Lab of Confusion
Sometimes I just don’t understand what happens around here. We’re theoretically a scientific research centre, but we have a spaceship under construction (apparently only by me, as it turns out), and are frequently contacted by aliens. I’ve been tasked with building a mind-controlling ray gun, and drinks that will make you feel all sorts of weird things.
But every once in a while, strangers in street clothes are walking around like they belong here. And then, when the strangers poking around are people (or not) that you actually know, it becomes a really weird day.
Meagan has been gone for some time now, and I thought she’d been let go. Today she walked in without lab coat or proper ID, and began playing with the equipment. I guess she was transferred to another lab, but still I had no clue what she was doing here.
Just don’t freakin’ break anything, Meagan.
Another surprise visitor was Georgia, messing with the analytical gear. She certainly knew what she was doing, and management didn’t seem concerned with her actions.
“Hey! What’s up, Georgia?”
“Oh! It’s you! What are you… Hi Jeanette!”
I missed her. I hadn’t seen her since … hey! Wait! Georgia is an alien in disguise! Does this mean we’re working closely with the aliens now? Does anyone else know she’s not human?
Oh jeez! What about Meagan!? Does that explain her actions and disappearance all this time? She’s actually an … of course she is, why didn’t I see that before. I bet I can get answers from her somehow.
Just a quick blast from my trusty Steve…
Oh crap, wrong setting. Did Meagan always have a full arm tattoo? How had I not noticed that previously?
She wasn’t impressed with my meddling, and began getting angry. She threatened to have me fired, I threatened to expose her secret, she claimed she didn’t have one, I hit her again with the simray….
Things may have got out out of control.
But at least she wasn’t yelling.
Oh fine, okay…. I’ll get her out of there. The boss wasn’t impressed either.
Just a little more, maybe one good one right… oh! Right; I should do this with eyes open. Her time on ice had cooled her temper some, and I did still have some work to do, so I left her to warm up. Maybe now she’ll leave, or at least behave herself.
Goddamnit Meagan!
I thought the manager was going to chew her out, but instead he complimented her skin tone, and praised her work ethic. I thought I was going to barf.
At the end of the day, she had broken two pieces of equipment and the computer, then left without a word. Back to her planet, or mothership, or whichever hole she hides in. Just so long as she’s gone. I need to get out.
I went home to change, and took a cab down to the local disco. Some dancing and flirting was exactly what I needed. Or, wanted, anyway.
But the place was fairly dead. A couple of the usual group, but not the crowd I was expecting. Nobody new.
I was about an hour before anyone else showed up, but even then it wasn’t the throng I’d expected, and none of my friends were anywhere to be seen. But that’s right about when Caitlyn called.
Everyone was down at the ruins for a Friday night bash, and she told me I totally needed to be there. I totally agreed, and took off.
Some of the group at the disco heard as well, and by the time I arrived and met Caitlyn, the place was filling up.
However, it was already getting late, and I hadn’t eaten anything. I knew just what would help me out here, and downed a dose of something we’d been working on. It would keep me going for the rest of the night.
And go we did! The DJ was pumping out great dance tunes, everyone was dancing up a storm.
A couple of drinks, some more dancing, loud shouty conversations with cool people; it was a great night out.
Hours later, exhausted, I went home. The weekend had arrived already, and I wanted some sleep before all that nothing I had to do tomorrow.
Tuesday morning, in my new kitchen! I couldn’t be happ… well, yeah I could happier, but it’s still fantastic. The stove is a used piece of junk, but it works. The fridge smells like old cheese and dead raccoons, but … well, it’s colder than outside. I was sure enjoying dining out, so this whole “cooking my own food” thing will take some getting used to. But, I did always love mom’s grilled cheese, so…
No no… It’s a perfectly safe artificial food supplement. The boss said to test it.
Tee hee.
Well, it worked perfectly. Meagan spent the remainder of the day mad as hell, and couldn’t really figure out why. And she broke another computer.
I can’t decide if they like the work I’m doing so well, and they think I enjoy it so much, that I should have one to play with, or they think I *really* need to practice more. Either way…. Fun With Chemicals!
The raise also allowed me to purchase a small POS computer, which should really help with my gaming. WORK. With my work, and studying and whatever. Yeah. But, then I got a call from my old friend Serge, talking all excited about a fantastic dance party going on. I calmed him down, and we headed out.
Dinner was another quick grilled cheese, and this one was far better than my first. Mom would be proud.
You know… just before bed, let’s see if this …
Eh… whatever. It’s a place to sleep.