Trust

A Hades 9 Story

By: Neal MacLean

Klondike Jammed the call button repeatedly annoyance flooding her every thought and action. This was the fifth time in the last 30 minutes she had signaled the commander to the bridge, and still she got no response. The ship was sitting in the middle of hostile territory at least two jumps from the rendezvous and full of cargo.  To say this was unwise would be the understatement of a lifetime and Lieutenant Klondike was going to ensure it was not her lifetime.  She jammed the call one more time for good measure and the automated response for all senior personnel to report to the command deck sounded throughout the Hercules.  After a moment the internal communications officer leaned over just as he had the other four times and said “same response sir.”  Klondike didn’t need to read it, unless they were under attack Commander Bolan always sent the same reply to any bridge summons.  “Aware of the situation, I will be there when I am good and ready.” 

Klondike was military had been her whole career she knew discipline and order saved lives, Bolan believed different.  Bolan was a pirate and a famous one, before the universe went to shit, he was a “Private Contractor” with a crew of over 40.  After Klondike arrived at Hades 9 she discovered that Bolan was in-fact just as infamously independent, among the survivors on the station.  He was one of the most successful raiders in the sector.  Then one day he turned himself in.  After two days of sitting before the council he was given a full pardon, and a commission on the Admirals flagship.  A position Klondike had been striving for her whole life.  Now he had been given a command and Klondike had to follow the orders of this self-centered, lazy ass-hole. Chopplin, one of the defense officers leaned over and echoed her thoughts exactly “What a lazy ass, huh lieutenant?” “Show some respect for your commander.”   Klondike barked back, taking out her frustration on the officer.  She turned to him and mouthed “Sorry”.  Chopplin waved it off, she liked him a heck of a lot more than Bolan.

A spike of sharp pain hit Klondike in the forehead and radiated across her scalp.  Another damn stress headache.  She stood up and started passing the command center, closing her eyes and trying to calm her mind.  She had more and more of these headaches since Bolan came aboard.  She asked the deck officer for a situation report and continued to pace as she read it over.  The ship was currently parked in the Bolas sector, a region covered by a complex system of nebulas that made navigation and communication nearly impossible, it also happened to fall right on one of Hade’s Station’s major jump routes.  No one stayed in the Bolas longer then they had to.  It was two easy for raiders to move in and out of the nebulas and pick-off weaker ships.  They had already lost 40 ships in the last 6 months. As for the Hercules, the engines were still damaged, and repairs were only half complete.  In truth engineering couldn’t figure out why they could only achieve half of max speed.  Not to mention the power fluctuations were messing with weapons and shields.  Ammo

reserves were down to 3 shots.  The final sentence ‘shields now inoperable’ was the only new information for Klondike, and her headache got more intense. 

Almost yelling she turned to the deck officer and said, “Refocus efforts on the shields and if we are not ready to move out in the next 6 minutes, heads are going to roll.” Cutting off the deck officers protests that it could take longer she continued “I don’t care if we have to limp home at a quarter fucking speed we are rejoining the fleet.”  The deck officer closed his mouth and turned to leave bumping into commander Bolas.  “Belay that order officer, tell repair teams to keep at what their doing.”  “I comman … sir” the office stumbled over his words, then remembering his place and announcing, “Commander on deck”.  Bolas scoffed and meandered over to his command chair sitting sideways his legs hanging over the arms of his chair.  Bolas hated formality, felt it just slowed things down.  In many ways he was completely opposite to Klondike.  He grabbed the report from her as he walked by.  Giving it a quick glance, he tossed the report aside and turned his attention to the Gravdar and Near-space sensors.  Klondike’s annoyance grew as she stared at

her commander intently.  Not for the first time today she considered declaring him incompetent and taking over the ship.  Mutiny however was not part of who she was.

Bolan hadn’t been in command long and inspired little loyalty in the crew.  In the last couple months, he had come in thrown almost all protocol out the window and refused to explain any of his often-strange command choices.  This was another prime example of his idiocy, he chose to start repairs on the engines right before entering a sector full of dangerous criminals.  The Hercules had never been the luckiest ship, often breaking down.  It had been attacked twice as much as any ship in the fleet, but they always made it through.  The crew was hard working and the officers trusted their people to do what was needed, working twice as hard themselves, but not the commander.  He practically ignored the crew and seemed to

barely do any work.  In fact, Klondike had not seen him on the command deck in 2 days.  All his orders coming from the comms officer. 

“DO YOU NEED SOMETHING?!” the commander was speaking loud and very slowly.  Klondike realized she had been standing scowling at the man for at least a minute not saying anything. “No. Sorry sir, just lost in thought, sir.”  Klondike said saluting, mostly out of awkwardness.  “Well then, get found. You’ve got work to do, and I’ve told you to quit with the formality it’s not how I run my ship.” Bolan said as he turned his back to her, looking again at the Near-space sensors, which Klondike could see only showing about half the info

they should be.  Damn interference. She quickly turned on her heels and walked back to her station near the front of the command deck.  As she walked by communications the Lieutenant noticed that the external coms officer was monitoring incoming transmissions and only on non-transmit wavelengths. Essentially, she was listening to the Universe’s white noise. “Officer Econ what are you doing?” Klondike asked, curious more than

anything. “Special orders” Econ said handing over a scrap of paper marked top secret in red ink.  The note was definitely written in the commanders handwriting, Klondike opened it to find two clear concise lines of writing, the first was “cut off all fleet communications” the second was “monitor only the following wave lengths.”  All of which were out side the usable norm for ship to ship communications. 

Klondike dumbfounded took the note back to her desk with her.  Writing was rare in this era and paper rarer, why would the commander give such useless orders and on paper no less.  Could he be betraying them working for his old pirate friends.  The thought seemed very logical knowing Bolan’s history, but his quick promotion to commander and full pardon from the council would suggest they trust him, and that is not something command does easily.  Klondike’s continued thoughts of betrayal were cut short by Econ’s high-pitched voice.  “I got something, mechanical clicks in a rhythm, 2-6-4-8-10-14 just as you described commander.”  “Thank you, officer,” Bolan responded, and his entire demeanor changed in an instant.  He was sitting upright facing Klondike and giving orders. “Lieutenant tell maintenance to check the air vents on C deck specifically 42 through 60.  They should find a dark matter compressor, when they do get it to engineering and fix our engines. Deck Officer would please get all weapons primed and ready to fire at

these coordinates.”  He handed the officer another piece of paper.  Klondike spoke up “Sir our ammo is dangerou …” “I know” he said cutting her off. “Weapons fire when ready.”  Klondike watched in a panic as the last of their missiles careened through space towards nothing.

 All the sudden the Near-space lit up with over twenty contacts as the three missiles collided with and destroyed three previously unseen ships.  They were doomed.  While it was amazing that the commander was able to find the ships in the nebula they were now completely out numbered.  The commander didn’t react.  “Navigation adjust to Bor 128 vec 038, reroute all non-essentials including life support to shields and raise to full power, Lieutenant how are my engines doing?”  Klondike looked at her terminal a report came

in saying the part had been found and engineering was fixing the engine

now.  She conveyed the info to the commander.  “Good, prep jump to the edge of the nebula and engage on my command. Comms broadcast on all frequencies ‘Execute is go’.”  Klondike quickly did the necessary calculations for the jump, it didn’t take long they were only traveling a few thousand miles not far enough to escape the remaining raiders who were now bearing down on them.  “60 seconds to missile impact” tactical shouted just as the engines rumbled back to life and the Hercules started accelerating to jump velocity.  “Calculations ready sir” Klondike announced “Good hold 30 seconds and initiate jump” the commander responded.  Always one to follow orders Klondike waited until she could practically read the serial numbers on the incoming missiles before initiating the jump.

 The timing was perfect the missiles collided with each other the massive explosion scrambling sensors for 10 seconds at the same time the entire fleet jumped in to the sector.  As the Hercules exited the jump they found themselves as part of a circle surrounding the raiders.  The flag popped in over the comms loud and clear “All fire repeat, weapons free!”  Klondike looked back at the commander who wore a sly smile and mouthed to himself “got ya.”  After a private moment of celebration Bolan turned to Klondike “Situation report Lieutenant.”  Klondike quickly looked at her screens and reported “The raider fleet is being destroyed sir, we are showing massive damage to the outer hall it appears the shields never initialized during jump

…” “A little odd isn’t that Lieutenant?” Bolan asked cutting her off.  Klondike agreed the shields were tied into the main power grid they should have reinitialized automatically when the engines were fixed.  Actually, fail-safes should have stopped the jump altogether. They were lucky they only jumped a short distance, or the damage would have been much worse. 

“Klondike who was in-charge of harmonics today” The commander asked in a casual tone leaning back in his chair.  Klondike turned towards Officer Chopplin saying his name, only to see him pull a gun on her.  There was a loud pop and Chopplin fell to the ground.  Klondike slowly looked at the commander who was already holstering his own sidearm.  “Well that takes care of the raiders and the traitor. That was a good day.”  Bolan got up from his command chair and started towards the door. “Lieutenant, please arrange to rejoin the fleet formation and set our course for home, then join me in my quarters please.”  Still stunned

Klondike watched the commander swagger out much the same way he had entered the command deck not 10 minutes earlier.  She couldn’t help it, she was impressed.

Once they were back on course Klondike made her way to Commander Bolan’s office which was in his quarters, another violation of military protocol.  “Come on in Lieutenant.  I need a favor from you.” He waited patiently for her to sit and respond. “Yes sir, what is it you need from me.”  “I am aware that the crew does not like or trust me.  I can live with one but not the other.  You have their trust and I need your help to get that.” Klondike was stunned. “I needed to create this façade to expose Chopplin and convince the raiders I was incompetent enough to be an easy target.  While effective it did almost destroy crew morale.”  Klondike took a moment to compose herself and see her commander in this new light.  He was good at his job.  “I am with you sir.  The Hercules has a good crew that will support you as well sir.” “Good.”  Bolan was wearing that same sly smile. At least that was real.  “I do have one question sir. I understand Chopplin kept the shields down to force a surrender from you but why would he disable the jump fail-safes, it would have served him no purpose?” “That’s an easy one Lieutenant. He didn’t disable them, I did.” “but we could have died without

shields” “yes we could have but like you said the Hercules has a good crew.” “But sir” “Oh and I trusted you even if you didn’t trust me.”  Bolan laughed and left the room leaving Klondike in stunned silence for the third time that day.

The End

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Ship Characters Breakdown

These were designed to become characters' dialogue/ background.  These characters were to be picked from a pool of possible character looks and names.  This means gender and any other personal details had to be non specific in dialogue.  

Dialogue Tree Structure

-Greeting

- context relevant comment (if applicable) – could break-down further

- choice of asking about self or others -  could break-down further

- Exit line

For each character these could be relevant or not. Some might just skip greeting and go into context relevant if panicked or some might not say goodbye

Also as requested each character has journal entries or dialogue for back story development that will be revealed as the character levels up

Short Hand

(CN) - insert characters full name

(FN) - insert characters first name

(LN) - insert characters last name

(RN) – insert characters rank and full name

(RL) - insert characters rank and last name

(IR) - insert characters rank only

Hard Ass (military)

Generic 

• Sir
• All is well Sir
• Thank you for your time sir.
• I am not sure about this new batch of recruits. We should only be taking the best of the best of the best. Sir.
• It is an honor to be recognized for my achievements sir.
• Most of the combat pilots seem to have been knocked in the head one too many times.
• I have a group of civilians that haven’t been following my orders. I am taking them through some basic training to help toughen them up.
• Do you remember your basic training sir. Some of the best times of my life. I remember one recruit working so hard his arms fell off and had to be replaced by cybernetics 
•  It seems to me, we are a little too easy on the recruits now a days
• We will be running drills until we can reach full readiness in under 3 minutes.
• Those maggots better be at early for call today or I am going give them a new definition of pain

Chronic 

• Here is the list of suggested improvements for officer training today
• I understand you have had a complaint that I am too tough on the young recruits. Let me reassure you I am just preparing them for what is to come. After the devastation of man there is no place for softness.
• I recommend starting emergency drills earlier in the day to really test crew readiness 
• Three officers were insubordinate to me yesterday, don’t worry I straightened them out. Sir.
• The following recruits have been written up for insubordinate behavior. The list is short today only two pages.
• We lost so many newbies… so many I taught… sometimes you can’t prepare them no matter how hard you try
• Our position is overrun. Jump away NOW! We will hold them here
• 
  

Context

• That battle was fierce. The crew performed well but we could have avoided loss of life with better training 
• Who ever is on navigation needs to be reassigned we had four false location locks last week
• This maybe a mining ship but discipline is important on any deep space vessel. I would be happy to run some sessions on proper behavior on a vessel. I think it would improve crew efficiency
• Death to the enemy
• Every day I get up and do this job for one reason and one reason only. To get stronger. I want to be the strongest commander there has ever been

Ark

• (found by another character) We found a communication in stating this officer’s family was found dead

Report 1189648

This marks the 30 year anniversary of the massacre at Erojima, during which all civilian life on the planet was exterminated.  Please see attached file for the report by the commander in charge of protecting the planet at the time

Captain Forson reporting.  At 2600 hours local time part of the Red Flag Pirate Fleet attacked the base on the remote planet Erojima.  The enemy outnumbered us. Our soldiers fought bravely but the odds were severely against them. The battle was progressing well, but the inexperienced crew were overwhelmed when pirate reinforcements arrived.  Approximately 10 minutes into the battle a group of fighters from the pirate fleet moved out from behind Erojimas moon and started attacking the settlement on  the surface by the time our fleet was able to respond there were no civilian survivors.  Only 2 of our support ships survived the attack and while the Red Flag fleet did suffer heavy losses they were able to raid the settlement and steal the supplies being stored there.  Several crew members left the service after the loss of their families in the attack. Listed below are the crew that decided to stay on, I recommend they be reassigned as soon as possible.  The Erojima settlement is not worth salvaging. It is little more than burning rubble.

• Younger crew member tells the story of how this character took them aside and taught them after yelling at them

You know the other day the (IR) was yelling as usual, going on about how the crew was so much better back in the day before the universe went to shit.  Just afterward, cadet Rupert actually completed the training simulation in record time and then I saw something I have never seen before.  The (IR) congratulated him.  It was an honest compliment, it seems the hard work we do is actually valued.  Of course it was  followed up by telling Rupert if he was in real combat the enemy would not be so easily overcome, then (RL) continued to insult the rest of us.

• A report 

Research Report

As requested this is an abridged review of (RL)’s military record.  In (CN)’s early career the commanding officer gave out several accommodations for outstanding service.  The then Private (LN)  was assigned to guard Erojima and was present for the massacre there.  After the loss at Erojima, (CN) took a 12 month leave of absence and came back with a proposal to redesign the entire entrance training program.  (FN) recommended higher requirements for trainees to become privates and more comprehensive training to get them there.  The widespread changes were rejected, but (LN) was able to find support with a couple of Generals and was put in charge of a unit of trainees and given complete control over their training regiment.  The success of the new training program earned (LN) several promotions and the Generals were looking into wider spread implementation when galactic civilization fell apart.  (RL) served on the same ship until arriving at Hades 9.

Lieutenant Jordan

Specific

• The battle at the asteroid field was disastrous if we don’t find new source of water soon the people on the station will start dying
• The loss of our last ship was a big hit to the fleet. This new crew will need to work much harder if they hope to do half as well.
• 
  

Environmental

• A picture of the dead family at officers station

Paranoid

• Sorry sir I did not sleep much last night
• I made the mistake of reading our resident psychologists diagnosis manual, I am pretty sure I managed to diagnose myself with at least 4 illnesses
• Have you heard the people of Rylus have perfected their human android technology. This means they could be here on the ship now watching us
• I have made some suggestions to security to improve our screening process before taking on new crew. The security head was not interested.  
• I have suspicions about some of the other crew members. I can’t trust them.
• You have earned my trust sir. I will watch your back for traitors and insiders
• The regular psych-evals are helping. I am only suspicious of about half the people I meet now.
• I keep well informed of the goingons around the ship. Anyone you want to know about.
• Everyone has their secrets it’s when those secrets get out that people are dangerous.
• I am starting to get along with the other officers. Even if they are replicants their nice ones
• I found some ways to improve efficiency with the bridge staff while I was tracking their whereabouts over the last month.
• I can’t help but wonder if these losses were necessary. Why do we always take such big risks.
• Last time I was at Hades Station I am pretty sure someone was following me. Don’t worry I gave them the slip. Just had to sleep in the gutter for a week.
• What do we do they are coming from everywhere!
• I give up sir
• There are many theories out there but I will forever be convinced replicants caused the desolation of humanity 10 years ago
• The death penalty for traitors is mandatory on ship

• A report stating that the rumor of a traitor in our midst is greatly exaggerated it looks like someone started a rumor and it grew like wildfire

Hades Central Command

We have investigated several reports of infiltrators and traitors in your fleet.  It seems they were greatly exaggerated.  No evidence could be found of any plans to betray the fleet to pirates or any other organized military outside of the fleet.  These reports seem to have been based off nothing but rumor and should be dismissed as such.

• Several reports from this character of replicants on the ship people acting weird around them

Replicant Report 12:

    This is the twelfth report I have written about the suspect behavior I have been witnessing from other crew members.  As I made clear in my first report these crew members behavior has suddenly shifted and I expect them of being replicated and are now spies. I can not officially report them without proof, but that will come in time.

Lt. Heura – she recently started in communications and I often see her conversing with one of our science officers Splane. Splane is already a suspected replicant and now I believe the two are working together.  Yesterday I walked in on the two of them in medical and they seemed embarrassed.  She was clearly trying to distract me while he was behind a curtain. 

Engineer Block – This engineer is regularly not where he is meant to be.  I regularly check duty rosters and the last 3 weeks he has been at a different station than the roster says.  I have a meeting with his supervisor tomorrow to get an explanation for this odd behaviour

Medical Officer Torren – Dr. Torren caught me looking at medical records trying to find proof of replication. When I explained myself he threatened to have me reported as mentally incompetent.  Trying to strip me of my command.  I assured him that I am still one of the most effective commanders in the fleet, and fully within my rights to consult these files.  He said he didn’t care, if he caught me looking through his files again he’d have me kicked off the ship.  His threats don’t concern me but his aggressive response makes me think he is hiding something.

Jump Technician McLain – There has been recent improvements in her work.  Her jump calculations have been more exact than any other technician.  This has been beneficial for the ship but is suspect to me.  No one just gets better.  She claims she has been studying and practicing more, but I suspect replicant technology is enhancing her abilities.  I have an officer rechecking all her calculations to ensure the ship jumps are safe.

I shared these insights with fellow commanders I trust but they are extremely skeptical.  I know I lack solid evidence but all it takes is one slip up and I will have the proof I need.  

• Other characters are getting sick of the constant chatting and accusations, crew members and are actively avoiding the character

Joint Formal Complaint

     Admiral we understand that (RN) is extremely effective in battle and has strong leadership skills.  However this constant questioning of crew and orders needs to stop.  The crew don’t trust (LN) any longer and some think the (IR) has gone crazy.  The truth is (RL) may be crazy but we do not care as long as it does not affect our work.  The trouble is it has been affecting the work and it is time we spoke up.  The suspicion of spies in the crew is unfounded and truly harmful to morale and effective work.  Please ask (RL) to keep these theories quiet or we will request replacement. 

All Departmental Supervisors

Personal Log 4568-1

I was reprimanded today for the 3rd time.  I have been sharing my theories with crew mates again and the admiral says it has a negative effect on morale.  This makes sense so I have decided to stop sharing my theories.  The ship psychologist agrees with this suggestion.  While I loathe being forced to see the Doctor like some crazy person the advice I receive has been helping.  I find myself less suspicious day to day and the need to question the crew is less pressing than it once was.  My beliefs in the replicants will never change but I now don’t have to share them.

• Contingency plans for if the command compromised

Contingency Plan v.22 – Worst Case Scenario

    If the Admiral is ever compromised by replicants the following is a plan of what can be done.  The first goal would be to obtain proof and take it to the higher authority.  If not possible the other commanders must be convinced that the admiral is treacherous so that no permanent damage can be done to the fleet.  With the commanders in control  the fleet will be safe and if needed the admiral can be replaced or simply controlled through information manipulation.  Though this is a very unlikely scenario the Admiral’s power can be limited by the commanders if needed.  No one person should have complete control.

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Around the Corner 

A Short Story by Neal Maclean 

Tap…Tap…Tap. 

The sun blared bright overhead and it was hot, really hot.  An oppressive heat.  The kind of  weather where you are sweating after only being outside for a couple of minutes.  She was  walking along a busy city street, the sun reflected of the pavement making her have to close her  eyes every few minutes just to give them a break from all the glare.  She was already sweating  from the heat and it was getting in her eyes making her blink even more.   This was a new place.  She grew up in a rural town of only a few thousand.  She had never been  near any tall buildings like this till the move.  She still wasn’t comfortable in this new  environment, always noisy, never feeling completely alone, yet isolated not knowing anyone.   Really, she just wanted to go home, but that wasn’t possible her old home was gone.  This is  home now.  She had been locked in her apartment for days with these same depressing thoughts going through her head when she realized she just needed to get out and spend time  in the city to get comfortable.  So, she was walking aimlessly down the streets of a new city  with giant grey cement sky scrapers on one side and constant traffic on the other.  The streets were devoid of people, it gave her an uneasy feeling as she walked.  The city  was normally so busy, but it was just after lunch so everyone must have been working in their  nice cool air-conditioned offices.  The heat was getting to her.  Thirst was starting to dry her  mouth, just the beginning given how hot it was.  She could step into one of the convenience  stores along the street but decided against it she felt that staying outdoors would help her  adjust to the city faster and she was just a little thirsty. She thought back to her brother, the  two of them working on the neighbors farm all day to earn a few extra dollars.  They went  hours of hard labor without water and she was fine, what harm was a little thirst going to do.   

She continued walking when something reflective caught her eye it was the only glass  building for blocks and for the first time in at least a week she could see herself.  In her early  20’s she was average height, and generally considered an attractive young woman.  She had  light brown hair and bright green eyes that danced with joy when she was happy and made the  boys knees go weak.  However, she thought her hips were too big along with her feet and her chin, she also had pancake butt, flat as the day is long, not to mention her eyes were too close  together.  In her reflections, she saw all her normal little imperfections but something else as  well.  She looked miserable, she had clearly been inside for days barely sleeping and not  showering.  She had bags under her eyes and pit stains on her shirt.  It was obvious now why no  one was on her side of the street, she would avoid someone who looked like this as well.  There  was an almost surreal quality to the reflection, it was more than miserable she looked hopeless.   She turned away from her reflection and quickly walked away.  Since moving to the city and  seeing all the beautiful business women going to work each day she had become more self conscious of her appearance.  She picked up the pace wanting to move as quickly as possible  away from that reflection and what it showed her.  She came to a corner paused for a second  then turned right. The first turn since she left her apartment.  The moment she turned that  corner something felt different. 

Tap…Tap…Tap. 

She got a shiver and the hairs on the back of her neck were standing straight up, but  nothing looked wrong.  She kept walking despite her brief moment of unexplained panic, everything seemed normal so she kept moving but started to walk a little faster and started  thinking about heading back to her little apartment.  Somehow the sun seemed even hotter  now and the air was heavy like just before a rainstorm but with no moisture in the air.  She  looked up, not a cloud in the sky, and looked down the street no awnings or overhangs to  provide even the smallest amount of shade.  The heat was becoming unbearable she was  definitely getting a drink the next chance she got.  That’s when she saw it and that is when  panic started to set in.  

She was about halfway down the block and another 100 meters or so along was a glass  building just like the one from around the corner.  Not just like but exactly like, she slowly  approached it, the way the sun reflected off the building the cracks in the pavement nearby  everything about this moment told her this was the same building.  But that was impossible,  still her panic was increasing and that uncomfortable feeling when she first turned the corner  was back.  She ran past the building and didn’t pause for a second as she turned right at the  next corner to start heading the direction of home.  After three steps around the corner she stopped dead in her tracks.  Stunned she slowly looked around absorbing as much detail as she  could and trying to ignore the horrible realization she was coming to.  It was the same.  It was  all the same.  This city block was exactly the same as the block before it and the block before  that.  Looking down the street she recognized cracks in the sidewalk she had passed twice  already.  The buildings on her right all looked the same, and though the cars whizzing by on her  left were a blur of movement something told her they were the same as well.  She had been on  the track team in high school so her first instinct was often to run so she did, as quickly as she  could. 

It took her about a minute and a half to run the full length of the street and get to the  next corner.  As she passed the glass building for a third time she closed her eyes not wanting  to even chance seeing her reflection in its surface.  Now she was standing at the corner.  There  was no street crossing and the traffic was moving a such as speed that attempting to cross  would have been suicide.  So, she stood there, scared to turn right and see what she suspected  was there.  She was conflicted, the calm reasonable voice in her head told her this was  ridiculous this is a new city and you are just not used to it yet.  The panicked voice was  screaming she was trapped and needed to find help.  She took a deep breath and turned.  The  street was exactly the same and the panic took over.  She started running and couldn’t stop.   She kept circling the block and at each corner there was no way to cross, no choice but to  continue on.  She ran till her clothes were soaked in sweat and every muscle in her body hurt.   She ran till she collapsed in a heap gasping for breath and unable to move.  By this point she  was completely dehydrated and exhausted, she passed out. 

Tap…Tap…Tap. 

A couple hours later she wakes up.  Still feeling completely drained but less panicked.    The calm rational side of her brain started to work again. She crawled over and propped herself  up against the old wood door of one of many cement buildings she had passed.  It provided the  smallest amount of shade and gave her a moment to think things through.  She knew she  wasn’t crazy, but she also knew she was stuck in this strange loop so she needed to find a way  out.  She sat there for a couple minutes organizing her jumbled thoughts and pushing away the  feelings of thirst and pain, when it came to her a simple solution.  She lifted her fist in the air and slammed it behind her three times, Knock…Knock..Knock.  There was no response from the  other-side of the door, but she was not discouraged she knocked again. No response.  Still she  had a plan it must be getting late, there was bound to be someone on the streets or behind one  of the doors, that can help her get home.  She tried each door in turn walking slowly to  conserve her energy in the still oppressive heat.  It must have taken her over an hour to knock  on all the doors on all four versions of the same street, with each failure her energy and  optimism lessened.  There was only one building left to try she had avoided all four of the glass  building when doing her rounds of knocking but now it was the only place she had left.  

As she got close she could see the revolving door to the glass building and it looked to  be open.   Just then she caught her reflection in the corner of her eye and stopped dead.  The  reflection was wrong.  There was no other way to describe it.  It was still her, she looked  messier and exhausted as expected but the hopelessness was somehow deeper.  She stared at  herself disheartened and strangely uncomfortable with what she saw.  Then she realized it was  her eyes, her best feature, always full of life were completely lifeless.  This sent shivers down  her spine, standing there staring.  She shook her head, this was silly.  She got up close to the  building leaning against it and putting her hand to her forehead to block out the sun and her  reflection.  The lobby of the glass building was pristine exactly what you would expect from a  corporate headquarters in a major city.  There was a row of elevators near the back of the  lobby with benches along the windows to sit and look outside.  She noticed that there were no  plants something she would have expected, but the whole place was white and silver almost  medical in it cleanliness.  Finally, her eyes fell on the reception desk near the front doors.  The  desk was just as pristine as the rest of the lobby but something looked off about like it was  slightly out of focus.  As she looked over the rest of the lobby again she realized the whole  space seemed wrong, the same feeling she got when looking at her reflection. She didn’t care  however because there was someone behind the reception desk and hope sprang up inside  her.  She quickly made her way to the front door and pushed her way in.   

She expected the cool blast of air-conditioning but when she got inside the heat was even more intense.  That wasn’t the only unexpected change.  The white and silver lobby  looked completely different from this side of the glass.  It was still completely clean and corporate looking but everything was blood red and black.  The floor was a stunning black  marble but the way light reflected off it made it look like metal grating.  All the walls were such  and intense blood red that it made her eyes hurt a little.  “May I help you.”  The man at  reception spoke in a quiet voice that sounded like he had been explaining things all day and was  a little fed up with the world.  She looked up at him.  He was about 6’1” -6’2”, fairly skinny in a  well-tailored 3-piece black suit.  He had dark hair and his eyes were very dark and sunken, so  much so that they were partially shadowed by his brow. His skin was waxy and pale he looked  like he hadn’t eaten well in weeks.  She was speechless and it took her several minutes to take  in the unsettling scene. “Miss, May help you.” The receptionist repeated more annoyed this  time.  She cleared her throat a couple of times and is a dry raspy voice was able to say “Help  please, and water.”  The man looked her up and down with his dark judging eyes and said “This  is not a charity, what do you have to give for my assistance.  Nothing is free you know?”  She  looked up at him helplessly it was clear she had no purse or wallet nothing to pay him for even  a simple glass of water, “I have nothing” she squeaked, feeling very small. There was a threatening nature about the man.  He had menace in his presence that was hard to ignore.  “Maybe you could show some mercy” she quietly pleaded. The receptionist made a small  chuckle in the back of his throat “You do have something of value but you are not desperate  enough to part with it quite yet.” He said with almost pity in his voice and then much harsher  he demanded she “GET OUT!”  Something in his tone told her if she stuck around he’d hurt her.   She slowly turned on around exited the building and started walking. 

Tap…Tap…Tap. 

She walked left this time knowing it made no difference she slowly turned the corner and  approached the glass building.  A small glimmer of hope was still inside her that this version of  the glass building would be different.  She looked inside and saw exactly what she expected.   The white a silver lobby slightly out of focus and the menacing man at reception in his 3-piece  suit, which looked white from here but she knew was really jet black.  Stepping back from the  glass her reflection came into focus and she realized what was wrong.  She was older.  She had  wrinkles at her eyes and in the corners of her mouth.  The kind of wrinkles you get from  frowning for years on end.  She stood there in shock feeling her face and trying to process the idea that in a few hours she seemed to have aged years.  She fell to the ground sobbing, the dry  sobs of someone without hope and without any moisture left in their body.  After crying for what felt like hours, but was probably only minutes, a thought occurred  to her.  This place she was trapped in was messing with her perception, so maybe she wasn’t  actually aging.  Determined to prove herself right she decided to circle the block and check  herself in each building around the block and measure the differences.  First however she  wanted to improve her appearance to check if her reflection changed.  She walked down the  street out of sight of the glass building and stripped down to her underwear.  She lay her  clothes out on the pavement to dry and used a packet of tissue from her pocket to wipe down  her face and sweatier parts of her body.  She tied her hair as best she could and once her  clothes had dried in the sun she put them on.  The whole process only took a few minutes and  once she was over the initial embarrassment of being nearly naked in public she actually felt a  little refreshed and confident.  She slowly walked to the next glass building to check her  reflection. 

The reflection still had hopeless and lifeless eyes.  She looked less dirty and less sweaty  which she was but just like the previous reflection she also looked older than she was.  If  anything, this reflection was a couple years older than the one before.  She moved on to the  next block and the next, each reflection she aged a few years.  She was beyond panic at this  point with each new reflection any hope of a future slowly faded.  It didn’t matter what  direction she walked or how quickly each time she turned a corner she got older.  After going  around the blocks a few times in either direction she now had streaks of grey in her hair and  was utterly defeated.  There was one thing left she hadn’t tried and after everything that had  happened in last couple hours, she was ready to cross the street.  She stood on the curb for  several minutes feeling the rush of air from the cars speeding by.  As she tried to look in the  windows she couldn’t make out drivers or passengers which at this point didn’t surprise her in  the least.  She closed her eyes took three deep breaths and stepped out into the street.  The  pain was immediate and intense, the cars didn’t even slow down.  She could feel her bones  snapping like twigs and her body being shredded by the tires of the heavy vehicles, like being  forced through a meat grinder.  Then she blacked out.  

Tap…Tap…Tap. 

She awoke screaming laying in the middle of the sidewalk.  The sun was just as bright  and the heat just as intense.  She slowly checked her body for injuries.  There were no physical  injuries on her body but the pain of being torn apart still lingered in muscles and bones.  The  thirst burned insider her more intensely than all the rest of her injuries combined.  It took her  hours to crawl to the closest building and proper herself up.  Her need for water was beyond  the need of the living.  Since death was no longer an escape for her she knew that there was no  hope and all she could think of was water.  Then a thought occurred to her one that she’d had  many times in her life but for the first time she meant it, so much so that she said it aloud, “I  would sell my soul for a glass of water.” 

The receptionist stepped around the corner with a joyful smile on his face and a glass of  ice water in his hand.  He calmly and carefully approached the woman and helped her drink  from a cold cool glass of water.  Her eyes sprang open as the water touched her lips she quickly  took it from him and drank it down as fast as she could.  The water suffused her entire being  and washed away her thirst for the moment.  She jumped up almost knocking the receptionist  over as she did so.  She proceeded thank him profusely and to explain the whole situation at  lighting speed telling him everything from her decision to finally leave her apartment to the  abnormal events that lead to this moment.  The receptionist stood there listening to her tirade of thoughts with a dry smile on his face.  He led her by the arm and they slowly walked toward  the glass building.  Once she started talking, she just wanted to express her relief at his help but  now she couldn’t stop talking.  She had moved on from her recent experiences to important  memories from her child hood.  It was like everything that made her who she was started  pouring out her mouth in a flood of words.  As they got closer to the building she started talking  faster like her mouth was racing her feet.  The receptionist went back in the building and took  his place behind the counter while she was still babbling away.   

As she passed through the revolving doors she felt like everything was draining out of  her thoughts, feelings and finally words.  She approached the desk and finally fell silent with  nothing left inside her to say.  The receptionist still wearing that dry almost sadistic smile  waited a moment and then spoke, “Hello Miss.  We were hoping you would join us.  I can see 

you now have nothing left of value so you can come in and welcome.  Yours is the second  elevator on the left.” As her footsteps echoed on the black marble and she approached the  blood red elevator doors one thought remained in her head.  She finally knew where she was  and how did she not realized sooner. 

Tap..Tap..Tap. 

“What have we got?” Detective Clemens asked as he approached the body and the  corner in the middle of the street.  “She’s been dead about an hour apparently she took a  header off the 15th floor and died on impact.  Crime scene is up there now but it’s looking like a  suicide.” The officer next to him continued to fill in the details; a poor depressed girl from the  boonies who recently moved to the big city and killed herself in the middle of a hot July day.  It  was all things he had heard before when something hit is shoulder.  Clemens looked up there  was an air-conditioner running two floors up leaking and dripping right next to the body.  He  watched quietly as three drops fell Tap..Tap..Tap.  

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