she didn't need to; even if she never found a wealthy penis to inseminate her, she would be taken well care of.

Unfortunately, Cameron turned out to be poorly suited to managing Peaceatronics, or any company for that matter. He was arrogant, and didn't understand that he had to work well with people, even if they were subordinates. Thomas tried to straighten him out but concluded after a few years that it was hopeless.

And then Melody, improbably, started taking an interest in the family business. It started with an interest in helping her father, who was obviously distressed. She started helping Father with small things, as his executive assistant, and gradually he taught her more and more of the business. Somewhere along the line it became clear to him that Melody, despite her lack of formal business education, did have the skills to run Peaceatronics. She was meticulous with details and was very good at dealing with people.

Thomas was training her to take his place when he was killed by the illegal aliens from Haiti. But instead of dying, he found, much to his surprise, that he became some kind of ghost. A ghost with the power to enter bodies and make them do things. He went to the morgue, and took over the body of a lab technician and arranged to switch his identity with someone else's. He effectively covered up his own death.

This was a necessity, he explained to Melody when he entered her body later that day. To say she was in for a shock was mild, to say the least: she had just learned that her (a) father was dead, (b) was a ghost, and (c) was inside of her. But she quickly calmed down and as Thomas explained what he was trying to do. He had never properly revised his will before he had died; he had left it as it was years ago, that Cameron would inherit 51% of the company and Melody 49%. That meant Cameron would be in charge.

Thomas didn't want that. And so he hid the evidence of his death, and resolved to somehow put Melody in charge.

********

He felt the overwhelming need to stay on and help his daughter. He watched her for several days, crying and mourning his loss. He felt so sorry for her. And then, instinctively, he found himself sliding inside her body. Suddenly he could read her thoughts. He spoke to her, in her mind, to try to comfort her.

At first Melody was startled, to say the least. Her dearly beloved father, her deceased father... was now a ghost... inside of her? But gradually she got used to her presence. And soon he was helping her actively run the company. Thomas himself was said to be on "family leave", leaving Melody in charge.

********

Melody was meeting with Julie Schneider, an internal security colonel at the Ministry of Friendship, which was Peaceatronics' biggest customer. "We like the latest iteration of the Peace Gun, Melody," said Julie, as she rotated a sample of the weapon under her critical eye. "But some in the Department of Propaganda have wondered if we couldn't make a version of the weapon which looked more... people friendly."

"People friendly?" said Melody.

"Yes." Colonel Schneider gave Melody a smile which made her shiver slightly. "For all the harmless effects of the weapon, it still looks like a weapon. We were wondering if you could change that."

Melody wondered how her father would respond to that. But then she realized that she didn't have to wonder, as her father was inside her head at that very moment.

Just play along. She obviously has something in mind.

"What did you have in mind, Colonel?" Melody asked.

"Please. Julie to my friends," said the Colonel.

She likes to pretend we're all friends. It's all part of the act. I should have warned you. Always call her Julie!

"Of course... Julie," said Melody, giving a smile she hoped hid her nervousness.

"Well, let's see," said Melody. "It might help painting the gun a happy color. Like pink, for example."

"Pink," said Melody.

"And maybe you could put pictures of flowers on the side of it. Or better yet, if you could have flowers sticking out of the barrel."

Father, is that even possible?

Just relax, and let me take over for a moment.

Melody suddenly exuded confidence. It was as if she had become a different person. "Of course, Julie. Painting the gun pink is no problem. We can even have artificial flowers sticking out of the barrel. It would have no effect on the neurological wave the weapon emits."

"Really?" the Colonel gave a sinister smile. "When can you get me a working model I can show my directorate?"

The conversation wound up quickly after that. "It was nice seeing you, Julie. Send my regards to your father," the Colonel said.

"I will," said Melody, watching her leave, swishing in her short military skirt.

Father, what was that all about?

She was testing you. I've been gone for over a month. The World Government is our biggest customer. They want to know if you're up to the job.

Oh.

At that moment her brother Cameron came into the conference room. "Mel, what's going on here?"

Melody took a deep breath. "What do you mean, Cam?"

"I heard a representative from the World Government was just here."

"And who told you that, dear brother?" said Melody sharply. She more than suspected that Cameron had spies in the company, reporting her every move to him.

"Never mind that, but I should be there too."

Melody sat down and stretched her long legs. She was wearing a knee length dark skirt that Father had picked out for her.

"Father left me in charge."

"Did he? No one has seen Father in over a month." Cameron fixed her with a stare.

"I told you, he's taking time off, fishing in Idaho."

"Where in Idaho, Mel? How do I get in touch with him?"

"Father does not wish to be disturbed," said Mel.

Cameron glared at her. "He's dead, isn't he? He's dead, and you did something with the body, because you know that in his will I take control of the company."

"That's quite an accusation, Cam," said Mel slowly. She sounded and acted calm, feeling the reassuring glow of Father inside of her.

"If Mother were still here you never would have attempted such a thing," said Cam sharply. "Father wanted me to have the company."

"Did he?" said Mel. "It seems he was training me to be your replacement."

"Father's will said that I get the majority stake. What he might have been planning is pure speculation. He started training you, yes, but training you to assist me," said Cam.

"Is that what you believe, dear brother? Then why did he leave me in charge rather than you when he left?" Melody said.

"We're going to get to the bottom of this," said Cam. "I'm calling a meeting of the Board of Directors. You can explain it to them." He turned on his heel and left.

Melody was outwardly calm, but her pulse was beating rapidly and her palms were sweaty.

"He's not going to give up, Father."

I don't care about that. You should lead the company, not him.

"It would have been much easier if you had changed your will when you were still alive."

I was planning to. But I didn't expect to get knocked off by a pair of illegal aliens at a liquor store.

"He's going to try and embarrass me before the Board of Directors."

Not a chance, baby girl.

********

After Father, Miles Henderson was the most respected member of the Board of Directors of Peaceatronics. An older, bald man in his 60's, he had worked at major corporations all across America over the past 40 years. He listened with skepticism in his eyes as Melody explained that Father was taking personal leave to go fishing in Idaho.

"Fishing? For more than a month?" said Miles.

"He wants some time to reflect on things. Father is a bit burned out," said Melody.

"Then he should have told us that," said Miles. "He's the President and CEO of a major multibillion dollar company. He can't just take off without telling anyone leaving no one in charge."

Put him in his place, Mel!

"I have to correct that assertion, Mr. Henderson. Father did tell someone he was leaving. Me. He did leave someone in charge. Also me."

"Young lady, you're very pleasant, but you don't know the first thing about financials and technical schematics. Who's going to brief us on the 4-K? Who's going to tell us about the latest software updates?"

"Why I will, of course, Mr. Henderson."

And with Father's help, she did. Henderson's features slowly softened as Melody, step by step, explained the latest 4-K report the company had filed with the World Government Insecurities and Exchange Commission. Then Melody turned to the software updates on the weapon itself, explaining how the changes would make the weapon more responsive and less prone to malfunctions. Henderson's eyes grew wide with surprise by the time she was done. All the other Directors looked pleased too.

Afterwards, Henderson clapped her on the back. "Young lady, you were amazing. I swear sometimes I could close my eyes and hear your father talking."

"Father trained me well, Mr. Henderson."

"Indeed." He gave her a inscrutable glance. "Give my regards to Thomas... in his fishing cabin."

"I will," Melody promised.

As Melody made her goodbyes to the Directors, one by one, Cameron simply sat in his chair, giving her furious glares.

********

Melody was shopping for clothes, and Father invariably tagged along. She learned early on that Father didn't have to accompany her all the time wherever she went; but she loved him and soon grew accustomed to his companionship. Melody had never been close to Mother, who frankly she considered an unsympathetic bitch who called her painting "a waste of time", and constantly badgered her to get married.

But Father had always given her a sympathetic ear which is why she felt close to him, and also why she initially offered to help out when it became increasingly clear that Cameron was not going to be a good match for Peaceatronics.

Father had gone shopping with her to buy her first business suits. At first Melody had been resistant. "I can wear slacks and a sweater, Father."

CEO's don't wear slacks and sweaters, dear. They must exude power.

And so he had bought Melody her first business suit. Melody had to admit that she liked it. She noticed that the men in the office started to look at her as more of an equal, and less as "Daddy's Daughter". But then she started shopping for her own work clothes, ones Father didn't always approve of.

Melody modeled a short work skirt in the mirror of Bamburgdale's.

Mel, that's too short! I can almost see your thighs!

"Good, Father," said Melody, looking in the mirror. "If you can, that means men can see them too."

And that blouse is too revealing.

Melody looked in the mirror at her white shirt, which showed off the top of her breasts. "That's one of the things I always hated about the business world. Women had to pretend they didn't have breasts to get ahead, covering them up with bulky jackets and baggy shirts. Well, I'm in charge, Father. You put me there. And while I'm in charge, I'm going to dress like a girl!"

Somehow, even as a ghost, Thomas could still sigh theatrically.

*********

Melody reviewed some financial reports over dinner, with her father's help. "Father, how long can we keep this going?"

What do you mean?

"What I mean is that you are unfortunately dead. Claiming you've gone fishing for five weeks is already stretching credulity. I think... I think Mr. Henderson knows you're dead." He had given her an odd smile at the end of the board meeting, almost a wink.

Or he suspects.

"Well... how long can we keep up with it? Two months, four months, six months... sooner or later, people are going to stop believing you are fishing in Idaho!"

I'm still training you to take over the company. I think you need a few more months.

"And what happens then, Father?"

We'll think of something.

"We? You mean you will. I have no idea what to do. I'm barely hanging on as it is." Her shoulders slumped in her chair.

You're doing a fine job, dear.

"Thank you, Father. But I'm exhausted. Running the company is stressful enough, but having to keep up this charade... it's stressful." She leaned back in her chair.

When was the last time you went on a date?

"What?"

You heard me.

"Father, what does that have to do with anything?"

You're burned out. You need to relax more. I want you to go out on dates.

"Now you sound like Mother." It was the worst insult Melody could think of.

Even a stopped chrono is right twice a day.

"But Father, I simply don't have time!"

Make time.

Father insisted, and Melody didn't have the emotional strength to resist. And so she went out on a couple of dates with men. They were handsome, they were tall, they all had respectable jobs in finance and industry, and they were uniformly boring.

Then go out with someone you don't find boring.

"They are all boring, Father."

But Thomas couldn't help but note that Melody took the time to chat with Mike Kesselridge in Marketing nearly every day.

Why don't you ask Mike out?

"Mike? He's so...."

What?

Melody couldn't find the words that suited her. She liked Mike, but didn't feel a spark.

Do you think your mother felt a spark with me the first time we went out together?

Melody was startled. She knew Father could read her mind but-

Give him a chance, Melody.

"Father-"

Do it!

"Yes, Father."

********

Cameron set another trap for her. "The engineering team wants to meet with Dad about the new schematics."

"I can pass the schematics on to Dad for his comments," said Melody, sitting back in her large executive office chair.

"No," said Cam. "They need a meeting with him, to discuss priorities and strategies." He stared at his sister. "I can have them flown up to Idaho, if it would be more convenient for Dad." He watched her face carefully for any reaction.

Melody stared at her hands for a long moment. "No," she said. "Tell them Dad will speak to them at the meeting."

"What?"

"You heard me," said Melody.

Cam gave her a confused look, and then stalked out of the executive suite.

Melody looked up into the air. "All right, Dad, what are you planning now?"

********

Two days later, the senior engineering team awaited Thomas McMasters in the main conference room. No one had seen the boss in nearly two months. Cameron was there too, waiting to see what would happen.

And then, five minutes after the meeting was to have started, Melody entered the room. "I'm sorry I'm late, everyone," she said, with a smile.

"Where's Dad?" Cameron asked.

"He couldn't make it," said Melody, with a smile.

"Couldn't make it-"

"That's all right, he said I could handle the meeting." She saw the doubt on the faces of the engineers.

"Mel, this stuff is complex electronics-"

"I said, I can handle the meeting," said Mel. She turned to Max Odom, a senior researcher. "Max, what do you have for us?"

Max looked at her like she was an alien from another planet. He licked his lips nervously and looked at the other engineers. "Well," he said finally. "We're looking into developing.25 micron filaments to enhance the trigger reaction-"

"Wait a minute," said Melody, holding up a hand. "Wasn't.25 always a barrier because of the heat resistance generated in filaments that small?"

Max looked at the bewildered expression on the other scientists' faces, which matched his own. "Yes, but we've overcome that with a multialloy component-"

"I saw your schematics," said Melody. "The parallel arrays look more promising than the serial ones, don't you think?"

Cameron watched as his sister, who had never taken an engineering course in her life, delved apparently effortlessly into the technical aspects of electrical engineering. Sis would seem to pause and reflect sometimes before speaking, but the words were all her own. Cameron walked around the room to see if she was wearing an earpiece. Maybe someone was coaching her. But he saw nothing. In any event, no one she could hire would have the same level of expertise that she was showing.

It was equally disheartening for him after the meeting to see the engineers smile and talk casually with Melody, as if they had accepted her. She was his little sister! She knew nothing about electronics! How had she done this?

As the engineers filed out, Melody looked up at Cam, saw his hostile look, shrugged her shoulders, and gave a little smile.

********

At some undetermined point in the dating cycle, Melody started to like Mike Kesselridge. Father had nagged her repeatedly to keep going out with men, but Melody had found them all boring; the only one she liked, at least a little, was Mike.

All right then, then keep going out with him.

And so Mike was the lesser of the evils. At first. But the friendly marketing manager had a way of opening up Melody with smiles, and soon she found herself shyly smiling back at him. Somehow they started to fall into kissing, and things progressed from there. By the fourth date Melody found herself ready to participate in the ritual of reproduction. But there was one catch.

"Father, I like Mike, and I'm going out on a date with him tonight." As she spoke she was applying makeup; Melody almost never wore eyeliner, she thought it was too "slutty"; but tonight she wanted to signal to Mike that she was ready to be inseminated, in case there was any doubt. She figured that her low cut shirt, showing off her breasts, should remove any doubt as well.

That's great!

"There's just one thing... I plan on being intimate with him... are you going to be inside me, watching? Because that would be really, really awkward."

Oh. No. Of course not.

Melody put her hands on her hips, and waited.

The glowing outline of her father emerged from her body. It was like feeling herself hollowing out, a bit. She had gotten so used to him! This was the first time she could remember that he had left her, and it was startling to see him. She knew he was a ghost but... to actually see his glowing face was a bit disturbing.

"Have fun, daughter," he said, and he vanished.

********

Melody was naked on her back in Mike's bed, engaging in the ritual of reproduction. As Mike plowed between her legs, doing what nature intended, Melody realized her father was right; a 27 year old girl like herself had no place living the life of a celibate nun. And Mike was increasingly cute! He had a handsome body, and grunted as he thrusted into her. As Mike attempted to manufacture little Mikes inside of her, a sparkle of light caught Melody's eye. She looked out the window and thought it might be the moon, but there was no moon out tonight.

There it was again, another brief flash.

Melody frowned, but all her concerns flew out of her head when Mike pressed his lips to hers, and she fell back into the pleasures of the flesh.

When Melody got home later that night, Father was there, in all his glowing splendor. "How was it?" he asked innocently.

Melody nodded slowly and gave a small smile. "I had a wonderful time."

"Good."

*********

Four months after Father disappeared, Cameron marched into Melody's office. For it was thoroughly her office now as she had consolidated control of the company. Everyone accepted her as the ears and eyes of Father, she had proven herself multiple times.

But not to Cameron.

"Enough!" said Cameron.

"Brother? I'll be with you in a moment," said Melody, studying a Pad.

Cameron slammed his fist down on the desk, but Melody didn't even raise an eyebrow. "Enough, Mel!"

Melody casually put down her Pad. "What is it, Cameron?"

"He's been gone four months, Mel. If you can't produce Father, I'm going to get him declared legally dead. The lawyers say I can do it."

"Are you really so eager to bury Father, Cam?"

"He's dead, Mel, and you've been taking advantage of the situation, and it has to stop. I don't want to do this... but if we can't come to an arrangement, you'll force my hand."

An arrangement.

Mel, be careful-

Quiet, Father.

Melody leaned back in her chair and spread her legs. "What did you have in mind, brother?"

Cam licked his lips. "I should be CEO. Everyone knows it. It's in Father's will. I'll be CEO... but I'll make you President. You can effectively run the company. You can make all the decisions."

"I can?" said Melody.

"Yes. You just have to consult with me," said Cam.

"So...." Melody stretched her legs even further. "You would have a veto over all decisions."

"Of course."

"And... you would take all credit for my work," said Melody.

"It would be a team effort, Mel," said Cam. "What do you say? It's much better than what Father's will stated; if things had unrolled naturally, I would have been both CEO and President."

The old Melody would have been nervous, or agitated, or lashed out at her brother. But the new Melody, having gained the confidence of running a multibillion dollar company, and having enjoyed a fine session of vaginal sex with her boytoy just the night before, was a different woman.

"Let me think about it, Brother."

"Don't think too long."

*********

I will not have him as CEO.

"It's not a terrible offer, Father. I would still run the company."

But he would get the credit. He hasn't earned it. No, he has to be stopped.

Melody stiffened. "What are you going to do, Father?"

I'm not sure.

"Father... you're not going to harm Cameron, are you?"

There was no reply in her mind.

"Father, he's my brother and I find him very annoying, but I also don't want him harmed," said Melody.

Darling daughter, I just want your future protected.

"Fine. Then find a way to do it without harming Cameron."

********

The following week, Cameron marched into her office, flanked by a pair of lawyers from Rabinowitz, Rabinowitz, and Rabinowitz. Melody resisted the urge to whistle. Cameron had hired two lawyers from the highly respected and extremely expensive top tier firm. It was said that the lawyers from RR& R never lost a case.

And now they were here in her office.

"Sister, I want you to be the first to know that I have filed a motion in Denver Superior Court to declare Dad dead," said Cameron.

Melody blinked slowly. She took a sip of a glass of water. She put down the glass. Then she said, "That's not necessary."

"It is necessary, since you turned down my offer-"

"It's not necessary, because Father is dead," said Melody.

"He is?" said Cameron.

"He was the victim of a robbery in a liquor store," said Melody.

Cameron's eyes narrowed. "I thought he was in Idaho."

"He was in Idaho. On the way back, he got shot in a liquor store. I can send you the coroner's report," said Melody, briefly flashing a Pad before putting it back down.

"So... the company is mine," said Cameron.

"According to the original will, yes," said Melody. "But Father executed a codicil to his will a few months ago."

"He did?"

"Yes. He only made a tiny change. Instead of giving you 51% and me 49%, he switched our percentages. I'm the majority owner now, Cameron. As well as the President, and the CEO." She held up a Pad.

"Let me see that!"

Melody handed him the Pad.

Cameron read it rapidly. "This... this must be a forgery."

"No, it isn't. I expect you'll have Dad's signature analyzed by the best experts Rabinowitz and Rabinowitz can afford. They'll tell you it's genuine," said Melody. She paused, counting to ten in her mind. "And now, if you'll excuse me, I have some work to do."

**********

At first, everything was fine. Cameron quickly backed down, after the signature really did prove to be Father's. She smoothed things over with him by naming him Senior Advisor to the president. Of course, Cameron never once advised her on anything. But he did have an office on the eighth floor and a very leggy secretary who did whatever needed doing. Melody still had to see him on occasion but he was, after all, her brother.

No, the only remaining problem was Father, though it pained Melody to think it. He was starting to quarrel more and more with her about her business decisions. When she decided to sell Peace Guns to the Russian Federation, Father had warned her against it. "They don't respect human rights like we do."

"But they have a lot of money, also like we do," said Melody. "Besides, if they are going to violate human rights, wouldn't it be better if they did it with Peace Guns than Compression Rifles?"

Father also argued with her about marketing and budgeting issues. It was inevitable, Melody supposed; he had run the company for over 40 years, and was quite emotionally involved.

Father was also starting to quarrel with her about Mike. After Melody became engorged with Mike's fetus, Father insisted that she get married to him. "A child should have a mother and a father," he insisted.

Melody wasn't so sure. She had watched how Mother changed over the years and didn't want to be tied down. Her child would have a father, just one who wasn't necessarily married to her. She might marry Mike, some day... but that day was not today.

They fought, and they quarreled, and finally Melody had it out one night in her apartment. "Listen, Father, you stayed around after you... after you died to help me, right?"

Of course.

"Well you've done that!" said Melody. "I'm firmly in charge of your company. I know what I'm doing now. I have a love life. I have a baby on the way. Father, your mission... is accomplished. "

Father didn't speak, for a long while.

"Father? Father?" Melody said.

A glowing shape emerged from her body. Melody gasped as she saw her father again. "You're right," he said, from his glowing mouth. "You're right. When I died, I hung on so tightly so I could help you. But you don't need my help any more, do you? You're going to be just fine." And then her father started to fade before her eyes.

"Father? Father, what's going on?"

"I'm... I think I'm Moving On," said Thomas. The words just came to him, though he didn't know what they meant.

"Father, no! I didn't mean for you-"

"It's all right," his glowing face smiled, as his spectral hand touched her cheek. "It's time. I love you, Melody." He started to fade even further. He was so transparent it was hard for Melody to see him now.

"Father? Father, don't go! Father, I love you!" She saw his mouth move soundlessly, apparently forming the very same words.

And then he was gone.

*********

"AAAAARRRRRGGGGHHHHHH!" the Doctor screamed.

The Doctor sat up in bed. He looked around.

"Where am I?"

In the Dome, Doctor. You're home.

The Doctor looked around, as memory flooded back to him. He was in his bed, at home, on the ceiling of his bedroom. His body was covered with sweat, and his pulse was beating rapidly.

Don't you remember? We returned from Iraq-

"I remember," said the Doctor, wiping the sweat off his brow. "I remember everything now," he said, his voice becoming calmer. He took a pitcher of water off his nightstand on the ceiling, and poured some water into a cup. The water poured upwards as he expected. He drank from it.

Doctor, are you still having nightmares?

"Aren't you?" It had only been a day since Alyssa had been killed.

Kalaks don't sleep, Doctor.

"Lucky you," the Doctor muttered. He lay back in bed, and stared straight down at the floor.

Doctor, would it helped if you talked about it?

"No."

Doctor?

"Goodnight."

But the Doctor didn't sleep a wink the rest of the night.