Samuel Chong towered over most tenants in Mentari Jingga and as he strode into Radian's Materials department, saw two pocket groups of staff standing around at the door to Mohir's room, and Abdul Rahman's cubicle. He had rushed down three flights of stairs upon receiving the call from Anita, the section's receptionist. Nothing she said was coherent, but Samuel made out enough to deduce it was about Dr Saari's team. She, too, was already with the crowd as he arrived.
"Anita, where's Bernice?"
The group of men and women moved away from the doorway allowing him a glimpse inside. Samuel saw nothing out of the norm. Mohir and Dr Saari, the two most senior members of the team, were seated in their chairs. It took him a while to understand Anita's frantic response. Both men were statuesque, unmoving, and staring into space.
"She hasn't clocked in, Datuk," she said, shuddering slightly.
Samuel nodded, hiding his concerns as he stepped inside. Despite looking all spaced-out, both were perfectly normal. Mohir's head was turned slightly toward Saari. His eyes opened and unblinking, sights set at a point in mid-air.
Were they in a conversation?
Samuel extended his right hand to Mohir's stout neck and inadvertently recoil as the shock of an ice-cold feedback hit him. A silent curse left lips and his face knotted.
"When did this happen, Anita?"
The receptionist shrugged her shoulders before answering.
"I don't know… Ten, twenty minutes. The office suddenly became so quiet it freaked me out. I came in and saw them like this, Datuk. That's when I called you. I didn't know what else to do," she said.
Samuel nodded, stepped away and strode next towards the shared area. Saw Abdul Rahman in a similar poise as his two seniors. The researcher's hands sat unmoving on the keypad of his laptop. He took out his cell phone. Said "Maria" into it.
"Something's happened at Materials. Can you check with security if they've seen Bernice? And the new girl, Syafa. Call me back as soon as you get something."
Samuel hung up and then turned his attention to both group of onlookers. Coughed loudly to get their attention.
"Whatever happened here stays within these four walls. Anyone who shares any pictures or videos or anything at all will answer to me. Is that understood?" he said, looking around the faces, many of whom he was first names basis. Their murmurs irritated Samuel, who then raised his cell phone above his head.
"Erase them if you have recorded any such. It is imperative we investigate this incident. We can't have a full-blown discussion with assumptions and theories jeopardizing any proper and accurate findings," he said.
The phone buzzed in his hands, even as many of those who had converged to the department began leaving. He saw Anita remaining outside Mohir's room, right hand cupping her mouth. Her body was shaking.
"Datuk! Look!"
Dashing to where she stood, Samuel caught what had bothered her. Mohir's eyes, unblinking, had turned totally white. He saw also Anita turning her head away from the scene. The incessant buzzing of his cell phone told him more bad news was coming his way. He saw word "Maria" etched on the screen.
"Yes? Where? They were both inside? Uh huh…. Lock the lift, please, Maria. Stay with them. What? No, I'm assuming the worse."
He shook his head upon disconnecting, saw Anita staring at him. He nodded before the petite young receptionist could even speak.
"All of them, Anita. You were truly fortunate to somehow escape whatever happened to the team."
"Datuk? What are you doing here? Checking on us?"
He spun towards the voice. Samuel knew exactly who spoke the words and it surprised him. Saw Saari looking at him, eyes wide open. A side glance told him Mohir had resumed with whatever it was he was doing before the whole episode. He nudged Anita.
"Check on Rahman, please."
The woman scurried away as Samuel move to Saari's side.
"How are you feeling, Doctor?"
Saari answered him with a blank look.
"I'm here. I'm working. I'm as fine as you are. What's going on?"
Mohir had caught on and peeping from his side of the two-person cubicle. Samuel could see the questioning look on the rotund researcher's face.
"How did you suddenly appear, Datuk? I don't even remember blinking and you're like already here," said Mohir.
Samuel sighed. Anita returned to his side. Her eyes wide. Head shaking.
"As though nothing happened?"
"… Yes, Datuk. I think I'm going to be sick."
Samuel just managed to catch the receptionist as she slumped into a faint. The two men before him tried to stand up only to fall back into their seats in an apparent disobeying of their muscles to silent orders. He led Anita onto a seat in an empty cubicle and addressed the two men staring at him.
"Stay where you are, gentlemen. Something's happened here."
His cellphone buzzed.
Maria. Right on cue.
"Let me guess: Both of them act as though nothing happened?"
"Not exactly, Datuk. Only Bernice. Syafa…"
Their new staff?
An image arrived from his most trusted staff. Syafa stood erect in suspension, flat shoes inches above the lift floor. Samuel took a deep breath, deleted the image.
"Please, stay with them. I'll send William and his team there."
Samuel glanced around and saw Abdul Rahman tottering, trying to stand and then holding on to the cubicle for support. His knees buckled under him as the elderly team member fell to the floor in a heap.
Samuel took hold of a nearby phone, pressed an extension number. Heard a respond within seconds.
"Faizah? Please send William to Maria and bring three wheelchairs to Materials. Now please. And please ready two MPVs. Where? I'll tell you later."
Samuel felt weak and backed up, finding the wall. Besides him were the bewildered faces of his two most senior researchers who he knew didn't have an inkling what happened either.
Someone must know what this is all about.
Syafa? Is she the one?