Work Text:
Another Day at Work
“And you’re sure it’s safe?”
“Uh, it seems to be. Like I said, you two will be the second group that has traveled to this universe.” Dr. Simon said cautiously with his thick Scottish accent “The other group didn’t really give us more than it's pretty weird, but nothing tried to kill us, so it seems safe.” Although, they seemed to be a wee bit alarmed.
“Sounds fine to me! So Fray, ready to go?” Astrana asked me, her accent closer to an American one, but not quite, while she eyed the ivory door that us three were standing in front of. The massive room spread for an endless number of kilometers and was full of various types of entrances. It held doors, trap doors, puddles, mirrors, closets, beds, and more. To the protected eye, these things would seem like normal objects, but to people in my workforce, they are portals. And out of all the universes she wanted to make a report on, she chose one of the least explored. We’re not part of the exploration team, we're part of the media unit. Still, I had to agree to this. Whatever my boss wants, my boss gets.
“Sure. We have all the supplies, correct?” I asked, my accent one of a Canadian, with a hint of French.
“Yeah. We have emergency safety packs, flashlights, that large bag, the cameras, the microphone, credit card, extra batteries, extra food, matches, safety gun, SOS device, walkie talkies aaand.. that’s it” she recited routinely while twirling a strand of her long deep purple hair around her finger.
“What about the taser, mind wipe, and note tablet?”
“Yes, yes, we have those too” she said, waving her hand at me dismissively “alright, let’s go!” She opened the door and pranced through eagerly into the white abyss that was inside the door. I glanced at Simon, with a sliver of hope that he may come up with a reason to stop us from going. He never did. I sighed as I took the step into the door and mentally prepared myself for whatever was about to happen.
When I opened my eyes, to figure out my surroundings, I was pleasantly surprised. It was not a dark world of fire full of bloodthirsty creatures. It was a well-lit area that had pretty cool air. It seemed void of life. It was typical for us to arrive somewhere without many people though. We seemed to be in a large area with small, white, square tiles as the floors, walls, and roof. It felt like some sort of maze, almost, with all the random hallways, stairs, and pillars all of the same material. The temperature felt decent, maybe slightly cooler than room temperature. I was thankful for that temperature, I had chosen to wear my favorite salmon pink cardigan that had pretty frills on the sleeves, neckline, and the hem. And I had my dark green corduroy pants and Dock Martinas. So I was grateful for the cooler weather. The only source of what I would consider nature was some patches of grass bordered with tiles. Those patches had flowers of all colors and sizes. I saw Astrana crouched down and inspecting a large red flower with some purple blotches in the middle. Luckily, she wasn’t touching it or sniffing it as we had learned not to touch foreign plants the hard way.
“Hey, take a picture of this, Fray”!
I walked over and took out my camera to take a picture. As I set up my camera, I noticed the flower had teeth like things on its pedals.
“It’s an uh.., very interesting flower”
“Wanna put something on it to see if it bites?”
“I guess, do you have anything disposable and edible?”
“I might have a protein bar in my bag, let me check.”
As she searched through her bag I took a couple of pictures. I’ve seen many flowers similar to this, I’ve even seen evil talking golden flowers, so this was nothing new.
“Aha! I found it.”
Astrana held up a chocolate chip protein bar and unwrapped it. I readied my camera to record this. She took a small chunk off and dropped it at the center of the flower from a distance. As she did this, I realized this probably wasn’t the best first thing to do to the unknown environment, but it was too late to intervene. Once a chunk made contact with the flower’s pedals, it closed on it like turning back into the bud and did something I could only describe as chewing. After it finished, it opened back up and let out a burp. The burp smelt like a chocolate chip protein bar and made my head spin a little. That was new.
“Hmm, we could definitely make a small paragraph about the wildlife” Astrana thought aloud while standing up and straightening her grey plaid skirt and black sweater vest with white stars. “Are you ready to start walking?” She asked while I stood up and put my camera back in my bag
“Yeah, I’m ready.”
We then went on our way. We walked for hours and saw many things. It would take too long for me to put it into full detail, so I’ll summarize what we saw. It was similar to the portal room, we saw many doors on the walls. We had also seen slides, some had mysterious liquids coming from the jets. We did not go down the slides. We saw more flowers and sometimes even something that resembled a tree. We saw pools of water from time to time that looked normal but felt thicker, if it felt like normal water then it’d be a different colour. There were some ladders, spiral staircases, straight staircases and random holes in the walls. The roofing would often change too, sometimes it’d be closer to the ground, and we’d have to crouch, but then other times we wouldn’t even be able to see it because of how far up it was. It was fascinating and I knew we’d be able to make a great report about this, but the only problem was that we couldn’t find any life. Astrana always made an effort to interview at least one resident to learn about the world from a local, but we could not find anyone. I could tell she was getting anxious about it. She would keep bringing it up in a joking way but would straighten her star tie which I’ve learned is a nervous or frustrated thing she does. But then, we finally found something about a couple of hours in. We found this brown door with a steaming coffee cup painted onto it.
“Coffee?” I said inquisitively and glanced at her. She looked over at me with a smirk.
“Wanna get coffee, Fray?”
“Yeah, I could go for some coffee about now.”
She grabbed the knob, opening the door and walking in as I followed behind. It was interesting to say the least. The room’s architecture had checkered floors, white walls, green tiles on the back wall directly in front of us, there were a couple very open windows and when I glanced outside I just saw a blue sky with clouds. The roof seemed typical, except for the fact it had grass and vines growing on it. The furniture seemed normal at least, there were dark brown wooden chairs and tables in the room and a couple comfy looking chairs on the back left paired with a coffee table, much like what you’d see at a Moondollars. There were some plants, a random chair covered in vines on the back right side of the roof, and the counter in the back. At that counter to the right there was what I think was a cash register that also had a mini aquarium in it, I think that because there were two orange fish creatures swimming inside. Right besides the register-fishbowl was a little blue jar with these small glowing orbs, I never did find out what those were. To the right was a small shelf with glass over it that had little pastries that were diverse in colors and shapes. And in the middle, was a living being. It had this short spiky blue-minty hair that was very jagged. It’s skin was also a shade of light mint with a bunch of little freckles along its face. It had two eyes but no mouth, one eye on the top left of its face and the other on the bottom right, besides that and the fact the irises were squiggly. It wore a red sweater with orange rolled up sleeves decorated with wavy black spirals. Over the sweater was a black apron and on that apron was a name tag that said “Bobina.” I couldn’t see its pants at the time but it wore these ripped jean-like pants, although I couldn’t see its legs underneath.
At the sight of another living being, Astrana perked up and untucked a piece of her bangs from behind her ear. She glanced at me with a smirk and strided to the counter, I walked behind. The creature also stood up, as it had been resting on the counter.
“Greetings to both of you! Welcome to coffee place. Is this first time of yous both’s?” Bobina asked. So, there was definitely a small difference in the language, but that’s ok. I’ve been to places where there’s a whole different language! I’m not sure how it was able to talk without a mouth though.
“Yes, it is, actually! How’d you guess?”Astrana replied with a grin clasping her hands together.
“Yous boths looks differents than normals of here. Woulds like to trys somethings?”
“Ooh I see, you’re so observant! What is there here?” She said enthusiastically, she was definitely trying to butter Bobina up. I think it worked, it did this thing where its eyes squinted and I’m assuming that was its way of smiling.
“I have manys things! Takes this list.” It then took a menu from somewhere below the counter and handed it to us. “Comes back when readys.” Astrana nodded and took it. She then walked over and sat at a table by the entrance and started looking at the menu. I followed and sat next to her, she moved the menu between us so I could read.
“This spelling and grammar is killing me” she muttered to me in a low tone so Bobina couldn’t hear.
“Yeah, multiple years of journalism and learning proper English grammar, then this. I’m glad it’s not a whole different language though. It’ll make this a lot easier, unlike last time.”
Astrana scoffed while reading the menu. “Definitely. The last time was a nightmare, even with the translator. So, it looks like they sell pastries and coffees. This seems just like the café at work” I then read it. It had stuff like ‘chokohlad bred’ under the ‘pastry and mor’ section and ‘Aysed Moka Latay’ under the ‘Kuffy’ section.
“Yeah, I’m surprised this universe hasn’t been explored more. It seems like Earth but with a different environment. Do you think their currency is similar?”
“Well, the prices seem a bit higher compared to the average Canadian café prices. Although, that may just be the type of currency. What are you gonna get?”
“Uhh..” I scanned the menu for something of interest. “The blueberry cake and toofred cold brew— I think that’s how is pronounced— but those seem interesting?” I said pointing at the item labeled ‘Toofred Cohld Brew’
“Hm, ok. I think I’ll get the vanilla iced latte and the chocolate bread.” she said while twirling her hair in her fingers “ready?” She asked while scavenging through her bag, supposedly for the multi-currency credit card.
“Yeah”
Astrana then sat up, flipped some hair off her shoulder and walked to the counter while I followed behind. Bobina, who was watching the fish swim around, looked up and made this questioning sound.
“Alright, we’ve made up our minds. For pastries, we would like a blueberry cake and chocolate bread. Then, I’d like a Vanilla ice latte and my friend here will have a toofred cold brew” She ordered while I stood there awkwardly with slight admiration of her confidence with the pronunciation.
Bobina nodded and then replied with “thats wil bes ninny niyn grivs and fifvty gins” Astrana nodded and handed Bobina the multi-currency card. I was nervous that Bobina would question the card, since it’s just a dark green card with a gray line on it, but it just put the card in the cash register. Bobina then turned around and went through a dark green door behind the counter. Me and Astrana just stood there before we talked.
“That went surprisingly well.” I said.
“It did. While Bobina is gone, how about you snap a couple of pictures?”
“I guess I could.” I took out my camera and took a couple of photos of the room. After maybe fifteen minutes, Bobina came out with two uniquely shaped coffee cups. One a star and one heart shaped. It placed the cups on the right side then collected the pastries and put them by the drinks. I put away my camera and went over to grab the food. Astrana didn’t, she approached Bobina.
“So, Bobina, you can probably tell we’re not from here”
“can”
“Well, we want to learn about you, the resident, who knows this place! How do you feel about coming with us somewhere nice having a nice little interview?” She smiles and pushes some hair behind her ear.
“No.”
“Ahaha— what?” She asks, keeping a smile and straightening her tie. “This is a big offer. Would you like money in exchange or maybe your name is not mentioned?”
“No, am very busy. Can’t and don’t want.” Bobina answered firmly.
Astrana sighed biting her lip, her grin faltering and nodded “I see, alright. Goodbye.” She turned to me “let’s go.” I stuff the pastries in my bag, grab the cups, and follow her out the door.
“So, you’re fine with no interviewee?” I asked once outside.
“Yup! Why wouldn’t I be? We don’t always need an interviewee. We have plenty of information. It’s ok. It’s Bobina’s loss” She answered in a matter-of-fact tone. I was confused at this, Astrana always wanted at least one local to get information from.
“Uh— ok.”
We continued walking back in silence before Astrana gasped “Wait! I forgot something in the café.”
“Oh no, do you want me to go get it?”
“No, no no, I’ll go get it! You continue back to the exit and I’ll be right back.”
“Okay, stay safe!” She nods and waves as she runs back backwards and then turns running back from where we came. I waved to her and kept walking. Even though we weren’t conversing, once her footsteps went away, the silence without her presence felt eerie. I would turn around from time to time with an increased sense of paranoia and I could’ve sworn I saw a creature watching me quickly sink into the shadows. I shook it off and kept walking, it was probably a trick of the environment. That’s happened to me before.
I had been waiting by the exit for a little while when Astrana finally came back. First, I heard the fast clicking of her Mary Jane’s on the tiles, then I saw her. She stopped in front of me and took a breath while fixing her hair and swinging her over-the-shoulder star bag behind her back.
“I got it! Sorry for taking so long, didn’t miss me too much, did you?”
“I was fine. What’d you forget?”
“The card.” Astrana opened the door and offered to let me to go first “I had just forgotten to take it back from Bobina.”
We walked back into the portal room and started our walk back to our office. When we were in the elevator Astrana said something peculiar.
“Meet me in interrogation room 221B on basement floor 6 after you put away your stuff.”
“Why?”
“You’ll see” she answered with a sly smirk.
I had no idea what she had done but I did what she asked. I brought our travel bags back to our office and went to 221B. I stood outside the door for a moment, fixing the star and moon clips in my braids and bracing myself for whatever Astrana had done, I sighed and scanned my I.D card over the lock.
When I opened it I could only see one side of the grey table in the middle of the white room. Astrana sat on that side of the table and looked over with a grin.
“Ah, Fray, come in!”
I walked in and it took me a moment to process who I saw on the other end. Who did I see? Well, no other than the person who denied my boss’s request for an interview. Bobina. And, Bobina wasn’t just sitting there, it was tied up with rope. I turned to look at Astrana for some explanation, and I was shocked at how what she did was so stupid but so sneaky. I wondered how she even took Bobina in the first place.
“What— how? Why did you do that?!” That was all I could really get out without yelling at her. This wasn’t only detrimental to her career; this was to mine as well. If we got caught kidnapping this person we’d be in serious trouble. And after that? Her career would be over, and I wouldn’t be able to even start mine!
“Well, y’know my black hole bag?” She asks me “well I went back and got this lovely fellow to enter my bag.”
“But Bobina said it didn’t want to go!”
“And? We could just use the mind-wipe if he didn’t want this so badly.”
“Yeah, but it said it was busy, we can’t exactly send Bobina back in time.” I covered my face with my hands and groaned “and if we get caught with an unregistered interviewee, we’re gonna be in trouble!”
“Relax, it’ll be fine. Now, what I need you to do is to stay guard outside. Pretend like you’re having a dinner-lunch or something.” She said reassuringly while putting her hands up “maybe order us some food from the cafeteria?” She stood up and took her coffee from my hand that I had brought. I glanced at Bobina, it had teary eyes and gave me a pleading look that I would talk sense into Astrana. “Bobina will be fine! I’m not gonna hurt him or anything, just ask some questions” Astrana explained, knowing I was unsure.
I sighed “Fine. You are the boss” I muttered looking at the ground, not wanting to look Bobina in the eyes.
“Atta girl! Everything will be great; we might even get on the front page since that place seemed so.. habitable!” She said patting my shoulder and grinning further. “You can buy your favorite lunch for us from the cafeteria and have it delivered. I’ll pay.” She handed me her employee card “just stand outside and make sure nobody comes in.” I nodded and walked out guiltily.
I leaned against the outside wall of room 221B. I had ordered food from a chain American food place at the cafeteria. It had been twenty minutes since I had stepped out and that’s when I heard footsteps. It was Simon.
“Simon! Why are you here?” I asked trying not to sound rude or nervous
“I saw you two booked an interview room, so I came here to see how it went.”
“The world?”
“Yes.”
“Well.. it was interesting! I can show you some of the pictures, here.” I pulled out my camera and scrolled through a couple of the pictures of the environment. “And there was this weird café, just like the one we have here on the first floor.”
“Oh, really? What’d they sell?”
“Just normal café coffees and pastries—” I was cut off by a loud crash coming from 221B
“What was that?”
“Oh— Astrana is waiting for our food to get here, she probably just dropped something. You know her! Oh, by the way, do you want me to send you these photos?”
“Huh, I’ve never seen Astrana as the clumsy type. But that'd be nice. Uh– Send it to my Simon.H.Work@S12mail. But, why are you eating in the interrogation rooms?”
“Uh well— we just wanted some new scenery. The seats—” I was interrupted by a bang at the door but I chose to ignore it “the seats are also pretty comfy!”
“Are you sure she just ‘dropped something’?” He said with a concerned glance at the door. “Maybe we should check on her?” he took his employee card and was about to swipe it on the lock.
“No, she’s ok!” I reassured and smacked his hand away a little too hard “sorry. She uhm— she got a, a, a new water bottle? It’s one of those metal ones that makes loud slams and fly everywhere” why did I say that? Out of all the excuses I chose a water bottle.
“Oh ok. Like the Stanleys? Think she needs help cleaning it?” he responded while looking down at his hand that I smacked.
“Yes! Like the Stanleys. But no, she’ll be fine. Trust me, Simon.” I said trying to sound reassuring and calm but ended up sounding firm and nervous.
“.. I see.”
We stood there awkwardly before I finally spoke “Ok! So..talk later?” I asked sheepishly.
He looked back at the door suspiciously before responding in a quiet tone “Yeah. Later.. bye.” He pushed his glasses up and walked off bashfully. Once he was gone I sighed with relief, I felt horrible about how rude I must’ve seemed to him. I told myself I’d try to apologize once I’d come up with the proper excuse for the noise.
After a while the food came and there were no more interruptions. After maybe thirty-five minutes, Astrana strutted out.
“All done! See? That wasn’t so bad.” She glanced at the food I had ordered “ooh Fill-A-Feast! Nice choice. I am going to bring y’know-who back and we can go eat in the office.”
And that’s all that really happened. After that, me and Astrana sat in our office, discussed how we’d present this to the public, and ate our Fill-A-Feast.
“Thank you for staying guard for me, Fray, I really do appreciate it.”
“Yeah, you’re welcome. But was that necessary to kidnap someone?”
“Of course it was. I got lots of information from him! Like, did you know that Toodred coffee was made out of a flower similar to the one we saw when we first entered?”
“Oh, that’s cool I guess.”
“Yeah, once he stopped crying and begged to go home he actually had good knowledge of the place.”
“That’s good.”
“It is! I can’t wait to see the results once we publish what we learned.”
“It’ll definitely be good. What were those loud noises from?”
“Oh! Well, when I was asking questions, I suppose Bobina had been slowly loosening the ropes, because he suddenly got out. He punched me, making me fall back in my chair, and tried to open the door. But I got him with the minimum damage involved.”
“Minimum damage? That doesn’t—”
“Don’t worry about it, Bobina is fine.”
And that’s the only time we ever mentioned Bobina again. Do I feel good about what I enabled? No. Of course not. we kidnaped someone. That’s majorly illegal, even for our work force, unless given special permission. But, it’s too late now to undo it. The article and video we made did pretty well and earned us some recognition. Nobody, at least to my knowledge, knows about what we did. Though that’s just one more skeleton inside our closet for someone to eventually find.
I fear the day someone might find out what happened, and it’ll probably happen when I’m finally successful, that’s just how my life works.
But overall, it was just another day at work.