Tales of the Courier – The Shell Game Shuffle
The journey back to HQ had been uneventful. The last dropoff had been typical, and 1courier wonders if this actually is a simulation. He downshifts the ride and eases it into the waiting service bay.
The damage to the machine was minimal this time, he steps out, and walks to the command room, for the next assignment. He hopes it’s one that isn’t boring. He grins, hope is a fickle thing.
New couriers are arriving, and many appear confused and disoriented. That would change ten minutes into the first run. The highways of Deritrous were invigorating, to say the least.
1courier walks down the corridor leading to the command room. He wonders if, old stuffy, will be around today. Many times new assignments are handed out in the order the courier returns. However, today would be different.
Shell Game
He passes several more bewildered and nervous recruits before reaching the command room door. Looks like HQ was getting the boots on the ground that had been requested. Several of the new recruits are watching him closely as he opens the door and enters the command room.
The events of the last few months are still fresh on everyone’s minds. Furthermore, the command room is empty. In fact, it looks like no one has been in here at all today. He takes a seat, and begins his wait for the HQ boss.
Twenty minutes later he is still waiting and no one has entered the room. This was unusual, and certainly a good time to get going. So, an unscheduled day off would hit the spot nicely. He gets up to leave, and is startled by a question from thin air.
“Leaving so soon?”
1courier glances around the empty room and still sees no one. However, the voice did come from this room, he was sure of it. He decides to respond..
“Yes, it’s time to go”, he waits for a response and isn’t disappointed:
“You must be 1courier, I’ve heard about you.”
Shuffle
1courier surveys the empty room once again. The room is quite empty, therefore there is no mistaking the empty. Who and where? He knew it wasn’t the commander, he listens as the voice speaks again.
“Sorry about the airbag in the face back at the rendezvous with the Spaceship. I was overly excited.”
Now 1courier is feeling confused. The airbag to the face had stung, however, no one but 1courier had been in the ride. Connections begin to pop in 1courier’s mind as the strange voice speaks again.
“I can’t wait to find out what our assignment is going to be, I think it’s great that you volunteered to work with an AI partner! We are going to crush it partner!”
1courier grins, he couldn’t help it, the subtlety was admirable.
Comment here