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.
Up bright and early this morning, feeling great, if a bit hungry. I’ll be very happy when I can afford things like … a fridge. A stove, maybe. Walls.
When I tried ordering, the woman behind the counter announced that she was on a coffee break. Or a break from coffee, I don’t remember. I was hungry and under-caffeinated. I had to wait until her co-worker showed up before I could order a cup and a croissant.
THAT’S better. I might not kill anyone at work today, Meagan.
I sat for a while talking to some of the neighbours, enjoying the company and the coffee. But, eventually I needed to get to work.
It was “collection day” at the office, which really had me nervous over the return of the aliens. That happened, right? I’m not just imagining it, I’m certain. Anyway, no what they meant was rocks and things. I was getting quite proficient in digging things up.
But apparently “collecting” also included collecting fish. I’ve never been fishing in my life, and it wasn’t’ something I had ever put on a list of things I’d wanted to do before I die.
But suddenly there I was, trying to convince fish they needed to come with me. I figured I’d just sneak up on them when they were trying to sleep, and just pull them out of their home in the water and into my OH MY GOD I’M THE ALIEN! I’M ABDUCTING FISH. I put them all back.
Inside, I watched as Caitlyn broke the computer, then just walked away to play with the microscope. We’re both going to blame Meagan.
“Meagan sure did break that computer, alright,” Caitlyn mentioned. I needed to upgrade by simray Steve, to include a transformative setting. Time to see if that works.
I decided to try it out on one of the office chairs. I fired it up, but Summer started talking, distracting me as I let loose. I’m surprised I didn’t transform the entire building into a potato or some such.
Well, that worked. Nice chair.
Time for lunch with Summer, with Meagan pretending not to be listening. The first week at work is almost over, and while I love my job and – most – of the co-workers, I look forward to the weekend, and blowing off a little steam.
The place was jumping!
Yes, I know it’s quarter past 1 in the morning, Mr Kim, but your sign clearly says “Open”, and so was the door. And you’re standing here at the front counter. And the chef is busy in the kitchen, and there are PEOPLE EATING HERE. Stop being such a grump.
Menu looks nice, and the prices are reasonable. Well… reasonable for someone who can afford walls. It’s going to take a chunk of my bank account, but I really need to eat.
It took over an hour for the food to get here, considering there were three people sitting out on the patio, and they already had food. But finally, it arrived; a nice glass of wine and some poached salmon.
Time to get home though. Four o’clock on a Saturday morning, and I finally hit the streets for the slog back to my pretty lot on the Island. What a fantastic evening! Here’s to a weekend off!