Test case or special case – Tales of the Courier
The first time it happened, he didn’t know what he was getting himself into. Of course, that’s how it is with a first time experience. There’s a learning curve. A feeling of uncertainty. Then the slow and inevitable realization of a better way. The better way makes it better for the next time. If there is a next time. And there isn’t going to be a next time, this time. No way, no how. That ship already sailed. 1courier downshifts, and checks the mirrors. Nothin’ but highway.
The m-com link flashes again. As he knew it must. The highway is nearly empty. The best time to travel. If HQ wanted a test case so badly, they should have gotten something from that last delivery. He could count ten noteworthy things the moment he entered the driveway. Furthermore, it was getting late in the day. There wasn’t any time to go on one of HQ’s test case deliveries. Why do things have to be tested anyway? What happened to the old saying, “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it“?
Test Case
He pulls onto the park road. However, the GPS takes him around the airport to the backside where the hangars are located. It’s fully dark now, with a sky full of stars. The planes landing on the not too distant runway are loud, and their lights flash and flicker in the darkness. He wouldn’t be here if not for HQ wanting to make this a test case. Now he’s trying to remember why he accepted the offer. What could he possibly pick up at the airport?
One hundred different things pop into his mind. In fact, more than half of them are highly questionable. Can’t think that way, he reminds himself. HQ isn’t sending couriers for espionage or illegal activity. At least not that he could tell. However, the thought is a bit spy versus spy. And for the next few minutes he imagines scenarios where he’s a courier, but really a secret agent. He’s meeting another courier at the airport to pick up some top secret documents. A flying courier.
Special Case
The m-com link flashes as he nears the hangars. His daydreams about spy couriers dissolve and he studies the hangars. In the dark of the night, the hangars appear huge. Likewise, they block out the stars and the spectral glow of the moon. However, 1courier is able to navigate by their numbers. In fact, he only needs to look for hangar C7. According to the m-com link his contact will be there. He has no idea what he is to pickup. Only that it’s one item.
With this in mind, as he nears the hangar, his apprehension grows. Similarly, he remembers the robot. He still has no idea what happened to that thing. HQ didn’t ask, so neither did he. Although it’s not the best ending to a delivery, no robots were harmed and everybody got paid. Of course, somewhere, there’s a rogue robot. Somewhere there’s a rogue robot, and how does that concern the courier? 1courier hits the blinker, and makes a turn. Nevertheless, he did his job.
Tales of the Courier
The hangar is one of the large ones. Furthermore, it likely houses a 747, or one of the big air busses. 1courier pulls the ride to the left side of the hangar. There is a small parking lot and an entry door. Additionally, along the topmost part of the hangar, are rows of windows. In some of these windows, parts of an aircraft’s tail section are visible. He checks the m-com link. In fact, he finds a message already waiting for him.
“Package will be at the side door.” 1courier pulls further into the parking lot and turns the vehicle around. Furthermore, he still doesn’t know what his cargo will be. However, he’s ready to get this new test case underway. The quicker he can finish it, the better. On the radio the song is, “This Flight Tonight” by Nazareth. It is a scene straight from a science fiction movie, he grins as he pulls up to the side door of the hangar. After a few moments he notices a medium sized box propped against the hangar wall.
Just In Case Test Case
He gets out and walks up to the package. It’s a crate, and sturdy, by the looks of it. Similarly, it’s about the size of a small lawnmower. The box has the word Fragile on its front side. 1courier wastes no time. He grabs the box up, and heaves it into the back seat. There is a small cracking sound, but the crate stays in one piece. Thirty seconds later he’s on the road again. The m-com link flashes.
The delivery is underway and the pickup is complete. The tunes on the radio are stellar this evening. The m-com link flashes again. He is really trying to ignore it because the pickup is complete. The delivery is underway. The only possible reason HQ would be pinging the m-com link is to deliver bad news, or an unusual change. The m-com link flashes again. 1courier snatches the device up and opens it. He stares at the words flashing across the screen as a loud ripping sound comes from the back seat. The words flash with a brightly lit urgency…Caution! Do Not Open Package! Caution!
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